They had just wrapped up their meeting when Melanie came in, she would have been meeting the auctioneer workers at eight that morning. She said they had promptly taken all the antiques loaded them into their trucks and been gone within forty-five minutes. She had been very, surprised by their speed. She caught Angel up on all ranch news. She told her that they had received some irate calls from a couple people because of them not being chosen to allow their mares to be covered by Heartbreaker or Gambler. She sighed heavily and said, “Send them our apologies and tell them to try again next year.” She then filled Melanie in on what was going on with Seth Newton. Melanie said she would see what she could dig up on Seth and Elizabeth.
Both meetings concluded she went to hunt down both of her Aunts for the files on the Kingsley’s and her mother’s business interest. She went to Ellen first, to her surprise Ellen was more than happy to hand it over, and she said she wanted to focus her attention on the Seth thing anyway. Lillian was the same way. They both had their assistants gather all the information and have it brought to Angel’s office. Angel had two hours to play catch-up, it was a good thing she was a fast reader. An hour and half later she was closing, the last file, and thanking God silently for her photographic memory. She would be fully prepared to answer any questions that Garrett had about the businesses.
She was only mildly surprised when her father showed up to accompany her, she put the files in her briefcase and followed him out. They had been seated at Luke’s for ten minutes before Garrett came in saying “Sorry about that, the traffic was terrible coming from outside of town.” Hunter nodded and said “Garrett you remember my daughter Angel, Angel this is Garrett LeBlanc. Garrett’s older sister and I went to high school together.” At Angel’s arched brow Garrett laughed and said “Yes, it was a bit more than just going to high school together. Though at the time Hunter had no idea he had a daughter.” Angel responded evenly “I could care less what my father has done or whom he has done it with. He’s a grown man, I seriously doubt he is celibate; I wouldn’t want him to be. Though I certainly hope his taste has improved since high school.” Garrett grimaced and said “Ouch that stung. But, alas, your father’s taste has always run to the girl who won’t complain about what he’s doing.” Angel asked coolly “Are we here to trade poorly veiled digs about my father’s love life or lack thereof or to do business?”
Garrett looked at Hunter and said “I do believe she is just like you. But we are here to conduct business did you bring the files with you?” Angel responded evenly “Hard copies of them yes, they are backed up on the server at the office.” Garrett nodded and said “I’ll go through them, and then I’ll give you my advice on what to do. If my estimation is it’s better to liquidate the business, then you’d be in better shape by doing so. If it is in your better interest to find someone capable of running the business for you, I will suggest someone who is more than capable of doing so.” Angel asked cautiously “And you will do an in house look into the businesses as well not just a cursory glance at the files themselves?” Garrett smiled and replied “Yes, I will do a formal walk through of every business listed. I should have my report ready within a weeks’ time.” Angel nodded and said, “Get to it then.”
Garrett had to admit if only to himself that this girl is outside the normal realm of the Houston debutantes. Whereas those girls lived only to be seen, and for their next purchase. Angel lived to make a difference in everyone she met. It was a very intriguing thing.
Angel was in her office going over some details Kimberly had brought to her attention when her Aunts, and Grant came in together. Her father trailed in shortly behind them followed by her grandfather. She was surprised her Denae relatives weren’t with them. This only lasted about ten minutes because then they were trailing in as well. Ellen told her that she had done research into Seth Newton’s financials with Grant’s assistance. Seth’s financial backer or potential investors were threatening to pull out if he didn’t acquire the Dean Sterling’s property by months end. I did a little more digging and found out that the man who is this potential investor is Steven Masterson. If Steven knew how Seth was going about getting these homes he’d have never offered backing to begin with. I have known Steven since we were in Huntington Academy together ourselves. I’ve put through a call to him, he is going to meet with us here in the conference room at five.” She paused and said “Steven is a businessman like any other. He likes making a buck but not at the expense of those around him.
Steven was the scholarship kid at Huntington Academy, he was from the wrong side of town and his family struggled to make ends meet. He would never willingly help Seth put good people from their homes. And he’ll most likely want to help put Seth in that same position.” Her aunt was a bit touchy about this man, it was clear to Angel that there had been some connection between the two at some time. She found herself wondering why the rest of her family didn’t note the edginess in her Aunts voice. Angel nodded and toward her Aunt and said “Okay, as long as I’m home in time to eat dinner with the boys.” She had made herself a promise, as long as she was raising her brother’s she was going to be there with them. There were not going to be raised in her absence by other people.
When five rolled around they were all waiting in the conference room when Steven Masterson walked in. Other than the widening of his eyes he didn’t miss a step as he walked to the table and sat down. He locked eyes with Ellen and said “Okay, what gives?” Angel broke in before her Aunt could say anything, saying “My Aunt arranged this meeting for me. This is between me and you. Ignore the fact the room is filled with various members of my family.” At Steven’s slight nod, she continued telling him everything she had learned about Seth Newton. How he forced people out of their homes, how he would have forced Dean Sterling from his if she hadn’t given him the financial backing to save his ranch. The only thing that showed he was affected was the tightening of his jaw as she laid everything out for him. Steven asked “Okay, and what do you want from me?” Angel replied “I want you to rescind your offer of financial backing, I want Seth Newton to experience what it’s like to lose everything. No one who’s ever had to worry about where their next meal is coming from would ever stand by and let a man like Seth Newton, prey on innocent people.
I know what it’s like to live on the streets, to avoid people the woman who raised me had in our home. What it’s like to barricade your door at night so no one can get in and I know what it’s like to be so hungry you’d eat anything just to survive. Seth put a family out of their home, put them on the streets, he took away their dignity, their pride, and their ability to protect their family. It nearly killed Mr. Dalton, I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand by and see that go on unchallenged.” Steven responded, “What’s to stop him from finding another backer?” Angel smirked and said honestly “Me. I will put out the word that anyone who helps or assist him or Elizabeth in anyway will be working against what I myself am trying to do. Nothing illegal in that, but if they choose to help him, they’ll find themselves on the other side of this conference table and I won’t be so nice then.” Steven smiled and said, “So this is my warning, help Seth at my own risk?” Angel looked at her Aunt before turning to Steven and responded “Consider this a courtesy, someone I care about thinks you are worth the trouble. Who you are, where you are from doesn’t matter a hill of beans to me, it’s what you do with what you’ve got, who you help that will define you as a person.”
Steven smiled widely and said “You remind me of your Aunt when she was your age. She had just as much bark as she did bite too. But you are right, I won’t stand for a man to abuse what power he thinks he has. Consider me done with Steven.” He paused then looked her dead in the eye and said “Hopefully one day we’ll do business together. I’ve heard about the good things you’re doing and it’s impressive. You don’t see people doing that anymore.” Angel nodded slowly and looked at her watch and said, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get home to my brothers.”
When she’d left the room, Steven looked at Ellen and asked “Brothers?” she replied evenly “Angel is raising her two nearly sixteen yr. old brothers. Says a lot about her character that at nineteen she’s more worried about getting home to her family than doing what most nineteen yr. old would.”
Steven didn’t voice his opinion, but he thought that was the understatement of the century. For her to be this devoted to her family and to the lives of people who had been wronged by conmen and crooks he’d bet his last dollar she was a girl you wanted to hitch your star too because she was going far. He had heard things about her all over the city, and while there was a grumble here and there most everything, he had heard was positive. This girl was making big changes in their society; she was rocking the very foundation. And while that would be dangerous for just anyone, for her it was a plus, she had players with deep pockets on her side all around. They all thought she was golden, and no one would ever get away with hurting her.
By the time she made it home Maria was just getting dinner on the table, her brothers were coming down the stairs. They sat around and dished on their days and what they’d gotten accomplished. They broached the subject of the new vehicles their grandmother had bought them. Not that they weren’t thankful they said, but it wasn’t their style. She had worked out a compromise with them. They would keep the cars in case they ever need a flashier vehicle, but they would discuss their likes and dislikes for their sixteen birthdays which was coming up.
Little did they know that she and their grandfather had already discussed it. They would be throwing the boys a private birthday party at Angelo’s. Their vehicles had already been custom ordered. They had ordered factory 2013 GTO and a 2013 Camaro SS. Dirk was doing all the customization and would deliver the cars to the restaurant for their birthday celebration.
The party planner was doing it up right, there would be a professional performer one of her brother’s favorite groups and they’d be arriving in style. Oh, her brothers knew there would be a party, they just didn’t know how big yet. It would be a regular, red carpet event.
She went to the studio with Kaleb for a bit to see how the pictures from the islands had come out. He had done some amazing shots of all of them, but he had some truly amazing pictures of her while she was surfing and paddle boarding.