Chapter 606: Stafford Townhouse
Tuesday, March 7th, Evening
The sun highlighted the western skies; she knew it would set over the New Jersey Palisades and the Hudson River. It was one of those unique views you could get only from the west side of Manhattan. But she knew even if her townhouse had westward-facing windows; she was too far south to see this.
Fallon Stafford opened her front door and looked at her guest; Grant Coyle smiled as she let him in.
"Yes, you seem disappointed," Fallon said.
"One would expect this baronial mansion," Grant said.
Fallon chuckled.
"What's funny?" Grant asked.
"I have two of those, actually," Fallon said.
"Two?" Grant asked.
"Yeah, Gracebourne is in Millneck, and there is a small one in Tree Hill," Fallon said.
"What is the name of the other one?" Grant asked.
"Autumn Hall," Fallon said, "Never mind that, let me take your coat."
"Oh," Grant said and took off his coat. Fallon straightened it out and hung it up.
"Come, dinner is getting cold," Fallon said.
Grant nodded and followed Fallon to the dining room. They took their seats and started to make their plates. Grant looked over at her.
"How do you know Kat Hartmann?" Grant asked.
"That's a complex story," Fallon said.
"Why is everything complex with you?" Grant asked.
"Because there are two relationships there," Fallon said.
"Two?" Grant asked.
"There is my relationship with Kat Hartmann and my relationship with Katrina Jared," Fallon said.
"Huh? She's related to Arne?" Grant asked.
"Husband and wife," Fallon said.
"Hartmann?" Grant asked.
"Maiden name," Fallon said.
"I see, so how do you know her?" Grant asked.
"I went to high school with Katrina Jared for two years," Fallon said.
"But there is more to it," Grant said.
"Nordwind technically works for me," Fallon said.
"What? How?" Grant asked.
"That's where my relationship with Kat Hartmann comes in," Fallon said.
"Okay, now I am confused," Grant said.
"Not that confusing; remember I told you I once worked at a recording label?" Fallon asked.
"Yeah," Grant said.
"I'm part owner of that label, and before you asked, it was a legitimate job. My dad invested in the label with my step-mom, Nathan and Haley Scott, and the family of Lucas Scott. I am employee number three," Fallon said.
"You're part owner of RBR?" Grant asked.
"Majority stakeholder, but it's structured in such a way if the families squared off, it would be deadlocked," Fallon said.
"So, you know that whole cast of characters involving Brian Scott?" Grant asked.
"I was there for a lot of it and was a cheerleader with his baby mommas," Fallon said.
"Small world," Grant said.
"One of them is my sister," Fallon said.
"Baldwin Stafford IV had only one daughter," Grant said.
"The sister in question is a step-sister," Fallon said, "Also, he had two, but we keep Keni out of the public spotlight."
"Why?" Grant asked.
"She's fifteen, a baby, and doesn't need this BS. But it makes no difference," Fallon said.
"There are no mentions of a second daughter," Grant said.
"It's kind of like the Astor brothers," Fallon said.
"I see," Grant said, "So, which one of your sisters was with Brian Scott?"
"Trin Adams," Fallon said.
"Trin Adams? The VP of New York Region for Davis Enterprises?" Grant asked.
"Yes, the same," Fallon said.
"That means your stepmother is…." Grant said.
"Brooke Davis," Fallon said, "Yes."
"So, that means one of your other step-sisters is…." Grant said.
"Isabella Scott, the model congresswoman," Fallon said.
"So, you're connected," Grant said.
"Being a Stafford makes me connected," Fallon said.
"I guess you're right," Grant said.
Fallon nodded, "Ask it," she said.
"Why all the hiding, the fake names, and was any of this real?" Grant asked.
"I might have said this before, but inheriting all this at sixteen, especially with how it all went down, screws with you. I went from just a sixteen-year-old cheerleader without a care in the world to effectively the mom to multitudes. I want o know someone is with me, for Fallon Imogen, not Fallon Stafford. That day, my life changed in less time than sending a text. The old me died, too, the spoiled trust fund girl who just wanted to party. I was reborn that day," Fallon said and took a long sip of her wine, "Was any of it real? Yes, everything I felt for you was real. Why did my outfits look out of date because they are; I'm horrible at fashion. My nephew picked my dresses."
"Your nephew?" Grant asked.
"Yes, he's got a great eye," Fallon said.
"There's more to this," Grant said.
"What? Why do you say that?" Fallon asked.
"A feeling," Grant said.
"There's a reason we're keeping Keni away," Fallon said.
"Why?" Grant asked.
"So, she has normality because this will be all hers," Fallon said.
"Don't say that; you're young," Grant said.
"That's the rub; I can't have kids," Fallon said.
"What?" Grant asked.
"I'm infertile, another reason to play the game. Many men noped out of here once they find out," Fallon said.
"Wow!" Grant said.
"Yeah," Fallon said.
Grant nodded and looked down at his dinner, not knowing what to say. Fallon sighed and sipped her wine.
