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Jackson Place would be the first of many successful ventures. He knew it in his bones. Nothing would stop him, especially not the whiny, nerve-racking Princess Granger, who had somehow managed to pussy whip even the toughest accountant. The Granger account was just one more little battle to conquer, and both heaven and hell knew he’d fought tougher opponents than Lori Granger.
Chapter Three
“You will always be my little sunbeam.”
– SUNNY COLLINS
Lori sat on her bed with Ke
She snatched another Oreo from the plateful on her bedside table, then lifted the nearly empty bottle of Cristal champagne and guzzled it straight from the bottle. She’d smashed her crystal champagne flute against her closet a couple of minutes ago.
Her personal line rang, and she was so disgusted she almost didn’t answer. Glowering, she snatched up the receiver. “Hello,” she said in a voice that sounded both slurred and cross to her own ears.
“Lori Jean? Is that you?”
Lori immediately recognized her sister Delilah’s voice, and something inside her eased. “It’s me. I am so angry at my father I could scream.”
“What’s wrong? You don’t sound like yourself at all.”
“Probably because myself is so furious I can’t stand it.”
“I know Harlan had almost as much money as the devil himself, but what could he do from the grave that would piss you off this much?”
“It’s not what he did from the grave. It’s what he did before,” she said, scooping up a pile of letters from her long-deceased mother. “Did you know Momma sent me at least three letters a week until she died? He kept them from me. Even after she died, he didn’t let me see them.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. If it helps any, my father wouldn’t let me read them, either. He was actually worse, though. He burned them right in front of me.”
Lori knew Delilah’s father had been downright harsh. He’d even been known to beat Delilah. It was a miracle Delilah had turned out as loving and successful as she had. No one would have predicted she would marry one of the Houston Huntingtons and start having babies right away, but Delilah had always been one for the unexpected.
“Your father was a toad. He was worse than a toad,” Lori said.
“Lori, sweetie, you sound very strange. What are you drinking?”
“Cristal, but I’m balancing it with Oreos since you’re not supposed to drink on an empty stomach.” She glanced around her room. The decor hadn’t changed much since she’d first moved here as a frightened young girl so many years ago. Once Harlan had learned that his quick affair with her mother, Su
Delilah snickered. “I approve the champagne, but you’re go
“I’ve felt horrible for the last few days, so it won’t be anything new. I knew my father was controlling, but this, this just takes the cake. Between the will and the letters, he was-”
“What about the will?” Delilah asked.
Lori winced. She hadn’t wanted Delilah to know about the will and the trust. “It’s nothing, really. He was just being his regular controlling self, wanting to control my entire life. I swear if he could have put strings on me to make me dance like a puppet, he would have done that.” She picked up another letter addressed to her in her mother’s flowery script and felt a dull pain behind her ribs. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to forgive him for this.” She felt so betrayed, so horribly betrayed. She had longed to contact her mother, but Harlan had prevented every effort. All because he was terrified that she would end up a floozy like her mother.
“Lori? Lori Jean, are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here,” she muttered, picking up the bottle of Cristal and swallowing the last drops.
“As much as I can sympathize with your anger and your desire to tie one on when you found out about the letters, you’re go
That was easy. The bottle was empty. “I promise,” she said, smothering a burp. “No more champagne tonight.”
“You promise?” Delilah repeated skeptically, as if she knew she’d extracted the agreement too easily.
“I promise. I not only promise. I promise to keep that promise.”
“You’re really loaded, aren’t you?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not driving.”
Delilah chuckled. “I may have one of my Dallas managers check in on you tomorrow,” she said.
Delilah had expanded her spa business so that she now had an additional location in Dallas. Lori could feel the haze of alcohol closing over her brain, but she didn’t want Delilah worrying about her. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Remember, I’m surrounded by people eager to do my bidding.”
She slumped down against her pillow and yawned, closing her eyes.
“If you’re sure,” Delilah said.
“I’m sure. I’m really sure,” Lori said, absently stroking Ke
“Well, I doubt you’ll remember this, but the reason I called is to tell you that I’m pregnant.”
Lori’s eyes popped open. “Again? That’s three times in three years!”
Delilah gave a low chuckle. “What can I say? Benjamin inspires me.”
Lori felt the slightest stab of envy but pushed it aside. She knew Delilah had suffered before she’d found her dream man. “Is Ben excited?”
“Of course, and he’s so sweet about morning sickness. He brings me crackers, caffeine-free soda, and a prenatal vitamin every morning before he leaves for the office.”
“Must be nice to have a man so crazy for you.”
“The feeling’s mutual, but I don’t want to gush too much. Something tells me you might be dealing with a queasy stomach in the morning for a totally different reason.”
“Well, I won’t need any prenatal vitamins, that’s for sure.” She closed her eyes again. “Congratulations on the new baby, sis.”
“Thanks, Lori. I’ll call you tomorrow afternoon. Don’t forget to wash off your makeup and take an Advil before you fall asleep.”
“Absolutely,” she said, wishing her voice didn’t sound so slurred. “’Night, Dee.”
As she began to fall asleep, she muttered to herself. “I’m going to fix my father. I don’t know how, but I am really going to fix my father good.”
The next morning, Lori awakened to the sound of Ke
Lori made a face and lifted her head. Her stomach turned and her head pounded. “Oh, I should have taken that Advil. Why didn’t I take the Advil?”
Ke
The only way Lori could imagine getting downstairs was either crawling or throwing herself over the railing. She fumbled for the button for the intercom. “Mabel?” She paused and waited, hearing Ke
No answer. She walked down the hallway and covered her eyes to shield herself from the bright, offensive sunlight streaming through the half-circle window above the front door.