“And said what?”Angus said.“You’re the boss, the brainchild behind the honey.You’ve paid him well for his work.Why should he claim anything more from you?”
“You’re right,” Niall said after a pause.
“Keep me posted,” Angus said.“I need to deal with a supplier who neglected to deliver half of my order.”
The phone clattered, and Niall grinned, affection for the brusque elderly man filling him.Suzie came to mind, and the warmth morphed into something deeper.He loved the woman.Soon, he promised himself.Soon, he’d see Suzie again and tell her.
Niall’s phone vibrated, and he scooped it off the passenger seat to check the screen.“Scott,” he said.“What’s happening?”
“He found the honey and the paperwork and made a phone call to someone called Timothy.He’s en route and will arrive shortly.Liam and I will follow on foot.”
“See you soon.”Niall disconnected and shoved the phone in his pocket.After a brief pause, he pulled it back out and set his voice recorder app going.Michael wouldn’t expect him, and hopefully, nervousness or arrogance would get the man talking.If he could record the conversation, Michael couldn’t deny everything later.Niall strode onto the narrow gravel road and planted his feet in the middle.Michael might panic and try to run him over, but Niall didn’t think his employee had it in him.
Niall heard the vehicle before he saw it, and he took great satisfaction in observing Michael’s shock.His face turned pale, and the car kicked up dust and bits of gravel as he tried to evade Niall and drive around him.Niall leaped in front of the vehicle, and Michael automatically slammed on the brakes.
Liam and Scott appeared behind Michael’s vehicle, and Niall saw when Michael realized they had him surrounded.He wound down his window.“What the devil are you doing?I thought you had a meeting.”
“That’s what you were meant to think.Do you have my honey?”
Michael’s mouth opened and closed, fishlike, while his gaze shifted left and right.Niall went on the attack.
“Who is Timothy?”
Michael hesitated before blurting, “One of my marketing contacts.”
“Oh?Not Timothy Campbell, the head of Heather Mountain Honey?Not Timothy, my major competitor?”
Michael did his fish impression again, his bulging eyes adding an extra element.“No, Timothy is the new marketing head at the agency.”
“So if I search your vehicle, I won’t find my notes folder or the labeled jars of honey I hid in the back of my office cupboard?”Niall asked, maintaining eye contact the entire time.Icy anger pulsed through his veins, fury at Michael’s treacherous acts, and a profound disappointment in himself because he’d trusted the man.His mind wandered over the betrayals he’d suffered in the past, the swift kicks to his gut inflicted by his family and others.“Michael?”
Michael’s shoulders slumped briefly before straightening, and his face contorted into rage.His eyes grew wide, the whites showing.His nostrils flared, and he took half a step toward Niall.“You know nothing.”His finger jabbed at Niall, and he would’ve made contact if Niall hadn’t stepped back.“I’ve worked for the laird since I left university.Each day I worked damn hard, and then he gave everything to an uneducated hick from the colonies.He owed me, dammit.”
“This is about money?”Niall asked, stupidly feeling surprised along with his shock.The laird had left Michael a handsome legacy.
“The laird promised he’d look after me.He promised.”Spittle flew with his vehemence, and a blood vessel throbbed at his temple.
“But he left you an inheritance.”
Red raced over Michael’s face, leaving his skin mottled and flushed.His fists clenched.Unclenched.Clenched.“I deserved more.He gave you everything.”
Niall hadn’t expected the gift, and he’d wanted to reject it until Angus had talked to him and told him the laird saw himself in Niall.Cameron Glenkirk had given Niall a chance, and Niall had worked hard, never disappointing the elderly man.Angus had told Niall he’d gifted the old man happiness and joy, and he thought of Niall as an adopted son.Niall and Cameron had strolled the estate, both enjoying the outdoors.He’d shared his bear shifter, and the laird had been thrilled, laughing with delight and telling Niall that was why he was so gifted with honey.
The laird had liked Michael, but they hadn’t shared the same love and passion for nature.Angus had explained to Niall why the laird left him part of the estate.Michael would’ve sold everything.Niall sensed this truth deep in his gut.Michael wouldn’t have kept and nurtured the wilderness.That didn’t make him an evil man, but he hadn’t shared the laird’s vision.That had made the difference.
Niall mentioned none of this, and looking at Michael now, a swell of pity engulfed him.“If you needed money, why didn’t you ask me for a loan?”
“A loan?”Michael scoffed.“You expect me to come to you, cap in hand, and ask for money?”
“I thought we were friends,” Niall said.One of a small group.
“Friends!”Michael’s disgusted snort told Niall everything.
The man had shown him a deceptive face.
“What do you want?”Niall said.
“I want everything.The estate.The money and all the castle’s contents.I deserve that, at least.”
