Michael walked her into the dining area of his office where they could talk. He held Christy’s hand as they spoke. It felt good to have him on her side. That was the only thing keeping her together.
“Beeg, call Niles Raines. He’s always been your biggest supporter. All we know is that two directors are with Katherine. Where do the others stand? Niles’ll find out.”
“And what if everyone’s gunning for my head? How do I fight back?”
“Either you or Niles will go see each board member, one at a time. They need to be reminded that you started the company. That you’ve never let them down. Ever. That even at a time when industry profits are falling, yours are holding steady. And while, yes, you’ve been plagued with bad press lately, you believe Katherine and Rick are behind it.”
“You don’t think that’ll make me sound paranoid? I need proof. Can you ask Galit who fed her that first story?”
“I can ask, but I don’t think she’ll reveal a source. What about Lisa? Could she check Katherine’s phone records and see if there are any calls to reporters?”
“That’s a good idea. She’ll do that for me—at least I think she will.”
“Come here,” Michael said.
Christy moved to Michael’s lap. He held her tightly, gently rubbing her back. She could feel his heart beating against her chest. “I love you so much,” Christy said. “What would I do without you?”
“Luckily, you’ll never have to find out,” he said, holding her. Christy wished he would never let her go.
Renata Gets Caught with Her Pants Down (Literally)
Steven drove Christy to Raines Partners’ offices. Niles would see her immediately. Meanwhile, Lisa was going through Katherine’s phone records to see if there were calls to reporters that preceded publication of the negative press.
Christy’s cell phone rang.
“You need to get to my house to pick up your perverted daughter. And make it snappy. I caught her naked with my Stephanie doing…things.”
“Brownie, calm down. What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you. You have no control over that child of yours. She was naked. NAKED with my daughter.”
Christy wanted to hide. Could this day get any worse?
“Renata was naked with Stephanie?” Christy said, hoping Steven wasn’t listening. “Well, was Stephanie naked, too?”
“They were both naked.”
“So how do you know it wasn’t Stephanie who influenced Renata?”
“What, are you nuts? Stephanie comes from a good family. A vigilant mother raised her. Obviously, that little tart of yours was allowed to run wild in the projects and now she’s spreading her smutty ways to the nice girls at Colby. Well, it’s not gonna happen. Not on my watch.”
“Brownie, calm yourself. Renata’s not a…a tart. How can you talk about a child that way? Kids their age are curious. Didn’t you play doctor when you were little?”
“NO, I DID NOT. And there’s more. Your little chippy stole a necklace from my jewelry box. That was all she was wearing when I caught her acting inappropriately with my Stephanie. God knows how many years of therapy it’ll take my baby to get over this.”
“Renata’s not a thief. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Listen, Brownie, I’m on my way to an important meeting. But Nectar’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Isn’t that juuust like you…”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Isn’t it just like you to send an employee to do a mother’s job! Do you really think that maid of yours is equipped to handle a delicate situation like this? Everyone at Colby says you’re a bad mother, Christy, but I’ve been defending you. I will not defend you any longer.”
Brownie slammed down the phone. She did that a lot.
Somebody to Lean On
Christy sent Nectar to pick up Renata. She knew that even if she collected the child herself, Brownie would tell everyone that Christy wanted to send the maid but had only come in person after Brownie shamed her into it. The other mothers would be scandalized. Since she was destined to suffer the consequences no matter what, she might as well commit the crime.
Are people really saying I’m a bad mother? Surely they have better things to do than gossip about me. Then again, maybe they don’t. Am I a bad mother? Christy wondered. Renata goes to a wonderful school, eats well, dresses beautifully, takes piano and tennis lessons, studies with an excellent tutor, sees a top psychiatrist. Only a good mother would provide all that, right? Then again, maybe Brownie has a point. After all, she’s always there for her kids. Vigilant. On top of their every move. I know what Renata’s up to only if Eve schedules bonding time or if we run into each other in the evening. And that doesn’t happen every day. Brownie’s right, Christy thought. I’m a terrible mother. I’ve got to make this better. She called Eve and told her to assemble Renata’s team later this afternoon. Why did this have to happen today of all days? Having Renata is such an inconvenience. No, no, I take that back, she thought instantly. Does thinking that make me an even worse mother?
Steven pulled the car up to Niles Raines’s building. “Stay parked in front. This won’t take long,” she told him.
Niles’s assistant escorted Christy into his boardroom. He came through the back door and kissed her cheek before sitting in the chair next to her.
“Thanks for meeting on such short notice. What have you found out so far?” Christy asked.
“I spoke to Warren Heider and Rami Shah. Apparently, Katherine has been meeting with each director individually to make her case for ousting you.”
“Did she contact you?”
“Not yet. She knows we’re close, so I guess she’s waiting until the others have turned before approaching me.”
“What did Warren and Rami say?”
“That stock prices have been down for months and you haven’t done anything to rectify it.”
“But sales and profits are up…”
“Let me
