“It is an outrage that the two of you would bring us here to announce Joel’s candidacy,” board member number two remarked.
“Wait a minute,” Don said. “I didn’t call this meeting, and I’m definitely not recommending Joel as a candidate. I’m one hundred percent behind Abigail. She’s served DMI in stellar fashion as our executive vice president. She’s earned her stripes, and I believe she’d serve DMI well at the helm.”
“Listen, once you set aside your personal feelings about Joel and get to the core of what we should be seeking in a candidate, this becomes a no-brainer. He has the experience, the leadership, and the track record that we need.” Madeline was firm in her delivery. He also had the Mitchell name, which gave him an extra vote as far as she was concerned. If he were one of her children, his name alone would add four silent votes, which was equivalent to an automatic win. “I respect Abigail as a great second in command, but she’s not the right CEO for DMI, at least not now.”
Several eyebrows arched around the table, coupled with nods of agreement.
Madeline went on. “We know he had some problems before stepping down last year. That’s heavily documented. However, let’s be fair. He more than doubled the size of the company in a year. He has what it takes. With the right structure, he could do well for us.”
“I’m not sure we should take a chance on Joel Mitchell. He made several compromising decisions,” a board member stated. “He merged a company founded on Christian values with one built on conflicting principles.”
“We’re still trying to unload our stake in Harmonious Energy and remain solvent,” added another board member.
More nods and chatter followed.
“Not to mention the excessive debt he took on, which sent the balance sheet toppling. It’s good that DMI is privately held, otherwise it would have gone belly up on the stock market,” said another board member.
Madeline let them go on and on. The board member was right. DMI was privately held, and she had a major portion of the ownership shares. Madeline was tired of this charade. She wanted to tell them that the decision had been made, and they were going with Joel, because the founder said so. She could only dream that it was that straightforward, as she knew there was more work to be done before they got to the rightful conclusion.
“Reinstating Joel would put the company back at risk, and no one can support him as a sound candidate, especially with Harmonious Energy being on the books,” a board member stated.
Madeline wasn’t discouraged. She had expected such a reaction. Joel’s fall from grace was recent, and the stench of failure still lingered. She’d wanted a sample-size reaction before calling for the live vote. That way they would know where to concentrate their efforts. “Clearly, we’ll have to come back to you with a full presentation on both candidates in a week or two.”
“Please include the entire board next time,” one board member said.
“Of course,” Madeline stated.
She had a tough sale ahead. She was encouraged, because it appeared that Abigail wasn’t a slam dunk, either. An equal shot at the CEO position was the best she could hope for at this early stage in the process. She’d count this test as a success. Both candidates had strengths and weaknesses, and these would have to be addressed. She wasn’t delusional. There was a great deal of work to be accomplished in a short time, but failure wasn’t an option.
Despite how much he’d changed, she couldn’t muster the resolve to do this solely for Joel. Actually, it wasn’t for him at all. This was about her legacy. Madeline wouldn’t be able to retire unless a person whom she’d handpicked was running the company. She was confident that Joel would win. How could he not with her in his corner?
Chapter 11
Wednesday morning began the same as the rest. By mid-morning Joel emerged from the guest room that was situated down the hall and around the corner from the master bedroom. His job was to check on Zarah while she was under the doctor’s care. After they’d nearly lost the baby last month, he wasn’t going to take any chances.
He entered the room and saw that she was tucked under the bedcover, not yet awake. He tiptoed to one of the chairs located across the room and sat down, careful not to make too much noise and disturb her. This had become a familiar scene. Many nights he’d sat in one of those chairs until Zarah fell asleep. Last week he’d considered sleeping on the floor near her bed, but she had refused to let him be inconvenienced on her behalf. He could have opted to sleep on the bed next to her, but it didn’t feel right to jump into bed and pretend that they were in a traditional marriage. His lack of affection for her was real, and it wouldn’t change overnight.
He believed there was hope for them, but agreeing to stand by her for the sake of their child wasn’t the same as eagerly jumping into a satisfying and romantic relationship. True feelings weren’t a water faucet to be turned on and off at will. The honeymoon phase wasn’t over; it had never existed. If she hadn’t become pregnant, he would have already divorced her. Each day they were together was a huge step for him, but there were still significant issues to be worked out between them. He was determined to move slowly and let any budding affection for his wife develop naturally. Until the baby was born and he had a better grasp on the marriage, staying in the guest room was wise. As a backup, Joel also planned to keep his suite at the Westin downtown, the one he had reserved when they separated several months ago.
Zarah stirred slightly and then gave a few moans. He sat on the edge of his seat to determine if this meant she was waking up or experiencing pain. She rolled over but didn’t awaken. Joel didn’t relax and probably wouldn’t until their healthy baby was born in five months. He clasped his hands together and let his chin rest against his fingertips. He gazed at Zarah. He’d seen her many times, but looking at her as the morning light danced around, he saw that she was peaceful, radiant, and delicate. Most importantly, she was a human being with feelings and desires. If only her beauty was enough to move the meter of affection more in her direction, beyond the role of hanging around purely out of obligation. Joel continued to gaze at her. How could he have been so callous as to marry a woman without loving her? How could he have discounted her worth and allowed himself to see her only as a tool required to expand his company?
He closed his eyes and let his head drop, his forehead now resting against his fingertips. Thinking about how he’d been willing to go that far, Joel grew furious with himself. As a result, here they were. He was nursing a pregnant wife whose family and way of life resided more than seven thousand miles away. The weight of their situation could easily overwhelm him, but Joel resisted the notion. Yes, he was in a tight spot, but God was able to deliver him from all unrighteousness. He yearned for stability, for a time when the consequences of his mistakes were far in the distance. He had to believe there was hope. Otherwise, how could he stomach the notion of using someone purely for personal gain? Zarah didn’t deserve such treatment. No one did.
She began stirring again, which drew Joel’s attention back to the present. He could tell she was disoriented and rushed to her side.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
She moaned an indecipherable greeting, which was odd. Her accent was slight, and most of the time he understood every word Zarah spoke. He was pleased that language wasn’t a barrier between them. At least there was something they didn’t have to reconcile. As a matter of fact, it was as if her English had been perfected in preparation for living in the United States, which he found appealing.
“Are you in any pain?”
“No, no pain,” she said, directing her attention to Joel.
“Good. That’s what I want to hear.” She sat up, and he quickly fluffed several pillows and placed the stack behind her back. He gently touched her shoulders as she sank into the pillows. “Let me get your breakfast.”
“No, please. I’m not much for eating right now.”
“But you have to eat something light. Remember, the baby needs you to be he
althy.” He placed his hand on her lower abdomen. “I need you to be healthy.”
She placed her hand on his. “Then I will have a bit of food.”
Joel didn’t have to speculate about how she was feeling. The glow on her face spoke volumes. She loved their unborn child, and he knew Zarah loved him too. He slid his hand from underneath hers. Love was a complex term. He loved his mother and father. There was a list of people he cared for, like Abigail, Don, and Zarah. Joel wasn’t sure what he felt for the baby, besides a sense of obligation and a commitment to be a father. He figured that the right thing to do was to remain married and be there for his child, or was it? If the decision was as simple as staying married to his pregnant wife, he figured there was enough good will and Christ-like compassion in him to stay put. But their dilemma was much more complicated. When his mind was in the right place, he served the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Zarah served a different god, an entire set of gods. Therein resided the problem. His Christianity and her Eastern religion weren’t dwelling in the same hemisphere without conflict, let alone under the same roof.
Joel didn’t fully understand the details of her religion, but he knew it had to do with energy sources connecting with the body, the soul, and the universe. Admittedly, it was too intricate for him to grasp, or maybe he simply lacked any desire to try and understand. Whatever the reason for his reluctance to embrace her faith, the fact remained that it didn’t jive with his. He was forced to wonder how they could raise a child together when they did not have the same core philosophies and guiding principles. Staying together seemed impossible, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He needed more time to figure out the relationship and his long-term desire. In the meantime, they had to resolve a huge religious issue if they were going to have a legitimate chance at staying together after the baby was born.
Joel wasn’t going to compromise on the subject. “What do you think about the baby being baptized in my faith?” he asked.
Zarah fidgeted and let her gaze sink. He already had her answer. “I don’t know much about this business of Christianity. I know my language, my culture, my faith. I want our baby to have the blessings of my gods,” she said, speaking rapidly.
Joel sensed she was getting worked up. He’d table the discussion until a more opportune time. He recognized there might never be a better time and resigned himself to the notion that only God could give him the answer he sought for such a convoluted predicament.
“Let me go downstairs and get the cook to make you a light breakfast of toast, fresh juice, and . . . I don’t know . . . maybe a hard-boiled egg?”
“No fuss, please. I am better with a small bowl of rice and juice.” “If you say so,” Joel said.
Zarah grabbed his hand. “I’m very happy that you’re here with me. We are a family, and that is most important to me.”
“Don’t you worry. I promise that you won’t have to go through this pregnancy alone.”
On the way to the kitchen, Joel pondered heavily. Many couples had survived without mutual love, and his parents were a great example. There was no doubt his mother worshipped his father, but if Joel had to guess, her love hadn’t been reciprocated to the same degree by his father. Dave Mitchell had seemed to care deeply for Joel’s mother, but his unwillingness to severe ties with Madeline was an indication that his love had been split between two women.
It wasn’t an ideal scenario in which to raise a family, but he wasn’t seeking perfection. He merely wanted a path forward. Joel yearned for a way to reconcile this mess that he and Zarah’s father had created. Musar Bengali had handed his only child to Joel with every stipulation well defined on the business end of their deal, but love had never been a topic of discussion, let alone a requirement. Regardless, there was no one else alive to blame. Her father had passed, and what happened going forward was up to Joel and Zarah.
He returned with her breakfast on a tray and a single rose lying along an edge. Joel didn’t want to pick up the conversation where they had left off, and possibly stress out Zarah. He decided to retreat to his room and get dressed. That would give her a chance to settle down completely. He’d barely stepped into his room when his cell phone buzzed on the nightstand next to the bed. He rushed to grab it and heard Madeline’s voice.
“Get over here to the office. We have to talk,” she demanded.
“What’s up?”
“I don’t want to talk about it over the phone. How soon can you get here?”
“I’ll be there within the hour.”
“Don’t keep me waiting. Hurry up,” she said and disconnected the call.
Joel’s anxiety level rose. He had no idea what was going on, but it didn’t sound good. He dashed into the bathroom to get dressed in a hurry. Twenty minutes later he tore from the bedroom and hustled to Zarah’s side. He found her sitting up in bed, reading a book.
“I have to run out for a few hours, but the cook is downstairs if you need anything.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to see Madeline.” He wasn’t surprised at her puzzled look. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you this, but she wants me to take over as CEO when Don moves to South Africa.”
“I am most surprised that she would ask you.”
“Me too, but she did.” Joel eased onto the side of the bed, next to Zarah. He couldn’t stay long, but taking a few minutes to lessen her concern was doable.
“Did you say yes?”
“You better believe I did,” he said, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
“Then you must go to her. Go,” she said, gently shoving him.
“You sure you’ll be all right while I’m gone?”
“I will be fine.”
Joel darted to the door and shook his cell phone. “Call me if you need anything.”
She nodded.
“Anything—”
“Go.”
Joel left, and Zarah found herself alone, but she didn’t feel lonely. Actually, she was relieved to have him gone for a short period. She reached over and grabbed the house phone and rapidly dialed Tamara’s phone number. They’d spoken so often that she’d memorized the number. Hopefully, her friend could come by for a short visit. Zarah was pleased at the possibility.
Chapter 12
Joel rushed to Madeline’s office. He didn’t try to figure out what she wanted. There were too many possibilities and most of them were negative. With each step he rattled off a quick prayer asking God for favor. It was his single best advantage. Having Madeline on his side was a miracle. Having God on his side was unbeatable. He’d work hard to keep both.
“Is she in?” Joel asked the assistant outside Madeline’s office.
“She’s in the small conference room, waiting for you.”
Joel thanked her for the information and hurried along. He was intent on getting in and out as swiftly as possible. Just as the assistant had said, Joel found Madeline in the conference room.
“I got here as quickly as I could. What’s up?”
“Have a seat,” she told him, and he obliged. “We have a problem,” she said, spinning her Montblanc pen on the table.
Joel braced for the worst, but he wasn’t worried yet and didn’t shudder. He’d have to deal with whatever was headed his way, but he was sure that God, and Madeline, would help.
“I met with three of the board members today,” she said.
Joel sat tall in his seat. This was big. They hadn’t prepared properly for such a meeting. And how could she meet with members of the board without him? He was eager to get the results of that meeting, although Madeline’s disposition made it clear what had transpired.
“I didn’t realize you were calling a board meeting so fast.” He had plenty of questions but not much gumption to ask them. Letting someone take the lead on critical decisions that affected him wasn’t familiar territory for him. He was tempted to reprimand Madeline for excluding him from an important meeting and crucial decisions, but Joel held back. He’d let Madeline
continue and see where she was headed. “Didn’t you need me there with you?”
“Technically, it wasn’t a formal meeting. We’d have to give proper notification and that whole business. And, no, we definitely didn’t need you at that meeting,” she said grimacing.
Joel felt a tinge of awkwardness but didn’t panic.
“Let’s just say the meeting didn’t go as well as I would have liked,” she added.
“Okay . . .” Joel became irritated. Normally, he couldn’t get Madeline to shut up. At a time when he needed her to speak, she wasn’t forthcoming. However, he was fully aware of his situation. So Joel continued to exercise patience, perhaps the most he ever had. “What didn’t go well?”
“Overcoming your long list of flaws is going to be tough.”
“And we expected that going in.” Joel intentionally spoke reverently so as not to upset Madeline.
“True, and I’m confident we can sway the board with your past achievements.” Her compliment settled Joel’s nerves. “There’s no question about your poor decisions regarding DMI, but no one can challenge your successes here, either.” Madeline began twirling her pen again. “You more than doubled the company’s revenue during your first year as CEO.”
Joel nodded. “And I increased our exposure in the marketplace.”
Madeline grunted. “I wouldn’t be too cavalier about that footnote, since it has become our single largest problem.”
“How so?” he asked.
“You were bent on dragging this company onto the international scene at any cost.”
“I did what my father couldn’t do, and that was to expand our territory.”
“What you did was expose us in the marketplace.” Her tone was stern, causing Joel to wince. “You put us in a compromising position by purchasing Harmonious Energy, and it’s not easily reconciled.”
Unforgiving Page 6
