Trigger (11 page)

“What kind of things will we talk about?”

“We’ll talk about you and me. How I feel about you
and how you feel about me. We can talk about sex. What we like to
do or don’t like and what we expect from being together.”

“Then will we make love?” If this were a business
meeting, she would have already made moves to thank him for his
time and prepare to leave. She had always been quick to realize
when a prospect wasn’t interested in her pitch. If he didn’t want
to be blunt he would usually be vague and talk in circles and
generalities and ooze with nice. Just like Steven is doing now.

But this is Steven. He’d always been straight with
her. She believed he always did what he thought was best for her.
Those words he spoke just a few minutes ago about bringing life
back to him. Could she have misunderstood his words or his physical
his reaction to her? They were wonderful words that she never
believed she’d hear spoken to her.

“If I can control myself we will not make love nor
will we have sex.”

“There’s a difference?”

“You have sex with a hooker. You make love to your
wife.”

“Oh. I’m not a hooker, Steven.”

“I know that Judy and that’s why I won’t make love
to you, until we both decide what kind of relationship we want from
each other.”

“But what if I want you and you don’t want me. What
will happen?” Judy is uncomfortable with Steven for the first time
and very confused. Is he trying side step the pass she made at him?
No! Steven wouldn’t do that. No way. He’d tell her straight out if
she was way off base or out of line.

“Go to work Judy. Work is good for you.”

Steven stands up and holds out his hand. She puts
her hand in his, he pulls her up and into his arms and into a kiss
that makes her legs feel weak and her belly ache.

“I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with
you.”

Steven takes her hand and pulls her outside and to
BB. He opens the door, puts her inside and kisses her lightly.
“Nine o’clock, Judy.”

Starting with Charles,
she decides to go every office to see how they were getting along
and if they have any questions.

“What happened, Miss Mason? We all thought you would
get a kick out of the poster.”

“Charles, I was someone I shouldn’t have been. I
acted out. Steven called it a stunt and said it could have
backfired with grave consequences. This morning facing that photo,
I was embarrassed and ashamed that I let you all down. It felt like
you all were throwing my misbehaving in my face. I promise I will
never to anything like that again.”

“But the phones have been ringing off the hook. Our
customers and associates are pleased that they are working with
you. I haven’t heard one bad comment about you.”

“But they will say it Charles. After all the fuss is
over, they’ll say, ‘You know Miss Mason she was woman who wore a
red dress and carried a gun into the governor’s charity event.”

She sighs deeply and looks at the promising young
man. “I let you down Charles. You trust me to provide you with a
good and stable place to work and help you one step up on your
career. I apologize in advance that I’ve put you in a position
where you will have to either defend me and Stalwart or agree I
acted like a tramp.”

Charles gasps and his eyes fly wide open.

“It will happen, Charles. Just remember what I’ve
said and remember to never make that same mistake yourself.”

Charles opens his mouth and then closes it. And
then, “I thought you looked beautiful, Miss Mason. You set that
event on fire and made every one else look shabby and boring. You
were all anyone was talking about and they all wanted to know you.
You have messages from three people, who want do to business with
you.”

“You were there?”

“Yes. I didn’t approach you because I wanted to
mingle in the background to get feedback. I didn’t hear anything
bad, except for Simon Perry’s father, who raged over your low class
upbringing and impertinent manners.”

She feels her mouth want to drop open. She clenches
her jaw.

“People listened to him, Miss Mason. They didn’t
comment and walked away from him. My opinion is that they liked you
better than they liked him. My perspective is that they admired you
for being beautiful, but more because you never backed down, or
looked upset or out of place. They liked your confidence because
you didn’t flaunt it, Miss Mason. You are smart and intelligent and
determined to build a good business and that’s what they saw. Who
wouldn’t want to be aligned with you?”

“Thank you Charles. I appreciate what you’ve done
and what you said to me. It’s shows loyalty, which every employer
values. It shows foresight, which will take you as far as you want
to go in this world, and it also demonstrates that you are a good
human being and gentleman, which will take you farther.”

She manages a smile. “Brains and deadly handsome,
how many girls handed you their number, Charles?” she laughs

“Two.”

“That’s all? There must have been only bimbos at
that thing.” She’s smiles feeling better that she’s at least
cleared with air with Charles.

“I’m going to make the rounds and then I’ll be in
the office until eight-thirty. Come in when you’re ready to go over
things but I have to leave by eight-thirty. I have a date tonight.”
She hears the excitement in her voice.

“It’s the first date, I’ve ever had. A very nice
man, I’ve known for years. He’s going to make me dinner.”

He looks confused, but nods.

“What?”

“Is it Simon Perry?”

“Good God no! Why would you have thought that?”

“He hung around you all night.”

“The governor asked me the same question. I told him
that Simon and I were competitors and that we like to keep tabs on
each other. He said it was good that I kept my friends close and my
enemies closer.”

He nods, still looking confused.

“What?”

“You have a message from Simon Perry saying that
he’ll pick you up at eight-thirty for your date?”

“I don’t have a date with Simon. Steven Harter, who
owns my boxing club, is who I’m going out with. Simon has asked me
several times over the years and I’ve always told him no, straight
out. I know I’m naïve and inexperienced with the whole relationship
scene, but I’m not that stupid.”

“Do you want me to call him with regrets?”

“I’ll have to think about how to handle this. I
don’t want to rock the boat and have the Wade deal slip out from
under us. The final papers aren’t signed and the checks have not
been delivered. I just wish I knew what his reasoning was for
wanting their companies.

“I danced with him because I wanted to talk to him
about that and dancing with a lot of people around seemed to be the
safest place to do that. When I told him that I thought that he was
doing it only to keep Stalwart from growing he said I was wrong.
The way he said that made me believe him. Or mostly believe him.
Charlotte was supposed to do some research. Has she turned over
anything to you?”

“No ma’am.”

She turns to go to see Charlotte but speaks to
Charles.

“Have you seen any messages where Simon asked me for
a date?”

“No.”

She hands him her cell phone. “Please check that
while I talk with Charlotte.”

“Wait. DeShaun’s been trying to reach you all day.
Maybe . . .”

Fear strikes quick and cold. Oh my God. He’s going
to do it. Simon is going to steal my deal.

“DeShaun?” Her voice sounds frightened even to
her.

“Call you back.” The line goes dead as he hangs up
on her.

Judy picks up the phone on the first ring. “Stalwart
Company.”

“Judy, Simon’s been here all morning. The three of
them – Simon, Wade and Ben have been arguing . . . loudly. Judy, I
think they’re being forced to walk away from your deal. Ben and Mr.
Wade are still in the office. They haven’t even taken lunch.”

“I’m on my way. Don’t let them leave even if you
have to tackle them. I’ll make sure you have a good job and I’ll
pay for your legal defense. Order them lunch. I’ll take it in to
them.”

When she hangs us Charlotte, Franklin and Charles
are staring at her. “Minutes, I have only minutes. What can you
tell me to help me?”

“If Simon’s strong arming them, listen don’t talk.
Be their friend.” Franklin says quickly. “Tell them their check has
been cut, but if it’s not enough you’ll double it.”

I gasp.

“You’ll make it up. You did the numbers.”

Charlotte is twisting her hands and sort of swaying.
“I think it has to do with Simon’s father. My sources say that
Simon isn’t happy about the whole deal. Mr. Perry was shot and
that’s why he’s in a wheelchair and has a whole slew of physical
problems.”

Her gun at the ball was that why he was so
belligerent toward her?

“It’s only gossip, but everyone knows Mr. Shockley’s
wife is the one who shot him. An affair gone wrong maybe, but no
one seems to know for sure. They all covered it up, but Mr.
Shockley’s wife, is Mr. Wade’s sister.”

“Family crap? All this trouble for messy family
business? Hundreds of people’s jobs are at stake!”

“Where is she?”

“She still lives with Mr. Shockley.”

“Where is that?”

“What are you going to do, Judy?” Franklin looks
scared of what she might do.

“Go to the source. Franklin, please get to Shockley
and Wade they’re in Shockley’s office. They haven’t had lunch.
DeShaun is ordering it. You can be their friend and take them lunch
until I get there.”

“Charles, go with Franklin and hang out with
DeShaun. You’ll be able to call me easier than he can. He’s
supposed to be digging into Shockley history, prior to five years
ago.”

She’s ready for out the door when she stops. “When
we were dancing Simon said I was wrong thinking that he didn’t want
Stalwart to be successful. If he was telling the truth, it’s got to
be Wade and Shockley being sold. Not to Stalwart, but to
anyone.

“Obviously, Perry has some kind of controlling
interest in Wade and Shockley and wants to keep it. Why? This
family business shooting thing doesn’t make any sense as a reason.
I’m thinking that it has something to do with why Shockley was in
the red five years ago. He was and then he wasn’t. Now his company
is free and clear. Does that actually happen, Franklin? That quick,
just like that?”

All eyes turn to Franklin. “Investor, selling off
significant assets, a partner dying leaving everything to the
company, lucky at the Black Jack table, yes Judy, it can. But
truthfully it isn’t often.”

“But a new owner would have access to the records --
all the records.” There’s a lengthy pause.

She jerks everyone back. “It’s doesn’t matter to us.
All we want to do is to grow Stalwart. There’s no way we can figure
this out. The only thing we need to do is focus on our goals:
complete the buy of Wade and Shockley’s companies. Other than that
we are not concerned.”

“Stall, Franklin, if it gets scary hit them with the
the five-year thing and tell them we are only interested in their
records for the last five years. Tell them that they owe me the
courtesy of telling me to my face and that I’ll be along
shortly.”

“Where are you going?”

“The source.”

Twenty minutes later
she’s standing at the front door of the most beautiful house Judy
has ever seen. It’s straight out of pre-civil war plantation glory.
Tall white columns, huge porch, flowers, trees, walkways, it’s
breathtaking. She knocks with the lion’s huge chin. She can hear it
echo inside the house, wondering what it would be like to live in a
place like this. A lot better than her one room flat, she laughs
and can’t help it.

The door opens and she’s still grinning and now at a
man with Clarence’s body, who’s stuffed into a tux. That’s funnier
yet.

“Avon calling.” Pops out of her mouth.

The huge man frowns.

“I’m sorry. I’m not with Avon; it was just a . . .
private joke.”

The man still hasn’t changed expression. “I’ve come
to see Mr. Perry. He was supposed to see me at eight-thirty, but I
had to come early,” she lies. If called on it, she can always say
she was confused with which Simon Perry. “Can you please tell him
I’m here now?” He backs up and Judy walks in.

“Your name.”

“Judy Mason and please tell him that I’m not wearing
my gun.”

His eyebrow twitches.

“Don’t worry, he’ll understand.”

Judy could see Simon growing up in this house. His
style and swagger would have would have naturally evolved by the
time he could walk living in a place like this.

She wonders if he ever slid down the long curved
banister, or ran through these enormous high-ceiling rooms
hollering for his mother or playing hide and seek with
siblings.

She doesn’t remember hearing or reading about
Simon’s brothers or sisters, maybe he’s an only child. It would be
a shame if only one child had access to all this space. It would be
lonely instead of fun.

“Miss Mason, Mr. Perry said he would rather die than
see you. Follow me please.”

She needs a distraction to process. “Excuse me, but
do you know Clarence Davis?”

The hulk of a man turns quickly to face her. She
reactively takes a step back.

“He’s my twin brother.”

“Clarence taught me to dance, so I could dance with
the governor. He and I workout at the same club. I met your nephew
John. He looks very much like you and Clarence.”

“Yes ma’am I know and that’s why I’m going to let
you see Mr. Perry, even though I’m was told not to let you in.”

“It’s Judy and please, I don’t want to get you in
trouble.”

“No ma’am. It’s no trouble.”

“What’s your name?”