Corporate Affair (27 page)

Ashley still sat on the sofa, but her face under the makeup was drained of color. Her jaw was set in a peculiar way, like she was trying not to cry. Surprised, Jordan said, “Ashley, did I say something? What is it?”

Ashley held up her hand. “I’m going to tell you some things. You haven’t known me all my life, Jordan. You and I weren’t close in high school. You were a couple of years ahead of me, and besides, I was one of those kids you wouldn’t have hung out with.”

“Ashley! I—”

“Just listen to me, Jordan. My mother was a drunk. She drank herself to death when I was twelve years old. My brothers were nine and ten. You know where we lived? We lived in that big house across from Chandler’s Market that they cut up into low income housing units. My father got an apartment there. He had one bedroom, and my brothers and I shared the other one. There was one teeny bathroom. He was out of work a lot of the time. Sometimes he tended bar at MacTavish’s or the Inn, and in the winter he always tried to get a job as a lift operator at the Mountain. We had nothing. I did the best I could taking care of my brothers. My father did the best he could, too, I guess, but to tell you the truth, I didn’t see him much through my whole teenage years. Oh, he came home every night, and brought in groceries so I could feed my brothers, but he was always out working this job or that. Like I said, I think he did the best he could.

“And Kyle? Kyle’s father knocked him and his mother around pretty good, and a lot when Kyle was little. If it hadn’t been for his uncle Tom Cochran, Kyle said he doesn’t know where he’d be now. He used to go to Tom’s house and stay with Tom and his aunt and his cousins. That’s why he’s so close to them now. You think things just happened for Kyle and me? You think we just sing and dance through our lives? When Kyle and I got together in the seventh grade, we just had this bond. That was real special, and I don’t really know why. We just clicked. We could trust each other, and we wanted the same things. Kyle and I worked real hard to get where we are, and we work hard to stay there.

“We want things, too, and we’re working to get them. For instance, I want a baby, Jordan. I want a baby so bad, and so does Kyle, but we want to be able to afford the baby. I want to stay home with my baby, at least for a while. Sometimes, when I see you with Grace, I’m so envious. Such a beautiful little girl with those red curls! I think, how lucky is Jordan to have a baby like Grace? Then I get scared and think, what if I can’t have a baby? So, Jordan, you can’t get away from the complications. They’re everywhere and everybody has them!” Ashley stopped and gave a shuddering sigh. “I’m sorry I went on a rant, but that’s what I think.”

Jordan opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She felt awful, as though she had hurt this gentle and loyal person who had waited on her, run interference for her, guarded her secrets, and become her friend. She crossed the room slowly. Finally she spoke.

“Ashley, I am so, so sorry. You’re right. I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve been selfish. Aiden said the same thing.”

“You need to let Aiden know that you trust him, Jordan. You need to believe that you two can make it together. Otherwise, don’t even bother. I’m not saying you have to be with Aiden. I’m only saying you have to be sure. And don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll compromise yourself with a partner. No, that’s not how it works. Love can only make you stronger. Kyle and I don’t have a dependency, Jordan. We have a commitment. We’ve been married—married—since we were eighteen and nineteen. We know we can depend on our love for each other. Love makes everything easier. Even when Kyle and I lived in that three room apartment above MacTavish’s, and we didn’t know from month to month whether we’d be able to pay the rent, it was easier because I could reach out and touch him in the night. That’s how you know you love somebody. We knew together we could do it. And we are doing it. Every day. We make it happen for each other. I never get tired of seeing his face, Jordan. If you don’t feel that way about Aiden, then that’s the reality. But if he lifts your heart, if you feel stronger with him than without him, then give in to that strength. Stop sabotaging yourself.”

The two sat silently for a while. At last Jordan said, “I’m going to go to the Inn and see Aiden. I think I need to talk to him.” She stood up.

Ashley looked up at her as she walked toward the door. “Did you hear what I said, Jordan?”

“I did.” Jordan began to smile. “You’re a dear friend, Ashley. Thank you for that.”

“Go,” said Ashley, returning Jordan’s smile. She waved her hands, and Jordan closed the door behind her, walking with renewed energy out of the building.

Aiden drove to Inn, parked in front, and glanced at the car’s clock. It was seven. The desk wouldn’t open until eight, so Aiden got out and walked slowly down the green. It was a sunny morning, warm for May. The lilacs were in full bloom now and, as before, Aiden was reminded of the house where he grew up. Pansies made a splash of color in the railing boxes on the town gazebo, and lily of the valley grew along the stone wall of the old cemetery across the street. The earth was waking up, and suddenly Aiden felt lonely. He reflected on how his life had changed in just a few days. Nothing was the same or, for that matter, could ever be the same again. He was seized with panic. He knew he could never go back to the way he had been before. He could never be the cavalier young man he had been, sleeping indiscriminately with whomever caught his eye. He could never again go back to the carefree days of juggling one, two, three girls at a time, sending them flowers or calling just because of the ego boost it gave him to know how much they wanted his attention.

Aiden ran his hand through his hair. “Shit!” he said out loud. Could he have ever been that shallow? Now, he felt his future was on the line. He knew Jordan loved him; he could feel it every time they were together. But she was stubborn, and she was still punishing herself for her past. If Jordan didn’t give in, if she didn’t capitulate and open herself honestly to their love, they might both end up facing a future marred by an insurmountable void.

“Stewart!” The voice cracked through the morning mist and startled Aiden out of his reverie. He stayed composed, as though he hadn’t heard, and continued to walk down the street. He hadn’t recognized the voice, but he could hear jogging footsteps bearing down on him. The voice barked again. This time he could hear the runner’s breathing. “Stewart! Aiden Stewart!”

Now Aiden turned, slowly, cautiously, but curious to know the owner of the voice. His shock must have shown in his face when he saw who it was.

“Stewart!” said Christopher Fenton again, slowing to a walk as he approached Aiden. “Surprised?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.” Aiden was surprised to see Fenton when he had assumed the man had left the town after he had lost out on the deal with ChatDotCom. Aiden was also surprised at the man’s physical condition. Fenton, dressed in sweat pants and a T-shirt and running shoes, was obviously a fitness enthusiast, his arms and chest characteristic of somebody who spent a fair amount of time in the gym. It was an odd contrast with his thin, pointy face and small features. There was an air of something about the man—Aiden couldn’t quite put his finger on it—that was a little scary.

“Just out for a morning jog,” Fenton said in explanation. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Stewart.” He was grinning broadly.

“What about?” The last thing Aiden wanted to be doing was talking to Christopher Fenton. The man was odious.

“Let’s go get a cup of coffee,” said Fenton. “The Inn is open for breakfast.”

“I just had my coffee,” lied Aiden, wishing he hadn’t abandoned his cup at Jordan’s office.

“Well, then, we can just walk.”

Aiden headed back in the direction of the Inn. “Look, Fenton, I’ve got to book myself a room. With your network, I’m sure you’ve heard that Gene Palmer has died.”

“Yes, I heard. Too bad. Too bad. A real old time entrepreneur.”

“What do you want?” Aiden was beginning to feel irritated.

“It’s simple,” Fenton said. “You and I got off on the wrong foot. We were stupid. We should have done this at the very beginning.”

“Done what?”

“Pooled our resources. Gotten together. Why were we fighting over this company? We should have just joined forces, taken the company over, and spread out from there. Nothing could stop the two of us.”

Aiden couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What are you talking about?” asked Aiden tersely. “Fenton Enterprises never approached Trade Winds. You were willing to do anything to keep us from getting Chat.”

“And that was my mistake,” Fenton replied jovially. “Yes, I do make a mistake here and there.” He laughed at his owned presumed joke.

Aiden felt compelled to get away from him. “And now you want to buy an interest in Chat from Trade Winds, is that it?”

“Well, not exactly,” said Fenton, slowing his pace. “I want you to put me in as CEO of ChatDotCom. I’ll work with no salary until I put the first deal together. I’ll get a percentage of that deal. Then, maybe we can talk salary, you know, after I prove what I can do for the company.”

Aiden could not process what he was hearing. Fenton as CEO? Of Chat? Was the man delusional?

“I know, I know!” declared Fenton with the same odd smile on his face. “Sounds crazy, but listen, there’s a method to my madness.” Aiden really didn’t want to hear any more, but Fenton kept talking, an urgent tone in his voice. “I’ve got two deals all set to go. They revolved around Fenton Enterprises acquiring Chat. Now that the decision has been made to sell to Trade Winds, I wanted you to know. I think we could work a deal that would be beneficial to everyone. I could pull off these deals as CEO of Chat.”

“Jordan Fitzgerald is CEO of ChatDotCom. It’s written into the contract. Besides, Trade Winds has no plans to replace her.”

“You and I both know contracts are meant to be broken, Stewart,” scoffed Fenton. “We could rearrange things so her feathers wouldn’t be ruffled. And then you and I could join forces and get some real business done.”

Aiden felt anger rising in him. “Not an option, Fenton, and need I remind you about how you drugged Jordan Fitzgerald with the pure motive of seeing her undone in the eyes of Trade Winds and Gene Palmer so you could advance your own position? Why would I be interested in any kind of proposal from you?”

“Hey, we’ve all done things we’re not proud of to get what we want. I know you’re, how shall we say, sensitive on the subject of Jordan Fitzgerald, but surely it’s not an insurmountable problem.”

“Fenton, stop right there.” Aiden spoke softly but the warning in his voice was unmistakable. “Leave any talk of Jordan Fitzgerald out of this. She’s not a commodity. She’s the CEO of ChatDotCom, and she’s staying in that position. As for any affiliation between yourself and Trade Winds or Chat, I’m not in favor of it. In fact, I’m going to repeat myself: It’s not an option. And, you seem to forget, Trade Winds doesn’t belong to me anyway. It’s my father’s—lock, stock, and barrel—but I can assure you, he would feel the same.” Aiden would normally find a polite way to cut the conversation short, but any thoughts of politeness were far from his mind. “I don’t know what you’re up to, Fenton, but I’m done here. Trade Winds and ChatDotCom finalized the merger yesterday. We have specific corporate goals and will pursue them. The position of CEO is filled, and there are no other positions open or any plans for negotiations beyond what we’ve already accomplished. Now, I’m going to book myself a room at the Inn and take a shower. Good-bye, Mr. Fenton.”

Fenton’s face flushed angrily, but Aiden turned away, the conversation over as far as he was concerned. “You’ll regret this, Stewart! I’m giving you the chance to get in on the ground floor of a big thing. You’ll regret this!”

Aiden let him have the last word. Without looking back, he walked down the street and up the steps to the lobby of the Inn.

Susan Noyes was behind the desk. She recognized him and smiled. “Mr. Stewart! You’re back. Breakfast?”

“That would be nice, but I need a room first, thank you.” Aiden forced a smile. It wasn’t Susan’s fault that he still carried an uneasy feeling from his conversation with Fenton.

The woman’s face grew sober. “I suppose you’re here because Gene Palmer has died,” she said.

Less than twelve hours, the body hardly cold,
thought Aiden cryptically.
The whole town probably knows. Well, less explaining to do, just like Jordan said
, he thought.

“Yes,” said Aiden, “my company and Mr. Palmer’s company have merged. It’s too bad to have lost him so soon. I’m waiting to hear funeral plans.”