Betrayal - Fern Michaels [116]
Melanie gave Kate the phone.
“Hi, Debbie, how are you?”
Nothing.
“Who is this?”
“Oh, I think you know exactly who I am. Does the name Alex Rocket ring any bells? I tell you what, I’ve got fifteen minutes to kill. I can either spend them waiting for you to return from the bank, or I can drive to the police station. I’m going to be nice and let you decide for me. You like to make life-altering decisions, don’t you, Deb? No, don’t answer that. Be here. Fifteen minutes.”
Kate pushed the red End button on the phone.
“I’m going to wait in Mrs. Winter’s office. You did good, Melanie. Thanks.”
Kate was shaking like Jell-O as she sauntered down the long hall. A few of the associates watched her from their desks.
She entered the chrome-and-white office. She sat in the white leather chair behind her desk. She could just imagine the look on Debbie’s face when she saw her sitting there.
Just to be spiteful, Kate poked a few keys on Debbie’s keyboard. She’d locked her system down. No one in the office would be using the Internet or the computers. For a while. Kate laughed.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Debbie swooped down the hall and into her office. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Kate.
“Long time no see. Well, not really. By the way, I did enjoy viewing the condo. You might want to tone down on—”
“What in God’s name are you doing in my office?” Debbie kicked the door shut as she leaned across her desk.
“Sit. Debbie. Sit.” Kate pointed to the chair across from her.
Debbie sat down in the chair usually reserved for her clients.
“You’re just like the dogs Alex breeds. I guess I should say ‘good girl.’”
“I’m giving you thirty seconds to tell me what you’re doing here, or I am going to call my attorney.”
“Call your attorney?” Kate gave a harsh laugh.
“What do you think your attorney will do to me? Say, ‘Shame, shame, go away. Come again another day’?” Kate stood up and peered out the window behind her. “I have a proposition for you.”
“You don’t have anything I’m interested in, so why don’t you leave. Your perverted husband ruined my life and my daughter’s life. Personally, I think you have a lot of nerve shoving your way in here like you own the place.”
Debbie grabbed a cigarette out of her purse. Her hands trembled as she tried to light a match. Debbie stood up.
“Sit down, goddamn you. You are going to listen to me. Put that cigarette out!” Kate raised her voice so loud she knew the office staff heard her. She didn’t really care.
Debbie sat back down, stubbing the cigarette out in an ashtray. “This better be good, Kate Rocket. Now, say what you have to say, then get the hell out of my office!”
Debbie sounded like a deflating balloon. Nothing but hot air coming out of her mouth.
“Does Emily know Alex is her father?”
“So, you found out. Mr. Perfect wasn’t so perfect, was he? Yeah, we had a fling. Big deal.”
“It was a big deal to Alex. He took care of Emily. I know that, and I am proud he did. I always knew she was different from you and Sara. Speaking of, I just learned that your little monster is pregnant. Does she know who the father is? Forget I said that. Now, I’m going to tell you what I’m here for. Aren’t you just dying to know?”
“Actually, I’m not. I don’t really care to listen to anything coming from your mouth. Do you think you can walk in here and ruin our lives just because you . . . you get the urge?”
“No, actually I spent quite a few years planning what I would say to you when I saw you. Now, where is Emily?”
“She’s at vet school, not that it’s any of your business. Alex might have been Emily’s father, but I am still her mother. There is nothing you can say or do to change that. I know, I know, you were always so jealous because I could have children and you were as dried up as an old tumbleweed. So Emily isn’t really of any concern to you.”
“You’re wrong. I think she is. Now, before we spend the rest of the day acting like fishwives, I have a proposition for you.”
Debbie