Page 37 of Shattered Secrets
“Next week?”
“Maybe.”
She shakes her head. “Please don’t cut us out. You promised you would come. You talk more to Jennifer Blake than to me.”
Maybe because she talked to me when you just sent me to psychologists without exchanging a word? “I’ll come when I can.”
“Ethan Wolf.”
The firm voice coming from behind me startles me. “Martin Nightingale.” I shake his outstretched hand. We haven’t spoken in a long time, and I know they were angry that I fired their son last year. I hope he doesn’t mean to make a scene. The last thing I want is to embarrass Jennifer at her birthday party. I didn’t publicize the reason for the dismissal. I didn’t want to shame the family.
“I was sorry to hear about what happened to you. I hope you’ve fully recovered.”
I nod. “Yes, everything is fine, thanks.” I wait for him to get to the point.
“I’d be happy if we could set up a meeting to talk about PlayMaker.”
I tilt my head. “That’s a company you own, right?”
“Very true.” He seems pleased. “I understand you’ve been investing in gaming companies lately, and we’re looking for new investors.”
Okay. Not the point I expected, but... On second thought, considering their son’s betrayal, I’m not sure I want to do business with them. A son with questionable morals can certainly testify against his parents. At least he didn’t come to yell at me.
“You’re welcome to make an appointment through the office.”
“What are you doing, Dad?” Clifford suddenly appears at his father’s side.
Shit. Just when I thought he must not be here tonight. Why is he here? I didn’t think he’d want to show his face at a Blake event. How is he not ashamed?
“What do you think I’m doing?” Martin says in a low voice.
“Sucking up to Wolf. Again. I don’t understand what your business is with them, Dad. They’re not the royal family. Do you really admire them that much? Want to kiss their feet?”
Martin’s eyes narrow, and he grabs his son’s arm and pulls him aside. I see them whispering, and Clifford’s face contorts in anger.
I have no idea what’s happening here right now, but I’m happy for the rescue, and I quickly make my getaway.
My happiness is premature, however. Clifford breaks away from his father and approaches me once again.
“Don’t you dare make an appointment with my father,” he says in a low voice, but the rage drips from him like poison.
“Why not?”
“I’ll be damned if I let our businesses go to your family.”
“My family is as good as anyone else’s.” I always suspected he had something personal against me, but I didn’t know what. This could be my chance to understand.
His mouth stretches into a thin line. “For some unknown reason, Dad adores the Wolf family.‘Clifford, why can’t you be more like Ethan? Look how he excels and how well his businesses are doing. Look how many companies he started all by himself.’” he mocks. “I don’t want to hear another word. Even after your sister was raped, you got in trouble and didn’t graduate from high school, and he still thinks you’re perfect. The perfect son. Can you believe that shit? I graduated with honors, and you screwed up your entire senior year, and yet you’re still better than me.” He finishes his tirade by smashing his finger into my chest.
“I’m not perfect.” I wish my father had thought even some of these things about me.
“Damn right, you’re not. You’re nothing but trash, like your whole family. And my father’s company will go to me. I’m not ready for him to sell it, and certainly not to you. I don’t care what he thinks.”
“And what is he thinking, Clifford?”
“He thinks I’m not capable of leading the company, that I couldn’t even hold a job. But I’ll be the one who manages it. Not you.”
I don’t want his company or the meeting with his father. But I don’t like threats. “I’ll decide about that.”
