Catching Fire_Perfect Places

by T. N. King

  He was livid. He certainly didn’t mean for Ellie to know the actual details.

  “I thought you said you told her?” Chance looked nervous suddenly.

  Ellie grabbed Morgan’s hand. “He did, just not the gory details.” She looked up at him. “It made me realize what he’d been through when bad stuff happened to our relationship. It wasn’t just me and about me. I refuse to let him be hurt anymore.” She sucked in a deep breath and raised her chin. “No more crying and no more running. I have to take care of him, you know?”

  Chance stared at her and then Morgan. He looked thrilled and a bit flabbergasted. “See? I told you about her, Morgan. How the hell you ever got this lucky, I will never fucking know!” He laughed and then halted. “Well, if you’ll be taking care of him what the hell will I do with my life?”

  Morgan and Ellie stared at him.

  After a silent moment, they all three laughed.

  “So…” Chance raised his laptop up. “I have more video feed to show you and believe me, this makes the scarecrow man in the cell look like a kid’s cartoon.”

  Morgan and Ellie stepped close as the feed came on.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Morgan sat at the Board table on the twentieth floor of the Hunt tower. He looked down at all the papers in the file, then glanced up at Ellie.

  She smiled and held out her hands.

  Picking up the stack, he gave the paperwork to her.

  She slowly walked around and laid a stack at each chair.

  Chance came in and stared at Ellie then glanced over at Morgan.

  Morgan shrugged. “She insisted on being here.”

  Ellie looked up. “Of course, I did. I’m involved.”

  “She is as stubborn as you are.” Chance gave them a nervous smile. “Ellie, these people are—”

  “Yes, ruthless. Morgan told me.” She laid the last stack down. “But this is my future. Because Morgan IS my future. The things these people have been doing to him…to us.” She raised her chin. “They need to know I am with him to stay.”

  Morgan walked over and grabbed her up. “Forever is a long time. But I hope you will stay with me. This meeting may get really nasty. Are you prepared to hear things about me?”

  She let out a breath. “Just let them try to scare me away. I’m from the mean streets, you know.”

  Chance chuckled as he set his laptop up. Then he gazed down at the papers. He picked them up and read a few then his eyes widened. He looked up at Morgan. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  He nodded. “More than sure. I had better be as I already did that deed.

  Chance looked upset. “It’s trusting a lot, Morgan.”

  “How so?”

  “There are some things going on that—”

  “So what the hell is this all about?” Edwin Hunt came stalking in.

  They all looked up.

  “It is an official board meeting. I, as Current CEO, called it.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question.”

  Morgan spread his arms open motioning to his father’s usual chair. “Have a seat and then along with the other members, you will find out.”

  His father narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like surprises.”

  Morgan stared at him. “I’m sure you don’t, considering the last board meeting.”

  Chance lowered his head with a snicker.

  Edwin then swung his hard steel like gaze to Ellie. “And what is she doing here?”

  Morgan tightened his jaw. “She is with me.”

  “But she is not—”

  “I SAID...she is with me.” Morgan cut him off as he glared at him.

  Chance stared between the two men while looking nervous.

  Edwin sat down. “Who cares? She doesn’t matter in the scheme of things.”

  Chance gasped as he stood up.

  Morgan put his hand out to Chance, letting him know he would handle this. “In the scheme…yes that is a key word here. Scheme and I’m afraid she does matter.”

  Edwin just cold stared him.

  Morgan shrugged as he rolled his eyes.

  “Why were we called here?” Daphne strolled in, her baby bump larger than before. Her parents followed her.

  “Have a seat and find out.” Morgan motioned to their chairs.

  Daphne shared a look with her parents, then she sat. They sat as well.

  Finally, his mother came in. She smiled at Morgan and then at Chance.

  Morgan was surprised at her smiling, after what had transpired here two days ago. But maybe she was finally freeing herself, like he was about to do.

  Then stopping her stride at the sight of Ellie, Melanie stared at her.

  Ellie bit at her lip, then bravely stepped forward with her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hunt. I’m Ellie White.”

  Morgan held his breath as he waited for his mother’s reaction. This could make or break his future relationship with Melanie.

  Melanie Hunt stepped forward and grabbed Ellie up in a tight hug.

  Ellie’s eyes rounded as Morgan’s mother crushed her in an embrace.

  Morgan’s mouth popped open.

  Chance could be heard gasping.

  The Yearwood’s and Daphne added their gasps.

  “I’m so glad to finally meet you!” Melanie gushed as she smiled.

  Ellie looked stunned.

  Melanie pulled away and stared at her face. “You are precious. So adorable.”

  A pin could’ve dropped in the room it was so quiet.

  “I will be forever grateful to you,” Melanie went on.

  Ellie stared at her. “F-for…?”

  “For saving my son. For redeeming him. For making him the man I always hoped…” Her voice broke. “I have seen the change in him. The look in his eyes has softened. A mom knows these things. I never wanted him to live like he has. To be such a shark. I never wanted him to…” She looked over at Edwin. “Be a cold bastard who had no love in his heart. No soul. Taking what he wanted right and left and hurting people.” She looked back at Ellie kissing her cheek and then her other cheek. “You are the angel I prayed for.” She stepped back. “I am the one honored to meet you, Ellie White.”

  Morgan’s throat had closed up and his eyes brimmed with tears.

  Ellie let a tear fall down her cheek. “T-thank you.”

  “Now, you come and sit by me.” Melanie took her hand and led her over to the table as they both sat down.

  Morgan looked over at his father.

  The man was silent. No emotion showed on his face or his eyes.

  Yes, he hid his feelings well. IF he had any. Then Morgan caught sight of Chance.

  Chance was grinning like he’d won the lottery.

  Morgan smiled and shook his head.

  “Well, if the awards ceremony slash soap opera is over?” Daphne sneered. “Can we get on with this? Whatever this is?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry for this, Miss Yearwood,” Morgan informed her.

  “And why not? I have my place.”

  Morgan laughed. “Yes, I’m sure you do…” He looked over at Edwin. “A match made in hell. You have my full blessings to torture each other for many years to come.”

  Edwin winced a little slipping in his statue act for a second.

  Morgan spotted it and laughed.

  “What is so funny?” Daphne asked.

  “Nothing, dear Daph.” Chance smirked. “Morgan was just giving his blessing to your new…umm, what would you call it?”

  “Bedding a married billionaire to get the heir to a grand fortune, when she couldn’t get it in any other way,” Melanie Hunt answered.

  The Yearwood’s gasped.

  Daphne stood up.

  Melanie stood up to face her.

  “Now, now ladies,” Anthony Yearwood spoke up.

  “Ladies?” Melanie replied. “There are a few of us here that applies to but Daphne is not in that group.”

  Ellie finally made a sound…She giggled
.

  Daphne centered her glare on her. “And why are you even here? You aren’t a board member or family.”

  Morgan clenched his fists, but he remained silent, as he didn’t want this to become some kind of circus. Or a boxing ring, or to finally strangle this bitch.

  Chance stood up looking worried at this verbal attack. “Daphne, please don’t go there—”

  “No,” Ellie cut him off. “Let her say whatever she wants.” She stood up. “I’m done being hurt by her. Whatever she has to say, doesn’t matter…in the scheme of things.” Ellie turned her gaze to Morgan’s father. Repeating the statement Edwin made earlier about Ellie herself.

  He looked perplexed at this statement.

  “So, go ahead Daphne.” Ellie sat back down.

  Melanie looked proud and patted Ellie’s hand on the table. “That was classy and graceful. Very nice.”

  Morgan couldn’t suppress his grin.

  Daphne opened her mouth to speak, her angry expression very apparent.

  Edwin bolted up. “Can we get past this crap? Who cares about any of this! Why are we all here?”

  “Yes, what is this really about?” Mrs. Yearwood asked as she stared down at the papers in front of her.

  Morgan laughed. “If any of you that were so curious would have just looked down, you would find out what this meeting is all about.”

  “Yeah, what he said.” Chance smirked.

  They all sat and looked through the papers in front of them.

  For several minutes, all that could be heard was papers rustling.

  Morgan looked over at Ellie.

  She beamed at him.

  He nodded then took a peek at Chance.

  Chance shook his head. He was staring at Edwin and he didn’t look happy, he looked anxious, as he knew this could get ugly fast.

  Morgan was ready for it, he hoped. Chance told him some about what all Edwin had been doing. He’d found out some things that he and Chance had done in the past and he’d pressured Chance with that at every turn to keep him in line. It didn’t surprise him any. Instead of getting angry, Morgan had devised this solution. Chance had argued with him, but Morgan wouldn’t budge. It was what he wanted.

  Daphne’s face went white as she read through several pages.

  Edwin’s face turned an angry red.

  Melanie started to laugh.

  The Yearwood’s looked confused.

  Morgan knew he’d waited long enough. “So, in essence, as you can see, I’ll make some happy here by stepping down. However, I have transferred my shares of Hunt equally to my mother and Chance Givens. Therefore, they both have the majority. Their votes together trump the rest of you.”

  Edwin stood up. “Are you insane? You’re giving away your future?”

  Morgan smiled as he looked over at Ellie. “No, my future is assured and I’m gaining something that I always wanted.”

  Edwin looked perplexed. “You have just tossed away billions of dollars, and unimaginable power. What could you want more than that?”

  Morgan never looked at him as he answered, “Happiness. Peace, contentment. Time to be just myself.”

  Edwin Hunt looked stunned. “How can you have that without money? You’re crazy!” He turned to glare at Ellie. “She can’t replace all that! You are just besotted by a nice piece of ass, and flushing your inheritance away.”

  Chance stood up. “He’s not broke. Far from it.”

  Morgan wanted to punch him in the face for the piece of ass remark, but he refused to engage. He smiled at his father and let that pass by as he still had the main deal to achieve. “Then the next issue is something rather personal and it has to do with an act of greed and cruelty that far exceeded even your cold machinations, father.” He swiveled his gaze over at the Yearwoods.

  Daphne looked scared.

  “No, no. Daphne. This time, it wasn’t you.”

  “Yeah, will the surprise never cease?” Chance quipped.

  She looked relieved but confused and kept her mouth shut…for once.

  “OH! I found them yes,” Melanie stated as she read them.

  “At the bottom of the stack are two papers,” Morgan instructed those who still looked puzzled.

  They all looked through them, as most hadn’t gotten that far yet.

  “WHAT?” Anthony Yearwood yelled.

  “Y-you are insane!” Gloria Yearwood shouted. “Why would we ever give up our shares?”

  Morgan shrugged then looked over at Chance.

  Chance produced his now legendary laptop and set it on the board table. “Are you sure you want to ask that?”

  The Yearwood’s both stilled and Anthony gulped.

  “What is this about?” Daphne asked. She stared at her parents. “What is he talking about?”

  Chance turned his screen around and tapped a key.

  The Yearwood’s were on the screen.

  With them was Hillborn.

  “So, you will mess with her. Stalk her and watch her. Like maybe give her such a scare that she will go crazy or something?” Mrs. Yearwood asked him.

  “Sure, she’s a pretty thing. And you are paying me enough.”

  “But don’t like hurt her physically. Just make sure she will be scarred. Damaged, so Morgan will leave her.”

  Ellie sat stone still.

  “What is this about?” Melanie asked.

  “Now Chance,” Ellie instructed.

  Morgan looked over at her. Then he swung his gaze back over to Chance as his gut clenched.

  Chance looked anxious as he let out a sigh and tapped another key or two.

  Morgan guessed what he was about to show as he started to get up. “Chance don’t—”

  The video feed changed.

  Ellie was up in chains as Hillborn taunted her and she screamed then he put a ball gag in her mouth.

  “CHANCE!” Morgan yelled.

  Chance tapped a key and the video went black.

  “W-what was that?” Melanie looked pale. She stared at the Yearwoods. “You hired that man to rape her? Just to get Morgan to marry your slut of a daughter!” She stood up and moved out of her chair. “You sick, twisted…” She tried to get around Morgan. “Someone needs to—”

  “Mom!”

  His mother was angrier than he’d ever seen her, but she allowed him to sit her back down.

  He again looked over at Chance. “I never would have allowed you to show that.”

  “Don’t blame him. I told him to play it.” Ellie looked pale her eyes huge in her angelic face. “They all needed to see it.” She stared at the Yearwoods. “How would you have felt if someone had done that to Daphne?”

  They refused to meet her gaze as they squirmed in their seats.

  “She would have liked it probably,” Melanie whispered.

  Daphne gasped.

  “Well, moving on,” Chance tapped another key.

  The screen changed to the Yearwood’s meeting another man.

  “Shut it off!” Anthony yelled.

  “Umm…NOPE.” Chance shrugged.

  “So, what we need you to do is just follow her,” Anthony was speaking. “Don’t get close enough to where she can see your face.”

  “Yes, then she might realize you’re not him,” Gloria Yearwood added.

  “STOP IT!” Gloria stood up while glaring at Chance.

  Chance glared back at her. “You hired yet another man to stalk her then also had him break into Morgan’s house two days ago to further this deception that Hillborn was after her again.”

  Morgan stood up. “So either you sign away your shares equally to Chance and Melanie or we turn it all over to the Philadelphia Crimes Division. And believe me, I would have done so already, if Ellie had allowed me to.”

  “Yeah and look on the bright side,” Ellie finally spoke. “Orange is the new black.”

  Chance stared at her then laughed. “Oh, my god that was a good one, Ellie!”

  Edwin finally spoke, “If they have all the shares—”


  “Yes, dad you will be a minor player. But not to be greedy. There is a clause where those shares will be sold and diluted to form a fund.”

  “What?”

  “A fund for the people we displace, who lose their jobs when we buy and sell these companies.”

  “Oh, really?” Edwin rolled his eyes.

  “Yes, really,” Ellie replied. “It is the only reason I’m not already down at the police station giving my statement. Plus, the scandal of a trial for this company, the Yearwood’s and even yourself, it would ruin you all.” She stood up and stared at him. “Since in the scheme of things, some people whom you thought were nothing? They matter!”

  Melanie started to laugh. “Oh, Morgan. She is wonderful.”

  “Right?” He smiled at his mom.

  Silence reigned over the room as Chance got up and handed the Yearwood’s a pen.

  Daphne gasped. “Mom, dad! You can’t just—”

  “What? And go to jail?” Anthony griped as he signed.

  “We are old. We would die there, the first week.” Gloria grabbed the pen from her husband and signed.

  “So Daphne and Edwin,” Morgan spoke. “You are now minor shareholders. You will not be needed on the board.” He felt so relieved that this was all finally over. He didn’t even have to see these people again in his lifetime.

  Edwin was already standing. He looked numb. Stunned. Speechless.

  Daphne looked over at him. “Come on, Edwin.”

  He stared at Morgan for a long moment. “Damn, son.” Edwin turned and went out.

  The Yearwood’s scurried out after them.

  Chance casually walked over and shut the door then turned to the three left in the room. “WAHOO!” he yelled as he jumped up and down.

  Melanie laughed. “You all are brilliant. Morgan, I have never felt prouder.”

  “Just wait mom, I have one more thing to do. Then we shall see.”

  Melanie stared at him looking puzzled.