Chapter 14
EDDIE
I’ve been a chameleon—okay, maybe a charlatan is more accurate—my whole life, and never has that been more evident than in my courting of Lucy Tanner.
It all started with a conversation I was having with a prospective business partner, The Archibald. It was a gorgeous Santa Monica hotel absurdly close to the ocean. It was my favorite boutique hotel in Los Angeles.
I knew a bit of its history. It had always had location on its side, but through the seventies and eighties, it was pretty rundown, and certainly nothing you’d consider extravagant.
Sometime in the mid-nineties, a man named Bruce Tanner bought the hotel and spent a few years renovating it, along with The Palantino.
And then, almost overnight, they became two of the most sought-after hotels in Santa Monica.
The price wasn’t low. The Archibald could run upwards of a thousand a night on weekends.
They had a beautiful bar and restaurant with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean.
I found myself there in July of 2024.
I was trying to book the restaurant/bar area for a client who wanted a business happy hour at an upscale hotel. I couldn’t think of a better spot than The Archibald, whom I’d dealt with several times over the years.
On the day in question, we had a problem, however.
My client wanted to rent the space for a specific Saturday, but the rep for The Archibald wasn’t budging.
His name was Ryan Giles, and I’d dealt with him a few times.
He was in his mid-forties and always wore the same bright yellow glasses. They were over-the-top.
“My client is willing to pay ten thousand just to use the bar area for a few hours,” I said.
“Like I said, Saturday the 27th has already been booked. Both the bar and the restaurant.”
“I understand,” I said, putting on my nice face, something that business often made necessary. “I was just wondering if there was any way they’d be willing to rebook?”
He laughed. “I doubt it.”
I was starting to get a little ticked off. “And why is that?”
“Well, because they happen to own the hotel.” He laughed again.
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Bruce Tanner has his own place booked?”
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
“What’s the event?” I realized I was asking a lot of questions.
Tone it down a little bit, Eddie. You’re going to have to do business with them again.
“Their daughter Lucy is taking the bar exam to become an attorney on the 27th, and they’re going to celebrate that night.”
“Going from the bar to the bar.”
He gave me a courtesy smile. “That’s pretty good, Eddie.”
We’d dealt with each other enough times that I didn’t mind him calling me by my first name.
“Thanks, Ryan. Wouldn’t you think they’d wait to celebrate once they know she’d passed the bar?”
“Lucy is a brilliant young woman. I have no doubt she’ll pass. And who knows, maybe they’ll celebrate on that day as well. The Tanners are not against throwing a party.”
Although I hated losing the gig, I couldn’t let it get to me.
“I’ll talk to my client,” I said. “Maybe they’ll be willing to change the date on their end.”
“That would be great, Eddie.”
“I’ll be in touch, Ryan. Thanks for meeting with me.”
We shook hands when a surprised look came across his face.
“Well, wouldn’t you know it?”
“What?” I asked.
“There’s Lucy, right there.”
I looked to where his eyes were drawn and saw a pretty young woman, probably in her late twenties.
Her dirty-blond hair was in a bun, and she was wearing a light blue dress.
She was attractive but not what you’d call drop-dead gorgeous.
I watched as she said hi to a few people, but she seemed almost sheepish in her interaction, like she didn’t enjoy having to schmooze.
If I had to diagnose it, I’d say she appeared to be lacking in confidence—the complete opposite of yours truly.
“I’m sorry, Eddie, but I need to go and talk to Ms. Tanner.”
Now it was Ms. Tanner. What happened to Lucy? Maybe when it was official hotel business, he had to address her as Ms. Tanner. I had a sneaking suspicion that Mr. Giles had a secret crush on Lucy.
“I understand. Thanks for your time.”
Giles approached Lucy, appearing nervous and playing with his hands. I knew it! The bastard did have a crush on her.
Her back was turned, so she couldn’t see me watching.
“Hi, Lucy. Do you remember me?”
“Of course. Giles, right?”
“Uh, ya. Ryan Giles.”
I could sense his disappointment. She’d remember his last name, but not his first.
“What do you need, Ryan?”
Lucy was polite and tried to make up for not remembering his first name by using it this time. I can’t say I blamed her. Ryan Giles wasn’t very memorable, despite wearing his obnoxious yellow glasses. In fact, that’s probably why he wore them. He needed a prop to stand out.
“I wanted to discuss our event on the 27th.”
“Okay, but I’m a bit busy right now. I just came by to say hi to my mother.”
“Of course. No problem. Can I just have two minutes before you leave?”
“Sure, Giles. I mean Ryan.”
I quietly laughed to myself.
Lucy had a charming way about her. There’s no doubt about that. And there was an innocence to her that I found attractive. Most children of rich Los Angelenos were petulant little jerkoffs. They were way too worldly. Like they’d seen it all, and nothing could surprise them.
I preferred Lucy’s innocence. I preyed on innocence and could probably have her eating out of my hand if given the chance.
How much were her parents worth? I knew they owned The Archibald and The Palantino. And who knows what else? They were multi-millionaires at the bare minimum. Probably worth a lot more.
Maybe my ship had finally come in.
“Great,” Ryan Giles said. “I’ll be milling around. You’ll be able to find me. And if not, just go to my office. Or call me.”
Ryan Giles was trying too hard.
“I’ll come find you in ten minutes. But I really can’t talk long. I’m headed to the Santa Monica library to study for the bar.”
“Great. I won’t keep you long.”
With that, Lucy headed off to presumably find her mother—that, or just to get away from that weirdo Giles.
I headed outside, made my way to my car, and headed to the Santa Monica Library.
Once I arrived, I grabbed a table that gave me a view of the front entrance.
I found a spot where a huge pillar partially blocked me. Perfect.
About thirty minutes after I arrived, Lucy Tanner walked in. She had a leather book bag, and in her hand was a book. When she walked past me, I glanced over and caught the title of the book—The Shadow of the Wind.
The pillar mostly hid me, and she never glanced in my direction.
I kept my eyes on her as she set her book bag down and started reading.
I thought you were here to study for the bar, Lucy?
This presented an excellent opportunity for yours truly.
I took out my phone and googled the book’s title.
I had to find out everything I could about The Shadow of the Wind.
A few minutes later, I walked past Lucy Tanner and found a table maybe twenty-five feet from hers, but made sure I was facing her. I wasn’t too close, but when she looked up, she’d notice me. That’s not me being cocky. Okay, maybe a little bit, but it was true. Women did notice me.
She was still reading the book. Excellent.
We made eye contact, and I shot her a brief smile. Not an “I’m hitting on you” smile, but a “We’re both humans, and I’m just being polite” smile.
She responded in kind.
I had my laptop out, and it looked like I was studying or researching something. Really, I was just reading all I could about The Shadow of the Wind.
We made eye contact a second time, and I figured there was no time like the present.
I approached her and asked what she was reading.
“The Shadow of the Wind,” she said.
“It’s one hell of a book,” I said, and just like that, we were off.
She asked me the perfect questions about the book. If she got into specific details, I was fucked, and my little charade was up.
Instead, she was hanging on my every word.
Only an hour previous, I’d thought I could have her eating out of my hand in no time. Mission accomplished!
I didn’t want to overstay my welcome and be forced to have an in-depth discussion about the book.
So I said I had to be somewhere, but asked her out before I left.
Her eyes said yes before her words confirmed it.
God, I was good.
That was almost eighteen months ago, and I’d now been married to Lucy for approaching ten months.
I’d been a good little boy for a long time now, but things had changed, and April Devers was seconds from knocking on my hotel room door.
At least, I assumed so.
Maybe she’d got scared off. Perhaps I’d been too up front with her.
Part of me knew it would be better if April didn’t knock.
I hadn’t formulated a specific plan, but something was percolating, and if she walked in this room, things would never be the same.
Maybe I should just leave.
But before I even had time to entertain that option, it came: a knock on the door.
I guess it didn’t matter anymore.
The game was on.