Dutton
Chapter
Thirty
I wake up on the couch, my head throbbing worse than ever before. My back aches just as much, but I still manage to push myself up to a seated position. There is water and some aspirin on the table in front of me, so I grab them and take them quickly.
Fuck.
I feel like shit.
Despite my intoxicated state, I remember everything. Fighting with Henry, him insulting Brooke, my siblings finding out about his cheating, him admitting to sleeping with Brooke’s mother, my attempt to drink the day away, coming home and telling Brooke everything.
My stomach turns as the memories flood back.
I stand slowly, making my way through the house. I start with the kitchen where I find a plate of my favorite cookies.
I wince. Brooke made time in her day yesterday to bake me something and I … well, I got drunk before I came home.
Guilt for my choices hits me hard, the way it always does when I drink too much. I told her about Henry and her mom and then what—passed out? Some talk. Looks like my communication skills are top-notch when the moment counts.
Had I not gotten shit-faced, we could have had a real talk and I would know where we stand right now, but as of this moment, I don’t. I’ve checked our bedroom and outside for her car, so it’s clear that Brooke is not here.
Damn it.
I drop to the couch where I'd slept, scrubbing a hand down my face. My phone buzzes.
I snap my hand out to grab it, hoping it’s Brooke, but it’s Gavin. The time in the upper left corner tells me it’s past seven, so Brooke is probably just at work and I was too passed out to hear her leave.
We’ll talk tonight.
We have to, right?
I open the text from Gavin.
Gavin
If you're awake, you might want to head into work early.
I start to type out my reply, but my brother next sends me a picture of Henry talking to Terrance, the reporter, and they are clearly filming. Under that photo comes another one. It’s a picture of the broken thermostat again, followed by the log showing whose code was last used.
Henry Richford.
What the hell is he up to?
I enter the lodge through the back entrance because I don’t want Terrance or Henry to spot me before I’ve had a chance to make a game plan with Grace and Gavin. I acknowledge a couple of employees as I pass them and then slide into Grace's office. Gavin is already here.
I close the door.
“How early do you two come in?” I ask.
Sure, it’s not the question I want to be asking, but fuck, they had to be here early to see what was already happening.
“I come in at six,” Grace says. “But I also live in one of the older cabins on the property, remember?”
“And Layla had volleyball practice before school today, so I just came in after.”
Gavin’s makes sense, but Grace … that’s just one of the main reasons she should be the one running this place.
“What do we know?” I ask, jumping to the subject we are here for.
“Well, Dad is definitely the one who has been fucking with the temperature,” Gavin all but growls.
“But why?” Grace asks. “What purpose would that have?”
“To test us,” I answer. “He’s always been messed up like that.”
“But I still don’t understand why he would do something that affects the lodge. That could be bad for us.”
“Not as bad as messing with the water or electricity. People would definitely take note of those two things, but guests will assume the heat is from the setting in their room or cabin, and they will just go outside to catch a break. The temperature at this time of year fluctuates so much that, outside of the staff, it wasn’t that noticeable. ”
“I still don’t understand what he would be testing us for.” Grace sounds even more confused.
“To see how we handle pressure?” Gavin suggests.
I shake my head. “It’s got to be more than that. I just don’t know what.”
“Did either of you know he was interviewing with the reporter this morning?” Grace asks.
“No,” Gavin and I answer at the same time.
“Did you hear what they were asking him?” I ask.
“Mason told me that they are interviewing at nine this morning, and they met this morning so he could tell Dad that most of the questions will be related to the lodge’s transfer of ownership.”
“How would Mason know?”
Gavin laughs. “Are you serious? He’s the head of reception. He knows more about what’s going on here than we do. All he has to do is stand there and listen. It’s his job to be up front, so he goes unnoticed most of the time.”
I glance between my siblings.
“If Mason knows all, he might know what Henry has been up to,” I suggest.
“Call him in,” Gavin tells Grace, and she picks up the phone.
Five minutes later, her door opens, but it’s not Mason who walks in. It’s Preston.
“For the love of god,” Grace groans. “We don’t have time for you right now.”
“Ah, but I think you might. I was checking in when you called Mase, and he told me that I needed to come back here to explain a few things.”
“Mase?” Grace repeats and rolls her eyes.
“Shit,” Gavin says and sits in one of the chairs across from Grace's desk. I cross my arms.
“Talk.”
Preston clears his throat. “Your dad has been working with King Enterprises to give them complete ownership of the lodge.”
Grace gasps.
“That asshole,” Gavin snaps.
“Keep talking,” I say. He’d better finish the explanation quickly before he makes everyone in this room his enemy.
“When I saw it come across the board, I jumped to take it over. That’s why I’ve been at the lodge so much these past few months.”
“Because you’re stealing my family's legacy,” Grace says.
“Because I’m saving it.”
He hands over the papers in his hands.
I open the folder to see that instead of King Enterprises as the new owner, he has printed Grace's name clear as day.
“I just thought that—”
“This is perfect,” I cut him off. “But if our father has been trying to sell to you, how did you manage to get Grace's name on the ownership line?”
“What?” She takes the papers from me.
“Wishful thinking that he’ll just trust me and only sign where the arrows point for him. I mean, he didn’t think our lawyers needed to be here for this, so I take that as a sign he trusts me. Once this paper is signed, he can’t change anything.”
“Wait.” Grace snaps the folder closed. “Dutton should be on here.”
“No, I shouldn't.”
“Yes, you should,” she argues. “You sacrificed a lot for us and this place. It’s—”
“Always belonged to you, Grace.”
Fuck. Now she’s going to cry again.
“I don’t want the lodge,” I say as clear as can be to make sure she hears me. “I don’t even know if I want to keep working here.”
“What?” Gavin asks with complete shock.
“I—”
The desk phone rings, and Grace picks it up hastily.
“Mason? Now? We’re on our way.” She sets the phone down. “The reporter is setting up in the lobby.”
“What’s the plan?” Preston asks.
“You’re not a part of it,” Grace snaps.
“Why not?”
“Because you kept this from us and I don’t trust you.”
She has a point, but I have to believe he only kept it because he needed to put on a show for Henry.
“But I was on your side the entire time,” Preston argues.
“Enough.” Gavin uses his dad voice. “We need to make sure that he doesn’t announce King Enterprises as the new owner. That will only spark more unwanted interest in the lodge once the truth is out.”
Grace's phone rings again.
“Hello? Shit. Okay, thank you.”
She hangs up and then heads for the door. “Dad is in the lobby now, too.”
The rest of us file out after Grace, including Preston.
There is no stopping us as we march down the hall. The reporter spots us immediately and beams.
“Oh, I get the entire family for this. What a wonderful surprise.”
The fury on Henry’s face is one I will find joy in for the rest of my life.
“I’m Grace,” my sister introduces herself again. “We met the other morning.”
“I’m Gavin.” Gavin shakes his hand, too.
“Dutton,” I also repeat, sitting down before everyone else.
“And I’m Preston King. Close family friend.”
“Very close,” Henry says, grinning.
I almost laugh.
“Are those the papers?” Henry points to Preston’s hands.
“Yes, sir.”
He hands them over as if he were handing over something as simple as a piece of gum. As if that act isn’t about to change the future of everyone sitting in this area.
“They marked where your signature is needed. Here’s a pen. Once you’re done, the ownership is officially transferred.”
Henry grins, holding his head high as he takes the pen. He flips the folder open and starts to sign.
“Take a photo, Terrance. This is a big event for us.”
Holy shit. He didn’t even look at the first page.
Either he trusts Person with his whole heart or he's an idiot. I’m going with the latter.
Page after page he signs his name, and the reporter claps his hands while his crew gets photos.
“I feel like I’m watching history happen.”
“It’s something.” Gavin gives me a what the fuck look.
Henry signs the last page and then slides the folder forward.
“I’ll just take that real quick and keep it,” Preston says, grabbing the folder as if it were about to catch fire in Henry’s hand.
Yeah, buddy, hold on to that one real tight.
Shit is about to hit the fan.
“Mr. Marshall”—Henry beams at him—“you can ask me all the questions you’d like, but please, allow me to introduce you to the new owner of Lovers Lodge.” He gestures to Preston, but Grace stands and holds her hand out again.
“It’s so lovely to meet you.”
Terrance is clearly in shock, but no one is more shocked than Henry Richford.
“No, no.” He even laughs. “The new owner is—”
“Grace Richford.” Preston smiles and opens the folder. “Yep, right here. Grace Violet Richford.”
The stunned look on Henry’s face lasts only a second.
“Give me that!” He reaches for the folder, but Preston stands and holds it back. Then, as the silence in the room grows, Preston slowly opens the folder and holds it out to show Henry.
I want to laugh. I really do.
“You can look and not touch, sir, but then again, that really isn’t your strength, is it?”
Fuck. I wish that was my line.
Henry lunges for Preston; I move to get between them, and my timing is impeccable.
Henry’s fist connects with my face.