HIM—A Stepbrother Romance: With BONUS NOVELLA: PERSONAL (9 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Kate

I quickly scrambled out of bed in search for the phone that Mr. Fox so kindly packed.

“Where am I? Why am I in here?” Bradley asked softly, sounding hoarse and week. I spun around to see his green eyes blinking back from the sunlight. Oh thank God. I held up my finger and mouthed one second as I swiped answer. It was my mom.

“Kate! Kate! Dear, I’ve been calling you every minute since the phones started working. I was so worried sick that something happened to you and you were on the side of the road frozen to death. Are you still at home? I really wanted you to come with me to my hunkering down party in the city. You would have met some lovely people. You nodded your head and told me you were going to join me but then, wait, is that Bradley I hear in the background?”

“Yes.”

“Why is he asking why is he in a hospital?”

“Because, well, we kind of are.” I cringed, thinking how worried she was about to get.

“Oh, dear God.”

“It’s a long story but I was in prison. Well he was—”

“Prison! What on earth!?” I swear every room in the hallway could hear my mother’s shrill.

“You’ve never done anything wrong in your life! What…what is happening? Am I hearing you correctly? Hello? Kaaaaaate!”

“Mom, you can hear me just fine. You heard me correctly. Bradley was in prison for breaking into the library for some books for me.”

“You can’t just put someone in jail like that. How did they even know he did it?”

“Trust me, I know. It got really bad, too, with some bullying from this sheriff. He has a busted lip and then he had hypothermia.”

“Oh, no, no, no. That Sheriff doesn’t know what he did with this future life. It’s going to be oveeeer. Can you believe that, Victoria? Bradley and my daughter were in that lousy county jail for doing nothing! Now they’re in a hospital and—”

“Mooom! Mom!” I tried to pull her back into our conversation.

“Well, he messed with the wrong people.” I could literally hear my mother’s blood boiling like water in a teakettle. It was about blow up.“ You better believe the world will hear about this. I will make sure everyone knows about this! I—”

Suddenly a smartly-dressed older man burst into the room like he owned the entire hospital. He held a suit and shoes and made a mad dash to the foot of Bradley’s bed.

"Airports are working. We need you now. I have a suit. We have a meeting to be at in ninety minutes before they leave. You better thank your lucky stars for this freak blizzard that prolonged a simple decision that could have been fixed days ago."

“Um, hold on, mom.”

“He’s in a hospital bed. Can’t you see that?” I reprimanded Mr.-Who-The-Hell-Do-You-Think-You-Are.

“We can bring the proper fluids and warming devices. We need him. Now. No more delays. It’s not like he just had heart surgery. And even if he had, we would have wheeled him out just like we did his father a few years ago. That’s how important this meeting is. Billions are at stake. But of course you wouldn’t understand any of that.”

“Bradley?”

He clenched his jaw and a low growl roared in his throat. I’d never heard that from him before. I didn’t know whether to expect to see him shape shift into an angry lion, a hungry wolf or what. But I did know one thing, my heart felt like a deflated balloon. I didn’t want him to leave.

“No, Peter, I think you don’t understand a lot of things. I’m coming. And apologize to my st—to my girlfriend.”

My eyes grew wide, my cheeks flushed.

“Oh, well whatever. She looks a lot like Mrs. Rainshaw’s daughter.”

And just like that, my heart was in my throat as the man I had envisioned cozying up to by a fire, making homemade soup to warm him, the man that was supposed to curl up with me, at home, was being called away.

But oh he called me his girlfriend. So that did a topsy-turvy with my hormones and mood!

“And is she attending the meeting, too?” he asked sarcastically.

“No, you prick. She needs to get back to the city to be with her family.”

“No, I mean in the copter. The Chengs are in there
right now
. She can’t distract the deal.”

“The Chengs are in the copter?”

“You must have really had a few cells freeze over. Yes, the Chengs are in the copter to sign the deal. Their flight is leaving in less than two hours. Which is why you need to put this suit on in less than five minutes.”

He sat up and his hand ran through his hair. I could tell he was dizzy and still not feeling his best. My worried eyes ran to meet the leech’s very own eyes. His jaw clenched and he stood still before he charged toward the bed and helped him up.

“Well, you look like hell. But I suppose you’ll do. Here.” He pressed the suit into his body. The blankets fell at his ankles and I instantly worried about him.

“Mom? Can I call you back? I’m...coming back to the city with Bradley. So there’s no need to send a car for me.”

“With his girlfriend? Why wasn’t she at the funeral?”

“I’ll fill you in later. Look, sorry. I have to grab my books and my bag. I’m sure it will thrill you to pieces to know I have nothing to wear and will need to go shopping.”

I could feel her excitement transmitting all the way through the ice and melting all the snow: shopping!

Even in his weakness, Bradley still looked pretty damn sexy. His hair totally sported that Edward Cullen vampire look that I just loved ever since I first saw the Twilight films. I suddenly became extremely self-conscious of my own attire and all-natural look.

I felt incredibly awkward since, well, I was in lounge clothes that Mr. Fox so kindly brought me so I wouldn’t have to leave Bradley’s side—a black lounge set from BeBe. Although they were cute and high-end, thanks to my ever-so-thoughtful mom who stocked my dresser for me when I came home to lounge, I hadn’t asked Mr. Fox to bring any of my other more suitable clothing for meeting important businessmen.

At least I had my cute Ugg boots and BeBe winter jacket trimmed in faux fur to cover up all that spandex my mother insisted women with a figure should wear. I could hear her
Housewives
tagline in my mind: “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” But she knew my rule of all rules. No real fur. I didn’t care if the Pope would be in attendance or of the Queen of England herself requested me to wear it. I didn’t wear fur.

“Girlfriend, are you afraid of heights?”

Any other question from any other well-dressed man would solicit a smile on my face at the familiar gay-friendly lingo. But this man, Peters, was anything but happy or gay. He acted like he had a gigantic broomstick stuck up his rear.

“You know, I have a name.”

“Well, what is it?”

Right. Well, about that. I bit my lip, a habit I never knew I had until I saw Bradley again this past week. Crap. I didn’t want him to put the pieces together. After all, he did say I looked like Mrs. Rainshaw’s daughter. Of course I sort of looked like her. I
was
her! But today, I had no make-up on; my trademark long locks were pulled up in a high bun. I had my glasses on for reading. I didn’t have the Rainshaw look going on that mother always insisted I sport. I could get away with it.

“Emily. It’s Emily.” I let out a worried breath.

“Well, Emily, do you possess any of those high-end ear speakers that your generation insists on wearing everywhere that you can listen to on our little journey back to the city?” His voice was as dry and monotone as burnt toast in the desert.

“You mean Beats by Dre?”

“Whatever. You’ll need to put them on as soon as we leave this room. Actually, I prefer you do that as soon as possible. And I need to hear the decibel of your jamming music so loud that your entire Soul Cycle class could sweat to it. Capisce? Comprende?”

I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t work out there. That’s so cliché.”

He made me feel so nervous, so scared. He was as intense as that guy on ABC’s
Shark Tank
, the mean one.
Mr. Wonderful
they called him. On that note, “Whatever you say, Mr. Wonderful,” I mumbled, reaching for my earphones to set them on, not caring about any aftermath from his tight lips. I pulled up my playlist and set Kanye West’s
All Day
. I instantly felt the endorphins surge through me. This song helped me get amped to run for miles.

Mr. Wonderful’s lips moved as if speaking to me, but I shrugged my shoulders and pointed to the beats,
I can’t hear you, asshole!
Meanwhile, I gathered my books, my laptop, and files and piled them up in my book bag. I slid my Ugg boots on and wrapped my coat around me.

The bathroom door swung open and I nearly dropped my bag. I went weak in the knees at the sight of him in a suit.

It was such a James Bond moment. That instant transformation of a classic gentleman. Stop everything and stare because honey, he sizzled in a suit. Dang, he sizzled. I was a sucker for suits. I wanted to take him right here right now. The way he ran his hands through his hair. That navy blue pin striped suit that hugged his body so perfectly was about to push me over the edge. No guy had ever made me feel this all worked up before. The white crisp shirt. The red pocket square that commanded a presence, my eyes dropped down to his shiny loafers, and hot damn he was a sight for sore eyes.

He smirked at me as looked at my earphones. He started to walk toward me but Peters put his hands on his shoulders and spun him around to start walking. Mr. Wonderful frantically waved his hands around signifying, “Let’s go! Let’s go! We don’t even have a New York minute.”

And just like any typical New York minutes, it happened and disappeared as fast as fire fly lights in a summer sky. We landed at the private airport and that was my final stop. It was clearly noted and made so obviously clear that where the gentlemen were headed, I was not welcome.

Mother met me and we had lunch in the city while she arranged my travels back to South Africa. I had to get back stat for my defense. There was no way I could wait around no matter how badly I wanted to.

Chapter Seventeen

Bradley

“Yes. I broke into the library on Lincoln street on February 22
nd
to retrieve a few volumes of books that my family needed for a very important matter. It was never my intention to offend anyone. I was going to bring the books back and pay for the window to be fixed.”

“What my client means to say is, as many of you know, the Rainshaws are benefactors to many of the art programs in the Hamptons as well as this library.” He cleared his throat. “He was treated as a barbarian in the 1800s. In the middle of a winter storm, with no heater, he was left without a blanket or any way to keep himself warm, stark naked, and Officer Watson decided to pour a bucket of ice water over my client to taunt him. Oh yes, and it’s on video. Furthermore, he was tripped on the way to his cell, on purpose, where he busted his lip as you can clearly see on his swollen face the abuse he endured. He bled for hours. He laid in a cell for over twelve hours nearly freezing to death. He would have died had Kate Meadows not helped him out of his cell, and if Officer Watson with his courageous help had not driven my client for much-needed care at the hospital. This is not America’s way of doing justice.”

Shutters from dozens of cameras went off in the lull moment.

“Thank you.” I held up my hand wanting to get my point across and not have any more interruptions or political guidance from someone else. I was feeling like a pussy with his words. But he was right, I was treated unfairly, I just didn’t want to look like a wimp, even though technically I could have died no matter how much of a bad ass I tried to be. You can’t fight nature.

Nervous flutters filled my chest at what I would say next, what I really needed to say next.

It’s time, Bradley. Now or never. The whole world is watching. You
know that whole, “my life flashed before my eyes” type of saying? In one very second, I was brought back to my mother passing away and the wish she gave to me.
Remember the Rainshaw value. Remember our integrity. Do what’s right when the time is right.

The words and tender touch of her hand across my forehead, flashed through my memory. I was only ten. But I was wise enough to understand my mothers’ words.

My father had passed and I was the new Rainshaw in charge. And the world was listening right this very second.

“Yes,” I cleared my throat. “My attorney is correct. How I was treated was barbaric. However, I had a lot to think about alone in that cold cell. I had thoughts about the way things have been run in the past and the recent practices that have transpired in the last decade since my grandfather’s death. With the transferring of the estate into my father’s hands, well, it’s no secret that a few practices that were not so friendly to the environment but also ethically questionable happened. But if it’s what I deserve as a small fraction to compensate the injustices this company has partaken of, then I bear it.” The seas of faces were dumbfounded. It was the last thing they expected to hear from me. I could tell by the looks on their faces. Hell, I even surprised myself but it was needed. It was a way to not only show my true colors to the world, but also to her. To Kate. I wanted her to feel secure and safe about the money she would partake of if she chose to be with me. To have me. She was the perfect woman for me to be by my side with her empathy, integrity, and passion. She was the final push to do the right thing. Kate made me want to be the best version of myself that I could be. In fact, I wished she were already here with her arm through my own arm, with her supportive hand on the small of my back. Instead, Larry’s grip was firm on my arm, as tight as the claws of death. “Kid, what are you doing?” He hissed as softly as he could in my ear. Yet the anger was so intense I’m sure the newsroom caught wind of his words.

“I’m not a kid anymore. And my father isn’t alive anymore. We are turning a new leaf with our company and starting now, today, we will end all of our overseas operations and bring every single manufacturing job back here to America. Those businesses that we cannot manufacture, well, we will just have to shut them down. We will no longer waste means and rob children of their youth, such practices that our company has been known to do behind close doors. Moving forward, I will not allow some third party consulting firm to check in and monitor my company that my grandfather built with his own bare hands. Such companies that were known to cut a few corners for greedy stock holders to earn larger Christmas bonuses. Well that ends now. Now.” I felt passion rising in my chest. I felt resilient, strong, like I was making the right decision. “I personally will oversee every operation here in the states and will personally visit each and every operation unannounced whenever I see fit to ensure our company is at the standards of not only morality, but of the highest integrity. You can count on my visit any day or night. There will be no corners cut and we will return to the business ethics and American values that my Grandfather humbly started.”

I held my breath. I knew the media fury was coming. Any second now. There was an excited rumble ranging from eager chatter to whispers and gasps.  Multiple reporters eagerly sought for their voice to be heard by me. There was just one question that sounded like the loudest drum to me.

“Mr. Rainshaw! Are you openly admitting your father was involved in ill practices?” The crowd died down. No doubt they wanted full access to this answer.

“What I am admitting is I have now full access to my company and will oversee everything. Nothing will be hidden and there will no longer be blind eyes turned. Every wrong I’m making right.”

A cocky reported rolled his eyes and sarcastically laughed. “You’re then aware that by the end of this day, your net worth will drop in half? Probably tank. Like you have any idea what to do with a billion-dollar company.” He snickered. “A playboy model who just looks and acts the part,” he murmured under his breath. But I heard it.

It made my blood want to boil at not being taken seriously. But suddenly a fond memory of making shoes with my grandfather as a little boy by working with a leather strap and thread came to my memory like a warm blanket on a cold day. I took a deeper breath and swear I could still smell that fresh leather almost if he were there right now by my side, giving me strength. I’d ignore the haters. Haters always hate. Action is louder than words. I’d just have to show them I meant business. And they hadn’t and wouldn’t see the last of me.

“It’s time to return to honest manufacturing, getting back to the root of things. And frankly, I don’t give a damn if stock plummets. It’s time to build a new foundation in Rainshaw enterprises. That will be all.”

“Mr Rainshaw!”

“Bradley!”