A risky affair, p.11
A Risky Affair, page 11
“Sounds like you may have a little of the Trent’s blood flowing through your veins then the rest of us,” Selma suggested.
“It’s his battle too,” Peyton chimed in.
“Hey, hey…I was just joking.” Ryder explained. “Seriously,” he looked at LT. “I was just joking.”
“Feed a man one meal and he will be hungry the next day. Teach a man to fish, his hunger is cured for a lifetime.”
Everyone turned to Ms. Natalie. She had been sitting in the kitchen at the island listening to the conversation.
LT smiled at his grandmother and her wisdom then his eyes met Sapphire’s. LT was sure she was concerned with what his response would be. He knew his status would come up sooner or later. He nodded. “Ryder is correct. I do have the financial resources to fight the Trents. I developed a game while in college that took off. I sold it for a lot of money. Then I created a few more and here I am.”
“Here we are,” Madeline repeated. “Exactly why are we here?”
“What if there was a way for you all to leave your current position, earn a larger salary and answer to yourselves?” Phire asked as she glanced around the table at each of them. “Would that interest any of you?”
They all looked at each other, then Owen spoke. “I would be very interested in hearing the proposition.”
Peyton sat up. “So would I.”
“I’m listening,” Ryder responded.
“I’m too old for a change in careers,” Madeline added. “I work hard enough at the hospital to want to add anything more to it.”
“This is an opportunity to set your own hours, work at your pace, and spend more time with your families,” Gia explained. “The best part is you have a say in your own profit margins. Would you be interested then?”
“Now you really have my attention.” Ryder glanced at LT. “What are you thinking, Lawrence Trent?”
“That if you ever call me that name without adding Palmer on the end I’m going to kick your ass.” LT cleared his throat and smiled. “I’ll pick you up off the ground and have a beer with you afterwards, but the ass whipping will not be fun.”
The people around the table laughed.
“Okay, Mr. Mayor,” Peyton chuckled. “I’ll help you kick his ass if he does it again. Now, what is on that mind of yours?”
“We are all heirs to Lawrence Trent’s estate. Not just Lawrence and Lauren. While Gruber Innovations is owned by Leanne’s family ESTY is not. ESTY was under the sole ownership of Trent when it went public. It was his company. Which makes it, our company…all of ours.”
“Did anyone bother to tell Lawrence that?” Owen asked. “From what my attorney indicated, ESTY is not on solid financial grounds. It’s the Gruber money that is allowing them to drain us.”
“He is correct,” LT responded. “ESTY lost a number of contracts when Trent and Leanne were arrested. However if we all agree, I think I have a way that each of you can become entrepreneurs if you are interested in working at ESTY.”
“Doing what?” Madeline asked. “I’m a nurse.”
“That would be for you to determine,” LT replied.
Phire stood then picked up a folder from the island. “I ran a study on each of your skillsets.” She began giving each of them a piece of paper with their names on it. “This lists each of them. Then it lists a number of positions you can hold at ESTY.”
Each of them took a look at their individual dossier.
“Wow,” Peyton exclaimed “I did not know I was so talented.”
“You are,” Phire agreed. “All of you have the skillset to help in running the company.”
“However, you would have dual roles,” LT added.
Peyton, Ryder and Owen sat forward. Madeline gave him a side eye. “What are you talking about, LT?” she asked.
“You would also be members of the new Board of Directors for ESTY.” LT smiled. “Sapphire, I think we are going to need more cake.”
Two hours later with plans laid out, LT’s siblings walked towards their vehicles waving bye. Gia, Ms. Natalie, LT and Phire stood on the front porch watching as everyone dispersed.
“You did good, LT,” Gia stated. “I think this is the lifeline they all needed to take down the Trents.”
“We are not really taking them down,” LT acknowledged. “We are just going to even the playing field.”
“All of them deserve a chance at having the life their father had,” Phire stated. “This way their fates will be in their own hands.”
“You and LT will be there to guide them,” Ms. Natalie said. “After all, Gia, it was your generosity that allow LT to be in this position.”
“No.” Gia smiled as she walked down the steps. “It came from that little boy with the big smile, that charmed all the women into voting for him.”
LT blushed. “Who told you my secret to winning?”
“Phire,” Gia replied then began walking away. She stopped then looked back. “Are you going to run again, Mr. Mayor?”
Phire smiled. “That is the question everyone is waiting to hear the answer to.”
“Well, LT?” Gia asked.
“Being Mayor takes a lot of my time. I miss my company, and once I get married I want to spend as much time as I can with these two.” He put his arms around Phire and Ms. Natalie’s waists. “So, I’m still debating.”
“Let me know what you decide and I will be there to support you,” Gia replied then walked off.
With all the excited energy from the meeting none of the people leaving the house noticed the black sedan parked on the corner. “So it’s a conspiracy now. They are all working together against me. I should have known it would eventually come to this. And of course it would be LT leading the charge. Okay, they want to play hardball, I can do the same. Time to move the game to the next level.”
Chapter 20
The Saturday before the wedding LT and Phire had a meeting with Cynthia and Roz to do a walk-through of the Observation Deck of City Hall where the reception would take place. They were dressed and ready to go, when Ms. Natalie walked out of her suite dressed.
“You have a date with Mr. Green today?” Phire asked.
“I do,” Ms. Natalie replied smiling. “Going to the Community Center festival. Look pretty sharp for a woman in my seventies, wouldn’t you say.”
“Yes, you do.” LT kissed her cheek. “Just don’t come home pregnant.”
Phire burst out laughing. “The expression on your face.”
“It’s only fair,” LT replied. “That’s what you tell us every time we go out.”
“I don’t have no issue with your comment, child.” Ms. Natalie walked to the door. “I still have all the equipment and so does Mr. Green. And he knows what to do with it.” She chuckled and walked out the door leaving LT with his mouth open.
“I don’t know why you always try to out mouth her.” Phire kissed his cheek. “She has the last word every time.”
“She does.” LT opened the door for Phire. “I often wondered why I fell in love with a mouthy woman just like her.”
“Glutton for punishment,” Phire replied then walked out the door.
An hour later, they were walking through the reception layout with Cynthia, Roz, Grant, Brian and Mr. Price, the Secret Service agent in charge of President Harrison’s detail.
“We are going to position snipers on those roof tops,” Mr. Price advised.
“Is that absolutely necessary?” Cynthia hissed.
“The surrounding windows of this area dictate the positioning,” Mr. Price responded then continued. “One of our men will be on each elevator throughout the night.”
“No, they will not,” Cynthia countered. “This elevator will be designated for the bride and groom. They will need their privacy.”
“What if we designate one elevator for the bride and groom and another for the President and the First Lady?” Brian suggested.
Price glanced around the area where the four elevators were located. “Very well.” He nodded. “We will place men at each of the entrances to the reception area.”
“Agreed.” Cynthia turned to LT and Phire. “Let’s cover the area where the food will be located.”
LT and Phire walked hand in hand to the west side of the Observation Deck. All of Richmond could be seen through the floor to ceiling windows on the 18th floor that encompassed the width of the entire building. Views of the entire city could be seen from the deck.
“This is what I wanted for you.” Phire beamed. “This view of the entire city that you love so much.”
LT brought her hand up to his mouth, then kissed her palm. “Your smile, just as it is now, is what I want to see every day for the rest of my life.”
They were about to embrace into a kiss when Cynthia called out, “Oh cut that out. You’ll have plenty of time for that after the wedding. Roz has a set up over here.”
LT and Phire laughed as they followed Cynthia to the far corner of the area.
“The cake cutting will be handled here,” she pointed. “The champagne fountain here, and the sweet tooth station here. Imagine all of this draped in black and white satin, covering the walls and windows, transforming this deck into an elegant world fit for a palace.”
“Take me away,” LT chuckled at the flourishing movements of Cynthia’s hand.
“Stop it,” Phire chastised. “She is setting the mood.”
“Yes, I am.” Cynthia gave LT an evil eye just as his cellphone chimed.
“Saved by the buzz,” Phire whispered as she followed Cynthia.
“Palmer,” he answered. “Wait, wait, slow down Mr. Green.”
Phire stopped then turned back to see the blood drain from his face.
“Where is she?” LT yelled into the phone.
Phire walked over to him as Cynthia, Roz and Brian stopped at the rise of his voice. LT grabbed Phire’s hand when she reached him. His grip tightened as he spoke.
“What hospital?” LT asked. “I’ll be right there. Just tell her I’m coming.” He disconnected the call then rushed towards the elevator. “Granny collapsed at the outdoor festival her and Mr. Green went to. They have rushed her to the hospital.”
“Oh no,” Cynthia gasped.
“Cynthia, go on with what you have planned,” Phire said as they rushed to the elevator. “We will catch up with you later.”
“What’s taking this elevator so long?” LT looked around. “We can take the steps.”
“No.” Phire held him still. “We are going to take the elevator then get to Ms. Natalie.” She pulled out her phone and pushed a button. “Did they take her to the Medical College?”
“Yes.” LT pounded his fist on the elevator door.
“MCV, Ms. Natalie Palmer,” Phire said into the phone, then disconnected the call. The elevator door opened. “I’m sorry, everyone, we have to go.”
“Go...go,” Roz said as they rushed off.
Agent Price and Brian jumped in the elevator with them. “It’ll be faster to walk over to the hospital from here,” Brian suggested.
“I need a car at the east entrance to City Hall and the fastest route cleared to MCV,” Agent Price spoke into his earwig. “I need an agent at MCV now to handle the care of a Ms. Natalie Palmer upon arrival.”
They all stared at him when he finished his orders.
“We are equipped to handle emergency situations,” he explained at their stare.
The elevator doors opened at the first floor. As ordered a car was waiting with the motor running and the back door opened. “Take them, we will follow on foot,” Brian ordered.
LT and Phire climbed into the back of the vehicle. Phire holding on to LT’s hand talking to him. “She is going to be fine, LT.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because there is no way Ms. Natalie is going anywhere until she sees her baby happily married. Clear your mind of any negativity. We are going to walk into this hospital and talk to Ms. Natalie. She is going to tell us what happened and how you are responsible for it, like she always does.”
A chuckle escaped LT’s throat. That made Phire exhale a little as the vehicle stopped in the very same spot she had when she brought Opal there.
LT jumped out of the vehicle and ran inside. Phire followed behind him. “Where is she?” LT asked.
“Ms. Natalie Palmer,” Phire explained to the confused receptionist.
“LT.” Mr. Green and another man were standing to the side.
“Agent Matlock, Mr. Mayor.” He shook LT’s hand, then directed him through the double doors. “This way, sir.”
Phire reached out. “Come with me, Mr. Green. Can you tell me what happened?”
They followed the agent and LT through the doors.
“We were sitting at a table at the festival when Nat said she wasn’t feeling well. She looked a little flushed so I gave her a glass of water. That didn’t seem to help so I tried to walk her over to some shade. You know to get her out of the sun. That’s when she bent over. Said she was cramping. She started throwing up. I yelled for someone to call an ambulance and they brought us here.” He looked at Phire with eyes filled with worry. “Nat don’t get sick, Sunshine.”
That was what he had called her from the day they met. He told her she brought nothing but sunshine into their lives, Phire remembered as she smiled at the man. “I know, Mr. Green.” Phire rubbed his shoulder as they joined LT. “Ms. Natalie is going to be just fine.”
“You can’t tell me anything?” LT’s voice was rising.
“She just arrived, Mr. Mayor,” the doctor explained. “So far we have eliminated a heart attack, or stroke. Her blood pressure is a little low. We are taking samples of blood to see if that will tell us anything. I need a little more time to examine her then I can tell you more.”
Phire looked into the open curtain at Ms. Natalie. She was still vomiting. The look on her face was the same discomfort she had seen on Opal. “Check for poison.”
The doctor and nurse looked up at her. “Poison?” the doctor questioned.
“Yes, Bromethalin to be specific,” Phire clarified.
The doctor nodded to the nurse. “Order a toxicology screen.” The nurse moved quickly from the area with the blood samples she had taken. He turned to another nurse. “Start liquids to begin the process of flushing her out. Add electrolytes to her IV.” He turned back to Phire. “Is there a reason why you think she could have ingested poison?”
Phire looked at LT. She did not want to set him off without being certain of her thoughts. “Mr. Green, was there anyone other than the regular crowd at the festival today?”
“You mean people not from the neighborhood? Sure, there was a few. Do you think someone did this to my Nat?”
“I don’t know, Mr. Green, but we are certainly going to find out.” Phire turned to look at LT.
“Sapphire, do you know something I don’t?”
Phire looked at LT and knew she had to tread lightly. “No, I’m just guessing, LT. That look on Ms. Natalie’s face reminded me of Opal. That’s all.”
“Opal was poisoned by Lauren Trent.” His eyes narrowed and his voice became deadly. “Do you think they had something to do with this?”
“We don’t know what this is yet,” she spoke calmly to him. “Let’s get Ms. Natalie settled first. Once the tests come back, the doctor will let us know his findings. Then and only then do we react.”
LT just stared at her. “I’m going to jail tonight.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.”
Chapter 21
Within the hour, the Lassiter family was gathered once again at the hospital. They were in the waiting area listening as the doctor explained Ms. Natalie’s condition. Ebony Sullivan, LT’s secretary was handling the many calls that were coming through on his cellphone. Grant was out front handling the press and Chief Williams was taking a report on the incident. Once the word got out about LT’s grandmother being ill the whole community showed up at the hospital. Many of Ms. Natalie and Mr. Green’s friends had been allowed to come in out of the seasonal heat. All others were asked to remain outside.
A few council members called to offer assistance, only Councilwoman Rivera insisted on being allowed inside. She made the mistake of accusing LT of a false claim in order to gain sympathy from the residents. LT did not have a chance to respond before Phire.
“Step out,” Phire ordered.
“Excuse you, Ms. Thang.”
“I got your Ms. Thang,” Phire retorted. “If you don’t get out of my face in the next minute, your thang is going to be shoved down your throat.”
“Sapphire.” Sally walked over to stand between Phire and the Councilwoman. “Do you think this is wise, Councilwoman Rivera? I don’t think a hospital is a good place for political drama. Do you?”
“Where is he, if she is so sick?” She glanced around. “I don’t see him in here.”
“He’s with his grandmother, where he should be,” Sally replied. “As for you, I do not see any reason for you to spill your venom here. Please leave.”
“Yes, please,” Phire emphasized.
“Now, would be a good time,” Opal added as Ruby, Diamond, Sasha, Leah, Denise and Cynthia stood behind her.
“Don’t make me put my hands on you.” Roc walked up behind her.
Councilwoman Rivera looked over her shoulder then jumped at the sight of the woman standing behind her. “Don’t you dare touch me. I will press charges.”
“That will not be necessary,” Joe interceded. “Chief Williams, will you please escort Councilwoman Rivera to her car for her own protection?”
Chief Williams walked over to the small crowd that had gathered. “I will be happy to.”
“I don’t need an escort.” She waved him off. “If I find out that all of this is a ruse you will hear from me and so will the press.” Councilwoman Rivera stomped off.
“Are you sure LT wants to stay in politics?” Sally asked. “It seems a lot to have to deal with people like her.”
Phire turned as LT burst through the door. “LT.” She ran behind him. “What happened?”
