Page 71 of Tempest

“Daddy left us a mess. None of it is surprising,” Colin said.

Ivy took her brother’s arm. “When we’re done, it’ll be all cleaned up and someone is going to want to buy this company, and then you and I are free. We can make as much of a difference with the money as we choose to.”

They stepped off the elevator and met the two men in front of the conference room. Davis threw her a smarmy smile, and Ivy almost barfed in her mouth. She was actually looking forward to firing him. How dare he steal all that money and think he was going to get away with it?

“Do you want to have one of the girls take care of your dog while we’re in the meeting?” he asked.

“No, thanks,” Ivy responded as she petted Rocko’s head. “He’s a highly trained guard dog, so I’ll keep him close. Mac told me he can tear into a man and have him down on the ground in less than ten seconds. Hope that doesn’t become necessary.” Holding the dog’s leash, she passed the men on the way into the conference room. She noted that Davis had paled under his summer tan and stepped back as she passed. He should be worried. Because that son of a bitch was going to jail.

Davis sat at the head of the table with Brook to his right. Colin and Ivy took seats at the other end, and Ryan stood at the door. “Let’s get started,” Ivy said, as she pulled her folders out of her briefcase.

Davis cleared his throat and sat back with his leg crossed over his knee. He was the picture of male confidence and success. “Why don’t you let us give you an overview of the company first?”

“Not necessary,” Ivy responded. “Colin and I are more interested in discussing the embezzlement that’s happened over the last six months.” Raising her eyes, she saw Davis flinch and Brook appear confused. Nothing had come up to tie Brook to the theft, but he was a lousy CFO if he hadn’t picked up, on the five million dollars that was missing. That, in and of itself, was criminal negligence. Those big executive offices were both going to be empty in about an hour.

“What in the world are you talking about?” Davis blustered. He was about to stand up, but Rocko’s ears moved forward and he growled.

“Guess he doesn’t like you. Might as well sit down,” Colin said.

Davis returned to his seat, looking like he was about to lose his lunch. “What in the hell is going on?” he shouted. “Why are you two coming in here with guns blazing?”

“Because your salami slicing scheme netted you five million dollars,” Ivy responded.

“Four and half million,” Colin said. “The accountant got the other half mil.”

Ivy turned and smiled at Colin. “Of course.” Before she turned around, she winked at Ryan and gave him a thumbs-up. “The guns blazing question reminds me of a story that our daddy used to tell us about our paternal great-grandfather, Horton Bellows. The man was a famous gunslinger. He ran protection for the stagecoaches that traveled through the Southwest via El Paso. He worked the Butterfield line, which transported mail and gold on its way from California. According to Daddy, old Horton was fearless, and he approached any situation with his gun pointed at your heart. He didn’t believe in wasting time and meant to let people know what they were dealing with from the get-go. Daddy always said that was the best way to go into anything…guns blazing with the barrel pointed toward someone’s heart. He said it cut out a lot of unnecessary negotiation. I guess moving quickly through a territory was the best way to ensure that a stagecoach wasn’t relieved of its cargo.”

“We take after Horton,” Colin said succinctly.

“Colin and I never expected to inherit this company. Neither one of us was much of a priority for Daddy when he was alive. We figure this is his mea culpa for being a failure as a father. Having said that, make no mistake, we’re going to make sure it’s the best damn energy company in all of Texas. That means we have to clean the place up, and that starts with the two of you.”

Davis sat there with a stunned look, and so did Brook. Guess they didn’t expect the guns blazing story. Bet they also didn’t know that she and Colin always did their homework. Nothing was handed to them, and hard work was the only way either of them had gotten anywhere. People might see a baseball player and a woman with ridiculous shoes. What they didn’t know was that they had a river of Bellows blood running in their veins. Which meant they came in with guns blazing. Always.

Davis moved around in his seat, and Ryan straightened and kept an eye on him. He spoke quietly, and Ivy knew he was checking in with Mac and Rick. “Brook, we have no proof that you were involved with the theft, but if you didn’t pick up on the five-million-dollar loss, then you’re not the man we want working with us. You both are relieved of your duties, and your personal items will be sent to your homes.”

“Questions?” Colin asked as he leaned back in his chair.

“You have no proof,” Davis shouted.

“We have a ton of proof, and it was delivered to the DA’s office this morning. First call I’d make when you leave is to a lawyer,” Ivy said and stood. “Ryan will escort you both out of the building.”

Davis stood and glared at them both. “This isn’t the end of this.”

Ryan took him by his elbow and moved him away from Ivy. “That’s where you’re wrong. Don’t give me reasonable cause. I’m pissed enough as it is.”

Rocko seemed to approve and growled his agreement. Brook buttoned his jacket and stood up. “It’s regrettable that it’s ended this way. Your daddy wouldn’t be proud of the way you two are behaving. I worked with him for more years than I can count, and he never would do this to an old friend.”

Colin sprang out of his chair, and the older man visibly shrank back. “Our daddy never gave either one of us much of anything, so your words don’t mean shit to us. I suggest you leave as quickly as you can. I don’t have the same control that Ryan has.”

“This way,” Ryan said, as he led the men out of the room. Ivy stepped away from her chair and watched Mac meet him at the elevator. The group got on, and Ivy let out a breath.

“That went better than I thought,” Colin said, as he slung his arm over his sister’s shoulder. “This is a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.”

Ivy swatted him. “We have no upper management, and the company is in our hands. Don’t act like this is going to be easy.” She felt him kiss her head. “We’re in the damn oil business.”

“Not for long. We’ll find someone to buy it, and then we can go back to our lives.”

“I hope it’s as easy as you make it sound,” she said. Turning back into the conference room, she sat down. “Speaking of going back to our lives…what are you and Phoebe up to?”

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