Madison presses her hand to her chest. She looks like she’s staring at a ghost. “You mean you think they were trying to hurt him?”
“Worse. The truck that rammed into Kalin wasn’t caused by an accident. They were obviously trying to kill him. You would never pick up on that by reading this ridiculous article. That’s what’s so frustrating.”
“Oh, my God! Annabelle, are you sure?” Her healthy glow drains to white as if an invisible vampire is sucking all the blood from her face.
“Yes. I was lucky to get out unscathed, and Kalin was lucky to get out of this alive.” I grab my purse and head for the door. “I should be back in an hour.”
“Do they know who it is?” Her expression tenses.
“That’s what we’re going to find out.”
~~~
Norman Wyatt has no intention of revealing his sources to Kalin. He simply ran with a report, and then quietly issued retractions in the back of the newspaper when anyone threatened to sue him. When Kalin had told him he wanted to see him this afternoon, Norman knew what it meant. But he isn’t about to fumble his employer into the hands of Kalin Davis, or have his name ruined in a front-page retraction.
Norman comes into the hospital wearing a gray blazer and white shirt. His beige-and-white beard matches his untidy hair. His circular eyeglasses are split into bifocals under a thick, two-toned frame of brown and beige, making the brown and beige color combination complete overkill.
“Mr. Wyatt, this is Annabelle. She’s my marketing assistant.”
“A pleasure.” Norman nods at me and turns his attention to Kalin.
“This is my last conversation with you, Norman, before I find your sources myself,” Kalin says. “Your company is public, and I can easily buy the stock to get what I want. Your company won’t be able to stop it. My only hesitation is that I don’t know what to do with a newspaper that specializes in ruining lives.” Kalin glances at his hands folded on his lap for a moment before returning his eyes to Norman. “It’s such a piece of trash.”
“Now, Mr. Davis. Don’t be so self-righteous,” Norman snarls. “After all, your clients advertise with us.”
Kalin smiles. “We’re branching out.”
“What are you going to do with a newspaper, Mr. Davis?”
Kalin’s attractive smile turns up into a sneer. “Selling ads in newspapers also seems like such a profitable business. It would make a nice hedge to the business.” He pauses for a moment before returning his eyes to Norman. “Or maybe I’ll do the world a favor and shut it down.”
Norman fidgets for a moment, and the smug look on his face begins to sour. “And if I call your bluff?”
“My reputation means more to me than your shitty little newspaper.”
I stifle a laugh behind my MacBook.
“I’m between a rock and a hard place, Mr. Davis. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”
“You’re mostly damned if you don’t work with me, Norman. You can still squeak out of this after you give me the names. But I’m going to find out who they are regardless, and I can assure you it will be much more painful for you.”
Norman swallows and curls his shoulders over his chest, clasping his wrist with his hand. “I don’t believe you.”
Kalin glares at Norman for a moment and narrows his eyes. “Don’t test me, Norman.”
“Just tell me how much you already know, Mr. Davis.” Norman squirms in place as his eyes dart to me and back to Kalin.
“I know what the board members are up to. I’ve known for a long time. I just didn’t know they would stoop this low.”
Norman gazes down and rocks on his feet. “How much do you know, Mr. Davis?”
“What, you want names? How about Jeff Corman and Brian McMillan.”
Norman swallows hard.
“Just confirm it, and you can keep your shitty little paper. Tell your bosses you had to reveal the sources to save them from being exposed. Maybe you can all get out of this without ruining your careers.”
Norman shuffles in place and lifts his head. “You have them. Brian McMillan and Madison Jacobs. Those are my sources.”
“Madison?” I whisper.
Kalin places his hand out and tilts his head to keep me quiet.
“You wanted names, you got ’em. Besides, murder charges will sell a hell of a lot more papers than reckless driving. What do I care?” He shrugs. “They won’t be around much longer, anyway.”
“You’re a cold son of a bitch, Norman.”
“It’s just dirty laundry to me. Don’t jump down my throat. Your business keeps us all alive and well.” A sadistic grin spreads across his face.
“Just get your story right when the news breaks,” Kalin breathes.
“It’s a career saver, alright. Always nice doing business with you, Mr. Davis,” he gloats.
“I’ll be in touch,” Kalin says with a hint of warning.
After Norman leaves, Kalin turns to me. “Forward the names to my lawyer. He’ll want to follow-up on this.”
A sour feeling nauseates my stomach. “Madison?”
“We haven’t confirmed anything yet, sweetheart. Let’s just have Larry check into it first. I only have a few more days left in this place. I want you staying at my place in Southampton. My security team is there, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Kalin, what about my project with Madison? We’re letting all of our clients know that you’re coming back. I have a lunch date with her in fifteen minutes. Do you still want me to go?”
“Yes. You’ll be in a public place. My security team will be tagging you from now on. Stay in sight and don’t let anyone take you to a private area.”
Kalin averts his eyes.
“Kalin, is everything okay?”
“Yes. I just want this to be over.”
I stand and step toward him. “So do I.” I rub my hand over his, and his gorgeous brown eyes rake over me with a hint of sadness. He takes me in his arms and embraces me, closing his eyes as if relishing a moment that can be ripped away from us at any time.
~~~
I notice the security team Kalin has following me from across the road that leads into the restaurant parking lot. I can see why Lia didn’t want them around everywhere. They’ve tracked my every move and are intimidating as hell with their earpieces and black SUV’s.
Madison smiles at me and waves, and I find it almost impossible to believe that this beautiful young woman with so much promise had anything to do with setting Kalin up for something so horrendous. My mind refuses to believe it, but I don’t let my guard down. I pretend to pick up where we left off, while intentionally planning to ask a few probing questions along the way.
“How was your meeting, Annabelle?” Her bright smile matches the warmth in her eyes. My heart pounds in my chest and I’m suddenly not sure if I’m talking with a friend or a psychopath. I imagine a red button under the table that I can push to call for help if she lunges at me.
“Lots of legal stuff. Boring.” I laugh inside at the irony of it all, which helps me to put on a convincing smile.
“Let’s get to it.” Madison whips out her iPad and shows me the survey results. “Almost every large client we had left because Kalin was no longer with TALVIS, and it showed in the company culture and in the customer service. More clients meant more money, according to the new TALVIS. As account managers took on more clients, they were spending less and less time with our most valued clients who had been with the company for years. A few clients’ comments crystalized the change:
‘What had been a rewarding relationship was quickly reduced to a series of business transactions in Kalin’s absence. No thanks.’
‘Your new management has no interest in our business. All I could see in their eyes were dollar signs.’
‘When Kalin returns, give me a call. Otherwise, don’t bother.’
“Ouch,” I bark while trying to stay focused on the task at hand.
“Kalin’s going to love seeing
these. When he comes back, all of these clients will return, especially if he fires the management team.”
“Knowing Kalin, that’s exactly what he’ll do.” I smile. “Madison, can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure sweetie, what is it?”
“Did all these changes take you by surprise? I mean, you’ve been with this company for five years, and now I get hired. He hires me for a position that you’re much more qualified for than me. Are you okay with all of this?”
“Sure. I mean, it’s Kalin’s company, not mine. If he hired you, he sees something in you that he likes. I don’t question him anymore. After all, he built this into a multi-billion-dollar company from nothing. He obviously knows something I don’t or I’d be doing it.” She chuckles.
“And now we’re seeing each other. It just seems like a lot. Are you okay with all of this?”
“Sure. Kalin’s single. You’re single.” She shrugs. “It’s only natural,” she says with a glint of amusement.
“I’m serious, Madison. We haven’t talked about it before, and I was hired out of the blue. Kalin gave me this great position, and then everything just happened so fast. We haven’t really talked about it.”
A flash of warmth blushes her face, and she places her hand on my wrist. “Kalin knows what he’s doing. He went through a period of uncertainty when he didn’t know what he wanted. When he came back from Europe, he looked so lost. I wanted to be there for him.” Madison takes a deep breath. “I’m sure he told you we became more than coworkers then.”
“You…you were together?” I stammer.
“Yes. He didn’t tell you?”
“No, he didn’t tell me.” I feel my forehead tighten, and my eyes drift to the side.
“Annabelle, sweetie, this was before he knew you. This was before he even met you.”
Suddenly I forget that I may be in danger sitting with Madison, and I want to kill Kalin myself.
“He just wasn’t ready, Annabelle. He broke my heart. I admit it. But I’m over it. I just want him back with the company now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought Kalin would tell you when the time was right.” She presses her hand over mine.
“Well, he didn’t.” I frown.
“This shouldn’t come between you two, Annabelle.” She angles her head to try to make eye contact with me, but I’m staring at the floor.
“Were you in love with him?” I lift my eyes slightly.
Madison takes a deep breath and smiles at me. “Kalin’s easy to fall in love with, Annabelle.”
“Was he in love with you?” I finally pick up my eyes to study her face.
“In all honesty, I don’t know if Kalin believed in love anymore.” She glances down. “He had his heart torn out and I don’t really think there was anything left for me. I just wanted to be there for him.”
“I was just joking with his parents that he’s the hopeless romantic.” I puff out a weak laugh.
Her eyes return back to mine. “Maybe now. Maybe now that he’s met you. When I knew him during those dark days, he was just hopeless.” She manages a tremulous smile.
“What changed?”
“You, Annabelle. You brought him back.” I try to find any hint of dark emotions that may have led to the viciousness of that night, but there are none there. No jealousy, no rage. Only admiration and love for Kalin.
“Madison, there are people on the board who don’t have Kalin’s interest at heart. Do you know who they are?”
Madison shrugs. “They’re why Kalin came back. They’re just a bunch of money-grubbing oil executives that found their way into the company. I call them the frack boys. They’re like frat boys except with billions of dollars. They don’t care about the company. They just want to cash out. This company is a milk cow they crave with lots of perks. I know they don’t want Kalin coming back.”
“Do you think they would go so far as to kill him?”
Madison picks her eyes up to find mine. “You mean the frack boys?”
“Yeah.”
She takes in a deep breath and gathers her thoughts for a few seconds. “If you would have asked me that six months ago, I would have said you were crazy. But now I’m not so sure.”
“Why?”
“Because when I see these guys destroy land and water and lives for money, I don’t put anything past them. Money is goal number one.” She holds her index finger up while twisting her mouth to one side.
“Did they tell you anything?” I ask in an innocent tone, in an attempt to conceal my suspicions.
“No. I’m the enemy. I either vote with them or get out of their way. But if you’re right, and this wasn’t an accident, then I feel sorry for the guys who go after Kalin.”
“It wasn’t an accident.” My tone sounds harsher than I intended. I glance at the black SUV just to make sure I’m safe. I honestly don’t know who to trust and what Madison is capable of doing. I imagine a red button again. “They didn’t want us to survive.”
“If that’s true, they will have hell to pay. Kalin doesn’t like anyone fucking with him.” She lifts her head and her eyes lock on mine. “But even worse, the ones he loves.” She pats me on the hand and smiles.
I smile weakly, and my eyes flick to the SUV again and back to her. My heart is racing and I hope she’s not noticing my pulse hammering in my wrist. “I have to ask you, Madison. I feel silly asking this, but here it goes. Did you know anything about some members of the board wanting to kill Kalin?”
“Oh, gosh, no, sweetheart. I thought it was strange that all these executives were coming in from ProEast Energy, but that’s just because they smell money. But come to think of it, when Kalin announced that he would be returning to the company as the CEO, I think it took them all by surprise. None of us expected it. We were all so happy. But others—not so much.” Her mouth twists into a frown, and she shakes her head.
“I don’t think they expected us to survive the crash. Kalin most certainly should not have survived.”
“If what you are saying has any truth, we should tell the police. You’re not safe.”
“We already have.” A feeling of warmth mixed with the tension. I was more convinced than ever that Madison had nothing to do with this. But why was she given as a source from the paper?
Chapter Twenty
At the hospital, Dr. Brandt gives me the best news I’ve heard since he saved Kalin’s life. A series of X-rays and tests confirms that Kalin is well enough to leave the hospital. Dr. Brandt smiles at me. “Keep feeding him those delicious home-cooked meals, Annabelle, and I am sure he will be as strong as an ox in no time. His heart and lungs are all in excellent shape.”
We enter his room, and Kalin is dressed in jeans and a sports shirt, and looking sexy as hell. “Where did you get the clothes?”
“My parents dropped them off. While you were away from me.” He dabs my nose with his finger.
“I was taking care of business, Kalin. We have to talk.”
“Sure.”
Kalin gives Dr. Brandt a loose hug. “Thank you so much, doctor. I think it’s safe to say you saved my life.”
“That’s my job,” he says with a matter-of-fact smile. The nurse smiles from behind the table as she removes the chart from the room. “We’ll miss you two, but don’t come back.”
We laugh and I hug them both. “Thank you so much,” I puff. I feel tears building behind my eyes, and I wipe them away before they come streaming down. I press my small hands to the strong curves of Kalin’s chest. “I would say you were in good hands.”
“Are we still talking about the doctors?”
I bemused smile spreads across my mouth and I hit my fist on his shoulder in amusement.
Kalin takes my hand and presses it over his lips. “I can’t wait to get my hands on you. Do you have any idea…?”
Kalin’s parents walk in and I quickly move my hand as if I was caught doing something bad. Joy radiates in their eyes, and I stan
d back and let them have a moment.
“Good as new, son. I’m so proud of you for pulling through this. You never gave up.” Peter gives him a big hug with a couple of pats on the back, and Lauren kisses him on the cheek.
“I feel twenty years younger knowing you’re well,” Lauren says.
“You look twenty years younger, Mom. You look beautiful.” Kalin embraces his mom.
We gather a few of Kalin’s belongings and leave the hospital.
His parents whisper to me that they want to give Kalin a ride home in the rental and I smile and agree. I take the Audi and follow them home, suddenly realizing that I have little chance of speaking with Kalin alone this evening.
I take a calming breath as we pull onto the road leading to his Southampton home. The house is unusually dark, with the outside lights on and the interior lights dimmed. “Did you guys forget to turn the security on?” Kalin asks as we walk toward the front entrance.
Lauren looks concerned. “I don’t think so.”
Kalin moves ahead of us, and steps onto the porch. He places his hands next to his face to peer through the front window. “Wait here,” he commands. He approaches the front door, slips the key in the lock, and turns the knob. Pushing the door open, he scans the room for anything unusual. Suddenly a loud noise roars through the room. “Welcome home!” The back lights go on and the room erupts into applause as a hundred or so employees, friends and family welcome him home.
My hand flies to my chest. Kalin looks at me and I shrug. “I had no idea. I was with you every day.”
“Is this the best idea for a recovering heart patient?” Kalin rumbles from the foyer.
Madison speaks up from the front of the group. “We already checked with the doctor, Kalin. You’re as good as new. Welcome home!” The room erupts into laughter and applause. We fan in from behind Kalin, and stand next to him.
Kalin stands in front of the group and gestures for the crowd to quiet down.
“Just when I thought I was going to get a good night’s sleep.”
Laughter spreads across the room.
“I have to tell you, this comes as quite a surprise to me. I remember the dark days after this happened, when I was drifting between life and death. And no, I didn’t see a bright light. But I could have sworn I heard an angel or two helping me find my way home.” Kalin turns and smiles at me, and I glance down and back up at him. “And I did see things more clearly. I saw people like you in my life, and how lucky I am to have your support. Every one of you here today, all of you who sent me gifts, and baked for me, and sent me flowers and cards. You helped pull me through. I made it because of you.”
Undeniably His Page 20