“I see that you’re being more thorough in your research, Pierce,” he says with an approving tone that makes me wonder what his angle is. “I’ll let my client know about the following steps.”
“One more thing,” I call out before he leaves. “The prenup says I have to provide her with the necessary accommodations to make her comfortable. However, my father’s stipulations don’t allow us to hire the personnel she’s accustomed to.”
“I’ll be handing her a list of things that can and can’t be done during her trial and warning her of what will happen if she decides to leave the house.”
“She’s not sleeping in my bedroom either,” I add since he’s going to have a conversation with her. “I don’t have a girlfriend. However, I am in love with a woman who deserves my respect.”
“We don’t have enough room for her,” Blaire continues. “We’d understand if she decides to rescind the agreement.”
“Ms. Edelstein plans on staying, but if something changes I’ll make sure to contact you and your lawyers. I’m heading back to New York.” He bows and before he leaves, he looks at Beacon. “We’re watching you.”
“Good, because I’m watching you too.”
“I know,” he says and leaves.
“What are you doing?” I ask him.
“I decided to hire a person to follow him,” he grins. “He wants to watch us? I’ll do the same.”
“You could’ve warned us about this visit?”
He rolls his eyes. “My dude, he comes often. You just don’t see him because he’s like a dark sentinel. I thought it was a routine visit. Who knew you had a side dish?”
“Stop it,” I warn him. “I don’t care if you tease me, but before you do, please think of how this will make Sophia feel.”
He raises his hands as if surrendering. “I promise to be mindful and to get my guy to dig deeper into Parrish’s life.”
“That’d be good,” I agree and then tell them what happened when I was visiting William’s grave. All of them are speechless. Beacon agrees to dig into this guy’s life. There has to be something we’re missing and that might put us a step ahead of him.
Henry
Blaire is showing Martina around the house while Hayes, Vance, Pierce, and I are moving the furniture around. Mills and Leyla are in the indoor arena with Poppy and Arden. If there’s one thing my nephew loves, it is riding the mare. We’re hoping this new change doesn't affect him. Bringing a new person into the house just when we’re getting used to our situation is rough for us. I can’t imagine how it is for the poor little kid.
“Why can’t I stay in your room?” Martina demands as we enter the house with the sofa-bed.
“His back couldn’t afford to be on this for the next three months,” Hayes speaks up. “As his orthopedic doctor, I can’t allow him to sleep in this bed. Not with all the back issues and his age.”
“He’s an old man,” Beacon informs her.
Leave it to my brothers to find a way to fuck with me while giving me an alibi. Assholes.
“Well, we can be in your room. Your bed is big enough for two people,” she suggests.
“Listen, this is a trial, not a marriage. I don’t sleep with women.”
“Right. I’ve heard a rumor that you don’t do sleepovers,” she says with a sigh. “When we get married, are we having separate bedrooms?”
“When you’re ready,” Blaire diverts her attention. “You can move your bags to the television room though. The downstairs bathroom has a shower that you can use whenever you want. Just make sure to clean up after you’re done. Make sure you keep everything tidy because when we clean, we just shove what we find out of place into the baskets. Toys, dirty clothes, and shoes.”
“What if it doesn't fit in either one of those categories?”
“Then it goes into the trash bag,” Beacon is the one who informs her. “I know, because they’ve trashed my shit and going through the trash isn’t pretty.”
Blaire continues explaining how we organize everything in the house and takes her to the chore board.
“Well, I’m here because of him. Why do I have to do any chores?” she asks, shocked.
“Because everyone has to pull their weight in this house,” I explain to her, not adding that even Sophia and G have chores, and they aren’t part of the household. “I’m hoping that Mr. Parrish brought you up to date about the do’s and don’ts according to my father’s testament.”
“As I explained to him, it doesn’t pertain to me,” she says defensively.
“If you don’t want to be a part of this house, you have two options,” I expand because it’s clear that she’s not going to put in any effort. “One is you can leave and explain that you can’t finish the trial and therefore forfeit the arrangement. The second option is...well, there’s no second option. You want to live here, you have to pull your weight too.”
She glares at me and says, “Once we’re married you’re going to regret doing this to me.”
The rest of the evening isn’t any better. At dinner time everyone leaves. There’s a note on the table that says:
We’re heading to Sophia’s for dinner.
It comes as no surprise to learn that they are choosing her, and I’m glad, but what am I supposed to do now?
“On the board, it has Beacon’s name. Am I supposed to wait for him to cook?” Martina asks as she enters the kitchen.
“No, he made other arrangements,” I inform her, trying not to sound bitter at the fact that they went to my girl’s house. I reach for the phone and announce, “I’m ordering pizza for us.”
“I don’t eat carbs,” she complains.
“What do you eat?”
“Salads,” she answers. “You can get me one of those in this town, can't you?”
If I was in the mood to fuck with her head, I’d take her to Tasty Corner, the diner where they deep-fry everything, even kale.
“I’ll call my chef and have him prepare you a Caesar salad.”
She scrunches her nose. “Make sure it doesn't have iceberg lettuce. That makes me…gassy. Also, have them put the dressing on the side and no anchovies.”
“Then would you like me to ask for a different dressing?” I ask because surely, she knows that the traditional Caesar dressing comes with anchovies. Also, they use romaine lettuce.
I’m not a chef, but it’s my job to know the basics of what’s served in my kitchens all over the world.
“Well, I’m sure he can manage to prepare a vegan dressing. You pay him to do that, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t pay him to do that. If you want a one hundred percent vegan salad, I’ll make sure he serves you that,” I answer and make the call. “Can you get me a prime rib, house dressing on the side, and a dinner size vegan salad with the dressing on the side. Also, send the usual chocolate-covered strawberries to Baker’s Lane.”