Page 5 of The Mastermind

Susan glared at the journal, and something flashed in her eyes. Perhaps it was anger aimed at me and not her son. She hadn’t expected me to be armed with this kind of detailed evidence.

Good.

Tracy glanced over at Susan, who continued looking at my journal.

“Can we see the journal? I need some examples for when I speak to him,” Susan asked, holding out her hand as though I’d hand it over easily.

With clammy hands, I held the journal to my chest. “I can give you a copy . . . or two, but not my original.”

Someone else in my position might have given her the journal for fear of losing her job. If they fired me tomorrow, I’d be okay with the money I’d saved up. I’d take a day off, then set up an appointment with my lawyer. This scenario had played out in my head many times. Also, I could dedicate the time off to my jewelry hobby, something that gave me joy and not this stressful mess from the corporate world.

“Please provide us with two copies as soon as you can,” Susan said. “There’s a lot going on at Lafayette Marketing, and I’d like to resolve this incident as soon as possible.”

“I’ll get it to you before I leave today.”

Susan widened her eyes at my efficiency.

I didn’t play games with my career. One of my former colleagues had it worse. The guy at her workplace followed her home and raped her. The trauma forced her to switch careers. She’d been in therapy ever since. I would not allow that to happen to me.

I had to nip it in the bud before it grew into something monstrous. I’d yank the damn roots out if I had it my way.

“We’re done now,” Susan said. “I suggest we keep this issue within these walls. No one else should know.”

“I’m a professional, and I take my job seriously. That’s why I requested this meeting a while ago. I haven’t been able to sleep and wake up every day worrying about my job. Would I have a great or awful day today? What would Lawrence say or do to me next? Would he grope me as he walks by and dismiss it as an accident? Has anyone else witnessed his heinous behavior but is afraid to speak up? All these thoughts whirl in my headevery single day. Do you know how that makes me feel?”

No one answered.

Tension pulsed in the room, and the silence became unbearable. I rose from my chair. “I’ll go get you those copies now.”

“Thank you, Audri,” Tracy said. “We’ll get back to you soon.”

No comment from Susan.

I shut the door behind me, blew out a breath, and headed back to my office. I replayed the comical scene in my head. Comical in that everyone in that room was an actor on a stage. I played a role required for me to win a case against my employer should I need to take them to court. Susan took on the role to ensure I wouldn’t smear her family name. Tracy was stuck between doing the right thing and trying to save her job.

They hadn’t asked how I was doing. They hadn’t asked if there was anything they could do to help me while they investigated. They didn’t care.

My cry for help meant nothing to Susan. She just wanted the issue gone.

A headache pounded in my temple. I pinched the space between my eyes, hoping it would ease the stress level.

Back in my office, I removed the tiny recording device from inside my bra and tucked it into my purse. If and when I needed evidence, I’d use it.

CHAPTERTWO

REMINGTON

I had one mission today:finalize this acquisition of Lafayette Marketing. Once that was checked off my list, I could focus on other projects on my agenda. Lafayette was just one company that needed capital, and I was that man who could offer them their salvation. I could save them from their demise. Some people viewed me as the conqueror, the destroyer, but I liked to think I was the savior. If I hadn’t bought the company, most of the employees wouldn’t have a job right now.

Remington Starke was their savior, the mastermind of my successful empire.

I desire. I conspire. I acquire.

Lafayette Marketing was like the hundreds of companies I had purchased, rectified, and sold for a lot of money. There was nothing personal about the procedure. I didn’t get attached to any of my purchases.

I’d learned a long time ago attachments were like parasites that clung to your flesh. They penetrated your blood with their poison, creating an invisible disease that made you dependent on them. I depended on no one but me. No attachments equaled no diseases, an easy equation steeped with common sense.

I walked around the conference room while my lawyer, Howard Wilson, and George Lafayette chatted about the pending documents. Howard had already met with George’s lawyer, Nelson Wolanski, a few days ago. Today’s meeting didn’t require his presence.

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