Destiny Wears Spurs (26 page)
Read Destiny Wears Spurs Online
Authors: Kari Lee Harmon
“Why? Mr. Rafferty didn’t even look at my campaign.”
“That’s because he didn’t have a choice. I told him not to go with you. I wanted Wendell to think he still had a chance.”
“Oh my God.” Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. “Cody knew about this. He was in on it all along.” She swayed on her feet, nearly collapsing from the impact of his words. All the men in her life had lied to her.
“Rafferty owed me a favor. I collected.” His eyes narrowed as he glared at Wendell. “You blew your chances the day you hurt my daughter, then you dared to cross me. I know all about Worldwide Pharmaceuticals.”
“But she slept with the client. Doesn’t that mean anything?” Wendell glared right back.
“It means you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong. Frankly, my daughter’s personal life is none of your business anymore. It also means her taste in men has improved. Cody’s more of a man than you’ll ever be. Now, go tell your father you failed, and stay the hell away from my daughter,” he snapped at Wendell, staring him down with distaste.
Wendell’s jaw fell open and he coughed, then he clamped it shut, flushing red. “You won’t get away with this.”
“I already have.”
“This is outrageous. What kind of game are you people playing?” Wendell asked.
“Monica?” her father questioned. “As acting CEO for the moment, what will be your first big decision?”
Monica couldn’t help smiling. “Wendell, you’re fired.
Please
let the door hit you on the ass on your way out, you lying, back-stabbing limp noodle.” The tension in the back of her neck broke free, and her whole body became loose.
God, that felt good.
She’d waited a long time to do that, and it was worth every second just to see Wendell’s wide eyes and slack jaw. Not very professional, but she didn’t care. Maybe the bastard would think twice before crossing another woman.
“You go, girl.” Nat high-fived her. “I feel like I’m watching Donna Trumpess, you head honcho, you.”
“Security is waiting by the door to escort you out,” her father added.
“On what grounds?” Wendell picked his other crutch up off the floor.
“Let’s see here.” Her father tapped his finger on his chin. “There’s a little issue of fraud, since you lied to us about who you are.”
“What?” Wendell stared.
“That’s right, Charles junior. I know exactly who you are. I also know about what you did with Worldwide, so leave.”
“How dare you,” Wendell whispered, his face paling.
“If you ever set foot near my daughter again, you’ll have to answer to me. Do I make myself clear?” her father growled.
“This isn’t over.” Wendell ignored him as his eyes shot daggers at Monica.
“Yes, it is. Now clear out your stuff and get the hell off my property.” He cut off Wendell’s view of Monica. “You’re lucky I don’t have you arrested. Give your father my regards.”
Wendell marched out as best his crutches would allow, muttering curses as he went. The smooth-talking, sophisticated business man had vanished, turning into someone Monica didn’t recognize. He looked like pure evil. She shivered. How had she ever thought that she and Wendell had anything in common? Thank God she hadn’t married him.
“You knew about Worldwide? And who in the world is Charles?” Monica asked, stunned.
“I do my homework, honey. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t.” Her father faced her. “His father is Charles Miller.”
“The V.P. you fired for embezzlement?” Monica stared at her father. “Didn’t he go to prison?”
“Oh, yeah. He used to threaten me on a regular basis. Those threats stopped about the same time Wendell started dating you.”
She blinked. “When did you suspect Wendell was trying to take over.”
“I didn’t. Not until you called off the wedding and insisted that he was up to no good. I put it all together while you were at the ranch.”
Now everything made sense. Leave it to her father to be the one to get to the bottom of things. “I guess you didn’t need my help after all.” Her father was a shrewd business man. She should have realized he had everything under control. She’d underestimated him in a big way. Obviously, so had Wendell.
“That’s where you are so wrong, honey. I wouldn’t have started digging had you not said anything to me. I thought Wendell was a godsend, not Satan in a pair of Italian leather shoes.
“Then why the big charade? Why let me think you still wanted to appoint him as CEO?”
“I only said that to buy some time while I found out who he worked for and how to stop them.” He glanced at Nat. “Thank you for returning my files. Not much he can do now.”
“Anytime, sir.”
“Can I ask you one thing?” Monica asked.
“Anything.” Her father’s eyes sparkled like the day she’d brought home straight A’s.
“How did you know I pulled the campaign together?”
“Cody called me and told me what a great job you did. He’s using your campaign.” Her father watched her as he spoke.
“He is?” She couldn’t breathe.
“Monica, honey. Cody’s father was the army buddy I told you about.”
“What buddy?” She racked her brain, but her father had so many stories.
“The man who said I saved his life, although I was only doing what any other good soldier would do.”
“And if I recall the story correctly, you took a bullet meant for him.”
“That bullet was meant for any one of us. If I hadn’t moved quickly, he would have been dead, and possibly me too. Besides, it was a graze.”
“So humble, but what does this have to do with Cody.”
“Cody felt duty-bound to honor my favor. I’ve never met a more honorable man. His father would be proud.”
“But he lied to me.”
“Because I asked him to. I was afraid of what Wendell might do. Tell me, what would you have done to protect me from Wendell?” He arched a brow.
“Anything.”
“My point exactly. Cody only did what he thought his father would want him to, and what we both thought was best for you. He cares about you, and it’s obvious you care for him.”
“Oh, no, I don’t--”
“Oh, yes, you do,” Nat piped in.
Monica glared at her, having forgotten she was even in the room. “It’s complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Nat argued.
“Butt out, Natalie,” Monica snapped.
Her father chuckled. “This reminds me of when you girls were little.” Then he frowned. “You look miserable, Monica. Why are you here?”
“Wh-What do you mean? I’m here to take over.”
He stared hard into her eyes. “We both know this isn’t what you really want. I only appointed you so you could fire Thorndike.” When she started to speak, he held up his hand. “Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear. I’m okay. My company is okay.” He cupped her cheek. “You’ve given up enough of your time for me. What do you really want?”
“I ... I ....” She swallowed hard, not knowing how to put into words how she felt or what had happened between her and Cody. She loved him, but after all the deception and the things they both said to each other, it was probably too late. She started to cry, and her father pulled her into his arms.
Nat stepped forward. “I’ll just head to my office if we’re done--”
“Stay, Natalie, I’m not done. This concerns you,” Monica’s father said.
Monica stepped back and saw Natalie’s eyebrows shoot up as she said, “Okay.”
“Dad, what are you up to?”
“I found some non-work related drawings. You’re very talented.”
“Thanks,” Monica glanced at Nat, who gave her a blank expression.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you draw?”
“Because it makes me happy.” She looked at Nat again for support because Monica had no idea what her father was getting at.
“You think you could do one of those gallery showings?”
“I’m not sure I’m good enough.”
“Well, I am, and I think you should be doing your art full-time.”
Monica shook her head and began to pace. “But that is what I am doing, here, in your company. I thought you wanted to retire. I want you to be able to retire, and you can’t do that if I don’t take over.”
“I’ve been thinking the best person for the job has been right under my nose all along. And she’s more like family than anyone else I know. What do you say, Natalie?”
“I ... really? I ... oh, my God.” Nat gaped like a flounder.
Nat speechless?
Monica thought. That was a first.
“Why not? You’ve been like a second daughter to me for so long, and we all know you’re more than qualified. Hell, you’re the most qualified. The position’s yours if you want it.”
“Hell, yes,” Natalie blurted. “I mean, thank you sir, I’d be honored.” Her gaze shot to Monica. “That is if you don’t want it.”
“Congratulations, Nat. You deserve it.” Monica gave her a hug. “You’d be doing me a favor.”
“I can’t believe it. I can’t wait to call Drew.” Nat hurried out of the board room toward her office.
“Now that that’s settled, what about you, Monica? Isn’t it time you did what you wanted for a change?”
“I just wanted to help you. I don’t know what’s next for me.”
“Consider me helped. Now, stop worrying about me. Just know that whatever you decide to do with your life, I’ll be right here to support you.”
“Thanks, Dad. That means more than you’ll ever know.” She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek, stepping back to say, “Let’s eat. I’m starved. Firing idiots gives me an appetite.”
* * *
Wendell closed his office door as security waited for him in the hall. He slammed down a box on his desk and proceeded to stuff his belongings inside when his cell phone rang. Great, just what he needed. “What?” he snapped.
“Don’t you take that tone with me. What crawled up your ass and died?” his father asked.
“My career, that’s what.”
“What do you mean your career?” Charles went into a coughing fit.
Wendell closed his eyes with dread. Telling his father he’d failed would undoubtedly push him over the edge. “Hammond canned me. He found out about all of it.”
“But ... but ... it can’t be over. What are we going to do?” His father barely whispered, sounding weaker than he’d ever heard him.
Rage filled Wendell. “There’s nothing we can do because of that little bitch. They think they are so smart, but they can’t hold a candle to me. I went to Harvard, for Christ’s sake.”
“A lot of good it does you now. I’m going to die, never having seen justice. I hope you can live with yourself.”
“Dammit, I did everything I could. What the hell do you want from me?” Wendell had spent a good share of his life building a career he didn’t even want, just to avenge his father. “I wasted years on these idiots, and they don’t give a damn about me.” Not that he cared about them, but he cared about his father. Just once, he’d like to hear Charles Miller say he was proud of him.
“You failed me. I knew I couldn’t count on you.” Charles’s voice was void of emotion. “You’re dead to me, just as I will be to you before long.”
Wendell swallowed hard and tried not to let his emotions consume him. “It’s not over. Somehow, I’ll make them pay.”
A pause filled the line. “How? What are you going to do?”
“I’m sure as hell not going to start over.” Wendell continued around the room, cleaning out closets, filing cabinets, desk drawers, basically everything, as he talked. “I’ll be damned if I leave them anything. All of the work I’ve done, all of my contacts, all of the potential clients. They’re all going with me.” Where the hell was it? “Shit.”
“What?”
“Someone took one of my files.” He slammed his fist on the desk. “Goddammit.”
“Maybe another company will hire you, and you can take Hammond down bit by bit.”
“You bet your ass they will. And then I’ll find a way to ruin his company for good. They aren’t going to get away with this. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“Well, make it quick. I don’t have much time left.”
“It may take longer now that I don’t have that file, but I’ll find a way. I promise. I’ll catch up with you later.” Wendell snapped his cell phone closed and gritted his teeth until his molars ached. Hammond had known about Worldwide Pharmaceuticals, yet even after firing him, he still hadn’t called the cops. The only reason he’d been fired in the first place was because of one person. Monica.
If she hadn’t gotten suspicious, Hammond wouldn’t have started digging. It was because of Monica, and the ridiculous deal she’d made with her father, that Wendell had lost his spot in running the agency. Because of her, he was out of a job.
A rage like he’d never known filled him. He was shrewd and conniving, but he’d never been violent. Until now. He wanted her to pay for what she’d done to him. He wanted her to lose everything like he had. He wanted her to hurt. And he wouldn’t rest until she did.