Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Henry
My first thought was to go over to my parents’ house and confront my mother. But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she succeeded in breaking us up. How did she even know who Ellie was? My best guess would be she hired someone and had her followed. I grabbed the bottle of scotch off my bar and took it over to the couch. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent Ellie a text message.
“I am so sorry. Can we please talk?”
I sat and watched as my message failed to send.
“Fuck!” I threw my phone across the room and drank from the bottle until I passed out.
I opened my eyes and tried to make sense of where I was at. Placing my hand on my head, I sat up and looked around. I was still on the couch, in my clothes from yesterday, and with a killer headache. My phone was lying on the floor across the room, and I had no idea what time it was. Until I heard the elevator ding. It must have been seven a.m. because that was the time Delilah started work.
“Delilah? Can you come to the living room?”
“Good morn—” She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. “Are you alright, Henry?”
“Can you grab my phone for me?” I pointed across the room.
She walked over, picked it up, and handed it to me. Bending down and picking up the empty scotch bottle from the floor, she arched her brow at me.
“Long night?” she asked.
Checking my phone, I opened the text message I sent to Ellie last night to see if it went through. It didn’t.
“Something like that,” I replied.
“What happened? Did you and Ellie get into an argument?”
“She broke up with me after my mom tracked her down, met her in a café, and told her all about Kirsten and the baby.”
“Wait a minute. What do you mean ‘baby?’”
“Kirsten is pregnant with my kid. Go figure. I can’t get that woman out of my life for nothing.”
“And your mother told Ellie this?”
“Yep. She told me she could never trust me again.”
“Henry, I’m so sorry.” She placed her hand on mine. “Are you going into the office today?”
“I have no choice.”
“Then I’ll go make the coffee and get you some aspirin.” She patted my hand.
One Week Later
I was sitting in my office staring out the window when my phone rang. Glancing at it, I saw my mother was calling. The anger I’d already felt grew stronger. Answering her call, I pretended everything was okay. I was saving the mass destruction I was going to unleash on her when the time came.
“Hello.”
“Henry, darling. How are you?”
“I’m good, Mom.”
“I’m happy to hear that. Anyway, your father and I need to speak with you about something, so we’d like you to come to dinner tonight.”
“What time?”
“Six-thirty. Will that work for you?”
“Six-thirty is fine.”
“Good. Love you, darling. We’ll see you then.”
I ended the call and continued to stare out the window, thinking about how they’d ruined my life and how I let them. I wouldn't be in this position if I’d only stood up to them. As much as it was their fault, it was also mine. My father gave me the ultimatum, and I took it because I was consumed by taking over his position of power in the company. To be the king like he was. But none of that mattered to me anymore since meeting Ellie. I turned my chair around when I heard a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
“Hey,” Addison spoke as she stepped inside. “I heard you’re going to dinner at the house tonight.”
“Yeah. Mom just called. She said she and Dad had something they wanted to talk to me about. I figured tonight would be as good a night as any to tell them what I think of them. Are you going to be there?”
“Yes and no. Mom told me they needed to speak with you privately and make sure I wasn’t home. In fact, she got me a suite at the Plaza and told me to spend the night there and have a few friends over.”
“Wow. Unbelievable.”
“I overheard them talking late last night as I stood and listened outside their bedroom door.” She grinned. “Did Lillian tell you that Kirsten is also coming to dinner?”
“No,” I scowled.
“Well, she is. They’re going to talk to you about you taking over the company within the next three months when Dad gets the paperwork situated. They have it all planned out. They’re going to make sure you get back with Kirsten, Dad will sign over the company to you, they’ll have their grandchild, and all will be right in the Walker family again.”
“They’re delusional. I am not getting back with Kirsten. There’s only one woman I want in this lifetime: Ellie. They can fuck off.”
“Listen to me, Henry. When you go tonight, and you see our vile parents and Kirsten, you have to act like you’re sorry and that you were wrong, and you want Kirsten and the baby.”
“Are you out of your mind!” I shouted.
“Do you trust me?” she asked with seriousness in her voice.
“What are you up to?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Do you trust me?” she asked again.
“I don’t know. I guess. Addison, what the fuck is going on?”
“You’ll see tonight. I just need you to do what I told you to.”
I sat there shaking my head at her.
“There’s something I’m working on. After you profess your love to Kirsten and act all fake with Mom and Dad, text me.”
“Addison, I can’t.”
She placed both hands on my desk and got in my face.
“DO NOT RUIN THIS CHANCE FOR ME. I promise you’ll thank me.”
I stared into her eyes, and I’d never seen her so serious in my life.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But I swear to God.” I pointed my finger at her.
“It’s not nice to swear to God, big brother.” She grinned as she began to walk away. “Oh. One more thing. After I make my surprise entrance tonight, you can go off on Lillian and Carlyle all you want. Just make sure you do it in front of me,” she spoke as she walked out of my office.
What the hell was going on?