Chapter 24 A Real Double Whammy
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A REAL DOUBLE WHAMMY
Harlow
My relationship with my dad may seem like a complicated one to those on the outside.
I guess in the big scheme of things, it is.
And, still, it’s not.
He and I watched my mom fight cancer for two years. I remember every day of it. It was the longest two years of my life, while they also felt like a blink when she took her last breath.
I was twelve when we lost her.
Twelve.
I wasn’t a kid, and I wasn’t yet a teenager. It’s a tricky age.
Twelve-year-olds need their moms. I was lost in grief, but also just plain lost.
I remember waking up in the middle of the night when it was close to the end.
Dad was sitting in the great room, sunk into a big leather chair, and staring out at the city that never sleeps.
He was probably three-quarters of the way to drunk, but I didn’t know it at the time.
His words were slurring, but I thought he was tired.
“Go back to bed, Harlow,” he mumbled.
“I got up for water. I’m thirsty.” That was a lie. I couldn’t sleep and wanted to check on Mom.
He looked over at me. His eyes were barely open as he took a sip of the stinky amber liquid he only drank at night. “I need you to remember something and never forget.”
I frowned because he didn’t tell me anything. “Um, okay?”
“A problem isn’t a problem if it can be fixed with money. You got it?”
I crossed my arms over my nightgown. I had no idea what he meant, but I also didn’t feel like being lectured about something I didn’t care about.
“Got it?” he pressed and took another drink long enough to finish the glass.
I shrugged, because all I wanted to do was sneak into the room where they put mom with the special bed and all the monitors. There were people there all day and night taking care of her. “Yeah. Got it.”
He must have sensed my lie because he leaned forward and put his elbows to his knees.
The ice cube clanged in the crystal when he pointed to me with it.
“You’ll always have money to solve the problems that don’t matter.
I’ll fix every fucking problem for you, Harlow.
I might not be the best dad in the world, but I’ll work my ass off to make sure that everything in your life that doesn’t mean shit can be fixed with money. ”
My eyes widened at his outburst. Mom never let him curse around me, but that night he let loose.
“Okay,” I whispered. “I mean, thank you, I guess.”
His tone turned rough as he dragged a hand down his face. That’s when I realized he was crying. I’d never seen him cry before. He turned back to the city lights so I could only see his profile. “I’d give every fucking dollar I have to fix your mom, but I can’t. It’s the one problem I can’t fix.”
My chest tightened. I turned on my bare feet and ran silently through the long halls to Mom.
The tones from the machines cut through the night and sounded louder than they did during the day.
The nurse turned when she saw me. “What are you doing, Harlow? It’s the middle of the night.”
“She still hasn’t woken up?” It had been two days.
The nurse’s small smile disappeared into a thin line. “No, sweetie. I’m sorry.”
I nodded, hugged myself across my chest, and walked slowly to the side of her bed. She lost her hair the year before and stopped wearing the wig when she was too sick to leave our home. Her skin was pale and gray, and she was skinnier than she’d ever been.
But she was still my beautiful mom.
I sat in the recliner Dad moved in there so he could sleep next to her. I curled up and pulled a blanket over me. “I’m just going to sit here for a while.”
The nurse brushed my messy hair from my face. She was nice, but I didn’t know her name. There were so many in and out during that time. “I’ll be right here if you need anything, okay?”
I nodded but never looked away from Mom.
Everyone was being so weird those last few weeks of her life, but they never told me it was the end.
The next day, everything changed.
It all comes rushing back when I walk into this hospital room. The machines, the bed, and an unconscious parent.
I look from Chrissie to Devon, who wraps a hand around my shoulder to calm me, but my panic rises as I turn to the nurse. “You said he woke up.”
She gives me a small smile that reminds me of the last nurse who cared for my mom. “He did. He’s weak from the last few months, but his vitals are steady. He just fell asleep. I’m confident he’ll wake up again—we all are.”
My shoulders sag in relief. “Thank you. It’s been a long day.”
I feel Devon’s hand stroke my back. “I’ll go find some dinner. Sit down. There’s plenty of security here. You’ll be fine until I get back.”
I don’t have a chance to answer, because Chrissie turns to Devon and pipes up first. “Before you leave, just tell me if double-oh-seven is a real thing. You can trust me. I mean, apparently, I monitor everyone’s emails now. I can be trusted with a secret.”
I wonder how often Devon has gotten that question, because he doesn’t seem at all fazed by it. “No.”
“No?” Chrissie echoes, exasperated. “That’s it? Look, I’ve had a difficult day, mister. The least you can do is tell me your code name. I need a distraction to escape the Madison family spectacle.”
Devon glances at me. “This is your assistant?”
Chrissie juts her thumb over her shoulder toward my sleeping father.
“I’m his assistant now too. That’s a new development.
” She turns to me and lowers her voice. “Sorry, Harlow. Daddy Warbucks trumps you. When he found out Allen was defending Janie, he mustered up what little energy he could and told me I work for him now because he doesn’t trust anyone else. ”
I glance at my father who looks better than I expected. Sure, he’s lost weight, needs a haircut, and a good shave, but he certainly doesn’t look like he did the last time I saw him. He might not have been waiting at the steps of heaven’s gates, but he was a good city block away.
I grab Chrissie by the forearm and pull her to the hallway and Devon follows. Once we’re out of earshot of my father, I demand to be brought up to speed. “Dad knows about Janie? And that I put Allen on administrative leave?”
Exasperated is not a drastic enough word to describe my friend and assistant, if I can even call her the latter anymore since it sounds like my dad stole her away from me.
Her hair is piled high on top of her head, and even though she’s makeup free and dressed for yoga rather than working for a billionaire corporate mogul, she’s still just as beautiful as ever.
Her arms flail before falling to her sides.
“It took a few hours for the fog to begin to clear, but then it was like dealing with someone who has short-term amnesia. He’s missing time, Harlow.
He was drilling me for financial information from three quarters ago.
I had no answers for him and had to explain that we are in the middle of summer, and he literally lost three seasons.
Your father did not lose his intensity during his forced hibernation, by the way. ”
I cringe. “What did he say?”
Chrissie sighs. “It was a lot. The more I told him, the clearer his head got. We all know your dad is smart to the point of gifted. You don’t get to where he is by shopping from the back of the stupid truck.
He kept demanding information.” She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze.
“I even told him about Albert. I’m sorry, that may have been a mistake.
He was so angry, his blood pressure spiked.
I don’t know how anyone can be that demanding after waking up from a coma, but he was.
I didn’t know what to do. I had to tell him the truth. ”
“You’ve done so much for me.” I pull her in for a hug and hold her there.
“I owe you the world. Thank you.” I let her go but hold onto her hands.
“I didn’t even know he’d wake up, let alone be back to his old self so quickly.
I never expected this. From now on, I’m trusting my gut over everything else. ”
Chrissie’s gaze shifts from me to Devon, but she continues speaking to me. “Does that mean you’re trusting your gut with the Prince of Winslet over here?” She narrows her eyes and turns to Devon. “Or are you a Duke or a King? Duke of the Manor? King of Main Street and Bingo Night?”
Devon crosses his arms over his wide chest and turns to me. “You didn’t tell me your assistant was so ... feisty.”
I shrug. “It comes in handy.”
“I can see that,” Devon mutters and glances at his watch. “I’m going to find food. I’ll bring enough for everyone, but not too much. We don’t want to waste anything.” He turns back to Chrissie. “Anything you want? Or maybe I should ask if there’s anything you hate?”
“No more caffeine. I’m wired enough as it is,” she says.
Devon leans down and presses his lips to mine. “I’ll be back.”
I smile. “Thank you.”
Chrissie and I watch Devon saunter down the long hospital corridor until he disappears around the corner. Chrissie turns to me and punches me in the shoulder. “What the fuck?”
“Ouch! What was that for?”
She gapes at me. “That’s for holding back, dammit. You didn’t tell me he’s—” she turns and flails her hands around in the direction he just disappeared “—all that! I mean, look at him.”
“I know. He’s all that and more. Trust me, I just flew across the country with him. I know.”
Her eyes widen farther. “You joined the Mile High Club in your father’s plane, and I’m just now finding out about it?”
“Not technically.” I shift my weight thinking about it. “Parts of me might have ... I guess.”
“Again, what the fuck?”
“I’ll fill you in on that later. We have too much to go over right now. Let’s just say, I dodged more than one bullet by ditching Albert. I’m alive and I won’t have to endure boring sex.”
“Yeah,” Chrissie deadpans. “A real double whammy.”
“Let’s get back to my dad so I’m prepared when he wakes up. You’re sure he knows all?”
“Let’s see if I covered everything.” She puts her hand up and starts counting off the bullet points of my life on her fingers.
“Albert wanting to off you. Janie trying to off your dad. Allen acting weird as shit. You cutting Allen off. You moving to Winslet. Me being in charge of your father’s emails, which has opened my eyes to the secret sauce of billionaires.
Oh, and that you kidnapped him to save his life.
” She takes a breath and drops both hands to her sides since she was about to run out of fingers.
“I did not include the fact you have hooked up with a prior British Intelligence agent, or the fact you were shot at. I didn’t want to push him over the edge.
I had to leave some of the fun for you.”
“Honestly, you’re worth double your weight in gold. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’ll fill him in eventually about the shooting, and he’ll know about Devon soon enough.”
“Personally, I’d leave out the kinky shit you probably did on his plane.”
“Obviously.”
Chrissie rolls her eyes. “Though, you can tell me anytime.”
“Later.” I glance back to my father’s room. “I’m staying until he wakes up. Go back to the hotel and get a good night’s sleep. There’s no need to hurry back. I’ll handle things while I’m here. You deserve more of a break than this, but it’s the best I can do for now.”
That wipes the sarcasm right out of her, and she proves she’s more of a friend than an employee. “Are you sure? I can stay with you in case you need anything. This has to be emotional for you.”
“I’m fine. I promise.” I pull my friend in for a hug before holding her by the shoulders. “We won’t be able to stay long, and you need the break. Take it. Devon is here if I need anything.”
She contemplates me. “Why do I feel like I’ve been replaced by a hot Brit?”
“Never.” I give her a squeeze before letting go. “I’d never be able to survive without you. You’re stuck with me. And for the time being, my dad.”
“Yeah, working for you and working for your father are two very different worlds. It’s much easier to give money away than it is to make it.” She finally gives in. “Okay, I’ll take you up on the break, only because I need a shower and thirty-six hours of sleep.”
“Go. I’ll call you if there’s a turn of events.”
“You’d better. But, seriously, Harlow, kidnapping a billionaire might be the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done. I can’t wait for you to talk to him. I’m so happy for you.”
Emotion overwhelms me. “I can’t wait. Thank you for everything.”
She gives me one more hug before finally leaving me.
I can’t wait for Dad to wake up.