Page 98 of That One Night
“Of course. Are they expecting you?”
“Yeah.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He had to know Hendrix wouldn’t take it lying down. “Tell them it’s Hendrix Hartson here to see Trenton.”
The receptionist picked up her phone and spoke softly into the mouthpiece. She nodded and looked at Hendrix. “Do you have an appointment, Mr. Hartson?”
“No. But Trenton will know what it’s about.”
She did, pausing as she listened to the reply.
“Mr. Montclair’s assistant says to go on up.” The receptionist pointed at the bank of four elevators set into the marble wall. “You’ll need the twelfth floor.”
“Thank you.”
When the elevator arrived on the twelfth floor, he stepped out into the sprawling suite, taking a left to the door that led to Montclair Estates.
“Mr. Hartson?” a blonde asked him.
“That’s right.”
“Mr. Montclair is just through there. He’s expecting you.”
Hendrix bet he was.
“Can I get you a drink?” Trenton’s assistant asked him.
“No, I’m fine.” A complete lie. He was parched after a morning’s hard work, followed by a two-hour drive, but he needed to get this done. He walked over to the oak door with Trenton’s name written in gold on a black plaque at the center, and pushed it open.
Trenton was sitting behind his desk, in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the sparkling river. He had his arms crossed, and didn’t bother to stand up as Hendrix walked in.
“What do you want, Hartson?”
Hendrix looked him dead in the eye. There weren’t going to be any pleasantries. Not that he wanted any. Until last night he hadn’t laid eyes on Trenton for over a decade. Hadn’t wanted to. There was still a resemblance to the kid he used to be in high school. His hair was still floppy, though a little shorter. For a second he could remember Trenton as a cocky teen, when he’d pull into the school parking lot in his jet black BMW, rap music thumping from the speakers like he thought he was a badass.
Some people grew up after high school and left childish things behind. Others still clung to the top dog they used to be. He suspected Trenton was the latter.
What the hell did you see in him, Emery?
“I’ve come to tell you to leave Emery alone.” Hendrix murmured. Outside the window he could see an osprey circling high above the river, stalking the prey it would no doubt be swooping down to catch at any moment.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole now that you’ve had your greasy hands on her.”
Hendrix frowned. God, it really was like being back in high school with this guy. “And you need to release the lien.”
Trenton tipped his head to the side, his thin lips pressed together. “I won’t be doing that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t do favors for people who fuck me over.”
“Emery hasn’t fucked you over. She’s done nothing but be nice to you. You asked her to pretend you were still engaged. And she did.” Hendrix shook his head. “She’s done everything for you that she didn’t need to do because she’s a good person. She doesn’t deserve this.”
“And I don’t deserve to be cheated on.”
“You haven’t been cheated on. I know she explained that to you.”
“But I don’t believe her.” Trenton lifted a brow. “I have no idea why you’re here. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Release the lien,” Hendrix said, his voice low.
