“Why not just turn me in to the police? Like you said, you have the evidence. I’m up to my armpits in crime. Yeah, it was because my old man lost his fortune and hoodwinked me into this shit. But so what? Nobody’s going to be crying tears for me. And I’m part of the reason Maggie was killed.”
“I don’t think you’re really like your father, Rhett. You showed courage and fairness in Myanmar. I know you love your sister, Angie. And you told me about your mother and what Barton did to her. I think who you are is a byproduct of how Barton treated you. But that doesn’t mean he gets to define you now. He’s dead. You’re not. He has no more chances to get it right, but you do.”
A long moment passed and Rhett Temple, his expression, surprisingly, one of contriteness followed by resolve, said, “Okay, I’m in. So how do we beat this Lord guy? And the dragon lady?”
Steers stepped forward to face him. “I will tell youexactlyhow.”
CHAPTER
80
ONE WEEK LATER, RHETT TEMPLEmarched into the offices of Sybaritic Investments and said hello to Ellen Douglas, the matronly receptionist.
“Mr. Temple, we haven’t seen you in quite a while. You look different,” she added, running her gaze over his more muscled and toned physique. He had shaved off the Fu Manchu.
“I’ve been at a spa, Ellen. Good for the body and soul.” He nipped a cookie off the platter set on her desk. “How are things here?”
“They seem to be fine.”
“Neisha Mirza?”
Douglas’s lips curled in displeasure. “She. . .seems to have her own way of doing things.”
“I’m sure. But don’t worry, Ellen.”
“What do you mean?”
Temple grinned. “I mean. . .I’m back!”
He bit into the cookie and banged his still-activated security pass against the sensor, and the door clicked open. Temple strode down the hall and then poked his head into one office.
“Rhett!” said Elaine Fixx. She rose from her desk. “What are you doing here?”
“I own the company, Elaine.”
“No, I mean, I thought you’d basically retired and were traveling the world.”
“Well, now I’m unretired. I’ll be back in two minutes. Stay right there.”
“What?”
But he had already walked off.
Temple marched to his old office, knocked on the door, and opened it before receiving an answer.
The woman behind the desk, Neisha Mirza, rose. She was in her forties, tall, poised, and intimidating.
“What areyoudoing here?” She did not sound or look pleased.
“Nice to see you too, Neisha. I’m here because I always like to deliver good news face-to-face.”
“What good news?”
“I’m taking over as CEO. Your services are no longer needed.”
“How is that good news for me?” snapped Mirza.
“Well, I didn’t say it was good news foryou.”
