get a fuller picture when she sees how he interacts back home.”
“You’ve lost your mind, Emily. That’s ridiculous," she shook her head." Did we get that pair of Yin and Yang vases yet from Maximillian?”
“Customs held it up, but I spoke with our friend there, and she guaranteed that they would be released by week’s end.”
“Thanks, you're a lifesaver—I don't know what I'd do without you."
“You know I’d do anything for you. What's the latest from the police? Heard anything lately?"
“I called my mother about it last week. She said the case has been placed on the back burner while the police investigate some sort of child pornography ring in nearby Haverstraw. I always felt so safe in the suburbs when I was a kid; I guess I was just naïve.”
“Or very sheltered and very much loved,” Emily said.
“But you know, when I called my mother last week to see if there was anything new on the case, Paul Franklin answered the phone. It was strange.”
“Isn’t he one of the choices for CEO?” Emily asked.
“Yes, he said he'd dropped by to fix the back door that sticks sometimes. It sort of made me uneasy, like he was trying to curry favor by sucking up to Mom.”
“But the head honcho decision is yours alone. How did your Mom explain his sudden helpfulness?”
“She said he had come by a couple of weeks after the funeral to check up on her. His wife died a year ago, and he said that it all hit him when things had quieted down and the condolence phone calls stopped. She brushed off my concern,” Allison said.
“It sounds kind of sweet. Does he strike you as manipulative or just sincere?”
“I don’t really know him,” she shrugged.
Emily sighed. “Consider my idea, Ally. Go out to dinner with Paul, then track down his kids and interview them.”
“And what, then I fly down to Buckhead to Alex’s family? I’ve already had dinner with him.”
“Do whatever you need to do to make the best possible choice for the company," Emily said. "Aren’t there two other candidates?”
“They’re so similar they cancel each other out. Maybe you’re onto something, as crazy as it sounds, I think I’ll run it by Jeremy and see what he thinks.”
Chapter 11
First thing the next morning, Allison stopped by Alex’s office. His door was ajar and his feet were propped up on his desk. He made no move to straighten up when she entered. She wondered at his easygoing nature and thought darkly that his lack of manners had most likely been encouraged while he was growing up.
Before she could catch herself, she blurted out, “I’d like to meet your family.”
He shot to his feet in a second and came around to stand in front of her. “Aren’t you moving a little fast? I know we’re on New York time, now, but we only met a month ago.” His eyes sparkled.
“You know that’s not what I mean. It would be helpful to my decision if I knew more about you, how you were brought up.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, “I think you like me.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m being serious here. Don’t you ever take anything seriously?”
“I try not to.”
“And how far can you get with that kind of philosophy?” She clicked and un-clicked the pen she was holding, it was better than poking his eye out with it, which was her first choice.
“From where I’m standing, it looks like I’ve gotten pretty far.”
“And if you don’t get the CEO position?”
“I’ll get it.”
“But if you don’t?” she pressed.
“I’ll leave and start my own thing. I’ll outpace you and overtake you in five years time.” His tone wasn't very Alex-like.
“That’s ludicrous—it would take millions to start something that could compete with RossAir,” she said hotly, quickly calculating the devastation to the company should he go off and do that. He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by her annoyance. She found him so infuriating, she wanted to storm out of his office. Instead, she took a deep
“You’ve lost your mind, Emily. That’s ridiculous," she shook her head." Did we get that pair of Yin and Yang vases yet from Maximillian?”
“Customs held it up, but I spoke with our friend there, and she guaranteed that they would be released by week’s end.”
“Thanks, you're a lifesaver—I don't know what I'd do without you."
“You know I’d do anything for you. What's the latest from the police? Heard anything lately?"
“I called my mother about it last week. She said the case has been placed on the back burner while the police investigate some sort of child pornography ring in nearby Haverstraw. I always felt so safe in the suburbs when I was a kid; I guess I was just naïve.”
“Or very sheltered and very much loved,” Emily said.
“But you know, when I called my mother last week to see if there was anything new on the case, Paul Franklin answered the phone. It was strange.”
“Isn’t he one of the choices for CEO?” Emily asked.
“Yes, he said he'd dropped by to fix the back door that sticks sometimes. It sort of made me uneasy, like he was trying to curry favor by sucking up to Mom.”
“But the head honcho decision is yours alone. How did your Mom explain his sudden helpfulness?”
“She said he had come by a couple of weeks after the funeral to check up on her. His wife died a year ago, and he said that it all hit him when things had quieted down and the condolence phone calls stopped. She brushed off my concern,” Allison said.
“It sounds kind of sweet. Does he strike you as manipulative or just sincere?”
“I don’t really know him,” she shrugged.
Emily sighed. “Consider my idea, Ally. Go out to dinner with Paul, then track down his kids and interview them.”
“And what, then I fly down to Buckhead to Alex’s family? I’ve already had dinner with him.”
“Do whatever you need to do to make the best possible choice for the company," Emily said. "Aren’t there two other candidates?”
“They’re so similar they cancel each other out. Maybe you’re onto something, as crazy as it sounds, I think I’ll run it by Jeremy and see what he thinks.”
Chapter 11
First thing the next morning, Allison stopped by Alex’s office. His door was ajar and his feet were propped up on his desk. He made no move to straighten up when she entered. She wondered at his easygoing nature and thought darkly that his lack of manners had most likely been encouraged while he was growing up.
Before she could catch herself, she blurted out, “I’d like to meet your family.”
He shot to his feet in a second and came around to stand in front of her. “Aren’t you moving a little fast? I know we’re on New York time, now, but we only met a month ago.” His eyes sparkled.
“You know that’s not what I mean. It would be helpful to my decision if I knew more about you, how you were brought up.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, “I think you like me.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m being serious here. Don’t you ever take anything seriously?”
“I try not to.”
“And how far can you get with that kind of philosophy?” She clicked and un-clicked the pen she was holding, it was better than poking his eye out with it, which was her first choice.
“From where I’m standing, it looks like I’ve gotten pretty far.”
“And if you don’t get the CEO position?”
“I’ll get it.”
“But if you don’t?” she pressed.
“I’ll leave and start my own thing. I’ll outpace you and overtake you in five years time.” His tone wasn't very Alex-like.
“That’s ludicrous—it would take millions to start something that could compete with RossAir,” she said hotly, quickly calculating the devastation to the company should he go off and do that. He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by her annoyance. She found him so infuriating, she wanted to storm out of his office. Instead, she took a deep
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