One Love (20 page)

“
Diet cola.” Lanessa
stretched back in the chair. She accepted the short
bottle.

Jackie got out napkins and two paper
cups. “Speaking of trouble, what’s up with Metoyer? Find out
anything interesting?” She sat back down and kicked off her
pumps.

“
You mean did I find any
dirt.” Lanessa drank down the cold liquid.

“
Exactly.”

“
Nothing specific. The folks
I talked to were reluctant to say very much.” Lanessa
shrugged.

“
Like who?” Jackie rocked
back and forth in her chair.

“
Tavis Collins, Simone
Milton and Kay Smith. And a few other of pals. You know, the usual
suspects.” Lanessa laughed.

“
Which means you have a feel
for what wasn’t said as much as for what was said.” Jackie pointed
a pinkie finger from the hand holding her cup of cola.

“
True.” Lanessa wore a brief
smile then grew serious. “Metoyer has a reputation for playing
outside the rules, but we knew that. He doesn’t like to lose in
business or with women.”

“
Why doesn’t that surprise
me?” Jackie said with a grunt of distaste. “I’ve done a bit of
digging myself. But go on.”

“
Well, it seems Charles
likes the thrill of using his charm to get what he wants. Then when
he’s in a position of power, he turns into a real
monster.”

“
I know the type. Hell, I’ve
dated a few like him.” Jackie saw Lanessa raise an eyebrow. “So it
was more than a few.”

“
We both have. And you know
how addicting those kinda men can be,” Lanessa said. Both women
were quiet for a time. They’d gone through rough times of being
used.

Jackie raked her long finger through
her short dark hair. “My news isn’t any better. The Metoyer family
has old money. Demanding is their middle names. A branch of the
family in Lafayette has a small accounting firm. Phillip Cage is
his name. He’s a cousin.”

“
Tell me they don’t have the
money folks think they have.” Lanessa shifted to more comfortable
position in the soft leather chair.

“
Sorry. They’re doing real
very well thank you. The money rolls in from real estate, a life
insurance company and three radio stations.”

“
Have mercy.”

“
Charles has a growing
business supplying industrial metals and gases for the production
of all kinds of products.” Jackie titled her head to one side.
“He’s into venture capital. One of the associates here has hooked
him up with entrepreneurs.”

“
A real friend to the small
business man,” Lanessa said in a sardonic voice.

“
Honey, Charles Metoyer has
no friends when it comes to money.” Jackie poured the last of the
cola from the bottle into her cup. “Brandon, the guy that works
here, says he has a genius for spotting successful
ideas.”

Lanessa hit the arm of her chair with
a fist. “I was hoping he was in debt up to his ears.”

Jackie wore an evil grin. “Funny you
should say that. Now we come to the good part.” She sat
forward.

Lanessa put down her cup. “There is
justice. Tell me.”

“
He’s not on the verge of
being broke but. . . Now you’ve gotta promise this won’t leave the
room. My buddy swore he’d strangle me if it was ever traced back to
him.” Jackie shook a finger at her.

“
I promise, I promise.”
Lanessa rubbed her hands together.

“
Charles needs an infusion
of cash. It seems he took a chance on several international
investment ventures. And we know what’s happened in certain foreign
economies in the last four years.

“
Gee, I missed the last few
issues of The Wall Street Journal,” Lanessa quipped.

“
Well the short explanation
is Japan, Thailand and Singapore have big troubles. The banking
industries, manufacturing, you name it.”

“
I do know about Russia.
That economy is headed for a nuclear meltdown.” Lanessa took
another sip from her cup.

“
That’s putting it mildly.
Anyway, Charles was sure there would be a turn around. The World
Monetary Fund seemed poised to help the Japanese and other
countries. And Yeltsin seemed to be on the right track.”

“
That ship never left the
dock,” Lanessa retorted. “So he’s eager to do business with Caine
Dawson and Paxton-Waite.”

“
But the family land in Des
Allemands is not for sale.” Jackie’s perfectly arched eyebrows drew
together in puzzlement.

“
He’s brokering some kind of
deal. I just have to figure out what he’s got to offer.” Lanessa
chewed on the rim of the cup for several seconds.

“
Dawson has his own contacts
from what you’ve told me. I can’t see why he’d need
Metoyer.”

“
And none of this tells us
what we should do about Yasmin.”

The women were quiet for several more
moments before Jackie spoke up. “I say we tell her. I can’t sit by
when we know what he’s doing. Can you?”

“
No,” Lanessa finally said.
“I just thought of something else. Senator Trent is on the Labor
and Industrial Relations Committee.”

“
And the Revenue Committee.
So?” Jackie got up to get them both another soft drink.

“
They both deal with tax
breaks for big businesses.” Lanessa balled her hands into fists.
The idea in her mind made for a nasty picture of Charles Auguste
Metoyer, IV.

Jackie stopped and turned around to
face her. “And Yasmin is not just Trent’s right hand; she’s both
arms these days.” Jackie’s wore a fierce look. “What a low-down,
conniving scum sucker.”

“
I can’t believe we didn’t
think of it before now.” Lanessa formed a steeple with her fingers.
“Gotta admit, he’s a forward thinker. At the very least he’ll get
helpful information. More than likely, Yasmin will take him as her
date to social functions.”

“
Where he can meet Senator
Trent and other legislators and get cozy.” Jackie looked at
Lanessa. “We’ve got to tell her, Lanessa.”

Lanessa slapped the leather chair
hard. “Damn it, Yasmin has only just picked her self-esteem up out
of the gutter.”

“
Yeah. It took a long time
for her to bounce back after her father died.” Jackie wore a glum
expression.

“
When and where?” Lanessa
spoke with grim resignation.

“
My kid is going on a Boy
Scout Father-Son retreat with his dad next Saturday. I’ll serve
lunch at my house,” Jackie said.

Lanessa stood and smoothed her skirt
down. “All right.”

“
Now let’s hope she doesn’t
find out before we tell.” Jackie stood and walked with her out of
the office and down the long hallway.

“
I don’t think Yasmin and
Shauntelle are likely to meet. And if I know him, he has keeping
his women far apart down to a fine art.” Lanessa stopped at the
entrance to the building.

“
Swine.” Jackie
hissed.

“
I have a few more people I
can call,” Lanessa said.

“
Normally I’d say go for
it.” Jackie glanced around before continuing. “But Metoyer is
powerful.”

Lanessa pursed her lips for a few
seconds. “There are a few other people I can call.”

“
Be careful.” Jackie put a
hand on her arm for emphasis. “The more money at stake, the more
desperate men can be.”

“
I know. I’ll keep you
posted.” Lanessa gave her a hug. “And get that worried frown off
your face. I’ve been in the water with sharks before.” She flashed
a daring smile to reassure her friend.

Driving back to the office, Lanessa
turned over everything she knew in her mind. An idea struck her as
she sat waiting for a long red light to turn green. There was no
real opposition to their plans, so that could not be the reason
they were being so secretive. She needed to find out just what kind
of plant Paxton-Waite wanted to build. Lanessa reached for her
cellular phone.

“
Robyn, pull out the
material we have on Paxton-Waite. “I need it again. Yes everything,
including their overseas operations.”

Chapter 10

Alex was not a happy man. For the last
three weeks Lanessa had been working long hours and spending time
with her old pals. This was another night she’d put him off. He did
not like to think it, but Lanessa seemed to move closer and closer
each day to her former haunts. Only the other night, she’d been to
the Executive Club. Now here he stood in line waiting for Chinese
takeout. Twenty minutes had passed and his patience was being
tested. Alex was so preoccupied with his building irritation he was
startled to hear a familiar voice.

“
Say man, come back from
that other dimension you’re in,” Evan said in an insistent voice.
He was leaning over him.

“
Hi.” Alex stood up and
shook hands with him.

“
Took three tries before you
even saw me. And I’m not easy to miss.” Evan held out both of his
long arms. He was at least two inches taller than Alex and built
like a linebacker.

“
Sorry, brother. I wasn’t
doing it on purpose.” Alex wore a sheepish half-smile that faded
soon. “And seems like I’m going to be here all night waiting for
this order.”

“
Hold up.” Evan strode over
to the cash register. He spoke to the pretty young Chinese woman
for a few moments then returned. “We’re dining in. Come on.” He
gave Alex’s arm a quick slap before striding ahead.

Alex started to protest but instead
followed his friend to a table for two. The prospect of eating
alone another night was not appealing. They were only seated for a
few seconds before the waiter brought them water and iced tea as
they’d requested. Not long after, steaming plates of Chinese
vegetables and shrimp were placed before them. Evan dived into his
food with gusto while Alex ate slowly.

“
This is the best, eh?” Evan
glanced up at Alex. His dark brows drew together when he saw his
plate. “Okay, tell Uncle Evan all about it.” He dabbed at his lips
with a cloth napkin and sat back in a listening pose.

“
All about what?” Alex
stabbed a wedge of green pepper with his fork and put it in his
mouth.

“
You look like the world has
done you wrong. Now you’re picking at some of the finest Chinese
food in Baton Rouge. And I’ve seen you wolf down this stuff
before.” Evan took a sip from his glass of water. “So let’s have
it.”

Alex put down his fork. Evan knew him
too well so it was no use trying to pretend. “Lanessa is working
twenty-four seven. At least that’s what she says.”

“
You’re saying she’s with
some other guy?” Evan grew even more serious.

“
No, no.” Alex shook his
head. “It’s just. . . You remember how she was before? Status and
styling with big shots was important to her.”

“
Oh yeah. And you just
wanted quiet evenings, lectures on art and stuff like that,” Evan
said. “I don’t know why, but hey it’s your thing.”

“
I’m not into the mix and
mingle party circuit.” Alex had never enjoyed society functions.
His parents had forced him to take part until he’d been old enough
to bow out.

“
Tell me about it. My mother
is always on the go and trying to drag me with her.” Evan gave a
shudder. “Having a single man at those things is like throwing raw
meat to a pack of hungry she-lions.”

Alex laughed. “Take a
date.”

“
Those women don’t care!
They talk to me like I’m by myself.” Evan gave a grunt. “And they
talk about men.”

“
You’re right. But anyway,
Lanessa is back on the same track. It’s this party at the Oakwood
Club and that party at some big shot’s palace.”

“
Sounds like she’s a busy
lady these days.”

“
Busy is an understatement.
She’s hardly ever home except to change clothes and go out again,”
Alex blurted out. “I’m really getting sick of it.”

Alex tapped the table hard with his
fingertips. He had not talked about his feelings to anyone. He was
surprised at the anger simmering inside. Lanessa had changed, or so
he thought. He’d wanted so much to be with her again. Every moment
had been sweet. Now all she talked about was the latest insider
gossip. He wanted to talk about the twins’ latest exploits at day
camp, sit at home listening to music or just talk about their
future. Yet somehow her business seemed to have lifted off like a
space shuttle. Alex felt as though he was standing on the ground
watching her disappear.

Evan put both elbows on the table.
“You’re afraid she’s on the edge, maybe drinking again,” his said
in a low confidential voice.

“
Yes.” Alex let out a long
slow breath. There, it was out in the open. He had not wanted to
say it. But he’d been thinking just that for a while. “Lanessa
pushes herself and pushes herself until she’s in a corner. Then
nothing is good enough and she wants everything to be perfect. And
when it’s not, a big letdown hits her.”

“
Yeah, and something always
goes wrong, cause nothing and nobody is perfect.” Evan wrapped his
long fingers around the glass of iced tea. “I watched Dad go
through that with his older brother,” he said.