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Chapter five
STONE
I’monmyway out to this week’s party when my dad comes through the door. He’s been at a funeral with Lewis today, but this is way later than I thought he’d be back.
“Hey, Stone.”
“Hey, Dad. How did it go?”
“As good as funerals can be, I guess. Actually, can I have a chat before you go?” I nod and follow him over to the kitchen, taking a seat at the island as he grabs a beer from the fridge and stands on the other side to face me. “You know about Keane, obviously.”
“Yeah, the guy whose daughter Lewis was going to shack up with to amalgamate businesses.” Turns out the reason Lewis’s future bride stood him up is because her dad died that day. Shit news, even if they have questionable morals. I don’t even know why Dad goes along with it, except he’s obsessed with growing his business. He doesn’t do it for the glory or the respect, though, he does it because he wants something worthwhile to leave us. What he has now is more than adequate. He’s done amazingly well dragging himself and his business up to this level, to now running alongside the elite, but it seems he’s always pushing for something better. I’m happy to make my own way, but I guess that’s my privilege showing. I’d never let my dad know I was anything but extremely grateful for everything he does for us, even if playing my part in this crappy rich-people society makes me hate myself. Dad chooses to ignore my comment, well aware of my views and why I have them.
“Well, you know that he passed away, and we were discussing a lot of common business interests recently?”
“Yeah…”
“Keane’s widow and daughter are going to be moving in with us.” That was so far down the list of what I would’ve guessed he’d say that I’m stunned for a second.
“Why?” I don’t want to share my home with two pretentious, money-hungry airheads. I know women like that, and they’re toxic. The girls at school, their mothers, my mother. No fucking way.
“She needs some support, and we’ve been friends a long time. It’s not like we don’t have the room.”
“You have? I thought you met them when your business picked up.” We’ve only been within the exclusive group for about five years.
“I knew Veronica before any of that, before you were even born.”
“Even so, why can’t her daughter support her. Or has she moved on to her next target already? It’s pretty fucking quick for her mother to be moving on, too.”
“Stone, that’s enough,” he says, slamming his bottle down on the counter. He doesn’t lose his temper often, and I can see the mixed emotions in his eyes. Who is this woman? “I know how you feel about mixing business and personal arrangements, and it’s understandable, but Lewis has agreed to this marriage just as much as she has.”
“Yeah, and I judge them equally for it.” I do. Comparing this girl to Lewis does not put her up in my estimations. If anything, it shows exactly what kind of person she is. “What do you get out of this?” That’s a cheap shot, and I know instantly I shouldn’t have taken it. My dad is genuinely a decent guy and we get on really well, practically unheard of in this social circle.
“Veronica is an old friend, and I won’t have you making her uncomfortable. If she and her daughter need some support, then they’re going to get it from me. Keane appointed me as executor for his business and caretaker for their trusts until the marriage goes through.”
“Why isn’t the daughter moving in with Lewis?” He only recently moved out, at the tender age of thirty, and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t want him back here more often than necessary.
“Lewis has a lot of business away for the next month or two. This girl has just lost her father, she doesn’t need to be left in an empty apartment with an absent husband.”
“Fine, whatever.” I turn to leave, not wanting to carry on with this conversation. It’s clearly not going to make any difference. I’ll have to do my best to avoid them both.
“They’ll be moving in this weekend, and Ava will be joining Oakview on Monday.”
“Jesus, she’s my age?! Lewis is 31!”
“They’re both adults who are entitled to their own decisions, Stone. Make sure you make Ava feel welcome.” I give my dad a look that I hope he perfectly translates into I’m not babysitting anyone and leave, driving over to Mason’s. As if I’m spending time with some stuck-up bitch who would willingly marry Lewis for cash. She can fend for herself, probably on her back. I rant in my head all the way over, but try to push all of that to the back of my mind as I pull up outside his house. We show our faces at the party before heading back to that club we tried last week. I was hoping the raven-haired girl would be back, but I guess luck is well and truly not on my side today. I haven’t been able to get her face out of my mind all week, and I could lose some frustrations in her curves. I have to make do with a disappointing replacement, but thinking about the girl from the beach as I rail this stranger just about does the job.
