1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [91]
“As I explained, I did a complete background check. In addition to all the normal sources, I interviewed business associates and friends and investigated his finances. I found no evidence of gambling, excessive drinking or any other vice. He has good, solid values. If it were me, I’d welcome him into my family.”
“I’m not you,” Bellamy informed him, still standing. “I’m telling you right now, Lincoln Wyse is not to be trusted. He’s taken advantage of my daughter. Lori’s not only easy to fool, she’s rebellious. She’s defied me from the time she was five years old. Well, with this, she went too far.”
It seemed to Roy that the real issue here wasn’t Linc Wyse but Bellamy’s relationship with his daughter. His apparent contempt for Lori, for her decisions in matters of work, love and who knew what else, rankled him. This was more about control than caring, more about pride than truth. He recalled how Bellamy had berated Lori because she’d been engaged to Geoff Duncan. Roy felt like pointing out that Duncan had fooled nearly everyone. He’d managed to deceive his employer, attorney Allan Harris, and that was no small thing. Duncan was smart, although thankfully not smart enough to get away with his crimes. It was grossly unfair to criticize Lori for being taken in by Duncan when he’d misled almost everyone else in town. Ironically, Duncan had resorted to theft because he’d been in over his head—all in an effort to impress Lori’s demanding father.
“You mentioned that you had a connection with Wyse when I hired you,” Bellamy said disparagingly. “I relied on you to be objective. Knowing what I do now, I can see that was a mistake.”
For Bellamy to question Wyse’s integrity was one thing, but to raise doubts about Roy’s went over the line. He jumped to his feet and glared at the other man. Neither spoke.
“I completed the job you hired me to do,” Roy finally said. “This report will stand up, despite what you want to believe. Wyse is a decent man.” He would defy anyone to come up with anything different.
“That remains to be seen.”
Roy opened his briefcase and removed the envelope that contained his bill. Bellamy thrust his hand out to take it. Instead, Roy tore it in two. “In future I’d prefer if you took your business elsewhere.” He didn’t wait for Bellamy to respond, just grabbed his briefcase and walked out the door.
In a ten-minute conversation, Leonard Bellamy had insulted and infuriated him, to the point that Roy had actually thrown away money and lucrative future jobs—and felt good about it.
Rather than return to the office, Roy drove straight home. Corrie, as she often did, had taken Tuesday off to run errands. Checking his watch, he guessed she’d be home by now. His wife always had a calming effect on him. He decided he wouldn’t mention his meeting with Bellamy; that would only rile him up again and solve nothing. Roy applauded Lori for defying her tyrant of a father.
When he walked in, Corrie was sitting in the kitchen with several bags of groceries lined up on the counter. She appeared to be deep in thought. In fact, she didn’t seem to notice he was home.
Roy waved his hand playfully in front of her nose. Her face melted into a smile, and she automatically turned to him so he could kiss her, which he did. His wife’s smile brought him peace and smoothed the sharp edges of his confrontation with Bellamy.
“You’re home early,” she commented as she slid off the stool. “How’d it go with Bellamy?”
She’d remembered. Well, no need to hide the events of the afternoon, then. He shrugged. “I won’t bore you with the details, but I won’t work for the man again.”
She arched her brows, but if she was tempted to say I told you so, she didn’t. “Oh? Why?”
“We have opposing points of view,” he said simply. He gestured at the groceries. “Any reason you haven’t put the milk away?”
“I was waiting for you to get home and do it for me,” she teased.
Grinning, he reached for the half gallon of milk and set it inside the refrigerator. “Anything else that needs attention?”
“Ice cream,” Corrie