Calling Mr. Covington
Chapter twenty-three
Alex
I stare at the phone. I need to call Elder Covington and demand a meeting.
Brandon is outside taking a smoke break with Seth, so I only have a few minutes to do this before he needs his desk back.
I take a deep breath. This is for Jake, I remind myself.
This has to happen. I pick up the phone and dial before I can think better of it.
“Elder Covington speaking,” comes the brusque voice of Jake’s father. God, I hate that voice. It’s so devoid of anything resembling humanity. “Hello, who’s there?”
“My name is Alex. I’m the manager of Keystone Hotel now. Kind of. I wanted to talk to you about Jake,” I say. He cuts me off before I can say more.
“Alex? I don’t know an Alex.” He pauses for a minute, thinking. “Are you that little cleaning boy? I thought you were dead. What is going on at that hotel?”
“I am dead, but I’ve been managing behind the scenes for a while now.
I’ve had to step up since Kayla got arrested.
We need to discuss your future involvement with this hotel, preferably in person.
I’ve looked at the tax records; you don’t actually own this place.
Jake does, through a trust you set up for him.
How convenient for you. It must have complicated things when he died. ”
I can hear his heavy breathing through the phone. “I don’t know what kind of games you two think you’re playing, faking your deaths, but you need to be careful. I’m warning you now, boy. You don’t want to play with me.”
“No, I’m warning you. Consider this your official notice.
Tell your goons to leave Jake alone. He’s told them plenty of times that he wants nothing to do with you, but they keep coming for him.
If I see another one, it won’t end well for them.
Or you.” I hold my breath as I wait for his reply, hand shaking as adrenaline runs through me.
Right now, I’m glad we have thirty miles and a phone between us.
He chuckles, somehow making it sound evil.
“You want to meet in person, you say? Okay. I’d like you to explain all of your demands to my face.
I have a few myself, for my pathetic excuse for a son.
I’ll be there tomorrow at eight thirty, so be prepared.
I don’t like having my time wasted. And Alex? ” he pauses.
“Yeah?” I whisper.
“Bring your A-game, otherwise I will eat you alive, little boy. Tell my son I’ll see him soon.”
With that, he hangs up. I put the phone down and slam my head on the desk, trying to calm my nerves. I can’t believe I just did that. Elder Covington is going to fucking kill me.
Running my hand down on my face, I rush to find Jake. I have to prepare him for the meeting I set up with his dad. We’re gonna do a blackmail.