King's Ransom (Oil Kings Book 2)

by Marie Johnston

  Beckett sat forward, his hands clasped loosely in front of him. “I understand.” His tone said the opposite. It said we’re done here.

  I gaped at him. I had a brother who was so deep in depression that I couldn’t see him coming out of it. The concern for him was eating a hole in my stomach. Dr. Herrera’s story was so moving. The kid had made mistakes and Beckett was ready to write him off?

  Beckett went ahead and proved my fears. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford to employ an individual I can’t trust, or one who has a past that can tarnish the image of my company.”

  My eyes widened more. I couldn’t hide my disbelief. He’d said the same to my brother. Beckett had done one of his coveted background checks and found that Adam had done time. And he’d walked, like he was doing now.

  Dr. Herrera gave me a comforting smile. My problem with this situation must’ve been rolling off me in waves. I tried to school my features to neutrality, but my disgust was impossible to conceal.

  She rose and smoothed her skirt. “Well, I’m glad I had a chance to meet the infamous CEO of King Tech. Thank you for coming all this way.”

  Struggling to be the adept professional she was, I did the same, but I couldn’t look at Beckett.

  We said our goodbyes and there was more professional bullshit between them, but I couldn’t stand it. I stormed out of the office, through the waiting room, and outside. Sucking in deep gulps of air, I stopped by the fish. Nature had always calmed me. Perhaps the concrete jungle I’d grown up in was the reason I’d been a high-strung and wild kid.

  Beckett didn’t rush after me. At least we’d protected Dr. Herrera’s confidence with one last impression that we were a couple with severe problems. Several moments passed before he caught up with me, and he probably only stopped because his car hadn’t pulled around yet.

  This bastard had destroyed my brother over a history he knew nothing about. If he did, I certainly wouldn’t be here. His precious background check couldn’t catch everything.

  I didn’t look at him, glaring instead at the large orange and white fish that looked like it stole food from all the other fish.

  “Wilma didn’t agree with my business acumen either,” he said.

  “The more I hear about her, the more I like her.”

  “These kinds of things can destroy a company, Eva.”

  Crossing my arms, I faced him. “Recovering addicts can take down a billion-dollar business? I would think that’s on the CEO.”

  “I have no idea how bad Dr. Herrera’s son is, or how much of his life he threw away to get a fix, but I refuse to be the one the cameras hunt down if he relapses and hurts someone.”

  “Yes,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster. “I can see the headlines now. ‘King Tech owner and CEO gave troubled addict and ridiculously talented programmer a second chance.’ It would be horrible.”

  Beckett’s hands were in his pockets and his hard expression almost scared me into looking away, but I rallied my courage and lifted my chin. He’d obviously been hurt at some point. That had to be why he was this rigid. But unlike him, I would give him another chance to show me he didn’t have to stomp on other people’s dreams just because they’d made a mistake at some point in their life. And if he failed, I’d give zero fucks about taking his money and kicking him off his pedestal.

  “Have you ever thought of what your rejection would do to Dr. Herrera?” I asked.

  The crinkle in his brow was a clear no.

  “You pull your interest. Maybe another company that’s interested in acquiring her program finds out why, or has decided that any company you pass on must be too risky, so they back off. And Dr. Herrera is left without a dime to help her launch her game. It flounders. Her kid blames himself, thinks he’s the loser everyone labeled him as, and goes back to his former destructive way of life.”

  His mouth twisted. “And I would be to blame? That’s a stretch, Eva. People need to be responsible for their own actions.”

  “A hand up makes a huge difference. You don’t know what he’s been through.”

  The drone of an engine approached, but Beckett didn’t look away. “I donate to charities, I give to the needy. I’m not risking my entire company just because a working mom feels guilty.”

  The ride to the airport was full of mutinous silence. I tried to tell myself to break the ice, kiss a little ass, really sell the employee-to-fiancée-to-wife gig. But I couldn’t. This trip had unearthed my own guilt. Anger at myself for what had happened to Adam. He’d glowed like a kid on Christmas when he’d told me about King Tech’s inquiry. He’d even taken me out to dinner that night and we’d gushed about how life was going to be afterward.

  We’d be the ones with drivers. We’d travel. He’d design more apps and I could finish school.

  Beckett must’ve learned that Adam had done time for petty theft and breaking and entering and pulled his offer. No, can’t have a criminal like Adam working for him. A bighearted monster like my brother who’d tossed his life into the gutter so I could have a future. Only, I’d told myself at the time that he could get back what he’d lost. He could go back to college, finish his degree, and get a good job. Find a wife to trust with the real story behind his jail time and grow a happy family.

  Then King Tech had dropped him. The other tech companies sniffing around knew Beckett’s risk-free reputation and they all pulled out. We didn’t have enough of our own resources to do a proper launch. It all sank, taking our savings with it. I never thought I’d see the life drain from someone’s eyes, but I lost Adam that day.

  Fucking Beckett King. When I tore his whole empire down, then he would know what it was like to be denied a second chance.

  Chapter 8

  Beckett

  Sitting at my desk, watching the clock tick down, wasn’t how I’d pictured my morning starting.

  It was 7:58. Eva hadn’t arrived yet. I refreshed my email every minute, but there were no new message notifications.

  Nothing, not even a fuck off.

  Her reaction toward my strict policy about who the company associated with had been surprisingly strong. Why had I bothered telling her that Wilma had disagreed? My former assistant had known the reason behind it, and she’d disapproved because she thought I should forgive in order to move past what had happened. This was me moving on.

  That’d never happen. Just like I’d never forget what it was like to find my broken mother after the attack.

  A soft ding sounded from my phone. Someone had entered the office.

  I was up and around my desk before I could slow myself to a less frantic pace. I was the fucking boss. Justifying myself to my assistant wasn’t part of my job description. She’s more than that drifted through my mind.

  Yeah, a fake fiancée, but we hadn’t reached that point yet.

  I rounded the corner.

  Eva was at her desk, nudging a pink bag under it with her foot. If the outfit she’d worn yesterday had sucker punched me, today’s was worse. It was like she’d taken fashion tips from Dr. Herrera. Instead of yesterday’s damn boots—which had almost required a cold shower—today she wore black ankle boots with black tights and a cream and gold dress that hit just above her knees. The combination made her toned legs look a foot longer and accentuated the flare of her waist. Her hair was styled like yesterday. Edgy sophistication. It went with her attitude. The same attitude I’d been brooding over not two minutes ago but was now glad beyond all relief to see again.

  She glanced at me, her smile small and not reaching her eyes. “Morning, Mr. King.”

  Mr. King. So formal.

  “Morning, Eva.” I didn’t go back to my office. With Wilma, we’d have a quick meeting each morning while I covered my expectations for the day. By the end, Wilma had known them better than me, but it was like a tradition and of course we talked about our families. It was what I missed the most about her. In the few months since she’d retired, I had adapted to exchanging messages with her. And that was done alread
y.

  Eva and I had no such tradition. Yet, here I stood. Unwilling to leave. “I switched the phone calls so they won’t get forwarded anymore. I’ll let you get settled and then we’ll go over my employees, where they’re working out of, and why they’ll be calling.”

  Eva tapped on her computer. “Actually, I already got a call from Matt Lamar with Eye in the Sky Security. They’re having some issues with upgrades in the program and it’s sending out false alarms to their dispatch company. He said he wanted you to be aware of it and will be available if you need to call him about it.”

  “Thanks. I’ll contact him later.” She’d already taken a call and not batted an eye. Why hadn’t she gotten a job that offered pay and benefits before now?

  She sat down and logged in. “Would you like the notes I took yesterday emailed to you, or would you like them stored in a shared document?”

  I could access her devices if I wanted to see them. “Keep them as they are. I doubt we’ll be moving forward.” Dr. Herrera wasn’t going to ditch her son for money she didn’t need. The buyout would’ve been for her kid’s confidence, not for her profit margin.

  “Very well,” she said brusquely. “What other details do you require beyond scheduling and answering phones?”

  “That’s a start. I have a meeting in Richmond later next week and if you’re still here, you’ll have some preparations to make before we fly out.”

  Her pretty pink lips turned down. “If I’m still here? Have I done something wrong?”

  “No,” I said quickly. “Not at all. After yesterday, I wasn’t sure you’d return.”

  “Oh.” Her impossibly bright eyes turned luminous. “I’m sorry I was late. I didn’t want to take the call on the light-rail. People pretend to mind their own business, but I know every word would’ve been overheard.”

  “You weren’t late. You didn’t drive here? The parking’s free for employees.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have a car.”

  “But it’s getting cold out.” How far did she have to walk to catch the rail? The morning temperatures would fall below freezing soon.

  “I have a coat.” Again, her smile was pleasant. And fake. It shouldn’t bother me.

  My gaze swept down her tights-clad legs and it was impossible to mask my appreciation. “Do you wear snow pants as well?”

  A blush kissed her cheeks. “If I need to.”

  “Rick will pick you up from now on and take you to and from work.”

  “Oh, no. That’s okay. The light-rail is fine.”

  “Eva. Rick’s been complaining about getting paid too much for doing too little. He’s a good guy. It’s why I keep him on.”

  “Doesn’t he have a family? Kids he should be seeing off that early in the morning?”

  “Rick’s divorced and his family lives in Wyoming.”

  “And you pay him a ton because he’s lonely but he’s free whenever you call.”

  Ouch. She made it sound callous. “He’s a good driver who likes to work. He’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”

  Eva’s hands paused over the keyboard. “What if I don’t want a driver?”

  Did she have something to hide, or did she like freezing her ass off during her commute? I rarely experienced failure, but it was seeping into all my cells now. The driver thing shouldn’t become a standoff. I didn’t want her to commute through the cold, dark streets.

  But before I could muddle through a response, she spoke up. “I’m sorry, Mr. King. I’ll be ready for Rick at seven thirty.” She continued tapping into programs. “Wilma left a large file covering the who’s who of King Tech. I can read through that instead this morning, if you prefer.”

  Wilma had done what? My old assistant was like a beloved aunt, but right now, I disliked her. Why’d Wilma have to be so efficient at her job? The morning I’d planned to spend at Eva’s side was now shot and I’d make her uncomfortable if I pushed the issue.

  “Perfect,” I lied. “I can get some work done.”

  Another functional smile. “Thank you.”

  I was wandering back to my office, nursing the unfamiliar feeling of being dismissed, when she stopped me with a surprise question.

  “Why first names?”

  Turning around, I struggled to keep my eyes on her face when her legs were crossed and the bottom hem of her skirt was hitched up. I shook my head, trying to figure out her question.

  She clarified. “People call you Beck. I’m not Ms. Chase. Rick’s not Mr.—I don’t even know his last name.”

  “Because Mr. King is my father. I imagine that, like me, you find being called Miss Chase… odd.”

  “No. Miss would be fine, though Ms. Chase would be weird as hell and you struck me as a Ms. person, not a Rick, Wilma, and Eva type guy.”

  Somehow conversations with Eva never went how I expected. “I like to have some informality. I’m supposed to be a millennial, after all.”

  “Are you? But you’re here before ten a.m. and I haven’t seen one avocado around.” The first genuine smile of the morning graced those lips that would star in my dreams.

  “Careful. You’re one too.”

  “You saw what I was wearing when we first met.”

  Had I ever. How a hoodie could fit that snugly was still a mystery I didn’t want to figure out.

  Satisfied I wasn’t on rocky ground with my potential fiancée, I went back to my office and called Eye in the Sky.

  I managed to while away the morning without bugging Eva every five minutes like I wanted. Normally I wasn’t this distracted at work, but I’d been putting in some long days and without Wilma, I didn’t do much chatting that wasn’t related to this company. My life was work and then I went home alone. My friends had started settling down but going out each night to find a willing partner was getting tedious. I’d rather go home, work out, and get some sleep while not evading promises to call later.

  The clock dragged toward lunchtime. I was running through dinner options, trying to predict what Eva would like, when the office buzzer went off and a woman’s familiar, commanding voice drifted into my office.

  Grams.

  Dammit. I shot up, my chair rolling back into the wall, and darted out of the office.

  She was already at Eva’s desk, her gray hair cut in a bob that rounded her head like a helmet. She wasn’t tall, but she wasn’t diminutive either. Sometimes when I stood next to her, I was startled by how much shorter than me she was. Emilia Boyd carried herself with the swagger of a six-foot-four linebacker, but she wore her rust-colored power suit better than any Wall Street tycoon.

  Unfortunately, Dad was with her. Had he hitched a ride, hoping to be a buffer in case Grams did something like show up with a justice of the peace? Under ordinary circumstances, I’d be pleased he’d shown up at my office. But now I had to spare him from the farce of a marriage I’d asked Eva to participate in. Grams would be delighted, but I couldn’t let Dad find out. I needed to handle it better than Aiden had.

  Only unlike Aiden, who was, amazingly, still with Kate after his year of marriage and thirtieth birthday had passed, I’d be signing half of my fortune over to Eva. But it’d be amicable and that should be enough for Dad.

  Or maybe my younger brother Xander could do something dramatic to take the scrutiny off me.

  Dad shot me an apologetic look. I shook my head like it was no problem. A young and polished Kendall was at his side, her honey-blond hair draped over her shoulder. The three of them were facing down Eva across the desk. Dad’s and Kendall’s expressions were of polite greeting, but Grams’s brows were lifted and her head tilted as she studied Eva. Shit, we weren’t ready for this yet.

  Eva’s shoulders were rigid. She hadn’t seen me yet, but her voice was polite and professional as she offered to call me. She had to be uncomfortable, wondering how we stood with the fake engagement and marriage.

  I stepped behind her, my hand on the back of her chair, a move that did not go unnoticed by Grams. Her smile widened.
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  Dad’s smile tightened. “Beck, apologies for the drop-in.”

  Grams muttered, “Grandmas don’t need an appointment.” Her smile grew serene, but it had a purpose, and an edge. “Hello, Beck.”

  This was the woman who wielded her mineral rights like a boss and had launched an oil company with Grandpa. She’d never been the warm, fuzzy grandma who baked us pies and recorded school programs. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dad said she’d rocked me and my brothers to sleep while researching oil prices.

  “You guys are always welcome,” I said smoothly. “It’s lucky you caught me in the office.”

  Grams’s eyes narrowed as if telling me she’d hunt me down anywhere. “I’m sure your time’s been freed up, since you have a new assistant.”

  “Yes, Eva. Meet my grandmother, Emilia Boyd.”

  She beamed toward Eva. “Grams is fine, Eva. We’ll get to know each other really well.”

  Good God. She was already starting in. If Dad weren’t here, I could invite Grams and Eva into my office and have a private chat over the details of the trust and what we needed out of Eva. But I didn’t want Dad to look at me like he did Aiden, like he wondered what the hell he’d done wrong.

  I could tell Dad exactly what he’d done wrong. He’d stomped on Mama’s memory and ignored us to sow his wild oats for fifteen years until Aiden had duped a nice girl into marrying him. But that would only make me feel better temporarily, and it’d hurt his new wife, whom I was slowly warming to because of moments like these. Kendall’s gaze lit on me with flashes of sympathy and a cringe over Grams’s Cheshire-cat grin.

  Eva took out the Bluetooth plugged into her ear. “I knew who she was as soon as they walked in.” The strain in her voice was obvious. Why couldn’t Dad have called first? “Just like I figured you must be Gentry and Kendall King?”

  Did Kendall feel weird? She’d been one of those candidates once. Grams had sent her to Denver, hitching a ride in the jet with Dad. Thankfully, a storm had waylaid them and she hadn’t made it to the interview before she’d grown too close to Dad.