They saw everything that went on last night.
All I want to do is crawl into a hole and die.
For a long time, I just lie there, contemplating what’s become of my life. Everything I’ve worked so hard for has been ripped away at the whim of a madman. Autonomy. Self-sufficiency. My education.
All gone.
Eventually, hunger drives me to my feet.
I discover that moving is uncomfortable. Stonehart fucked me hard. What’s more, all my leg muscles are cramping up after being tied in the same position for so long last night.
I stagger into the shower, more limping than walking, and turn the water on as hot as it will go. It starts to scald my skin. I force myself to stand under the stream.
The pain of being burned seems welcome, somehow. It’s purer than the discomfort I felt last night. If I stand there long enough, the steam and condensation helps me forget, for a few precious moments, where I am.
After what seems like an hour or more, I step out and dry myself off. My skin is tender and raw.
I like the feeling. It’s something that I did to myself. Stonehart played no part.
As I walk, zombie-like, to the closet, a faraway thought bubbles to the surface near the back of my mind: this type of behavior is alarmingly similar to the early stages of clinical self-harm.
I choose to pretend not to heed the warning.
After I’m dressed, I go into the powder room and look in the mirror. My face and neck are blistering red.
Shit. For a moment, I’m afraid I’ve done permanent damage. Not because of the lasting effects on me, but because I remember Stonehart’s stipulation about body size and appearance. One of his verbal rules was a restriction on me ruining my body in any way.
What if he does it? I think bitterly. That’s just fine.
My stomach rumbles again, reminding me of why I got out of bed in the first place. For half a second, I consider going on a hunger strike, just to regain some degree of control over my life.
I dismiss the notion as quickly as I have it. One, it would piss Stonehart off. Two, I would be the only one suffering.
I walk down the hallway to the main house. I am in a foul mood. I don’t know where all my motivation has gone.
Maybe Stonehart fucked it all out of me.
That thought feels like it should carry a trace of dry humor. It does not. It is an apathetic assessment of my situation.
Avoid alliteration! I remember my freshman seminar professor screaming at me, tongue-in-cheek. And—finally—the memory makes me smile. She would have had a fit if I had written “apathetic assessment” on any of my creative writing papers.
I enter the larger-than-life entrance hall. Sunlight streams in from all the windows, making the chandelier glimmer from high overhead.
For a second, I just stand there, admiring the beauty of the home.
I guess the saying about beauty being skin deep applies here more than ever. If I had seen the inside of Stonehart’s mansion before I was taken captive, I would never have guessed that it was the lair of a veritable monster.
Two male voices drift from down the hall, making my body release a quick, nervous burst of adrenaline. I jump, my heart racing… and realize how stupid my reaction is.
Jesus, Lilly, I chide myself. They’re just voices! When did you become so skittish?
I placate myself a little bit by arguing that it’s lack of sleep that has me feeling so off today, and nothing that Stonehart did.
Of course, I know that’s a lie.
I debate going back to the sunroom to avoid seeing anybody. Then, immediately appalled by my lack of courage, square my shoulders and walk directly toward the voices.
I am the same woman I always was, I repeat to myself. Don’t let circumstance change you. Don’t let Stonehart win.
I come to one of the sitting rooms and find Stonehart leaning on a black leather couch, arms wide over the back in a position of utter comfort. He is speaking to a man I’ve never seen before.
The man is younger than Stonehart. He’s probably less than a decade older than I am. He looks… well, overwhelmed would be an understatement. Whereas Stonehart is entirely at ease, the other man is as nervous as a baby bird that’s caught sight of a snake along the branches. He’s sitting with his spine as straight as a skyscraper, and keeps dry washing his hands in an obsequious gesture.
I’m also surprised by Stonehart’s appearance. For the first time since I’ve known him, he is wearing something other than a perfect, pressed suit. He has jeans on, of all things, complemented by a tight black polo that tapers in to show his trim waist and strong chest. The sleeves hug his arms nicely. As he taps one hand against the sofa’s back, I see the muscles of his forearm dance.
In short, he looks more relaxed and human than I’ve ever seen him.
I’m about to turn away, not wanting to interrupt something important, when his eyes come up and catch sight of me. And then—damn the man—such an honest, genuine smile spreads on his face that my knees actually go a little bit weak.
“Lilly,” he says warmly, standing up and cutting his companion off mid-sentence. “Finally, you’re up.”
He walks toward me. I’m stunned when he leans down to kiss my forehead in the sweetest display of affection he’s ever shown. He slips his arm around my waist and turns back to his friend, who has stood up and started to fuss with his hair, no doubt to try to make a good first impression.
“Lilly, this is Esteban,” Stonehart explains, guiding me forward. “Esteban, this is Lilly Ryder. My…” his pause is so short that it’s nearly imperceptible, “…girlfriend.”
Esteban smiles at me and extends his hand. “How do you do?”
“Fine, thank you,” I respond, entirely on auto-pilot, and reeling from shock.
His girlfriend?
Stonehart leads us back to the couch. He sits down and crosses his long legs, then puts an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. Esteban sits and waits.
“Mmm.” Stonehart turns his head toward me and dips his nose in my hair to breathe deep. “You smell wonderful today, Lilly,” he says under his breath. The words are so low that I am sure they are meant to reach only my ears.
Esteban clears his throat. Stonehart turns his attention back to him. “Continue.” He nods.
Esteban takes a breath. He looks as nervous as ever. “So,” he starts, directing a quick glance at me. He exhales, changes what he was going to say, and rubs his cheeks. “I’m sorry, but should we really be having this conversation with…” he trails off, his eyes darting between me and Stonehart, “… another party present?”
“I have no secrets from Lilly,” Stonehart says with the utmost conviction. “She can hear anything I do. You were saying?”
“Well, I was saying how…”
I let Esteban’s voice wash over me as I sit there, stunned, at Stonehart’s declaration. He has no secrets from me? Really?
What was up with the way his hand tightened over my shoulder when he said that? Were it coming from anyone else, I would have been sure that a gesture like that implied protectiveness.
“…so you see,” Esteban’s words pull me back to the present, “…Dextran Technologies can provide Stonehart Industries with the experience you are looking for. In fact, nobody is better positioned to leverage our existing strategic partnerships. In the case of a merger, Stonehart Industries would gain control over—”
“Not a merger,” Stonehart interrupts. “An acquisition.”
Esteban clears his throat. “Yes. Ahem. I was hoping to persuade you to reconsider that part of the—”
“No,” Stonehart cuts in. The word is not cruel or cutting. It simply is. “I will not tolerate a merger, and I will not waste my time with anything other than an acquisition. You knew the terms when I invited you here.” He raises an eyebrow. “Do you insist on trying to change them this late in the game?”
Stonehart’s words carry more weight and power than anything I’ve ever heard
.
“No, no,” Esteban backtracks quickly. “It was just a suggestion.”
“A poor one.”
Esteban swallows and keeps going. “Yes.” He nods. “You’re right, of course. Yes. Anyway, in case of an acquisition, Stonehart Industries would have immediate access to the industry connections so prized by our rival firms, while Dextran—”
“Excuse me.” Stonehart holds up one hand. “I feel awful, because I just realized that Lilly is sitting here with absolutely no context for our conversation.” He looks at me and smiles. “Esteban is the founder of a technology firm called Dextran. They produce some of the best silicon chips in the Middle East. They own the factories Intel uses to manufacture their processors in Israel.
“Unfortunately,” Stonehart spares a glance at Esteban, “Dextran has suffered from poor management decisions in recent months. They are close to defaulting on their loans, even though they own some of the best and most prized IP in the industry. I invited Esteban here to discuss the possibility of a friendly takeover by a company with enough economic clout to negotiate favorable terms for repayment of Dextran’s debts.”
He pauses for a moment and looks out the window at the sparkling sea. “Esteban’s position is unenviable, Lilly. He has a brilliant mind for hardware—” I see Esteban’s face light up, “—but a poor understanding of the business world. In fact, it’s fascinating that Dextran has lasted this long with him at the helm.”
Esteban bristles, affronted. “Our business tactics have made us prosper for fifteen years—”
“Built on the back of government loans and handouts,” Stonehart cuts in. “And now that the well’s dried up, where does that leave you? I know everything there is to know about your company, Esteban. I have already made up my mind about whether or not I am going to go through with the acquisition.”
Esteban’s eagerness betrays him. He sits—if it were possible—even straighter. “Yes?” he asks.
“I am,” Stonehart commits after a pause. “But surely you could have deduced that. The real reason I invited you here, Esteban, is to decide whether or not to sack you after the acquisition.”
Esteban’s eyes widen on the spot. “You insult me—”
“Is honesty an insult?” Stonehart counters. “The truth is, Esteban, I find you weak. I have always said that a firm’s employees should reflect the company’s own values. That reasoning applies even more so to those at the top.
“The acquisition is going to go through. I confirmed it this morning. Even as we speak, different subsidiaries of Stonehart Industries are buying up remaining Dextran stock. By the end of, oh, say, the hour? I’ll have majority control. Then it’s just a matter of convincing your remaining shareholders to sell what they own, and the takeover will be complete.”
Esteban surges up. “I never—”
“Sit down, man,” Stonehart growls. He leans forward and takes his hand off my shoulder. Intensity pulses from him in waves. “You cannot change anything now. You came to America looking for a suitor—” Stonehart flashes a triumphant smile, “and you got me.”
“The Israeli government will never ratify a hostile takeover.”
“You think not?” Stonehart laughs. He reaches into his jeans pocket and takes out a folded sheet of paper. He passes it to Esteban. “Then tell me, please: what is that?”
Esteban takes the paper from Stonehart. He regards it as if it were a ticking bomb. He unfolds it slowly against his leg, straightening the creases, and reads.
It takes only a moment for his expression to change. His eyes darken. “What is this?” he asks. He sounds shaken. “When did you get this? How?”
Stonehart leans back, puts his arm around me, and offers a casual shrug. “You see,” he says, his triumphant smile never reaching his eyes, “it helps to have friends in high places. The Israeli Minister of Finance, for example, has benefited from his relationship with my company on numerous occasions. This is just…” Stonehart motions vaguely in front of him, pretending to search for the right word, even though I know he’s just stretching out the killing blow, “…him returning the favor.”
“You can’t do this!” Esteban protests. “You can’t—”
“I already have,” Stonehart says softly. “Who do you think alerted me to Dextran’s troubles? The deal is as good as done. What I would worry about now, if I were you, is what type of impression you’re leaving on the man who owns your entire business.”
Esteban looks at Stonehart, suddenly defiant. “I am the best there is. Nobody else comes close. You would be a fool to fire me.”
“A fool from your perspective, perhaps,” Stonehart intones lazily.
“Dextran’s employees have loyalty. We are like a family. They won’t take to a usurper.”
Stonehart laughs. “Is that what you think? That I will take control of Dextran’s day-to-day operations, personally? If so, you’re a bigger idiot than I thought.”
“Who else?” Esteban challenges.
Stonehart looks at me. “Lilly.”
Chapter Three
A shocked silence falls upon the room. I don’t know who is more taken aback: me, or Esteban.
He recovers first. After sputtering a few nonsensicals, he sneers. “The girl?” he says.
“Yes,” Stonehart answers. “And it would do you good to address her with more respect. From what I gather, all six of your family members are Dextran employees. Trust me when I say that you do not want to see Lilly vengeful.”
“This is an outrage,” Esteban proclaims. “A mockery!” He surges up. “I came here because you invited me to discuss a business proposition. Instead, I find… I find… this!” he spits, glaring at me.
Stonehart stands, too. He steps in front of me, shielding me from Esteban’s baleful stare. “Then I suggest you leave.”
Esteban’s jaw works furiously. But he is still the meek man I first met. He’s not a fighter.
So, true to his nature, he turns and stamps out of the room. Alone.
After the front door slams shut, Stonehart turns to me. He has an easy, relaxed smile on his face as he rubs his hands together.
“So,” he says. “That went well, I think.”
My mind is still reeling as I try to understand what Stonehart could have possibly meant when he suggested I take Esteban’s position.
“You were joking,” I say in a small voice.
Stonehart looks mildly amused at my incredulity. He shakes his head as if it were on a swivel. “No, Lilly. I’ve told you many times that I am a man of my word.”
“But…” I sputter. “I mean… me?”
“Yes, you,” he smiles. There is no cruelty in his eyes or voice.
It’s like yesterday never happened.
That concerns me.
“You’ve proven yourself more than capable of standing up for yourself,” he continues, sitting down in Esteban’s unoccupied seat across from me. He chuckles. “I know. Do you remember what I told my board after we first met?”
“Yes,” I whisper, still full of disbelief.
“I said that you have more courage than all of them put together.” He pauses to smile at me again. “I meant that.”
I force my lips to move up in a strange facsimile of a smile that I do not feel.
“Of course, you’d be taking direction from me. But you will have some autonomy over operations. More, as you earn them and prove yourself capable.”
“You’re actually serious,” I say.
His left cheek twitches up in an irritated tick. “Yes. I told you already. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“But… why?”
“Remember the first time we spoke? It was on the phone. I told you I would offer reparations for the way you were dismissed.”
“Yes,” I manage, “but I never thought…”
“That I would make good on that promise?” He laughs. “You thought that was just a trick to lure you in, so that I could bring you here?” He spreads his arms to take in the entire r
oom.
“Well…” I blink, amazed that we’re having this conversation despite his rules. “…Yes,” I finally answer.
He exhales and puts a hand over his heart. “Lilly, you wound me. Do you really think of me as such a monster?”
Before I can stop it, my hand starts moving toward the collar. Stonehart notices.
“Ah,” he says. “That. Yes, I can see how that little device might warp your perception of me. But you have to understand, Lilly, that I have to retain some control over you. We both know that you can be quite… willful.”
I just stare.
“The takeover’s not going to go smoothly, of course,” he continues. “There is going to be backlash. From within the government. From the employees. The United States and Israel pretend to be great friends, but it is an uneasy alliance that both countries wish they could forego. The Israeli people will not take well to a foreign conglomerate taking over one of their most treasured technology firms.”
“And you want me….” I swallow. “You actually want me to…”
“To take Esteban’s position as CEO, yes,” Stonehart sighs. “Really, Lilly, is that such a difficult concept to understand?”
He stands up. “It will be a year or more before the company is ready to have you at the helm. That gives us plenty of time to work out any lingering kinks that might make my proposition difficult. Issues of trust, perhaps.” His eyes harden as he looks at me. “Remember, Lilly, that the contract you signed can be amended at any moment by myself. Do not make me force you to take the position at Dextran by adding a new clause. I would rather have you come into it of your own free will.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This has to be a joke. Right?
Stonehart looks outside. “My,” he says. “It’s a marvelous day out there. How would you like to go for a picnic? It seems like such a shame to waste the weekend indoors.”
I swallow as I remember the last time Stonehart tried to lead me outside.
He turns back to me. “No?” he asks. “I think the gift of proper employment should count as more than a single TGB, don’t you? In fact, I’d say it’s worth about… four.”
Uncovering You: The Complete Series (Mega Box Set) Page 23
