by Maggie Thom
“You told me you were making me CFO—Chief Financial Officer—and you were including Transportation under me.”
“You couldn’t even hire a competent mechanic to fix the vehicles here. And you think I’m going to let you be in charge of Transportation? I make decisions on what is best for the company. Right now, you’re Manager of Finance. That isn’t changing anytime soon. Get out.”
August walked quickly back through the door he’d come through and stopped.
“Hi. Sorry. I got a bit lost.”
“You don’t want to go that way. This is the door to leave.” The receptionist held the door for him to walk through, making it clear he needed to leave.
August smiled but hurried out. Rather than head back to Caspian, since Guy and Graham had arranged for him to have the day off he planned on doing just that. His phone buzzed. It was Graham but he wasn’t ready to talk to him. He needed some space to figure out what he was going to do. Then he’d talk to Graham and Guy. Face to face. This time they were going to answer some questions or he was done being the mechanic at Caspian and the pawn in whatever game they were playing.
Chapter 21
Tijan leaned back in the luxurious car, deciding that this time she’d enjoy the ride. Although for a while there, she’d been sure that her father was going to lock her in a tower and throw away the key. It appeared though she’d played the dutiful daughter well enough that he’d let her go but he’d made it very clear she was to be available when he needed her. He’d let her know when he had set up the meeting with the man, who she was pretty sure was double her age. Her father seemed to think she’d blindly date and marry the guy, if he wanted it.
The trip back to her car was much shorter than when they’d left. The parking lot was full. Her head was buzzing with questions. It felt like an ant farm had set up residence in her brain and each one was a different question scurrying around trying to find answers.
Feeling a bit claustrophobic, she realized that she just wanted to go home. She wanted to be back in the wide-open space of the foothills. She yearned to get on Tango and ride for hours... days... Just get away from everything and everyone. It had always been her favorite thing to do, especially when she was upset about something. And this ranked right up there with the toughest thing she’d ever had to deal with.
It was so tempting to just leave but then her mom came to mind. She had fought every day to live a normal life, and had always looked for the good in things. She had always been there for her with love and a smile. Tijan wasn’t going anywhere until she had some answers.
The one thing she did know was she had to talk to her sister. What she would actually say was a mystery but she needed to hear what she knew. Had she known she had a twin and perhaps she just hadn’t wanted anything to do with her?
Tijan knew that what she was thinking was crazy but she wasn’t getting anywhere by trying to be sneaky. After her ordeal with the man who claimed to be her father, she knew the first thing she had to do was warn her sister. The man was over the edge. She really wanted to know if they could commit him. Was he really who he said he was? She knew she could look him up on the Internet but really didn’t want that confirmation.
She’d finally been able to convince herself that since she’d come all this way, it was time to step up and see it through. She’d never backed down from a challenge and she’d had many. Living on a ranch with mostly men had made it impossible for her to back down from taunts or challenges. It hadn’t mattered that she was the boss’s daughter; she had something to prove. Some things though, hadn’t worked in her favor, especially the time she’d tried steer riding.
She approached the front of the building but ducked her head as the door flew open. A man sailed past her. Hustling forward she grabbed it and slipped inside. Yanking off her wig and glasses, which had only been so she could get by the old guy, she pulled the elastic out of her hair. Being inside was a bit of a shock. She thought she’d have to stand there for a while trying to figure out how to get to the offices upstairs.
Holding the banister as she wasn’t sure her rubbery legs were going to hold her upright, she slowly climbed the stairs. Wrestling a calf with its mama about to charge her was less scary than this. The echo of her boots on the steps sounded like sonic booms. It bounced off the walls, almost mocking her. At the top she stopped, noting there was a short hallway past the open door on her right. Peeking in, she saw that the room was empty but the sounds were coming from a room beyond, telling her that someone was in there.
Now or never girl.
It had taken her most of the day to get up the nerve, she wasn’t about to stop now. She stepped through the door.
“Tarin is that you? I was expecting you a while ago. I hope that means you waited for them to bake some new gooey cinnamon buns; you know, the ones you’re trying to get me to stop eating.”
Tijan mumbled a reply more from reflex than because she wanted to answer. Making her way toward the open doorway where the voice had come from, she dropped the wig and glasses on the empty desk as she passed. She stopped just outside the door. She shook her hair out pulling it forward, needing the security it gave her as she stepped forward. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting but the room was rather stark. The walls were off-white, a bed sat in the corner, and there was a desk against the windows with a man behind it. He was staring very intently at his computer screen, not even glancing up when she entered. She took that moment to study him. He was kind of cute in a shaggy dog kind of way and definitely someone who fit the nerd look. A cute one though.
“Tarin, what the hell? I love it.” Graham chuckled.
“Uh— no—”
“Nice outfit. Not sure the boots are really you. How’d you get your hair that long? Is that a wig? Or that extension thing? I guess it couldn’t be that, that takes a long time to do, right? The clothes are a different look, too.” Graham stood up and walked toward her. A smile and a very warm greeting filled his eyes.
Tijan froze when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. The soft, tender smile he gave her definitely caught her off guard.
“I, uh... No, I’m not—”
“You look hot.”
“Graham?”
He jerked back so fast, Tijan stumbled backwards.
“Tarin? Then who—”
Tijan could feel the two sets of eyes boring into her. Slowly, she straightened her spine and turned, knowing that her life was about to change drastically. Her sister was standing in the outer doorway.
“Bee”
“Boo”
“Tee”
“Ta”
Tijan wasn’t sure who moved first but she did know that she was soon reunited with the one person who completed her. It wasn’t something she could explain. They hugged and rocked and danced around but their arms never loosened from each other. Tijan felt her heart swell, her whole body vibrating with emotion.
A long time later, they separated enough to cup each other’s face and stare as though looking into a mirror and each other’s soul. It felt to Tijan like a rift within her had been sewn back together with an invisible thread. Everything was perfect in that moment. It was too much even for tears.
“How—”
“Where—”
They smiled at each other. Tarin took her hand and pulled her along with her back into the inner office. Tijan followed willingly, holding tightly to her sister, scared she’d disappear if she didn’t. The guy who had been about to kiss her had moved to the outer office as though to give them some privacy but he quickly turned to face them. The fact that he didn’t get mad or blurt out something surprised Tijan. She wasn’t used to men keeping their mouth shut when they’d had a shock, and this had to be a big one.
Tarin cupped her face and stared at her a long time. “You’re not a figment of my imagination.”
Tijan smiled. At times, she’d wondered that as well.
“Graham. I want you to meet my twin sister.” Tarin hugged Tijan�
�s arm as she introduced her. “I haven’t seen her in a very long time.”
Tijan wasn’t sure if it was the catch in Tarin’s voice or the reality of what she said that hit her but she suddenly felt overcome with a myriad of emotions. Questions started flooding her mind. Why had they been separated? Who had kept them apart? Why had they been kept from each other all these years?
“I really didn’t think you existed.”
Tijan could almost relate to that. She’d known she’d had a twin but had thought she’d died as a child.
“I’m Tijan by the way. And I know your name is Tarin.”
There was a stunned silence for a moment, before Tarin squared her shoulders. Her pain and hurt were palpable.
“Tijan, I would like you to meet the love of my life, Graham.”
Tijan was thankful that they looked lovingly at each other for a few seconds; it gave her time to tamp down her feelings and allow the happiness that had first welled inside her to come forth. She’d get answers later.
She gave Graham a huge grin, “I bet this is a little more of a shock than your computers give you.”
He smiled but Tijan noted the secret look that passed between the couple. “Yes, but this is a very positive one. Hey, we have to go out to Dorothea’s soon, why don’t I call her and tell her there’s one more?”
Tarin nodded vigorously. “I’d love that. Dorothea will, too. Guy and Bailey are going to be there, right?”
Tijan stopped listening. It was so unreal that she didn’t want anything to pull her from her fantasy. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share her sister with so many but the way Tarin was clinging to her arm let her know they’d have plenty of time to catch up. She was sure they both had quite a journey to talk about.
And at some point, she had to find a way to tell her sister that their father was crazy... and about to marry her off.
Chapter 22
“Eleanor, where are we with purchasing Caspian Winery?” James stood in the boardroom, staring out the window. His talk with Tarin had left him feeling unsettled. She was acting even more bullheaded than normal. One part of him was okay with cutting her out of his life but the other part wanted her son, the man he intended to take over for him one day.
He needed to know where things were at but of course, he didn’t want his daughter in on his business dealings. She’d made it clear she didn’t like his methods.
“James, we’ve only had a few days. We do have other clients.”
“Not ones that are paying you as much as I do. Although, I do hear that you’re taking up with organized crime now.”
There was a full minute of silence. “He’s not exactly someone you say no to, is he? It’s your fault he found me.”
“I never gave him your name.”
“As if you’d have to. The man has connections that could get him access to national secrets and probably wipe out anyone he wanted to. To be honest, he’s turned out to be one of my best clients.”
“What exactly do you do for him?”
“Really, do you want me telling him about your business?”
“I want to know that you’re not sharing my company information with him.”
“Screw you, James. If you want to hire another lawyer, go ahead.”
James didn’t reply but the whole conversation wasn’t going as he thought it would—or should.
“Look, I told you that acquiring Caspian Winery will take some time. Is there a reason why you’re making it urgent? As far as I know there are no other offers on the table. There have been a few in the past but nothing recently.”
“Who and when?” James wanted to know who his competition was. And he wanted to know if Tesimmon was playing him or if he’d tried to buy the place before.
“I don’t have the file in front of me. I had Martin do some research on it. I’ll get the information and get back to you. Why does it matter? There are no current offers. You’re the only one who has made a substantial offer in quite a while.”
“Yes, but the more I know about who’s in the game, the better I’ll do. Also find out some background information on who these companies are, the owners, the CEO’s, and anyone else that might be important. I want to know everything.”
“That’ll take time.”
“Which you don’t have. I want that information now.”
“I’ll have to pull a lawyer off other duties to do this solely.”
“Do it.”
“Let’s be clear that you will be billed for him full time.”
“Just make sure it’s not that little snot Martin. Put Ron on it. And get me that damn winery!” He swore.
“You know James, if you’d tell me what’s really going on, I might be able to make this work.”
“I have told you, Eleanor. You know all you need to.”
“Got it. Put me in my place, again. You know how to pull the punches don’t you?”
“Does that mean I’ll see you tonight?”
“Right, because I still have nothing to do but be at your beck and call when you need a release. We’ve been doing the nasty, as my mother would say, for what two years? My mother always wanted me to get married; instead I find a man married to his work.”
“So am I going to see you tonight?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve got a headache.”
“Look, I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. I’ll take you out on my yacht; we’ll have a private catered dinner, wine. What could be better than that?”
He heard her heavy sigh. “Alright.”
“I’ll meet you in the parking lot at 8:00.”
James listened to the click that disconnected them. Eleanor seemed to be changing the relationship that he’d been quite comfortable with. They got together once or twice a week for mutual release but she’d turned him down, twice now. It made him wonder what else was going to change. Hopefully, he could put that back on track later. Sighing heavily, he buzzed Mary to come to his office.
“Hello, Mr. Madsen. How are you feeling today? I’ll make you some tea.”
“I’m fine, Mary.”
“You’ve been coughing pretty badly. I don’t remember you ever being sick in ten years. You should see the doctor. I can make the appointment for you.”
“And I’m not now, so don’t be sharing any of that gossip around. It’s too bad you never had kids then you’d have them to mother and not me.” He put down her blanched face to his harsh words. He knew he’d been hard on her; normally she was the one person who didn’t see his anger. But he couldn’t have her thinking he had any weaknesses.
“I’m sorry. You’re right, Mr. Madsen. I would never share anything about you to anyone. I was just concerned. I’ll keep that to myself in the future.”
The quiver was ever so faint but he heard it.
“Look, I appreciate your concern but I’m fine. I really don’t need mothering. Maybe you need to get a dog to mother. Or smother.” His lips arced slightly. It was the best he could do to appease her.
She smiled fully at him. He’d always wondered why she’d stayed but was grateful she had. She was the best personal assistant he’d ever employed. At times, he’d gotten the feeling she’d been interested in him but other than be efficient and make sure everything was exactly as he wanted it, he hadn’t seen much of that.
“Can you do some research for me on lawyers that handle big business, along with all their dealings?”
“I sure can, Mr. Madsen. When would you like that information?”
Mary sounded a bit too happy to be doing this job.
“A couple days are fine. The sooner the better though.”
“Do you need me to write up something to Carter and Associates?”
“Not yet. Thank you, Mary.”
James frowned as he watched her leave. She was very cheerful suddenly and left with a bounce to her step. Unsure what had caused the change, he knew that if he yelled at her too much, she might just leave.
Chapter 23
August
grabbed one of the rags he’d left handy so he could quickly wipe the grease off his hands. He eased himself out from under the harvester. It was an older machine but LJ, his boss, had said she wanted it fixed. He’d tried to take the day off but he couldn’t shut down his mind after meeting with James. He’d blown it. Guy and Graham and Tarin had been depending on him. Since they were really the only people he knew, work was the only thing he could think of that would keep him busy and not thinking.
He cleaned up his area, putting away his tools and ensuring the parts for the harvester were sitting in a plastic bin, which he put the cover on just so no one would move them or accidentally spill them. Or take them. He had ordered a few parts but they wouldn’t be in for at least a day or so.
The other mechanic, Perry, walked into the big shop.
“Perry, how did you make out?”
Perry dropped the tool box he was carrying. It made a loud bang. “Fine. Got it fixed.”
August winced at the noise and the lack of respect for the tools. “What were you working on?” August had been hired not only as a mechanic but as the supervisor/manager of all the equipment.
“Look. I’ve been here for four years. I don’t need you watching over my shoulder. I know this equipment better than you. I don’t need a babysitter.” With that, he wiped his hand on a rag, tossed it on the ground and walked out.
August sighed. This was one of the things he hadn’t missed about supervising staff. Although he had picked the staff that worked for him and had built a good relationship with most, there were still a few over the years who felt they’d been cheated. When the last head mechanic had been fired, Perry, although only in his early twenties, seemed to think he should have been put in charge, despite the fact that he wasn’t a journeyman mechanic. August was glad that management had seen that Perry did not have the skills or attitude to oversee the department.