The Wildcat that Tamed the Tycoon (17 page)

Both Jonathan and Shane jumped up
after their initial surprise subsided and hugged her.

“My goodness, Maddy!  Why did you
never tell us?  It is so good to see you again.”

Madison glanced at Logan’s rigid back,
realizing he was not going to turn around and greet her and she looked at her
father that gave her an ‘I told you so’ look.

“Can we get on with this please? I
don’t have the whole day.”

Logan snarled; his back still turned
to all of them.  He gnashed on his teeth to bring his fury under control.  When
she spoke, he closed his eyes briefly as the husky notes thrilled all the way
down his spine.

“Mrs. Dalton, I had a forensic
specialist analyze and compare the signature on the intent to sell agreement
you supplied as collateral against your signature on your application for the
loan.”

“You little bitch!  You had no right!”

“I would appreciate you refraining
from calling me names again, Mrs. Dalton.  I’ve had to take it twice.  There
won’t be a third time.  As far as our rights are concerned, we had every
right.  You signed your application wherein it clearly stipulates that the Bank
receives all rights to verify the authenticity of all documents and
associations you included in your application.”

Madison noticed that Logan had turned
around and felt his gaze burn her.  She opened the file she carried in with her
and withdrew the Intent to sell document and presented it to Jonathan who
briefly glanced at it, shook his head and handed it to Logan.

“How could you analyze his signature? 
You had to have an originally signed document from him!”

“Which we did, and why and what is no
business of yours, Mrs. Dalton.  Obviously, we pride ourselves in only entering
into legal and progressive business associations with any individual or
entity.  You committed fraud in an effort to obtain funds from us.”

“That does not matter!  They will sell
me the shares!”

“And why would they do that, Mrs.
Dalton?”

“Oh, they know very well.”

“I am sure you think so, however, we
are not prepared to enter into a business relationship with you, which brings
us to the reason why we are having this meeting here.”

Logan could not take his eyes of
Madison.  She was dressed in a corporate pant suit, with her hair taken back in
a knot behind her head, and she was sexy as hell.  The way she spoke, her
mannerisms had him captivated.  He would never in his life have believed his
Wildcat could be this brilliant in the corporate environment.

“What are you talking about?”  Stella
was livid.  How could this little … little snip do this to her!

Madison pulled out three pieces of
paper and hesitated before she lifted her eyes and looked at Logan.  Their eyes
met and for moments the world stood still. 

“Oh, please!  Get on with it!” 
Stella’s squeal ripped them from their stare and Madison handed the documents
to Logan.  He glanced down at them and then back at her, questions raging
through his mind.

“Your application to our institution
was made on behalf of Starlight Oil.”

“Of course it was.  I am the main
shareholder!”

“Not anymore.  Logan and Shane now own
fifty five percent of the shares in Starlight Oil.  As the main shareholders it
is their decision whether or not they wish to honor the application.”

“What … NO … how?”

Bill chuckled.  “I have a brilliant
daughter, Mrs. Dalton.  She managed the main operations of the Bank when she
was twenty one and she did a fantastic job too.”

Logan trembled as his anger surfaced
anew.  He remembered reading the articles years ago in Business magazines about
the brilliant youngster that could out maneuver even the most seasoned
businessman.  They still compared her to him at the time, as he also achieved
the same accolade at twenty two, six year prior.

“She bought the forty percent shares
you sold last year to Rodney Davell, as well as the fifteen percent you put on
the market last week.  Of course, my little girl is not into the oil business …
although apparently she is into oil men!”

“Daddy!”  Bill chuckled before he
continued, but noticed the hot look that Logan shot her way.

“So she registered the shares to the
Dalton boys.  She believed it is their due for the heartache they had to
suffer.”

“I … you can’t do this!”

“It is already done.  Apart from that
I have on their behalf lodged a notion to the courts in Florida of no
confidence in you as a shareholder and CEO.  Should they decide to pursue that,
they only have to sign the final notion and submit it.”

Stella was pale and trembled in rage
and devastation.  Her whole future of wealth she dreamed about the past months
came crumbling down around her.

Madison withdrew another piece of
paper from her file and flung it over the table to Stella.

“Or you can sign that.”

Stella looked at the document and her
eyes widened.  It was an acceptance to purchase her final thirty five percent
shares in Starlight for half a billion rand.  The shares were not even worth a
quarter of that.  She took her pen out of her bag and immediately signed the
document.

“You will pay for this!”

“No Mrs. Dalton, let me warn you now. 
I fiercely protect what is mine.  Logan Dalton and by extension his family is
mine. If you know what is good for you, stay away from them and everything that
are theirs!”

Logan leaned over and took the
document Stella held out to Madison avoiding her hands trying to take it from
him.

“Logan, no!”

He looked down at the document.  His
jaw tightened and his lips thinned in a straight line.  His eyes rose to hers
and she winced at the anger there.

“If this is how you waste your Grand
Pops inheritance you should get a hiding so you can’t sit for a damn month! 
Good Lord, woman!  Where is the brilliance your Dad bragged about?”

“Money is nothing compared to your
life!”

“Don’t!  I don’t want to hear it!”  He
didn’t look at her, his voice quietly intensive.

She huffed and folded her arms over
her chest glaring at him.  She gasped when he calmly tore the document Stella
just signed in two.

Bill and Jonathan looked at each other
and Bill winked at him.  His daughter chose well!

Logan
looked at Shane and he nodded.  It was the first time Madison saw the same
strength in him as Logan permanently portrayed.  His face was stern and he
stared at his mother unflinchingly.

“I appreciate what you did, Madison,
but you should have spoken to me before you wasted your money.  Ah … I said I
don’t want to hear it!” 

He shot her a furious glare and she
closed her mouth again and sat down on a chair next to her father.

“We might have, and I stress it is a
very slight might have, considered something like this if not for what happened
last week.  To heartlessly sabotage an oil well and in the process killing
innocent people is something none of us are prepared to forgive.”

“I had nothing to do with that
explosion!”

“Really?  We also have a highly
competent forensic team that works for us.  They can dig the smallest beetle
dung out of a pile of mud.  Would you like to know what they found, mother
dear?”  Logan’s voice sounded like doom itself.

“I am telling you, I had nothing to do
with it!”

“Funny, that is not what Vernon Miller
said. We presented all our findings to him first.  Yes, your partner in crime
sang like a canary.  Seems the possibility of indemnity was too tempting and he
provided us with proof of all your transactions, documents and planning
pertaining to each and every fire that was set at all our wells.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“If there is one thing, Stella dear
you can always depend on, then it is that Logan never lies.  Your Vernon even
gave us recordings he made of every single meeting he had with you.”

“It is not permissible in court
without my permission!”

“Difference is, mother dear, we did
not take the recordings.  Everything we obtained from him was done legally in
the presence of the FBI.”

“The FBI?”  Stella squeaked.

“Yes, seems they don’t look too kindly
on sabotage and murderers. Did you phone them, Shane?”

“Yes, big bro.  I just received a
message from Drew that they arrived.  They should be at the door as we speak.”

A sharp rap confirmed their arrival
and they entered on Logan’s ‘come’.  They had to drag a screaming Stella from
the room.

“Well, all’s well that ends well, as
they say.”  Bill said with a sigh.  He looked at Logan who glared at Madison
and she promptly ignored him.  He smiled.

“So, Logan, does the offer for lunch
still stand?”

“Of course, I’ve booked a table at the
Waters Bonnell’s restaurant for us. Luckily for us, I have a chauffeur ready at
hand.”

Madison shot up from her chair and
glared at him.

“Go to hell. Logan Dalton!  I will not
drive you around!”

She swung around and stormed out of
the boardroom and slammed the door behind her.

“Shane, would you do the honors so
long.  We will join you shortly.”

He ran after Madison and grabbed her
just before she stomped into the elevator.  She gave him a murderous stare and
struggled to free her arm from his grip.  He yanked her closer and before she
could gasp in indignation his mouth covered hers and he immediately surged past
her lips to kiss her hard and passionately, demanding her submission which she
could not deny him for long.  A loud clearing of multiple throats broke them
apart and Madison blushed, noticing all three men watching them smilingly.

The elevator slid open behind them and
Logan turned and drew her inside with him and the other three followed.  Bill
handed Madison her handbag she left behind when she stormed out of the
boardroom.

“I am not going with you!”

“Yes you are.”

“No …” He silenced her with a sharp
look.

“Madison, do not push me any further
than you already have the past week!  And you can stop looking at your father. 
This is between you and me.  I will not allow any interference!”

Bill had to bite his lip hard to keep
the delighted smile that hovered around his lip, but Shane had no mercy and he
chuckled earning him a murderous glare and Madison snared at him.

“I am going to introduce you to my
sister!  It is about time someone wiped that constant grin off your face!”

“Maddy, darling!  I have always been
on your side!  But if your sister looks anything like you … I can’t wait!”

Bill burst out laughing, already
seeing what Madison obviously did.  Grace would really bring him down a notch
or two! 

“Shane my boy, judging by Bill’s
reaction, you might just swallow those words sometime soon.”

Pretty soon they were on their way to
the restaurant with a sulky Madison bundled into Logan’s Bentley and the others
following in Jonathan’s SUV.  She stared out of the passenger side window the
whole time and flatly ignored Logan, who sat nursing his rising anger.

When he parked the car in the parking
area, she immediately reached to open the door, but he stopped her with a hand
on her arm.  She sat back but refused to look at him.

“Look at me, Madison.” 

She bit her lip.  The fact that he
still called her Madison was a clear indication that he was still angry with
her.  She turned her head and their eyes met.  She winced at the anger that
glittered clearly on their surface.

“I am not going to belabor what just
happened back there. Suffice it to say that you have a lot of explaining to
do.  You have no idea how angry I am with you at this moment.  Therefore, your
explaining will have to wait until I have expunged my anger.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you really think I would forget
that you disappeared on me the day after you made a commitment to me, writing
me a God damned letter? Wasting your inheritance on that good for nothing
woman!  And be warned Madison, I have every intention of carrying through the
punishment for that I promised in the boardroom.”

“That is not fair!  I only wanted to
…”

“And I told you I don’t want to hear
it!  Leaving me … you know how I will deal with that … I warned you.”

She gasped and got out of the car
before he could stop her and stormed to where her father and the Daltons were
waiting.  Halfway there she swung around and slammed her fists in her waist.

“You are a fiend!  You stay away from
me Logan Dalton!  Do you hear me?”

He kept sauntering closer
unconcernedly and she spun around with an, “Oef, you are so infuriating!”

Madison immediately sat down in a
chair between Shane and Bill just to annoy Logan further.  He chuckled and
waited until she looked at him.

“You are just adding fuel to the fire,
honey, but never fear; I am well rested!”

“I am not going home with you!”

“No?”

“I have to take Daddy back to
Washington.”

“Drew can take him back.”

He promptly turned to Bill and started
talking about the new bill that currently was the controversial issue in
parliament on the information and protection act.

“Logan!  Dahhhling!  What a surprise!”

Blond Bimbo Candy! Madison stiffened
when she tottered closer on her stiletto heels and super mini dress to wrap her
arms around Logan from behind, pressed her breasts against the his back and
stroked her one hand over his chest.

A low growl reached Logan from across
the table and he met Madison’s furious glare.  He enjoyed her blatant jealousy
for a moment too long and the next moment Candy bend forward and kissed him on
his mouth.

“Logan Dalton! Get yourself out of
that damn woman’s talons!”

Bill watched his daughter in
amazement.  He has never seen such possessiveness in her eyes and fury at the
woman draped around Logan.  He looked at Logan and chuckled when the poor man
did try his best to untangle himself from the blond.  He was acting much too
slow for Madison’s peace of mind and she threw a spoon at him that hit him in
the chest.

“Hey!  Careful honey!’

“I suggest Miss Blondie … Candy is
it?  That you remove your claws from Logan!  And if you don’t do it right now,
I am within seconds from pulling each of those red fingernails out with my
teeth!”

Candy dropped her hands from Logan,
but she was still pressed to his back.  Madison rose from her chair and started
moving towards the blond woman with murder in her eyes.  She realized she was
in danger and literally jumped back from Logan.

“Well, dahhling, phone me when you’re
done with lunch.”

“Dahhling just lost your number and I
suggest you lose his just as quickly!”

“Well … I guess I’ll leave then.”  She
retreated under Madison’s glare and Shane’s gale of laughter.  Logan sat with a
grin that got bigger by the moment.

“If you know what is good for you
Logan Dalton, you will wipe that grin off your face!”

“Yes Wildcat.”

Everyone except Madison laughed at his
meager acquiescence.

“Hmm … Mad, that possessive streak of
yours is coming out in full force I see!”

“David!”  She swung around and fell in
his arms and he hugged her close with a smile on his face.  He watched in
amazement as the large man behind them nearly threw the chair over in his haste
to reach over and yank Madison out of his arms.

“Logan!  What are you doing?”  She
noticed his glare and shook her head.

“Babe, this is my brother, David.”  He
glared at her and growled softly. 

“More fuel … how much more is there,
Madison?”

She bit her lip and then smiled when
she noticed Grace hovering behind David.

“Well Sis, I must say, in the two
years you were engaged to Andreas I have never seen you act like you just did! 
Amazing!”

Madison groaned and noticed Logan’s
jaw became even more rigid.

“It just does not stop!  Do remind me,
Madison, to stop at the drugstore before we drive home!”

She winced and her shoulders drooped. 
Good Lord, he was going to kill her this time!

Shane chuckled non-stop and she shot
him an infuriating glare.

“Stop laughing!”  She quickly
introduced Grace and David and lastly in Shane’s direction.

 “And this grinning buffoon is Logan’s
brother, Shane.

“I see you were right, Sis.  There are
some serious hunks in Texas!  So tell me Shane … do you also have a minion of
bimbos scratching at your pants?”

Bill dropped his head in his hand and
groaned.  Grace took more after Madison than he would have liked, in some ways
she was just more forward.

Shane’s eyebrows rose and he grinned
while he ran his eyes over Grace.

“Are you aiming to join them, Gracie,
my angel?”

A slight flush spread over her cheeks
and she speared him a glare.

“You should be so lucky!  But I would
be quite willing to offer my services in case you need some tips on how to
treat a real woman.”

“Oho … the angel has some claws, I
see.  Never fear, Gracie, when there is a real woman that catches my fancy; I
know how to knock her socks off.”

“Well, I will keep an avid eye out to
see if you need some assistance, just in case.”

Bill chuckled at Shane’s frown.  “Oh,
Grace is moving to Dallas so she can be close to Mad.  She is going to run the
Texas region from there.”

“Well, well … now that is good news,
Gracie, my angel.  Very good news indeed.”

The waiter arriving with additional
chairs ended their bantering and Logan made sure that Madison sat down next to
him.  He immediately dropped his hand on her thigh and she tried to slap it
off.

“Stop it.”

“Move your hand.”  She hissed at him.

“Or what?”

He caressed her thigh and she felt the
heat swirl through her body.  He leaned over to whisper in her ear, just as his
hand slipped higher and between her legs.

“You’re welcome to return the favor,
Wildcat.”

She glared at him and whispered back
vehemently.  “With what you’re promised to do to me when we get back home … I
wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole!”

“Hmm …  well, then why delay the
inevitable.”

He rose and pulled her up with him. 
“Shane, would you take care of the bill?  It was nice meeting you, David, Grace
and as promised, Drew can fly you back when you’re ready.”

“That won’t be necessary, thank you
Logan.  David is also a pilot, so he’ll do the honors.  My wife, Lydia and I
will be back next week.  We’re going to look for a small ranch to buy. She
looks forward to meeting all of you as well.”

“It will be a pleasure.  Please come
and stay over with us at the Ranch.”

He waited while Madison greeted her
family and then ushered her outside and into his car.  She fumed when he kept
to his promise and stopped at the drugstore.  He turned to her before he got
out.