The Wildcat that Tamed the Tycoon (16 page)

“You are my clever girl, and you just
confirmed again how much you care for the Daltons.”

He nodded, smiling at her.

“Stella Dalton won’t suspect
anything.  The sale of the fifteen percent shares was done on a basis of the
option for her to buy them back within a period of one year at current selling
price plus fifteen percent.  I have drawn up a confidentiality agreement with
Rodney Davell and once he has sold to you, she won’t know about it, until you
are ready to tell her.”

He frowned and scratched around in the
file on the desk.

“From what she indicated in our last
conversation two days ago, she wants to ‘pull the rug from under their feet’. 
She wants us to go with to her new investment – which I assume are the Dalton’s
– to show she has the backing of one of the most successful banks in the
States.”

Madison frowned.  “How much was her
application for?”

Bill glanced at her. “Three Billion.”

“Three Billion!  Her thirty five
percent shares can’t even be worth a tenth of that!   What did she use as guarantee
for the return on that?”

Bill hesitated.  “The Offshore Oilrig
in the Gulf and ten percent profit share.  That was why she needed the money. 
Her claim was she was going to buy into it as part of the Dalton family.”

“But there is no guarantee she would
be offered the opportunity to buy it.”

“Ahh, that is where you are wrong,
darling.”

He took out a document and handed it
to her.  Her eyes widened the further she read and by the end of the first
page, she was smiling widely.

“She signed her own guilty verdict,
didn’t she Daddy?”

“How much time do we need to get
everything in place?”  David asked while paging through the file.

“I’ll get all the sales and shares
transfers done in two days.  Don’t look at me like that, Mad.  I do have some
contacts in this town!  We’ll force her into an early meeting with the Dalton’s
under the pretense that the final approval of the loan is dependent on her
obtaining signed acceptance of offer to buy-in to the Offshore Oilrig. I
already spoke to Judge Alfredo and he scheduled a court appearance for us on
Friday.  We’ll have the court order by Friday afternoon and we can arrange the
meeting for first thing Monday morning.”

Madison got up and hugged her Dad from
behind and kissed him on his cheek.

“Thank you Daddy!”

“The only thing your mother and I are
upset about is that you are going to live so far away from us.  On the other
hand, I have decided it is time for me to step down.  David, my boy, you have
done an amazing job and I couldn’t leave my legacy in better hands. So, Mom and
I will have ample time to come and visit you in Texas.”

David returned his father’s smile and
nodded his acceptance of the trust he placed in him.

“Now, Mad, your Mother has probably
walked the carpet bare outside.  Why don’t you … I guess she got the message!”

Madison ran out the door, tears
already streaming down her cheeks even before she saw her Mother.  Lydia swung
around when the door opened and all of a sudden she couldn’t move.  Her eyes
glowed over her beautiful daughter and then she was in her arms.  She clung to
her and she breathed her essence deep into her soul.

“Oh, my baby girl!  How much I missed
you!”

“I missed you more!”

For the first time in eight years the
Phillips family gathered around the dining room table and had dinner together. 
There were laughter and happiness and Madison silently wished that Logan could
have had the same ending with his Mother.

Grace cleared her throat and looked at
David who nodded his head.

“I am very happy Mad is here with us
and I really hope Daddy that you will understand.”  She laughed when he
stiffened and Lydia took his hand.

“No Daddy … I am not as adventurous as
Mad.  I love the Banking industry, I just … miss Mad so much.  We have always
been so close and the past few months have been agony, not seeing her, only
having the odd chat once a week!  I spoke to David, Daddy and if you agree …
I’d like to manage the Texas region from Dallas.”

Madison held her breath just as hard
as Grace did.  It would mean the world to her to have her little sister close
by.  Lydia and Bill looked at each other and he gently wiped the tears from her
cheek.

“Another of our flock is leaving the
nest, my love. Grace, honey, you would be perfect for the job.  You have been
ready for a while for more responsibilities and I am elated that David has seen
it.”

Grace jumped up to hug and kiss Bill,
Lydia and then Madison.

“I guess we will have to go and see
about buying us a … I don’t know, maybe a ranch where we can go and relax over
weekends and …”

Both the girls jumped on him and
everyone laughed.

“It’s
good to have you back Drew.  But I must say, Maddy was much sweeter on the
eye!”

He just laughed at Logan’s glare and
Drew chuckled with.  He cleared his throat and glanced at Logan.

“I really am sorry I left you guys in
such a rush.  But if there is one thing I learned from you guys it is the
importance of family.  I committed my life to Delia and I had to set right what
was wrong.”

“I have already decided to find us a
fill-in pilot, so your hours would be more regular from now on.  I realized the
schedule has been rather hectic off late.”

Drew looked at Logan in surprise. 
“That is wonderful news, especially now that … we’re having a baby.  Delia is
pregnant.  That is why she ran.  We never planned to have a baby so soon and
she was scared she would be alone.”

“Congratulations.  At least my child
will have a playmate then.”

The silence in the helicopter was
deafening and Logan smiled.  Madison didn’t want him to say anything, but he
had this desire to tell the world she wanted to have his child.

“You … baby … when … Hells Bells, big
bro!  You can’t just throw news like that in the air!  How did this happen?”  
Shane was absolutely stunned at the deep emotion in his brothers’ voice.

“Well, you know when a man and a woman
have sex, the man’s sperm …”

“Very funny!  You know what I mean.”

“She is probably going to kill me for
this, but I told her from the start that any child of mine will have both his
parents in his life.  She decided if all else fails, she will get pregnant and
I will have to commit to her, so she stopped taking the pill.  When she warned
me she did … let’s just say I immediately started working on getting her
pregnant.  We might already be expecting our first child.”

“Who are you and what did you do with
my brother? You, the notorious Bachelor and lover extraordinaire is committing
to one woman!  And talking about a first child!  I don’t believe it!”

“Get off it Shane!  You know better
than anyone there has not been that many women I slept with!”

“So when are you getting married.”

“Who said anything about getting
married?  No, little bro that is one thing I do not believe in and never will. 
Holy matrimony is not for me.”

“Does Madison know that?”

“I have never given her any indication
that I am interested in marriage.”

“Maybe you should have that discussion
before she falls pregnant, Logan.  She strikes me as the marrying kind.”

Logan did not respond and cursed
viciously when the red glow on the horizon caught his attention.

“This time she has gone too far!  That
whole plant is on fire!”

Logan was livid.  The fire raged and
destroyed everything in its way.  Black smoke billowed into the air and
darkened the earth for miles.  The fire brigade and their own emergency service
were fighting the fire with everything they had.  Logan knew there was nothing
to be done.  This fire would only end once it has burned out.  He set off to
the fire chief to ensure that they have set all the precautions in place to
prevent the fire from spreading any further.

“I am sorry to say, Mr. Dalton, but
this was sabotage.  The investigators already started looking around in the
cleared areas and they found traces of a main component of C-4 military grade
plastic explosive.  They already send samples to the lab for testing.  He
suspects some of the residues they sampled were of the component RDX.”

“What is RDX?”

“It is royal demolition explosive, an
ingredient in C-4, but it is a controlled substance and not readily available. 
Someone wanted to make sure this site is totally destroyed.”

“How many … casualties?”  Logan
swallowed, already knowing that this time, there were lives lost.

“So far, fourteen confirmed dead,
approximately twenty five in critical condition and then there are serious
burns and injuries for most of the rest that were on the plant at the time.”

Logan looked at Shane who was as pale
as a sheet.  He just shook his head.

“I can’t believe she would do
something this cruel.  Human lives, Logan!  People she does not even know! 
God, we have to stop her!”

“We
will.  We have enough proof of her involvement in the other fires and I am sure
we will be able to link this incident to her as well.  I am going to have to
make a statement to the press.  This is too big to ignore.”

The
Phillips family sat watching the news on the television and Madison got tears
in her eyes when she saw the raging fire.  How could someone be so heartless? 
The reporter finished his introduction to the insert on the fire and moved to
include Logan.  She sat forward and her eyes moved with concern over his drawn
features.  He looked so tired and grim.

“Mr. Dalton, could you explain the
findings so far on what might have caused this devastating fire?”

“The investigators found traces of a
controlled component of C-4, which indicates there was deliberate sabotage on
the site.”

“You have experienced numerous fires
at many of your plants over the past month or so.  Do you believe they are all
connected?”

“Yes, they are.  This one was the
worst in that lives were lost and many of our people are in critical
condition.  We will do everything in our power to see whoever is behind this
are brought to justice.  This was more than sabotage.  This was murder.  We can
live with the loss of the plant and the revenue, but families now have to deal
with the loss of loved ones.”

Logan turned away at that point and
Madison wished she was there to support him. Suddenly she had to hear his voice
and she jumped up and ran to her room.  She scrolled down to his number and
waited for the call to go through.  He answered almost immediately and his
voice sounded hoarse when he answered.

“Wildcat?”

“Oh Babe!  Are you okay?  I just saw
the news!”

He was silent and she bit her lip. 
Was he that angry with her?

Logan had to swallow past the lump
that clogged his throat while he did the interview. Hearing her voice
immediately after flushed his heart with so much emotion he couldn’t talk.

“Logan?”

“I am fine.”

“Babe … please talk to me.”

“I am angry with you, Madison.  You
should be here, not God knows where the hell you are!”

“I promise I will explain everything
when I am back.”

“You have two days.” 

The connection went dead.  She sat
staring at the phone in her hand in amazement.  He just put the phone down in
her ear!

Early the next morning Bill Phillips
made the call to Stella Dalton.

“Mrs. Dalton, I wish to finalize this
application of yours.  We have arranged the meeting on your behalf with Dalton
Oil and it has been scheduled for Monday morning at eleven at their offices in
Fort Worth.”

“Oh, but that is wonderful news and could
not have happened at a better time.”  Stella was elated at the news.

“There is the one condition, Mrs.
Dalton.  They have to sign the acceptance of your offer immediately.”

“Oh, there is no doubt in my mind that
they will.”

He ended the call and glanced at
Madison that sat broodily on the other side of the desk, barely paying
attention.

“What’s the matter, Mad?”

“He just put the phone down in my
ear!  Can you believe it!  Just like that!  And when I phoned back again he
ignored me!”

Bill chuckled and she glared at him. 
“You did say he was very angry with you for leaving.”

“Yes, but …”

“No buts, Mad.  You probably know him
well enough by now to know better.  You should have told him you were leaving
before you did.  Even with what you did to help them, he is not going to let
you forget that too easily!”

“I know, Dad.”

He picked up the phone again and
quickly dialed another number.

“Dalton.”  His voice was brusque and
short.

“Good morning, Logan.  This is Bill
Phillips.”

“Mr. Phillips, this is a surprise.  What
can I do for you?”

“I am in Fort Worth on Monday and have
seen the disasters you have experienced and would like to discuss our
participation with your environmental project.  Would you be available around
eleven?”

“Of course, I will clear my schedule
and if you have the time we’d like to take you to lunch.”

“Good.  See you then.”

He replaced the receiver and rubbed
his hands.  “Good, all is in place.  How about we join your mother and sister
for lunch?  Cheer up, my girl, it is only another day and you will see him
again.”

“I’m not so sure about that anymore.”

“Why?”

“Ehm … he doesn’t know I am your
daughter.”

 “How could he not know?  Madison!” 
Bill stared at her and shook his head. 

“I don’t go around telling everyone I
meet I am the daughter of the Baron of Banking, Daddy!

“He is not just everyone Madison!  I
would not blame him if he whipped your butt blue after the meeting!  As a
matter of fact … I’ll suggest it to him!”

“Daddy!”

“Don’t Daddy me, Madison!  You are
twenty nine years old.  You should know better.  He is a man of high
integrity.  How do you think he is going to react when you are thrown in his
face as my daughter out of the blue and in a meeting on top of that?”

“I don’t knoooow! Don’t you think I
have been worrying about just that for the past week?”

“Well, I know how I would react. 
Don’t be too surprised if he walks away from you.”

“He wouldn’t do that!”  Madison
gasped.

“Don’t
say I didn’t warn you.”

“Dad,
this is Bill Phillips, founder and CEO of Phillips Financial Corporation. Mr.
Phillips, my father Jonathan.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr.
Phillips.  Logan filled me in on the time you spend with them discussing
possible solutions and layouts for the environmental plan.”

“Bill, please.  I have a suspicion we
are going to be spending quite some time together in the future.  You have two
special boys here, Jonathan.  There was not all that much I could add, but it
was enlightening.  Actually, my daughter would be of better assistance in this
project.”

“Any assistance would be appreciated. 
Please take a seat.”

A knock on the door interrupted them
and Logan’s executive assistant peeped around the door.  She seemed agitated
and after a short hesitation walked in.

“Mr. Logan … ehm, there is a Stella
Dalton here that claims she has a meeting with you and Mr. Phillips.”

“Ah, yes.  Please send her in.”

Stella walked in with an air of
self-confidence that grinded on Logan’s nerves.  He looked at Bill Phillips
questioningly, the fury he has been containing since the fire on Friday shooting
to the surface.  Bill noticed the flash of fury in his eyes and for the first
time he understood his daughter’s fear.  This man was not someone to tamper
with. 

“I do hope you don’t mind, Logan.  I
thought to catch two birds with one stone.  Please take a seat, Mrs. Dalton.”

Stella startled when Bill Phillips
called Logan by his first name.  It was clear he knew him and that this was not
their first meeting. 

“As you are aware Logan, you issued a
letter of intent to sell fifty percent of your shares in the Offshore Oilrig in
the Gulf to Mrs. Dalton.”

Logan’s eyebrows rose, but he did not
reply.  Something in Bill’s demeanor told him to play along.

“Mrs. Dalton, or rather Starlight Oil
has applied for finance with our institution for a rather sizeable amount and
your letter of intent is offered as collateral as well as half of the shares
she still maintains in Starlight Oil.”

“Interesting.  And how many shares are
Mrs. Dalton now interested in obtaining?”

“Fifty Five percent.”

Shane and Jonathan nearly choked. 
Logan’s jaw was rigid and he appeared to be cast in stone.

“Would you mind showing me the letter
of intent?”

“Of course … let me just see where …
my daughter managed this whole operation and investigation, so she is better
equipped to explain everything in detail.” 

He went to the door and searched
outside and waved at someone.

“Hurry, my girl!  Everyone is
waiting.  My apologies, she had to secure the helicopter first.   Ahh … I
believe all of you have already met her, come in Madison.”

Logan’s heart stopped before she even
stepped inside and his rage turned to fury.  She deceived him!  How could she
not have told him Bill Phillips was her father!  They even spoke about him in
front of her and she never said anything.  He swung around and stood staring
out the window, his hands balled into tight fists.