I swivel in my chair to look at him. “Why would you want that?”
“So I could blackmail his daughter.”
Well, damn. Definitely didn’t predict that. “I think I’m going to need a drink.”
“Already ahead of you.” He holds a tumbler of scotch out in my direction. I move to retrieve it and take a solid swallow before plopping down on his couch.
Hudson pours another glass for himself and sips it in a much more gentlemanly fashion. “I’m sure you remember that Celia Werner and I used to be close.”
“Right.” There’s eleven years between Hudson and me, so I’m a bit in the dark to what happened with him in his college days, but I know the highlights. “You were practically engaged. She was pregnant with your baby, wasn’t she?” I ask the question before I realize that bringing up her miscarriage might not be the nicest thing.
But I’m immediately glad I did when Hudson says, “I claimed it was mine. It wasn’t.”
This is news. “Whose was it then?”
He shakes his head. “Now that is not my secret to divulge. Nor has it any bearing on this story except to illustrate that Celia and I have had a very layered relationship. A lot of water that’s passed under the bridge. A lot of betrayals. There were reasons I did what I did and reasons she did what she did, but ultimately, I was to blame for a great deal of…of the issues that existed between us. Nevertheless, she took it too far when I started seeing Alayna. She harassed us. Threatened us. Bullied Alayna.”
Though he hasn’t divulged specifics, his speech is uncharacteristically revealing. I’d suspected Hudson was at the center of the rift between our families, but I’d never expected him to outright claim responsibility.
I’m intrigued.
But I know my brother well enough to know he’ll only tell me what he wants to, no matter how much I poke. So I tread carefully, asking the question I think he’s most likely to answer. “She bullied your wife? Like, what did she do, exactly?”
He moves to sit in the armchair across from me. “The details are irrelevant now. All that matters is that Celia got out of control, and I became convinced that the only way I could ensure she wouldn’t continue to wreak havoc in our lives was to have something over her head. So I purchased majority shares in Werner Media, but allowed Warren to remain the figurehead—”
“And told Celia you’d take away his control if she acted up again,” I finish for him. “That’s actually pretty slick.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He should, because I’m impressed. But as I keep thinking about it, I see the current dilemma. “Except now Warren’s retiring and you don’t have anything to hold over Celia’s head, do you?”
“No. I don’t.” He raises his glass toward his lips and takes a sip. “But that is most definitely a personal concern and not a business concern.”
I beg to differ. “What happens with Werner Media seems to be a concern for both of us. For our business.”
“And I’m taking care of it. Hence the reason I’ve been interested in Accelecom. Warren is still unaware that I hold controlling interest, and I’d prefer to let him designate his replacement without ever finding out. But he wants it to be Edward Fasbender. Obviously, I’m opposed.”
“Right.” I’m actually not sure what’s obvious about his opposition, but I decide to play along. I’ve learned that sometimes the only way to get Hudson to divulge information is to pretend I’m in the know. It’s got a fifty-fifty success rate, but it’s better than any other odds with the man. “It’s a shame, though. Accelecom could bring a great deal to Werner Media.”
“I know this. It’s why I met with him today. I’m looking for an ideal compromise.”
I’m suddenly annoyed. Annoyed that I’ve been kept in the dark, but even more annoyed that my brother obviously doesn’t trust me to help him get through this sticky situation.
With one giant gulp, I finish my whisky and set the glass down on the table beside me. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my thighs. “That sucks, Hudson. You have a lot on your plate right now. You should be at home with your wife and children. You know what would be awesome? If you had someone you could rely on to take your place in these negotiations.” Sitting up, I give him a dramatic wide-eyed expression. “Oh, wait! You do!”
He hesitates. “Chandler…I appreciate the offer, but this is not a situation that you need to worry yourself with.”
“Because you want to be Mr. Micromanager and make sure it all works out the way you see best. I can handle more than just managing a couple of corporations based in Iowa. Has it ever crossed your mind that, although you might not agree with my methods, I might be perfectly capable of attaining the same outcome?”
“No, it hasn’t.”
Jesus, sometimes I could just choke him. “Well, consider it. Asshat.”
“I’m not going—”
He’s interrupted by Trish’s voice over the intercom. “Mr. Pierce, your wife is on the line for you.”
Hudson stands and crosses to the desk where he pushes the button on his phone to respond to his secretary. “Thank you, Patricia.” He glances at his watch, which makes me glance at my watch—it’s just after five. “Go ahead and head on out. I’ll lock up.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Pierce.”
I stretch out on the couch, my hands laced behind my head and propped up on the arm so I can watch as Hudson clicks off the intercom and picks up the receiver.