Chapter 15
Beth
I’ve spent every night since being back in the city at Jacob’s house. It’s almost as if we were back to the way things were prior to hearing about the mystery marriage, except, you know, he’s still married. He has been clingy and very attentive as if he’s afraid of something, but I can’t put my finger on what’s happening inside his head. Our weekend was perfect and I feel like we are progressing forward. He received word from his lawyer that he has to fly out to Las Vegas next week, and I can tell that he’s dreading it. He’s even asked if I would go with him. Well, no, he actually begged me to go with him.
While I’m sure that Tyson would be okay with me going, I do recall when I was sick sometime last year that he was going postal dealing with the temp who replaced me for those few weeks, and how he would call begging me to drag myself to work even being sick as hell. While I know that Tyson is perfectly capable of taking care of things himself, he is a big baby when it comes to change.
I’m undecided whether or not I will go to Las Vegas with Jacob. I want to, but I know that the majority of the time he will be there will be spent in lawyer meetings and that means I would be on my own, which doesn’t sound like a good time. The plus side of going would be that I would be with Jacob and not without. He doesn’t know how long he will be there, but he has mentioned that it could be more than a few days and that’s why I’m leaning more towards going with him, since I have time just waiting for me to take off of work.
He was called into the office earlier than he expected today, so I stayed in his bed. There was grumbling around his bedroom about it still being dark outside as he got ready. I left for work about four hours after he did and I still hadn’t heard a peep from him. As I stroll into the office, I stop by Jacob’s office and find it empty. I walk to my office and set my stuff down then go in search of either one of the Maddox brothers.
I didn’t have to search too far, as I round the corner I could hear yelling from behind Tyson’s door. The door wasn’t completely closed, and as I approach, I hear Jacob swear and then something slamming. I gently tapped on the door and stuck my head in, and Tyson motioned for me to come inside as Jacob continued yelling.
“Fuck! So, McKinney, what you’re trying to tell me is that my fucking cousin – my fucking blood! – is a part of this bullshit?” he bellows, standing over the phone on Tyson’s desk.
“I’m afraid so, sir.”
“How involved is he?” Jacob’s voice goes almost to a whisper and the muscles in his back clench.
Jacob hasn’t noticed my presence yet. Tyson keeps darting his eyes from me to his brother as he stands with his arms crossed and his hand tapping his chin. He too looks pissed off, his jaw is ticking every time the lawyer, McKinney, says anything.
“That is not something that we know at this moment. I expect to have more information once Tyson’s PI gets back with a deeper investigation as to his financial information.”
“Where the fuck is he now?” Jacob asks.
“He’s in Vegas. He’s been at the address where Ms. Waters resides off and on.” McKinney says flatly.
I cringe when I hear the lawyer confirm that. I put my head in my hands and take a deep breath. Jacob turns around and sees me, takes a deep breath and then stalks the short distance my way. He stops in front of me and lays his hand gently on my shoulder. He bends and kisses the top of my head then retreats to Tyson’s desk, the tenderness gone.
“McKinney, I don’t want that pond scum to know I’m coming. I want him to fucking be shitting his pants when I knock on that door and clock him in the jaw.”
“Sir, I would advise against any contact, especially physical. We need to not alert him that we are aware of his position.”
“I get that, but that mother fucker is fucking with the wrong man.” Jacob begins to visibly twitch as he shakes his head and curls his fists tightly.
“Sir.”
“Fuck it. I’ll be in Vegas next week. Meet me out there and we will finish this conversation then. Keep me briefed on any and all news or changes. I would expect that we know when Brad wipes his ass with the amount of fucking money we pay you guys.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jacob’s head hangs as he stands over the desk, both hands flat on the surface. I watch him take a deep breath and then turn and come sit next to me. Tyson takes a seat where Jacob was just standing, sitting on the edge of the desk.
“He’s done. He’s so fucking done.” Jacob takes a deep breath. “How much did you hear?” Jacob asks, leaning back with his head against the back of the couch frame, forehead creases as he runs his hand down the column of his neck.
“That your cousin is a mother fucker and staying at Candy’s place in Vegas.” I recount.
Tyson fills me in. “While you guys were in Napa, I had my PI trace all information on Brad. It wasn’t normal for him to be so distant and not replying to text messages or emails. I just felt that it was weird that he was so unresponsive, especially when all this stuff came to head. He’s been flying back and forth between here and Vegas on a monthly basis for over a year. The only thing that we have tying Brad and Candy to one another at the moment is that he is staying at her house. He’s left trails of his whereabouts as if purposely, but something is just not adding up.”
“Do you think that he had anything to do with you two getting married?” I ask.
“It’s possible.” Tyson shrugs.
“Do we know one hundred percent that this marriage is real?” I ask.
“There is paperwork filed, our PI checked it out. He said that it seems to check out.”
I turn to Jacob and lay my hand on his knee with a squeeze. His hand covers mine and even though I know that it’s a small touch, it means something to him.
“I’m going to need some time off, Ty. I don’t know how much right now, but I have a lot of time saved up and I think that now is an appropriate time to use some.”
“Are you sure?” Jacob asks.
“This is a family matter, and you’re my family.” I say quietly to him.
Jacob takes a deep breath, and nods as he squeezes my hand.
“I agree with B, she’s family – the rightful person who should be by your side right now. I can survive-ish for a bit. I’ll see if Allie can help me if I need it.”
“Survive-ish! Do you remember that two weeks, Ty, you were a dictator while Beth was sick last year? Everyone stayed far away from you as possible. That poor girl who had to temp, she probably cried herself to sleep every night.” Jacob smiles.
“She called me a few times. I could remember hearing the shake in her voice. You were horrible to her.” I confirm with a slight laugh.
“I can’t help it if she didn’t know how to do things. Or printed up the documents from the wrong quarter. Are you trying to get me to deny your request?” Tyson tries to keep a straight face.
“You already approved it, I can read your mind.” I smile.
“I’m glad we won’t be around to see how childish you act without Beth here.” Jacob says.
I smile and stand. “I need to get some work done and I guess prepare so we can go to Vegas with me feeling slightly okay with abandoning ship.” I tease.
“Good, the less you have to put out fires from another state the better. I’ve got some fact finding to do with Ty.” Jacob gives a tight smile.
“Lunch in an hour boys?” I ask.
“Only if it’s Mr. Pickles. I’m dying for a Big Easy!” Jacob says.
“Do you realize that there is no Mr. Pickles in the city, right? Across the bay and down the peninsula are the closest shops.” I say jutting out my hip.
“Don’t they deliver?” Tyson asks.
“Not for two sandwiches.” I shake my head laughing.
“Three?” Jacob pleads.
“Ass. Do we have any interns right now that we can send?” I ask hopeful.
“I have one in marketing. Place the order for three sandwiches for a one hour pick up and I’ll send her to pick it up.” Jacob says pulling out his phone.
“Is that appropriate use of an intern?” Tyson asks.
“Why not? Everyone gets hungry.” Jacob shrugs.
Jacob
Even though this day started out shitty, the fact that Beth will be with me in Las Vegas improves my mood. I’m still incredibly pissed off that my cousin has seemingly betrayed me. I’ve gone out of town with him several times since this elusive marriage took place and have confided in him several times. He has rarely acted any different with me whenever we’ve been around one another and we’ve been around each other a lot. We’ve gone on trips together and we’ve even been back to Vegas several times together.
I am trying to recall the last few times I was in Vegas and see if I can remember anything out of the ordinary with Brad, but nothing is coming to mind. If I wasn’t drunk or off hooking up with some random chick, then he and I were likely together. The night I apparently got married, according to the marriage certificate, I wouldn’t even be able to tell you what day that was. I made a mental note to have a doctor check my liver function as soon as possible.
Hell, most of my time in Vegas or Atlantic City I was drunk so, aside from the most recent trip, I wouldn’t have been able to pick out any of the people I associated with during those trips. I could have very well mistaken Brad for someone else with all the booze that I generally would drink.
I searched my memory repeatedly for any indication that my cousin was a part of this, and I was coming up dry.
Would he be honest with me if I was to corner him, and ask him what the fuck is going on?
What kind of connection does he have to Candy Waters?
What role is he playing in this?
I rub my palms together and then on my thighs and stand up to pace the office. My office line rings and I ignore it as there is no one I should talk to when I’m in the mood that I’m in. I’m a mixture of feelings. I am pissed, I’m frustrated, and I’m feeling betrayed. I don’t understand how this happened or to be honest, what is really happening.
A knock on my office door stirs me out of my thoughts.
“Hey, you ready to go home?” Beth’s soft voice asks me.
“Depends, are you coming home with me?” I counter.
“Do you want me to?”
“More than you know.” I breathe out and notice she breathes out as if she had been holding her breath.
“Then let’s go home.” She extends her arms
The way she says the word home just makes me want her more. She’s become my home; she’s become the good out of all this bad that has recently come to head. While I know I’ve been distracted, she’s been supportive and that has made everything so much more easier when shit hits the fan.
My cell phone begins to vibrate in my pocket as I step towards her and reaching out to join our hands. I stop and pull out my phone and groan when I see who is calling. I turn my phone to Beth and she silently laughs.
“I’ll be right behind you. I’d rather have this conversation here than in the confines of the car. I’ll see you at home.” I smile, pulling her hand so we’re closer as I wrap my arm around her waist and kiss her cheek. She leans into the kiss and hums. Our eyes meet and I squeeze her waist as I answer the phone. Beth smiles as she leaves the room with a wave of her fingers.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Why is it that I am hearing such news from someone other than my own son?” she scolds.
“Well, I’ve been so busy trying to put an end to this news that I simply forgot to clue you in.”
“So then, it’s true?”
“Unfortunately.”
“All these trips that you’ve been taking, I knew I should have reined you in a little more. Then, this nonsense wouldn’t have happened.”
“Mother, you realize that I’m not a child and you can’t rein in a grown adult, right?”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Whatever you say, Mother. Who told you this?”
“That whack-a-doodle lawyer of yours. He called me to prepare some witness statement should you need it. I didn’t know why I was defending your character, until he explained the grave situation you are currently in.”
“Anything else?” I groan.
“Yes. My darling, Beth,” she starts. “How is she holding up with all this? I gauged from the masquerade party that you two have become an item.”
“Yes, Mother. We are together. She’s been great throughout all this.”
“Good. You need a strong woman if you won’t allow your mother to be that for you. Don’t dick her around. She’s a needle in a haystack.” she states as I roll my eyes.
“I’m aware.” I smile.
“Good. Now I’m serious, Son, don’t fuck it up.” My mother’s coarse voice says with the same tone that Tyson once did.
“Will that be all, Mother?”
“No, please fill me in on where the company is on worldwide advertising.”
“Mother, you remember that you’re not on the board or employed with Mad Designs, right?”
“My last name is still involved and my boys are involved. I have every bit of vested interest in the company as I did when your father was at the helm.” I roll my eyes, unsure as to why I continue to entertain her questions.
I sigh heavily and begin to explain to her the efforts my team is putting towards worldwide expansion. They are the efforts that my cousin should have been working on, but now I’m not so sure, other than what the three of us decided months ago when we implemented ideas into plans. We’re currently in all the national markets, and our seasonal lines are available for purchase everywhere, but Mad Designs wants to branch out more in other cities and countries. By the end of the conversation, Mother seems pleased, at least as pleased as she could ever sound. We end the call on her admonishing me about wrapping up this marriage mistake as quick as possible and treating Beth as a princess.
I knew my Mother and Beth had a great relationship, as I’ve seen Beth handle her through the years. Sometimes, when talking to one another, my mother even smiles and is affectionate with her. Beth doesn’t go overboard when speaking to my mother trying to impress her, and they have had actual conversations when I don’t recall any malice ever occurring. In fact, I think Beth is genuine with my mother in every way and by no means puts on a show to please anyone. That simple fact, while not incredibly important in the grand scheme of things, makes me smile. Not that I look to my mother for guidance or for approval in anything, but it’s nice to know that the woman who birthed me and the woman I love can be in the same room together without glaring at each other.
I’m not sure why I’m happy in the knowledge that Mother and Beth get along or why that means shit, so I digress. I shake my head to get my thoughts back to the present, to getting home. Home to the girlfriend that I am irrevocably in love with. Still, I just need to share that bit of information with her.