Page 3 of Double

She scoffed. “Easy for you to point fingers when you did absolutely nothing to help me save it.” As she spoke, everybody left the table except the Campbells and Mr. Gillespie.

“You’re right. I’ve never had an interest in that company. Actually, growing up, it was my nemesis. It was the thing that kept Dad away from us. I got tired of competing with it for his attention. Although I’ve never wanted anything to do with the company, both of our sons went to university and have business degrees. Nolan has a master’s from one of the best universities in America. Liam was willing to leave his job as CFO to work for Campbell Paper Holdings.” He pointed a finger at her. “You were too controlling to hand the reins over to people who knew what they were doing.”

“You think I was going to hand the reins over to a twenty-six- and twenty-eight-year old? I used to change their diapers. They weren’t ready.”

“You changed their diapers decades ago, Gretchen. They’re grown men now.”

“I wasn’t convinced that they were ready. I couldn’t just hand the reins over without having confidence.”

Moses shrugged his broad shoulders. “And now there’s nothing to hand over. You may as well sell it off piece by piece and pay off whatever debt you can. Get out from under it, Gretchen.”

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “That’s exactly what I would expect you to say since you never cared about our family legacy.” She thumped herself in the chest area. “I care, Moses. Grandfather and Daddy gave their lives to the company. Murphy sacrificed everything. And all you do is sit on your high horse and judge.”

Murphy was my father, and she wasn’t lying when she said he sacrificed everything. He even sacrificed his entire relationship with his only child.

“Okay.” Moses shrugged again. “Don’t sell the company. Do whatever you want. You always do. I don’t see what this has to do with the rest of us.”

“This has nothing to do with you and Lianna. I only included you as a courtesy. This has to do with Tinsley.”

“With me?”

“Yes, as a Campbell family member with a vested interest in the company, I’m imploring you to help save it.”

“I don’t—” I began before she cut me off.

“Have you met Mr. Gillespie? He’s one of the most upstanding citizens and an esteemed member of Parliament.”

I was in shock. I couldn’t bring myself to form words at all.

Sterling Gillespie smiled a smile that was more of a leer than anything. “She’s lovely, Gretchen. If what you told me about her . . . experience is true, I think this deal will work out in my favor.”

I found my voice. “What favor?” I asked, my eyes wide with horror at what I thought he was saying.

“What’s going on here?” Lianna asked at the same time. “Are you trying to . . . sell Tinsley to this old man?”

“Mind your manners now, gal.” Mr. Gillespie’s tone was sharp.

“You mind your fucking manners,” Moses told him, “and don’t you ever speak to my wife like that again.”

“Nobody’s selling anybody,” Gretchen said finally.

“Then what the hell is this deal he’s talking about?” Moses jammed his finger toward Mr. Gillespie.

“Calm down, brother.” Mr. Gillespie smiled his creepy smile. “We’ll soon be related. I’ll be your nephew-in-law.”

Lianna gasped audibly.

“Sterling is willing to marry Tinsley in exchange for pouring the needed cash into Campbell Paper Holdings.”

“He’s gonna bail it out now, but what happens when you drive it right back into the ground? You don’t know what you’re doing, Gretchen!” My uncle’s anger and frustration were evident.

“I’m going to come on and act as the interim president until we find somebody capable of bringing the company back into the black,” Mr. Gillespie explained.

“Good luck with that, but I’m not marrying anybody. I don’t even know this man. Plus, I don’t give a shit about Campbell Paper Holdings. Forgive my language, Uncle.” I stood up from my seat.

“Sit down!” Gretchen demanded.

I ignored her. In my peripheral, I saw my uncle and aunt begin to stand as well. “We’re going to leave before things go even further off the rails than they already have,” Moses said.