Steal Me (Longshadows Book 1)

by Natalia Banks

  “Thank you for coming,” she finally said, noting the nervous quiver in her own voice. She couldn’t help but notice Griffin looking at her with a reassuring half-smile on his concerned face. Focusing on the crowd, Lorraine went on, “I’m very proud to announce the Phoenix Enterprises Educational Centers, which we’ll build, staff and fund as a part of the nationwide PEEC project,” which Lorraine pronounced peace. “Every educational center will provide free tutoring in all the core subjects during after-school hours. We’ll offer other types of guidance as well, I should think: family therapy, the arts. These centers will be established in lower-income areas where schools are lacking in funds and effectiveness, where more and better education is especially and desperately needed.”

  The reporters clamored, one introducing himself and then asking, “What are you going to do to prevent these centers from attracting various criminal elements?”

  “We’re planning for an armed guard at each center, actually. These centers should be a refuge from the chaos of street life and from the downward cycle of ignorance and crime.”

  One reporter asked, “Are you saying that all minorities are ignorant criminals?”

  “Not at all,” Lorraine said, fear slipping away to be replaced with stubbornness and willfulness. “People in all corners of this country are poor and poorly educated, and we hope to build centers in each of these areas. It’s not about race, it’s about income inequality. Education is the best way to reverse a downward spiral and create an upward spiral of achievement and success. I don't think anybody here would argue against a better education for our kids, all of our kids. It takes a rare man like Griffin Phoenix, a rare company like Phoenix Enterprises, who are willing to sacrifice their own funds, their own resources, to make that happen.”

  “You’re not looking for donations then?”

  “Of course we are,” Lorraine said, the reporters all chuckling. “This is a big project. It’ll take a lot of time and a lot of money, yes. But, Phoenix Enterprises is funding the pilot center right here in New York. Once we’ve proven that this will work, we will need some help opening up similar centers across the country. When we called upon America’s biggest companies to contribute to the public library system, they did. When Phoenix called Ringo Starr, Ringo didn’t say, ‘It don’t come easy,’ he said, ‘Hold on, I’m comin’!’”

  The reporters laughed, Griffin smiled to see Lorraine loosening up, once again finding that blossoming strength she’d discovered in the first few weeks of meeting Griffin.

  “I know that other companies, other men like my husband, will come forth, that these centers will bring a dramatic change to the tenor of our streets, instantly enriching the lives of poor American children everywhere.”

  There was a rumble of questions, another dominant reporter asking above the others, “Are you worried things will get out of hand?”

  “Out of hand?”

  “Well, the last time you did something like this — ”

  Griffin eased Lorraine away from the mic and leaned in. “I’d like to remind you all that the rally you’re referring to three years ago in Denver, Colorado, resulted in a shooting incident against me, I was the target. My wife, then my fiancee, was willing to sacrifice her life for mine, stepping in front of me to take bullets that were meant for me.”

  “But he was in love with her, wasn’t he, Donal Roland?”

  “I’d made a fool of him in public, and yes, he was heartbroken over an unrequited love for my wife here. But, the shooting incident was my fault, not hers. There’s no reason that should reflect on my wife's experience or her talent. She’s capable of anything she puts her mind to, this project in particular. She has my utter and complete confidence.”

  Griffin leaned back and let Lorraine resume her place at the mic as the questions crackled out of the crowd, cameras flashing.

  “What do you make of Albert Jenkins’ run for governor of Colorado?”

  Lorraine shrugged. “I think Albert’s a good man, I know he’s done well as city councilman. If the people of Colorado have confidence in him, then I wish him well.”

  “Even though he left his wife to marry a fellow library employee?”

  “Yes, actually. That’s none of my business and none of anybody else’s business. I know Carmen Jenkins personally, I worked with her for many years. I can’t say I approve of anybody having an extramarital affair and I do feel badly about Deloris Jenkins, though I understand she’s doing just fine. Basically, I don’t think that reflects on Albert or Carmen’s characters, certainly not on his ability to govern … or hers, for that matter.”

  Griffin leaned forward into the mic. “That’s all, thanks for coming everyone.” The reporters muttered as Griffin led Lorraine away from the mic and toward the private elevator.

  Chapter 6

  The Phoenix family had dinner at the penthouse that night. Jeremy fixed one of his famous casseroles and a nice garden salad with warm almond dressing. Lorraine was feeding Kayla, happily forgoing her own meal for the pleasure of wearing half of Kayla’s.

  Jeremy ate silently, much less enthusiastic and flamboyant than in months past, never mind years. Lorraine and Griffin kept exchanging glances, but neither of them cared to broach the subject over dinner.

  Instead, Griffin said, “That was a great press conference today, honey. You knocked it out of the park again.”

  “Sorry about talking up Albert’s campaign like that, I didn’t think — ”

  “Well, it wasn't the best thing to associate ourselves with his run for governor, that’s true. But, you’re old friends and he was there with us in Denver, there’s no secret about that. But, I’d like to keep politics out of it, for obvious reasons.”

  “Yes, definitely,” Lorraine said. “They only muck things up.”

  “Talk about draining the swamp,” Griffin said, having a sip of Stella Artois to wash down his casserole. “They take the swamp with them where ever they go.”

  Jeremy looked down at his plate until Ashe said to him, “Jeremy, are you all right?”

  Jeremy was quick to snap out of it. “I … yes, I’m fine, Ashe, sorry, I … just a little distracted, that’s all.”

  Griffin asked, “What’s up, Jer? Anything we can help out with?”

  “That’s sweet, Grif, really, but … I’m fine, just a bit … ”

  “Distracted?” Lorraine guessed.

  “Right, exactly.”

  Griffin returned his attention to Lorraine. “You seemed a little distracted, too, Lorraine, in those first few seconds of the press conference.”

  Lorraine knew what he was talking about, but it was another subject she would just as soon have left alone, especially in front of the kids. She also knew Griffin saw it as a teachable moment for Ashe and for her as well. Lorraine saw it as a lesson for Jeremy, too.

  “I guess I was a little disoriented by it all, maybe intimidated. But, it passed quickly enough. And of course I had nothing at all to worry about, just my own nerves really.”

  “That’s right,” Griffin said. “It can be scary to make a big move like this one, there’s a lot at risk for us all. But, we’re taking those risks together, that’s why we don’t have anything to fear.”

  Jeremy’s eyes shifted up from his plate, but they returned quickly and he kept eating in silence.

  After dinner, Griffin was playing with the kids in the living room, he and Ashe role-playing as unicorns at Kayla’s fanciful command. Lorraine helped Jeremy with the dishes, putting away the leftovers and cleaning up the table.

  “Jeremy, I appreciate how much you care, I really do. But, I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. What are the odds that something like that would happen twice?”

  “Better than you think,” Jeremy said in an urgent whisper. “There are copycats, more and more people getting pissed off at you, at him.”

  “Jeremy — ”

  “You don’t know what it was like, Lorraine, standing over your body. You were so p
ale, even more than usual, all that blood, God it was horrifying. And a lot of it was my fault — ”

  “No, Jeremy — ”

  “You said so yourself. I encouraged you to take those early risks, to write that letter, to date Griffin, and it’s worked out great and that’s great. But, what if it didn’t? What if that ambulance had been just a couple minutes later?”

  Lorraine smiled, setting a comforting hand on his arm. “But it wasn’t, Jeremy.”

  “What about this time? What about the next time?”

  “There isn’t any this time, Jer, and there won’t be any next time, either. Nothing like that is going to happen again.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  After a long uncertain second, Lorraine had to say, “No, I can’t say for sure.”

  “And you have kids now. Even Ashe was on that stage when the shooting happened.”

  Lorraine’s smile disappeared. “You know how I feel about that, Jeremy. I wish you wouldn't bring it up. I didn’t mean to endanger him, I’d never do that.”

  “But losing you is endangering him, Lo’. You’re a parent now, you owe them everything you’ve got, don’t you? Aren’t they the most important thing?”

  Lorraine didn't have to think about it for long. “Of course they are, my family is everything to me and you’re family, too, Jeremy.”

  “And that’s … that’s beautiful, Lo’. I … I just want it to stay that way.”

  “It will,” Lorraine said, “of course it will.” But, both knew the futility of that promise, though neither one could know how right Jeremy was, or what kind of peril awaited them all.

  Chapter 7

  Lorraine and Jeannie sat on the other side of the big mahogany desk in accountant Dennis Douglass’ office. He leaned back in his luxurious leather chair, springs squeaking under him. He smiled, his shaved-bald head resembling a chocolate Easter egg.

  “So, Griffin’s briefed me on this project,” he said, his voice very low, reverberating effortlessly out of his lean chest. “I must say, I’m quite impressed.”

  “Why must you say that?” Lorraine sat calmly, dispassionately, waiting for an answer.

  Dennis smiled; teeth white, gums pink. “Because you’re quite impressive, of course. A lot of women in your position would be content to go shopping, taking day trips, going to the spa, playing with your children. You could raid Fifth Avenue every day for the rest of your life, I’d never even notice a difference in the ledger.” He chuckled, but Lorraine didn’t.

  Jeannie said, “You don’t know Lorraine the way I do, Dennis. She’s a real warrior.”

  “That much I do know,” Dennis said. “Nobody here at Phoenix Enterprises has any doubts about that, never mind the rest of the country. Pity they never made that movie of the week.”

  “I didn’t want that,” Lorraine said. “This is what I want.”

  Dennis and Jeannie shared a glance before Dennis answered, “And you’ll have it. It’s just a matter of logistics, really.”

  “We were going to be looking at the company’s land holdings in any of the boroughs,” Lorraine said to remind them.

  Jeannie nodded eagerly. “Right, exactly. You’ve got those files, don’t you, Den?”

  “I do.” He turned to Lorraine. “You see, a company as big as Phoenix Enterprises tends to create off-shoots for various things. For your library thing, he had us put together F.O.P.L., Friends of the Public Library. It was a way to collect some donations and organize our expenses. It's really more for tax purposes than anything else.”

  Lorraine waited as a silent moment wriggled between the three.

  Jeannie said, “For our property holdings, it’s a similar structure; East Coast Holdings, Big Apple Holdings, in the west we’ve got different names for different companies.”

  “Shell corporations,” Lorraine said, “shadow companies.”

  Jeannie chuckled. “Really, all the big companies like ours do things this way.”

  Dennis said to Lorraine, “It’s nothing you need to worry too much about, that’s why we’re here. Your concern is going to be staffing, publicity — ”

  “Well that’s fine,” Lorraine said. “But, if I don’t have the property, I can’t staff it, I can't publicize it. There’ll be remodeling, permits — ”

  “And we’ll help see to all those things,” Jeannie reassured her.

  “Right,” Lorraine said. “So, let’s start with the properties. What have we got?” Jeannie and Dennis exchanged worried looks, prompting Lorraine to say, “Griffin did say this was job one, Jeannie.”

  “And it is,” she said, nodding, “it absolutely is.” She turned to Dennis. “Well?”

  Dennis sighed. “Much as I hate to disappoint, all our borough properties are rented out. We don’t have any empty properties in the state, not one.”

  Lorraine didn’t have to think about it for long. “Is there anything we can get our hands on?”

  Dennis shrugged. “That’s not my department.”

  Jeannie said to Lorraine, “I’ll call our realtor, see what she can find. But, I gotta warn you, it won’t be cheap and that’s if we can find anything. This is New York, sweetie, not Colorado.”

  Lorraine took in their condescending smiles, little chuckles leaking out of nodding faces. “Jeannie, my name is Lorraine.” Jeannie stopped chuckling as Lorraine turned to Dennis. “Are you quite sure there isn't a single available borough space in our company portfolio?”

  Dennis glanced at Jeannie before answering, “I just went over the files.”

  “Perhaps you were distracted by Ms. Gallagher here, the way you two keep looking at each other.” Lorraine stood up, Jeannie and Dennis following her example. “I think I’ll have a look at that portfolio myself, Dennis. I’d like a complete record of our assets and transactions over the last five years, as soon as possible.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “You’re right,” Lorraine said, “make it the past seven years.”

  “Lorraine,” Jeannie said, but had no more time to speak.

  “Ten years,” Lorraine said, “and be prepared to stand behind it.”

  Dennis twitched, an amazed half-smile on his dark face. “You’re auditing your own company?”

  “Look at it any way you like,” Lorraine said, turning for the door. “Just get it done.”

  Lorraine walked down the hall of that wing of the Phoenix Enterprises, back from accounting and toward the main offices. She felt good, strong, capable. Maybe I was too hard on them? she wondered. They say power corrupts, am I getting carried away with all this boss’s wife stuff?

  No, this is important business, and they have to know I’m not just some flighty dumb bell playing house. And the way they were acting, I dunno, it wasn’t right. Something’s up.

  Lorraine hoped to find Griffin and surprise him in his office, take him to lunch and discuss the company's real estate portfolio in greater detail.

  But, first there was a surprise in store for her.

  “Missus Phoenix?” Lorraine turned to see a familiar young man approaching her with his hand outstretched. “Ki Fong, we met the other day.”

  “Yes, Ki,” Lorraine said, “nice to see you again.”

  “The pleasure’s mine. I didn’t know you'd be in the office today.”

  “I’ll be coming and going a bit more often now,” Lorraine said with a smile, as polite as she was in the mood to be.

  “Very good, glad to hear it,” Ki said. “I wish you all the best with your new project. I know Mr. Phoenix wants you to work directly with Ms. Gallagher, but if there’s anything I can do — ”

  “Actually, Ki,” Lorraine said, “there might be. You're in charge of the development of new projects, right?”

  “As much as they’ll allow,” Ki said.

  “How do you mean?”

  Ki glanced around. “No, I shouldn’t say.”

  “Really, it’s okay. I’ll keep it in confidence.” Ki looked around again and shook his head, b
ut Lorraine said, “I’m the boss’s wife, Ki, are you really going to stand there and tell me no?” Lorraine didn't like how comfortable she was getting with her newfound power, but she knew she’d have to wield it and wield it well if she was going to survive in this new corporate world, despite her obvious advantages. Even being Griffin Phoenix’s wife wasn't going to protect her from everything every time, she knew that all too well.

  Ki finally said, “Well, I’m sure you won’t have the same experiences I have, but … I’ve been pitching things to the board for a year now and I’m getting nowhere. Jeannie Gallagher keeps shooting me down.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes, it is. And I know it’s her job to manage these new projects, that she has the final say in what goes into development, but … I dunno, maybe it’s just because I’m Chinese. There’s a real stigma about that these days.”

  Lorraine gave that a little thought. “Not Griffin, he’s not like that.”

  “Of course not,” Ki said, “he’s the one who hired me. He’s a great man, your husband. But I don’t suppose I need to tell you that.”

  “No, I’ve got a pretty good idea,” Lorraine said.

  “But, I’m not sure Jeannie Gallagher is representing him fairly … or honestly.” Lorraine turned her ear for a better bead on what Ki was trying to say, or trying not to say. He went on, “I don’t know for sure, I just don't trust her. And since you're working so closely with her, well, I’d just suggest that maybe you be cautious, that's all.” With that, Ki slipped away, eyes shifting around as if he was being watched.

  That only left Lorraine with the same feeling. She walked quickly down the hall to find Griffin in his office, glad and relieved to be in his reassuring company once again.

  Ten minutes later they were strolling down Fifth Avenue, passing the most expensive shops in the world, a lane of glistening glass and sparkling metal, old-world brick and brownstones resisting the march of the modern world.

  None of that even registered to Lorraine’s worried mind, there were more pressing things than Faberge eggs and Armani suits draped over silver mannequins.