*****
Shannon Hadley sat across from Raymond. She crossed one long leg over the other and bounced her stiletto up and down. She hadn’t seen Garrett or her son since he’d packed all of her belongings and sent them to Raymond’s apartment over two weeks ago.
“Maybe it’s not a good idea to be here in Garrett’s office when he arrives.”
Raymond’s eyes narrowed. “His office?”
“You know what I mean.”
“The board voted me in as the new CEO. This is now my office. Don’t get all wobbly-kneed on me, Shannon. We’ve finally got Garrett exactly where we want him.”
“Did you have to tell him about our son?”
“Whose son? Mine and yours, or yours and his?”
Shannon tossed her glossy hair over her shoulder. “Jealousy is an emotion that causes mistakes. Get it together! You’re being a jerk for no reason. Garrett and I are getting divorced. I chose you.” She’d never tell him that Garrett discovered their affair and was the one to file for divorce. As far as Raymond knew, she’d chosen him.
If Garrett hadn’t been so cold and focused on building his business, Shannon would never have resumed her relationship with Raymond.
Before she could utter another word, the door opened to reveal Garrett and several other men in suits.
Shannon and Raymond both stood. She thought she would have enough time to leave before Garrett arrived. Apparently, not.
The firm set of his lips and shoulders was a dead giveaway that he was furious. She could see it in his eyes, and that made Shannon nervous. When he walked through the door, he didn’t even glance in her direction. He had a laser-like focus on Raymond.
Raymond came from behind his desk buttoning up his suit coat as he walked towards Garrett. “I had them move your things to the office down the hall.”
Unfortunately for him, Raymond walked into a hard punch to the stomach. Garrett hit him so hard that Raymond doubled over as his body stumbled backward. Garrett almost dropped him to his knees. Shannon ran over to Raymond, and he slapped her hands away.
Raymond’s head snapped up. “Somebody call security! Have them escort this bastard out of my office.”
“Security is being called, but I won’t be the one who’s hauled out of here.”
“You’re not the CEO anymore, Garrett!”
“You’re right. I’m no longer the CEO of The Hadley Group. Somehow, you managed to convince the majority of the shareholders to vote me out. Your problem is that this building isn’t listed as a THG asset.”
One of Garrett’s lawyer’s stepped from behind him and handed Raymond a legal packet.
“What? That’s impossible?”
“No, it’s not. You’ve always half-assed done everything including trying to take over my businesses. This building and most of my holdings were transferred to Garrett Hadley Incorporated when I received word of what you were attempting to do over a year ago.” Having his investigators track Raymond’s every move was how he found out about the takeover—and the affair.
Raymond couldn’t believe it.
Security guards arrived at the door. “Mr. Hadley, you called?”
Garrett looked back over his shoulder. “Yes. I want these two people escorted out of here and never allowed back on this property again.”
Shannon shouted, “You can’t be serious?”
Garrett finally acknowledged her presence. “Deadly serious. You must think I’m crazy to agree to joint custody with you. As of this moment, all of your credit cards and bank accounts with my name on them have been closed. Your things are being moved from the swanky apartment you’re renting on Lake Shore Drive to Raymond’s little condo. Who knows how long he can continue to live there now that The Hadley Group’s income is much less than what it pays out in debts?”
She looked horrified. “What am I supposed to do for money?”
He shook his head. “You’re more pissed about not having money than you are about me taking custody from you? Pathetic. Don’t ask me. You’re not my fucking problem.” He pointed to Raymond. “You’re his.”
Raymond hissed. “This isn’t over, Garrett. Not by a long shot. You’ve traded this company for custody of your son. She’ll fight for him. I’ll make sure of it!”
Garrett almost lost it. He dove for Raymond but was quickly held back by his own security team.
Raymond could be heard yelling as he was being dragged out. “I promise you’ll pay for this, you sorry sonofabitch! You might as well pack up my son’s things. We’ll be there to get him soon.”
Shannon didn’t know what to do. She looked back and forth between Garrett and Raymond. Her eyes brimmed with tears. He was certain it wasn’t because she regretted the mess she’d made. She was sorry because she’d chosen the wrong side and lost.
Security tugged on her arm and led her out of his office.
Garrett turned to his team. “Clean this place. It wreaks of cheap ass cologne. I don’t want any traces of Raymond when I return to work tomorrow.”
Chapter 14
It was always good when Imani went home to visit with her family, but after two weeks of being away, she was happy to be home. She wasn’t going to pretend that Garrett didn’t have something to do with her excitement.
They talked on the telephone several times throughout the day, every day, the entire time she’d been gone. Over the past two weeks, Garrett and Imani attempted to keep their conversations friendly and free of sexual talk or innuendos. They were mostly successful.
She’d learned a lot about him during that time—some of his likes, dislikes, and motivations, but not much about his family. She could only conclude they weren’t very close which
