Chapter Forty-Three
I'd been finalizing the last parts of my plan for dinner that night. I'd wanted to do a quick run through of how the evening's events would unfold and go through the information I'd gathered.
"Where'd Leah go?" I asked Norma.
"Darlin’, I haven't got a clue," she shrugged as she continued opening the mail. "Not my day to watch the girl."
I sighed loudly and headed down to the warehouse where the best I could get out of Burt was the fact that Leah had said she'd had some errands to run. Her office was empty and there was nothing written on her calendar. I tried her cell phone, but it went straight to voicemail.
"Dammit, Leah!" I muttered as I took the back stairs up to my office. "Where are you?"
I marched back into the office and gathered up the files I'd been working on before heading out. I'd asked Norma to join us for dinner, partly as a witness, but also as a backup for all the information we'd spent the week gathering. I knew that when Lincoln and Sloan started pushing my buttons, I'd need backup in the form of some logical, fact-based input that neither one of them could dispute. Norma and Leah were my backups, but without Leah here to go through the information, Norma had become a very important part of the plan.
"You'll be there before 8:00, right?" I said as I walked through the front office where Norma was taking care of the last bits of the day's business.
"You can count on me, darlin'," she said with a wide smile. "Wouldn't miss little Miss Snotty Pants getting her comeuppance for the world."
"Norma, you're a piece of work," I laughed. "Just remember that you and Leah are my backups if things get rough."
"Darlin', I've got family, too," she said with a knowing nod of the head. "We'll have your back."
I had Jimmy make two stops on the way home and then drop me off before sending him back to the office in case Leah showed up. I cursed myself for not having hired a separate car for her when she and Riley had moved in, and I made a mental note to fix that as soon as possible. If I'd done it sooner, I'd know where she was right now and wouldn't be worrying about whether she was going to show up or not.
My mother had prepared the dining room for our guests, and it looked just as I had hoped it would.
"You've outdone yourself, Mother," I said kissing her cheek as she arranged flowers in a vase on the sideboard.
"I'm glad you approve," she smiled. "I did my best to set up what you wanted. I've got a kitchen full of people preparing dinner, and the cook is not very happy about that."
"I'll make it up to her," I said as I scanned the room and made sure to take note of where my mother had set the place cards. "Norma will be here by 7:30 to do a quick run through of the program, but I can't find Leah anywhere. Have you heard from her?"
"No, dear, I haven't," my mother said. "But I wouldn't worry. She'll be here. Of that I'm sure."
"Well, if you're sure, then I'll trust your instincts," I said warily. I wasn't entirely convinced, but there wasn't anything I could do about it now.
I ran into Riley as I was just about to head upstairs to shower and dress. She was red cheeked and excited about something she held in her hand as she raced through the downstairs toward the dining room and my mother.
"Betty! Betty! Look what I found!" she called as she collided with me. "Oof! Sorry, Jack!"
"What have you got there?" I asked looking down at her cupped hands.
"A frog!" she cried as she opened her hands and a tiny green reptile crawled up her fingers before launching itself at me. "Jack! Watch out!"
Instinctively I reached up to brush it off my shirt, but the frog was a step ahead of me. It launched itself into the air again before attaching to the entryway wall.
"My frog!" Riley cried as she ran to grab the little green jumper. Before she could put her hands over it, it had climbed up the wall out of her reach. "Jack, he's getting away!"
"Indeed, he is," I grinned as I stepped around her and quickly put a cupped hand over the frog to prevent its escape. "Help me out here and get a sheet of paper or something flat so I can scoop him up without losing him again."
Riley ran to the front entryway and pulled a page from one of her notebooks. She rushed back and handed it to me. I quickly slipped it under the frog as I kept my hand covering it. Riley followed me to the back door and opened it. We walked out to the wall surrounding the patio where I released the stunned creature. He sat breathing and blinking for a few moments as if trying to get his bearings, and then launched himself off the wall and disappeared into the bright green grass on the lawn.
"Nice rescue," Riley said, sticking her hand out for me to shake. "You're a hero."
"Uh, not so much," I said, gripping her hand and shaking it firmly.
"To that frog you are," she said solemnly, looking out at the lawn before adding, "And to me and Leah, too."
"You like living here?" I asked, sidestepping my heroism—real or imagined.
"I love living here," Riley said. "It's calm, and there's always food in the fridge. No one yells at me to take them to the bodega for beer or cigarettes, and I don't have to fight with anyone to get my school work done."
"I see," I said, trying to imagine what kind of life she'd been living before they came to stay with us. "So, you wouldn't mind staying here?"
"I'd like that very, very much," Riley said hesitating a little. "But I'm not sure if Leah would like it. You might want to ask her."
"You don't think she'd want to live here?" I asked.
"I don't think she would want to leave Gram all alone," Riley shrugged and then grinned, "But what do I know? I'm a kid."
I laughed as she ran off to her room, leaving me standing on the patio, holding a sheet of paper. I stared out at the perfectly manicured lawn.
"Something funny?" Leah said as she walked out onto the patio.
"You're back," I said trying to not show my irritation that she'd been out of touch all day. I looked closely at her. Her eyes were red, and she looked somber. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, fine. Sorry I was gone all day. I had to take care of some things," she said, as she looked me over. "What's with the paper?"
"I was a hero to a frog Riley let loose in the house," I said as I folded the sheet and tucked it in my jacket pocket.
"I see," she nodded in a way that indicated her thoughts were elsewhere. "I know I missed the run down for this evening's dinner. Do you want to go through it now?"
I looked at her and realized she was in no shape to do a run-through of the plan. What she needed was a hot shower and some time to pull herself together before dinner.
"No, go shower and get ready for dinner," I said casually. "You know the gist of it, so I'm sure it'll all be fine. Besides, Norma is coming to dinner, too. She can act as another backup in case things get out of hand."
Leah nodded, then turned and went upstairs to get ready. I had the urge to call to her and ask what had happened, but I stopped myself.
We didn't have time for an emotional crisis with Sloan and Lincoln arriving in an hour.
*
, my mother, and I were having a drink in the living room, trying hard not to talk about what was about to happen. I didn't want anything to tip off our guests. I focused on maintaining light chatter while we waited for Leah to come downstairs and join us.
"Oh my!" Norma drawled. "My God, girl, you clean up good!"
I turned and felt my breath catch in my throat as Leah entered the room. She was wearing a midnight blue velvet dress that hugged her curves and made her eyes look even bluer than usual. She'd put on mascara and lipstick and pulled her hair up away from her face in the front. It flowed down her back.
"You look lovely," I said as she crossed the room and accepted a glass of champagne from my mother.
"Indeed you do," my mother said. "I'm glad I told my seamstress to take that dress in a little more!"
"Thank you so much, Betty," Leah said as she hugged her. She turned and looked at me as she held her glass up. "And thank you, Jack. Thank you for organizing this evening and for making sure that all of us are here tonight."
"Thank you, darling," my mother said as she hugged me. "This will be such a nice evening."
I felt slightly guilty that I was about to cause my brother a whole world of pain, but I also knew that he deserved it. I'd told Leah that we'd keep the affair to ourselves since there was really no reason to destroy Jessie in front of everyone. Besides, I had a feeling that once Lincoln was no longer useful, Sloan would drop him like a hot potato and move on to the next rich and powerful man who could help fuel her career. She was ruthless that way.
A few minutes later, Martin led our guests into the living room where I greeted each of them with a glass of champagne and a lively toast.
"Well, isn't this a lovely evening you've planned, Jack," Sloan said as she linked her arm with mine and pressed her body against me. She was wearing a form fitting dress that looked like liquid gold stretched across her perfectly proportioned body. I wanted to shove her away, but I knew better than to do that before the main event. So, I smiled and nodded.
"This is quite the dinner you've set up, Jack," Lincoln commented as he peeked into the dining room and saw the elaborate set up. "It's good of you to invite us."
"Of course, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have here for such a momentous occasion," I said as I moved away from Sloan and grabbed the champagne bottle. "Tonight's a night for celebrating! More champagne!"
I refilled the glasses as I kept an eye on Sloan who had sidled up to my mother and was quietly whispering in her ear. Despite knowing about Sloan's treachery, my mother played it off like the consummate actress I knew she was. I cast a quick glance at Leah, and she smiled before turning her attention back to Jessie's latest story about Joey and Mimi's afternoon at the zoo. To her credit, Norma stayed on the outskirts of the conversations and simply observed what was happening. I flashed her a grateful smile, but she just nodded and turned her attention back to the conversations.
When dinner was ready to be served, we moved into the dining room and took our seats around the beautiful table my mother had had prepared. The candles were lit, giving the room a romantic glow as the light reflected off the beautiful china my mother had chosen for the table.
I sat at the head of the table with Sloan to my right and Lincoln on my left. My mother sat at the other end of the table with Leah on one side and Norma on the other, positioned as the audience. All through dinner, Sloan kept slipping her hand into my lap and squeezing my thigh. I knew she was anticipating the moment I made my big announcement, and this genuinely made me smile at her throughout the meal.
When the last plates had been cleared away, I stood at the head of the table holding my wine glass.
"I'm so grateful you could all be here for this momentous occasion," I began smiling at everyone as I looked around the table. "It was a terrible time losing Pop, and then when I was forced into the leadership position at Baby Steps, I wasn't happy. However, we found a way to make it work, and now the company is growing stronger by the day thanks to the hard work of one woman who has put in more time and energy than I could have ever imagined."
Sloan beamed brightly next to me as she looked around the table and then back up at me as I continued.
"There's no way I could have done as much as I've done without her, and I feel deeply indebted to her for standing with me as we figured out a way to overcome our latest challenge. Tonight's dinner is my way of thanking her for being such a team player and for contributing so much more to the effort at Baby Steps than I'd ever hoped she would. Her business acumen and her ability to work with the people who make Baby Steps great go above and beyond the call of duty. As a result I'm thrilled to announce that I'm promoting Leah to Senior Vice President of Distribution."
Norma, Jessie and my mother immediately began clapping as Leah looked at me shocked by the announcement. Sloan's face was a mask of disbelief and anger, but she quickly hid it and put on a wide, fake smile as she politely clapped along with everyone else. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lincoln's confusion, and I smiled as I held my glass high and said, "To Leah!"
"What about my contributions, Jack?" Sloan asked once we'd all taken a drink and congratulated Leah.
"Your contributions?" I asked with feigned surprise. She was playing right into my hand, "What about them?"
"I've done a lot to generate new business and bring clients on board," she said in a tone that tried hard to hide her resentment at being ignored.
"Indeed you have," I nodded.
"Then why aren't you promoting me, too?" she pouted.
"Ah, that's a very good question, Sloan," I said as I steadied myself for what was to come next. "And I'm glad you asked. I'll tell you why. I don't generally promote people who are actively trying to destroy my business."
You could have heard a pin drop as the room went silent. The look on Sloan's face was one of complete shock as I continued.
"You see, I'm aware of the fact that you have been negotiating with the Chinese and the folks in New Delhi to sell parts of Baby Steps' business to them," I said, looking down at her, no longer smiling. "And I've cut off all possibility of you doing any kind of business with them, or with me."
"Jack! How could you think I'd ever betray you like that?" she cried as she stood up and faced me.
"Probably because you've been working with my brother to undermine me with the banks," I said, turning my attention to Lincoln. The blood drained from his face as I recounted the ways in which he'd sought to sabotage the business and make it easier for Sloan to negotiate with foreign companies.
"How do you know this?" Lincoln demanded. "There's no evidence of any of this!"
"That's where you're wrong, big brother," I said as I nodded at Norma who stood and walked into the hall, grabbed the folder she'd left on the table, and brought it to me. I opened it and pulled out the copies of all the evidence we'd compiled and tossed it in front of Lincoln. "Here's all the evidence. Feel free to take some time to read it, but I'm fairly certain that you're already quite familiar with it, seeing as you drew up most of the paperwork."
Lincoln studied the papers as Sloan silently fumed across the table. I waited until he'd looked through the whole stack to drop my next bomb.
"So, as you can see, your attempt to break up Baby Steps was unsuccessful," I said. "And as a result, I've decided to switch banks. As of tomorrow, Baby Steps will be working with First National of New York, and as soon as I am released from the contract I signed, I'll be shifting my own funds as well."
"You can't do that!" Lincoln exploded as he shot up out of his chair. "You cannot move the business!"
"Oh, but I can," I said calmly. "And I have."
"Father signed contracts and took out loans with Bank of Manhattan," Lincoln said as he frantically tried to regain his composure. "You cannot simply withdraw money and shift it from one bank to another."
"This is where you are sadly mistaken," I said, narrowing my eyes. "There is a clause in the agreement that clearly outlines the legality of such a move when the loan officer has engaged in unethical behavior, which I believe you have. Besides, it's already a done deal."
"Mother!" Lincoln protested. "Tell him this is unacceptable!"
"I'll do no such thing," my mother said calmly. "You lied to your brother, and you tried to destroy a business that your father spent his life building. And while you're my son—and I will always love you—I'm deeply ashamed of your behavior, Lincoln."
My brother turned a deep shade of red as my mother scolded him in front of everyone. I watched, not saying another word. I could see Sloan's demeanor changing as she considered her options. She turned to me and began trying to plug the hole she'd drilled. I listened and then simply said, "Sloan, you're fired."
"You can't fire me!" she shouted.
"I can, and I just did," I said. "You've violated the ethics clause in your contract and, if you're smart, you'll reread it so you understand the non-compete clause you also signed."
"I told you this was a stupid idea," Lincoln said bitterly as he looked straight at Sloan. "You and your big plans were absolutely idiotic."
"My idea? My idea?" she shouted at him. "How on Earth was this my idea? You were the one who wanted to rip apart the company and sell it off bit by bit to get back at your father!"
"Don't throw that in my face," Lincoln growled. "You were the one who said you had a foolproof plan for making a profit off the sale of each department. Your fancy MBA isn't worth the paper it's written on. Your father was right. You're a terrible businesswoman, and you couldn't negotiate your way out of a paper bag."
"Lincoln, that's enough," Jessie said sternly. She hadn't said much all evening, but this turn of events seemed to be the breaking point for her. "I've had enough of your whining and complaining about how badly you've been treated. You're not going to tear apart anyone else. I don't care what she's done. You're equally responsible for this mess, so own up to it."
"What?" he said looking down at his wife who wore a stony expression. "How dare you talk to me like that!"
"Oh, do shut up," Jessie said as she deliberately folded her napkin and carefully placed it on the table in front of her. "I know you two have been having an affair, and I know there have been plenty of others before her. I put up with it because I thought boys will be boys, and you always came home to me and the kids. But I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of you."
With that, Jessie stood and bowed at my mother murmuring her thanks for a lovely evening. She walked out of the dining room. My mother shot me a concerned look, and I nodded as she got up and followed Jessie into the foyer. Lincoln rushed out behind her, casting a hateful look in my direction before leaving the room.
Sloan stood staring at me, shaking her head as she tried unsuccessfully to come up with something to say. She finally gave up, throwing her hands in the air. She said, "You're hateful, Jackson Yates."
I simply nodded and watched her leave the room. The three of us who were left at the table sat in silence until Norma piped up and said, "Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! That was one hell of a showdown, Jack!"
Leah and I burst into laughter, and Norma soon joined us. We recounted the looks on the two traitors’ faces as I'd unveiled their plan. My mother soon returned to the room and said that Jessie was going to take the children to visit her parents while she and Lincoln tried to work things out.
"That was not very nice of you, Jackson," my mother gently scolded. "But I understand what happens when you feel like your back is against the wall. And it was good of you to promote Leah after all the hard work she's done to make sure the business keeps running smoothly."
"She deserves it," I said, smiling at Leah who blushed a little and looked away. "And so much more."
"Well, kids, now that the show is over, I got to get myself home to bed," Norma said as she stood up and walked toward the front door. "It was quite a spectacle, Jack. I'm glad you're in control of things again."
"Thank you for all your help, Norma," I smiled. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"Shucks, darlin'," she grinned as she waved her hand at me. "It was nothing!"
My mother walked Norma to the door, leaving Leah and me alone in the dining room. I walked around the table and sat down next to her.
"Thank you for the promotion," Leah said as she raised her bright blue eyes and looked into mine. "I'll do my best to measure up to your expectations."
"You deserve it," I said as I reached out to take her hand. She pulled back as she looked away, leaving me more than a little confused.
"Jack . . ." she began, "I think it's really obvious that I'm extremely attracted to you, but I think that if we're going to work together, it's better if I don't act on that attraction. It might be seen as unprofessional, and I'm not sure the guys in the warehouse would respect me if they knew I slept my way to the top."
"What are you talking about?" I said, genuinely shocked to hear her talking like this.
"I mean, it's nice that you find me attractive and everything, but . . ." she bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes.
"But what?"
"But, you know, when you're with me you're really just . . ." she hesitated and then in a small voice said, "slumming it."
"What the hell?" I blurted. "Who told you that?"
"Sloan," she admitted. "She pointed out that you and I come from very different places, and that to think this was some kind of Cinderella story would be a mistake. We're just too different."
"Leah, listen to me," I said as I slipped my fingers under her chin and lifted her face so that she was looking at me again. "If tonight has taught you anything about me, you should know that Sloan Morgan knows nothing about who I am or what I value. I value you. Both as an employee and a woman, and I want to learn more about you."
Leah shook her head sadly as the tears dripped down her cheeks.
"What? You don't want to get to know me?" I asked feeling my chest tighten as I spoke the words. It hadn't occurred to me that Leah might not want more.
"No, I do, but I just don't see how this could possibly work, Jack," she said sadly. "We can't work together and try to date each other. It'll be too complicated and way too messy, and I don't want the business to suffer."
"So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that we can work together, but we can't be anything more than co-workers," she said as she got up from the table and walked toward the stairs. "I'm going to try to find Riley and me a place to live, so we should be out of your way by next week."
"But you're not at all in my way," I thought as I watched her go.