Countdown to Midnight, a holiday novella by Katy Regnery

Author:Katy Regnery [Regnery, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katharine Gilliam Regnery
Published: 2017-12-09T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Merit and Elizabeth

“Hello?”

“It’s your father.”

A chill went down Elizabeth’s spine. She’d never heard such contempt in her father’s voice, and that was saying something.

She hurried across the living room to a sliding glass door, opened it quickly, and stepped outside. Hearing footsteps follow her, she found Merit standing behind her. He reached for her free hand, lacing his fingers through hers and holding it tightly. Gulping softly, she met his eyes, and the same eyes that had sparkled with laughter all day now held hers gravely, offering support and encouragement.

She lifted her chin and spoke. “Hello, Father.”

“You had me fired, gal.”

“I did,” said Elizabeth softly.

“Deceiving, conniving bitch. You’re no daughter of mine!”

She winced at his words, and Merit squeezed her hand, stepping closer to her, the heat from his body warming her and letting her know that she wasn’t alone.

“I am more your daughter than the other four, sir. I learned how to be ruthless from you.”

“You learned how to be a goddamned, good-for-nothing cheat and a—”

“I didn’t cheat you out of anything,” she bit out. “You left the states. You stayed away. You gave me power of attorney. All I did was use it for the good of Story Imports.”

“The good of Story Imports,” he sneered. “We’ll see about that! I’ll get my lawyers on this first thing Tuesday morning. It won’t stand up in court.”

“You forget, sir, I’m a lawyer too, and I was well within my rights to sign that deal.” She took a deep breath. “You’re welcome to fight me on it, Father. That’s your right as a shareholder in Story Imports. But you won’t win.”

“The hell I won’t.”

“You won’t. You gave me power of attorney to do whatever was sensible and reasonable. This merger with Alice—”

“Another goddamned disappointment, that one!” he bellowed. “Well, as president, I will—”

“You’re not president anymore,” she cried. “Alice is.”

“We’ll just see about that,” he growled, “won’t we?”

“It’s done,” said Elizabeth, holding Merit’s eyes like a lifeline as he slipped his arms around her and held on. “It was my mother’s company, not yours. You changed the name from Morrow Imports to Story Imports. You kept Alice, Margaret, and Pris from getting ahead, but in the end, you lost. You lost, Father. And I’m sorry it had to happen like this…but why not walk away with dignity?”

“Don’t you dare give me advice on my goddamned comportment, gal. I’ll see you in court…or in hell!”

“So be it,” said Elizabeth, still holding the phone to her ear. Should she wish him a happy New Year? Should she say good-bye?

“Father?” Nothing. “Father?”

Her eyes burned with tears as she lowered the phone from her ear and looked up at Merit. “I guess he hung up.”

“You okay?” asked Merit, his concerned gaze scanning her face.

Clenching her jaw, she dropped her cheek to his chest, resting there as she closed her eyes. “Tell me I did the right thing.”

“I don’t need to tell you that,” said Merit gently. “You already know. You tell me.”

Elizabeth took a deep breath, but her voice was shaky and small.

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