Finally, Carl strolled in the bar like he owned the place. Of course, Mick wouldn’t be surprised if he did, but it made him happy to know he’d get to see the Remington empire fall. Arrogance surrounded the older man by the way he carried himself and the way his chin was lifted a notch higher.
When Carl’s gaze met Mick’s the old man’s grin widened. Mick bunched his hands and reminded himself he wasnotgoing to strike his father. Seeing the look on his face when the police arrested him would be payback enough.
“Son,” he said cheerfully. “I’m surprised you wanted to meet me.”
Mick shrugged. “There were a few things I needed to say to you.” He motioned to an empty table. “Shall we sit?”
Carl nodded. As they sat, a waiter hurried over to them, stopping by Carl.
“I think we should celebrate this evening with the hotel’s finest champagne. Don’t you think, son?”
Mick tried really hard not to show his happiness, so he gave his father a nonchalant nod. The waiter hurried away to do Carl’s bidding.
“So, Mick,” Carl rested his forearms on the table, “I’m sorry our father and son relationship had to end the way it did. I blame myself for not taking the time to get to know you when you were younger.”
Mick rolled his eyes. “I blame you, too. But I’ll admit that the brief time we worked together had taught me so much, I wouldn’t trade it for anything right now.” He shrugged. “I learned early on that I didn’t want to turn out like you. I didn’t want people to fear me. I wanted them to like me.”
“Now see,” Carl waved his hand, “that’s the difference between us. To me, it’s all business. I do what I have to do in order to win the deal.”
Mick arched an eyebrow. “Including hurting people who are close to you? Or doesn’t it matter who you hurt, as long as you win?”
“It’s like I said, son, it’s all business.”
Folding his arms, Mick leaned forward on the table. “And is almost killing a woman just so you can get her company,businesstoo?”
“Now, son, you should know I had nothing to do with Nicole’s accident.”
“True, Ishould knowthat, but my first thought was that you were involved, and you know what? I was right.” He looked sternly at his father. “Because Nicole and I discovered who was behind that. Unfortunately, you don’t know how to pick women, because Tara couldn’t hold her tongue. She confessed all.”
Carl scowled as he tapped his finger on the table. “It’s her word against mine, and I don’t need to tell you who will win.”
“No, you don’t have to tell me. You will win, father. You always win, because you have the money to pay people to lie for you and do your dirty work.”
Sighing with irritation, Carl relaxed in his chair. “Mick, is this really what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Actually, no.” Mick inhaled deeply, rebuilding his courage. “I do think we need to celebrate.”
He glanced over his shoulder at the waiter who hurried to them with a champagne bottle and two glasses. Mick didn’t say anything while the waiter poured their drinks. Carl took a sip from his glass and then nodded to the waiter before the young man left.
Carl lifted his champagne glass. “What are we celebrating?”
Mick lifted his glass. “I have obtained another company.”
“Well done, my boy.” Carl clicked his glass against Mick’s. After he took a drink, he set the glass back on the table. “Which company was it? Apple? AT&T?” Carl laughed.
“Oh, much better than that.”
“Really? Now I’m very interested.”
“The company I’ve obtained just recently is Adkins Dev-Tech.”
Confusion shown on Carl’s face briefly, before he laughed tightly. “Really? What about your girlfriend? I thought she inherited the company.” Carl lifted the glass to his mouth to take another sip.
“No, she didn’t. James Adkins left it to me in his will.”
Carl choked and spit out the liquid from his mouth. Mick used his linen napkin to wipe the spray from his face.
“You... don’t say.”
