I wish life had been different.
But it was not.
He abandoned me. He abandoned Ty.
That was the important part. It was the part I needed to remember.
The man I knew no longer existed and perhaps never existed. Any contact I would have with him could never be equal. The man had hurt me in more ways than I doubted were possible and there I was: bruised and patched. Whole, but precarious.
Would never let him or any man destroy me like that.
There was only one man for whom I would live and die: my puppy. And no one else.
It was a bad idea. Would put Ty in the middle of a cross fire that was already gathering ammunition long before he was born and what good it would bring?
None.
But you will see it.
It would be inevitable, is not it? We would be in the same city and the Interpol agent plan called for Eleanor to see me. This part would be nice also. I never knew exactly what Boe told her, though he imagined endless scenarios. I have always considered the strongest possibility was that he had said that I died: followed her instructions and killed me. But after my call to Gregory, surely she'd have known that it did not. I hoped he was right. If my connection had caused him harm, I could never forgive myself. But at the same time, it was very unlikely that I ever found out.
Unless you go there and find out.
The internal war was properly armed. My heart wanted to go there. I wanted revenge Eleanor for life that she stole from me, wanted justice for what she did with Merryl. But my head required care.
She would not try to kill me if I were under investigation.
It will not end without success this time. Not if you help us.
I have my diploma back. My name, my job, my life.
No need to fear or hide.
Ty face this little danger, but then would be safe forever.
And I could see Greg.
Even that far. Even if only for a few seconds.
Why I wanted so I submit it? Why I wanted to face him with his perfect life free of guilt as I fought every second of every day trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered life? What kind of masochistic heart was that I had?
Tyler came down the stairs slowly.
- Puppy? Come here?
He sat beside me and I kissed her forehead.
- I want to talk to you about something.
- What's it?
- I received a job offer. It is very good and I make more money. No need to worry about winning a scholarship to school or anything. Not that I'm not sure you could. - I blinked an eye at him and smiled.
- Looks cool, mother.
- IT IS. It's great. But ... It's in another country. Far away. We would have to change and have to do it very quickly. We could not go to EuroDisney on his birthday as I had promised.
He looked down.
It was a good and comprehensive child. But it was still only a child.
- No problem. - He spoke softly.
- I'll have a better salary, cub. Next year we go to real Disney. What do you think?
His smile was a little more excited.
- And you will no longer need the Rossel! - remembered.
- IT IS. He helped us a lot! - I remembered - but we no longer need. And I could still pay it back.
- I Loved this plan. - Hugged me and I started laughing - When we go?
- Still do not know. I'll find out real quick. But tell me ... And your friends? The school? Will make new friends, you know? And the school there will be cool too. But I know what you're thinking.
- I have so many friends like that. - He lifted a shoulder.
little purchasing power boy in an expensive school. Yeah ... I remember that part.
- You will make thousands of friends at another school. - I hugged him tighter.
I would really do it then.
Would help the police.
I would get my life back.
It's all right.
There was only one thing ...
The phone rang twice before Gareth Zahner meet.
- I was hoping to call, Miss Scarlett. - I could feel his playful smile when he said my false name and his attitude was starting to bother me.
- I top Zahner. How does it work?
- You will need to use the new Thoen.
- No problem.
- I'll talk to Malcolm and sort out the details. Organize the change of surname of you two. But we need you there as quickly as possible.
- Give me a week to organize everything.
- Malcolm will get a good job for you there. We will arrange an apartment for you, furniture, plane ticket for both of you, moving company ... all ... But I need you there before the weekend.
- You are very demanding. - I growled - I think we will not give us very well.
- Our plan explores only the emotional side of Eleanor Baxter, Miss Thoen. We are telling her to go get nervous when you find and who will try to get rid of information that you may have or that may harm her. But it's all very abstract. Unless Miss has some more practical because you want to share with us ... - he made a suggestive silence - No? - Said after a few seconds - All right, then. The audit has been authorized. Starts tomorrow. If Miss take too long to get into town we missed the opportunity to put too much pressure on top of her and my plan may not work as well.
- Your plan sucks, you know, is not it?
- Why you are taking part?
- Better a bad plan than no plan.
- I like your way of thinking, Miss Thoen. I'll talk to Malcolm and inform Miss so everything is settled.
- I do not just talk, Mr. Zahner.
He was silent on the other side of the line and I imagined the smirk on his lips.
- I have two requirements. They are not negotiable.
- Tell your requirements, lawyer.
- My son. You assure me that it will be protected?
- I will personally take care of it, did not I?
- Only you?
- If I put a lot of police around you it is obvious that it is working for us. You said that Eleanor would be watching you. If Baxter become more careful, you will not make mistakes and Miss does not serve me anything else. Not to mention that the Crown will realize too. And that can push him away from you.
- I will not investigate Gregory to Interpol. You said you would like me to be there as bait to destabilize Eleanor emotionally. All right, I'll do it. But that's all I'll do.
He was silent. I did not give him much time to think.
It would be my way.
And if he did not accept it then, the problem was his.
- And my son does not appear as bait.
- What you mean?
- Gregory does not want contact with Tyler and I accept that part. It was his decision. But Ty does not need to know that. I do not want to see Ty man and know that your father or did not want. At least, not now. He is still very young.
- Right. According. Once you get there, I start to organize everything. I will keep you in a hotel, away from Baxter until everything is ready. And I'll keep an eye on you two. But I will not put eighty security around your son, Miss Thoen. It would be counterproductive. We agree?
I took a deep breath.
- We are.
I turned off the phone.
So I would need to go back.
Zahner promised me security and I knew Eleanor hardly try something while the company was under investigation. But still I did not feel completely safe.
I would need to find a way to take my glock me.
Maybe I just needed to make a call to a certain laundry.
***********
One of the servants was telling me something. It was possible that he wanted to know if I could pick up my jacket or coat or other shit any.
But I had no eyes or ears to anyone. Marched by the mansion's entrance hall to the separate room where Eleanor was sitting on a couch in Elizabeth company and two friends of my illustrious wife, having tea.
Lies.
Laura drove.
He offered money for her to miscarry.
My son.
I wanted to pay for killing my son.
- Love! - Elizabeth got up and came to kiss me. But I was not patiently for the perfect family theater today. She walked over and touched my arm, but I walked away with a touch and noticed the little smiles squeezed out of her friends, envious of any other people's success, which they play at the expense of the humiliation of others, no matter how tiny they were.
- Not now, Elizabeth.
- What happened? - She showed a concern that I knew she did not feel. With the eyes of friends, perhaps, but not for my well-being.
- I want to talk to you. - Kept his gaze on Eleanor.
- Tasha's engaged, Gregory. - Drank his tea - We are celebrating and you're being rude.
It was so, was not it? That was how it had always been?
I was a child. It was your damn child. He sent in command, led, manipulated. It was her way. And I'm a grown man, president of a billion dollar multinational and she says I'm being rude like I was a ten year old boy chewing with his mouth open.
- Men are anxious. And they say we are. - Tasha joked and laughed another. No one smiled at the expense of Eleanor. Contrary to what happened to Elizabeth, the guests laughed with my grandmother, not her.
- It soon settles down. - She laughed, touching the pearls in her necklace. I felt steaming in anger. standing still, staring at that meeting superfluous wanting to burst all china cups on the walls. - It's the secret to dealing with important men. - He explained - Make them realize early on that you are not just another one of his employees in whom he can have. We'll talk later, Gregory. - Balked.
- Let's talk now. - Hissed.
She looked at me outraged, her feline eyes on me as if I did not believe in my petulance.
- I do not know who you think you're talking about, boy.
- You offered money to Laura to miscarry? And do not call me boy. I'm not a child.
- Gregory ... - she lowered the cup with his eyes still on mine.
- Answer, Eleanor. - I growled softly.
- This is not the time, or ...
- THE FUCKING! - I stuck my hand in the column next to me and saw the shake table - you will answer this shit now. You offered money to Laura to abort?
She was still sitting and three women around her had the fear that I wanted her to feel. But Eleanor was still completely controlled.
- I offered money for her to leave, Gregory. - Mumbled through half-closed teeth - As a test. And we all know what she did. Now, where's that come from?
- I want to hear you deny. - I was talking low, but that only increased the intensity of my anger - I hear you say you did not want to pay money for it to kill my son. Says.
- I wont say anything! You need to control and ...
- SPEAKS! - I shouted.
- Maybe you should you ... - Elizabeth stood up, trying to get rid of friends.
- Speak, Eleanor. Speech that offered no money for it.
- It was a test, Gregory! - I said - I did not think the woman would do that. Not without talking to me before.
- And sent Conaughy fire her? And Boe had to scare her?
- You're hallucinating.
- I am? So Conaughy suffers from the same problem as me, because he admitted.
- I did not think proper girlfriend of my son working for the firm that represented us. You can judge me for it! But I found inappropriate. He implied that his decisions were based on his intimate relationship with her and not because it was a good office ...
- YOU CHOSE THAT OFFICE! Before I even assume the presidency! - I was the definition of indignation - Why the hell would you think that?
- I was just protecting you and the company of the trials. You know how people are!
- Fuck! It was my life! My girlfriend! Her job! You had no right to ...
The words caught in my throat. I found it all so absurd and the ease with which she defended her decision infuriated me even more.
- I did what I thought I should do. And why are we having this discussion?
Elizabeth wanted to shoo her friends out of our home, but the two were not collaborating. It was touching how it bothered him more than her friends were witnessing my fury than with my anger itself.
- The woman no good, Gregory. What is the purpose of it all now?
She wanted to change the subject. I did not know what to say and hated being against the wall. I could not escape my revolt, but did not want to look weak in front of her friends.
Put your best Eleanor mask. Because today you do not escape.
- If you just do not want her working for our law firm, why Conaughy sent undermine other employment opportunities it? I wanted her had no choice but to accept your money? I wanted her to stay unemployed for life? Was it? Because?
- I never said it to Conaughy.
- Eleanor ... - I was laughing hate - Do not test me ... - I warned.
- If you came this way uncontrolled before him, he may have invented any nonsense to make it out of there on good terms.
- You sent Boe scare her?
- Where did that come from?
- Sent Boe go to our house and scare Laura? Force her to go away?
- Why would I do that?
- Why would not you? You hated her.
- I did nothing of the kind.
- Boe disagrees.
- Ah! This is your source? The employee who I fired and who have every reason in the world to be mad at me and invent fanciful stories?
- You said he retired.
- I tried to be delicate. It was an official copy by ...
- So it's all a lie? - Interrupted.
- What part? The Laura? Yes, it certainly is a lie.
I laughed and ran a hand through his hair.
- I do not believe in you.
- It pains me to hear that.
- But it does not matter. - I decided - I'll find Laura. I'll believe you when you hear it from her mouth.
- Good luck trying to find the woman who ran away from you.
- Gregory! - Elizabeth finally managed to put her friends out of the house and was back. The tears in her eyes were sincere - Why you need to humiliate me like this? What the fuck I ever done to you? You motherfucker! - She slapped my chest tightly.
- I think your friends will overcome this little incident as soon as the next gossip arise, Liz. - Spit - Do not worry so much about these matters as important. Why am I here! - I was the new cries - Concerned about where Laura may have gone with my son while you ...
- Which is? - Elizabeth interrupted.
- She did not abort. - I looked at Eleanor - Did you know that part?
Eleanor had fixed and neutral eyes and part of me realized that something was wrong.
- Did you know?
- Gregory, what is this "son"? - Elizabeth was worried about that part, but I just wanted her to shut up.
- Of course you know! - I took her hands to her hair - Your daughter of a bitch cudgel. Where are they?
- I do not know what you're talking about.
- Does not matter. - I said to myself - No matter. - Repeated sticking my index finger on your nose. - Swallow your poison and die with him, Eleanor. I'll find Laura. I've talked to Conaughy and he does not obey any more word. I am the president of Baxter and I am suspending all its privileges. From today you're just an old rich and unbearable. Now get out of my house.
- Do not talk to her, Gregory!
- You defends? Do you think she would do the same for you?
- You need to take care of your family, boy. Instead of wasting time behind a bitch who ...
- Shut up! - I pointed the finger back at her - Shut the fuck that mouth. Laura does not mention. Do not mention it ever.
- Do you have to worry about what matters.
- And what's that matter, Eleanor? The
continuity of Baxter lineage? - I started laughing and Elizabeth was hanging on my arm begging - Baxter lineage is with Laura somewhere in this world.
- Do not be horrible to Hyatt, Gregory!
- Hyatt is not my son. - I whispered and heard Elizabeth scream.
- Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Eleanor looked at her in an angry panic.
- I had an illness ... was temporarily infertile when the boy was conceived. I did a DNA test when he was born. Several actually. It's a shame that her friends have not been to the grand finale of the show, huh? - There was no trace of smile on my face. There was only hurt, anger ... anger that I cultivated for years.
- This is true? - She glanced at Elizabeth with the utmost contempt that a person could demonstrate by another.
- On here! - I tore off one of my hair - Do the test yourself! - Was a symbolic gesture clear. I did not doubt that Eleanor had my DNA samples to do whatever he wanted ...
- You'll have another child.
- What part of "you do not send in my life and out of my house," do not you understand?
- We will! - Elizabeth was at my side again.
- Elizabeth, is that at least once in your life you could have a little respect for me? Not to be too much. Just a little.
- Gregory! I can not live like that! Look what you do! - His voice reached tones increasingly acute and high - You ignore the things that are important to me. Humiliates me in front of my friends and now this?
- I humiliate you? I? - I pointed to myself in disbelief.
- I can not take it anymore. - Threatened - or have another child or I want a divorce. - Squeezed her lips in a tearful beak of more false tantrum I've ever witnessed in my life.
- It's all right. My lawyer calls for you tomorrow.
I turned my back and she followed me.
- What are you saying?
- You do not want a divorce, Liz? It is what will. I'm exhausted just like you. Enough. And look, no need to leave here. They want to stay? For that they are. I go out.
***********
I needed to solve it.
I needed to solve soon.
Gregory would calm down. He always had these little episodes of revolt, but then always passed. The boy wanted to be a rebel, but deep down he trusted me more than anything. I just needed to face this storm calmly and resolution.
I ran my finger over the phone list. I just needed to hide the data. It was better than Gregory did not know what I discovered when I sent a person behind Thoen to get rid of her and the offspring. It ended up being the best, was not it? The baby died in childbirth and I did not have to be responsible for the death of a child of my blood.
My Life in the End Page 18