Break My Fall(31)

Frank Henderson was all right for an old guy, smart and shrewd, but he hadn’t the slightest clue of what to do with a pissed off teenage boy who was angry with the world.

I still wondered what the hell he’d been thinking when he claimed me. Don’t get me wrong I was grateful; really fucking grateful to get out of the system, but I could never understand his reasons for doing it. He’d uprooted his life-and his hotel manager’s to play mommies and daddies with me. I understood even less the day I walked into his lawyer’s office and was handed the deeds to his business. Twenty hotels and three properties…Everything Frank Henderson had worked his whole life for, he’d entrusted to me. He’d been a proud man and we’d gotten along, but sometimes I wondered if I’d ever really known the man.

Linda was all I had left in the world that I could call family. I had blood relatives in the form of my father, his wife and their son. However, I’d rather chew my fucking arm off than concern myself with them. I could barely tolerate them and had no remorse for feeling that way.

My ‘father’ didn’t deserve remorse. And only feelings I had for him were of pure hatred; hatred for knocking up a sixteen-year-old girl with a fondness for white powder and walking away without a care for the repercussions.

Well, I was a big motherfucking repercussion. It was no wonder I was such an asshole. Having a cold-hearted whore for a father, didn’t exactly bring out the warm and fuzzies out in a person.

I was an asshole for pushing Lee away though, for being the reason she locked herself away in her room as soon as she came home from work. I guess the apple never falls too far from the tree. However, it was better this way. This way she wouldn’t get hurt.

As much of a heartless prick that I was, I never wanted to hurt Lee. Cam was right in what she had said; Lee was fragile. I knew from Derek that Lee had been out with Cam and him. It just put proof to the pudding that it was me she was avoiding. I should feel relieved that she was keeping away from me, but instead I just felt….empty.

My phone rang and I answered it without checking the screen. “Hey handsome.” She said in her usual fake sultry tone. It sounded like someone was scraping their nails down a chalkboard when she spoke.

“What’s up Rachel?” I leaned back in my chair shifting my feet to rest on my desk and reminding myself to check my fucking caller ID in the future.

“I’m in the lobby. I thought we could have lunch?” Yeah, right... Having lunch with Rachel meant she was looking for something. And that something usually came with a big fat price tag.

“Grab a seat in the main restaurant,” I muttered dejected. “I’ll be there soon.”





Lee





“What can I get you?” I stood with my notepad and pen in hand, braced to take their orders. Kyle was sitting in a corner booth with Rachel next to him. She was sneering at me. He was staring wide-eyed and fumbling with his keys. I focused on keeping my breathing even. I wanted to run away and cry.

“How’s your hand little girl?” she sniggered. I didn’t dare make eye contact with the evil redhead. She really didn’t like me. It didn’t take a genius to figure that much out. I pretended not to hear her and focused my attention on Kyle instead. It was the first time I’d faced him since the office incident. He had the decency to blush.

“I’ll have a milkshake and the soup, please Lee.” I nodded and wrote his order down.

Rachel clicked her fingers against the table and I forced myself to look at her, with as much of a smile that I could muster. “Lee? What kind of a name is that for a girl?”

I cringed, my face glowing with embarrassment. “It’s short for Delia. It was my momma’s name. I was named after her.”

She smirked, her green eyes gleaming. “Well then your momma’s name is disgusting.” The pen fell from my hands, as I struggled to reign in my temper. That bitch crossed the line, bringing up my mother. “Would you mind taking my order? I know you’re a little slow on the uptake, but that is what your job entails.” I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my face. They were angry tears. I bent down to pick up the pen.

“Back off Rach,” I heard Kyle say quietly, which only made me cry more. Why did he have to be involved with such evil?

“Are you okay Lee?” Mike bent down and handed me my pen. He must have seen what happened. I couldn’t talk. I shook my head.

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you go take your break? I’ll serve these two.” I nodded grateful for the escape. I heard Kyle call my name, but I was too annoyed to stop. I got to my feet and fled.