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I flinch when the cane hits the desk. Wait, did he say he owned Prescott-Holt? I’m not sure what’s going on, only that Alan is mad. I call Cole’s number, which starts to ring when Alan yells again. “What part of now didn’t you understand? Coulter, where are you? Come out here now.”
I stare, openmouthed, because I just had a very sane conversation with Alan, so I know he’s not crazy, which means he’s doing this on purpose. The conference doors swing open, the same time Cole answers the phone. “Kate.”
I can see him in the conference room. “Hi,” I say into the phone and wave at him through the open door.
“Finally,” Alan says, stalking into the conference room, “well come on, Kate, you don’t want to miss all the fun.”
I look at my phone, then back at Cole and shrug. He’s right on one thing; I don’t want to miss any of this.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Cole, Race, Kit, Preston and a few other men I don’t recognize are all standing around the conference room in shock over Alan’s outburst. I walk over to Cole, who puts an arm around me.
“Met your wife, Coulter. She’s a keeper, that’s for damn sure,” Alan says, taking a seat at the head of the table. “It’s about time you grew up and settled down. Wouldn’t mind a couple great-grand kids before I bite the dust.”
“Grandpa, what are you doing here?”
“Yes, Alan, what do we owe the pleasure?” I notice Preston for the first time. He’s looking a bit unhinged by Alan’s presence.
“You know damn well why I’m here, Preston. Did you really think you were going to get away with selling my shares of the company without me knowing about it?”
I watch Cole, Alan and Preston, all stare at each other, not sure what the next move is. It’s Cole who finally breaks the silence. “One of you needs to explain—”
Alan glares at Preston, and then answers. “Well, if Preston is too chicken-shit, pardon my French Kate, then I guess I will do it.”
Everyone stares at Preston, who remains silent.
Alan sits his cane on the conference table. “Everyone sit down. You’re making me nervous standing there like a bunch of awe-struck statues.”
Cole pulls a chair out for me and then sits as everyone else does.
“Who started Prescott-Holt? That’s right, I did, and then I gave half of it to my grandson Coulter. When I got ready to retire, who wanted in? Oh yeah, that’s right...” Alan picks up his cane and points it at Preston. “You did.”
“I know this. You said you thought it was a good way for dad and me to put all our past contention behind us and start new.”
“Coulter, that’s what I hoped. But as we all know, that’s not what happened. But damn, I couldn’t do anything. Not until now.” Alan pulls a manila envelope from his briefcase and slides it down the table to Cole.
Cole grabs it. “What’s this?”
“That, my son, is an agreement I signed almost ten years ago. Saying that if I sold my shares to anyone other than you, I was forfeit on the shares by half.” Preston meets Cole’s stare.
“And you’re willing to do that still?”
Preston’s lips thin, but he answers, “I made a decision. There’s no going back.”
“You also forgot, Preston, that I still share ten percent of the shares with you.”
“What!” Cole stands up. “I’ve always had controlling interest in this company.”
“No,” Preston holds up a hand to Cole. “Alan signed a silent partner agreement. He never had a say until I decided to sell.”
“So what happens now?” Everyone looks down at Race.
Alan picks up his cane pointing at Race “What happens now, dear boy, is that my grandson, is going to get every last share of that company at half the cost, or I will withdraw my holdings in every single one of your businesses, Preston.”
Preston’s eyes go wide, and he turns an ashen color. “You wouldn’t?”
“It’s already in process.”
