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Though Hudson might not necessarily like Alexander on a personal level, he couldn’t deny that the man was generous. Hudson hadn’t realized it growing up, but Alexander had even been very generous with Hudson’s mom, giving her more than enough to raise Hudson. Going above and beyond what he’d really needed to do to provide for the son he’d never acknowledged.
Hudson had gone to a great private school, had always had fashionable clothes, and had received the car of his dreams for his sixteenth birthday. However, Alexander had apparently not understood that more than the money, Hudson had needed a father. Especially when he no longer had a mother.
“Were you able to talk to Alexander about what’s going on?” Kayleigh asked after their food came.
“Yes.” And hadn’tthatbeen a conversation?
Interestingly enough, Alexander had been ready to fly in and fireLiz,of all people. Her determination to believe the accuser without even giving Wilder a chance to defend himself had made Alexander livid.
Hudson didn’t know if that was because Alexander had a vested interest in the guy because of Kayleigh, or because he really believed that anyone accused should be given a chance to defend themselves. He hoped it was the latter, but Hudson had never been so intimately involved in a situation like this to know for sure.
That wasn’t to say that there hadn’t been incidents of sexual harassment at Remington properties. It was just that when those had happened, even though Hudson had been aware of them, Caren and her team had always been the ones to step in and deal with those situations.
“He is giving Caren a chance to take care of the situation, but if it seems to be escalating, he’s going to come and deal with it.”
Kayleigh’s eyes closed for a moment, and she took a deep breath.
“You don’t want that?” Hudson asked, confused by her reaction.
“I just hate that a situation has developed involving Wilder that might require Alexander’s attention. After all he’s done for us, it just feels wrong.”
Hudson waved off her concern. “Alexander is most concerned with it being a fair investigation. Fair to the woman, of course, but also fair to Wilder.”
“Are you close to Alexander personally?” Kayleigh asked.
Hudson thought of the years he’d spent learning at Alexander’s side before the man set him free to be his voice and to carry out his direction in locations around the world. As soon as he’d been able to do that, Alexander had scaled back on his own travels.
Back when Hudson had first graduated from college, Alexander had travelled extensively, taking Hudson with him all the time. But at no time had he ever introduced Hudson as his son. It had always just beenmy apprentice, Hudson St. James.And there had been no personal conversations between them. It had all been about work.
“He took me… under his wing after I graduated from college. So I do know him quite well on a business level, not as much on a personal one.”
“I’ve always wondered what sort of man he was,” Kayleigh said. “He’s been nothing but kind to me and to Wilder, but I can’t imagine he’s gotten to where he has by always being nice.”
Hudson didn’t really want to talk about his father, but he couldn’t really cut off the conversation without her wondering why. “He can be ruthless, of course. When he needs to be. But it seems that he’s figured out that he doesn’t have to be that way all the time.”
They ate for a couple of minutes, then Kayleigh said, “Do you miss your home in New York?”
Hudson shrugged. “I’m not sure you’d call it a home. It’s a place for me to stop off between trips. The suite here is just as nice.”
"And you’re not bored?” Kayleigh asked. “You don’t seem to be taking advantage of the winter amenities this resort is centered around.”
“I skied,” Hudson reminded her.
“Once?” Kayleigh asked with lifted brows.
“Okay. Fine. But even having only gone once, I’m not bored. There is always lots of stuff that needs my attention.”
Kayleigh frowned. “But that’s work. You need to unwind.”
Hudson couldn’t argue with her about that. “I will say that considering the intensity of the past few weeks, I could use a break. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that something else is going to pop up that will require my attention.”
“Do you ever tell Alexander to send someone else?” Kayleigh asked. “Tell him that you’re not available?”
He’d done that plenty of times in his head but had never once voiced it. Besides, what would he do with his extra time?
“This is my job, and not every job is nine to five.”
“Not every job is sixteen hours a day either,” Kayleigh said. “You need to take care of yourself.”
