Haven

by J D Worth

  “Shower. Scrub. And scrub some more.”

  Just as the relaxing hot water from the massaging showerhead hits my back Fredrick steps into the huge walk-in shower. “Now, Fredrick, I know you have a massive girl crush on me, but this is way too early in our relationship to be showering together.” I chuckle over my shoulder at him.

  He snorts a laugh. “You know how the drill goes. You lose all your privacy, but I make you look fabulous in return.”

  “Yes, I’ve had to endure these types of treatments since Georgina started dragging me with her to the spa and designer clothing shopping sprees.”

  “Use this bottle to shampoo, this bottle to condition, this for your face, and this to exfoliate your skin.” He lines up an assortment of hair and beauty products tailored for me. “I like my men tall, dark, and handsome like your father. He’s delish, and he’s marrying Georgina, not me.” He sighs as I heave a laugh. “I signed my non-disclosure and hope you’ll give me leeway to speak my mind, or I may need more therapy sessions after today.”

  “Please don’t hold back. This is my therapy too!”

  “I like my women with a lot more going on upstairs than what Georgina has. Most people don’t flash their ignorance around like her. William is sophisticated and suave as they come. Damn, how’d she land a unicorn?”

  “I ponder this great dilemma every day.” We chuckle together.

  He surveys my mass of snarled curls that hangs to my lower back. “I hate to break this to you, but we have different definitions of the word ‘kinky.’”

  “My infamous locks have never behaved. I’d rather pass on the silly flat iron routine, using that hour for studying instead.”

  “Smart woman. Flat irons fry your hair. Give me that detangler, and I’ll work out the snarls.” I pass him the bottle. Fredrick starts working at my ends, moving up my mass of hair.

  “Yes, my father is the archetypical definition of handsome, as his father before him and so forth. Lilith was a classic beauty in her day.”

  “I can tell she’s had some recent work.”

  “Her facelift makes her look fifty at most. Her son is in his early forties, so the whole thing is tragic.”

  “Most of Hollywood has had work. But they make their living off their looks, and I make mine by presenting their best face forward.”

  “Oh, you’ll love this little tidbit. A few weeks ago at the Met Gala, I caught Anna Wintour glaring with jealousy at Lilith’s stylish, yet emotionless state. Lilith never smiles. The tightness of her new facelift will reinforce this for years to come. Makes me think back to my mother and her classic style. She pulled off business chic without effort and always carried herself with dignity and grace.”

  “I once saw a glamorous gala photo of your mother in Vogue. You take after her pale porcelain coloring, warm chocolate eyes, and ebony black hair. Charlotte was a dream, and you’re the living version.”

  I clear my throat. “Thank you. Business associates often do double takes when I walk through Aster Holdings. I get the height from my father. Even though my mother’s hair was slightly wavy, I somehow landed wide loose curls.”

  “Don’t hate the curls. You rock them even when your hair is a mess.” He pulls a wide tooth comb from his back pocket and sweeps it through my hair. “Is today hard for you? You seemed a little heartbroken when you answered the door this morning. Luckily, I got a few laughs with my over-the-top routine.”

  I share a small smile over my shoulder. “Yes, thank you for asking and taking the time to lift my spirits.” I spread both hands out to brace the wide walls of the white marble tiled shower. The gold glitter swirls around the drain like a mini cyclone. “More of my mother leaves me every day. Little things that may seem silly like how she took her tea and her favorite pair of shoes. The picture becomes fuzzier, and I can’t stop her from fading from my head. She’s always just out of my grasp, and I can’t reach deep enough to pull her back.” Blowing out a steady breath, I load up a loofah sponge and attack the glitter. “Today is one of those giant milestones that remind me how much time has passed since her death.”

  “Now would be a good time for that wine.” We share a laugh. “Let that detangler sit in your hair for at least five minutes, and don’t scrub too hard!” He veers towards the corner garden tub and scoops up two dripping champagne bottles. “Aha! I found the primo stuff. Your tub is full of melting ice and many more bottles. We should be good for an hour or two.”

  I snort. “The tub. That’s class you can’t buy.” Fredrick laughs so hard he almost drops the bottles on his way out.

  Stemming off a headache, I massage my temples. The stress of today is already getting to me. I let the hot water soothe me for as long as possible. When the vacuum shuts off and the housekeeping cart rolls past the bathroom door, I wrap myself into the plush bathrobe and peek out the door. Fredrick’s on the phone with his back to me.

  “Connor, how are things in the bridal suite?” He groans like a small child. “I bet. The Witches of Wall Street made her sound like a terror.” Witches of Wall Street. I smack my hand to my mouth, killing a loud snort. “Pfft. Not at all. You’re the one who needs the help, so Sissy can stay put. Those ladies are nightmares. I’m going to hang here for as long as humanly possible.” I ease the door to a slit when he turns around, directing the room service cart by the sofa. “Yes, she’s absolutely adorable. She’s sweet, funny, and intelligent. I’m smitten like a kitten, and don’t get me started on her looks. We’re talking incredible bone structure with no work done. No fillers, no implants, nada. We both know how rare that is—”

  I shut the door. It pains me to hear how he’s taking pity on me. My hair is an epic disaster that could qualify as a bird sanctuary nesting site. And my weight may be from a scandalous love affair with cupcakes. I brush my teeth and take my time lathering my favorite lotion over my body. I call out, “Fredrick, are you ready to make me presentable for the wedding?”

  “Ready whenever you are.”

  I move through the clean suite, checking the soles of my feet. “Wow, how did they get all that glitter up? I’ve never seen so much in my life.”

  He pats a chair by the sofa where he’s lining up a side table with makeup and hair products. “It took three vacuum cleaners. Obviously, you’ve never been to Mardi Gras or a gay pride parade.”

  “Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.” Passing the room service cart, I lift a pitcher full of orange juice. “No coffee?”

  “Mimosa?” he offers, pointing to the crystal flutes filled with orange juice and champagne. “Caffeine causes eye puffiness.” I give him a dubious look and grab a piece of toast. He slaps my hand. “I’m trying to help you here. I’ve never seen a tighter dress than the one you’re wearing tonight.” He nods towards the rolling rack where the small dress mocks me.

  “The sample gown fit fine at the last dress fitting. With the insane stress I’ve been under, I’ve lost weight since then.”

  “Okay, I trust you if the sample worked.” Fredrick lifts up Georgina’s bridal party pink velour tracksuit that has the word ‘Delicious’ in silver stitching across the rear end. “I was told to wrangle you into this hot mess no matter what.”

  “That’s never going to happen.” I cross my arms. “Georgina may not take our Aster business nature seriously, but she will after Lilith sets her straight once she returns from the Maldives. Lilith will only retain your services if you can convince Georgina that she needs a classic restyling to fit her new role as William Aster’s wife. Lucky for you, Chanel is her favorite label.” I finger the cheap pink fabric. “Georgina finds this overt sexism appealing. I find her clothing choices demoralizing and refuse to stoop to her level of repugnance.”

  “I agree. Juicy Couture should sue her boney ass for trademark infringement.” Pink velour flies over his shoulder. “Better?”

  “Amazing. Can I keep you? I’ll throw in the unicorn and all the glitter you want.” I settle in the chair and take
a bite of toast. Frederick tries to snatch my tasty carb loaded breakfast, but I drop my hand away. “Look, I know I’m on the thick side, but nothing can change genetics. I was a petite little girl until puberty struck, and I grew curves. That’s the sole reason I’m not in the wedding party, and I’m not about to starve myself to please anyone.”

  “I get that, but the dress…” Fredrick flashes a grimace at the rack. “Perhaps you should go with a liquid diet for today.”

  “Do you mean champagne or wine?” I titter.

  “Yes to both.”

  “If I am going to drink, I prefer something a little harder, but this will do for now.” I take another small sip, hoping to ease my magnifying headache.

  “You are a true party girl.” He sets the hairdryer on low and begins the tedious task of drying my long hair.

  “Nope, but I know how to have a good time with cupcakes. Having a drink in my hand is a required social precursor to my father’s tycoon club, so underage service is never a problem. Seriously, the same rules in a normal society do not apply to the wealthy. They chew me out if I don’t have a drink. Casual drinking is supposed to make you ‘approachable’ and ‘open to business deals’ and other bull my grandmother spouts. Besides, Jack will be waiting for me at the bar. I can always sneak off with him later.”

  “Jack. Oh my.”

  I offer a glinting smile. “Jack Daniels. It was love at first sight.”

  “Oh, you naughty little thing.” He drops his smile and tilts his head at me. “If I may be so bold to ask, what is it like growing up with billions of dollars attached to your family name? The Aster Empire rules Wall Street if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Yes, my father’s firm, Aster Holdings and Trust, is the brokerage firm on Wall Street. The wealthy raise their children with every advantage possible. Young children are multilingual taught by foreign nannies. Travel is another major benefit, including luxurious private jets and stays at the finest establishments across the globe. They attend the best schools and belong to the most elite social clubs. Then they go on to run a good part of the country. Wealth is all about accumulating more, so the cycle keeps expanding. To do so, you must work your ass off. If not, the power hungry player right behind you will knock you down in the most vicious way possible. The Wall Street players are the most ruthless of them all. They have an awful obsession with market index numbers and an unrelenting stress to be the best at all times.”

  “That is the cookie cutter answer I would’ve expected from anyone expect for you. Clearly, you are not like Lilith or Georgina. I was hoping to hear what sets you apart. What does your day-to-day life look like?”

  “I have to lift my weight in gold as an Aster. Everything that happens in my life gears me towards running my father’s firm one day. I also have to reinforce our family’s place on Wall Street, so I have to be the best at everything I do. While you’re fixing dinner, I’m pouring over complex financial data, deciding if a certain stock warrants a buy or sell tag. The net change can be worth millions. You can’t mess that up.” Pausing for a long moment, I say under my breath, “I can never mess up. There’s no room for failure.”

  “Wow, that’s some heavy-duty responsibilities.”

  I place my hand over my chest as a cumbersome compression settles deep, twisting the air out of my lungs. “The major misconception about wealth is that it frees you. In reality, money binds and conforms you to more people and more responsibilities. Our lifestyle requires an enormous staff to maintain. We need staff to outfit each estate we own, and we have quite a few. Separate staffs maintain our fleet of cars, our business, our yachts, and our jets. At this level of wealth, we have assistants everywhere we go, from running errands to dressing us. The amount of ‘help’ is insane and mind-numbing to comprehend. This simple fact also strips our privacy along the way, hence the non-disclosure contracts. I don’t know my father’s entire staff by name. I honestly try. Being around the Asters can be so dehumanizing.” I clear my throat and keep sharing, “Speaking of day-to-day, I have to study and analyze numbers, so I don’t do a thing for myself. The only ‘thing’ I have to worry about is being successful. When you’re at the top like the Asters are, nothing less is acceptable.”

  “Georgina Wells may be beautiful, but her family’s peach schnapps money doesn’t come close to the Asters’ wealth. I can only imagine the prenup she had to sign.”

  I snicker. “I’m unaware of the terms, but she loves spending my father’s money. Lilith calls the Wells family, who has a small fortune of twenty million dollars, ‘poor.’ Then again, everyone is poor when compared to the amount of money my family has accumulated over the years.”

  “Try dirt poor.”

  Armed with another key card to my room, Lilith ushers in without knocking. I straighten my posture in her presence. Tyrell had the same reaction. I swear under my breath. My own stiff demeanor is an ingrained response to her. When I was younger, she’d slap me if she caught me slouching. How I miss my mother and Grandmother Beth’s warm embraces even more.

  “Good, you started already,” Lilith remarks, far too busy to worry about pleasantries. The clock swings past eleven. Six more hours of biding my time until the ceremony. In twelve hours, I won’t have Lilith patrolling my every move.

  “Lilith,” I greet. Never taking to her grandmother title, I remind her every damn chance I get. “Fredrick, have you met my grandmother in person yet?”

  “Of course he has, first thing this morning.” She’s in a casual cut navy blue suit. A marked change from her usual power suit, yet she still puts the killer in her sky-high spiked heels. She also dons her trademark deep burgundy lipstick like war paint. Poor Fredrick has been hustling nonstop to please my family. Lilith will change into formal ware later on and have Fredrick touchup her makeup and chic inky black bob. She has heads to roll and things may get bloody before she’s through. “Audrey, your escort this evening is Chaz Everett.”

  Looks as if the bloodbath starts with me. I clench my teeth. “I thought I made my feelings clear when it comes to Chaz.”

  She takes measured steps across the room, stopping two feet from me. “He was cordial to you at the holiday party.”

  “No, he trailed me like a stalker.”

  “You are overstating his intentions by a mile.”

  “He latched onto me the moment he found out who I was. He introduced me as ‘Will’s daughter’ to all the newer employees, implying we were already dating. Only my father’s inner circle ever calls him by his shortened first name, and that’s where Chaz believes he belongs.”

  “He has ambition. People like Chaz don’t take no for an answer. That’s the only way you get ahead in life, and that’s what we look for in our employees. You have to get used to this idea.”

  “There’s an eight-year age gap between us, so why does he wish to pursue me? I’ve turned him down numerous times, and that was when I was still underage. He won’t stop hounding me when I stop by Aster Holdings. He’s popped up numerous times when I’m out in the city like a creepy stalker. I’ve relayed clearly that I’m not interested, which hasn’t stopped his aggressive pursuit one bit. His behavior is disturbing at best.”

  “Now that you’re of age, we expect you to start dating. This is the time to get everything out of your system. You could learn a thing or two from Chaz. Let him show you the ropes. Have a couple of wild nights on the town with him, and I’ll make sure he moves on.”

  “Why? Because he has the classic good looks paired with the required Harvard MBA. Or a ‘charming personality,’ which propelled his speedy climb within the firm. Let’s not forget how he styles himself after my own father in his ambition for greatness.”

  “Precisely. He’s a shark, darling. Grow some teeth.” My quiet night with Jack no longer exists. Chaz has Lilith’s approval. I’ll be fending off his advances all night. I blink a second longer than necessary. Lilith’s keen dark brown eyes sharpen. “Did you have something to add?” Lilith
is proficient at reading people right down to their microexpressions. Having almost mastered my guard, her torpedo attack is throwing me off my game. And giving me permission for a “wild night” is just not something Lilith approves of ever.

  “I have to decline the offer.” I may be putting my vacation in Haven and lame attempt at normalcy on the line, yet the idea of dealing with Chaz is worse.

  “No, you will not. A young woman of your disposition must have an appropriate escort to the wedding. Chaz graciously made the request like a gentleman. I expect you to be on your best behavior, or you’ll be on the next plane with me.”

  She snaps her fingers. A young woman dressed in a resort uniform appears from behind, gripping a clipboard to her chest so tight, she looks as though she may break it. “Annabelle.”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  Lilith turns towards her, and the young woman takes a step back. “I am Mrs. Aster. No one addresses me by ‘ma’am.’ Ever. How many times must I convey this message at my resort, and how many of you will I have to terminate until the message is clear?” She hisses through her stiff lips.