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Grant was starting to see the familiar beach that was on the back side of Goonies. He was close to home. Decided he should just run there. Hoping Hannah would finally talk to him. Because he was almost out of time, and he’d taken two steps forward with his wife, and then a step back. He needed to get her to agree, once and for all, that they belonged together. Then he could finally get her to come to New York with him, and she could have her bar from afar. What woman wouldn’t love that option?
He quickened his pace. Running through town, he rounded the corner and saw Hannah’s little place come into view. What he wasn’t ready for was the limousine parked in front of it.
He started to slow, breathing hard and putting his hands on his hips as he walked to the limo. The back passenger window rolled down. A tight blonde bun and pair of oversize Dior sunglasses greeted him.
“You know that the closest airport to this godforsaken place is an hour and a half away?” his mother said. Her lips were tight, painted pink, with wrinkles lining them.
“What are you doing here? How did you even find me?” Grant said, furious and yet not completely surprised. His mother opened her car door, forcing Grant to take several steps back. She looked like she always did. Sharp knee-length skirt and matching blazer with dazzling jewelry. She stepped from the car with e
ntitlement and rigid grace.
“Since you’ve been ignoring my calls, I decided to track you down.” She examined her nails. “And I heard there was an investors’ meeting this weekend. Thought I’d take the chance to see how you intend to spend my money.”
“It’s my money, my company. Dad left it to me.”
“I’m still his legal widow.”
Grant took a deep breath and glanced at the ground. He had to find his calm or he would lose his damn mind.
“You can’t contest the will,” Grant finally said.
“Oh yes, I can,” she said with a happy smile. “And I can even take the company.”
Grant laughed. That was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard. She could contest the will, fine. Go to trial. Sure. Didn’t mean she’d win. Because the will was not only clear about Grant inheriting the estate, but that Grant got the company, and if anything happened to Grant before he could hand it down to his child, it still had to be a Laythem the company went to.
“I don’t know how much you’re spending on your lawyer, but you can’t get the company. And I’m tired of talking to you about this, Mother.”
“You treat me worse than your father,” she snapped.
“Oh, absolutely I do. Frankly, I’m not sure why he supported you as long as he did, but I won’t do the same.”
Her grin turned sinister. “Well, it will be interesting to see what the board has to say when they vote in a couple days.”
Grant quickly searched his mind. There were no issues to vote on. Nothing on the table.
“Vote?” he asked for clarity.
“Yes. Did you know that the majority of the board at Laythem Incorporated can dictate who is CEO of the company?”
Hot lava fueled only by rage started pumping through his body.
“You cannot get the board to toss me over and elect you CEO.” He enunciated every word carefully, because he’d never been so angry in his entire life.
Those lips that he was certain were cemented into a permanent scowl crooked up at the corners with amusement.
“That’s up to the board. And you’ve been playing house, it would seem.” She tossed a disapproving look over her shoulder and waved at Hannah’s home in dismissal. “Meanwhile, the board is concerned when they don’t hear from their CEO in almost two weeks. I’d say that I don’t have to toss you over. You’re doing a fine job of that on your own, dearest.”
She pinched his cheek, and Grant wondered how the woman who’d given him life was so cold. He was nothing to her. He knew that. She cared about money and power. Honestly, he’d always wondered if she’d gotten pregnant with him just to keep her hooks in his father. His father’s only mistake in life had been falling for the wrong woman.
“I’m gone for a week and a half and you’re threatening a hostile takeover?” he said quietly.
“It’s business, dearest. Which is why I’m here,” she said with a perk in her voice. “I heard through the grapevine that you’re looking to invest in some company around here. A pretty heavy sum.”
“So?”
“So, I was curious what has you looking all the way out here and draining the family trust.”
He wanted to point out the “family trust” was his father’s money and Grant’s. Though Grant was new as CEO, he still made good money, contributed to the business, and had been worth millions on his own before his father’s will. He didn’t owe his mother an explanation about anything. She was sniffing around because she was worried he’d drain the account before she could try to get her talons into it with this contesting-the-will nonsense.
