She squeezed her eyes shut.In no way was she prepared for this.
“Kelsey…”
Her business instincts kicked in, and she shoved aside her personal feelings.“Is there—was there—a plan to tell the company?”
“It was supposed to be different…” He paused.“I was going to come in and meet with the top management and introduce Nathan.We were going to go to the docks so he could meet the people formally.He’s been out there before, a couple of weekends ago.”
“Okay.And what’s the new strategy?”
She heard jostling and a woman’s voice.Then, “Kelsey?”
“Mrs.Newman?”
“We’re at the hospital, dear.”
Kelsey’s jaw went slack.
“It’s his heart.”
Before Kelsey could utter a word, Holly went on, “The doctors say he’ll be fine.But…”
Damn it.
“The company needs you.”
Over the last few years, Kelsey had talked to Mr.Newman many times, stressing the need for a succession plan.She’d encouraged him to groom senior managers to take over, or solicit from the outside.He’d been stubborn.He was going to live forever, and there was plenty of time.
Now, she blinked back a sudden burst of tears.There was no more time.Newman Inland Marine had a new owner, and the stress had devastated Samuel.
In the background, she could hear Samuel and Holly whispering, overlaying the hiss and beep of what had to be hospital machinery.
“Samuel wants me to tell you he’s counting on you.He wants Donovan to succeed.”Holly’s voice was taut with emotion, maybe frustration, perhaps anger and certainly some fear.
“May I visit him?”
Holly gave the name of one of Houston’s most renowned hospitals then added, “Not today, dear.Perhaps tomorrow.He needs some rest.But, Kelsey?He’ll get better faster if he knows he can count on you.He’s worried about the employees, as I’m sure you understand.”
She gave a tight nod, even though Holly couldn’t see her.“You can count on me.”After a few pleasantries—platitudes, mostly—she ended the call.
Kelsey put her phone down and gave a shaky exhalation, composing herself.When she looked up, she saw Nathan standing there.“How long have you been there?”And how had he moved so silently?
“Long enough.”He pulled up a chair.
The juxtaposition startled her.A few minutes ago, he’d been behind his desk, in control.Now, he sat in front of her, leaning forward, hands steepled, a concerned frown burrowed between his eyebrows.He seemed somewhat less formidable and, because of it, more dangerous.
“Heart attack?”he asked.
“Mrs.Newman didn’t exactly say.”Knowing Samuel, it could be the stress of turning over the business to someone as ruthless as Donovan.She wasn’t sure what had led to it, but she knew it had to have killed him a little bit on the inside.The knowledge angered her, made her pissed off at Donovan.
Since that wouldn’t help anything, she took a breath to steady her emotions.“The prognosis is good, apparently.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“Are you?”she challenged.Perhaps it wasn’t wise to antagonize him, but he was the only outlet for her frustration.Indeed, he appeared to be the reason for it.
Nathan sat back in his chair.The concern was replaced by a flash of annoyance, flitting through his eyes with the heat of a brushfire.“For someone who wasn’t part of the negotiations, knows nothing about me or my relationship to Newman, that’s out of line.”
“Are you calling me ignorant?”
