28. Ro
Chapter 28
Ro
“S o far, everyone checks out.”
I saw Caden’s frustration on his face and heard it in his voice. He was uncovering rocks, but so far, no poisonous saboteur had scurried out.
“You have eyes on Tessa?”
He nodded. “One of my men is tailing her discreetly.”
I knew if she found out she’d give me hell. “Maybe Tessa almost dying made this guy stop?”
Caden leaned back in his chair. “I’d like to think that, but I’m not risking your life on a hope and a prayer.”
“Keep working, Caden. Eventually, this guy will make a mistake.”
Piper rose from her chair and set some papers on my desk. “Robbie asked me to print all these for you. There are some things for you to sign. But the most important thing is the finalized list of upgrades and renovations for the Langston Windward.”
I scanned it. “It looks great, Piper. Tessa might have a few more ideas for the spa.”
She nodded. “I’ll talk with her. If you can sign off, I can get the ball rolling with contractors. Get some work scheduled before the winter.”
I signed it with a flourish. “Do it.”
“And I hear the Maldives deal is all done,” Caden said.
“Yes.” I smiled. “Tristan wined and dined within an inch of his life and pulled it off.”
“Congrats,” Piper said. “When do you leave?”
It felt like my insides chilled. “I’m not finished here.”
She lifted a brow. “But we’ve finalized the plans. That’s usually when you move on. What you really mean is you’re not finished with Tessa Ashford.”
I didn’t fidget. I was a CEO. I had control and restraint. “I’m just not?—”
There was a knock at the door and I saw Jazz.
I shot to my feet. “Is Tessa all right?”
The woman’s brow creased. “Yes. I think she’s in the restaurant. Mr. Langston…” she looked a little awkward “… you have a visitor in the lobby.”
I frowned. I wasn’t expecting anybody.
Jazz cleared her throat. “It’s your father.”
I felt my face change and coolness slid over me. “He’s here?”
She nodded.
Shit . This was the last thing I wanted to deal with.
“Ro?” Piper watched me carefully.
Caden rose. “I’ll tell him to leave.”
I sighed. “He’ll just come back or ambush me somewhere else. I’ll deal with him.” I slid my jacket on and buttoned it.
When I hit the lobby, I saw him standing there like he owned the place. He was still handsome and imposing even in his sixties. I looked like my mom, but I hated that I had my father’s build. My jaw tightened. He wasn’t alone.
The very pretty, very young blonde in a designer dress clutched my father’s arm.
I strode through the lobby. She saw me first, and I watched her gaze sharpen on me. Her lips parted and I saw the hungry glitter in her eye.
Hell no, sweetheart. “Father.”
Niall Langston turned from looking out the windows to face me. “A nice location. Building’s a little dated.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I told you. I wanted you to meet Trinity.” His mouth flattened. “And give you your wedding invitation.” He pulled a heavy cream envelope from his suit jacket.
I didn’t glance at Trinity, nor did I take the envelope. “I told you. I’m not coming to your wedding.”
A belligerent look crossed his face. The man was so used to getting his own way. “It’s what sons do. Support their fathers.”
“Yes, if that father had supported his son at any time during his life. If I had a good father, I’d consider it. Or if I thought this sham of relationship stood a chance.”
Trinity gasped.
“You have some nerve, boy,” my father said. “You never had the chops to succeed in business. You’re too soft. You had to steal my company to?—”
I heard the fast clip of heels on the floor. Tessa stepped into view and stopped, partly in front of me.
“Enough,” she snapped.
My father scowled. “Who are you?”
“Tessa Ashford. The manager of this hotel. You’re making a scene in my lobby, and I won’t allow you to spew poison in my hotel. You won’t talk to Ro like that. We both know that Langston Hotels is a far bigger success now that he’s taken over. He cares about this company and its people, and he’s good at it. He gets none of that from you.”
I stared at her. She was sticking up for me. “Tessa?—”
She pressed an arm across my stomach, like she was shielding me. “He said he is not attending your… Was it fifth or sixth wedding?”
I smiled. “Sixth.”
“Right. It’s time you start listening, Mr. Langston. The board gave him the company because he’s the best man for the job. He’s building up the business, and caring about the employees, and?—”
“Soft,” my father spat. “He was always too soft.”
“No, that’s called good business,” she quipped back.
Looking at him, I realized he was just a selfish, bitter old man. Whatever his failings as a father, they had nothing to do with me, and they never had.
I took Tessa’s hand and squeezed.
My father didn’t miss the move. His gaze narrowed, then he grinned. It was ugly. “Oh, you love pontificating to me. You’ve always thought you were better than me. No, you’re just like me, boy. You’re fucking her. You’re fucking an employee.”
I stiffened.
Tessa wasn’t having it.
“He’s nothing like you. He never was and never will be. And now, you’re leaving.” She nodded, and that’s when I saw Enzo had moved close by.
“Come this way,” the concierge said.
My father made a blustering noise. “No, I am?—”
“You’re done, Father. Go.” My tone was final.
Trinity was tugging on his hand. He glared at me, then Tessa, then followed his young fiancée.
Then Tessa grabbed my hand and dragged me in the opposite direction. She angrily scanned us through the staff door and towed me into my office.
“God, I do not like your father.” She jammed her hands on her hips.
“Me neither.”
“That… woman, girl, is so young.”
“Old enough to know what she’s doing.”
Tessa blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have butted in?—”
I cupped her cheeks. “You stood up for me. Against him.” I stroked her cheekbones. “No one’s ever done that before.”
So many things moved through her eyes. “Ro, I meant it. You’re nothing like him.”
I realized that now. I’d been so focused on proving that I wasn’t my father that it had dominated my life for a long time. “He’ll think twice about taking you on again.”
She laughed. “I didn’t think, I just reacted.”
“You were magnificent. My fairy queen in action.”
Smiling, she glanced down at the desk and stiffened. Her smile vanished.
I looked at the stack of papers that Piper had left there.
On one side were the plans with the renovation details. On top of the other stack was a memo from my assistant Robbie, informing me that the company jet was ready and fueled at Denver Airport. It was on standby for whenever I was ready to leave for the Maldives.
“You’re leaving,” she said tonelessly.
“Not today.” I wondered why a panicked feeling suddenly hit me. “My assistant always does this when a new acquisition is finalized.”
“Because that’s when you need to go.” Her tone was bland and her face blank, but there was something in her eyes that I didn’t like and couldn’t read.
“Tessa—”
She gave me a bright smile. “No, it’s fine. I mean, I always knew you’d leave. I guess I…we just got used to having you around.” She stepped back.
“Tessa.” I grabbed her arm. “I… We could still see each other.”
“What?” Her gaze locked in my face, searching for something.
“I could fly back here sometimes.” My brain searched for options. “You could visit me when you have vacation. The Maldives are very nice.”
She blinked slowly, then gave me a tight smile. “I’m just a small-town girl, Ro. Not a globe-trotter like you.” She pulled back. “My place is here. I’m sure you’ll meet some fabulous woman on your next trip. That’s how it goes, right?”
She looked pale now. “Tessa?—”
“I need to…go and check on some things.” She whirled and hurried out.
Dammit to hell. I hit the damn pile of papers, the memo fluttering to the floor. Then I strode after her.
Caden and Piper appeared in the doorway.
“If you’re looking for Tessa, she’s gone.” Piper eyed me. “I’ve never seen someone move that fast outside of a sports field.”
I cursed. “I think I fucked up.”
Piper arched a brow. “I heard your father arrived and made a scene.”
Caden watched me. “And Tessa cut him to shreds and made him leave the building.”
“She did. She was…amazing.” The memory was one I’d hold dear for a very long time. I raked a hand through my hair. “Then we came in here and she saw the memo from Robbie.”
Piper perched on the desk. “Ah.” She snatched the offending memo off the floor. “That the jet’s ready to whisk you away to a tropical paradise.”
“She shut down. I…” I felt like I had a rock in my gut.
“You said it was temporary,” Piper said. “You both agreed.”
“Yes.” I spun to face the windows.
“Is that still what you want?” Caden asked.
“I don’t fucking know. I don’t want to leave her, but I’m not built for relationships, and she sure as hell is. She deserves better.”
Piper made a noise. “I hate your father.”
I turned. “Piper —”
“ No .” She held her hand up like a traffic cop. “You’re not him.”
“I know that.”
“You’re a better businessman, a better CEO, a better boss than he ever was. You’re also a good friend. And you could have better relationships than him.”
“Are you giving me relationship advice?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes.”
“You don’t do relationships.”
“Because men are… annoying. Present company mostly excluded.”
“Thanks.” Caden’s voice was as dry as dust.
“It’s not just that,” I said. “I grew up without anything but money. I’m okay with that, but Tessa needs someone who knows how to give her a home and love and…”
“There would be two of you in this relationship.” Piper sniffed. “Let her show you how to do that.”
My gut churned. I think she already had been. “I fucked things up.”
“Uh-oh, what did you say?” Piper demanded.
“I suggested we could continue to see each other occasionally. I could fly here sometimes, or she could come and visit me.”
Caden made a sound.
“Like fuck buddies?” Piper slapped a hand to her head. “You idiot.”
“I wasn’t thinking. I could see she was upset that I was leaving, and—” I threw my hands up. “I need to find her.”
That’s when an alarm started blaring. Piper jolted.
Caden shot to his feet. “Fire alarm.”