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.
Stares followed as he crossed the room. He brushed past Carrie, who was conveniently sitting next to his father. As Lucky took his chair, Colby Gauthier turned in his direction and nodded in acknowledgment. Lucky did not return the gesture.
The bemused look on Carrie’s face confirmed that he had ruined her attempt to ambush him. He guessed he had his mother to thank for that. He would never let the bitch know his legs were heavy, as if they were made of cement, or that his stomach was bobbing around in his throat.
The only reason he glanced in her direction was because Lucky didn’t want her to think she affected him. If he completely ignored her, Carrie would take it that she still had some power over him. That would only happen over his dead body. Bitch!
Colby Gauthier called the meeting to order. The process was always the same. Lucky tuned the majority of it out. They made redundant votes and discussed upcoming events. He paid close attention to the treasurer report and was pleased to hear everything sounded normal. He didn’t care about the money, but as a shareholder, he kept close tabs on his funds. Not that he had touched a penny of it in years.
After the old and new business, Colby adjourned the meeting, and his assistant Sara passed out the previous meeting minutes. Lucky tossed his copy into the trash on his way out the door. A few different people stopped him to catch up and make small talk. It was the same every year.
He tried to make his escape but didn’t manage to pull it off before his father cupped his shoulder. “Son, you look good.”
Lucky took a step backward and gave him one quick nod.
His father shoved his hand in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “How’ve you been? Things going well?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it in for the meeting. There have been a few changes around here.” Colby looked around the conference room and threw his chin toward Carrie.