“That it does. I get plenty of exercise just running for a sandwich.” A yellow sticky note sat where the phone had moments before. Gregory read the name Martin had scrawled on it. “I didn’t expect to hear from you today, Mister Dawson. Martin told me you were on vacation.”
“Steve is fine. We’ve been in Saint-Tropez and Paris. The wife wanted to see the sights in England while we were over the pond already. She’s out spending my money right now, so I thought I’d better go about making some more.”Steve laughed.
Gregory frowned. He didn’t care for the man’s tone, full of smug condescension about his wife, or the mocking laugh at the insinuation about how he had to provide for his family.Remember, you need this man’s support. Biting his head off won’t get you there.“Always important to replace what you spend. You’re representing Dean Bennet, do I have that right?”
“That’s right. He’s my father-in-law. Bought the shares of Russell Holdings back when Henry was just starting out. Dean’s looking to retire soon. Ordinarily, those shares would go to my wife, Julia, but she doesn’t have much of a head for business. Just shopping. So he’s giving them to me, since I married her.”Another smug chuckle.
Next to the name on the yellow paper, Gregory wrote the wordasshole.“You’re in business for yourself?”
“I am. Nothing like your business, but I do all right.”
“Business was what I was hoping to talk about. Dean is, I’m sure you’re aware, our majority shareholder.”
“I’m aware, yes. You’re not the only one to remind me of that this week. I got a call from Robert Lane not long before I got the call from your assistant.”
Gregory’s jaw clenched. He worked to sound casual, instead of like his teeth had clamped together. “Did you. What did he have to say?”
“Not sure. I haven’t called him back yet. I like to hear what the chief has to say before I talk to the little Indians under him,”Steve drawled.“To that end, I was thinking. We’re in the neighborhood for a soccer game tomorrow. Sorry. ‘Football’ over here. How about we come by for dinner? Just me and the wife. We won’t have time after the game, and we’re headed out the day after.”
The last thing Gregory wanted was a dinner guest tonight, unless they invited Gillian to stay for a first-hand fancy dinner and a nice evening to wash away the afternoon’s hard news. His mother would return home soon, and he didn’t want to deal with her, either. A night spent curled up on the couch with Hanna before they retired to bed to tangle up in each other sounded like Heaven.
And if I want to convince the shareholders to sack the board of directors, this is where it has to start. You have plenty of nights with Hanna on the horizon. There’s only one chance to make this first impression. One small sacrifice in the name of bettering my company and my life.
“We’d love to have you,” he said. “You and your wife both. I’ll have the chef make something good.”
“Have him make something American. I’ve about had it with European food. Now, even though I didn’t talk to Robert, I did hear some big news about you. Or, should I say the girlfriend you sprung on the board last night.”
“Yes. Why, did you get an earful of gossip?”
“Nah, just a little snippet that said you shut them up with a pretty girl. Do we get to meet her tonight?”
“You do. She’ll be there. We’ll both look forward to your visit.” Once again, he blessed Hanna’s presence. Her intelligence and steady emotional compass would help him navigate the tricky waters of dinner with a shareholder.
“Great. We’ll see you at, say, six?”
Gregory looked at the clock.Two already. That doesn’t give us long to finish with Gillian and get ready. We’ll manage.“Six it is. See you then.”
The call disconnected. Gregory leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.This is not how I thought any of this would go when I took the company. Not with Robert. Not with the board my grandfather spoke so well of. What secrets did you have buried in the past, Grandpa? What were you thinking about when you gave the company to me instead of your right-hand man?
No answers presented themselves in the quiet of the office, or in the dead silence of his memories.
14
Shadows Thrown by the Setting Sun
“Does he do that often?” Gillian asked, as she and Hanna sipped their tea and nibbled on the pastries they found in the kitchen.
“Do what?”
“Run off to answer important calls. Not that I think it’s rude or anything,” Gillian said. “Just that I’ve no idea at all what the life of a big businessman looks like.”
“Sometimes. It’s been busier lately, because of the party, and now, because of some of what the party stirred up in the corporation.” Hanna lifted one shoulder in half a shrug. “To be honest with you, he and I haven’t been together very long, so I’m not sure how it is when it’s quiet.”
Gillian lifted both eyebrows and grinned. “Oh, new love, is it? New, fast love, with a man in an old manor.”
A blush crept over Hanna’s face. “It is. This isn’t something I thought would ever happen to me. I’m a simple girl from a middle-class family. When I arrived, I told him this felt like someone else’s fairytale. I was just ‘the governess’, who fills a role while the princess and prince fall in love.”
“Got news for you, Hanna. You’re the princess now. Congratulations.” Gillian lifted her teacup in a toast.