Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) (32 page)

I went back to the living room. I needed to get my shit together. I had a business to run and I didn’t have a minute to spare. I can imagine that my employees will be wondering what is going on as well since I just sent out a mass email and signed up numerous shifts at the four hospitals where many of my nurses will be working as soon as this weekend.

“Andre. Head to the office and start drafting a press release of our own that the agency signed an exclusive contract with the hospitals with no knowledge of the hospitals’ new owner. Get our attorney in the office as well. I don’t know where to go with this and I need his advice. I can’t fight Jordan and obviously he is punishing me for keeping him away for 10 years, but I can keep my agency going and I won’t stop fighting for my employees. Ease the mind of our nurses and other employees as well by sending a mass email that it is business as usual for Bluebonnet. I will be in as soon as possible. Aunt Suzette?”

“Anything I can do to help, honey.”

I gave her a quick hug and headed to the shower. No more time for tears. I had to make sure my employees believed in me and my abilities to deliver good on my promise that I was a responsible employer and had a great reputation for doing the right things for the Houston medical community.

Thirty minutes later, I was on my way to the office. I wore my hair in a tight bun, very little makeup and a lightweight summer suit. I looked like I was ready to kick some ass, but the only one that I really wanted to kick right now was Jordan. How could he do this to me? He was ruthless and this proves that he was heartless as well. He started on the building that housed my office and now he is controlling where I do business. Well, fuck him! I was not a little, lost girl that would curl up and cry. I was fuming as I answered the incoming phone call.

“Zoe, here,” I just about bellowed in the car as the Bluetooth picked up the call.

“The press is outside in the parking lot and some at the door. Sorry, Zoe. I will look out for you and run to your car when you pull in. Grace and I will try and shield you best we can when you get out of your car,” said Andre.

I wanted to say the F word again so bad, and as many expletives as I knew, but Aunt Suzette was sitting beside me and I won’t lose respect from her over anyone, especially over Jordan Dawson.

“I will call Lee and see if he can send a cop over. I can’t think of anything else right now. See you soon.” I pushed the end button, then pulled off the street into a CVS parking lot as I Googled the Houston Police Department and asked to speak with Lee. After a couple minutes of grief, the receptionist got him on the phone.

“Let me get this…we went to Vegas over the weekend and got married?” Lee chuckled.

God, it was so good to know Lee right at this moment. “Sorry. She would not let me speak with you since I didn’t know your extension. Only immediate family, like parents or spouse, or some shit… Sorry,” I mouthed at Aunt Suzette who smiled at me.

“I’m flattered that you remember my invitation for lunch and yes, I can make it today.”

I sighed as I thought of the invitation and felt guilty about what I was about to ask. “Lee, I need help getting into my office this morning. I guess you have not heard the news…anyway the press is waiting in the parking lot for me. Do you think I can have a cop with me to muscle his way through them?”

“Sorry to hear about whatever is going on, Zoe, but I can do better than that. I will be there in five minutes,” he said.

I ended the call and got a text from Andre that he has had several calls and emails from my nurses that are supportive of me and believe in the agency’s integrity. In the scheme of things, all that matters are that my employees know they can trust me to do the right things on their behalf. After a few minutes, I headed back on the street and sighed in relief as I saw the state trooper car with flashing lights in the parking lot and Lee standing beside it. He had another cop with him as well. In that moment I was reminded of the honor it was to have good people in my life that had my back.

I pull up beside his car and he opened my door and gave me a quick hug as the other cop opened Aunt Suzette’s door and guided her by the arm. The press ran up to us barking questions and remarks about shady dealings and contracts being obtained unfairly. They also knew about the new office in San Francisco. It seemed like it took forever for us to make it to the door.

Thank goodness for Andre’s quick thinking by calling Lenny to stand at my office door and keep it locked so they could not get closer. I was shaken but kept the stoic look on my face. I rather looked pissed off than fearful. I was relieved to make it into my office. My employees were totally professional and carrying on with business as usual. I appreciated that there were no pity talks or chitchat going on. I needed to stay busy and I knew somehow we’d get through the day.

“Zoe. I will tell David what’s going on if you want me to and I can help with phone calls or whatever you need me to do.”

“Thanks, Aunt Suz. That would be great. There is another desk in the office next to mine that you can use.” She squeezed my hand and went down the hall.

“Thank you so much, Lee.” I hugged him and felt the bulky armor beneath his uniform. He looked totally badass and I felt comforted with his presence. So much so that I asked if I could possibly hire an off duty officer while I was at the office and probably 24/7 for the next week, since I did not want Jordan anywhere near me.

Not that he would want to see me anyway. The damage that he set out to do is done. His mission of a personal blow to me was accomplished. My bad for trusting him, his charming ways and good looks, his incredible lovemaking and the way he pampered me and made me believe he truly wanted me in his life…no one else would do. God. I am so stupid. Fuck!

“No need, Zoe. I will take care of it. I’ll be with you today and have someone at your house tonight and every night until you don’t need us, but I will be with you during the day. I have a three-day weekend starting tomorrow and will take some vacation if needed. I never take time off, so they won’t question it.”

“You are too good to me, Lee. I’m sorry about all this and wish I could turn down the help, but I do need it right now. Thank you.”

“I will be at the reception door. Don’t worry, no one is getting in here unless you say so.” I felt like crying, I really did, but I way too furious to do so.

Chapter 32

David called just as I sat at my desk.

“Zoe. I’m speechless. This just can’t be happening. I know Jordan, and there is no way he would do this maliciously, but I swear to God, if I ever find that he was out to hurt you in any way I will rearrange that pretty face of his. I’m on my way to Houston now. I have also hired a media team to go to your office. They will take any statement you wish to convey to your staff and the public. My attorney is speaking with yours right now and they will look into the acquisition of the hospitals.”

“God, David. How could he do this to me? I had no idea that Jordan wanted anything to do with the medical industry. He set this up so smooth. I feel like a butterfly caught in a web.” My breath hitched in my throat and tears gathered in my eyes.

“Don’t worry. This will soon pass, but before it does, we will understand what the motivations were for Jordan. I spoke with his office in Houston. He’s on his way in from Europe. Swear to God, he had better have his shit together.”

I smiled at David’s words. There was no way he could take on Jordan but I loved his protective nature toward me.

“This sure as hell makes me look like an opportunist and out to make a buck at any cost. I hope those who truly know me know that I would never deceive anyone. I would not jeopardize my business in any way.”

“I’m sure your employees and business associates believe in you. We will figure this out.”

Andre came in just as I hung up with David.

“My phone is on mute, but I have Jordan holding. He said your phone was turned off and Grace won’t put his calls through to you.”

“Damn straight. I don’t want to hear shit from him and tell him to stop calling. Better yet, block his number from our phones.”

Andre saluted and left for his office again.

I turned on my computer and read emails from my employees that were working in various hospitals. Most said that they were way too busy in the nursing world to gossip with anyone and it was business as usual for them. I took a call from Jenna and reassured her that she did not need to come to Houston. I had great support and demanded that she stayed at home and rest. She finally agreed to it and promised to keep in touch later today. We continued to conduct business in the office and refused to listen to the news. Some of the press had left since they had noting to report with no comment thus far from my camp.

My attorney came in and we discussed some strategies going forward. I told him I had a legal and binding contract with the hospitals that I staffed, and nurses ready to work. Jordan be damned! I owed him nothing. The media team that David hired spoke with my attorney. They would release my statement for the four o’clock news today. Nothing like fury to give one courage. I felt empowered with all the support and reinforcement around me. I may not be able to take on Jordan’s financial empire, and I didn’t want to, but I would fight like hell to keep what I have going and would settle for nothing less.

“Sorry to bother you, Miss Caine, but Mr. Dawson has all our lines tied up right now and he won’t get off the phone. I don’t know what to do,” Grace said. She was standing at my door.

I only thought I was mad before. I was breathing fire now. I told Grace to forward his call to me. The phone rang and I snatched it from the base.

“Get the fuck off my phone, Jordan, or I swear to God I will have someone kick your ass when you land at the airport. You fight dirty, but I am not taking this laying down, you hear me? Let me make this clear to you—you can’t break me. Ever!” I yelled at him. All the while I was speaking, Jordan was trying to calm me down. I heard bits and pieces of what he was trying to say but I didn’t stop yelling. He asked me to hear him out…another misunderstanding, not what I think it is, he is sending his attorney to my office to speak with me now.

“Do not send any one of your douchebag people to even try and enter my office or I will have them arrested for trespassing. Lee is at my door and swear to God, I will tell him to fucking Taser their ass.”

“Lee, the dickhead cop? You called Lee?” he yelled at me. “I will kick his ass when I get there. I don’t give a fuck if he is a cop and don’t care if I get arrested. I went to jail for you once, and I will do it again. Fucker was just waiting for me to leave before he marched in like some superhero…”

“Get lost, Jordan! Oh, and David will kick your ass as well if there is anything left of you when Lee is through with you.” Ha. There.

I felt like a child calling on all my friends and family to come to my aid but I didn’t care. They were all I had and he needed to know he was taking on more than just me. I slammed down the phone as he continued to yell about Lee. I went to the reception area and told Lee not to let any of Jordan’s people in my office. He was standing right in front of the door, legs apart and hands on his Taser. I didn’t really know if he was allowed to use the Taser while protecting me but that was up to him. Mia heard of the mess going on and came to my office with a promise to hire someone to work Jordan over in a dark alley.

“First, they have to get to him. He has bodyguards that are like pitbulls.”

“I also told daddy to stop all dealings with Jordan immediately, but he said he has to back out slowly. In the meantime you have Veronica and me.” She looked at me with huge baby blue eyes. We busted out laughing as we thought of the hilarious picture we would be, facing Jordan and his posse.

“God. I needed a good laugh today. Thanks, Mia. You’re the best, but I know you must be busy too…”

“I am not going anywhere. I called your scheduler this morning and asked her to send a nurse to my office and fill in for me until further notice. Perks of being a brat.” She winked at me and got on her cell phone to Philippe.

“I need you to blacklist Jordan Dawson. Leave no stone unturned,” she told him.

Was she ridiculous or what? Anything that will help me feel better, that was Mia for you. No wonder I cherished her friendship.

“What do you mean he is a good man? Let me tell you what is going on in Houston and then you can tell all your rich buddies to do the same. Pretty please, Philippe?” Now who could say no to that voice? Certainly not Philippe. So Mia went on to fill him in on Jordan’s dirty dealings and the effect it was having on my business reputation.

“Thanks, Philippe. I knew I could count on you. See you in a few hours.”

Really? Just like that she makes a call and he is on his way. Christ. She was so spoiled and everyone in her life was to blame, including me.

I sighed and she made yet another call to her brother this time. No surprise there. Trevor promised to deal with Jordan himself and would pass the word around to all his friends.

“Look, Mia, I know you mean well, but I don’t want to even try and bring down Jordan; not like I can anyway. I want him to leave me alone and pick on someone his own size. I need to spend my time and energy on my business.”

“So far, I have five massive guys that will beat him to a bloody pulp. Teach him a lesson.”

“Have you not heard a thing I just said?”

“Yes. But you are not making any sense. So I will take care of the bodily harm and you will take care of your business.”

Again, I could only laugh.

I placed a call to Veronica and filled her in on what was going on. She would be coming in tomorrow and I told her to continue doing what she was doing. We would be fine and had ample help in the office.

“She will be OK,” Mia piped in over my shoulder. “I am not leaving her side. Of course, it will be better when you get back tomorrow. Until then…Jordan Dawson will be sorry he crossed our path again.”

Spoken like a real friend. I felt better, even stronger as the minutes went by.