Jasper
“Wait, so you’re not angry?”
Harley asks.
“Why would I be angry? This isn’t the first time Tristan has gone AWOL right before a party. It’s his way of avoiding them. In fact, I’m actually quite impressed that you stood up to him.”
He looks at me inquisitively and says, “You are?”
“Yes. Tristan was brought up with barely any discipline, sadly. He was Todd’s favorite child Whatever he wanted, he got. And being the firstborn, he pretty much got everything he wanted. I was always busy with work and keeping the cashflow going in the house that I never spent much time with Tristan. Then once Kit was born, all the focus was on him, of course. Todd and I tried many times to give Tristan attention, but we just couldn’t seem to do it, no matter how much we tried. And at two-years-old, he was very aware of what was happening around him, so naturally he felt neglected when all the attention was on his baby brother and not him.”
It’s not exactly the trip down memory lane that I thought I would be having with one of my employees. But Harley is the manny and he is taking care of the children. And if telling him about Tristan’s struggles as a child helps him make some progress with him, then perhaps it’s for the best.
“I see,”
he replies. “What are you going to tell everyone tonight at the party when he doesn’t show up?”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that. Sometimes he likes to make a grand entrance and surprise us all midway through the party. But if he doesn’t, then I’ll just do what I always do, which is apologize for his absence and make up some believable excuse. So, did you find yourself an outfit for tonight?”
I ask, changing the subject.
“I did. But are you sure you want me there? I mean, I’m not exactly family and this is a family function, right?”
“It’s a charity benefit. I hold them regularly in my home. It’s how I meet people and how Candy finds potential clients to work with.”
“Forgive me if I’m being intrusive, but what exactly do you do at these charity benefits that makes them and you so important?”
An honest question, and although I haven’t been asked that for quite some time, it’s one that I can answer confidently.
“I’m a very well-known and respected man in America and Paris, as you know, and I make a lot of hefty donations to many charities. So, when I hold a benefit at my house, it’s always a big deal because everyone wants to meet Harding, the wealthiest man in America. I know that sounds kinda corny, but it’s the truth.”
He considers me for what seems like an eternity. He doesn’t say anything, he just shifts his eyes up and down the length of my body, and if I’m not mistaken, I’m sure he’s grinning at me right now. Wait a minute, if he’s grinning, that can only mean one thing … he’s checking me out. I haven’t had anyone other than Candy look at me the way he’s staring at me right now, and with Candy, I can simply brush it off as her being flirtatious. But with Harley, well, I don’t exactly know what to make of this.
“It sounds like you’re one in a million,”
he says, finally leveling his eyes with mine. “Well, I guess I should go upstairs and see if the kids need a hand getting ready.”
He gives me an awkward smile before heading up the stairs and down the hallway. I move through the living room and into my office where Drew is pouring me a fresh cup of coffee. As I move closer to my desk, she hands it to me and I sit down in my armchair. I take a sip and then lean back in my chair.
“Something on your mind, sir?”
Drew asks.
“What am I going to do about Tristan, Drew? No matter what I say or do, I just can’t get through to him.”
I take another sip of my coffee and then lean forward in my chair and place my cup on the desk. “Did I make a big mistake bringing Harley into this house?”
“, Tristan is just behaving like any other teenage boy, and you’re not the first parent in the world to be questioning whether or not they have made the right decision about something. You knew when you made the decision to hire Harley that it wasn’t going to be easy. That the children would need some adjusting to get used to the idea of having another father figure around.”
“A father figure?”
I inquire.
“Well, you have to admit, he does spend an awful lot of time with the children. Helping them dress, getting them ready for school, taking them to school, helping them with their homework. I mean, no offense but he spends more time with them than you do, and that’s not a bad thing because that’s the reason you hired him, to take that extra pressure off you.”
It wasn’t just to help take the pressure of looking after the children. I felt guilty about what happened to him and I tried to make things right by giving him a job. But since Harley has been working for me, it seems that Tristan is unhappy. My children have and always will be my number one priority, and I can’t––I won’t let someone jeopardize that.
“I don’t know. Maybe I should just tell him that things aren’t working out, give him a month’s pay and send him on his way.”
“Now you’re just being silly, . You know that’s not really what you want. And are you honestly going to sit there and tell me that it hasn’t helped having him around?”
No, I definitely can’t deny that having Harley around the house has certainly made my life a lot easier.
“Then what am I supposed to do, Drew? I’m at the end of my rope here.”
She moves a little closer toward me and rests a hand on my shoulder.
“. I’ve been working for you and Todd for many years, many wonderful years. And you know that I care about you and those children like they were my very own. But you know that I don’t have a simple answer for you. You’ve always made the right decision whenever it comes to your children and your family, and you will again this time.”
As I open my mouth to speak, I hear the sound of the front door opening and closing. I get out of my chair and hastily make my way out of the office and through the living room, where I see Tristan about to head up the stairs.
“Not so fast, young man,” I say.
I notice him roll his eyes and then he turns around to face me, folding his arms across his chest.
“Where have you been?”
I ask, inching toward him.
“Out,”
he replies.
“Out where?”
“What difference does it make? Just yell and scream at me like you usually do, and let’s get this over with quickly, so we can both get back to doing more important things.”
“Mind your attitude, Tristan. Do you have any idea who you’re speaking with?”
“Look, Dad. Why don’t you stop wasting your time and mine and just punish me. Don’t you have a party to get ready for?”
This is what happens every time we have an argument. I try to be a responsible parent and punish him like any other father would, and he has a way of turning it around to make it out like I am the worst person in the world and the biggest asshole. And as much as I hate to do this, it might be the only way to finally get through to him.
“Okay, fine. You’re grounded.”
“Grounded?”
he inquires.
“Yes, grounded. No allowance, no going out, and frankly, no leaving this house for two weeks. You will come home from school every day and help Harley with whatever he needs you to do. And after dinner, you will go straight to your room to study before going to bed.”
“You––you can’t be serious,”
he remarks.
“Wanna bet?” I reply.
We stare at one another for a few long seconds before he opens his mouth. “This isn’t fair, Dad, and you know it isn’t.”
“Life isn’t fair, Tristan. And your behavior around here the past couple of weeks has been far from acceptable. Not to mention you go wandering off at all hours of the night, not telling any of us where you are and making me freak out with worry that something has happened to you. I won’t stand for that anymore, Tristan.”
“But, Dad––”
“No buts. Now I want you to go to your room and get ready for the party this evening. Your grounding starts tomorrow.”
He looks at me with pleading eyes and drops his hands by his side. I know he wants to say something but it appears that his words may have failed him. He opens his mouth to speak but changes his mind at the last minute, and when he finally realizes that this is one fight he’s not going to win, he turns to walk up the stairs again.
“Just one more thing,”
I add, stepping closer to him, and he turns to face me. “Your phone.”
I hold my hand out in front of me.
“What? No! You can’t take my phone away from me.”
“Really? Because that’s exactly what I’m doing. Now hand it over,”
I tell him.
“No,”
he replies sternly.
“Tristan, you either hand over the phone or I will cut it off. Plain and simple.”
“Dad, please.”
“Now, Tristan.”
I keep my hand stretched out in front of me with my eyes locked on Tristan’s. I can see them slowly welling up with tears, and as much as it pains me right now, I know this is the right thing to do. He hesitates, still looking at me with pleading eyes, and when I don’t remove my hand, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He looks at it, then at me, before finally resting it in the palm of my hand. Then he runs up the stairs in anger and I hear his bedroom door slam shut.
I’ve never had to punish Tristan like this before, and that’s because I’ve always been too soft. Todd was the one that was always full of discipline, and maybe that’s why he never had any trouble keeping the children in line. Even Tristan was afraid of him and managed to do what he was told most of the time and stay out of trouble. Not that Tristan was ever in trouble with the law, but he never stayed out late at night and had me worry. And if there was ever anything on his mind, he would always go to Todd to talk about it. I so badly want to have that relationship with him. I want to be the one that he comes to with his problems, and I know that grounding and punishing him may not exactly be the right way to start. And if that means he turns to Harley in the meantime, then it’s a start and a step in the right direction at least.
After a rather soothing shower, I wrap the towel around my waist and go back to my room. Drew has very carefully placed my suit on the bed with my socks, and my black shoes rest on the floor. I quickly check my phone for any missed calls or messages, then return to the bathroom and lean over the vanity. Pulling my electric shaver out of the cabinet, I rest it on the counter, then splash water on my face before spreading shaving cream over my cheeks, chin, and neck. After I finish shaving, I head back into the bedroom and get changed into my outfit. A small part of me wants to wander out that door, down the corridor and bang on Tristan’s door and make sure he’s okay. But then I have to remind myself that that is exactly what he wants. He wants me to cave, and then once again, I’ll feel sorry for him, give him back his phone and be lenient on his grounding.
No.
I won’t.
I won’t do it. I have to stay strong and stern and tell myself that this is the right decision and I will not go back on my word, no matter how difficult it is. When I’m finally dressed in my clothes, I walk over to the mirror and adjust my tie, then iron out any creases in my shirt and jacket with the palm of my hand. When I’m done, I walk out of my room and proceed slowly down the stairs, where Drew is waiting for me at the bottom of the landing.
“Wow! You look very … handsome,”
Drew says, as I reach the bottom of the stairs.
“And you look …”
She twirls around in front of me, showcasing her attire and I smile as I continue, “smashing.”
“Smashing? Not exactly the look I was going for.”
“How about … beautiful?”
I correct.
That has her blushing. “I’ll take it,”
she replies with a smile. “I should probably head to the kitchen and see if the caterers need a hand.”
She brushes past me and walks through the doors leading into the kitchen. I take a quick glance at my watch. Checking the time, it’s a quarter to eight, and the guests will start arriving soon. I move to the bar and pour myself a glass of brandy, and then the sound of Violet’s voice has me turning around to face her.
“How do I look, Daddy?”
She’s a vision and a breath of fresh air, and she is every bit the splitting image of her surrogate, Violet. Todd and I agreed that if we had a daughter, we would name her after the surrogate, with their permission, of course. I place my glass of brandy down on the counter and step toward her, then get down on one knee so that I’m kneeled at her level.
“You look absolutely beautiful, sweetheart.”
I run my palm down the right side of her cheek, and then notice her perfectly braided hair.
“Did Drew help you with your hair?” I ask.
“No. Harley did it.”
“Harley?”
She nods. “I’ve been giving him lessons every morning before I go to school. He said I was his mouse.”
“Mouse?” I repeat.
“Yes. Something like that. He told me that he would use me as his mouse while he practiced braiding my hair.”
I stare at her puzzled for a moment, and when I finally understand what she’s trying to say, I chuckle.
“I think you mean muse, darling.”
She shrugs her shoulders. I lift myself off the floor and stand tall then tell Violet to go and sit on the couch in the living room while we wait for the guests to arrive. I pick up my brandy from the counter and take a sip, then notice Kit standing beside me out of the corner of my eye. Placing the glass back down on the counter, I walk over and stand in front of him, eyeing him up and down from head to toe. I inhale a deep breath, then exhale, holding back the threatening tears as I’m reminded of my late husband. He would be so proud of his children tonight, and I know that wherever he is, he’s watching over us.
“You look very handsome, Kit,”
I tell him, as I adjust the knot on his tie.
“Thank you, Dad. You look rather handsome too,”
he replies.
I smile and also can’t help but blush slightly. “Thank you, son. Now why don’t you run along into the living room and join your sister.”
He moves to the living room and sits down on the couch beside Violet, and the sight has me all teary eyed. Seeing the two of them sitting there together reminds of the nights Todd and I used to spend in that room, reading them stories right before we would march them off to bed. I compose myself and do another check on the time. It’s still five minutes before the guests are due to arrive. I pick up my glass and down the rest of my brandy, then Drew reenters the room and wanders over toward me.
“The guests will be here any moment,” she says.
“Yes, I know.”
“Where’s Tristan?” she asks.
“I’m assuming he’s still in his room. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since this afternoon when I grounded him.”
“You what?”
She looks at me horrified.
“After we spoke, I didn’t know what else to do. I needed to get through to him, Drew. Talking to him wasn’t helping, and he wasn’t opening up to me. He was full of attitude and rage. He wouldn’t give me a straight answer about where he was. It’s like he didn’t even care that I was genuinely concerned about him. I told him that for the next two weeks, starting tomorrow, he was grounded. No going out at night, no leaving the house, and no phone.”
“Oh, ouch!”
she replies.
“What?”
“No phone? Yeah, good luck with that. He’s a teenager. They live on their phones.”
“Well, I put my foot down and demanded that he hand over his phone. I threatened to cut it off if he didn’t.”
“And he handed it to you?”
she inquires.
“He had no choice. I was firm and direct. Just like you told me to be.”
“I said that?”
“You know what I mean, Drew. I had to do something. Otherwise, I wasn’t going to get through to him. You know how much it pained me, seeing the hurt in his eyes?”
“That was very brave and I’m sure would have taken a lot of courage. You did what you had to do.”
She glances at her watch. “The guests are going to start arriving soon.”
“I know.”
“Where’s Harley?”
“I haven’t seen him in a few hours. Perhaps he’s in his room getting ready now that he’s helped the children.”
“You invited him to come tonight?” she asks.
“Well, he does live here, after all, and he does take care of my children. It’s only natural that he attends one of my benefits.”
At that moment, something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention at the top of the stairs. I look up and see Tristan standing there, dressed in his black suit and tie and pointed black shoes. He slowly makes his way down the stairs and when he reaches the landing, I’m in complete awe. My eyes study him from head to toe and the longer I stare at him, the more I realize just how grown up he really is. And I hadn’t really noticed it until now, and maybe it’s the suit or the way his hair is slicked back so perfectly, but he has a striking resemblance to me. He looks just like I did in my high school photos when I was sixteen.
“Tristan, you look absolutely beautiful, sweets,”
Drew compliments him.
“Thank you,”
he replies with a smile.
“You look very handsome, son. Dadda would be so proud if he saw you right now.”
I can see the tears well up in his eyes and my emotions too get the better of me. I pat Tristan on the shoulders and fix his tie just as the doorbell sounds.
“I’ll get it,”
Drew says, walking toward the door.
“Dad, about earlier––”
“Let’s not talk about that now, son. This is a party. Just have a good night and we can discuss this tomorrow.”
“But I was just going to say that I’m sorry. You had every right to be angry with me. I shouldn’t have walked out like that without letting anyone know where I was, and I apologize.”
I see the front door open over his shoulders and the first of the guests have started to arrive.
“I appreciate your apology, Tristan. It means a lot. But like I said, we can finish this conversation tomorrow.”
“I was just wondering if I could have my phone? Just for tonight. I need to text someone.”
“I told you your phone was off-limits for two weeks. If there are people who are waiting to hear from you, I’m sure they will contact you again eventually.”
“But, Dad.”
“Tristan?” I warn.
“Dad, please. I promise I’ll never get out of line ever again.”
“I’m really pleased to hear you say that, Tristan. And nice try. But my punishment still stands. No phone. Two weeks. Now go in the living room with your brother and sister and let’s not talk about this again for the rest of the night. We have guests.”
“There you go again, making this all about you and not giving a shit about me or my feelings.”
I open my mouth to speak, but I’m approached by my guests and he moves into the living room. I focus my attention on the couple standing in front of me, smiling and shaking their hands as they move into the living quarters. As the guests continue to arrive and make their way through the house, Drew greets each of them with a drink on a tray. The caterers wander around with trays of food, and people pick from them while engaging in conversation. As I look around at my guests and my children, I realize something. Candy isn’t here yet. I walk over to where Drew is standing by the fireplace, holding a tray of drinks, and as guests wander past me, I give them a smile.
“Something wrong, ?”
she questions.
“Yes. Candy isn’t here,”
I tell her.
“Oh. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call that a problem. The bimbo probably fell and broke a nail or something and is probably getting a manicure as we speak. I’m sure she’ll be here any moment.”
“Druscilla. Do you have to be such a … a––”
“Bitch?”
she offers.
“Well, I wasn’t going to say it but since you did, yes!”
“, please. I’m kidding. I can’t stand the woman but I know she’s your business partner, and without her, well, you wouldn’t be where you are today.”
That’s not totally accurate. While Candy has been my business partner for many years, I had already established my career by the time she came on board. I needed an extra hand while Todd was looking after the children and she had great people skills. Once she was on board full-time, she started to bring in more clientele, and the business started to boom even more. She is all about the money and the popularity of the company, and that’s exactly what I need right now. Even though I now have Harley to take care of the children, it is a whole lot of weight off my shoulders having Candy around, and it also means that if I ever want to take some time away from my work to be with my family, I know it’ll be left in capable hands. I pull my phone out of my pocket, and just as I’m about to dial Candy’s number, she enters through the front door.
“So sorry I’m late, . Dead battery in the car and I had to call an Uber,” she says.
“That’s okay, I was beginning to worry that something may have happened to you. As you can see, the guests have all started to arrive.”
She looks in the living room, where all the guests are scattered around with drinks and talking among one another. Candy then moves toward the bar where Drew is holding a tray of brandy and glasses.
“Well, let’s roll out the red carpet. Her Royal Majesty has arrived,”
Drew says.
“Just do your job and pour me a drink, Drew. That is what pays you to do, right?”
“Since we’re on the subject of paying, let’s discuss what he pays you to do.”
“I—”
“Will you two stop it? This is a charity benefit. Keep the claws away until after the party.”
“Sorry, . I guess I couldn’t help myself,”
Drew says.
She pours Candy a glass of brandy and places it down on the counter, then moves around the room, holding the tray out in front of her as she approaches the guests. Candy grabs her glass and we move around the living room, and one by one she eyes the guests, like she’s giving them a thorough examination.
“Caitlyn. I always wondered how she looked so youthful. I mean, the woman is what? Fifty-five?”
“Sixty-two, actually. And she can thank husband number six for her new boobs, Botox and, well, everything really,”
I tell her.
We continue walking around the room and then she notices the children sitting on the couch.
“You didn’t tell me the children were going to be at the party.”
“They’re my children, Candy. Why wouldn’t I have them attend one of my parties?”
I tell her.
“It’s just that you’ve always told me that you never wanted to get your kids involved with business.”
“Well, things are different now, as my circumstances have changed. My children are a part of me and who I am. I have no secrets, so why should I not share them with the people who have made my empire so successful? I have nothing to hide.”
As we move through the crowd of people, we find ourselves back over near the staircase, and just as I’m about to grab another glass of brandy from the tray that Drew is carrying, my eyes shift to the man standing at the top of the stairs. And it would seem that now the rest of the guests have their eyes fixated on him, too.
“Um … who is that?”
Candy asks.
“That’s Harley, the manny.”
With one hand in his pocket, he slowly struts down the stairs, keeping his head high, and I can’t help but notice how strikingly handsome he is. When he reaches the bottom of the stairs, I take a closer look at him. His hair is slicked back. He’s wearing a navy-blue suit, black pointed shoes, a pink shirt, and a maroon tie. And then then there’s his intoxicating scent.
Damn, he smells good.
“Good evening, Mr. Harding,”
he says in his deep baritone voice.
“I—ah, good evening, Harley,”
I say, trying to find my words.
“I hope this outfit is okay. It was the only thing I found suitable at the store.”
“The outfit is perfect. You look … great,”
I tell him, trying to be casual and not sound awkward.
He grabs a brandy from the tray and takes a sip, while looking around the crowd of people. He then moves into the living room and sits down on the armchair next to the couch where the children are sitting.
“That’s your manny?”
Candy asks.
“Yeah.”
“Wow. Is he available?”
“Easy, Cleopatra. You’re not his type. The dude bats for the other team,”
Drew cuts in before I have the opportunity to answer the question.
“Really?”
Candy asks. “Such a waste. And I usually have such a good gaydar.”
“Well, what are we all doing out here when the party is in the living room? Candy, after you,”
I say, trying to ease the awkwardness that has suddenly filled the room.
The three of us head to the living room, and I proceed to make my way around to all the guests.