Chapter 248

“It’s time to talk to Logan and Hazel and stop this whole thing,” Dylan said. “You are outnumbered and outmatched, with so many people ready to stand against you.”

Opening the top of the folder, Senior glared down at the stack of papers in the stack. “Disgruntled former employees. Fake friends. Family who couldn’t wring any more money out of me. These are the people you’ve found to stand against me? I can punch holes into every single one of the stories.”

“Things are changing,” Dylan said. “Public opinion is quickly turning against you.”

“I will not be intimidated by the likes of you, a man who can’t even step foot in a courtroom anymore,” Senior snapped. The words stung Dylan more than they should have.

Dylan rallied quickly, however, having expected low blows from the man. Senior was the one who arranged Dylan’s disbarment, so it made sense he would try to use it as a weapon against him.

So Dylan just gave Senior a shit-eating grin. He was not going to be so easily cowed by Senior’s tactics of intimidation and control.

In fact, in his coat pocket, he had a wildcard. Unlike the rest of this affair, the card in Dylan’s pocket was not something he had previously discussed with Logan and Hazel. In fact, they’d probably be furious he was considering play it, especially after their talk with Janice Weathers.

When Senior saw that his typical tactics weren’t going to frustrate or enrage Dylan, he grabbed the side of the folder, and then tossed it to the side. The paperwork flew out, cascading down around the room like paper rain.

“Get the hell out of my office before I summon security and have you thrown out,” Senior said.

Time for the wildcard.

Dylan reached into his inside pocket and withdrew his wildcard. Slapping his hand down on the desk, when he removed his fingers, he showed what he had.

It was a picture of Janice Weathers. An older picture, it was her official work photo from her time at Hatfield Supply. This is how Janice would have looked when Richard began his affair with her.

With luck, this would trigger a response in him.

Dylan’s luck seemed to be holding.

When Senior saw the photo his face went slightly pale. He didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for an explanation. He just sat back down on his chair and stared at the photo.

“It’s time to have a meeting,” Dylan said. “Put a stop to all this, once and for all. So everyone can move forward.”

“Everyone but me,” Senior said softly, as if to himself. In a snap, his eyes hardened again, and he glared at Dylan. “Fine. You will have your meeting. But I promise nothing.”

“I’m sure we can find an amicable solution,” Dylan said.

When Dylan conveyed that Senior was ready for a meeting, I was ecstatic, though also filled with trepidation. Why would Senior finally agree? Dylan said he had brought over some affidavits, but could that really have been enough.

Even after he returned to the apartment and told us all, Logan and I were slightly suspicious.

“Was it the number of people we gathered?” Logan said. “I’m just… struggling to see how Grandfather would agree to something like this after withholding for such a long time.”

Dylan couldn’t quite meet Logan’s eyes, which was when Logan and I shared a look. Dylan was not being fully truthful, that we knew, but neither Logan nor I were going to call him out in front of Mabel and the Christopher’s.

He was our friend, and he’s been with us through thick and thin. If we couldn’t trust him, who could we trust?

Tammy and Frank seemed particularly worried.

“Even if he agreed to a meeting, continue to be prepared for anything,” Tammy said. “That man does not know how to concede anything.”

“He might surprise us,” Dylan said, a shred of hope in his voice, under a healthy level of cynicism.

“Don’t hold your breath,” Frank replied.

“The problem is we don’t know fully what to expect,” Mabel said. “Well – other than Senior being a crotchety asshole who will try to cheat us at every turn. We can expect that. But with our affidavits…”

“Will those be enough?” I asked. “Maybe they were, to convince him to sit down for a compromise, but if we don’t have some kind of ace in the hole, we’re going to be right back where we started. He’ll take everything and try to get rid of me.”

“No one is getting rid of you,” Logan said firmly. It was sweet, and comforting, but negotiations would be over before they began if we didn’t have something in our pocket to convince him not to push for that.

“We need a counter,” I said. “He will want to get rid of me. But if we have leverage to force him not too…”

We all took a moment, thinking. Dylan crossed his arms.

“Wait,” I said, an idea sparking in my mind. “Dylan, did you tell him where the meeting will be?”

“I said a neutral location,” Dylan said. “Not his office or your house.”

“Then we rent the ballroom,” I said.

“The ballroom?” Logan asked. “That’s a large room for a meeting.”

“Not if we bring everyone there,” I explained. “What’s more compelling and intimidating that a stack of paper affidavits? Hearing all the terrible things you’ve done wrong, to your face, from the very people you’ve wronged.”

“That would be intimidating…” Mabel said. “Senior is tough when he sits behind his desk. I’m not sure how he would act when faced with so many people.” She looked at Logan. “What do you think?”

“It’s a possibility,” Logan said. “He’s used to being in charge of situations, so it might unnerve him to not be in control of the moment.” Looking at me, he smiled, “Good idea, Hazel.”

“I’m full of them,” I replied with a grin.

“That’s my wife,” Logan said with pride.

As we continued to make arrangements, including setting the date and calling all of our comrades, Dylan ducked out.

“I have a few things of my own to take care of,” he said.

Logan gave him a curious look. “You will be back in time for the meeting?”

“Of course,” Dylan said. “Like I’m going to miss that.”

“Okay…”

After he left, I leaned into Logan to ask him, “What do you think that’s about?”

“I wish I knew,” Logan said. “He’ll tell us when he’s ready.”

“Okay…”

Two days later, we welcomed Mr. Hudgens and everyone we had previously interviewed to the ballroom. A few decided not to show, but most were eager to comfort Senior.

Knowing Senior would likely turn the other way if he saw all these people before entering the room, we had our guests hide behind a partition that was big enough to expand most of the room.

Mr. Hudgens decided to stand in the open with us.

“I’ll stay with you,” he said. “There’s nothing he could do to intimidate me, and I’ve been playing his games for forty years. I’ll help give you an edge.”

Logan and I agreed right away. Especially as Dylan was still absent and not returning any of our calls or texts.

Then, as Mabel, Mr. Hudgens, Logan, and I stood in a line, Mr. Hatfield Senior arrived with his team of lawyers, including Mr. Smith.

They looked at us and we looked at them.

“Let’s negotiate,” Logan said.