Time to Play(29)

“You mean Malcolm is distracting us from a hostile takeover bid?” Cole asked.

“He’s got the funds and resources to try to take us over. It could work if our energy is distracted by theft.”

Cole didn’t like it. “I’ll see if there have been any changes in our market value. The best way to take us over is to pull our stock ratings down and show we’re unreliable.”

“Yeah, Malcolm has held a grudge against us ever since we took over that publishing firm a few years ago. Ever since then, he’s been breathing down our neck to try to get it back,” Callum said.

“I guess screwing his daughter isn’t going to help our cause,” Cole said.

“So, you’ve thought about screwing her?”

“Don’t start, Callum. You and I both know she’s an attractive woman.”

The kiss they’d shared had been hot but only a kiss. Cole knew if he got his hands on her for good then the fire they’d build would be earth-shattering.

“I’ll go into the office tomorrow morning. I’ll make sure our stocks and shares are still at a reasonable price, and I’ll also get our acquisitions department to look into any competition bids on some of our enterprises.”

“In the meantime, I get to baby sit Simone,” Cole said, sighing.

“Do you really think that’s a hard task?”

“Not at all.”

Once they were home Cole made his way through to his security room. He ran a quick check over Simone and saw she was in bed, sleeping. She looked peaceful in sleep, innocent and vulnerable.

Cole took more time to linger over the figure he kept for their business. His friend always teased him about being paranoid. If Malcolm Allusifa was making his move against their company then Cole wanted to be ready for it.

He knew why the older guy had a grudge out against them. It had nothing to do with business and everything to do with jealousy.

Three years back they’d been at a charity function sponsoring poverty-stricken kids. Callum and Cole took a bigger interest in underprivileged children as they’d grown up with virtually nothing. Malcolm had been at the same function but hadn’t given a dime. On his arm that night was a sweet little singer who was in her early twenties. She’d looked bored and fed up with Malcolm. When the older man left to go and talk, Callum had gotten talking to her, and then one thing led to another. Callum and Cole took her home, showing her what the excitement was about with two men. She’d been a little wild cat in the sack. Three days later the whole story appeared in a newspaper. When they talked to the singer and asked her why she’d aired out their dirty laundry, the woman explained that Malcolm blackmailed her. If she didn’t kiss and tell, then her music career was finished. Once the story did the rounds a time or two, her career had been over. No one liked a tattle-tale, especially in their world. Cole shook his head. Could this be the main reason Malcolm was after destroying their companies?

How would he react when he found out about Callum sleeping with his daughter? Cole didn’t want to think about it. He knew something bad was going to happen. He only hoped they were prepared for all the crap.





Chapter Ten





The knock at the door no longer fazed her. Simone was ready for Cole, and she’d dressed appropriately in a knee length denim skirt and plunging shirt which showed off her breasts. She opened the door with her jacket over her arm. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“You dressed properly.”

“Yep, come on. Let’s try to beat the rush hour press camping outside my door.” She locked her door then followed Cole down the stairs. The shoes she wore clicked with every step she took.

“It has only been a few days since you came out with your relationship.”

“Yeah, and the days feel like months.”

Simone made her way to reception. She stopped at the front desk to collect yesterday’s mail. After the dinner and the events of the last day, she’d been too exhausted to claim it.

The daily newspaper caught her eye. She noticed the picture of her and Callum at the restaurant. When she went to grab the paper, Cole stopped her. “You don’t need to read that trash.”

“I don’t?”

“No. It will only upset you.”

She glared at him then pushed him aside. The headline was about her weight. Simone had known it wouldn’t be long before they started bringing her fuller figure into the picture. The derogatory headline made her chuckle.

“Callum falls for the fuller woman, or is this the latest scam of Gallagher and Turner?” She read the headline aloud chuckling.

“You’re not bothered by what has been written?” Cole asked.