Page 2 of Deacon

"Of course. Yes." Jerry fiddled with his briefcase and avoided the man's direct gaze. He knew of Deacon Manchester's ruthless reputation. The man seemed to have ice water flowing through his veins. Jerry had also read about his tragedies, a wife who had blatantly and flagrantly flaunted her affairs for all the world to read about.

There had been talk about her being pregnant, the paternity of the fetus she had been carrying in question. The accident had occurred two years ago and left Deacon Manchester a widower, one who seemed to have no intention of changing that status.

"It's just that I would like to reassure my board and the staff members that things will remain unchanged."

Deacon's thick, dark brows lifted. "Surely, you are not that naive."

"No." Jerry shook his head. "I know there will be changes, but I am trying to say that I hope the staff will be allowed to stay."

Deacon gave him a contemplative look as he twirled the fountain pen through his long fingers. He had no idea why he had agreed to this meeting. The official meeting would be on Monday, when he and his team would descend on the company and lay out the terms. He had studied the financial reports sent to him by his CFO.

He noticed the problem: the company was run by generations of Gallaghers who were more figureheads than competent businessmen. He had also seen where countless recommendations by the editor to take the company into the future had been ignored. That was going to change significantly.

"For now." He responded unanswerably. "As long as your staff is performing, there will be no need to replace them. The board, on the other hand, is another matter."

"Those men have been with us for generations."

"And that right there is the problem." Deacon waved a dismissive hand and reached for his intercom as it sounded. "Yes?"

"I am sorry to disturb you, sir, but your conference call from Japan is on the line."

"Thank you." Looking at the man who had taken the hint and was scrambling to his feet, he nodded. "I will see you on Monday, Mr. Gallagher. Will Ms. Pennant be back from her travels?"

"She is due back tomorrow."

"Good." He reached for the call and swiveled his chair, indicating that the meeting was over.

*****

Striding toward the cabinet tucked into the corner of the room, Deacon poured himself a finger of scotch and figured he more than deserved it. Taking the glass with him toward the window, he stared blindly at the gathering dusk shrouding the towering buildings.

The treated one-sided glass allowed him to see everything while hiding him from peering eyes. Leaning a broad shoulder against the wall, he sipped his drink and mulled over the events of the past twenty minutes.

His former mother-in-law was in town and had insisted on visiting him. He had almost instructed his assistant to remove her but had decided against it.

As much as facing the woman had started a knot inside his stomach, he realized he would have to deal with her. And he knew exactly what she was about. It was the second anniversary of his treacherous wife's death, and she had come with the mistaken impression that they could go and visit her grave together.

"She was your wife!"

"One who slept with every man she got her hooks into." It galled him that he had not entirely put it behind him even after all these years. She had been his biggest mistake and astounding failure, and he still could not believe he had fallen for her.

She had taken him for a ride, and he would have divorced her on the grounds of adultery six months before the accident if she had not told him she was pregnant.

He had stopped sleeping with her, but there had been an argument that had led to her crying and asking for his forgiveness. In a moment of weakness and unbridled lust, he had made love to her. When she told him the news, he had no way to prove if the baby was his, and it had infuriated him that he had become a part of that mess.

"You don't understand." Molly Givens had looked at him pleadingly. "Janice was damaged and spoiled. She was given everything she asked for, and I blame myself for allowing her father to indulge her every whim.

She wanted to be a good wife to you but had no idea how to. She said she was intimidated by you. Said you were cold and unfeeling and unromantic."

Deacon had stared at her with a cynical twist to his lips. "You are saying that her cheating on me with all those men was my fault?"

"No. I am trying to make you see that not all of it was on her."

"You have come here in vain."

"I know it's hard-"

"I am over it. Please leave my office, and I would appreciate it if you would not return."

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