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“He and his people are doing everything he can.” Dyson flew to Chicago and tracked Corbin down. Five minutes into questioning, he squealed on everyone—Mark and himself, for taking and storing pictures on their phones that they sold to Ben; Andy, for approaching them within days of Henry and me going public, after Roshana hunted him down; and Tillie, who was more than happy to share as many sordid rumors as she could gather on me.
Dyson is working on their dismissal paperwork from Wolf as we speak.
As for Roshana, I’m not sure what Henry has in mind for her, but he’s cooking up something and I doubt it will taste good.
Right now, though, he’s leaning over the kitchen counter in a fitted white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, listening as Violet walks him through her knit hat business plan. She’s worked on it all day, headphones on to drown out the commotion. Plates of half-eaten meals litter the counter behind them. Occasionally, one of them reaches for a french fry.
“Listen, Mama, I should go.” A dark, gloomy sky looms outside. Ronan will be here soon.
“Of course, Abigail. You go and get a good night’s rest. This will all blow over soon. Next news cycle.”
“Thank you.” At least I don’t have to deal with her judgment on top of everyone else’s.
“And when you’re feelin’ up to it, you and Henry need to come over for dinner again.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure when that’ll be.” How much begging will it take to convince Henry to subject himself to Mama again?
“Soon, hopefully! We can talk all about this barn reception Henry suggested. You know, after the wedding, for the Greenbank folks.”
I frown at Henry’s back. “Right. That.”What?
“Get some sleep, baby girl. Love you.”
“Love you too. Both of you.” We end the call. “Hey, Henry?”
“Yeah?” he hollers.
“Why does my mother think we’re having a reception in the barn?”
“Because I suggested it when I called her yesterday.”
My mouth drops. “You called her?” And she answered?
“I did. Figured a peace offering might make her a bit more amiable.”
To be a fly on the wall during that conversation. How many times did Mama bring the lord’s name into it? Regardless, it must have gone well. “That was actually … smart.” She gets what she wants without derailing our plans.
“That’s why he makes thebig bucks,” Violet cuts in, air-quotingbig bucks.
Henry spares a smirk her way before peering over his shoulder at me. He’s still on Barcelona time. He must be exhausted.
“Thank you,” I mouth.
“Thank me later,” he mouths back, his blue eyes dragging over my body, reminding me that it’s been five days since I felt him inside me.
The penthouse phone rings, which means Ronan has arrived and is being escorted up.
With a heavy sigh, Henry moves for the bar.
* * *
“You workedin the Wolf Hotel in Alaska too?” Violet tucks strands of hair behind her ear. She abandoned her school project to curl up in an armchair as soon as Ronan arrived.
The fireplace casts a warm glow throughout the vast double-story living room. Coupled with strategically placed table lamps and heavy knit blankets I found in a linen closet upstairs, there’s an ease to this grand space I haven’t felt before. Outside, freezing drizzle pelts the wall of windows. This morning’s sunshine is long gone, but that seems fitting, given the dark turn of events.
“I did.” Ronan swallows a gulp of scotch—a pricy bottle, not that Henry has anything cheap to pour him instead. “With Red for a while.” He nudges my arm with his elbow.
“Was that before or after you were Henry’s assistant?” She’s trying to piece together our summer, but is it pure curiosity or is she wondering how much of today’s shocking article could be true?
