Garrett knew what Elizabeth would do: she’d make good on her promise, and so when he’d gone home that night, he intended to hide the fact until after the divorce. Of course, Elizabeth had still been tracking his phone, and when she’d seen where he had gone that night, she had sent her proof to the board and sent in the allegations of abuse to her lawyer as well as his. She’d left the house, however, planning to hold up in one of their vacation homes in Manhattan. From what Garrett understood, her plane left in the evening, and he sincerely hoped she never came back.
Katie Rodriguez had come to his office from Human Resources that morning to tell him what the board had told her. The city news was already running the story, and the press had already come to the building several times. Stocks were dropping due to his poor approval rating, and worse yet the board was electing to remove him from the company. Human Resources would also need to do an investigation, and though Garrett understood why, he certainly didn’t enjoy the whole affair.
For the rest of the day, Garrett’s phone was constantly ringing off the hook with calls from concerned stockholders, private groups, attorneys willing to represent him, his lawyer, and a myriad of others. By noon, the board had contacted him to let him know they would need to meet with him to discuss his position. For all the good he’d done in their eyes, he certainly couldn’t be allowed to continue to expose the company to more bad press.
Garrett understood, and went through each call with patience. He reassured each board member that Elizabeth would not be a problem anymore, and that their divorce would be finalized quickly. Elizabeth also faced several more charges on behalf of the company after she had released a packet of unsavory information about the company. It went beyond Garrett where she got such a packet, as there was nothing in it that in truth pertained to the company. Nevertheless, she had done a number on not only Garrett, but the company’s image.
It didn’t make sense to him why she’d go after the company so pointedly. It felt wrong to him; it was not in her nature to be so thorough and straightforward. If she had a problem, she was usually much less mindful of problems and much more intense about how she went about ruining someone. She had to have had someone helping her; the packet against the company was enough to prove it. He’d seen it, and it was far too much work for her to have put into it.
A tentative knock at his door brought him to his senses, and for a moment he stared at his closed door as if he might simply ignore it. He didn’t need another person to come and harass him, or make him repeat answers to questions he’d already answered too often. He gave a sigh, and eventually called for whomever was on the other side of the door to come in.
Sarah poked her head around the door, nervously seeking him out. When he saw her, he felt an intense relief and held his arms out so that she could come to him. Sarah shut and locked his door, heading for him. She climbed into his lap and snuggled up into shoulder, sighing. She too had been harassed by not only HR, but the media. No one had made it public just who was the center of the rumors, but they both knew she’d be targeted eventually.
“I’m sorry, Garrett. Do you think everything is going to work out? I don’t want you to lose the company.”
“It’ll be alright. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if I did, it’s alright.”
“I still feel at fault.”
“Sarah… you’re worth it. Whatever happens, whatever consequences… you’re worth it. You’re the only thing worth it to me, anymore. I love you.”
“But is love really enough? I mean, really? What about the company? You built it from the ground up.”
“And I can build another.”
Sarah sighed and snuggled into his shoulder again, her arms slipping around his chest. For once, she didn’t seem terribly confident. Garrett turned her up to kiss her once more.
“You are worth it, Sarah. I promise.”
“I hope so. Oh, you got some mail, by the way,” she told him as she pulled a piece of mail from her jacket and handed it to him. Garrett’s eyes went wide when he saw exactly what it was.
16
She’d made her threats. She’d told Garrett exactly what would happen if he continued to entertain notions of this bullshit divorce. She hadn’t actually believed he’d go through with it, let alone that she’d have to deal with his girlfriend now, too. She found herself trying her best to remain in control of her rage as she made her way from the police station. She’d had to give herself the bruises she claimed he’d given her, and fabricate a proper story.
To top it off, Sarah had come back despite her warnings. The little slut was persistent! Elizabeth now drove towards her family's estate, intent on telling Matthew just what his precious daughter was up to. With any luck, she could spin the story as Garrett losing control of himself. Perhaps he’d savaged the girl, and Sarah was too sheltered to know any better.
Perhaps she should have done more than ask Mr. Townsend to frame her. In fact, she wondered where Mr. Townsend had gone. He’d said he would take care of it, and he seemed as if he’d planned to. Had he forgotten? Or was he waiting for the perfect moment? She’d have to call him when she was done with Matthew.
As she pulled into the driveway, she considered her approach. She’d have to be careful; Matthew was street smart. She allowed the doorman to take her keys, the maid happy to escort her in, and headed to the study where Matthew was looking over architecture for a new building. He glanced up to see who came into his sanctuary, and did a double-take when he saw Elizabeth.
Matthew Hemmings did not so much as smile or stand to greet her, instead he watched her with a pensive frown, considering her as the maid departed, shutting the door for privacy.
“What do you want, Elizabeth?”
“Is that anyway to greet your best friend’s wife?”
“You are not Garrett’s wife any longer.”
“I am, at least for a while.”
“A moment or two longer. What do you want?”
Elizabeth watched him, her eyes brimming with tears as she fell into the act, slowly lowering herself to sit across from the man. She didn’t dare shed a real tear; he was too clever to believe her.
“We should talk, about our mutual acquaintances.”
“Garrett is our only mutual anything.”
“No, I’ve also met Sarah. That’s where I’m concerned.”
Matthew set down his glasses and peered at her, watching her carefully. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” she began, frowning up at the business tycoon, “There isn’t really any delicate way to say this. She’s been sleeping with my husband, and I’m afraid that it has been…perhaps…against her will.”
Matthew watched her for a long moment, still pensive. Had she not seen the tightening of his jaw, she would have thought her news hadn’t phased him.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Mr. Hemmings.”
“Do you want to know what I think, Elizabeth? I think you’re going to throw everything you can at him. I think you’re trying to rip him up one side and down the other.”
“You know…I didn’t want to do this, Matthew, but I thought you might not believe me.”
Matthew’s eyes narrowed, the threat in her voice one that left him furious. However, when Elizabeth slid the phone towards him, it allowed him to see what she’d meant. There, on the screen, was an image of Sarah tied to her chair, and a short, looped video of Garrett screwing Sarah that she had recorded. Elizabeth had the pleasure of watching that happen.
On her way home, she dialed Mr. Townsend’s number. She wanted it done today; there would be no more games.
17
Not for the first time, Garrett’s mind wandered far astray, his mind taking him somewhere else entirely. He sat back, reclining in his chair. He ought to go home, and he knew it. Gathering his things, he readied himself to leave when the call came through.
He almost didn’t answer, having turned away from his desk. He paused, eyed the caller ID, and answered.
“Garrett? Garrett get out of there now! She’s sent a hitman after you. He’s probably watching you right now. You’ve got to get out of there right now!”
Garrett stared for a moment in shock, before it dawned on him what Devon meant. He needed to get to the safe room, and he needed to get Sarah there, too. He headed out the door, heading down the hall.
As he made it to her door, he peered carefully in. He waited until she looked up, and waved his hand, letting her know he wanted her to come to him. Sarah obliged, standing and crossing the room to him. She smiled prettily, looking up at him with a curious smile that died away when she saw his expression.
“What–”“Elizabeth sent a shooter, we need to go. “Garrett watched her expression go completely blank. She didn’t hesitate to follow after him as they quickly headed for the elevator. Sarah was first to arrive, and when she looked up at the dial she could see that the elevator was already on the ninetieth floor and rising. She grabbed Garrett’s wrist, and tugged him to the right of the elevator.
“We’ve been at lunch since twelve,” Garrett called to his receptionists, thinking quickly. “We went out, if anyone asks. “Sarah led him quickly to the stairs, and they began to descend. She was trying to call the police from her cell phone, though it didn’t seem to be working. As they climbed down the stairs, they heard the elevator open. They froze, listening as they waited with bated breath; the safe room was on the ninety-fifth floor. Suddenly Garrett heard two small pops, and two thuds. His heart ran cold, knowing what had happened.
Sarah gave him a curious look and he blanched all the more, the empty nakedness of having no way to protect himself made him uncomfortable, vulnerable even. He gently nudged Sarah on, indicating silence with his finger. She continued on, heading down the stairs as quickly as she could when they heard the door above them open.
Garrett’s arm plastered Sarah against the wall behind them and he leaned them both into it, quietly waiting to hear more from above. He could hear someone listening, and the uncomfortable prey-like feeling he felt now was weighing heavily on his chest. He knew he was being hunted now, and the fear made him anxious.
Eventually, after a lifetime of waiting, the door opened and shut. Sarah was the first to move, and if Garrett had thought about it he wouldn’t have let her; he knew the tactic, after all. He’d served as a security guard a lifetime ago, and he knew immediately that Sarah had made a mistake when her heel connected with the next stair, making a clicking sound.
In the moment he could see everything: the moment she decided to take a step, and the moment he missed her. Everything seemed to have slowed down and Garrett watched as he missed saving Sarah from making the mistake. Then the moment was over, and he heard the feet above him move down the stairs.
As Garrett moved to follow her, he shoved Sarah forward, and threw open the door to the ninety-fifth floor as the two bolted inside.
Garrett ran for the door of the safe room, carefully punching in the numbers with trembling fingers. Sarah stayed close, staring at the stairwell door with fear in her eyes. As the keypad dinged cheerfully, the door slid open to allow them inside. Garret pushed Sarah in first, and turned just in time to see the stairwell door open.
The man was a rough-cut-looking fellow, with gaunt features and a deliberate, annoyed look to his face. He wore a tan leather duster on top of a dark blue shirt and pants; all cheap, as far as Garrett could tell. For a moment, their eyes met and Garrett could see the cold detachment there; this man was not angry, he was a professional. He raised a gun, the silencer giving only a muffled pop as he pulled the trigger.
Garrett felt a flash of pain before he was slipping inside the already closing door of the safe room. He shut and locked the door behind him, seconds before he heard another pop, and saw a dent form just inches from his chest on the door. Another pop, and another. Garrett backed away, the pain still lancing across the back of his shoulders.
Sarah gasped, gazing at Garrett’s back, now trailing blood. For a moment, she looked as if she might faint. How had that happened? Blood ran down in little rivulets along his back and down to his belt line. She reached out to touch it as they went to the far side of the room. “Are you alright?” “Yeah… grazed at best. That’s why it’s across my whole back.”
“Let me look.”
Sarah was very much her mother's daughter, it seemed, and her instinct to protect and care for the people she loved was instant and undeniable. Garrett had learned long ago not to struggle. He removed his jacket, careful to keep from visibly wincing. He removed his shirt as well, and then remembered Devon.
“Go ahead and patch me up. I’m going to reach out to Devon.”
“Right. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Thank you, Sarah.”
Sarah gave an approving smile as Garrett texted Devon. The injury was as he’d said: superfluous but bloody. It wouldn’t likely cause him trouble in the future. He had been lucky; she had been lucky. Sarah tore his shirt into strips and tied their ends together, wrapping his chest as he texted.
Devon replied to him quickly, letting him know that police were in the building heading for him, and that they were also en-route to the airport to arrest Elizabeth. Devon’s phone app had recorded the entire conversation between Elizabeth and the hired killer. He’d even tracked the man to a GPS inside the building’s parking lot, and that was when he’d called Garrett. Devon instructed them not to come out until he got there and opened the door himself, and Garrett was satisfied with that. They could definitely wait.
18
Garrett took the stairs to the Hemming house two at a time. Anxiety lay across his shoulders like a heavy woolen mantle. He knew that his friend must know by now; and from the tirade he’d witnessed while watching Elizabeth on the other side of the one-way glass at the police precinct that night, he knew now. Guilt had settled on Garrett since then, and as he climbed the stairs he wondered just what he’d say to Matthew.
The doorman did not greet him when he came to the door, instead it was Trisha. She smiled warmly to her husband's longtime friend, and despite its warmth he couldn’t help but feel as if there was a divide between them. Garrett stopped short, his mouth opening to say something, anything. Yet what could he say? “It’s alright,” Trisha waved him off with a small smile, “I’ve known for a while how much she cared for you. I’m not offended. I know you’ll treat her right.”
Garrett felt a weight lift from him that he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying. Of course, Matthew was likely nowhere near as receptive, but at least Trisha didn’t hate him. He didn’t think he could stand another woman’s anger, let alone survive it.
“Thank you, Trisha. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. It was cowardly of me, and I…feel guilty.”
“I can believe it. You’ll be feeling worse after speaking with Matthew, I’m sure.”
“Is he… well, I suppose he’s furious. Rightly so.”
“Yes, he is. I don’t think he’s going to sever ties with you, Garrett.”
Another weight lifted, his heart reeling. Garrett wondered how he’d gotten so lucky as to have friends as near and dear as Trisha and Matthew. He certainly didn’t deserve their trust after the whole incident. This thought must have been written on his face because Trisha’s arms were around him in a moment, squeezing him tightly.
“It’ll all be okay. Let’s go, he’s waiting for you in the library.”
“How did he know I was coming?”
“He knew the moment the second copy of your divorce decree arrived here.”
Garrett blanched, but nodded. He followed Trisha up the stairs to the library and paused at the door to collect himself. Trisha gave him one final hug for confidence and then left him at the door, heading towards the kitchens where she would no doubt be managing today’s Christmas Eve party. Garrett, meanwhile, took one last deep breath, adjusted his clothes, and strode into the library.
Matthew sat by the enormous marble fireplace, its old-world charm
casting an imposing air to the scene. Matthew was dressed in one of his charcoal gray suits. He sat in one of the high-backed red velvet chairs, staring into the fire with a frown on his lips. When the door opened, he did not so much as glance up.
Garrett entered, closing the door behind himself. He walked to the fireplace, the flames crackling merrily as he neared his old friend. Anxiety made his throat suddenly dry, and he worried that this would be the end – that Trisha had been wrong, and Matthew would cut him from his life.
“Matthew?”
Even to himself, Garrett’s voice sounded weak. He silently cursed himself for not having come to Matthew sooner, for allowing Sarah to tell him what he should have told him long before. When Matthew looked up, their eyes met and Garrett found himself looking down, searching for words. He’d had this conversation a thousand times on the way here, yet now he found himself speechless. “Words can’t… I’m not… I didn’t mean... shit. Matthew, I’m sorry. It’s not a big enough word. It’s not enough; words aren’t enough. I should have told you. I should have been the one to tell you. I would have, but…I was a coward. I didn’t want you to think less of me…because of Elizabeth. I didn’t want you to…think that I didn’t…truly love Sarah. I don’t… I don’t know how to make this right, but I desperately want to.”
Matthew’s face did not chance its countenance, and for an eternity he said nothing. Garrett finally looked up at the man, his brows knit in a glare. He didn’t know if he could stand the silence much longer.
“If you want to make this right, leave my daughter. Don’t speak to her again. Don’t contact her again. Stay away from her, Garrett.”
The command stung, though the response he had stung him more. He wished he could make his friend happy. He wished that he could do what Matthew asked. “I’m sorry. I can’t do that. I love her, and I… I’ll never leave her, Matthew. I’ll never treat her wrong. I will never let her suffer, or want for anything, but I’ll never stop loving her either. I want to… I want to be worth her love. She deserves that and more.”
Unwrap Me Daddy_A Holiday Romance Page 9
