“Maybe,” Adam said, “it’s just something you’ll have to find out on your own.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Lilith sat down, gracefully unwrapping the fur collar of her suit coat.
“You’re looking well,” Adam said. “Italy must agree with you.”
“I haven’t been back to Italy in a year,” Lilith said. “I would have thought you’d know that, Adam. Doesn’t that gossip columnist of yours keep you up on such things?”
“When merited.”
Lilith looked around the restaurant. “Well, I decided I missed this dreary little town after all. I’m back for good.”
“Is that why you asked me to lunch? Just to get a mention in Able’s column?”
Lilith frowned. “Can we please be civil? I asked you here to talk business.” She waited until the waiter had served her grasshopper and left. She took a big drink. “I want to sell my interest in the Times. I presume you are still interested in buying it.”
Adam took a sip of his scotch, careful to let a few moments pass before he answered. “If the price is right,” he said finally.
“The price is not negotiable. I’ll sell it to you for twenty-five million.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“On the contrary. You’d be getting off cheap.” Lilith smiled. “I did some homework on this, Adam. I know that if you put the Times on the market right now, you’d get about fifty-five million.” Her smile widened. “So I’m willing to let the five million go by. We were married once, after all.”
Adam stared at Lilith. For years, he had been trying to get her to sell her interest. But he had never expected her to demand the full market price, and he certainly didn’t have that kind of cash available. But she wanted to sell now, and knowing Lilith, she could change her mind tomorrow.
“I can’t put my hands on that much cash right now, Lilith,” he said.
“Let’s drop the bullshit, Adam,” Lilith said. “I want the money, and I know how much you want full ownership. This is my first and final price. If you want the Times all to yourself, you’ll find the money.” She smiled and opened the menu. “Shall we order?”
While they ate, Adam barely heard Lilith’s small talk. His mind was working, trying to figure out how to meet Lilith’s price. He thought briefly of the hundred acres he still owned in Napa, but he knew he couldn’t get enough for it. The only alternative was to sell a newspaper. But he knew he couldn’t do it. He had worked long and hard to create his empire, and the newspapers and news wire service were now stable, growing businesses. Besides, he thought of them also as Elizabeth’s, her legacy as much as his own. The Times Corporation was one of the largest and most powerful in the country, with fourteen newspapers spread throughout the West. And he was involved in sensitive negotiations right now to purchase another newspaper in Phoenix. The thought of having to pull back on the reins now was like admitting defeat.
Adam set down his fork. He didn’t feel like eating. Lilith’s voice droned on in the background. Her timing could not have been worse. He thought about the report lying on his desk back at the office. It was an ambitious plan, prepared by the city editor with input from Stephen Hillman, to attack the suburban circulation problem. It called for setting up small bureaus in several communities and customizing a local news section each day so only stories affecting each community were featured. It would be as if each little suburb had its own newspaper within the Times.
Adam had already given his tentative approval. But it couldn’t be done if he had to meet Lilith’s demand. Adam finished his drink. Somehow, he had to get full ownership of the Times. It was one of the things he had to get in order.
“Lilith,” he said, interrupting her chatter, “I want to make you an offer.”
“Not a penny less, Adam,” she said.
“I’ll give you thirty million.” Lilith’s eyes widened. “If you’ll agree,” he went on, “to take five million now in cash and the rest in yearly payments of two point five million.”
“No,” Lilith said. “I want it all, now.”
Adam motioned for the check. “Then we have nothing more to talk about,” he said, rising. “Shall we go?”
Lilith didn’t move. “Sit down,” she said. When Adam did, she stared at him venomously. “You’re a ruthless bastard,” she said. “You stole that paper from my father, and now you’re trying to cheat me out of what’s rightfully mine.”
“It’s a fair offer, Lilith. Do you want it or not?”
She tossed her fur collar around her neck. “All right,” she said brusquely. She left without another word.
Adam remained at the table alone. It was done. It wasn’t the best solution. He would have preferred to have Lilith out of the way now. He hated the idea of mortgaging the Times’ future, but at least now it truly would be his. Now, finally, he could have peace of mind that the newspaper’s future was secure, that he could pass on what he had built to his family. The final pieces were falling into place.
He closed his eyes. He was tired. He remembered suddenly that he had a doctor’s appointment that afternoon for a physical. He thought briefly about canceling it, but he had already done so four times. After a moment, he rose to go back to work.
Back at the office, he rang Ian’s office and told the secretary that he wanted to see him. It was time to tell Ian about the suburban plan. Adam had kept the plan secret until now because he knew Ian’s reaction would be negative. The city editor had also recommended that Stephen be named suburban news editor, and Adam knew Ian was jealous of Stephen’s ability.
But it was more than that. Yesterday, Ian had told Adam that Stephen and Kellen were serious. Adam had been caught off guard. He had no idea that Kellen thought of Stephen as anything but a friend.
“You’d better break it up,” Ian told him, “unless you’re ready to have a Jewish son-in-law.”
Adam had been disgusted with Ian’s bigotry. But it made him stop and think. He liked Stephen, but he was uncomfortable with the thought of Kellen marrying him. He had known Josh and his family for more than twenty years, and the fact that Josh was Jewish had never been an issue. But now, suddenly, it was. I’m not anti-Semitic, Adam told himself. I just want Kellen to have an untroubled life. She’s been raised a Catholic, just like Elizabeth wanted. I’ve worked hard to cleanse my reputation, buying into the social game so her path can be smooth, so she can be the lady Elizabeth raised her to be. Intermarriage will only pull her down and bring her heartache.
Ian came in. “You wanted to see me?”
Adam told him about the suburban plan, which Ian discounted as preposterous.
“Well, I’m going through with it,” Adam said. “There’s something else you should know. I’m buying out your mother’s interest in the Times. It will be very expensive, and to do it and the suburban plan will mean some serious belt tightening on other properties.”
“There’s always some fat that can be trimmed,” Ian said. “We could start with some newsroom layoffs in San Diego.”
“No,” Adam said quickly. “No cuts in news operations.”
“But the payroll is so damn high, Father.”
“Ian, I’ve told you before. You cut the newsroom, you cut the heart. And then the rest of the paper slowly dies.”
Ian sighed. “Then what do you want me to do, Father?”
“For starters, the television station in Oakland needs a firmer hand.”
Ian smiled. “That should be easy.”
Adam shook his head. “No, Ian, no shortcuts this time. I want you to go over there and play watchdog for a couple months at least. You might even think about staying there.”
“Stay there?” Ian’s smile faded. “In Oakland?”
Adam began to sign some papers. “It’s not a gulag in Siberia, for crissake. You seem to like to forget that your father came from the East Bay.”
“But -—”
“Don’t argue with me, Ian. I’m not in the mood.”
“I’ll be
in my office if you want me,” Ian said curtly, and left.
Adam leaned back in his chair wearily. He felt a stab of disappointment that his son was not more of a visionary. Ian would be able to run the corporation someday but only if it were first set on a sort of automatic pilot.
The intercom buzzed, and Adele reminded him he had a doctor’s appointment. “And Kellen’s here to see you,” she added.
“Tell her to come in,” Adam said. He ran his hand quickly over his face, as if to erase his fatigue so Kellen would not see it.
He smiled slightly when she came in, wearing not one of her strange outfits but a pretty dress. “You look very grown up and ladylike today,” he said. “How about if we go to the club for dinner tonight. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“I can’t,” she said. “I have a date.”
“With Stephen?”
“Yes. We’re going to the Concordia Club.” She saw the look on Adam’s face. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about – Stephen,” Adam said. “Don’t you think you two are seeing too much of each other lately?”
“Daddy, I’ve known Stephen since I was a baby.”
“Yes, but maybe it’s time for you to go out with other young men. What about that fellow you met at the club dance last summer? And that young man at school, the one from Boston.”
“He’s boring.”
“He seemed like nice young man, from a good family.”
Kellen met Adam’s eyes directly. “And Stephen isn’t?”
“Stephen is a fine, talented boy. But you are too young to limit yourself.”
“Daddy, quit treating me like a baby. I’ll be twenty-one tomorrow.”
“That’s still too young to -—”
“Mother was sixteen when you met her.”
“Times were different then.”
“What are you trying to tell me? That you don’t want me to see Stephen?”
“I just don’t want you to get serious with one man right now. Someday you’ll get married, to the right man. But now, you’re too young to know what you want.”
“I’m not too young to know what I want,” she said. “In fact, that’s what I came to talk to you about. I want a job. Here at the Times.”
Adam sighed wearily. “I thought you put that crazy idea out of your head.”
“It’s not a crazy idea,” she said. “I’ve got my journalism degree now. I want to work with you.”
“No, absolutely not.”
“But why not?”
“I told you. My daughter does not have to work for a living. I don’t want you working, especially on a newspaper.”
“But it’s what I want to do. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a writer.”
“Then be one. Write poetry.”
“I want to write for a newspaper.”
“You have no idea what it means to work on a newspaper.”
“Then teach me!” Kellen felt tears threatening.
“Please, Kellen, not now.” Adam closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them and took her hand. “I remember when you were born. I looked at you and thought, what in the world am I going to do with a little girl? But your mother knew what to do. She raised you to be a lady. And that’s what I’ve tried to do, too, because I know that’s what she would have wanted.”
“But I want to do something,” she said.
“The most important thing you can do,” he said, “is to find the right man and mean as much to him as your mother meant to me.”
Slowly, Kellen withdrew her hand from Adam’s grasp. She leaned back in the chair, her energy draining away.
Adam saw the look on her face. “You know I can’t stand seeing you look like that.” He smiled slightly. “Why don’t you and a girlfriend go off on a little trip? Hawaii, maybe. I haven’t given you a graduation present yet, have I?”
“No, you haven’t,” she said flatly.
“Well, then you pick a place and make the arrangements. And buy all the new clothes you need. Would you like that?”
She didn’t answer. Ian came into the office. “We need to go over this, Father,” he said, handing Adam a document.
Adam took it and glanced at Kellen. “I’ll see you at home tonight. And I want you to think about that other thing we talked about.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Kellen walked slowly down the hallway. A man got off the elevator, and she brushed by him, lost in her thoughts.
“Kellen?”
She looked up. It was Clark Able. He was dressed in a finely tailored gray flannel blazer and slacks, and an outrageous pink and charcoal silk tie, all in keeping with the dandy image he had cultivated. During the last three years, he had become a celebrity because of his gossip column, “Of Cabbages and Kings.” Adam had engineered his rise within the city’s social circle, and Clark was a frequent dinner guest at the house. Kellen had found in Clark a kindred free spirit, and they had become good friends.
Kellen managed a small smile. “How come you haven’t been to dinner lately?” she asked.
“Your old man’s been pretty busy in recent weeks. Haven’t been able to get through to him.”
“That makes two of us,” she said, punching the elevator button.
“You know, I think your father’s working too hard.” Clark said. “He looks tired lately.”
Kellen didn’t say anything.
“Kel, what’s wrong? You know you can tell me.”
For a moment, she thought about telling Clark about the conversation with her father. She needed to talk to someone. But then she decided he probably would not understand. No one could, not Clark, not even Stephen. The elevator opened, and she got in. “No, everything’s perfect,” she said softly.
Before the elevator closed, Kellen caught it. “Clark, why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night?”
He paused. “Well, I haven’t been invited.”
“Well, I’m inviting you. It’s my twenty-first birthday. Josh and Stephen are coming. I’d like you to be there to help me celebrate. We’ll all have a great time, just one happy family,” she said with an ironic smile as the door closed.
The next night, everyone gathered in the living room for drinks before dinner. The day had been cold, and even a blaze in the fireplace did not seem to dispel the chill in the air. Josh, Stephen, and Clark sat talking quietly by the fire. Ian, dressed in a dinner jacket, drank his scotches too quickly, annoyed about having to obey Adam’s order to stay home for dinner. Adam seemed strangely dispirited and distracted.
Kellen began to wonder if Clark was right about Adam’s health. Upon reflection, she realized that he had seemed depressed in recent weeks and had lost some weight. He was, she decided, working too hard.
She went over to him and sat on the edge of his chair. “I didn’t thank you yet for the birthday present, Daddy,” she said softly. She fingered the pearl necklace Adam had given her earlier then kissed his cheek. She stood up and held out the folds of her gown. It was Victorian, old velvet, worn to the softness of violet petals. She had found it in an antique store and had been saving it for a special occasion.
“So how do you think it looks with my new dress?” she said, smiling down at Adam.
Adam barely glanced at her. “I give you money to buy clothes and you run around in old rags. You should dress more like a lady.”
Kellen’s smile disappeared, and she reddened deeply. Her hand went up instinctively to the gown’s provocative low neckline. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her.
She stared at Adam, too stunned to move. He looked away, finishing his drink in a quick gulp. He rose from the chair.
“Let’s go in to dinner,” he said to no one in particular. He went alone toward the dining room.
Stephen came up behind Kellen. “He didn’t mean it the way it sounded,” he said quietly. “Something’s bothering him. He was edgy all day at work.”
&nbs
p; “I know what’s bothering him,” Kellen said. “I am. Everything I do lately seems to make him angry.” She glanced at Stephen. “He doesn’t think you’re good enough for me, Stephen. He wants me to find a nice Catholic boy and stay at home and raise little red-headed leprechauns.”
She swept by him before he could answer. He followed her into the dining room. During dinner, the conversation was stilted and filled with pregnant pauses. Ian and Stephen got into a heated discussion about the Times’ problems in attracting suburban readers. Adam appeared to half listen. Occasionally, he glanced down the long table to Kellen, who was sitting in the chair Elizabeth had always occupied. Kellen was stifling her anger by drinking her wine too freely and doing some strange mockery of a social grande dame, turning to Stephen on her right and then to Clark on her left, laughing and chatting with exaggerated charm.
At eight, the governess brought Tyler in for Adam to say good night. The boy was dressed in pajamas, his freshly washed blond hair slicked to his head. He stood by Adam’s chair, staring up with wide blue eyes.
“Can I stay up a little later, Father?” he asked.
“No, Tyler.”
“But I want to watch the end of ‘Johnny Jupiter.’”
“Go to bed, son.” He bent low and Tyler kissed Adam’s cheek. The governess led the boy away.
Again, the room was quiet. Dinner was cleared and a maid brought in a birthday cake and set it before Kellen. With a smile, Kellen blew out the candles and Josh, Stephen, and Clark applauded.
“Best wishes, Kel,” Clark said, kissing her cheek.
Kellen turned to Stephen. “Happy birthday,” he said softly. He started to kiss her cheek, but she turned and kissed him fully on the lips. She looked back down the table in time to see Adam staring at her.
“Well, I hope it’s chocolate!” she said, turning from his stare. She cut the cake, passing plates down the table. Kellen noticed Adam was still staring at her strangely.
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