The Pawtucket Falls, a mile-long set of rapids, were located in Lowell, Massachusetts and just happened to be one of Matthew’s favorite places. The University of Massachusetts was also located in Lowell and was the venue of choice for where the governor decided to honor Matthew Parnell, once again, for his generous humanitarian services to the community and the state.
The city purchased ten acres with the intention of building a new community recreation center for after school programs and a place for children of university students to go while their parents attended classes. Once the land had been purchased, however, the anticipated funding for the project had been canceled. The city had no idea why the funding had been withdrawn, but Matthew did—he had heard about the project, pulled a few strings, and called in a few favors. Within two months of the project being put on hold, Matthew swooped in like a super hero to save the day and donated three-quarters of the funds needed to make the center happen. Finally, it was time to celebrate the opening. Giving a humble smile, Matthew put the scissors to the ribbon, flashed a glimmering smile at the crowd, and said, “It is my privilege to admit you entrance into your new kingdom.”
Children cheered as they ran for the playground, parents merged toward the food, and politicians puffed out their chests for photographs as Matthew graciously excused himself and made his way over to Mr. Crescent, who had been patiently waiting in the background with Tucker.
“He’s here, sir.”
He being someone who owed Matthew either an explanation or payment for a very large shipment of casino money to be washed that had not yet reached its destination. Either way, the man was going to bleed.
“Excellent, Mr. Crescent,” Matthew said as he lit a cigar. “Find me at the reception at the boathouse when you’re done. I think the falls are a particularly wonderful sight to see. Not a required point of interest, just a suggestion.”
Crescent and Tucker left for their errand while Matthew stood alone with his thoughts. Matthew was very good at what he did and won every battle he undertook. Had Wyatt still been with him, Matthew probably wouldn’t even be halfway to where he was today. Wyatt Lundy was selfish, entitled, and useless as a business partner. He knew he was better off with Wyatt gone these many years.
Even though Matthew had met most of his current goals, he had one goal that he was running out of patience to attain. The more he thought about it, the more he planned. The more he planned, the more obsessed he got. He knew the only way he would get what he wanted was for David to step down and pass the scepter to him, but he also knew there was only one way David would do that. His daughter would have to come back into the fold. She was the key to get to David. Matthew had been looking for her for eight years, with no luck and no leads.
And it infuriated him.
***
Matthew was surrounded by a small circle of admirers when he caught a glimpse of Madeline exiting the main room of the boathouse. Before disappearing from view, she turned her head, locked eyes with him, and offered an inviting grin. Always suspicious of her, Matthew politely took his leave from his company and followed her outside.
The light of the setting sun glistened on the water and, for a brief moment, Matthew smiled inwardly, enjoying one of the few places that brought him contentment. But his bliss was shattered when he saw Madeline at the far end of the deck, casually leaning against the railing, holding a glass of champagne, watching him with that smile on her face. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, shimmering with gold flakes from the reflection of the sun on the water.
No matter how many times he had suppressed his desire for her, it still surprised him how she could draw him near her with just a look. He also instinctively knew that behind those sly eyes and seductive smile she had something else in mind, which was her ulterior motive for being there and luring him outside. Her close-lipped smile widened slightly as he stopped in front of her, took her right hand, and softly planted a kiss.
“Always the gentleman, Mr. Parnell.”
He straightened and smiled back. “When necessity calls for it, Ms. Frost.”
Ignoring his rebuff, Madeline took a sip of her champagne. “It was a lovely ceremony, Matthew.”
“Mmm,” he replied suspiciously.
“Don’t worry. Nobody took your spotlight away. We others were simply thanked with a letter and a cursory acknowledgment.”
Matthew cast a casual glance at his watch as if his time were being wasted, knowing his indifference made Madeline’s blood boil. It amused him to watch her push her irritation aside in order to keep her composure. While she always experienced unexplained delight in rattling him and knowing she was tempting to him, she was there for a specific purpose, which was obvious with her sudden mood change as she angrily turned on him.
“You have broken a promise to me, Matthew. We have mutually benefited from each other over the years—you more than I. Because of my help when you were in need, you promised that my share in Atlantic City would increase forty percent. That was eight years ago, and my share has only risen twenty-seven percent. Twenty-seven percent, Matthew. And then, yesterday, I receive a call from Atlantic City saying that my services won’t be needed any longer because you,” she quickly jabbed him in the chest with her index finger, the tip of her nail slightly digging into his chest, “apparently changed our arrangement without discussing it with me.”
Matthew couldn’t help but form an amused smile on his face, further infuriating Madeline, which only made his smile widen. He didn’t think it was possible, but she was actually becoming more beautiful the angrier she was getting, and the angrier she got, the more he wanted her. Under normal circumstances, Matthew’s reaction to her outburst would have made her try to tease and titillate him to no end. His silence, however, just made it more difficult for her to calm down.
“I have helped you more than once over the years, Matthew. I have always kept my word and my promises. It’s time you do the same.”
Matthew carefully contemplated his response. At one point he had intended she receive her forty percent slowly, over time, simply as a courtesy for her help in the past. If it wasn’t for her, he would have suffered a severe temporary loss of business. On the other hand, he never would have even had to consider engaging her services had it not been for his runaway daughter.
Matthew saw Crescent soberly standing by the entrance to the boathouse, nodding to indicate his errand was complete. Matthew took the opportunity to take his leave and said, “I will speak to my associates in Atlantic City.”
As he turned to walk away, Madeline grabbed him by his arm. “That’s it?”
Matthew turned back to Madeline and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. It wasn’t the kind of kiss he often thought about giving her, but it was the only one that would ever do with this woman. “Get home safely.”
Leaving Madeline to stew in her spurned rage, Matthew got comfortable in the back of his car, where Crescent and Tucker waited. “My money, Mr. Crescent?”
“Recovered, sir.”
Matthew quickly looked between his two men, Tucker smiling like he’d just won the lottery and Crescent obviously proud of a job well done. After a heartbeat, Matthew asked, “And Mr. Wells?”
Crescent let out a contented sigh. “The falls are quite a sight to see, although I got the distinct impression Mr. Wells wasn’t as enthusiastic about them as I was.”
“Well,” Matthew said while lighting a cigar, “one can’t truly appreciate the beauty of the falls while having their head held under them.”