CHAPTER 3
I didn’t see mom for a few days after our first meeting. The first phase of the plan was in play and we just had to wait. Warren and Calder had warned me that, no matter how well you planned, there would be unpleasant surprises. The blue back (lawyer talk for legal notice) that showed up mid-afternoon on Thursday was like a cold bucket of water. I immediately dropped everything else and buried myself in the response. I was at about an hour later when my secretary stuck her head in.
“She’s on the phone and raging. Are you in?”
She gave a pained smile. Janice is great; she’d take a bullet for me, or my cock. But I’d never offer she’s way too valuable to risk for just sex. I smiled and waved her out. I picked up the phone.
“You ass! You really fucked this up! Did you READ this thing? I’m going to be out on my ass next week and it’s all YOUR fault! I do not know why I trusted you! Damn you!”
And then she was gone. I stared at the phone and actually laughed. Well, I’ll call her back later, after I finish the plan. Two hours later I got a call from Calder. Mom had called him, of course. He was great. He said nothing about the family connection but stood firm with her. She insisted he take over and he resolutely refused. She was livid. She hated not being in charge of this and worse she hated that I was and that I knew more than her. When I called her back her mood had gone from towering rage to sullen anger.
“Mother, we need to meet to go over our response.”
“I’m fucked either way, what’s the point?”
I laughed.
“Hardly, not even close. But it’s going to take a lot of time and research to nullify their action. Come to my house Friday night at nine.”
“Why can’t we meet in my office?”
Mom trying to control, again. I was polite.
“No mother, my house, nine PM.”
She acted like she hadn’t heard me.
“Then our house, if you prefer.”
I sighed to myself.
“Mother, you heard me, I’ll be waiting. Goodbye.”
I gently hung up the phone. That was the most defiant thing I had ever done to my mother and I had done it so politely. Now, all she had to do was show up.
CHAPTER 4
She did and right on time. She must have come straight from the office because she carried only her business case, no luggage. She probably thought this wouldn’t take long and then tomorrow she could call Warren or Calder to check. I opened the door and we were eye to eye, she had her heels on. Her face was a little drawn. The merest impression of dark circles shaded under her eyes. I’d never seen that. This situation must be taking a toll. She came in and looked at me. I pointed to my dining room which had been changed into the war room for this project. My antique mahogany table had three twenty seven inch monitors on it tied into the server in my basement. Stacks of papers were neatly arranged in front of the other chair. I was ready. I didn’t bother asking her if she had eaten. Silently she took her place, now she was glaring at me, just a little. I sat next to her.
“Now mother, this is what’s going on.”
Three hours later she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She’d been with me the whole time and now I was done. She looked mildly impressed.