Humbled by Patricia Haley Read Free Book Online

the call Tamara had made to Joel. Thank goodness, Tamara thought, feeling relieved and recharged. “I hope you aren’t planning to sit around and wait for him to come home. I wouldn’t. You deserve better,” Tamara said, consciously keeping her voice down while she was in the coffee shop. Just then the waitress came by to see if she wanted a refill. Tamara handed her the mug and nodded yes.
    â€œHe’s my husband.”
    â€œSo what?” Tamara blurted into the phone. “Is he acting like a husband? Stop giving him so much freedom to treat you badly. Stop doing this to yourself.”
    Tamara clicked her fingernails on the table rapidly as her frustration simmered. She was so irritated at Zarah for willingly settling for so much less than she was worth. Who was Joel Mitchell, other than a financially strapped spoiled brat? He wasn’t the catch of the year. Yet he had Zarah groveling.
    That notion had Tamara continuously stewing. That was why she wasn’t settling for a second fiddle job at DMI. If her mother was so serious about having Tamara back, then why wasn’t the CEO position being offered? She knew the answer. Because it was Don’s spot. Honestly, Tamara didn’t have any intentions of undercutting Don for the position. He’d been her hero for decades. When Andre went crazy and raped her eighteen years ago, it was her younger brother, Don, who came to her rescue. She’d never forgotten his loyalty toward her. As intriguing as gaining power was, backstabbing Don in the process wasn’t worth it to her. Staying on the fringes of DMI and starting her own company was the best bet.
    This wasn’t the ideal time to approach Zarah about a business proposition, but with Joel in the picture, most of her days were going to be miserable. No sense waiting for a good day when each day was equally bad. Tamara had to get moving if she planned on purchasing the former DMI West Coast division from Zarah and moving to California. For starters, she had to talk Zarah into assuming leadership. It was a huge stretch but not impossible. She’d appeal to Zarah’s sense of family honor.
    â€œZarah, you should think about taking control of your father’s company. I remember you telling me how closely you worked with him. I’m sure no one else can run Harmonious Energy any better than you.”
    â€œI can’t think of business today. It’s not a very good day for me.”
    â€œI understand. Call me anytime, day or night,” Tamara offered.
    â€œI couldn’t burden you.”
    â€œYes, you can, and you will. I consider you a friend, and friends look out for friends. Zarah, don’t hesitate to call me when you need help. Seriously, it’s not a problem.” Tamara didn’t agree with Zarah pining over Joel, but she was motivated to support Zarah through her crisis. Maybe one day Zarah would return the favor by cutting a business deal with her. Tamara could only hope.

Chapter 9
    Madeline had wanted to disagree with Don but couldn’t when he was standing in her office, staring her in the face. Repairing her relationship with Tamara was her top priority. If only she could get some participation from her daughter. Madeline sat at the table, twirling her Mont-blanc pen and remembering. She’d fought many corporate battles, losing some but winning most. The difference between those struggles and the one she was facing with Tamara was that business didn’t count. With business, she could walk away and sleep comfortably at night if the struggle became too great. She couldn’t walk away from Tamara, no matter how much trouble her daughter caused. Her birth thirty-five years ago had been painful and not much had changed since then.
    Yet Madeline wasn’t going to let her daughter run off again without making every effort to keep her home. Pride was preventing Madeline from dialing the phone, but she eventually conquered it and