Lone Star Baby Scandal(11)

“That was Judge Mathers.” She smiled. “He would like a return call ASAP.”

“I’ll call him. Do you have a few minutes?”

“Sure.”

Clay moved aside, indicating she should enter his office. “Please, take a seat. I need to talk with you about something.”

She frowned and immediately sat down in one of the two chairs facing his massive desk.

“Have you heard about the rumors that Everest security was breached?”

“No. Clay...? What are you saying?”

“I’m saying someone is trying to bring down Everest.”

“Why?”

“That is the question. Along with who is doing it.” He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. “Actually, it hasn’t been breached. The company is solid. Someone is spreading rumors trying to sabotage Everest.” He was short and to the point. “This person—or people—is contacting business news sources claiming major security breaches have been found at Everest. As a result, the rumors have spread and our clients have begun pulling their data, leaving multimillion-dollar deals in tatters. Whoever it is has started a firestorm. We’ve traced it back to several websites and comment forums online. From there it was picked up by the newspaper and it’s only a matter of time before it’s picked up by TV news.”

“Why is someone doing this?”

“That’s what we need to find out. The security division has rescreened every employee hired in the last two years. I want to know everything that might sound the least bit suspicious. I want to know who they shared a box of crayons with in first grade. Everything.” He looked at her, his expression tired. “You are the only one I trust, Sophie.”

She’d gone absolutely ashen.

“Are you all right?” he asked, tilting his head in concern. “You look as though you’re about to pass out. Sophie, if you need to go home...”

“No. Ah... I’ll be fine.”

Clay rose from his chair and shoved his hands inside his trouser pockets. “At this point I’m leaving nothing and no one out. Our clients are starting to withdraw and close their accounts. In the last ten days we’re down over thirty percent. The security division is trying to trace back where the rumors started so we have a clear indicator of how far they’ve come and where they’re going with this. Beginning in the morning, you and I are going to hit the phones and contact each and every CEO, president, vice president, owner or founder doing business with Everest and assure them not only are the rumors not true, we are doing everything possible to stay on top of this. We’re going to ask for their trust, Sophie. Expect anything and everything.

“Some will tell you right up front they can’t afford to take the risk. Others will tell you they’ll always stand behind us, then close their account when they get off the phone. Others will say they believe you and that they trust us and prove they mean what they say by picking up the phone and calling as many businesses and individuals as they can to spread the word that Everest is sound. Whoever is behind this is attempting to take Everest down. I’ve got to reinforce the wall before everything is destroyed.”

For several more minutes Clay went over the details to bring Sophie up to speed.

“We will solve this, Clay. I promise,” she assured him. “I don’t know the whos or the whys of it, but we will find out and save your company.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Clay walked across the room and stared out the large picture window even though he didn’t really see a damn thing. His patience had all but run out with the situation. He was livid but he knew he had to hold it together until a solution was found. He walked to the chair opposite, where she sat in front of the desk. Sitting down, he leaned toward her, his forearms resting on his knees.

“I need to ask a large favor. I need to know if you will stay over, here at the ranch, and help me through this. I have meetings scheduled, calls to return, letters to address—the list is long. It would help me a lot if, for a few weeks, you were here and wouldn’t mind being called on outside normal business hours.”

He could see her hesitation. Staying in his house night and day put a greater temptation between them. At least it did on his side.

“I promise this is all about business,” he said as if reading her mind. He held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

“Were you really a Boy Scout?”

He let out a sigh. “No. But I always wanted to be. Does that count?” He leaned down toward her and cupped her face in his hands. “It will be damn hard, Sophie. But I promise I will do my absolute best to keep this strictly on a business level.”

With that he covered her lips with his and bestowed a light kiss. Standing, he took in a deep breath.

“Good way to start.” She cracked a nervous grin.

He gave her a crooked smile.

“But I’ll do it,” she said. “This is a priority. How does one stop a rumor? I don’t mean to sound negative but it seems like an uphill battle.” She was quiet for a moment in deep contemplation. “Why would anyone spread vicious gossip like this?”

“If I knew the answer to that...” He shrugged. “But what I do know is we’ve got to get a handle on this and fast. Two secretaries will be here this afternoon. I would like you to move into my office temporarily and help me man the phones. We need to contact as many of the accounts as possible and give assurances that these reports are not valid. I have staff standing by in New York to contact the smaller accounts. You and I will tackle the ones for a million dollars and up.”

“You might also call a meeting and invite all the other local business owners or CEOs. They all know you. This was your hometown. I’ve got to think that they will help you if you ask.”

Clay nodded. “Great idea. I’ll put together a list and ask you to send out invitations.”

“I’ll email then follow up with a phone call.”

“Good. Probably would be best not to have it here. Reserve a large meeting room at the TCC clubhouse. Arrange for refreshments. Let’s make it on July eighteenth, ten o’clock in the morning.”

“That’s in just over a week. I’ll get right on it.” She stood.

“Thanks, Sophie.”

“No problem. At lunch I’ll run to my house and pack a few things.”

“Let me know when you leave and I’ll pick you up. Someone will spot your car if you stay here. We don’t need any more rumors.” He winked and it got the desired response.

“Thanks.”

“No. Thank you.”



Within the next hour the phones began ringing fast and furious with calls from all around the globe. By one o’clock the two secretaries Clay had requested appeared at her desk. One was set up at Sophie’s desk, the other at a temporary table next to it complete with a computer and phone. Instructions were given and by noon Sophie was headed to her house to pack a bag and make sure her cottage was closed up nice and tight.

Had she really agreed to stay in Clay’s house? He had promised this would be strictly business. She had to believe him. At least she believed he would try to keep it that way. Truth be told, she had no room to talk. However strong his attraction was to her, she could double that if not triple it. Theirs had been a close relationship out of necessity since the day she’d accepted the position as his administrative assistant and ever since his accident.

She thought back on how that time had brought them even closer together. Other than his fiancée, who’d rarely shown up at the hospital, Sophie was his only companion. And he’d needed someone to hold his hand and assure him everything was going to be all right. No way could she have left her boss and friend lying in a hospital bed wondering how to deal with the fact he might never walk again. Those months had changed her and her feelings for this man. And more recently what had started out as her admiration for his strength had turned into unwanted and unexpected feelings of love.

Clearly he was attracted to her, too. But she only hoped his romantic interest in her would soon pass and he would go on to other conquests. Her heart would break, of that she had no doubt. Theirs was an affair that had nowhere to go. And once he found out about the baby, she had no idea how he would react. She had to steel herself to be strong. Clay had made it clear he didn’t want a family and if he asked her to marry him when he found out about the baby, it would be for the wrong reason and she knew she would have to say no.

While she was at her cottage gathering the necessary clothing and miscellaneous items, her mind twirled around Clay’s statement about rechecking every employee who’d been hired in the past couple of years. She’d been with Everett far longer than that, but what if the incidents of her past came to the surface? What would Clay say? What would he do? It had been written off as a childish teenage prank and no official charges had been filed. But the fact was a man had died and she had been partly to blame for that. The community was small and the rumors had abounded: among the neighbors, in the churches, in the schools. There had even been talk about it in the neighboring counties. The name Sophie Prescott had been linked to the man who died.