Double-Cross My Heart (11 page)

“True,” he said, the doubts she’d seen in his eyes disappearing.

“So, will an article and a rumor be enough to bring the stock prices down?” Her stomach churned in her effort to stay visibly relaxed—comfortable with him, yet uncomfortable with the course ahead of her.

She’d never yearned to be an actress. This double-dealing didn’t quite sit right, but dammit, she’d do what she had to do. Getting to the top of the heap in any business took some scrambling. She’d done a little on her way up the ladder at Michele Cosmetics.

“No, the article alone won’t be enough,” he acknowledged. “We’ve got to get a major stock holder in our corner. I’d like to convince one of them to vote with us. That’s where you come in again. I told you I need to know everything personal you have on your major stockholders. We can then proceed to get them behind us.”

Immediately, Eden’s mind sprinted into action. Who were their biggest stock holders outside of Michele herself, the board of directors and the top-level executives? The short list of really major stock holders registered inside her head silently. Which of them would be most vulnerable to sell? Most resistant to Alex’s snake oil manipulation?

“I can get you a list of the major stock holders,” she said doubtfully, forcing herself to stay open and innocent-sounding. “But that’s public record, isn’t it? Hasn’t your…study of the company yielded those names?”

“Yes. It’s all public record, of course, but it’s not enough to know who owns how much. I need to make sure we can swing them into line with our plans. I need personal info.”

“Oh,” she said, her thoughts racing. “You need me to tell you about the big stock holders. What exactly do you mean? I don’t really know all their dark secrets.”

Alex chuckled. “I’m not asking you to blackmail them into siding with us. I simply need your assessment on who’s more vulnerable and may need to sell their stock. Who is in conflict or in bed with Michele? Who holds strong opinions on what company issues? That sort of thing.”

“Oh,” she said, “I can get you that info.”

Apparently he drew the line at blackmailing board members. Was it possible that he didn’t think he was doing the same to her? He’d never actually uttered the words as a threat, but she knew he had the power to bring her world down around her ears.

For a moment she battled with a longing to belt him. Why the hell couldn’t he be as good as he’d seemed at first? Why couldn’t the cancer-research-funding, hospice-volunteering philanthropist be the real guy?

She felt an intense, piercing regret and fought to keep from yanking her hand away and belting him for not being the man she’d hoped he was.

“Great,” Alex said, “when we examine the info, we’ll decide who to go after and you can arrange a discreet meeting.”

“Me?” she said, the word rising.

“Yes, you,” was his reply. “You’re an insider, remember? They’ll trust you more.”

“Oh, right,” she said, thinking furiously. “Right. That makes sense.”

God, she had to produce an actual stock holder and expose him or her to Alex’s brand of charm and logic? Who the hell was she going to throw to the lions? Who even could she trust with the truth
?

CHAPTER FIVE

“Hey,” Brian said, sticking his head in Alex’s doorway, “I heard an interesting rumor this morning.”

“Come in,” Alex invited, placing the telephone receiver in the cradle. “What did you hear?”

“Something on the Michele Cosmetics deal. I happened to be talking to John Minor, the attorney for Millennium Tech? Anyway, we were discussing the disposition of some of their assets in Michigan and he happened to mention that it was too bad they didn’t have larger facilities in that area because he’d heard of a company looking for more space.”

“Who?” Alex asked.

“Beauty by Georgette,” Bryan said with satisfaction. “Aren’t they Michele Cosmetics’ primary regional competitor?”

“Yes. That’s the company owned by Eden Merritt’s uncle.”

“Well, we should start cultivating them for an offer on the Michele Cosmetics Michigan plant. It may be just what they’re looking for and we could snag their interest with offering a property that’s already set up for their industry needs.”

“That’s great,” Alex said. This was what he loved about his work, the almost serendipitous money-making opportunities.

Bryan sat back in his chair, a big grin of satisfaction on his face. “I thought you’d love that. Now, once we have Michele Cosmetics under control, we can terminate the existing plant employees and pretty much offer it ‘as is’ to the Beauty by Georgette people.”

Alex’s brows drew together in a frown. Terminating employees—with a reasonable compensation package—was standard procedure, but he couldn’t help remembering Eden’s hesitance to put her people out of work.

“Shall I put out some feelers?” Bryan asked. “Just to check on their interest in a property we may have in a few months?”

“Of course. That company will be a good sales possibility,” Alex agreed, options pinging in his head. “But don’t mention anything about the specifics.”

“No,” Bryan said, getting up. “That’ll wait.”

“We might,” Alex said slowly, “want to offer them a better deal, eventually.”

“What do you mean?” Bryan paused in leaving.

Alex shrugged. “It might be in our favor—as well as the Michele Cosmetics’ employees—to offer a package deal: factory and personnel.”

“Okay,” Bryan’s expression was puzzled, “but we don’t usually protect employees.”

“I know,” Alex said offhand. “It might make a sweeter deal, in this case, though.”

Bryan shrugged. “Okay. Whatever you think. I’ll put out some very casual feelers.”

“Do that,” Alex said, picking up the phone as his friend left.

He always preferred win-win situations and this could work out best for everyone. Particularly for Eden’s conscience. The possibility made him feel more cheerful.

***

“So…,” Eden said slowly, hearing little over the roar of anger and disappointment in her ears, “you’re saying I’m not treating Wendi nice? She’s not going to be ready to replace you as CEO? Is that your point?”

Michele Broussard’s laugh was short. “No, Eden. It’s not a matter, yet, of her replacing me, but Wendi needs to have the opportunity to adapt. She’s taken a huge leap from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics and we’re very lucky to have her. All I’m saying is that you could be more helpful.”

Your precious Wendi is no good!
She wanted to say.
Wendi will steal from this company just like she did from her last one.

Eden’s throat constricted with the effort to keep the words from spilling out. But she knew it wouldn’t do any good to tell Michele about Wendi having left her last job under a cloud of suspicious. The elderly woman couldn’t see the truth.

“How do you want me to be more helpful? I’m not sure I understand.” Her gut burning, Eden managed to keep her voice level.

“Wendi says you’re not being open with her,” Michele said. “That you withhold information she needs to make decisions on the Passions line.”

“What decisions has she been trying to make, Michele? She handed that line back to me within a week of you assigning to her. She’s not dealing enough with the line to make any decisions.” The older woman was her boss and once a friend, but Eden couldn’t keep the snap out of her voice. Michele needed to see the truth about her protégé. “I’m doing the work because she won’t do it.”

“Wendi can’t very well do her job if you interfere,” Michele declared, her face disapproving. “I would think you’d hesitate before making an enemy of the person who may very well be running the company in five or ten years.”

Keeping her anger firmly in check, Eden couldn’t resist pursuing the topic of Wendi’s eventual promotion. “I’d like to ask you about that, Michele. I was under the impression that I was in the running for that position when you decide to retire.”

“Now, Eden,” Michele fussed with the chunky Rolex encircling her thin arm, “I don’t know exactly what I may have said to make you think—I’m just not sure—Not everyone is cut out for the demanding job of running a company this size.”

“It’s not what I think you said, it’s what you did say. Up until three months ago. Now, you don’t think I can handle the job?” Eden made herself ask, so angry she could hear the faint tremor of rage in her own voice.

“I’ve come to realize that you’re a terrific personnel manager and you have had real moments of flare for research and development. I know how much you love this industry.” The older woman refused to meet her eyes. “But now, I’m not sure you’d be happy outside of those roles, Eden. I’m sorry, but I have to do what I think best for the company—“

Eden felt the thunder in her ears rise to a deafening level. She really had no choice. Michele had pushed her into this damned corner. All the ugly plays that kept surfacing in her head, she had to go through with them.

“—that’s why I brought Wendi in. I think you two could really compliment each other. She has a knack for leadership.”

A knack for avoiding work! And ripping off companies!
Eden wanted to yell.
             

“I realize this is probably a disappointment to you now,” her boss went on. “But one day you’ll realize how unhappy you’d have been working outside of your area of expertise.”

“So,” Eden said, her voice diamond hard, “it’s my job to get Wendi—the woman who’s better equipped to run the company than I am—up to speed?”

“Wendi just needs you to stop making things more difficult,” Michele huffed. “She’s a very bright, energetic person.”

“I wasn’t aware that I was making her life difficult,” Eden responded, her tone barely civil. She’d tried and tried, but it seemed as if Michele was reinforcing the wisdom of her decision.

“I know.” Michele’s plastic smile stretched her face. “That’s why I asked you to come in today, so I could give you a hint. You really have a lot to offer, if you’ll realize your own best interests.”

How many times was someone completely disinterested in her
best interests
going to use that term with her?

“Do you and Carl have a timetable in mind? A date by which I need to get Wendi up to speed?” If Eden was putting her plan into action, she needed to know how quickly to get things in place.

“I’m running this company, not Carl,” Michele snapped, “and what do you mean ‘time table’.”

Knowing Michele’s reluctance to let go of running the company, Eden couldn’t resist saying, “Do you have a specific date set for her to be ready to replace you? You’re not planning on appointing her CEO at the next board meeting?”

“No! I may be slightly more mature than the average CEO, but, I’m not ready to put myself out to pasture yet!” Michele smiled again, her lips tight. “I think Wendi will find her feet more quickly, however, if everyone here tries to be cooperative.”

“Of course,” Eden said, knowing she had little choice. She had to act and act quickly. How soon did she have to get everything in place? “But eventually, you’re planning on Wendi taking over your position and you want me to make sure she’s not completely clueless about the business.”

A look of annoyance passed over Michele’s face. “I have faith in Wendi’s abilities. It is your job to further the interests of this company. Wendi is the future of Michele Cosmetics. Please remember that and please do your job in assisting her to do her job.”

Acid rolled in Eden’s stomach. She was furious with Michele for her disloyalty and shallow, short-sightedness. Where had the woman she’d trusted and respected all these years gone? It was as if the last twelve years meant nothing. Not since Carl had come into the picture and introduced Wendi. Michele’s behavior now called for the very deceit and the backstabbing Eden didn’t want to employ.

She could tell herself over and over that Michele herself had picked the game they were playing, but, in order to win, Eden still had to do the stabbing. It left her nauseous.

She deserved to be CEO of Michele Cosmetics. Michele had given her word that Eden would get the job. She’d worked so damned hard for so long. And now…this. Wendi Williams, with Michele and Carl’s help, had planted herself directly in the path between Eden and her goals. Snatched away the reward Eden deserved and, on top of it all, she was supposed to train the woman? Make up for her deficiencies the way she’d been making up for Michele’s these past five years?

Her palms sweating and clammy, she felt like throwing up. The situation had been going on for weeks now, but she still woke with a sense of shocked, numb rage every day.

Smiling at Eden now, Michele swept on. “When I recruited Wendi, I assured her we have the best support staff. I know you can be a tremendous assistance to her as she’s learning the ropes. I told her you’ve been really helpful these past five years I know you can do the same for her. But you have to be more open to new people! I know you can do it.”

The old bitch genuinely wanted her to be happy and content in this situation. Apparently, she still had some remembrance of their solid working relationship all these years.

“Thank you,” Eden responded, as she knew Michele expected.
Support staff
,
that was her designation? She had twelve years of experience, the last five at the highest levels of this company. She’d been covering Michele Broussard’s ass for the past five years!