Crash (22 page)

Rich kid heads to rehab, three people head to graveyards.

Not sure why people are blaming him when the article states that he was a passenger in the car…

Then I opened a gossip website: Lawyer drops all charges against William Pardini. The comments section consisted of people wondering how much Will gave Ben to pay him off. Disgusted, I closed the window and opened Photoshop. My first day of work was coming up soon, so there was still nothing to do. The blank, empty canvas stared at me and I glanced at my sketchpad, remembering what I was working on the night I got back from Europe.

I got the idea to make a mock-up of a nonprofit organization against drunk driving. I never had the opportunity to design a whole website, let alone a non-profit, and I wanted to do something for Will to thank him for everything he had done for me. Between Ben’s antics with the photos and Will’s arrest, I didn’t have the time to focus on it.

Quickly, I started work. The pain in my head receded from a dull throb to a slight twinge in my head. I chose a neutral color scheme: soft blues, beige, and white. At the top of the website I made a banner: The William Pardini Foundation. Underneath the banner, I wrote a brief mission statement and cropped a photo of him to place over the text. I was so engrossed in the project that I didn’t even notice my phone buzzing until it fell with a loud thump to the floor.

“Shit.”

I dove down and answered it.

“Hello, this is Natalie.”

“Good morning, Ms. Porter.”

A ripened, male voice spoke through the cell phone. I knew that I recognized his voice, but I wasn’t sure who he was. Was he perhaps an old client?

“Um—good morning.”
I still have no idea who this is
.

“I wanted to thank you for what you did with Mr. Osland. William and I are very grateful.”

A sudden shock went through me and the phone almost slipped from my face. It’s Will’s Dad. “Oh! Yes, well, I was just trying to help.”

“Well, I hope you’re still willing to help because William desperately needs it. He’s going to meet the victims’ families tomorrow.”

“That’s great!”

“Actually, Ms. Porter, it isn’t.”

 The smile vanished from my face when I heard his icy tone.

“He’s in no shape to visit them. What I want you to do is to accompany him. There will be media there and we need to present William as a stable, well-adjusted adult in a healthy relationship. I want you to support him, but above all, I want you to prevent him from doing anything stupid.”

I could hear the panic rumbling in his voice. He was frightened that Will would say something that would damage the company’s reputation.

“Why didn’t he just ask me himself?”

“He does not know that I am calling you. I am worried about my son, Ms. Porter, and I know what you said to my wife about him. I am allowing this to happen only because every other attempt to help him has failed. You will be well compensated for your trouble.”

“I don’t want your money,” I said quickly.

He sighed impatiently
. “I need some kind of assurance that you’ll do this.”

I listened to the static on the other end. I knew that I wouldn’t take his money, but perhaps there was something else he could do. “Settle the lawsuit with Luke and I’ll do it.”

There was silence on the other end for almost thirty seconds.

“That’s none of your business.”

I cringed from the bite in his words. “Those are my terms.”

“Why does it even matter to you?”

“Luke is my friend. He helped Will, too, you know. He bailed him out of jail when he could have let him rot there.”

“Sitting in a jail cell for a few days is exactly what my son needs. Goodbye, Ms. Porter.”

“Wait!” I yelled before he could hang up, my heart pounding rather fast. “I’ll do it, but I don’t want your money, I just want to help Will. He deserves it.”

“I think so, especially when this entire mess could have been avoided if he never met you. The car will be at your apartment at eight tomorrow. Do not be late.”

The smile in his voice made me feel like I had been duped. “Okay,” I said in a small voice.

“Oh, and Ms. Porter?”

My heart quickened. “Yes?”

“You’re a terrible negotiator. Goodbye.”

Mr. Pardini hung up before I could squeak out another word.

* * *

My pale, anxious face stared at me through the mirror. I picked up the brush and buffed my cheeks with blush.

Should I put my hair up or down?

I twisted my hair into a knot that I piled on top of my head and studied myself.
Too severe
. I should look friendly. I let my hair fall down and winced at my reflection.

It was like getting ready for piano recitals when I was a kid. I knew I hadn’t practiced and that it would be an utter disaster, but I went anyways because my parents expected it of me. I felt the same way about today.

Sitting down at the kitchen table, I forced myself to eat two pieces of toast and a large mug of coffee, wondering if Will would be in the car that picked me up. My breakfast churned in my stomach unpleasantly as whips of fear struck my body.
What will he say? Will he be angry that I came?

Even though it was still hours from their arrival, I ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth vigorously, painstakingly applying my makeup afterwards. The next few hours were spent on the couch, grimacing as I checked the time and running back to the bathroom to reapply makeup.

The chime of the doorbell sounded through the apartment and I dropped my lipstick, which clattered against the porcelain sink.

“Shit.”

I looked in the mirror briefly to check my appearance and wiped my sweaty palms on the hand towel before I grabbed my purse and dashed out of the bathroom. I hoped they would approve of my dress. My heels sank in the horrible carpet, making me stumble as I rushed to the front door.

“Shit, shit, shit.”

I yanked it open and was startled to see Dominic Pardini standing on my doorstep, dressed as though he was going to a cocktail party. His eyes were very much like William’s—intense and dark, but they lacked all of his warmth. They scanned me briefly before he gave me a small, approving nod. I tried to block his view of my apartment as much as I could.

“Ms. Porter, it’s wonderful to see you again.”

Wonderful? I opened my mouth slightly, but he gave a slight shake of his head.

“If you’d just follow me to the car.”

I stepped outside to the gleaming black Mercedes stopped on the curb and turned around to lock the door, and then I noticed the pair of men on either side of me with giant cameras.

“Whoa!”

“Do not be alarmed, they’re only the reporters I hired.”

I swung around to gawk at him. “You hired them?”

“Yes. I’ll explain everything in the car.”

They shoved the cameras in my face and took pictures. Mr. Pardini grabbed my arm and led me down the steps; then he opened the door and I lumbered inside awkwardly. Thankfully, the photographers didn’t follow us into the car.

“Go,” he said to the driver when he swept inside.

The sound from the outside world disappeared when Mr. Pardini shut the door of the car. I bit my lip and looked outside. Now that I was alone with him, I felt a bit awkward. I kept stealing glances at William’s father, intrigued by him.

“Thank you for coming, Ms. Porter.” He watched me carefully.

“You’re welcome. And you can just call me, Natalie.”

He was so different from Will; he was formal, poised, and dignified, whereas Will was crass and loud. It was a startling contrast.

“Very well, Natalie.” The name rolled awkwardly off his tongue. “We are en route to William’s apartment. We’ll leave immediately to Redwood City and take photos of Will leaving flowers at the crash site, and then there will be photos with the families. The cameras will follow you inside their home.”

Oh my God
. My stomach churned and I looked at his determined face. “Will agreed to do all this?” I really wasn’t sure it was the right move.

Mr. Pardini blinked at me. “No, of course not.”

I looked away from him and bit my lip hard, twisting my hands in my lap.

“What is it?” he said, sounding bored. “Just say it.”

I gave him a frightened look. “Um, Mr. Pardini, don’t you think that’ll look really staged?”

He let out a long sigh and rolled up his sleeve to glance at his watch. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, Natalie. The shots might be staged, but William’s emotions will be real. Isn’t that the whole point?”

I couldn’t help but nod under his severe expression, but privately I knew that Will would hate the idea of cameras following him into their homes. He would never do it.

“Can I ask you why you are interested in my son?”

What do you mean, ‘why’?
William’s father looked at me shrewdly; perhaps he wondered why his son would be interested in me. I searched myself for the answer. It wasn’t hard to find, but I felt weird gushing about him to his father.

“I like being with him. He’s exciting.”
He makes my world spin.

“I just hope that you have a little more integrity than the rest of the world. I noticed that he never made you sign a NDA.”

“So?”

He actually pulled a sheaf of paper from inside his jacket and handed it to me. “NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT” was written at the top in bold letters. I actually laughed.

“Really?” I held it and looked at Mr. Pardini, hoping that he had a sense of humor.

“There is a lot at stake here. I can’t afford for you to write a tell-all book with the first publisher that approaches you. I will pay you to sign this.”

“No,” I said, handing it back to him. “I wouldn’t do that. I’m not my ex.”

His face reddened as he took the paper back and stared at it. “You realize that I’m your boss, right? I could have you removed from your position—I could blacklist you from any design agency in California.”

My heart squeezed painfully. Was he threatening to fire me? “Mr. Pardini, there’s no need for threats. I haven’t done anything to you.”

“By the time you do, it will be too late.”

Are all these rich people the same?
“On my mother’s head, I won’t say a word to anyone.”

He merely shook his head and checked his watch again.

The rest of the car ride was awkward as hell and I couldn’t wait to get out of the car, even though the thought of showing up at Will’s apartment unannounced made me feel ill. I can’t believe he actually threatened me.

I opened the door as soon as the Mercedes stopped in front of the apartment, desperate to get away from Mr. Pardini and out of that suffocating car.

It was a pleasant, mild day for November and I didn’t feel cold until the wind roared down the Marina. Bodyguards were busy keeping the paparazzi at bay. As soon as they saw me, they screamed questions and waved their cameras in the air to get a shot. Shakily, I climbed the steps and wondered how angry Will would be with me. I knocked on the door as Mr. Pardini walked up the steps.

The door cracked open and Will stood in front of me, wearing an extremely shocked look.

When I saw him, I realized how much I missed him. He wore neatly pressed khakis and a blue button-up shirt. It was startling how much his appearance changed in a few days. The dark circles under his eyes made him look ten years older and his face looked thin, as if he hadn’t. I dug my nails into my palms as his eyes suddenly narrowed.

“William, don’t be rude. Open the door so we can come inside.”

His lip curled. “You brought her here without asking me?”

“I wasn’t aware that bringing your girlfriend would be a problem.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

A stab of pain punctured my heart as Will glared at his father.

“For today, she is.”

I was thrown by the poisonous look he shot me. “I’m just here to support you, Will. That’s it. I swear.”

Mr. Pardini lost his patience and he slammed his fist on the door. “Don’t be stubborn. Open the door!” he barked.

“Fine.”

His father barged in as Will stepped aside and I followed quickly. He marched for the living room immediately and left Will and I alone. It was hard. I really missed him, but he denied all feelings towards me the last time I was here. It made me feel a bit pathetic for coming here.

“So, how much did he pay you?”

Stung, I looked into his eyes, which looked hard. “I didn’t take anything from your dad. You can ask him that yourself.” Jerk.

He sighed and the unyielding look vanished from his face. “Why are you here, Natalie? Didn’t I hurt you enough?”

“I’m here because I care. You’re in this mess because of me. I just want to make it right, so why won’t you let me?”

The emotion in my voice affected him. He gritted his teeth and looked down. “None of this is your fault. It’s all mine. Mine. I wanted to do this alone.”

“Why do you have to do it alone?”

“Because it’s my cross to bear.”

“I won’t say anything, Will. I’ll just be there with you. I promise.”

A little smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I wish I met you years ago.” Then he turned around and walked to the living room.

What does he mean by that?

I jumped as someone pounded the door and I peered through the hole, recognizing the two reporters. “Let us in!”

“Shit.”

Will reappeared in the foyer. “Who is it?”

“The reporters your dad hired,” I said in a quiet voice.

“What?” He whirled around to look at him. “Dad, what is she talking about?”

Mr. Pardini looked unconcerned with the menace in Will’s voice. “Yes, I hired them to clean up this mess.”

“No,” he roared. “I won’t have them following me around when I do this. This is my problem.”

“It’s my company! It’s my name!” Mr. Pardini shouted back. “Do you think you’re the only one affected by all of this? Your mother and I have tried everything to make you happy. I’m done! I’ve had enough of you. All you’ve done for me is make my life difficult. You embarrass me. I am through cleaning up after you.”