by Dara Girard
Chapter 31
Kenneth walked into the plain conservative office Radson had used as a boardroom since the company began. This was the room where all the decisions for the future of the company had been made. Today it would decide his.
“Here he is,” Stephanie announced. She sat at the round table in the middle of the room. “We’ve been waiting.”
One of the older members, Uncle Lamar, glanced at his watch. “I have a game at three.”
Kenneth glanced at Nathan then Brooke and took his seat. “Don’t worry. I won’t delay you.”
Stephanie looked around the table. “I believe we’re ready to begin.” They nodded.
Her gaze scanned the group. “I hope that I can count on everyone to vote with their conscience and in the best interest of the company. As we know we are at a crossroads. Brooke believes that it is time to sell Radson while our present CEO Kenneth believes that with proper management we can take Radson to the next level. The line of division is clear, let us cast our votes.”
Kenneth spoke up. “I understand if some of you do not feel that an outsider should be running this company. I am willing—”
“You don’t need to say anything young man,” Winifred said softly.
Uncle Lamar added, “Yes. Let’s vote and get out of here.”
Everyone cast their votes. Those wanting to sell included Brooke, Uncle Lamar, and her cousin Trent. Winifred, Stephanie and Kenneth voted to stay. They were in deadlock with one swing vote. All eyes turned to Nathan.
Kenneth looked at his friend, a knot formed in his stomach. After the way he’d treated him, Nathan had no reason to vote in his favor. By selling Nathan could make all the money he wanted and start his own company.
Nathan leaned back in his chair and glanced around the room. “Selling of course would be a quick solution to some of the problems Radson has faced recently.”
“Selling is the best solution,” Brooke said. “We all know that. This is business, not a time to be sentimental. You know that it is in the best interest of everyone in this company to sell. We all know that Kenneth is a good person and has good vision for the company but we also know that some things have come to light that may reflect badly on us.”
“Brooke,” Stephanie warned.
“No use hiding it, Sis. We can all read.” She leaned forward giving Nathan a significant look. “Aside from the bad publicity we know Kenneth has a tendency to overstretch himself and make rash decisions that are sometimes wrong.”
Nathan sent Kenneth a pointed glance. “I guess he’s not perfect.” He folded his arms. “But none of us are.” He fell silent and stared down at the table.
After a few seconds Stephanie asked, “So what’s your vote?”
“I think we should sell.” He kept his head bent, his voice low.
Brooke gave a little squeal of delight.
Nathan lifted his gaze and sent her a cold look. “But I vote we stay.”
A tense silence followed then Uncle Lamar stood. “Well, that’s that,” he said then left.
Brooke slowly stood, her features perfectly composed. “Oh, well.” She looked at her mother and her sister then left. Kenneth tried to catch Nathan’s attention, but he left before Kenneth had the chance. Soon only Kenneth and Stephanie remained.
“Thanks for your support,” he said. “You really covered my back.”
“I’d like to take all the credit, but you had a lot of help. Especially from Nathan.”
“I owe him an apology.”
“I’m sure he’d like that.”
“I’m not sure he’d listen.” He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortable with being in someone’s debt. “I can understand Brooke wanting to sell the company. It must have hurt that your father wanted me to be CEO, handing the position to an outsider instead of keeping it in the family.”
Stephanie sent him a small, tentative smile. “It never left the family.”
He stilled. “What are you talking about?”
“Dad’s sister was about sixteen when she met this sexy French Caribbean guy on vacation. She thought she was in love and ended up pregnant. After the baby was born, the man persuaded her with his legendary charm to let him keep the child. Her parents encouraged her to do so since she was young. She later regretted the decision, but the baby was gone. Heartbroken she chose to forget it.
“My dad was too stubborn to do so. He searched for the child of his beloved sister and had about given up until a young man came up to him and asked to mow his lawn. He turned around and saw his sister in the boy’s eyes.”
Kenneth could feel the blood rushing through his veins. Frank Radson was his uncle? “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He didn’t want to cause your family pain. You were the child of Mr. and Mrs. Preston and he didn’t want to destroy that.” Her smile grew. “But once he found you, he wouldn’t let you go. You gave him joy and he loved you very much. He didn’t tell Brooke and me the truth until near the end of his life. I think he knew then that he wanted you to run the company.”
Kenneth folded his arms as Frank Radson’s granite chin and serious eyes flashed through his mind. He remembered their fishing trips, the drives to DC, sitting in his office as he explained the world of business.
Stephanie’s smile faltered. “His love for you angered Brooke. She couldn’t believe our father could love us all equally. I understood Dad. I knew he felt he could redeem himself by taking care of the son of a sister he hadn’t seen in years. When Dad passed I made it my duty to protect you.”
“From husband hungry vipers?”
She laughed. “Among other things.”
“Nathan thought you were jealous.”
“No, proud. You’ve got the drive and will to succeed and that’s pure Radson.” She held out her hand. “Hello, cousin.”
Kenneth shook her hand and held it. His eyes clung to hers. “I’m not Mr. Perfect anymore. That article—”
“I’m glad that article came out. I never knew when I could tell you the truth. Keeping it a secret left a gaping hole in me. It was awful knowing we were family and not being able to say anything.” She tossed away formality and hugged him. “Now we’re free. We can be cousins and friends.”
“I’d like that.” He drew away and studied her. “Now it’s my turn to look out for you.”
She turned away embarrassed. “I can look after myself.”
He hesitated. “Do you know where my mother...”
She looked sad. “Nobody knows where she is. But I do know that she was a free spirit and loved you for the little time she knew you. That kind of love carries you a long way.”
They left the conference room and spotted Nathan about to step into an elevator.
“Nate!” Kenneth said.
Nathan stopped and looked at him then swore when he saw the elevator doors closing. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for that damn thing?”
“I can make it up to you.”
He lifted a brow. “You plan to carry me down the stairs?”
“I’m sorry.”
Nathan blinked looking bored. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for all your help. I couldn’t have done it without my brother watching my back.”
Nathan hit the Down button again. “I have enough brothers, man. I don’t need another one.”
Kenneth took a step back, he wouldn’t push the issue. “Right.”
“But I could use a friend with a BMW I could borrow.”
“Your car is in the shop again?”
“No, I just want to borrow it.”
Kenneth grinned and patted him on the back. “Just tell me when.”
Nathan shoved his hand in his pocket and jangled his change. “I will.”
“So all is forgiven?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, well you aren’t the only man who’s been screwed by Brooke.” Kenneth glanced at Stephanie. Nathan had the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry about that.”
“That’s okay,” she said l
ightly. “I’m not the only one with a sibling who has to face the consequences.”
Nathan nodded solemnly thinking about Rodney. “Yes. You and I need to talk about that. I think there are some things you should know.” He glanced at his watch. “But it will have to be another time.” The elevator doors opened. He stepped inside and waved. “I have a lunch date. Bye Ken.” He winked at Stephanie. “You handled that meeting well. Good job, Ms. Radson. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Okay.” Her face lit up with such joy Kenneth stared at her. She blushed. “I should go.”
They shared a special smile then parted.
* * *
Brooke stood near the French doors watching the evening sky. Three days after the meeting and she still couldn’t believe she’d lost. She had calculated everything—except Nathan’s loyalty to Kenneth. Why? She’d been certain that the way Kenneth had treated him would make Nathan vote to sell the company just to spite Kenneth. But he hadn’t. That man was a constant enigma. Damn. She would have to come up with something else.
“Hello, dear,” her mother said, entering the room.
She glanced at her, briefly wondering if she could put her in a home somewhere. She watched a lightening flash.
“The game’s over.”
She spun around. “What are you talking about?”
Winifred sat down, crossing her legs at the ankles. “Poor, Brooke. Do you really think I didn’t know what you were up to?”
“How could you possibly—”
“I know a lot of things.”
She held her mother’s gaze sensing an intelligence more devious than her own. Brooke felt her insides shriveling. “Don’t ruin this for me. Everything can be perfect. If you give me the time, the company will be Stephanie’s and the town’s balance will be maintained. Don’t you realize all the good I’m trying to do?”
“I realize that you’re scared. You’re scared that there will never be enough for you: enough respect, enough money, enough love. If Stephanie even talked about someone besides you, you quickly got rid of them. You hated your father for the same reason. But with a heart as small as yours, I suppose it’s difficult to realize there’s plenty for everyone.”
“You can’t—”
“It’s too late. I told Stephanie about your phone call, I talked to your cousin and uncle about your attempts at bribery and I learned a little something about diamond smuggling from a young man named Jack.”
Brooke laughed. “So what? What could you possibly do to me? It’s all hearsay. There’s no proof.”
Stephanie entered the room. “There’s proof and a lot of people willing to talk.”
Brooke’s throat constricted as she stared at the sadness on her sister’s face. “Oh, Stephanie,” she said gently. “You don’t understand. Just let me explain.”
“Explain why you became a traitor? Why you sought to destroy all that my father had struggled to build?”
Brooke clenched her teeth. “Yes, and he left us nothing! How dare he put that woman’s bastard son in a place of such prominence?
“That woman was our aunt,” Stephanie said quietly.
“I don’t care.” She pounded her chest, her voice rising. “We’re his flesh and blood. It should have been ours. All of it. Not the crumbs he left us.”
Stephanie took a deep breath. “Nathan told me how you used his brother.”
“No, I did not.”
“You seduced him.”
“And you believe that?” she scoffed. “Of course you do. You’ll believe whatever Nathan says because you’re still in love with him.”
She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at her sister. “Let me tell you something. He is a conniving, manipulative womanizer who would never look at you twice. He would say anything to smear my name because I was the only woman who has ever tossed him aside. He wants to get between us, but you can’t let him. You can’t let them win. His brother is no better than he is. Why would I want to seduce such a pathetic excuse for a man?”
“Because you wanted him to steal computer cycles for a South African company in exchange for diamonds. Then with the help of an antiques dealer you sold the diamonds, in order to make enough money to bribe people into selling the company.” Stephanie folded her hands. “I know how you got that article about Kenneth too. It’s over Brooke.” She blinked back tears. “I’m sorry.” The sisters stared at each other: one with bitterness, one with sorrow. Finally, Stephanie turned and walked to the door.
“You love me too much to let anything happen to me,” Brooke called after her. “You don’t have it in you to do this.”
Soon sirens pierced through the air, Stephanie kept walking until she disappeared out the door.
“You don’t!”
“No,” Winifred said. “She doesn’t. I do.”
Brooke sent her mother a withering glare. A layer of ice chilled her words. “You can’t let this happen to me.”
“I’m sure you’ll get off easy. I always thought you used that deceptive little face of yours too well.” She sighed. “But you underestimated me.” She tilted her head to one side and dimpled prettily. “Who do you think gave you that face in the first place?”
* * *
Autumn hinted of its coming, cooling the air and touching the trees with a palate of colors.
Jessie sat by the window of her parents’ home and watched BJ walk up the front porch steps, looking no less large and intimidating in a brown bomber jacket and jeans. For a moment she remembered a chubby woman in tattered clothes with a solemn looking, fatherless boy behind her, something her Aunt Yvette would describe as a hoodlum-in-progress. Her father had introduced the pair as his sister Joan and nephew BJ.
“He doesn’t look very nice,” Jessie whispered.
Her father smiled and patted her on the head. “No, but he’s family so I want you to look out for him.”
Jessie sighed, she hadn’t looked out for him and since her parents’ death she’d hardly seen him. She remembered that dreadful night at the prom when she’d spent half of the night in his car crying. He’d awkwardly pat her on the back and offer her tissues not understanding why she was so upset. Then she told him about Kenneth and Regine, but she asked him not to tell anyone and he never did.
She opened the door for him and gestured to a seat. He sat down and stared at her. The way he tugged on his jacket was the only indication of his unease.
“Would you like anything to drink?” she asked.
“No thanks.”
“You don’t have to have tea, we do have beer.”
His face split into a grin so wide Jessie gaped at him stunned. It changed his entire face, revealing a very handsome man. “You just read my mind.” He leaned back. “I think I will have drink.”
Jessie gave him his drink then sat down. “Michelle, Teresa, and I have been talking and we’ve decided that there’s something that you need to know.”
He suddenly looked uneasy.
She rested a box on his lap. “Dad loved you very much and he would have wanted you to have it.” When he just stared at the box, she nudged him with her elbow. “Go on.”
He opened it. The Sapphire Pendant gleamed up at him. He looked at Jessie incredulous, his sense of unworthiness clear in his gaze.
“It took us a while to understand the true meaning of the pendant, but now that we know we want you to guard it. It needs to always carry the Clifton name.” She held up her hand. “Before you say another word. Let me tell you a story...”
BJ listened. Once she had finished he said, “Before I take this, I want you to do something for me.”
“What?”
When he told her, Jessie shook her head. “It’s no use. I already know the future.”
He glanced at the pendant then her. “You’re not the only one who can read stones, Jessie. We both know that the future isn’t set there. I want you to do what I say.”
She rubbed her hands together and bit her lip. “No, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” He lifted a knowing brow, a light twinkle in his eyes. “Even if I have to make you.”
* * *
Two weeks later Jessie stood in front of Kenneth’s house with her hand raised to knock. She let her hand fall to her side and briefly shut her eyes, listening to the autumn storm raging behind her. She probably shouldn’t have come, but she had promised BJ. She knocked on the door then rang the doorbell.
“Who is it?” a small voice asked.
“It’s Jessie.”
The door swung open. Syrah stood there smiling. Dion stood next to her his tale wagging. “Aunt Jessie! I knew you would come back.”
Jessie pushed back the hood of her mackintosh and patted Dion. She stood and glanced at Freda who was coming around the corner. “Well, I’m not exactly back. I just needed to say a few things to your uncle.”
“He’s upstairs listening to some loud music.”
“Beethoven,” Freda added.
Jessie nodded. “I see.”
Freda folded her arms. “I’m sorry you came all this way. I don’t think he’ll want to see you.”
Syrah grabbed Jessie’s hand and pulled her inside. “Oh, please Ms. Rose can’t she stay just a little while so that she can play with me?”
“But that’s not why she came.” She let her hands fall to her side, softening her tone. “Not that we’re not glad to see you. We don’t want to waste her time.”
“Being here is never a waste of time,” Jessie said slipping out of her coat. “I can spare five minutes.”
Freda nodded then left the room.
Syrah watched her go then whispered to Jessie, “I can go get Dad for you if you want.”
“Dad?”
She grinned. “Yea, he’s going to be my dad now. Isn’t that great?”
Jessie hugged her. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Syrah looked up at her some of her joy fading. “I’m sorry about all the trouble I caused.”
“You haven’t caused any trouble. Michelle told me that if you hadn’t convinced Daniel to go to the police about the diamonds they wouldn’t have had enough evidence against Brooke.”
Syrah swallowed, looking a little guilty. “Oh. Daniel likes to say that, but it’s not true. I wanted to keep the diamonds.”