Saved by the Rancher (38 page)

“You’re wrong. It will be hard for people to forget those pictures, and you know it. You’ll find your name isn’t on so many dinner invitations. You’ll still be rich, of course, but let’s face it, the way you live, even that won’t last. That pretty new wife of yours might decide being married to you is too great a risk to her health. Or has she already found out what it’s like to be David Merrick’s wife? Tell me, do you allow her to speak with her friends and family? Do you slap her after a dinner party because she’s spoken to another man? Maybe you throw her down the stairs because you think she’s having an affair with a man she doesn’t even know!” Jenna screamed at him.

Marion wept openly and Nathan sat stone silent glaring at his son. Charles simply shook his head in dismay. David was furious, but wise enough to remain seated this time.

“Is that how you treat her? If she leaves you, will you hunt her like you’ve hunted me all these years? Will you take a belt and beat her because she refuses to come back to you? Maybe you’ll take her from her home and into the woods where you’ll stab her and leave her alone to die. Is that how you’ll treat your new wife? Will you tell her you love her, and you can’t live without her, and then slap her with your next breath?”

“Shut up! Just shut up!”

“No. You’ll listen to what I have to say. After today everyone will know what you are, David. They’ll all know the kind of monster you are.” Her voice cracked, but she’d gotten her point across. Each word she spoke put another nail in David’s coffin.

“You can’t do this. I’ll sue you for everything you have. I’ll make you pay.”

She had no doubt, given half a chance, he’d kill her the first chance he got. This time he’d make it slow and painful to the bitter end.

“You and I both know you can, but you won’t win. It’ll just be a huge waste of money. If my research on you is correct, I’ve got more than you do. So don’t waste your time, or mine.”

“You checked into my finances. What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t do that.”

“Yes, I can. One of the first rules of war, and business, is know your enemy. I know everything there is to know about you, David. I know exactly what makes you tick. And now I’m going to use all of what I know against you.”

“What more can you do? So the article comes out. I’ll get past that.”

Jenna took out two stacks of papers from her briefcase and walked around the table again. This time David followed her progress turning to face her as she passed. She held her ground, counting on Cameron and the men guarding her to protect her, should David make a grab for her. She handed the papers to Charles and returned to her position at the other end of the table.

She waited for Charles to review the papers and look up at her. He did so with eyes resigned to the inevitable. He understood he’d just lost his company to her because of David.

“I’m sorry, Charles. This has nothing to do with you. I wanted to wait until after you’d retired to see it through. As you can see by the newspaper and my appearance today, David has made that impossible. It has to end—now.”

“Nothing I can do, David’s been battling you for years. You’ve found a way to win the war. As a business strategist, I tip my hat to you. You’ve outflanked us all, especially David. I’m ready to retire and live a life of leisure. At least, I know the company will be in good hands—yours. Go ahead. Make your announcement.”

She placed her hands on the table, leaned toward David, locked eyes with him, and fired her death shot. “I hold controlling interest in Merrick International. You’re fired.”

David stood and planted his hands on the table, mimicking her. “What? You can’t possibly own that much of the company. Between my shares, grandfather’s, and my parents’, we hold controlling interest collectively. You can’t fire me.”

“Yes, I do. And I can. You’ve spent the last few years hunting me. I’ve spent that time making money and buying shares of Merrick stock. Your goal was to stalk me and terrorize me. My goal was to destroy you. Now I have, both publicly and privately. I own controlling interest in Merrick, and as such, I
can
fire you.”

“A Merrick has run this company for more than eighty years. You can’t do this. I’m taking over when grandfather retires at the end of the year and that’s final. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

“David, sit down. She’s already done it. The papers are in order. She owns majority share, and therefore she’s CEO of the company now.”

“Charles, you understand why I’ve done this. The only way to get to David was to take away the only thing he has and held over me—the company.”

Charles nodded, a frown deepening the lines on his face.

“She can’t do this, Grandfather. You’re CEO. No one can vote you out.”

“You forget the charter for the board of directors, David.” Jenna gained his full attention. “Majority owner is CEO by default. Also, there’s something else you’ve neglected to remember, or maybe it’s that you’re so arrogant you simply believe you can make the rules up as you go. The charter also states that as majority owner, the CEO appoints the board members. While the Merricks collectively have always held majority share, that rule worked out great for you. Now that I have majority ownership, it works against you. As of this moment, everyone at this table with the last name Merrick is relieved of their duties on the board.”

“What the hell are you talking about? This is Merrick International and the Merricks run this company.”

“Keep up, David. I run this company now. The Merricks no longer sit on the board. Charles, as of this moment you are retired and will receive your full benefits package. Mr. and Mrs. Merrick, you only serve on the board as figureheads and don’t actually contribute to the running of the business. I’m sorry to do this, but I feel it’s in the best interest of the company to replace you with board members who will work toward expanding this company. David, like I said, you’re fired. You won’t run Merrick International, either on this board or in any other capacity.”

Finally sinking in for David, he simply stared at the table, his face red with fury, his hands fisted. An animal tensing, ready to pounce.

“Mr. Jamison. Mr. Richards. It would please me very much if you’d remain on the board. I believe that together we can work toward our common goals. Mr. Shaw has told me a lot about the both of you, and I feel we could make a good team.”

Both a little shell-shocked, they agreed to stay on.

“You can’t really mean to run this company. You have absolutely no business skills.”

“David, are you really this stupid? I have a degree in computer graphics and programming. I’ve taken over your company without you, or this company, being any the wiser. You’re right, though. I’m not going to run this company. I’m appointing Cameron Shaw as president. He’ll take over running the company immediately. I’m also changing the charter for the board, so this kind of thing won’t happen again. In the future, majority holder will need a majority vote from the board of directors to earn the CEO position. They’ll have a seat on the board, but they need to be voted in as CEO. So if you think you and your family can pull your resources and gain back the majority and the company, you’re wrong. By the looks of your parents and grandfather, I’d say you’d have a hard time convincing them to back you.”

“I’ll make you regret this.”

She recognized the menacing tone. One he knew she’d understand from their many past encounters.

“Watch what you say. We’re surrounded by witnesses. You’ve dug this hole for yourself and taken all of your family down with you. Don’t make this any worse. For yourself or them.”

Nathan Merrick, with no choice but to accept the inevitable, stood with his wife, came around the table and stopped in front of her. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but having them embraced her was not what she’d anticipated.

“I’m sorry we didn’t help you. I’m sorry we didn’t know what’s happened ever since. We . . . I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.” Nathan’s stoic face transformed into a mask of disappointment and regret.

“There’s nothing to say. I don’t blame you. David’s the only one responsible.”

They walked from the room without looking back at their son.

Charles stood and came to her next, holding the documents she’d given to him. “I’ll clear my office in a few days. I think I’ll take a long overdue vacation, someplace warm. I’ve been meaning to do some fishing.”

“That sounds wonderful. Enjoy your retirement, Charles. You’ve served this business gallantly. I only hope Cameron and I can carry on in the same professional and respectful manner with which you’ve always conducted yourself.”

“I have no doubt you’ll handle things. You made a wise choice in Cameron. To tell you the truth, in other circumstances, he’d be my first choice as well.” Charles nodded his approval to Cameron with a satisfied grin.

“I thought you’d see it that way.” She smiled softly for him. She’d always liked Charles.

“You’re a very brilliant woman. I’m sorry I didn’t see that before and use it to my advantage.” He gave her a smile and a hug. “I am sorry. I should have realized . . . Well, what is there to say now, but it shouldn’t have happened. Take care of yourself and the babies you’re carrying. Perhaps you’ll keep in touch and let me know how you’re doing. Maybe you’ll need my professional opinion and expertise in the future.”

“I’ll be in touch. You can count on it.”

Charles left with Mr. Jamison and Mr. Richards. They were setting up a golf date, if Jenna heard them right. Jenna nodded to Sam and he left the room.

“You’re still here, David? Security will show you out. I’ll have your desk packed up and your things forwarded to you.”

“Do you really think I’ll just walk away from this?”

“You don’t have a choice. It’s done. I’m going home with
Jack.
Cameron and I run the company now. There’s nothing you can do about it. Follow your grandfather’s example and accept defeat like a gentleman.”

“I’ll never accept this. You’ll pay for this, and you know it. You know what I can do to you. What I will do to you.”

“David, go before you make things worse. Jack has sat quietly and patiently, even though he wants to rip you apart. He did that for me. If you don’t go, I’m afraid he won’t be patient much longer. It also appears Cameron would like to have
his
conference room to himself. I think the site of you offends him. It absolutely offends me. You make me sick. I hope you rot in hell for what you’ve done. Once that paper hits the stands, you won’t be able to go anywhere without the press hounding you. Maybe then you’ll know what it feels like to be hunted everywhere you go.”

“I hate you, you bitch. Wait until I get my hands on you. I’ll make you pay.”

She didn’t know what possessed her to keep pushing him, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Come after me and I’ll take away everything you have left. You won’t have a dime to your name when I’m done. Don’t believe me? Well, I took the company. That should tell you what
I’m
capable of.

“By the way, I spoke with your wife this morning. She wasn’t very pleased by the newspaper left on her doorstep. I believe she mentioned something about moving back to her parents’ estate. She also mentioned something about marrying a monster. I told her she had my sympathies.”

He tried to go after her, but Cameron and Jack blocked him from her just as Sam and two security guards walked into the room. Her bodyguards took up positions around her. Jack shoved David back. “Don’t even think about it.” The tightly controlled words conveyed his pent-up rage.

Sam grabbed David by the arm. “Let’s go.” With the security guards, he led David to the door, screaming and threatening retribution all the way down the hall to his office.

Chapter Fifty-Eight

“T
HANK YOU, GUYS.
That was close. I thought for sure he’d take a swing at me.” Jenna took a deep breath and tried to settle her nerves. All this stress couldn’t be good for her and the babies.

“He won’t get anywhere near you.” Jack gave her a reassuring smile, cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “I’m so proud of you. You stood up to David and took over the company. You amaze me.”

“Thank you, honey. I couldn’t have done this without you. I wouldn’t have wanted to.” She closed the distance and brushed her lips against his. A simple touch, it calmed and centered her again.

Sam came back and took his position by the conference room door while Jenna and Cameron gathered their papers and got ready to leave.

“Cameron, I want to thank you for your support and all the long nights you’re about to put in. Make me a list of potential board members and we’ll go over them. Let me know what kind of upper management changes you want to make, and who you want to move over here from Ortel. I’ve prepared a press release. Take a look at it, then send it out. We’ll get started on Monday via telephone and go from there.”

“I’ll do all that, but first I want to say congratulations. You did it. I can’t believe all those things you said about David and what he’s done to you.”

“I have twenty-seven stitches across my ribcage to prove it. They’re not as nice as the ones Jack put in my thigh several months ago, but they’ll do.” She smiled at Jack. “Let’s go home. I’m tired. It’s been a busy day and these babies are hungry.”

Jack gave her a huge smile. “Oh, yeah. What do they want to eat? I’ll call the pilot and have him get dinner ready for us.”

“Not airport food. This calls for a celebration. I want cake or pie. Ooh, ice cream. Chocolate.”

“Sounds like the babies need a sugar rush,” Jack teased. He kissed her softly and patted her belly.

“Cameron, will you join us?” Jenna asked.

“I’d love to. I know this great place. Best bakery in town. Lines out the door. It’s called Decadence. I think we deserve a little indulgence after such a boring board meeting,” he joked. “You’ll love it. We’ll grab a bottle of champagne from the limo and celebrate.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine

D
AVID SEETHED WHEN
security escorted him out of the boardroom. This was his company, his building. These people worked for him.