Chapter 4 #2
She bites her lip and whispers just as loud as she speaks.
“I didn’t tell her we’re plum out of rooms. I didn’t have the chance.
She was dealing with her stepmother, not to mention a broken heart.
The poor, sweet woman. Why else does a bride leave the love of her life at the altar?
I feel so sorry for her. There was no way I could break it to her that we don’t have any open rooms for the next few months. I was hoping…”
I stare at her wondering if I was wrong about her being good at her job. “You were hoping for what? A cancellation?”
“Oh, I know there won’t be a cancellation.
When I saw you heading up to see her, I was hoping you could break the news to her.
” She motions toward the entrance to the suite behind me.
“And since you’re here, there’s no better time, right?
You are checking in on her and all. That’s what a good bridal assistant would do.
I know Marsha would … if she were still here. ”
It's official. The next time I see my employees going at it, I vow to look the other way—at least until after a big event.
But right now, I have no choice. “I’ll let Ms. Madison know her time is up tomorrow morning at checkout. Is there any other awkward or uncomfortable business you’d like me to take care of?”
She ignores my sarcasm and exhales on a smile. “No, thank you. That’s all for now.”
“Great,” I bite and do not return her smile. I can’t remember the last time my smile wasn’t fake. I think it was four years ago before my life turned on its ear. Since then, it’s been hell. “Make sure the front desk is managed the rest of the day in case guests check out early.”
And with that, Felicity is back to cheerful and bubbly, dammit. “Will do, Mr. Donnelly. You can count on me.”
For anything other than speaking at a normal volume ... or delivering bad news.
I’m barely off the lift when I hear raised voices coming from inside Harlow Madison’s suite.
It seems that the groom isn’t the only one refusing to take no for an answer.
After I announced that champagne would be served, Albert Humphries chased me down and cornered me on my way back to the kitchen.
He continued to demand to see his bride.
Over and over, in fact. The only way I could get rid of him was to tell him that I’d see what I could do.
But there’s no way I’m allowing him near her unless she wants to see him. I have no fucking idea what the Madison woman saw in him to begin with. The vibes rolling off that guy are more ominous than an abandoned building in a war zone where the real shit goes down.
I knock on the door for the second time today. Unlike earlier, I barely have to wait for an answer.
The door flies open, but this time, I’m not greeted with a beauty in white.
Harlow looks up at me. “Hi.”
Her voice is becoming more and more familiar with each dramatic visit I make.
She’s wearing loose cut-off denim shorts that hang on her hips.
Her legs are long, tan, and toned. She’s in a tank, and it’s evident she’s not in a bra and gives no shits who sees her.
She’s barefoot, makeup free, and her blonde hair is up again, but this time high on her head in a messy knot.
I didn’t know it was possible for her to look more beautiful than she did ready to walk down the aisle, but she does.
I prefer her this way.
She also looks exhausted, and it’s barely lunchtime.
“You’re back,” she goes on when I don’t greet her.
I move into the suite and shut the door behind me. “I am. I came to check on you.”
She crosses her arms over her thin slip of a shirt. “Thank you. I watched from the window. I appreciate you doing that.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t know if he was more pissed or embarrassed.”
Harlow pulls her lip between her teeth as she gazes back to me. “Even though I’m not sorry for what I did, I feel bad you had to deal with Albert.”
I shrug and stuff my hands in my pockets. “It was nothing. But he does want to see you. I told him you didn’t want to, but he chased me down and demanded I allow him up to your room.”
“Shit. I’m sorry about that too. But I don’t want to see him.”
I have no idea how to handle a woman who just canceled her wedding. “I’m not sure what happened, and it’s none of my business. But your fiancé—”
She interrupts me. “Ex-fiancé.”
“Sorry,” I stress. “Your ex is not happy. Like I said, I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know him, but if you don’t want to see him, stay here in the suite today.
I can have the kitchen send up your meals.
But when I say he wasn’t happy, I mean, he was angry.
If there’s anything I need to know to better handle this situation until he leaves, I’d appreciate it.
I am your official note passer, after all. ”
Until now, she hasn’t shown an ounce of emotion other than pure stoic with a backbone. But not now.
Tears fill her dark eyes right before she shifts her gaze to the wood floor between us.
She looks like she’s trying to keep her shit together as she squeezes her eyes shut and pinches the bridge of her nose.
She sniffs once before finally looking up at me.
“There’s nothing you need to know. I’ll stay in the suite until he leaves, I promise.
You have enough to deal with. I spoke to the front desk earlier about extending my stay.
It's been a long time since I’ve been to Winslet.
I really miss it. It makes me feel good to be here. ”
Well, fuck me.
That was the next thing to check off the list of shit to do today.
“About that,” I start, but I’m interrupted again.
“Harlow! Oh my God, Harlow!”
Harlow’s eyes fall shut showing no love for her stepmum.
I turn to where Janie Madison runs from one of the two guest bedrooms that are located across from the primary suite. Makeup streaks her cheeks, her eyes are swollen, and she looks a weird shade of yellow. Maybe green. She’s definitely sick.
She’s also barefoot, but unlike Harlow, she’s still in her dress from the wedding. She’s also gripping her cell as she reads the screen.
“I’ve already told you it’s over. Get over it. You should go home,” Harlow bites.
The color drains from Janie’s face. I wonder if there’s a level of drama this family tops out at, because, from what I’ve seen, it just keeps getting worse.
Janie shifts a blank stare from her phone to Harlow. “It’s your father.”
Harlow’s eyes widen. “What about him?”
Janie shakes her head. “I don’t know.”
Harlow tenses and demands, “Is it his doctors? What are they saying?”
Janie shakes her head and tears fall down her face. “He’s gone.”
“Gone?!” Harlow’s expression falls and her hand flies to her mouth. “He died?”
“No.” Janie shakes her head in pure shock as she swipes at her cheeks. “I mean, he’s gone, Harlow. Gone. They can’t find him.”
Harlow’s frown deepens and her voice trembles. “He’s unable to walk on his own. He has an entire medical staff assigned to him twenty-four-seven, not to mention the security at the penthouse. He couldn’t go anywhere if he wanted to.”
Janie grips her phone and exclaims in hysterics, “Your father is missing!”
“Missing?” Harlow’s tone gets edgier with every word. “How the hell did he go missing?”
A missing billionaire. This is what I get for wondering if their level of drama could reach a new level. But this is not on me. Thank fuck I looked up the families. I know for a fact that Patrick Madison is nowhere near my manor.
Or, at least, he wasn’t.
I am not taking a hit for a missing billionaire. His daughter’s wedding will be enough of a marketing nightmare. I should bow out of their latest family catastrophe. I have enough shit to do and guests to appease until they check out.
But at the moment, I’m consumed by a billionaire’s daughter, her stepmum, and the tension in this room that’s strung so tight, someone’s bound to snap at any moment.
And there’s the fact I’m nosy as fuck and want to know how an old man on his death bed goes missing.
Janie drags a hand through her hair that’s now disheveled and a mess—just like the rest of her. “I don’t know. The head nurse just called and wanted to know what they did wrong since I gave orders to have him moved out of their care on such short notice. Whatever was done, it wasn’t me!”
Harlow’s rage radiates off her in waves.
“You’re his medical power of attorney, Janie.
I wanted that responsibility, but you fought me on it.
You convinced me you’d be the best choice since you’d always be available and don’t have an actual job.
The way you had him in your snares before he got sick makes me furious.
He’s all I have left and was still comatose when I saw him a few days ago.
How the hell was he moved without you knowing? ”
“I don’t know!” Janie exclaims and echoes my thoughts exactly. “As if this day could get any worse.”
Harlow cuts the space between her and her stepmum like a finely honed knife.
I have no idea what the history is between these two behind closed doors, but I’m getting the impression it’s on the stormy side of turbulent.
They’re practically nose to nose, and I’m impressed with the bride-who-never-was when she throws a warning at Janie Madison’s feet.
“Find my father. If you don’t, I’ll go public with the fact he went missing under your care, and I don’t give a shit what Stonebridge says.
The public will finally know about his health condition.
I don’t give a shit about stock valuation.
I want my father back even if it means taking you down on the public stage. I will ruin you, Janie. Find him.”
And just when I think the Madisons can’t up their drama, they say “hold my pricy-as-fuck champagne.”