Shocked silence meets my outrage, and I don’t know whether or not to be surprised myself. Surprised or disgusted when my mother grimaced and walked over to the receptionist’s desk. Kelly half-hides from my outburst, and my mother looks back at me with seething hatred. She clears her throat, muttering an apology that just barely reaches me. Hearing it doesn’t beat down my irritation over this whole fucking mess, though. No, I doubt there’s anything my mom can do that’d satiate me. She’ll forever be an irritating black mark on my soul.
“Now,” I say while my mom slinks back a few feet toward us. Breathing a hot breath through my nose, I cross my arms over my chest and jut out my chin. “I don’t know why you’re here, Mother, and I don’t particularly fucking care. You make any trouble for my employees . . . you say a single insult they can hear, and I’ll make that phone call. You’re not to order anyone to do anything. You’re not to go anywhere. You’re not allowed as a guest. And you’re sure as shit not going to create any problems for me because I guarantee you . . . I am this fucking close to doing something I won’t regret. Kelly! Get someone to escort my mother to her room! And I thought I told you that Ulla isn’t allowed in here! Call Security!”
Barking orders at Kelly, I would feel bad if she didn’t have the most shit-eating grin on her face. Walking back to the elevator, I reach a trembling hand to unbutton the collar of my shirt. A cold sweat breaks out on my torso, and I resist the urge to shudder with the feeling of my mother’s angry stare against my back.
My only saving grace is that we have so few guests, and Delaney is two floors away. Fuck, what is my mom’s problem? I glance back over my shoulder before the elevator pings shrilly for attention. Stepping into the metal box, I hold my mom’s fierce gaze before the doors shut between us.
“What . . . is she planning?” I question aloud, my voice hoarse. “Does she think she can hide behind me to continue to do business with all those who want her dead? Did she realize Klaus was wholly unsuccessful and turn her hopes to me? But if so . . . what’s she hoping to achieve?”
I blink in realization at the sound of my own, confused voice.
I changed my name. I changed my name, and I’ve been distancing myself from my family for years. People know of me, but they probably wouldn’t recognize me, just as Eamon Gallagher hadn’t recognized me. I cup my mouth in trepidation that sends shivers down my spine.
That must be it. My mother is trying to use me because of my relative anonymity to keep ahold of her power. The blood drains from my face. A fucking blind man could see how desperate a plan that is. Petra Frey . . . there’s not a soul in the game that no longer knows her or what she’s done.
“I need this day to be over so I can talk to Delaney.” My words cut sharply through the blood drumming in my ears as the elevator lets me off on the fifth floor. I look around at the mess, but it’s a background to the thoughts swirling behind my eyes. “She has to know before we do anything more. I won’t let my mother’s psychotic control issues and insecurity take over my life.”
Determination sets my shoulders, and I clench my jaw hard. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and lean back against the wall. The vibrations of some piece of machinery pummel the tension from my muscles. When I open my eyes, the foreman is walking toward me, hardhat and clipboard in hand. “Baron, you’re right on time. I’ve got good news.”
“Oh, thank God,” I slump dramatically, covering my forehead with my arm. “I don’t know how much more stress I can take with this remodeling nonsense. Every moment, I regret not using you in the first place more and more.”
“Then this should take a load off, huh.” The foreman chuckles before tossing me his hardhat. “Put that on. I’ll give you the rundown.”
“The construction of the spa suites?” I ask, and he nods, gesturing me through a doorway. The entire left side of the floor had been cleared of walls, and I’m pleased to see support beams had been sectioned out. “And you haven’t had any problems with the structure?”
“Everything’s going smoother than expected, honestly. Despite the fact that those guys before couldn’t build for shit, they definitely knew how to tear things down very nicely. I was expecting more of a cluster fuck when we came on board,” the foreman says cheerfully. “We’ll be getting the walls up over the next week, and then it’s onto the other side. This way.”
I follow him across the hall to the right side, and he gestures broadly with a sweep of his arm. “I know the plans for this call for some extra wiring and plumbing, so I’ve called in my friend. He’s willing to give you a discount. It’s not much, but it’s something. The thing is, he can’t come in until we’ve erected the walls, and that won’t be until next week. Honestly, this rush job came at a good time despite all the headaches it must’ve caused for you, Baron. I’ve got a bunch of apprentices that I can work into the ground.”
He chuckles lightly, but the seriousness behind his gratitude puts me at ease. Something good came of this mess after all. If only I was so lucky in other areas of my life. But I can’t let my mind stray as the foreman continues. “I’m thinking that our original estimate will still work perfectly fine. Three weeks, and you can call in the painters and get the floor set up for guests.”
“You’ve certainly more than earned your paychecks. I’ll be adding a big tip to the bill. The hotel kitchen has been accommodating you guys on time?” I posit, and he nods again. “Good. I’ll leave you to it, then. I don’t want to get in the way, and I have other business to attend to. If the situation changes, you have my cell number.”
I take off the hardhat to hand it to him, and I leave the foreman to his business. Breathing a sigh of relief as I reach the elevator, I glance back down the hallway. It was the right call to cut Granby and his crew out before things spiraled out of control. If this renovation took too long, I’d be strangled out of business and waste two years of my life.
I head down two floors to my mother’s suite and knock on the door firmly. I can hear her shuffling inside, but she doesn’t open the barrier. Irritation quickly rises in my chest as I rap on the door a second time.
“Mother . . . I know you’re in there. Don’t play this childish game,” I say. I could open the door; I have a master key. But do I sincerely want to face my mother while she’s throwing a tantrum? All her life, she’s been able to control and manipulate everyone, and rarely did she interact with someone she couldn’t. She’d just ignore them, pretend they didn’t exist like she’d done with Hans.
“You’ve made your position quite clear. I’ll be leaving in the morning, you ungrateful son of mine.” An alarm rings against my skull at my mom’s muffled declaration. Inhaling deeply, I roll my eyes and walk away from her door. As I move further away, I can’t help but feel a bit lighter, as if a weight has lifted off my shoulders.
I hope she does leave. Wherever my mother goes, she leaves a path of destruction in her wake.
CHAPTER12
DELANEY
“Tom,” I call, and he turns to pause his conversation with Kelly. “Have you seen Baron?”
“I think he was going over the performance review with Jennifer. He asked me to bring her to his office after the reception was in full swing. I assume to do the paperwork and give her a badge and whatnot,” Tom says thoughtfully, leaning on his elbow to hold his cheek on his fist. “They should be up there now? Are you heading home for the night? It’s barely 8—that’s early for you, Delaney.”
“Aye, I am. I’ve got some things to take care of at home, and my brother’s dropping off groceries for me. I don’t want to keep him out late. If you see Baron, will you let him know I left?” I ask, and Tom nods as I saunter past him and Kelly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“That’s if this place is still standing tomorrow,” Kelly sniggers, and I pause mid-step to cast her a curious look. A conspiratorial glint shines in her eyes. “You didn’t hear Baron going ape shit on his mother right here in the lobby earlier? It was just before the luncheon, so I suppose you were busy on the second floor.”
“He did what? Why?” Surprise heightens my tone, and I wander over to Kelly as she stands up to lean over the top of the curved desk. “What happened?”
“She threatened to fire me, and he came down here and chewed her out real good,” Kelly’s eyes light up with malicious glee, and my breath hitches. “It was glorious after she yelled at me for three minutes straight about how she’s the owner’s mother and blah, blah, blah. I wish I’d video it. Honestly, it was so nice to see Baron have my back. Too often, service employees are treated like shit, but I guess he just had enough of her. She’s like Cruella DeVille—looks exactly like her, with a puppy-killing attitude to boot!”
