“Any assistance would be appreciated. Please take a seat.”
A knock on the door interrupted them and Logan’s executive assistant peeped around the door. She seemed agitated and after a short hesitation walked in.
“Mr. Logan … ehm, there is a Stella Dalton here that claims she has a meeting with you and Mr. Phillips.”
“Ah, yes. Please send her in.”
Stella walked in with an air of self-confidence that grinded on Logan’s nerves. He looked at Bill Phillips questioningly, the fury he has been containing since the fire on Friday shooting to the surface. Bill noticed the flash of fury in his eyes and for the first time he understood his daughter’s fear. This man was not someone to tamper with.
“I do hope you don’t mind, Logan. I thought to catch two birds with one stone. Please take a seat, Mrs. Dalton.”
Stella startled when Bill Phillips called Logan by his first name. It was clear he knew him and that this was not their first meeting.
“As you are aware Logan, you issued a letter of intent to sell fifty percent of your shares in the Offshore Oilrig in the Gulf to Mrs. Dalton.”
Logan’s eyebrows rose, but he did not reply. Something in Bill’s demeanor told him to play along.
“Mrs. Dalton, or rather Starlight Oil has applied for finance with our institution for a rather sizeable amount and your letter of intent is offered as collateral as well as half of the shares she still maintains in Starlight Oil.”
“Interesting. And how many shares are Mrs. Dalton now interested in obtaining?”
“Fifty Five percent.”
Shane and Jonathan nearly choked. Logan’s jaw was rigid and he appeared to be cast in stone.
“Would you mind showing me the letter of intent?”
“Of course … let me just see where … my daughter managed this whole operation and investigation, so she is better equipped to explain everything in detail.”
He went to the door and searched outside and waved at someone.
“Hurry, my girl! Everyone is waiting. My apologies, she had to secure the helicopter first. Ahh … I believe all of you have already met her, come in Madison.”
Logan’s heart stopped before she even stepped inside and his rage turned to fury. She deceived him! How could she not have told him Bill Phillips was her father! They even spoke about him in front of her and she never said anything. He swung around and stood staring out the window, his hands balled into tight fists.
Both Jonathan and Shane jumped up after their initial surprise subsided and hugged her.
“My goodness, Maddy! Why did you never tell us? It is so good to see you again.”
Madison glanced at Logan’s rigid back, realizing he was not going to turn around and greet her and she looked at her father that gave her an ‘I told you so’ look.
“Can we get on with this please? I don’t have the whole day.”
Logan snarled; his back still turned to all of them. He gnashed on his teeth to bring his fury under control. When she spoke, he closed his eyes briefly as the husky notes thrilled all the way down his spine.
“Mrs. Dalton, I had a forensic specialist analyze and compare the signature on the intent to sell agreement you supplied as collateral against your signature on your application for the loan.”
“You little bitch! You had no right!”
“I would appreciate you refraining from calling me names again, Mrs. Dalton. I’ve had to take it twice. There won’t be a third time. As far as our rights are concerned, we had every right. You signed your application wherein it clearly stipulates that the Bank receives all rights to verify the authenticity of all documents and associations you included in your application.”
Madison noticed that Logan had turned around and felt his gaze burn her. She opened the file she carried in with her and withdrew the Intent to sell document and presented it to Jonathan who briefly glanced at it, shook his head and handed it to Logan.
“How could you analyze his signature? You had to have an originally signed document from him!”
“Which we did, and why and what is no business of yours, Mrs. Dalton. Obviously, we pride ourselves in only entering into legal and progressive business associations with any individual or entity. You committed fraud in an effort to obtain funds from us.”
“That does not matter! They will sell me the shares!”
“And why would they do that, Mrs. Dalton?”
“Oh, they know very well.”
“I am sure you think so, however, we are not prepared to enter into a business relationship with you, which brings us to the reason why we are having this meeting here.”
Logan could not take his eyes of Madison. She was dressed in a corporate pant suit, with her hair taken back in a knot behind her head, and she was sexy as hell. The way she spoke, her mannerisms had him captivated. He would never in his life have believed his Wildcat could be this brilliant in the corporate environment.
“What are you talking about?” Stella was livid. How could this little … little snip do this to her!
Madison pulled out three pieces of paper and hesitated before she lifted her eyes and looked at Logan. Their eyes met and for moments the world stood still.
“Oh, please! Get on with it!” Stella’s squeal ripped them from their stare and Madison handed the documents to Logan. He glanced down at them and then back at her, questions raging through his mind.
“Your application to our institution was made on behalf of Starlight Oil.”
“Of course it was. I am the main shareholder!”
“Not anymore. Logan and Shane now own fifty five percent of the shares in Starlight Oil. As the main shareholders it is their decision whether or not they wish to honor the application.”
“What … NO … how?”
Bill chuckled. “I have a brilliant daughter, Mrs. Dalton. She managed the main operations of the Bank when she was twenty one and she did a fantastic job too.”
Logan trembled as his anger surfaced anew. He remembered reading the articles years ago in Business magazines about the brilliant youngster that could out maneuver even the most seasoned businessman. They still compared her to him at the time, as he also achieved the same accolade at twenty two, six year prior.
“She bought the forty percent shares you sold last year to Rodney Davell, as well as the fifteen percent you put on the market last week. Of course, my little girl is not into the oil business … although apparently she is into oil men!”
“Daddy!” Bill chuckled before he continued, but noticed the hot look that Logan shot her way.
“So she registered the shares to the Dalton boys. She believed it is their due for the heartache they had to suffer.”
“I … you can’t do this!”
“It is already done. Apart from that I have on their behalf lodged a notion to the courts in Florida of no confidence in you as a shareholder and CEO. Should they decide to pursue that, they only have to sign the final notion and submit it.”
Stella was pale and trembled in rage and devastation. Her whole future of wealth she dreamed about the past months came crumbling down around her.
Madison withdrew another piece of paper from her file and flung it over the table to Stella.
“Or you can sign that.”
Stella looked at the document and her eyes widened. It was an acceptance to purchase her final thirty five percent shares in Starlight for half a billion rand. The shares were not even worth a quarter of that. She took her pen out of her bag and immediately signed the document.
“You will pay for this!”
“No Mrs. Dalton, let me warn you now. I fiercely protect what is mine. Logan Dalton and by extension his family is mine. If you know what is good for you, stay away from them and everything that are theirs!”
Logan leaned over and took the document Stella held out to Madison avoiding her hands trying to take it from him.
“Logan, no!”
He looked down at the document. His jaw tighten
ed and his lips thinned in a straight line. His eyes rose to hers and she winced at the anger there.
“If this is how you waste your Grand Pops inheritance you should get a hiding so you can’t sit for a damn month! Good Lord, woman! Where is the brilliance your Dad bragged about?”
“Money is nothing compared to your life!”
“Don’t! I don’t want to hear it!” He didn’t look at her, his voice quietly intensive.
She huffed and folded her arms over her chest glaring at him. She gasped when he calmly tore the document Stella just signed in two.
Bill and Jonathan looked at each other and Bill winked at him. His daughter chose well!
Chapter Seventeen
Logan looked at Shane and he nodded. It was the first time Madison saw the same strength in him as Logan permanently portrayed. His face was stern and he stared at his mother unflinchingly.
“I appreciate what you did, Madison, but you should have spoken to me before you wasted your money. Ah … I said I don’t want to hear it!”
He shot her a furious glare and she closed her mouth again and sat down on a chair next to her father.
“We might have, and I stress it is a very slight might have, considered something like this if not for what happened last week. To heartlessly sabotage an oil well and in the process killing innocent people is something none of us are prepared to forgive.”
“I had nothing to do with that explosion!”
“Really? We also have a highly competent forensic team that works for us. They can dig the smallest beetle dung out of a pile of mud. Would you like to know what they found, mother dear?” Logan’s voice sounded like doom itself.
“I am telling you, I had nothing to do with it!”
“Funny, that is not what Vernon Miller said. We presented all our findings to him first. Yes, your partner in crime sang like a canary. Seems the possibility of indemnity was too tempting and he provided us with proof of all your transactions, documents and planning pertaining to each and every fire that was set at all our wells.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“If there is one thing, Stella dear you can always depend on, then it is that Logan never lies. Your Vernon even gave us recordings he made of every single meeting he had with you.”
“It is not permissible in court without my permission!”
“Difference is, mother dear, we did not take the recordings. Everything we obtained from him was done legally in the presence of the FBI.”
“The FBI?” Stella squeaked.
“Yes, seems they don’t look too kindly on sabotage and murderers. Did you phone them, Shane?”
“Yes, big bro. I just received a message from Drew that they arrived. They should be at the door as we speak.”
A sharp rap confirmed their arrival and they entered on Logan’s ‘come’. They had to drag a screaming Stella from the room.
“Well, all’s well that ends well, as they say.” Bill said with a sigh. He looked at Logan who glared at Madison and she promptly ignored him. He smiled.
“So, Logan, does the offer for lunch still stand?”
“Of course, I’ve booked a table at the Waters Bonnell’s restaurant for us. Luckily for us, I have a chauffeur ready at hand.”
Madison shot up from her chair and glared at him.
“Go to hell. Logan Dalton! I will not drive you around!”
She swung around and stormed out of the boardroom and slammed the door behind her.
“Shane, would you do the honors so long. We will join you shortly.”
He ran after Madison and grabbed her just before she stomped into the elevator. She gave him a murderous stare and struggled to free her arm from his grip. He yanked her closer and before she could gasp in indignation his mouth covered hers and he immediately surged past her lips to kiss her hard and passionately, demanding her submission which she could not deny him for long. A loud clearing of multiple throats broke them apart and Madison blushed, noticing all three men watching them smilingly.
The elevator slid open behind them and Logan turned and drew her inside with him and the other three followed. Bill handed Madison her handbag she left behind when she stormed out of the boardroom.
“I am not going with you!”
“Yes you are.”
“No …” He silenced her with a sharp look.
“Madison, do not push me any further than you already have the past week! And you can stop looking at your father. This is between you and me. I will not allow any interference!”
Bill had to bite his lip hard to keep the delighted smile that hovered around his lip, but Shane had no mercy and he chuckled earning him a murderous glare and Madison snared at him.
“I am going to introduce you to my sister! It is about time someone wiped that constant grin off your face!”
“Maddy, darling! I have always been on your side! But if your sister looks anything like you … I can’t wait!”
Bill burst out laughing, already seeing what Madison obviously did. Grace would really bring him down a notch or two!
“Shane my boy, judging by Bill’s reaction, you might just swallow those words sometime soon.”
Pretty soon they were on their way to the restaurant with a sulky Madison bundled into Logan’s Bentley and the others following in Jonathan’s SUV. She stared out of the passenger side window the whole time and flatly ignored Logan, who sat nursing his rising anger.
When he parked the car in the parking area, she immediately reached to open the door, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm. She sat back but refused to look at him.
“Look at me, Madison.”
She bit her lip. The fact that he still called her Madison was a clear indication that he was still angry with her. She turned her head and their eyes met. She winced at the anger that glittered clearly on their surface.
“I am not going to belabor what just happened back there. Suffice it to say that you have a lot of explaining to do. You have no idea how angry I am with you at this moment. Therefore, your explaining will have to wait until I have expunged my anger.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you really think I would forget that you disappeared on me the day after you made a commitment to me, writing me a God damned letter? Wasting your inheritance on that good for nothing woman! And be warned Madison, I have every intention of carrying through the punishment for that I promised in the boardroom.”
“That is not fair! I only wanted to …”
“And I told you I don’t want to hear it! Leaving me … you know how I will deal with that … I warned you.”
She gasped and got out of the car before he could stop her and stormed to where her father and the Daltons were waiting. Halfway there she swung around and slammed her fists in her waist.
“You are a fiend! You stay away from me Logan Dalton! Do you hear me?”
He kept sauntering closer unconcernedly and she spun around with an, “Oef, you are so infuriating!”
Madison immediately sat down in a chair between Shane and Bill just to annoy Logan further. He chuckled and waited until she looked at him.
“You are just adding fuel to the fire, honey, but never fear; I am well rested!”
“I am not going home with you!”
“No?”
“I have to take Daddy back to Washington.”
“Drew can take him back.”
He promptly turned to Bill and started talking about the new bill that currently was the controversial issue in parliament on the information and protection act.
“Logan! Dahhhling! What a surprise!”
Blond Bimbo Candy! Madison stiffened when she tottered closer on her stiletto heels and super mini dress to wrap her arms around Logan from behind, pressed her breasts against the his back and stroked her one hand over his chest.
A low growl reached Logan from across the table and he met Madison’s furious glare. He enjoyed her blatant jealousy for a moment too long and the next moment Candy
bend forward and kissed him on his mouth.
“Logan Dalton! Get yourself out of that damn woman’s talons!”
Bill watched his daughter in amazement. He has never seen such possessiveness in her eyes and fury at the woman draped around Logan. He looked at Logan and chuckled when the poor man did try his best to untangle himself from the blond. He was acting much too slow for Madison’s peace of mind and she threw a spoon at him that hit him in the chest.
“Hey! Careful honey!’
“I suggest Miss Blondie … Candy is it? That you remove your claws from Logan! And if you don’t do it right now, I am within seconds from pulling each of those red fingernails out with my teeth!”
Candy dropped her hands from Logan, but she was still pressed to his back. Madison rose from her chair and started moving towards the blond woman with murder in her eyes. She realized she was in danger and literally jumped back from Logan.
“Well, dahhling, phone me when you’re done with lunch.”
“Dahhling just lost your number and I suggest you lose his just as quickly!”
“Well … I guess I’ll leave then.” She retreated under Madison’s glare and Shane’s gale of laughter. Logan sat with a grin that got bigger by the moment.
“If you know what is good for you Logan Dalton, you will wipe that grin off your face!”
“Yes Wildcat.”
Everyone except Madison laughed at his meager acquiescence.
“Hmm … Mad, that possessive streak of yours is coming out in full force I see!”
“David!” She swung around and fell in his arms and he hugged her close with a smile on his face. He watched in amazement as the large man behind them nearly threw the chair over in his haste to reach over and yank Madison out of his arms.
“Logan! What are you doing?” She noticed his glare and shook her head.
“Babe, this is my brother, David.” He glared at her and growled softly.
“More fuel … how much more is there, Madison?”
The Wildcat that Tamed the Tycoon Page 17
