Henry
“Why am I not surprised to see you in the middle of this fucking storm, Mr. Parrish.” You fuckin’ creep.
“I’m going to kill you,” Blaire mumbles in my ear as she’s making her way toward the main door. “I’m heading to the office, but call if you need me. As usual, it was unpleasant to see you, Mr. Parrish.”
“If all goes as I predict, I’ll be seeing you soon to deliver the check with Mr. Aldridge’s donation.”
Blaire glares at me and says, “Fix this!”
I’m about to ask where everyone else is when I hear voices coming from the living room. Vance and Hayes chat with a woman who sits on the couch. I assume that is Martina.
“They found you,” Hayes says.
“Of course. I was at the office,” I answer and turn my attention toward Martina.
She hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw her during my grandfather’s funeral. She and her family were there to show their support. She’s tall, slim, and the highlights in her brown hair make her look almost blonde.
“Henry, dear,” she says, smiling politely. “My lawyer has been trying to reach you for ages. We’re still confused as to who represents you these days. I’m grateful that I got ahold of Mr. Parrish. Your father recommended him when he summoned me.”
“William?” I ask, and Hayes’s head turns in her direction, his eyes bulging. “When did you see him?”
“January?” She waves her hand as if it doesn’t matter when or how that happened. “He was an acquaintance of my father and wanted to meet me in case he wouldn’t make it. I’m sorry for your loss. I’d have reached out if I had learned earlier.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that the announcement was made public. Sophia took care of those small details.
“Your father was lovely, and handsome just like all of you. I had no idea you…well, you have brothers.”
Hayes and I look at each other. We have so many questions, and I bet he feels played just like I do. If we manage to dodge this one, there has to be more shit coming our way. We have to be ready. But he only says, “It’ll be fine,” as he squeezes my shoulder reassuringly. “If you need us, we’re going to be outside.”
Translation, he’s not pissed, and I got his full support. My chest loosens up a bit. No matter what happens, my family is backing me.
“To what do I owe you this visit?”
“I’m getting mixed signals, Henry, and Daddy is concerned about my future. It’s in my best interest to go to the root and make sacrifices if that’s what is needed.”
Her reply isn’t what I expect. What sacrifices? What… “Mixed signals?” I ask, but I want to say, “Let’s break this arrangement” is pretty self-explanatory.
“Well, yes. First your father asks me to see him just to meet the future mother of his grandchild, and then you’re asking to dissolve our agreement?” She clutches the necklace she wears and says, “It’s pretty stressful, and what with my birthday coming up and all the preparations I have to make for the wedding?
“Mr. Parrish here was telling me that you can’t get out of this town. You should’ve thought about that before you moved in here. We reserved the Natural History Museum years ago. I can’t just cancel it to marry…here.”
“There are a lot of details you two have to resolve. The one detail I’m interested in is your living arrangements,” Parrish jumps in immediately. “This is a serious relationship, which means—”
“This is a business transaction my grandfather set up when I was twenty-two. Unfortunately, I dismissed it and never thought about it until I moved into this town,” I lie because really I thought about it when I realized I am in love with Sophia.
“As Ms. Edelstein explained, I contacted her to resolve this matter immediately, but there’s been a lack of communication between parties. My future is in this town. I see how you could try to twist this into one of William’s stipulations because you can’t seem to believe that we’re here to stay, or you want to see us fail. However, I wouldn’t drag a person who I barely know into this mess when my intentions aren’t the same as the ones my grandfather envisioned.”
He stares at me speechless.
“Mr. Parrish, I’m sure you’re just trying to do your job, even at times like today when it seems like you’re trying to fuck with us. If you don’t mind, I’m going to solve this problem directly with Ms. Edelstein.”
“Since Daddy told me to take charge, I stopped using the family lawyer and hired Mr. Parrish to be my attorney,” she explains. “He’s the one who suggested this visit as soon as I explained my dilemma.”
Of course, he did. Asshole.
I groan and say, “Call my lawyer, Mr. Parrish. I have nothing to say to you.”
“I won’t leave the town until this is resolved.”
“Just a reminder, you’ve been banished from The Lodge by Blaire. There is a bed & breakfast in Happy Springs. Enjoy it before I buy it and well…you’d be listed as a persona non-grata in there too.”
He glares at me and then looks at Martina. “We’ll have this solved in a matter of days. Don’t worry.”
“I trust you,” she says and then looks at me. “My bags are in the rental car. Have your maids take them to my room. I’d like to have dinner early. I’m not used to this time zone.”
“Why are you here?” I ask. “This is very simple. I rescind the contract, you receive the money, and we’re done with each other.”
My phone buzzes, and I check it immediately hoping for good news.
Pierce: Did you ever read this contract?
Henry: Once, like fourteen years ago.
Pierce: You’re screwed. You can’t just pay her. There’s a trial period you have to go through before that can happen.
I look up at her and then at the phone.
Henry: You are kidding, right?
Pierce: No, we’re on our way to the house.
Henry: Is Soph coming?
Pierce: No. She claims to have work to do, but I think she’s freaking out.
“Henry, you’re lovely. A gentleman, unlike many men in our circle. I’m here because this is my future. The future my father secured for me when I was a teenager. I’d marry at thirty-two, have a child at thirty-three, and have financial security for the rest of my life. Ten million won’t buy me anything more than an apartment in Soho if I’m lucky. If you had sent me that ridiculous request ten years ago, I might’ve negotiated it and have my father secure me another suitor. Now, there’s no way I’m letting go of what my father worked so hard to get for me. You won’t get rid of me that easily.”
She pulls out her keys. “Now get the servants to do something useful.”
I stare at her hand and chuckle. “We don’t have servants, but I’ll make sure to have my sister-in-law add you to the chore board if you have to stay in the house. I can’t wait to see you feed the animals.”
Thank fuck Pierce enters the house before she can speak. He looks at her and says, “At least your grandfather had good taste.”