Chapter 10
Win
I learned a lot about Channing Harvey in the few short weeks she’d been at the estate.
She really could sleep anywhere. The couch. The big recliner in the corner. Winnie’s room. On the floor. Propped up against the big, sea-facing windows. If she found a place to rest her head and closed her eyes, she was out like a light. It’d become a nightly habit to move her from whatever awkward location where she’d zonked out into a bed. More often than not, I surrendered my own and slept on the chaise lounge in my office. Occasionally, she stayed with Winnie in her room because my niece was prone to nightmares and fitful bouts of night terrors. I wasn’t certain Channing was assuaging Winnie’s fear that there was something hiding within the walls. I frequently found her pressing her ear against the barrier and knocking on old structures throughout the house like she was trying to find a hollow spot or secret entrance.
I discovered she was impervious to insults from those she considered unimportant. My mother had gone above and beyond to make sure Channing knew she was not wanted in her home. None of the staff acknowledged the redhead. They treated her as if she were air, and the frigid cold shoulder extended beyond the walls of the estate. When Channing started looking for work, every business that operated in the Cove refused to even let her apply. My mother spread the word that anyone who had interactions with Channing would no longer be considered for business or service opportunities for the Hallidays and their acquaintances. Not to mention, there were various companies and services my mother funded that I had nothing to do with. She had too much pull on the local economy for me to interfere. I think my father gave her control of whatever opportunity caught her eye to keep her out of his hair. Or maybe they were bribes to keep her silent about the affair. There was no way in hell that my mother didn’t know what the old man was up to behind her back.
My mother made it nearly impossible for Channing to take part in school functions with Winnie.
One of the first things she did when she moved in was teach Winnie that while privilege was nice and came with a slew of advantages, there was no guarantee in life that a person would always have whatever they needed. When she found out Winnie’s school was only a five-minute drive away, she bought a couple of old-fashioned beachcomber bicycles. The girls spent the weekend sanding them down and painting them bright colors. Channing wanted Winnie to ride her bike to and from school when the weather permitted. I agreed, as long as a member of my security team tagged along to make sure nothing happened on the way. Initially, I was worried the other kids who attended the elite private school would taunt my niece. Channing told me it was okay if they did, because Winnie needed to learn how to differentiate between real and manufactured criticism. She insisted it was a perfect way for our niece to weed out who her real friends were, and who only hung around because of her last name.
It turned out that a handful of her classmates thought riding a bike to school was cool in a retro way. There was even some envy that she had a bit of freedom most of the children from extremely well-to-do families rarely had.
The problems arose when Winnie wanted to bring Channing onto the school grounds so she could introduce her to her friends and her favorite teachers. The school’s security team refused to let Channing beyond the gilded gates. They told her if she tried to enter the property, with or without Winnie, they would have her arrested for trespassing. My niece felt outraged and insulted on Channing’s behalf. She called me and yelled in my ear for nearly twenty minutes. I promised I would call the school and add Channing to the visitor’s list. Unfortunately, it was a promise I couldn’t fulfill. My mother wasted no time in making moves to keep Channing from the places she deemed her unworthy of entering. The director of the school did not hesitate to brag about the obscene monetary donation my mother had made in Archie’s name to the school. Unless I wanted to build them a new building, or double my mother’s fake charitable act, Channing was stuck close enough to see how the influential and powerful were educated but far enough away that she wouldn’t learn their secrets.
However, my mother miscalculated Channing’s skills and motivation. She was self-sufficient and didn’t need the staff at home. My personal housekeeper was required less and less because Channing could cook. And while a job close to the estate would be convenient, Channing never intended to spend her time toiling in Colette Halliday’s backyard. When I asked her what she intended to do since she was adamant to go back to work, she smiled at me in a way that made the back of my neck itch and told me I would just have to wait and see. Her tone indicated she had a plan, and it was nowhere near as harmless as going back to the bakery.
As for the situation with the school, she couldn’t care less. As long as she got to drop off Winnie at the gates and pick her up so they could ride home together, she was content with the status quo. In fact, most of Winnie’s friends attempted to breach the invisible barrier so they could meet Channing. Winnie had always sung her praises and told anyone who would listen how cool and fun her aunt was. The kids from the upper-class treated Channing like she was an animal on display in the zoo. It was almost like they’d never witnessed a woman who wore torn jeans and old sweatpants before. When she dropped off Winnie while wearing her pajamas, they gawked at her and asked her ridiculous questions about living a pedestrian lifestyle. Twice, she was mistaken for a staff member. She laughed it off and joked that if she worked for one of the families in the Cove, she would be far better off financially. From the secondhand information I received, Channing took the innocent curiosity in stride. Her unbothered attitude just made my mother angrier.
The older woman tried to use my same tricks to get Channing to leave the marriage and the estate. She went after her parents and her friends and tried to dismantle her life. Unfortunately for my mother, I’d learned how to play dirty directly from her. I blocked every move she tried to make and warned her again that if she kept trying to push Channing out of our lives, she was going to lose more than she bargained for. She never listened. Thus far, Channing remained unfazed, but no matter how strong she was, there was bound to come a time when she couldn’t handle the abuse. I did my best to be a buffer, so I was spending more time at home and less at the office. It was the first time in my life I experienced a reasonable work/life balance. Not even when I took over as Winnie’s guardian did I dedicate an equal amount of time and focus on what was happening at home. I was programmed to prioritize Halliday Inc. over anyone and everything. It wasn’t until Channing Harvey disrupted the ebb and flow of my very existence that I realized I should want more for myself. No. That I needed more than a company and an unwanted inheritance to be successful and feel fulfilled.
Today when I got back to the sprawling estate after having been away for several days, the large manor was eerily hushed. None of my mother’s staff was bustling about, and there was no sign of the older woman. Winnie’s room was empty, and there wasn’t a hint of a single living person in my private wing.
The silence made me frown as I took off my suit jacket and pulled at my tie. I secretly looked forward to being greeted by Channing and Winnie. I’d never had the kind of family that was excited to see one another at the end of each day. It often felt like we were work colleagues rather than relatives. Sharing a space with Channing changed all of that. There was always a sense of warmth when I returned. If my days spent grinding and scheming for the company were an unchanging black and white, Channing painted the time we spent together with every color of the rainbow. It was a stark contrast that was altering the way I’d viewed a bleak future.
I called Winnie’s name and looked in all the different rooms for Channing. I sent Rocco a text and inquired if he had knew the whereabouts of my niece, since one of his guys was supposed to watch her when she was away from the estate. He reported back that Winnie was still at school for a special presentation. He’d arranged for one of his men to bring her back when the event was over in advance. Rocco paused when I asked where Channing was. He didn’t have anyone assigned to watch over the rebellious woman, but he knew me well enough to know that he should be able to answer when asked about her general whereabouts.
“She took a train into the city after she dropped off Winnie at school. I’m not sure what she did there, but she caught another train back to the Cove a couple hours ago. She should be at the estate. Colette’s made it impossible for her to go anywhere else in town.”
My frown deepened as I stepped into the hallway that led to the rest of the house. I called Channing’s name, but there was only silence in response. The estate was so big and empty, sometimes a voice would echo, but not today. There was nothing. An uneasy chill creeped up my spine.
I told Rocco to find out what Channing was doing in the city today and ordered him to let me know if he found her before I did. He grunted in agreement, alluding to the fact that he found supervising Channing below his considerable paygrade.
I wandered up and down the long stretch between various rooms. I cracked doors I’d never opened before and continued to shout for the missing redhead. She had to be somewhere in this house, but I couldn’t imagine her wandering in the places that were off limits unless she was intentionally trying to irritate my mother.
Eventually, I arrived at the stairway that split the house into different parts. I cast a glance toward the main house and knew without a doubt there was nothing in that direction that would interest Channing. I scowled as I took the first few steps toward the wing where my brother died. I’d refrained from stepping foot in those rooms since the remodel was finished. I treated that area as a tomb. The air always felt heavy and ominous when I crossed the threshold. There was nothing more than tragic memories and regret there. I imagined what I wanted to avoid was exactly what Channing was searching for if she’d entered the forbidden zone. If she’d asked before exploring on her own, I would’ve told her there was nothing left from the time her sister lived on the property. The fire ate every single trace that there had ever been a Harvey here. It decimated all proof that a happy, healthy family had ever existed inside these unyielding walls.
“Harvey! Are you up there? You shouldn’t be wandering around this part of the house.” My voice was gruff, and the concern I tried to hide was clear as my words carried down the hall. “I’ve been looking for you for over twenty minutes.”
I called her name again, and this time there was finally a response. Channing yelled from Winnie’s former nursery, “Give me one second. I’ll be right out.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and started walking in that direction. I was grumbling under my breath about her being impulsive and irresponsible when a door suddenly slammed shut. I jerked my gaze toward the sound, but the door to the nursery was wide open. Channing’s head poked out as she looked around for the source of the loud noise. Her eyes drifted to mine and her brows furrowed.
“Was that you?”
I gave her an impatient look in response. “I don’t slam doors. It was probably the staff. Or maybe a strong draft of wind. I told you a house this old has life to it.”
She stepped out of the room and tossed her messy ponytail over her shoulder. “These antique doors weigh a ton. It would need to be a hurricane-grade wind to blow a door shut with that much force.” Channing craned her neck and looked up and down the hallway in confusion. “I walked this way because I heard another door open and close when I was at the base of the stairs. I swear on my mother there was something tapping inside the walls guiding me to this room. In a normal house, my guess would be mice. But I doubt Lady Halliday would allow something so undignified in her presence. No wonder Winnie thinks this house is haunted. Weird stuff keeps happening. It’s not in her head.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a pointed look. “Why don’t I hear anything strange?”
She rolled her eyes and followed me as I led her away from the wing that I was starting to believe might really be cursed.
“You heard the door slam just now. That wasn’t my imagination.” She huffed a bit, and I found her extremely cute when she was frustrated. I froze for a second because I could not remember the last time I considered anything ‘cute.’ Maybe when Winnie was a newborn? There wasn’t much use for soft sentiments in my day-to-day. It was another unconscious change that happened because I was spending more time with Channing.
“There’s a rational explanation. There always is. You’re as bad as Winnie. You should set a better example for her.”
She gave me a dirty look and stomped back to the safety of my domain.
“Whatever. I know I heard something, and I know it wasn’t a breeze that slammed those doors.” She pouted and kicked the edge of the big recliner in the living room. “Maybe your mom is having the staff play tricks on me. She knows my mother has mental health issues, and I’m sure she could tell Willow struggled with similar symptoms. There is no question that the illness is hereditary. It’s entirely possible she wants me — and you — to doubt my sanity.”
I pulled off my tie and rolled my head to loosen the tension that had my neck muscles in a chokehold. “If you have suspicions that my mother is playing games with you, then you shouldn’t let her win. Don’t feed into whatever narrative she’s trying to get you to follow.”
I yawned because I hadn’t slept well the last few days. I’d worried about whatever was happening back at the estate. For good reason, it seemed.
Channing swore loudly and gave me a dirty look. This was far from the warm welcome I’d secretly imagined when I was headed back from London.
“Winnie won’t be home until later. Do you want me to arrange something for dinner, or did you eat?”
“I’ve eaten. I met up with a friend in the city this afternoon.” She turned and gave me a haughty look. “And I found a job.”
I blinked in surprise. “What sort of job? You’re going to work in the city? Isn’t that inconvenient?” I did the commute several times a week. Granted, I used the time in the car to work, but I still preferred not to spend hours on the road.
Channing shrugged, and the corner of her mouth quirked upward in a mocking grin. “I’m going to be a personal assistant. Just like that annoying guy who was following you around at the courthouse. I’m only working a couple days a week, so the commute shouldn’t be terrible. I made sure the job fits within the confines of the contract and Winnie’s school hours.”
“A personal assistant for whom?” I started silently planning to have Rocco run a background check and do a deep dive into her new employer.
She opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly her expression changed, and she frantically darted over to the massive window that faced the seascape. Along the windowsill sat the potted plants she had carefully brought from her apartment. When I left a few days ago, they were thriving. Now, they looked brown, crunchy, and very dried up. They appeared as if someone had drop-kicked them across the living room when no one was looking. They were most certainly dead.
“Did you do something to these?” Channing whipped around and glared at me. “Why are they suddenly like this? I’ve had these plants for years. They’ve never even wilted before.”
I grunted and lifted a hand to rub the back of my neck. “Did you forget that I’ve been gone? How could I do something to them?”
She scoffed and gave me a narrow-eyed look. “What about your housekeeper? Maybe your mother paid her off to mess with me.” She picked up one of the pots and gave it a sad look. “This is so unnecessary. What did this poor plant ever do to anyone?”
“I’ll ask, but I think it’s unlikely. Everyone who works for me directly knows it is grounds for immediate termination if they are swayed by my mother. Maybe it’s too hot by the window. Are you sure you didn’t forget to take care of them while you were busy running back and forth to the city?”
Channing’s whole body stiffened, and she whipped around to give me a look that would’ve had a weaker man quivering on the spot. I immediately regretted questioning her thoughtfulness. If I weren’t exhausted and stressed over the war waging between her and my mother, I wouldn’t have made such a careless faux pas. We were just now settling into a nice sort of truce, and I instantly destroyed the peace with my carelessness.
“I would never let anything happen to my babies. I’ve kept these plants alive for years because Willow gave them to me for my birthday the last year she was still here. They were her final gift to me. She could never keep anything green alive. Whatever she touched withered away. She told me it was my job to take care of all the delicate things she couldn’t.” Channing barked out a bitter laugh and narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you ask me who I’m going to work for?” She flashed a smile that was all teeth and malice. “It’s someone you should be familiar with since he’s family. They say the enemy of my enemy is the best friend you can have in a fight. Your half-brother fits the bill perfectly. If your mom doesn’t want me working for anyone in her precious town, it makes perfect sense that I go and work for the only person who openly dislikes her as much as I do.”
My heart twisted and a cold sweat broke out all over my body. “You’re going to work for Alistair DeVere?” I’d only encountered my half-brother a handful of times. Other than looking nearly identical to me, there wasn’t anything that stood out about the young man. If I was being honest, it was the fact that Channing and the bastard had more in common than she and I did that made me want to keep her away from him. She always had a history of falling for the underdog. Alistair DeVere wasn’t an exact match for that description, but he definitely came up short when stacked up against me. The idea of her being allured by my face on a completely common man rubbed me the wrong way on so many levels. “I forbid it.”
Channing laughed, but it was a harsh and bitter sound. “You don’t get a say in the matter, Chester.”
She picked up the dead plants and disappeared out the door that led to the small, private garden.
I swore under my breath and dragged myself to the bathroom so I could take a shower. I didn’t mean to start a fight with her as soon as I returned home. Being at odds with her gave me a headache and made my heart feel like someone was squeezing it in a vise. And I definitely didn’t want her to join forces with my not-so-innocent half-brother.
There was a laundry list of things I didn’t want when it came to Channing. If I were to sit down and make a list of what I did want, I was scared to admit there was only one thing I could think of.
I wanted her to want me the same way I wanted her.