“Rider? I think you’ll find it’s doing just fine,” he sputtered out. Looking up from the stack of papers with enough proof to cost him everything he’d earned, Karl scowled. “What the hell is this? You all aren’t believing this, are you?”
“Yes, they are, Karl, and so are the Feds. Killing people is not only bad business. It’s wrong. When it comes out that you knew what Cordovex did and still brought it back as Cardiell, you’re going to be the one to pay.”
His eyes darted around the room, searching for an ally that no longer existed. Looking like a trapped animal, he swallowed hard. Sweat beaded on his brow, even as the fight inside him struggled to overcome his fear. Thrusting his chair away from the table, he stood upright and shook his head violently.
“This is fucking bullshit! I’m not going to stand here and take this. That company was nothing when I took over. It was nothing!”
Lawrence shot me a glance and calmly spoke up. “Karl, I think it would be better if you got your things in order and spoke to counsel. What we’re seeing in this report means you’ll have to go.”
As if the chairman’s words set something off inside him, Karl turned toward me and spat out, “You don’t know who you’re fucking with, son. You’re not going to take me down. No fucking way.”
“Time’s up, Karl. And don’t call me son. I’m Tristan Stone, son of Victor and Tressa Stone.”
I watched as the mention of my mother’s name made his eyes flash with rage, and he stormed out of the room, slamming the doors behind him. While the members of the board sat in stunned silence at what they’d seen, I stood and leaned down to place my hands on the table. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I have a mess to clean up.”
“Before you go, can you tell us if anyone died this time? There were no details in the report about Cardiell,” James Sheridan asked, obviously concerned.
Shaking my head, I said, “Not that we know of. Hopefully, we’ve caught this early enough.”
Sheridan slumped back in his seat, his expression one of disbelief. “My mother takes Cardiell. To think that bastard knew what it could do and still let it be sold to people.”
“If you’ll excuse me gentlemen.” Even though I understood his horror, I had to deal with Karl and the repercussions that would inevitably fall in my lap. Returning to my office, I asked Michelle as I passed her desk, “Can you get Harvey on the phone? Tell him I’m going to need him on this Rider thing.”
Dialing the phone, she said, “Daryl had me call him earlier. He made sure to send what he’d found over to his office so he’d be ready when you called.”
“Good. Let me know when you get him.”
I opened the door to my office and heard her say behind me, “Is everything going to be okay, Tristan? They’re not going to blame you for this, are they?”
With a shrug, I tried to downplay how concerned I truly was. “What’s that saying—the buck stops here? As CEO, I needed to know what Karl was up to. I didn’t. I don’t know what they’ll do.”
The truth was I really didn’t know what they’d do, but whatever happened, at least Cardiell would be off the market and Karl wouldn’t be hurting anyone anymore.
“I have Harvey on the line,” she yelled in as I sat down at my desk.
Raising the receiver to my ear, I pressed the blinking button on the phone. “Harvey, you got the information Daryl sent over?”
“I did. This firm will take care of it. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not. You never let me down before, Harvey. I know things are going to get ugly before this is over, but I’m prepared for whatever happens. I have something else I need you to take care of too.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to sell my share in a business I’m part owner of. This isn’t part of Stone Worldwide, though. This is a private business arrangement. Can you handle it?”
“Sure. We can talk after our meeting with the Feds.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you in a little while.”
I hung up the phone and sat back in my chair to look around my office, noticing the bare white walls that surrounded me. After all of this business with Rider was over and Nina and I were back from our honeymoon, I wanted to have her pick out some artwork for this office. It was about time I made this place my own.
Chapter Sixteen
Tristan
Hours later, I arrived home to find Nina pacing the floor in our bedroom. I hadn’t made it two feet into the room before she was peppering me with questions about what happened. I’d hoped Daryl wouldn’t tell her about the possibility that I’d be held responsible along with Karl for the Rider mess, but I wasn’t that lucky. Leave it to that hairy son of a bitch to pick that day for true confessions.
“I’ve been a nervous wreck for hours. You weren’t answering your phone, and Daryl was no help at all. What happened? Can your lawyers get you out of this?”
Loosening my tie, I slipped it from under my collar and threw it on the bed. “One question at a time. It’s been a long afternoon.”
Nina slid my jacket off, draping it across the desk chair. “I’m sorry. I’m just a mess from worrying. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
I smiled and began unbuttoning my shirt. “Because I knew you’d be like this.”
She let out a heavy sigh and sat down on the bed near me. Tugging on my shirttails, she twisted her face into a fake scowl. “What happened to me being an equal and you not keeping secrets from me anymore?”
Lying hadn’t been what I’d intended, but she was right. Looking down at her, I hoped if I flashed a smile I could lessen her justifiable anger. “I figured one last time I could spare you. I didn’t realize Daryl would suddenly need to bare his soul.”
“Don’t think you’re going to get out of this with that famous Tristan grin. I’m angry at you, Mr. Stone.”
I shrugged off my shirt and flashed her another smile. “Then I’m going to have to figure out a way to make sure you’re happy again, Ms. Edwards. Give me ten minutes and I’ll tell you everything. Then I’ll see what I can do to bring back that beautiful smile I love so much.”
Nina ran her finger along the top of my pants, her nail grazing the skin beneath my boxers. “Ten minutes. That’s it. I’ll be waiting.”
“You could join me.”