“Not if I’m going into the family business.”
“Yes, if you’re going into the family business.I can’t put you into a top slot if you’ve barely squeaked by at a second-rate school.”He seemed egged on by his sense of superiority.“You want people to respect you?You wantthem to think you’ve got something up here?”He tapped his head.“You need the credentials for that.”
“I already know more about the mining end of the business than most of the men in your front office.”
“Mining is only a small part of the business.Facetsis where we’re going.”
“I’ll find my place.”She had been watching things closely and knew that taking over the presidency was a pipe dream.John was firmly entrenched in that spot, and he was a powerful force.But there would be another spot, one where she could build her own power.She intended to show him up.Somehow, sometime, somewhere, she would.
“Not if you don’t settle down and study.”
“How can I settle down and study if you don’t leave me alone?”Having reached the limit of how much of John she could take at one time, she lost her cool.“I told you that I have a big midterm tomorrow.You told me that I should get better grades.How can I do that if you don’t let me study?”
“How do I know that the minute I walk out of this room you won’t pick up the phone?”
“Because I have to study!Go,John.”
He stared at her for a long minute, during which she aged a dozen.She was sure he was going to tell her she couldn’t go for the weekend—which wouldn’t stop her, she’d find another way to get to Martha’s Vineyard, but it would complicate things.
“I’ll go,” he said finally in the slow and deliberate tone that augured a threat.“But I’m telling you, be careful,Pam.I’ve been generous with you.I’ve given you a liberal expense account—”
“I haven’t gone over—”
“—which gives you expensive clothes, expensive skis, dinners, and movies and shows with your friends.I send you to New York every few months.I let you travel to this summer place and that winter place.I gave you your own phone.I’ve given you a car and unlimited gas.And I’ve looked the other way each time you’ve gone to Maine.”
Her heart skittered to an abrupt stop-start.“It’s important that I go to Maine,” she said quietly.“It’s important that the men at the mines see one of us.You hate going.I don’t.”
“But you’re still seeing Cutter Reid.”
She felt another sharp skitter.“He works at the mine, so I see him.”
“You see him other times, and I’ve told you not to.”
“Timiny Cove’s a small place.I can’t help but see him.”
“You go looking for him.Why do you bother?”
Someone was snitching.She wanted to know who, but she didn’t get so muddled in the question as to fall into his trap and admit to seeing Cutter.“The miners are important.They’re human beings who put in good, long days for us.They’re the backbone of this company.”
“Not anymore.Tourmaline is the most reasonably priced of the gems we work with.If we closed the mines, we could buy it at the exchange like we buy the rest.”
No matter how quickly Pam wanted John out of her room, how reluctant she was to prolong the conversation, she couldn’t let his statement stand.“You’re assuming thebusiness could survive onFacetsalone.But even I know that we gross eight million a year from the mines, apart from the stones our designers use.That’s a nice cushion.Without it, our stockholders might get nervous.”
He was quiet for a minute.Although nothing showed on his face, Pam fancied he was stunned that she could speak so knowledgeably about the business.Rather than bask in her moment of strength, though, she too remained silent.One of the things she’d learned in dealing with John was that gloating only brought retribution, and retribution hurt.She didn’t want to be hurt.Nor did she want Cutter hurt.
She had two more years before she reached majority.Two more years.
Ten more hours before she took the American History exam.
Fourteen more hours before she left Boston for the Vineyard.
And, God willing, no more than five minutes before John left her the hell alone.
“I think,” he said at last, “that the mines are the least of your worries.Get those grades up, or you won’t be going to Maine or anywhere else for a while.Do I make myself clear?”
He was more than annoyed.His eyes sparkled with resentment despite his otherwise iron control.She’d bested him, and he knew it.It was all she could do not to grin.
“Yes, John,” she said docilely.
