He might be retired, but he was still a good lawyer.
He knew when to go silent to avoid further incriminating himself.
And when to fall in line with a plan, even if it meant betraying an old friend.
I put away my putter and shouldered my bag for the walk back to Benton Corporate. No need to subject myself to an awkward golf cart ride with Jacob. My work here was done, and I'd already won the game.
Both of them.
"I trust you're smart enough to know there will be consequences if Nora is somehow tipped off about this conversation," I said before I turned to leave. "So, let's make sure that doesn't come to pass."
Again, the older man didn't answer, but he didn't have to say anything. I was more than sure he understood as I walked away.
"You have my vote," Jacob called out through what sounded like gritted teeth. "But good luck getting any of the other board members to fall in line. Your grandmother is a good woman, who doesn't deserve what you're doing behind her back, and you're a shameless bastard who doesn't deserve your grandfather's legacy. He'd be rolling over in his grave right now if he saw what you were trying to do to his wife.'"
I stopped, clenching my hands at my sides as the old anger roiled inside of me.
But no, I still had thirteen other board members to "convince" to go along with my plan to oust Nora from her seat. Jacob, with his penchant for getting sausage by young guys who barely made minimum wage, had been low-hanging fruit. A black file kept on hand just in case I'd need it someday.
He'd been right about one thing. The other board members wouldn't be nearly as simple to black file. I had a lot of people to get through, and making the retired lawyer eat his words wasn't worth my time.
Besides, it was easy to understand his upset. He didn't know the reasons behind my latest chess move. Of course, this looked to him like a dastardly move out of the blue.
So, I decided not to retaliate. At least not yet. But I also didn't bother to explain myself to him.
I just gave him a cold nod and said, “I'm glad we're on the same page. I'm sure the other board members will also come around to my point of view.'"
And by “come around” I meant Lobo was currently gathering dirt as we spoke.
The rest of the board members, save for Max, would be taken down one by one, whether Jacob liked it or not.
"See you at the March board meeting," I called out as I resumed walking.
My phone vibrated as I made my way back to the clubhouse to stow the golf gear I only used for "business meetings" at the front desk.
Speak of the devil.Nora Bentonappeared on my caller ID when I pulled the device out to see who was trying to contact me.
"Hello, Nora." I answered the phone without much thought to the fact that I'd been actively planning her business demise since meeting with Sunny that morning.
"Ah, Coley dear, I'm positively beaming with joy over this engagement news!And would you look at that, less than two months later! How in the world did you manage it, grandson of mine?"
I took a moment to feel insulted that she sounded happier than she had when I was voted in as the new CEO of Benton Worldwide before asking, "Does it matter?"
"No, it does not!" Nora assured me, her tone absent of shame or care. "I'm just over the moon that you and Sunny are betrothed. Not a single shamrock do I mind about the journey you took to get there. Oh, I can already picture the lovely great-grandbabies in my future! Glo would be dancing on clouds if she could see this blessed moment!"
I clenched my jaw. "I'm happy your blackmail scheme brings you such joy."
"Sooo much joy!" Nora either didn't hear my sarcasm or didn't care."The only thing I'm upset about is neither of you darlings giving me a ring to tell me the delightful news yourself. Imagine how embarrassed I felt when Rick, of all people, called round to congratulate me!"
"Who's Rick?"
"The showrunner of the Benton Girls, silly. Oh dear..." Nora's voice took on a worried note. "Have you taken no interest in Sunny's life outside the bedroom at all? That won't do. Women are quite sensitive these days—built different, as they say, on all the social media and whatnot. You have to at leastactlike you care about the whole individual. By the way, how's your chemistry in bed, darling?"
"None of your business," I answered.
Apparently, my grandmother failed to hear that reply the same as my sarcasm.
"You cannot just pump it in a few times and be done, y'know. That was fine back in your grandfather's day, when a Benton's only job was to be rich while us girls did all the work to achieve our own pleasure. But these modern women want it all, don't they? A relationship,communication, and a fella who knows how to get the job done in bed. Youaremaking sure to get the job done, right, Coley?'"
