Page 1 of Never Too Deep
Chapter 1
Rush
Thenumbershowsupon my screen and I lift a brow.What the fuck is he calling me for?I ask myself.Then I realize that my brother Led sold us out.“Mr.Hopkins.”I open with, on exhale.“What can I do for you?”
“Rush, my boy.Am I catching you at a bad time?”
Wesley Hopkins, the CEO of Drummond Motors, the most prestigious car manufacturer in the world, and the man that just signed a deal with my brother, Jagger; as far as I’m concerned, can call me if I’m on the shitter.“Never, sir.I’m happy to help.”
“Ah, you Lawson boys are always so kind.I can see why some of my staff have crushes on you.”He chuckles.
“I can assure you, sir, there has never been anything but the best intentions for your staff.”
I can hear the wave and the frown.“Of course, Rush.I would never think anything less.But that’s why I’m calling you.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll cut to the chase, son.I’m aware that you know about Freddie and her little back door conspiracy.”
I knew it.“Yes.Yes, I do.I take it that...Led told you about her.”
“Yes, he did.And don’t be cross with him, either.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from the pending argument that’s itching my tongue.“What can I do for you, sir?”
“Well, I figured that with your expertise in consulting, that you might be able to...shall we say...persuade Freddie to have a change of heart.”
My brow lifts.“Surely, sir, you have staff that can handle that.”
“Yes, I do.But I want you to do it, Rush.You’re the best, and since I can’t hire you on my watch, for obvious reasons, I would like you to handle this...off the clock.”
I inhale slowly and exhale.Why the fuck he wants me to deal with his staff is beyond me.Sure, me and Freddie had a little flirtation at Jagger’s wedding slash conference, but nothing went beyond that.She’s a lying, manipulative bitch that tried to slide Axl Lennon in under his nose, but we were on to her.“Sir, if it’s all the same to you, I’d really rather not.I mean, have you even spoken to your HR staff about her?Have you spoken to her yourself?”
Freddie runs the flagship site here in North Carolina for Wesley.From what I understand, she’s been under his wing at Drummond Motors for a little over a year.Surely, he knows how to handle a loose cannon, even from overseas.She’s dying to suck up to him, and she thinks that by bringing Axl Lennon, the most unhinged race car geek in the world, into the fold, that she'll accomplish this.The problem is that Axl and my family go way back.While he's been my brother Jagger's best friend for as long as I can remember, he's also the biggest alcoholic, drug addict, and media whore and is by no means an asset to a company.It's only because of his sheer genius that he's made himself a billionaire in his own company, where he can get away with such behavior.
But to say no to Mr.Hopkins would be a mistake.And not just for Jagger.As much as Wesley is a decent guy, if word ever got out that I turned him down for a task, no matter what that task was, it would not bode well for me or for my company.Being an astute consultant in my own very successful firm, I know all the threats around me.“I'll see what I can do, sir.”
While Wesley’s motivation for the call is blurry, with this deal between Jagger and Wesley being so fresh, it's best not to rock the boat.“I know that you'll do the right thing, Rush.And I also can trust that you'll be discreet about it.”He says this as a statement not a question, and the tactful way that he says it speaks volumes.This man is not successful by default.He has earned his spot at the top of the totem pole for good reason.He's a good man with good intentions, no exceptions.
“You can count on me, sir.”
He wishes me well and ends the call.I sit there at my desk, fingers interlaced under my chin, staring at the phone contemplatively.If I'm smart, I'll complete this task as quickly as possible.I make up my mind to head over to Drummond Motors immediately, devising a plan in my travels.The half hour trek to the other side of the city gives me ample time to think about the best way to deal with this situation that's a win for all.
… But I could never plan for what's about to happen.
The girl at the front desk has to check herself when I announce my arrival.I forget just for a moment who I am, and who my family is.“Have a seat, Mr.Lawson.Would you like a coffee or something?”
I lift a hand.“Thanks, I'm fine.”
And just as I start to think that I was foolish to show up, unannounced, asking for the director of the site on a whim, the pale faced receptionist directs me to her office.My brain works best under pressure.I've made some of my best decisions on the fly.When I look at a troubled company's mission statement, financial records, and business plans, I have a gift.That's why I have a billion-dollar consulting firm.Companies that are in jeopardy, companies that want to avoid bankruptcy, lawsuits, foreclosure, or companies that just want to expand or go into a different direction, but to do it successfully, come to me.
It's in my blood.That's the only explanation that I have for it.Somehow, like my siblings, I was born with an innate ability to do something better than anyone else and excel at it at an alarming pace.But all this being said, all the education, knowledge, and street smarts that I have acquired over the years, could never prepare me for this moment.“Come in, Rush.This is a pleasant surprise.”Freddie says to me, with a smile on her face reminding me that this woman has eyes for me.
The woman sitting in the guest chair, her expression is unreadable.She peers at me only for a moment.I feel like I just interrupted something intense, and that I've rescued one or both of these ladies.And I start to wonder what else Freddie has up her sleeve to accept an unplanned meeting like this, when she was clearly in the middle of something.By rights, I am inferior to her, seeing as she is employed by Wesley Hopkins.Despite the fact that I am a Lawson, and a billionaire, I am merely a businessman, and I am just affiliated with Lawson enterprises.Whether she realizes this or not is a question that's on my mind right now.
“I can come back later.I didn't expect to actually get to see you, but I thought I'd give it a try.”I have no intention of discussing business in front of this stranger.For all I know, she's an old friend from high school that's come to visit Freddie unexpectedly.They could have had a quarrel over a pair of shoes or something.This is not the time to discuss business.Essentially, I decide to abort my plan for now.
Freddie waves.“Don't be silly, Izzy and I were just about to wrap up.Weren't we, Izzy.”The way she addresses her friend, it sounds more like an accusation then a question.I almost feel like seconds before my arrival, some underground deal just occurred.Like a drug deal, like Freddie is part of some cartel, or maybe they're both involved in a human trafficking ring.No matter what, I'm willing to bet that what just went down, or what was about to go down, doesn't have anything to do with Drummond motors, if Freddie is smart.
