Chosen for Power (Women of Power, #1) (11 page)

Elle sat down hard in her chair and closed the metal case. “Why did you think it was me this morning requesting the money?”

Mr. Burger’s jaw tightened and his previous jovial smile flipped to a stern frown. “Are you telling me that wasn’t you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

“Whoever it was looked a great deal like you—same hair color, same height.  She knew all about your sisters, even mentioned them by name. By all appearances, she was you. She even gave me your driver’s license to complete the withdrawal since she couldn’t remember the account number. The picture was yours. The birth date was yours. The address was even correct.” Mr. Burger shook his head and pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the bank investigator. Someone just tried to defraud us of two million dollars.”

Elle worried her bottom lip as Mr. Burger talked into the phone ordering an investigation. It wasn’t just fraud—there was someone out there stealing her identity. If the bank believed her, who else would? The media? The shareholders? What other damage could she do, not only to Elle but to her whole company?

Mr. Burger hung up his phone with a grim look. “I am so sorry, Miss Simpson. I can’t believe this happened. I assure you, First Peachtree . . .”

Elle held up her hand to stop him. “Mr. Burger, you have done nothing wrong. In fact, if it weren’t for your excellent customer service, we wouldn’t have discovered the error. For now, let’s take the money back and put it in a new account. No one is to get into the account without one of my sisters
and
me personally appearing together to sign for it.”

“That’s a wise decision, Miss Simpson. While the bank investigator is looking into this incident, I would advise you to run your credit report and check on your other accounts. We’ll be in contact shortly.”

He picked up the briefcase and shook Elle’s hand before giving a quick nod to each of her sisters. Elle watched him head out of the office but didn’t say a word until the door had closed. She looked at her sisters and they immediately surrounded her with concerned looks.

“I guess it wasn’t Chord after all,” Elle said casually while emotions raced through her system and her stomach plummeted.

“Elle,” Allegra started hesitantly. “I know Mallory mentioned Hailey. Do you think Hailey could have done all of this? I mean, could she have gotten back in to our network and sent that email? As for the bank, she is the same build as you and with a wig . . . ”

“I suppose she could have. I’m sure clients weren’t the only people she was sleeping with. She could have easily gotten someone else’s password and sat in the lobby while she tried to destroy me like she threatened to do the day I fired her.”

“How would she have known about Drake, though?” Allegra asked.

“She didn’t have to,” Elle sighed. “None of the press releases gave a name. I think it was just in retaliation for scolding her for using sex to do business. A perfectly ironic payback, wouldn’t you say?”

Elle’s sisters each gave her a hug and a supportive smile as they left her alone in her office. She wasn’t going to let anyone ruin everything she'd built. No, she’d fight this just the way she fought and defeated Chord years ago. Even though he wasn’t behind the press releases, he was still trying to take over her company. She was determined to go forward with the plan she and Jessica had already formulated. Elle absently rubbed her arm where he’d grabbed her last week. No, Chord was a threat and had to be handled as well. She was surrounded by threats, and it was best to never turn your back on one.

Elle pressed the intercom on the phone. “Jessica, there’s something I need you to do for me.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Elle landed hard on her back. The air whooshed out of her lungs and her head bounced off the blue padded mat covering the floor. She saw Jessica cringe where she sat and felt like cringing, too, if her whole body wasn’t already throbbing. Mallory’s long blond hair almost tickled Elle’s nose as she leaned over and looked down at her.

“Fun, right?” Mallory smiled. “Thanks, Finn. Let’s try it again.”

Mallory extended her hand and helped Elle stand up. Jessica had called Mallory at Elle’s request and somehow Finn had been recruited in Mallory’s attempt to prepare Elle against one of the threats facing her. Elle had to make an example out of Chord and the company he was working for. And when she made her final move, it was going to be big. It also required her to confront him, and she wasn’t going to be unprepared this time.

A small conference room table and all the chairs had been moved against the far wall an hour ago.  A padded mat had been placed on the floor and her self-defense lessons had begun as soon as Finn and Mallory arrived.

“Finn, I’m impressed. If you ever need a job and I hire out bodyguards, you’d be perfect.” Mallory stepped back and grinned mischievously. “And the socialites would love you.”

Elle almost laughed. Finn looked so embarrassed. For a former athlete, Finn was remarkably shy about his good looks. His black hair was cut close to his head in perfect straight lines that accentuated his strong jaw and sexy brown eyes. It didn’t hurt either that he could send women into fits with his body alone, but she’d never once seen him act as if he were anything other than a protective brother.

“So, where did you learn those moves?” Mallory asked as she placed Elle in front of Finn with her back to his chest.

“I earned my black belt in Kenpo when I was younger. Since it focuses on speed and balance, it helped with baseball. You know, just like how some football players take ballet to improve footwork. Except, once I started it, I really liked it and have kept up with it over the years.”

“
Please
say you’ll come work for me. I can feel the breeze from the fluttering fans of overwrought debutantes right now.” Mallory sent him a wink and then turned her attention back to Elle. “Remember, momentum and gravity. They’re free and always around when you need them.”

Finn reached out and grabbed Elle from behind. His muscled arm clamped across her chest, pinning her to him. Elle took hold of Finn’s arm and quickly stepped back into him, causing him to move his foot. As soon as he did, she yanked him forward, bending at the waist and dropping her shoulder at the same time. Finn was pulled forward and over her shoulder by momentum. Gravity took over as he landed on his back in front of her.

“I did it!” Elle couldn’t believe she’d just sent a six-foot-plus man flying over her shoulder. “Oh, are you okay, Finn?”

“I’m fine. And that is exactly how it’s done. Good job.” Finn stood and wrapped her up in a bear hug. “I feel better already about you ever having to confront Chord. But, just to make me feel even better, let’s practice again tomorrow.”

“How about we meet here at five in the morning? We can work out and then grab some breakfast before starting work.”

“With all these strange things going on, I’d feel better if you let me pick you up at your apartment on the way here. Or we could even go to my gym. You could work out with some of my friends. You might pick up a trick or two. And you’d certainly be safe,” Finn offered as he slipped on his black suit jacket.

Elle thought about it for a second and then nodded. As much as she hated the feeling of being protected, she knew it made sense. She was smart enough to know when to ask for help. And she planned on doing just that tomorrow.

Elle turned to address Finn, Mallory, and Jessica. “I haven’t told you all this, but this isn’t just about Chord. Today someone went into First Peachtree Bank and used my identity to request two million dollars from the company account.”

“Oh my,” Jessica gasped. Finn’s eyebrow rose in surprise and Mallory fingered the pearls at her throat contemplatively as she waited for Elle to continue.

“Luckily, the bank thought it was a time-sensitive issue and brought me the money personally. The bank now has their investigator on it and I hope to hear more tomorrow.”

“Are all your other accounts safe?” Mallory asked as she pulled out her phone and started typing on it.

“Yes, at the banks at least. I handled all of that while Jessica called you here. But when I called the credit bureaus, I found that two credit cards had been applied for and approved in my name this past week. I set a freeze on my account and had Legal start the process of informing the credit card companies of fraud.”

“So, while Chord poses a threat to the company and you physically, there’s also a woman out there pretending to be you. Do you think she’s dangerous?” Finn asked.

Elle thought about it. While she didn’t appear dangerous in the same sense as Chord, it was freaking her out more than she cared to admit that there was someone out there trying to take over her life. “I don’t know. My sisters and I think it’s Hailey. Mal had thought the rumors to hurt the company all came from her to begin with.”

“But now she may be taking it another step and trying to hurt you personally? I never did like her,” Jessica said as she shook her head.

Mallory’s phone vibrated and she looked down at it. “Okay, I just got a text from the bank investigator. I’ll meet him tomorrow to look over the security tapes and see what he’s found. I’ll also take him my files. What else do you need? I know that look and you’re thinking of something.”

“Actually, I am. I don’t know how to handle Hailey, but I do know how to handle Chord,” Elle said. ”Jessica has been helping me by looking into the company he works for. I’m keeping this close to the vest because I don’t know whom to trust anymore. Over the past week, I’ve lined up sellers for a near majority of Titan’s stocks under the names of some of the subsidiaries we own. When they go to make their move, I’ll complete the purchases and force a takeover.”

“But they will grow suspicious if they see so many different companies buying up stock,” Mallory told her.

“When I have it lined up with an agreement to purchase the stock, I’m pressing the Go button all at once. But, there’s some stock I do need to buy to get that remaining one percent. And it’s public stock that would require a name to get it. I want it bought now because there’s a chance someone else could buy it on the open market and then I’ll be short of the majority. I can’t buy it, but you all can.”

Mallory grinned. “That’s devious. That’s just like when Sally Jo rigged the prom queen ballot.”

“Exactly. It’s where I got the idea.”

“So you want us to buy stock? Why again?” Jessica wondered.

“Because you’ll be buying small amounts of stock this week. You can buy anywhere from ten to a hundred shares. Do it through an online account or a broker and you’ll look like someone who’s just dabbling in the market. I’ve lined up enough shares with existing stockholders that all I need is another thousand individual shares to secure a majority.”

“And then we’ll put our shares up for sale on the day you need us to and Simpson Global will buy them,” Finn said with a slow smile spreading across his face. “That is devious.”

“It’s not called a hostile takeover for nothing.” Elle smiled back. “Plus you can either sell them that morning or you can keep them. I just need a majority vote of shareholders to oust the board, and if you keep your shares and vote with me, then the mission will be accomplished just the same as if you sold them to me. And if I make all my purchases next Friday, the reports I have to file with the SEC won’t have time to make its way onto Chord’s desk. He wouldn’t have time to enact a poisoned-pill vote.”

“What’s that?” Jessica’s nose crinkled and Elle tried not to laugh. A poisoned pill in the business world wasn't what it sounded like.

“It’s a way to dilute the stock so it would be harder for me to buy. I’m lining up purchases with their major shareholders at a higher price to ensure sales. Simultaneously, I’ve been distracting the board from that fact by whispering in ears that Chord and his company are trying to take over Simpson Global. Knowing Chord’s ego, he probably thinks the stock is rising because people want to get in before they take us over.”

“I like it,” Mallory grinned. “I’ll make the arrangements. You say you need a thousand shares? Between myself and my company, I can easily do that.”

“I can buy twenty shares,” Jessica said, jumping up from her chair.

Finn nodded his head as she saw him working it through his mind. “I’ll buy a hundred. I know a good bet when I see one. Then you’ll easily have a majority.”

“We’ll have the majority,” Elle reminded them. “We’ll be partners.”

Finn’s smile slipped. “Is Chord doing the same thing with Simpson Global?”

Elle rocked back on her heels and shook her head with a sly smile growing. “He thinks he is. Except he’s so conceited that he bragged to me about his plan and gave me enough time to slow their progress. Our shareholders know of the attempt, and most of them are happy with the company. Many are refusing to sell and have agreed to vote against the move. Furthermore, when I took the company public, the family kept a majority interest.”

“Then why bother trying?” Jessica wondered.

“Because he thinks more about himself than he does about doing research. He probably saw our names adding up to only twenty-five percent and figured it would be easy to take us over. We’ve never made a big deal about us owning the majority, and the majority is split up between our individual names and different trusts.”

“Well,” Jessica said excitedly. “I’ve never been a business partner before. This is going to be fun. I feel so sneaky.”

Elle laughed along with Finn and Mallory. She felt some of the weight that had been pressing down on her lift away. Slowly, she was regaining some control over her life. If she could make it through the next week, then she'd celebrate by seeing if Drake could escape for a romantic weekend.

Elle felt as if she’d hardly seen him for the past week and she was sure he felt the same way. Luckily, he wasn’t complaining or trying to smother her. It was the opposite. He was supportive and knew the duties of a CEO. That was a relief to her. She knew no matter what, he'd be there for her. She just hated that she had to test their relationship with distance and stress so soon.

Drake waved to the security guard in the lobby of Elle’s building as he headed toward the elevators. They knew him now and didn’t make him stop to sign in. Drake felt the extra beat in his heart as he stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button for the top floor.

He missed her and tonight he wanted to celebrate. He’d figured out the trouble with the program he was working on and now it worked like a dream. The government was thrilled. Now CIA, FBI, Secret Service—all of them could trace an IP address from their cell phones. Not only that, but his app could get around IP generators to find the actual location and IP address of the computer in use. Spies could use it in foreign countries to track terrorists. The FBI could use it for kidnapping cases where the criminals sent their ransom notes electronically. This app was going to change the government’s fight against crime for the better. And the second he got off the phone with the government contact this afternoon, all he’d wanted to do was share his news with Elle.

They hadn’t seen much of each other this week so he’d planned a romantic night out for them. He knew running a business was time-consuming. So was dating someone who similarly ran her own business. It limited the time they had together and he wanted to make the most of what they did have. So he’d booked a private room for dinner at her favorite restaurant, followed by tickets to a small concert performance of Vivaldi for the patrons of the philharmonic. Then he planned to take her home, strip her naked, and worship every inch of her body.

The doors to the elevator opened and the hall lights were already dimmed. Most of Simpson's employees had already gone home, including Elle’s secretary. He turned the corner and stopped at the open door. Her feet, clad in bunny slippers, bounced with agitation under her desk. Her hair was spilling from her pins and her hand dug into her locks above her forehead. She leaned on her elbow reading the papers on her desk, not noticing his arrival. It gave him time to look her over. Dark circles were starting to appear under her eyes and a plate of uneaten food sat on the far side of the desk.  She was nothing but an exhausted, beautiful mess.

“Elle, sweetie, I’ve come to take you home,” Drake said quietly as to not startle her. Elle looked up and Drake had to control his desire to pick her up and carry her to the car.

“What time is it?”

“A little after eight. Come on. This can wait until the morning. Let’s grab some fast food and get you home.”

Drake got her coat from the closet and waited for her to gather her things. She didn’t complain and she didn’t protest. In fact, she was so quiet he worried she was falling asleep in the middle of trying to put her heels on. She shook her head as if to wake herself up, causing another lock of hair to fall from a pin. Finally she stood and he helped her into her coat. Drake picked up her purse and with his arm around her, he took her home.

As soon as they entered her apartment, he ordered her to eat as he got a bath ready and pulled out her favorite pajamas.