Life sucked.
“At least you had a life once. Mine has always been in the toilet.”
Her eyes popped open, and she lifted her head. Had she said that out loud? “And I've just complicated it even more. Do you mind my asking why you’re still here?”
He focused his attention out the window for several minutes then turned back to her. “Why not, my life is in the toilet, but it’s no secret. I have until Monday afternoon to answer my grandfather’s lawyer and either accept or decline the terms of the will.”
“I should have asked you about that earlier. What did you find out?” She pulled herself into a sitting position, pushing the quilt down to her lap.
“My grandfather has me over a barrel. I have to listen to the will. I can't believe he gets to me even when he’s dead.” He gritted the words out as he paced the room. He’d gone from relaxed to tight as a guitar string in ten seconds flat.
“But you only had to listen, right? You don’t have to do what he says.” Rose was really having a problem following this conversation. “I guess I just don't understand.”
Adam turned to her, his face grim. “He gave me everything, but in order to inherit, I have to stay here for six months. I have to manage the five businesses dear old grandpa bought. At the end of the time period, they have to show a profit, and they aren’t now. If I leave or don’t succeed, everything goes to his secretary.”
“Why would he give everything to a secretary and not his grandson?” Rose asked. She cleared her throat then sipped at the water. “Was he in love with her?”
“I can’t imagine him loving anyone, especially not her,” he said. “Then again, after meeting her, it looks like they were two of a kind.”
“What makes you say that?” Rose asked.
“She wouldn’t look me in the eye, acted like I was a bug on a stick. She's been with him for years, and knowing him, I can't imagine staying that long by choice. The old man has set up a contest between us. She knows the businesses, and I have control.
“You said before the attorney had mentioned a radio station, and since KTLY is the only privately owned one in the area, I’m guessing that’s it. What else is involved?” Rose asked.
“He used to have all his real estate money tied up in condos and rental houses. I don’t know what properties are in the will. The attorney tried to give me some information outlining them, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk.” He was still pacing around the room wired so tight she thought he might shatter. “All I remember is Mr. Bailey mentioning five businesses.”
“Are they in Tullyville or Trinidad?”
“Tullyville, so there’s almost no chance of making them profitable. Since the new highway went in a few years back, the traffic all goes through Trinidad.
“Damn,” Rose said.
“I can think of a more colorful word to use,” Adam said. “One thing I do know. If I don’t take over operation of them, they go to Simon’s secretary. She can do what she wants with them. Simon set this up to punish me, to have me work for six months then still lose it all, to fail again.” He took a deep breath and blew it out with a sigh. “As far as I’m concerned, she can have the whole enchilada.”
“Well, it seems to me, and I know I'm not thinking too clearly here, head injury and all, that you need to find out just where you stand. Can you call the lawyers and get a copy of the will and the other paperwork?”
“I could, but why would I?”
“Don’t you think you should look at all the angles before you walk away?”
“Why? I’ve got a life. I’ve got rodeos to enter, and I’ve got broncs to ride, and none of that has anything to do with grandpa’s games.”
“It won’t take more than a day to find out what’s going on. You could still leave, but . . .” She hesitated, not sure if she should say what was on her mind.
“But, what?” His posture was filled with tension, his arms crossed.
“But, then you’d know. You’d know you’re doing the right thing, not just running to avoid something unpleasant.” She held her breath, waiting to see if he’d take her words as an insult.
Adam stared at the toes of his boots for several seconds, the muscles in his jaw working, before he came to a decision. With a short nod, he pulled a card out of his wallet, lifted the phone and dialed. By the time he’d hung up the receiver, he had arranged to pick up the papers in one hour.
“Can I borrow your car again?” At the mention of the car, he chuckled and his smile transformed his face. “Miss Cool.”
“If just thinking about Miss Cool can make you smile, she’s yours for the asking.”
“Thanks for everything, Rose,” he said, as he picked up the keys from the entry table.
“Thanks for what?” she asked, but Adam was already gone. He'd been here when she needed him and hadn’t asked for any payback. He had things backward. She owed him.
-#-
“I’d do anything for love,” Lillian sang as she pulled her purchases from the myriad of bags spread across her bed, “but I won’t do that.” Meatloaf wasn’t much to look at, but he sure could sing.
Today had been the best of her life. She'd been catered to and waited on and made to feel like one of the important people. “When the money is mine, I’m hiring servants.” She filled her empty closet with the new clothes then sat back in wonder.
So many bright colors, pretty fabrics and sparkly shoes, the sight of them made her dizzy. If Adam didn't notice her in these, he’d have to be blind. Once he’d noticed her exterior, she could impress him with her knowledge of the small empire Simon had left him.
Lillian needed to build trust with Adam, and she hadn't gotten off to a great start. If I'd known the old man wasn't leaving me anything, I'd have been nicer to his grandson.
She dressed in silky, eye-popping purple lounging pajamas that hugged her curves in a way that would have given Mr. Howell apoplexy. Looking into the mirror, she smoothed her hands over her hips. With a pleased nod to her new image, she left all her new things, and hurried to the office to study up on all the aspects of Simon Howell, III’s empire.
The first business file she came upon was for a Tullyville motel. It had been in business since the fifties and had been a moneymaker for years until the new highway was built along the other side of Trinidad, away from Tullyville. According to the purchase papers, Steven and Michael Prentiss had owned the motel.
They’d struggled and were on the verge of closing down when Simon Howell approached them with an offer they didn’t refuse. She’d have to check these boys out. This place had possibilities.
The night wore on, but Lillian didn’t notice. She was immersed in the job of finding facts and figures on the assets of the will. Putting details into perspective gave her incentive and hope. The establishments were a mess, losing money at every turn. The only reasonably profitable company was Landon’s Garage, and Simon had run it into the ground by staffing it with twice as many employees as it warranted.
Perfect.
Excitement darted in electric pulses from the base of her spine to her fingers and toes. She closed her eyes, shivered then took a deep breath and returned to the papers.
The other three firms included a local radio station, a flower shop and a restaurant. By the looks of the profit and loss statements, they’d all fold tomorrow without the influx of Simon’s money, and the money problems weren’t recent problems. The businesses had all fought closure for years.
Lillian rocked the chair back, perched her bare feet on the desk and let the smile that was trying to escape spread across her face.
One thing was clear from her research. Adam had his work cut out for him. Collecting all the money was going to be a piece of cake, with ice cream on top. If she bided her time, the whole scheme would fall in on itself, with Adam at the bottom of the wreckage.
She sat up, dropping her feet to the cool marble floor. The clock said a quarter after one, and she wasn’t a bit tired. Adrenaline was coursing th
rough her veins, along with the caffeine from several pots of coffee.
The anxiety she’d felt since the meeting with Mr. Bailey evaporated. Her world had righted itself, and she was looking forward to the next few months. After all, a master manipulator, Simon Howell, III, had taught her the fine points of the game.
Leaving the paper work spread over the antique desk, she padded up the winding staircase to her suite of rooms, folded the bedspread back with military precision then slid between the sheets with a sigh. If Adam Howell, or whatever he called himself these days, thought he was going to take away what was rightfully hers, he’d better have a damn good plan, because hers was foolproof.
-#-
Rose napped off and on during the two hours it took Adam to retrieve the paperwork on the will. She was on the couch, watching television when the door opened. The aroma of food made her mouth water.
When Adam carried in bags from The Rock House Café, Rose realized she was famished. She hadn't eaten much more than soup and cereal in several days, and the Rock House was known throughout the area for the best burgers around.
Rose couldn’t get the wrapper off the food fast enough. As she sank her teeth into the medium-rare burger, she moaned.
Adam’s gaze shot up to Rose’s face, raising the temperature twenty degrees. “I wish I could get that kind of reaction from a woman.”
Rose stiffened, glaring at him over the edge of her wrapper.
Adam ducked his head, pulled a small table closer and spread out the fries and sodas, suddenly very interested in the food. After dragging a kitchen chair up to the table, he pulled at the wrapper on his burger.
“Wait ‘till you taste this,” Rose muttered then stuck the burger in her mouth for another bite.
“I did grow up here,” Adam said. “I know The Rock House.”
“That’s right. You’re a Tullyvillager.” She scraped several fries through the special sauce, poked them into her mouth then crumpled the burger wrapper and tossed it into the bag. “Crap. I might as well toughen up and call Eddie.”
The call wasn’t going to be easy. Eddie was always in a bad mood, and his favorite target was whichever disk jockey was closest.
Adam tossed the phone to her and went into the kitchen to give her some privacy.
She dialed Eddie’s cell phone and waited as it rang, tapping her fingernails against the hard plastic of the receiver.
“Ed.”
She heard his usual greeting and cringed. Normally she was glad to take him on, but today, after battling her headache, she didn’t have the energy. “Hi Eddie, it's Rose.”
“Rose? We used to have a Rose here, but she didn’t show up for work, and I had to fire her candy ass.” His nasty laugh rippled loud and clear through the phone line.
“Come on, Eddie. Let me explain.”
“Are you gonna explain where you been when you should’a been here workin’? You didn't run off and get married, did ya?”
“How nice of you to ask, Eddie. As a matter of—”
He didn’t give her a chance to complete the sentence. Eddie loved the sound of his own voice. “Well, if you are gonna skip work without callin’ in, you can just forget comin’ in at all,” he grumbled. “I got plenty of people wantin’ your job.”
Even though she felt like crap, his nasty attitude pushed her mad button. “Listen you jerk. I wrecked my car and was in the hospital. If you're going to fire me for that, I'm going to sue you. The local ACLU attorney will love this.” she said, anger coursing through her veins and sending sparks flashing out her fingertips.
But she shouldn’t have yelled.
Yelling was bad. Pressure built in her skull, and she imagined the mess it would make when her head exploded.
Adam stuck his head around the door. “You okay?”
She nodded. Careful not to shake her head, she turned her attention back to the phone call.
Eddie’s attitude changed direction like a compass. “Easy Rose. I didn’t mean ta yell. I was so worried when you didn't show up at work that I been a little testy, is all. You all right now?”
Threats of a lawsuit seemed to work pretty well on her boss. She'd have to keep that little tidbit tucked away for future use.
“Look, my car ran off the road, and I hit my head.” She left out the part about the aliens. “I can be back to work on Monday night if that works for you.”
“Better be or you’ll find yourself lookin for another job,” he grumbled. It was nice to know Eddie reverted to form quickly. Nice to know some things didn’t change.
She hung up, glad that call was over. She wasn't afraid she'd lose her job. Eddie would have hell finding someone to replace her. She just hated the confrontation that was in every conversation with her boss.
“Gee, thanks for your concern, Eddie,” she said to no one.
Adam brought her a coke and pulled a chair up beside the couch. “Remind me not to get on your bad side, tiger. Do you feel good enough to go over the info I got from the attorney or is it nap-time again?”
“Very funny. What have you got?” she asked.
Adam opened a navy blue folder, brought out a stack of papers and shuffled through them. “I get the house. Not too big a deal.”
“What do you mean? That place is big enough to house the Denver Broncos with or without Peyton Manning. It’s a freaking mansion.”
“Mansion or shack, I'll never set foot in it again. I suppose I can sell it.” He flipped to the next page and scanned the information. “Most of the money is in stocks and bonds. This says five small businesses are scattered around Tullyville. The kicker is I have to live here and make these companies profitable in six months. Not one of them is operating in the black now.”
Rose sat up and slid down the couch, closer to the table. She picked up the page that listed the businesses covered in the will. They were Landon's Garage & Automotive, Fairy Time Flowers, KTLY Radio, Tullyville Motel and Tullyville Steak and Seafood.
Five small businesses—five large failures.
“That's quite a list. It looks like you’re my boss, Boss,” she said then smiled. Smiling was good. Smiling didn't hurt as much as yelling.
“The odd thing is he purchased all of these within the last couple of years,” Adam stood and began pacing. “This is a scheme he’s designed. He never changed. He was always happiest planning someone’s downfall.” He sat beside Rose, a determined look on his face. “Well, I'm not playing his game. Monday, I’ll tell Bailey I'm out.”
By the tone of things, there was a lot going on here Rose didn't know about. She probably didn't want to know about it. She had enough problems of her own.
Out of curiosity, she turned to the next page. It was titled KTLY Radio. The title piqued her interest. She scanned the figures but wasn’t surprised. None of the disk jockeys made much money. Although they didn’t pay much out in wages, they took in even less. Their advertising budget was laughable.
If they could round up more in advertising dollars, they’d be close to breaking even.
She laid her hand on Adam’s shoulder and got lost in the heat of a simple touch. “I, uh.” She stammered, trying to get her train of thought back to the station.
Adam raised his gaze and looked into her eyes, waiting.
Rose stood to break the moment. She paced across the room before she spoke. “If you do back out, does that woman, the secretary, get control immediately? Can she close these shops or does she have the same deal you do, showing a profit?”
“According to the lawyer, she gets the whole thing, free and clear.” He took a deep breath, stared at his boots. “I hope that old man is burning in hell.”
“So she could shut down this town and walk away? If she closes those businesses, all the employees will be out of work. Would she do that? Do you know anything about her?”
“The only time I’ve met her was when Mr. Bailey introduced us,” Adam said. “I might as well have been a pile of dog shit. When she shook my hand, she acted like I’
d contaminated her.”
“Sounds like a charming woman.” Rose smiled when Adam glanced at her, a frown on his face. She reached to pat his shoulder, hesitated then dropped her hand to her side. “You have another day before you have to make your decision.”
“I don’t need another day. I can just leave now,” he said with a single, sharp nod.
“Wait. You have to consider all the angles.” Rose sat on the other end of the couch, took a long drink of her soda and leaned back.
“Why?”
“I was just thinking. I can always find some kind of job. I don't need much.” She grinned. “I don’t make much now, and I’m surviving.”
“What’s this got to do with me?”
She pointed at the list of businesses. “What if the other employees have families? Losing their jobs would mean moving away, selling their houses if they could or losing them.” She wasn’t talking to Adam anymore. She was thinking out loud. “Closing five businesses would hurt this town, and it can’t take much more.”
As Rose turned to him, she saw Adam staring at her. “What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
She realized what she’d said. “Look, I was just playing what if. I didn't mean to lay a guilt trip on you. You have your own reasons for not wanting to stay and your own life in Wyoming. Whatever you decide, it will be okay.” Her face softened as she looked into his eyes. “I know I asked you this before, but it would really solve our problems if you were an enchanted alien. Maybe you could pull up a little magic?”
“My magic seems to run to long strings of bad luck. I’m the original Black Magic Man. You don’t want my help,” he said with a grimace.
He was wrong about that. She’d never met a man like him before, one who made her think of starlight and mystery, magic and impossible things that were suddenly within reach. She’d learned early on not to get attached to people—Irwin was the one exception—so what was it about Adam that snuck up and grabbed her?
“Come here and sit beside me,” she said, patting the sofa cushion. “There's a Star Wars Trilogy on right now. If that doesn't fry your brain, nothing will.”
Radio Rose (Change of Heart Cowboys Book 1) Page 7