Chandler

by Laurelin Paige

  “If it were just the matter that Genevieve was associated with someone I dislike, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. It’s much bigger than that.”

  That’s it. I’m furious. So much for control.

  “Well, fuck that,” I shout. “And fuck you. If you’re making me choose—”

  “I’m not making you choose—I’m forbidding you to be involved with that girl.”

  What the actual fuck?

  “Are you even listening to yourself? You can’t forbid me to be involved with her. I’m a grown man, and you’re not my parent, or even my boss. You’re my business partner and my brother and neither of those positions gives you any authority over my love life.”

  “You are my family,” Hudson says, pointing an authoritative finger in my direction, “and as I said, I will do what I have to do to protect every member of my family from falling into one of her games. That includes you. And I’m telling you that you need to seriously consider the motives of this girl’s involvement with you.”

  I shake my head. I’m at a loss. Hudson is treating me like I’m a teenager who’s frustrated that his car keys have been taken away for the weekend. Does he really believe that I’m not capable of looking after myself?

  And his latest insinuation is the worst. “Are you suggesting that she’s only with me to get to you?” Ironically, Genny half-admitted to going home with me that first night because of who I am and what a relationship with me would gain for her father.

  But then she tried to distance herself from me for exactly the same reason.

  So I hear him, but I’m not buying what he’s saying. “She’s not with me because of you, Hudson. She’s with me despite you.”

  His eyes narrow. “Are you so sure about that? Is that what she’s told you? Why is she with you?” He’s calm in his questions. Reasonable. “It seems awfully convenient how the two of you continually cross paths, doesn’t it? How you didn’t know who her stepmother was. How she shows up at your office. At your dinner meetings. Awfully convenient.”

  In a matter of seconds, I replay our entire relationship. That night at the gala, had she been interested before I gave her my name? Then, it was her who’d shown up at the office. She’d shown up at the dinner. Are there reasons to suspect she’d been after me, despite the times she’s made me chase her? “You think she’s playing me. For Celia.”

  “I’d bet on it.”

  No. I won’t believe it. I had to fight for her interest. And the chemistry between us is legit—I’m sure of it.

  “You’re a conceited asshole,” I tell my brother. “You know that? I try to tell you about the girl I’m in love with and you immediately make it all about you.”

  “I’m not making this about anyone. I’m telling you that if you continue to spend time with that woman and her family, there will not be a place for you anywhere near us.” He turns away from me to retrieve his tumbler and carries it to the bar, leaving it right side up to indicate it’s been used. He’s done with me. Done with this conversation.

  “Asshole is too good of a word for you.” I start for the door when Alayna speaks up behind me.

  “You’re right, Chandler.”

  I turn back to her, relieved someone’s talking sense, and though I don’t look at him, I feel Hudson’s attention is equally directed at his wife.

  “It’s not fair,” she continues. “This poor innocent girl is caught up in the middle of something bigger, and placing judgment on her for something completely out of her control is a pile of shit. I’m always the first one to give a person the benefit of the doubt. We’re all slaves to our weaknesses, but we also have a great amount of strength and resilience. It’s very possible that Celia is no longer interested in harassing us. It’s also possible that Genevieve is simply a woman who sees the incredible man you are. Who wouldn’t be with you? Why wouldn’t any girl fall head over heels for you?”

  Have I mentioned I’ve always liked Laynie? And not just because she’s hot. Right now I could kiss her.

  “Thank you,” I tell her. “Now that’s the most sensible thing I’ve heard since I was brought in here.”

  “You’re welcome, but I’m not done. See, with Celia Werner,” Laynie’s eyes are sympathetic as she looks at me, “you can’t take any chances. She’ll take advantage of anyone and everyone. She’ll play very deep, manipulative games, and her pawns rarely know they’re playing into her hands. So I’m sorry, but Hudson’s right too. It was bad enough when it was just H and me that she terrorized. Now we have the children to think about. If there’s any reason to believe that Celia has influenced Genevieve—and I’m afraid there is—then I have to do what’s best for my family.”

  Of everything that’s been said in the last half an hour, these are the words with the most impact. “Laynie. You know I love those kids more than almost anyone. I’d do nothing to bring them pain, and I’m telling you, Genny is a good person.”

  She smiles, and I can see that, despite her exhaustion, she’s got her head on straight. She knows what she’s saying. “And Mina adores you to the moon and back. As for Genny, she might very well be the most decent person on this earth. I feel sorry for her. If she’s involved in a Celia scheme at all, I’m sure she’s being manipulated or bullied into her actions. Which makes me sorry for you too.”

  “I don’t need your pity,” I say, harsher than I mean to.

  “You don’t need pity,” Hudson agrees. “You need our wisdom. Alayna and I are telling you from experience that you need to run while you can.”

  I shake my head again, as though it will block out the words he’s saying. The thing is—he’s an asshole. I’m convinced of that in this moment. But on the other hand, he’s never done anything like this to me before. Laynie’s definitely never been against me like this. Until now, I’ve trusted them both with my life. Even when he’s been irritating, I’ve never had a reason to believe Hudson was against me.

  I just…I don’t want it to be true.

  “You’re wrong. What’s going on between Genny and me is real. She tried to push me away. I’m the one who pursued her. I’m the one…” But the doubts are creeping in like thick fog. Is this why she’s letting me help her when she wants to do everything on her own?

  Hudson steps toward me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’ve done everything I can to protect my family from falling victim to her schemes.” His voice is low and gruff, his eyes locked on mine, and I know when he says family right now he means me too. “Don’t make the same mistakes I have. Please.”

  It’s the closest I’ve felt to Hudson in a long time—here in this moment as the life I’d envisioned for myself falls apart. Why does Genny really have Pierce Industries financial reports in her suitcase? Who is she planning to share them with? And why was she was messing with my phone that night at her hotel? Was she looking for something? Did she find it?

  And what pictures would I find if I looked on her phone? Is it really possible that she’s only here because she’s acting as a spy for Celia?

  “You’re wrong,” I say again, shrugging out of Hudson’s grip.

  Only problem is, I’m not a hundred percent sure I believe that.

  16

  Remember when I said I fall in love fast?

  Well, I also act fast. Too fast sometimes. Often I start moving before my brain can fully process if it’s a good idea.

  Like now.

  I’m pedal to the metal the way I storm out of the study and up the stairs to our bedroom. I don’t know what I’m looking for. Standing in the doorway, I scan the room for something—anything—that will prove Hudson’s suspicions are out of place. My eyes land on her phone by the bedside table.

  I’m not proud to say I don’t even hesitate. I don’t second-guess. I snatch it up and pray there’s no security code set on it.

  There’s not.

  Would someone who was trying to fuck me over be so trusting?

  There’s only one way to know.

  I search fr
antically through her email—mostly related to Accelecom business. And her photos—there are several of the kids from the day before and even a few of me I hadn’t seen her snap. Then her texts.

  And that’s where I find it—a text sent this morning to a number with no contact name. The message includes nothing but a close-up picture of Mina.

  Fuck.

  My face heats as my blood turns hot. There goes Gwen’s notion that Genny was collecting memories. There is no good reason my date can possibly give for sending pics of my three-year-old niece to some rando number.

  Hudson’s right.

  He has to be.

  That’s the most obvious conclusion. If there are any others, I don’t wait to consider them. With a burst of righteous determination, I toss her phone onto the bed and rush down to the patio. I’m full-on action, my head still trying to fit everything together, and even though I know I should pause to think this through, I can’t stop myself from marching up to where Genevieve is sitting next to Mirabelle and asking point-blank, “Why are you with me?”

  Everyone goes suddenly quiet around her, forks frozen in the air, mouths half-open.

  I ignore them all, their figures blurring in my periphery as I focus only on Genny, whose brows are perked in astonishment. “What?”

  “Why are you with me?” I ask again. My tone, my posture, everything about the way I’m speaking to her is aggressive. Mean. Hurtful.

  But I’m hurting so fucking bad right now that everything that comes off of me is poison and sharp.

  Her cheeks flush as she gives me a tight smile. “I’m not sure this is the best place to discuss this.”

  My mother, in typical Sophia Pierce fashion, pipes in. “Chandler, leave your lovers’ spats to—”

  I raise my voice over hers, still addressing no one but Genny. “Is it because of your stepmother? Is she the reason? Did Celia tell you to worm into my life, and in exchange, you’ll get your dream job at Werner Media?”

  “Celia?” my mother and Mira say in stereo.

  Genny drops her napkin onto her plate and scoots her chair out. “Excuse me,” she mumbles politely to my family before standing and walking away.

  Yeah, maybe it is best to continue this elsewhere.

  I follow her into the house, dead on her heels. “Did she tell you to play hard-to-get? Huh? Then I’d never suspect a thing. It would be me pursuing you. Brilliant thinking, actually.” I feel the bite of my words as they shoot from my tongue. “Was that your idea or hers?”

  She spins around suddenly to face me, and she looks so betrayed that it punches me in the gut. “I do not like the way you are speaking to me. It’s embarrassing and mean, and I don’t have to stand for it.”

  But even though I see her pain, it’s not as vibrant as what I’m feeling. I pause only a beat before my next attack. “You can’t even answer me, can you?”

  “What?” She throws her hands up. “What do you want to hear? That Celia is my stepmother? Yes, she is. Is that a problem? All this talk about worming into your life and blaming her—I don’t know what to even say to that. Where the fuck did it come from?”

  I glance behind her to Hudson standing in the hall outside the kitchen. He frowns sympathetically then turns to leave, giving us privacy.

  Genny traces my gaze with her eyes, catching sight of Hudson as he walks away. When she looks back at me, her expression is pinched. “What did your brother say to you?”

  I fold my arms over my chest. “He simply told me I needed to look harder at the situation, and I am. And you know what it looks like? Like you’re sidling up to me for your own benefit.”

  Her hands tighten into balls at her sides as she fumes. If she were a cartoon, there’d be smoke coming out of her ears. She opens her mouth to say something. Closes it. Then opens it again. “Sod off,” she says finally before twirling away from me.

  I trod after her, stopping at the foot of the stairs when she turns to go up them. “Where are you going?”

  She keeps climbing as she speaks. “I’m going to pack my bag, and then I’m calling a taxi. I’m not going to stay here and be belittled and interrogated when I’ve done nothing wrong.” She curses under her breath. “I knew I should have stayed away from you. I knew it.”

  “That’s good. Playing the part through to the end. Really good.” I’m frustrated and mad. About everything, but right at this moment, I’m especially pissed that she’s leaving in the middle of this fight.

  At the top of the staircase, she swivels to face me. “I’m not playing at anything, you shithead. You’re breaking my heart.” Her voice cracks, and god, her expression… She’s so crushed, so defeated, and suddenly it occurs to me that she’s not just walking away from this fight—she’s walking away period.

  Somehow I didn’t predict this outcome.

  My lungs suddenly feel empty. I wish I could draw her into my arms and make that look go away. This isn’t what I wanted. This isn’t how I wanted this to go.

  I put my foot on the bottom step, ready to come up after her, but she puts her hand up in the air to stop me. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Don’t follow me.”

  My stomach sinks. I’m frozen in place while I watch her disappear down the upper hallway.

  Once she’s out of sight, I bring my fist to my forehead and bang it a few times. My brain is going through thoughts at light speed, and I’m only sure of one thing—I did not handle that well.

  Desperate for a redo, I start up the stairs despite her request not to follow her. Halfway up I decide I should probably think things through a little before I talk to her again, so I go back down. Anxious adrenaline runs through me, and I pace the front foyer, trying to figure where to begin sorting out the jumble of facts rattling in my brain. She didn’t deny it. That’s got to be telling.

  On the other hand, her expression, the way her voice cracked…

  I’m so wrapped up in my head, I don’t notice Mira behind me, and I bump smack into her on one of my turns. “Chandler Aaron Pierce, what the hell was that?”

  Yeah, I was just asking myself the same question.

  I scrub my hand over my face. “I, uh, really don’t know.”

  “Do you want to explain what you do know?”

  Not really.

  Maybe.

  Actually, this is good. Mira can help me put things in perspective. Just…where to start?

  I settle on the revelation behind today’s turn of events. “So, Celia Werner is Genevieve’s stepmother, and—”

  Mira shakes her head. “That’s not good.”

  …and I guess I don’t have to explain the significance of that. Of course I don’t. “I was literally the only person in the dark about her being the family’s archnemesis, wasn’t I?”

  “Well…” She shrugs guiltily then quickly recovers her annoyance. “But that doesn’t explain why you were a total douche to that poor girl. You were terrible to her. In front of everyone!”

  I’m about to defend myself when I remember the look on her face when she was standing at the top of the stairs. “You’re breaking my heart.”

  “God, I was. I know I was.” I cup my hands over my mouth and blow into them like they’re a paper bag. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, Mira.” I drop my arms to my sides. “I don’t fucking have a clue.”

  “Oh, Chandler.” She reaches up to rough my hair then sweeps her palm around to cradle my cheek. “Love does that to a person.”

  “How did you…?” The only person I’ve declared anything to was Hudson, and he hasn’t had time to tell anyone.

  Mira rolls her eyes. “It’s freaking obvious. You’re head over heels, aren’t you?”

  I nod. I am totally head over heels. I’m so head over heels that I’m pretty sure my brain’s in my ass. No matter what Genny’s done or what game she might be playing, my feelings are the same. And what kind of a fucktard would talk to the woman he loved like I talked to her?

  “Yes,” Mira says, guessing at my thoughts, �
�you were a total prick. Now go fix it.”

  I want to. I want to take everything back and beg Genny to forgive me for being an asshole, except there’s still that one issue. “I can’t. She’s spying on the family for Celia.”

  Mira wrinkles her face in disbelief. “She is? No way. Are you sure?”

  “I think so?” I don’t know what I think, honestly.

  But those pics on her phone and the word of my brother… “There are reasons to believe she might be. Hudson thinks so.”

  “Does Hudson know or just suspect?” She doesn’t wait for my answer. “Did you actually ask her?”

  “Uh…” I sort of asked her. It’s what I meant when I asked why she was with me. But I didn’t ask her directly about the pictures or the business files, which, now that Mira mentions it, sounds like probably a better move. “Not really.”

  With surprising force for her petite frame, she punches me in the shoulder. “You idiot! She at least deserves a chance to explain, don’t you think? Instead of you just jumping to conclusions. Seriously, between you and Hudson…”

  She trails off as Genny appears at the top of the steps with her overnight bag in hand.

  “There she is,” Mira whispers loudly. “Go fix it.”

  “But I—”

  She pushes me toward the staircase. “Go!”

  When I glance behind me, Mira’s already darted out of the foyer.

  Great. I still haven’t had a chance to work out what to say. This is going to work out real well.

  But I don’t want things to end like this, so with a deep breath, I rush toward Genny as she descends the stairs. “Wait, Genevieve.”

  Without looking at me, she brushes past.

  “Stop, please. Let’s talk about this, okay?”

  She ignores me, making a beeline for the front door.

  “Stop!” I shout again. This time when she doesn’t, I reach out, grab her elbow and turn her around to face me. Just like the night before.

  And like she did the night before, she slaps me. Hard. Harder than last night. Hard enough that I’m not sure there won’t be a mark.