Page 86 of The Jilted Lovers Club
“Wait, is that in California?”
I nod. “In Northern California,” I say. “North of San Francisco.”
“You’ve been in California all this time, and you didn’t tell me?”
But she’s not mad when she says it. In fact, she looks elated. “We’re coming to see you,” she says.
“No, Nina. You can’t, you have the baby.”
“Exactly, and she needs to meet her favorite cousin. Come on, tell me where you’re staying and we’ll hit the road this morning and be there by tonight.”
I shake my head. “You’re crazy, you know that? I should be driving to you.”
She tilts her head. “Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“Okay, you can drive to us. You can stay in one of the cabins that wasn’t rented out this week. We’ll have it ready for you by the time you get here. If you come early enough, you might even get some BBQ.”
Barbecues at the Salt and Sea Ranch are some of the best food to be had. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
“Okay fine. I was going to go back to New York anyway, but there’s not really a reason to rush, right?” I glance out the window again, and this time I see Bernie heading down the street to Charred. My heart lurches when I see Ashton’s truckoutside. “Listen, I have a meeting I need to attend. But once I’m done, I’ll text you to let you know I’m on my way.”
I manage to reach Charred without seeing any sign of Alexander. I’m more than nervous knowing that Ashton is inside, and that this is likely the last time I’ll ever see him. I don’t even know why I’m meeting everyone here. It’s not like I can do much. Still, I press on, rapping my knuckles on the glass door while looking over my shoulder. If Alexander sees any glimpse of me now, it doesn’t matter if I kept to the NDA, he’ll likely assume I’m breaking it. As it is, he probably assumes that anyway, and I’m in danger of losing everything.
But it still won’t be more than the Felixes lost, than Bernie lost, and what this town is facing if they don’t stop the trend now.
Bob opens the door to let me in, nodding with a grunt as he lets me pass. I enter, hearing him lock the door behind me as I join the group already seated. Bec pats the seat next to her and squeezes my hand when I sit. Bernie nods her head in my direction from the space opposite me. Ashton keeps his head down, attending to Lottie in a highchair. Bob sits on the other side of Bec as Griffin makes his way in with coffees for all of us. He sets one down in front of me with a smile.
“Thanks for being here,” he says.
There’s another knock on the door, and I freeze, sure that it’s Alexander.
“That’s my cousin,” Bob says, getting up again.
When he returns, an older man follows, sporting a large white mustache that extends like handlebars across his face, similar to Bob’s. I can absolutely see the resemblance.
“Good morning, everyone,” the gentleman says, placing a briefcase on the table. “When Bob told me what was happening,I headed straight here.” He looks at Bob. “You should have called me sooner.”
“Sorry, Clyve. Everything happened so fast, and Mr. Winslow said his lawyer could take care of everything.”
“And that’s what I think is going to work in our favor.” He looks at all of us. “My name is Clyve Felix, and I am happily taking this case. Do you have the paperwork you signed with Mr. Winslow?”
Both Bob and Bernie nod, and each produce identical manilla envelopes, handing them to Clyve. Once in his possession, he turns to me. “Now I understand you signed an NDA that’s keeping you from sharing anything,” he says. I nod. “Would you happen to have a copy of that?”
“His secretary emailed a copy to me when I signed. I’ll see if I can find it.” I do a search and find it quickly, forwarding it to Clyve. He opens his computer and pulls it up, perusing it quickly.
“Yup, this is pretty standard. Any information you’ve learned after signing this is protected by law, unless it’s to report illegal activity.”
“I don’t know much, anyway,” I admit. “I don’t work in Mr. Winslow’s office.”
“I think we’ve guessed correctly on what he has planned,” Griffin says, looking at me.
I shrug, feeling like a fool for even being here. I can’t say anything I do know, and it’s not really that much anyway.
Clyve pushes his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, then leans in his chair. “Any conversations you had before this NDA was signed?”
I glance at Ashton, who still won’t look at me. Sighing, I think back trying to recall anything notable. All I remember is an extremely dull date where I mostly tuned out, and then later when he offered me a job.
