The Adventurer by Diana Whitney Page B

and returned his attention to the fat sheath of bound papers.
    “You don’t seem surprised to hear that. “
    “I’m not, actually. She repaired a forklift once. ” For some reason, that news wasn’t particularly shocking Devon was getting the idea that there was very little Jessica Newcomb couldn’t do if she put her mind to it.
    “Don’t you have mechanics to handle that sort of thing?
    “As I recall, the incident occurred after-hours. ” Still staring at the report in his lap, Crandall cleared his throat. “By the way, your efforts this morning were appreciated. “No problem. ” Devon leaned back in his chair and propped his ankle on his knee. ” “Since you expect her to be at your beck and call, I’m surprised you haven’t gotten her a beeper. ” Crandall’s bushy brows dipped in an irritable frown. “She refuses to use one. ” “Good for her. ” The more Devon learned about the elusive Jessica Newcomb, the more he liked her. “So, what was the emergency? “
    The older man glanced up apprehensively. “Emergency ?”
    “Yeah. Your call this morning sounded like a matter of life and death. ” “Oh. I, uh…” Crandall bought a moment by searching the cluttered nightstand for a pen. He plucked one from beside a boxed deck of cards, removed the cap and tediously fitted it over the plastic handle. Only when the writing instrument was poised over the paper did he brusquely respond to his son’s query. “I needed a file from the office. ” “A file, ” Devon repeated dumbly. “You dragged me out of bed to chase down a woman on her day off so she could bring you a lousy file. ” The pen tapped a nervous cadence on the crisp white margin. “All of my executives are brilliant, effective and extremely well paid. They understand, as you apparently do not, the competitive demands of a global economy. ” “So that gives you the right to work people into the grave and turn a vibrant, beautiful woman into an exhausted shell? ” Crandall threw the pen into the folds of the report and slammed the cover shut. ” “It gives me the right to expect excellence and loyalty, two more terms with which you are evidently unfamiliar. ” Stung, Devon leapt to his feet and lashed out in anger. “What the hell would you know about loyalty? You’ve never pledged allegiance to anyone but yourself and your unending pursuit of the almighty dollar. ” “Those dollars bought you the fanciest clothes and the finest schools, ” Crandall snapped. “And you took it all, soaked up luxuries like an ungrateful sponge then refused to give anything back. ” “I refused to become your clone, if that’s what you mean. ” The memory of his father’s previous manipulation throbbed like a raw nerve. Two years ago, when Devon had turned down his offer of an executive position with the company, Crandall had secretly informed the Associated Press that their prized correspondent was burned out and emotionally unstable. The underhanded ploy hadn’t succeeded, of course, but Devon had been infuriated by the attempt. “That still galls you, doesn’t it? You can’t stand the fact that after pulling every devious trick in the book, you still couldn’t break me, couldn’t get want you wanted. ” Leaning back into the pillows, Crandall emitted a snort of disgust. “I offered you a future. “
    “Bull, ” Devon snapped. “You tried to destroy my career”
    “That career nearly killed you! What was I supposed to do when my only son comes home with a bullet in his gut and a leg full of shrapnel? ” Frustrated, Crandall raked his fingers through hair that was still as thick and dark as was his son’s. “There’s no reasoning with you. You’re just like your mother. ” The comment struck with the force of a fist. Then an image floated through Devon’s mind, a vision of the smiling, blue-eyed woman that he’d seen only in photographs. He swallowed a sudden lump and spoke softly.
    “I wouldn’t know. “
    Crandall