Conklin's Corruption (#3) (Conklin's Trilogy) (7 page)

“I mean your brothers, RJ, your mom.  I know you love them, Tyler.”

I rolled my eyes then pulled the pillow from between us, bringing her so we were skin on skin.  “I love you.  That’s all that matters.”

She frowned at me.  “It’s okay to love them too, Ty.”

That similar uneasy feeling started to rise in my chest again.  The same feeling that was attempting to poke through when RJ told me he was proud.  I needed to do something to push that feeling away.  It made me uncomfortable and exposed, and I didn’t like how it tugged at my heart. 

I brought my lips to Becca’s and kissed her, squeezing her to my chest, my hands wrapped around her waist, holding onto her as though my life depended on it.

She gasped when I finally pulled away as I tackled her to the bed.  I hovered over her, settling myself in between her legs and began kissing her again.  She raked her nails down my back. I welcomed the delicious sting, helping to distract me from the unnerving feelings that awakened in my heart.  Becca was all I needed, not the rest of my family.

***

I woke around 7:00 a.m. fidgety in bed.  Becca was passed out, rightfully so.  The second time we had made love was a bit rough and needy, and it lasted well into the evening.  She literally passed out on top of me the second she got off for the fifth time that evening.  The thought of making her come so many times stroked my ego.

I got out of bed cautiously so as not to wake her.  It was Saturday, and she deserved to sleep in after I had kept her up late last night.  I pulled on a pair of graphite boxers and a t-shirt then made my way into the library.  I didn’t want to take the chance of waking her by going into my office.

When I had originally made the plans for my office to be connected to our bedroom I thought it was a brilliant idea.  I didn’t think about how I might wake her when the spiral staircase creaked as I went up and down.  And I didn’t want her to hear any of my phone calls.  At least not lately. 

I grabbed my suitcase with my laptop and made myself cozy at the white desk.  I logged into the Conklin server and went through my emails.  Most of them were typical and mind numbing, until I ran across one from Chino.

Tyler,

I met with Becca today about the warehouses.  I wanted a plan and RJ has been side stepping my requests.  My assistant called and set up the appointment with ease. 

Becca was very pleasant to work with.  I will look forward to meeting with her in the near future.  She assured me you would be handling the finances and getting back to me in a timely manner.

I would like to meet with you and RJ Monday morning in Grand Rapids.  We can discuss our other projects further as well.

My assistant will be calling to confirm times.

-Lee Chino

Owner of Chino Corporations

I reread the email at least ten times.  My blood was boiling with the fact that he went and scheduled the appointment without contacting RJ or myself.  Who did he think he was?  He has direct contact to RJ; why would he go to someone else in the company?  He wasn’t going to get what he wanted from the typical staff.  Unless he was trying to do more than find places to hide his drugs.  I was going to have to look at Chino’s plans once Becca and Will were done with them.

What pissed me off the most was the fact that he said he was looking forward to meeting with Becca in the near future. 

Not in this fucking lifetime.

I was going to have to make that perfectly clear Monday morning.  Normally I would tell him we needed to change the time to Tuesday, but I was floored and wanted to set this asshole straight.  He needed to know the Conklin men weren’t going to put up with his outlandish demands.  And we sure as hell weren’t going to let him hide his drugs on our properties.  I didn’t care how many times he asked.  I was fed up, and I was going to be an asshole.

Maybe I wouldn’t even do his finances and tell him to fuck off and find some other architect and building company to try and push around.  But Nathan and RJ would duct tape my mouth shut and backtrack my words before I knew what was happening.

The only reason they wanted to keep Chino on as a client was because of his residential properties.  He had numerous subdivisions throughout Michigan and the suburbs of Chicago.  Conklin built every single one of them. I would be lying if I said we wouldn’t feel a financial blow if we lost his business.

Chino wanted to partner with Conklin on his subdivisions.  He wanted our names to be on the signs as his co-owners and not just the builders.  Great idea and profitable one might say, but no.  The problem with Chino’s subdivisions?  He hides his drugs on the properties.  It’s one thing if our company is subcontracted to build the homes where drugs are found and completely something else if we are part owners.  More questions would be asked and could turn in to a big sloppy multi-billion dollar drug bust that could be pinned on us. 

Not cool.  Not cool at all. 

RJ and Nathan knew it was something we shouldn’t get involved in, but Chino was persistent and constantly throwing dollar signs in their faces.  RJ and Nathan loved money, and each day brought on new fear of them signing a contract without me being around to knock some sense into them.

My phone started to ring as I was going to respond to Chino.

“Hello, Nathan.”

“You sound chipper this morning,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes.  I wasn’t in the mood for his playfulness.  “Maybe because that asshole Chino made an appointment to meet with Becca about building warehouses.”

“Oh,” he sounded surprised.  “Guess he was sick of waiting on RJ.”

I wanted to slam my fists down on the desk but restrained myself.  “Why would he go through Becca?”

“Probably because Becca deals with our commercial plans,” he said.  “I’m surprised he didn’t set up the appointment with Will though.”

“Will is out for the week.  His wife just had her baby.  Becca is helping with his clients.”

“I don’t see what your problem is, Tyler.”

I clenched my jaw.  “I don’t like Chino talking to Becca.  She doesn’t need to deal with him.  And I want to be done with him.  I think we need to completely cut our business from him.  I’m talking to RJ about it first thing Monday morning.”

I heard Nathan gasp.  “We can’t cut ties with Chino.  You of all people know how much of our profit is from his subdivisions.  He gives us what, 20% of our income?”

“27%,” I sighed.  “But we cannot get caught up in his scheme.  Do you realize how screwed we’ll be if his drugs show up on our building sites?”

“Tyler, we haven’t agreed to that yet.  Don’t worry about him meeting with Becca.  Is that really what this is about?  Are you feeling threatened by him?”

“I know he was responsible for the tear gas, Nathan.  Why would I want him anywhere near Becca?”

“Why would he let tear gas off in a room with his girlfriend inside?”  Nathan asked smoothly.  “He’s been seeing Margo for awhile now to my knowledge.”

“Margo sees everyone,” I snorted.  “I doubt they are serious.”

“People change Tyler.  We can’t jump to conclusions, and we sure as hell can’t lose a profit holder, especially a holder that makes up 27% of our assets!”

I put my hand on my head, frustrated that Nathan wasn’t on my side.  “Something bad is going to happen.  I can feel it.”

“God, would you stop worrying?  Anderson hasn’t been by the building in months.”

Detective Anderson.  How could I forget about him.  For a while, he was constantly snooping around the building trying to find dirt on our company.  We earned our way legally, at least as of now.

“I’m meeting with RJ about Chino Monday morning regardless.  I don’t want him going through Becca or Will when it comes to the plans for the warehouses.  He has her fooled already.  He told her it was for furniture building because he wanted to help Grand Rapids get back in the furniture industry.  You and I both know those warehouses aren’t for furniture.”

“Maybe it is.  Stop thinking the worst of him, Tyler.”

“Nathan, this man wants us to co-own his subdivisions where he hides billions of dollars worth of drugs and drug money.  Do you really think he’s a good guy?”  I was fuming.  How could Nathan fall for Chino’s charm?

“That’s why we haven’t said yes.  RJ isn’t being dumb about this.  He won’t jeopardize this company.  I know you have no faith in him.”

“You’re right.  He’s a money-hungry asshole, and I know he will choose dollar signs over Papa’s integrity.  This company isn’t just his.  It was Papa’s.  He needs to remember that.”  I was floored now, standing on my feet and pacing the library.

I heard Nathan sigh in defeat over the phone.  “Don’t do anything stupid, okay.  I am supposed to be in Cleveland on Monday, but it sounds like I need to be meeting with you and RJ in Grand Rapids instead.”

“Do what you want.  We’re meeting with Chino after I meet with RJ.  Chino was so nice as to email about the finances of his so-called furniture warehouses.  He wants the numbers by Monday.  Guess I will be busier than I planned this weekend.”  I was annoyed by that as well.  Sometimes I wish I were better about setting my business to the side for the weekend, but it would consume my mind until the projects were finished.  Becca was meticulous about her notes for projects. She would leave me a good report that would help with my research.  She was so amazing at her job.

“I would offer to help, but we both know I’m worthless when it comes to working numbers.”

I laughed.  “I appreciate the thought.”

“Now, I originally called about some weekend RJ wants to have?” Nathan began in confusion.

I groaned in annoyance.  “Did he attempt to get all sappy with you, too?”

“Not really.  He just said Mom was having a wedding shower, and we all were going to go golfing or something.”

I frowned and a small part of me was disappointed.  RJ really did just want something from me.  If he didn’t get sentimental with Nathan then it was surely a show for me.   My heart made that weird tugging feeling again, and I shook my head to rid myself of the awkward feeling.

“I have to talk to Becca about a weekend still.  I’m sure she will be all for it,” I grumbled.  The fact that Becs got along with my mother was irritating to me. 

“Let me know.  I’ll be there.  When are we going tux shopping?  Has she picked out her colors yet?  You are having the reception at Amway, right?”

God, he was just as bad as Missy Stine.  “Jesus Nathan, I don’t know about that shit.  Becca and her mother are handling it.”

“Well then I’ll handle the tuxes.  You clearly don’t have a sense of style nor do you seem to care.  I’ll make the arrangements and call Becca.  You can sit around and be your grumpy self,” he said snarkily into the phone.  “You really don’t know what colors she’s planning?”

I leaned back in my chair in frustration.  I really didn’t care about this as long as everything was what Becca wanted.  Isn’t that what little girls dream about anyway?  Cakes, bridesmaids, the dress?  All that shit?  Just tell me what to wear and where to stand.  I get the love of my life and amazing wedding-night sex.  That’s all I cared about.  And seeing Becca in a white wedding dress.  The thought made me shift in my seat.  I might have to go wake her before breakfast.

“It’s some type of purple,” I mumbled.

“Pale purple? Dark purple?  Plum?”

“I don’t fucking know!  Ask Becca!” I shouted.

“Well hand her the phone then!” he shouted back.

“She’s sleeping.  Look, I have to go.  Maybe I will see you Monday,” I said in a rush, opening a new worksheet on my laptop to try and work on Chino’s finances.

“I’ll be there.  Relax a little, will you?” he pleaded.

“Yeah, yeah, goodbye, Nathan.”

Chapter 3

Becca

“Want to hang out on the beach for a little while?” I asked Tyler as I towel dried my body from our very sensual shower.

His eyes lit up as he finished brushing his teeth.  “Sure.  Can I pick out your bathing suit?”  I smacked his bicep with my hand as I went to get dressed.  He smirked and followed me into our closet.  Tyler came beside me and reached into the drawer I was skimming through.  “Wear this one.  It tends to ride up.” He handed me navy blue Tommy Hilfiger bikini bottoms.

I shook my head at him. 

“What?  I enjoy the view when you lay on your stomach,” he flirted, his hands finding their way underneath my towel.  “Although, I doubt it will beat the view I had last night.”

My face went scarlet.  Last night was unpredictable and super hot, but that didn’t mean I still wasn’t embarrassed.  That angle could not have been flattering, and he was just so close…

“What?” he asked, trying to hold in his amusement.

Not meeting his eyes, I murmured, “Nothing, it’s just… your nose was right there.”

Tyler looked at me questioningly, not following my drift.