Beauty and the Beast (20 page)

Helplessness weighed her down as her husband entered and slouched into his easy chair. He seemed to age years right before her eyes. She closed the screen to the sliding door, then sat across Henry’s lap and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Then I’m to blame also. I pampered Roy. Still do, and I encouraged Catherine to spend time at the mill. I’m their mother. I should have—”

“It won’t work, Karen. I know this is my fault.” He kissed her forehead. “But thanks for trying.” He allowed his head to drop back. “I’ll make the calls, but I’m telling them not to sell to Catherine.”

“What? But… but she’ll lose controlling interest of Dixon Textiles.”

“I know. She’s more important to me than Dixon Textiles. I have to save her from herself.”

“Just get out of the way.” Alexis attempted to push her way past Janis, but a burly female security guard, dressed in dark blue slacks and button up shirt, stepped in her path and blocked the way.

“Wait a second, ma’am.”

Alexis craned her head back and snarled at the woman. “Do you know who I am?” she snapped.

The guard smacked her lips. “No, and don’t really care. Now step out, find yo’ manners, and try this again.” Betty nudged Alexis out and closed the door.

They heard Alexis fussing up a storm to whoever happened to be on the opposite side of the door.

“I can’t believe you did that.” Janis giggled. “I like you already.”

Betty smiled. “Cousin Anna told me to keep an eye out for that Alexis Maxwell. Said she don’t think her shit stanks. You cain’t let that type of person push you ’round, Janis.”

The doorbell chimes sounded and Janis opened the door. This time Alexis bowed her head slightly and politely said, “I’m here to see my son, Bruce Maxwell. Is he in?”

“I’m not sure if he is seeing guests today. Please wait in my office, and I’ll check.” Janis motioned toward her office.

Alexis glared at the guard, then followed Janis into the office. “Why all of the extra security? Can you believe they actually made me show I. D?” She sucked air through her teeth. “Imagine me, Alexis Maxwell, having to show I. D. to gain entry into my own son’s home.” She fidgeted with the leaves of the philodendron on Janis’s desk. “This has Victoria written all over it. She’s always been jealous of me.”

Janis dialed Bruce’s private line. He’d said not to disturb him, but Janis was in no mood for Alexis today. She had a good mind to turn her over to Betty, Anna’s cousin, for more home training. She finished her call with Bruce and hung up. “He’ll see you, but let me warn you, he’s in a bad mood.”

“When isn’t he in a bad mood? His mood will change as soon as he sees what I have for him.”

Taken aback, Janis swore she’d heard wrong. “Did you say you have something for him?”

“One of my first changes around here will be you,” Alexis promised.

 
Bruce returned to his office desk. He’d been watching Nefertiti for the past hour as she sketched in the back flower garden. His heart beat stronger when he saw she’d stopped covering herself like the mummy gone bad dye job. She wore simple peach shorts and V-neck T-shirt, a cream veil that hooked onto her ears and covered from below her eyes to her chin, no shoes, and her hair was pulled up into a giant afro-puff.

I’m such an idiot.
Initially his ego had been bruised when she refused his proposal, yet again. Once he cooled, he realized he was acting like a jerk, yet again. The love that flowed between the two of them was undeniable, but something still stood in the way. What?

His lips slowly curled up with memories of her calling him a spoiled brat. At the time he didn’t think the assessment was funny or true, but now—he chuckled.
Damn I love that woman!
After the way he’d acted, he wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to marry him. Though he couldn’t see that actually happening.

I need to get to work.
With Alexis on her way up, he knew he wouldn’t get any real work done until she left. Procurement of Dixon Textiles stock was going better than planned. At the rate he was going, he’d own the majority by close of business tomorrow. Of course, he would continue purchasing stock until he owned all but Catherine’s share. If she considered selling, he’d buy her shares also.

Over the years, he’d changed. In the past when he bought a family business or small company, he tore it apart, and didn’t give a damn about the previous owners or workers.
I’m getting soft.
Though he knew he was actually saving Dixon Textiles and the city, he felt sorry for Catherine. She reminded him of the die-hard worker who did whatever for forever, until some interloping busybody had the audacity to come in and change everything.

Technically, he did want to change everything, to tell her how to run the company—where it should be run to be exact. Tunnel vision hadn’t impaired his vision as it had hers. He could see how this win-win situation benefited both of them. He knew if something didn’t change at the mill soon, she’d drown and take the workers and even the town with her. He could see she had become too attached to the way things used to be instead of dealing with the way things were now.

“Bruce.” The door creaked as Alexis cracked it open and peeked in.

He waved her in. “Hello, Alexis.”

“Hello, darling.” She practically floated into the office.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her with a genuine smile when he hadn’t just handed her a check, cash or bought her something. “What can I do for you?” Suspicion colored his voice.

“Oh no, baby. This time Mommy’s doing something for her little boy.”

He cringed internally. His first memory was of being left on Victoria’s porch by his “Mommy.” Though only three at the time, he’d known something was desperately wrong.

“Now, Bruce, I expect you to be a good boy and play with your toys until your Auntie Vic comes home from work.”

“Where you going, Mommy? I don’t want to stay by myself.”

“But you’re not by yourself.” She took several Marvel action figures out of a small cardboard box she’d brought along. “See, all of your heroes are here to keep you company. Stay on the porch, and they’ll keep you safe.”

His little brows furrowed. “Where you going? I want to come.”

“Now look, Bruce. I don’t have time for this. I have to be across town in twenty minutes.”

He glanced at the grocery bag of his clothes and his box of toys. “You’re coming back for me, right?”

 
“Of course,” she snapped. She drew in a few breaths, then stretched a tight smile across her face. “You’re Mommy’s little boy.”

Fortunately and unfortunately, someone came for Bruce before Victoria arrived home several hours later. The Department of Children and Family Services sent a caseworker to investigate immediately when one of Victoria’s neighbors couldn’t get Bruce to leave the porch and stay inside with her until his aunt came home from work. He’d said his mother was coming for him and wouldn’t be able to find him if he left the porch.

He was taken into custody, kicking and screaming, and handed over to Victoria that evening. Alexis wasn’t a perfect mother by any standards, but she was his mother. He loved her, and he wanted her. For weeks, he watched out the window for her, but Victoria finally made him stop. For months, he cried himself to sleep, but Victoria had been there to comfort him. For years, he thought he’d chased his mother away, but Victoria helped him realize Alexis had the problem, not Bruce.

Contained in his box of toys was a letter. At the time he couldn’t read, but he knew his mother had written her “little boy” a note. He’d hid it in his room for later and forgot about it. When he was nine, he discovered the letter while cleaning his room. Over the following years he’d read it so many times, he could recite it by heart.

Victoria,

I know you’re angry about the way I left Bruce on the porch, but you would have talked me out of leaving, again. I can’t handle that beast. Last night he threw a fit and tore up my new issue of Ebony. I can’t believe such a demon seed came out of me. He’s horrible. I swear to God, they must have given me the wrong baby.

Bobby said he’d marry me, but Bruce ruined that, too. A man don’t want to raise no other man’s child as it is, but Bruce kept acting the fool when all Bobby was doing was teaching him a little discipline.

I hate to say it, but Bruce just ain’t no good, and I’m not putting my life on hold for him any longer. I deserve more. I’m leaving him with you, but if you give him to the state, I fully understand.