Love After All (24 page)

“My father started this company and I intend to keep it firmly rooted in Daley family beliefs. And those beliefs are solely my beliefs. So without further ado, I'd like to announce that I have just finalized negotiations on the purchase of a small cable company owned by George Cooperman. The official announcement will take place in a few days, but I wanted to share this with my close friends and family. George and I are looking forward to a long profitable partnership together.”

Surprised and joyful oohs, aahs and applause rang out instantly as Darla, Shauna and Pamela hurried to Marcus's and George's sides.

“That's wonderful, dear,” Darla said to George as she kissed him, then wiped the red smear from his cheek.

“Congratulations, darling,” Pamela said, following Darla's lead, kissing Marcus generously, leaving her own colorful stain to wipe away.

Paul walked over and shook Marcus's and George's hands as did Jackson and Samantha. Jessie hugged and kissed her father's cheek and then one by one the other guest congratulated them in turn.

George and Marcus smiled happily, excited by the new venture. The conversation circled around them as hopeful praise was gathered.

Jessie moved to stand beside Jackson. “How about that?” she said quietly. “He actually did it.”

“The question is, how?” Jackson said. “He doesn't have the money to front something like that.”

“Sounds like a Faustian bargain to me.”

“Exactly. Unfortunately, paying the devil is probably going to destroy the company.”

M
oments later, the group was ushered into the formal dining room, which looked to be the size of a small football stadium. Hardwood floors shined to a high gloss reflected the crystal chandeliers hanging from narrow beams outlined by smoked-glass windows overhead. Three long tables were set in the center of the room with small handwritten name tags.

Marcus stood at the head of the long center table and surveyed the seating arrangements, Jessie by his side, Paul beside her, Samantha next, then another guest and finally Darla next to her husband, who sat at the opposite end. Beside him was an empty seat, then another guest, Shauna, Jackson and Pamela between him and Marcus.

As soon as they all sat down, hired waiters instantly appeared, each carrying two bottles of champagne. The wine and celebratory champagne glasses were filled and the traditional birthday toast was presented by Jackson. Short and thoughtful, after which a round of applause began, Marcus's ten-minute speech was on new beginnings and new directions.

Afterward, George presented a toast praising Marcus, their new business relationship and hopes for the future.

Shauna beamed victoriously as Samantha smiled and nodded, acknowledging Jackson's wink. Jessie toasted her father's love and devotion as Paul toasted Marcus's long standing in the business community.

A fresh green salad was served after Pamela led an awkward, pointless conversation on the possibility of birthdays on other planets since they have either longer or shorter days and years. A brief nod from Marcus appointed Jessie to take over the hostess duties, keeping everyone involved and entertained.

The salad course finished, the entrée was placed in front of them. Exceptionally prepared by five-star chef Andre Pree, the food looked incredible. When all the plates were served, Andre emerged from the kitchen and personally explained each of the five selections. Midway through his presentation the doorbell rang. He finished quickly and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Moments later Samantha saw Eric Hamilton enter the dining room carrying a wrapped gift and a briefcase. His suave entrance was as cool and calculating as ever.

Obviously not at all surprised to see her, he smiled around the table, then turned his attention to Marcus as the host. “There he is, come in, come in, we'd almost given you up for lost,” Marcus said, standing and shaking Eric's hand heartily.

Eric walked over and shook George's hand, and then Marcus introduced Eric as a private investment broker and an indispensable business associate. Never missing a beat, Eric smiled and nodded pleasantly but kept his attention focused on Marcus and George. Marcus, the ever-diligent host, made further introductions as Eric nodded amiably with the women and shook hands with the men. His eyes darted to Samantha from time to time, as if he was fearful of her reaction, but once introduced to her and receiving no perceivable regard he was assured of her silence and noticeably relaxed.

He was in character, of course, personable and charming, barely distinguishable from the man she once knew. Bearded now, with nerdy tortoiseshell eyeglasses and a near-bald haircut, he folded his tall wiry frame into the empty seat beside Shauna. But instead of joining in the conversation about global warming, he sat looking from face to face as if to visually memorize each person's mannerisms.

He was quickly served and ate with ravishing purpose, never once freeing his cloth napkin from the neatly rolled ring beside his plate. Samantha smiled at the oversight. Although it could possibly be perceived as an eccentric flaw, she knew it was the same old Eric. The quips and witticisms of conversation surrounded him, yet he focused solely on his roast chicken and baby vegetables enveloped in a crispy phyllo shell. He poked and prodded the flaky pastry, then devoured the inside, leaving the empty shell bare. Typical.

Samantha noticed that Jackson had glanced at her several times. He of course knew the history between the two and noted her detached behavior. She caught his eye and winked slyly. Almost simultaneously she added an interesting yet witty remark to the conversation that made everyone chuckle. She smiled and shook her head as Eric laughed louder and longer.
What in the world did she ever see in him?
she wondered.

She observed the two men across from her. They were separated by Shauna, who now seemed to be in seventh heaven, but her preference was obviously for Jackson. She constantly made witty remarks to engage him in conversation. He was polite but his focus was never drawn to her.

Jackson exuded class. His manly body was far from the lankiness of Eric's. Jackson, with his reserved calm and elegant coolness, walked with a kind of confident swagger that exuded power and purpose, whereas Eric seemed to meander along from one situation to another. As Jackson was naturally suave, Eric was on a treadmill, never keeping up. Jackson was the real thing.

After dinner Jessie and Paul, along with several of the other guests, excused themselves with previous engagements. Marcus, Jackson, George and Eric were talking business as Darla and Pamela toured the house and Shauna and Samantha sat outside on the terrace.

“So how are you a friend of the family exactly?” Shauna finally asked, seeing that there was more to the simple relationship than was stated.

“Through Rachel,” Samantha said. Shauna looked at her, slightly confused. “Rachel Daley, Jessie and Jackson's mother,” she explained.

“Oh, right, of course.”

“And you?” Samantha asked innocently.

“Jackson and I were to be married last year.”

“Congratulations, how nice for you,” Samantha said without skipping a beat, although her insides twisted into a knot as she realized that this was the woman Jackson meant when he'd said earlier that he'd considered marriage at one time. “Jackson is a wonderful man,” Samantha added, refusing to appear fazed by the targeted emotional blow.

“But I called it off. I just wasn't ready at the time, but now…” she said evenly.

“I see,” Samantha said, understanding Shauna's remark as a warning to back off. Shauna nodded pointedly, obviously reclaiming her man.

A few minutes later Eric walked outside and stood by Shauna attentively. The three of them talked generally, about the weather and travel, until Shauna excused herself when her phone rang.

“Samantha,” Eric said, moving closer.

“Eric,” she replied, glaring into his dark eyes with a syrupy sweet smile that made him nervous.

He quickly glanced around, making sure that the other guests were reasonably preoccupied, then leaned in with a gentle whisper, “Thanks for not blowing this for me.” He smiled smugly, seemingly assured of her silence. “Look at you,” he said boldly admiring what he saw. His eyes slimed down her body like a boa constrictor, covering every inch in seconds. “Who would have guessed? I think being with me had a good effect on you after all.”

She glared at him, stunned by his outrageous assumption. “You have got to be kidding me,” she said loudly, drawing attention from George and Darla, who were sitting just inside the terrace door.

“Keep your voice down,” Eric shushed her, and moving farther away from the doorway and taking her arm with him. “What do you mean?” he asked innocently, smiling happily as if the past four months hadn't happened.

“Eric, it wasn't that we just lost touch, or that you didn't call me after a date. You stole money from the job, pissed off heaven knows who else, had the police after me for questioning and then left the mess for me. You conned me.”

“Look, I never thought they'd come after you. I owed money and I needed to get my hands on fast cash. I was desperate.”

“Oh, please, so is that why you switched computers and left a signature a mile wide leading back to me?” she hissed quietly. He turned away, looking off into the landscaped darkness. “I can't believe you, you're pathetic.”

“And you look incredible,” he said, changing the subject.

“Avoidance was always your issue.”

“No, seriously,” he said, smiling the innocent boyish grin that she remembered and had once adored. “You really look incredible. So this is what was under all those frumpy sweatshirts and baggy pants. If I'd known that I might have stepped up.”

Her glare hardened. She was too furious to answer.

“So what exactly are you doing here?” he asked.

“Same as you, Eric, enjoying the evening,” she said.

“Come on, you expect me to believe that? You don't do the con, that's your brother's gig. You told me that you hated this stuff. You followed me here.”

“Careful, Eric, your paranoia is showing,” she said.

“I knew it, I knew it,” he repeated softening his voice raised louder the second time. “You still want me,” he reached up to gently stroke her face. “You still love me, don't you?”

She quickly leaned back, then slapped his hand away from her. He smiled. “Oh, please, I got over you a long time ago. Get over yourself. I learn from my mistakes. You should, too. And speaking of mistakes, what's the con this time?” she asked, knowing that his ego wouldn't let him keep quiet. Bragging was what he did best.

“You expect me to tell you?”

“Why not?” she offered. “I couldn't care less about the mark, you know that.”

He considered her remark, then glanced around quickly with dark shifty eyes and leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “Initially it was just a simple escrow thing, but now it's a bit more complicated.”

“How so? Who's the mark?” she asked.

He smiled happily, “Marcus Daley,” he said proudly. “Impressed?”

“I'll let you know.”

“Check it out,” he continued. “He needs cash to float this new company he wants and I'm set up as a moneyman. I fed him a twenty-thousand-dollar convincer a few days ago. Tonight I'm dropping off fifty thousand dollars in cash from a supposed moneymaking investment. He's buying it hook, line and sinker. I'm—”

“Where did you get the front money?”

“Silent partners.”

“Who are they?”

“Nobody you'd know. Anyway, tonight I'm about to close another deal. Now, in another few days I'll up the stakes to a million dollars. He'll give me the cash thinking I'll triple his money. Then I just walk away.”

“What about your partners?”

“I keep the whole million. They're after something bigger.”

“What?”

“They want the whole store, Daley Communications.”

Samantha smiled. She was right. “The company?”

He nodded.

“What happens to Marcus and his family?” she asked with concern.

“Don't tell me you're attached,” Eric said.

“Not at all. A mark's just a mark, you know that.”

“Yeah, well, that's not my problem.”

“So let me get this straight. You're helping a couple of thugs steal someone else's company for a million-dollar payoff.”

Eric nodded proudly. His stupidity astounded her at times, and this was one of those times.

“Eric, disappearing with someone's money isn't the same as not getting caught. The whole idea is for the mark not to know he's been conned.”

“See, I knew you wouldn't get it. Check it out, Marcus wants sole control of his company, but to get it he needs financial backing. With his lacking the ready funds, enter me, I help him make some quick cash.” She nodded. “But he needs more, right?”

She nodded again as it hit her. “He's gonna leverage the company to someone, your partner perhaps.”

“Exactly. He leverages his business and it defaults.”

“And the company belongs to your partners.”

“Exactly. And I walk away with a cool million. Believe me, Marcus will be so stressed out about losing his company that he won't even think about the million he gave me.”

“I must say, Eric, I underestimated you. So what's going on beneath the surface? Can you trust your partners?”

“One of them just claimed bankruptcy to avoid paying federal taxes. He sat before a federal grand judge and testified that he's broke. Perjury is a criminal offense, not to mention fraud. I'm talking jail time. So he can't touch me. I have leverage on him. I get caught, I talk,” he said proudly.

“Impressive,” she said, choosing not to mention the obvious holes throughout his scheme.

Eric smiled boastfully. “You know, I actually thought you might blow this for me when I first saw you, but then I remembered that you are your father's daughter, aren't you? You know the game. You wouldn't do that to me.”

She smirked. “That would be presumptuous of you.”

He looked affronted as his cocky, confident expression changed to that of instant alarm. “Okay, I get it, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. All right, fine, whatever. Not one of my finer moments, I admit it. Is that what you want, an apology? Fine, I'm sorry. So what do you want to keep quiet, two percent of the take, five percent?”