Second Time Around Read Free Page B

Can’t we take it back if she doesn’t cooperate?”
    Franklin shuffled through the papers and pulled one off the bottom. “According to the wording on the agreement, and since the divorce never became final, we could say the place still belongs to Quinn. That doesn’t mean she couldn’t make a lot of trouble in court. After all, the deed is registered in her name. It would be a long battle with an uncertain outcome. And that’s just one example of the mess this has caused. There are hundreds of others.”
    He looked back at Quinn. “I know you want to get it over with, but there are too many problems. At this point, a fast divorce is out of the question. We’ll be lucky to 1have it all sorted through before the end of the year. And that’s only if the lady does cooperate.”
    John Dempsey, one of the junior counselors who’d been making notes on a yellow pad, glanced up. “Don’t forget the publicity. The newspapers will have a field day when they get hold of this. The stockholders aren’t going to be happy. We can’t afford any adverse publicity with the launch of the new drug scheduled in a few months.”
    Quinn suppressed a groan. In all the emotional turmoil he’d virtually forgotten their breakthrough new drug, which could reverse damage done by coronary artery disease. “So what do you suggest I do?”
    “For starters, you’re going to have to go to Wyoming and talk to her. We can’t do anything until we know what she’ll agree to.” Franklin held up a hand as Quinn started to protest. “John and I will draw up some papers that you’ll need to take with you. If she’ll sign them, we can at least get things started. It will also serve the purpose of getting you away from the press while we take care of the legal end here. Edward can step back in and handle the business while you’re gone. That will placate the stockholders.”
    Edward lifted his bulk from the chair using the cane for balance, and walked to the window, his back to the room. “It’s out of the question. He can’t go back there.”
    Franklin shook his head. “Edward, he has no choice. This woman could destroy McAllister Pharmaceuticals. She’s holding all the cards.”
    “Why can’t you simply send her the papers?”
    “Because right now, there’s a chance she doesn’t realize what she could do to us. If we start sending release papers and asking her to sign them, it might put ideas into her head.” The lawyer shook his head again. “No, we need Quinn to handle it, to handle her. He knows her better than anyone else here.”
    Quinn tensed as his father remained silent. Every line of the rigid back spoke of righteous indignation. He knew the old man well enough to sense a storm brewing.
    When his father faced the room again, his eyes were filled with a hard determination.
    Whatever he’d been debating, he had reached a decision.
    “If she refuses to sign the papers or makes one move toward the business, we’ll sue her.”
    Every eye in the room was suddenly fixed on Edward.
    “Sue her for what?” Both lawyers spoke at once.
    Edward stared at Franklin, his gaze avoiding Quinn. “Sue her for custody of my grandson. She’ll agree to anything to keep the boy.”
    Franklin dropped his head to the table with a groaned, “Oh, God,” but Quinn barely heard him. A roaring filled his ears, blocking sound while blackness threatened the edges of his vision. In his hand, the gold pen snapped, spattering smears of ink over the table.
    1A son. He had a son. The boiling rage he’d felt last night was nothing compared to the black fury that hit him now, eating away all vestiges of shock in its need for release.
    One more lie. One more betrayal in a viper’s nest of many.
    “Get out.”
    The words directed at the lawyers were soft, but Franklin knew a command when he heard it. Both men stood and quietly left the room, not even bothering to gather their papers.
    Quinn waited until the door close behind them, his hot gaze never