CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

HAYDEN

Sitting in the hotel window overlooking the city of London. The sun isn’t shining just yet, its gloomy outside. Like I feel inside. After, my meeting Friday, I met with a jeweler to pick out Lydia’s ring. The way her eyes lit up about Big Ben, I knew that was the perfect place to propose.

The twinkle in her eyes when I asked her to marry me made my heart leap. Luckily, I had her father’s blessing. I visited him Wednesday evening. I told him it was a surprise proposal. I asked Mr. Carmichael for his permission to marry his daughter. He said I was crazy for wanting to marry his daughter after only knowing her a short while. He said I was a good kind of crazy. He gave us his blessing. He also said his wife was smiling down from heaven. I became teary eyed.

I need to see Lydia every day for the rest of my life. Fuck, I love her. My heart hurts, just pondering on the possibility of losing her. If her father didn’t give me his blessing I was going to marry her anyway. Yeah, I’m selfish. I want all of Lydia for myself. I wonder does her running away from me have something to do with it. I never had to chase a woman, now I’m chasing my woman every day. She’s so damn stubborn, but I love it.

London is supposed to be a place of comfort and relaxation. I’m considering buying a flat here. London will become me and Lydia’s special place. I sure didn’t see last night coming. The shit that happened with my clients was horrible. We left the country to get away then ran smack into one of her stripper clients who happens to be one of my investment clients. I wanted to break that motherfuckers neck when he whispered in my ear asking how was she in bed. I saw myself hitting him over the head with a bottle then kicking the shit out of him.

Lydia trying to cover for me was sad and sweet at the same time. I wouldn’t ever allow my woman to bow down to another motherfucker. I shoved the engagement ring back onto her finger so quick. She’s my fucking woman. That motherfucker is lucky I didn’t make him kiss her feet, disrespectful motherfucker. Then had the audacity to apologize through gritted teeth. I’ve made up my mind I’m canceling his company’s account. I don’t want to work with that piece of shit.

Even though Lydia is a stripper it doesn’t change how I feel about her. I’m proud to have her on my arm.

Once Lydia and I were seated at our table at the night club I was deep in thought. I was upset with my clients not Lydia. I need to talk to my grandfather today. I don’t have time to fly out to Dallas next week. I’m sure part of the deal will be, I need to bring Lydia to Dallas to meet him. I can’t sit back and wait for my parents to forbid my marriage to Lydia. My father will fire me? I hate to say I will wait for the other shoe to drop. My grandfather may try to persuade me to assist in running Gaster Oil. I not interested. I’ll start my own investment company if I have to.

After my shower, I threw on a t-shirt and jeans. Lydia was still asleep at 11 a.m. I ran down to a conference room to have a video chat with my grandfather.

~

“Hayden, how is my favorite grandson?”

I smiled. “I’m well grandfather.”

“You interrupted me. I was out on the ranch shooting clay targets with your cousins.”

“Who was in the lead?”

“Me of course!”

We laughed.

My grandfather is a shroud business man. He won’t let anyone try to get over on him. He wears a cowboy hat every day. He’s often out on the ranch making sure his prize horses are being treated well. He loves going to the horse races watching his horses race.

“Hayden, let’s cut the shit. What is going on? The only time you communicate with me by video conference call is through the week while you’re in the office.”

I sat up straight in my chair. “I met a woman. Her name is Lydia Carmichael and I’ve asked her to marry me. I want to get married in two weeks. And I know she has to sign a prenup, that’s why I’m calling. I need our attorneys to draw up the prenup Monday and overnight it to me.”

“Now, wait a damn minute! Why the rush?”

“My father doesn’t know. No one has met her. She is a stripper and college student. She’s graduating with a degree in Computer Science. She refuses to stop stripping until she pays off her father’s medical bills this summer. We’ve already agreed she has to stop stripping in August.”

“Hayden, you’ve got a stubborn woman on your hands.” He laughed.

“I see you love the chase. Hayden you don’t have to marry the first woman you fall in love with.”

“I understand. She is the woman I want to be with.”

“Hayden, I know there is more. I’m listening.”

I paused.

“She is a virgin. She said we can wait three years to get married and can even have sex now. I don’t want that with her. I want her to be my wife when she loses her virginity to me.”

“Your cousins Bryce and Howell jr. joke about you. They say you have a way with taking a woman’s virginity. They said you convince them without any strings attached.” He wore a sly smile.

This is our guy talk in my family. I know my grandfather is old, but he was young once. His stories should be written in a book for all the read. The book would make one hell of a page turner. We love listening to my grandfather share his stories about the ladies he chased in his hay day.

“Yeah, I get that. I only feel badly about taking my prom dates virginity. The others I was straight up with them. They knew I didn’t want a relationship and no strings.”

“How did that work out for you?”

I slipped my fingers through my hair taking the dangling strand that often hangs in my face whipping it back in line. “They were clingy as shit. I don’t want to be punished for the rest of my life for being a cold-hearted bastard.”

I leaned forward. “Grandfather when I first say Lydia, I knew she was the one. I get it I’ve never been in love before, but I’m in love with her.”

“Send me a picture of her.”

I emailed him a picture.

He stared at the picture for a moment.

“Hayden, she is a fucking fox.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

“As a man when that feeling hits you there is no stopping you from going after what you want. Your grandmother had me by the balls when I first laid eyes on her, so I understand. I will have the attorneys draw up the paperwork right away.” My grandfather’s eyes darted toward the door.

“Well hello, Lydia!”

I turned, Lydia was entering the room. Her smile was wide. “Hello.”

“Lydia, this is my grandfather, Harrison Gaster Sr.”

“Nice to meet you Mr. Gaster.” She pointed her finger toward the door. “I can step out.”

“No, have a seat. This discussion is about you. I understand congratulations is in order. You and Hayden are getting married.”

“Thank you.”

“I will have our attorney’s draw up the prenup. Hayden will have an attorney go over the document with you before you sign.”

“I understand.”

“And Hayden.” My grandfather’s eyes landed on me. “You can’t hide from your father forever. You will need to face him.”

“Yes, grandfather I understand. I will talk to him after I am married.”

“You are eloping. Where are you getting married?”

“Vegas.”

“Such a cliché. You should have gotten married here.”

“Grandfather I’ll tell you what even if my father disowns me after this, our second wedding will be at the Gaster’s Estate.”

“Hot damn, now we’re talking!”

I turned to Lydia. “I’m sorry, is that ok?”

She rubbed her hands together. “Yes, that is fine,” she smiled.

“Alright Hayden, your grandmother will be excited. I expect you two will visit soon.”

We smiled. “We will grandfather. Thank you for everything. I love you.”

“Love you too, Hayden. See you soon, Lydia.”

“Goodbye.”

I disconnected the conference call.

“Sorry, I came downstairs. I know your note said you would be down here. I wanted to check on you. Everything is playing back in my head, I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

“Lydia, you thought I was stepping down from my company?”

Her head dropped. “Yes. I thought you were conferencing your dad. I wondered if your clients told him what happened. I didn’t want you to step down. I was coming to interject.”

“I was going around my father. My grandfather is a tough old man but fair. He just wants my happiness that’s all. We are flying to Vegas the following Wednesday to get married. We will fly out for our Honeymoon that Thursday. We will return that Sunday.”

“Hayden, I’m not working again?”

“Nope, if you want to go to work this coming week it is up to you. The following week you will not work because we will be flying high, baby.”

“I’ll pay your boss again. Sit at home and relax. Do nothing just be Lydia.”

Lydia smiled brightly again. She leaned across the table kissing my lips.

∞

London was fun. Lydia and I had lunch with friends then went sight-seeing. It was nice. Just Lydia and I getting to know each other. I learned she hates Racoons. We sat on a bench near a fountain in downtown London eating ice cream.

“I’ll say it again, I absolutely hate Racoons. We were barbequing in the backyard one summer day. We walked in and out of the house several times, which is how the Racoon snuck into the house. The bastard ram sacked the kitchen while we were sleep. I called pest control to come and remove him. He didn’t just eat and run. He tried making our attic his home. It was scary. He thought he was going to bring his family into our house.” She tossed her head to the side.

“I was like hell no! He’s got to go.”

I bent over laughing. Lydia can be animated sometimes.

“What about you? Are you afraid of any insects or animals?”

“I stayed with my grandparents some summers and I’ve seen too much. I was terrified of the tarantula on my grandfather’s farm. I never knew where he was going to show up. I was ten when I stumbled upon it the last time. I was feeding my horse in the stable when I saw him creep pass out of the corner of my eye. He disappeared into the stall. I was afraid he was going to bite my horse. I cried bloody murder. I was afraid for me and my horse. After throwing a fit, my grandfather told me I had to kill it. I pleaded with my grandfather, I asked him to let me do anything, but that. He wouldn’t let me run off, I had to kill it.”

She covered her mouth as she listened.

I walked my horse out of the stall first then removed the hay layer by layer. I had him cornered. I cut the tarantula in half with the edge of a sharp shovel. I screamed like a wild man when I brought the shovel down upon him. I walked out of the stall toward my grandfather. I said I killed it! He’s dead. He passed me a plastic bag and told me to dispose of him. I also had to prepare the stall again for my horse.”

Lydia leaned in close. “I thought Billionaires didn’t get their hands dirty?”

I laughed. “Bryce is the Billionaire who doesn’t get his hands dirty. My cousins who live in Dallas are familiar with the work year-round. Working on the farm and ranch makes you big and strong. That’s what my grandfather always told us. My grandfather always jokes and says I’m his favorite. He’s asked me several times to take over Gaster Oil. I turned him down. That’s not my passion. Even though I have CEO experience, I enjoy making deals and finding the right investments for my clients.”

Lydia laid her head on my shoulder. “Hayden, can I be honest a moment?”

“Of course. I hope you aren’t some possessive abuser behind closed doors.”

“Baby, you came after me a couple of times now. If I was a woman abuser, I’m sure I would have hit you by now. I doubt abusers can control themselves. There are men out there who say all the right things and turn out to be crazy. I just want to get to know the woman I’m marrying. I want us to talk like this all the time over ice cream, dinner, snacks whatever. What about you? I already know you beat men. Anything else I need to worry about?”

Lydia slapped me on my chest, laughing. “No, Hayden.”

“On a serious note. I need you to meet my sister when we return. She’s trying to find out who you are. Have lunch with me on Monday then I will introduce you two.”

“Sure.”

“Baby, I must warn you. She’s a pit bull in a skirt. Keep the conversation light and airy. I will get you out of there fast. I just want you both to meet face to face.”

“Ok.” She looped her arm through mine as we began walking down the street.

“Why does your family own a farm?”

“Our farm isn’t open to the public. My grandfather likes to know where his family’s food comes from. We all help out with the farm every year. We have a staff who handles the day to day routines, but we fly down for a week every two months and help. The farm puts food on our tables. Our food is flown in from my grandfather’s farm. Ben’s restaurant is the only company that’s supplied food.”

“That’s smart.”

“When we get home, I’ll send my chef to your fathers to prepare meals for him.”

“Hayden, I can’t let you do that.”

Yes, you can. We are about to be family. In this family, we look out for each other.”

“Hmm, I don’t know.”

“I’ll give you some time.” I winked.

Our last tour of the day was Windsor Castle. Before dinner we rode the London Eye Ferris wheel over- looking London. I arranged for us to ride a private capsule. We drank champagne while enjoying the breathtaking views while the sun was setting. Lydia loved the views of Big Ben from the air. The city was breathtaking from the Ferris wheel. The old historic buildings lit up as the sky darkened. I loved holding my beautiful fiancé in my arms while taking in the views. “I’m considering buying a Flat for us here.”

“I would like that. I love it here.”

“This summer, we are traveling to Dubai. Have you been there?”

She turned in my arms, eyes wide. “Seriously!”

“Yes, baby seriously.” She hugged me tight.

~

I wish we didn’t have to leave. I don’t want to think about her stripping. Standing on the deck of a privately chartered yacht I stood watching Lydia from a distance. Staring at the side view of her face. Her eyes closed as she took a deep breath. Her eyes roamed the River of Thames. In that one moment, I’m convinced she forgot about all of her problems. All I want to do is make her life easy.

“Hayden, come here we are about to go under the bridge. Look at the beautiful lights throughout the city.”

I held her in my arms, eyes closed smelling her hair.

“Baby, are you looking?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. I’m looking.”

She giggled as we rode under the bridge. “Thank you for bringing me here. I had the best time.”

“Anytime, Lydia.”