With a nod, she answered, “At least we agree on something.” Then Allyson left him alone in his suite. Things were quiet, and unfortunately all she had to do at the moment was unpack. It was pathetic. She was in her dream role and everything seemed to run like clockwork. Not one complaint. No issues she needed to address. The staff were happy and the guests seemed to be as well. It was like utopia. But like Caydan, she feared looks were deceiving. Once she dug deeper, the truth would come out.
New Hope has changed a lot. The problems from the past are under control, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. If Caydan wasn’t willing to hear it, she was going to need to use someone else to make him listen.
Shaun couldn’t get there fast enough. But how much could go wrong in one day?
Chapter 4
Caydan had to admit Allyson might be persistent, but she’d kept her word. As they’d gone from one meeting to the next, she’d sat quietly taking notes. No doubt at some point she’d tell him all the things she believed he had done incorrectly, but that was nothing to him. He’d laid out his expectations and let the staff know he was available anytime they had issues or questions.
What had surprised him was the affinity he had with the staff. He knew Allyson was worried he’d come down too hard on Tabiqian staff, but what she didn’t know was he was there to save them. If it were as easy as shouting it out and rallying them for support, he would have. But today had been the first in many steps to build a bond. Trust didn’t happen overnight. Yet he was surprised how easy it had been to communicate with them. Lead them. Is that because this is my homeland? They don’t know that. No one does. It felt like a poem he’d read in college. The soil my feet have never trod, but the soul my heart’s somehow missed. Those were the only words he recalled, but they’d lingered all these years as though they had been written by him.
Sitting back on his balcony with a glass of Scotch, he fought back thoughts of his past. It was impossible. Being around Tabiqians and their accent made him think more about his mother than he’d anticipated. If things were different, he knew his mother would appreciate the view from this room. Hell, she’d love being back in Tabiq.
But she had sworn she’d never return. Doing so somehow would ruin everything she’d done to protect him. Yet, his mother had made sure he knew his Tabiqian roots. She was proud of being Tabiqian, even if no one could know. He didn’t want to admit it, but in Tabiq he felt the bond too.
Her love for her homeland was another driving force for Caydan. He wanted it to be the way she remembered. Before James Henderson fucked it all up. James had taken everything pure and good about Tabiq and tarnished it. He’d preyed upon the weaknesses of those in power and brought Tabiq to its knees. The only thing Caydan regretted was not putting his plan into action while James Henderson was still alive. He was the root of his mother’s misery. I only wish you had lived long enough to suffer the way you made her suffer. The way so many others had.
He downed the remains of his Scotch and poured himself another glass. It had been a long-ass day and he was stressed to the max. It sure as hell wasn’t from issues at New Hope. It was the haunting feeling his mother knew what he had planned. From across the ocean, he could feel her disapproval. What she didn’t know was he was doing this for them, for her.
It might seem too late now to defend his mother’s honor, but that’s exactly what he was doing. Hers and the many other mothers who’d endured Henderson’s barbarity. Even though she never complained, Caydan had seen it in her eyes. Each time she’d left him behind, her eyes had gone blank as though she were building a wall around her heart to keep it from breaking. Caydan had begged, pleaded with her, to take him, but she never had. She told him he was better off where he was, because he was safe there.
Caydan had been too young to understand what that meant. All he had wanted was to be with his mother, and he’d foolishly promised he could take care of her. Instead he was left to cry himself to sleep with horrible thoughts of what might be happening to her. The schoolmaster had done the best he could to console him back then. He’d even tried explaining that his mother was doing this all for him, and she would want Caydan to be happy. He had tried, but that hadn’t been possible, because he knew his mother wasn’t happy.
The years had gone by and Caydan had eventually stopped asking to leave. During that time, he had built walls around himself. There were very few people he’d allow close. Although hardened, he had sworn to himself that one day he’d have the answers for what stood between him and a normal life.
Pouring himself a third glass was unwise but needed if he hoped to stop the flood of memories crashing through. Even the alcohol was failing him tonight. Walking back inside his room, he shut the glass sliding door. Although he enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze, the sound of Tabiqian music in the distance was driving him crazy.
His already unloosened tie hung around his neck, his shirt unbuttoned to his waist, and he was about to remove his jacket when he heard a knock on his door. It was late; whatever staff member was coming to him at this hour had to be out of their mind. Or in trouble. Placing his half-full glass on the coffee table, he went to answer.
He was shocked to see Allyson at the door. She seemed in a full panic as she pushed past him and entered his room.
“The first day and already things are falling apart,” Allyson snapped. “I can’t believe this.”
Although he was glad for a distraction from his thoughts, a ranting, high-strung woman wasn’t what he needed either.
He was tempted to offer her a drink, but he suspected that would only heighten her anxiety. Calmly, Caydan asked, “What exactly is falling apart?”
Allyson walked over and slumped onto the couch. “You really have no idea what happened today, do you?”
Obviously not. “I’ve been a bit . . . preoccupied.”
Allyson must’ve noticed the glass of Scotch on the table in front of her, because when she met his eyes, he was under her scrutiny.
“I hope this is your first one.”
He didn’t answer. It was none of her business what he did off hours. “Are you going to tell me what the hell has you so riled up or not?”
“Yes. Sorry. Two people quit today.”
“Okay. Hire replacements. Anything else I can help with?” Caydan asked.
“Caydan, they have been here since it opened. There is no reason for them to quit now.”
“Were they essential to running New Hope?”
Allyson replied. “Everyone is essential in their own way.”
“You know what I mean. Can we function without them?” He knew from his own business that everyone was replaceable.
“I’m worried. What if it’s the start of more employees quitting?”
“So you’re not here because of them; you’re worried who will follow their lead.” Allyson nodded. “Then I suggest we gather the employees first thing in the morning and address it.”
“What do you want me to do, threaten them so they can’t leave?”
Something like that. “Why don’t you let me handle it.”
“You?” He nodded and she continued, “That’s my job.”
“Allyson, you keep drawing this line in the sand, yet I think we could accomplish more if we utilize each other’s strengths.”
She arched a brow. “And what exactly is yours?”
“Getting people to see—”
“Things your way?”
He laughed. That’s damn close to what he meant. “No. Seeing the options laid out and assisting them to make the best choice for their situation.”
“I’m not sure what that means.”
“It means let me do the talking tomorrow.”
“But that’s hours away.”
Caydan wasn’t worried. He had spoken to Roger earlier and laid out a plan. He had to admit, Roger was acting a bit faster than Caydan had anticipated. Two in one day might be a bit overzealous and start to draw attention. He’d give Roger a call and have him back off a
tad. Caydan didn’t need the Hendersons to start questioning things yet. “There’s nothing we can do tonight. So unless you care to stay and join me for a drink, I suggest you get some rest.”
Allyson shot him a disapproving look before she got up. He watched as she ran her hands down her slender hips to smooth her skirt. You like everything so perfect. You’re in for a shock, young lady, because life isn’t like that.
Before leaving she said, “Don’t overindulge. We have another big day tomorrow.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her swaying hips as she made her way to the door. Did she do that on purpose to fuck with him, or was it possible she was ignorant of her looks? Either way, there was nothing he could do about it. Even if it has been months since I had sex. It was bad enough she was going to be collateral damage in his plan against the Hendersons, he didn’t need to add fuel to that fire by having sex with her.
Hell, I shouldn’t even think it, never mind want it. If he didn’t stay focused, she could end up being the wrench in his plans. No matter how enticing she was, nothing was going to stop him now. He’d waited too long for this opportunity. The wheels were set in motion and there wouldn’t be a second chance. Caydan bent down, picked up his glass, and downed the contents.
Grabbing his cell phone, he was about to call Roger when, again, there was a knock on his door. Damn, doesn’t anyone have anything better to do than bother me?
He hoped it wasn’t Allyson again because that was the last of the Scotch in the room. Thankfully, when he opened the door it was Roger.
“What are you doing here?” Caydan snarled as he let him in and shut the door. “I don’t want anyone to link us together.”
“They won’t. But I wanted to bring you this.” Roger reached in his pocket and took out a note. “It was left in my room. I assume it wasn’t from you.”
Caydan took the white paper and unfolded it.
I KNOW WHY YOU’RE HERE. LEAVE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.
“What the hell?” Caydan growled as he handed the note back. “Have you told anyone at all why you’re here?”
With a piercing look, Roger answered, “That’s a dumb question.”
Roger was not only a trusted employee, but Caydan’s best friend. He knew Roger wouldn’t let anything slip. Yet this note implied someone was one step ahead of them. Were all Caydan’s years of planning for nothing? Had the Hendersons finally figured out who was behind all the shit going wrong? Caydan had been careful to only do enough to ruffle feathers, not to raise a red flag. Then again, the Hendersons had Bennett Stone on their side. Like Roger, Bennett had a knack of finding things that others worked hard to hide.
“Can you explain the note?” Caydan asked.
Roger shook his head. “I arrived less than two hours ago and used the name you provided. The only person I spoke to was the guy who checked me in.”
“Was it slipped under your door?”
Roger answered. “No. It was left by the nightstand. They wanted me to know they were in the room.”
That didn’t leave him much to go on. The front desk would have access to the reservations but not access to individual rooms. Housekeeping would only go in after the guest had been there overnight, which Roger hadn’t. If anyone should be flagged, it should be him. He was the one who had been conversing with people.
“I know the Hendersons have had people monitoring activity lately, but would they really leave a warning?” Caydan asked. “I think not. They’d want to take us down fast and hard.”
“Agreed. So that leaves who? Maybe the HR woman, what’s her name?”
He knew Roger hadn’t forgotten. “Allyson.”
“She did seem very upset when she came to your room earlier,” Roger added.
He appreciated that Roger was on top of shit, but somehow keeping an eye on Allyson wasn’t one of his tasks. “Don’t worry about her.”
“Funny, you seemed concerned before.”
“I still am, but it will be less obvious coming from me.” Since she already doesn’t trust me.
“So if you don’t think it was Allyson, who do you think it was?”
Caydan snarled. “Isn’t that what I pay you for?”
Roger chuckled. “I’m not sure what my role is any longer. Maybe when this . . . stuff with the Hendersons is done, we can get back to running your business.”
There would be plenty of time for that. And if he thought for a second his business was at risk, he’d return. But it surely could manage without him a bit longer. All he could lose right now was money, and what he had in store for the Hendersons had little to do with wealth. If it did, Caydan wouldn’t need to take such drastic measures.
“Don’t worry about my company. It’s not going anywhere.” Unlike the Hendersons. When I’m done, everyone will hate them. They’ll all know who they really are.
“If you don’t want me to keep an eye on Allyson, what do you want me to do?”
“Find out who left that note. It shouldn’t be hard.”
“All I have to do is hack into the computer system to see who may have access to my room key code.”
Caydan nodded. “And don’t get caught.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already done some initial digging, and the firewalls in this system aren’t the best. Strange because all their other businesses are so—”
“Protected.”
“Yeah. It’s like . . . damn it. Like they’re expecting it. Shit!” Roger ran his hand through his hair.
Caydan was afraid of that. Which could also mean Scott hired him knowing exactly who he really was. If that was the case, they could’ve confronted him back in the States. The only benefit of doing it in Tabiq was someone could disappear there and no one would be the wiser. Or even give a shit.
“Change of plans. Don’t do a damn thing. I want you on the beach. Mingle with the other guests. Make yourself visible and play the role. You are here on vacation. I want you known to everyone.”
“I don’t get it. Why?”
“Easy, Roger. Because when you go missing, I want everyone to know it.”
He raised his hands. “Wait a minute. We might be friends, but I’m not planning on dying here.”
Caydan glared at him. “Just for appearances, Roger.” Then he grinned. “But if you do happen to actually get yourself killed, do it after you get me what I need.”
“Somehow I don’t think you’re joking,” Roger said as he headed for the door. He opened it a crack then slightly more. Before he slipped out Roger turned back and said, “By the way, I’d like to complain about my room. You get an ocean view and I see a parking lot.”
Caydan had to admit, his room had been a surprise as well. He’d expected something less luxurious for the staff. He looked around again and realized Roger had a point. That should have been a flag. Yet he had nothing to compare rooms with. The only other manager was Allyson, and she wouldn’t be inviting him inside her room anytime soon.
Then again, she had no problem entering mine.
Guessing Allyson wasn’t able to sleep, being the high-strung type, he grabbed his cell phone and sent her a quick text.
MEET ME AT NINE IN THE OFFICE.
Instantly she replied. DID YOU FIND OUT ANYTHING?
Nothing he hadn’t already known. YES.
He anticipated her response. TELL ME.
WE’LL DISCUSS AT NINE. GOOD NIGHT.
Caydan knew that wasn’t about to help her sleep, but it returned some of the control he’d lost, and that was all that mattered at the moment. He didn’t believe she was in any way involved in the note Roger had found, but he wasn’t ruling anything out at the moment.
When she didn’t reply, he walked into his bedroom, tossed the phone on the bed, and headed for the shower. His half-relaxed state had vanished. At least I’m not the only one not sleeping tonight.
* * *
Allyson had no idea why Caydan would bother texting her and not provide her with any information. Was the man out to drive her crazy? F
or all she knew he had been drinking and whatever he thought he had would be useless.
However, she was curious to know what it was. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of asking again only for him to deny her request. She had made her point earlier; there was something wrong. If she had to, she would find the two employees who quit and ask them herself. Of course that would mean leaving the resort, which was frowned upon unless you went into specific areas.
She knew one of the American staff members who lived in town. Janet had a cottage. That shouldn’t surprise Allyson, because Janet was best friends with Isa and Drake. No one was going to bother her. If they did, they probably wouldn’t live very long.
Allyson didn’t have friends in high places, and her position at New Hope didn’t come with a personal security guard either. If she indeed found herself outside the resort gates, she would be on her own. What good would it do her if she saved New Hope at the cost of her own welfare?
For now, all she could do was wait it out. Caydan didn’t know Shaun was arriving sometime tomorrow. And what she hoped Caydan would never learn was she requested the visit.
Instead of staying up pondering all night, Allyson opted to run a hot bath, grab her book, and relax. The tub was a double deep with six pulsing jets and so amazing she never opened the book. Instead, she slid down neck deep and enjoyed the hot water pounding against her tired muscles. The last few days had been stressful for many reasons, most linked to Caydan.
The man was absolutely infuriating. Was he naturally this arrogant or was this a show on her behalf? Even when she’d gone to his room to confront him with the present issue, he’d seemed totally unconcerned about it. He was new at his job yet acted as though people walking out was a normal occurrence.
I wish Scott would’ve agreed to let me do a more extensive background check on him. I know there’s so much more to him than we know.
Eight Reasons Why Page 5