Her chest fluttered. She hugged him, squeezing him with all her strength.
"And there's nothing I want to keep from you … " She released her hold on him.
He drew back, getting that straight browed used-to-be-a-cop look.
"You took the files because you knew I was looking at them." She swallowed, that was no longer a question. "Because you know I'm on to something and you want to protect me from whatever I find."
His muscles hardened under her touch. "What have you done?"
"I need to know how full your disclosure has been to Frank." She drew in a breath and held it there. "How much do you report to him?"
"Not as much as he'd like. He's not my priority." He squinted. "Whatever you've attempted to hide, it's time for that honesty."
"I hired an investigator, Andrew Montgomery." She watched his expression flatten. "Our tender agreements were tampered with, and now he's looking at our production costs, as well as connections between board members and our offshore manufacturer."
His mouth shifted once, then twice. "How many people know about this?"
"Only you and me."
His jaw smoothed. "Good, we will keep it that way." He hauled her in tight again. "From now on everything's going to be me and you."
She let herself sink into him. Into his steady heat. Into the warm spicy comfort of his scent.
"Yeah, it will."
SIXTEEN
"Thanks for understanding about this." She unbuckled her seatbelt and touched Connor's hand. It's a little awkward when your boyfriend is your bodyguard, one whose job it is to literally follow you everywhere, to ask for a private moment-especially since she'd shared everything with him.
All her intentions and plans.
"Go talk to your dad." His brow furrowed. "I'll be right here."
If you need me.
Except this was something she needed to do on her own. Or mostly on her own …
She kissed him, then got out and went up to her dad's apartment, letting herself in.
Dad glanced up from his chair, bright eyes glittering in a way that told her someone had already shared the news. "I hope it's champagne you have in that bag."
She couldn't quite laugh given that she was about to tear that sparkle right away. "Nope, I bought you some of that tea you like."
"On a day like today?" He set down his book. "Can't an old man enjoy his victory?"
Her heart sunk. Frank's civil case against her had been officially dismissed today, meaning she was now undisputed majority shareholder of Halifax. Dad did win one victory today, just not the way he wanted it.
She sat on the couch opposite. "So, I wanted to chat to you about what happens now."
"You appoint yourself CEO, and we get things back how they're supposed to be." He went for raised brows, but that old lay-down-the-law expression didn't have the effect it used to, with only one side raising all the way.
"That's what we have to talk about." She wiggled in her seat. "Dad, I'm not going to be CEO. That's just not what I want."
His mouth opened but she raised her hand.
"But that doesn't mean things won't change."
A wave of redness moved up his face. "You're just going to let that bastard win?"
"It's not about winning or losing it's about what's best for Halifax." A knock sounded on the door. "But no, we're not letting him win."
"I won't stand for this, Charlie."
She got up and went to the door, letting in her secret weapon.
"Bob … " Dad's whole demeanor changed. He slipped back into his executive skin-shoulders back, chin high.
Bob and her father exchanged greetings.
"I asked Bob to come today because I want to offer him the position of CEO."
Bob froze half lowered to the seat, then seemed to fall the rest of the way. "You do?"
"Yes." She glanced at her father. "Bob has been with us nearly as long as you and Frank. He understands the business, our relationships, and brand better than anyone."
Bob's features continued to still.
"All he needs is the opportunity, and I have no doubt he'll turn things around. No one else knows the ins and outs of Halifax the way he does."
Dad leaned back. He glanced from Bob to her. "I built this company with hopes for my family-for my child."
"Is that why we've been fighting so hard?" She reached for his hand. "Because you want me to fulfill your dreams for me? Or because you want there to be a legacy left that won't be there if things go on as they are?"
"Both," he said, but his eyes took on that wondering look. "Frank had no right to sell off assets, close factories I built-"
"Dad." She squeezed his hand, bring his attention back to focus. "That wasn't Frank alone, the board made that decision and I have reason to believe there's more to it than we know. But I'm getting to the bottom of that."
She released his hand and turned to Bob. "So what do you say, will you take the position?"
Bob's expression reanimated, but she caught a flash of something like anger as it did. It probably wasn't easy for him to hear her father argue her suggestion …
"Of course." He cleared his throat. "Of course I will."
"Great then, it's settled. Isn't it, Dad?"
Dad took a deep breath, his gaze fell from her. "It's settled."
Her heart seemed to slip from her chest at his crestfallen look. She knew he'd be disappointed. But she'd be back in a few days once she'd sorted a few things out, once he'd had a chance for it to sink in, and she'd explain things in a way she knew he'd understand.
She stood. "Well, I better get going, tomorrow will be big day." She kissed her father's cheek, and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Love you, Dad."
He placed his hand over the one she'd set on his shoulder, and her heart regained its regular position. That was Dad's version of "I love you too."
"I best be off as well." Bob stood. "But I can't thank you both enough for the opportunity. "
Dad shook Bob's hand with his strong arm. "I have utter confidence in you."
She walked Bob out. The door clicked behind them and they crossed to the stairwell.
"I see that bodyguard of yours has been dismissed?"
Bob punched in the security code she'd given him and opened the secure door to the stairs.
No surprise he thought that. Connor had "quit" a week ago after their talk. Oh, he still had her back, but even more covertly than before.
Especially now he'd begun working with Andy on her case.
"Is that what you referred to earlier?"
She blinked. Oh, her comment about the board and getting to the bottom of things. Bob probably thought Connor was Frank's spy, just as she had. In fact he'd suggested as much at one time hadn't he?
"No, I wasn't talking about Connor." They entered the stairwell. "Since you're going to be in charge, I should probably share that I've hired a private auditor." She took the first step down. "He's investigating links between Halifax board member's and-" She glanced back.
Bob hadn't stepped down yet.
Her throat closed.
Oh, shit.
The realization came too late-the blow caught her off balance sending her hurtling down the stairs.
***
The vibration of his phone jerked his thumb from its rhythmic tap on the steering wheel.
He kept his gaze pinned on the building. "Yes?"
"I haven't been able to get through to Charlie, but I have something to share."
He straightened at the excited tenor of Andrew's voice. "She's in a meeting. What do you have for us?"
He stared at the yellow glow seeping from beneath the blinds of her father's apartment. Her father. He'd be upset, at least resistant. Most likely angry.
With Charlie.
He'd be up there having her back. Doing this together, him and her, just like they'd promised.
If she didn't need to do this part by herself.
"Falzier Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Lentworth holdings-owned by Neil Stout and Robert Garden."
Robert Garden-Bob!
He threw open the car door. Charlie. He ran to the building, ready to rip out the damned stupid keypads holding him up at every entrance until he punched in the codes.
He jerked open the door to the stairs.
Bang. The door snapped closed behind him, jerking through his chest. A prone figure sprawled at the bottom of the stairs. Long dark hair obscured her face. Her limbs curled, almost peacefully.
Charlie.
His blood seemed to slow-thickening in his veins. No. He fell down beside her and shoved the hair off her face. His guts clenched.
Her lips parted with breath.
The pain spreading his ribs slowed its hostile takeover, yet still clutched hard at his heart.
Blood trickled from her forehead.
"Charlie." Her name rang through the stairwell before he knew he'd yelled it.
Her eyelids fluttered, revealing the warm brown of her eyes.
He scooped her up. "Charlie?"
She frowned than winced. Thank fuck. It took everything in him not to crush his injured woman. To rock her and comfort her.