Dealing with his feelings for Tessa seemed more challenging than he first thought. He was willing to admit he was attracted to her in a way he couldn’t explain, but he wasn’t going to think beyond that.
Thinking of Tessa and his feelings was not going to help his mood improve. He was pumped up with frustration and anger. Speaking to her now would not be wise. He probably would say things that he would regret later. There was one person on the other hand who deserved the brunt of his anger.
Picking up the phone he dialed the number Clay had given him. Dean waited to be put through to Dax’s office. He wanted to know what that arrogant ass wanted this time.
“Marshall here.”
“Marshall, it’s Dean Henderson. I received a phone call from Clay Landon this morning. He said you wanted to speak to me. I told him I couldn’t imagine there was anything you could say that I’d want to hear, but he assured me there was. What do you fucking want, Marshall?” Dean wasn’t calling to play nice. He hadn’t hinted the first time, and he needed to make sure they got it now.
“You’re going to lose Poly-Shyn.”
“That’s what this is about? I heard you’d changed your mind about trying for a buyout, but I didn’t believe it. Looks like I was right. Threaten all you like, Marshall, you won’t get Poly-Shyn.” He had to respect Marshall’s drive. He knew if the shoe were on the other foot, he would never have walked away from the challenge either. Maybe Clay was right, and they were more alike than they wanted to believe. That’s not a good thing. Not in this situation.
He heard Dax take a deep breath. His frustration was apparent over the phone. “I’m not threatening you. I’m considering investing in your company.”
Dean almost burst out laughing. He had done a lot of research on Dax, and at no time had he ever made a move like that. No. There was something he wasn’t saying. He had to admit it was a good try, but he wasn’t falling for it. “Do you take me for a fool? I’ve seen your early-bird leveraged takeovers. I’m ready for you and your lackey, Clay.”
“Pull your head out of your ass long enough to hear what I’m saying, Dean. I don’t want your fucking company, but I wasn’t the only one who was interested in it,” Dax barked. “I’ll send you over a proposal. Read it. What you decide after that is your choice, but I’d like to see you save your father’s company.”
Dean wasn’t out to save it because of any loyalty to his father. Actually it was to show everyone that he could do it even better than his father had. What would have changed Dax’s mind? If he wanted the company, and was watching the stock, then this would not be the time to make this move. So what did he have to gain? “Why?”
“Let’s just say I’m diversifying my business approach.”
Dean did not like dancing around what should be a simple answer. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means I want to see if I am as good at saving a company as I am at dissolving them.”
That was something Dean was trying to prove to himself as well. He knew what his motivation was, but what was driving Marshall? Then he remembered the picture of him with Kenzi. She’d opened up to the family about her past, maybe she was having the same effect on Dax. Whatever it was, if Marshall was serious about joining forces, they would be a deadly team. Running a business together—he wasn’t so sure it would work.
“Send the proposal. I’ll be in contact and let you know what I think. But Marshall, don’t try to fuck me over on this one. You have a lot more to lose right now than money.”
Dean hung up. Let him think about which he loves more right now: the win or Kenzi. I already know the answer, Dax. People like us can’t change.
Being out with Lexi had been like being with an old friend. After hours of shopping they’d found a restaurant and sat and laughed for hours. Lexi made everyone around her feel at ease. Watching her in action had been like seeing a comedian work a crowd. Even this morning Tessa could feel her sore ribs from laughing so hard. What a great a feeling.
Of course now she was paying the price. Her head was pounding, and her eyes burned. Tessa felt like a hot mess, and she had a meeting with Bennett to talk serious business. What had she been thinking going out like that? Opening her desk drawer, she pulled out a bottle of aspirin and took two with a sip of strong black coffee. I really shouldn’t have agreed to go out for drinks.
Lexi came into her office all smiles and looking no worse for the wear. Really? Can’t you pretend to be hurting a bit?
“Good morning, Tessa,” she said and then stopped. “Oh wow. You look like you had a rough night’s sleep.”
Try no sleep. “Yeah, I am feeling a bit under the weather this morning.”
“Should I tell the guy waiting in the hall to reschedule?”
Oh how Tessa wished that were possible. The last thing she wanted to do was look at the laptop screen and concentrate on anything, especially something this important. “Show him in, and please close the door behind you.”
“Don’t let Dean catch you with him. You might just make him jealous,” Lexi teased as she left the office.
Tessa was shocked to see who entered her office. You’re the man from the elevator. So you’re already working with Dean? Or were you here for another reason?
His presence was as intimidating as it had been that first day, but she wasn’t going to let it affect her today. This was too important and she was told he was the man she needed to do the job. She tried forcing a confidence that she needed, but it meant digging deep for something that was not natural for her. She knew he was going to see right through it. That didn’t stop her for trying at least. “It’s you.” Tessa said boldly.
He nodded. “Ms. Brooks, I’m Bennett Stone.”
“Please call me Tessa, and thank you for coming on such short notice. I wasn’t able to give you all the details over the phone, but hopefully when I show you what’s going on you’ll see something I am missing.”
“Let’s get to it,” Bennett said.
They spent the next few hours going through each file and she explained what she believed had been in the files. She wasn’t one-hundred-percent positive of it because they were all marked confidential, but Nancy had seemed sure and that was good enough for her.
“Besides yourself, who had access to this database?”
Unfortunately no one. If I didn’t know any different I would think I did it too. “No one that I am aware of. That’s why I asked you here. Something isn’t right, but I have no idea why anyone would want these types of files. It is historical data. What would someone gain taking that?”
“You would be shocked to learn how evil people can be when they choose to be. What they would use them for now? That is what I’m going to try to find out. Until I do, don’t discuss this with anyone, except Dean of course. I highly suggest bringing him up to speed on this. After all, he is acting CEO and probably needs to know of any potential security risk.”
Tessa looked away. Telling him was only going to open up the old wound of her being under suspicion again.
“Unless there’s a reason you don’t want him to know?” Bennett asked.
“No. I was hoping to have an answer for him not just a problem. How long do you think it will take to find out?”
“Things like this are hard to put a time frame on. I have good connections, so with any luck we might have an answer by Monday.”
“Okay. Please call me with any updates at all.” Tessa handed him a number. “This is my personal cell phone and the best way to reach me.”
“Until we know the extent of the data breech, I suggest limiting access only to those you think you can trust,” Bennett said before he left.
Tessa wasn’t used to living or working amongst people she couldn’t trust. The joy of growing up in such a small town was you couldn’t hide anything. Here in Boston, she couldn’t tell good from bad. Going with her gut might just get her in hot water, so all she could do was heed Bennett’s advice and keep quiet.
She headed
up to Dean’s office. Tessa wasn’t sure what she was going to say, but she had to tell him something. Bennett was right, this is his company, and he should know.
His office door was open so she knocked softly. “Hi, Dean. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“I can make the time for you.”
Tessa closed the door behind her and sat across from his desk. She could see the playfulness in his eyes, but she needed to keep this all business. What she was going to tell him was serious, and there was no way she would allow him to distract her. Not now at least.
“I wanted to talk to you about business. An issue that I think you should know about.”
“You know how I handle issues, Tessa. If you think there is one, fire them. End of discussion,” Dean said matter-of-factly.
“Yeah. About that. If you keep firing people, you won’t have any staff left. You might want to try a new tactic like a verbal warning and then maybe a written warning. If they still don’t work out or improve, then fire them.” What she was saying was standard HR procedure. Why she felt the need to explain that to him was beyond her.
“Tessa, I don’t pay you to tell me how to run my company.”
“I am the HR manager, Dean. It’s my responsibility to inform you of the policies,” she said proudly.
He laughed softly. “Tessa, do you really want to go there?”
“What do you mean?” She didn’t want to go head to head with him, but it was her job. That’s all.
“You do know I make it a point to know who is on my staff. Not just who, but their qualifications. We both know you are talented, and I really appreciate how hard you are trying to keep everything working smoothly, but you are no HR manager.” He raised a brow, watching her closely as he said it.
She swallowed hard. How long had he known? And why had he not said anything before? She felt like such a fool. Had he been laughing at her all this time? When they were in bed together had he known?
“Dean, it’s not what you think. I can explain everything,” she said, but he cut her off.
“I get it. You stepped in when I fired everyone else. See, easy to explain. But outside of that Tessa, you need to understand one thing. I will let you play HR manager as long as it suits me. But if you cross the line and interfere in the future of Poly-Shyn, I will fire you no matter what our relationship is. Is that understood?”
There was no joking in his tone. She had seen him in action and never forgot how he spoke to his brother. Tessa didn’t want to ever see that side of him directed at her. She should feel more at ease with the truth of her position out in the open. But that was only part of it. He still didn’t know about the severance packages she had given out. The good news was he hadn’t fired anyone in two weeks. Maybe he was changing. Or maybe it’s because there are only a few of the original staff members left.
With the ball he just dropped, what she had to tell him was going to have to wait. He probably wouldn’t believe her anyway, and telling him now would be going against what he just said to her. It would need to wait till Monday when Bennett had more concrete information. Without facts from Bennett to back up her finding, he never would take it seriously.
All she could do right now was absorb what he said. Although she wished he was joking, she knew he wasn’t. He would fire her with a snap of a finger and not even second guess his decision. That knowledge hurt her. She knew she should be grateful he hadn’t done so already, but at the present time, she felt torn between her own emotions.
Getting up she said, “I better let you get back to work, and I have a lot to do myself.”
“Want to try dinner tonight?”
Tessa really didn’t want to think about food. Her stomach was tied in knots. But there was a part of her that still yearned to be with him, near him. She couldn’t let his comments regarding business ruin whatever was developing between them. She didn’t trust her voice to not give away how she was feeling, so she just smiled and nodded.
“Great, I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Before leaving the office she turned back to him and asked, “How about a home-cooked meal tonight?”
His smile melted her heart. She wanted to run across the office into his strong arms.
“Sounds even better. See you tonight.”
It might only be one night, but she was going to make it one neither of them would forget. Of course, she had to sneak out of the office early again so she actually could get something to eat besides ice cream.
Leaving his office, she closed the door behind her. Don’t overthink this, Tessa. He wants to be with you so just enjoy. Because, God knows, you want to be with him too.
Chapter Fourteen
It had been a long week and Dean needed a stiff drink. Instead, he found himself standing outside of Tessa’s door, already inhaling the wonderful aroma of her cooking. It smelled delicious, yet he hesitated to knock on the door.
Growing up, he was used to the family cook preparing meals and someone else serving them as they sat silently at the table. No one spoke because it would only draw their father’s attention to them. When he looked at you and actually saw you there, his wrath was surely going to follow.
From everything Bennett had told him, he and Tessa were as different as night and day. She was a ray of sunshine in his life. There wasn’t a time that he was near her or even thought of her without feeling somehow different. What was he bringing to her? He was hard, cold, and full of bitterness. None of this was what she deserved. She’d probably spent the last few hours preparing a meal for him. What had he done to deserve such a thing? It might seem like such a simple act to her considering how she was raised, but to him it was a symbol of what normal people do, and he didn’t fit in that category.
People said he was like his father. They weren’t entirely wrong. For that reason alone he shouldn’t be with Tessa. She needed someone who fit in with her family. She was the daughter of a preacher, and he was the son of one of the cruelest people he’d ever met. Both of their lives had been shaped by their pasts. At no point should he even consider a future with someone like her. All he could offer was the here and now. I should leave. Don’t even knock. Stop this now before I hurt her anymore.
He was a man who always knew what he wanted and never stopped before he obtained it. This was the first time he recalled being unsure of anything. He was torn between right and wrong, a feeling he didn’t enjoy. What a time to develop a conscience.
As Dean lifted his hand to knock, his cell phone rang and he looked at the caller ID. It was Tessa. He was late and she probably was thinking he wasn’t showing up. He had been tempted to turn and walk away.
Answering the call, he said, “Hi.”
“I’m just checking to see if everything is okay,” Tessa said.
He could hear the concern in her voice. Now he felt like a jerk for making her worry in the first place. If he had just knocked on the door when he first got there, there would’ve been no need for her to call.
He knocked on the door. “Just arrived.”
When she opened the door, the sight of her took his breath away. She was standing there in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and an apron that said, “I just burned six hundred calories. It was called your dinner. Time for take-out.”
There was nothing fake about her. She was a gem amongst rocks. He had everything he wanted in life, could buy anything he chose, yet what she offered him was priceless.
She reached out and gave him a quick hug. Didn’t she see she was opening the door to the wolf? Could she really be that naïve? Or was she facing the same battle between right and wrong? And being with Tessa is so wrong.
“I was worried that something came up at work and you couldn’t make it tonight,” she said as she took his hand and led him to the kitchen where he saw the candlelit dinner table set and waiting. In the center were the daisies he had discarded in the hallway.
He wanted to pull her into his arms, never let her go, and tell her how special she was to him. Bu
t that was what a good man would do and that so wasn’t him.
“I told you, Tessa, don’t worry about my business,” he said plainly.
Dean watched the smile on her beautiful face dim just a bit. Not totally vanish but he knew she felt the words exactly the way he meant them. Open your eyes, Tessa, this is who I am. It’s not pretty but it’s reality.
Tessa refused to let him see her disappointment. She had worked hard preparing everything to make their night special. He didn’t even seem to notice. But why would he? He was from one of the richest and most powerful families in the country. Why would he think her candlelit dinner was anything special? He probably was hoping to eat out where the food actually tasted good. What’s wrong with me? I am so out of my class here. I probably look like a fool and he probably can’t wait for this night to be over.
It was too late to change the plan now. Dinner was ready and he was here. If she said let’s go out, he would think she couldn’t make up her mind about what she wanted. No wonder he doesn’t want to hear anything I say about Poly-Shyn. I first have to prove myself, then maybe he will trust what I have to say. Then again, maybe he won’t.
“Dinner is ready if you are hungry,” she said, trying to sound cheerful when, in fact, she wasn’t sure what she felt. All afternoon she had envisioned what tonight would be like. He would come and be blown away by what she had prepared, then take her in his arms and carry her to the bed and slowly make sweet love to her.
Right now, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. He finally took a seat at the table, which made her feel a bit more at ease.
“I hope you don’t mind lasagna. It is one of my favorites,” she said as she removed it from the oven and placed it on the table.
“It looks delicious, Tessa. You really are an amazing woman, aren’t you?” Dean asked.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him. He seemed to be watching every movement she made. Why are you watching me so closely?
Table For Two: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book Two Page 13