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“Not everyone comes from a privileged background and can uproot their entire lives overnight,” she said, a note of accusation in her voice.
“Not everyone does,” he said, biting the bitterness from his tongue. Had she Googled him? His father’s family had been rich, but he built his business from scratch. Maybe she hadn’t and assumed he’d worked for his father his whole life, riding on his coattails. Irritation floated up his throat, leaving an acidic aftertaste. “Now you listen to my side.”
She crossed her arms, sighing, then leaned in. “Of course.”
“The patients we’ll transfer are in good health. They’ll benefit from the new buildings with a lot of resources available for them. Meanwhile, we’ll be able to switch our current special needs patients to an upgraded lifestyle. We’ll remodel and use the space from the rooms to build a new patient care center with up and coming therapies that may help them,” he said evenly. How could she not get it?
“I appreciate new technologies and therapies. However, have you considered finding a new site in Tulip? Why do we need to move the residents from buildings A and B hours away when there are so many sites available much closer?”
“It’s a business decision. The real estate here is more expensive than where we’re sending them.” The board had been pleased with the idea of saving money too. But he doubted that nugget of information would impress the magnificent, defiant woman in front of him. “Why are you so invested in this?”
“Because I care—”
“Cut the crap,” he interrupted her, waving her off. An underlying reason must exist, and he had to find out. “Why?”
The waitress came and brought them a small basket of different kinds of breads accompanied with butter. She replenished their water and handed them the menus. All the while, he kept his gaze fixed on Nikki’s in a silent challenge. For how much longer would they dance around the subject? What did she expect from this meeting?
She tore her gaze from his, and when she reached for the bread, the tips of her fingers trembled. “My grandmother is amongst those patients.”
Aha. “How convenient for you,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Her grandmother… of course. Now it all made sense—she wasn’t an idealistic person who cared deeply about the wellbeing of the elderly. Was she? He dipped his head, as if he could see her better, dive into her glowing eyes and find the truth.
“But that isn’t the only reason. I spend time with her and her friends.”
“Good for you. What’s your other topic for this meeting?”
She cleared her throat. Fear flicked in her eyes, and he didn’t have to dive into their depths to know she wasn’t faking it. “This is the main one.”
His gut clenched. Damn it. Since neither of them would budge, the right thing to do would be to call off the meeting and go home. To say goodbye to her and go to sleep without knowing for sure if deep down she was selfish or well meaning. Didn’t matter—she had children, and he doubted she’d want a guy who didn’t want to be around them. One more look at her, and his gut clenched tighter. Regret for what he was about to do coursed through him. He waved to the waitress. “I changed my mind about the sommelier.” He’d need a drink after all.
3
“What do you mean he didn’t agree?” Lara asked, passing the bowl of popcorn around. This week they decided to go to Violet’s home to watch The Rock’s latest release in the awesome home theater while the kids played with the teenage sitter on the second floor.
Violet’s husband was a well-off surgeon, and the girls sure took advantage of their mansion whenever he went away on business trips.
“We talked and ate for one hour, but there was no way I could convince him,” Nikki said.
“Damn. What are you going to do?” Brit took a drink out of her cup.
“I don’t want to give up, but how easy is it to stand up to The Man?” she said. Images of a specific man and not the figurative one popped in her head. He’d listened to her, and countered every argument she’d thrown his way. Disappointment warmed her blood, or maybe it was the amount of alcohol she’d already consumed. Either way, she was at a loss—and she hated to lose, especially when others lost too.
Violet lifted her glass of wine and had a sip. “Someone has to do it.”
“Yes. Well, I tried. I just don’t know how to tell Henry and David they won’t get to see Grandma that often,” she said sadly. And all the other family members to residents she’d come to know.
“Have you talked to Sue about it?” Brit leaned closer.
She grabbed a pillow and clenched it against her chest. “Not yet. I was hoping to find a way out before telling Grandma.”
“Wait,” Lara said, lifting her glass like she just had a bright idea. Some of her wine nearly sloshed out of it. “What if you tell her and the others?”
Nikki shuffled in the couch. She was Human Resources, so wouldn’t she have to inform them anyway? Probably after she got the word from upper management. “What do you mean?”
“Think about it. Talk to some of these residents and try to have them or their family members sign a petition about how they have strong ties to the community and can’t leave.”
“That could work.” Violet nodded.
“You mean going behind The Man’s back?” Nikki asked. Leave it to Lara to come up with a conspiracy or ingenious way to outsmart Corporate America.
