Battling the Billionaire Page 3
“I’m sure getting yourself doused in red paint on the day we celebrated your joining the company made our investors feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” There was just enough humor in Charles’s voice to keep the comment from stinging too much.
Devon looked at the image of himself. “What’s black, white, and red all over? There’s a joke there,” he murmured, fully aware he was the joke.
Charles laughed.
Devon didn’t want to admit it, but he did actually care about what had happened. His mother had burst into tears. And the crazy part was, after his conversation with Winnifred or whatever her name was, he had been ready to go out there and do the right thing, take his place in the company and do the best he could to make Charles proud and continue his father’s good work. She’d inspired him. He’d just realized the importance of his role in all of this. Then she’d made a fool out of him.
He scrolled down further, his gaze lingering on the picture the photographer had stolen in the kitchen. He matched up the flirtatious, coaxing expression on the woman’s face with the conversation they’d been having. He’d been about to give in and tell her who he was. Then it would have gone down the same way, with or without interruptions. But maybe she would have spattered him with red paint right there in the kitchen instead of in front of everyone. That would have been nice.
Charles grabbed the phone back.
“Hey, I haven’t had a chance to read the article.”
“I’ll fill you in. It turns out, you may have inadvertently done something right. The public loves her—a lot more than they love us, since all that bad press started circulating.”
“And?”
Charles gave him a calculating look.
“If you expect me to divine whatever diabolical plan you’ve conjured up simply by reading your expression, I’m afraid we are not that close, Chuck,” Devon said, ending in a sarcastic smile.
“It wasn’t my plan. It was Peyton’s.”
“Even better.”
“Diabolical plans are her wheelhouse. That’s why she’s in PR. Look, I know your dad wasn’t Father of the Year.”
“That’s putting it mildly. Are you going to get to the point?”
“You and I know he gave his best efforts to his work. Now this girl gets to come out looking like a super-hero for slandering his company. The one thing he did right. I’m not going to give you the old do-it-for-the-people-who-depend-on-you speech, but only because I don’t need to. I’ve seen a change in you.”
Devon winced, wondering what that change might be. Even though he’d put on the suit and moved into his father’s office, he never wanted to be like those people at the party and in the countless meetings he now attended, people who only cared about money and appearances.
“Don’t worry, it’s not all bad. I only mean that I admire the way you stepped in and took care of business. It showed not only your sense of duty but that you care about other people.”
“You’re making me blush, Chuck, just spit it out. What do I have to do?”
“Read the comments.”
Devon sighed, knowing Charles would get to the point when he was good and ready, after he’d laid the groundwork so Devon would readily agree to whatever he had to say. And it would work.
He glanced at the phone again, scrolling through comments that attacked his appearance, his morals, his personal hygiene.
“Ouch.”
“Keep scrolling.”
They make a cute couple.
Devon’s eyes widened. Couple?
There’s something real in that pic. Maybe they’ll get together, and change will happen.
Love changes people. Let’s hope Devon Ward grows a heart.
Devon frowned. There was a reason he avoided reading news about himself. He looked up, and Charles was smiling.
Devon cringed. “So you want me to ...”
“Date her, stupid. Let people know you’re not running from the criticism. That you are listening.”
“Oh, no.” Devon shook his head. Charles wasn’t getting his way this time. That woman hated him. She’d made a fool out of him in his own home, with security close by. Who knew what she’d do to him if he showed up with flowers.
“Do you have any better ideas?”
“Not dating a woman who wants to kill me comes to mind.”
“Fine, I’ll give you the old do-it-for-the-people-who-depend-on-you speech. This is a very delicate time. We need to keep this company stable. And I hate to bring up your mother, but I promised your father I’d make sure she was taken care of.”
Devon grunted in disgust.
“I know he wasn’t Husband of the Year, either. But even though his actions didn’t show it, he always loved her. Your mother’s reputation and lifestyle are at stake. I can see the stress affecting her.”
“I’ll be sure to let her plastic surgeon know,” Devon mumbled. He could joke, but using his mom was dirty pool. Charles knew all Devon’s soft spots, and Devon could feel himself being swayed. He’d spent too long running away from his responsibilities. It was time to him to step up and follow in his father’s footsteps, to make sure his mother and his employees and investors were taken care of. But did he have to stoop so low to do it?
“I can see what you’re thinking. You don’t want to use or hurt people to get the job done. You’re not like your dad in that way. Listen, I’m not asking you to break her heart. Just be seen with her a few times, whatever you have to tell her to make that happen. Who knows? Once you speak to her, maybe you’ll be able to find a way to relieve her suffering, just like our company motto says. TrueLife was created to bring relief to the suffering, and peace of mind to their families. That is why your father created this company, after all.”
Devon sighed. Charles’s arguments were stacking up. He didn’t have to confess his undying love to the woman, he just had to find a way to be seen with her. And it seemed to him that speaking to her about her complaints was the right thing to do, anyway. Besides, since their short time together he’d been wondering how he could use the money he’d inherited for something good. Maybe he could start with her, even if she had humiliated him.
“Fine,” Devon said. “I’ll go see her. But first I need to find out the situation with her mother. Pull her files yourself, Chuck, and let me know what happened before you throw me to the wolves ... or wolf.”
Devon remembered the woman’s wispy blonde hair and blue eyes, and the warmth of her laughter. She hadn’t seemed like a wolf then. She’d seemed desperate and afraid. She’d seemed sad. The worst part of Charles’s request was that deep down, Devon knew he very much wanted to see the girl who’d called herself Winnifred again. And there was no way that was going to end well for Devon.
“And find out her name,” Devon said, walking away. “Her real name.”
Chapter 5
Jenna
Jenna shrugged out of her denim jacket as the golden sunlight warmed her through. Her feet felt hot and heavy in her shoes, giving her half-a-mind to remove them as well. The air hadn’t turned cold yet, and yet every so often a breeze came along, lifting her hair and tickling her neck, whispering promises of change.
Jenna could hardly pull herself the four blocks from the bus station to the trailer park. Besides the stressful day at work, she hadn’t slept well after the party. She couldn’t get Devon Ward’s words out of her head. Did he seriously believe in his father’s innocence? In his own innocence? Just a typical rich boy, content to float through his privileged life, oblivious of everything going on in the real world.
At least she could imagine what he’d looked like when the paint had exploded all over his fancy suit and his pretty face.
She had to admit it was a nice face, strong but sympathetic. For a moment, she’d felt like she’d connected with someone who understood her. She’d looked into his golden-brown eyes, and he’d made her feel like it was going to be all right somehow. But it wasn’t real, and remembering the way he’d pretended to be a vuln
erable working-class man stoked the fire that still raged inside her.
When she got home, she was going to check the internet to see if she and Tali had made a splash, a ripple even. If word had gotten out, people who hadn’t even heard about her plight would take a closer look at TrueLife. People would talk, and talk was good.
As she walked through the trailer park, she noticed people staring out windows and clustered in small groups in their tiny yards. They were speaking animatedly, but when she passed, they grew strangely silent, watching her with wide eyes.
Jenna straightened a little, wondering if they were talking about her. But then another thought crept in, causing her to clench her hands together. If her neighbors knew it was her that had crashed Devon’s party, other people might know as well. What would the penalty be for spattering a CEO with paint? Would they send her to jail for assault? Would she have to pay damages? She couldn’t even imagine how many months she’d have to work to pay for that tuxedo.
As much as Jenna wanted to believe it was worth it, she wasn’t so sure. What would happen if she wasn’t around to work, to take care of her mom? She’d been so incredibly stupid. But what was she supposed to do? Attending support meetings and making picket signs wasn’t enough to make change happen, and she’d really believed the whole thing could go down without a hitch.
Jenna walked up the wooden stairs and went inside the trailer, hurrying to her mother’s room to see how she was doing. But she stopped short in the doorway, her chest ready to burst. Her mother’s bed was empty. Jenna gasped for breath, her eyes darting around the room. It wasn’t just the bed. Where were her clothes, her photographs, the piles of books Jenna read to her when they had a rare moment to relax?
Jenna screamed, grabbing the door-frame for support.
Then Gertie’s hand was on her shoulder. “Oh, honey,” she said, wheezing. “I didn’t hear you come in. I just dozed off in the kitchen. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Jenna turned around, wiping hot tears off her cheeks. How could Gertie sleep at a time like this? “Where is she? What happened?” she asked. Her stomach felt heavy with dread as she waited for the answer she didn’t want to hear.
“She’s in a better place.”
Jenna covered her mouth.
“Wait, no—well, yes.” Gertie shook her head in frustration. “They came to get her in a big old Ward limousine. They actually took her to a better place. Said they were going to take good care of her. They even sent someone to get her things for her.”
Jenna’s head buzzed as she walked over to the sofa, which also served as her bed. She plopped down, pressing her palm against her head as if it would help her make sense of this.
“Who took her?”
“TrueLife. Now I never liked that company, but I guess better late than never, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and all that.”
TrueLife? That didn’t make sense. Had their claim finally gone through? Even if that were possible, she couldn’t imagine an insurance company sending a limo to make things all better. And what were the chances they’d step in the day after she’d protested at their big event. Maybe she’d made a bigger impact than she’d thought, and she somehow had the upper hand. Jenna frowned. When did poor people ever have the upper hand against a billion dollar company? Something was up.
“Is she in the hospital?” Her heart raced. “Where can I see her? When are they bringing her back?”
Gertie held a finger up, then hurried to the kitchen. She came back with a huge bouquet of red roses and placed then on the table. “You don’t understand. She’s not coming back. They have some kind of place set up for her. They left an address. I can’t understand it myself but there it is.” She sighed. “I’m happy for her, but I’m sure going to miss her.”
Jenna felt like someone had smacked her upside the head with a bat and left her senseless and stunned. There had to be a catch. Nothing was ever this easy. But she hadn’t been arrested yet, and people didn’t leave flowers if they had it out for you. Did they?
As much as she wanted to, Jenna couldn’t smile and accept the situation when she had no idea what was really going on or what it was going to cost her. She wouldn’t give a sigh of relief until she at least saw her mother’s face, and knew she was okay.
As she stared at the roses, trying to figure out the insurance company’s angle, her eyes settled on a small, white card. She picked it up and opened it.
To Winnifred, the girl with the red shoes.
Jenna crunched the card up in her hand. Devon Ward had figured out who she was and where she lived. Of course he had. He was a freaking billionaire. Whatever was going on, it had to be payback for what she’d done.
“Where’s that address?” she asked.
Gertie looked startled. She handed Jenna another card. “There it is. But they said you were supposed to call that number there and they’d send a car to get you.”
No way she was getting willingly into one of their vehicles. They’d probably take her directly to jail. Jenna looked at the address. It wasn’t a hospital or anything like that. She’d have to look it up. She grabbed her phone and called Tali.
“Tali, I need a ride somewhere. Can you come?”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
Without asking a single question, Tali hung up. Jenna rose from the sofa and drifted over to the front window, peeking around the drawn curtain. Her neighbors were still there, pointing and staring. You’d have thought it was the most exciting event their community had ever witnessed, and that was saying a lot, seeing as how when Mrs. Kirkpatrick had kicked her husband out, he’d actually tried to cut their trailer in half with a chainsaw, insisting he was going to get his half of the assets.
Jenna stood there wringing her hands until finally Tali’s Taurus pulled up. Jenna hurried to give Gertie a hug. “Don’t worry, we’ll get this all figured out.”
Gertie put her hands on Jenna’s cheeks. “I wasn’t worried. This is some kind of miracle. You’ve put out so much good into the world, and some of it is finally coming back to you. Don’t you go mess it up now.”
“Come on, Gertie, that doesn’t sound like me.” Jenna smiled, then hurried out the door to Tali’s car. Gertie’s words bubbled inside Jenna like bitter soda water. She couldn’t mess this up for her mom. But if this was for real, what would TrueLife ask in return? Would she have to take back everything she’d said about their company, and stop trying to help the people they’d wronged? Could she do that? The questions nagged at her as she and Tali got closer to the address on the card.
When they finally pulled up, she and Tali both sat in the car, checking and rechecking the address. They were in a suburb outside the city. The house they were staring at was white, two stories, with a red door and a perfectly manicured lawn. They stepped out of the car and up the walkway, past a narrow bed of chrysanthemums.
“What is this place?” Tali murmured.
“I don’t know. It’s not a care facility, at least I don’t see any signs. It just looks like a neighborhood.”
They knocked on the door. A woman answered. She wore white scrubs and her greying hair was pulled back. She smiled widely when she saw them. “We’ve been waiting for you! Come in.”
Jenna glanced at Tali before they hesitantly stepped inside. “We?”
“Your mother and I. I’m Susan, Anita’s nurse.”
“Her nurse?”
Jenna stepped further into the house, taking in her surroundings. Past the entryway and staircase, there was a kitchen to her right and a living room to her left. The living room had plush, pale-grey carpet, a crisp white sofa, and two cozy yellow armchairs. The kitchen sparkled with granite, white subway tile, and stainless steel, and was warmed with cocoa-stained cabinetry. With the exception of calm music playing, the house was quiet.
“This isn’t like any hospital I’ve ever seen. Where are all the other patients?”
Susan tipped her head. “Other patients? There are no other patients.”
Susan’s brow creased, and she stepped back a little. “Of course, dear.” She pointed to an arched doorway in the living room. “Her bedroom is just through there. On the right.”
Jenna glanced at Tali.
“You go ahead, I’ll just ... check this place out,” Tali said.
Jenna crept forward, her feet sinking into the carpet, which was just as soft as it looked. She paused at the door. This was such a weird situation, and she wasn’t sure what she might find inside.
She tapped lightly, and opened the door. Her eyes fell on a queen-size bed with a tufted headboard and thick blankets. Light fell through sheer curtains on several large windows. The colors were restful, the design impeccable. But the most incredible sight was her mother, sitting up in bed, reading a book, and smiling.
“You made it,” her mother said, her blue eyes bulging. “You won’t believe this book I’m reading. The woman hires a nanny who tries to steal her life. It’s very exciting.”
Jenna laughed, coming closer. After all this excitement she was going to talk about a book? Then again, her mom hadn’t been able to enjoy a book in a while. Her frustration over her declining health had led to depression, so that even the few things Anita could still do had held little appeal. Jenna’s throat tightened at how normal and happy her mom looked.
“So it’s been a pretty exciting day, huh, Mom?”
“Yeah, can you believe all this?” Anita gestured around her. “They said this is all covered. Apparently I’m taking part in some kind of study or something.” Her eyes bulged again. “They even had a doctor come in here and examine me. He actually gave me something that helped. I haven’t felt this way in a long time. It’s like winning some kind of insurance lottery.”
“I’ll say,” Jenna said, trying to keep the doubt out of her tone.
“I like Susan. She’s the one who lent me this book, the one with the crazy nanny?” Anita held up the book again. “Have you seen your room yet?”