Destined

by Patricia Haley

  “Oh, don’t worry about it, I’m sure it will show up,” Madeline said, hustling Zarah into her office. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake Sherry had. Madeline closed the door as they entered. “Have a seat,” she said, pulling out a chair at the meeting table. “How’s the U.S. treating you?”

  “It is good.”

  “How about marriage?” Madeline asked, opting not to squander the time with small talk. Zarah’s eyes filled, which was awful to Madeline. Based on the crying she’d heard coming from Sherry’s office a few minutes ago, she didn’t believe there could be any tears left. “Can I get you some water?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “You’re clearly not fine.” Zarah was getting to Madeline. She tried to console Zarah while delicately remembering her reason for calling her into the office in the first place. “Perhaps I can help you.” She had Zarah’s complete attention. “Once upon a time, I lost my husband’s affection.”

  “Were you able to get it back?” Zarah seemed to become livelier.

  That was a dicey question to answer, requiring more hours than there were in a year. “Yes, in many ways, but what I went through, you don’t have to. There’s a better way for you.”

  “Tell me, what can I do?” Zarah said, wiggling to the edge of her seat, sitting like an elegant Indian princess. If charming looks were an indicator of contentment in a marriage, Zarah would have no problems.

  “Your husband is stressed over the company’s situation. It’s not doing that great.”

  “I don’t know much about his business or my father’s.”

  “I know, but that’s where I can help you, because I do. I’m one of the founders of this company.” Madeline was focused. She had Zarah captivated and wasn’t going to let up. This was the break she needed and was probably the only chance she had of staying at DMI. She pulled out every roadblock in her mind that said don’t go too far. “I’m also Joel’s stepmother. I know him very well and what will make him happy.” Madeline knew she was a likely candidate to be struck down by lighting at the very second for telling such a bald-faced lie. She’d worry about the consequences later. The fish was dangling on the hook now and required action if it wasn’t going to get away.

  “Tell me, please, what should I do for my husband?”

  “You own the West Coast division of DMI, right? Well, sell it to my son.”

  “I don’t understand,” Zarah said, her enthusiasm slightly fading, but not by much. The poor woman was so desperate to save her marriage, it appeared that she was willing to try anything.

  “If you sell the division, Joel can have the cash that he needs to save the rest of the company.”

  “I’m not sure,” Zarah said, fidgeting constantly now.

  Madeline wasn’t going to let her off the hook. She was too close. If she could get Zarah to sell the West Coast to Don under LTI and if Don could get the Southern division from Joel’s investors, that would be it. Joel would be finished. He’d be forced to resign in total shame and bankruptcy, titles he’d rightfully earned.

  “Your husband is struggling. He has no one else to help him but you. If he can get rid of the pressures at work, he will have more time and energy at home. Do you follow what I’m saying?” Madeline said.

  “I think so, but do you think this will help him, truly?”

  “Yes, and yes, a thousand times yes. This would change his life, and that’s for sure.” Madeline should have felt guilty for deceiving Zarah, and she did, but not enough to retract the offer. Joel could have stepped down on his own terms months ago, but he hadn’t. He was the one who elected to play the game to the death, and Madeline was gladly obliging. Zarah wasn’t getting out of the office without an agreement. “So what do you say? Are you willing to sacrifice for your husband’s happiness and for your family’s honor?” Madeline wasn’t sure honor mattered but had a pretty good feeling that would carry extra weight in Zarah’s decision.

  “Yes, I will do as you say.”

  Madeline wanted to scream out in joy but couldn’t get too excited. She’d been let down countless times before. This time she’d leave emotion outside the door, even her empathy for Zarah, and let her business sense drive. “Zarah, one last thing that’s very important: you can’t let Joel know about this until it’s done.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “Absolutely. Like I said, he’s overwhelmed and couldn’t dare take on another project. Let my son Don and I handle this. Let’s keep this from Joel until it’s done. Then you can make the announcement, give him the cash, and watch his reaction. I’d love to be there for that special moment,” Madeline said, sincerely wanting to be there when Mr. Joel found out that his reign of terror was over with the knockout punch coming from his timid wife. The thought alone gave Madeline zeal.

  “You will have to work with my father’s attorney.”

  “No problem, we will work with whomever you tell us. This will happen very quickly and hopefully you’ll be able to share the news with your beloved husband by the weekend. Wouldn’t that be special,” Madeline said.

  “Yes, indeed it would.”

  “Remember,” Madeline said, placing her index finger on her lips, “not a word to anyone, not Joel, or his mother, or the people at your house until it’s over.”

  Madeline couldn’t wait to get Zarah on her way and to tell Don the unbelievable news. The transaction had to be quick, before Zarah changed her mind. Working with Mr. Bengali’s attorney might be a problem, especially since she didn’t want Joel to know, but that was a chance she was more than willing to take. Madeline ushered Zarah to the elevator and sashayed back to her office. Inside she closed the door, paused, heaved a sigh, and pumped her fists into the air screaming silently. Victory was hers.

  chapter

  70

  Zarah bounced around the estate, pleased that she could help her husband. She found Joel in his office after eight P.M. “I’ve waited for you. Can we please eat dinner together tonight?”

  “Not hungry,” he said. “You shouldn’t have waited around for me.”

  “I wanted to wait. It is my pleasure to wait for you.”

  “Well, don’t do that, don’t wait. I’m very busy and you never know how late I’ll get home, if at all. You have an assistant who should be eating dinner with you every night if she wants to keep her job.”

  “Ana does eat with me and I’m very grateful to have her here. She gives me someone to talk to so I’m not alone here.” She longed to have him look at her, see her standing in the room. Soon, once she could give him the money from selling the company, it would be better for her and her husband. He could be proud of her. She anxiously awaited the news from her father’s attorney.

  “I’m going to be very busy the rest of the evening. I’m going to ask you to leave me alone for a while so I can get started,” she heard him say.

  Zarah was saddened and left as asked. Soon the marriage would change. He would find pleasure in her if she tried harder to be a good wife.

  Joel messed around his office for hours, using the room as a safe haven from his obligations. He couldn’t hide out indefinitely, so settling for a few scattered hours were sufficient.

  Around ten P.M. the phone startled Joel as he laid his head on the desk. It took several rings before he was alert and ready to answer the call. Musar’s attorney was on the line. “Kumar, how can I help you?”

  “Zarah called today. I wanted to speak with you about selling the West Coast division of DMI. I know she has her heart set on selling it, but I wanted to make sure this is truly her desire.”

  Joel heard Kumar speaking but couldn’t make sense of the conversation. There had to be a mistake. “What did you say about Zarah?”

  “She rang me earlier to ask about selling the West Coast to someone at DMI.”

  Joel was completely awake, but remained baffled. “You said Zarah called you?”

  “Yes, Zarah.”

  “Why would she call you, I mean, who is
she trying to sell the division to? Why?”

  “I don’t have the name, but I wanted to speak with you and her to confirm everything before I prepared the papers. It’s no problem with the request. As sole owner, it is your decision.”

  Joel wished it was his decision, but he realized Kumar meant that it was Zarah’s, and hers alone. His hostility burned as he was reminded of her hold over him and DMI. The more he reflected on the news, the more his hostility boiled. How could she sell off his West Coast division behind his back? Her betrayal was crippling, maybe because he never saw it coming from someone like her. He’d let his guard down around her, totally vulnerable.

  “Please, tell her to ring me again.”

  After the call concluded, Joel sat stiff, unable to move or process the conversation with Kumar. He finally mustered the energy to confront Zarah and sought her out in the master suite. He burst in, searching from room to room until he found her sitting in the small reading room near the rear of the five-room suite. Simple courtesies were discounted. “Zarah,” he said, calling out to her. She jumped to her feet and approached him. He put his hand up like a stop sign. “I just got a call from Kumar about the West Coast division.” Her gaze dipped. “You’re trying to sell the West Coast division?” She didn’t respond, slightly trembling. “Did you hear me?” Still no response. “Zarah, talk to me. What’s going on with the West Coast?”

  She mumbled. “I want to be a good wife.” He let her continue. “Mrs. Mitchell told me that I could help you with money.”

  “My mother had no business telling you that!”

  Zarah’s gaze stayed on the floor. “Not your mother.”

  “What other Mrs. Mitchell is there?” he said and had a deep chill shiver his body as the answer popped into his mind—Madeline. “Are you talking about Madeline Mitchell?”

  “Yes.”

  “What were you thinking?” he yelled, driving her to tremble frantically. Joel was beyond furious, not sure if Zarah or Madeline should bear the brunt of his contempt. There was plenty to share. How dare Madeline approach his wife and convince her to betray him! Didn’t Zarah understand that the West Coast and his financial recovery were the only factors keeping him in the marriage? If she faltered on either, the marriage was as good as over for him. He didn’t have to serve the total three-year sentence. He could break free at any time. As mad as he was, sooner sounded better. “What kind of a wife betrays her husband? The West Coast rightfully belongs to my family. You’re only holding it temporarily. I know you can’t sell it to me yet,” he said, unable to regulate the escalating volume in his voice. “If you sell it to anyone else, then I will consider it the most severe act of betrayal and will want nothing to do with you,” he told her and meant it. Zarah wept.

  Joel was consumed with fury, realizing he’d gotten the worst end of a bad deal. Most of his money was tied up in purchasing Harmonious Energy. His livelihood was saddled with the burden of a wife that couldn’t or wouldn’t fend for herself but was naive enough to sell a portion of his company off to the highest bidder. The anger continued blazing as he thought of Madeline, Zarah, and what they’d done. A divorce was the logical reaction but abandoning the marriage this early into the arrangement would nullify any claim he had on restoring his money and the company.

  Joel didn’t care what time of day or night it was. Madeline had crossed him for the last time. He was going to scour the streets of Michigan until he found her. She wasn’t about to get away with attempting to underhandedly steal his division without retaliation.

  His Lamborghini swerved around cars, although there wasn’t much traffic after eleven o’clock in the evening. Didn’t matter. He had to show his ability to take charge and maintain the lead, falling second to no one in traffic, in life, or in the boardroom.

  The route to Madeline’s house wasn’t fresh in his memory. There had been rare opportunities to go there, a few times as a child with his father and none as an adult. The car crept along roads in Rochester Hills looking for the address he’d pulled from his executive directory. Convinced he was in the right area, Joel peered into the dark of night looking for the wrought-iron gates lining her estate. Suddenly, there it was, the sprawling residence taking up the length and width of a square block. He pulled up to the gates, which were closed with no guard. Joel wasn’t giving in this easily. He’d scale the fence to get in if necessary. Madeline had willfully crossed the line time after time. It was his turn to return the favor. He first opted to buzz the entry button and did with no response. He buzzed again and again, laying on the button and contemplating his next move. The rage he’d strapped on at home hadn’t diminished. If anything, it had gained momentum.

  “Yes, who’s there?” he heard the voice say, barely audible coming over the intercom.

  “Me, Joel, let me in.”

  “What do you want?” she blasted.

  “We need to talk, right now.” He could have taken the calmer approach. After all, it was nearing midnight and his tone might scare her off. Then again, it was Madeline. She wasn’t easily frightened. As a matter of fact, she was probably waiting on his visit and had already prepared the estate for an attack.

  There was a buzzing sound followed by the twelve-foot double gates opening slowly. It took nearly a minute before they were fully open. He dropped the car into gear and skidded along the extended driveway until he hit the bend where it began to curve around and approach the house. He came to a screeching halt near the front of the mansion, not bothering to use a parking spot. Joel whizzed to the door and rang the buzzer incessantly.

  chapter

  71

  Madeline quickly changed into a pair of street clothes as she fumbled with the phone, trying to simultaneously call Don. Claiming a small victory, she had him on the line. “Son, you probably need to get over here.”

  “Why?” Don asked, sounding mostly awake.

  “Your brother has gone ballistic. I just let him in the gate.”

  “Why did you do that if he’s ballistic?”

  Joel was out of control and crazy, too, when it came to running DMI, but he wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t about to show up at her estate with the intent of doing anything except spew off a little steam. That was the most power he held, as he would soon find out. She was eager for the party to get started. “I better get downstairs before he breaks my doorbell,” she said, fired up and eager for the fight.

  Don sighed. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “Take your time,” she said, laughing. Madeline heard the doorbell repeatedly buzzing. She was dressed but chose to take her time descending the stairs and getting to the door. It wasn’t because she was waiting on backup. The thrill of making Joel wait and further dangling control on a string in front of him was too tempting to pass up. Perhaps she’d get a cup of chamomile tea before opening the door. Then the banging began after about five minutes. She bolted to the door and snatched it open. “Boy, have you lost your mind, banging on my door? This is genuine handcrafted solid wood,” she said.

  Joel pushed by her and entered the foyer. “I couldn’t care less about the door or you.”

  “My, my, aren’t we in a tizzy. How can I help you?”

  “You know why I’m here,” he said, spitting and sputtering with his index finger pointing at her.

  “What’s the problem now? You have so many that I can’t honestly keep them straight. Can you?” she asked, enjoying her position, not frightened in the least.

  He stepped closer. That took her by surprise, but nothing near panic mode. This was the nature of hand-to-hand combat. There were bound to be bruises in the process of determining the champion. “You tried to buy the West Coast division from Zarah.”

  “You mean your wife,” Madeline said, reserving her amusement.

  “You know who I’m talking about. You tried to swipe the division right out from under me,” Joel said, taking another step closer.

  Madeline stood her ground. “That’s funny. I didn’
t realize you owned the division. Sounds to me like your wife is running your household and your business. What’s she doing letting you out so late? Don’t you have a curfew, young man?”

  “Stop calling me young man, and boy, and this and that,” he shouted. “I’m a grown man.”

  “Oh,” she said, smirking.

  Don burst into the front door. “What’s going on here?” he said, immediately coming to her side and gripping her shoulders.

  “Your mother and probably you, too, tried to steal the West Coast division from me. That’s not happening.”

  “What are you talking about, stealing? Unlike you, we’re offering a fair price in a fair deal,” Madeline chimed in.

  “You didn’t come to me.”

  “You’re right, I went to the owner, or have you forgotten your handcrafted predicament?” Madeline said, gaining greater confidence with Don by her side.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he said with his head bobbing. “It’s not for sale. My wife,” he said with a scowl, “is retracting the offer. You lose this round.”

  Madeline wasn’t totally shocked that Joel had found out about the transaction before it was finalized. The offer was a long shot from the beginning. She had lost the round, but watching Joel lose stability and toss that smug look of arrogance and the-world-rotates-around-me attitude aside was worth the effort.

  “It’s time for you to leave,” Don told Joel.

  “No problem,” he said, appearing to intentionally brush against Don, “I’ve said what I came to say. This discussion is over, just like your run at the company is.”

  Madeline had more to level, but Don waved her off as Joel left.

  “Mother, there’s no reason to get yourself into situations like this with Joel. What if I wasn’t here?”

  “Oh,” she said, “he’s harmless, all bark and absolutely no bite.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Well, he’s gone and so is our run on the company.” The confidence she exhibited in front of Joel left with him. “That was it, my last attempt to get the company for you. I’m tired of trying a slew of botched plans. Let God know that I’m done. I’m going to leave Him and his chosen son alone.”