28. Dangling in Your Arms
28
DANGLING IN YOUR ARMS
CHARLES
It’s been a week since I got the call from Grandma. During this time, I’ve received emails from almost every board member expressing their confidence in me and my leadership, congratulating me even before the final voting is executed a month from now.
Despite it all, I sometimes struggle to believe that everything that seemed so out of reach just a few months ago is now right in front of me.
My train of thought breaks as I step into the kitchen and find Daisy standing behind the counter, beating what looks like pancake batter in a glass bowl. Dressed in one of my old college T-shirts, which hangs from one side of her neck, with her hair pulled up in a messy bun, she sways to the sound of the latest indie soft pop song.
All the Christmas decorations are still up in the house, as she clearly instructed Mrs. Kowalski that everything would stay as is until spring. And if that makes her happy, why the hell would I change anything?
She drops a big dollop of butter into the pan, and it sizzles.
“Good morning.” I walk closer and kiss her exposed neck. “Why are you in the kitchen and not Mrs. Kowalski?”
“Because Mrs. K also deserves a break, especially on weekends. I sometimes can’t believe the authorities aren’t knocking on your door for exploiting your staff.”
“I don’t exploit. I pay—”
“Mrs. K doesn’t work on weekends for the extra pay, Charles. It’s because she worries about your paranoid ass. She knows you’ll never let anyone else step foot into your house, and I’m sure she doesn’t want you eating out two days in a row.”
I’m about to give some lame excuse, but she keeps staring at me with that you better not lie to me, Hawthorne look.
“All weekend?” My anxiety can’t be tamed. My housekeeper has been with me since I moved out of the Hawthorne mansion.
Unlike me, Daisy starts to laugh before patting my chest. Her engagement ring and wedding band shine against my black T-shirt. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you survive well, my dear husband.”
Her breathy, playful words help in slowly releasing the uncomfortable feeling clawing at my chest.
“Does that mean we have the whole house to ourselves?” I raise a brow, and she grins before nodding.
“Yes. What are you going to do about it?”
“Oh, I can think of a lot of possibilities.” I lean down to kiss her, but she swiftly turns around.
“Not here, mister. Sex and cooking when mixed together only leads to one thing—accidents.” She removes the pan from the heat and, with practiced finesse, slides a pancake onto a plate and drizzles on some fresh syrup before placing two strawberries on top.
As I’m now looking forward to this accident-free alone time with her, I circle the counter and flop down on the barstool.
“You need any help?”
She shakes her head. “No. You just sit and eat.” Daisy places a cup of coffee before me, and after I’ve taken the first bite, she slides her iPad in front of me. “There’s an email from Jimmy.”
The tasty breakfast immediately loses its flavor in my mouth. Nothing good follows Jimmy’s name.
“He wants us to attend a New Year’s charity function.” Daisy opens her email.
“I’m not—”
“Just hear me out, Charles. I know you don’t like these events, and now that you’re almost appointed the CEO, I’m sure Jimmy won’t hassle you like before. But”—she leans in, her expression sincere and serious—“I think you should still attend at least one annual event. Let the town know you’re here for them, and despite you disliking stuffy parties, you’re making an effort for them.”
The familiar anxiety knocks on my chest just imagining it all.
“You can prepare yourself ahead of time, work with your security. For this”—she taps on the screen—“I’ve already talked to the organizers. They are more than happy to accommodate our requests if your presence is what they get in exchange.”
“This is important to you.”
Surprise flares in her eyes. Of course she’s surprised!
It must be the first time I’m not throwing a tantrum because an invitation matters to someone. Daisy slides in between me and the granite counter.
“It isn’t about me, Charles. It’s about you and this town. I hate that despite all the amazing work you do, you still have to prove yourself to everyone. But the thing is, the people of this town don’t get to see your daily struggle and challenges. Why not give them an up-close view of Charles Hawthorne? Not the one the media talks about, but the real you.”
Her finger rests above my heart, and instead of feeling dread, her touch, her words, her care, works like the best security I’ve ever had. They even threaten my inner demons.
“You can do just one annual event and then return back to your hermit tower.”
“Hermit tower?” I raise an eyebrow and she smiles. Unlike all the other times, I don’t feel the urge to storm out of the room when someone points out my lack of participation in social events.
And it’s all because of her.
“Okay, let’s call it the top floor of Hawthorne Tower. Better?”
“Much.” I hold her hand, flattening it against my chest once again. “I’ll go, but only if you come with me.”
“Of course I’m coming. You think I’d leave my boss alone at a party? I can’t even imagine how many murder charges would be reported in just one night.”
“Very funny. Anyway, I’m not planning to take my assistant, but my wife.”
“Then I’ll be dangling on your arm like a dutiful wife.” She bats her lashes, and the grin that lights up her face hits straight into my heart.
“Dutiful? Do you even know the meaning of that word, my dear wife?” My fingers stroke her flushed cheeks. How did I survive all these years without this? “But, in any case, I can’t wait to be the hanger from which you dangle .”
This time her laughter is out of control. She throws her head back, and the sound, the laugh lines on her face and the way it makes me feel…I already want a repeat of it all.
“What are you planning to do today?” I ask when she’s finally recovered from her giggling fit.
Everything about this moment is so domestic and so mundane, yet I’ve never been more calm.
“I’m going for a spa day with my friends. We’ll drink wine, eat too much sugar, and talk about boys.”
“Should I be worried?” I lean in, stroking the soft skin of her neck and shoulders with my nose, breathing in the floral scent of her body wash.
“You’re the only boy on my mind these days.”
I’ll have to work extra hard to be the only boy on her mind all the time.
“What about you? What’s your plan for the day?”
“I’ll go to Elixir. I’m sure I’ll find at least Alex working, if not all of them, even on a Sunday.”
I tap lightly on Alex’s office door. The deep furrows on his forehead remain as he glances up from his computer.
“Rough start to your weekend?” I settle into the chair across from him.
“Not everyone is living on the Sunshine Street these days.”
“Thanks for the warm welcome, brother.”
“Sorry.” He sighs. “Just a bit on edge.”
“What happened? I thought your Sunday skydiving sessions were supposed to be meditative and peaceful,” I say carefully, testing the waters.
But his jaw tightens, confirming my suspicions. My lips struggle to twitch, but I keep them flat. My sister must have made her appearance at the field.
“Everything is fine. You don’t have to worry.”
And before I can probe deeper into Alex’s hollow response, the door swings open and Ray and Archer stride inside.
“Why can’t we find another piece of land?” Archer’s voice is tight with frustration, as if he’s been having this conversation with Ray for some time.
“Because the one we have now is perfect,” Ray replies in a relaxed, laid-back tone.
“We don’t have anything. I told you they’re not selling. What will you do now? Kill them?” Archer’s tone is sharp.
“I don’t need to kill anyone. I’m a businessman. I negotiate.”
“What’s going on?” I ask as Ray and Archer settle on the corner couch, finally finding a gap between their rapid fire.
“Do you remember the land I picked for the next Elixir hotel?” Ray prompts, and I nod. “Well, someone in the owner’s family is having last-minute cold feet.”
“Why? Are we not paying to their expectations?”
Ray shakes his head at my question. “They’d prefer to expand the family inn on the same land.”
“Is the inn competition for Elixir?” I lean forward, raising a brow.
“Nah. We don’t do cute and cozy. But they’re definitely throwing a wrench into our plans. I should—”
“You should just look for another option,” Archer cuts right through Ray’s words. “It’s not like Cherrywood is short on commercial land.”
“Calm down, Archie. I’m not going to blackmail them. Everybody has a price. I just need to figure out what I need to pay here. What’s wrong with that?”
“The capitalist has spoken.” Disapproval paints Archer’s face.
“News flash, bro, we’re all capitalists. The moment we step into the business world, we sell a part of our soul, and unlike you, I don’t fake it.”
“I’m not faking anything,” Archer hisses in Ray’s direction. “I’m just telling you to be a little more human.” When Ray just shrugs in response, Archer shakes his head. “I hope someday someone comes into your life and shows you that this business can also be done equally well with a little compassion.”
“You mean like Charlie?” Ray’s laugh couldn’t be more staged. “If only Donna was young. Unfortunately, she’s already married and happy with her husband.”
His funny remark about his assistant doesn’t sit right with me. A cold feeling seeps through my chest, chilling my veins.
“I think you’ve been enough of an asshole for today, Ray.” My molars grind together, not liking that he’s pulling Daisy into their stupid argument.
“Say, how long are you going to continue with this marriage charade anyway?” Ray raises his eyebrow. “Didn’t you already get what you needed out of this marriage?”
I know he’s trying to get a rise out of me and divert Archer’s attention away from him. And I hate to admit it, but he’s doing a damn good job of it.
I take a deep breath. “The official decision hasn’t been announced.”
“Mm-hmm, so you mean there’s still a few weeks’ time before you both go your separate ways?” Ray crosses his arms.
“It’ll probably be longer. I don’t want anyone to think I married only to become the CEO.” The sentence and the thought leave a strong distaste in my mouth. As much as I try to forget it, the words keep running in a loop in my head, ruining my entire day.