Ruthless (6 page)
Authors: Shelia M. Goss
Chapter 10
David was surprised to hear Sheba's voice on the other end. She got on David's case about sending her husband out of the country. “Sheba, I thought you would be glad that I was giving your husband an opportunity to make more money.”
“But did you have to send him to Afghanistan? Don't you have another office you want to open up in New York or somewhere? Anywhere but Afghanistan.”
David doodled on the notepad in front of him. Did he want this woman so bad that he was sending her husband into enemy territory? If he were truthful, the answer would be yes. Simon was more than capable of handling business there without any assistance. All he had to do was make a phone call and Uriah would not be going anywhere.
“Sheba, this is nothing personal. It's business,” he lied. David heard Uriah's voice in the background.
Sheba said, “Here's Uriah. You owe me.”
“I plan to pay up, too,” David said mischievously right before Uriah got on the phone. He spent the next few minutes following up with Uriah about some plans of his that he wanted to see implemented when he got there. “If you have any questions, I'm only a phone call away,” David said.
“Mr. King, thank you again for this opportunity.”
“No problem. When you come back, I may end up losing you to another company, because you'll be able to demand your price.” David laughed.
“Mr. King, I'm loyal to you. You don't have to worry about me leaving to go anywhere else,” Uriah assured him.
“That's good to hear. I'll talk to you once you get settled in Afghanistan.”
David ended his call with Uriah. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. Psalm 69:5 crept into David's mind.
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
David could pretend with Nathan, but he knew God knew everything. Even though he knew it was wrong to send Uriah away, David pushed the thoughts of canceling Uriah's trip to the back of his mind.
What's done is done.
What's done is done.
Trisha chimed in on the phone. “You have a call from NBN News. There's been a leak about your deal in Hong Kong.”
“Tell them I'm in a meeting, and then get Wade in here pronto.” David hit a button under his desk, unlocking his door.
A few minutes later Wade walked in, looking flustered. “Trisha told me.”
“Who let this leak? Some heads are about to roll.”
“Mr. King, the leak didn't come from my office. I promise you that. I've been handling this directly myself.”
“Now that it's being leaked, I have no choice but to make an official announcement.” David hit the intercom button on his phone. “Trisha, I need you to work with Wade and get a press release typed up.”
“This trade agreement between us and the news affiliate in Hong Kong isn't such a bad thing,” Wade said, trying to assure him.
“No, it isn't, but I decide when news is told. We have a leak in-house, and I need to find out who. When I do, he or she better hope I show mercy.”
Two hours later David had to exit his own building by the back door because reporters were camped out in front. David enjoyed the riches of his success but hated some of the things that came along with his rise to power. Not having privacy and being hounded by nosy reporters were among them.
He also hated to be called the black Trump. He was his own man. If anything, he wanted them to call him a man of God. That was who he was imaged after. Not some man who happened to catch a lucky break and make millions.
David's driver eased through the alleyway and out into the Dallas traffic. He had eluded the reporters, and David was happy to have avoided them once again. He had a dinner function to attend later on that night. It would give Wade time to prepare a statement and send it out to the press.
He dialed Wade's cell phone number. “Wade, how's that press release coming?” he asked as he flipped through a business proposal he wanted to go over before Monday.
“I just e-mailed it to you. I'm waiting on your approval, and then I'll get it out to everyone,” Wade said.
“Great. Hold on.” David downloaded the press release while Wade was on the phone. He read it. “Sounds good. Send it.”
David was home only long enough to shower and dress. His three-piece, custom-made suit fit his body perfectly. He called his date for the night, Heather, to let her know he was on his way to pick her up.
David made a few phone calls while his driver drove to pick up Heather. He was still on the phone when they pulled up to her address. He sent the driver to her door. He could tell by the frown on her face that she wasn't too happy about it. His eyes scanned her body and hoped that he could replace her frown with a smile later that night.
David ended the call. “Heather, thanks for agreeing to be my date tonight.”
“I want you to know that I'm tired of being your arm candy. When are we going to take our relationship to another level?” Heather asked and then rambled on and on.
David thought about the rise of his stock with the news of his new Hong Kong deal. He thought about how Heather would look naked but snapped out of those thoughts when he heard his name called several times.
Looking irritated, Heather said, “Wipe that smirk off your face. I swear you have a one-track mind.”
“I'm guilty as charged,” David said. David loved the Lord, indeed, but had never professed to be a saint. Women were his weakness.
“If I didn't want to see my picture in the paper tomorrow, I would tell your driver to take me back home,” she announced.
“If I didn't want to be seen with the prettiest woman in Dallas, I would tell my driver to take you back home,” David said.
David knew flattering Heather would work. She had to be one of the vainest women he knew. That was another reason why she could never be more to him than the role she now played: eye candy and an arm piece for when he needed a date to events such as these.
She had a reputation of being a gold digger, but she would never get her claws on his money. He had two ex-wives and was not really looking for a third. Sheba's face appeared in his mind out of nowhere. No matter how much he tried, thoughts of Sheba crept into his mind.
“Maybe you can make up for being rude to me. You could buy me that new sports car I want,” Heather said.
“We'll see,” David responded. After tonight, Heather's number would be deleted from his phone contacts. She was becoming too needy and clingy. If she waited on him to buy her a car, she would be waiting a very long time.
Chapter 11
The day after Uriah's big announcement, Sheba insisted that he go with her to meet her sister. Uriah wasn't too enthused about going, though.
“You're going to be gone for six months. I want her to meet my husband.” Sheba knew throwing on the guilt would make him do what she asked.
They walked through the hospital doors together. Delilah had been moved off the critical list, so she was now in her own private hospital room.
“I told you I was coming back,” Sheba said as she and Uriah entered the hospital room.
“So what you said yesterday wasn't a dream?” Delilah asked. The tubes were no longer in her, except for an IV, but her face was still swollen, and a bandage was still wrapped around her head.
“I'm afraid not. We're sisters.”
Uriah cleared his throat a few times.
Sheba said, “Delilah, I want you to meet my husband, Uriah.”
“You are what?” Delilah asked as she tilted the bed upward with the control button.
“It's Uriah,” he said as they approached the bed.
“I can barely 'member Bathsheba,” Delilah snapped.
Uriah eased away from the bed and took a seat.
Sheba said, “Call me Sheba. Everybody else does.” Sheba sat in the chair near the bed.
“This medicine is wearing off, so my senses are coming back to me. Explain to me how we're sisters. This is a little overwhelming, to say the least.”
Uriah said, “Maybe this isn't a good time. Sheba, the woman is trying to recover from a gunshot wound. Give her some time to heal.”
“I'm recovering,” Delilah said. “But I want to know. She can't just drop this news on me and then not give me details.”
“She's right,” Sheba interjected. “I need to tell her what I know so she'll understand how I know we're sisters.”
“That still remains to be confirmed,” Uriah said.
Delilah stared at Uriah. In a sarcastic manner, she said, “You don't know me, and you don't like me already. Brother-in-law, don't be like that.”
This was not going the way Sheba had hoped it would go. She said, “I'll tell you what I know.”
Delilah's eyes were now back on Sheba's.
Uriah shifted in his seat. “Maybe, I should leave.”
“No, baby. I want you to stay,” Sheba said to her husband. She proceeded to tell Delilah the story of how she had ended up being separated from their mother. “Our mother had to give you up for adoption because our grandparents wouldn't let her keep you.”
“But she kept you,” Delilah snapped.
“By the time she had me, she was living on her own. She had you at fourteen and me at seventeen.”
“But she should have left. She didn't have to give me up. I never got adopted. I went from foster home to foster home. In fact, I was told my mama was dead. The woman who I thought was my mama wasn't my mother, after all.” Delilah's eyes teared up.
Sheba reached out to her and squeezed her hand. “I wished things could have turned out differently for you. Our mother did try to find you, but the social workers she contacted wouldn't give her any information. She even put her information out on this Web site so if you were to ever come looking for her, you would be able to find her.”
“But I didn't know she was my mother. How could this be? My whole life has been one big lie.”
Sheba could see the pain in Delilah's eyes. She wished she could erase it. All she could do was help her get through this. “I didn't mean to make you upset. Maybe we should continue this conversation another time.”
Delilah snapped, “Maybe we should. I'm kind of tired right now.” Delilah closed her eyes and didn't open them back up.
Uriah stood up and then motioned for Sheba to follow suit. She remained seated. Uriah tilted his head toward the door.
Sheba finally took the hint and stood up. “Delilah, I'll be back. You're not going to get rid of me that easy. We're family. And we're going to get through this together. We're all each other has.”
She heard Delilah mumble something under her breath, but couldn't make out the words.
She and Uriah exited the hospital. As soon as they were in the car, Sheba went off on him. “You could have been nicer to her.”
“I was nice. She's the one who got on the defensive.”
“She's been unconscious. What do you expect? Then I drop the news on her that we're sisters. Come on, Uriah. I've never known you to be heartless.” Sheba couldn't stand to look at Uriah right now, so she looked out the window as he drove.
“What do you want for dinner?” he asked.
She ignored him.
“Baby, let's not play the silent game. I will be leaving the country soon. Let's not fight.”
Sheba knew he had a point. She loved Uriah but couldn't understand why he couldn't show the same compassion as she did when it concerned Delilah. She would try to forget what had happened back at the hospital. They had only two more days together, and they would make the best of it.
Sheba took his hand, and their fingers interlocked. “Love you, even though you can be stubborn,” Sheba said.
“Don't mean to be. I just don't want you to end up hurt.”
“I won't be. I promise you that,” she responded. She squeezed his hand.
He pulled their hands up and turned hers over and kissed the back of it. “I'm going to miss you so much.”
“I'm going to miss you, too.” Sheba turned her head away so Uriah couldn't see the tears flowing down her face. She used her free hand to wipe them away.
She didn't want to admit it to Uriah, but she was scared. She was scared that if he went to Afghanistan, she might never see him again. Right now she blamed one person, and that person was David King. She had convinced Uriah not to join the military years ago, but for what? He was still being deployed overseas in a sense. The next time she saw David, she vowed to tell him a thing or two about himself.
Chapter 12
David decided to take an impromptu trip to the Horseshoe Casino in Shreveport. Although he hadn't decided whether or not he would spend the night, he rented one of the executive suites to change his clothes in.
He had planned on calling Uriah to make sure he had everything he needed for his trip, but instead, he opted not to. While relaxing before going to the hotel's casino, he picked up the local paper. One of the articles caught his attention.
Police are still trying to find the suspect who shot Delilah Baker. If you have any information on who committed this crime, please contact Crime Stoppers.
David picked up his cell phone and called his driver. “There's been a change of plans. I need you to meet me back up front.”
An hour later David's driver dropped him off at the hospital. David went to the ICU but learned that Delilah had been moved to a private room. Upon arriving at her room, he caught the tail end of a conversation.
A woman dressed in burgundy hospital scrubs said, “Ma'am, we're sorry, but the insurance you had is no longer valid. We're going to need to move you to another room.”
“But I've been paying my insurance. I worked for William Trusts Company,” Delilah responded. “I'm no longer working there, but my insurance should still be good.”
“Ms. Baker, if you had signed up with COBRA, then we could keep you in this private room, but because you didn't, we will need to move you.”
David made himself known. “Ms...” He squinted his eyes to read her name badge. “Ms. Lindsay, I'll take care of her bill.”
“Who are you?” Delilah asked.
“I'm King. David King,” David told Delilah, then turned his attention to the hospital administrator. “I'll take care of all her charges.”
Delilah eyed him curiously.
David gave the hospital administrator all the information she needed. She felt very satisfied because she couldn't believe that David King, the media mogul, was talking to her. “Can I have your autograph? My friends will never believe this.”
“You can, but on one condition,” he said.
“Anything,” she replied.
“It must not become public knowledge that I'm taking care of her bill.”
“Of course. We here keep everything under strict confidentiality,” she assured him.
David knew about the HIPAA law, but he also knew people. Laws were meant to be broken, or else folks wouldn't break them.
David wrote something special on a blank sheet of paper and signed it. “Just in case your friends don't believe you, I'll give you one of my business cards.” He handed her one of his gold-trimmed business cards, which contained only his office information.
“Wow. Thanks, Mr. King,” the hospital administrator said.
“It's David. Now, remember, this is between me, you, and Ms. Delilah over there.” He nodded toward Delilah.
“Yes, sir. My lips are sealed. Thanks again.”
David, assured that for now his secret was safe, held the door open for her. After she was gone, he walked over to Delilah's bed and took a seat. “No need to thank me,” he said.
“Why did you do that? You don't know me,” Delilah said.
“Not yet. But hopefully, we'll get to know each other better.”
“No one has ever put themselves out there like that for me.” Delilah seemed stunned.
“You didn't ask to be in this situation. I don't see why you shouldn't be afforded the best health care.”
“Don't get me started. I have money in the bank, but the time I've spent in here is going to wipe that clean. I don't know how I'll ever repay you,” Delilah said.
That was the opening David had been waiting for. “Actually, I do. I need a favor. And you're the only one who can help me.”
“From me?” Delilah pointed at herself. “I don't know you. I know who you are. You're David King, but I don't know you. How can I help you?”
“I was here the night you came to. The night Sheba told you she was your sister.”
“You're Bathsheba's husband. Wait a minute. The man she introduced me to was named Ur something. I would have remembered if it was you.”
David laughed. “Her husband's name is Uriah. I'm their friend.”
“Okay. Fine. Now that's been established. How can I help you?”
“You're feisty, aren't you?” David asked. His eyes sparkled.
“That's one word to describe me,” she responded.
“I can trust you, can't I?” David asked.
“It depends. What am I going to get out of it?” Delilah asked.
“I think a paid hospital bill is a good down payment on more to come, if need be.” David eased his chair closer to the bed.
“Spell it out. A man like you comes to a woman like me only for one reason. Being that I'm not looking my best and I am not in the best of shape right now, I don't think sex is what's on your mind.”
David could tell that Delilah and Sheba were cut from the same cloth. Although Sheba wasn't as brazen as Delilah, they were definitely sisters. Both spoke their mind. He admired that in a woman. He didn't like women who bowed down to his every command. Well, he did, but sometimes he welcomed a challenge.
“Delilah, you and I can be the best of friends.”
“I have very few friends, Mr. King.”
“Forget the formalities. I think we're way past that, so call me David.”
“David, one thing I've learned since being shot is that life is precious. Time is precious. So spill it out. Tell me exactly what you want from me.”
“I want you to convince your sister to give me a chance. I want her and need her in my life.” There. He'd said it
.
David had actually let someone else in on his plan.
.
David had actually let someone else in on his plan.
Delilah shook her head. “Let me get this straight. You just told me they were your friends, but now you want me to convince my married sister to give you a chance?”
“That doesn't sound right coming out of your mouth, but I guess if that's how you want to look at it, then yes, that's what I want you to do.”
Delilah laughed. “You're telling me that multimillionaireâcorrection, Mr. Billionaire David Kingâneeds my help to get a woman. Please. With all the cheddar you got, you can get any woman.”
“Any woman, except for Sheba,” David confessed.
Delilah thought for a minute. “Who knows? I might be able to help you out,” Delilah said as a sly grin came across her face.
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