Chapter 14 #2
They had crossed a threshold last night. She had agreed to be his wife for real and had declared her love for him.
He wanted transparency between them.
But the fact that she hadn’t mentioned what happened at her place again meant that she was still hurting. And she didn’t want him to act.
So, he was acting. He had to do something to protect her.
He would protect her, even from her own flesh and blood.
He found the man staying in one of those delightful inns with the view of the harbor and quaint little storefront shops and trendy restaurants.
For a guy who claimed to have lost a fortune at the tables, he was still able to afford the accommodations. And surprise!
It was one of theirs, which made it even better.
On further digging, he found that the latest bride had some money from her former husband. The man was a player, that much was obvious.
And Douglas Graham did not do a day’s work. He used his charms and good looks to cruise and live off women.
Christ! What a piece of work.
So, armed with that much information, he set out. She had been better this morning, cheerful and joking with his grandfather around the breakfast table.
And she had kissed him when he walked her to her car.
Progress, he thought again as he set out for the inn. It was one of those pretty fall mornings, the sun high in the sky, the wind whipping through trees and the leaves ranging from russet to gold, giving everything color.
It took him a little over half an hour to get to the place. Pleasant Valley Inn was tucked on top of an incline, giving the visitors a spectacular view of the harbor and the rest of the town.
He parked in the parking lot and made his way toward the entrance, where a cheerful individual dressed in red and blue opened the doors and greeted him, recognition in his eyes.
“Mr. Muldoon!” He snapped to attention.
“We didn’t expect you-”
“I didn’t call ahead.” He glanced at the man’s name tag.
“Larry. I’m here to see a guest.”
“The manager-” Larry started.
“Need not be alerted-”
But it was too late. A short dapper looking man hurried forward, a look of anxiety on his swarthy face.
“Larry, I’ll take care of Mr. Muldoon.” The manager beamed.
“Would you like to come to my office-”
“Mr. Grayson-” Craig began.
“Please, call me Blake,” the manager said.
“Blake,” he said, realizing they were attracting a lot of attention, which was what he had hoped to avoid.
“I’m here to speak to a guest of yours. If you’d just give me a place with a little privacy-”
“My office-” Blake offered.
“No.” Taking the man’s arm, he led the way over to where a potted fern in the lobby hid them from view.
“A conference room or something smaller. The man is my wife’s father, and I would like a conversation with him and his wife if possible.”
“Oh, of course! I had no idea your father-in-law was staying here. I will see to his upgraded accommodations immediately-” Blake looked like he was about to start wringing his hands.
“No need. Where he’s staying is fine. If he’s in his room, could you-”
“The green and white salon. It’s small and private, and I will ensure you won’t be disturbed,” Blake said.
“Thank you.”
“Would you like refreshments-” Blake asked.
“No. Just a conversation, and then I’ll be on my way. By the way, the place is exceptional.”
The man’s smile covered his entire face.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll have Mr. Graham and his wife sent to you. If there’s anything else-” Blake said.
“I will be sure to let you know.”
He was standing by the window, enjoying the pretty view when he heard sounds just inside the doorway.
Before he could turn around, the man hurried in, his voice exuding charm and goodwill.
“I was told that my son-in-law was here! What an honor to finally meet you. I understand that the wedding was an intimate affair, but I was hoping we could get to meet each other.”
Craig turned all the way around and felt a jolt at how much the man had passed on to his two children. They looked amazingly like him.
The woman he remembered as Mimi skulked behind the man, her eyes downcast.
Yes, he thought cynically. A woman like her would be appealing to someone like Douglas Graham.
“Come, Mimi,” he commanded, reaching for the woman’s hand.
“This is my son-in-law, Craig Muldoon. I just realized that you own this place.”
“We have an interest in it, yes.”
The man’s eyes gleamed. “I see my daughter is not with you.”
He managed to put on a sheepish expression. “We had a little spat the other day, I don’t know if she mentioned it-”
“She did.”
“Well.” Douglas searched around for something to say and wondered how much that bitch had told her husband.
He still hadn’t managed to get in touch with his son. His children were of no use to him if he couldn’t use them to get what he wanted.
“It was a misunderstanding and I would like the chance to make it up to her.”
Craig leaned back on the wall and watched as the man came further into the room. The door was closed to give them privacy.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Well,” Douglas spread his hands wide in a gesture of contrition. “You see, I haven’t been a very good father.”
He made sure his expression was downright pitiful, even though it galled him to act humble.
“I left her and her mother. I was foolish back then. Young and foolish.
“I loved them, of course, but I couldn’t stand the responsibilities. You know how it is.”
“I don’t actually.”
“Well,” he murmured again and floundered.
“I wanted to make it up to them. I did go and visit every now and then.”
He pleaded for understanding with his eyes. “I want her forgiveness and am hoping you would persuade her to give me another chance.”
“Sit.” Craig pointed to a chair.
Douglas eyed him warily but did as he was told. Mimi came and sat next to him, her hands folded in her lap.
Craig went to lean on the desk; his arms folded on his chest.
“You hurt her.”
“I never laid a hand on her.” Sweat started to pool under his armpits.
“And if she said otherwise, then she’s lying.”
“You hurt her.” Craig’s expression had turned to stone.
“After not giving her the attention she deserves as your offspring and treating her like shit, you have the nerve to come here, asking for a handout. What the hell kind of man are you?”
His contemptuous gaze sliced over the man, cutting him to strips.
“She’s my daughter!”
“She’s the woman you created with her mother. You’ve never been a father to her. You hurt her.”
Craig’s voice turned ominous, as cold as winter frost.
“I don’t allow anyone to do so. No one. How much do you owe?”
“I don’t-”
“How much?”
The voice was like a whiplash that had Douglas jolting. “A hundred grand.”
“You told my wife fifty.”
“Yes, well, I-” Douglas swallowed and felt fear icing his spine. “I was going to ask my son for the rest.”
“How considerate of you.” Reaching behind him, Craig picked up the checkbook and the document he had drafted himself.
He wrote the check and filled in the numbers.
“Here’s a hundred and fifty grand. And you’re going to sign this document.
It states that I’m offering this one-time payment.
On acceptance of said payment, you will go back to whatever hole you crawled from and never return.
If you contact my wife or her brother again asking for money, you will be in breach of this contract, which will end with you becoming entangled with my lawyers.
“It so happens that I’m one myself and quite brilliant. On top of that, I have resources, more than enough to make your life a living hell. You will not contact my wife again or come within fifty feet of her. If you do, you will be in breach of this document. Am I making myself clear?”
Douglas had gone as stiff as a board. Fear had the sweat pearling down his back.
“She’s my daughter-”
“We’ve established that’s not the case. You might have been instrumental in the production stage, but that’s all, which is your bloody loss. In spite or because of your lack of involvement, she turned out to be a wonderful woman. Now-” He rose, indicating that the meeting was over.
“You’ll need to sign the document.”
“And if I don’t?” Douglas felt the need to try to take a stand.
Craig’s expression did not change.
“Then you don’t. And I’ll use my considerable influence and resources to make your life a living hell.”
He placed the check and document on the desk and moved away.
“If you want time to discuss it with the missus,” he glanced at the silent and fearful Mimi and shook his head, “then please feel free. I will instruct the manager to collect the document.”
He walked to the door. Turning back, he slid his contemptuous gaze over the man who was staring daggers at him.
“She’s a fantastic woman. She must have taken it from her mother.”