Chapter 59
Seven months later ...
David sat behind his desk, thinking that life couldn’t get any better than it was at that moment. After Sheba’s interview, she received many requests to speak. People were still curious about the wife of David King. They all hoped to learn more about him by talking to her. Sheba was able to turn a negative into a positive.
He picked up the picture of Sheba on his desk and smiled. She held her hand on her round belly. David prayed daily for a healthy baby.
“Mr. King, Reverend McDaniel is on the line,” Trisha said over the intercom.
“My main man, where you been?” David asked.
“I was in Shreveport, doing a revival at Reverend Adam Marks, Sr.’s church. I wish you could have been there to see the miraculous things that the Lord did this past week.”
“God’s been working some miracles out here, too, brother.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Why don’t you meet me at the Four Seasons for lunch and I’ll do just that?”
“Sounds like a plan. Our regular time?”
“Yes,” David responded, while admiring the other pictures of Sheba that he had on his desk.
After the call with Nathan, David went to Wade’s office. Wade was there but had his back toward the door. David eavesdropped from the doorway rather than alerting Wade of his presence.
He heard Wade say to the caller, “He doesn’t have a clue.” There was a pause as he swiveled his chair around. His face turned white when he saw David standing there. “Look, I have to go. Will talk to you later.”
David strolled into the room. “Hi, Wade. I came by to see if you got the final papers we need for the deal in Tulsa.”
Wade stuttered, “I—I did, but we didn’t get all the signatures needed to make things official. My contacts at the FCC wouldn’t approve them.”
David now stood near Wade’s desk. “I wonder why. You normally have no problems getting approval. Is there something going on that I should know about?” David looked down at Wade.
Wade seemed to cower. “No, sir. I just need to go over their heads and make it happen.”
“That’s right. Make it happen. That’s what I’ve been paying you to do.”
Wade’s phone rang. He looked down at the number and then back up at David.
David asked, “Aren’t you going to get that?”
“They can wait,” Wade responded.
“Get the Tulsa deal approved. I’ll talk to you later.” David did an about-face and walked out of Wade’s office.
David pulled out his phone and called Matthew, the head of his IT department. “I need a report on the incoming and outgoing phone calls and e-mails of Wade.”
“Yes, sir. When do you need it?”
“I need it yesterday. And, Matthew?”
“Yes?”
“I need you to handle this yourself. Don’t let anyone, especially Wade, know that you’re doing this.” David’s instincts told him that Wade was up to no good, but he wanted proof before deciding how to deal with him.
“Do I need to alert security about anything?” Matthew asked.
“No. I’ll handle that if need be. Just get me the information, and have it to me by the end of the day. I’ll be out of the office for the next few hours, so if you need me, you can reach me on my cell phone.”
David ended the call and headed to meet Nathan for lunch. Nathan was waiting for him when he arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort restaurant.
“You’re late,” Nathan said.
David sat down across from him. “Dealing with a traitor. But I hope I’m wrong.” David told Nathan his suspicions about Wade.
Nathan said, “Follow your gut instincts. In this case, I don’t think you are wrong. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I had a dream last week, while in Shreveport, about this. I just didn’t have a chance to call you.”
“I wish you would have. I probably could have done something sooner.”
“God’s been beating me up because I’ve been slacking in some areas. Even I, a man of God, get too busy to do the Lord’s work.” Nathan looked up. “But I hear you, Lord. I’m going on a monthlong sabbatical. I need some alone time with just me and the Lord.”
“I hope your sabbatical won’t start until after Bathsheba has the baby. You’re supposed to be the godfather.”
“When she gets ready to have the baby, you just call me. I’ll be there,” Nathan assured him.
“Well, that could be any day. She looks like she’s about to pop right open.”
“My friend, don’t worry. I will be there. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
David looked down at his phone and read the text message that had just come through. He looked up at Nathan. “Looks like your sabbatical will have to wait.”