Dangerous Curves Read Free Page B

months. She couldn’t believe it had been that long. She’d only had the job for five months before the accident.
    Her heart pounded. She may not make it. May not wake up at all. Ruth closed her eyes and thought of Drake and his three children and said the fervent, diligent prayer of a woman of faith. “Thank you, God. Thank you, God.”

Chapter 5
    â€œ D ominique , do you have anything to add?”
    Dominique Cartwright looked at her father as he sat at the head of the conference table in the headquarters of Cartwright Cars and smiled. She knew her reaction would set him off balance and she was right when she saw his eyes narrow, but the men around him seemed to relax. She was the only woman in the room, except for Margot Bobkins, who didn’t count because she was too old to be considered a woman and too stupid to be considered a threat. The only true threat was her father, Abraham Cartwright, a big, honey-colored man with exquisite taste in clothes. For ten years she’d helped him run Cartwright Cars while the men around him had helped his ego.
    Her father had a studio voice, tinged with the sweet taste of his Trinidadian background, that could make bad news sound like you’d just won the lottery. That voice didn’t work today. She’d been passed over for a promotion and it hurt like hell, but she’d never let him know it.
    Giving the senior director position to Chester Lawson was an excellent move to any outsider, and if she’d been one of them, she would have agreed. He was a tall, brown-skinned man who wore a trim goatee that gave him the appearance of a chin he didn’t have. She’d championed him when he was brought on board because her father had been hard on him, and she had trained him. Trained him to step into the very position that should have been hers. However, she hadn’t been the only person hoping for a promotion. Her soon to be ex-boyfriend, Berton LaSalle, looked dumbstruck. But then her father sent him a look that said ‘Don’t worry, I’m prepping you for an even higher position’ and Berton quickly schooled his features. It was a silent exchange in the secret language of men, but she understood it.
    She’d been around those secret exchanges for years. Her father wanted to marry her off; Berton wanted to be vice president. She was the ticket. Of course, after last night she knew that wouldn’t happen, but she’d deal with that later. Right now she was tired of being moved around like a chess piece. She wanted to be a player, but as she looked around at the group of men, she finally realized it wouldn’t be here.
    â€œCongratulations,” she said, offering her hand to Chester, who for a moment looked as if he’d suffered a case of heartburn as he reached his hand to hers. “You’ll do an excellent job.”
    He shook her hand, visibly relaxed, and the atmosphere lost its chilly air. Her father nodded, looking pleased. She knew the gesture would please him. He’d raised her not to display hysterics, pout, or disagree. She was trained to be the good daughter and stay obedient. She nodded back while adjusting her necklace, and discreetly gave him the finger.

    M oments later , Abraham looked down at the letter of resignation his daughter had set on his desk. He stared at it as if she’d placed a rotten fish in front of him. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
    Dominique rested her hip against his large custom-designed chrome desk, glancing at the enormous, sleek airbrushed painting of a Lamborghini on his side wall. She toyed with her necklace and said in a bored tone, “Do you need me to write out instructions?”
    He shoved the letter towards her. “Let’s pretend this didn’t happen.”
    She slowly slid it back without looking at him. “You know what to do.”
    He grinned as if expecting an insult. “Aren’t you going to suggest where I should