The entrance to Henry’s suite from the servants’ quarters is open a crack for me again. I slip into the room noiselessly.
“This is exactly the kind of bullshit that the future leader can’t get caught up in. Your grandfather and I have built this company with the strength of our family values.” The gruff man’s voice carries through the cabin.
Henry sits at the desk, twirling a pen between his fingers, his jaw taut. I’m guessing that it’s his father on the other end of the phone.
“What has legal said?”
“They’re still waiting on her to accept the severance package but it’s a no-brainer. She’s going to sign.” Henry sounds drained.
“Good,” the man mutters gruffly. “I don’t know, Henry. Between this and the Alaska gamble, I’m beginning to wonder about your ability to make sound decisions. Maybe your brother is more suitable.”
Henry slams the pen against the desk. “If you want this company driven into the ground within five years, sure, hand over Wolf Hotels to Scott. He doesn’t have an entrepreneurial bone in his body and forget any strategic marketing skills. The fucking idiot didn’t even finish his undergrad. I, on the other hand, have a goddamn MBA from Harvard.”
“Well, he seems to be doing well with the mines.”
“Because they’re mines. He digs for gold, throws it on a scale, and sells it for market price. A monkey could run that business!” He pauses to temper his tone. “Look, it was an unfortunate situation but it is handled, and it’s never going to happen again.”
What unfortunate situation are they talking about? I know I shouldn’t be listening, so I quietly sweep through and collect dirty dishes, keeping my head down while I learn about Henry. He has an MBA from Harvard—impressive. He has a brother named Scott, whom he clearly doesn’t think too highly of.
“You better see to it that it doesn’t, because one more fuckup like that and you’ll be the monkey peddling gold, if that. You’re already on thin ice with this Wolf Cove project. You’re about to embarrass our family with that catastrophic failure. A goddamn seasonal Wolf. I can’t believe you talked me into this.”
I feel Henry’s eyes on me and I can’t help but glance over and offer him a polite smile, all the while feeling bad for him for his father’s harsh words. I don’t see why he wouldn’t be proud of his son’s accomplishments here, but I’m not a business tycoon. I’m sure it’s more complicated than hanging pretty chandeliers and gazing out at snow-covered mountaintops.
“When do you arrive?” Henry pushes out through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know. Ask my secretary.” The phone line goes dead.
And Henry heaves a sigh, resting his forehead in his palms for a long moment.
“He seems a bit abrupt.” I quietly edge in next to him, to where my laptop sits, inhaling the scent of clean soap. He’s dressed in cargo pants and a simple black long-sleeved shirt for another bear sightseeing trip with another group of important guests. I wonder if he ever gets bored of it.
“I’ve been planning this since I was a teenager—long before my father ever handed over the reins to Wolf Hotels. This summer, I will prove to him and every other asshole out there that the Alaska location is a fucking brilliant move.” His words are confident—even arrogant—but I sense a hint of fear and unease behind them, too.
“For what it’s worth, you’ve already proven it to me. I’d stay here if I could afford it. I mean, I know my opinion doesn’t matter much, but I’d stay.”
“You shouldn’t do that.”
“Do what?” I’m instantly replaying my movements, wondering what I did wrong.
“Discredit yourself like that. Especially if you want your business to succeed one day.”
My business? Does he mean my soap business? I frown for a moment, searching through my memory. I never told him about that, did I?
The video. I mentioned it in there. And I guess he remembers.
Reaching for the extra mug I requested with room service—for me—Henry pours coffee into it, then cream and a spoonful of sugar, and slides it over to me wordlessly.
“Thank you.” I smile sheepishly. Oh, to have Henry making my coffee for me every morning. “So, you have a brother?” I ask cautiously, taking a sip.
“Yeah. An older one.”
“I always wished I had a sibling.” Mama had to have an emergency hysterectomy after I was born, due to complications. She blames that for her excessive weight gain.
“You can have mine. He’s a cocksucker. He wants to run Wolf Hotels. Thinks he can do a better job.” Henry sighs as he stands, reaching for his red-and-black lumberjack coat.
“Must be a real problem, when you have to fight over an international hotel chain and a gold mine.” I let some of my sarcasm slip out, even though I’ve been taught with years of scolding to keep it in. Sarcasm is “rude.”
“You have a bad habit of listening in on things you’re not supposed to,” Henry murmurs, only his eyes are twinkling with mischief as he peers down at me, his gaze raking over my chest. I’m getting the impression that he’s a breast man, for the amount of attention he gives to mine.
His soft reprimand reminds me of the conversation he had with Belinda. It must remind him, too, because the mischief falls off. “There are people, including my own family, who want this hotel to fail. They want me to fail.”
He pulls on his jacket, hiding that intoxicating upper body from my view. “The plane needs to leave in ten. I’m heading out.”
“Not yet.” I rush to his bedroom, eying the rumpled sheets—my daily mental dose of Henry’s naked body tangled in them hitting me, making me flush. But I push past that and dig through his dresser drawer. He’s waiting for me, mild curiosity making his face softer.
I hold out the pair of black socks, to replace the mismatched blue and brown ones he pulled onto his feet. “I’m sure the bears don’t care about your fashion statement, but I figured you might.”
He treats me to a sheepish grin—such a rare sight on his beautiful face—before swapping out his socks and lacing up his hiking boots. There’s something decidedly heartwarming about being able to do little personal things like this for him. Things that a girlfriend or wife might do.
“I’ll see you later, Abbi.” He winks. “Stay out of trouble.”
“So no more massages?” It slips out before I can help myself, and I bite my lip nervously, hoping I haven’t angered him with the reminder.
“Only from Lorraine,” he throws over his shoulder on his way out.
“You know my roommate?”
“Nope.” He’s gone, out the door, leaving me baffled.
~.~.~.~
Date: May 9th
Abigail,
How are you? Your mom told me that you were in Alaska? That must be something. I never thought you’d be so adventurous! Same ol’, same ol’ around here. Well, except for the whole Jed thing, of course. The whole town’s still reeling over that. I can’t believe he had the nerve to bring Cammie to Greenbank. Your mom said that you’re devastated but staying strong. We’re all glad to hear that. Drop me a line when you get a chance.
Lucy
I stare at the e-mail as I sip on my coffee, stewing in anger over Mama telling people that I’m devastated. Whether it’s the truth or not is beside the point. Now Jed and Cammie and everyone will think I’m sitting in a corner up here, crying my eyes out. Back when it happened, I didn’t care. I wanted people to think that, to feel sorry for me. But now it makes me sound weak and pathetic.
I take in the sunny morning as I consider how I should respond. I haven’t talked to Lucy in months. She’s a friend of ours from school growing up. She works at the feed store in town, having never left the town borders after high school graduation. Truth be told, she never did well enough in school to even consider applying to college. Punching buttons into a cash register and hoisting grain bags is more her speed.
She’s nice enough, but she’s a gossip, and I know that whatever I tell her now will spread through town like wildfire.
I smile. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
Hey Lucy,
Great to hear from you! I’m having an amazing time in Alaska. It’s beautiful and peaceful. I could live up here forever. The hotel is pure luxury, and I’ve made some great friends. I’m actually working as the personal assistant to Mr. Wolf, himself. I’m pretty sure he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on. ☺ Have you ever heard of him?
I do a quick Google search to find a link with an especially flattering media picture of Henry—his designer suit well cut over his powerful upper body, his smile charming—and include it in the body of the email, followed by an airy “talk to you later,” sign-off.
I grin. There. Now it’s time to work.
