Page 30 of Inevitable Secrets

Once the door was shut, Henry took out his phone, swiping and tapping until static white noise came out. Taylor raised an eyebrow at the action, and Henry only shrugged. “You can never be too safe,” he remarked. “I think you should have Derrick come here for this, also.”

“Why? Is it something that involves Fletcher Enterprises? Or is someone coming after him?”

“No, it’s none of those things,” Henry said, his tone attempting nonchalance. “I, uh, I need, well I would like if he, uh Derrick, I mean Mr. Fletcher to trust me,” he stuttered out.

Taylor furrowed her brow. “Trust you? Henry, I am sure he does. Why are you so—Oh!” she said as realization hit. Henry needed Derrick to like him in some way, somehow, because without that he wouldn’t ever trust him with Marty. “I got it,” she said nodding, “but let me just say one thing.”

“I won’t say anything to upset Derrick,” Henry promised before Taylor could demand it from him.

“Oh, I know you won’t, but this isn’t about him. If you break Marty’s heart, I will take you out, Henry. Maybe not physically, but you wouldn’t believe the things money can make happen,” Taylor warned.

Henry nodded slowly, “Understood.”

Taylor looked him up and down for a minute and reached for her phone but then stopped her hand in midair. She cocked her head to the side and looked thoughtfully at Henry.

“Tell me Henry, was there really an issue with our penthouse? Was there truly a reason that Derrick and I couldn’t be there?”

Henry cleared his throat. “There were attempts to access the building while you were not there,” Henry confirmed.

“Something you couldn’t handle?” Taylor questioned him.

“Well, I felt that being able to monitor all the access points and having full checks on everyone that could enter and exit was vital to keeping you safe,” Henry said stoically.

Taylor pursed her lips. “No other reason?” she asked.

Henry took in and released a big breath. “I need to keep her safe, Taylor,” he said quietly. “If I wasn’t here, and something happened…” He shook his head, unable to finish his thought.

Taylor nodded, and it made him feel a little warmer. “I got it,” she said, and called Derrick to join them.

* * *

Derrick exitedhis room in his pajama pants and a T-shirt this time. He didn’t want to be showing off his Calvins again, no matter how good he looked in them.

He made his way down the back stairs and found Charlie and Todd looking completely confused and sitting in some random chairs down the hall from the dining room.

“What are you two up to?” Derrick asked.

“Oh Derrick, how are you feeling, son?” Charlie asked, smiling and standing when he saw Derrick making his way.

“Better every day,” Derrick said, shaking the older man’s hand, but the son comment burned more than his incisions ever did. “How come you two are out here?”

“Taylor asked us to step out while Henry reviewed his security findings,” Todd informed in a tone laced with agitation.

“Oh yeah, and they are in there?” Derrick asked, watching as each man nodded to him.

“Yes, I am not sure how long they will be, Derrick. Would you like us to let Taylor know you were looking for her?” Charlie asked.

“No thanks, Charlie, I’ll tell her myself since she asked for me in there,” Derrick replied and walked away from the pair before he needed to answer any questions.

He heard a phone chime behind him, and then Charlie said, “Taylor said we are done for the day. She will update us later on Preston Corp’s reopening,” to Todd in complete astonishment.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Todd growled as Derrick opened the door to Taylor’s makeshift office.

Derrick closed the advisors’ voices out and found Taylor waiting at the table while Henry stood. Derrick made his way over to Taylor and leaned to kiss her. “You rang?” he said dryly, unable to cover his wince as he bent over.

“Are you okay?” Taylor asked him softly as he straightened.

He shrugged. “Tay, I was shot. It’s sore,” he replied impassively, like getting shot was as common as stubbing one’s toe. He turned to Henry, “You wanted to talk to us, I heard?”

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