Mark asked, “Is there any recourse other than this competition?”
“I’m sorry, but no,” Benton said. “Should either of you choose not to compete, you will be disqualified. The CEO position and stocks will be awarded to the other person.”
Mark looked at the board members. “As acting head—” It grated on him to phrase it that way. He should be in charge. “—of Collins, I want a written promise from each of you to ensure total confidentiality. This would hurt the company should it turn up in the papers.”
He withdrew affidavits for each member and slid them across the table. “The Collins lawyers drew these up. You may have your lawyers look at them, but know that I will not continue with any discussion of this farce until these are signed.”
Taking the last paper out of the folder, he set it in front of Leanne.
She looked at it, then him. With raised eyebrows, she asked, “Where’s yours?”
“My what?”
“I want a guarantee of your silence, as well.”
“Trust me, I don’t want this to get out.”
“Nor do I. However, in the interest of fair play—” Her cold glare indicated that she considered him incapable of being fair. His neck warmed, but he held her gaze when it clashed with his.
“I want to make sure,” she continued, “that when the challenges are awarded in my favor, and should I be granted succession of the line—”
Her cat-like smirk reminded him of his “heir apparent” remark in the mausoleum. Heat crept from his neck to his cheeks, and he only hoped it didn’t show on his face. He allowed a smile to flirt with his lips, acknowledging her jab, but not bowing before it.
Her smile flashed, then disappeared. “I want to be assured you won’t run to the papers to cry foul or try to destroy CoCo once you no longer head it.”
“CoCo?”
Her cheeks appeared a shade pinker. “Our pet name for the Collins Company.”
“‘Our pet name?’ Yours and your mother’s?”
At the mention of her mother, Leanne’s face hardened. A sore spot. Good to know, although he doubted he’d use it against her in business. However, the knowledge might come in handy for their private jousts.
Leanne turned back to the table. “Mr. Benton, do you see anything in this document that would make you advise a client against signing?”
“No, it looks standard. However, I would advise you to seek your own counsel—”
“Very well,” Leanne cut in. “Thank you. Now, if we could make a copy of this please? I wouldn’t want Mr. Collins to be without his own copy to sign.”
She sat back and crossed her arms.
Mark nodded to Benton, who rose and called in the Lion’s secretary, Mrs. Pickett. While Benton handed her the paper and gave her instructions in a low voice, Leanne sat up and spoke to the board.
“I notice you obey the directives of Mr. Collins. He has merely to nod, and his wishes are fulfilled. I would hope that as we are competing for the same prize and I might be appointed the head of this company, you will award me the same honor.”
The board members shifted in their seats.
“What are you saying, Ms. Fairbanks?” Mark asked.
“If this is to be a fair game, so to speak, I will need the aid of the staff as well. I know you’ve worked for the loyalty you command. I don’t expect any. I’m sure I’m considered an interloper. Little Miss Nobody from Nowhere.”
Her arrow hit its target. Mark couldn’t let that pass without comment. “I’m sorry you overheard that, Leanne,” he said quietly. “My mother is very upset.”
She threw him a look that expressed her disinterest in his mother’s feelings.
“Please understand that her opinions are not necessarily mine,” he said.
“But then, to you, I’m just the ‘auntie’ you’re going to wipe the floor with.”
He turned away. He wouldn’t apologize for his determination to win control of the Collins Company or to prove himself worthy.
“Ms. Fairbanks,” Mr. Mulvany said, “I will oversee this farce, as Mark calls it. Rest assured you’ll be given every cooperation. I’ve been informed you’re the Lion’s natural child. Lionel Collins held my respect as a businessman and a friend. May I say welcome to you, and good luck.”
She tipped her head in acknowledgment. With queenly presence, Mark thought.
“Thank you,” she said. “Under those conditions and with your conscientious administration of the contest, I will agree to compete.”
Mulvany beamed.
Mark swore under his breath. With one show of vulnerability, Leanne had made Mulvany her champion. From the smiles on the faces of the other two board members, Mark knew favor had shifted to her. Now he was the big baddie, trying to trick this sweet young innocent out of her inheritance.
He set his shoulders. Fine. She’d won this round by getting them on her side. Mulvany would look out for her welfare. It wouldn’t be easy for him to overcome her personal victory, but he would. Just because they liked her didn’t make her a good businesswoman.
Mrs. Pickett returned with the papers, which he and Leanne both signed. Benton took possession of all the documents. “I’ll have copies made for your attorney.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I have no qualms about proceeding.”
“Then, here it is,” Mr. Mulvany said. “The first challenge is for each of you to make a proposal of something Collins Company—CoCo, if I may?” He smiled at Leanne, who nodded.
Mark simmered.
“Something CoCo needs,” he continued. “Whether this be a new product, a new client to sign, a company to take over, or something else will be up to you. I’m sorry to say this, Ms. Fairbanks, as it seems unfair to rush you, but the time limit is two weeks. We are to reconvene in this room to hear your proposals.”
Mark gritted his teeth. The man favored her, but did he have to fawn like that?
“At that time,” Mulvany continued, “we three will decide which of you developed the better proposal. We will then move on to phase two of the challenge.”
“I’m eager to begin,” Leanne said, her gaze fixed on Mark.
He admired her boldness and her courage. The challenge in her eyes had blood rushing to his groin. “I can hardly wait.”
Chapter Three
Leanne swallowed a sigh as she inspected the Collins financial reports. CoCo basically owned every kind of small firm imaginable. Everything one needed, CoCo had taken over a company that made it. They specialized in buying small-to medium-sized companies, revamping them with either an administrative clean sweep or a production overhaul, then selling the company again for a profit.
She would lose this challenge to Mark, and her lack of knowledge irked her. She didn’t know of any business in trouble. She couldn’t find any product CoCo needed to make at the companies it currently owned. Leanne tossed the report on her desk to rub her temples. Mark had found her a middle-management-sized office. She’d had no inclination, nor time, to decorate it, so it sat bare and uninspiring with its beige walls and carpet. It felt unused, unmoved-into, just a transitory space.
Leanne sighed. Pretty soon, she wouldn’t even have a temporary spot at Collins. She’d be back at school in her real office. Fortunately, she’d been scheduled to teach one night class on Monday and two day classes which met Tuesdays