Love in La Terraza (10 page)

Henry laughed. “Lucky for me, I still have all my priorities straight. Who needs retail therapy when you can have mind-blowing se—well, never mind about any of that.”

Henry straightened in his seat as Anna groaned as if she had his number.

“Would you mind if I left a little early today, boss?” she asked. “My lease is up next month, and my asshole landlord is kicking me out so he can move in his soon-to-be
next
ex-wife. Now, that’s the love I’m most familiar with.”

“I don’t mind at all.” Henry was aware she was attempting to be negative again, but he wasn’t listening too intently as she went on about what she was looking for in a new home on the off chance Henry happened to run across any apartments during his own search for a place.

He’d decided to rent for a year, make sure he would be happy here and spend a little time getting the lay of the land and figuring out exactly what part of town he wanted to live in. Now, there was only one place he had in mind. He’d very nearly asked about the vacant apartment at La Terraza, but he wasn’t sure if that would be too weird or end up putting a strain or undue pressure on their still-budding relationship.

Henry spent most nights in Cain’s bed, although they had stayed in his hotel room a handful of times. There was a difference between sleeping there every night and physically moving in. Not a huge difference, but still. They weren’t ready for that, couldn’t possibly be. He’d heard of guys meeting, moving in quickly and having successful relationships, but not nearly as often as the crash-and-burn variety that seemed to occur most often.

“I actually may know of a place,” Henry blurted out. “My boyfriend owns a beautiful old apartment complex, and there’s a vacancy.”

Better if he helped fill that apartment so there’d be no temptation to do something stupid, himself.

She seemed cautiously optimistic. “Where’s it at?”

“It’s called La Terraza, only about six maybe eight blocks from the office,” Henry said, picking up his cell. “I can give him a call now. If you like something older, with some real character—”

“Um…I’ll drive by at lunch and just take a peek. No sense disturbing the man if I don’t like what I see.” Anna backed out of the office, pointing back toward her desk. “Don’t wanna hurt the boss’ boyfriend’s feelings, right? I’m gonna get back to work.”

“Sure…of course.” Henry was momentarily confused, until realizing the poor girl might not want to see her boss after leaving work at the end of the day. Not the most desirable option for her. “Let me know if you want directions.”

“Oh I’ll find it,” Anna called back. “Got GPS on my cell phone, thanks!”

Feeling slightly awkward, he kicked himself for being so stupid.
Of course she doesn’t want to live there, idiot.
He’d leave it for a few days then apologize.

Henry opened his e-mail and began going about the business of his day, cringing when he glanced back out at her. He could tell she purposely avoided looking his direction. He realized he had no coffee and cursed himself again, getting up from his desk since he was now too embarrassed to ask her to get it.

* * * *

Fumbling absently for the intercom, Henry looked up from the new set of plans for the Peterman Group’s project and tapped the call button.

“Mr. Bach to see you,” Anna said.

“Send him in.” Henry craned his neck, waving the older man into his office as he came from behind his desk. He glanced at the clock on the wall and realized he’d worked straight through lunch.

He noted Anna was still avoiding any direct eye contact but tried to put it out of his mind as he opened to door. “Come on in, Franklin.”

“Henry!” the old guy jovially said, patting Henry on the back while leading him away from the door. “Shameful I haven’t been by more, but I wanted to check in on you.”

“Things are great, thank you!” Henry smiled, waving his hand toward a chair.

“No thanks, my boy. Can’t stay, can’t stay, unfortunately.” Franklin smacked him on the back again. “Things coming along on the Peterman designs?”

“Yes, sir, just fine, thanks. We’ve got another meeting set up in a few weeks.” Henry shoved his hands in his pockets. “Have the latest plans here if you wanted to take a look?”

“That’s fantastic, but no. I trust they’re in quite capable hands. The Peterman Group was certainly happy to see you come on board, young man, they certainly were.”

Henry began to understand something was off, noting the fact Franklin wouldn’t look him in the eye.

“Look, Henry, there’s no easy way to broach the subject, so I’ll just come out with it.”

“I wish you would, Franklin. Hope you know I’m here for the long haul, so whatever’s bugging you please, let’s deal with it.”

“Knew there was a reason I liked you, kid,” Franklin said, clearing his throat. “It’s come to my attention you’ve become acquainted with a young man named Cain Elliott.”

Henry glanced back out the door and saw Anna quickly look away. He’d need to have a little discussion about loyalties if she intended to continue working with him. “I hope this isn’t going to be a gay thing, Franklin. I made both you and Larry aware of the fact—”

“Of course not,” Franklin interrupted. “We told you that the instant you disclosed that fact to us. I wasn’t even aware your relationship was of that nature, to be honest. And now that I do, I certainly applaud your choice. Elliott is fine young man. I even admire him in a sense. Knew his grandmother Gladys well. She was fine, spirited woman.”

“I’m not sure I understand, then.”

“It’s about the property, La Terraza.” Franklin now looked him in the eye. “Not sure if you’re aware, but we have a very important client who’s extremely keen on that particular parcel of land.”

“Jeez, you make it sound like they want the land and not the building.” Henry said.

“That’s correct.”

“You can’t be serious.” Henry was astonished. “You have to know who designed that building.”

“I do indeed, and it’s a damn shame the building can’t be saved, but we aren’t in that business, Henry. Obtaining that property will bring in a two-hundred-million dollar contract. I don’t have to tell you something like that would solidify your standing in the firm. You’d be able to write your own ticket after that, son.”

Henry felt sick to his stomach. “I’ll be honest with you, Franklin. I can’t imagine Cain selling La Terraza…ever.”

“I’d urge you to try imagining it. You’ll be more apt to help Elliott do so, if you can.”

Henry nodded that he understood Bach’s meaning, but his head spun. He remembered Cain mentioning the company’s interest, but never imagined anyone wanting to tear the place down. It was borderline sacrilegious—bad enough destroying another architect’s work in the first place, let alone a true artist like Mario Bello.

“He’s made a valiant effort to keep the place afloat, Henry.” Franklin started to head toward the door. “Everyone recognizes that, but he’s fighting a losing battle and word around town is he hasn’t been able to secure a loan to make the necessary improvements the city will no doubt eventually force him to make.”

Henry looked Franklin in the face, unable to miss the veiled threat in that last statement.

“You’ll be doing him a favor, really,” Franklin said, the tone in his voice perking up as if he were now offering a silver lining. “If he sells now, he stands to make a sizeable profit. Hell, we may even be able to squeeze out a little more for him, knowing there’s a personal connection for one of our future partners.”

Henry nodded, staring blankly at the carpeting.

“If he holds out too much longer though, he’ll lose the place and end up having nothing to show for it but grief and regret. If you truly care for him, I’d strongly recommend you sit him down and make sure he understands the score.”

Franklin seemed worried for a moment, walking back over to give Henry another pat on the back. “I’ve got to run. Have a reservation for the back nine at the country club. We really need to get you out on a golf course, Henry. You have a great evening, and feel free to take a couple days if you need it. Maybe you can take Elliott away for a long weekend and grease the wheels for this deal. Be mighty grateful to you if you could.”

With that, Franklin was gone, with nothing other than a cool rush of air to evidence he’d ever been there to begin with.

Henry went back to his chair and sat down. Franklin’s words all rumbled around his now buzzing, distracted brain. He hadn’t realized things were so dire for Cain. It broke Henry in two, knowing Cain had been keeping that from him and wondering if that decision had been fueled by some sort of idiotic attempt at self-sacrifice or, worse, out of fear or a sense of distrust.

Did he fear I’d run and tell the boss how bad things are?

Did Cain think Henry would dump his ass for not being more financially sound?

Henry now understood why Cain had been so sad the night they’d met and figured this was what all that “fifth date drama” nonsense had been about.

So many things now made sense, like why he never wanted to go out to eat and insisted on cooking them dinner instead.

And Henry had opened his fat mouth a few days back, teasing Cain by accusing the man of being too cheap to go out.

“Stupid!” Henry hissed.

He’d only been kidding around at the time.

“Shit…I didn’t know, damn it.”

“I bet you’re pissed at me,” Anna said, slinking into the room but hanging close to the door as if she feared he’d blow his top and she’d need to make a run for it. “And while I didn’t exactly tell Mr. Bach, I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t intentionally mention it in front of his assistant.”

Henry’s eyes widened, and he got up out his chair, indeed ready to blow his top.

“And I’m really, really,
really
sorry, Henry, but I knew someone
had
to tell you. I just didn’t want to be the one to make you look the way you do right now.”

Henry closed his eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath, wishing he’d paid more attention during the few yoga classes he’d managed to make it through. Breathing was a big part of relaxation or some such nonsense.

“Okay, I said what I had to,” Anna sighed. “You can yell at me now.”

He rounded the front of his desk and leaned back, propping himself up. “I’m not going to yell at you, and I’m not even angry…now that you’ve explained yourself.”

“I’ve worked here for a long time, been assigned to several associates over the last six years, Henry. The one constant at Hamilton-Bach—”

“Let me guess, Hamilton and Bach?”

“Well, them too, but no. The bottom line is the one constant I was referring to. At the end of the day, money motivates policy. I’ll be honest and say it’s why I’ve stayed. It’s the greedy sons-a-bitches who stay in business.”

After he nodded that he understood her meaning, Anna quietly ducked out the door and returned to her desk. Henry was ruined for work; the rest of his afternoon would be shit. He stumbled back behind his desk and sat down, mind racing in hopes of coming up with that one solution no one else had managed to think up. Already at war with himself, Henry was incensed and outraged that another architect would even consider demolishing anything Bello had designed. At the same time Henry was saddened for Cain and everything he was about to lose.

Henry was well aware of exactly how much the building and tenants meant to the man with whom he was falling in love.

There was a darker more obsessive side of Henry’s personality, the one that was ever striving for success. Henry was unsure exactly how much of the better parts of himself he’d be willing to sacrifice in order to satisfy his own more selfish drive, and that frightened him. Unable to deny that side of him existed, he was already making justifications in the back of his mind as to why Cain might be better off.

Henry slammed his fist into the top of his desk, pissed off at himself for even going there. He groaned, wishing he could go back and unlearn what he now knew.

* * * *

Henry waved back at Matt who’d spied him through the window that looked out over the courtyard from Eddie’s apartment. Henry was exhausted, and for the very first time since walking through that gate all those weeks ago, he’d not been looking forward to coming back to La Terraza.

He heard Nic squealing and glanced through their window, watching Stu toss her over his shoulder before spinning her around in circles while she laughed and giggled, pleading for him to stop.

He’d seen Mrs. Robinson climbing into the back of a limo as he’d come in, all decked out in sequins, glittering in the late afternoon summer sunshine. Off on yet another date with a mysterious man of means.

“Henry!” the Scalia brothers yelled in unison. Vito carried a plate of burgers and hot dogs out to their tiny gas grill to BBQ.

“All hail the conquering hero!” Tony added.

“Wanna wiener?” Vito asked, forking a dog which he held up into the air for clarification.

Henry laughed over that one, though his heart wasn’t quite in it.

“Don’t tease the butt pirates,” Tony said, slapping his brother.

Keeping his smile firmly in place, Henry passed by all of them on the way to Cain’s apartment, aware of the homeless future ahead of them. Part of him wished he still didn’t know. It was already killing Henry, so he could only imagine how it had affected Cain, who’d been dealing with the knowledge for god knows how long.