Eight Reasons Why

by Jeannette Winters

  For the Hendersons, that wasn’t a good thing. Caydan had some unresolved issues. He’d gone to counseling and heard how he couldn’t let his past define who he was. But that only left a bitter taste in his mouth. Some things couldn’t be forgiven, and definitely not forgotten. As he looked out his window at this grand resort, he realized Tabiq had done just that.

  Caydan loved his mother, but she was weak and couldn’t stand up to his father, so he’d had no ordinary childhood. Watching the staff rush about cleaning the grounds and pool, he thought of them in the same light. All they had was because of the Hendersons. At any time it could all be pulled out from beneath them, and they’d be left with nothing.

  Why can’t they see they are being controlled? Being so poor had left them vulnerable. It easily could’ve been him under the thumbs of the Henderson family. Had he gotten lucky? Had the steps his mother had taken given him the tools to prevent that being him one day? She had sacrificed more than he could understand and more than he wanted to know.

  He’d grown up in private schools and only saw his mother several times a year. When other children went home during holiday break, he was stuck at the school to celebrate with the head schoolmaster and his family. There had been a few times his mother had come and joined them, but never had they shared anything resembling a normal home.

  Without family or friends close by to distract him, Caydan had plenty of time to concentrate on his studies. He’d maintained a GPA of 4.0 and universities had fought for him. He’d turned his frustration and anguish into positive energy and made himself very successful. But what he’d mastered most was staying out of the limelight. His name was still unknown, even to other businessmen. For the most part, he utilized his staff to represent him, and when it required a certain questionable touch, he sent Roger.

  Others might think this odd, but Caydan had intentionally planned it. Confronting the Hendersons face to face would’ve been easy, but it would’ve given them the chance to blow him off. This way they were too busy chasing the false leads he’d planted as he chipped away, breaking the bonds between them and their most trusted allies. Eventually he would rip them apart financially.

  None of this would happen overnight. Caydan had been working on this for years; small things went unnoticed at first. But when Roger told him the Hendersons were in Tabiq, it took everything in him not to rush there with a gun in hand. Killing them wouldn’t solve anything and actually would make things worse. Caydan didn’t want them to die as martyrs. It was difficult enough to see the people in Tabiq acting as though the Hendersons were royalty or something.

  Caydan was a lot of unappealing things, but a murderer wasn’t one of them. No matter how deep his hate and resentment was, he wasn’t killing anyone—though he wasn’t opposed to inflicting pain. One thing at a time. First Tabiq, then the rest.

  He clenched his fist as he turned from the window. He knew being in Tabiq was going to stir up a shitload of feelings he’d worked hard to keep buried. He might not have grown up here, but his mother had told stories of what his homeland was like. She hadn’t held back anything. She told him about the beauty as well as the ugliest part. The part that brought about my existence.

  Through it all, his mother never gave up or gave in. She may have lied to protect him, but Caydan never doubted her love. She had the heart of a true Tabiqian woman, one of kindness and forgiveness. That was where he differed from her. She might not resent the Hendersons as he did, but Caydan knew he wasn’t with his mother growing up because of them.

  And they all had each other.

  His phone rang, and he checked the caller ID.

  “What’s up, Roger?”

  “I figured you’d be awake.”

  “Working?” Caydan asked.

  “No. Contemplating your next move,” Roger replied.

  Caydan laughed. “Should I be worried you know me that well?”

  “It’s what you pay me for, remember?”

  Roger was paid well, but to monitor the Hendersons, not him. “I think we might need to discuss your role.”

  “No. I got it. I keep your ass out of trouble. And you being in Tabiq makes doing so even harder. Besides, I went for a run on the beach this morning and could see the light on in your room.”

  “So what had you up so early?” Caydan asked.

  “Alex is back in the US with his family, however Shaun arrives sometime tomorrow.”

  That was unexpected. Caydan had timed everything to take place when none of the Hendersons were in Tabiq. The last thing he needed was one of them looking over his shoulder. It was bad enough he had to worry about Allyson butting in where she wasn’t wanted.

  This new development puzzled him. Shaun didn’t normally travel. He was the one Henderson who seemed to have taken a different path than the others. Marrying a woman with an autistic child and moving to the suburbs when he had been living large in a penthouse in Boston, had shocked Caydan. And his way of doing business seemed less aggressive than the others. Shaun showing up didn’t concern him much. If it had been Dean or Brice, it would’ve been another story.

  “Do you have any idea why he’s coming here?”

  Roger replied, “No. But it was a last-minute decision.”

  It was possible they wanted a family member present for the transition. He actually would’ve been surprised if they hadn’t. They were usually better businessmen than that. Not only was he the new manager, one they hadn’t met, but Allyson was mighty young to be taking on all the HR responsibilities in a foreign country. She was far from a child, but he was eleven years her senior. Forty-five didn’t seem old, but with age came experience, and that told him she shouldn’t have been sent there. Just another thing the Hendersons fucked up. No woman, no matter her age, should be here alone. Clearly they still have no respect for women . . . but why would they, given their DNA?

  “Roger, I’m going to set you up as a guest at the resort. I’ll text you information with the name you’ll be using while you’re here. I want you to keep a close eye on Shaun.”

  “And how do you propose I do that?”

  “He’s a financial guy. Talk stocks or shit. I don’t know. Just make it happen. And while you’re at it, try to find out why he’s here.”

  “You got it. And what will you be doing in the meantime?” Roger asked.

  “Playing manager, what else?” Caydan could run the resort with his eyes closed. But he wasn’t there to watch it succeed. He needed to instill doubt between the Hendersons and the Tabiqian people. And if I’m right, it won’t take long to do.

  Caydan ended the call then logged into the resort’s reservation system. There weren’t many open rooms, which normally was a good thing. But there was one far enough away Roger could keep to himself when it was required. He keyed in the name Patrick Rogers, with employment as an international banker. That should be enough to pique Shaun’s interest. It was ironic because Roger hated being in a suit, never mind in an office. But one thing he was good at was working undercover. Roger had worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration as an agent. He never spoke about what had happened, and out of respect Caydan hadn’t asked.

  We both have things that haunt us. Things best left unsaid. He’d learned long ago talking about it didn’t change one fucking thing. All it did was make people pity him. He didn’t want their pity; he wanted justice.

  Once all the arrangements were set, Caydan sent a text with the information to Roger. There was only one thing left to do: get ready for his meeting with Allyson. She’d certainly surprised him with a few of her barbs the day before, but he’d faced worse throughout his life. Maybe after a good night’s sleep she’d be more . . . amenable.

  * * *

  Allyson had never met Shaun, but she was thrilled at least one of the owners would be there. It would’ve been easier having a conversation with Alex, since she’d met him a few times at High View Falls. Now she was going to need to feel out Shaun before she laid out her concerns about Caydan to him. Th
e last thing she wanted was to come across as incompetent instead of bringing her doubts about Caydan to light.

  At least she had another day to prepare herself for Shaun’s arrival. She hadn’t lied to Caydan. Her plate had been filled with meeting the staff, getting to know their needs, and addressing issues. They all seemed leery, and not one of them voiced much. Instead she was greeted by smiles, and when she had asked how they liked their jobs, they all answered the exact same way. Of course, she highlighted the fact she was there if any of them needed her.

  Allyson had done her homework regarding Tabiq. A few years back you couldn’t have offered her a million dollars to stay there as a guest, never mind work there. If her parents had any clue what the Tabiqian women had faced, they probably would’ve handcuffed her and locked her in a closet before letting her board a plane for Tabiq. A chill ran through her thinking of how horrible it must’ve been for the people who lived there. Never knowing when your daughter would be taken from you and possibly never being seen again must’ve been unbearable. No matter how much her mother drove her crazy, nagging and pressuring her, she was thankful she hadn’t grown up with those issues. She couldn’t imagine how terrifying it must have been to be dragged from your family, separated from your mother’s love for years. The injustice brought tears to her eyes often, although knowing Drake and the Hendersons were doing everything they could to undo the damage helped her heart somewhat.

  Yet the Tabiq of today seemed so different from a few years ago. She wasn’t foolish enough to be believe it was easy—even for powerful people like the Hendersons. Somehow the Hendersons had stepped into a role that still wasn’t clear, and whether by force or bribery, things had changed. As she spoke to some of the staff, she could tell by their body language they were no longer living in fear.

  That didn’t mean tourists could leave the resort and explore on their own. Tabiq wasn’t the only country with dangerous areas, but she needed to commend the Hendersons for hiring people who could be trusted to look out for the welfare of their guests. Because no matter how much they tried, there were always guests who chose to do things their own way and felt the need to explore where they shouldn’t. Why would they want to? The resort has everything anyone could hope for.

  Scott was good at preparing his staff for success, including helping her understand how unpredictable guests could be and how it could affect the employees. At High View Falls, they had come to either relax or gamble, and that required ensuring guests had everything they needed, mostly by keeping their drinks coming. New Hope had the most beautiful beach she’d ever seen. The ocean was crystal clear and the reef was nearly untouched. It was almost a shame New Hope was bringing so much attention to it, but the owners were doing everything they could to preserve it as is. That meant only sailboats to reduce any negative effects on the reef. All she needed to do was ensure the guests felt the same way.

  It truly wasn’t her role, but with Caydan being new to the company, she wasn’t sure he was as . . . invested in it as she was. Although Scott hadn’t asked her to monitor Caydan, and probably would discourage it, she was going to anyway. There was a lot to lose, including her job. She didn’t believe it was at risk, but she would act wisely.

  Although she wasn’t looking forward to meeting with him, it was imperative Caydan was made aware of exactly what was expected of him. Scott might be in charge of High View Falls, but here in New Hope the actions of the employees were her responsibility. His failure would also be hers. She hadn’t worked this hard, given up so much of her free time, just to let it all be lost because he was too arrogant to listen to her.

  He hadn’t challenged her in any way yet, but the look in his eyes yesterday said he was one who gave orders rather than took them. Guess he’s in for a rude awakening. He might run the resort, but all employees, including him, report to me.

  She couldn’t risk any screw ups. It wasn’t just his reputation on the line. If he failed, she would be under scrutiny as well. Whether she liked it or not, she needed to set him up for success.

  Knocking on his door, she waited. When he opened it, he appeared frustrated. And I haven’t even started yet.

  “You’re late,” Caydan growled.

  “I told you I had things to attend to.”

  “As do I.”

  Caydan was right. She had only been thinking about her duties, but that didn’t give him the right to speak to her in such a tone. Arguing in the hallway wasn’t professional either. Damn. “My apologies. I’ll try to be more . . . considerate of your . . . time in the future.”

  Caydan glared at her, and she prepared herself for more criticism. Instead, after a moment he said, “Let’s not prolong this.” He opened the door so she could enter. Once inside they walked over to the couch, and she took a seat. “I was up early and took it upon myself to become familiar with the resort. There is no longer a need for you to show me around.”

  She thought she’d caught a glimpse of him wandering down by the pool. Since the man hadn’t been dressed for a swim, he kind of stuck out. “Is there anything you have questions about?”

  “No.”

  “And did you have a chance to meet some of the staff?” Allyson inquired. No one had mentioned speaking to Caydan, but then again, if you don’t ask, they don’t divulge anything on their own. Tabiqian people were very tight-lipped. That was perfect when keeping the guests’ information private, but not so much on the day-to-day company issues.

  “I plan meetings by department. Easier to set my expectations that way.”

  “I’d like to be present at those meetings, if you don’t mind,” Allyson added. The staff had been working there for a year without his iron fist. They didn’t need it now.

  “I do.”

  “Do what?” she asked.

  Caydan glared at her. “Mind you attending my meetings. Unless you believe Mr. Townsend hired someone who isn’t qualified.”

  “I wasn’t implying you weren’t capable. As the HR manager, it’s important that I’m aware of any and all changes you make to policy.”

  “It’s not policy I’m concerned about. I expect a certain level of job performance. They need to understand that in order to meet my expectations.”

  Hard-ass. Meeting him squarely in the eyes she responded, “You mean New Hope’s expectations.”

  Caydan cocked a brow and crossed his arms. She didn’t need to meet his eyes. Allyson could feel them boring into her. His tone was equally as sharp. “Your lack of confidence in yourself shouldn’t affect my job. However, I have a feeling it’s going to.”

  Allyson couldn’t believe the audacity of him thinking she was . . . exactly what I was portraying him to be. Incompetent. This could quickly become a difficult working relationship if she voiced her concerns. So she did what any HR person would do and tried to defuse the situation.

  “It’s not lack of confidence in your ability. I’ve been with the company longer, and I’m familiar with what Mr. Fletcher finds acceptable and what he doesn’t. It was never my intention to overstep my role.”

  “Yet you realize you were.” He nodded. “That I can work with.”

  She found him cocky as all hell. I can’t wait to see how that goes over with the Hendersons. Allyson knew their reputation; they didn’t tolerate anyone with a bigger attitude than theirs. Of course, she didn’t know much about Shaun. He seemed to be the one Henderson who worked behind the scenes. Of course, his last name alone carried enough warning that Caydan would be wise not to mess with him.

  Directing the conversation back to New Hope, she said, “Things here are a bit . . . different than back in the States. The Tabiqian people are . . . less trusting. I don’t want you to judge them harshly for that. Tabiq has been through some challenging times.” Really, more like hell, but that’s for another time. “We need to have flexibility and understanding.”

  “Our guests don’t care about Tabiq, their troubles, or anything more than enjoying their vacation. My job is to ensure that takes plac
e.”

  “Mine as well. But to do so, you need to know what you’re getting into. If a guest wants to do something we don’t offer at the resort, you need to tell them no.” It sounded so easy when she said it, but their guests weren’t people who were used to being denied what they wanted. In a way, she was glad she didn’t need to deliver that news.

  “You’re making Tabiq out to be something it’s not,” Caydan stated flatly.

  “I wish that was true.” Getting up, she continued, “The owners have entrusted us with running New Hope. One bad experience”—never mind a fatal one—“could ruin everything they’ve worked for.”

  “Allyson, you’re unlike any HR manager I know.”

  The way Caydan said it, made it sound like an insult. But unlike him, she was out to grow with the company. She had earned her position, all she wanted was for Caydan to do the same.

  “So we are in agreement? My attendance at your meetings is strictly for the best interest of New Hope?”

  With a scowl he nodded. “To observe only. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to get ready for.”

  She handed him her business card and said, “Please email me the itinerary.” For now, she’d let him handle things his way. And I’ll handle them mine. He was being arrogant and rude, but she would remain strong. She had interviewed him, not the other way around.

  Just before she left he called out, “Allyson,”—she turned—“I’m sorry if I came off as rude earlier. I just want everything to go as planned here.”

  By his tone, she had a feeling he didn’t normally apologize. She looked at him as though she could read the truth somewhere behind those dark eyes of his. She could see his tension, frustration, and something else. Was it the pressure of being in Tabiq or was it that she challenged him every chance she got? Maybe a combination of both. She couldn’t pinpoint why she let him affect her the way he did. Normally she’d have given him a verbal warning, if not a written one, for addressing a coworker in such a manner. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to do that either. Not yet at least.