Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Harrison
After we finished dinner, my father asked me to come to the suite with him.
“It’s good to see you, son.” He patted my back. “It’s been a while.”
“I know, Dad. I just can’t take off for a month like Athena.”
“Sure, you can. You choose not to. What was with that little outburst at dinner about?”
“Nothing. Adalyn doesn’t want to stay in New York, and I felt like you were pressuring her.”
“Nah.” He handed me a drink. “Did you sleep with her?”
“Dad. Come on.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
“So what if I did?”
“Then it’s not her that wants to leave. It’s you that wants her to leave. What’s going on?”
“Nothing is going on.”
He sat on the couch with his eyes narrowed at me.
“Is this what you’ll do the rest of your life? Screw every woman you can but never commit to anything?”
“Seriously?” I rolled my eyes. “Look who’s talking. You got a girl your son and daughter’s age in there.” I pointed to the bedroom.
“You’re right. A girl whom I’m asking to marry me.”
“Oh my God. She’ll be my stepmother?”
“Yep. I love her, son. I love that girl so much. She changed me. We both know that people look at us and talk about our age difference. People fear what they can’t understand. Ever since your mother passed, I lost myself. I buried myself in work, screwed any woman I could find, and lived a miserable life.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re not seeing my point. I love you and Athena with my entire heart and soul. You two were the only reason I survived. But you can’t change the past, son, and I know damn well your mother wouldn’t want me to be alone the rest of my life. I know she wouldn’t want that for you either.”
“Why can’t everyone just stop with the bullshit?” I paced back and forth across the room. “I’m happy with my life, and I like my lifestyle. I’m successful and rich and can do anything I want.”
“Money can’t buy happiness, Harrison. Because at the end of the day, it’s only a piece of paper. It doesn’t love you back. It doesn’t listen to you when you’re having a bad day. It doesn’t give you the reassurance you need. All I’m saying is there’s nothing wrong with opening up to someone who is there and willing to listen.”
“Thanks for the lecture, Dad.” I threw back my drink. “I need to go. Are you coming by the office tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I am. Not sure what time, though.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Two Days Later
It was four p.m. when a text message from Adalyn came through. I hadn’t talked to her since dinner that night.
“Just to let you know, your furniture has arrived, and your townhouse is ready.”
“Excellent. Don’t go anywhere. I’m on my way over now.”
I grabbed my suit coat and my briefcase and headed to the townhouse. When I arrived, I took in a deep breath. I didn’t know why I was nervous to see it. I stepped through the door and into the foyer with a smile.
“Welcome home,” Adalyn spoke as she walked from the living room.
“Wow.” I set down my briefcase, walked down the hallway, and checked out the first bathroom. “This looks great. Those aren’t the fixtures I picked out.”
“I know. The ones you picked were ugly.”
“Thanks.” My brows furrowed.
I turned off the light and walked straight into the kitchen. My heart practically stopped beating as I stood there and looked around.
“Adalyn, this is?—”
“Amazing, gorgeous, unbelievable? I know.”
“Yes. All of the above. What a great-looking table and chair set. Are these doors new?”
“Yes.”
“I like them. Um, I didn’t pick these fixtures.” I pointed to the lights over the island.
“I know. The ones you picked were ugly.”
“Did you buy any of the fixtures I picked out?” I cocked my head at her.
“No. I didn’t.”
“Okay then. Shall we move on?”
I went up the stairs and viewed the living room, dining room, bathroom, and service kitchen on the Parlor floor.
“This looks great. I really like the furniture you picked. Wow. look at that bar.” I walked over to the corner and looked at the glass shelves on the wall and the curved glass and silver bar unit that sat in front of it with two light gray bar stools.
“You like?” she asked.
“I do. Very much.”
“I had all the fireplaces in the house converted from wood to gas.”
“Excellent. Thank you.”
I took the stairs up to the third floor, where the primary bedroom, bath, and sitting room were. I entered the primary bedroom and looked around.
“Nice.” I nodded my head.
“How do you think the furniture looks in here?”
“It looks great. I love it. I like the comforter you chose. It really compliments the room.”
“Really?” Her eye narrowed at me.
“Yeah. I’m happy I picked it. Let’s move on. Oh, you put a bar up here in the sitting room?”
“I did. I know how you love your scotch. Now you don’t have to go all the way downstairs to get a glass.”
The fourth and fifth floors housed two guestrooms, two bathrooms, storage closets, and a laundry room. I took the stairs to the final floor, which held my study and a large terrace.
“It’s perfect, Adalyn. And there’s another bar.” I smiled. “You did good. You nailed it, and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this.”
“You’re welcome, Harrison.”
“I hope you took pictures for your portfolio.”
“I did. I took before and after.”
“Good. I know it’ll help you out if you start your own business. You don’t need to be working for anyone. I believe you can build a successful company on your own.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She looked down.
“Shall we go downstairs? We’re taking the elevator down.” I smirked.
“You haven’t seen the basement yet.”
“That’s right. Let’s go have a look.”