Page 111 of Beautiful Revenge
“I’ve already started that process,” Chrissie says through a frown as she focuses on her cell. “No one is going to drug you on my watch.”
“Did I mention you’re getting a raise?” Patrick asks as he picks through his breakfast of oatmeal and dry toast. “I’ll double it if you make sure my chef cooks up something that doesn’t taste like old cardboard.”
“No can do, Mr. Madison. You’re paying me to keep you alive,” Chrissie mutters as she reads. Her gaze shifts to Harlow. “I’m not trying to kick you out, but the plane is scheduled to leave soon.”
Tears fill Harlow’s eyes before she leans down and pulls her father into an emotional embrace. “I love you. Follow thedoctor’s orders. I need you strong and healthy. I don’t plan on you going anywhere for a very long time.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Patrick turns his head to press his lips against Harlow’s cheek before framing her face in his hands. He looks intently into her eyes. “We’ll get through this. Janie will pay. And when all this is said and done, we need to have a talk about the future of Stonebridge—yourfuture.”
Harlow holds his hands in hers. “My future is just fine. I’m going to make a life in Winslet. Sure, I’ll travel for work and have another small place in the city, but I’m going to make Grandma’s house better than ever. I’ll force you to come for holidays.”
“Small town,” he mutters before looking over her shoulder straight at me but continues speaking to his daughter. “Is this about him?”
Harlow glances at me through a teary smile before turning back to Patrick with a small shrug. “The only thing I’m going to say is that everything I’m doing right now is for me.”
I walk to the bed and offer Patrick my hand. “Good to meet you. I promise I’ll take care of her.”
“You’d better. The last one sure didn’t.” Her dad turns his glare to his daughter. “There will be no more engagements or weddings without me around, got it? No one will ever gaslight you again.”
“I don’t need to be reminded of that. Like I could forget if I wanted to,” she mutters.
The so-called contract I demanded of Harlow because I knew there was no way I could only have her for one night, has turned into an internal fire raging within me.
She’s been through hell and needs time.
I’ve been in a holding pattern for years. Time has felt like spiked shackles since the day Hugh died.
Or the day I thought he died.
That ticking clock has felt more like a death sentence. Life has been going through the motions in a repetitive cycle, running on a loop instead of moving forward.Forwardmight as well have been sprinting on a damn treadmill.
Am I ready to make any declarations?
Fuck no.
But I’ll also move heaven and earth to keep this contract intact.
“That’ll never happen again, Patrick,” I promise. “You have my word. You hardly know me, but there’s nothing more solid in this world than that.”
Patrick’s heavy stare shifts between me and Harlow. “At this point, I have no choice but to believe you.”
“You won’t regret it. Victor Turner will go down once and for all, and the Humphries and Janie will pay for the hell they tried to bring down on Harlow,” I say.
“And Hugh Bancroft,” Harlow adds. She threads her fingers through mine and pulls my hand to her heart. The woman is selfless even after all she’s been through. When we got back to the hotel last night, the only thing she focused on was the man who double-crossed me and ruined my career in the process. “He’ll be exposed for who he is and what he’s done to you.”
“Harlow,” Chrissie interrupts. She’s standing in the doorway to Patrick’s room. “You’re going to be late. I’ll walk you out.”
Harlow gives her dad one last hug before we make the trip back to Winslet.
Harlow
Dad might’ve stolen Chrissie away from me for the time being, but that doesn’t mean she won’t always have my back.
The moment we get to the waiting room, Chrissie grabs me by the arm. “You have James Bond—you don’t need me to walk you out, but I do need to talk to you. And as much as your dad says he can handle the truth, I’m not sure about this one.”
Devon’s hand wraps possessively around my hip as if someone is set to break around the corner to tear me from hishold. “What the hell else could happen that he can’t handle after the last few days?”
Chrissie pulls in a deep breath, as if to prepare herself for what she’s about to say. “Don’t freak out. I’m sure it’s just someone trying to extort money from Stonebridge. You know how people are.”
