Chapter Eleven

Belle

The beeping of Skype buzzed to life as the screen flickered before me. I’d been so busy with all the negotiations with Drake that I hadn’t been able to talk to my family. We’d spent the morning going over figures. He wasn’t happy yet and could maybe meet us as far as sixty cents on the dollar, but we’d have to go back to the drawing board if we wanted the full eighty that Carol and I were hoping for. I hadn’t broached what roles Dad, Carol, or I would play after the merger. I didn’t want any of us to be just figureheads, remnants of the old company shoved in an office, but never given any projects to work on. That would come later. I still had to figure out a way to slash and hack or butter up the budget—whatever I could—in order to increase what Drake was willing to pay us.

“Hey,” I said, offering a neutral smile and hoping I didn’t look as glowing and sexy as I felt. A lot of sisters had a radar for that sort of thing, for when you just got laid or did something wrong or both. I didn’t want Carol to realize that I had gone that far and twice now with Drake. “How is everything?”

Carol sighed and offered me a tight grin back. “Actually, better than I’d have thought. Yesterday, well, I don’t know what kind of arrangement you worked out but Drake did give us an advance on merger funds. I think he must be leaning that way and seeing the rest as details.”

Really? Why hadn’t he said anything to me? Had all his “overseas business” been just a smokescreen?

“That’s good. I still can’t get him to come up yet for more than sixty cents on the dollar, but I’m going to see what I can do. I figure if I keep working at it then there’s nothing I can’t get him to do.”

Carol’s posture went rigid. “I bet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Belle, you know what it means, even if I don’t want to put a fine point on it. You’ve only been there about forty-eight hours, and he’s sending advance payments for a deal he couldn’t really stand when he was in the States. I… you didn’t have to go that far.”

I blushed, wishing my thoughts weren’t so easy to read. My sister had always been able to read me like an open book and there was a reason why. “I didn’t sleep with him.”

“I can tell, Belle. You’ve been grinning since we started like a kid who got a pony for Christmas. I can’t believe you. Do you have that little self-respect?”

I swallowed and steadied myself. Whatever was happening between me and Drake was complicated, and even I couldn’t explain it most of the time, even to myself, but Carol didn’t have a right to judge it.

“I know you’re still frustrated that Drake didn’t ask for you to be here, Carol, that you couldn’t be the one to be in talks,” I started, trying to keep my voice level and hoping it was working. I couldn’t be sure because it felt like I was seeing red. “I’m sorry about that.”

“I’m the better strategist for the company,” she countered.

The more ruthless one, you mean.

“I know that, sis.”

“You’re better than this, Belle, than to negotiate using your—”

“Don’t finish that sentence because it’s not like that.” Okay, it’s a little like that. “We’ve been discussing figures all morning and going over spreadsheets. This is not 9 ½ Weeks today.”

Technically true. We hadn’t had time to play yet, although he promised he had something planned for tonight in the playroom and I couldn’t wait.

“I’m just so disappointed.”

“I’m not sleeping with him,” I countered, but even I could tell how tinny my voice was, how thin the lie sounded.

“Dad’s going to be so disappointed, too.”

I shook my head and held my chin up. “Carol, I know you’re my big sister and you’re trying to look out for me, but what I’m doing here is very complicated. It’s not about sex or about manipulating it to save Mom and Dad, but whatever happens for this month is frankly between me and Drake. That was the way the setup was arranged, and that’s the way it should be.”

“You’re better than this.”

“I’m not doing anything wrong,” I said, my voice loud and clear.

That much I knew was true. Dad might need Drake’s money, and I might love the orgasms he gave me, but it was far deeper than that. He’d saved me, protected me from the worst night of my life, and he needed me, too, needed someone to reach him in this exile he’d created for himself, from the way his days in Iraq haunted him.

No, there was no way that Carol could possibly understand that.

“Fine, but it won’t do. You know that sixty on the dollar is not what we want. Even with his upfront generosity,” she said, lengthening the words as she spoke. “Even with that, we need to meet that eighty cents compromise.”

“But of course, Mein Fuhrer,” I said. “Now can you please put Mom on the line?”

“Sure, but don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Belle. Drake’s a shark, and he preys on women. Everyone knows that.”

I kept the smile plastered on my face, trying to work out my best Stepford/Barbie look so that when Mom did get on the line, I could sell the “all is normal and fine” image. However, it took everything I had not to bite back with a snarky remark. After all, the Carol I knew would do anything to keep the business going and to follow the bottom line. She was just being hypocritical and overprotective. I knew how to take care of myself through all of this; I did.

Mom sat down before the computer, and I changed my demeanor from frustration to genuine happiness. Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed healthier today, as if she had more energy. Her skin didn’t seem quite as pale.

“Hi, honey, how are you?”

“Mom, seriously, how are you? Because you look really good,” I said, working to make sure that I controlled the conversation. I didn’t want her to ask questions about me and Drake that I couldn’t answer yet. A good defense was the best offense, after all. “Did you start a new medicine?”

Mom nodded. “With the advance Mr. Drake provided, I was able to get into the trial yesterday. I took the first dose this morning. I don’t know exactly if it’s early enough to see results, but I feel hopeful for the first time in a while so that probably helps, too.”

“Maybe a little bit of self-fulfilling prophecy?” I asked, my good cheer spreading through my voice. I was so glad that Dad hadn’t wasted any time in contacting the trial docs and getting her the help she needed. “Anyway, you look amazing and I’m so glad you’re happy.”

Mom nodded and then paused. “You look well. The sun favors you, honey, because you are definitely getting quite the tan.”

“We went out snorkeling two days ago and I maybe got a bit too much sun. I have a bit of a red spot on my shoulders actually, but it’s gorgeous here. I think you’d really like it. Maybe if the therapy does well enough, you’d want to travel here someday. Not gonna lie, I completely recommend it.”

Mom laughed. “Well, have you swam with dolphins yet?”

“I haven’t done everything,” I said, hoping I didn’t blush thinking about the double entendre involved. “We’ve been locked in negotiations today, trying to figure out how to make the merger best for both parties. We did make progress, but not enough on our side. It’ll be a long month.”

Mom smiled a beatific look I hadn’t seen on her face in far, far too long. “Well, you make sure to pace yourself and not to let Mr. McManus boss you around. You need time to rest, too. It’s been very stressful on you, hard, too. You deserve to see the island and enjoy the sun as well, honey.”

“Trust me, Mom,” I replied, winking at her. “I’m having the trip of a lifetime. Now, tell me more about your doctors.”