Page 21 of Ruining Hattie

BASTION

H attie is in her room, putting on her robe, when Jeffery calls up to let me know that the stylist and her team are here.

I had to think of something to bring Hattie back onside.

It’s been clear all week that she’s uncomfortable as hell when she’s in the club, and if I want her to stay, I need her to feel more at home.

A new wardrobe will go a long way toward that, and this weekend, I intend to show her around Seattle.

I let Ivy and her team into the condo and direct them to set up in the living room. Ivy is probably in her early thirties, with chin-length black hair that’s parted in the middle. She’s dressed in a pair of cream pants and a silk blouse.

I’ve consulted with her a few times in the past when I was looking to update my own wardrobe.

I’d rather suffer through a few hours of trying on clothes in my own home than go to actual stores and deal with salespeople.

The two of us say our hellos and catch up for a minute before Hattie walks into the room.

Hattie stands at the edge of the living area with her mouth agape as Ivy’s team organizes the racks and racks of clothing and accessories.

“Hattie, I’d like you to meet Ivy and her team. They’re going to help you find some items you like.”

Ivy inspects Hattie, sizing her up, calculating her size, her curves, her coloring, and hopefully she has an idea forming of what would work best. “Pleasure to meet you, Hattie.” She stretches out her hand between them, and Hattie accepts the handshake.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Bastion tells me you need some outfits to wear into the office. Classy with a side of sensual is the directive I was given. Does that sound about right?”

Hattie’s gaze darts over to meet mine. “Um… I guess we can see how that looks.”

Ivy nods and claps her hands together once. “Perfect. Let’s get started then. I’m going to have you try on some things to start just so I can see how different cuts and fabrics look on you. From there, we’ll refine, okay?”

Hattie bites her bottom lip, but she nods.

“Okay, Clarissa, why don’t you pull the Armani so we can…”

Ivy’s voice fades as she heads across the room to deal with her team, and I walk over to Hattie.

“Relax, this is supposed to be fun.” I squeeze her shoulder.

“What if I don’t like anything?” she whispers. “I don’t want to offend Ivy.”

“Your only job here is to be honest. You don’t have to like everything she suggests, and she’s not expecting you to, okay?” I dip my face down so it’s level with hers and wait until she nods. “If you don’t like something, tell her. She’s hard to offend. Trust me.”

The corners of her lips tip slightly, but she cringes before I can pull a full-on smile from her. “I’m going to feel bad if I tell her I don’t like something.”

“Hey, there’s no reason to. The only reason you should feel bad is if she leaves here and you have a bunch of clothes you don’t like and never want to wear. If you’re not honest, she can’t do her job properly. Think of it like that.”

My words seem to relax her a little.

“Now, I’m going to go work in my office while you guys get down to business, but if you want my opinion on anything, just come find me, okay?”

She nods. “Yeah, okay.”

I squeeze her shoulder and head off down the hallway to my home office, where I close the door behind me. I have a call to make, and I need privacy to do it.

I sit at my desk and pull the burner phone from the desk drawer. Most of the time Sean and I meet in person, but the odd time that we have to speak on the phone, I always use a burner so that it can’t be traced back to me.

The phone rings several times, but Sean picks up right before I’m about to hang up.

“I heard you’ve been looking for me. I hope it’s not to try to continue the last conversation we had.” I lean back in my chair and pick up a pen off my desk, rolling it up and down my knuckles.

“The higher-ups weren’t happy when I went back to them with your answer.”

“Too fucking bad.”

“They’re not just going to drop it.”

“You’re all lucky I haven’t kicked you to the curb already. I don’t appreciate business partners who try to change the terms of the agreement midway through.” I squeeze the phone so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t come apart.

“You gotta work with us?—”

“See, that’s the thing. I don’t. And you’d all do well to remember that. Accept my terms or don’t, I really don’t care. I’m certainly able to find someone who will.”

It’s like these assholes think they’re the only game in town.

I hang up before Sean can respond.

Maybe I should tread more carefully, but these assholes are pissing me off, trying to push me around and act as if they own me. I’ve never been good when people underestimate me.

The phone in my suit pocket vibrates, so I return the burner to my desk drawer and pull out my regular cell phone to see my sister’s name on the screen.

Impeccable timing as always.

“Hey, Ari. How’s it going?”

“You sound tense. What’s wrong?”

I blow out a breath and push my hand through my hair. “Nothing’s wrong. And how can you tell I sound tense? We’ve been on the phone for less than five seconds.”

“I know you, Bast.”

She says it as if that’s answer enough. I swear, since my sister became a mother, it’s like she’s got a radar for these things. Which I don’t hate, actually.

“I’m fine. It’s just work bullshit.”

“Ah, gotcha.” She says nothing more, nor do I expect her to.

Ariana has never judged me for the business I’m involved in.

After the way we were raised, that’s not really a surprise, but I think it helps that one of her sisters-in-law by marriage used to be a stripper.

In fact, she’s the one I got the idea from to open my first club.

I was visiting Midnight Manor to spend some time with my sister’s family, and Cinder and I got to talking about how lucrative stripping was and the issues she saw with most of the clubs.

I felt as though I could do better, so I did.

“How’re the twins?” I rest my feet up on the desk and lean back in my chair.

“Keeping me busy as always. Sable thinks she should still be able to sleep in the bed with Obsidian and me, and Donovan wants a dog. Insists he’ll look after it.”

“I’m sure Sid finds both those things thoroughly amusing.”

She laughs, and as it always does, it spurs a warm feeling inside. There was a time in our lives when Ariana didn’t laugh much. Now the sound fills me with happiness. She’s found peace in her life.

“You know him, he puts up a good front, but those two have him wrapped around their fingers. I have to be the heavy all the time.”

I laugh, knowing she’s right. I love those kids as though they’re my own. “Well, good luck with that. I’m pretty busy with work this summer, but I’ll see if I can get out there while the kids are out of school so I can spend some time with them.”

“That would be wonderful. I know they’d love to see their Uncle Bast. Speaking of visits, Dad and Eleanor just left.”

“Oh?” I don’t speak to my dad nearly as much as I used to now that he’s settled down a bit and I have a business to run. “How’re things with them?”

“Good, good, I just wanted to let you know that Eleanor mentioned to me that Dad had to go on some pills for his blood pressure and his cholesterol.”

I frown. “Okay, isn’t that kind of thing normal for his age?”

“I guess, it’s just… it’s weird. He’s getting older, you know? I guess I just sort of realized it when they were here.”

I think back to the last time I saw my dad during the holidays. She’s right. Even I noticed how much older and frailer he looked.

“It’s all a part of getting older, and he’s obviously on top of his health if he’s on medication for it. Try not to worry too much. Besides, if he needs anything serious like surgery or something, you and Daddy Warbucks can afford it.”

“Fuck off,” she says, and we both laugh.

Satisfaction rolls through me that I was able to make her laugh and get her out of her funk. There’s nothing she hates more than when I bust her chops about marrying a billionaire. Trent raised us to think they were the scum of the earth.

A knock on the door has me looking in that direction. “Come in.”

The door opens, and Hattie walks in.

“Ari, I have to go.” I hang up before she can argue because standing in front of me is an entirely different version of the woman living in my house.

I was already finding it hard to resist Hattie, but this version will be impossible. Thankfully, it only makes me hate her more.