Love Me Like I Love You

by Willow Winters

  “Horse therapy,” Leyla says. “Poppy is pretty good with patients. Arden is learning to ride with her.”

  Blaire summarizes to Leyla what is wrong with my mom and Leyla says, “Well then, Pierce will have to help me with this.”

  “Not sure if you’re suggesting this to help me or just to make his life miserable.”

  “At this point, you should know that I can find ways to do something good and yet, make his life a living hell,” she says with pride.

  “I’m emailing you a form so your mom or her guardian can sign it. It gives me and Hayes permission to discuss her health with her primary doctor,” Blaire informs me. “We’ll strategize and come up with a plan that might improve her quality of life and will keep her close to you.”

  “Thank you,” I say, feeling slightly better. “To both of you.”

  “If you need anything else let me know,” Leyla offers. “Until the building where I’m setting my practice is ready, I don’t have much to do.”

  “I heard a rumor that the vet lady is already seeing patients,” I tell her.

  “God, can you stop checking Baker’s Creek social media?” Blaire grunts.

  “They are better at telling me what’s happening in town. You two omit a lot of information,” I explain to them.

  “So what if I treated a couple of cats and a dog,” Leyla asks.

  “That’s not all,” I counteract. “You’re already working. How about the baby cow?”

  “Josie Morgan’s cow had a calf. I helped during the birth,” Leyla explains. “It’s like Blaire says, you don't have to limit yourself because of a building. We have a duty to our patients. Listen, these guys might have the intention of helping this town, but they can only do so much. It’s like the factory. Aldry’s Sweets can’t be saved by any of them. Only you.”

  “Which is why I have to be there, isn’t it?” I ask the obvious and actually calm myself because being close might cut the time that it’s taking me to convince the employees we’re not closing and that their cooperation will help the transition to the new administration. Not that I know who is going to be in charge.

  “She’s right,” Blaire agrees. “I wonder if William thought about the lives he’d impact when he decided to write this will?”

  “He was up to something,” I inform them of what I’ve found so far. “I’ve been going through the books for the factory, and three years ago he just stopped caring about it. Before that, it was running smoothly. It’s the same with The Lodge. Almost at the same time, he drafted this crazy will. Listen, if he had done that with Aldridge Enterprises, he’d have lost everything and ended up homeless within months of fucking up, unlike the rest of his assets and businesses.”

  “Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed at the late stage. I doubt he had three years to live unless… When and how was he diagnosed?” Leyla asks.

  “We don’t know the exact information,” Blaire informs us. “His doctor claims that it would violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy policy. We could try to figure out a legal way to get that information, but the guys don’t care about any of it.”

  “What if he planned all this?” I ask, almost pulling out my old Nancy Drew notebook to write down the clues we’ve got so far.

  “Does it matter?” Leyla interferes. “The means don’t change the end result. We are all trapped in this game, but only because if we bail, thousands of people will be affected.”

  “You could just sign the divorce papers and be done with the Aldridges,” I remind her.

  Leyla chuckles. “We both know it’s not that easy to get rid of these men.”

  “She can’t,” Blaire refutes. “If all goes well, she could go for it early October, but for now she’s stuck with us.”

  What does she know that I don’t?

  I want to ask them about it, but I have to organize my place and figure out what I’m bringing with me, what I’ll have the movers pack, and what’s staying until I move back.

  “See you tomorrow,” I say with more energy than I had before.

  I found my motivation. Henry is going to pay. His father got away with his nonsense, but someone has to teach his son that he can’t just play God with everybody else’s lives.

  Henry

  Firing my vice president of operations was a wise move, but it’s going to be hard to find someone to take over his position. My grandfather hand-picked him to be one of his executives. He said I should trust him, within reason of course.

  Did Cyril know about his behavior and just let him get away with it?

  Everything that Sophia sent me is from when she started working with me until recently. Human resources has some complaints filed from former employees, but they never took any action. They should’ve done something. No one can answer if they brought this issue to my grandfather, and they certainly never brought it to me.

  The company has to compensate and apologize to all these people. I mean, they deserved better than to be harassed by a man in a position of power. No wonder I can’t get anything done. Between this new development and Sophia, I can’t concentrate.

  What am I supposed to do now? Pierce is looking into the legal repercussions.

  Also, I need a way to compensate these people. From what I’ve read, Sophia has been taking care of them, but is that enough?

  I trust her, which is uncharacteristic of me. I was raised never to entrust my company to anyone, but I never doubt anything she does. As I always say, this woman knows my company better than I do.

  I take a break during lunchtime and head to the gym. After a vigorous workout, I still can’t concentrate on anything but Sophia. My biggest concern is how I’m going to handle my situation with her after what happened between us last Saturday.

  I don’t have much experience with women. When I decide to date a woman, it’s usually casual, and yet, she has to sign a contract. A man in my position has to be careful. However, Sophia Aragon isn’t just any woman. Not only that, I wouldn’t want to lump her in with the others. She’s special—so different from anyone I’ve ever met.

  My biggest problem isn’t that the company my grandfather entrusted me with might get fucked. It’s that I don’t have any idea what I want with my assistant. However, I can’t stop thinking about her.

  Needless to say, I spend the rest of my day miserable and being an asshole to anyone who approaches me—or calls me. Around four, Vance knocks on my door and doesn’t wait for me to speak. He just lets himself inside.

  “Make yourself at home,” I say sarcastically.

  He glares at me. “There’s a piece of paper filed in your drawers that says I can go in and out of any room in this hotel to ensure our guests’ safety.”

  “You’re in charge of security. That doesn’t give you carte blanche to do whatever the fuck you want,” I remind him. “You can’t abuse that power.”

  He’s the head of security of The Lodge and Aldry’s Sweets. There is a disclaimer clause for every room that lets our guests know that security has access to their room. However, they’ll only access the facilities if there’s any immediate threat to them or someone in the hotel.

  He glares at me. “Years of training with an elite team, and I became a rent-a-cop for my fucking brothers. I bet the old man is fucking dancing in his grave with joy,” he complains, giving me a murderous glare.

  I squirm and hold my breath. I might be the oldest of the six, but I swear everyone fears him—including me.

  “I found you two available houses, just the way you requested them.” He places a folder and a couple of brochures on my desk.

  The places look brand new.

  “Where are they?” I ask, because I don’t want them in Happy Springs.

  “Here in Baker’s Creek. In the south part of town. Rodin bought a chunk of land and is building a small development,” he states. “They are close to each other and only available for sale.”

  “Buy them,” I order.

  Vance chuckl
es. “I don’t work for you, Henry,” he informs me. “I looked for the houses because Blaire said they might be for Sophia and her parents.”

  I nod. “Yeah, she’s right. Sophia should be here tomorrow,” I explain. “Until we can close on the houses, she’ll stay in the presidential suite.”

  “Do you have any idea how much money we’re losing because you won’t let any guests stay in there?”

  “It’s Sophia’s suite,” I inform him.

  He smirks. “Help me here, Henry,” he says. “What is happening between you two? Does this have anything to do with the security video you had me delete on Saturday?”

  I move my attention away from the houses to him and say, “You didn’t see it, did you?”

  He shakes his head but responds, “It’s obvious what was in there, Henry. I’m not stupid. You fucked your assistant.”

  In that precise moment, Pierce enters my office and his eyes open wide. “You fucking idiot.”

  Dividing this conference room into two offices so we could have a space to work was a bad idea. All day I keep listening to his phone conversations, and he keeps coming to my office to tell me to shut up because I’m too loud. If I didn’t have to defend myself, I’d be telling him to stop interfering and mind his fucking business.

  “No, I didn’t,” I argue. “It wasn’t like that… It’s more complicated.”

  “Did you hurt her?” Vance’s question is followed by a loud thunk on the table. “I swear if you did—”

  “Dude, I would never harm Sophia,” I interrupt him and look at my brothers, reassuring them and still not telling them that I’d do anything to protect her. “Ever,” I assure them.

  “There’s something going on between the two of you,” Vance claims. “I don’t know if the rest have noticed, but I…” He shrugs. “You can deny it, but I know that there’s something going between the two of you. Actually, don’t deny it or you’ll piss me off because I’m anything but dumb. A word of advice: Dragging her to this hellhole is not the way to get the girl.”

  “Because kicking the guy who watched you while you were injured is?” I throw a question of my own.

  The day we moved to Baker’s Creek his friend, Bennett Crawford, brought him injured. Hayes and Blaire had to perform surgery in the middle of the dining room to retrieve a bullet from his leg. Crawford stayed for a couple of days, looking after him. Once Vance could walk, he kicked him out and, after a big fight, the guy just left without another word.

  “You’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he says. “Now, back to Sophia and her parents. What the fuck are you doing?”

  “Henry, I need you to be honest with me,” Pierce interrupts my two-way conversation with Vance and stares at me. “Do I have to worry about a lawsuit?”

  “It’s not like that,” I insist.

  It was almost like that, I remind myself of what I almost did in the elevator.

  “So if I go through the footage, I won’t find anything compromising,” Vance concludes. “Because let me tell you, I like her more than I like you. If there’s anything that can fuck you, I’ll give it to her wrapped in a pretty gold ribbon.”

  “We kissed,” I say. Only giving him part of what happened. “It was late, and I…”

  “You are fucked in many ways, and I don’t mean just legally. You’re treading into dangerous territory,” Pierce states. “You’re forcing her to move to Baker’s Creek after kissing her. This isn’t looking good for you. I don’t dislike you as much as Vance does, but I’d definitely be her lawyer.”

  I glare at them both, and they are smirking at each other.

  “Are you two fucking with me?”

  They laugh long and loud. Fuckers.

  “You’re such an easy target,” Pierce answers. “We can’t help it. Now, about your company, as your lawyer I’d say this isn’t looking great.”

  He sets a few folders on top of my desk and repeats. “Sophia handled the issues as best as she could, but keeping the fucker in the company for so long makes it look bad. I put in my report a few suggestions on how to handle the situation and who you should hire to help you. It’s a big deal, and you might get some people coming back to sue you or, if you get lucky, you might not. Now, back to your Sophia issue… Why do you need her here?”

  Vance taps the stuff he brought me, “My work here is done. In my opinion, you should let her go. Not only because you have a lot of shit on your plate, but also because she deserves better than an Aldridge.”

  Pierce laughs. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  “Why don’t you tell that to Blaire?” I contend.

  “She has the good Aldridge,” Vance replies.

  “Of course, because Hayes is a better man than any of us.”

  “You had to shatter his ego,” Pierce complains. “No, Henry, you’ll always be a better businessman than any of us.”

  Vance glances at us, shakes his head and leaves.

  “Leyla is fucking mad at you…and at me,” he states. “Let Sophia go, man. Take it from my experience, you can’t be who she needs. Why try to force a relationship that’ll fail in just a few months or years?”

  I cross my arms. “Then, explain to me, why can’t you let go of Leyla?”

  “She won’t take what I’m giving her and won’t leave the kids with me,” he explains.

  “If that’s what makes you feel better, then keep lying to yourself. I’ve seen you. You live for her, just the way Hayes does for Blaire. And this is where you’re going to get a kick out of my life; I now get it. I don’t understand what’s happening, but I have that fucking need to make sure I am close enough and I’m taking care of her.”

  “Take care of my Leyla?” he asks, arching an eyebrow.

  “Asshole. You know I’m talking about Sophia.”

  He grins and shakes his head. “Take it from me, you’re not who she needs. Look at her and take a good look at you, Henry. Do you think she deserves to end up like our mothers?”

  “Sophia is nothing like my mother,” I protest.

  “No, but you’re a lot like William. Look at how you are complicating her life. Why is it so important to have her here?”

  “She’s in charge of Aldry’s Sweets,” I say. “None of us has the time or is capable of doing it, and she can’t fix the place from Manhattan. No matter how good she is at her job, it’s impossible. I’m actually trying to make things easier for her.”

  I flaunt the brochures and say, “I’m buying her a house, bringing her parents, and offering her a bonus. We can’t afford to close the factory or The Lodge. I’m only one person, and I need her here.”

  He shakes his head. “It’s obvious that I can’t get through you. Just…keep your dick in your pants. I wasn’t kidding when I said that if the need arises, I’ll be her attorney.”

  “What happened to being my brother?” I ask, not because I plan on doing something stupid, but shouldn’t he be loyal to me?

  He smirks. “She’s Leyla’s best friend—like her sister. If I have to choose between you and my wife… You’d understand if you really care about Sophia.”

  “Well, if you cared so much about your wife, maybe you should stop being like William and let her go. I’m sure you have plenty of money to force the divorce.”

  “You don’t force yourself in and out of people’s lives, Henry,” he taps the brochures. “No matter how beautiful the cage is, you can’t keep someone by your side, force new dreams, or change their future.”

  He leaves me wondering if he was talking about Sophia or Leyla.

  Sophia

  Time zones drive me crazy. Don’t get me started with daylight savings. I constantly need to consult my phone where I have at least seventeen different times set. In my line of work, I have to know what time it is in places like England, Australia, Japan… The point is that even when I’m not a fan, today I am thankful that Blaire is three hours behind. While I was deciding what to pack and how to break the news to my family, she called to let me know
that even though the doctor agrees that Mom could benefit from this change of atmosphere, there are some tests she wants to run before giving us the green light.

  I have a new plan that’ll buy me time and drive my dear boss to the edge of anger. Knowing Mom’s schedule, I wait until seven before I head to visit my parents. By the time I arrive, she’s already asleep.

  “Not that I mind, but isn’t it a little late for house visits?” Dad asks opening the door.

  “We need to talk,” I say after hugging him and marching toward the kitchen.

  The room is far enough from my parents’ bedroom. I’m sure Dad’s going to keep his voice down, but why take any risk? She can find out about this new development tomorrow when we’re on our way to the doctor. I pour myself a glass of horchata and take a seat before I tell him everything that happened today.

  I don’t skip any detail. Once I’m done, he stares at me and looks almost as exhausted as I feel.

  “I don’t understand,” Dad whispers, trying to avoid waking up Mom. “Your job is here, in New York, not in Oregon.”

  “There’s nothing I can do about this, Dad.” Believe me, I tried.

  He takes my hand and says, “This is what we’re going to do, you’re going to quit and find a job where you don’t have to bend over and backward for your boss. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  “No, we need the insurance, and you need to be here with Mom,” I remind him.

  “We’ll sell the house and get something smaller,” he ignores me. “We can move south. I heard that the properties in South Carolina are cheaper. I can get a job there.”

  “Mom will be away from her family and friends,” I remind him. “She needs you to take care of her. Who can be better than the man who loves her?”

  “This isn’t right. I’m supposed to be taking care of you, mijita,” he says frustrated.

  “You did, and now it’s my turn to help,” I explain.

  “When do we get to see you?”

  This is the part I’ve been dreading. Dad protects Mom with his life, and he might not like what Henry suggested, and well, then I’m going to have to say goodbye and drag my ass to Baker’s Creek. Most likely, I won’t be seeing my parents for at least a year. Scrooge might not let me see them during the holidays.