Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
After three unsuccessful attempts, Ryan finally remembered the place where he’d buried the treasure.
Said treasure was now cleaned off as best as possible and safely tucked away in my luggage.
Hopefully I’d be able to keep it hidden for a year so I could surprise Alfie on our wedding day.
Our wedding day. It was still hard to believe sometimes, every time I caught sight of the ring on my finger my stomach filled with butterflies. I was getting married.
I’d left my sister's house, feeling light despite everything that was going on.
It had been uncomfortable listening to my sister talk about the song she was picking out for her dance with our father.
I knew who he was, why he was really here, but like hell was I going to spoil it for her.
I could only hope that he would continue to stick around for Natalie after Alfie had given him the money, it would destroy her if he just disappeared again.
Despite all of that, I’d been smiling when I returned to the car where Maia had insisted on waiting.
Why she wouldn’t come in the house I didn’t know, maybe she liked the quiet.
I always found her relaxing with an audiobook but this time, there had been a grim expression on her face.
Change of plan, she’d said. We weren’t going back to London the next morning so I could see Alfie.
I was staying here. At Harrington. Under lock and key.
That was it, that was all I knew and if Maia knew more she wasn’t saying.
I spent Saturday keeping myself busy. I waited.
I waited for him to come. I waited on tip toe, watching out of the window, hoping Thomas and Joe wouldn’t notice and feel bad for me.
Unlike Maia and Elliot, they had no interest in speaking to me.
I waited for Alfie. For the sound of his helicopter or the roar of his car engine. I felt put aside, like fine china put up on a shelf out of the way.
It angered me that he’d just sent word to Maia. Not to me. To Maia. I was to stay here. Like a fucking dog. So like a dog, I waited.
Throughout the day, I sent him one text and then two, both went unanswered. I meditated on my sculptures and read a book in the Evergarden. I toured the grounds again and again with my shadows following me. I tried TV but I couldn’t rest.
Where was he? Why had he been so distant this week? Was he really just busy? I didn’t buy it. Alfie prioritised me over everything. I told myself I was being spoiled brat, that I was insecure. But what if I wasn’t?
I cursed my father. My abandonment issues were working overtime today.
By dinnertime, I caved and called him. He didn’t answer. For the first time, he hadn’t answered me on the first ring. I tried again. This time he picked up.
“Lola, is everything alright?” His tone was clipped. I tried not to take it personally.
“No, I miss you. Are you coming?”
“I’m afraid I have business this weekend.” That was it. Nothing else. Like I was a colleague or something.
“Business. The photos? More stuff in the press?”
“Just business. We’re making progress on finding out who is behind all of this, I just need proof. For now, I need you to stay there.” Out of the way. That’s the part he left unsaid.
“Are we okay? You’re distant.” I hoped he could read between the lines. I was panicking. Old insecurities were getting to me.
“I’m…under pressure.” There was a softening now. His clipped tone lessened a little.
“I want to help, I feel useless just sitting around.”
“Knowing that you’re safe helps me.”
I played with the tassel on the cushion. I ached for him in every part of me. More than that, I just wanted this to be over. It had barely been a week and yet this permanent knot in my stomach was weighing me down. Worse, it was weighing him. He already had enough on his shoulders.
“Okay well, I was thinking your birthday is coming up soon. Maybe we could plan something? Take our minds off all of this.”
“Yes, that would be nice.”
Alfie.
I felt like we’d gone back in time to when we first met and he would shut down and shut me out. I heard someone speak to him in the background and he ended the call before I had a chance to tell him I loved him. I tried not to take it to heart.
I paced my room, chewing my nails.
I fought the urge to look online and lost. It wasn’t as bad as I’d thought.
Just a few stupid articles about me being in an unstable relationship.
I was portrayed as a golddigger of course.
Portrayed as driving Adam to suicide. His death was ruled as accidental.
Was this even legal? I wondered if Alfie was suing the author. Probably.
I got to work on Natalie’s swan. I worked late into the night and threw myself into it again the next day.
I wanted to send plans to Sid for his opinion but decided not to interrupt his weekend.
By Sunday night, I had a plan and a supply order that I emailed over to Rosies.
It was going to be tough to get everything pulled together so quickly but I was sure I could do it.
No word from Alfie. All day. No good mornings. No calls. Just a single delivery of bleeding hearts.
My phone started ringing and I snatched it up, hoping to see Alfie’s name on the screen. Instead, I saw Grace’s.
“Grace, how are you?”
“I’m well, I just wanted to check in. I hope I’m not intruding but I know the gossip rags have been giving you a hard time this week, I wanted to make sure you aren’t taking it to heart.”
“I’ve barely noticed, honestly.” That was partly true. I’d refused to look at whatever was circulating online. It would only make me feel worse. I’d warned Natalie and Keira that they might see some things about me and to just ignore it. “It’s all bullshit anyway.”
“It always is. And everything with you and my brother, that’s all okay?”
My alarm bells started ringing. “Of course. Do you have any reason to think it wouldn't be? Have you spoken to him?”
“No. I’m the last person he’d confide in. Well, maybe second to last.” His mother was in last place, I thought. “It’s a small world, Lola. People talk. There are rumours that you’re…on the out.”
I rolled my eyes to the heavens. This was ridiculous. I thought small town gossip was bad but apparently the big city rumour mill was worse.
“Alfie’s always been something of a…he’s always been sought after.
Most men as wealthy as him aren’t nearly as attractive.
As uncomfortable as it is for me to say it, it’s true.
The gossip mill will always churn out nonsense but occasionally there’s a nugget of truth in it.
I hear that you didn’t come back to London this weekend. ”
“Are you serious?” I stood, pacing the room. “Are there spies everywhere? Why does anyone care where I go?”
“People – women, really – are searching for cracks. If there’s a crack there’s an opportunity.”
“These would be the sharks he’s mentioned to me?” Her silence was my answer. “There are no cracks. He and I are fine.” I hoped that was true.
“Okay, I’m sorry for prying. He and I aren’t close but I still worry. I know he’s distracted dealing with the lawsuits and the theft but he needs you now more than—”
“The what?” I cut her off. “What are you talking about?”
There was a long silence. What lawsuits? What thefts?
“I…I thought he told you everything.”
I closed my eyes. “Grace, I have to go. I’ll see you at Natalie’s wedding.”
“Lola I’m sor—” I hung up on her and stormed out of the room. I banged on Maia’s door and she answered, bleary eyed.
“Maia, has someone stolen from Alfie? Don’t lie to me.”
She blinked, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Yes. Money has been lifted from one of his accounts. That’s all I know.”
“What the – why don’t I know that? Is that why Alfie couldn’t come?”
“Part of it, yes. I don’t know why you don’t know.
My job is to keep you safe, not pass messages.
I’m having a hard time figuring out when to be your friend or Mr Tell’s employee.
To tell you the truth, I’m getting sick of the balancing act.
” She walked into her room and I followed her.
It was strange seeing her in a tank top and shorts and not her usual bodyguard garb.
Her rooms were smaller than mine but cosy.
She sank into a chair. “I don’t know why you’re not allowed to know.
I questioned Elliot when he said not to tell you but he wouldn’t elaborate. ”
I gritted my teeth. “Who did it?”
“I don’t know. I think they know and they aren’t telling me and yes, that makes me suspicious. But I follow their orders, so we stay here.”
“Oh, fuck that.”
“Lola,” she snapped, her tone harsh enough to make me shut up for a minute.
Maia never snapped. “He hasn’t said as much but I don’t think he wants you on the road.
Someone might really hurt you. Here, it’s easier to keep you safe.
Please don’t make my life difficult. The gates to Harrington are locked and unless you want to dig a fucking tunnel, you’re staying here until he says otherwise. ”
I stared at her and she stared right back, waiting for a fight. Instead, I sank onto the couch next to her.
I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. “He’s literally locked me away in a fucking castle.”
“There are worse places to be locked away.” I wondered if she was speaking from personal experience but I decided not to ask. Maia heaved in a sigh. “Do you want to watch a film?”
I raised my eyebrows. Maia had never asked me to hang out before.
“It’s late…you were just asleep.”
“I’m awake now.” She grabbed the remote and switched her TV on. “Before you go scorched earth on Mr Tell, remember what I said about trusting him. Someone’s trying to mess things up between you. Don’t let them.”
As she scrolled through movie options, I stared at my phone, wondering what to do. Call him and give him hell? Demand answers. No. That’s what Old Lola would have done. Instead I sent him a text.
Alfie, Grace told me someone has been stealing from you. Don’t get mad at her, she thought I already knew. Maia confirmed that’s why you’re keeping me here. I’m angry you didn’t tell me but I trust you. I love you. xxx
I blew out a breath as the opening for Bridesmaids started to play. I’d said the words I trust you and now I had to live by them. He wouldn't betray me again. He wouldn’t.