“Mr. Varney?”
“Yes ma’am. Mr. Drew Varney, he said he’s with Dalton Trucking.”
“Where is he now, Shelly?”
“He’s waiting in the conference room.”
I take in a deep breath, and bite down on my lip. Turning on my heels, I stalk towards the conference room. I stop by the door, straighten my clothes, and push the door open.
Drew is sitting at the head, yes the HEAD of the damn conference room table with a file in one hand, and his cell phone glued to his ear. This son of a bitch has some nerve coming into my office, and making himself comfortable like he owns the damn place. He turns around slowly and when our eyes meet, I gasp at the striking resemblance he bares to my daddy. Drew has coal black hair, a strong jaw and deep green eyes. He looks tall, and is very fit.
“Yeah, I got that J, let me holler back at’cha. Yeah, she just walked in the room.” He says, before pressing end and sliding the phone in the front pocket of his shirt. He arches his back, then stands tall, walking around the table to greet me.
“Ms. Simon, Drew Varney.” He says reaching his large hand out to greet me. Like hell. I cross my arms over my chest, ignoring his gesture. He pushes his hand into his pocket, lightly chuckling to himself. “I’m the owner of Dalton Truck,” I cut off his words before he can even try to step knee deep in the shit he’s standing in front of.
“I know who you are, Mr. Varney. And correction, you’re the business partner of Bill Weston, who’s the owner of Dalton Trucking. Now, care to explain to me, why the hell you feel the need to bust into my office, patronizing my receptionist, and requesting an abrupt meeting with me? I’m a very busy woman. You have two minutes to state your reason for visiting with Simon Energy today, then you need to get the hell out of my office.”
Drew chuckles, then takes his seat again, at the head of my damn conference table. That in itself flames my blood. This asshole hasn’t been in my presence for more than a minute and I’m already plotting his tragic demise.
“So you want to cut the shit. Great. I’m here to inform you that as of midnight, Dalton Trucking will cease all operations with Simon Energy.”
He leans back in the high back leather chair, and laces his hands behind his head, glaring a deadpan stare straight through me. He thinks he has the upper hand here, and that’s all fine and well. He thinks because he is a big man, that I will wilt, falling to his feet like a dainty little flower begging and pleading. This jackass is dead wrong, because this little bitch don’t wilt. I fight.
“Well Mr. Varney, I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, we have a binding contract with Dalton Trucking, so any breech of said contract can, and will result in some very nasty litigation. So you may want to ask yourself, do you really wanna start off on the wrong foot with your new business partner, costing him thousands of dollars?”
“Please, call me Drew. Bill and I are still working on the terms, but we are willing to buy out your contract, to prevent any legal issues. You see, I am the owner of American Heritage Coal Company. We are a slightly smaller mines than Simon Energy, but we are paving our way to the top, and will be the largest coal producing company in the state of Kentucky within the next five years. It only makes sense that Dalton Trucking signs a contract with my coal company now, considering I own a portion of the trucking company. I’m sure you can understand the business side of things. I just need you to tell me your number, and I can cut you a check right now. There is no need to drag things out. You need to understand, I’m a very powerful man, I don’t just get what I want, but I take what I want. So don’t fight me on this. It will only make any future business we may have together, well, awkward.” Drew rocks back and forth in the leather chair, waiting for my rebuttal. He is such a cocky bastard, and just looking at him sends shocking volts of pure hatred straight through to my blood.
“You think you’re so clever, walking in here, trying to intimidate me don’t you? Well, you don’t. You need to understand who you are dealing with Mr. Varney. I’m a damn Simon. I don’t play games, I don’t put up with bullshit, and I certainly don’t take kindly to idle threats. Now, here is my counter offer for you. Name your number. I’ll buy out your partnership with Dalton Trucking right now.” Rage is boiling deep in the pit of my stomach, and I can’t shake the urge to bust him across the damn face. There is a knock at the door, so I take two steps backwards and open it, shocked to see Shelly with a pissed Bill Weston on her heels.
“Ms. Simon, again, I’m sorry. He said he was late for the meeting. Your schedule was clear for the morning.” Shelly says, shrugging her shoulders.
“It’s okay, Shelly. Just hold any calls for now.” She nods her head, stepping aside so Bill can enter the conference room.
As soon as his eyes land on Drew’s, his face turns purple with anger. He charges across the room, screaming and cussing loud enough for everyone in the damn building to hear him. As soon as he is within reach of Drew, he connects a right hook across Drew’s jaw. Drew’s head pops to the side, then springs back quickly, and his eyes grow dark, full of fury. He swipes the drop of blood from his lip, and sneers up at Bill.
“You son of a bitch! I told you when I left the office yesterday that I would not breech contract with Simon Energy. Why the hell are you here, Drew?”
I approach with caution, reaching my hand up to rest on Bill’s shoulder. He jerks around quickly, and his shoulders relax when he sees that it’s me.
“Carly, I’m sorry. I didn’t have any idea he had plans of coming to see you. He’s a lyin’ snake that you just can’t trust.”
“Bill, first I think you need to calm down. Have a seat, so I can explain what Mr. Varney is doing here.” Bill’s eyebrows furrow, and confusion mares his face. He scratches his head, and takes a seat at the other end of the table. Drew still hasn’t said a word, he just keeps glaring an intense deadpan glare at Bill.
> “Bill, Mr. Big Talker Varney, here tells me as of midnight tonight, Dalton Trucking will no longer be in contract with Simon Energy to carry our coal. He tells me that since you refuse to breech the contract, you are both prepared to offer me a substantial amount of money to buy out that contract, is any of this true?”
“It’s true that he wants to breech the contract, only because the greedy asshole wants Dalton Truckin’ to sign with American Heritage Coal Company. I’ve done told him that Simon Energy could burn to the ground tonight, and I still wouldn’t sign a damn contract with AHCC to haul their damn coal.”
Drew remains silent, just listening to the conversation between Bill and me.
“Bill, I’ve turned down Mr. Varney’s offer to buy out the contract between Dalton Trucking and Simon Energy. So I expect to have trucks lined up, waiting to be loaded with coal. Do you both understand?” I look to both of the men, Drew doesn’t offer any answer, but Bill agrees.
“Now, I have offered to buy his partnership in Dalton Trucking. I’d imagine it would rid you of one pain in your ass. I’m just waiting on him to tell me his number, and then we can get the transaction started. So what do you say Mr. Varney, what amount of money is it going to take for you to walk away from Dalton Trucking and out of our lives?”
Bill looks to me, then to Drew, waiting for his response. Drew stands from the chair, straightening his shirt, brushing at the imaginary lint on the cuff of his sleeve. He shoves his hands in his pockets, and walks towards the door. He twists the knob, and turns back to me,
“Ms. Simon, I’m disappointed that we couldn’t come to an agreement today. I’ll be in touch. Bill, I’ll see you at the office later.”
Chapter 30