One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [76]
A part of Sterling wanted to get up and walk out of the room. He wanted to walk out on her like she had walked out on him. But he couldn’t. Colby was right. He had to forgive and he had to forget.
Rising to his feet, he leaned over her, still holding her hand in his. “It’s okay, Mother,” he whispered softly. “Everything’s going to be all right. The most important thing now is for you to get better. Nicholas and I are counting on it.”
Angeline Chenault rapidly blinked back tears and looked up at Sterling with stunned disbelief in her eyes. Then slowly nodding her head she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep with her small hand still firmly encased in Sterling’s larger one.
“Mr. Wingate, there’s someone here to see you, sir. It’s Homer Morton of Morton Industries,” Shirley Timmons announced over the intercom.
The expression on James Wingate’s face became one of surprise. Why on earth would Homer Morton be visiting him? He pushed aside the report he’d been working on. “Please show him in, Shirley.”
James stood as he straightened his tie. It had been years since he had seen his former employer. He couldn’t help but wonder why Homer Morton would be paying him a visit.
It didn’t take long for him to find out when an angered Homer Morton literally stormed into his office.
“You’ve gone too far, Wingate, and I won’t let you get away with it.”
James was taken aback by the man’s angry words. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Homer Morton’s mouth twisted even more with anger. “You’re lying, Wingate. I know all about what you did, and I won’t let you get away with it. I can’t believe you’d stoop so low as to use your sister to save your company.”
“Use my sister to save my company?” James walked around his desk to face the man. “What the heck are you talking about, Morton?”
“I’m talking about the fact that somehow you found out Morton Industries was buying up Wingate stock.”
James lifted a brow, clearly surprised. “Why would you be interested in Wingate stock?”
The man snorted. “Like you don’t know. I wanted this entire operation, Wingate, and I had all intentions of getting it until you found out I was on the verge of taking over your company.”
James shook his head, frowning. “I knew nothing about that.”
“Yes, you did. Somehow you found out and used your sister to stop me.”
James shook his head. The man had evidently gone mad. He knew nothing about Morton’s allegations, and he couldn’t imagine Colby knowing anything about them, either. Other than holding shares in Wingate Cosmetics, she’d never taken an interest in the family business. Teaching was her love.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Morton.”
“I’m talking about your sister’s marriage to Sterling Hamilton.”
“What about Colby’s marriage to Hamilton?”
“I don’t know what’s in it for Hamilton, but I do know you benefited from their marriage. You were able to save your company from me. While I was busy buying up your stock, Hamilton’s company was busy buying controlling shares in mine.”
James looked at the man with disbelief. “That’s not true.”
“Oh, it’s true, all right. Your sister now owns the controlling shares of stock in my company.”
“I think your being here did a lot to improve Mom’s condition. I want to thank you again for coming.”
Sterling nodded, not knowing what to say but knowing he had to be completely honest with Nicholas Chenault about how he felt. “I started not to come. I didn’t want to at first, but now I’m glad I did. I had to close this chapter in my life.”
They were still at the hospital and Dr. Thorn had given them the use of his private office to drink some much-needed coffee and to talk.
Nicholas got up and walked over to the window and looked out. “I hope you’ll reconsider that, Sterling.”
Sterling lifted a dark brow. “Reconsider what?”
“Closing this chapter in your life. How do you think I feel just finding out I have a brother?”
Sterling sat back in his chair. “I don’t know. How do you feel?”
Nicholas turned