Page 67

"Ah, yes? What did they say?" Mr. Jordan and Mr. Winkle, together with Donovan Hayden Ellesmere, formed the board of directors of theElecar Corporation. I had tasked Francis with inviting both of them to a meeting with me. This would give me the opportunity to make it clear to these gentlemen once again how superior my product, the product ofCarco Batteries, was to anything Cameron was producing.
And after that, hopefully, the gentlemen would realize that their chairman was making decisions based solely on personal interests and not considering the well-being of his company at all.
"They weren't particularly talkative," Francis explained now. "But in the end, they agreed to a meeting. In a week."
I clenched my fist in my pocket.
Yes!
That was all I had wanted.
"Well done," I said to Francis.
He looked pleased with the praise but still didn't seem entirely happy. "Is there something else?" I wanted to know.
"They said that the matter... well, that it was Donovan Hayden Ellesmere's personal business. I'm not quite sure, but I think I heard that they were in favor of awardingCarco Batteriesthe contract for the test vehicles, but then couldn't assert themselves."
That was indeed not particularly good news. If Donovan's colleagues hadn't been able to make themselves heard so far and were being steamrolled by Donovan, then that would continue to be the case in the future.
What else could I do?
Cameron absolutely could not get the contract. And Donovan Hayden Ellesmere didn't deserve to succeed with his game so easily either. Did he think the world belonged to him? And me along with it?
The vein at my temple began to pulse. Not a good sign.
I clenched my fists again.
Think, Carter, think. What's the smartest way to proceed to push through your interests?
"Do you need anything else, Mr. Jenkins?" Francis's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
"Not at the moment, thank you," I replied distractedly. "But I might need you again shortly." I still didn't have the slightest idea of how to bring Donovan to his knees. Sure, there was still the meeting with Abigail that I had promised Donovan. But I had no illusions about that. I wouldn't give Abigail what she wanted, and therefore Donovan wouldn't give me what I wanted either.
I had to find another way.
"I need some peace to think," I announced. Francis nodded. He knew what that meant: I didn't want to be disturbed. No visitors. No calls. Nothing. No one.
"Very well, Mr. Jenkins," he murmured and opened the office door.
"Carter!!!" Francis hadn't even left the office when the first disturbance already stormed through the door, greeting me in a volume that was more reminiscent of a ship's horn than a human voice. I winced painfully. How had I ever been able to tolerate that voice?
"Abigail," I replied, sounding as unenthusiastic as I actually was.
"I'm so happy to see you again," Abigail now squealed.
Francis stood waiting at the door, looking at me questioningly. A truly good man. He would escort Abigail out of the office if I gave him that instruction. I briefly considered how to proceed. As delighted as Abigail was to see me again, I was equally undelighted. I had wanted to postpone the meeting with her. Now she had thrown a wrench in my plans.
I growled.
Now I had no choice but to talk to Abigail. If I asked Francis to escort Abigail out, she would interpret it as being kicked out and cry to her father. That wouldn't improve my chances of getting the contract. If I talked to Abigail instead... I could even claim to Donovan that I had met with Abigail earlier than planned. Though it was on her initiative, but still.
Talking to Abigail now would be like getting a root canal at the dentist. Extremely unpleasant in the short term, but hopefully crowned with success in the long run.
I nodded briefly to Francis.
"Abigail. What a surprise," I now greeted my ex. That wasn't even a lie. I was surprised. In all the time since the breakup, Abigail and I hadn't seen each other once. So why was she coming here now?
"Dad told me the good news, Carter."