Love in La Terraza (15 page)

His head pounded, but he couldn’t sleep nor could he stand laying in that quiet, cold, impersonal hotel room with nothing but his thoughts and regrets to keep him company. To say he was still angry would’ve been a bit of an understatement. Each time he replayed that argument inside his head, Henry got more pissed.

Yes, Cain hadn’t been completely wrong in the sense that Henry had a great deal to gain should he decide to sell La Terraza. He couldn’t deny that fact, nor could he honestly deny that a part of him wanted Cain to sell. The level of determination and sheer will that Cain seemed to possess in spades was admirable, but also foolish and naïve. He was being offered a very generous amount of money to sell that property, likely more than it was realistically worth if looking at it purely from a financial perspective. It was irresponsible of Cain to let that go if he couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to save the property.

Henry sighed, digging his fingers into his temples in an attempt to release the pressure building inside his skull.

“God damn it, Cain,” he muttered, wishing the man hadn’t managed to crawl quite so deeply under his skin.

It would have helped Henry feel slightly less sanctimonious if there wasn’t a part of him still cheering Cain on. Henry loved the foolish kid more for his rose-colored, painfully romantic and old-fashioned, go-down-with-the-ship mentality. That entire building complex was a work of art that deserved to be protected and preserved for generations to come. It killed Henry that one lone man who had no background in design and no formal education beyond high school was willing to risk everything to save something an entire architectural firm filled with people who knew better weren’t.

Still, Henry thought, the little bastard had no right accusing him of ulterior motives. That stung more than anything else—that Cain believed Henry to be that selfish. “I god damn offered to help him try to secure a loan.”

Which would have likely cost him big with regard to his standing at this company, not that his stubborn little ass would even hear of it.

That pissed Henry off more than anything. If he wouldn’t fucking grab at any
real
chance to actually save the thing, then why suffer through the rest of it? He was just going through the motions only to end up losing it all and having nothing to show for it.

“It’s stupid, damn it,” Henry muttered, again. “And it pisses me off.”

Cocking his head to side and peering out the office door, Henry glanced out across the main room, certain he’d heard someone laughing. He sat perfectly still for a moment before deciding he was hearing shit.

Then he heard it again.

Up and out of his chair in one swift, silent move, Henry headed out into the main area, not enjoying the feel of cold tile under his still frozen feet and already missing the carpeting in his office. He paused, listening carefully while praying he wasn’t about to stumble across thieves. Henry stood up straight when he heard a man’s muffled voice coming from somewhere back toward the partners’ offices, followed by more laughter. He headed that direction, deciding to investigate further.

Peeking around the corner, he was surprised to find there was someone else standing just outside Franklin’s office eavesdropping on whoever Henry’s boss was conversing with. Strike that, Henry thought, catching a whiff of the cigars, they were celebrating.

Whoever it was had their back toward Henry.

Rounding the corner, he inched his way closer, able to tell it was a woman, blonde and young, judging by the style of dress. He froze, seeing the gigantic leather purse resting on the floor at her feet, the long strap of the handle dangling from her hand.

He’d seen that monster of a bag once before, the first morning he’d woken up in Cain’s bed.

Emily?

Henry crept farther down the hall, for the life of him unable to figure out why she of all people would be conducting espionage at Hamilton-Bach.

The closer he got the more words he made out. He stopped again when he heard Franklin saying Cain’s name.

“He’ll be forced to sell within weeks, Conrad, and if he still resists we can call in a favor with the county and get an inspector down there ASAP. My guy on the inside has been systematically sabotaging the mechanics of the building for almost eight months. Best I can tell, the electrical nearly drained the last of the finances left to him by his grandmother.”

“So we’ve finally got the little faggot on the ropes,” Henry heard the other man say. He assumed the “Conrad” Franklin was speaking to was Emily’s father. “It’s been a long time coming, Franklin, and I appreciate all the extra…help…you’ve been to me on this deal.”

Henry’s blood boiled, and he was unable to believe what he was hearing.

“I thought that battleaxe grandmother of his would never croak,” Franklin said.

“Amen to that,” Conrad said. “It’s taken a little time and patience, but we’re almost home.”

“I’ll see to it my mole on the inside prepares for quite the show should we need to get the county involved. That kid won’t know what hit him.”

“Certainly save me a ton of money should Elliot decide to remain stubborn.”

They both laughed once again, and Henry could see that Emily was shaking; her fist wrapped so tightly around the leather strap of that purse he thought it might cut clear through it. He was just about to alert her to his presence, right before walking inside that office and tendering his notice, which would most definitely be effective immediately.

Emily surprised him, however, by walking into Franklin’s office before he could reach her.

Henry took a few more steps, intending to join her, but stopped when she began to speak in a low, guttural tone he’d not heard come from the silly flibbertigibbet until now.

It caught him off guard.

“Cricket!” Conrad said, sounding a bit fazed by her presence. “What are you doing here this time of night?”

“Following you, Daddy,” Emily said. “And not very happy with what I’ve just heard. How could you do this?”

“This is business, Cricket.” Conrad’s voice had grown significantly more stern. “It doesn’t concern you, young lady.”

“To my very best friend, no less?”

“I’ll have you know, I’ve offered that boy an exceedingly generous price for the property. If he insists on continuing to be so stubborn, I can’t help that.”

“Cain doesn’t give a shit about money, Daddy,” Emily said, her voice now shaking. “It’s one of his many great qualities—certainly one that I cherish. Do you know that in all the years I’ve known him, not one time has he ever asked me for anything other than my friendship and loyalty?”

“I don’t doubt he’s a fine young man, sweet pea, but—”

“Don’t you mean faggot, Daddy?” Emily asked. “That is the word you used, isn’t it?”

“Now, I do apologi—”

“Not one time has Cain ever judged me or been mean to me, never been jealous or envious over all that I have—”

“All that you have thanks to me, Cricket.”

“Maybe you don’t have friends. Hell, Daddy, maybe you don’t even need or want them, but your family, those of us who have to share your name, we do need those things. All my life people have hated me because of the things you’ve done, and I’m sick of it! This is the last straw!”

Henry closed his mouth, which had been hanging open in shock for god knows how long, and leaned back against the wall, deciding to let the girl have her say before he followed up with his.

“I suggest you hold your tongue, Emily.”

Conrad’s voice was cold and calm.

“Let me tell you what I will do, Daddy. I promise you this and now. If you continue screwing around with
my friend
, Cain Elliot, hell, if you so much as look at him sideways, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“I am going to give you five seconds to walk your ungrateful little ass out of this offi—”

“I will go to the police myself, so help me, Daddy! I won’t rest until they throw your fucking ass in jail!”

Henry jerked as her voice ratcheted back up into her normal, screechy tone.

“How dare you threaten me!”

“You push me and see what happens.” Emily stormed out of the office, and both she and Henry jumped, startled by one another.

“It’s your word against mine!” Conrad said, storming out after her with Franklin hot on his heels.

Emily strode over and took Henry’s arm in hers. “Looks like I’m not the only witness after all, Daddy.”

Henry looked Franklin dead in the eye. “And you can consider my resignation effective immediately, you good for nuthin’ piece of hammered shit.”

“Shall we?” Emily asked, smiling sweetly at Henry.

“After you
milady
,” Henry said, keeping a firm grip on her arm as he felt her trembling underneath all the bravado.

Henry ushered her into his office and sat her down in a chair then went about gathering all of his personal belongings, fearing they would no longer be there if he didn’t. He quickly exported his contacts list onto a flash drive, slipped on his sloshy shoes then got the poor girl out of there.

He could tell she was in shock, as he loaded her into his car along with his file box full of shit. They were drenched since the rain had yet to ease up.

Henry barely got out of the parking lot before Emily started bawling.

At first, he’d tried talking to her, attempting to get her to focus on conversation in hopes she might stop. But all he got back was some sort of obnoxious blubbering he couldn’t make heads nor tails of.

In the end, Henry steered the car with one hand while holding hers with his other one, letting her get it all out. If he’d heard his father saying some of the horrible things hers just had, Henry would probably cry, too. At least, that’s what he told himself, cringing slightly when she began using the cuff of his shirt to wipe her nose.

Chapter Eight

Cain’s eyes fluttered open when he heard the soft knocking coming from his front door. He glanced around, realizing he was curled up on the floor in the middle of the kitchen.

Musta passed out here
, he thought, cringing in pain as he pulled himself up onto his feet and stumbled for the door.

Praying it was Henry coming back to either apologize or yell at him some more, Cain realized he didn’t particularly care which at that point.

All he wanted was Henry. Nothing else mattered without him. Living in this place without him would be torture, the kind Cain wasn’t strong enough to survive.

Judging by their reaction after he opened the door, Cain figured his hope must have been obvious to his friends huddled together on his tiny stoop, especially when it drained from his face.

Nic, Stu, Eddie and Matt were all standing there, the looks on their faces ranging anywhere from pissed to pathetic.

“Morning, sweet pea,” Nic said, holding out a large mug of already creamed and sugared up coffee. “Made it extra yummy for you.”

“Jesus, what did Henry do? Take out an advert?” Cain asked. “Headline: I dumped my selfish, loser boyfriend!”

“We heard you two arguing last night,” Stu said. “Amazingly clearly.”

“You heard all of it?” Cain asked.

“Sort of came drifting through the fireplace.” Nic shrugged. “Didn’t realize things were quite that dire for you financially. I mean, we knew they weren’t great—”

“That you were struggling,” Eddie clarified.

“And you two?” Cain asked Eddie as all four filed inside. “You heard us from across the courtyard?”

“We thought we might need reinforcements,” Nic admitted.

“We’re very sorry to hear things aren’t…going well,” Matt said.

“Well, don’t write me off just yet, guys,” Cain said, closing his front door and taking a sip of coffee. “At least, not where Henry is concerned.”

“What does that mean?” Stu asked as they all moved into the living room.

Cain shrugged, feeling his eyes well up once again. “It means that Henry was right, at least with regard to most of it. I am going to lose this place. It’s not a question of if anymore…merely when. But that doesn’t mean I have to lose Henry as well.”

“You…you’re actually going to do it?” Nic was visibly shocked, sitting on Stu’s lap so Matt and Eddie could also fit on the sofa.

“You’ll be able to live with that?” Eddie jumped in.

“I fucking hate moving,” Stu mumbled, coughing after Nic elbowed him in the gut.

“I’ll have to find a way to live with it, Eddie. I can’t save her, but I might be able to save what I have with Henry.”

Nic was confused. “But we overheard Henry say he’d offered to help get you a loan.”

“I can’t do that, Nic.” Cain rubbed his tummy after taking another sip. “I just can’t. It’s too much pressure for a couple who’s only been dating for a few months. Perhaps if we’d been together longer…I don’t know. Plus, I have a feeling it would cost Henry his job. It just doesn’t feel right.”

“So you’re going to sell this place in order to keep him?” Nic asked. “That’s just not fair, Cain.”