Andre scowled over his shoulder toward the kitchen. Mikayla and Jonathan were engrossed in an animated conversation. He couldn’t make out their words, but knowing Jonathan, the joke was at his expense.
“It’s not worth fighting anymore,” Andre said. “Let Dalmtrix go where they want and we can pilot the landfill gas program somewhere else.”
“I’m almost willing to agree,” Isaac said. “But Dad is taking this as a personal attack from Uncle Philip.”
Andre spun away from the kitchen and gripped the phone. “That’s preposterous.”
“Convince him of that. He’s got dirt on the governor and wants to use it to force a tax deal to get Dalmtrix to move to the Upstate.”
Andre’s pulse hammered in his ears. “What?”
“And there’s more. He’s got information on mishandled funds in the Hartsville school district that could threaten the new development.”
Andre’s hand balled into a fist. He reared back to hit the wall but held back. “We can’t do that.”
“It’s already being done. We’ve got a meeting with the superintendent on Monday morning.”
“I’m not going.”
“You know how this goes. You’re either with dad or you’re against him.” Isaac said in a tone weighted down from years of hearing that statement.
The constant threat from their father grated Andre’s nerves. “My loyalty to this family shouldn’t be questioned.”
“I’m not the one you need to convince.”
Andre ended the call without another word. Frustration and anger crashed like waves inside him. This bullshit was going to blow up in his face. Going with his family on this would surely mean losing Mikayla. There was no way his dad would kill this deal without letting Philip know he was behind it. If he fought his dad, he knew what would happen. Curtis wouldn’t hesitate to snatch away Andre’s rights to the company. He’d lose everything.
Andre stared at the phone then the kitchen. He’d worked so hard to help build the company. If he kept Mikayla, he’d risk losing everything. If he gave her up, he’d definitely lose the only woman who made him even think about love.
But love is a fleeting emotion.
Mikayla popped her head around the corner. A beautiful smile brightened her face and shot an arrow of happiness through his chest.
“Good you’re off the phone. I think Jonathan is about to ask me to marry him.”
“Get it right,” Jonathan’s voice came from the kitchen. “I already asked.”
“Jonathan wants me to break his arms.” Andre walked toward Mikayla. He tried to sound lighthearted, but his words came out gravelly and gruff.
Mikayla frowned and reached up to place her hand on his cheek, concern reflecting in her brown gaze. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he leaned down and gave her a fleeting kiss. He walked around her and approached Jonathan. “I hear you’re making moves on my lady?”
Jonathan laughed. “Just pointing out that she could do better.”
They continued the good-natured taunts, but Mikayla’s worried glances darting his way didn’t help the unease clenching his gut.
*
“I like her,” Jonathan said when he and Andre walked outside to his motorcycle.
“Maybe a little too much.”
Jonathan took his helmet off the bike and propped it between his arm and side. “Worried she’ll realize the grass is greener?”
“Not hardly. But it wouldn’t hurt to tone it down.”
A serious look replaced the smile on Jonathan’s face. “You like her, too. A lot.”
He did, but was it enough to fight his dad over? Enough to stir up Curtis’s fears that his sons would turn against him the same way Phillip had?
“I’m thinking about ending things.” The words put a sour taste in his mouth.
“The look on your face says you’re not really considering that.”
Andre ran a hand across his face. “I don’t like it, but it’s for the best.”
“What crazy ass notion put that into your head? You don’t bring women up here. Angelica came because she begged, and I saw the relief on your face when you said she hated it. Mikayla didn’t hesitate to help in your kitchen, and she seems comfortable curled up on your couch right now, I don’t think she’s going to complain. I didn’t believe it, but now that I’ve met her, I see the connection. Why in the hell would you end it?”
Jump right to the point, why don’t you? Without a second thought, Andre relayed the conversation he’d had with his brother. The entire time he told the story he could hear how unreasonable it sounded to ruin a relationship with Mikayla over his dad’s need for retaliation. Even though Jonathan didn’t agree with him going along with the Caldwell anything goes business model, he knew Andre’s family well enough to understand how difficult it would be to go against Curtis.
When Andre finished, Jonathan put his hand to his chin. “So expose a few scandals, prevent the move of a major manufacturer and push them to go somewhere that profits C.E.S., loose Mikayla, but keep your dysfunctional family intact.”
Andre rubbed the back of his neck. “That sums it up.”
“Do you realize how asinine that sounds?”
He held his head back and groaned. “Yes. It’s asinine. It’s unethical, and it’ll ruin things with the only woman I’ve gotten this close with. I turned against my dad once, and not only was it a disaster, but it proved in the end I was just as bad as him.”
“You’re a grown man now.”
He pushed aside past regrets. “I put everything I had into making C.E.S. successful. I’m supposed to walk away from the company for a woman? Then do what?”
Jonathan smirked and tapped him with the helmet. “You are the C.O.O. of a major corporation. It shouldn’t be hard to find another job. Or, use that damn M.B.A. you got and start another one. Take a few people from your dad’s company and launch your own waste recovery and recycling business. You’ve said yourself small business need better solutions.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Yeah, it is.” Jonathan slipped onto the back of his bike and fired up the engine. “Give her up and become what you swear you’re not. Your dad.”
Andre stood in the driveway until the sound of Jonathan’s motorcycle faded. He turned back to the house, thought of Mikayla lying on the couch wrapped up in a quilt watching television. She didn’t have many options, he didn’t have cable or satellite. Just a converter box, but she hadn’t complained. Just smiled that adorable smile of hers and kissed him before he walked Jonathan out.
Back inside, Andre found Mikayla dozing on the couch. He smiled and strolled over and kneeled in front of her. She always fell asleep in seconds. He understood her exhaustion. She often worked late and spent her days traveling across the state. But whenever he called she stopped to talk to him. Whenever he visited, she gave him her undivided attention. Amazing and selfless, and he was about to give all of that up?
He brushed the hair away from her face. She stirred, her eyes opened slowly and blinked several times before focusing on him.
Mikayla smiled. “Sorry.”
He shook his head. “You work too hard.”
“Don’t we all.” She looked around his sparsely furnished living area. “Maybe that’s why I like your place out here. Just the basics, and enough peace and quiet to get your brain refreshed for another work day.”
“You don’t get very much quiet with Jonathan around.”
She laughed and sat up. “He’s nice.”
“And he likes you.”
“Hmmm, there may be hope for us. Renee has agreed to stand down on bashing you, and your friend has taken a liking to me.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
He sat beside her on the couch. “I’m thinking of leaving my job.”
“That phone call. Was it about work?”
“For the most part.” He leaned back on the couch and brushed his fingers through her hair. “My brother called to tel
l me about one of my dad’s ideas. Something I don’t agree with.”
“If you left, what would you do?”
He shrugged and toyed with a few threads escaping the back of the couch. “Find another job or start a business. I’m not worried about that as much as how my dad will handle my leaving. He strikes out at those he perceives disloyal. He’d consider my leaving C.E.S. a betrayal.”
“How so?”
“When my dad cheated on my mom he kicked her out and completely cut her off. No house, no money, no anything. She tried to fight, but he had enough money to hire lawyers that had her held up in court so long she finally gave up.”
He frowned, hands balled into fists on the back of the couch. “I was angry, and hated him for what he did. So I left to live with her. After six months of struggling and not knowing where our next meal would come from…I became resentful.”
“Of your dad?”
“No, of my mom.” He turned away from her and rubbed his face with his hands. “I would lash out and could barely hide my anger. I wondered what had she done to make him hate her…us…so much. I guess he knew my limit because a few months later he reached out to me. Invited me to visit.” He scoffed. “I jumped at the chance. I realized everything I gave up. He asked me to stay for good and I did. Mom wasn’t angry. In fact, she wished me well and said she couldn’t stand to see me suffer with her. Dad’s only requirement–my loyalty. He didn’t want to lose his son the same way he’d lost his brother.”
He turned back to Mikayla. She stared at the floor.
“I’ve gone along with everything he’s asked of me. A part of me even enjoys the money, the power. I reveled in bending the rules, making people give me what I want. I let myself believe dad’s tactics of abusing power and privilege were okay because we were building an empire. An empire I’d inherit one day.”
“What is he asking you to do now that’s finally pushed the button?”
The truth burned his throat, but telling her would require revealing what he’d done already. Instead, he opted for part of the truth. “It would require me to give you up.”
Her head snapped up, questions swirled in the chocolate centers of her eyes. “He asked you to do that?” Confusion was evident in her voice.
“No, but doing what he expects means the end of our relationship. I’m not ready to let you go.”
She studied him, her brows drawn together while she bit her lower lip. Sadly, a small part of him hoped she’d say his family was worth more. But then she leaned over and kissed him, all doubts were pushed aside.
She pressed against his chest until his back leaned against the couch. Her soft lips made a sensual trail from his mouth to his ear and down his neck. Need jumped through him, his muscles became rigid, blood rushing to his crotch. Andre’s breaths staggered when her gentle hands unbuttoned his pants. Her palm, soft and warm, enclosed around him. He pressed his head into the back of the couch and her confident hands massaged him into a frenzy.
The sound of Mikayla’s erratic breaths made his dick swell. He loved that she loved touching him. He wanted to return the favor and worship every inch of her body. He moved to get up, but her hand tightened. Slowly, she lowered her body until she came face to face with his need. Wet lips enclosed his swollen lower head, followed by a slow sweep of her tongue along his length. She took him in so deep he touched the back of her throat. A low groan rumbled from his chest. To hell with his family, he chose her, Mikayla Sanders was worth more.
CHAPTER 27
After spending the day with Mikayla, and regrettably watching her leave close to seven that evening, Andre went straight to his dad’s mansion. It was better to get this over with in private instead of in front of the entire staff Monday morning at the office. He’d spent so much of his life trying to make C.E.S. successful, he couldn’t imagine not working there. Not only because of his loyalty to the family. Over the years, he developed a deep sense of pride in C.E.S.’s success. Together they’d turned C.E.S. into a powerhouse.
If he walked away, he would for what? Love? The same emotion turned his mother from self-assured to becoming her ex-husband’s mistress. He couldn’t be that weak. If he left the security of C.E.S. and he and Mikayla didn’t work out, he had no idea who he’d be. Or if fighting his dad was really worth this new love, this new sense of morality.
A vision of her soft eyes and beautiful smile flashed through his mind. A sense of peace settled over him, just like he felt whenever she was around. Something he didn’t get much of from his job or his family. He had to trust that choosing her was the right decision.
Classical piano music greeted Andre when the butler opened the door. He didn’t recognize the man. His dad must have fired the previous one, likely for some minor slight. His determined footsteps echoed on the white marble floors. Andre made his way down the hall lined with portraits of his father and stepmother to the source of the music, Curtis’s study.
He didn’t knock, but entered and shut the door quietly behind him. Curtis Caldwell sat at his desk, his feet propped up, a Rogaska crystal highball in his hand. Brown liquid nearly filled to the brim. Probably Marnier Cognac, the senior Caldwell’s favorite. His eyes were closed and his lips pressed tightly together and his feet swayed with the surges and regressions of the music.
“What do you want?” His dad asked without opening his eyes. Grabbing the remote he cranked down the music.
Anxiety settled over Andre. This wasn’t going to go well. Fights with Curtis never did. He crossed the room, the luxurious carpet muffling the sound of his footsteps, but he didn’t doubt his dad knew every move he made.
“Isaac called. Your efforts to keep Dalmtrix out of Hartsville have expanded.”
“Why shouldn’t they?” Curtis took a sip from his glass. “No need to let all our hard work go down the drain, not over some low-income project.”
“That project will serve the area well.” Andre tried to keep his voice even. “We’ve already pushed Dalmtrix away—”
“They’re still considering locating there. I thought you were working on getting the tree huggers riled up.”
Andre gritted his teeth then forced his jaw to relax. “The story was spilled, there wasn’t anything else to do.” He sat down opposite his dad.
“Oh, there’s a hell of a lot more that we can do.” Curtis dropped his feet and nailed Andre with a hard stare. “You’re just too whipped to do it.”
“We can start our gas project without Dalmtrix. You know that. You’re just sticking to this plan because you’re trying to derail Uncle Philip’s project. This infighting has to stop, people other than your brother are affected.”
“Like who,” Curtis sneered. “That secretary of his you’re screwing every weekend.”
Andre leaned back in his seat. He held his dad’s stare, but his heartbeat increased. “Her name is Mikayla, and yes, I’m referring to her.”
“I know good and damn well she’s the one pushing this project. Her and your playboy cousin. I’m surprised she hasn’t fallen back in bed with him. I guess you’re keeping her busy.” Curtis indulged in another long sip.
Andre clenched his hands to keep from responding to the insults. “If you know it’s her project, then why keep trying to kill it.”
“You need me to kill it. What the hell are you thinking sleeping around with her?” Curtis slammed his glass on the table. “Running to Columbia every weekend like a pussy whipped schoolboy.” He scowled at Andre.
Andre’s anger bubbled inside like lava. “I care about Mikayla. Something I don’t expect you to understand, but I hoped you would have enough respect for me to leave her out of this.”
His dad scoffed and surged up from his chair. “Enough respect for you. You always were soft. Just like your damn momma.”
“If you don’t leave this alone I’ll quit.”
Curtis laughed, then gulped downed the rest of his drink. “No you won’t.”
Andre stood. Fist planted firmly on the Brazilian lacqu
ered wood and glared at Curtis. “Yes. I. Will.” Each word loaded with the power of his rage.
All humor left his dad’s face. Wrath replaced the smug expression, but there was a glimmer of worry in his eyes. “You’d turn your back on family for this girl? You’d actually join my brother’s side and work against me.”
“I don’t want to, but don’t push me. I’m invested in C.E.S. just as much as you. I’ve joined you in the blackmail, the bribes, the outright threats.” He pounded the desk with each statement. “All in the name of securing new contracts. I’ve been with you since I was sixteen and you know I’ve been loyal. But I’m tired of the way we do business.”
“What are you saying? You want to become one of those broke we are the world love everyone business men?” Curtis fluttered his fingers and twisted his lips. “Build a life with that girl who comes from nothing in your shoddy shack in the country? You’ll give up all the comforts and benefits that come with being a Caldwell just so you don’t hurt this girl’s feelings.”
Andre’s back stiffened and he stood straight. “I’ll do all of that because I care about her. I’ve made my own money and I’ve got enough saved to get by. I know enough about running a large corporation to get another job. It won’t be like last time, I won’t come running back just because you jingle the keys to a Porsche in my face.”
The doubt in his dad’s eyes turned to full blown fear. Like any fearful animal forced into a corner Andre knew Curtis would strike soon. Time to get the hell out of here. Andre pivoted on the balls of his feet and walked toward the door.
“You forget, son,” Curtis said easily. “I’ve got just as much dirt on you as you have on me.”
Andre whipped around. “I don’t plan to use what I know against you.”
“Soft! Just as I thought.” Curtis stalked around his desk. “I will use everything I know to ruin you. I’ll make sure no corporation will take a chance on you. I’ll spread rumors of mismanagement and complaints about the way you treated co-workers.”
“If you start a mud-slinging war I’ll throw so much dirt you and C.E.S. will never recover. You destroying my reputation will equal the end of yours, Isaac’s, and the company we worked so hard to build. I learned from the best, so don’t test me.”
Show Me How to Love Page 19