Risqué Business (Club Risqué #8)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

L aurel stepped through the plush offices belonging to Griffin Financial Services and walked up to the receptionist, trying not to let her nerves get the better of her. She still wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing, but she had to try just one last time. If things didn’t work out this time… well, Connor never needed to know. No harm, no foul.

“Hi, I have an appointment with Connor Griffin,” she told the no-nonsense brunette who sat at the front desk. “My name is Laurel Stanton.” She wasn’t sure if her name would be familiar to her future father-in-law, but he hadn’t refused to see her, so that was a good sign, right?

Of course, the alternative might be that he had absolutely no interest in his son’s upcoming marriage, but Laurel refused to think about that, preferring to remain positive.

“If you’d like to take a seat, Miss Stanton, I’ll let him know you’re here.”

Laurel thanked the efficient woman and sat down, looking at her surroundings to take her mind off the upcoming conversation. She still wasn’t sure exactly what she was going to say. Intending to simply play it by ear.

A scant two minutes had passed before she was ushered through to an office even more plush and elegant than the reception, and a tall, handsome man with salt and pepper coloured hair that was a distinguished white at his temples introduced himself.

She shook his hand, marvelling at how alike he and his son looked. It was like getting a sneak peek at a thirty-year-older version of Connor. Griffin Senior was in his mid-sixties, Laurel believed from what she knew of Connor’s family history, but he looked good for his age.

“Miss Stanton, how can I help you?” he asked after showing her to a comfortable chair and taking a seat behind his large, leather-topped oak desk.

Laurel fished the wedding invitation out of her purse and passed the plain white envelope across the table. “I’m afraid I’ve rather come here on false pretences,” she admitted as he picked up the invitation and stared at it.

He was quiet for so long, Laurel didn’t quite know what to do with herself, and for once in her life, her easy banter deserted her.

Clutching her hands together in her lap and pressing them down on one knee to stop it from bouncing, she took a silent, measured breath and decided to wait him out.

“You’re my son’s fiancée,” he finally said after a good five minutes had passed, where Laurel hadn’t been able to see his face well enough to read his expression.

“I am,” she agreed, thankful his words had cut through the tension building in the room. “Connor would have told you himself if you hadn’t had to cancel our dinner invitation.”

She couldn’t keep the slight accusatory bite out of her voice, and the man obviously heard it since he glanced up sharply.

“I’m sorry, it couldn’t be helped,” he responded, his face as blank as if it had been nothing more important than a round of golf.

Despite everything she’d promised herself, Laurel felt her annoyance rise. “And you couldn’t have informed Connor directly?” she demanded. “Do you have any idea how he felt, having a damn waiter tell him his father couldn’t make dinner? Knowing you went to the bother of looking up a number for the restaurant instead of just calling or texting him personally?”

The man who would be her father-in-law looked taken aback. Like it had never even occurred to him, and Laurel wondered if she should just forget it all and simply walk out and not look back.

“I use the restaurant a lot,” he told her by way of an explanation. “Their number was programmed into my phone.”

Laurel glared at him. “What, and your son’s is not?” she replied sharply. “Seriously? And what exactly does that tell you, Mr Griffin?”

She made to get up, feeling oddly detached. This really was pointless. If the man thought having a restaurant number on speed-dial was more important than his son’s, there was no hope for him. “You know what, I made a mistake coming here. But you have your invitation. RSVP and let me know if you can make it or not.”

“Wait! Why did you come here?” he asked before she got to the door, and she could hear the frown in his voice.

Turning, Laurel looked at him dispassionately. “Well, firstly, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself to my future father-in-law before the wedding. And secondly, I had this ridiculous idea that I could get you and Connor to put some of the past behind you so everyone could enjoy the day without having it hanging over us all. Believe it or not, I want to enjoy my wedding day, not spend the entire time fretting over how my new husband is feeling. Having spoken to you, I no longer think that will be an issue, though.”

He looked confused. “You don’t?”

“No, I don’t. Because I’m pretty certain something more important will come up.”

His brow furrowed, and he looked genuinely perplexed. “You truly believe I would miss my only son’s wedding?” He almost sounded offended, but Laurel found she no longer cared.

“You didn’t bother coming for dinner when he told you he had important news to tell you in person,” she reminded him. “And you didn’t recognise either me, or my name, not when I made the appointment, nor when I came in, although I’m aware you were informed of our engagement. Plus, I’ve been involved with your son for over three years, and we’ve never met.” She didn’t mention the first two years hadn’t been an ‘introduce your lover to the folks’ kind of relationship, intent instead to lay on as thick a guilt trip as she could. “The amount of disinterest you have in your son’s life is painfully obvious.”

She turned her hand poised over the door handle. “I’m sorry I wasted both of our time, Mr Griffin. I’ll see myself out.”

Did she hold out the slight hope he’d call her back? Maybe, if the disappointment crushing her chest was any indication, but she kept her face impassive and made it all the way to the main door before her emotions got the better of her. She did her best to bite back a sob as she pushed out into the street, but her shoulders shook with the force of it.

“Miss…?” Laurel sucked in a great gulp of air and rapidly blinked back the tears in her eyes as the receptionist caught her arm before she could fully exit the building.

“Oh, my dear,” the woman murmured, curving an arm around her shoulder, her entire demeanour softened from the persona she’d presented when Laurel arrived. “Here, let me get you a drink.”

Everything seemed to pass in a blur, and before she knew it, Laurel found herself in some kind of staff room with a hot cup of coffee pressed into her hands. “Are you okay?” the receptionist asked, concern etching her features.

Laurel took a bracing sip of the over-sweet drink and nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you to any trouble. I should just leave.”

“It’s no trouble. You’re Connor’s son’s fiancée, aren’t you? What did he say that upset you?”

There was a lot to unpack there. Not just the last question, but how this woman knew who Laurel was. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name,” Laurel responded instead, trying to buy herself some time to get her head together.

“My name’s Barbara. We share a little history since I’m Connor’s fiancée.”

“What?!” The word shot out of her mouth like a bullet, but Laurel felt like she was the one who had been shot.

Seeing what must be an expression of complete horror on Laurel’s face, Barbara was quick to qualify her statement. “I mean, Connor Senior’s fiancée.”

The air whooshed out of Laurel’s lungs, and she hurriedly put down her coffee before she spilled it.

“Connor’s father is getting married, too? And his son doesn’t know? Jesus, this is messed up!”

A grim look passed over the older woman’s face.

“It sure as hell is.”