Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
The closer we get to Molly’s parents’ house, the more anxious she becomes. I reach over and pull her fingers out of her mouth, stopping her from biting her nails. I squeeze her hand in mine and then rest our joined palms on my thigh.
I don’t know what to say to her. I try to think about how I would feel, what I would need if it were me, if it were my mother dying of a brain tumor. I quickly stopped that thought process, because there are no words, no actions that can help.
“You know I’ve worked so hard. I’m always one step ahead of anything that I come up against. But this, my mother, it’s the one thing I can’t win. I don’t like feeling so out of control.”
“I understand that,” I tell her, because that’s how I feel right now. I want to throw all the resources at my disposal to help her and there’s nothing that actually will. “How long do you think you’ll stay here?”
“Well, I have a gala to attend in two days, so I’ll stay the night, see my dad again tomorrow, and then head back to Vegas. You, however, do not need to stay.”
“I don’t mind.” My phone rings out and I pull it from my pocket, seeing my dad’s name. “It’s my father. I have to take this,” I tell Molly before pressing answer. “Yeah?”
“What the fuck are you and your brother doing in Portland?” he yells down the line.
“A friend had a family emergency. I’m just helping her out,” I tell him.
“And since when did you become friends with Molly Olive?”
“Since I met her.”
“Alfie, you’re supposed to be running the woman out of town, not keeping her around.”
“Well, considering I’m currently in Portland, I’d say I’ve achieved that goal, Dad.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. What happened last night? The doc called this morning to tell me to make sure you take your antibiotics.”
“I don’t need antibiotics. I’m fine.” At this, Molly frowns at me. “I was having a chat with Aleksei, his head exploded, and some of his skull got stuck in my cheek. I got stitched up. It’s fine,” I explain to my dad.
“You didn’t think to call me?”
“I didn’t see the point of waking you up for it. Again, I’m fine.”
“How the fuck did his head explode?” my dad asks.
“I have no idea,” I admit. “Caught some of his girls selling in one of our clubs.”
“I’ll look into it. How long are you planning on being in Portland?”
“A couple of days.”
“Okay. Keep your brother out of trouble.”
“Always.” I cut the call and pocket my phone. “I give it three minutes.”
“Three minutes for what?” Molly questions.
“Before my mother starts blowing up my phone because of this.” I point to the fresh stitches on my face.
“You know, I could recommend a good plastic surgeon. Fix that so it doesn’t leave an ugly scar,” Molly says.
“One, nothing could turn this face ugly, not even a scar. Two, why the fuck do you even know plastic surgeons? There is nothing not naturally fucking gorgeous about your body.”
“Thank you.” Molly beams at me. “But I meet a lot of people through my work.”
Sure enough, my phone rings. I pull it out again and see my mom’s name flashing on the screen. “Hi, Mom,” I answer.
“What happened to your face?” she asks. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a few stitches,” I tell her.
“The doctor says you should be taking antibiotics.”
“The doc is being overly cautious. Honestly, I’m fine, Mom.”
“Dad says you’re in Portland with Molly,” my mother hums, sounding way more excited about that fact than what my father had been.
“She needed to get home to her parents, so I offered to bring her on the jet,” I explain.
“And how exactly did you know she needed to get home so early in the morning, Alfie?”
“Ah… you sure you really want me to answer that, Mom?”
“Not really, but remember: she’s a major donor this weekend. Do not screw up my event because you can’t keep your dick in your pants,” my mother scolds. “And don’t hurt her. She seems like a nice girl.”
I chuckle. Molly is anything but a nice girl when you get her alone and naked. “Wasn’t planning on it. I’ll be back for the event. Love you.”
When I pocket my phone, Molly is smiling at me. “You are such a mama’s boy.”
“I am.” I shrug, unashamed. My mother is the fucking best.
“How much trouble are you in for skipping town?”
“Molly, I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t get into trouble with my parents. I don’t live at home.”
She quirks a brow at me, and I sigh.
“My father is pissed. He doesn’t like that you’re in town trying to buy up buildings. And my mother is thrilled because, in her words, you seem like a nice girl and I’ve been instructed not to hurt you.”
“Oh, but I like when you hurt me.” Molly smirks.
“I’m aware.” I laugh.
The car pulls into a gated estate before winding through a driveway surrounded by gardens.
“Did you grow up here?” I ask Molly, looking out the window at the huge house.
“No.” She snorts. “I bought this place for my parents as soon as I started making money.”
I nod. “How to you want to play this?”
“What?”
“Am I a friend? A friend with benefits? Boyfriend?”
“Frenemy.” She winks. “Do not tell my father you’re my boyfriend. He’ll likely pull a shotgun on you.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a gun pulled on me, Molly.”
“I bet. You know you don’t have to come in.”
“I want to meet your parents.”
“It’s not like meeting your parents, Alfie. My mom is… She’s lost.”
“I understand. But she’s still your mom. She’s still the reason you exist,” I tell her.
“Careful, Giuliani, I might start thinking you actually have a heart.”
“You should never think I have a heart, Molly. I don’t,” I warn.
“I think you want the world to think you’re this big, scary monster. But on the inside, you’re just a big cuddly cookie monster.” She laughs.
I open the door and shake my head at her. Then I button my jacket and reach a hand in to help her out.
Molly swats my arm away. “No touching,” she says as she walks past me.
Yeah, that’s not going to fucking happen. I like touching her. No way am I going to stop anytime soon. Catching up to her, I place my palm on her lower back and she glares at me.
“Alfie, no touching.”
“You can’t expect me not to touch you, Molly. That’s like telling a kid they can look at candy but not take any.” I pout, but all she does is step away from me.
“You’ll survive a few hours.” Walking forward, she opens the front door and I follow her into the house and then down a hall until she stops in a library. “Daddy,” she says, her voice cracking a little.
An older man’s face lights up at the sight of her, and he stands.
Molly doesn’t wait for him to reach her.
Instead, she meets him halfway across the room and throws her arms around him.
She’s close with her father, and I don’t think it’s as easy for her to stay away from this place as she likes to make out it is.
“Oh, princess, I’m so glad you’re here,” the man says, kissing her cheek.
“Daddy, this is my friend, Alfie,” Molly introduces me. “Alfie, my dad, Craig Olive.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Olive.” I hold out a hand in her father’s direction.
“You too. And we don’t do formalities around here. Craig is fine,” he says while returning the gesture.
“Okay, thank you.”
“Come in, I’ve had some lunch set up.” Mr. Olive waves to the coffee table that has some finger foods spread out.
“You got all my favorites,” Molly says, sitting down in a brown leather two-seater.
I sit next to her, my leg brushes against hers, and she glares at me. I don’t care. Like I said, she’s out of her mind if she thinks I’m going to be in the same room as her and not touch her.
I take note of what’s on the coffee table, what her favorite foods are.
But then I find myself asking why I fucking care.
This isn’t me. I’m not a meet the parents type of guy.
And yet, here I fucking am. Meeting the father of a girl I’ve only known for a couple of days because I saw her upset and didn’t want to leave her.