Setting her hands on her hips, Baby bit the inside of her cheek to keep from going off on him. “Are we going to play this game?”

“Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Whatever. I don’t know if I have a job, and at this rate, I don’t give a shit. I thought I’d do the responsible thing and come down in person to talk to you. That was obviously a mistake. Anyway, I’m leaving town for a while.”

“What? For how long?”

“No idea yet.” Baby’s hands trembled. She shoved them into her back pockets and shifted again to keep her feet moving. Mickey didn’t scare her, but she knew it was only a matter of seconds after she walked out of the office before Slade knew she was leaving.

“Where the hell are you going?”

Baby shrugged her shoulders.

Mickey looked at her as if he was sizing up the situation, and then he stood. “Maybe this is a better question, who are you going with?”

“That’s none of your business.” Baby turned toward the door as Mickey shot out from behind the desk, closing in on her.

“You know Slade ain’t gonna go for you taking off with the stud.”

“I don’t give a shit about Slade. I almost died. None of you gave a shit about me. As a matter of fact, you made sure I had enough dope to get the job done. I can only imagine how disappointed you all were when you found out that I was still alive.”

“Girl, you might wanna watch what you say. I’d hate for someone to have to shut you up.” Mickey gripped her arm.

She yanked away, opening the door to make her escape. “I’m not scared of you. You can all go to hell and that includes Slade.” She bolted out of the office and busted through the front door without looking back. She heard voices but couldn’t make them out. She didn’t try.

Jogging all the way back to the apartment, Baby Jade locked herself inside and hid in the bedroom, praying Lucky would show up before Slade did.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lucky

Lucky drove his bike into the parking garage at Gauthier Offshore Services. As a board member, he had an assigned parking space, but he refused to use it. Instead of taking the private entrance, he went through the front and checked in at the reception desk.

An instant smile plastered across the young girl’s face who sat behind the counter with a headset. “Mr. Gauthier, welcome.”

Lucky stopped short of the desk. It pissed him off that everyone knew who he was although he only stepped foot in the building once a year. Everyone treated him like royalty, and he knew it was a sham. They didn’t know him from any other Tom, Dick, or Harry. They only gushed because of his last name. He didn’t have time for the fake bullshit.

“Thanks.” He signed the visitor book, scrawling his name hoping no one could make it out.

“Sir, you do know you can take the private elevator, right? I can show you where it is if you’d like.” The girl eyeballed him, letting her gaze fall. Tossing her head to the side, she fingered the top button on her blouse.

There was no mistaking she was coming on to him.

“I’m good. I know the way.” Lucky didn’t give the girl the time of day. Women like that were a huge turnoff, lusting after a guy because of his name.

Punching the button on the elevator, Lucky pulled out his phone to check his calls. Four missed calls from his mother. He deleted the call log and waited for it to arrive at the top floor. What the hell does that woman want?

As soon as the ding went off and the heavy doors opened, Lucky didn’t have to wait long to find out.

“James.” His mother only used his given name, saying she’s the one who gave it to him. If she had wanted to call him Lucky, she would have named him that. Then she would laugh at the mere thought of naming her Gauthier son, Lucky.

His mother was a tall, statuesque, brunette. Her fair skin was flawless from all the high-end products she hoarded. Her thin frame was exactly the same size as her early twenties, and she made sure everyone knew it. There was no denying that the last thirty years had been good to her. Of course, Tilly Gauthier had enough money to buy her happiness and everyone else’s.

“Mother.”

“Is that how you greet me after all these months?” She opened her arms and tilted her face upward. Lucky bent over and gave her a weak peck on the cheek. She adjusted her pastel pink business suit. “Why haven’t you returned any of my phone calls, James?”

By now, everyone in the foyer found a way to appear busy. Lucky chuckled on the inside. It probably wasn’t every day that Tilly Gauthier loitered outside the public elevator.

“Mother, you knew I’d be here today. I told you I would and I’ve never broken my word. Whatever you have to say, say it now. What is it?” Lucky stepped to the side of the hallway, hoping to draw less attention to himself.

“Well, I do not think that is the most appropriate way to handle your business, James. Regardless, I was attempting to do you a favor.”

“A favor? Oh, this should be good.” Lucky leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

Tilly pursed her lips. “Is this how you conduct yourself in front of your mother?” She paused, waiting for him to answer. When he ignored the question, she continued. “I wanted to let you know that Gauthier has a new employee. A new head of acquisitions for the international division.”

“What the hell does any of this have to do with me?” He didn’t bother to go into the fact that was supposed to be his job, the one he was aiming for when he started LSU. Whatever, whoever it was could have it; it would be a cold day in hell before he would work for his father.

“Son, it has a lot to do with you.” Tilly’s lips snapped into a harsh line. He knew she was trying to control her anger. She never approved of him using profanity.

“Get on with it, Mother.”

“The head of the department now holds a chair on the board. She was given shares in her package.”

“Her?” Lucky’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Women never made it up the chain that fast at Gauthier. He had been in town last year for the annual meeting and Tom Reynolds held the position, an older man who spent fifteen years working his way up in the company. Colby Gauthier was known for being somewhat of a chauvinist in the office.

“Yes, the division head is a woman. James, it’s Carrie Scott.” She spoke in a soft, but firm tone.

Lucky’s face fell, and he let his weight fall against the wall. He stared at his mother as if she had a second head. His stomach lurched into his throat when he realized in a matter of minutes he would be face to face with the woman who decimated him.

This was a new low for his father. Why was she here? How could he hire her to work at the family business? Lucky told his parents about the abortion and the way it had happened behind his back. They knew how devastated he was.

His father made it clear that he was relieved that Lucky wouldn’t be stuck marrying a girl like Carrie. The Scott name didn’t carry much weight in this town, and the name was the only thing his father considered where people were concerned.

It had been a month-long battle after Carrie’s abortion. His father couldn’t hide his satisfied smile and his mother was pulled in both directions as Lucky spiraled into a deep depression and started self-medicating.

The breaking point came when he and his father got into a knock down drag out. Lucky lost it when his father told him he would be a horrible father and that Carrie did the kid a favor. Lucky packed a bag that night and hauled ass out of New Orleans.

“James. Did you hear me?” Tilly placed a hand on Lucky’s arm.

He braced himself against the wall, regaining his composure. He moved his arm out of her reach. “Yes.” Lucky stalked down the hallway to the conference room, not giving his mother a second look. Taking a deep breath, he pulled open the conference room door and casually walked toward his seat.