Chapter 2. Gwen (1)

Melvin left the swimming area and sat in one of the lounge chairs staring around at the scantily clad girls before crossing his legs.

The artificial waterfall his father installed was one of the winning points of the hotel. There were rocks that led up an open space in the wide lobby filled with exquisite furniture.

The water cascaded down the rocks in great wave foams and covered the entrance to a small cave, which led to the back side of the private underwater restaurant. One of his favorite parts of the hotel.

He eyed the fixture. No doubt, his grandpa would praise Andrew for that too. It didn’t matter that Andrew suggested it to their father.

He was the first child and if he hadn’t mentioned anything about that part of the hotel being too boring to pick up girls at, Andrew wouldn’t have said anything and his father wouldn’t have built it. So, technically, he was responsible for the idea.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up and stared at Gwen’s message.

Gwen: I’m waiting for you.

Melvin: Give me a minute. Where are you?

Gwen: By your car. Come out before anyone notices anything.

Melvin marched to the large two story car park beside the hotel. He walked past the cars on the ground floor and with each step, anger filled his blood. What kind of valet did not know that he liked to keep his car downstairs? What if something happened and he needed to escape, would he have to hunt the whole building to find his car?

Maybe, he’d have a talk with the hotel’s manager and have the valet fired. He found his teal Porsche on the second floor, beside the designated manager’s car park spot. Of course, they wouldn’t even park his car in the proper place. If anything happened to his car, there would be hell to pay for.

Gwen leaned against his car, jiggling his keys in her hands.

“Why did he give you my keys?”

“I said I was your wife.” Gwen tossed it to him.

He caught it as she turned away from him, her thick black hair swaying around. He didn’t know how she managed to bound her curly locks into a neat bun but each time he saw her, there was never a hair out of place, except when they finished their bed business.

He leaned toward her, puckering his lips.

She pushed his chest, pushing him backward. “Stop it, Mel. Someone could be watching.”

“Then let them see.”

“They could tell your grandfather.”

“And so what?”

She rolled her eyes again and picked the file off the car bonnet. “Did you get what you came for?”

“The old man was as silent as a dead rat. Sometimes, I wish he’d just die and end everything. What did he change this time?”

“You know I’m not allowed to tell.” She eyed him. “Just wait.”

“If I have to wait, I’ll be waiting until he dies. Come on.” He held her arms. “I won’t tell anyone. I think he’s going to cut me off the will permanently.”

“What else did he say?”

“You know, Gwen. You know the content of his will better than anyone. So you can tell me.”

“I can’t.” Gwen dropped her lashes. “He’ll fire me if he knows I breathed even a single word. Besides, all I did today was give him the document to sign and he sealed it right after. If I open it Mr. Carter will know that I tampered with it. I could lose my job.”

Melvin raised her smooth brown hands to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of her fingers. “Let him do what he likes. I’ll give you a better job.”

“And who would help you with the legal procedures, then?” she giggled. “Listen, I did hear a couple of things about what they said and it seems like the will is conditional.”

“Conditional?” Melvin cranked a brow.

He was beginning to feel like his grandfather was about to pull the earth from beneath his feet. Like the time his grandfather refused to let him fly to Paris with the rest of the family because he failed his math exams.

“Yes. It means you’ll have to fulfill a certain stipulation before you get what he wants to give you.”

Melvin swore under his breath and kicked his tire before running his fingers through his hair. “I knew he’d pull something like this. Is this what he meant by being responsible?”

Gwen held his arm. “Is that what he said?”

“Yes, he asked me to become responsible, and he’d think about securing my inheritance.”

Gwen’s face darkened and her full lips dropped.

He raised his head, staring at her. “What’s the problem?”

“You’re not going to like this but-” she began.

“Speak, you know, my heart can’t take the suspense.”

“I don’t know if I’m the best person to tell you, but-”

“Come on, Gwen.” He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and shook her.

“I think you have to get married.”

“What?” His jaw dropped.

“Yes.” She fiddled with her left wrist where her silver wristwatch sat dainty-looking. “He mentioned something about you having a stable family and children or something-”

“You’re kidding, Gwen.”

“I know what I heard.”

“But I can’t-”

The sound of footsteps approaching their direction cut him shut. He faced the incoming person while Gwen distanced herself from him. The footsteps stopped and retreated.

He turned back to her. “Gwen?”

“Thank you for this insightful conversation, Mr. Swernbach. I really must get to the office now.”

He knew they couldn’t have been seen together but he wanted to spend more time with her. It could be months before they saw each other again.

Maybe getting married would not be such a bad idea?

He caught her wrist. “You’re going back to Carter, right? Can I give you a ride?”

“I brought my own car, Mel.” She retrieved her dark sunshades from her bag and slipped it on. “Besides, that will complicate things.”