Chapter Six

Henry rolled over in his large bed—perfect for him. It was fit for a king, and he was the king of paper. What else was he the king of? Not Norma. Did he want to be?

No.

He woke with her on his mind. Frankly, she hadn’t left it. Not since he got a glimpse of what was under her dress, and especially since he had her in his arms even for the briefest moment. His nether regions stirred at the recollection. Plain and simple, she stirred him. A knock at the door killed his arousal. Moaning, he shoved the velvet covers to the side and slid off the high mattress. The hardwood floor was cold against the pads of his bare feet. He wasn’t the kind of man to wear house shoes, though his father said a gentleman did. His father also said gentlemen wore a robe upon rising from the bed. Henry didn’t do that either. Bare from the chest up, he made his way through the penthouse above Michigan Avenue until he came to the front double cherry-paneled doors.

Who would come calling at that hour? He glanced at the grandfather clock from across the living room. An hour past noon. Damn. He had an engagement and knew who stood on the other side of the door. Groaning he unlocked and pulled the doors open.

“Henry!” Annabelle’s brows knit together. She was annoyed, though he wasn’t sure if it was because of last night or because he was supposed to meet her and his parents for lunch. “You were supposed to pick me up for lunch!”

Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, his head pounded from her screeching voice. “Come in.” He pivoted on his heels toward the cushioned settee near the large window.

The sound of the door slamming jerked his insides; the clicking of Annabelle’s heels followed. “Your mother is furious. We’ve been waiting at the Furhman Café for an hour.”

“Yes, Mother would be furious.” He sighed, sitting in the seat.

Annabelle advanced toward him until she stood in front, hands balled on the hips.

“I can’t believe you would be late after last night’s stunt.” Her blue eyes hardened.

Of course she’d bring that up.

He looked up, wiping his eyes. Was he always “handling” something? Would he ever get a break?

“I’m sorry you thought it was a stunt.” Norma needing help was not a stunt. It quite annoyed him Annabelle thought as much. “But, I don’t consider my employee’s misfortune a stunt.”

“She was drunk. Playing games it would seem to me.” Her red lips pursed.

God, he hated when she did that.

“I’m just surprised the likes of her got you to play along.”

His jaw tightened. “I would be careful if I was you, Annabelle.”

“Henry…” Her voice softened. “I didn’t mean it like that.” She ran a gloved finger over his jaw.

He swatted her finger away. “What did you mean then? Was I not supposed to help my employee?”

Shifting her gaze to the floor, Annabelle stepped back. “It’s the way you helped her. And you didn’t say a word to me last night about it.”

“You were drunk when I went back to scrape you off the dance floor. Really, Annabelle, you should ease up on the hooch.”

Her eyebrow lifted. “We should both ease up on what’s not good for us.”

His heart pounded. What wasn’t good for him? “Meaning?”

“Playing savior to your subordinates outside of the workplace.”

He stood, causing her to step back further. He had that effect on people. “I will decide how I handle my subordinates. And, by the way, it’s not your affair what I do in or outside of my office.” He was harsh and knew it. But she needed to know how serious he was. No more delusions. “Do you understand me, Annabelle?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Henry, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” Pouting, she nuzzled her nose in his chest. “I don’t like you rescuing other girls.”

He sighed. Annabelle was never his girl, though he kissed her like she was. Took her to his bed like she was. “I told you, I’m not settled on a girl right now.” That wasn’t entirely true. Norma’s face came to him.

“Will you ever be?” She looked up to him, eyes glistening.

He’d seen those sad eyes before.

“I’ve already answered that.” Removing her arms, he raked a hand through his hair. “I’m going to get ready. I’m sure Mom has fainted by now.”

Annabelle stood, swaying with emotion.

Turning from her, he walked back through the penthouse, Norma still on his mind.

****

“Your mom fell ill,” Leonard Chapel said, lips around a cigar.

Henry shuddered to think he’d picked up the same habit subconsciously from his father.

“We’ve been waiting almost two damn hours for you, boy.”

Henry sighed, awaiting the servant to pull out his chair. The Furhman Café was the best in Chicago. All the wealthy and socialites of the city went there for lunch on Saturday. Leonard Chapel was no different. To be honest, Henry despised the place for that fact alone. “Such drama.”

“Her?” Leonard’s booming voice echoed somehow. “You’re the one who strolls in fashionably late without regard to anyone. You always were a selfish child.” His thick fingers flicked the ash forming at the end of the cigar. His eyes, much like Henry’s green pupils, flickered. Henry knew that flicker. Leonard didn’t want to be trifled with.

Henry sat, glancing to Annabelle who remained quite as a mouse during the exchange. “I had a late night.”

“Counting papers?” Leonard laughed, belly shaking under his split collar shirt and gray wool vest.

“He helped an employee out of a thick situation.” Annabelle smiled as if she’d helped. Actually, she’d made it worse.

“Help you say?”

Henry frowned. “Yes, an employee of mine was having…men trouble.” The words didn’t sound right as he spoke. “I helped her out of a jam.” Those words weren’t right either. Norma had to contend with much more than a handsy heir. He hoped she had woken up and realized it all was a dream. Could he visit her without invitation? Probably not.

“Silly girls always getting themselves into jams with men.” Leonard nodded at Annabelle. “Like that one. What’s your name again, doll?”

“Annabelle.” She frowned. She’d met Henry’s father on two other occasions.

Henry groaned. Gin was his only thought after that. He needed lots of gin to share a meal with his father. “You’ve met before, sir.”

“Hell, I don’t know. I’ve met a handful of women you’ve brought around. They all look the same, too.” Sadly, it was true. He’d liked a sultry blonde…until he met a brunette.

“Sir, please.” Henry didn’t dare look to Annabelle, who, from the corner of his eye, crossed her arms. “Can we have a nice lunch?”

“I don’t know, Henry. Can we have lunch at almost three in the afternoon?”

At the right moment, the server arrived to take their orders. His father ordered several items from the menu.

How could he still be afraid of his father? After all, he was a grown man, not a little boy seeking approval. Maybe he still was…

After Henry ordered, he excused himself to the men’s room.

“Look who came back for round two.” The deep voice startled Henry as he walked into the lavatory.

Henry knew who it was. Ralph Heinz the caveman. God, he would love to pound his face in just for being in the same room as him. “I’ll spare you, Heinz.”

“You’re a big talker, paper man. I’m surprised, especially since you can’t even man up to your own father. Don’t look hurt, everyone knows you’re scared of that fat bastard you have for a father.” Ralph laughed.

The two men stood near the same height, though Henry was sure he could take him. Easy.

“I have no problems manning up. Care to try me?” Henry really should walk away but couldn’t. Something about Ralph made him want to fight. “You sure didn’t last night.”

Ralph shrugged, taking a towel and drying off wet hands. “That broad wasn’t worth a fight. She’s probably never touched a man, much less know how to suck him off. You did me a favor.”

Heat rushed to Henry’s face. “Don’t talk about Norma like that.”

A booming laugh escaped Ralph; his whole body went into that laugh. “Are you serious? You’d give up your blonde piece for that mousy thing?”

Henry stepped closer, hands clenching. “Say another thing, and I’ll make you sorry.”

Ralph laughed again, shaking his head. “Keep your mouse.”

The door slammed shut after he left. Why was he so protective of Norma? Why was he ready to pounce on Ralph—again—for dishonoring her? In the office, he was a Neanderthal to her. He needed to confront his feelings. But Saturday didn’t seem the right day to do so.