Page 4

Crew

M y gut hasn’t been wrong on me yet… and something tells me I’ve possibly just made one of the biggest mistakes of my career. After completely uprooting my life, starting a new company, and clearing my slate, it’s not a good feeling to have.

Dwelling in regret though- I’ve done it for too many years already. Now is not the time to start reconsidering my decisions.

The tension with Olivia is palpable. Like a sense of impending doom about to crash down on top of me. It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when .

I accepted the job. I cleared the slate.

There’s no going back now.

My last job was a beast of its own. Viserion had several wings and gardens that went on for miles. Aspen House is only two stories, but with the jade colored marble and gilded accents carved throughout, it’s no less extravagant.

My first time meeting Harvey here two months ago, I almost wondered whether the golden lion guarding the front door was real. Harvey Hughes doesn’t strike me as a man to spare the expense.

He’s 53. Single parent. Been in Westos for over 25 years, and in that time, he’s made his money in law, representing Sutton’s richest and dirtiest. I’ve gotten my own hands dirty working for the type, but Harvey has a clean record- and little debt from what I can tell.

His daughter is 27, and she’s made a prominent name for herself as an event planner. We briefly met at the wedding she planned for my best friend… and we’ve crossed paths a handful of times since.

She plays the spoiled, trust-fund type well. Always smiling, dressed in the finest clothes money can buy. I’ve worked with similar clients before, yet she rubs me wrong. I’m not one to judge, but something about her feels off to me. Forced maybe. I pride myself on my ability to tell if someone’s lying. And if there’s one thing I know for sure… it’s that Olivia Hughes isn’t who she pretends to be.

Up until a month ago though, I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.

As we pass into the peninsula kitchen, I note that her knuckles are white from squeezing so hard. She halts outside her father’s office, and I watch as she rolls her shoulders, standing tall. I half-wonder if she’s preparing more for battle than a talk with her father. The thought vanishes as she abruptly turns, bright eyes flicking to mine.

“If you don’t mind waiting here-”

“Your father requested that I be here, Ms. Hughes,” I explain, but when she opens her mouth to speak again, a voice sounds from the other side of the door:

“Button? Is that you?”

Her eyes flutter shut before she answers softly, “It’s me, Dad.”

She breezes through the door. It opens to reveal a man sitting behind an ornate mahogany desk. The office, like the rest of the house, is teeming with crystal. It’s all impractical if you ask me, but then again, I never grew up with money. Working in this industry for eight years hasn’t changed how I view it. No matter how much or how little of it I have.

Harvey Hughes is a slim man. Taller than most at about 6’ even, he’s still about as intimidating as a puppy. He’s long nosed, with silver-streaked hair and blue eyes that bounce over the room like he’s taking in a million things at once.

When his eyes land on Olivia though, he stops pacing and smiles. “I’ve missed seeing you home.”

I have trouble telling whether Olivia’s replying smile is forced, but her dad wraps her up in a hug before I can decide. She softens, hugging him back, and I linger behind, arms behind my back.

“It’s three in the morning. This couldn’t have waited until later?”

He draws back, smiling as he pinches her cheek. “I tried calling. It’s been weeks since we talked.” His eyes dance to the antique piano crammed against the wall behind her. A pair of black glasses sit atop a stack of music pages. “There they are. I’ve been looking everywhere for these.” He walks across the room, unfolding the glasses before setting them on his nose. “Besides,” he continues. “I know you wouldn’t just stop by if I asked.”

Olivia rubs her temples, sighing. “I have a lot going on, Dad. You know that.”

“You can always make time for your old man, right?” His smile is casual, and when he suddenly deigns to remember that I’m in the room, he motions me inside before reclining at his desk.

Acceptance, or something close to defeat, falls over his daughter. “Of course I can, I just…” I know even with her back turned that her attention floats to me. “You didn’t ask me here just to see me.”

“Right.” Harvey claps, tapping the edge of the desk.

My eyes hone in on the movement. Over the past few weeks, I’ve met with Harvey several times to plan out logistics and map the house. He’s usually jumpy. Erratic. All things common of a man recently threatened.

I don’t know that I can trust him as far as I can throw him, but it’s too late to turn back now. I knew this job was a risk even before discovering that Olivia was my new client.

She clears her throat, and Harvey is silent for a beat before she asks, “Is everything okay?”

“When you came by the hospital after the accident, I wasn’t exactly…” He searches for the words. “Forthright.” He motions for her to sit. “There’s something I want to ask you. Before you shut it down, I want you to hear me out. Okay?”

She drops into a seat, quietly waiting for him to continue. What happened wasn’t an accident. It was premeditated, and he still bears the scars. I eye the pink mark marring his brow now.

“I want you to move back in,” Harvey states, and I can’t quite read Olivia’s silence. “I know what you’re thinking: You’re all grown up. You don’t need my help. But this isn’t about that-“

“Dad-“

“I hired Warden for a reason. I would feel much better if you were here. It would make his job ten times easier. No running this way and that. Just you and I. Together again.”

Her voice is a whisper, the only indication that she might be upset. “Dad… I can’t go backwards.”

He nods, seemingly understanding. “It’s safe here. I can take care of you. I promised your mother I would, and this is the way to do it.”

Thoughts eddy away, and for a few moments, I’m rolling my shoulders, trying not to think about what kind of father uses his late wife’s death to get his way.

It’s not my job to judge these people. I should start acting like it.

Olivia shrugs, visibly steeling herself for whatever comes next: “You weren’t mugged on the train, were you?”

Strike number two.

Harvey has a habit of lying to the people closest to him.

He gives a solemn shake of his head. “No.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“The past few years have been good for our family. I’ve taken some prominent cases, but trying criminals doesn’t come without risk. There are people who want to hurt me- or hurt you to get to me.”

“So Warden would be my bodyguard then,” Olivia says.

“Will be, yes. Once-“

“I haven’t agreed yet,” her voice is sharp, but it quickly softens. “I need the weekend. I have a wedding and then…” She sighs. “I’ll let you know.” Gathering her things, she heads for the door but freezes when she sees me. She says over her shoulder, “See you later. I love you.”

I’m caught between going after her or staying and confronting the man who pays me. I decide on the latter.

The driver will get her back safely .

The door shuts, and I cross my arms over my chest as Harvey sighs, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

“That went well, I think,” he quips, but I don’t find myself laughing.

“You lied to me, Mr. Hughes.”

He chuckles uneasily, rubbing his neck. “Look, I wouldn’t call it that.”

“With all due respect, Sir, call it whatever you want. But we had an agreement.”

Harvey nods, gripping the arms of his seat with a swallow. “I understand. My daughter- she… Well, she’s never accepted my help without a fight.”

It’s an excuse. One I understand, but my gut is telling me he’s still hiding something. “Is there anything else I should know, Mr. Hughes?”

“No. There’s nothing else.” Harvey clears his throat. “It won’t happen again. My daughter will come around. She’s reasonable when she’s had more sleep. Building her business and such.”

It’s pride that I hear in his voice.

I nod again knowing that if there’s one thing I can count on, it’s that Harvey cares deeply about his daughter.

Whatever he’s hiding, I’ll figure it out sooner or later.