The Outsider
Jordy
Alexander is a hard man to miss in a crowd. Everything about him screams money, from his Tom Ford suit to his slicked back hair, and the flashy watch on his wrist. He turns heads wherever he goes, and not just because he’s handsome, but because his presence commands an audience.
Usually, I’m a little breathless around him. No, I don’t want him. But I can’t help being in awe of the power he exudes.
Right now, though? It feels like he’s sucked all the air out of the room.
He stuffs a wad of cash in the bottle, then saunters in toward Bernie and me.
I glance at Bernie, who appears flushed in the face, and probably the meekest I’ve ever seen her since I met her.
Alexander takes a champagne glass from one of the passing trays, then raps at it with the huge gold ring on his finger.
People turn toward him as the conversation dies down, but the band keeps playing.
He makes his way to the makeshift stage where the band is, and as he does, I lean toward Bernie.
“Please tell me you didn’t sell your business to him.”
“I’ll explain later,” she says, though her eyes stay glued to the floor as the band quiets and gives Alexander the floor.
She doesn’t need to tell me anything; I already know.
He gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse, probably more money than the place pulls in each year.
If she’s been struggling in the least to make ends meet, of course she’d take an offer like that.
But I’m starting to understand that Alexander is a shark, and his tactic is to make little kills until he owns the whole ocean.
Getting Bernie to sign is an early blow to the heart of this town.
“I’d like to thank all of you for attending tonight’s celebration,” Alexander’s voice booms over the microphone, as if he is the one who planned everything.
I scan the crowd and find Bec, whose expression appears as confused as I felt just a few moments ago. I find Ashton, who’s looking right at me. He narrows his eyes as he glances at Alexander, then back at me.
“I didn’t know he was coming,” I mouth to him. He just looks away, and I have no idea what he’s thinking, if he’s mad at me, or how to mend what’s already breaking.
“I grew up in Lahoma Springs. It was years ago, but I have never forgotten what it was like to live here, from floating down the river to spending all my allowance at Frank’s Friendly on the corner. Does anyone remember Frank’s Friendly?”
There’s murmurings and light laughter as half the room raises their hands.
“I was really sad to see that Frank’s didn’t survive.
I hear it’s been a rough couple of years here in Lahoma Springs, and it would break my heart to see any more stores fold under economic pressure.
It’s why I was so glad to hear from the Felix family when they had to make the difficult decision to sell their beloved store.
I understand that the heart of this town is keeping small businesses small, and I agree …
to a point. It’s good to keep the shops around here locally owned, but it’s not good to keep them so small that you starve trying to keep them afloat. ”
No one speaks. The room is dead silent as Alexander keeps going, everyone waiting to hear the punch line.
“Come with me,” I hiss to Bernie, grabbing her arm and making my way across the room toward Ashton.
“Wait there, sweetheart,” Alexander calls, and I freeze, knowing he’s talking to me as everyone’s gaze shifts in my direction.
“You all, let’s give a hand to this gorgeous creature who helped create a beautiful space for our new local store, Timeless, and who’ll be making even more stores around town this lovely. Jordy Gallo, everyone.”
I feel my face flush as only a few people clap. Inside, I’m a wreck. All the work I’ve done, all the connections I made … Alexander is undoing everything with just a few words.
“When Jordy told me she wanted to throw a party for the people of this town, I couldn’t agree more.
It’s the people who make up the heart of Lahoma Springs, and what better way to show our appreciation than to treat you all to the first of many gatherings in a space like this.
Jordy, thank you for making this happen so we could show Lahoma how special they are to us. ”
I can’t even correct him, to tell him that I had so little to do with this party, that Bec and every vendor she called upon are the true heroes.
It doesn’t matter because the party is ruined.
I look around to see confused faces as everyone around us whispers to each other.
No one dares to leave, not yet at least. This is too much of a shit show to turn away now.
By tomorrow, I’ll be back to being the scourge of this town and lose every friend I’ve made.
Worst of all, I’ll lose Ashton.
“And now, I’m pleased to announce the next client who has joined the Felixes in taking a step into the future. But this woman sold, not one, but two of her businesses so that she can retire a very wealthy woman.”
“Oh Bernie, please tell me you didn’t.”
“I had no choice,” she hisses. But I can see regret all over her face.
“Bernice Lahoma, come on up here.”
Bernie shakes her head, and I hold on to her for moral support.
“Aw, she’s just shy, but she had plenty to say this morning. Did you all know that Lahoma Hotel has been in Bernie’s family for close to two centuries? But every person deserves a comfortable retirement, wouldn’t you agree?”
He waits for a response, but gets none. Then he smiles.
“That’s right, and Bernie is no less deserving.
She couldn’t sell to just anyone, it had to be someone who knows the heart of this town.
Which is why she chose to work with me to make her retirement dreams come true while still honoring our beloved small town. ”
“Listen to me,” I hiss. “He is not a good man. He doesn’t care about Lahoma. All he cares about is—”
“Jordy, could you join me on the stage for a moment?”
I whip my head towards him as he mouths the words “NDA.” Every eye is on me, which means I’m the only one who saw what he said to me. Head down, I abandon Bernie and make my way towards him. Once I get there, he takes my hand and pulls me close, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“I don’t want to take up too much more of your time folks, but I couldn’t end this without expressing my complete admiration and gratitude for this gorgeous woman beside me.
If you couldn’t tell just by looking at her, she has an eye for design.
I mean, this dress she had me buy for her…
” He does a chef’s kiss. “Exquisite, and worth every penny, though there were about tens of thousands of those pennies.”
I burn with rage, knowing just how long it took for me to save. Why he’s taking credit, I don’t know. I open my mouth to say something, but he places a finger on my lips.
“You, babe, have expensive taste,” he continues, a smile in his eyes. “Which is why I can’t wait for you to start designing the hotel across the way. I know you’re going to bring this town into the future.”
He leans down and kisses me, right on the mouth, right in front of everyone. I freeze up, completely unable to move until he releases me.
“A toast,” he says, lifting his glass as I stumble a few steps back. The people in the crowd look at each other, then back at us, reluctantly lifting their own glasses. “To Lahoma Springs, our heart and soul.”
There’s a quiet rumble of voices followed by a few clinks. Alexander turns back to the band, telling them they can play. I see my chance and race down the steps, looking frantically for Ashton. I finally happen upon Bec, whose face looks ashen as she clings to Bob.
“Where’s Ashton,” I ask.
“He left,” she says, and my heart sinks at the words. “Lottie was fussing, and he said he was getting tired too, so he took her home.”
I feel winded, like I can’t catch my breath. “I’ll just call a cab, I guess.” Then I look around, realizing I can’t just leave, not while people are still here. “Maybe he’ll be awake when I get home.”
“Honey.” Bec lays a hand on my arm. “I don’t think…” She looks at Bob, who steps forward.
“Ashton would prefer if you didn’t go to his house tonight. We’ve agreed to let you stay with us, but just for tonight since it’s so late. He said he’ll pack up your things and leave them for us to gather when we get home.”
“You don’t believe…” I look at both of them.
“I didn’t know Alexander would be here,” I say.
Bec looks away quickly, and I realize how that sounds.
“No, not like that. I’m not romantically involved with Alexander, and I didn’t know he was buying up…
” I stop, worried about what I can and cannot say legally.
“I was hired to work on this shop only. I didn’t know there would be others.
I never even told Alexander we were having a gathering tonight.
I just wanted to…” I feel like I’m grasping at straws, especially with how drawn both of their faces look.
“This was supposed to be so different. You put all this work into making it happen, and so many people pulled together to create a wonderful party.” I trail off, unsure what else I can say.
“It’s what we do,” Bob says, his voice low and gruff. “We stand by each other and pull together. It’s why we don’t let outsiders in.”
He looks at me pointedly, and I shrink under his gaze. I’m the outsider, just as much as Alexander is. In fact, I’m even more of an outsider since I have no stake in this town whatsoever.
The Felixes offered to take me in because that’s the kind of people they are, but they don’t want me there.
“Got it,” I say, looking away so I don’t give away my distress. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll find my own place to stay tonight.”