Obsessed Heir (Billionaire Heirs #4)

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Barron

I f my mother didn’t seem so pleased and relieved, by the situation, I would outright deny the scheming girl’s presence on this cruise.

But that fleeting expression of grateful reprieve on her face stops me from voicing an objection.

Her eyes brighten, and the worry lines relax as a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. Instead of speaking my mind, I’m left grinding my teeth so I don’t crush her happiness.

Stein takes control of the wheelchair and heads toward the gangway, with Abigail trailing demurely behind them.

“You’re going to love the ship,” Stein declares jovially, though I can’t tell who he’s addressing.

Turning away from the infuriating scene, I find James watching me with thinly veiled apprehension. He tightens his grip on the luggage handles, squaring his shoulders as he adjusts the strap of the backpack that kicked off this whole catastrophe.

“Sir, I may have to put both ladies in Mrs. McClelland’s cabin,” he says, careful to sound neutral. “Miss Holly only booked one room, and we have nothing else available.”

My jaw clenches at the thought of that scheming gold-digging girl having any access to my mother’s private quarters.

Thanks to Holly’s PR blitz about this voyage, we’re at capacity. We don’t have a single stateroom to spare on the entire ship.

Regardless, there’s no way I’m leaving Abigail in the same room with my vulnerable mother. Not without putting some boundaries in place.

It only takes me a split second to decide. Conveniently, this clears up the issue of where to set up the newlyweds.

“Put them in my suite,” I instruct in a clipped tone. My suite consists of an oversized living area, kitchenette, and two separate bedroom wings with en suite baths.

The problem is the other bedroom on my side is in use. Holly staged it for marketing photos. I have no choice but to leave them next to each other, at least for now.

“They can use the bedrooms on the other side of the suite.”

“Consider it done, sir.” James gives a quick nod of acknowledgment.

“Once you drop off their luggage”—I look down at the cases with renewed annoyance—“head to Stein’s office.”

“Yes, sir.”

We catch up with Stein at his office. There, much to my mounting aggravation, he has me wait outside during the X-ray.

I take the opportunity to track down Holly.

“Everything okay?” she asks, picking up on the first ring.

“For the moment.” Which is the best anyone can hope for.

“Good. Are you going to make it to the launch festivities?” she presses, trying to keep me on task.

“We’ll see what Stein has to say after the X-ray.”

“Right,” she says, sounding distracted.

“If her ankle is broken, I’ll ask Rhys Davenport to fly her to a hospital.”

There’s silence on the line. “Oh, that’ll work. In fact, I just saw him around here.”

“Good. I may need you to hit him up for me.” As much as I hate to admit it. “While I doubt he’d say no to me, you’d be able to sweet talk him with no effort.”

“Ugh. Fine,” she says in that long-suffering tone. “I’ll be the sacrificial lamb for you. Is there anything else?”

“Yes, go to the Sunset Lounge and find the Smiths, our last-minute guests.” While I doubt there are many people in there at this hour, I give her a general description. “He’s wearing dark jeans and a blue button-down shirt. She’s in a dress. Both have medical-grade masks.”

“Okay,” she replies.

“Put them in my mother’s stateroom,” I instruct.

“That was my backup plan,” she admits. “I’m already heading in that direction.”

“One more thing,” I add as an afterthought. “Don’t change the name on the room registration.”

“Great idea,” she replies without missing a beat. Thankfully, she knows enough not to ask questions I have no intention of answering. “I’ll handle everything on the operational side.”

“Discreetly,” I state, hoping not to raise her curiosity.

“Of course,” she assures me.

“Excellent.” I knew I could count on her to take care of this.

“I’ll reach out to James about tracking down their luggage,” she says.

“They’re traveling light,” I inform her, “just an overnight bag each, which they have with them.”

“That’s even better. Once they’re settled, we’ll get them to try out the ship’s upscale boutiques.” Of course, that would be the first thing she’d think about. “Oh, the new lingerie shop would be perfect for newlyweds,” she says with wonder.

“Don’t be pushy,” I warn her, knowing her personality. “Just let them know about the site, in case they prefer to order.” From the sound of it, the idea is not to be seen in public. “Send them whatever they need, billed to the cabin. I’ll take care of it later.”

“I can also arrange for an early morning shopping trip so they have privacy,” she says. Holly is nothing if not perceptive.

Well, at least one good thing came out of this mess.

“Okay. Let me get this done, then I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”

Once I put my phone away, I check my watch. We’re getting close to sailing time. I’m about done with waiting in the damn hallway like some unwanted intruder while Abigail is inside with my mother.

The door opens abruptly. Stein appears, that lazy, arrogant grin plastered across his face. “You can come in now,” he announces with a casual wave.

I follow him in, closing the door harder than necessary. This entire situation is trying my patience.

Stein grasps the corner of the monitor, extending the mounting arm so I can get a better view from where I’m standing. He points to the screen, making a circular motion around the center of the image. “As I suspected, it’s not a break, just a sprain.”

“That’s a relief,” I mutter, as if I can make out any meaningful details other than a view of an ankle and foot.

“Yes, it’s a definite relief,” Mother agrees, leaning back into the wheelchair with a weary sigh.

Despite her attempt at being optimistic, she appears utterly drained, and we haven’t even left dock yet.

Since she’s never been one to travel, Holly must have had to push her to agree to come in the first place. The effort of getting her this far has been more exhausting than anyone could have anticipated.

“I’ll get you settled so you can rest,” I assure her, my tone softening.

“Remember,” Stein cuts in, using his best bedside manner, “you’re to stay completely off that ankle for at least two days.”

“Yes, Doctor,” Mother replies readily.

“You’ll need to keep it elevated and use an ice pack every two hours until the swelling goes down,” he continues in the familiar cadence.

“Yes, Doctor,” she repeats obediently.

“All right.” He flashes her one of his well-practiced smiles meant to set patients at ease. “If you do as I say, you should be much better by the time we hit the first port.”

“I plan to follow your instructions to the letter,” she assures him with conviction.

“I have no doubt you’ll be able to do so, with such a lovely assistant at your side.” Stein’s gaze slides over to Abigail, who’s sitting dutifully beside my mother.

Acid rises to burn the back of my throat, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

“She does a wonderful job of keeping me in line.” Mother chuckles, patting Abigail’s hand affectionately.

“I don’t know about that,” Abigail says quietly, as she runs her free hand across her thigh, creating creases in the dark slacks.

It’s damn convenient that the lovely assistant needed to join her on an all-expense-paid Alaskan cruise. Even after we’d come to the understanding we wouldn’t cross paths again.

Stein folds his hands across his midsection. “Well, if she gives you trouble, you come find me.” Then the bastard has the audacity to wink at her.

I bite back the urge to call him out on his shit. The only reason he wants her to come find him is to see how far he’ll get with her.

“I will,” Abigail replies, her expression the picture of innocence.

At last, Stein remembers I’m in the damn office I paid a premium price for. “I’ll be by to check on your mother the next few days,” he says, sounding more businesslike. “If the swelling hasn’t gone down, we’ll have to keep her restricted another day or two.”

“I’ll have James make arrangements to bring everything to the suite. That way she won’t need to leave unless she wants to.”

“A turn around the deck wouldn’t do any harm,” Stein suggests.

“Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn’t plan with us in mind,” I say dryly. “The weather’s predicted to be crap until we’re in Ketchikan, maybe even after.”

“I see,” he acknowledges, his expression pensive. “Well, they can still make their way through the lower decks.” He turns to Mother. “But that will need to be done in that chair.”

She sighs in acceptance. “I’ll find something to keep myself entertained,” she assures him.

“The ship has a wonderful spa,” Stein says, offering an alternative.

Yes, and he could give a firsthand account of some of the attendants, given he’s already sampled several of them.

I have to admit, a visit to the spa for a massage or other treatment actually sounds like a good idea. I can arrange for a masseuse to spend extra time working on Mother’s ankle and calf to help get her on her feet sooner.

“Oh.” Her eyes widen with the first flicker of genuine excitement I’ve seen since Abigail agreed to come along. “We haven’t had a nice, relaxing day at the spa in months.”

We… Of course, the assumption is that she’d have Abigail with her. An expense I’m sure Mother will insist on covering herself.

“It’s settled, then,” Stein announces, clasping his hands together.

“Isn’t that marvelous, Abby?” She sits up straighter in the wheelchair, adjusting in the seat.

Abby manufactures a smile. No doubt she would have vastly preferred to have the day to herself rather than playing nursemaid. Well, if she’s tagging along on this little pleasure cruise, she’s damn well going to earn her keep.

“James,” Stein calls out as the steward enters the office.

James immediately straightens his shoulders. “Yes, Doctor?”

“I need you to find a cushion to make the chair more comfortable for Mrs. McClelland.” He points to the flat, unpadded seat.

James gives the request some thought. “The lounge chairs in the pool area have removable cushions. Would that do?”

“Sounds like that should do the trick,” Stein agrees, his expression brightening. “Good thinking.”

“I’ll see to it right away.” James gives a deferential nod before stepping away.

“These chairs are meant to transport a patient from place to place,” Stein explains. “For daily use, we’d want to have cushions that provide more padding and support since the patient would be sitting for extended periods.”

Not something I would have given much thought to previously. “And we don’t have one on board?” I ask, anticipating the answer.

He tilts his head and gives me a shit-eating grin. “We didn’t expect to need one.”

Of course not; our cruises cater to a younger, able-bodied demographic. However, most of the women who paraded in today were in skyscraper heels. All it takes is having a little dog race in front of them to cause a disaster. What if they end up needing a chair for the duration of the cruise?

“Have some brought in,” I instruct.

“That’s not necessary on my account,” Mother cuts in, likely appalled that someone is going to some trouble because of what happened to her.

“While you may not need it,” I say, following her train of thought. “We should be properly equipped to accommodate any other passengers who might not be as fortunate.” That should help any misplaced guilt on her part.

“True,” she concedes, reevaluating the situation.

Stein checks his watch. “We don’t have time to have some delivered before we leave port,” he points out. “Especially with the lines of traffic coming in and out with the ships.”

“Keep it in mind for when we return.” We’ll have to make do for the moment, but I’d prefer to be prepared for the next trip.

“You might also consider one of those powered chairs,” Mother suggests, changing her tune now that she’s had a minute to think about it. “Not everyone will have an able assistant available to move them around.”

And yet another thing we didn’t count on, but she has a point. I make a mental note to check with Holly about arranging to hire an extra staff member for the spa who can double as an attendant if needed.

James turns to me. “I delivered the luggage and coordinated with Miss Holly on the change.”

“Thank you,” I acknowledge with a curt nod.

“If there’s nothing else,” he says, keeping his voice low, “I can go collect the cushion from storage for your mother.”

Given how many people will be clogging the hallways and common areas, it’ll take additional time to maneuver through. Considering everything that’s already gone wrong, I’d rather have him nearby.

“Let’s have you help us get situated upstairs first.”

“Very good, sir.” James steps back.

I turn to Mother, moderating my tone. “Let’s get you up to the cabin.”

I grasp the handles on the wheelchair, determined to be the one to get her settled.

“I can take her,” James offers.

Abigail immediately gets to her feet. “I’ll take her.” She reaches out for the chair.

I don’t need her damn help for that.

“I’ve got her,” I state flatly, putting emphasis on the words to make it clear I neither want nor need her help.

Abigail has enough sense to step back. Only now, wedged between her, the empty chair to my right, Stein’s desk directly ahead, and the narrow boundaries of the office, I’m left with a sinking feeling that I’ve effectively boxed myself in with hardly any room to maneuver.

I’m still studying the layout, contemplating how best to extract us without jostling Mother too much, when Abigail clears her throat.

“It’ll be easier if you back out,” she offers then moves toward the entrance. I hate that she was the one who offered a solution, but I have little choice in the matter.

Clenching my jaw, I check over my shoulder to make sure we have a clear path before reluctantly following her advice. I manage to clear the edge of the door, but a wheel hits the frame, jerking me to a stop.

“Dammit,” I swear under my breath as I move forward to readjust our angle before carefully retreating. I don’t have it quite right, so I push ahead again, trying to position the chair correctly.

Feeling like a fool, I struggle to center the chair enough to get through the narrow doorway. I don’t want to jostle her more than I already have. The room is deathly quiet, so every creak of the wheel seems like a scream breaking the silence.

This is way more complicated than I thought it would be. Why the hell didn’t Stein warn me? I shoot him an annoyed glare, catching the bastard trying to smother a grin.

This is just one more thing I wouldn’t have to deal with if it wasn’t for Abigail.