Club Abbott: Yours (Club Abbott Series, #5)

by Hazel Kelly

  “Is it that obvious?” he asked. “I didn’t feel I got much color at all.”

  “No, you definitely look like a prick.”

  He smiled. “Jealous?”

  “Only of your happiness.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  I was relieved he picked up on my sarcasm. “Where did you pick up that color?”

  “Tenerife,” he said. “Ella wanted to do some snorkeling.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “And you were eager to show off what a good swimmer you are?”

  “For your information, I float on the surface just fine.”

  “Now that you’re chubby newlywed,” I said. “Hope you’re not nervous to get back on the court.”

  “Not at all. That’s actually why I called you in here.”

  “To tell me you need more time to digest all that lobster?”

  “No,” he said. “To challenge you to a match next Tuesday.”

  “I can do Monday after work.”

  “Fine.”

  “Is that really all you wanted?” I asked. “Cause I’m supposed to meet mom downstairs in-”

  There was a knock at the door and we both looked towards it.

  “Come in,” Will said, leaning back in his chair.

  My mom pushed the door open and looked between us. “Well if it isn’t all the most difficult men in my life in one place.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  She walked across the room and put a manila folder on my dad’s desk.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  She stood back and crossed her arms. “The breakdown for the renovations in Istanbul.”

  He put a hand on it. “Why didn’t you send them to Emily?”

  “I tried, but I got an automatic response saying she was on her extended Christmas break and unless I was contacting her to send booze, I should get in touch with you directly.” She cocked a hip. “And since I know you don’t even look at my emails unless they’re in all caps and marked urgent, I figured I’d just drop them off in person since I was coming by to meet Ben anyway.” She turned and nodded at me once.

  Will flipped through the pages. “Do you need me to sign something or-”

  “No,” she said. “I need you to not panic when you get the bill for this stuff like you did after the Stockholm renovation.”

  “I could’ve built a whole new hotel with what the Stockholm renovation cost.”

  She shrugged. “The Swedes have very expensive taste.”

  He raised his eyebrows at her. “And the Turks?”

  “About half.”

  Will groaned.

  “Will I leave you two alone to discuss this?” I asked.

  “No,” my mom said. “While Will looks that over, why don’t you tell me what you wanted to talk to me about?”

  I pursed my lips. “I thought we’d speak in private.”

  “I don’t have time,” she said. “I forgot I’m supposed to get my roots done this afternoon, and I have a flight to catch tonight and haven’t packed.”

  I looked at my dad hunched over the spreadsheets, pretending to be concerned about money. Then I looked back at my mom. “I really think it’s something you’d rather hear about privately.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’ve gotten that woman pregnant or something-”

  I clenched my jaw. “Actually, not everyone has as much trouble keeping their legs together as you do-”

  “Perhaps that’s what’s got you so grouchy lately,” she said, the smugness rolling off her like exhaust fumes.

  I walked across the room and closed the door too hard. “Actually, my love life isn’t what I wanted to discuss.”

  “Oh god,” she said. “Not another lecture from Mr. High and Mighty-”

  “The two of you sound like children,” Will muttered, not looking up from his desk.

  “Go on and say what you have to say,” my mom said. “Your father has every right to hear how you’ve been speaking to me.”

  “First of all-” I walked across the room and put my back to the wall, putting as much distance between us as possible. “He’s no more impressed with what you did than I am.”

  She scoffed and looked back and forth between us. “She and Simon were never going to work out. I did her a favor.”

  “And I’m trying to do you one,” I said, crossing my arms.

  “Why can’t you both stay out of each other’s love lives from now on?” Will asked, raising his eyebrows in my direction.

  “Because the guy mom thinks she’s in love with is a piece of shit.”

  She headed for the door. “I’m not going to stay here while you-”

  “He’s cheating on you,” I said.

  She turned around and raised a finger at me. “Defame my character all you want Benjamin, but I won’t have you say a bad word against him.”

  “It’s true,” I said. “I had him followed.”

  Will’s eyes grew wide as he swallowed and scooted his chair back towards the window, like he was backing up to watch a fight breaking out in the street.

  My mom furrowed her brow. “You what?”

  “I hired a private investigator to follow him.”

  She craned her neck forward as her hands formed little fists. “Why would you do such a thing?”

  I shrugged. “Cause I was worried that he wasn’t a good guy considering what I already knew about him.”

  She pursed her lips, her eyes laying heavily on me as her face turned red.

  “He has other girlfriends, Mom. At least six that I know of.”

  She reached her hand out for one of the chairs across from Will’s desk and leaned against it like a crutch.

  I took a deep breath. “I’ve seen the pictures, the phone records, the online dating profiles. Half of them know him by an alias, but all of them think he loves them back and that there aren’t any others.”

  Her mouth fell open.

  I glanced at Will.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked. “Cause if you’re just trying to hurt your mother-”

  “I wouldn’t do that,” I said. “I admit I was hoping I’d find out something she wouldn’t be able to live with… Like that he didn’t have a retirement account or that he was a Republican.”

  She squinted at me.

  “But I underestimated him.”

  My dad stood up, walked over to my mom, and put his arm around her. “Why don’t you have a seat, Laura?”

  She slouched into the chair and shook her head. “Are you sure?” She wrapped her hands around one of the armrests and turned towards me. “Because I really don’t believe the Simon I know would even be capable of such a thing.”

  I walked over to the chair beside hers and sat down. “I know, Mom, but you only know the Simon he wants you to know. The guy’s a compulsive manipulator. He only cares about you as much as he cares about all his other girlfriends, which isn’t enough.”

  She turned forward and put her elbows on her knees.

  I looked at my dad who was leaning against his desk with his arms crossed.

  “I had to tell you,” I said. “I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”

  She looked up at me, her eyes glassy and red. “And what do you think you’re seeing now, huh?”

  I put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged it off. “Would it have killed you to tell me in private?!”

  I rolled my eyes but didn’t answer her. At that point, I figured she was just desperate for a chance to lash out.

  “Why don’t you take off, Ben,” Will said, cocking his head towards the door. “I’ll stay here with your mom.”

  I swallowed. “I don’t want to leave her when she’s-”

  “Just go,” she said, staring down at her feet.

  I looked up at Will.

  He nodded.

  So I got up and walked out, feeling as awful as I did relieved.

  Chapter 9: Carrie

  I knew it was a long shot, but I
had to do something.

  I’d blown my chance to tell him how I felt at dinner and now too much time had passed for me to just call up and say sorry.

  I had to go out on a limb for him, had to do something big, something that would make him remember me forever even if he didn’t want to be my New Year’s kiss.

  And I knew what he wanted more than anything… even more than he used to want me.

  I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  I swallowed and pushed the door open.

  “Carrie.” Will stood up from behind his desk, looking handsome and bronzed to a borderline inappropriate level for December in New York. “How are you?”

  “Good,” I said, walking up to his desk.

  He came around and gave me a hug, pressing his warm cheek against my cold one. “How lovely to see you.”

  “I trust you had a relaxing honeymoon?” I asked, unbuttoning my coat so I wouldn’t go from freezing to sweating when I was already nervous enough as it was.

  “I did, yes,” he said, gesturing to the chair behind me. “Please have a seat.”

  I turned around and sank into the chair, suddenly conscious of how shitty the ones in my office were. I really needed to invest in some new ones, especially now that I could afford to thanks to Ben’s punctual payments.

  “What can I do for you?” Will asked, sitting in his swivel chair and turning towards me.

  “Well, as you know, Ben’s going to have his opening night at the club on New Year’s Eve.”

  He nodded. “I know. I’m really looking forward to it.”

  I smiled.

  “And I have to compliment you on the way you’ve transformed the space. He showed me around the other day, and you wouldn’t even know it was the same location as when he bought it.”

  “Thanks, but it was all his vision.”

  “Nonsense,” he said. “Ben was adamant that you deserve most of the credit, and I know he wouldn’t say so if it weren’t true because humility isn’t one of his natural gifts.”

  I pursed my lips.

  “Anyway, you were saying-”

  “I’m glad you can appreciate what a fantastic space it is.” I leaned forward and set my purse down beside my feet. “And I’m sure Ben’s made sure you’re well versed on how lucrative this opportunity could be for him.”

  He nodded and clasped his hands on his desk. “Of course.”

  “And I-” I took a deep breath. “I just wanted to come by and remind you that it’s not too late for you to play your part in his impending success.”

  He squinted at me. “Go on.”

  “And I know how much it would mean to him.”

  “Spit it out, Callihan.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “What I’m trying to say is, the reason I came in to talk to you is because I’d like to ask you to reconsider-”

  He turned an ear towards me. “Reconsider what?”

  “Letting Ben call the place Club Abbott.”

  Will clenched his jaw and inhaled through his nose.

  “You know as well as I do that the club is going to be a success either way because Ben is absolutely determined to make it so.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “But by allowing him to call the place Club Abbott, not only are you improving your own brand’s power and recognition, but you’re also throwing your support behind your son in a way that would mean the world to him.”

  He pursed his lips.

  “Cause it’s not just that it sounds good,” I said. “He has so much admiration for you and respect for what you’ve done. It’s really more of a tribute to everything you’ve achieved than a piggy backing on your brand.”

  “What’s in it for you?” he asked. “If I agree.”

  I shook my head. “Nothing.”

  He lifted his chin and looked down his nose at me.

  “Just the knowledge that it would make Ben happy. That’s all.”

  Will leaned back in his chair. “Did he send you in here to say these things cause he knows I’m a sucker for a pretty girl?”

  “No. He actually doesn’t know I’m here because-”

  He cocked his head. “Because what?”

  “Because we’re not really seeing much of each other at the minute.”

  He furrowed his brow. “Why’s that?”

  I took a deep breath, rubbed the back of my neck, and reminded myself that I had nothing to lose- except Ben- and there was a chance he was already gone.

  “Well?”

  “Cause I messed up.”

  “What do you mean you messed up?”

  I shrugged. “I freaked out.”

  “What do you mean you freaked out?” he asked. “Can you be a little more descriptive?”

  I looked down at my hands. “I let him tell me how he felt about me and then pretended I didn’t feel the same.”

  Will cleared his throat. “Why would you do a thing like that?”

  I looked up at him. “I was trying to do the right thing.”

  “How is making my son feel like an ass the right thing?”

  I inhaled sharply. “For one thing, he was my client.”

  “Right.”

  “And also, I just got out of a pretty fucked up-” My hand went to my mouth. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I’ve heard the word before.”

  “A pretty bad relationship.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “I was here the other day when Ben broke the news to his mother about exactly what kind of guy your ex is-”

  My face felt as hot as my neck. “He told her in front of you?”

  He shrugged. “She didn’t give him much choice.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “She will be,” he said.

  I felt my chest loosen, relieved that she- if not the other women- wouldn’t be further victimized.

  “Though I imagine she doesn’t deserve your concern.”

  I pursed my lips.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I know you’re too nice to say it. Unfortunately for all of us, though, sometimes we have to love the people in our lives despite the other people they love.”

  I swallowed.

  “Life is just messy that way.”

  “I understand.”

  “Just don’t hold her mistakes against my son cause he didn’t choose her, you know?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. It took me a while to realize that, but I know holding a grudge against him for something he had nothing to do with wouldn’t be right.”

  Will nodded once.

  “Just like it wouldn’t be right for you to not support him when he admires you so much.”

  Will furrowed his brow. “Did he say that?”

  “Not in so many words,” I said, crossing my ankles. “But if he didn’t admire you, he wouldn’t want to use your name- his name- would he?”

  “I suppose not.”

  “And you know as well as I do that there’s no risk to you whatsoever. Your brand is solid and time tested with a reputation all its own.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me.

  “And there are so many successful men in your position whose kids are useless slouches with no ambition, no drive, and no money in the bank of their own. You must be relieved he turned out so well, that he reflects so positively on you.”

  “Of course I am.”

  “So what good is being a powerful billionaire if you can’t show your only son some support when he needs it?” I felt a drop of sweat drip down my lower back.

  Will leaned back in his chair. “For an interior designer, you certainly give a good speech.”

  I swallowed. “I know it’s not my place. And I know Ben would probably be annoyed with me if he knew I came to you directly. But he wants this more than anything, and as far as I can tell, you have no reason not to give it to him except for the fact that you’re stubborn.”

  His mouth fell open.


  “And that’s just not good enough,” I said. “Cause he’ll never remember that you went back on your word, but he’ll always remember your show of support. So I’m asking you to reconsider whether money is the only legacy you’re interested in leaving or if you can stomach a bit of genuine support for your only son.”

  “Are you done?”

  I nodded.

  “Good.”

  I swallowed.

  “Is there anything else?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Thanks for stopping by, Carrie,” he said. “I sincerely hope you and Ben can work things out.”

  And that was it.

  So I walked out, having no idea whether I’d wasted my breath.

  Chapter 10: Ben

  I pulled my shirt away from my sweaty chest to get some air circulating through, but it was little use.

  “You nearly had me that time,” Will said, tilting his racket up against the wall and pulling out a chair.

  I walked around to the other side of the table and did the same. “I decided at the last second to let you win.”

  He laughed and sat down. “You couldn’t let me win if your life depended on it.”

  Of course he was right. He and my mom were probably the two most competitive people I knew, and there was no doubt I’d inherited their irrational desire to win.

  “But it was a great effort,” he said. “You certainly ran me around. Almost made me feel like I had a few too many snails on my honeymoon.”

  “I could’ve told you that without making you sweat,” I said, pulling my chair up to the table.

  “Hello gentlemen.” Marion lifted her notebook in front of her. “What’ll it be?”

  My dad pointed at me. “Peroni?”

  I nodded.

  “Two Peronis,” he said, looking up at her. “And a BLT for me.”

  “I’ll have the crispy chicken burger,” I added.

  “Thanks very much,” she said, scribbling away. “I won’t keep you waiting.”

  Will leaned back in his seat. “God I missed American customer service when I was abroad.”

  “Don’t you find a certain charm in the European’s leisurely approach?”

  “No,” he said. “On the contrary, there’s nothing I like more than a person who has an obvious respect for my time.”