“So, my dear, what did you find out today when you visited Mick at Adkins’ company?”
She giggled. “Well, I did overhear some employees talking about how Mick was strutting around the place like he owned it.” She shook her head. “Can you believe his nerve?”
Nicole sighed a relieved breath. At least nobody knew the company was really his... yet.
“I hope my son enjoys it while it lasts because it won’t last long. I just bought out another shareholder. That makes three. Isn’t that wonderful, Tara?” He held up his glass of champagne in a silent cheer before taking a drink.
“That’s great news, Carl darling. But... what do you want me to do about Miss Adkins?”
Nicole scowled, leaning closer to the partition, anxious to hear more.
“Nothing yet. It’s too soon after that last stunt, which by the way, should have worked the way we planned. But that’s nothing to worry about. Next time we’ll do it better, and it’ll take both Mick and Miss Adkins out of our way.”
Nicole huffed as anger filled her. What in the blazes were those two connivers talking about?
Just then a waiter came to take their order. Nicole waited patiently until the waiter left, but then all she could hear from the odd couple was talking about what dress she was going to buy for Carl’s yacht party.
Grumbling under her breath, Nicole followed another waiter out, still trying to stay hidden from Mick’s father and girlfriend. But yet... was Tara Mick’s girlfriend or Carl’s? All of this was very confusing.
When she reached the table, the shareholders stood and decided it was time to get back to work. Since she’d already paid for their meals, Nicole walked out of the restaurant with her mind full of questions. Should she say something to Mick? But she had to. After all, he was part of Carl and Tara’s plan totake both Mick and Miss Adkins out of their way.
She waved goodbye to the shareholders and headed for her car, but... right in front of her was a large black truck with big tires and tinted windows – the exact truck that ran her off the road and nearly gotten her killed.
Her chest clenched as she walked closer to it, studying the front bumper. The truck that had been the cause of her near-death experience had nicked the side of her car which had sent her rolling down the hill. As soon as she stood in front of the truck, she stared in shock at the dented frame and the blue paint that marred the vehicle. The exact blue that had been the color of her car.
EIGHTEEN
Mick lifted his armsover his head, stretching out the kinks. He’d been on his laptop for several hours now, looking for a place to live. He had townhouses all over the United States, but he wanted to make his home here in Maple Springs... with Nicole by his side. He knew her attitude lately stemmed from her grandfather’s will, and the stress that she’d been under, but Mick hoped she would forgive him for inadvertently swaying James’ mind about the company.
He had no doubt Nicole would be able to take on the challenge he’d issued this morning and run with it. Nicole was a smart woman, and she needed a little shaking up to get her to start thinking on the right track. It was going to be very hard for him to sit and do nothing for the next seven days. Wherever he saw a need, his instinctive reaction was to try and help.
Yawning, he stood from the hotel’s small kitchen table and moved to the even smaller refrigerator to grab a cold bottled water. After unscrewing the lid, he gulped down the liquid.
It had been awkward to walk through the halls of the Adkins’ Dev-Tech building earlier today, acting like he was supposed to be there. He didn’t announce that he was president. That was Nicole’s position. However, he pretended to be there because he was helping her. The employees would rather believe that excuse, anyway. They all looked up to Nicole, and because of who Mick was related to, they’d rather think the worst of him. Thankfully, because of Nicole’s kindness toward him, the employees were slowly accepting a Remington in their midst.
He stopped near the window and looked out. Darkness had settled over the town. A few headlights beamed brightly as the vehicles entered the parking lot. Sighing, he leaned against the window frame. He didn’t want to spend the whole evening at the hotel. Restlessness wasn’t a very entertaining companion.
