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I put those thougthts out of my mind for now. I mean, what I was thinking was crazy, right? This is what I kept telling myself to keep the feelings of anger and panic at bay. I would have to go home and sit in my office and start making some notes. That would help me know if what I was thinking was even a possibility. For now, I would set it aside and just enjoy a good meal with my fiance and my friends.
Conversation picked up a bit as Jenna asked what I was going to do regarding my home office. That was easy to answer. “Everything regarding the business is accessible from my laptop, as it’s all saved on and backed up to a dedicated Greystone Security server. I don’t keep any paper files at home, so I don’t have to be concerned with that. I’m sure that I can set up an office at our home in Toronto.” I beamed a smile at Bradley at the thought of ‘our home‘.
“Mostly all I have to do is pack my clothes, shoes, and personal belongings. That and clean out the fridge.” I chuckled at that. “I may leave that particular task to my cleaner. I’m comfortable with her doing that. She can take home whatever she wants, and dispose of what she doesn’t.” I know darn well that with four children to feed she will be happy to take all unopened food home with her. That is how we had handled the grocery situation for the past four years. I mean, no sense keeping a huge amount of food on hand when I am away for weeks at a time.
“What about you Jenna? Do you need help packing up? I don’t mind lending a hand. I’d be thrilled to help you move/” Victor’s offer of help was adorable. He looked so hopeful waiting for her response.
Jenna looked a bit embarrased when she answered. “All I have to do now is pack my clothes
as everything else is already packed and ready to go. I was actually housesitting for the past
year, and the owners are moving back in right away. That’s why it was so easy for me to
decide to take the job in Toronto. I have a grand total of six large totes, and probably three
suitcases. As Anna knows, I travel light.”
“Don’t forget that you have been putting every extra cent into paying off your student loans. That’s something to be proud of, girl.” I was still a bit upset that she hadn’t let me do that for
her after I inherited Fredericks Design Co. But she had been insistent that I not do so. She was
a very determined woman who prided herself on her ability to pay her own way.
“Will you keep your apartment, Anna? Or are you planning to sell it?” Bradley’s question seemed innocent enough, but I felt there was an underlying concern.
“Definitely keep it. Once all the crap with the vipers is settled I will need to come back to the
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city every so often to keep tabs on Fredericks Design.” Deciding I would do a bit of gentle
prodding of my own I added a comment. “You know, if Mom were still alive she would love
that apartment, wouldn’t she Jenna? I can picture her there, enjoying a glass of wine ont he balcony, looking out over the water of the Harbor.”
Bradley spluttered and choked on his drink. I do believe I just struck a bit of a nerve. I patted him on the back, “Are you alright? Did you swallow the wrong way?”
Catching his breath, he answered, “Sorry about that. Yeah, I’m okay.” But I noticed he had a
hard time meeting my eye.
Well, well, well. Maybe my thoughts weren’t so crazy after all. Hmmm. Definitely something I
have to think about. But now isn’t the time to do that. Because the new patrons walking into
the restaurant drew all my attention. Faack!
“Guys, guess who just walked in?” I asked very quietly, not wishing to draw attention to myself.
Bradley started to ask “who” but stopped when he looked towards the door. A man who I was
very familiar with, Oliver Hicks from the marketing depart of Fredericks Design, and his female
companion, none other than Fiona Fredericks. Double faack!
Now I was very glad that I had taken the envelope and the positive pregnancy test stick out of
the duffle bag and placed it in my purse. Who knew karma would deliver my nemisis to me so
promptly. I might as well stick in the knife just a little bit. Oliver had expressed to me many
times that he felt he would be a better marketing manager than Adam. And he was probably
right. Seeing him with Fiona makes me wonder if he is sucking up to her hoping she and Alan
would give him the position.
I watched them covertly as they looked around the restaurant. Oliver’s demeanor was very laid
back and casual until he spotted me. He immediately said something to Fiona causing her
head to whip around in my direction. Without a seconds hesitation the two of them
immediately made their way over to our table.
Call it the witch in me, but I couldn’t help but play a bit with the mouse, or perhaps mice, if
Oliver was aware of the viper’s plans. I guess I would soon find out.
Fiona stood by our table glaring at me with hate dripping from every pore of her body. I smiled sweetly at her and Oliver. “Fiona, Oliver, what brings you here on a Saturday? I hope you’re not spending such a beautiful day discussing business.”
Oliver was the one that answered for the pair. “Nope, not business. Fiona and I are on a date.
This morning she finally agreed to go out with me.” He sounded very pleased about this,
placing his hand protectively on her lower back.
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“That’s wonderful,” I gushed. “Though I’m surprised she feels like going out this weekend, especially since she lost her job yesterday.” I sighed as though saddened by this. “Oh, right,
you were away on business, weren’t you Oliver. You probably haven’t heard all the office
gossip.”
Fiona’s face was turning beet red as she tried to contain her very real anger. Oliver just looked confused. “What office gossip,” he asked, shooting a dubious look at Fiona.
“Well, so you are brought into the loop before Monday, here’s the scoop. Adam Rivers, Fiona
Fredericks, and Alan Fredericks had their employment terminated, with cause. They are
banned from entering any and all Fredericks Design Co. property, and there is a distinct
possibility of criminal charges being filed against all three of them.” I tried to sound
concerned, and upset by the turn of events, but I think I failed miserably.
i
Oliver turned a bit pale, and then had the presence of mind to ask, “How can Alan and Fiona
be fired? They own the company, don’t they?”
I played up a shocked gasp, and responded, “Whatever gave you the idea they own Fredericks
Design Co? My mother founded and built the company. Alan never owned a lick of it. When
mom died in a horrible car accident four years ago, sole ownership of the company was left to
- me. Fiona was only an employee, and Alan was allowed to sit on the Board of Directors as
part of his prenup with my mother.”
Oliver was now openly staring at Fiona with a touch of disgust. “So you don’t own Fredericks
Design, is that right? Is what Anna saying true?”
Before Fiona could say a word I answered Olivers question. “I can tell you for certain she
doesn’t now, nor has she or Alan ever owned any part of Fredericks Design Co. You can check
with Access Nova Scotia and also the Registery of Joint Stock Companies. It will show that I
am registered as the Sole Proprietor. I know this will come as a shock to many people
considering how hard Alan and Fiona have worked to say otherwise.”
Fiona couldn’t hold in her anger any longer. “You f**king b*tch! Just you wait! You think your so f**king smart, lording it over me and Dad that you own the business. Well it won’t be for
much longer, I can promise you that.” Her rage was barely suppressed, and her voice was
rising with every word.
I decided to give the knife a little twist. I opened my purse and brought out the envelope with Callie’s note on it. Mind you I had blacked out Callie’s name, no sense putting a target on her back. “Oh Fiona, I believe this is yours. You left it at my place on Thursday, after you and
Adam were there bumping uglies for the week.” I handed the envelope to her, with the note facing up so anyone could read it. “Oh, and by the way, I’ve sold the house so you and Adam
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can’t use it anymore for your hookups.”
Oliver had taken the envelope from Fiona’s frozen hand. He read the note then opened the envelope revealing the positive pregnancy test. He shoved the test and the envelope back in Fiona’s hand, turned his back and walked away, leaving her standing there completely frozen
in place.
That didn’t last long. Uncaring that we were in a public restaurant surrounded by a now large
number of patrons, Fiona launched herself at me, shrieking and hurling profanaties. Both
Bradley and Victor grabbed hold of her before she could reach me. They restrained her in a
manner that couldn’t be misconstrued as violence, but restrain her they did. Within minutes a
number of police arrived, cuffing her and leading her out to their squad car.
The officers quietly spoke to a few of the patrons closest to our table to get their statements and the restaurant provided them with a copy of their security footage. After speaking to the four of us they finally left taking Fiona with them. I spoke to the manager, apologized for the disturbance, and gave him my credit card and paid for everyone’s meal as a means of apology. The manager was all similes when I added the same amount as a tip.
It is true, money can solve a whole lot of problems.
