A Holiday Temptation - Tiffany Patterson Page 0,52

be able to unsee.

Forcing my feet to move, I toss my purse and keys on the end table by the couch in the living room and notice there are two glasses set out on the glass table. They’re both sitting on coasters. Lifting one, I sniff and realize it’s half-filled with a rum and Coke.

“Mama.”

No answer.

The bedroom. That’s where she’d been at this time of the morning. I run up the stairs as the warning bells in my head go on full alert. My mother isn’t the type to leave used glasses just sitting on the coffee table.

Pushing the door open, I hope to find her in the bed, sleeping. Unfortunately, the bedding is wrinkled, but she’s not there. I start to call again, but a light out of the corner of my eye catches my attention.

The master bathroom.

A shiver moves through me. I don’t want to go any farther, but I have to. As I do, the tension in my body grows because I suspect that I’ll find something horrible on the other side of that door.

Inhaling, I use my arm to open the door all the way, and as soon as I do, I see her foot hanging over the side of the bathtub. Moving closer, I see the halfway filled tub of water, except it’s all red—liquid red surrounding my mother’s prone body.

“Oh, Mama,” I cry out, falling to my knees.

Where the hell is she?

The question screams in my head as my gaze volleys between the door and the front of the boardroom. Every few minutes, a new person enters the room, but my heart sinks because not one of them has been Jackie so far.

We’re meeting with Cypress one final time before the announcement at the Townsend Industries New Year’s Eve party. This meeting is basically to cross any last remaining T’s and dot all the I’s before the official announcement. The team from Cypress consists of ten men and women, and not one of them is Jackie.

Where is she?

I tried calling her phone at least a half a dozen times between the time she left my condo and now. It’s well after three p.m., and I still haven’t heard from her. I don’t know what pisses me off more … my unanswered calls or that her colleagues haven’t made any mention of her absence.

“We’ve all been working hard on this merger over the past few months. Especially these last eight weeks. Thanks to that work, we’ll safely be able to announce this merger at the holiday party in just over a week. I assume, until then, no one will have a problem keeping their mouths shut,” Aaron says from the head of the table, leveling a look at everyone on Cypress’ side of the room.

“Absolutely, Aaron. We’re just as invested as you and your team to ensure this all goes off without a hitch.”

Aaron snorts derisively. My guess is he can’t stand the bootlicking tone in Jase’s response. It sounds eerily similar to nails on a chalkboard, and I barely keep from rolling my eyes. My irritation is heightened by Jackie’s absence and no mention of her.

“Speaking of my team, I’d like to give a special acknowledgment to Mark, who worked diligently to ensure the finalization of this deal.”

My eyes widen in surprise, not so much by his words, but by the stern look Aaron gives me. It’s not his typical scowl, but more of a conveyance of respect.

“Without the additional hours you put in, this deal wouldn’t have gone through as quickly as it has, Mark.”

I nod. “Thank you, Aaron. I’d also like to point out that I wasn’t alone working all of those hours.” Turning, I face the employees from Cypress. “Jackie Hinkerson played a huge role in seeing through this deal as well. Why is she not at this table?” I ask pointedly.

Jase and a couple of other employees look between one another.

“We thought she would’ve called you, Mark.”

“Where is she?” I ask again, glaring at Jase, who failed to answer my question.

“Uh, maybe we should speak privately.”

I swallow back the desire to curse him out or reach across the table and grab him by the collar of his shirt. Turning to Aaron, I see him staring at me. He looks at me hard in the eyes for a silent minute before nodding.

“Jase, you and Mark step out to talk. We’ll continue with this meeting.”

Sighing, I pull back from the table and head toward the door, followed by Jase. I don’t say