Embrace Me

by Rebecca Turley

  It was lunchtime when I awoke. I could hear voices in the kitchen as I wandered downstairs, so I stopped to listen before walking in.

  “Shannon sobbed all night, Jennet.” Lorna’s voice was worried.

  “I should have been here, but I was having it out with Rachel. To think she had the nerve to contradict my parenting skills. Her lies pulled them apart.” I stretched my head, trying hard to listen to everything my mother was saying.

  “Has Charlie really gone?”

  “Yes. He left early this morning. The poor boy…he looked so lost.” My mother had seen Charlie before he left? I wasn’t expecting that.

  “I can’t believe he would leave Shan like that. Not when she needs him.”

  “He is doing this for Shannon. Charlie has a lot of hatred inside him at the moment, and he doesn’t want that to taint what he has with Shannon. No matter what has gone on, he loves my daughter. That will never change. I admire him for his strength. I never realized just how deeply he loves her. I just wish I could erase all this mess. Harry Mac has a lot to answer for in all of this, too.”

  “What are you going to do about Mac?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Surely you can’t expect Shannon to go to LA with him next week?”

  “I have no choice. This is business. Shannon has her responsibilities, now.”

  “You’re meant to be protecting her, Jennet.” I was taken aback by Lorna’s protectiveness, but if she didn’t shut up, I was sure she would end up losing her job.

  “I will forget your outburst this time, Lorna, because you are Shannon’s friend.”

  “My apologies. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “Shannon, you’re up.” Grace made me jump as she whispered in my ear. “You weren’t eavesdropping, were you?”

  “N…No,” I stuttered.

  “Come on. I made some fresh coffee not long ago.” Grace linked her arm in mine and pulled me into the kitchen.

  My mother’s worried emerald eyes were the first thing I saw as I entered.

  “Oh, Darling,” she cooed, pulling me into her arms. “Look at you.” She ran her hands through my hair. “He’ll be back, my Lizzie. Please don’t worry…he just needs a little time.”

  “Did you really see him before he left?” I muttered against her shoulder.

  “I let him use my private jet,” she whispered softly. “He’s gone to London to visit a few old friends.” All I could do was nod awkwardly. London was so far away. “How about I take you out for lunch?”

  “I’m not sure…”

  “You need to keep busy, Darling—keep your mind occupied. Charlie will be back before you know it that way.” I looked up at Grace and Lorna, who were both giving me encouraging smiles.

  “Okay,” I sighed. “I’ll just go and get ready.” Grace winked, handing me a cup of coffee as I walked past her.

  “We are all here for you, Shan,” Lorna called.

  “I know you are.” I forced a smile before going to get ready..

  My mother gave me a few days to adjust before I was thrown back into work. Grace took the reins while I moped around like a lovesick teenager. I had to admit she did a great job.

  Charlie had emailed me once he arrived in London, but left no clues as to how long he would be away or when he would next contact me. I needed to give him space, but I didn’t like it.

  What other choice did I have but to throw myself into work?

  “You need to eat something,” Grace tutted while I was in my office at Headcom. I decided against working from home. The mansion only reminded me of the life I should have been living with Charlie. I could have been his fiancée by now, knee deep in wedding planning with Mrs. Gray. Shaking my head, I broke away from that thought. It wasn’t going to do me any good to think like that.

  “I’m not hungry,” I muttered, going over the figures one last time. “I need you to set up that telephone meeting with Steelcam Limited. I’m not happy with their profit margin.”

  “Did you want me to sort out your flight to LA, too? Will you be traveling with Mr. Mac?” I looked up at Grace irately. “It’s only because he keeps emailing me about it, Shannon. Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Tell Mac he can travel on his own,” I glared, going back to my computer.

  I wasn’t planning on speaking to Mac at all on my LA visit. He was partly to blame for all of this.

  He had tried on a numerous occasions to speak to me since that night, but I had ignored them all.

  I hadn’t heard from Charlie in over ten days, either. To say I was a little panicked was an understatement. I lost track of how many times I had checked my emails.

  “I know Grace said you weren’t hungry,” Lorna called from my door, “but this chicken salad sandwich had your name on it.” She grinned, throwing the brown bag on my desk.

  “Thanks,” I sighed, looking up at her.

  “Have you had any news?”

  “No,” I pouted.

  “He’ll get in touch, Shan. This is Charlie.” I wanted to believe her, I really did.

  I hadn’t picked up a single newspaper or turned on the television since the embarrassing events of the ball. The argument between Charlie and me couldn’t have been more public, and I shuddered to think what stories the press had come up with.

  “Are you ready, Miss Downing?” a member of Frank’s security team asked, walking into my office. It was my usual end of day routine: being mobbed by the press while I tried to get into my private car.

  “Yes,” I exhaled, collecting all my papers before turning my computer off.

  The press was persistent tonight, pushing and trying to break through my security to get that perfect picture of the brokenhearted Shannon Downing.

  “Miss Downing, has Mr. Collins left you?”

  “Do you believe the rumors that Mr. Collins is staying with Megan Field?”

  “What are your thoughts about the development with Maisy Field?”

  I tried to drown out the questions being shouted at me as I scrambled into the car.

  “Are you okay, Shannon?” Frank asked me from the front seat.

  “Sure,” I smiled weakly, looking out of the window at all the press swamping the vehicle. I was getting used to the flashing lights now. They were a daily occurrence, so the bright flashes didn’t even make me blink anymore.

  “We’ll have you home in half an hour.” I didn’t have the heart to tell Frank that without Charlie there, the mansion wasn’t a home.

  I should have been living it up in my luxurious mansion, but I wasn’t. I hadn’t even used the tennis courts yet, let alone the cinema room, but all this wealth was worth nothing without having someone to share it with.

  As the car pulled into the large, double steel gates, I sighed heavily.

  Grace was already sat in the kitchen, laughing with the chef when I walked in.

  “Your home finally!” She rolled her eyes at me. “I emailed you an hour ago. Didn’t you get it?”

  “No, why?” I asked, sitting down next to her.

  “Because this came,” she smirked, tossing a handwritten envelope in front of me. My heart skipped a beat as I held the letter close to it.

  I jumped up and headed out towards the garden. The sprinklers were on so I had to keep to the path, but that didn’t deter me. I ripped the envelope open and a picture fell out. It was the most beautiful picture of a sunset I had ever seen. Charlie must have taken it, and it brought my heart back to life.

  Shannon,

  I have spent many nights watching this sunset, wishing you were here with me. It seemed only right I send you a part of it. This photo doesn’t do it justice, but I hope one day we can watch it here together.

  I am well, so please don’t worry about me. My head is slowly beginning to clear. I’m starting to understand why you did what you did. If the situations had been reversed, I would have probably done the same thing.

  I love you, Sweetheart, and don’t think for one momen
t that I am not missing you like crazy.

  Charlie xxx

  P.S. Look on the back of the photo.

  I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I turned the picture over and saw Charlie’s handwriting on the back. How could I have ever doubted he wanted me with words such as the the ones on the back? Charlie was quoting Neruda to me. He knew these words would speak straight to my heart, and they did.

  Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach;

  May your eyelids never flutter into the open distance.

  Don’t leave me for a second, my dearest.

  I love you, Shannon. xxxx

  It was the letter I had been waiting for. Charlie was slowly settling his thoughts. I knew my mother had been right about him getting away. Time alone was the best answer while he worked out exactly what he wanted to do. It did make me wonder if he would ever want a relationship with Mac, though. It was clear to see that Mac wanted one, but I had no idea just what Rachel had told Charlie. I knew for sure she didn’t want him to have anything to do with Mac, but they were brothers. At some point, Charlie could realise he was missing out on something he thought he would never have. A long lost brother was a big deal. Deep down, I knew he and Mac would get along if he could put his differences aside.

  The more I thought about the two of them, the more similarities I saw, even if Charlie did not want to believe it. I, however, knew I had gotten the better brother. What Mac didn’t have that Charlie did, was passion. Charlie was capable of love, whereas Mac, I was sure, had no idea what true love was.

  Amazing how a man could father two sons that were total opposites of each other. Then again, maybe that was the problem. The more different they noticed they were, the further they might drift apart. It made me think that my trip to LA with Mac might be more useful than I first thought. If I could see some parts of Charlie in him, maybe—just maybe—the long lost brothers might stand a chance.

  “I take it the letter was from Charlie?” Grace smirked as I walked back into the kitchen.

  “How did you guess?” I beamed.

  “By the look on your face,” she said as she stood up. “Well, if you don’t need me for anything else, I’m going to go.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. I don’t want Danny to think I’m holding you hostage.”

  “He understands. Don’t worry about it.” Grace smiled, touching my arm.

  “How is the cowboy finding New York, anyway?”

  “Surprisingly well,” she laughed, gathering all her things. “Who knew there was a demand for cowboy stuntmen?”

  “He sure landed on his feet with that job,” I sniggered.

  “I know you had something to do with it, Shannon.” Grace shook her head at me. “You are too kind for your own good.”

  “I just wanted you and Danny to have the best start possible. It was Lorna’s idea, really. All I had to do was make the right calls.”

  “Thank you all the same.” Grace squeezed my arm before she left.

  I helped myself to the leftovers in the kitchen. I didn’t have my staff working twenty-four hours a day because there was no need for it when it was only me in the mansion.

  After eating, I decided to read a book in my library and I must have fallen asleep. I woke up with cramp in my neck early the next morning.

  I couldn’t help smiling as I slipped into bed, noticing an email Charlie had sent me a few hours ago. He was making sure I had received his letter. I quickly replied before slipping into dreamland, knowing it would hopefully only be a matter of time until he returned to me.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was raining as I rushed into the private jet. Frank was holding a large black umbrella for me so I didn’t get wet, but it only helped so much.

  I couldn’t help my groan as Mac came into view, already sitting and waiting patiently for me. Had this really been such a good idea?

  “Good morning, Shannon,” he smiled, gesturing for me to take the seat in front of him.

  “Don’t look so smug,” I glared, picking up the newspaper. I wished I hadn’t as soon as I noticed my name plastered all over the front page.

  “Still making the headlines, I see,” he chuckled, watching me closely.

  “Funny,” I scolded, opening the paper. Why had I let him travel with me? My blood was boiling from just looking at him as I thought about the mess he and Rachel had put me in.

  “Have you heard from Charlie?” I looked up at him bewildered. Did he really expect me to answer that? “I was only asking, Shannon. It’s going to be a long four hours if you’re not even going to talk to me.”

  “YES! I have heard from Charlie. Happy?” I huffed, going back to my paper.

  “Is he okay?”

  I threw the newspaper down in annoyance. “What do you think, Mac?” I yelled. “He is so confused at the moment, and not just about you. I kept this from him. You have no idea how much he is hurting.”

  “But you guys will get over this. Charlie loves you…even I can see that.”

  “You and Rachel went about this the wrong way.”

  “I wanted to tell him months ago. Rachel wouldn’t let me.”

  “I don’t really want to have this conversation right now, Mac. We have a big presentation to prepare for.”

  “Prepare?” Mac laughed. “Shannon, you know I am the king of talk. I don’t need to prepare for this presentation.” That was Mac—always the big head.

  “Well, we can’t all be as wonderful as you, Mac.”

  “Wonderful, you say? Shannon, I had no idea you cared so much.” He smirked at me and I couldn’t help but think about Charlie.

  “I don’t care,” I mumbled, getting my laptop out of my bag.

  “Not even a little?” He winked. “We are sort of family, after all.”

  “Is that what you’re hoping for?” I raised my eyebrow at him. “If you think you can get to Charlie through me, you’re wrong. I’m not helping you. This is your own mess to sort.”

  “Trust me, Shannon, I’m aware of that.” Mac smiled sadly, looking out the small window.

  We were both quiet for the rest of the journey. Frank got us both quickly into the car before Mac spoke.

  “Why hasn’t Grace accompanied you today?”

  “She has a lot to do in the office. I didn’t want to stretch her too thin.”

  “And what about you?” he asked, moving so he could look into my eyes. “Charlie wouldn’t want to see you burning yourself out like this.”

  “Don’t pretend you know anything about Charlie.”

  “I know what he did for you, Shannon. How he fought for you with the Field family.”

  “How…?” I was speechless. How the hell did Mac know about that?

  “Your mother filled me in.”

  “That wasn’t her place,” I whispered as tears filled my eyes.

  “Shannon?” He looked concerned as he leaned over to touch my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “It’s been an emotional few weeks, Mac. Just ignore me,” I whimpered, wiping my eyes.

  “I am so sorry about all of this. If I could change it, I would. I know I have a bad reputation, but all I ever wanted was a relationship with my brother.” As I searched Mac’s eyes, I had no doubt he was telling the truth.

  “I don’t know why, Mac, but I believe you,” I whispered as the car pulled to a stop.

  “Thank you, Shannon. Coming from you, that means a lot.” He smiled before stepping out of the car.

  Even in LA, the press found me. Mac put his arm around me protectively as my security led us into the building. There were so many cameras coming at me from all different directions that I had no chance to move out of his hold.

  “You don’t need to protect me, Mac,” I frowned once we were safely inside.

  “I feel as if I need to while Charlie is away,” he smirked, straightening his tie.

  “I’d rather you didn’t,” I muttered before we entered the boardroom. “I have enough to so
rt out with Charlie without him thinking I am consorting with the enemy.”

  “The enemy. Is that what he thinks I am?” Mac’s voice was raised as he looked at me in surprise.

  “Well, you sure as hell aren’t his favorite person at the moment.” Mac was going to speak, but we were interrupted by the directors entering the room. “We better get on with the presentation. It’s the reason we are here, after all,” I smiled as he nodded.

  Mac was right—he was the king of talk. All eight directors were eating out of the palm of his hand within minutes, with our profit margin, we knew it was a deal they couldn’t reject.

  “Will you let me at least take you to dinner before we head back? I know this amazing Italian restaurant nearby,” Mac suggested as we got back into the car.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Jennet wouldn’t allow it, either,” Frank called from the front seat. “I have my orders.”

  “It would just be dinner, Frank,” Mac called. “Shannon has to eat.”

  “Frank is right. We can eat on the plane, anyway.”

  “That’s not really my idea of a meal, Shannon.”

  “It’s all I can do.” I shrugged my shoulders, looking away as the car began its way to the airport.

  “What are you scared of? Are you worried that if you get to know me you might actually like me?”

  “Mac, I am Shannon Downing. Every single member of the press is after me. I have a bounty on my head of one hundred fifty million dollars. If you think this is about me not liking you, you’re wrong. I have my own issues…as well as the ones you and Rachel have created.” I glared.

  “Sorry.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t thinking. Dinner might not be the best idea.”

  The airport was quieter on the way back. I made it quite easily into the VIP lounge with the help of Frank’s security.

  “I’ll go and see what the holdup is with the plane,” Frank commented as he walked over to one of the airport staff.

  Mac went outside to make a call; probably to one of his many women scattered across the globe. I found a seat in one of the spacious chairs and sank down into it. I was suddenly so exhausted I could have fallen asleep for hours. When a voice called my name, however, my eyes snapped open. How unlucky could I be in one month?