Nothing Personal
Page 20
Ryan took a deep breath. He’d stood in front of this board thousands of times and had never once been nervous. Today, his pulse raced, his gut felt like he’d swallowed a basketball and his head throbbed. Might as well get it over with.
What was he waiting for? A miracle? An angel to swoop down and make everything right?
It wasn’t going to happen. Ryan didn’t believe in miracles.
“Yes, let’s begin.” He cleared his throat, took a sip of water, and began. “As you all know, Quentin McKay outlined specific terms in his will relating to my ability to hold my position as CEO and majority owner of McKay Corporation.”
“Yes, yes, we know all this stuff. Just get on with it.”
All eyes turned to James. He wasn’t liked by any of the board members. At least Ryan could take some satisfaction in that. They stared at his improper outburst.
James looked around the board room and slinked further into his chair.
“Continue, Ryan,” Stan said, his eyes full of compassion.
“I married Faith Lewis over three months ago, with the intent of fulfilling my obligations related to my grandfather’s will. The stipulations indicated that Faith and I must remain married, and within one year produce a pregnancy.”
“You’re stating the obvious,” James interrupted. “We all know what the will required. Get on with it.”
Ryan seethed with an anger he couldn’t turn on his cousin. Oh, but he’d really like to. Instead, for the few minutes he retained control of the company, he’d make him suffer.
“If you don’t mind, James, I am CEO of this company and majority stockholder. Either hold your comments until I’m through or I’ll have you removed from the room.”
James opened his mouth to speak, then looked around at the hostile faces at the table. Ryan suppressed a grin. Apparently James wasn’t as stupid as he thought. He clamped his mouth shut and shot an evil glare at Ryan.
Not that it mattered. In mere minutes Ryan would be the one out the door, and James, God help them all, would take over.
Ryan swallowed. “I have an announcement to make. It’s necessary for you all to be made aware that—”
“That the terms of the will are even closer to fulfillment,” Faith said, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. All heads turned in her direction.
Faith’s dramatic entrance through the double doors at the back of the boardroom shocked everyone into silence, especially Ryan, who stared dumfounded at her. She stopped as soon as she entered, drawing deep breaths as if she’d run all the way up the stairs to the twenty-first flour of McKay Towers.
Ryan’s heart pounded like crazy. He didn’t know whether to be happy or supremely angry to see her.
What the hell was she doing here? And why now? Had she come to gloat over his failure?
She cautiously approached the front of the room and stood next to Ryan, smiling at him as if they hadn’t argued, hadn’t dissolved their relationship. What was going on?
The next shock to his system came when she slipped her hand inside his and squeezed.
“Please, trust me,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m sorry, I’ll explain in a minute.”
Ryan leaned back and searched her face, looking for some explanation. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glazed with excitement and something else. Hope?
She’d asked him to trust her. How could he? He’d placed his heart in her hands, and look what she’d done.
Their eyes remain locked for a few more seconds. Faith refused to look away, despite Ryan’s penetrating stare.
It didn’t matter, anyway. Nothing she said or did would change things. He stepped back from the podium and let Faith have the microphone.
“My apologies for running late,” she said. “I had an appointment this morning, and you know how doctors are. They don’t always keep a timely schedule.”
What was she up to? Her bright blue eyes sparkled with joy, and there was a glow to her face he’d seen many times, usually right after they made love.
“Do you want to tell them, my love, or should I?” she asked.
Tell who what? She’d completely lost him now. “Uhh, go ahead. You tell them.”
“I’d be delighted.” She turned to address the board with an ear splitting grin. “I’m pleased to announce that Ryan and I are expecting a child.”
His heart skipped a beat before pummeling his chest. What the hell was this? Had she gone insane? Ryan pulled her aside as the board members applauded and yelled congratulations. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed.
She was nonplussed, her face full of innocence. “I’m addressing the board like you asked me to.”
“You can’t lie to them, Faith. They’ll know. I was planning to tell them about our breakup. Why are you here?”
“Please, Ryan, if you ever had any trust in me before, then give me a chance. I’ll explain everything as soon as we’re finished here.”
“Why should I trust—”
“That’s a lie!” James slapped the conference table, the sound echoing in the large room.
Once again, James quieted the room with his outburst. He stood, hands clenched into fists at his side, his face reddening.
With surprising calm, Faith placed her hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows. “Really, James. And what makes you think it’s a lie?”
“Because I know you two aren’t together anymore!”
“It appears to me we’re together, wouldn’t you agree, Ryan?”
She looked up at him with such love it stunned him. Love he knew she didn’t feel for him. It was all a lie. Wasn’t it?
But she’d asked him to trust her. Could he? He’d never been able to trust anyone before her. And she’d left him. Just like everyone he’d loved.
Could he take the chance?
“Oh, the hell with it,” he mumbled and slid his arm around Faith’s shoulder. He’d regret this later, but for now he’d play the game. “Yes, we’re obviously together. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the announcement without Faith present.”
“And if there are any concerns about the validity of my pregnancy, I’ll be happy to provide the name and telephone number of my obstetrician for verification.”
“But, but…” James sputtered.
“James,” Faith said casually. “You don’t really want me to bring up your impersonation of Ryan to the board, do you?”
“What? What impersonation?” Ryan asked, trying to think beyond the excited whispers of the board members.
“Your cousin decided to play a little trick on me,” she said, shooting a glare at James. “I found him being, shall we say, promiscuous with Erica Stanton. In your office.”
The room hushed, all eyes focused on Faith’s revelation.
“With Erica? When?” Ryan shot a quick look toward James. His face was reddening and he was licking his lips like a cornered animal.
Something began to boil within Ryan. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place.
“A few days ago. I came to the office to surprise you one evening, and I thought it was you. James was in your office, with her,” Faith said, accenting the her with a decidedly feminine dislike.
Ryan couldn’t believe it. Though he could believe almost anything of James. But Faith. What had she thought when she’d seen James impersonating him? Of course. That’s why she’d left him!
“It’s not true!” James said, his face contorted with rage and frustration.
Stan Fredericks stood. “You know the penalty for trying to manipulate the outcome of the marriage, don’t you, James?”
Ryan had forgotten that little tidbit in Quentin McKay’s will. Anyone who stood to gain from Ryan’s departure as CEO and was found guilty of manipulating their marriage, would lose their board position.
“She can’t prove a thing,” James sneered.
“Oh, can’t I?” Faith’s eyes all but gleamed. “You know, it’s amazing, but I thought Erica Stanton had more guts. Apparently a little well-pressed inquisition and she waffled like a burst balloon. Erica will be more than happy to corroborate my accusation.”
Ryan had to admit surprise at Faith’s backbone. She stared James down like two starving dogs after the same bone. Who’d have thought the shy kitten could turn into a menacing tigress?
James stood and heaved breaths in and out, but didn’t say a word.
“Is there something you’d like to add, James?” Ryan asked, all attempts at politeness gone.
James looked like a big red beet about to burst. Ryan wanted to laugh at him, but held himself in check. Without another word James pushed his chair back and stormed from the room.
It was over. Ryan exhaled a sigh of relief. “If there are no other questions or comments we’ll adjourn the meeting, and see you next month. Thank you for coming.”
Ryan had to wait through the congratulations from the board members before he could get Faith alone to question her. After everyone left they remained in the room.
“Now will you please tell me what the hell is going on? Why did you lie to the board like that?”
“I didn’t lie.”
“Yes, you did. You lied about the fact we were still together, and you lied about being pregnant.”
Faith frowned and blushed. This wasn’t the way she had planned to tell him, but then again nothing had gone as planned the past week. And most of that had been her fault.
No, it had been James’s fault.
“I guess you’ll have to decide the part about us being together, but the pregnancy part is true. I’m going to have your child, Ryan.”
“What?”
The look on his face was priceless. Another memory to tuck away and recall fondly when she was older. “You heard me.”
“You’re really pregnant?”
She couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off her face. “Yes, I’m really pregnant.”
He seemed distracted, his thoughts miles away. “How long have you known?”
“Since the night I went to your office and found who I thought was you in Erica’s arms. The night I left you.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s what I figured happened.
I can’t believe James did that.”
She nodded. “I went to the doctor that day because I hadn’t been feeling well, had missed my period and I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but wanted a blood test to be absolutely sure. When I found out, I came home looking for you but James said you’d be at the office until late.”
“I was downtown at a client’s office that day, but I was home that evening.”
“I know that now. I didn’t know that when I walked into the office to find Erica with her arms around someone that at the time I thought was you.”
He stared dumfounded. “James and I do look alike, especially from the back.”
“Yes. I just assumed it was you. Stupid of me, I know. And Erica made this speech about how the two of you fooled me, how you were going to dump me as soon as I was pregnant, and then you’d get back with her without having to raise a child.”
“I’m going to kill them,” he said through clenched teeth.
She touched his arm. “No, you’re not. You’ve already beaten James.
He’ll never have the company now, and he knows it.”
“The bastard.” His face contorted in anger. Faith touched his shoulder and he flinched and turned to her.
“You thought I’d cheat on you with Erica.”
She shook her head. “I…I didn’t know what to believe.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Confront me with it instead of just packing up and leaving? Why didn’t you have a little trust in me?”
Panic rose up in her throat. “I…I didn’t think you wanted me.”
“Why in hell would you think that?” He jammed his fingers through his hair. “Damn, Faith, couldn’t you read me? Couldn’t you tell how I felt about you? How could you have just left me without explanation?”
She fell into the nearest chair and clasped her shaking hands together. How could she explain to him that she didn’t think he’d want her, that it was easier to believe he’d rather run back to Erica than make a life with her? That night, she’d been on the verge of blurting out that she’d seen him with Erica. But a lifetime of hearing her mother’s voice in her head, of having to face her mother’s disapproving looks…no, she just couldn’t go through that with the man she loved. So she’d taken the coward’s way out and just walked away, making the biggest mistake of her life.
“I see,” he said, jamming papers into his briefcase.
“Ryan, please. Let me explain.”
He looked down at her, his eyes bleak and remote. “Like you let me explain the night you left? You’ve done your part, Faith. You got pregnant. Thank you for coming to my rescue here, but I think we’ve said all we’re going to say. It’s clear you’ll never trust in me and you don’t have the feelings I thought you had. I won’t live like that.”
He turned and walked out of the room. Faith’s body weighed like cement, making her unable to move, to go after him.
She’d hurt him. The one thing he’d always been able to count on was her trust and loyalty to him. And then when he’d needed it the most she’d let him down. She hadn’t believed him. Could she blame him for not believing her now?
It didn’t matter. None of this mattered. She’d made amends and saved McKay Corporation, but she couldn’t win back the man she loved.
What was he waiting for? A miracle? An angel to swoop down and make everything right?
It wasn’t going to happen. Ryan didn’t believe in miracles.
“Yes, let’s begin.” He cleared his throat, took a sip of water, and began. “As you all know, Quentin McKay outlined specific terms in his will relating to my ability to hold my position as CEO and majority owner of McKay Corporation.”
“Yes, yes, we know all this stuff. Just get on with it.”
All eyes turned to James. He wasn’t liked by any of the board members. At least Ryan could take some satisfaction in that. They stared at his improper outburst.
James looked around the board room and slinked further into his chair.
“Continue, Ryan,” Stan said, his eyes full of compassion.
“I married Faith Lewis over three months ago, with the intent of fulfilling my obligations related to my grandfather’s will. The stipulations indicated that Faith and I must remain married, and within one year produce a pregnancy.”
“You’re stating the obvious,” James interrupted. “We all know what the will required. Get on with it.”
Ryan seethed with an anger he couldn’t turn on his cousin. Oh, but he’d really like to. Instead, for the few minutes he retained control of the company, he’d make him suffer.
“If you don’t mind, James, I am CEO of this company and majority stockholder. Either hold your comments until I’m through or I’ll have you removed from the room.”
James opened his mouth to speak, then looked around at the hostile faces at the table. Ryan suppressed a grin. Apparently James wasn’t as stupid as he thought. He clamped his mouth shut and shot an evil glare at Ryan.
Not that it mattered. In mere minutes Ryan would be the one out the door, and James, God help them all, would take over.
Ryan swallowed. “I have an announcement to make. It’s necessary for you all to be made aware that—”
“That the terms of the will are even closer to fulfillment,” Faith said, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. All heads turned in her direction.
Faith’s dramatic entrance through the double doors at the back of the boardroom shocked everyone into silence, especially Ryan, who stared dumfounded at her. She stopped as soon as she entered, drawing deep breaths as if she’d run all the way up the stairs to the twenty-first flour of McKay Towers.
Ryan’s heart pounded like crazy. He didn’t know whether to be happy or supremely angry to see her.
What the hell was she doing here? And why now? Had she come to gloat over his failure?
She cautiously approached the front of the room and stood next to Ryan, smiling at him as if they hadn’t argued, hadn’t dissolved their relationship. What was going on?
The next shock to his system came when she slipped her hand inside his and squeezed.
“Please, trust me,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m sorry, I’ll explain in a minute.”
Ryan leaned back and searched her face, looking for some explanation. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glazed with excitement and something else. Hope?
She’d asked him to trust her. How could he? He’d placed his heart in her hands, and look what she’d done.
Their eyes remain locked for a few more seconds. Faith refused to look away, despite Ryan’s penetrating stare.
It didn’t matter, anyway. Nothing she said or did would change things. He stepped back from the podium and let Faith have the microphone.
“My apologies for running late,” she said. “I had an appointment this morning, and you know how doctors are. They don’t always keep a timely schedule.”
What was she up to? Her bright blue eyes sparkled with joy, and there was a glow to her face he’d seen many times, usually right after they made love.
“Do you want to tell them, my love, or should I?” she asked.
Tell who what? She’d completely lost him now. “Uhh, go ahead. You tell them.”
“I’d be delighted.” She turned to address the board with an ear splitting grin. “I’m pleased to announce that Ryan and I are expecting a child.”
His heart skipped a beat before pummeling his chest. What the hell was this? Had she gone insane? Ryan pulled her aside as the board members applauded and yelled congratulations. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed.
She was nonplussed, her face full of innocence. “I’m addressing the board like you asked me to.”
“You can’t lie to them, Faith. They’ll know. I was planning to tell them about our breakup. Why are you here?”
“Please, Ryan, if you ever had any trust in me before, then give me a chance. I’ll explain everything as soon as we’re finished here.”
“Why should I trust—”
“That’s a lie!” James slapped the conference table, the sound echoing in the large room.
Once again, James quieted the room with his outburst. He stood, hands clenched into fists at his side, his face reddening.
With surprising calm, Faith placed her hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows. “Really, James. And what makes you think it’s a lie?”
“Because I know you two aren’t together anymore!”
“It appears to me we’re together, wouldn’t you agree, Ryan?”
She looked up at him with such love it stunned him. Love he knew she didn’t feel for him. It was all a lie. Wasn’t it?
But she’d asked him to trust her. Could he? He’d never been able to trust anyone before her. And she’d left him. Just like everyone he’d loved.
Could he take the chance?
“Oh, the hell with it,” he mumbled and slid his arm around Faith’s shoulder. He’d regret this later, but for now he’d play the game. “Yes, we’re obviously together. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the announcement without Faith present.”
“And if there are any concerns about the validity of my pregnancy, I’ll be happy to provide the name and telephone number of my obstetrician for verification.”
“But, but…” James sputtered.
“James,” Faith said casually. “You don’t really want me to bring up your impersonation of Ryan to the board, do you?”
“What? What impersonation?” Ryan asked, trying to think beyond the excited whispers of the board members.
“Your cousin decided to play a little trick on me,” she said, shooting a glare at James. “I found him being, shall we say, promiscuous with Erica Stanton. In your office.”
The room hushed, all eyes focused on Faith’s revelation.
“With Erica? When?” Ryan shot a quick look toward James. His face was reddening and he was licking his lips like a cornered animal.
Something began to boil within Ryan. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place.
“A few days ago. I came to the office to surprise you one evening, and I thought it was you. James was in your office, with her,” Faith said, accenting the her with a decidedly feminine dislike.
Ryan couldn’t believe it. Though he could believe almost anything of James. But Faith. What had she thought when she’d seen James impersonating him? Of course. That’s why she’d left him!
“It’s not true!” James said, his face contorted with rage and frustration.
Stan Fredericks stood. “You know the penalty for trying to manipulate the outcome of the marriage, don’t you, James?”
Ryan had forgotten that little tidbit in Quentin McKay’s will. Anyone who stood to gain from Ryan’s departure as CEO and was found guilty of manipulating their marriage, would lose their board position.
“She can’t prove a thing,” James sneered.
“Oh, can’t I?” Faith’s eyes all but gleamed. “You know, it’s amazing, but I thought Erica Stanton had more guts. Apparently a little well-pressed inquisition and she waffled like a burst balloon. Erica will be more than happy to corroborate my accusation.”
Ryan had to admit surprise at Faith’s backbone. She stared James down like two starving dogs after the same bone. Who’d have thought the shy kitten could turn into a menacing tigress?
James stood and heaved breaths in and out, but didn’t say a word.
“Is there something you’d like to add, James?” Ryan asked, all attempts at politeness gone.
James looked like a big red beet about to burst. Ryan wanted to laugh at him, but held himself in check. Without another word James pushed his chair back and stormed from the room.
It was over. Ryan exhaled a sigh of relief. “If there are no other questions or comments we’ll adjourn the meeting, and see you next month. Thank you for coming.”
Ryan had to wait through the congratulations from the board members before he could get Faith alone to question her. After everyone left they remained in the room.
“Now will you please tell me what the hell is going on? Why did you lie to the board like that?”
“I didn’t lie.”
“Yes, you did. You lied about the fact we were still together, and you lied about being pregnant.”
Faith frowned and blushed. This wasn’t the way she had planned to tell him, but then again nothing had gone as planned the past week. And most of that had been her fault.
No, it had been James’s fault.
“I guess you’ll have to decide the part about us being together, but the pregnancy part is true. I’m going to have your child, Ryan.”
“What?”
The look on his face was priceless. Another memory to tuck away and recall fondly when she was older. “You heard me.”
“You’re really pregnant?”
She couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off her face. “Yes, I’m really pregnant.”
He seemed distracted, his thoughts miles away. “How long have you known?”
“Since the night I went to your office and found who I thought was you in Erica’s arms. The night I left you.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s what I figured happened.
I can’t believe James did that.”
She nodded. “I went to the doctor that day because I hadn’t been feeling well, had missed my period and I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but wanted a blood test to be absolutely sure. When I found out, I came home looking for you but James said you’d be at the office until late.”
“I was downtown at a client’s office that day, but I was home that evening.”
“I know that now. I didn’t know that when I walked into the office to find Erica with her arms around someone that at the time I thought was you.”
He stared dumfounded. “James and I do look alike, especially from the back.”
“Yes. I just assumed it was you. Stupid of me, I know. And Erica made this speech about how the two of you fooled me, how you were going to dump me as soon as I was pregnant, and then you’d get back with her without having to raise a child.”
“I’m going to kill them,” he said through clenched teeth.
She touched his arm. “No, you’re not. You’ve already beaten James.
He’ll never have the company now, and he knows it.”
“The bastard.” His face contorted in anger. Faith touched his shoulder and he flinched and turned to her.
“You thought I’d cheat on you with Erica.”
She shook her head. “I…I didn’t know what to believe.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Confront me with it instead of just packing up and leaving? Why didn’t you have a little trust in me?”
Panic rose up in her throat. “I…I didn’t think you wanted me.”
“Why in hell would you think that?” He jammed his fingers through his hair. “Damn, Faith, couldn’t you read me? Couldn’t you tell how I felt about you? How could you have just left me without explanation?”
She fell into the nearest chair and clasped her shaking hands together. How could she explain to him that she didn’t think he’d want her, that it was easier to believe he’d rather run back to Erica than make a life with her? That night, she’d been on the verge of blurting out that she’d seen him with Erica. But a lifetime of hearing her mother’s voice in her head, of having to face her mother’s disapproving looks…no, she just couldn’t go through that with the man she loved. So she’d taken the coward’s way out and just walked away, making the biggest mistake of her life.
“I see,” he said, jamming papers into his briefcase.
“Ryan, please. Let me explain.”
He looked down at her, his eyes bleak and remote. “Like you let me explain the night you left? You’ve done your part, Faith. You got pregnant. Thank you for coming to my rescue here, but I think we’ve said all we’re going to say. It’s clear you’ll never trust in me and you don’t have the feelings I thought you had. I won’t live like that.”
He turned and walked out of the room. Faith’s body weighed like cement, making her unable to move, to go after him.
She’d hurt him. The one thing he’d always been able to count on was her trust and loyalty to him. And then when he’d needed it the most she’d let him down. She hadn’t believed him. Could she blame him for not believing her now?
It didn’t matter. None of this mattered. She’d made amends and saved McKay Corporation, but she couldn’t win back the man she loved.
