“It has everything to do with Genevieve,” he sneers. “Anyone who has any association with Celia should be considered a threat. That’s how Celia works.”
“Wait. Back up,” Laynie says, putting a calming hand on Hudson’s thigh. “How did Genevieve meet Chandler in the first place?”
“I met her at a charity thing last week that I went to in Hudson’s place. Her father is Edward Fasbender, and your husband wanted me to do some schmoozing.”
Laynie’s eyes widen and she whips her head back toward my brother. “You sent Chandler to get close to Celia’s husband?”
“No. That’s not why I sent Chandler there. I wanted him to send a message. Prove to Celia that I still have eyes on her and her family, in case she was at the event.”
“Would have been nice if someone had told me!” Now I understand why I needed the scotch. I throw back the rest of the drink then put the empty glass on the bar.
Alayna ignores me. “Well, your plan backfired, H, because now Celia’s here. Practically in our own house!”
Much as I like to hear her scolding Hudson, I’m not at all about to stand by the allusion that my girlfriend—yes, I’m calling her that—is merely an extension of someone they think is not a good person. “You’re overreacting,” I say, trying not to overreact myself.
Hudson jumps to his feet and faces me. “Do I need to tell you the things she’s done? Not just to other people, but what she’s done to us? She blackmailed me. She’s threatened us. She tried to get me to put Alayna in a mental hospital. This is not behavior I take lightly.”
Um, damn. A lot more serious than I’d imagined.
“I’m not taking it lightly, either.” And I’m not, now that I know about it, that is. “But if it was so terrible, why didn’t you have her arrested?”
He looks back at his wife before answering. “It’s complicated. Mostly because there wasn’t enough evidence to charge her. But other reasons too.” Other reasons that I sense might not shed too favorable of a light on my brother.
I know him well enough to know he’s not going to give more explanation than that. So I don’t pursue it.
Instead, I address the more important matter. “She’s done nothing to you in years, though. Right? Because you…” Because he took over control of Werner Media. But now Warren is retiring and that leaves Hudson without any leverage. Which was a problem on its own, but now…if the Accelecom merger takes place, Hudson will essentially be handing the company back over to the Werners by giving it to Celia’s husband.
Hudson studies me. “You’re working it all out now, I see.”
“That’s why you aren’t interested in giving the job to Edward Fasbender.” Fuck. There goes Genny’s chances for her dream job.
Yeah, I probably should have worked out that her chances were shot before this. It’s not that I’m slow—it’s that I’m hopeful. Or, I was.
The way the picture is being presented now, my hope has pretty much evaporated.
Hudson takes advantage of my epiphany and proceeds to back it up. “There is no telling how that woman might plan to destroy us. What she could do to our business. Our income. Our family. Through her husband. I do not want that man or his wife or anyone connected to her anywhere near my family. And if I had known you were bringing her this weekend— ” he enunciates the word her, as though Genny is something awful or disgusting “—then I would have considered banning you from the premises.”
I let out a laugh because he can’t be serious. “Like hell you would. You’re the oldest, Hudson, but this isn’t even your property.”
“You’re right. I don’t own Mabel Shores. But Mom and Dad are on my side where Celia is concerned, so like hell we wouldn’t.”
It’s a loaded statement, one that proves I’ve been the only one in the dark. Just like always, Hudson is the one in the know, the one adored and respected. The one who rules the roost.
My anger increases sharply. I bolt out of my seat. “That’s not fair, you know. None of this. Genevieve had no hand in deciding whom her father married, and yet she gets to be punished for it? No. Not fair.”
“Doesn’t matter if you think it’s fair.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, and I swear I’ve never wanted to sock him as much as I want to right now. “If you continue to associate with her then consider yourself out with us.”
I feel my fists tightening at my side, but I’m too struck by his latest remark, the implications hitting me in the gut. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying that we will keep our distance from Celia in every way we can.”
“You mean distancing yourself from me. Because the girl I’m in love with is related by marriage to someone you dislike.” I’m seconds from going full-out Hulk on him, but I know the weapon to use with my brother is control, so I rein it in.
“If it were just the matter that Genevieve was associated with someone I dislike, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. It’s much bigger than that.”
That’s it. I’m furious. So much for control.
“Well, fuck that,” I shout. “And fuck you. If you’re making me choose—”
“I’m not making you choose—I’m forbidding you to be involved with that girl.”
What the actual fuck?
“Are you even listening to yourself? You can’t forbid me to be involved with her. I’m a grown man, and you’re not my parent, or even my boss. You’re my business partner and my brother and neither of those positions gives you any authority over my love life.”