Destined

by Patricia Haley

  “I am a founder of this company, that’s no doubt. In a way, DMI is my baby.” Don nodded in affirmation without interrupting. “Tamara is my child, a child that I love with all my heart. I would give my life for her,” she said, struggling to hold the tears. “And for you, too.”

  “I know that, Mother.”

  “Here I am, having to choose between saving DMI and bringing my child home. Why does there have to be a choice? Why can’t we have both? Is that so wrong of me to want both? I’ve given up so much already. Without them both, I’m nothing.”

  Don appreciated her dilemma. He’d had a taste and the sourness wasn’t pleasant, but it was survivable. After thinking more about it, the request was unreasonable and as impossible as he initially believed. There had to be another way.

  “Tell her I’ll think about it and let you know soon.”

  “Mother, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but I’m your mother and Tamara’s. Maybe this fulfills my purpose. By walking away I can give both of my children what they deserve and what I’ve dreamed of you having for so many years. You could finally complete your father’s life work and your sister could finally come home. If I can make both of those happen by leaving, then so be it.”

  The resolution in her tone screamed. She was seriously considering the possibility. Her mere consideration was a major miracle. There was hope, and he’d cling to the notion.

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  66

  By late afternoon, Don couldn’t believe his mother was seriously considering the proposal. The bittersweet taste consumed him. For him to become CEO, his mother had to pay the ultimate price. Fate was inescapable and so was the associated fallout he was quickly coming to learn. Tamara had to be told before it got too late in Bristol. He placed the call. A few rings and she was on the line. “Big sis, I hope it’s not too late.”

  “Not at all. Actually, I’m glad to hear from you. I can’t get DMI and Detroit out of my head now, thanks to you,” she said punctuated with a giggle.

  “Well, that’s why I’m calling.”

  “I know, you don’t have to tell me. Mother said no way to my proposal. She’s not leaving DMI for anyone or anything, especially for her prodigal child.”

  “That’s not true. I have to admit, at first she said absolutely not.”

  “I knew it.”

  “Wait, that was at first, and to be honest, I can understand her reaction. She was shocked and happy and upset all at the same time. When I spoke with her again, she’d moved to the middle. She hasn’t said yes and she hasn’t said no.”

  “Wow, I’m surprised.”

  “You shouldn’t be. Our mother loves us. She’s worked her entire adult life for us.”

  “I told you, my walking away from the family and Mother doesn’t have anything to do with love. I needed space and time to heal.”

  “Look, sis, I’m not attacking you. Please don’t feel that way. But I hope you understand my predicament. I’m in the middle. You can’t blame me for wanting it all, DMI and you and Mother together in Detroit.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Why? There has to be a way for the three of us to reunite in the same place. It’s time.”

  “No,” she belted out and then softened to say, “not at first, but I’m open to changing my mind later.”

  Don laughed. There was no other reaction worth exhibiting.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You might not want to hear this, but you are Madeline’s child without a doubt. I’m so glad she only had one daughter, because it would be impossible to handle two little Madelines running around.” His humor caught on and Tamara joined the laughter. Don didn’t know what was going to happen next. He would just be prepared.

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  67

  Joel inched the car along the route home, not really wanting to go there. He didn’t want to see anyone or explain anything to anybody. He was tired of being questioned by a pack of whining pessimists whom he’d made extra wealthy with DMI profits during his tenure. He wasn’t a loser, it wasn’t in his Mitchell DNA. He’d prove it and shut up the growing list of people nipping at his heels. Joel entered through the garage door, keeping quiet, practically tiptoeing with a stack of mail and documents his administrative assistant had handed to him on the way out. It was early in the evening and he expected Zarah to be wide awake and craving attention, attention he didn’t have the energy or the interest to give. Joel got as far as the casual dining room situated off the kitchen before Zarah swooped in like a watchful hawk seeking prey. No door was safe. She was going to sniff him out if he was in the house.

  “I’m pleased that you’re home today. The daytime hasn’t gone.”

  “I know. I came home a little earlier so that I could get a jump on work in my office,” he said, passing through the mud room, laundry, small den, and into the back hallway leading across to his office. Zarah was in close pursuit. He wanted to turn around and tell her to back off, to go away, to leave him alone, to let him breathe, but was determined to maintain civility.

  “We can eat dinner together?” she asked.

  “I’m not hungry,” he said, entering his office and setting the stack of mail and documents on the corner of his desk. “I ate lunch earlier.”

  The hopeful expression drained from Zarah. She was overcome with a look of anguish. Joel’s instinct, which he silenced, was to console her. She was a hungry kitten. If he fed her now, she’d be back for more and more, depleting his small ration of compassion. His pity would be interpreted as love and there wasn’t enough in his heart left to share. From his birth, his parents were the only people requiring his love. There had never been a need to produce extra love in his soul to be rationed out to others. His half sister and brothers didn’t require it. As a matter of fact, they flat out didn’t want it. He had grown up alone in this life except for his parents. Zarah would have to get in line if she wanted more. His soul was bare, and what little he did have was already committed to Sheba.

  Zarah sobbed. He took several steps toward her, torn about how far to go.

  “There’s no need for that,” he said, standing in the middle of his office, wanting to vanish. “You don’t have to eat alone. The cook and your personal assistant are here.”

  “But they always eat with me,” she said, reaching for his arm.

  “That’s their job. That’s what I pay them to do. Let them do their job,” he said, raising his voice and retracting his arm from her reach. Zarah’s tears flowed but her whimpers were contained. Joel felt his control slipping away. She was a distraction at a time when he had to give 100 percent to reviving his leadership position. “I’m sorry,” he said, violating his rule and pulling her into his embrace. Her shoulders relaxed as she locked her arms around his back and held on. A minute passed and he tried wiggling free. Her clutch was not easily broken but he had to break free.

  “My father expects me to have children.”

  Musar was gone and didn’t have a single thing to say about what happened in Joel’s household. He’d already done plenty of damage before his so-called transition to the next phase. Joel was agitated. As far as he was concerned, Musar was dead and followed the same path that the others before him had taken in death, leaving a trail of complications for others to untangle.

  “This isn’t a good time for us to have children.” It wasn’t like he could talk to her about the details of work. She didn’t understand business. “I have a lot of work that has to be done. It is very busy at the office,” he said and left it at that, going to his desk. He flipped through the stack of mail, stopping abruptly at the People magazine cover. The airport shot of him and Zarah were in a small box on the top right side of the corner. The wording burned his ego: MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR covered by a big red X. Joel’s fury was percolating. Consciously, Joel processed that his predicament wasn’t Zarah’s fault. If he was about to die, perhaps he’d go the exact same route as Musar had to provi
de for his only child, especially a daughter. His rational thinking didn’t blame her, but his emotions did. The cover enraged him. He’d lost both the West Coast and Southern division, his reputation as the wisest CEO, and now his most coveted title of eligible bachelor was gone. He had little left, including dignity. Joel desperately had to be alone.

  Zarah stood there waiting for whatever was coming next. Joel was disgusted with himself for getting in such a situation of despair. He’d have to go to bed extra late tonight. Maybe he’d sleep in his office or a guest room to avoid Zarah’s pleas. They’d consummated the marriage once, and Joel didn’t see the number changing in three years.

  The night had passed and Zarah was alone again. There was no husband lying next to her. Maybe she wasn’t pretty enough, she thought. Maybe she wasn’t intelligent enough. Maybe she was cursed for a deed her father had done years earlier. Zarah was desperate for Joel’s affection. Pleasing him was her sole reason for living. She dressed hurriedly in her clothes from home and hustled downstairs to meet her personal assistant Ana. “I want to go to my husband’s job. Can you take me, please?”

  “Gladly,” Ana said, arranging for a driver.

  Zarah was antsy along the ride to Joel. She was pleased that Joel had gotten her an Indian assistant who grew up not far from her town. They were the same age, twenty-three, and had much to discuss, but the assistant wasn’t Joel. The name “Ana” meant “wanted”—something Zarah longed for, to be by her husband.

  “We’re here,” Ana said.

  The short ride was over. Zarah was too nervous to exit the car immediately. “Please, may I have a minute? I’m not ready,” she said, second-guessing her decision. What if Joel was displeased with her for coming there? What if she saw him but wasn’t able to say words that made sense? Her palms sweated.

  She was overcome with doubt when Ana said, “We can go in and you can sit in the lobby until you’re ready.”

  That seemed to make sense, so Zarah got out. As she entered the building for the first time as a wife, the aura overtook her. Perhaps it was from being in the building again without her father, or for coming to see her husband for the first time at work, or from simply being outside of the house without Joel. Whatever the reason, she stumbled.

  “Here, let’s take a seat,” Ana said.

  “No,” Zarah belted out. “I’m fine.” She had to stand on her own in order to show Joel her strength. There was something she was doing wrong in his presence. She’d made every attempt to please him going forward. This was her first brave attempt and it wouldn’t be ruined with a misstep.

  “Then let’s go upstairs to your husband’s office.”

  “I’d like to go myself,” she said, determined to be brave. Ana stayed downstairs as Zarah got clearance from the guard’s desk and entered the elevator. It was a slow ride up the six floors. When the elevator door opened, Zarah’s feet wouldn’t move. She lunged off the elevator, gaining momentum and anxiety at the same time. Remembering her husband’s assistant last year from the visit to DMI with her father, Zarah approached her desk.

  “Hello, Mrs. Mitchell. I’m Kay, Mr. Mitchell’s assistant. It’s good to finally get a chance to meet you again and to say congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” Zarah kept a contained smile and nodded. “I’m here to see Mr. Mitchell.”

  “He’s at an off-site meeting.”

  “Sorry, I don’t understand.”

  “He’s meeting with someone at another location this morning.”

  “Then I shall wait for him to return.”

  “It could be a long wait. I believe he’s taking the corporate jet to Chicago right after the meeting ends at noon and will return to Detroit around seven this evening.” Zarah attempted to cover her feelings. “I can have him call you on the way to the airport.”

  “Yes, please.” Zarah thanked Kay and turned to leave, mustering the energy required to take one step at a time. Halfway to the elevator, Joel’s mother came from her office and met Zarah.

  “What are you doing here?” Mrs. Mitchell asked. “And how’s the newlywed?” Zarah had managed to retain her emotions, but the rejection and shame overtook her, setting off a tsunami of tears. “Wait a minute,” Mrs. Mitchell said, pulling Zarah into her office as another lady slowly walked by, a person Zarah vaguely remembered meeting before. When they were inside the office, Mrs. Mitchell asked, “What is going on here? Why are you so upset?”

  Zarah was filled with shame. In her culture, a wife was lower than a dog if she couldn’t fulfill her husband and honor him with children. “There’s something wrong with me,” she wailed. The shame intensified. She was taught from birth to control her emotions in both pain and joy. Life was intended to complete one’s purpose. Her family would cast her away and her father would be disappointed if they saw her in this state, but she didn’t know what else to do.

  Mrs. Mitchell handed Zarah a stack of tissues and went to the door. “Please get me a glass of water,” she asked someone outside and then returned.

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  Madeline stood near Kay, filled with curiosity. “What is going on here,” Madeline asked as Kay got the glass of water for Sherry.

  “I don’t know, but it must be something serious.”

  “Do you know what has Joel’s wife so upset?”

  “How did you know she was his wife?”

  “Are you kidding?” Madeline answered. “There aren’t a great number of Indian women dressed in their elegant native garb walking around the streets of Detroit or within DMI,” she said, amused.

  “You have a good point.”

  “Let’s get back to his wife. What’s her first name again?” Madeline asked, not sure if she’d forgotten it or had never known.

  “Zarah.”

  Madeline said, leaning in, “And you don’t know why she’s so upset?”

  “No, I told Mrs. Mitchell that Joel was at a meeting and that he was flying to Chicago for the afternoon. That was it. I hope I didn’t say or do anything to offend her,” she said, getting the water.

  Madeline was too deep in thought to answer rationally. Most likely Zarah found out about Sheba and was beginning to realize that she wasn’t the only woman in her husband’s life. That would warrant a few tears, at least the first time. The tears were guaranteed to dry up over time, but Zarah was too young to have that knowledge. Madeline felt genuine empathy for Zarah. She had to give Joel his accolades. He didn’t just destroy lives locally, he went internationally. No family with money and a daughter were safe from his reach and egotistical pursuit of control.

  As Madeline returned to her office, the opened door to Sherry’s office was too tempting to simply bypass without getting an earful of the drama brewing inside. Kay had returned to her desk. “Could you do me a favor and go get the money management workshop folder from Abigail’s office?” Madeline asked. “It’s a red labeled folder. I must have left it down there yesterday.”

  “No problem,” Kay said, taking a moment to forward her calls to another administrative assistant for backup.

  As soon as she was near the elevators, Madeline pretended to be reviewing a file near Sherry’s doorway, out of the line of sight but within the hearing-clearly zone. Madeline wasn’t worried about Kay returning right away. It would take some time to realize that the file wasn’t there since it didn’t exist.

  “He doesn’t want me as his wife,” Madeline heard Zarah say.

  “That’s not true,” she heard Sherry respond. Madeline’s mind was in overdrive. Maybe there was one last plan in her, a good one this time, a surefire win. The giddy thought of pulling off her idea made her legs weaken.

  “He doesn’t. I know he doesn’t. He won’t let me have children. He doesn’t want to be with me!” she cried out.

  “Well, he’s busy running this company, and your father’s, too, now. That’s a lot of work to handle.”

  “But I never see him. I eat my meals with the cook and Ana, the assistant that he ha
s for me. He won’t come to the bed unless I’m asleep,” she said, crying. “What must I do? I am so ashamed.”

  “I had no idea this was happening. I’ll speak to him for you.”

  “No, you must not tell him that I spoke with you.”

  “Zarah, he’s my son and you’re my daughter-in-law. The two of you are my family. I must help.”

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  Madeline parked her hearing on Sherry and Zarah’s discussion as her gaze kept watch on the elevators. As the conversation quieted, Madeline eased from the door and tiptoed to the elevator. She stood off to the side, in the break room, waiting. It wasn’t long before Joel’s wife approached the elevator alone, just as Madeline hoped. She zoomed in like a cat stalking its prey. There was no getting away. Madeline pushed the button hastily and reserved her conversation until they were safely on the elevator. “Mrs. Mitchell, do you remember me from the meeting that you and your father attended here last year?” Madeline asked Zarah. The awkward look said yes or maybe. “I’m also Mrs. Mitchell. I’m on the board of directors. Welcome to Michigan and welcome to DMI,” Madeline said. The elevator ride ended in the lobby. “Do you have a few minutes?” Madeline asked. “I’d like to speak with you while you’re here.”

  There was a little glow in Zarah’s demeanor. “Me? You want to speak with me?”

  “Yes, you,” Madeline said and gave a faint nod.

  “Yes, I’d be honored.”

  Madeline quickly pushed the elevator button, desperate to avoid Sherry. Talking with Joel’s wife was a risky move, but one Madeline was willing to make. The door closed and carried them upstairs. Madeline hustled to her office. By now Kay should have given up the futile search although Madeline didn’t see her from a quick glance down the hallway.

  Madeline’s assistant stopped her. “No one can find the file that you wanted.”