Chapter 15
Josh sat at the head of the table in the Campbell Holdings conference room, waiting to hear what Mark Strickland and the new engineers that were assigned to his development project had to say. His friend Anton, the architect, was there in case the assessment passed muster and they could actually design something. It took everything Josh had not to lay Strickland out flat, but there was enough distance between him and Caroline that Josh didn’t see the need to break a sweat.
He had every intention of making Mark’s life a living hell whenever he could. And if Roberts and Michaels kept the contract for the development, and he wasn’t sure they would, he’d have lots of opportunity.
The fucking bastard was sitting there so smug, like he’d won, but honestly, Josh knew he had the best prize in Caroline.
He missed her like crazy and was looking forward to getting away. Once his meeting was over here, he had a few things to do, and then he and Jason were getting an afternoon plane out to the Vineyard. His father was due back tomorrow and Josh had everything set up so Dad couldn’t do too much damage while Josh was out of town the next week.
“So how do the tests look?” Mark asked.
Shane, who had been assigned to the project, flipped through the notes. “Most of the site looks fine. But there are some areas that need further investigation. The historical records show a foundry was present on the site, so there could be buried debris. Possibly contaminated.”
That was not what Josh wanted to hear, but it was good that he had pushed to have more tests done. This had possibly saved them a fortune.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Josh turned around as his father entered the conference room. Not what he expected at all. “Dad. I thought you weren’t flying in until tonight.”
“No, last night. We were gone a month. That’s long enough for me to have to deal with your mother full time.”
The men at the table laughed, except for Josh. He’d love to take Caroline away someplace exotic for a whole month.
“So like I said, sorry I was late. I was over at GRM taking care of some business.”
His father and Mark made eye contact, and Josh felt a sick wave in his gut. GRM was the company Caroline was going to. The company that had given her a hard offer a week earlier.
“Why were you at GRM?” he asked.
His father sat back in the big leather chair on the opposite side of the table and folded his hands in his lap. “I had to make sure they didn’t make a hiring mistake. The president of the company is a college friend of mine.”
The blue of Will Campbell’s eyes looked icy cold. Vindictive and cruel, and Josh knew Caroline had just been stabbed in the back. And by his family. After everything she’d gone through. She’d been highly sought-after when she put herself on the market, but one word from his bastard father and everything she’d worked for was gone.
“Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did. Please.”
His father chuckled like it was a joke. “I told an old friend that no matter what kind of degree you give a piece of trash, she would still be a piece of trash. Caroline Rossi should have shut her mouth and done what she was told.”
Josh heard the words, but he couldn’t quite process what had happened. Did people really do business like this? Did a person’s life mean so little? “You ruined her career? She earned that position. She was more qualified than anyone.”
“The only position a woman like her has earned is the one where she’s flat on her back.” Will glanced around the table and then back at Josh. “I assume that’s how you know her best?”
Josh vaulted to his feet and lunged for his father. He was caught around the waist by Anton. “Josh, don’t.”
“You are such a bastard, Dad. I don’t know how you live with yourself. You don’t destroy someone on a whim. You just don’t.”
“In my world, you do. You’ve never had the killer instinct, Josh. Hanging around Mike Rossi made you soft.”
Hearing him attack Caroline’s father was the last straw. Will Campbell had no morals, no soul. “Hanging around Mike Rossi and his family made me human. It made all of us human.”
Josh checked his watch. He wouldn’t see Caroline for hours. He had to talk to her before she got the call from GRM. Jesus, he hoped he wasn’t too late. He put the papers in front of him back in his portfolio and stepped away from the table.
“I’m out,” he said.
“Where are you going?” his father asked. “We’re not near done here.”
“I’m done. I quit. I can’t work with you.”
“You’re a partner in the firm. It’s your legacy.”
“That’s right, I am a partner. And I am going to exercise my buyout clause.”
His father’s eyes opened wide. “That could bankrupt the firm. Your stake is worth millions.”
“That’s right. Hundreds of millions. And pulling out will bankrupt the firm.” Josh stopped at the door and watched all the color drain from his father’s face. “I guess I’m not as soft as you thought. Good luck financing your project.”
Josh left the conference room and his father followed. “You can’t do this!” His father’s tone had gone from angry to desperate. He was pleading, and as low as it was to kick a man while he was down, Josh enjoyed watching his father crumble.
Josh advanced on him, and yelled so loudly all the secretaries came running. “I can and I will. You’re a poor excuse for a human and I am done here.”
“Joshua, I won’t let you do this.”
Walking away, Josh snarled. “Try and stop me.”
Once he was back in his own office, Josh tried Caroline’s cell and swore when it went right to her voice mail. “Shit,” he muttered. “Shit.”
He hit the screen again and called Jason. “I have to get to the Vineyard, like now,” he said as soon as his brother picked up.
“Josh, whoa, what happened?”
“Dad happened. He knows the president of the firm where Caroline landed her new job. He trashed her reputation. Her offer is going to be rescinded.”
“Oh, shit.”
“I can’t reach her. I fucking hate that son of a bitch.”
“Join the club.”
“How fast can we leave?”
“Our flight’s at two; it’s eleven now. I’ll try to change it, but I don’t know if we’ll have any luck. Once they have the flight plan filed...”
“I have to get to her, Jay.” He paced around his office, looking out his window at the street below. He considered driving and taking the ferry, but the plane would be quicker. Maybe he’d charter his own fucking plane.
“Calm down. I’ll call Meg and see if I can find something out.”
“Okay. Call me back.”
He ended the call and tried to get into Caroline’s head. He’d urged her to take chances, to go big, to not settle, and look what happened. Would she retreat to her safe zone? Would that include him?
He never should have said anything to his father about the advice he’d gotten on the site assessment. It just gave him a reason to look for the person responsible and it led him right to Caroline. It was Josh’s fault she’d landed in Will Campbell’s crosshairs, and now he couldn’t protect her from the fallout.
“Josh?” Clara was in the doorway. She folded her hands, like she was ready to pray, and Josh thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea. “Are you all right?” she asked.
“No. No, I’m not.”
***
Caroline was sitting on a chaise staring out over Vineyard Sound. She’d just been fired, and she’d never even worked a day at the firm. She stared at her cell phone and replayed the short phone call in her head. The head of HR for GRM said she was very sorry, but information had come to them after the offer was made that rendered her unsuitable for the position.
What the hell
?
Caroline was numb. None of it made sense. She’d met with everyone right up to the president of the company. She’d had a roundtable with the engineers who would be working in her department and they gave her glowing reviews. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Who the hell had their offer rescinded?
Meg walked out onto the stone patio and drew a deep breath. She sipped her coffee and looked over to where Molly was playing on the swing set they’d had put in.
“I just love mornings here. Even when it’s a little chilly.”
“It’s beautiful.” Caroline’s voice cracked and she took a breath to pull herself together.
Shit.
Meg turned. “Carly? What’s wrong?”
“My job offer has been withdrawn. Apparently I’m not suitable for the position.”
“I don’t understand. They loved you. What happened?”
“Not sure. I’m going to call Colleen and see what she’s heard, if anything. Apparently there was new information and they decided based on that.”
“But you don’t know what the information is?”
“Nope. No clue. I have no idea what or who wrecked my reputation.”
“Could it be Mark?” Meg sat on the edge of the chaise and patted Caroline’s knee.
“I guess it could be, but that would be easy to find out, and considering the trouble we could cause for him I don’t know if he’d take the chance.”
Caroline’s phone rang and she saw it was her friend from GRM. “Hey, Colleen.”
“Hey! I just heard they withdrew your offer. That sucks.”
“Do you know why it happened?” Caroline was looking for anything that might help her understand.
“Caroline, they said it was information from someone who knew the president. And he basically said he had it on good authority that you’re toxic and that no one at Roberts and Michaels was sad to see you go. Ah, what’s the name? Damn.”
“I’m toxic?”
“Oh, there were some lethal descriptors. You’re unethical, not a team player, and you had inappropriate contact with a client. Oh, and breach of company security.”
“And you don’t know who...”
“Campbell!” She shouted. “The guy’s name was Campbell. Does that ring a bell?”
Boy, did it.
“Thanks, Colleen. I appreciate the help.”
“I’m really sorry, Caroline. I would have loved to work with you.”
“Not meant to be, I guess.”
Caroline finished the call and looked at her sister. “Mark, right? I knew it was him,” Meg said.
“It was someone named Campbell.”
“What?” Meg stood and circled the space. “Crap. Josh is still under his father’s thumb. He let this happen to you. I knew we couldn’t trust him. He was always too close with his parents.”
Caroline stood. “That’s not fair, Meg, and you know it.” It wasn’t Josh’s fault, but being with him made her matter in Will Campbell’s toxic little world. “I’m going upstairs. I need to think.” What she needed a break from was Meg’s ranting about Josh. She also had to figure out how to rebuild her life.
Right now she wanted nothing to do with the Campbells, and locking herself in her room with a book for the day seemed like the best idea.
She never should have listened to him. Never should have ventured out of her comfort zone. Look where it had gotten her. Jobless and just another body left in Will Campbell’s wake.
***
Josh ran into the house and bolted through the kitchen, past Meg, Molly, and Mrs. Rossi. He turned at the door to another room, frantic. “Where is she?”
“In her room,” Meg said. “Leave her alone.”
Jason came in and picked up his daughter when she ran to him. “Meg, he needs to talk to her.”
“No, it’s his fault this happened. Just stay away.”
Josh scrubbed his face with his hands and glared at her. “I’m not going to do this with you, Meg. I love her and I have every intention of seeing her.”
He turned and walked toward the stairs. Meg dashed in front of him and within seconds she was standing spread-eagle, blocking the steps.
“Let me go to her, Meg.” He tried to go around, and he was getting frustrated with her spastic dance. “I’ll pick you right up and move you.”
“Megan,” her mother called. “Let him go.”
“MOM!” Meg dug her hands into the railing, more determined that Josh wouldn’t pass. When he reached for her waist, she yelled. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” She was behaving like a small child throwing a tantrum.
Josh looked over at Jason for some help. “Dude, this is your wife; can you reason with her?”
“When she’s like this? Hell no.”
“Caroline needs to see him, Meg,” Mrs. Rossi called. “Let him up.”
“How can you say that, Mom? It’s Caroline!”
“Oh, Megan. Calm down. Joshua loves her. That’s enough for me.”
“It’s not okay with me, though.” Meg sat on a step. “He, he...”
Her mother sat on the stair next to her and took her older daughter’s hand. “What has he done? Josh has worked hard. Gotten an education that is world-class. He’s kind. Generous...”
“No...”
“Yes. Your problem with him is that he has a relationship with his parents.”
“Had,” Josh said. “No more.” But Meg didn’t seem to hear him through her anger.
“Well you don’t know what it’s like to love your family so much it hurts. She’s my baby sister. And... Daddy wanted me to watch out for her.”
Now her mother was surprised. “What are you talking about?”
“When Dad had his heart attack, I was with him.”
“I know, honey,” her mother said. “Did Daddy say something before he died?”
“He said there was someone special for her. A boy she loves. A boy who cares about his family. Who does the right thing even when it’s hard. And I should make sure she found him.”
“Meg?” They all looked up. Caroline stood on the landing. She was in her crappy Cornell pants and a T-shirt. Her feet were bare and her long hair fell almost to her waist. She was so pretty Josh’s heart skipped a beat.
He saw everything when he looked at her. He saw who he wanted to be. He saw family.
“Meg, Daddy was talking about Josh.”
“What?”
“Josh was the one. He knew I loved him.”
“Caroline,” her mother said. “You were only thirteen when Dad died.”
“I know.” She walked down the stairs and Josh came over to the railing, where she reached over and hugged him. “I feel like I’ve loved you forever. I never wanted to be with anyone else because it wasn’t you.”
“Caroline,” her mother asked, “what about Dad?”
“Josh used to spend time with Daddy. He knew the kind of boy he was and the kind of man he would become. Daddy also knew about my crush on him.”