“Come on then. Let’s go and kick ass.”
We head across town in a cab and I look around with interest. Texas is impressive. There is a power here that you can taste all around you. Money, power and greed sit happily alongside destruction, deprivation, and hunger. I can feel it, it’s all here and my heart beats a little faster as I prepare to meet Texas at its most powerful.
I’m not used to this. I’m used to small town politics and the low life’s that generates. This place is sleek and powerful and will take no prisoners. I am so out of my depth I could drown in my own foolishness.
The cab stops outside a tall skyscraper covered in mirrored glass. I crane my neck and look up at the beast before us. It reaches to the sky making me feel so small in its shadow. Tyler has retreated inside himself and it’s strictly business between us now. I can tell he’s psyching himself up for what’s about to happen and that makes me feel unsettled.
We head through the large rotating doors and find ourselves in a cool and spacious reception.
As we head toward the reception desk I am surprised to see the shock on the receptionist’s face as she watches our approach. Her hands fly to her face and she looks as if she’s seen a ghost.
We stand before her and she stares at Tyler as if she’s seeing things. He smiles cockily. “Good to see you, Ginny.”
She stutters, “Oh my god, it’s really you. We were told you were dead.”
I look at him in surprise and he laughs softly. “So I heard. Well, as you can see I’m very much alive and would like to sign in my guest. We would like to surprise my father so make sure you keep our visit a secret until then.”
She nods and looks at me with curiosity. I smile warmly and she pushes a book across the desk and says in a shocked voice, “Um… please sign in, Miss…?”
I sneak a look at Tyler who nods, so I smile happily and say confidently, “It’s Mrs. Donahue.”
Tyler grins as the receptionist just shrugs and hands me a visitor’s badge. She doesn’t know that Tyler now goes by this name. He changed it legally to Donahue when Tyler Mortimer ceased to exist. He told me he had wanted to distance himself from his father in every way and this was his escape. A new identity and free to become the man he wants to be. Tyler Donahue has made this escape happen and is the man I married in Vegas. Now it’s time to tell his father.
We head toward the elevator, walking together not touching or speaking. We walk with purpose and a confidence I expect neither of us really feels. But this is a game, a pretense and a mission we cannot fail.
We stand in silence as we wait. There is nobody else around and it strikes me how strange this is. It’s as if the office is luring us to our fate. Silence lies all around waiting to pounce and destroy us. The air is thick with revenge. Tyler’s revenge. It swirls around him like a black hole ready to pull in his enemies and destroy them forever.
We step inside the elevator and I watch as he presses the button for the top floor. Of course, I would have expected these men to want to be at the top.
Tyler stares at the floor, engrossed in his own thoughts and I feel my heart thumping wildly inside me. I’m not sure I’m ready for this. I never knew I had a family, let alone one as powerful as this one.
Tyler looks up and catches my eye and smiles reassuringly. “It’ll be fine, baby. Stick with me and don’t falter, no matter what you hear.”
I nod and try to raise a smile. “That may be easier said than done.”
It doesn’t take long before we arrive at the top floor. As the doors open Tyler looks at me and takes a deep breath. “Well, this is it. Judgment day. For them anyway.”
He laughs, a bitter, hollow, laugh and I recoil at the hate flashing from his eyes. I almost pity the men we are about to face.
We step out into another huge reception area. I see this time there are many people crowding the space. Doors run off at every angle and there’s a buzz of expectation that accompanies a busy establishment. Then, as we walk through the space it falls silent. People stop what they are doing and turn to stare. Their mouths fall to the floor as they stare at Tyler in astonishment. I’m not noticed and may as well be invisible because they can’t tear their eyes from him.
He looks around and nods as he passes. There are no exchanges and the sea of people pass as we make our way to a door at the end of the reception area. I swallow hard as I see the name on that door. Chuck Mortimer, CEO.
Tyler reaches for the handle and his hand hovers over it for the briefest of seconds. Then he appears to steel himself and with one brief reassuring look toward me, we go inside.
25
Tyler
I think my life flashes before my eyes as we walk into the room. Then I see him. Chuck Mortimer. Billionaire bastard - my father.
He is facing the window and for a brief moment, I’m not sure if he even registers that we are in the room. We stand before his desk and then he turns. Slowly, painfully and wearily. It shocks me. My father looks a broken man as he turns to face us. Then I see the shock register in his eyes. For a moment he looks as if he’s hallucinating. Then he blinks and stares harder. He recoils and his mouth opens then closes again. I just smile bitterly.
“Hello, father.”
He gasps and takes a step backward; almost stumbling as he catches the chair behind him. He whispers, “Tyler, oh my god, I thought you were dead.”
He makes to move toward me and I hold up my hand, shuddering at the thought of his touch. He will never touch me again.
“Stay where you are, I’m not here for a reunion.”
He stops in his tracks and looks bewildered. “What do you mean, what’s going on? What happened to you?”
He turns and notes Sydney standing next to me and the questions show in his eyes.
I turn to Sydney and pull out the chair. “Here you go, honey, you may as well take a seat and watch the show.”
She smiles at me reassuringly and my heart leaps. She promised to stand by me and for now she will keep that promise. I wonder how long before that promise is broken.
I take the other seat and lean forward pointing to the chair opposite.
“Take a seat, father, you may need it when you hear why I’m here.”
I watch as he sits in the chair as if in slow motion. He is shocked, I can see it loud and clear. He shakes his head as if to clear the fog from his brain and says in a low voice.
“You better have a good explanation for this boy.”
I laugh but it holds no humor. “There he is, my loving father. I almost thought you had lost sight of the man I know and hate.”
As I speak I feel the venom spilling from my lips and he looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Drop the act, boy. If you want to impress your fancy piece, then you’ve come to the wrong place.”
He leans on the table and I see a little of the old fire rekindling in his eyes. “Explain yourself, boy and it had better be good.”
I shrug. “All in good time, daddy dearest. All will be revealed at the board meeting that I believe we are now running late for.”
My father looks at me angrily and then at his watch. He growls. “What makes you think you’re invited. Only members of the board are required and you are nothing but my lackey. Maybe you need reminding of that, or did you suffer a blow to your head convincing you otherwise?”
I feel the hate eating me up inside but I face him with a calm, indifferent look.
“Lead on, father. I think Marshall may be very interested in what I have to tell him.”
Just for a second, I see doubt enter his eyes. He is rattled and unsure. I take a moment to savor the moment. He is usually so in control, so calm and self-assured. He always gets what he wants and has always held the winning hand. It will be interesting to see what he does when he realizes that this time the cards are all stacked in my favor.
He looks across at Sydney and his lip curls. “Your bitch can wait here. Typical of you, Tyler. Always running around town with a piece of skirt on your arm. What’
s this, your latest booty call come to watch the big man at work?”
I stand up and lean on the desk and face him angrily. “Don’t you speak about her that way. Her name is Sydney, and you had better treat her with the respect she deserves.”
He just rolls his eyes and looks at us dismissively.
“Fine. Come and say your piece and then you had better start groveling. If you think you can just waltz in here and pick up where you left off with no explanations or apologies then you’re deluded. God knows I don’t deserve kids like you and your sister - the ungrateful whore. Shacked up with a sorry load of bikers, spreading her legs for them and acting like the whore her mother was.”
I hear Sydney gasp beside me and feel the blood boiling in my veins. In my mind, I count to ten—slowly. I close my eyes and channel my thoughts away from punching his fucking head in.
Instead, I straighten up and turn to Sydney, offering her my arm. “Shall we?”
She stands up shakily and I hate my father even more for acting like the shit he is in front of her. Then I turn and walk away from the bastard toward an even greater one. Sydney’s brother.
Sydney
I think I’m about to pass out with nerves. That was horrible. Witnessing the exchange between Tyler and his father shocked me more than anything I have ever seen. So much hatred and so much bitterness boiling over into a rage that threatens to explode. I knew there was no love lost but Tyler’s father is something else. Now I’m beginning to understand.
I feel the stares follow us as we walk toward another door off the reception area. Once again, there is silence and I see the lowered gazes as Chuck Mortimer strides across the room in a rage.
We reach the door and I tremble inside as I hear him say, “You’re not gonna believe what’s here, Marshall.”
I almost bail but Tyler grips my arm tightly and whispers, “Stay strong, baby. Remember, I’ve got your back.”
Then I’m thrust inside a large light-filled room and as my eyes adjust they focus on only one thing. My long-lost brother.
He looks up in surprise from his huge seat at the end of the table. I shiver with trepidation as I take my first sight of him. He is way older than me and wears his body fat like a layer of overindulgence. He’s a large man with thinning hair and an expanding waistline. His clothes look expensive and he has that self-satisfied look of a man who gets what he wants.
His gaze rakes over me as if he is undressing me with his laser-sharp stare. I feel sick as I see the interest flare in his eyes. He doesn’t even have a clue.
Then he turns to Tyler and looks shocked. He turns to Chuck and sneers. “So, your boy couldn’t even die properly.”
He turns to Tyler and snorts. “What’s this, boy, your money run out and you need your old job back? What’s with the girl - a coming home gift for your uncle Marshall?”
He laughs as if he’s the funniest guy on earth and I watch as Tyler clenches his fists and struggles to maintain his composure. Then he pulls out a chair for me and one for himself and says in a strong voice.
“I’ve only come for one thing and that’s your company.”
There’s silence as the two men look at each other in surprise. Then as Chuck shakes his head, Marshall bursts out laughing. “You must have taken a blow to the head, boy. What makes you think you have any claim to this company?”
Tyler grins and I can tell he is going to enjoy every minute of this. He leans back and unbuttons his jacket and drapes his arm across the back of my chair.
“I don’t have any claim as such, but my wife does.”
This time Marshall doesn’t look quite so confident. He turns and looks at me as if seeing me for the first time. The blood drains from his face and he looks shell-shocked. Tyler’s father laughs and then sneers. “You’re out of your mind, son. As if some slip of a girl has any claim to this company.”
Marshall appears frozen to the spot as Tyler carries on. “We both know that’s not true, don’t we, Marshall? I mean, surely you have something you want to say to your long-lost sister.”
Now Chuck Mortimer looks shocked, and sits back heavily in his chair. He looks at me as if he can’t believe his eyes and just looks at Marshall for some sort of explanation.
Tyler laughs softly. “Well, as you appear to have lost the use of your tongue, let me tell you how it’s gonna be. I believe you have something that belongs to Sydney… let me see… oh yes, 40% of your company.”
I sit quivering inside - at a loss as to what to do now. The looks the men are giving me means I should be dead right about now.
Tyler says harshly, “I thought you may be surprised, so I had the liberty of drawing up the transfer contract.”
He reaches inside his pocket and pulls out an envelope. He pushes it across the table toward Marshall and clicks the end of his pen. “I’m sure my father can act as a witness, after all, it wouldn’t be the first time.”
Chuck looks at him angrily, snarling, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Tyler shrugs. “Oh, I don’t know. It appears that the two of you have been quite the accomplices over the years. Planning your empire and moving the people around you like pawns in a chess game. Well, I have also learned the game and you are about to suffer checkmate.”
Suddenly, Marshall laughs, and the sound makes my soul take cover. He pushes the contract back toward Tyler and sneers. “Good try but it will take more than your word and some tart you brought in off the street to make a claim to my company. I need proof that this girl is related to me in any way shape or form. Everyone knows that I’m the sole heir to the Emmerson fortune - it’s in the will. There is no mention of a sister so if you don’t mind, you can both get the fuck out of here.”
I try to remain calm and am grateful for Tyler who speaks up. “We’re going nowhere. I thought you would resist, in fact, I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t. I’ll just have to call in my lawyer who has the necessary proof and the draft contracts. You may think you can get away with this but not this time, Marshall. This time your sins are about to destroy you and take my sorry excuse for a father down with you.”
Then Tyler gets up and walks over to the door. He opens it and we hear him say, “You can come in now.”
26
Tyler
As I wait for my lawyer to gather his things and join us I think about what has happened so far. I knew what their reactions would be. Marshall Emmerson is a devious man and will be a formidable adversary. He’ll have planned for this eventuality and has no doubt got things tied up so tight it will take years, if not a lifetime, to unravel.
He sneers as we walk back into the room and faces us angrily.
“Get this man out of my office and follow him. How dare you stroll in here and make these demands? Anything you have to say can be said to my lawyers. Now get the hell out.”
I just laugh and motion for my lawyer to take a seat. “Calm down, Marshall. You’ll give yourself a heart attack. Maybe I should stress that you should just shut the fuck up before I open a massive can of worms that will eat you alive. Now be a good boy and listen to the nice man.”
Marshall looks as if he is about to explode and my father looks angrier than I have ever seen him. Yes, this is what I know and hate. However, this time the controlled becomes the controller, and it feels fucking amazing.
I nod to my lawyer and wink at Sydney as she sits frozen to her seat. Just for a moment, I contemplate taking her outside to check if she’s ok but as she catches my eye, she smiles shakily and nods. My heart lifts as I see how strong she is. This can’t be easy and yet she is handling herself magnificently.
My lawyer starts to speak. “I have here the revised Last Will and Testament of Marshall Emmerson Senior dated six months before his passing. It states that his assets are to be equally divided between his children, Marshall Emmerson Junior and Sydney Lawrence his estranged child from Isabel Lawrence.”
Marshall slams his fist on the table and roars, “Lies, utter lies.
”
I laugh enjoying the show way more than I ever thought I would. “Calm down, Marshall, let the man speak. You will have ample opportunity to contest this.”
Marshall sinks back in his seat and glowers as my lawyer continues.
“It’s stated that in the interests of the company’s future the shares will be equally divided but controlled by Marshall Emmerson Junior. He will have full control over Miss. Lawrence’s shares but must pay her a dividend in line with the yearly profits of the company. She will be unable to take a seat on the board and have no say in the running of the company.”
Marshall looks around him in triumph and sneers. “There, what did I tell you? Nothing changes. I still control the company and all she gets is a yearly check. That is if she is who she says she is. Now, if you don’t mind I’ve heard enough of this shit and will leave you to fucking prove it. Oh, and good luck with that because I fight dirty and you won’t get a dime from this company all the time I’m in control.”
He almost spits his words out like venom toward Sydney who has the grace to remain calm and composed, although, I can see the doubt enter her eyes.
I just smile and say to my lawyer, “Carry on Mr. Barnes.”
He looks back to the will and reads, “This arrangement will change if she marries. There is a condition to this, and that is the choice of her husband.”
I think everyone holds their breath, me included as I wait for the first bullet to hit her. “Marshall Emmerson Senior has stipulated that she must marry Tyler Mortimer, son of Chuck Mortimer. Only then can he take her seat on the board and ownership of the shares falls to his name.”
My father looks up in shock and shouts, “Why him?”
Marshall punches the desk in anger and roars, “Over my dead body.”
Sydney just sits staring ahead, her face devoid of any emotion and that’s what’s scaring me the most. I look to her for any sign at all. I want to stop everything and check she’s ok with this. I want her to look at me and smile and know that she understands. But she doesn’t. She just stares straight ahead, motionless and unresponsive and my heart shatters.
The Billion Dollar Baby_A Billionaire Romance Page 12