Chapter 1
Linda Davis strode into the sleek executive suite of Davis Enterprises, her choppy brunette bob held perfectly in place as if by magic despite the gusty winds outside. Las Vegas never got too cold, but today was unusually frosty and Linda wore her long fur coat and stiletto boots. All of the secretaries and receptionists stopped and stared as she walked past, intimidated by her stony expression and impeccable good looks. For a woman in her fifties, she still had the dewy skin of a twenty-year-old.
“Evan,” she called arrogantly, as she marched into his office. “What the hell is this that I hear about you making a deal with Glenn Falk?”
Evan sighed and took his feet off of the desk. “Mom, you know that I’m the CEO now, not Dad.”
“And that’s your excuse for why you made such a foolish business decision?”
“No. I just mean that I made a decision as CEO. That’s all.”
Linda pursed her lips and surveyed her son. He was a truly handsome man, just like his father, with a strong cleft chin and square jawline, a striking profile, and beautiful sterling gray eyes. He was also stubborn, another trait he had learned from his father.
“You are the CEO but you’re a fledgling. I’m just trying to make sure that you don’t run this company into the ground,” she finally said. She softened her tone toward the end of her statement, and Evan narrowed his eyes.
“Mom, speaking to me sweetly doesn’t make what you’re saying any nicer. I am sorry that you think I will run this place into the ground, but it has been four years and this has been our strongest quarter yet.”
“Don’t you know that your father and Glenn Falk had a long-standing feud?”
Evan sighed again. “Yes, and we discussed that over dinner and golf. We decided to let bygones be bygones. I’m not my father. I have nothing against Glenn. In fact, I think he’s a brilliant businessman and could really enhance the health of this company if we partner up.”
Linda let out a dramatic groan and moved to the cabinet on the side of Evan’s massive oak desk, a relic of his late father’s era.
“I don’t keep liquor in there anymore, Mom,” Evan informed her.
Linda flared her nostrils, then flipped her hair back. “Where do you keep it then?”
“I decided no more liquor in the office. We’re not in the ‘60s anymore.” Evan turned back to his sleek MacBook. “Let’s go out to lunch later. I have a very important meeting with a client at ten.”
“A client? May I inquire as to who this client is?”
“It’s for a funding request. For housing orphans,” he admitted reluctantly.
Linda scoffed. “We’re in the hotel business, honey, not the orphanage business. Tell this client to get lost.”
“I think it would be excellent for the company’s image to get behind something like that.”
“And just what do you hope to accomplish? A mention in a newsletter for orphans?”
Evan fixed his mother with a sharp look over the silver edge of his MacBook. “Maybe I would actually like to help some people, Mom. Now I really need to prepare for this meeting. Thank you.”
Linda started to leave. Then she paused at the door. “Your father would be so heartbroken to see what you have done,” she addressed the wall wistfully.
Evan glared at her back but didn’t say anything. Though he was a fierce man with no frills, he also loved his mother dearly. “Love you, Mom,” he said, before going back to work.
Precisely at ten, Evan’s prim secretary informed him that the client had showed up. Evan straightened his suit jacket and headed to the glass conference room, where he saw a very little brunette woman perched on the edge of a chair. She was dressed in a stiff, square suit jacket that was slightly too large for her and her heels were too low to be stylish, but she still looked like a fair and square businesswoman who wouldn’t take any nonsense.
“Hello,” Evan said warmly, extending his hand. “I’m Evan Davis.”
“Lisa Allen.” She stood to shake his hand and he realized that her eyes looked like two topaz jewels, burning with beauty and passion. His heart skipped a beat.
“Well, shall we begin?” He forced a grin and tried to hide how disarmed he suddenly felt as he took a seat. Lisa Allen returned to her seat as well.
“I’m sorry, but I specifically requested an audience with Cole Davis,” Lisa objected.
Evan froze for a second. Sometimes things like this would happen, where a person would not know that Cole Davis had succumbed to a heart attack four years prior. It always felt like a knife had been sunk into his heart whenever he had to recount his father’s passing to expectant people. The world went on without his father in it, but just barely. “I’m sorry, but Cole Davis is no longer with us. I am his son. I’m the CEO of Davis Enterprises now.”
Lisa looked bewildered. “He died?” Then she regained her composure. “I’m so sorry for your loss. That must be hard.” She flicked her burning eyes up and down his figure, as if mentally comparing him to his father.
Suddenly, the door clicked open and Linda waltzed in, her fur coat now draped low over her arms. “I am sorry that I’m late,” she said airily, as she took a seat to the right of her son at the head of the table. “I had another appointment that just concluded.”
Evan gaped at her and tried to mouth, “What are you doing here?” Then he decided not to say anything and to play it off as if Linda was supposed to be present. “This is my mother and the late Cole Davis’s wife, Mrs. Linda Davis,” Evan introduced her. “And Mother, this is Lisa Allen, a representative for Hearts and Homes for Children.”
Linda could be so gracious when she wanted to be. “Hello, Miss Allen! I am very excited about your proposal. When my son brought it up, I just had to applaud his charitable spirit.” She paused, her fake smile radiating sweetness and enthusiasm. “My, you do look familiar. I am trying to think if I may know any Allens.”
“I doubt it,” Lisa said quickly as she set a folder on the table. “I want to thank you both for this meeting. I must admit that I am very surprised to learn that Mr. Davis has passed on, but I hope that we can establish an excellent working relationship.”
“Of course–” Evan started to say, before Linda cut him off.
“I can assure you that while my husband was a wonderful and apt businessman, my son is just as qualified and proficient at his job. I urged him to take over the CEO position because I knew that only he could come close to his father’s unrivaled business savvy.” She shot her son a dazzling smile. “Now what is it that you are looking for exactly, Miss Allen?”
Lisa cleared her throat and laid out the papers in her folder. She began to make her proposal, talking up the orphanage that she was funding and her desire to create a resort-like building in which they could live a life of luxury that they had never enjoyed previously. She appealed to their ethos by showing them some photos of heartbroken orphans, their tragic stories, and lists of medical needs. One little girl Lisa was especially sure to show off; all she wanted for Christmas was a doll because she did not have any toys.
“As you can see, you would be helping thousands of children. You would also be pumping a lot of wealth into the community from the jobs that will open up. In return, you will gain amazing public image and unbelievable tax breaks. If you choose to join me in this project, we can really make a difference and many people will benefit, including your company.”
“I see. Now how much will this cost us?” Linda said just as Evan opened his mouth to speak. While she continued to project her angelic sweetness, there was now a hard, greedy glint in her eye.
“Here are the figures and estimates.” Lisa slid some papers toward them. Evan could tell that she was starting to get nervous.
“I think this sounds like a wonderful humanitarian project,” Linda said. “You would be best to approach a humanitarian organization. Perhaps write some grants. We wish you the best of luck.”
“Hold on,” Evan said sharply. “I actually like this idea.”
Linda glared at him, furious. “I’m sorry, but we are not in the business of helping humanitarian organizations. I do apologize. Your heart is in the right place and I hope that you succeed.”
“No. I am on board.” Evan picked up his pen. “I’m ready to sign a contract. I think we should expand into the humanitarian industry.”
“Oh, really?” Lisa looked overjoyed, and tears sparkled in her wide eyes.
Evan enjoyed seeing her so happy. He looked at the pictures of orphans littering the table and felt glad that he would be helping them too.
“Do a background check on that woman,” Linda demanded the instant that Lisa Allen left the room.
“Of course, I already did,” Evan said, still perturbed by his mom’s impromptu interruption. “I always do on new clients.”
“And what did you turn up?”
“There isn’t much on her. Just a website. She graduated from a youth and family counseling program in Utah and lives in Las Vegas working with disadvantaged youth and orphans.”
“And you want to trust someone like that with your money?”
“I get a good feeling from her. I am very astute at reading people. You have said so yourself.”
“That is why I am so surprised that you can’t see it,” Linda snapped back.
“Can’t see what?” Evan tried to maintain an even tone, but his temper was about to snap.
“It is a bit obvious, is it not? She’s a scam artist.” Then her mother snorted. “I know her from somewhere. She actually reminded me of a bitch who used to work for your father. Spitting image of that whore.”
“Mom! Even if she looks like that woman, she obviously couldn’t be the same person, could she? She looks younger than me!”
“I suspect she’s the daughter or something.” Linda stood up and adjusted her coat over her shoulders. “Do a thorough background on her. Find out who she really is. Hire Geno to look into her and he will find out everything you need to know. You want to make a foolish decision like this – fine. But at least do your homework properly beforehand. Your father didn’t start this company from the ground up just to throw his money at any vagrant and scam artist who wants it. Now how about that lunch that you promised me, Evan, dear?”