Dutton
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
“Ah, there you are.”
I glance up from my office chair as Henry struts into my office. I’m here every single day, yet he says it as if he can never find me.
“Here I am,” I say.
His beady eyes dart to mine. “You’re never in here when I need you.”
“Then I’m probably around the lodge assisting guests.”
A huff of disapproval is his only reply.
“Do you have your ten-year plan ready for me?”
I move some paperwork around on my desk and grab the folder with everything he wants to see.
Was preparing this like pulling teeth without numbing them first? Yeah, it was. I based most of my goals on things the lodge is already doing, but also on what is going well, taking out things that aren’t.
One big change I would make: the head chef doesn’t need to be the main contact for the baking.
I think we need to contract Brooke for this, and I think we need to hire her to train our pastry chef.
This was something I’d thought of way before she and I became an item, but as I watch Henry flip through the pages of my proposal, I know the moment he catches her name on the page.
“Hire B’s Bakery to take over the desserts for all weddings? Have you lost your mind?”
“No.”
It’s a simple answer, but by the way he closes the proposal and tosses it on the desk as if it’s not worth his time, it’s clear as day that’s not the answer he wanted to hear.
“All right, your fun is over, Dutton.”
He holds his hands out.
Am I supposed to know what he’s talking about?
“What fun?”
“This thing with the Sloan girl.”
“Brooke. Her name is Brooke.”
He waves his hand as if details don’t matter.
“Look, if you came in here to get my proposal so you can look it over, take it. If you came in here to talk shit about my girlfriend, you can leave.”
“Girlfriend?” he laughs. “Girlfriend.”
I narrow my gaze on him.
That it’s possible to hate this man more than I already did is wild, but I’m doing it.
I glance at the clock on the wall behind him. It’s three in the afternoon, and seeing as how it’s still a busy part of the day with guests and employees filtering through the halls, I don’t reply.
I mean, really, we’d just argue, so I may as well let him say what he needs to say. The sooner he does, the sooner he will leave and there won’t be a scene.
“Listen, Dutton, I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell you this, but I can’t in good conscience leave you this lodge if you are dating that girl.”
That girl.
That.
Girl.
Is he fucking serious right now?
“Her. Name. Is. Brooke.”
He sighs with annoyance.
“This is exactly what I mean. I just told you that I’m not giving you the lodge because of your poor choice in women, and you’re more worried about me remembering her name.”
“My choice in women?”
“Yes.”
“Do you really want to go there?”
His head falls back on a laugh.
“There is nowhere to go.”
I’ve read articles and watched shows about the moment someone snaps, but I never truly understood it until this moment.
Until he decided to disrespect Brooke.
I’ve let him get away with a lot over the years, but this is fucking unacceptable.
I stand slowly, palms face down on my desk as I lean toward him, my voice low and seething.
“You’ve had a revolving door of women for years and you want to criticize my commitment to one?”
“We’re better than this!” he yells. “We are Richfords, and for god’s sake, Dutton, what I do in my free time doesn't concern you! Do we really need the reporter staying here to print false information about us and who we spend our time with?”
“Whoa, whoa.” Gavin appears at my door, hands held high in defense. “I can hear you all the way down the hall.”
“So can I,” Grace says, stepping inside and closing the door. “Are you two really fighting right now?”
“It’s just a simple disagreement,” my father says.
“No, it’s not,” I say in return.
“Okay, well, we all know you two have never really—”
“Either you tell them right now or I will,” I demand, cutting Gavin off.
This was not how I ever wanted it to go, but there is no time like the present.
Henry just stands there, not saying a single word. Clearly, he wants me to be the one to spill the beans, instead of owning up to it. I should have known. After all these years, not once has he admitted that he's done something wrong.
“Henry's been cheating on Mom for years,” I say, cutting to the chase and staring right at him. “And the minute those magazines find out the truth about you, this lodge could be done for.”
Henry huffs. “Oh, please. As if my personal life would have any effect on this place.”
“It would,” Gavin chimes in. “One of the things people love best about this place is how it's so family-friendly, and they love the backstory of the romance between you and Mom, and Grandma and Grandpa. If this is true, you've ruined it.”
My gaze falls to Grace.
“Is he telling the truth, Dad?” she asks.
Henry groans, like this is just some annoying conversation he wishes he weren’t having. Like we are wasting his time.
“Typical Dutton, just looking for attention.”
“I'm not looking for attention,” I shout. “I saw you. I watched you. I caught you in the house and at the lodge. I saw you buying flowers for other women. I saw you buying jewelry and gifts for other women. And you know it.”
He shakes his head. “The stories you can come up with are crazy.”
“They're not stories!”
“Come on, Dad, tell us the truth,” Gavin says.
Grace looks like she's about to cry.
“I can't … does Mom know?” My sister barely gets the words out.
Instead of waiting for him to answer, both she and Gavin look at me.
I give one single nod.
“Oh my god,” Grace says and starts to cry instantly. “Mom.”
“Fuck,” Gavin says, his hands on his hips as he starts to pace. He stops, blows out a breath, and looks to the ceiling. Then he looks at me. “I’m an asshole.”
“You’re not the asshole,” I say. “Henry is.”
“Come on, Dutton, you're just looking for attention,” he repeats. “I tell ya, he catches wind that he's not going to be the next in line to run the company and he'll spread any kind of—”
“Save it, Dad. You can't gaslight me into this anymore. I'll tell them to go to Mom. She knows just as well as I do. Your choices could take this lodge out of business.”
His laugh is deep and dark. “No one cares what the owner of a lodge is doing.”
“They do in a small town,” Grace snaps. “Now, tell me, Dad, is this true?”
“Just admit it,” Gavin chimes in.
Henry’s gaze bounces from me to Gavin to Grace and back to me
“My choices are none of your business.”
“Oh my god,” Gavin says.
Grace immediately stomps her foot. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Her outburst shocks both Gavin and me, but I don't let it distract me.
“Here's what's going to happen,” I say, stepping forward. Having my siblings back me up has given me the courage I need. “You're going to announce the next person to take over.”
“Oh, you still think it's going to be you? Tell me, how are things with Brooke, huh? I've always been curious. Is she just as easy as her mother?”
Red.
All I see is red.
“What did you just say?”
“I asked if she was just as easy as her mother,” he repeats, a gloating smile on his face. “Of all the women, Brooke’s mama was by far the easiest to get into bed. I’m sure her daughter is just like her.”
I lunge for him, his shirt bunched in one of my hands while the other pulls back, fist curled ready to punch him in the face.
Gavin grabs me before it can happen though.
“Are you fucking kidding me! You sick bastard. She was a married woman with kids and a husband, and you just never fucking cared, did you? You never cared about hurting anyone if it gained something for you. You’re a sick son of a bitch, and as much as I don't want the media to get wind of this, I hope they find out what kind of man you are and hang you out to dry. Rot in hell.”
He steps toward the door, a grin on his face that I want to remove with my bare hands.
“Get out!” I yell.
He pauses in the doorway, lets out a chuckle I’ve heard before, and finally leaves.
“Look at me,” Grace says, her red splotchy eyes meeting mine. “Breathe, Dutton.”
I jerk my hands free from Gavin's hold and drop into my desk chair.
Holy shit.
“He … fuck,” Gavin snaps and then closes my door. “What the fuck do we do now?”
“This is all so messed up,” Grace says, pacing the room.
“What do we do?” Gavin asks. Grace doesn't reply; they’re both watching me.
“I have no idea,” I tell them.
The last thing on my mind right now is the lodge.
It’s on the beautiful and brilliant blonde who changed my entire life in a matter of weeks and how my father just admitted to cheating with her mom.
“I need a drink.” I abruptly move from my desk to the door and jerk it open. I don’t need to look behind me to know Grace and Gavin are on my heels.
Everything just changed, and I can’t help but think … I’m totally fucked.