The Golden Chance (27 page)

“Your word of honor you'll keep quiet until the August meeting?”

“Yes.”

“All right, here it is in a nutshell. About six months ago I started picking up rumors of secret negotiations that involved Castleton & Lightfoot. It was hard to tell what was going on at first. All I got were bits and pieces here and there. I had to be careful about checking out the gossip. I didn't want word to get back to Hilary that I was on to something.”

“What did you learn?”

“With the help of a couple of friends who were in a position to check the rumors, I found out that Hilary was preparing to sell off a chunk of Castleton & Lightfoot to an outsider, a guy named Alex Traynor.”

“Who's Traynor?”

“A fast-moving, very smooth Silicon Valley character. He's been walking a fine line down there in California for the past couple of years. Buys into high-tech firms, bleeds them dry and then sells out, leaving a carcass behind.”

“Why would Hilary want to sell off part of the company she controls? It doesn't make sense.”

Nick shoved his hand through his hair. “I don't know. I've asked myself that question a hundred times. Maybe Traynor has convinced her he can make Castleton & Lightfoot bigger and stronger than it already is. Or maybe she's got something else in mind. All I do know is that she's going to do it after she gets the backing she needs at the August meeting.”

“The others won't back her in a move to sell off shares to outsiders. Good grief, Nick, that's the last thing they'd do. Look at how hard they're working to get Crissie's shares back.”

“The others aren't going to know what's happened until it's all over. Hilary's not stupid. She's not going to put a simple motion before them to sell off some shares. She's just going to get them to vote her a greater range of powers.”

“Why would they agree to give her more power?”

“Everyone on the board has his or her own reason. My father simply doesn't care enough to get involved anymore, apparently. He'd rather play golf. Darren wants more freedom to jump into politics in a big way. He'd rather turn the entire company over to someone else to run so long as that someone else promises to back his campaign. Vicky always votes the way Darren tells her to vote and she wants a political future for Darren tells her to vote and she wants a political future for Darren, too.”

“And Eleanor is also determined to give Darren his chance to run for office,” Phila finished slowly. “Besides, she trusts Hilary. Feels she must support her. She'll give her whatever she asks for at the meeting.”

“Yeah.”

“But none of them would back her if they thought it meant hurting Castleton & Lightfoot. Why not just explain to them what's going on?”

“I told you, Hilary's still got time to cover her tracks. I've got no real proof, just rumors off the California network and a file on Traynor that's stored in the office safe in Seattle.”

“What's in the file?”

“Nothing incriminating enough to prove my point, unfortunately. I went through it yesterday afternoon. Given the information I have from my contacts, I know it means Hilary is dealing with Traynor, but I can't prove she's going to sell off a chunk of C&L to him. I need to get control of Castleton & Lightfoot away from her long enough to smash the deal with Traynor. I can do that if I get my old job back in August.”

“You intend to get yourself appointed CEO again. To do that you need a majority of the shareholders on your side.”

“You've got the picture.”

Phila stared out into the storm. “Do you really believe that with my backing you will convince one or more of the others to support you?”

“It's my only real chance. What it comes down to, Phila, is that I think you can convince at least one of them to trust me again.”

“Which one? Your father?”

“Maybe,” Nick swirled the last of the scotch in his glass. “Possibly Darren.”

“What about Eleanor?”

“I think she's too convinced Hilary's the Benevolent Queen who can give Darren his shot at a political career. Also, Eleanor has the most to protect in terms of the past, as you found out today. She won't be able to trust you because you were involved with Crissie. She can't admit anything good could have come out of that mess with Crissie Masters.”

“What if I can't get any of the others to go along with you?”

“Then I lose, and Castleton & Lightfoot goes under.”

“You're taking a huge risk.”

“A calculated risk,” he corrected with a wry smile. “I'm good at those.”

Of course he was. Phila swung around to confront him with a rush of tight fury. “Tell me something, Nick. When you came looking for me was it because Eleanor had asked you to get the shares back from me or had you already figured out a way to use me to retake control of the company?”

He shrugged. “When I learned about you, I realized I had been dealt a wild card. I wasn't sure at the time what I was going to do with it. I wasn't even sure what to make of you at first. You weren't what I expected so I just decided to play it by ear.”

“What did you expect?”

“Someone who would have accepted a quick payoff for the shares. I realized almost as soon as I met you that would be the wrong approach, though.”

“So you offered me a chance to wallow in my anger and frustration over Crissie's death, instead. And I jumped at the opportunity.” Phila shook her head. “Damn, but I hate being manipulated, Nick.”

“I know. So do I. But don't you think that in this instance, we're both guilty of using each other? You were quick enough to take advantage of what I was offering.”

“Don't try to make me feel guilty. I already feel stupid. That's bad enough.”

“Why should you feel stupid?” he asked, his mouth hardening. “You got what you wanted out of the deal.”

“A chance to torment Castletons and Lightfoots for the way they treated Crissie? That's a joke. They're already tormenting each other very nicely. They don't need me to add any more fuel to the fire.”

“You weren't sure of that a few days ago. If your mind is more at ease about the whole thing now, if you've really been able to accept Crissie's death, then you've accomplished your goal. All I ask is that you let me accomplish mine.”

Phila just looked at him, too weary even to cry. Then she turned and started to leave the kitchen. She got as far as the doorway before she lost her self-control. Rage boiled up within her, washing away the exhaustion. Her fist slammed against the door frame.

“
Why did you have to take it as far as sleeping with me?
” she got out in a choked voice, whirling around to confront him. “Why couldn't you have kept it on the level of a simple business deal?”

Nick didn't move, but there was tension in every line of his body. When he spoke his voice was soft. “I've told you from the beginning that our going to bed together has nothing to do with all this.”

“That's pure bullshit, and you know it. You used the fact that I was attracted to you, just as you want to use my shares. Just as you want to use me as a Judas goat to lead one of the others over to your side in August.”

“What about me?”

“What about you?” she said through her teeth.

“You've been happy enough to use me in bed. Just as you were happy enough to use me to gain entrée into the inner circle of the families.”

Phila shut her eyes against the fury that was threatening to overwhelm her. “No. It wasn't like that.”

“Wasn't it?”

Her eyes flew open. “I didn't sleep with you to get that entrée.”

“I didn't sleep with you to get those shares.”

Phila felt dazed and cornered. “I guess,” she said slowly, “when you get right down to it, neither one of us can afford to trust the other. Not in bed, at any rate.”

“Can't we?”

“No.” She turned away again and went purposefully out into the living room. She came to a halt in the middle of the floor, realizing she had no particular destination in mind. She had just needed to escape the kitchen.

“Phila,” Nick said quietly behind her, “don't run out on me. Help me. Please.”

“Why should I, damn you?”

“I told you. I need you.”

“To save Castleton & Lightfoot.” She thought of Vicky and little Jordan and Reed and Darren and Eleanor. “It seems to me you should all be able to save yourselves.”

“We can't do it without your help.”

Thelma Anderson's words echoed in Phila's ears.
You're a born crusader. A rescuer of others. It's your nature, Phila
. Thelma was not the only one who understood her greatest weakness, Phila realized. Nick had caught on really fast.

“Tell me something, Nick. Why do you care what happens to Castleton & Lightfoot now after what the others did to you?”

Nick hesitated. “It's hard to explain. All I can say is that it's a family thing.”

“The chips are down, and even though no one except Eleanor has spoken to you in three years you're going to try to save the family firm for everybody.”

“That's a little heavy on the dramatics, isn't it?” he asked with a fleeting smile.

It may have sounded dramatic, but it also rang true. Phila realized she believed him. He was not asking this of her because he wanted revenge on Hilary, or if he did, that revenge was just a byproduct. His main goal was to save C&L for the families. She understood that need now. Family was family.

“All right,” Phila said. “I'll do what I can. Just don't expect miracles.”

“Thank you, Phila.”

“Don't get maudlin about it, okay? Let's just keep this on a clean, businesslike basis.” She started for the bedroom.

“Phila?”

“No,” she said very firmly. “If you stay here again, you sleep on the couch. We're not going to get this situation any more confused than it already is.”

Three hours later Nick decided he'd had enough of the lumpy sofa. He kicked aside the blankets and got to his feet. Padding barefoot to the bedroom door, he opened it carefully and looked at the bed. He could just barely make out Phila's form curled up under the covers.

He eased the door open farther and stepped inside the room. She did not stir. He went to the bed and slowly pulled back the sheet. Then he slid in beside her.

Nick touched her lightly and, without waking, she immediately turned into his arms, snuggling close. One of her legs slipped between his. He heard her sigh softly against his chest, and a great tension seemed to evaporate from his body.

Phila was wrong when she said they could not trust each other in bed. It was in bed that she was at her most honest with him and he with her.

“Bastard,” she muttered drowsily. But she did not pull away. The tip of her tongue touched his nipple.

“Do that again,” he said, rolling onto his back and taking her with him.

She did, and a very pleasant tremor went through him. Then her tongue touched his other nipple, and he groaned softly. He stroked her sleek back down to her thigh, found the hem of her nightgown and pulled it up to her waist. His fingers moved lightly into the warm cleft between her buttocks. Nick felt the small shiver that rippled through her and he smiled in the darkness.

“Damn you, Nick. How do you do this to me?” But she wasn't waiting around for an answer.

She was starting to wriggle down under the sheet. Nick felt her bare teeth on the skin of his stomach. When he shifted his leg she moved lower. Her fingers blazed a trail ahead of her mouth, finding the base of his manhood and cupping him eagerly. He was already rock hard. He had been since he'd entered the room.

“Baby,” he muttered. “Kiss me. Please. I want to feel your mouth on me.”

She instantly started to crawl back up along the length of him, aiming for his lips. He halted her gently, his hands twining in her hair.

“Kiss me down there,” he muttered thickly. “Where your hand is.”

She trembled again and then she began to work her way back down his belly to the hard length of him. He felt her breath stirring the mat of hair above his thighs, and then he sucked in his breath as he felt her lips on his throbbing shaft.

“So good,” Nick said. “So damn good.” He lifted himself into her warm, soft mouth and she took him willingly. Her fingertips traced erratic little designs on the insides of his thighs. His whole body began to grow rigid.

“Now,” he told her, reaching for a package in the bed-side drawer. His fingers touched the revolver. He pushed it out of the way, scrabbling for the condom.

Phila released him as he quickly sheathed himself. Then she was flowing up and over him until she was lying on top of him. He reached down to guide himself into her, felt her tight, hot opening give way slowly as she pushed herself eagerly against him.

Then he was inside where he needed to be. Deep inside. He exhaled heavily, savoring the sweet heat that engulfed him. He slid his hands up Phila's soft, curving thighs and she cried out and clutched at his shoulders. He could feel her fingernails sinking into his skin, and he laughed silently in the shadows.

Within a few minutes she was rigid with shuddering pleasure, and he gave in to his own shattering climax. Phila collapsed on top of him.