Secrets & Chance (The Sterlings Book 1)
Page 19
There was light knocking on her door. “Hello?” a small voice called.
Rosalie knew that soon she would have to face either Penelope or Susan, who she had seen on the grass not too long ago directing delivery men.
She stood and calmly walked over to open the door. As soon as she saw Teresa standing there, she relaxed.
“Oh, hi,” Rosalie said.
“Would you like breakfast in here?”
Rosalie looked around the grand room. She felt as if she were imprisoning herself just so she wouldn’t run into Penelope or Susan. “Um… no. I’ll just go into town and get myself some breakfast, but thanks for asking.”
There was something about the way Teresa stood there a few seconds too long, looking into her eyes, that made Rosalie think there was a conversation the woman wanted to have. Rosalie always loved when potential witnesses wanted to talk even though they knew they weren’t supposed to. By the looks of it, Teresa definitely fell into that position.
“You heard about the officers’ visit this morning?” Rosalie asked.
“Yes, I do. I cannot believe it,” Teresa said.
“Do you know if anyone saw Edna leave on Thursday night?” Rosalie asked.
Teresa shook her head timidly. The way her lips were pressed together indicated that she wanted to cry.
“Has she ever left before without telling anyone?”
“Mm…” Teresa frowned thoughtfully. “Yes, she has.”
Rosalie felt a victorious sensation pulse through her body. “Really? Do you know where she went?”
“She never says.”
“Do you have thoughts about where she may have gone?”
Teresa looked down at the floor.
“Whatever you say stays between us,” Rosalie assured her.
The maid lifted her face and shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Suddenly, Rosalie’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me, sorry.”
She rushed over to her purse, which was sitting on the chaise, and dug out her phone.
“Hello,” she said as she answered the call, but then she kicked herself for not checking to see who it was first.
She still didn’t want to talk to Dennis until she returned to work on Tuesday. She was definitely going to resign. There was no doubt in her mind that Chance was going to find a spot for her at Lord and Lord Enterprises. However, that kiss they had shared earlier was a glaring indication that their attraction for each other presented a conflict of interest. But she wanted the new job more than a new relationship. So she was ready to talk about it with Chance like two adults would and move forward accordingly.
“Rosalie. This is Frederick Holland.”
She straightened her posture. “Oh.” She felt relieved yet surprised to hear from him.
“I need you to leave the house without being seen. A car will be waiting for you along the service entrance.”
She blinked rapidly as she shook her head. “But why?”
“You’ll find out soon.”
She wanted to ask where the car was taking her, but Teresa was hanging on her every word. By the sound of it, Frederick wanted her to maintain some secrecy.
“Okay.”
He ended the call.
“I have to go,” she said to Teresa.
“Should I have Manny bring your car around?”
Rosalie released the tension in her shoulders as she studied the other woman. Teresa was certainly not clueless. As soon as Rosalie left the room, Teresa would know she was being secretive. Rosalie had to trust her enough to disclose certain aspects of the call she’d had with Frederick.
“No. Listen, I have to meet someone. Can I trust you?”
Teresa pressed her hands over her heart and without pause said, “Yes. Absolutely.”
“I need to get out of here without being seen. I know Susan and Penelope are here.”
“And so are Virginia and Ruby.”
Rosalie nodded. “I’m going out the back.”
“No. You come with me.”
Rosalie picked up her purse and followed Teresa to the narrow bookcase. Teresa pushed it hard, and it slid open, revealing a secret room. They entered then, together, pushed the bookcase back into place. As they walked through a dark hallway, Teresa explained that the old house had many secret rooms, which made it easier for the staff to move about.
Rosalie grunted curiously. Apparently, the secret rooms and hallways made it easier for Edna to move about as well. If she had more time, Rosalie would explore the unknown and see if she could gather any clues that might help explain Edna’s disappearance.
Soon, Teresa opened a door, and they were facing a stack of concrete steps.
“You go up, and you’ll be in the wine cellar,” Teresa said. “The service road is not far away.”
Rosalie thanked Teresa and followed her instructions. The wine cellar was cool and dimly lit. She had been in it many times before, so she knew her way out. By the time she stepped outside, it was raining again. A black car with tinted windows was parked along the service road. She put her head down and ran until she reached the back door, opened it, and got in.
The driver turned and faced her. “Good morning,” he said.
She studied his face. He was a middle-aged man, who was wearing a red polo shirt. He looked like an average, everyday Joe.
“Fred told me you’re taking me somewhere. Where are we going?”
“Sterling Enterprises in San Francisco.”
She jerked her head. “Wow. Okay.” She sat back in the seat.
The car made a U-turn, and they were on their way to San Francisco.
SHE WOULD’VE CALLED CHANCE, but she didn’t have his number. However, she was pretty sure that whatever the reason was she was traveling to San Francisco, it had something to do with Edna’s sons and those papers she had signed on Friday. Every cell in her body was on edge. Her instincts told her everything was about to change, only she didn’t know how much.
The driver didn’t speak during the entire forty-five-minute drive, and she didn’t ask any questions. She was too nervous. City traffic was always congested on Saturdays. When they finally reached Sterling Enterprises, the car pulled into a subterranean parking garage.
Rosalie was shaking uncontrollably by the time the car stopped in front of the elevators.
“You can get out here,” the driver said. “Security will meet you in the lobby on the twenty-fifth floor.”
Her mouth fell open. “Security?”
He turned to face her. “Yes, ma’am.” He looked serious.
There was no time to let fear rule her. Rosalie nodded, got out of the car, and entered the elevators.
Sterling Enterprises held the top five floors of the mirrored- window building. She had never really been able to stomach being so far off the ground. And the higher the elevator soared, the loopier her head felt. When the doors opened, Fred Holland and two burly men in black suits were waiting for her.
She frowned. “What’s going on, Fred?”
“Follow me.” He turned and started walking.
Rosalie’s legs were turning to jelly. A lot of the offices were cleared out. There was an emptiness in the air that she had never felt inside the offices of Sterling Enterprises.
They reached the door of the conference room. She could hear the Sterling brothers barking at each other behind it.
“Don’t sit,” Frederick whispered. “Stand by the door.”
She nodded wildly.
“And brace yourself.”
“For what?”
He shrugged and quickly opened the door.
All eyes fell on them. Chance cocked his head, looking surprised to see her. His face was strained, as though he hadn’t slept all night.
“What are you doing here?” Baylor asked.
He seemed to be in good spirits. Doug, however, appeared as if he’d swallowed a box of tacks.
Frederick strolled confidently to the head of the table and stood beside a young man with dark hair
and preppy looks.
Frederick handed the guy papers. “Daniel Steiner, this is for you.”
Daniel took the sheets and started reading them. Rosalie and Chance kept eye contact.
“Your actions have triggered article 13455,” Fred explained.
“Wait, there’s a separation of the Sterling and Campbell assets?” Daniel Steiner asked while still reading.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked completely caught off guard. “How?”
“The action was triggered when the attempt to remove Mrs. Sterling from her seat without her consent was made.”
“What? My mother resigned, and now she’s missing. That sounds like abandonment to me,” Baylor said.
“She hadn’t officially resigned,” Frederick said.
“But she is missing,” Carlton said with a tortured look on his face. He was checkmated, and he knew it.
“You definitely will be able to control assets that transfer to you by the will of Conrad Bartholomew Sterling.”
“We know this,” William said. “So what the hell are you doing here?”
Rosalie felt as if she wanted to faint. Suddenly, Edna’s story about the deal her father had made with Andrew Sterling all those years ago made sense.
“Andrew James Sterling’s assets total sixteen million dollars?” Daniel asked, reading from the document.
“Stuart Campbell’s assets total 18.9 billion,” Frederick said. “Two and a half hours ago, a vote was taken in this room, and a motion was filed with the state of California. Following that vote to enact the decree of abandonment, wherein Chance Radcliffe Sterling cast his selection for Douglas Benjamin Sterling, Chance Radcliffe Sterling will now be assigned the position of appointed CEO. Rosalie Allison Stetson has been named chief chairman indefinitely or until she recommends her seat to Chance Radcliffe Sterling.” Frederick looked directly at Chance. “Your grandmother felt that you were too influenced by your father.”
Rosalie felt as if she was in some sort of movie, and she wasn’t sure if it was a good one or a really bad one. Was it a comedy, a drama, or both?
Chance snorted facetiously as he shot to his feet. “You knew about this, didn’t you?” he asked Rosalie.
She repeatedly shook her head. “No.”
He didn’t believe her. She could tell by the look in his eyes.
“I’m out of here.” He rushed past her and out of the room.
Rosalie pressed her hand against her heart as it broke. She wanted to run after him and explain herself, but the bone-chilling glares she was receiving from the brothers scared her to death.
Suddenly, one big, burly bodyguard stood on her right side, and the other stood on her left.
The brothers were now threatening to sue and stop the insanity. Their voices melded into one angry, hostile noise. Rosalie couldn’t believe she was now chairman of Sterling Enterprises. But the way Frederick Holland was watching her said that she was and she had better get used to it. Only she didn’t want to get used to it. She didn’t even want a kernel of what she had just been given. And that was why she kept shaking her head.
No. No. No.
She would rather be dead, and something told her that was certainly an imminent possibility.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Secrets & Chance The Sterling Series, Book 1
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
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About the Author