Her perfect world--married to one of the richest men in the country and a glorious son to carry on his name–was falling apart. The thought of anyone calling him Steven Henshaw spun her into orbit.
She could always lie about the board agenda, tell him she was merely keeping her fingers in the pot, or just keeping things moving in the right direction. Worth a try, she thought. She’d fiddled around long enough. She picked up the phone and punched his number.
“Steven, darling. You’re settled in?”
“It’s only been a few days, Mom. I’m surrounded by unopened boxes, but happy to be here.”
“Did you get your old job back?”
“I’m working on it. But I’m in no hurry. I’m still having a hard time with Dad’s death. Being here eases the pain. I haven’t got all those reminders to hit me in the gut every day.”
If Steven learned Wes wasn’t his father, life as he knew it would never be the same and more importantly, she couldn’t bear the thought of Steven losing his regard for her. “I’m glad you’re coping, honey.” She spoke sweetly to soothe, not aggravate. “I need your proxy, Steven. The board will be meeting again soon. I’ve decided to play an active role in the company. I’d like to keep things moving in the same direction your father wanted.”
“This doesn’t sound like you, Mom. I thought you’d sell out and pull away.”
“I will, in due time.” God damn you, Phillip Henshaw! “Right now, I feel it’s important to transition your dad out.”
“I didn’t think of that. Good for you, Mom! Of course, I’ll be happy to send you my proxy.” He paused. “I’m not working. Think I should fly out? Maybe I’ll follow you and take a more active role?”
“I guess I can accuse you of not sounding like yourself. You never wanted any part of the business.” Carrie held her breath.
“Let me think about it. When’s the meeting?”
“It’ll be within a few days, honey.” Hopefully, time constraints would keep him in New York.
“Fax me an agenda. If there’s anything I have a special interest in, I’ll let you know.”
She whispered good-bye, leaned back and, to control her emotions, counted to ten. She needed Steven’s votes to pull this off, not him here interfering with her scheme.
“I’m having trouble with Steven,” she said to Phillip. “I have all the votes I need to do almost anything, but without Steven’s, this plan won’t fly.”
“I don’t want to hear it, Carrie. Tell the kid I’m his father. He won’t let his own dad go down the tube.”
“No, Phillip. Steven is Wes’s son. That’s it. If I blocked this out for twenty-six years, there’s no way you’re going to unblock me now because you don’t want to pay for your underhanded crap. I won’t have it.” Her foot tapped with machine gun rapidity under the desk.
“Knock it off, Carrie.”
“He wants an agenda, and if there’s anything to do with Della, you can bet he’ll be here in a flash.”
“Dummy one up. Put board items in there he wouldn’t be interested in. By the time the meeting’s over, he won’t know what the hell happened. Della won’t call him.”
“We don’t know that! I don’t operate like you do, Phillip. I wouldn’t know how to begin dummying up an agenda.”
“Have Wes’s assistant draw the damned thing up. If Iris has any loyalty left after getting all that money and our favorite beach house, you won’t have a problem.”
“And if I can’t get the votes?”
“Then, I’ll call Steven myself and get them for his ol’ Dad.”
“Don’t you threaten me, Phillip!”
He slammed down the receiver in her ear. The son of a bitch meant business.
* * *
Della’s living room had been turned upside down. The large plate glass mirror above the overturned couch was cracked and hanging askew on the wall, with scrawling letters in her best Tangerine lipstick. THINK THIS IS BAD? SEE WHAT I DO NEXT.
Della laid her purse and Wes’s envelopes on the entrance hall table and walked around the room in a trance, staring at the broken glass, magazines strewn all over the floor, tipped chairs. At first glance, nothing seemed missing. Someone had simply trashed her apartment without taking anything. If Jack Davis did this, he was playing hardball.
She called Gordon McKinley, who advised her not to touch anything; he’d call the police. “Jack Davis didn’t break into your place,” he said. “I’ve been on the guy’s tail all day. He did meet with a couple of guys at a restaurant, but they split without him. Might’ve been them.”
She had an eerie feeling in her gut. Someone’s attempts at scaring her were getting out of hand. Scarier than she had dreamed. She wasn’t worried about her stuff; she could replace everything. After all, it was only stuff. She worried more about her safety.
The police arrived, fingerprinted the apartment, then left with a promise to get back to her as soon as they had anything concrete. They suggested a security system.
After closing the door, she laughed. “Good thinking, policeman. I’ll do just that.”
She grabbed the manila envelopes from the hall table and settled down on the slashed couch to see what Wes had to say before he died. She opened the thicker manila envelope, the one he had given her first. She lingered over that one the day he gave it to her, trying to guess its contents before finally deciding on honor over curiosity and putting the damned thing in a safe deposit box.
Inside, she found a letter and a packet of stock certificates. She unfolded the letter and read:
Dearest Della,
If you’re reading this letter, I'm gone. I hope I'm still in your heart. I'm sure by now you know I'm your father. If you're angry with me, I understand. I wanted to contact you and become a part of your life, but I feared the consequences. By cheating on Carrie, I did exactly what I abhorred in other men. Suffice it to say, I learned my lesson well, but too late for you.
At the time I paid your mother to have you aborted, I thought it best for everyone. If Carrie knew, she’d have divorced me and taken half my business. I couldn't deal with that at the time. Another flaw in my character.
When I learned of your existence, I did everything within my power to help you. I asked your mother not to tell you who I was. The more I lied, the easier it became.
I decided to help you in the only way I knew how, bringing you into my business and into my life. I should have told you then, but I decided to wait for another opportunity, which never came. We all dug ourselves in deeper, and I was too weak to put a stop to the snowballing lies.
If you can ever forgive me and your mother for our sins, there’s nothing I want more than to have you continue to learn the business and one day take over.
Throughout the years, I sent money to my father in the hope he’d lift himself out of his rut and start a new life. But that never happened. My broker invested his money. Ironically, when he died, he left his then-vast fortune to me. I didn't touch the money until I found a purpose. Since my inheritance from him isn’t part of my estate, I used it to buy shares, approximately ten percent of my shares in Gates International. With the twenty-five percent you inherited, you’ll be a major shareholder. This ten percent is equivalent to the trust I set up for Steven. He was never interested in the company. The extra ten percent will help you, should you run into any family problems. If you need help, go to Iris. She loves you and would do anything to see that your future is secured in the company.
To keep Gates International in the family, you, Carrie, and Steven will have to get together and vote accordingly. The total shares will maintain a majority.
In closing, if you have any love or respect left for me, take my advice and stop living a lie now. You can see the damage lying has done to all of us. You're young enough to live a full and glorious life, free of lies and the pain they bring. If you haven't already done so, forgive Lillian. She loves you dearly. Bring her into your life, be proud of her. Don't compromise your future with an
yone. There are more Jack Davis's out there. Preserve your principles, and you'll have nothing to fear. They're all you have.
I’ll rest in peace if you find it in your heart to forgive your mother and me. I love you more than words can say. I’d give anything if, when I learned of your existence, I could live my life over.
I love you, Dad
Della, too stunned to cry, had already forgiven both of them. He was right. The lies must stop. From this day forward, she’d be who she really was. If anyone didn’t like it, to hell with ‘em.
She opened the second envelope. It was filled with more stock certificates. She stared at them blankly, amazed and very shaken. In this morning’s newspaper, Gates International was going for fifty-three dollars a share. The total value of her shares was staggering. Her sudden wealth boggled her mind.
Her priority was to make her life right, no matter what she had to do; first for herself, then for her mom.
* * *
Driving to the restaurant down a busy Sunset Boulevard to West Los Angeles, Della thought of Lillian and their brief telephone discussion two days ago, right after she read Wes’s letter. They’d agreed Lillian would move back to L.A. She’d stay with Della until a suitable home for Lillian could be found. As far as Della was concerned, that might be a long, long time.
A boom box from the car next to her reminded her of where she was and who she was meeting. Carrie had selected a small vegetarian restaurant, The Health Stop, on Santa Monica Boulevard, which surprised her. Vegetarian? What next for Carrie? Of course, the woman always had been an exercise and health nut, except for those few years when she’d let herself go.
The restaurant was small and quaint, with a plethora of green plants throughout. No greasy french fries or hamburgers here. There was only the scent of fresh flowers on every table, and homemade bread.
Carrie was already there, occupying a quiet booth in the back. She looked stunning in a white suit, her blonde hair short and spiky. Her makeup impeccable as usual.
“Be still, my heart,” Della mumbled to herself. She felt as though she were here to see the Queen of England. Well, in her own mind, she was. As hard as she’d tried to befriend Carrie, something always came between them. Maybe now that Wes was gone and Carrie needed other people in her life, she would turn to her. Or was she dreaming?
Carrie held out her small hand. They shook, like business acquaintances. Her hand was cold and dry. Della remembered how horrible she was to her at the hospital when Wes lay dying. She wanted to turn and run, but she calmed herself, remembering they were all coming from different places now. The lies were out in the open. They must move on. Wes wanted them to live their lives free of lies. She would; she swore it in her heart.
“Need a menu?” Carrie said when the waitress came over to take their orders.
“No, thanks. I’ll have the avocado, tomato, and sprout sandwich on that heavenly fresh wheat bread I smell,” Della said, repeating from the menu board at the door of the restaurant. “And one of those.” She pointed to Carrie’s iced tea.
“A small dinner salad with a few wedges of lemon on the side, please,” Carrie said. The waitress withdrew to fill their orders.
“What are your plans? You’re a very rich young woman.” A hint of sarcasm tinged her voice.
“Work,” she said. “The money’s nice, but my life is my work. I want to continue at the company. Continue learning.”
“Very admirable, my dear. Most young women who came into such unexpected wealth would probably like to play. Enjoy their lives a little.”
“What are you going to do.?” She turned the conversation away from her and back to Carrie.
“As soon as I wrap up a few loose ends for Wes at the company, I’m taking my own advice. I’m going to play. When I get tired of playing, I’ll do charity work. Maybe I’ll move to Hawaii. I always wanted to live there, but Wes hated the idea. He hated being surrounded by water and no place to go.”
Their lunches arrived. After taking a few dainty bites, Carrie laid down her fork, pushed her plate away, and rested her arms on the table. “Della, I agreed to this meeting because I have a few things I’d like to clear up.”
Uh-oh, here it comes.
“These aren’t earth-shattering requests.”
Della pushed her plate away. “I know you want me to lay off Phillip.” This was serious, no luncheon tete-a-tete here.
“How did you know?”
“You’ve already asked once. And word gets around an office like ours. I understand a board meeting is brewing and all kinds of proxies are being solicited.”
Carrie squinted her eyes. “We still have a business to run. Life goes on. Board meetings are a part of business.”
“This is more than a run-of-the-mill board meeting.”
“If you and I clear up a few things now, I’ll cancel the board meeting.”
“Why are you so protective of Phillip Henshaw?” she said “He’s a lowlife. He steals from his people. He supplies them with drugs. He belongs in the can, like his sidekick, Rick.”
“Phillip and I go back a long way. He’s done a lot for me over the years. His company was acquired for me. I know he’s not clean, but he’s willing to work everything out. My interest lies in our company. An arrest would be tantamount to a catastrophe. I don’t want the Gates name dirtied. We have a stellar reputation in this community, and I damn well intend to keep it that way.” She paused, pursed her lips. “I’d like you to give Phillip the time he needs to clean up his company–”
“Our company,” Della reminded her.
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. And I’d like you to tell people you were a child from Wes’s first marriage and end all this nasty speculation. Nobody really gives a damn where you came from, as long as it’s respectable. I should think you’d like that.”
By now, Della was seething. This woman was everything she disliked in a person. She personified the lying and cheating that had trapped them all over the past several years. There was no end to the lies.
“Wes asked me to tell the world about my mother. He asked me not to compromise my principles. I’ll do neither. I’ll dog Phillip until he ends up where he belongs. I’ll restore the losses to his clients. The company will survive.”
Carrie’s hands trembled. “Well, you certainly are a determined little gal. But I wouldn’t go off half-cocked if I were you.”
“I’m bringing my mother to Los Angeles as soon as I can get her bags packed. She’ll have a place in my life. I’d like you and I to resolve our problems so we can at least run the company the way Wes wanted. Between the three of us, we hold the majority of shares in the company. He wanted us to come together and be a family. I somehow think his dream was a fantasy.”
Looking horrified and angry as hell, Carrie said, “That’ll be the day! And as far as Phillip is concerned, the board meeting will take place. Not only will I save his ass, you’ll be out on yours.” She rose.
Della stood, laid a hand on Carrie’s shoulder, and pushed her back in her seat. “I’m not finished. I’ll call Steven. I know he thinks enough of me and his dad that he’ll join forces with me to see that Phillip pays his dues. Between the two of us and other shareholders, we can out-vote you.”
“You can’t,” Carrie spit out.
“Yes, I can. I have additional shares you know nothing about.”
“From Wes?”
“That’s none of your business. They have nothing to do with his will.”
“I’ll damned well find out.”
Della clasped her hands on the table. “I wouldn’t, if I were you. And as far as Jack Davis is concerned, I’ll see to it he pays his dues, too.”
Carrie got up, stood stock-still, then slapped her across the face. “Thanks for lunch.” She stormed out of the restaurant, leaving a sickening cloud of perfume behind her.
Stunned, Della returned to her office, called Sarah in and asked her to send a memo to each board member. “I want you to tell them Carrie Gate
s is gathering proxy votes to help save Phillip Henshaw from being charged with embezzlement and drug trafficking. Tell them I have enough proof to have him investigated, and I feel we shouldn’t allow him to get away with this type of activity. I feel if Wes were alive, he’d have supported my efforts. Mrs. Gates will tell you she’ll help him make restitution, but I feel he’s taken advantage of his clients. He’s provided drugs to those who wanted them, and therefore, has been involved in criminal activities. Rick Courtney will probably implicate Henshaw during his trial. If we’ve failed to act upon what we already know, we may become a part of a cover-up. You know how to word everything,” Della told Sarah.
“Jesus, Della, this is worse than I thought.”
“It’s bad. Carrie’s being a fool.”
The phone rang. She picked it up. “Hello, Della Garland here.”
“This is the fastest I’ve ever gotten through to you.” Lillian sounded more cheerful than Della could remember. Their duplicity was a thing of the past.
“Mama, I was going to call you tonight. Can you be ready in a couple of days?”
“I’m packed and ready, and I love it when you call me Mama. You never did, you know.”
“I know. You never wanted me to. You’d better get used to it now! I’ll call you tonight. I’ve got lots to do.” She bade her good-bye, sat back and smiled at Sarah.
“My mom’s coming to stay with me. I’d better get someone over to fix my place.”
“I’ve already got someone on it.” Sarah grinned and stood. “I’ll have this for your signature in within the hour.”
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