Page 186 of Colt

Before I could answer, the driver opened my door for me. “Looks like I’ll have to be,” I murmured, grabbing my briefcase, and exiting the car.

I walked around the limo to help Mom out, before leading her into the building. After announcing our arrival, we were sent up in the elevator to the top floor where Dad’s office was.

The penthouse floor was exactly as you’d imagine. Its marble, concrete, and glass construction made it cold and clinical. The only soft furnishings were the low-slung leather couches and chairs in the waiting area, but they didn’t add any warmth. The floor-to-ceiling windows looked out onto a typical New York winter’s day, with grey skies and rain smattering against the glass.

My father’s assistant came around her desk to shake my hand and greet my mother. “I’ve told him you’re here,” she murmured. “Follow me please.”

She made her way toward the door to Dad’s private office, which took up half the back wall of the building, the other half belonging to his CFO.

I held my arm out for Mom, who slipped her hand through before we followed the PA.

My heart thudded with anticipation.

This meet wouldn’t be easy. My dad wasn’t known for capitulation, which made me slightly nervous. However, he also hadn’t got to where he was by cutting off his nose to spite his face, which was the one thing giving confidence to what I was about to do.

The assistant knocked on Dad’s door, opening it, and giving me my first glimpse of my father in over fifteen years. “Your eleven o’clock is here,” she announced.

“Show them in,” Dad ordered, voice low and filled with a confidence that could only ever come from old money, and the knowledge that he was a key player in the top tier of society.

I tilted my chin and strolled through the door with Mom on my arm, before showing her to the one chair that faced Dad across his desk.

It was a power play, only having one chair ready. There were more in the room, but instead of dragging one over, I ensured Mom was comfortable before approaching Dad’s desk and parking my ass on the edge, looking him dead in the eye. “Good morning, Father,” I greeted, setting my briefcase on his desk with a thud. “Still up to your old games I see, how predictable.”

Dad tilted his head to one side, leaning back in his chair without a care in the world. “How good to see you, Colter. It’s been a long time. How’s that biker gang you’ve been working for? I must say, I thought you could do better than resorting to criminality.” A bored look settled over his face “Maybe my expectations of you were too high.”

My eyes flicked over his face, still handsome, albeit showing signs of age. “I must say, Father. Mine certainly were. Now, let’s get down to business.” I opened my briefcase, pulling out a binder full of paperwork and handing it to him.

With a wearied sigh, he took the papers and began to flick through them sheet by sheet. After a few minutes, he slapped them onto his desk, looking straight at Mom. “No, Caroline. There will be no divorce. It’s unacceptable for people in our position. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” His eyes lifted to mine. “Next question.”

“Conrad,” Mom murmured. “I will get my divorce. Yesterday, Colter arranged a board meeting for nine o’clock Monday morning, with all your colleagues, business associates, and investors. Let us show you item one on the agenda.” She nodded at me.

For the second time, I went into my briefcase and pulled out another folder, handing it to Dad. “I think you’ll find that although we live in a modern world, this kind of scandal’s looked down on by people in our circle.” I watched, smirking as he flicked through pictures of himself fucking the escort in our family home, along with others of him, Victoria, and his other fuck buddy involved in a threesome.

He threw the sheaf of papers onto his desk. “Nobody cares about this anymore.”

“Your major shareholders do,” I retorted. “We’re moving to have you removed from your position as CEO. The Van Der Cleeves are embarrassed by your behavior, and if we must be associated with you, it will be under duress.”

Dad smirked. “I’m the majority shareholder.”

“Yes. But when you add your wife’s shares to your children’s’, we own more.”

Dad paled. “The girls wouldn’t do that to me.”

“You’re right,” I admitted, “They wouldn’t have six months ago. Unfortunately, since then, you’ve shown them the kind of sick fuck you really are, by moving your whore into their family home where their mother sleeps.” I nodded to the pictures. “And rest assured, their respect for you is non-existent after seeing those.”

I stood from the desk, motioning for Mom to stand. “I’ll leave the divorce papers with you. If you sign them before Monday we’ll cancel the meeting. If you don’t.” I smirked. “We’ll see you in the boardroom.” I motioned to the images scattered across Dad’s desk. “You can keep those. We’ve got copies.” I offered Mom my arm again, waiting for her to slip her tremoring fingers through it, before sweeping out of his office and toward the elevator, which was still there from when we came up, seeing as it was for the use of the penthouse offices only.

As we stepped in and turned around to face Dad’s office, I caught sight of him at his door, staring at us with a snarl on his face. “You’ll regret this, Caroline,” he called out.

“No, Conrad. This time, I think you’ll be the one with regrets,” she replied in a clear, confident voice as the doors closed, cutting him off from sight.

She slumped against me.

I held her firm, until her knees stopped trembling and she was able to stand straight again. “You were perfect,” I told her quietly. “I know you hate confrontation, but you had to be there. You had to look him in the eyes and make your demands, or he wouldn’t have taken us seriously.”

“I know,” Mom admitted before angling her face up to study mine. “What happens next? What if he calls our bluff?”

My eyes met hers, I couldn’t help marveling at how clear and coherent they were, despite the years of drinking. “Then we go to the meeting Monday morning and oust the motherfucker. I’ll find somebody to take over as CEO, but he or she will be on our payroll.”

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