Chapter 10: Chapter Ten
Kennedi entered the office and waved a quick good morning to Erica seated at the front desk, on her way to her father’s office. She approached the glass wall partition and paused.
There, on the other side with Richard, stood Trenton Shaw, dressed impeccably as always with one hand in the front pocket of slacks fitting exceptionally well along his tall, broad frame, and the other holding that now familiar black leather portfolio. His attention slid away from Richard’s yammering to her, and like before, that unusual feeling stirred in her chest. She could barely breathe. In that moment, his stare bore deep where she dared not let him in.
She stepped inside. “Richard, I appreciate you once again keeping Mr. Shaw occupied.”
“No problem. We were just talking sports. Nothing, I’m sure, you’d be interested in, like swapping cake recipes,” Richard said with a laugh.
Kennedi drew back slightly at the offhanded slap, then smiled at the man before addressing Trenton. “Mr. Shaw, having come from Nevada, is it safe to assume you’re a Golden Knights fan?”
“I’m originally from D.C. but there’s some West Coast love too.”
She nodded. “Do you think the Knights will match up well against the Caps if they meet in the Stanley Cup final this year? Rookie Cody Glass and obviously William Karlson are tearing it up right now. But you know, the Caps did wipe their asses on the ice last year.”
Trenton’s lip twitched. “I think the roster the Knights have now will keep the Caps on their toes.”
Kennedi nodded again and turned back to Richard who stared back at her, slack-jawed. “I intended for us to talk the other day, but I got sidetracked. Let’s meet after my meeting with Mr. Shaw.”
Richard blinked and looked between her and Trenton. “I, uh…”
His pause stretched long enough that even Trenton seemed to shift his weight from right foot to left in impatience. “Later, then,” Kennedi said when Richard didn’t move. Finally, he trudged off.
She gave a glance at a grinning Audrey a short distance away playing witness, before turning back to Trenton and gesturing toward her father’s office. Entering, she closed the door and made her way over to the chair behind the desk. Trenton took the seat he’d been in the last time they’d met, their setup the same as before.
Hands clasped upon the desk, she sat forward, and the recognizable scent of his cologne filled her nose. Damn if he doesn’t smell good. She took a long-drawn quiet inhale. “Mr. Shaw, I have to admit I’m surprised to see you. So, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I like that you see my visit as pleasurable, considering how we left things the last time we were together. Though I prefer to think about our kiss.” His tone was a silky taunt. “Or more to the point, I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Instinctively, she moistened her lips, unable to recall the last time a mere kiss left her wet between her legs. “A figure of speech. Pleasurable and you in the same sentence would be a stretch.” Don’t push his buttons. You need to seal a deal with this man. She sat up. “Things between us got hot—” Damn it, that didn’t come out right.
“They certainly did.” He lifted a dark brow in that intentionally goading way he tended toward.
“I meant I didn’t consider your offer rationally during our last meeting.”
“I’ll admit I didn’t present my offer in the most agreeable way, which is why I’ve returned.”
It felt like déjà vu as he took from his portfolio a navy-blue folder with what appeared to be another copy of the contract she’d shredded to bits, and slid it across the desk.
“I’d like to make you another offer.” Unbuttoning his suit coat, he relaxed back, a trained smile blanketing his smooth-shaven face. “You can read over it or have your attorney review it.”
Kennedi flipped open the folder and started reading. Two-thirds down the page, her head jerked up just as before, but this time not in absurdity, but in awe. “Am I reading this right? You want to assist me in running my father’s company?” Tapping the page, she eyed him across the desk. “It says here you’ll become acting CEO through the completion of all currently brokered transactions, and that Shaw Enterprise will assist with funding.”
“That’s correct.”
“You’re no longer trying to buy out my father? Take his company?”
“Again, correct.”
Flipping the pages, she read on, looking for any loophole, but could find none. The contract was simple, clear, and precise. Still not convinced, she sharpened her study of him. “What’s in it for you?”
“Turn to page six.”
She did so and read about midway then slid her gaze back to him. “You stand to gain a profit.”
“A pretty substantial one. In doing further research, I think the Hong Kong deal can be salvaged with the right backing and better location like Macau, which is more suitable. As for Chase Investments, I’d be acting CEO only, but will have signing authority to do business on Chase’s behalf. You’ll take on the role of president. We’ll both manage the employees, new hires, fires, and the like. I’ll help you turn things around, teach you the business, then step aside and you’ll fully run the company in its entirety, with complete ownership.”
“Why?” Dumbfounded, it was about all she could say at the moment.
“I understand you’re in unchartered waters and could use help navigating your way.”
That was definitely true. “I’ll have the company’s attorney review this when he returns from his vacation. He’s been my father’s friend since they were kids, basically someone I trust.”
A grin filled his face. “That’s to say you don’t trust me.”
“Have you given me a reason to trust you?”
He gestured a hand at the papers. “You’re holding it. Look, I get it. My personal attorney and I have been friends since scout camp. If I was on the other side of this, he’d be the one I’d turn to.”
“You were a Boy Scout? Hard to imagine,” she muttered, unable to help it.
His lips curved at one corner. “When do you expect your attorney’s return? Judging by the numbers, this company is a fast-sinking ship. You might want to try to get that contract in his hands sooner than later.”
She opened her mouth to debate the point, but knew he was right and instead continued reading the agreement.
“You and I will hold a meeting with the Hong Kong investors,” Trenton said. “Miami should go smoothly now that funds will be back in play. I’ll be bringing in a few of my own investors as well. With Shaw Enterprise behind Chase Investments, it’ll offer the assurance needed.”
Turning the page, she asked, “Given Chase’s recent history, what if they simply want out?”
“They’ll want to play. I’ve reviewed the data and think we could double the return of what your father previously predicted. I’m familiar with two of the three Hong Kong investors. I’m pretty certain they’ll want to keep a stake in the game.”
Though taken aback by the fact he knew so much about her father’s business dealings, she decided to table the question on that for the moment, and asked next, “Where’s your company located? You recently moved here from Nevada. Won’t you be needed there?”
“Shaw Enterprise’s main office remains in Nevada. I’ve staffed a satellite office in D.C. to move forward on my casino construction. I’ll of course continue doing Shaw business, but I’ll be seated here for the time being as we work to get Chase on comfortable footing.”
Her eyes widened. “Here?”
He pointed to where she sat. “There.”
“Where will I sit?” It wasn’t a large company space. Her father had downsized about a year ago, around the time things started taking a tumble. It’d also been during his separation from Eleanor. The woman had gouged him in alimony.
The executive offices now only consisted of her father’s office on the right, Richard’s office on the left, and Audrey’s desk stationed between them. Human resources, payroll, and accounting were handled by offsite consultant services. A staff of about twenty sat in cubicles on the other side of the glass wall partition that divided the space.
“I’m not here every day. As you know, I have my bakery boutique to run. But when I am here, I’ll need my office.”
“You’re welcome to share the chair with me if you like. Though I’m not sure how much work we’d get done.”
She almost returned his grin. The charming side of Trenton Shaw had returned. Looking around the room and over to the small round conference table situated before the corner wall of windows, she pointed. “I’ll sit there.”
Leaning in, he crossed his forearms upon the edge of the desk, his gaze holding hers, those eyes of his so ridiculously appealing. “My way would be more fun but suit yourself.” Giving a nod at the document before her, he flipped to the signature page. “Sounds like you’ve made a decision.”
Though she probably should let the attorney review the contract for due diligence, having to wait would delay getting started. Things needed to get moving quickly. She reached for the fountain pen across the desk, but his sudden clasp of her hand sent a jolt of current up her arm, nearly stealing her breath. Her eyes flashed back to his. “I intend to sign.”
He didn’t let go. Instead, his thumb grazed slowly across the sensitive skin at the underside of her wrist, sending waves of aftershocks pulsating along the raised vein.
“Trent, what changed your mind? Really, why are you willing to help me?”
His hand in hers squeezed ever so slightly. “You. I admire a woman who’s determined, who works hard for what she wants. I also liked how you handled yourself at the party. I’ll admit you had me that night. I saw you, only you.” His tone was low. Soft. Seductive. He released her hand, but his stare remained locked on her, sharp and intense.
Wow! She took the pen and pressed down with a bit of force on the signature line to steady her now shaky hand as she signed her name opposite his, then slid the document over to him. “That takes care of one problem. Now, about my boutique.”
“What about it? You’ll make enough money here to set your store up someplace else. That I can assure you.”
“I don’t want to set myself up someplace else. Chase Confections is perfectly fine where it is. It’s been on the Wharf long before people like you discovered the area’s richness.”
“People like me?” That right brow of his lifted in that way he tended to do.
“You real estate developers see a prized spot on the water and come in with your cronies of land surveyors, architects, and engineers armed with colorful land specs. You make the case to the city that your flashy, bright and shiny three-hundred-million-dollar property won’t work unless the old structures that have called the area home for thirty or forty years come down.” Annoyance churning, she came to her feet and leaned in, hands flat atop polished oak. “You have no regard for the mom and pop stores, the people whose small businesses are their livelihood. You just destroy a building, a business because it doesn’t fit into your carefully constructed plan. Some of those properties date back to the eighteen hundreds. They could be considered historical landmarks for all you know, but you don’t care. We’re just ants under a hot-ass magnifying glass.”
He came to his feet and rounded the desk to stand within mere inches of her. “Try five hundred million. And in cases like this, my team must go before the Historic Conservation Board to verify if a site should potentially be preserved. Your location is not among them.”
She figured as much, but it didn’t matter. “Chase Confections has been in that very spot for over thirty years. All it would take is for you to move your garage about a half a block.”
“It’s not that simple. New plans would need to be drawn up and surveys done. I don’t even want to think about the permits that would be required to be filed, which could potentially stall construction for another year or even longer. It not only would affect the garage, but the casino that is set to start construction in two months. You think you have investors breathing down your neck? To even hint at postponing construction would be catastrophic to my investors as well as my company on a much grander scale.”
Looking up at him, she shrugged. “So?”
He brought her hand up and pressed a delicate kiss on her knuckles, then stroked across them with his thumb. “Let’s table this discussion for another time. You need to prepare what to say to the staff about the change in leadership here.”
She wasn’t swayed by that pacifying gesture and jerked out of his hold. “I can’t table it. I have financial obligations that are predicated on keeping my business going. I need to know that I’ll have a business.”
“You’re referring to the balloon note that’s coming due?”
Her eyes widened then narrowed at him. “How do you know so much about the goings-on of my business?”
“I tell you what, I’ll pay off the balloon note if you agree to relocate without issue. As I said, with the profit you’ll make here, it’ll be more than enough to set up your shop elsewhere. It’s a win-win for you. I’m sure your father would be proud of what you’ll have accomplished, despite what he did.”
“Excuse me.” She drew back, glowering. “That’s the second time you’ve accused my father of some sort of wrongdoing.”
“Kennedi, it was a lot of money. I know it can be tempting, especially when the walls around you are squeezing in.”
Anger surged so fiercely she snatched the contract from the desk. “You know what you can do with this?”
She’d been prepared to throw the papers at his arrogant face again, but he caught her wrist. Trying to break free only made his grip tighten just enough to signal who held the control. His other arm circled her waist and jerked her body against the solid plane of his, her breasts to his hard chest, not a fraction of space between them.
“Let go of me.” Her demand was met by him inhaling deep, and she’d almost swear he’d done it simply to take in her scent.
His stare left her defiant glare and dipped to her mouth, on down to the vee opening of her blouse, then lifted, lips twitching a grin. “Woman, you have spirit.”
“And you’re an ass.” She shouldn’t have said it, but she was so damn angry she couldn’t stop herself.
He laughed. “I’ve been called worse. Tell me, are you this passionate in all things?”
His tone a warm taunt, she tried again to escape his hold but to no avail. “You’ll never get to find out.”
He took the contract she held clutched in her hand and set it back upon the desk. “Have Audrey call an all-hands meeting in an hour. In the meantime, think of what you’re going to say about the change in leadership. Also, send me all the information you have on every project Chase has been involved in within the past two years. Make it three. How soon can I get it?”
“I’d think you already have it, since you appear to know every damn thing,” she huffed.
“Kennedi.” He inhaled again, but this time there was a distinct look of impatience creasing his nicely tanned brow. And yet the arm still caging her at the waist hadn’t disengaged. Clever fingers lightly caressed her side over the airy voile fabric of her blouse. “If you’d rather I leave, I will.” He finally released her and took a step back. “If I do, I won’t return a third time. Now, are we going to do this?”
If she’d thought she could persuade him before to spare her store, she realized now it had been a fruitless effort. She’d lose her mother’s legacy. Damn, how she wanted to find a deep, dark hole to crawl into and cry. But at the very least her friends wouldn’t have to bear her burden.
She cut her gaze from his and swallowed the hard ache in her throat to keep from tearing up and then looked back at him. “I’ll have Richard send you the information.” Her cell phone in her purse upon the desk rang. While checking the display, no more fight left in her, she said quietly, “IT will create you a company email address.” Ignoring Jacob Newton’s call, assuming it likely had to do with the NCA event, she looked up and found Trenton staring at the phone in her hand. She put it away.
“We’ll need to schedule a conference call with Hong Kong,” he said. “It’ll have to be after hours due to the time difference. Let’s try nine tonight. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the urgency.”
“I can’t. I have plans.”
“You do realize that if we’re going to turn this place around, it’ll require you putting in long hours.” He flung a hand in the direction of her purse. “I suggest you make that clear to whomever it is you’re seeing. Priorities, Miss Chase.”
Did he just cop a possessive attitude with her? Irritation started to simmer in her veins all over again. “Not that it’s any of your business, because my personal life is none of your business, but I have to finish an order at the bakery tonight. Tomorrow night doesn’t work either. I’m participating in a charity event for the National Cancer Association.”
“The matchmaker auction. As am I.”
She blinked, surprised. “You’re a participant?”
He nodded and sat on the edge of the desk, arms crossed at his suited chest, his features pinched. “I’d rather just give the damn money instead of being auctioned.”
She wasn’t looking forward to that part of the event herself. Luckily women weren’t in the hot seat this year. “Then why agree to it?”
“I’m told it’ll be good PR.”
“Everything’s all about business with you, is that it?”
“Not everything.” Large hands captured her waist, branding her as he brought her within the split of his legs. He leaned in, and she didn’t protest the closeness of his cheek to hers. “You don’t have to make me your enemy, Kennedi.” Warm breath on her neck a silky caress, he whispered, “I’m certain we want the same thing.”
The desk phone chimed, startling her. She scrambled away from him. And damn, her nipples ached and her skin tingled where his touch had been. Still seated upon the desk, he appeared completely unaffected, his attention now centered on his cell phone.
Straightening her blouse and smoothing a hand upon her neatly coiled top bun, she let go a quiet breath before pressing the intercom. “Yes, Audrey?”
“Can I get you and Mr. Shaw anything to drink?”
“No, but I do need you to send out a mandatory meeting request to the staff. I’ll want everyone in the conference room in an hour.”
“I’m on it.”
“Thanks.” Kennedi disconnected and turned to Trenton. “I’ll simply say that you are coming on board as CEO.”
“Acting CEO.”
“Yes, acting CEO to help grow the company.”
“What will you say when asked about your father? They will ask, so be prepared.”
Kennedi knew the question had been more for his own knowledge. But her father didn’t want anyone to know what he was going through. She intended to honor his request; he didn’t ask for much. “I’ll say he has chosen to retire.”
He stared back at her for an uncomfortable moment, his steady gaze probing. “I guess that’ll do.” Cell phone in hand, tapping away, he moved from the edge of the desk and sat in her father’s chair, situating himself easily behind that big piece of antique oak. “I need to make a few calls. How about you reach out to the Hong Kong investors to schedule the conference call for Monday?”
Taking her computer from her handbag, she moved to the deep-cushioned mahogany leather couch and began typing up an email to the three in question. Needing to confirm the time, she looked up and noted those steely blues already fixed on her, piercing in a way, and damn, how she hated that she couldn’t erase the feel of those soft, pale pink lips of his pressed to hers. How their tongues danced before his kiss pursued her more urgently. As if on cue, he moistened his lips which had her wondering if he’d been thinking the same thing. “The conference call, what time Monday?”
“It—” His cell phone rang, and he glanced at the display. The angle of his well-defined jaw hardened. Spinning the chair on its wheels to the window behind him, he took the call. “How did you get this number?” he all but growled. “I don’t give a damn what you want… Yes, well, sorry doesn’t cut it.” Tone about as hard as a cement block, he surged to his feet. “You lost that chance. Get that through your head.” He disconnected, shoved the phone into his pants pocket while snatching his portfolio from the desk, and stalked to the door.
“Trent, where are you going?” Seeing his dark expression when he whirled around, Kennedi stiffened. His brow had etched into a formidable groove, and she could’ve pounded out hot iron on the surface of his clenched jaw. “We’re meeting with the staff in about forty-five minutes. You can’t leave.”
“You’re not about to split a damn atom, Kennedi. It’s a staff meeting. Handle it.”
She drew back and held his rigid glare with her own, his misdirected rage slamming her back on the defensive. “I know what it is, and I expect you there on time. Got it?”
With a hard nod, he swung open the door and walked out.