Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(7)

“Yes, Simon,” he tried to placate the man. “Four years and your numbers have been perfect. Mistakes happen. I’m not saying it’s yours,” he added quickly when it looked like Simon was about to protest again. “I’m just saying there is a mistake, somewhere, and I need you to find it. For all of us. Before the audit. Can you do that? Can you try?”

Simon’s eyes rolled, but his quick nod was enough. Tawny decided to call it a day. “Good, and if you need help, let us know. Let’s meet again at the end of the week, and see what we have come up with.” Nods and murmurs could be seen and heard all around the massive oak table in the Mystic Nights Casino & Spa’s board room. “We are all in this together. Let’s remember who we are doing this for,” Tawny ended on a positive note. There were more murmurs and assents of agreement before everyone was finally dismissed.

The room began to clear out quickly with the various department heads and board members heading to their offices. Her son was heading out of the massive set of double glass doors.

“Jonathan, hang back.” Tawny’s words were spoken softly. Her small hand on his bicep made it a command rather than a simple request. When his mother spoke, he listened. Mystic Nights wasn’t just his job, it was his passion, and his family and reservation’s life’s blood. Too many people had wanted it to fail. He knew his mother had given her life to make this a success. It wouldn’t fail on his watch.

Even before she spoke he already knew what she would say. But he prepared himself for it anyway. “Jonathan, that’s not how we operate.” Her words weren’t condescending, but advisory.

He shook his head at his own loss of control and professionalism. He knew getting angry wasn’t the way to do business. “Mother, I’m sorry I blew up. But Simon should have been telling us weeks if not months ago that the numbers weren’t adding up. He shouldn’t have surprised us with these numbers like this today . . .”

“He’s never had to report in early before. We kind of put him on the spot today,” she reminded him.

“Those reports should always be up to date and accurate. And I wasn’t expecting major losses. We’ve always turned a remarkable profit.” His hand swept through his closely cropped dark brown hair, pushing it back off of his forehead.

“I can postpone my trip if you want me to be here for the audit.” Her eyes searched his face. She was sure he could handle it, but would stay if he felt he needed her.

“No, I can handle it. I’ll figure it out. Even if I have to examine all the books myself.”

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”

He cut her off. “No, go on your trip. I will handle this.” He didn’t want his mother to lose her vacation over this. She rarely took time off for herself.

His mother gave him one more measured look. Her son was good at what he did, very good. Efficient and capable. Dependable. Like his father. She gave him her quick assent, but still wasn’t sure the accounting issues were all that were bothering him.

Since New Year’s Eve he had been sullen and moody. She thought it might have something to do with the dancer he left with. But he hadn’t mentioned her at all in the weeks since. And during last night’s performance, the daggers he gave Miss Aliya Chance, well, she’d been afraid they might knock the poor girl off the stage. A mother’s instinct told her something was going on there.

“I’ll handle it,” he repeated, misconstruing her silence for something else. She stood and began to pack up her things, giving him a tentative smile.

“I’m sure you will, darling.” And she knew he would figure it out too. He always had been determined and focused as a child. He persisted until he got what he wanted. Very tenacious. He was very good at what he did. Since becoming co-chair of the board last year, he had taken over most of the day to day operations of the casino. He was born for this position. She was more than willing to give him the lead on this even though it was hard to cut the strings, but she knew it was something she needed to do. For him. For the casino, and for her people. She’d been grooming him for this his whole life. And he was ready. Even if he was a tad hot headed at times. That he got from her.

“Are you sure this is all that’s bothering you?” Again, it was her intuition that made her ask.

He saw her slightly raised eyebrow and knew if he didn’t distract her soon she’d ask about Aliya. She’d been dropping hints about it often enough. His sex life was off limits. Aliya included. He still couldn’t fathom her rejection of him, and the cold shoulder he’d been given whenever their paths crossed was grating on him, though he refused to admit it. “I am fine.” He rushed forward and stooped down to press a kiss to his Mom’s cheek, then stood back up to his full height of five foot eleven.

Tawny watched her confidant son leave the board room. Her head told her he’d be able to handle it, but she also sensed that it was ‘this’ something else that was bothering him. Her gut told her to pay close attention to her family this week before she parted for her vacation. And she had been looking forward to it immensely. She was always so focused and driven, and this yearly respite was something she needed to rejuvenate.

But she didn’t leave for her yearly trip for another week. In the meantime she would keep close tabs on her children. And Simon too. Her son’s instincts about him were mirroring her own, but perhaps not for the same reasons. She just expressed herself much more diplomatically now that she was older, and wiser. When it came to handling men, in business or politics, she was as adept as they came. Forty eight years of life throwing you all kinds of challenges made one stronger and more patient. But it was tiresome too. Her age might be catching up to her. Sighing, she left the board room. Forty-eight! She couldn’t believe how time had flown. Well, forty eight wasn’t that old she reminded herself. She still had a lot of living left to do.