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Chapter 116: Roll the Dice
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2022-10-20 14:11:37Related chapters
The Rutherford Series Chapter 117: Roll the Dice
Although Jacqui was tempted to run the contracts through the shredder, they sat on the corner of her desk, waiting for Rutherford's signature at dinner tonight. Hiring a company outside of Biloxi just seemed like a betrayal to what Marc and she had committed to after Katrina, and she had betrayed him enough by not being with her family when the plane crashed. Yet, according to Brent in their conversation after the business lunch yesterday, it was their best opportunity to get the community center started. "He's willing to do it as cheap as possible just to showcase what he can accomplish," Brent said back at the office. "You want the community center to be a nonprofit, and to be honest, with the economy the way it is, The Karston Foundation can't afford to carry it. Even with the fundraiser planned in a couple of weeks, we need to cut corners without sacrificing quality. Neal Rutherford is your best chance of doing that." "Marc would never have gone for it.""Jacqui, Marc isn't here
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 118: Roll the Dice
Once she reached Marc's gravesite, she knelt and set back on our heels, her hands fidgeting with one of her husband's handkerchiefs she carried with her, knotting and unknotting the corners. Maggie's grave was on his left and to his right was a plot reserved for Jacqui. A pang of guilt tugged at her that she was not already lying beside them. It was only because of her recklessness that she wasn't. Her friends told her it had saved her, but she didn't agree. Her place was beside her husband."Hey, Maggie, baby," she said, tears already pooling at the bottom of her eyes. "Mommy misses you so much. Do you remember the community center I told you about? Well, I hired the company that'll build it today. Well, actually, it'll be tonight when they sign the contracts, but we're closer. Mr. Wellington is really excited. He says they are used to building fun things for children, like four-story slides right inside the building. You're going to be so proud of it." Jacqui swiped at a tear that sn
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 119: Roll the Dice
"I really wish you were staying behind to sign those contracts," Morgan said as he unloaded the trunk of Neal's luggage. "Jacqui Karston likes you. She wants to deal with you. Not me." Morgan didn't mind doing the work, but he wasn't overly fond of coddling the clients. When it came to employees, they either did the job or they were fired. You couldn't fire the people you worked for, and Neal would kill him if he quit. It wasn't that Morgan couldn't schmooze with the best of them. It was just that he hated the hypocrisy of it all. Neal was much better at playing politics and smoothing the ruffled feathers of the people who hired Rutherford Construction. Morgan didn't have the time or patience for the nonsense. If he was anything, he was honest about his motives. Kissing anyone's ass was just never his style.Neal lifted the lever of his luggage on wheels and slung the strap to his briefcase over his shoulder. "Who she wants and who she likes is beside the point. This is why I brought y
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 120: Roll the Dice
Snatching his sports coat off the front seat, Morgan tossed the keys to the valet as he slid out from behind the steering wheel. Slipping the coat over his shoulders, he entered what appeared to be some fancy crab house. Doesn't this woman like barbecue? He just shook his head. She's so damn formal. Everything's a show. He couldn't complain this time, however, since she was the one footing the bill. Tit for Tat. Morgan walked through the doorway as a slender man, probably in his early twenties, held it open for him. Another young thing stood behind the podium, white shirt, hair pulled back in a tight ponytail making her face look too taut, and slick black slacks. Her smile, however, was genuine and ready to please. Too bad she could have been his daughter, he thought as he approached her. "I'm here to meet Mrs. Karston."The young hostess glanced down at her list and nodded. "Yes, sir," she said as she checked something off. Even her voice sounded too young. "Mrs. Karston is already
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 121: Roll the Dice
She sipped her water, stirring it first, so the lemon floated around, spreading the bitter flavor. She wasn't happy that Neal Rutherford had left. Furthermore, she was even less enthused she had not been informed of his departure before it happened. When Morgan said it would only be him working on the project, she assumed he meant the underlings of the company and Neal would be there to keep his people on course. She never expected Morgan to be the one with which she would have to interact. While she agreed to his proposal, she didn't think he took her project seriously enough."We're an organization aimed at rebuilding the areas of Biloxi that need to be restored. I want to help people who need to rebuild their lives. We help them start businesses, provide housing, and create jobs."He nodded, his face an impressed expression. "Worthwhile objectives. Have you been successful at it?""I think so. People who had no homes now have a roof over their heads. We've helped people create their
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 122: Roll the Dice
He could tell he threw her off, and that pleased him to no end. Of course, Morgan was smart enough to not show it. Now was not the time to be cocky. It would only piss her off more. Neal would kill Morgan if he managed to screw up and lose the contract after he was the one who landed the gig in the first place. It wouldn't hurt anything for him to play nice with Jacqui Karston for a bit. He could always track down that waitress after Miss Uptight left."I prefer steaks, to be honest, but seafood is a nice change of pace. I'm very low maintenance when it comes to food. Being a bachelor living alone, I tend to eat on the fly mostly. Fast food joints, sadly, are my chefs. Do you eat out a lot?""No. Sophia, my housekeeper, cooks for my father and me. He moved in after becoming paralyzed in an accident. However, I am also forced to attend quite a few functions and business dinners, trapped into eating quite a few things I'd rather skip.""I'm sorry to hear that about your father. That has
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 123: Roll the Dice
I'm sorry, Marc," Jacqui groaned as her husband sat on the bed beside her, stroking her crumpled hair. "There is no way my head or my stomach are going to make it on a plane ride today. I way overdid it at the gala last night. I am not getting out of this bed.""It's okay, baby," Marc told her. "Maggie and I will make it a father-daughter day. Besides, it'll give you some recovery time. You did put away quite a few appletinis last night." He said that last sentence with a grin spreading across his face.She groaned again, wanting to bury herself in the pillow. "And I'm definitely paying for it. I spent most of my night in the bathroom praying to the porcelain god."He laughed as he moved his hand to her back, caressing it. "I know. I was the one holding your hair out of the way.""I was wondering how that happened." Maggie ran in and Marc caught her before she could leap onto the bed. "Mommy has a headache," he whispered to his daughter."Is Mommy still going on the plane ride with us
Last Updated : 2022-10-20The Rutherford Series Chapter 124: Roll the Dice
Morgan jerked the legs open of a folding table he had bought on his way to the new office. He had purchased some cheap folding chairs and office supplies, as well. While he wouldn't order furniture until the interior had been remodeled, he still needed a place to work until the temporary trailer arrived, which was to be there Monday. He at least needed a place to interview people. Barbie, Neal's assistant, had called that morning and told him that a man named Vince Andrews would be stopping by around lunch to be interviewed for the foreman position. If Morgan liked him, then the two of them could get things rolling and hire an office staff. "Hire more than you need, at first," Neal had told him. "It gives you a group to cull the weak ones from and prepares you for the influx of work that, hopefully, comes our way." Neal's motto was prepare for success and you may actually get it. Neal Rutherford was always successful. Morgan now stood inside the moldy smelling building staring at the b
Last Updated : 2022-10-20
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The Rutherford Series Chapter 268: To Be Cherished
Dropping the arm holding the towel to his side, he walked over to where Cherish sat and joined her on the bed. He reached out, placing a hand on her leg and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sorry you're having to deal with this," he told her. He gave a weak shrug. "I guess we never know the full extent of our actions and their consequences until it's too late." He quickly held a hand up, stopping her from saying anything else. "That wasn't a judgment. Promise."She offered him a weak smile. "I didn't take it that way." She shrugged. "Besides, you're right. I didn't realize while I was...you know...how it would hurt you or Jordie, and I sure as hell didn't realize how it would follow me to another job. I was too caught up in what I was doing to even think of anything else." She reached out, placing her hand on top of his. "I'm sorry I was such a selfish bitch."Glen leaned over and kissed Cherish's forehead. When he pulled away, he grinned. "You're my selfish bitch, so it's all good.
The Rutherford Series Chapter 267: To Be Cherished
Cherish shoved her phone into her purse, closed the final file folder, and shoved herself away from her desk. This day was over, and she was more than happy to see it go. As she stood, however, she realized the day was not completely over. She stood at the edge of her desk, adjusting her purse on her shoulder, as Mary Overton stepped into her doorway, arms crossed over her chest, looking as if she had a corncob shoved deep up her ass. What Bernie saw in the woman, Cherish would never know. Cherish sucked in a deep breath as she paused, waiting to hear what had brought the grump of a woman to her door. "Is there something I can help you with?" Cherish asked.Mary glanced over the room, scowling as she took in the changes Cherish made to the small office. "I see you've rearranged. Making the place more to your liking." Cherish could have sworn the woman gave a disgusted sniff as she said it. "I thought the way Kim had it set up was quite efficient." She glanced around the room with a sn
The Rutherford Series Chapter 266: To Be Cherished
Glen soaked in her naked body, making no qualms about devouring her with his gaze. He had always thought Cherish was gorgeous and hated when she started to hide her body in baggy shirts and shorts. He wanted to see more of her flesh, more of her body tempting him under tight clothes or low-cut tops. He wanted her to be seductive, sultry, sexy. Hell, he even wanted her to dress slutty for him.Reaching out, Glen ran a hand over her freckle-covered shoulder, up her neck, and into her strawberry-blond hair. Gazing into her eyes, he sucked in a breath as he stared at her. "You, Cherish Lansky, are beautiful."He saw her cheeks redden with her blush, felt her squirm under his touch as his words embarrassed her, but he didn't care. While he thought the words often enough, he failed to say them out loud for her to hear. She needed to hear them. He needed to say them. They needed to get back to the spark that was them when they first ignited each other's passions. Looking at her right then, he
The Rutherford Series Chapter 265: To Be Cherished
Cherish took a deep breath, deciding to tackle the topic of Rutherford even if Glen hadn't brought it up. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jed. It's been a pretty emotional week all around, and I swear, it just slipped my mind."Glen cocked an eyebrow at her. "A lot of things have slipped your mind lately. I should probably do something about that, eventually."She bowed her head. "Yes, sir," was all she said, but she couldn't deny the tingle between her legs at the thought of Glen punishing her again. She would never have thought the idea of him spanking her would have such an effect on her.He took a sip of his coffee as he studied her, and Cherish just stood there under his scrutiny. After a stretched-out moment, he said, "So, tell me about the conversation now. You said you weren't interested in returning. Is that the truth?"She shrugged. "I don't know, to be honest. And, in the way of full disclosure, it was sort of a mixture of him asking if I would want to return and me aski
The Rutherford Series Chapter 264: To Be Cherished
Cherish placed the last of the glasses back in the cabinet, her back screaming at her due to the lengthy day she just endured. Jordie was already sound asleep in his bed, his tired little body crashing as soon as everyone left, and the constant energy faded away. She could relate as exhaustion tugged at her as well. She had to admit, however, Glen's idea of having the party at their house opposed to her parents' was definitely a winner, minus the cleanup part afterward. Jordie loved every gift he opened, and he and the other kids made full use of the bounce house. Even a few of the adults climbed inside to get their inner youth on while they made the little ones stand outside the giant inflatable while they took over. The children, of course, were far from happy about not being permitted inside, but they laughed like crazy as they watched their parents bouncing around, trying to do flips, and falling on their asses.Valerie surprised Cherish with how she interacted with everyone else a
The Rutherford Series Chapter 263: To Be Cherished
Cherish felt the tears streaming down her cheeks, felt the anguish clutching at her heart as she sat there, staring at her mother, the woman crying openly now as she stared back at Cherish. How could her mother ever doubt Cherish's love for her? Because I did a shitty job of showing it. I pushed her with everything I did. Cherish reached out, taking her mother's hand in her own, squeezing it tight. "I've always loved you, Mom. You did nothing wrong. It was all me; I was the selfish bitch who never seemed satisfied and happy. I'm so sorry I ever made you feel that way." She squeezed her mother's hand again. "I should never have treated you that way."Her mother gave her a weak smile, squeezing her hand back before pulling it away. "I love you, too, and I'm sorry I ever made you feel as if you couldn't tell me you were pregnant." She shook her head. "Not a very good mother, huh?"Cherish settled back in her chair. "I think we both made mistakes, but that was then. This is now. I need to
The Rutherford Series Chapter 262: To Be Cherished
Cherish left the others and walked over to her mother, taking one of the remaining chairs beside the other woman. "Why don't you come join the rest of us? Has to be better than sitting over here all by yourself."Her mother didn't even look at her, keeping her gaze on the children. "Why is she here?" she asked, her back stiff, hands clasped in her lap."There are a lot of shes here," Cherish said, even though she knew to whom her mother referred. "You'll have to be a little more specific.""Your sister's new friend," her mother said, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Why did they have to bring her to a family event? It's rude."Cherish glanced over and watched as Tracey Williams laughed at something Arni said, her feet barely touching the ground from where she sat in the chair. "She's close to Selby and Faith," Cherish said with a shrug. "We permitted Brent to bring Bonnie; why wouldn't we allow Faith and Selby to bring Tracey? She seems to be getting along with everyone all right."
The Rutherford Series Chapter 261: To Be Cherished
Glen stepped back out into the yard, two camp chairs in his hands. Valerie Driscoll was accustomed to calling all the shots, and he knew she set up her area far away from his mother to try to force a division in the party, drawing the crowd to her, so she could show off. That was one of the reasons he wanted the party at his house, so she wouldn't be able to pull a stunt like this. Yet, she still wrecked division wherever she went.Glen moved to the middle of the yard, close to the bounce house, and set up the two chairs. He turned to find Cherish near her mother, two beers in her hand as she watched him, one eyebrow raised and a smirk turning up the corner of her lip."Excuse me," he heard her tell her mother. "I think I'll go join my husband." She then left her mother's side, Valerie's mouth ajar as she gawked at her daughter's retreating back. When Cherish reached him, she handed him his beer as she slid into her chair. "Your beer, sir," she said, smiling at him.He glanced over at
The Rutherford Series Chapter 260: To Be Cherished
Glen just needed a few minutes to calm his temper. He knew he had acted rude since returning home, and he didn't mean to snap at everyone, taking out his frustration with Cherish on everyone but her. He shoved his way inside the house and headed for the bedroom at the back of the house. Just a few minutes, that's all he needed.However, what he needed and what he received were two different things. As soon as he plopped down on the bed, his hands clasped together as he rested his elbows on his knees, doing his best to take deep breaths, Cherish walked into the room, shutting the door behind her. He didn't even turn to look at her. He couldn't right then. She had lied. Again. That's all she ever did lately.Cherish walked in front of him and dropped to her knees, sitting back on her heels, her hands on her thighs as she stared up at him. She said nothing. Just knelt there, waiting.Glen closed his eyes, taking another fortifying breath. Before opening them again and staring at his wife.
