Chapter Fourteen
Autumn
It was not until breakfast was over, and we were heading to the town car, that I realized life had almost become routine. Ayden was exciting and energetic, but he also liked a schedule. I knew it was a hold over from his years in prison. I also appreciated it because I was busy as Knight Holdings Business Manager. It was just hard to reconcile our spontaneous bursts of passion with our everyday life of business meetings and work.
Ayden opened the town car door for me, and I slipped into my place. I watched him walk around the front of the car, so he could shake the driver's hand. He wore a dove gray suit and a crisp white shirt without a tie. I knew he kept it in his briefcase just in case, but the open shirt collar only added to his heady mixture of relaxation and control.
"What do you think about Rome?" I asked, when he slid into the seat next to me.
"I don't think about it. Why?" Ayden arched an eyebrow at me then turned to his phone.
"I've never been, and I was thinking it would be a great getaway plus an adventure all wrapped into one stunning city."
He hummed and nodded as he scrolled through his emails. Obviously, he had forgotten about our plan to get out of town once David's mess had been cleaned up. I slumped back in my seat as we headed off to meet the attorneys.
There was a flash of hope as we arrived at the law offices. "Let's hope this meeting goes well. I've always wanted to see Italy," Ayden said as he opened the door for me.
"There you are," Bryon Shelton, the general consul for Knight Holdings was pacing around the conference table. "I need to get you briefed on this before the other attorney arrives."
Italy seemed a very long way away as I sat down and prepared to take notes. Ayden stood a few chairs away with his arms crossed. He could never sit for long and waited for the last moment.
"There was pending business left at loose ends when Jace passed away," Shelton said. He handed us reports and then sat down in front of his overloaded briefcase.
"Actually, we need to talk to you about Jace's 'passing,'" Ayden said. He gripped the back of a chair.
"Of course, but the other party is understandably impatient," Shelton said.
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Mr. Shelton. I hope this meeting can alleviate my clients' impatience and put their minds at ease." The corporate lawyer was slick in a charcoal suit. His brown hair was carefully parted and shining with oil. "Mr. King, I presume? I represent Adair and Sal Mertz."
I saw Ayden's fingers flex on the back of the leather chair. The mention of the Mertz brothers started a buzzing in my head.
Their lawyer sat down on the opposite end of the table and clicked open his black briefcase. What little it held was meticulously organized, and he laid out a very slim contract.
"I see from your reaction that you recognize the name. I understand it was one of the last deals Mr. Knight struck. I am sorry if that makes this painful, but my clients simply cannot be at loose ends any longer. This matter must be resolved, and we can easily accomplish that today," he said.
"I may recognize the name of your clients, but that does not mean I know anything about this so-called deal," Ayden said. He sat down and pinned the corporate attorney with his full attention.
"Just further proof that my clients have been treated very badly by Knight Holdings."
Ayden snorted. "Treated badly? This isn't a social club. We run a very large corporation. I admit that Jace was much better at hand-holding and sweet talk, but we're in transition, and Knight Holdings is going to be taking a more serious approach to our dealings."
"The Mertz brothers also run a very large corporation. Nearly three times the size of Knight Holdings. You should take that under serious consideration before we continue," their lawyer snapped.
"Gentlemen, I think the last thing we have time for is size comparisons," I said. "Though I believe that Mr. King hit on the most important factor: our corporation has been in transition. A modicum of understanding from your clients would have been most appreciated, but it seems they are too impatient to be polite."
"I believe it was Mr. King himself that said this is not a social club."
Thankfully, Bryon Shelton stepped in as the voice of reason. "Let's move on to the business at hand. Would you like me to brief my clients on the pending business deal, or would you like to give them the overview yourself?"
"Wait, first I would like a description of this corporation. I am not completely unaware of their business reputation," Ayden folded his hands firmly on the table.
"Reputation? I believe, Mr. King, if there is any concern about reputation that you are the sole subject of that conversation," the attorney replied. "Please consider it is your reputation that has caused my client’s impatience. They are not willing to sit back and see this deal pulled apart by an ex-convict and novice businessman."
My heart stopped as I wondered how far Ayden would let the slick lawyer push him. To my surprise, Ayden smirked and did not flex so much as a finger.
"What deal? Mr. Shelton and Ms. Bishop can attest that we have gone over every single piece of current business in all of Knight Holdings, and there is no pending business with your clients," Ayden said.
The Mertz brothers' attorney sighed. "Mr. Knight sold No Limits and the rest of his Las Vegas nightclubs to my clients. The contract was a witnessed verbal agreement. All we require is your signature, and the sale will be complete. Shall we?"
Ayden stood up and buttoned his suit coat. "No. I'm sorry our time here was wasted."
Bryon Shelton cleared his throat and nodded for Ayden to sit back down, but he was ignored. The Mertz brothers' attorney smirked and smoothed out the thin contract in front of him.
"I think we need more information," I said.
Ayden frowned at me and did not sit back down, but neither did he continue out the conference room doors. "I am willing to hear more details if there are any, but I can already tell you at this point that we will not be selling No Limits or any of the Las Vegas night clubs."
"We do need to consider the fact that verbal agreements are binding in business, and if the deal was witnessed, then the Mertz brothers have a case," Shelton said.
"And who exactly is this witness?" Ayden asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
The attorney considered the contract in front of him. "One, David Rooke, Business Manager for Knight Holdings."
Ayden's arms dropped and he chuckled. "Well, then it looks like we too have a case. Mr. Rooke is currently charged with embezzlement and is also under investigation for his involvement in Jace's untimely death."
"Alleged involvement," Shelton interjected.
"That is unfortunate," the slick attorney said, "but that has no bearing on the business arrangement that Mr. Knight himself put in place."
"We are calling your witness into question," Ayden said. "We will not sign and there will be no deal. It’s best that you tell your clients to drop it before we take further action."
Bryon Shelton and I glanced at each other, but there was nothing we could say. The conversation was over and the Mertz brothers' attorney packed up his briefcase and stood up.
At the doors, he turned once more to Ayden and said, "My clients will not take kindly to your threat. Are you sure you do not want to reconsider?"
"The deal is dead," Ayden declared.
I waited until the attorney had enough time to reach the elevators before I threw up my hands and caught Ayden's attention. "That is going to blow back on us for sure. There was no reason you couldn't have handled that better," I snapped.
"With our suspicions? I could hardly be in the same room as their attorney much less pretend we were going to do civil business with the Mertz brothers." Ayden yanked back his chair and dropped into it.
"A shred of diplomacy, and we could have bought enough time to come up with a plan for breaking the verbal agreement." I balled my hands into fists. As much as I wanted to applaud the rigid stance Ayden had taken against the dubious businessmen and their slimy lawyer, I was disgusted at having yet another mess to worry about.
"You forget that it’s my job to speak for Knight Holdings. There is no way I'm going to allow all those nightclubs and all of those employees to change hands. Can you imagine what the Mertz brothers would do to all our loyal employees?" Ayden asked. He slumped back in his chair and tapped his long fingers on the conference table.
"I bet it wasn't half as bad as what they'll do now when they win the rights to the nightclubs after dragging us through court," I snapped. "You forget that you speak for a large corporation and have people like a business manager and legal counsel to help you. You should appreciate that you are not alone and stop overlooking people that are trying to help you."
Ayden's eyes shied away from me and focused on the table, but I saw him bite the inside of his cheek. "Speaking of legal counsel, Shelton, we have a very interesting file we need you to look over."
I inhaled my frustration and forced it out in a long, quiet breath as I handed Bryon Shelton the file. He opened it up and immediately began reading the letter composed by Taylor Martin.
"Jace hired the forensic accountant I suggested," he muttered. "Is this what I think it is?"
"If what you think is that file holds the proof that David embezzled millions of dollars, then yes. But if you look a little deeper, you'll find that Jace tried to force David's resignation. The night Jace was supposed to sign the Mertz brothers' deal, he confronted David with the resignation letter," Ayden explained.
"The date on the letter matches up," Shelton agreed.
"So why would he agree to sell all the Las Vegas nightclubs, including his beloved No Limits, based on a deal David had made?" Ayden asked. "And why is the resignation letter unsigned."
"And Jace Knight dead?" Shelton sat forward and hit the buzzer on the conference room form. "Ella, get me the federal agents, please. I have information they need to see."
I thanked Bryon Shelton and marched to the elevators.
"Oh, you're here. You left so quickly I thought you had run to the ladies' room." Ayden joined me at the elevator.
I quietly concentrated on my breathing. All I could think about was how handing over the folder was supposed to make the David mess go away, but there seemed to be a never-ending fallout. While the law would be on our side in charging David, the Mertz brothers had every right to sue us for wrongful business practices. The only coliseum Ayden and I would be seeing for a long time was the inside of a courtroom.
We stepped into the elevator and once the doors closed Ayden let loose an angry sigh. "I can't believe I forgot there's also a federal investigation. We've got feds coming down on us from the almighty government and gangster businessmen slithering out from under rocks. It’s like the exercise yard all over again."
I crossed my arms tightly and pinched my lips to keep from saying anything out of frustration. Luckily the elevator doors slid open, and I was able to march towards the parking lot.
"Hey, I'm sorry. This is a lot to take in. How about we grab some greasy comfort food and figure out together how we're going to take it all on." Ayden caught my arm before I could step off the sidewalk.
My smile turned to a soundless scream as a car careened around the corner of the building and sped towards us. It swerved close to the sidewalk, the proximity blowing back my hair. If I had stretched my hand out four inches more, the mirror would have hit me.
The car sped off and took my breath with it.
* * * * *
Ayden pulled me back onto the sidewalk and enveloped me in a hug. His heart leapt against my cheek as I drew in a deep, ragged breath. Then one hand tangled in my hair and tipped my face up to his. Laser blue eyes searched my face until the recent distance between us was gone.
"Are you okay? That car was only inches away," he sounded out of breath.
"I'm fine. Good timing." I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed.
Ayden shook his head and pressed my head back to his pounding chest. "I'm so sorry. I've been distracted lately. I let my father get in my head, and this whole business with David is so ugly. All I can think about is that night. I should have gone with Jace to the meeting."
"I could have gone. David wouldn't have found a good reason to keep me away, but I didn't. We can't change it. We can only try to find out the truth." I leaned against Ayden's iron rod strength and tried to convince us both. "We couldn't have known what was going to happen."
"Autumn, please, I know I was pushing you away. I'm sorry," Ayden dropped a kiss on my head.
"I understand. It's okay. We don't have to do everything at full tilt."
We had to pry ourselves apart as our town car driver sprinted up the sidewalk to us. He skidded to a stop and looked us both over, one hand pressed hard to his heaving chest.
"I saw the whole thing. That car deliberately swerved at you! I thought, I thought it was going to be the worst. Are you okay?" he asked.
"Shaken up, but not a scratch on us," Ayden said. He clapped the panicked driver on the shoulder.
He bent over and gripped his kneecaps, pulling himself together. Ayden took that opportunity to grab my hand and pull me so that he stood between me and the curb. I almost laughed at the protective move but standing out there made me feel exposed and jumpy.
Our driver finally stood up and straightened his navy blue coat. "I got the license plate number. Do you want me to call the police for you?" he asked.
Ayden's blue eyes lit on mine as I gave a tiny headshake. "No, we are going to look into it privately," he told him.
"Take you home then?"
I wrapped my arm through Ayden's. "No, thanks. Is that diner on 40th still open?"
"Best milkshakes," our driver nodded. He opened the door, and Ayden held my hand as I got in. I was grateful as my knees were still shaking.
The drive was quick with our driver tense and alert. He smoothly cut through traffic, the adrenaline from earlier making his senses sharper. After the record time trip through traffic, my knees were still shaking when Ayden opened the town car door for me.
We ducked inside the narrow door of the diner and found a vinyl-seat booth in the back. Tucked away in the booth at the back of a dive was comforting, but the smell of the all-day breakfast was even better.
"You have to try the French toast," I told Ayden.
He scrubbed his chin and looked everywhere but the menu. His lips quirked in a short smile as the waitress brought a fresh pot of coffee, but as soon as she turned to find cream, he scowled again.
"What are you thinking about? That scowl is going to sour my stomach," I said.
He chuckled and shifted in the squeaky booth. "Sorry. I just can't help but think this whole deal with the Mertz brothers is more than just greedy business. A real estate grab I get, but why are they still pushing for it? It feels like they want Knight Holdings under their thumb and will do anything to get it."
"No, you're not serious." I dropped my menu to the tabletop.
"Who else would send a car to scare us? Who else knew we were at that meeting and leaving at that time?" Ayden asked.
I had no good answers so it was a relief when the waitress reappeared with a small pitcher of cream and a list of the daily specials. I ordered the French toast and was not surprised when Ayden ordered a cheeseburger platter.
The food came, and he had a handful of fries before I articulated the thought that had been circling in my head. "You know, there is only one person that can really shed some light on all of this."
Ayden dumped ketchup on his plate. "Too bad I don't believe in psychics. I'm sure even Jace's spirit has a lot to say about the Mertz brothers. Do you think we should hire a private investigator to put us in contact with the Mertz brothers' driver, or someone else who could have told us what happened at that meeting?"
I poured extra syrup on my French toast before I said, "We need to talk to David."
"Oh, see I thought you said there was a person we needed to talk to, not a weasel."
"Ayden, I'm serious. He's the only one that can tell us what the Mertz brothers are really like."
He rolled his eyes and pretended to be very interested in the golf game playing on the flickering television in the corner. His little grimaces of disgust had nothing to do with the delicious food; he was imagining the location in which he would have to visit David.
"I'll go. You don't need to set foot in another prison," I told him.
Ayden shook his head and took an enormous bite of his cheeseburger. Around it he said, "No, I'll talk to him. He's not just going to volunteer the information we want."
"And you don't think I can convince David it’s in his best interest to share everything he knows with us?" I slammed down my knife and fork.
"Whoa, hold on. Why are you so upset?" Ayden paused mid-bite.
"How do you think I survived all these years? Do you think I just drifted around and waited for you to come save me? Believe it or not, I was a successful business person before you showed up," I snapped.
"Alright, alright. You can negotiate. You can handle yourself. All I'm saying is that I would like to be the person that talks to David."
I shook my head and started to get up from the booth. "I know you want to be CEO, and I know you have a lot to prove, but you're never going to get either if you don't start believing in your team."
Ayden grabbed my wrist and pulled me back into the booth. "Autumn, I'm sorry. You're right. That is exactly why Jace was such a great leader; he knew how to work with a team. That's a skill I'm still pretty rusty at."
I pulled my wrist loose but slid back into my seat and picked up my fork. I took a huge bite of French toast to prevent me from saying anything else before I had thought it through.
My silence turned out to be an excellent tactic because Ayden heaved a big sigh and confessed. "I worry about you. Too much. More than anyone else. After today, that car, how am I supposed to let you out of my sight? Autumn, I don't want to lose you."
"Protecting and underestimating me are two different things," I snapped.
"You're right." Ayden's blue eyes lit up as he dug out his phone. "And I have the perfect solution. Alan? It’s Ayden King. I'm going to put you on speaker phone."
I did not have time to ask why he was calling Jace's former bodyguard before Ayden laid the phone on the table between us.
"I'm wondering if you're available for a private security job. I'm here with Autumn Bishop, and we have reasons to believe that some unsavory people may be targeting her," Ayden said.
"Harassment, bodily harm, or other?" Alan asked gruffly.
"None of the above," I tried to say, but Ayden drowned me out.
"If we knew, we wouldn't be calling you, would we? Now I'm sure you know that she's going to protest, but would you be willing to shadow her for a few days until we get more information?" Ayden asked.
"Alan, really, this is just an overreaction--"
"Yes, of course. I'll meet you at the house in an hour," Alan said, and the line cut off.
"Succinct. I like that about him." Ayden sat back and sipped his soda.
"So great. Now that you've assigned me a babysitter, I can head over to talk with David," I said. I snatched up my purse.
"Finish your breakfast, please. I'm doing the best I can. Now at least I'll know that if I'm not with you, Alan is keeping you safe. We both have a lot of work to do besides this whole nightmare with David and the Mertz brothers."
"Work, that's all we do," I muttered. I knew it was ridiculous to say after I had made a stink over being an independent businesswoman, but Ayden was getting under my skin. It was impossible to tell if I was the one he really wanted, or if I was just the easiest and most available. The thought killed my appetite.
Ayden had not so much as looked at another woman. Up until now, I had taken it as a romantic connection. Now I worried it was because I was convenient and fit neatly into his busy work schedule. Was he taking advantage of me as well as underestimating me?
I picked up my purse again and sneered when he looked worried. "I'm just going to the ladies' room."
In the tiny diner bathroom, I tried to talk some sense into myself. I thought back over the conversations Ayden and I had had on topics other than work. I had to reach far into my memory for snippets. On the other hand, we both loved our work and before Ayden, work had always been central to my life. It was good to have a partner that felt the same.
The trouble was I had no idea how Ayden felt. He was quick to say the right thing, but it was impossible to tell the level of emotion underneath it. I understood why he was not quick to open up, but it was causing me no end of confusion.
One thing did not have me confused. Ayden was trying to relegate me to the role of helpless damsel. I scrubbed my hands and snatched two paper towels. He needed to see that I was not helpless and not about to quietly go sit in a cage and let him deal with everything. I had always taken care of myself.
I peeked out the bathroom door and saw Ayden still sitting in our booth. His black hair gleamed as he leaned over the table and demolished his cheeseburger. He was facing the front door.
Behind me was a narrow hall, a supply closet, and the rubber bumper door to the kitchen. The diner was small, so I slipped through to the kitchen and out the back door in just a few steps. Two blocks over and I could easily hail a cab and go talk to David.
I rounded the dumpster and clapped both hands over my mouth to stop a scream. Ayden was standing there with his arms crossed and a devilish grin on his face.
"Fancy meeting you here," he said. "I gotta say, I do admire your spunk."
Before I could squeak out an angry word, Ayden strode forward and caught me in his arms. His lips seared mine in a blazing kiss. The unexpected move and instant heat between us erased everything else.
I lifted on my tiptoes and devoured his kisses, racking my hands behind his waist, so I could press myself against every inch of him.
He groaned and pushed me back. "Not here," he said on a ragged breath.
I smiled. No matter how closely Ayden kept his emotions in check, there was one way I knew to make him lose control.