Chapter 4
Why did he show up today of all days?
Devyn
It was weird being here. Weird and powerful.
All eyes were on me the second I walked through the door.
I was the black sheep of the Hayes family, cut off from all their wealth and privilege, and yet here I was, a top-tier member of the country club they all treasured as their safe space. Safe from riffraff like me.
Joke was on them. My mother had loved this place with her whole heart and had gifted me a lifetime membership shortly before she died.
The club had auctioned it off at one of their charity events, and she paid through the nose for it.
She told me it was to support an omega shelter.
But I knew the truth. It was a big fuck-you to all the people who never treated her like she belonged, especially after she and my father split.
I never asked my mother where she got the money. It felt far more extravagant than she could afford.
“This present is as much for me as it is for you, Dev. Enjoy it and promise me they will never let you feel less-than.”
Looking back on her words, she knew her time on this plane would be short. At least she was with the goddess now instead of down here, where people never saw her as the amazing woman that she was.
“Are you dining with us or just utilizing the facilities today?” Geraldine, the hostess, asked.
“I haven’t decided yet.” I refused to show that I was impacted by her obvious disdain for me.
I could easily take it to heart and assume it was because I didn’t look the part or because her bosses didn’t like me, which they didn’t.
But in reality, I was guessing it was more that she hated her job.
This place was notorious for being a shit place to work.
They paid poorly, and most of the members were crappy to the staff.
What was it about rich people that made them feel superior to others? Because they could buy fancy shoes that cost more than many people’s mortgages? It was such bullshit.
“Maybe I’ll go outside for a bit and relax. Will there be room for lunch today, if I decide to stay?” I asked.
She tapped at the computer screen. “There should be, yes. We have a few private rooms reserved, but the main dining room still has availability.” Which was a nicer response than I expected.
I headed outside. The weather was gorgeous. The air crisp, a nice breeze flowing by. If I wasn’t at the club, I’d have been taking my fur and hunting the day away. But today was the anniversary of my mother’s winning of my membership, and I wanted to be here for it.
I still remembered the first time they attempted to revoke my privileges.
They had restructured the membership tiers and added a clause at the bottom explaining to members that all current tiers would be automatically switched to the closest new one.
They tacked on, “Let us know if you have any questions” at the bottom.
The manager took that as an opportunity to switch my membership over to a yearly one, effectively ending it the next month. I wasn’t sure why the little weasel thought they could get away with that. I might not have been as rich as I once was, but I had enough money to grab a lawyer.
Since my tier was never available for purchase, it could not be switched to one that was for sale. Or at least that was my argument, and it won. I also reminded them that singling me out, since the other winners from over the years were not impacted, could be problematic for them.
The second time I was almost booted out was when my father cut me off. He told them it would be too difficult for his family to see me there. And once again, my lawyer wrote a letter, and all was good.
I went to the far side of the patio, where it was quiet, and took a seat, leaning back, closing my eyes, and enjoying the sounds of the crickets. Most people were inside eating, only one other person out here with me, and they were far away. For all intents and purposes, I was alone.
Or rather, Mom and I were. “Mom, you won this for me. Don’t think I’ll ever let it go. I won’t.”
My father’s voice invaded my pleasant thoughts, and when my eyes popped open, I saw why. He and my asshat stepbrothers were walking outside. He gave me a grin, the kind that said he was up to something, and the three of them took a seat at one of the few tables out here.
It wasn’t long until he was what I called “holding court.” It sickened me the way people around here kissed his ass, and by default, my stepbrothers’ asses.
And sure, my father had lots of money and the power that came with it, but he was far from the only one here who did.
This place was oozing with money. They kept the membership rates high enough to ensure it.
The bottom tier membership cost more than most of the employees made in a year.
It was not for the middle class. This was the top one percent and done.
Except me, that is. But there was always an exception. “I’m glad to be your son, Mom,” I whispered, low enough for only me to hear.
I wasn’t under the delusion that my mom could hear my words. It had become my habit, though. There was a comfort in sharing my life with her.
A person I didn’t recognize was whispering to my father. Next thing I knew, Father was commanding one of my brothers to come get me. The two of them had a staredown, and a few seconds later, Roy got up and walked over. I wasn’t sure if he’d won or lost the staredown based on his facial expression.
“My father wishes to see you.” Not our father or even Father, but his father. Did he think that I no longer considered him my sperm donor? Because if it were possible to accomplish that, I’d have done so a long-ass time ago.
“He can have his assistant call and arrange it.”
I parroted back the directions my father had given me multiple times over the years.
I wasn’t allowed to just call my dad. No.
That was for the peasants and his “good” children.
I had to call and make an appointment. It felt amazing giving it back to him, even though I knew full well I’d have my bum over at that table within the minute. My father would see to that.
And sure enough, he did. I should probably stop poking at the wolf, but that wasn’t going to happen. If I didn’t fight back, at least in these little ways, I was going to sit with my feelings. I was so not ready for that.
“You needed to speak with me, Father?” My heart pounded in my chest, and I hated that he could hear it and how he impacted me.
“Why are you here? You know you aren’t welcome. You’re a blight on this family’s legacy.”
I closed my eyes, pushing down my wolf who was ready for a fight. Losing control of my beast here would accomplish two things; give them a reason to revoke my membership, one that I couldn’t fight, and I’d get my ass mauled by my father. His animal was fierce.
“I’m here because this place is a part of my legacy.” And now that I knew it pissed my father off this much, I might make it a daily stop. “If you have a problem with that, I heard the bears have a club you could join.”
Unlike wolves, bears weren’t all into the hierarchy bullshit that wealth brought. Their club was a fishing one, and they were world famous on the fishing circuit. Who knew that was a thing?
“You do not have a legacy. I stripped you of that. Do not pretend otherwise.”
Gods, I hated the man.
“The new painting in the main lobby suggests otherwise. Have you seen it? I donated it from my collection.”
It was my mother’s final piece. If you didn’t know her life story, it looked like a bunch of wolves chilling in the woods with a mansion in the background.
But if you were familiar with her life, it was the equivalent of a tell-all book of our life, the symbolism so blatant, I was surprised no one had noticed. Or maybe they did and pretended not to.
“A painting does not a legacy make.” He stood up. “We must get to the dining room for our reservations. I’m sorry you won’t be able to stick around long enough to join us.” Because a get the fuck out was too bold for this setting.
I watched as they walked in, turning the opposite direction of the main dining room as they got inside. I hurried to follow them, loving the sound of the grumble building in my father’s chest as he took in the painting for the first time.
Note to self: Find more paintings to donate to the country club.