“Now hold on just a moment here……” Adam interrupted rising from his seat. His eyes held a dangerous jealous rage. “There’s something more this board needs to know. Janeshia is carrying my baby!”
The last thing Janeshia heard was the conference room being awash with startled utter amazement.
Chapter 39
Have you had Breakfast
The green and black checkered taxi cab pulled to the curb on Market Street just in front of Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park. The little old lady emerged from the taxi and paid the driver. Her Chanel Boucle plaid suit had been the height of fashion in her day. The pin pleated skirt matched perfectly with the jacket.
She walked into the small park and sat on a bench in front of the public fountain. Watching the water gurgle and spurt into the air was an old favorite past time of hers. She squinted over the rim of her glasses and checked her watch. It was half past nine. She had plenty of time to relax. From her spot on the bench she could see the Tech Museum and the San Jose Convention Center across the street.
“Rose Olsten?” Is that you?” A thickly accented voice called out.
Mrs. Olsten turned around immediately. She knew the voice. Jovially she smiled. “Dolly? Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Oh my God Rose you haven’t changed a bit,” Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau cried out with joy and throwing her arms around her.
Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau was dressed in a fine small brim black hat with a green trim and a green pantsuit with matching purse and shoes.
“Rose you remember my granddaughter Alice Couvertier-Trudeau?”
“Yes I do,” Mrs. Olsten said.
Taking her cue Alice nodded greeting.
“Well now,” Mrs. Olsten gushed. “Where are you and Alice off to, this fine morning Dolly?”
“We’re having a late breakfast at the Fountain Restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel.”
“Oh that’s wonderful, Mrs. Olsten smiled. “You’ve been missed at the Pearl Palmer’s bridge games.”
Dolly frowned with a shrug. “I vowed to stop going until that card cheater Lamina Symons apologizes. Did you know she had the nerve to tell me she didn’t want me as a partner? She said I was incompetent as her partner. Me Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau!” she exclaimed. “I’ve played cards with the best. I know how to play cards.”
Mrs. Olsten smiled sympathetically and checked her watch.
“Oh Dolly I’m sure you were on your way some place important. I wish you had time for a cup of tea so that we could catch up on old times?” Mrs. Olsten suggested.
“You’re in luck, I do have some extra time this morning,” Dolly said. “Mrs. Olsten have you had breakfast yet? If not you should join me and my granddaughter, at the Restaurant,” Dolly suggested. “We could catch up on old times.”
Mrs. Olsten looked at her watch again. “It’s early enough, I could have a cup of tea or something,” she said and raised a concerned brow. “But I wouldn’t want to inconvenience your granddaughter Alice; she looks like she has someplace important to go?”
Dolly threw back her head and laughed. “Alice is stuck doing her grandmother’s bidding today and for the rest of this week. I might add. That girl has been out of town for ages. And she promised to spend today with me no matter what,” she smiled softly taking Mrs. Olsten’s arm and leading the way.
“Alice darling be a dear and walk a head and get a table for three at the Restaurant,
“Okay sure, grandmother,” Alice said strutting ahead of them. She crossed Market Street and walked headed for the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel.
Chapter 40
The Faint, then the Battle.
“Wake up Janeshia.”
Someone’s hand was shaking her shoulder.
“Come on wake up, you’re missing all the action,” the voice roared in her ear.
Janeshia opened her eyes and realized the voice belonged to Tamara Bell, her assistant. She looked around. She was lying on the sofa in the ladies room.
“Tamara? What happened?”
“Your guts and your brains told you to faint and you did. I don’t blame you. I would have too,” Tamara said helping her up. She straightened her suit. “I was told to stay with you and make sure you’re okay.”
Janeshia recovered her equilibrium. “Wait a minute I was in the conference room when…..”
“When they told you to leave, and you did. And then you had to go and walked out the door saw Claire Marie Perrault standing there and then you fainted from the shock of it all. It’s a good thing David Creek caught you in time,” Tamara excitedly said. “Come on. We’ve got to get you back into that conference room. “I can’t hear a thing out here.”
Janeshia stood and Tamara steadied her as they made their way out of the ladies room.
“Come on Janeshia, stay strong. The conference room is straight ahead.”
Ready to do battle, Janeshia put one foot in front of the other and marched ahead.
Chapter 41
A Geek Knight, some shining amour & the Angel
“Walker! Well what a surprise to see you here?”
Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau turned to see where her friend Rose was looking. A good looking man in a beautifully tailored deep navy suit smiled brightly at them as he walked over.
“Hello Mrs. Olsten?” How are you doing?”
“I couldn’t be better Walker,” Mrs. Olsten grinned and tilted her head. “Walker, this is a very good friend of mine Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau, and her granddaughter Alice Couvertier-Trudeau.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. and Ms. Couvertier-Trudeau,” Walker said. “I’m sorry but I’m kind of in a hurry. I just dropped in to pick up some coffee and breakfast to go.”
Alice reached her hand up and piped into her grandmother’s ear. She murmured in a whisper. “He’s the one grandmother. Walker’s the man that is in love with Janeshia.”
“Well I’ll be damn,” Dolly said. Her mouth opened and then closed back again. She stared back at Alice and whispered. “My Janeshia?”
“Yes, Grandmamma,” Alice shrugged.
Dolly’s eyes narrowed. She leaned over and whispered. “He’s the spitting imagine of his brother….Except for his eyes and his hair. No wonder Janeshia got confused with the two of them.”
Mrs. Olsten peered over the rim of her tea cup. “There’s nothing wrong with my hearing. Why are you whispering about Walker and Janeshia, Alice?”
Dolly Couvertier-Trudeau rolled her eyes in appreciation. “Make no mistake about it Rose; we are not saying anything bad about Walker or my...... I mean Janeshia. In fact I am much honored to meet you Walker,” she said extending her hand.
Walker looked perplexed. “You look very familiar Mrs. Couvertier-Trudeau.”
“Call me Dolly,” she said favoring him with a brilliant smile. All at once her finger clasped tight around his hand. As her fingers glided over his skin. “Walker you have an enlightening aura about you like you just recently returned from the Kisatchie forest of Louisiana? How did you find my sister Mama Moue Redbones?”
“You are?” Walkers’ voice carried a curious tone.
“Yes, Sheba was my baby sister,” Dolly replied. Boldly she cocked her eye in a knowing way. “Don’t you have a brother?”
The gravity of her voice transfixed him. “I….No….Ah” Walker hesitated. His instincts told him Dolly had a knowing spirit. His brows pulled together. “I’ve just learned of the possibility of a brother,” he said stating the truth. “That’s one of the reasons I’m in a hurry.”
Dolly’s deep green eyes sparkled. “Walker you are in an awful hurry,” she hesitated. “And I feel it has to do with Janeshia. I can tell. Is my Janeshia alright?”
Walker hesitated and nodded. “I don’t know, but I do need to be someplace important right now.”
“Alice, your cousin needs our help,” Dolly said reaching for her purse. “We need to leave immediately.”
Dolly tilted her head. “Rose I bel
ieve I must shorten our little get together. But I promise you a rain check.”
Rose Olsten put down her cup of tea. “Huh, I smell trouble Dolly.”
She turned her attention. “Walker if you don’t mind. my granddaughter and I would like to accompany you?”
Mrs. Olsten cleared her throat. “I’m going too. In fact I was planning to have lunch with Janeshia today.”
“Rose, you never told me that you were having lunch with Janeshia?” Dolly adjusted her hat.
Rose put her tea cup down gingerly. “The subject never came up Dolly,” she said. “But that’s where I was on my way to. I just arrived early to enjoy the park for a couple of hours,” Rose shrugged.
Walker looked between Dolly and Rose.
Rose caught Walker staring. “Walker I can see you had no idea my first name is Rose. Rose Olsten.” she smiled leaned forward and took his arm. “Come on Walker, I have a proposition for you. I believe it’s time for you to go into your Geek Knight in shining amour routine. It’s needed for doing battle and I’m the Angel you need to show you the way.”
Chapter 42
The Drama King performance
The Conference room door seemed enormous as Janeshia helped Tamara push it open.
She held the door opened for her. And Janeshia walked through the doorway of the conference room.
All eyes turned on her.
“Now what is she doing here?” Weasel faced Nate Trent’s jowls quivered. “We told you to leave.”
“I want her here,” Claire Marie Perrault’s voice roared. She did not get to her feet. She sat in the seat at the head of the table like a royal queen.
“Sit here by me. We can share the throne,” Claire Marie commanded.
Ulysses Portillo cleared his throat and chuckled loudly. “Now that our Queen and her princess are seated, I guess it’s time for our little fray to begin.”
Nate Trent interrupted. “Surely you cannot be serious? That woman is present;” he pointed his hand in Janeshia’s direction.”
Kate Martin leaned and jeeringly whispered “Be quiet Nate. We already know whose side you’re on.”
Nate’s eyes swelled in fear and his voice died in his throat as his met Kate’s gaze.
Ulysses Portillo’s robust voice heralded drily. “We are present here for the purpose of gathering evidence.” He turned and looked straight at Nate Trent. “I need to add that this is a confidential matter, if anyone is suspected of leaking any of what is said here today to the press or anyone, you will face expulsion.”
Everyone in the room was silent.
Janeshia sat transfixed and glued to her seat.
“Now that our illustrious founder, owner and major shareholder is present, we can begin,” Ulysses Portillo said with urgency.
“Thank you Ulysses,” Claire Marie said, waving a graceful hand. “You are quite right. We should get started.”
“This meeting is now called to order,” Ulysses bellowed. “Adam St. Charles you’ve made numerous serious accusations today. I hope that you can support them. You now have the floor.”
Nervously Adam rose cautiously. He cleared his throat. “I have a report here that will show Janeshia James has been stealing from this foundation!”
Soft murmurs went around the room.
The corners of Adam’s lips curved up into a crooked smile. His mood was like a raging tiger ready for the kill. His voice was pure acid when he spoke. “My report will show Janeshia has systematically been sending monies to an off shore account in her name and solely for her use!”
“Stop lying Adam!” Janeshia snapped out in protest. “Adam, how could you do this to me?”
“Silence!” Ulysses bellowed. “Janeshia please calm down.”
Adam’s eyes gleamed as he honed in on his prey. His tongue was as shape as a blade. “My report will show the monies she took belong to this foundation and she deposited them in an off shore account in her name. My charges are that she knowingly set up these accounts, falsified the existing reports for this foundation and that she knowingly has laundered monies through these accounts for some unscrupulous people,” he observed his prey scathingly. “Furthermore I also charge that Janeshia James is a cold hearted shrewd harlot, who on several occasions tried to proposition me into performing sexual services for her in order to secure my loyalty and to hide her deceit from this illustrious board of directors.”
Janeshia choked back a sob.
“Adam, may I see that report sir?” Claire Marie commanded.
Adam slid the report across the table.
Adam’s eyes met Janeshia’s. “Yes, you may. In fact I have enough copies here for everyone,” he said passing out the extra copies.
Janeshia’s eyes watered as she looked at the report placed in front of her. She closed her eyes willing the report to disappear.
Claire Marie put on her glasses and slowly flipped through the pages.
Adam observed her. He licked his lips and moistened his tongue to ready itself to strike the final blow for its intended victim. “I gave Ms. James every chance to change the outcome of things here today. Prior to this hearing today, I asked her to come forth and admit her guilt,” his eyes held anger and rage. “And instead of heeding my advice, in a fit of rage she cut me with a wine bottle. I had to have ten stitches to close up the wound,” he said rolling up his sleeve and exposing his stitches. “Here are the photos of Janeshia accompanying me to the emergency room,” Adam said passing the photos out. “Even then she was trying to persuade me not to tell anyone what she did. Look at my injuries in the photos. A creature that would do this would never admit her guilt.”
The photos Adam passed out where quickly passed around the room.
Janeshia took a brief look. Confusion clouded her thoughts. The woman in the photo looked exactly like her. Someone was doing a really good job of trying to frame her. A sob choked out of her.
The room held an awkward silence.
Adam produced a thin smile as he looked back at Janeshia. He held her gaze with a steel confidence as his eyes gleamed like crystals, as he watched her.
Kate Martin tapped her pencil on the table. “What I would like to know is what she did with all of the money. I don’t see her driving a new car or taking expensive trips.”
Nate’s tone was precise when he spoke. “Janeshia took control of the money deposited to her accounts in the Cayman Island and brought an office building in lower Manhattan,” Nate added. “It’s all there in the report.”
Adam turned and looked at Kate. “Janeshia’s crime was high larceny. Her crime was simple theft with the intention of permanently depriving this great organization of its monies. Janeshia stole from this organization for her sole benefit,” he said, finishing his presentation with a stone face, like a tiger that just made his kill. “The moment I was sure Janeshia was stealing this foundation blind I reported my findings to Nate.”
Nate cleared his throat. “Yes Adam did. He delivered his report to me just yesterday and immediately I arranged for this board to meet. This report shows that Janeshia James is not the honorable and exemplary person we thought,” he grimly looked around the conference table. “The photos alone are conclusive proof this woman has been throwing herself at this man like a harlot.”
“You liar! You….You… You crazy lying drama king! Stop it! I am not a harlot and I’m not a thief!” Janeshia’s voice shook as it sliced the air.
“Quiet please.” Ulysses’ voice commanded as softly as he could.
Nate wiped his hand across his mouth. “We cannot let a woman like this continue to run this organization. In fact if I had my way, she would be locked behind bars for her loose moral values, just like we lock up all women in this country caught in the act of prostitution!”
Ulysses shrugged, his face hardened as a shadow of doubt filled his brow. “Adam St. Charles I will assume you have concluded with your presentation?”
“Yes I have,” Adam said smugly.
Nate Trent rose and
cleared his throat. “Based upon the testimony given by Adam here today and this report and as those pictures indicate, we have some grave, important matters to deal with here today,” he said. “I purpose this document alone shows enough evidence to ask Janeshia James to step down as director of this foundation.”
A thin smug smile showed on Adam’s face as his eyes beamed staring back at Janeshia.
“So does this board have mutual agreement that we will ask Janeshia James to step down as director of this board?” Nate asked.
Confusion, anguish and tears clouded her eyes. Janeshia stared up at the ceiling trying to figure out what she must do. At the moment all she could think of was looking at the door and praying for a miracle.
All at once Kate Martin’s voice sliced the air. “Hang on a minute. Adam those scratches…”
“Yes? Adam asked.
“Did the hospital run any test. You know like check for DNA? And the woman in the photograph she looks like Janeshia, but there is something strange. Do you have any clearer photos or a report from the hospital?”
Ulysses chuckled softly. “Go head Adam please answer?”
Adam was furious. His hand clenched in a fist. He saw Ulysses staring. He released his grip. “I don’t have to provide this board with a doctor’s report. You have my word.”
“That’s because you don’t have a doctor’s report or any other report that you didn’t make up yourself,” Janeshia said staring back at Adam unbelieving. “You’re a filthy stinking villainous, lying bastard!”
Adam raised a brow. His face frowned into an extorted expression of revenge. “Yes, but you’re the nasty little pregnant tramp, that’s going to jail for stealing this organizations money. I hope that bastard brat of yours will be taken from you the minute it’s born,” Adam laughed through clenched teeth. “Who’s the villain now bitch?”
“Oh my God Adam why are you doing this to me?” Janeshia’s voice shook.
“Don’t you know? Because you’re a thief and a whore!” Adam murmured.
The Proposition (A Geek, An Angel) Page 24