Her comments were also way over-the-top, but at least she was being civil to me. Unlike her two spoiled children. “Thank you, Mrs. Holt. It’s a pleasure to be here. Your home is lovely.”
Her smile widened as she waved her arms out, as if showing me the place for the first time. “Why thank you. I take great pride in my home. Maybe later I can give you a grand tour.”
I’d hate that, I thought. “I’d love that.” I smiled even though it hurt.
Elizabeth made herself a drink as well – red wine, like Lauren, but only an average amount. She glided to the sofa, and as she passed by Lauren, there was a look between them. A frown of sorts. But it passed as quickly as I’d noticed it and Elizabeth was her smiling, happy self.
“Sorry I’m late,” a booming, male voice called from outside of the room.
I recognized it instantly. My hackles were raised on instinct alone.
I stood again to greet the patriarch of the family George Holt the Second. He preferred that over being called junior, and I had a feeling that it had a lot to do with him thinking of his family like royalty. George the Second sounded like a king. George Junior didn’t.
George entered the room, and Alex and Elizabeth stood. Lauren remained sitting, staring off into space as if her father hadn’t just entered the room. She reminded me of a petulant child, not the thirty-six-year-old woman I knew her to be.
George purposefully moved closer to me and gave my hand a firm shake. Like his son, his eyes were nearly white, and when they stared directly at you, it was like having ice water shot through your veins. It was hard not to shiver, even in the middle of summer. His sandy blonde hair was long gone, replaced by a head of grey and white.
“Ms. Schaeffer.”
“Mr. Holt.”
Neither of us said it was a pleasure to see each other because the feeling between us was mutual. I didn’t make his run in politics easy, and if he thought I would start now, he was wrong.
He took a seat next to his wife, and Alex sat on the other side of them, on the opposite side of Lauren. The picture of the perfect American family. But I hadn’t been there half an hour and I already knew they were as dysfunctional as any other – if not more so. I found that money didn’t prevent dysfunction; it often heightened it. You were just able to cover it up with fancy curtains and nice cars. You could throw money at almost any problem in the hopes of getting rid of it.
Except for me. I couldn’t be bought. George Holt discovered that himself a year ago, prior to his run, when he’d offered me a large sum of money to essentially work for him and only write what he wanted me to write.
I hadn’t trusted him before, but after that meeting, I despised him.
And clearly, he despised me as well.
“So where should we begin?” Elizabeth asked. “Do you have any questions for us? It’s a unique chance to talk to his family, as well as the man himself.” She beamed proudly, and George put a hand on her thigh, giving it a squeeze. That was the most affection I’d seen between the two of them. I’d thought they didn’t touch.
“Of course. I’d love to talk to your children about their childhood and-”
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” George said.
I looked at Lauren. “Okay, well, Lauren wanted me to write about your family life, since I did the same for your competition. I thought-”
Alex cleared his throat and interrupted me. “My father was a good father. We never wanted for anything, and not just when it came to material objects. He was always there, supporting our endeavours. Like when I played baseball in high school. I knew I could count on my father to be at every game. Even though he was working all over the country, he would always find a way to be in the stands.”
Lauren muttered something under her breath that sounded a whole lot like “Bullshit.” “Excuse me, Lauren?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She took another drink from the wine glass, finishing it. She got up and returned to the bar, but her mom shot her a look.
“Lauren, do you really think that’s necessary?”
Lauren didn’t respond. She continued pouring herself another glass. Completely full, just like the first one. She shook the bottle and poured the last of the wine into her glass.
“Okay, well, I’d love to hear more about those baseball games,” I said, returning my attention to the others. “George, how did you make it to all those games? You were a busy developer, building resorts all over the world. How did you find time to always come back for the games?”
George shrugged. “When something is important to you, you make it a priority. It’s as simple as that.”
Lauren returned to her seat and rolled her eyes. I really, really wanted to hear what she had to say. “Lauren, do you have any experiences like that? Where your father made you a priority?”
Lauren snorted but covered her mouth when she realized what she’d done. Before she could answer, George pulled my attention back to him. “That article you wrote about Jeremiah…you do realize that it’s not completely accurate.”
“Oh?” I cocked my eyebrow. “And how was it not accurate?”
“Well, you said that he took over as mayor because he loves the town of Liberty, that he did it for the people.”
“And you don’t believe that?”
“No. He took over the position out of obligation. Because his father died suddenly, he was in mourning, and he wanted to make his father proud. Noble reasons, sure, but his heart clearly isn’t in it. He has no experience in politics, and no desire to be there. It’s why the books are such a mess right now and-”
“Excuse me, the financials were handled by the treasurer,” I said, narrowing my gaze. “And they weren’t a mess. There are questions that have been brought up regarding some of the funding going in and out, but I’m sure that will be cleared shortly.”
“Ah, yes, your bias comes out again,” George said with a chuckle.
“Excuse me?”
“We all know you have close ties to Jeremiah. He was your father’s best friend,” George revealed, his smile turning into a snarl that appeared almost predatory.
“I thought this was supposed to be an interview with your family to show the world what kind of man you are outside of politics. So far, you’re only talking about Jeremiah.”
“Well, maybe we do need to talk about Jeremiah. Considering the treasurer is dead and-”
“James is dead?” Lauren piped up. She suddenly looked very serious, sitting up straight.
James and Lauren had dated on and off a while back. I knew few details, they’d kept their relationship private, but from the look on her face, this news had hit her hard. She stared at her father, waiting for him to answer.
He didn’t even acknowledge his daughter or her pain.
I felt bad for Lauren, and that wasn’t something I thought I’d ever say.
“I’m not sure where you heard this news since it’s not been made public. And we don’t know all the facts of the case yet.”
“The facts will be out there before long. And you’ll see. Jeremiah isn’t the man you’ve made him out to be.”
My heart tightened in my chest. I needed to keep my composure, had to remain professional. The Holts were influential people, and this was my job. Even if it appeared that George was pushing my buttons intentionally. I couldn’t understand why – except, maybe he was hoping to distract me from the drama happening in front of my eyes.
“Can we get back to talking about your family, please?” “I think we’re done here, unless Alex has more to add.”
“What if I have something to add, Dad?” Lauren said, addressing her father as if his name was poison on her tongue.
“You’re drunk, Lauren. And frankly, you’re the reason I want to cut this short. You’re an embarrassment right now.”
“Right now? Don’t sugarcoat it, Daddy Dearest. We both know I constantly embarrass you just by existing and being myself.”
I stared at the two of them, as if waiting for a bomb to drop. I should have taken their snipes as my cue to leave, but I couldn’t bring myself to stand up.
Elizabeth took it upon herself to help me. “It was a pleasure, Ms. Schaeffer, I’m so sorry about my daughter,” she said. “We really should reschedule when she’s feeling a bit better.” She crossed the distance from the couch over to me, taking my hand in hers and helping me to stand. “Alex, can you fetch Benjamin to escort Ms. Schaeffer out?”
“I can see myself out.”
“No, dear, I insist.” Something about the way she said it made me think they did not want me alone in the house. She held my hand tightly, as if not willing to let it go until I was escorted by another member of her trusted family or their help.
The butler from earlier came into the room quietly.
“Benjamin, please, see her out.” Elizabeth dropped my hand.
He gestured to the door, offering to allow me to precede him. I headed to the front of the house, and he was on my heels. He wouldn’t let me out of his sight until I was well on my way out of there.
When we stepped out on the porch, Benjamin frowned. A man was climbing out of a black Jaguar. I knew the car; it belonged to Lauren.
“Excuse me,” Benjamin said, going over to the other man. “She’s not fit to drive,” he hissed to the man who’d climbed out of the car.
“She called for the car herself, and we can’t tell her no,” the other man said. “What am I supposed to do?”
I thought Benjamin might say he’d handle it, but he just frowned. I decided I’d had enough waiting, so I walked to my car, passing by the Jaguar. My eyes fell on her license plate and I rolled my eyes so hard, I feared they might get stuck in the back of my head.
RenRox.
Ren was what I’d heard Alex call Lauren when we were younger. Perhaps at one point they’d been close enough for nicknames, before Lauren became an alcoholic and Alex an insufferable douchebag.
Benjamin rushed to my side, likely making sure I didn’t touch the Jag. He held the door to my Toyota open as if it was the door to a more expensive vehicle. Had to give him props for that. At least he wasn’t judging me for my choice in cars.
“Drive safely,” he said stiffly.
“Thanks, Benjamin.”
He froze, his eyes blinking in surprise as if he hadn’t heard me right. Even though I’d used his own name, he still seemed shocked.
Then he smiled at me as he closed my car door, nodding at me as I drove off.