CHAPTER 43

CHAPTER 43
Mandy shivered. Only Carl would consider a threat a business arrangement. “Trying to get back at Claudia seems like way too much effort. I’d rather just let everything go and carry on with my life.”

“The decision is yours to make. Just know that the offer is there if you want to.” He straightened in his seat as the fasten seat belt sign lit up. “I don’t like owing people favors, but I always pay up.”

She stared at him a moment and then sighed. “It’s okay. You don’t owe me anything. I’m happy to help you out with this.” As a friend.

“Sorry I made you miss your date with Nicholas.” He cleared his throat. “I saw it in your schedule... our calendars are connected.” He looked away suddenly.

Mandy arched her eyebrow. “It’s okay,” she said. “The date got called off anyway. Nick saw us at that bar last night. I tried to explain but he...” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, I guess.”

Carl winced and a look of regret passed over his face. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to him when we get back and explain.”

“It’s okay.” Mandy rested her head against the leather head cushion. “After thinking about it, I didn’t really want to go on the date after all. I’m not that attracted to him.” Had she said the last part out loud? Shit!

“Really?”

“Really.” Dammit!

Carl grinned. “Good.” He instantly composed himself. “I mean, good to know. I don’t have to feel bad for ruining your plans.”

Mandy fought the urge to laugh. She almost never saw Carl lose his facade like he did right then. She would be an idiot to not enjoy the moment. She settled back to wait for the plane to land.

THEIR DESTINATION WAS Philadelphia. Carl had grown up in the suburbs just outside the city in a middle-class neighborhood. “I can’t believe they haven’t moved,” Carl murmured as a limo took them to their hotel. “I’m a billionaire for shit’s sake. Just because I don’t want to spend time with them doesn’t mean I wouldn’t give them money.”

Mandy said nothing. She wondered if he’d ever offered, or was he embarrassed they hadn’t moved. Before she started working for him, she had Googled his name and found nothing on the Internet about his family. She had assumed back then that his money bought privacy. It could buy everything else, so why not?

Carl had reservations in a penthouse suite at The Rittenhouse Hotel. There were two bedrooms, but the thought of sleeping so close to Carl sent a thrill through Mandy. She set her bags down in her room and unpacked. The place was ridiculously lavish.

She walked around, viewing the expensive details and furniture. When she went into the large connecting parlor between the bedrooms, she found Carl on the couch, his head in his hands.

“I don’t know if we should do this.” He looked up, the fear evident in his eyes. He looked like a teenage boy, lost and afraid.

“You’ve come all this way,” Mandy murmured quietly, yearning to reach out and wrap her arms around him. She hugged herself instead. “You can do this.”

“I don’t know.”

“He’s your father and he’s dying. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”

Carl nodded and stood. “Let’s get this over with then.” He straightened his tie and as he slipped his jacket on, his face grew unreadable again.

It tore Mandy to bits. She knew what he was feeling inside and wished she could take it away. She also knew she shouldn’t be here. This was going to ruin any chance of her ever having a relationship with anyone else ever again.

You didn’t fall for Carl Salvo and pick up the pieces to move on. You left them scattered in the wind, your heart shattered and broken for the rest of your life.

THE LIMO SAT WAITING outside when they stepped out of the Rittenhouse. Carl directed the driver to take them directly to the hospital. The ride grew long and silent. Carl kept his head down, texting on his phone and going through his messages. Mandy, on the other hand, stared out the window growing more and more nervous as the seconds ticked by. Images of Carl yelling at Mark, or freaking out beside his father’s bed flashed through her mind. What if this was a huge mistake? He would blame her if things went sour. She wouldn’t blame him, she was the one who pressured him to open the door to the past and go see his family. She crossed her fingers and hoped for the best. Deep down she knew this was the right thing to do and Carl needed this as much as his family did. Nerves were letting her worry. She bit her lip and continued to stare out the window as they pulled up to one of the entrances of the concrete, grey-stoned hospital. Ironically, clouds had filled the sky and it looked ready to rain.

Carl went to reception and asked for his father’s room. In the elevator, Carl reached for her hand and slipped his fingers between hers. He said nothing and neither did she. The lift’s door opened, and Mandy saw Mark pacing in a waiting room on his father’s floor. He froze when he saw them.

Carl hesitated on the elevator, squeezing Mandy’s hand so hard it hurt. She made no attempt to pull away.

The two brothers stared at each other without speaking or moving. Mandy finally stepped forward, afraid the elevator door would shut and take them back down to the main floor.

“Hey, brother.” Mark spoke first and cleared his throat. He nodded at Mandy. “Hi Mandy. Nice to see you.”

“Mark.” That single word, full of emotion, and yet hard as stone.

“Dad’s waiting for you.” Mark stuffed his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “He can only have one visitor at a time. It’s 203.”

“I know the room.” Carl’s voice was stiff, hard as steel. He dropped Mandy’s hand like it burned him and headed down the hall, leaving Mandy alone with Mark.

Mandy sat down in one of the waiting room seats. She blew a long breath out of her mouth. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, it was that thick. She’d heard that term before but never fully understood it until that moment.

“Thank you for getting him here,” Mark said as he sat down beside her.

Mandy nodded. She didn’t know what to say. Part of her was angry at the teenage Mark for not sticking up for his brother.

He watched her intently for a moment. “So, he told you about everything, then?”

“Yes,” she said finally. “It’s quite a story.”

“I’m glad he swallowed his pride and came. It wasn’t right for him to ignore Dad all these years, but at least he’s pulling through in the end.”

Mandy frowned. “That’s what you think? That this is Carl’s fault?”
Mark looked at her in surprise.