Unexpected Arrivals(43)
“That’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair about it, Cora? If you don’t want to work for Halifax when your term is up, then don’t.”
“It’s not black and white.”
“You’ll have to help me understand that. I might see how that would be true for someone who didn’t have Chase money, but not for you.”
I heard someone in the background speak to her just before she covered the phone to muffle what was said.
“Hey, James. I need to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Sure.”
I didn’t wait for her to tell me she missed me or say it myself. I just hung up. And realized after I’d done it just how shitty it was. She’d opened up to me about an insecurity, had really started talking to me, and I’d gotten pissy about it just because it was Drake.
I hadn’t stopped fucking around with Letty and didn’t even want to think about how Chelsea fit into that equation—my expectations of her were a bit hypocritical. However, Drake Halifax had everything to do with the shifts that had happened between us. I couldn’t blame him completely; had our bond been as tight as it should have, there wouldn’t have been room for him to force his way in—although he certainly played a part.
As much as I loved Cora and missed her, she was in France for another ten months, and even then, there was no guarantee she’d come home, much less to me. After staring at the wall for however long, the remorse wormed its way in until I finally caved and sent her a text. I couldn’t bear to be the reason her day got worse. And even in the darkness of my childhood bedroom, I could see the hurt on her face and didn’t want to be the cause for it staying there.
Me: I miss you.
Her unexpected reply came immediately, rubbing a little salve into the open wound of my tattered heart.
Cora: I miss you too, James.
Even text messages, I could hear her voice, and to this day, I loved the way my name rolled off her tongue like a whisper through trees—peaceful and serene. Yet what I loved even more was that she was the only person who used it. At work it was Mr. Carpenter, my friends called me Carp, my parents—when I talked to them—called me son, and Cora called me James. Somehow, from her, it was sacred—a prayer.
***
My father slid a stack of folders across his ornate desk two days later. The birthday festivities had kept him occupied until the last guest left on Sunday. And then the following morning, he was business as usual.
“What’s this?” I’d never worked with my dad or participated in any of his financial endeavors. I was well aware of what he did for a living and could have used his contacts to build our business, but I had refused to ask, and he’d never offered. Until now.
“I’m letting go of most of our smaller clients to focus on larger accounts. As I move toward retirement, the board decided to shift gears for the company as a whole. These are all people I’ve done business with for years that I don’t want to give over to anyone I don’t trust.”
“You’re referring business to me?” I couldn’t hide the doubt in my voice. My father didn’t give anyone anything. It all came with a price tag that I couldn’t afford.
“I’ve followed your firm from the sidelines since you bought the business, son. You and Neil have worked hard, made good choices, and weathered the storm. This will only strengthen your portfolio, and in time, draw more investors in your direction.”
I eyed him suspiciously before speaking. “What’s the catch?”
“Not everything in life comes with stipulations, James.” He’d used my name—which definitely meant there were stipulations.
“And you don’t give handouts without expecting something in return.” I hadn’t meant it to come across as disrespectfully as it had, although once the words were out, I couldn’t take them back.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, son.” Now we were back to terms of endearment.
“Dad, I’m not trying to be an ass—”
“Then don’t.”
“You’ve never given me anything without the expectation of something in return. We aren’t close; you haven’t even been to my place in New York, you don’t even know about Cora—”
“I’m aware of more than you give me credit for.” His interruption threw me off track, and I stared at him, waiting for him to continue. “Just because I’ve given you the freedom to start life on your own without being with you every step doesn’t mean I don’t love you or that I haven’t paid attention. I know Cora is in Paris working for Drake.”
Of course, he did. I should have expected my dad to be on a first-name basis with Drake Halifax. Which in turn meant my dad realized my girlfriend had left me for another man.
“I’m also cognizant of the fact that she’s not happy there and would prefer to come home.”
My jaw hung open, and no matter how hard I tried to formulate words or simply close it, it refused to cooperate.
“Drake and I have known each other for a lot of years. Cora being the granddaughter of the Chase family, who happened to live down the street from us, was a topic of conversation. Maybe I shouldn’t have done it, but that’s neither here nor there—you loved the girl, and I wanted to know her intentions.”