Read Monahan 02 Artificial Intentions for Free Online Page B

Cleve.”
    “Kate. You shouldn’t have disappeared on us like that.”
    “I didn’t disappear. Tommy’s secretary knew where I was. I had to get out for a while.”
    “Okay, okay. Listen. I’ve a few things to say to you. First, my condolences. I never had a chance to tell you how sorry I was.”
    I cut him off before he became too maudlin.
    “That’s okay Cleve.” I looked around the bathroom to see if I could manage to get out of the tub and grab a towel and still hang on to the phone. The receiver cord was very short so I continued to shiver.
    “Secondly, Kate. As much as this whole situation is a shock to you, we have to move swiftly on a few business issues. That’s where we need your full attention and co-operation. I’ve kept the members of the board here in town and I’d like to call a special meeting of the directors tonight. With your consent of course.”
    A special meeting of the directors. That term was very familiar to me but it had never before given me such an eerie feeling. Special meetings are those called on an urgent basis, when there isn’t time to give as much notice of the meeting as is required in the company’s by-laws. In those circumstances, I’m generally running around like crazy, typing up waivers for the directors to sign, consenting to the business to be transacted the meeting, etc., etc. This time though, I wouldn’t have to prepare any of the documents for the meeting. Usually, before special meetings of directors, I’d run around like a meshugana getting everyone settled. Looking after grown men. I guess this time someone else would look after the documents and I’d sit in on the meeting. And they wanted my consent.
    “Sure. What time is it now?”
    “Five thirty.”
    “Fine. Call the meeting for nine o’clock. In the meantime, I’d like to meet with Tommy’s personal lawyer and have him describe to me the terms of the will. How it relates to my inheritance of the shares. I want to know exactly where I stand before I go in that meeting.”
    “Uhm. I’ll try and get in touch with him.”
    “Cleve. I’m not going in that meeting without knowing where I stand. You either find that lawyer or you can send all of the directors home.” I wanted to finish off with: Do I make myself clear? That was one of my mother’s favourite expressions, but this man had been my boss earlier in the day.
    “You’re right. I’ll call you back, Kate.”
    I quickly pulled myself out of the tub and wrapped a towel around me. My clothes had all been returned to my suite and were hanging in the closet in plastic wrap. They had even ironed my sweatpants. I could learn to love this.
    chapter seven
    While I waited for Cleve to call me back, I telephoned my parents to break the news about Tommy. They were upset, especially my mother who had adored him. I deliberately neglected to tell them about the will.
    Then I called Jay and told him I was in New York.
    “What a surprise!” he said excitedly. “Can we do something tonight?”
    “No. Sorry.” I stalled.
    “Oh. No problem. Are you working?”
    “Not exactly. Well kind of. At Phoenix Technologies.”
    “Oh yeah,” he said slowly. “Your ex-husband’s company.” A slight tone of jealousy came through when he said ex-husband. That miffed me a little.
    “No longer ex-husband, Jay. He died.”
    “Oh. Oh, Jesus. I’m sorry Kate.”
    “Thanks. That’s why I’m here. In New York.”
    “What happened?”
    “He was shot.”
    “Shit. Only in New York. Should I come over?”
    “No, it’s okay. There’s some sort of special directors meeting tonight, which I’m involved in.” Another grand understatement. “I don’t know what time it’ll be over. Maybe I’ll call you later?”
    “Of course. For sure. Anything.”
    “Great. I gotta go. I’ll call you.”
    “Kate.”
    “Yeah.”
    “I’m so sorry about Tommy. I love you.”
    “Bye Jay.”
    God, we were great conversationalists. We were just out of practice, I told