The Love Triangle (BWWM Romance) (36 page)

“No, I just thought you would be dead. I guess I didn’t add enough to your coffee.”

She closed her eyes. There wasn’t an ounce of guilt in his eyes and that was the worst part of it or maybe the best, she wasn’t sure yet. If he had been remorseful, she may have felt bad about what was going to happen next. As far as she was concerned, the man was dead to her and his hatred just made it that much easier to go on.

“No, you failed at even that, James. I don’t know why I came up here, maybe to say one last thing to you before I nail your ass in this coffin. You deserve this, dear brother, and the sad thing was that I had written a check for you. Half of what I could get out of the will and I was going to give it to you. It was in my purse the day I went over to see you.”

Dahlia pulled the check out and slapped it up against the glass. “Do you see all those zeros, you dumb ass? You could have lived the rest of your wasteful life doing nothing, but now you will do the same thing.” Looking around the dingy concrete walls and floors, she crinkled her nose. “Although I think here, you won’t have your ass kissed because of all your money. Here you will stay broke and trust me, James, you will not see a dime of our father’s money. There is no way I will send you a dime in here, dear brother. I suggest you get you a boyfriend or something.”

He stood up, yelling at her and calling her a bitch. She stood up and ripped the check into pieces in front of him. “Enjoy yourself, dear brother.”

“I hate you, Dahlia.”

“I kind of got that when you poisoned me and murdered my child. I just wanted to let you know that the feeling is mutual. See you in court, James.”

There was some yelling behind her, her brother banging against the glass as she left. There was a second she wondered if he would be able to get through, but then guards quickly surrounded him and as she turned back, he was being cuffed on the ground. It seemed that he was getting exactly what he deserved and it sat well with her.

Dahlia went downstairs to the police and talked to the detective that was on her case. There was not a lot that she had to tell, since most of it was recorded on her husband’s phone. He was always so quick to think of everything and because of him it was guaranteed that there would be a conviction. When she left the cop shop, she knew that that part of her life was over. Dahlia no longer had any family, just Charles.

***

The second thing on her agenda was the company. There had been a message sent the night before from a couple of the board members. Apparently Traverse was trying to push her out altogether. There was supposed to be a vote done that same day to relieve her of her duties. She had been out of the office for almost two weeks and it seemed like everything she had worked for was messing up. If it wasn’t for Charles, she wouldn’t have even known about the problems with the merger.

She pulled up to the front and was amazed that someone was in her parking space. Her name was still there, but a red sports car was in her place. It didn’t take much brain power to figure out who it was. It seemed Traverse was overstepping his boundaries at every turn. She couldn’t believe that she had thought about actually giving him the CEO position. Apparently hiring from within was not going to be an option. Dahlia was wondering who would vote against her.

Dahlia parked in the closest spot she could and hiked the long parking lot back to the building. If she wasn’t pissed off before, she was when she got to the office. She was sweaty and agitated as she said hello to Glenna. “Good morning, Dahlia. We are glad to see you back.”

“Thanks for the call last night. Have they started the meeting?”

“Yes,ma’am. They all filed in there a few minutes ago.”

“Anyone refusing to come to the farce?”

“Rachel and Ryan didn’t. They said it wasn’t right.”

“But everyone else?”

The young blonde nodded her head. She pushed the phone off to hold as Dahlia decided what to do. It was clear that she needed some strength for the coming moment. Today was apparently the day to tell everyone off. She was up for it and after a quick look behind her, Dahlia walked into the hell storm with a smile on her face. The looks on the people’s faces was priceless and made what she would have to do next worth it.

“Dahlia?! What are you doing here?”

“I got some news that you were having a vote today. Thought I would show up and see what it was all about. I mean, I am the president of this company.”

“Dahlia, you have to understand. You have been gone for over two weeks. The merger has to go through, one way or another.”

“Traverse, your loyalty is shocking to the core. Really it is.” She took a seat at the front where Traverse had stood up. She smiled up at him, the emotion not reaching her eyes.

“You were gone…”

“I was poisoned and had my child murdered, Traverse. Sorry if that didn’t fit into your plans.” She looked around the room, all of the people there because she had kept them around after her father died. They were apparently all jackals. “So do I get to vote on kicking me out of my own family’s business or what?”

“Dahlia, I assure you it was nothing like that.”

“Come on, finish your vote because you better hope you win. I still hold majority in this company, or have you all forgotten? I own more than all of you put together, so let me see whose hand goes up. It will be good information for later.”

The room was silent and all eyes were away from her. Dahlia looked at each one and no one would meet her gaze. She remembered all their names and faces. The vote never happened and after a few tense minutes, Dahlia wanted to be caught up on everything.

Tanya was the only one that had the nerve to speak to her and she listened intently to the merging problems. It was mainly from stakeholders that had issue with the combination, but it was still going through. Dahlia made the order that anyone that wanted out, she would buy them out that instant. With her brother’s piece gone and her not having to pay him anymore, there was money to burn.

“Any of you that want to go, go. But all of you in this room, if you stay, I will be watching you very closely.” She looked over at Traverse. “And some of you will not make it to 2016. I had a brother that was a snake and I have no desire to work with any more of you.”

“Well I doubt that the business will be yours come next year. We all know about the clause and it looks like you're not going to make it.”

Her eyes flared and she sat up. “Traverse, you're fired.”

He looked shocked, which was surprising after what he had been caught doing. It wasn’t like she was going to lose the company. Alfred would help her work it out and she didn’t think she would be able to look at the angle-nosed man anymore. He looked like he was going to spout off more, but instead he left the room in a huff.

“Anyone else?”

No one said a word. Dahlia had a temper like her father and most were too smart to say anything against her. It was cold and cruel to say anything like that, but men like Traverse thought the world owed them something. He would get a good severance package, but it would be smaller than the rest. Another look around the room and she decided she had had enough for the day. She had the secretary send all calls to her cell phone and she called her father’s lawyer to meet for some advice. He would know what to do, she hoped anyways.

Chapter 14

“Dahlia. I'm so happy to see you!”

He came around his large mahogany desk and gave her a hug. He hugged her like a grandfather and she could tell that he was worried. “Good to see you too, Alfred. I think we have some things to talk about.”

“Yes, I guess so. I just can’t believe what your brother did. Your parents are rolling in their graves as we speak.”

She nodded her head. Dahlia told herself that she wasn’t going to get misty eyed that day, but it was hard not to. She had had a very stressful day and her energy was nothing. But it was more than that. With Alfred she had known him her whole life and there was times that neither had to say anything.

“So did you go down and take care of things at the business?”

“Of course. You know they were trying to vote me out? I swear there is no loyalty in this world anymore.”

“You and Charles are doing well, yeah? I went down to the hospital a couple of times when I found out and he was always there. I think he didn’t leave at all until you woke up.”

Dahlia smiled. He was the only good thing that had come out of it all, but even that may change. There was a distance between them. They had not made love since it all happened. Dahlia almost didn’t want to anymore; the idea that she could never get pregnant again seemed to take away some of the want of it. It was different when their love would result in another human being, half him, half her. The reality though, was less than what was to be desired.

“Yes, he has been amazing. I think Dad may have been right, but all of this is straining to a new marriage. There is also something specific I would like to talk to you about.”

Alfred sat back in his chair. He had a feeling he knew what it was going to be about. “The clause?”

“There was more than just losing our child, Alfred. I will not be able to ever have a child again. The doctors gave me the impression of little to no hope of it ever happening again. I won’t get into details, but me having a child is not in my cards anymore. What does that mean for the will and business?”

“Well, Dahlia. I will admit that Charles and me had a discussion about this already.” He put his hands up in defense at the flare that came in her eyes. “Don’t be mad. He was just trying to settle things for you so you didn’t have to. The fact is, it does not state you have to have the child per say. You could use a surrogate or even adopt. With your father it was never about an heir, but for you and Charles to have enough between you that you wouldn’t divorce him after a year. Johnston knows how fiercely independent you are and he worried about you never compromising enough to find love. You have found love and now, there are many ways that you can finish the clause.”

She sat back in her own chair and looked at the old man. He was almost as bad as her father when it came to trying to manipulate and run her life. She loved them both, but she hated the idea of them trying to control her. That Charles had spoken to him without talking to her bothered her as well. The last thing she needed was a bunch of men deciding her future, no matter how close to them she was.

“Well I'm here now to take care of things Alfred. So you're telling me that any way I get a child is good enough? What about foster care?”

“It has to be permanent, Dahlia.”

“Well, my son was going to be permanent. There is no way to get an extension or something?”

“No. We could go to court, but you still have ten months and I think that will be plenty of time. You two are perfect together and I know it will work out. You have been through so much. I wonder sometimes how you are still standing. Just like Johnston in that way, you're so strong.”

“Thank you, Alfred. You have always been loyal, but I don’t feel very strong today. I don’t know if I will ever be the same. I talked to James before I came over here.”

Alfred looked stunned. It was about the same look Charles had given her, like she was slightly off her rocker. “I wouldn’t think you would ever want to see him again.”

“I just wanted him to know that I was okay and I would be testifying in his trial to make sure he never got out. Oh and of course, I showed him the check I had you write.”

“I hated to do it. That boy didn’t deserve a dime of that money.”

“Well he won’t get it now, Alfred, though I should have given it to him sooner. Maybe my child would still be alive…” Dahlia fought back tears, unsure what to do or say. She thanked the older man and walked out of his office building before she embarrassed herself any further. Johnston had always told her to never show her weakness. As a woman, it was pushed even more.

“No one likes a cry baby,” her father would remind her.

There were still several hours until Charles would be home from work, so she sat in her car, debating what she should do. Dahlia didn’t want to go to work, especially with all those traitors. If it was her idea, she would have fired them all then and there, but she knew that would be rash and not at all what was best for the business. Her dreams of walking away were already being dashed. What would she do anyways? All she had done since she was able was work.

She found herself driving to Black Industries on the other side of town. It may have sounded silly, but she really needed to see Charles. She needed that morning kiss that she had missed and quite frankly, she just needed a hug from him. Dahlia parked in the lot out back and made her way to the entrance. She knew that Charles would make her feel better by default. He always did.