Filthy Rich, Wild with Lust

Chapter 67

He was going to call security.

I feed Barry and fuss about some more. It’s 8:30 p.m. now, and still no sign. I call him again, and he answers on the first ring. “Hi.”

I close my eyes in relief. “Hi, babe, are you close?”

“Yeah, around the corner.”

“Okay, see you soon.” Thank god. I’ve been having a minor panic attack all day.

Ten minutes later, he drives onto the street and pulls into his garage. I peek through the curtains as I watch him walk over. I open the screen as he solemnly walks up the front veranda. He kisses me quickly as he walks past me into the house.

I roll my eyes as I pretend not to notice. He’s here. That’s all that matters.

He walks into the bathroom and washes his hands and comes back out. “Something smells good,” he says as he looks everywhere but at me.

“Hope you’re hungry?”

“Starving. I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

My heart sinks. “Sit down, sweetie.” I pull a chair out for him, and he sits at the dining table. I begin to serve our dinner. I don’t know what to say or do. Do I bring it up, or do I pretend it hasn’t happened, like he is? “Did you do everything that you wanted to today?” I ask.

“Uh-huh.”

“We can go through the things over the weekend and sort them.”

“I’ve donated everything to charity.”

“What?”

“I dropped it off at the Goodwill store around the corner on the way home.”

My eyes well with tears as I serve the peas. He gave away all his father’s things.

“The photo albums?”

“Gone. I don’t want them.”

How could he?

He didn’t. Surely, he didn’t. Nobody is that cold.

Just stay calm... he’s pushing you on purpose. This is dysfunctional Henley James at his very best.

I put the plate of food onto the table in front of him.

“Thanks.”

I sit down at the table with my plate, and he begins to eat in silence. He really is hungry. He’ll feel better after he eats. I’m sure.

I chatter on through dinner about every single subject on earth. I haven’t brought up his dad... I don’t know how to, and I don’t want to trigger him.

I just have to be patient; he’ll talk to me about it when he’s ready.

We finish dinner, and I load the dishwasher. “I made you some chocolate pudding.” I smile hopefully.

“Thanks, babe.” He kisses me softly. “I’m just... tired. I’m going to go straight to bed.” He kisses me again, his lips lingering over mine. “I’m exhausted.”

“Okay.” I smile, feeling a little better.

He goes to walk away, and I pull him back by the hand. “You know how much I love you, right?”

He nods. “I’ll eat the pudding tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

He trudges up the stairs, and I hear the shower turn on. And for the first time today, a sense of calm falls over me. I think it’s going to be all right.

I wake with a start. Henley is gone.

He seemed to have slept well, while I tossed and turned all night before falling into an exhausted sleep around 3:00 a.m. I didn’t hear him get up and leave because by then I was out like a log.

I think he’s gone to work, but honestly, who knows?

There is one comforting thing, at least. I know that Henley does autopilot like a pro. And if autopilot is what he needs to do for a while, then that’s totally fine.

Keeping busy is probably the best for him at the moment. If he needs to be a workaholic this week, then so be it. I just wish I wasn’t on f*****g afternoon shift this week. I’ll swap my shifts or take the week off.

I need to be home for him this week.

I get up and get into the shower. First things first. I’m going to Goodwill to get his father’s things back. I’m going to hide them in my attic, and I know that one day Henley will be grateful that I got them.

Or maybe not... but I can’t stand the thought of his family photo albums being thrown into the trash. They are way too valuable; I’ll keep them for myself if he doesn’t want them.

I glance at my watch. “Damn it, Henley.” It’s 2:00 p.m., and I’ve called him twice, and he hasn’t called me back. I can’t imagine the torture going on in his head right now, and I know I need to give him space, but seriously? He can’t even return my call?

Fuck.

He’s gone onto autopilot and is blocking me out. I know it. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach.

A car drives into the street and pulls into Henley’s driveway. Who’s that? I peer through the curtain; the relatives must be turning up.

Maybe he’s been at the funeral home all day today. Yes... that’s it. Of course that’s where he is.

I keep spying through my curtains, and to my surprise, Jenny gets out of the car.

What the f**k is she doing here?

I watch as she walks up to his front door and opens it with a key.

She has a key?

Adrenaline surges through my system, and before I can stop myself, I find myself marching over there. I walk in without knocking, “Hello?” I call.

Jenny walks out of his office and exhales heavily when she sees me as if I am a huge inconvenience to her. “Hello, Juliet.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Getting Henley’s passport.”

“Why?”

“He’s going to Dubai tonight.”

“He’s not going to Dubai alone,” I snap, infuriated.

“He won’t be alone. I’m going with him.”

“What?” I step back from her in shock. I can’t have heard that right. “What are you talking about?” I snap, infuriated. “Henley can’t go anywhere. He has a funeral to plan.”

Jenny rolls her eyes in an overexaggerated way. “If you knew him at all, you would know that his father didn’t want a funeral.”

Her sarcastic tone lights a fire in my temper, and I lose all control and point to the door. “Get out.”

“What?”

“Get out of this f*****g house before I call the police on you for trespassing.”

“You cannot call the police on me,” she scoffs. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What I should have done a long time ago: exposing you for the nasty piece of work you are.”

“Go to hell,” she fires back. “You think you are so important, but we all know that you’ll be gone soon.”

“Henley is grieving, and at a time like this he needs support, not to be talked into ridiculous travel plans.”

“He wants to go to Dubai,” she spits. “Working is his happy place.”

“Working is not his happy place,” I yell, infuriated. “He needs time to process his loss. Get off his back about work.”

Fuck this b***h.

She rolls her eyes. “You know nothing about this situation.” She marches past me and out the front door.

“Oh yeah, Jenny. That’s not entirely true,” I call after her. “I know you need to look for a new job.”

She glares at me and gets into her car, and I slam the front door in fury.

You are so getting fired... stupid b***h.

Ugh!

I am infuriated.

I wait for her to drive away, and I storm over to my house to get my phone. I call Henley.

Ring, ring... ring, ring... ring, ring...

“You’ve reached Henley James. Leave a message.”

“Damn it, Henley.” My heart is racing. He wouldn’t leave for Dubai tonight, would he?

Surely not?

He wouldn’t. I know he wouldn’t.

He’s in self-destruct mode. Anything is possible.

Fuck.

What do I do?

I call him again.

Ring, ring... ring, ring... ring, ring...

“You’ve reached Henley James. Leave a message.”

“Henley, it’s Juliet. Come home, babe. I’m worried about you.” I hang up and close my eyes as I imagine the nightmare this could turn into.

If he goes with her, if he turns away from me in a time of crisis... we can never recover from that.

I drop to the couch and put my head in my hands, tears welling in my eyes. “We worked too damn hard to be together. Don’t ruin it now.”

I’m panicked for what’s about to come. I’m scared for Henley.

He’s grieving and alone, and I want to go to him at work, but then if he is on his way home...

What do I do?

“Blake.” I dial Blake’s number.

Ring, ring... ring, ring... ring, ring...

“You’ve reached Dr. Grayson. I’m unable to come to the phone right now. If this is an emergency, dial 911. Alternatively, you may call my office at (650) 944-9494.”

“Fuck.” I dial the number of his office.

“Hello, Dr. Grayson’s rooms.”

“Hello, this is Juliet Drinkwater. I’m a friend of Blake’s, and I’m unable to reach him. Is he there in the office today?”

“Dr. Grayson is in an appointment today. He won’t be out until later tonight. Can I take a message for him for tomorrow?”

I close my eyes. f**k.

“No, that’s okay. Thanks very much.” I hang up and scroll through my phone until I get to Antony’s number. I quickly dial it.

Ring, ring... ring, ring... ring, ring...

“This is Antony Deluca. I’m in court today. Leave a message.”

“For f**k’s sake, why do his friends have to be off ruling the world?”