Horace glanced around the office, nodding to himself. “There’s a board meeting next week, and I thought I’d talk to you first to avoid the same fiasco from last time.”
“You mean when I tried to open the eyes of the fellow members?” Theo asked, flicking his screen off and rocking in his chair. Minus Talia’s father, the other board members all held enough stock to make a difference if they agreed with Horace’s plans. Or hell, if they were in on it.
By marrying Talia, everything would change. Theo would have access to her family’s stocks and would regain the control of the empire his grandfather started decades ago. Determination thrummed in his veins.
“What’s your grand idea this time?” Theo asked for the sake of asking. Horace had probably found another way to get money. Being co-president gave him unfair advantages, and the internal audit Theo had requested hadn’t gathered enough evidence to strip his uncle of his position. How convenient for Horace.
“Well, I was thinking about a company party. You know, to boost morale.”
“We already have a big Christmas celebration every year. If you want to boost morale, why don’t you follow my recommendations to offer bonuses to high performing employees and better healthcare benefits for everyone?”
With the economy in his beloved country going through a rough patch, Theo had to do his share. All in good time, a voice inside him alerted.
Horace had lifted his hands in surrender, defensively, the same way he did every time he felt threatened. With a weasel smile on his face. “Theo, we’re in this business for profit. I can’t go around in this economy and wave a magical wand to change the reality.”
“My vote’s no on the party. It’s unnecessary.” And a distraction. Did his uncle really believe Theo didn’t see through his bullshit? The same sense of duty his father had instilled in him from an early age applied to his business life. He had to do right by his employees, and getting rid of Horace would be a great start.
Horace shrugged. “All right. Well, we’ll have to ask the others. I just wanted to give you the benefit of knowing firsthand.”
“Done.” He surged to his feet. “Anything else?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You know, nephew, I’m sure you’re banking your future on marrying Talia and taking over, but don’t forget I’m good friends with her father. And a lot can happen between now and your wedding day.”
Theo seriously doubted Faustus would sell his stocks to Horace instead of gifting them to his son-in-law. “We’re done, dear uncle. Please see yourself out.”
A glint of challenge touched his uncle’s black eyes, and his lips thinned into a hard line. Due to his title and family name, no doubt Horace wasn’t used to being shown the door, ever.
Theo’s gaze slid down, and he noticed his uncle’s fingers curling into fists. No matter how much he pretended not to care, Horace was scared too. Scared that Theo would get to the finish line before him. After all, Talia’s father could have sold the stocks long ago if he’d wanted. Instead, the wise man kept them to use them as leverage. Merging with Rhodes Enterprises and entering the family would offer him more security and prestige.
Theo stretched to his full height. Horace’s shoulders sagged, slowly, and his hands flexed. Without a word, he gave another nod, then turned around and disappeared from sight.
Restless, Theo grabbed his cell and called his home. Ever since the previous night, when he’d kicked Amaya out of his bed, he hadn’t seen her. He’d left early like a damn coward before breakfast was served.
Now the chat with his uncle set his blood on a simmering boil. Urgent need overpowered him like some alien force. He had to bed Amaya, and the sooner he did it—the better. He’d send his father an email asking to see if Talia would agree to marry a few weeks early—perhaps soon after his contract with Amaya ended. Why wait?
“Hello,” his housekeeper answered. “Rhodes Residence.”
“It’s me, Theo. I need Amaya,” he said in a rush, his stomach curling at the thought. The previous night…memories of her swollen lips, the look of disappointment in her alluring brown eyes when he’d sent her away. Guilt stabbed at him, but he shook it off. Clenching his phone, he continued in a more clipped tone. “I need to talk to Ms. Lopez.”
“I understand, sir. She’s not in.”
Had she gone sightseeing again? He popped his knuckles. She had the freedom to come and go as she pleased, of course. “Did she say when she’d be back?”
“No. She left with the driver three hours ago. I asked if she wanted me to prepare lunch, and she said she’d eat out,” Valda said.
“All right. I’ll call the driver, then.”
He hung up the phone and speed dialed his driver, Linus. On the second ring, he picked up. “Hello.”
“I need to talk to Ms. Lopez.”
“She’s not with me, sir,” Linus said. “She asked me to drop her off at the Acropolis for one of those guided tours and said she’d call when it was time to pick her up. I parked and waited.”
“Call me as soon as she gets in touch with you.”
“Certainly, Mr. Rhodes.”
Theo ended the call. He plopped down on his chair and flicked on his computer screen to continue working. For two minutes, he looked at the numbers but didn’t read any of them. What if she changed her mind? Sure, they’d signed a contract and it was binding. But she had enough money in her account to disappear and not look back if she didn’t want to. Maybe the brother story isn’t true.
