Page 43 of The Tempo of Truth (The Monsters Duet #3)
Winnie
I looked up at the sound of someone knocking on my office door.
I’d been buried in contracts waiting for final approval for the entire day.
I was supposed to leave for a site visit with Alistair in twenty minutes, but he texted to let me know he was running late.
Going out and looking at the properties we were going to buy and overseeing the steps of a development were the highlights of this job.
I always loved seeing the beautiful architecture and innovative design that were hallmarks of Halliday Inc.
under Alistair’s guidance. When Win was in charge, the business focused more on the buying and selling of the land on which future projects were going to be built.
Now, I juggled both parts of our rapidly expanding business, but my first career love would always be more in line with Alistair’s vision.
If I wasn’t the CEO, I’d open my interior design studio and focus on making things beautiful instead of profitable.
Jeremiah entered the office, an annoyed frown tugging his eyebrows downward. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but Oliver Byrd is here unannounced. He’s demanding to see you. I told him you were getting ready to head offsite. He’s insistent. Do you want me to have security remove him?”
I tapped the end of the pen in my hand against my chin. “You can bring him to my office. Let him know I’ve only got ten minutes before I need to leave.” My assistant still looked perturbed. To reassure him, I asked him to make sure Helio or one of his guys was nearby in case I needed them.
I knew exactly why Oliver was suddenly trying to beat my door down. Honestly, I expected him to be waiting at the front door when we opened.
I didn’t stand up when the irate man stormed into my office. I kept the pen in my hand, spinning it between my fingers to show I was completely unbothered by his posturing.
“I’m busy. What brings you here without an appointment, Oliver?” My voice was icy even to my ears. There was no way the man standing across from me could miss the frost.
“Are you behind the sudden rush for a safety and security inspection on every Byrd hotel and resort? All our establishments are in chaos at the moment. We have to cancel reservations left and right to bring our older properties up to code. We’re losing millions of dollars every day.
This is sabotage, Winnie. And it’s not in anyone’s best interest.”
I smiled slightly, but there was no warmth in the gesture, and I was sure he could see the deeply rooted disgust in my judgmental gaze.
“Once the merger goes through, the reputation of your hotels will directly reflect on the Halliday name. I don’t see anything wrong with making sure that the product we’re about to acquire is worth the amount of money we’re sinking into it.
Your organization should have done a thorough upgrade of all your properties before approaching us to do business. ”
I watched Oliver grind his teeth together as he scowled at me.
“Alistair never initiated a top-to-bottom assessment when he initiated the merger. If he wanted us to upgrade our properties, that should have been on the table during negotiations. Some of those buildings are from the turn of the century. Bringing them up to modern code is going to cost a fortune.”
I tapped my chin with the end of the pen and told him, “My uncle initiated the merger, but I’m the one who is going to close the deal.
I have full discretion when it comes to signing off on the final terms agreement.
If your side doesn’t want to follow through with the suggested renovations, I have no problem tabling the cooperation and going in a different direction. ”
Oliver stepped forward and slapped his palms onto my desk.
Frustration poured off him in waves, and I could see the barely contained anger in his eyes.
I knew sending safety inspectors to his properties was going to rile up their side of the deal.
His board of directors was already up in arms that mine would effectively absorb their company.
Of course, they wouldn’t abide losing a shit ton of money before getting paid for the transfer.
At this point, they were hardly gaining anything in the merger because the investigation and refurbishment were going to bleed them dry.
Oliver swore and glared at me even harder. “This is a big mistake, Winnie. If you tank this deal for personal reasons, no one in the industry will ever take you seriously. If you let this merger fall apart, the failure will haunt you for your entire career.”
I sighed while looking at the time on my phone.
“Funny that it’s my personal reasons that’ll be looked down upon and not yours.
” I dropped the pen in my hand and leaned forward until I was standing behind the desk, bending over slightly with my hands on the top.
“If you keep going after Ky, me purposely setting you back a few months and forcing your company to open the vault are going to be the least of your worries. If you don’t leave my family alone, I will destroy yours. ”
Oliver’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about? I’ve never interacted with your son’s father.” He couldn’t even bring himself to use Ky’s name, which I found very irritating.
“Don’t play dumb, Oliver. Even if you didn’t set Ky up in the park, you didn’t stop whoever it was within your ranks.
If the plan to tie Ky up in a murder charge had worked, I would’ve dragged all of you to hell right alongside him.
” I sniffed slightly and didn’t bother to hide my disgust. “I’m insulted that no one from your side was worried about my retaliation.
I know you wouldn’t make these sorts of moves if you were still dealing with my uncle.
I’m sick and tired of being underestimated.
” I picked up my phone and gestured to the door.
“That’s all the time I have for you today.
I have another engagement. Let me know once your operations are back to being functional, and we can finalize the takeover. ”
Oliver stared at me for a tense moment. He seemed stuck in one spot and didn’t move until I came around the desk. I was focused on messaging Alistair to tell him I was on my way to the underground garage.
“Let go of me!” I snapped as Oliver grabbed my arm and pulled me to face him. He loomed over me, his eyes furious and his chest heaving in aggravation. I tried to shake myself free, but he just tightened his hold.
“Do you think I’m a fool, Winnie?” His fingers dug into my skin, and his entitlement nearly choked me.
“I know you only agreed to see me outside of our business cooperation to divert attention away from that worthless soccer player. No one gets to use me like that. Do you have any idea how lucky you are that I paid attention to you and didn’t mind courting you?
Aside from your name, what do you have to offer?
You’re a single mother. We both know you never turn down dessert, or stepped into a gym.
Your family history reads like a horror novel, and that’s not even mentioning the mental illness that’s been passed down.
The only thing you bring to the table is an inheritance.
You have no right to think you’re some sort of prize. ”
Since he wouldn’t release me, I kicked him in the shin with the toe of my heel and wrenched my arm free.
I backed into my desk and reached for the intercom and called for Jeremiah and Helio.
Once Oliver heard me mention my head of security’s name, he seemed to snap out of the aggressive haze he’d gotten caught up in.
He watched me rub the bruise forming on my arm and had enough wherewithal to appear regretful.
“Winnie…” He stepped toward me, but I bolted to put my heavy desk between us.
He dragged a hand down his face and apologized.
“I’m sorry. None of my actions just now were appropriate.
I just have so much riding on the deal going through.
It’s making me crazy. If someone from my family was directly involved in trying to set your son’s father up, I promise to handle it appropriately.
My hands are tied if it was a board member I have no sway with. Surely you understand that?”
The office door was practically thrown open, and my assistant and Helio rushed in.
Hearing the last of Oliver’s words, my head of security scoffed.
“Don’t worry about digging the mastermind out.
My team is already working on it. The kid who died in the park has a family, and they deserve justice.
They’re itching to go public with all the details, and Byrd Enterprises won’t escape the public scrutiny unscathed.
Your total disregard for human life is disgusting, and it’s going to be a PR nightmare for your company once the news breaks. ”
Oliver looked at Helio with narrowed eyes. Seeing that he clearly overstayed his welcome, he headed to the door. “I won’t be looked down upon by someone who can’t even afford one of my ties.”
He stormed out of the office in a huff, leaving Helio shaking his head. He made a tsk sound and muttered, “That tie is ugly as hell. I wouldn’t spend a dime on it even if I could afford it.”
Jeremiah snickered and stepped forward to touch the angry mark on my arm. “Are you okay? I can’t believe he grabbed you hard enough to leave a mark.”
I snorted. “I can.” It was all because I was a woman. No one would ever dare touch Win or Alistair in such a way. “But I won’t let him get close enough to grab me again.”
Helio grunted. “Do you want me to give him a not-so-friendly warning to back off?”
I shook my head. “Stay focused on bringing down whoever set up that scene in the park. Dragging them in front of the press will have a bigger impact and let their side know we won’t stand for intimidation or dirty tactics.”