“Shoot,” Phillip said.
“Wes is meeting with his team next week to discuss selling Globe back to Jack Davis.” She laughed. “If you think you’re uptight about reporting to Della, think about that son of a bitch. I’ll bet he’s sweating bullets.”
“Go on.” Phillip said, his curiosity sounding aroused.
“Steven might be staying on, doing what he should have been doing all along. I think we should meet and start working on a plan, along with Jack Davis, since I have it on pretty good authority Wes won’t be accommodating.”
“My dear, you haven’t changed after all. I was beginning to worry about you.”
“Never count me out, dear Phillip. I’ll call you as soon as Steven brings me any news,” she smiled to herself, “to discuss my new singing career.”
“Nice cover. Invite Steven,” Phillip insisted. “We need someone on the inside and since he might be staying, there’s no one more inside than him.”
Bidding him good-bye, Carrie hung up the phone. What had taken her so long? She counted on Wes and Della to turn down Jack Davis’s offer.
Davis was only valuable to her pissed off.
13
Della learned Monday morning that Wes and Steven had been called out of town on urgent business. She’d been given a reprieve. The meeting scheduled for Tuesday to debate the Globe Travel issue had been deferred to Friday.
Lillian had tried to convince Della she should let Jack Davis go, but giving up or bailing out wasn’t Della’s style. When it came to business, she instinctively knew her course. Letting Globe Travel go wasn’t the answer. She had four days to get to the bottom of this niggling feeling that Jack was up to something fishy.
With her gut instinct in full gear, she decided to do a little snooping around, find out why, all of a sudden, it was so important for Jack to buy back his company. They’d been working well together–at least, so she thought. Her being made vice president over him shouldn’t have been that traumatic. She had adopted Wes’s leadership style: as long as the companies were producing a profit and continued to grow, leave `em alone. She’d made that clear to Jack. No, something else was going on.
If you want an inside track on a company, speak with the secretary. Gates International had a large, talented pool of gatekeepers. Each company had clerical representation in the pool. They typed reports, financial statements, proposals, and legal documents concerning the companies they represented.
Diane Sutton performed those duties for Jack Davis in the corporate office. Diane was a lovely young woman in her late twenties who had worked at Globe when Jack fired Della. She made sure Diane got the corporate job at a much higher salary and autonomy from Davis, whom Diane wasn’t terribly fond of.
She threaded her way through the maze of walnut desks, touching a hand, smiling at a friend, greeting those who glanced her way. Phones ringing relentlessly, the indistinguishable thrum of women’s voices, and the clatter of computer keyboards was office music to Della’s ears.
She stopped at Diane’s desk and sat next to her. “Hi, Diane.”
Diane looked up from her keyboard, startled. “How are you?” Her smile was broad and genuine. “Haven’t seen you in a while. They must be keeping the new top dog busy?”
“Not quite the top dog, but working on it.” They laughed. “Seems we never get to talk much anymore.”
“What’s up?”
Della leaned in, speaking secretively. “I was wondering if you knew what our friend Jack might be up to these days? He wants to buy his company back, and I find it a little strange, considering he’s made out like a bandit since he’s been owned by us.”
“Hmm. You know, I’ve run into him at the attorneys’s offices several times in recent weeks.” She straightened. “Come to think of it, he always looked sheepish when he’d see me there. Asked me to forget I saw him. Like a kid caught doing something he shouldn’t.”
“You don’t say?” Della rose. “Thanks. I think it’s time I pay a little visit to the boys at the law firm.” She started to leave, stopped and turned back to her old friend. “I wasn’t here, either.” She winked.
Diane gave her the thumbs up.
Jack Davis spending time with the attorney was interesting. Had he been looking for loopholes in his contract? Della set up a meeting for Tuesday.
Callen, Witt and Meyers’s offices were two buildings down from headquarters. They were on retainer, performing all legal duties for Gates International, its companies, and top level staff. Wes and his VPs were privy to all legal matters pertaining to its companies handled by any attorney in their firm.
Della had nothing to go on but a hunch.
John Witt, a tall, thin man in his fifties, a partner in the law firm and confidante to Wes, was forthright with her when she asked him about Jack Davis, as Wes had instructed him to be with all the VPs. After all, Globe was owned by Gates, and there was no personal business being conducted by these attorneys for anybody in the company except Wes Gates.
John pulled out a folder, handed it to her. “These are contracts he’s asked me to review. He’s working on an interesting concept I’m sure he’s discussed with all of you. If he hasn’t, he must be getting all his ducks lined up before he signs these contracts,” John said matter-of-factly.
“He hasn’t mentioned anything about these contracts that I know of.” Della leaned forward, her arms resting on John’s large mahogany desk, her eyes wide with interest. “What are they for, exactly?”
“It seems Jack plans to represent foreign tourist attractions through his offices. It’ll appear to the traveler they’re making direct reservations rather than through an agent. He plans to market their services, promises to increase their revenue. In return, he’ll receive a healthy cut of their profits.”
“You don’t say? Interesting, John. Thanks for the info.” She stood, shocked at this revelation. This was an idea she’d come up with while working for Jack. He squelched it, said it would never fly in today’s market. At the time, she remembered being deeply disappointed. Her proposal had been well thought out and the figures looked good. The bastard had saved her idea for himself.
Why had Jack gone to John Whit, if he had been planning to buy back his company? Or was this a sudden decision he’d made on the spur of the moment? Oh, Jack. You’re such a fool.
She hurried back to her office, a smile on her face, a plan in mind. If Jack Davis thought he could pull this one over on her, he was sadly mistaken. All she had to worry about was what Jack might do to her when he lost the game.
It took her the full four days, but now she was ready. Wes would be proud. She’d been in the office since six this morning, making sure every detail of her report had been meticulously checked.
Standing by the window in her office, she stared at the sprawling city below, a tapestry of houses and buildings blanketing the landscape to the ocean’s edge. A faint outline of Catalina, rarely seen these days, shadowed the horizon. The smog was so light, the Mormon Temple glimmered under the bright sun.
She turned away from the window and gathered the papers on her desk. The lesson she learned today from this exercise–take her time, be thorough, look through, over, under, and around every nook and cranny for information to do the best job she could.
Two light taps and the door slowly opened. She smiled at Steven in the doorway. He wore a dapper suit, his hair slicked back and a heartwarming smile on his face. She drew in a breath.
“I don’t know if I like that look in your eyes,” he said, his head tilted slightly to the left, scanning her from head to foot.
She felt vulnerable, naked under his gaze. “Would you please stop with the flowers, already?” When she’d returned from San Francisco and opened her apartment door, she was bowled over by the sickening smell of too many flowers in too small a space. A waste of money on someone he couldn’t have.
Didn’t he get it?
More so, didn’t she?
Her eyes filled at the thought of a man spending all tha
t time and money to win her over. No one had ever tried so hard before. “It’ll do you no good. I’m not going out with you. Save your moolah, honey.”
He threw back his head and laughed, his eyes sparkling. “I don’t give up so easily. You’ll see.”
Would she have to go out with this man to get him off her back? She was tempted, but didn’t waver. “I suppose you’ll be attending my meeting with your father this morning?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He stepped into her office and sat in front of her desk.
“Don’t get comfortable. We’re leaving.” She remained standing, fumbling with the papers for the meeting.
He rose. “So, what did you decide to do about Davis?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
“I have a sneaking suspicion.”
“You’re in for a big surprise.”
“No inside track for the kid, huh?”
“Kid is right.”
“There you go again, hitting below the belt.”
“You’ll know when I hit below the belt,” she said jokingly. “You’re the one who called yourself the kid.”
“Guess you don’t know what it’s like to work for your folks, do you? I’m still the college kid to them. They have a hard time reckoning with my career. You’re lucky your folks aren’t climbing all over you.”
She wished they were! How would he feel if he knew about her folks? “Seems to me you’re treated with great respect.”
They walked briskly, side by side, down the long green corridor to Wes’s office. She hoped Wes would be proud of her for not caving in, taking the time to investigate and plan before making a snap decision. But would she have done all this if Wes hadn’t gone out of town? A lesson learned.
Steven touched her arm lightly. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” She opened the door, turned to him. “You don’t have to attend, you know.”
“Shadow, remember? I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I can’t wait to see what you’re up to, although I think I know what it is.”
“Grr,” she responded. She strode to her usual seat at the conference table. Joe Lasky and Mike Martinez, the other vice presidents, were already there, flanking Wes, who occupied the head seat. They all had slick new yellow pads and pens in front of them. The room was faintly scented with a couple of colognes and freshly brewed coffee.
“Good morning,” they said in unison.
Steven perched himself beside her, gently nudging her knee with his. Was that for luck or passion? She glared at him.
Joe and Mike were both in their early fifties. They’d been with the company for many years, working their way up through the ranks to the board room. Joe was thin and attractive, with thinning hair and an uptight personality. Mike was a large, gregarious Hispanic, always carefree and jovial. He’d made it clear he was available to Della any time for consultation. Joe hadn’t made any such offer. Rumor had it, he wasn’t pleased to have a woman in a position equal to his, though he’d never shown it.
She could live with that.
Wes sat back thoughtfully, a fist under his chin. He looked tired, his eyes bloodshot. “I’ve read Jack’s proposal. Before I comment, I’m throwing the ball in your court, Della. This is your baby.”
She’d expected he would make the first move. He was testing her. She glanced around the table, her mind recalling every line and figure of the bombshell in her folder. She sucked every second out of it, relishing the moment. The boys stared. Joe tapped his pen, looking irritated. He was probably thinking, spit it out. He’d be prepared with an answer on the tip of his tongue. Mike stared out the window, daydreaming, laid back. He was in no hurry. Steven leaned in with his arms folded on the table, a look that said, I know what you’re going to say.
“Gentlemen,” she said softly, opening her folder and passing each one at the table a copy of her report. “I think Jack Davis is trying to pull a fast one on us.”
All eyes scanned her report. Wes smiled, Joe glared in disbelief, Mike shook his head. Steven barely looked at her report before laying it down and grinning at her. He knew.
Wes said, “I take it, you vote to keep Globe Travel?”
“I think Davis should present his proposal to the board and let them decide.” She closed her folder.
“I agree,” Steven chimed in.
“I think this does need a board nod,” Joe said.
“Great, Della, handle it.” Wes slid the report between the sheets of his yellow lined pad.
Joe said, “Wes, I think you should consider moving Davis to me or Mike. Seems he and Della have problems working together.”
At first, she thought that was a good idea; but the more she mulled it over, the more she thought she’d look like a failure if she let Davis go. “I’d like to keep the company, if you don’t mind, Wes. I’m not running away from this jerk.”
“She’s right, Joe. She’s responsible for getting this company, I think she should continue as Globe’s VP.” Wes gazed at her. “How are you going to break the news?”
She grinned, knowing how Jack felt about personal contact by his superiors. “Fax him. He’ll be happy to be given the chance to present his side to the board. He can’t blame me if he fails.”
Wes roared. “You learn quickly. That’ll bring the SOB down to the right size. It’ll be interesting to see if he tells the board or us about his new plan.
“Let’s just give him some rope and let it play out.” Wes rose. “Good job, Della.” He swept up his notepad and went to his desk, ending the meeting. Mike and Joe shook her hand, congratulated her on a job well done. She felt like one of them.
“Della,” Wes said, “please stay for a moment. Thanks, fellas.” He nodded his dismissal. “You may leave too, Steven.”
Now what? Steven had been included in virtually every meeting she had with Wes since he’d been assigned to her.
Wes opened a desk drawer and removed a large manila envelope. “I want you to go to the bank downstairs today and get a safe deposit box. Put this envelope in it, and don’t open it until I ask you to, or in the event of my death.”
Startled, she took the envelope. “May I ask what this is about?”
“No.” He cracked a toothy grin. “I thought you loved a little mystery.”
“Well, sure. But–”
“Just put this away for safekeeping. Will your curiosity be too much for you?”
“No.” She lied through her teeth. She wanted to know what was so secretive. “I just don’t like it when you talk about dying and all that shit. Excuse me. I thought I’d outgrown my sailor tongue.”
“You’ll never outgrow it, my dear. You’ve merely tamed it. My little Della! I love you just the way you are. You did good today. Now, get a safe deposit box and put that away.”
Downstairs in the bank, Della filled out the forms, presented identification and the manager escorted her to a small room filled with metal boxes. He gave her a key, then inserted his into the small metal door, indicating she do the same. He pulled the long narrow box out and placed it on the table, excused himself and left her alone.
She had never in her life rented a safe deposit box. She had never even been in a room like this before. And Wes being so mysterious lately, worried her about his health.
In a moment of weakness, she held the envelope up to the light, tried to see if she could make out its contents. No such luck. She started to tear the sealed flap, then stopped, remembering her promise to Wes. Quickly, before changing her mind, she slipped the thick envelope into the box.
“I was hoping you’d uncovered that little secret,” Steven said back in Della’s office.
“What secret?” He must know about the envelope Wes had given her, but Wes had asked him to leave.
“The Davis scheme. I’m a lawyer, remember? I had lunch with John Witt. He was quite impressed with Jack’s idea.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I would have told you, but I knew you were smar
t enough to uncover it yourself. All during Dad’s and my trip, I sent my thoughts to you, hoping you’d pick up my vibes. I was sure this morning before the meeting you had a handle on it.”
She laughed. “All this psychobabble.”
He pulled himself up. “I’m taking my plane out tomorrow. Come with me? You’ll love flying over L.A. on a clear day. We can fly to Big Bear and have lunch.” He gave her a Scouts Honor sign. “Strictly platonic.”
“No, thanks. Nothing personal, remember?”
“Business trip,” he threw in. “We can talk ‘company’ the whole time. You work too hard. You need some fun.”
“Business is fun. I have friends to play with.” The disappointment in his eyes touched her. If only his thoughts were of friendship and fun! She liked him. He was smart, talented, easy to be around. Flying over L.A. and having lunch in the mountains sounded perfect, but all wrong. “Thanks for asking. You must surely have a raft of young ladies your own age whom you don’t work with, who would dearly love flying over the city with you.”
“Actually, I don’t. I’ve been away too long. And I don’t work with you. I’m merely an observer who intends to return to New York in due time.”
“Still, no thanks. Now, I’ve got work to do.”
Steven spun on his heel. At the door, he said, “Enjoy your fax.” He grinned and left.
Her heart dipped at the click of the door closing. She depressed the intercom button, gave Sarah instructions to fax Davis. Della swung around to face the city once again, only this time the shine had gone. She pictured a small plane flying overhead, Steven and her cavorting, having fun. Too bad he was Wes’s son. She turned back to her desk, opened her organizer and punched Al Simm’s number.
“Al,” she said when he answered. “How about a round of golf tomorrow?”
“Sorry, I can’t. I’ve already got a foursome. You should have let me know sooner.”
Disappointed, she hung up. Called a few more friends, only to be rejected by all.
Now, the loneliness set in. Steven’s invitation had opened a door she closed a long time ago. School and her work had been plenty until now. His reminding her of the life she’d left behind sent her into the blue funk. A man in her life had a nice ring to it; she wanted a nice one like Steven, but older and most certainly not connected with her job. Just as she started dialing another number, the door opened.
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