He's Talking Secrets

by Rose, taylor

  Brandon turned around to see that Fleur didn’t look herself. He handed her phone back and she burst into tears. He may not really like the woman but he was getting very good at crying woman. He took her into his arms and took the pass for her suite from the Hotel receptionist and herded her towards the lift. Just as the lift doors were closing a flash light went off. Brandon cursed under his breath as he realized what had been snapped in that photo and how it would look. Too late now.

  He didn’t get back to his own apartment until the early hours of the morning and he was exhausted. He had no idea if he would be able to fix the mess that had been made here. He fell asleep wondering how Sophia was doing and aching to be near her.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sunday

  Sophia was still reeling from the scene at the pub. She thought that the annual sing-a-long that had become a bit of a tradition was the most embarrassing thing she had ever done. But what unfolded afterwards made her wish that she had never been born. Harold had thrown her and Agnes into the Rover and driven them back to the Estate. It was 12-30 am and she was now seated at the kitchen table drinking hot chocolate. Agnes was busying herself around the room. Sophia realized she was lost in her own thoughts. She kept going over what Brandon had said. He loved her, maybe that was true. Maybe not. He seemed sincere but he also struck her as a man that was able to control situations. “I wonder who he really is?” She didn’t realize that she had spoken out loud until Agnes responded.

  “You still have no idea who we had under our roof, do you?” Agnes said as she sat down at the table.

  “What do you mean? Did you know him beforehand?”

  “Sophia, I love you and I understand that you have spent the last few years working very hard to save this place, but sweetheart, you need to get out more.”

  “OK.”

  “Look, let me show you,” Agnes stood and walked over to her stack of magazines piled up on the end of a kitchen bench, walking back towards the table she was flipping the pages of the magazine on top. She seemed to find a page she wanted. Before she handed it over she sat down and took Sophia’s hand. “Brandon De Lecour owns a company called Garden Gate. I understand that he is in the top 500 companies in the USA. He started out on his own growing plants and selling them around the neighborhood as a small boy. The company grew from nothing to where it is today. He runs an international corporation with offices in New York, London, Paris, South America and Australia to name a few. His company is big on environment and either maintaining or repairing the planet. Brandon employs hundreds of people, maybe even thousands. I don’t really know. Both the company and Brandon personally own huge chunks of land all over the world for the sole purpose of preservation. They sell plants and seeds that are native to the country some common and some are not. And to top off his success he has had his own television show in the States for about four years, with millions and millions of viewers. If these old magazines are anywhere near correct, the show is syndicated so it’s viewed worldwide.”

  With that, Agnes turned over the magazine to show an article with Brandon’s face all over it. Sophia read the article twice. She had more questions than answers by the time she finished the second time round. Agnes was hovering.

  “You recognized him the first time he walked through the door didn’t you?’ she asked.

  Agnes looked down at her hands resting on the table top “Yes, how could you not know that face. By golly he’s handsome isn’t he?” With that Agnes face light up.

  Sophia ignored the question she had too many of her own that needed to be answered “Why didn’t you tell me who he was?”

  “He didn’t want to be recognized. He knew I knew and asked me to just treat him as a nobody. I think he was here because he wanted to join the real world for a while. Look, he is in all these magazines. I imagine that everywhere he goes he has to put on his public face. Maybe he was getting tired of it and needed a break.”

  The penny dropped in Sophia’s head. She put her head in her hands and let out a groan. The Hunt Dinner came to mind with the reaction of the female guests. They all instantly knew who he was.

  “Was I the only person to not know who he was…..is?” she asked.

  Because she was looking at the top of the table she didn’t see Harold walk back into the kitchen. “I think perhaps you were, My Lady.”

  “Maybe not quite, that silly husband of mine had no idea who Brandon was. I had to show him one of these to convince him. So there were two of you on the planet.”

  “So let’s add to my embarrassment, who was that woman tonight?” Sophia asked.

  Agnes stood up and went back to the bench with the magazines and after looking at the covers of a couple, reached for another magazine and turned to a page pointing a finger at a photo of the woman.

  “You had the pleasure of meeting Miss Fleur Marriet.”

  Sophia read the article and wondered just how much more she would be able to cope with. Apparently Fleur was a major Hollywood movie star. Sophia lent back on her chair she was trying really hard not to cry. She’d manage to make a complete fool of herself in front of her whole world. Of all the men to fall for, she had to pick this one. She would never live this down.

  Agnes spoke up. “Brandon was seen out with her quite a few months ago and the press had a field day with it. They were getting married, according to the paparazzi. It seemed to fizzle out in a matter of weeks. There have been reports about Fleur and her behavior. She seems to be very demanding and she is becoming legendary for her rudeness. Her career has been on a downward spiral for some time. Her last movie didn’t do so well according to the box office takings.”

  “You really devour these magazines don’t you? But how much of it is true?”

  “Probably not much, the press needs to sell their stuff. But I was on the internet yesterday and the box office bit is true.” Agnes shrugged her shoulder. “I like to know what movies are worth seeing.” She explained.

  There were a few moments of silence as the three of them thought their own thoughts. Harold was the first to pipe up. ”He loves you, you know.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Sophia replied.

  “I may be an old man and only a butler but I have been around long enough to know what a man looks like when he is in love. He was horrified and furious when Fleur turned up. He said he will be in touch so let’s wait and see shall we? I’ve got a five pound note on the phone call or his car coming up the driveway by midweek.”

  Sophia knew that Harold was trying to make light of the situation so she followed his cue and took on his bet. There was nothing else she could do, the damage had been done. So Sophia went to bed. When she got there she burst into tears.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Sophia woke late and couldn’t get herself out of bed. She just wanted to wallow in her dark mood. But Lilly came bursting through the bedroom door full of energy and life. She jumped on the bed and threw herself at Sophia with a huge kiss and cuddle. Perhaps life wasn’t so bad after all.

  They were sitting in bed discussing Lilly’s movie night when Agnes came in with a tray of food. Sophia was about to say that she wasn’t really hunger but her stomach rumbled suggesting that she was in fact starving.

  Agnes put the tray down on the bed and sat down. Sophia had a quick smile to herself, Brandon had really changed things around here. Agnes would not have dreamt of taking such a step before Brandon’s arrival. It annoyed Sophia briefly because she had spent years trying to get these people to treat her as one of them and Brandon had done it in less than a week.

  Agnes patted Sophia’s leg under the cover. Lilly looked at the two women and started to get teary. “Mummy, what is going on? Are you alright?” With that she threw herself at Sophia again.

  Sophia nearly burst into tears. “Nothing is wrong. I just went to bed very late last night and now I am tired. That’s all, nothing to worry about, my lovely little girl. You know I really missed you.”

  “I mi
ssed you too.” Lilly stuck a piece of bacon into her mouth. “Except last night, I was busy watching movies. I didn’t really miss you then, sorry about that.” With that she jumped off the bed and threw over her shoulder that she was going to go find Harold.

  “Take the dogs with you and don’t go outside please.” Sophia looked at Agnes and shrugged. ”I suddenly realize that this is a very big house and our security system is not the best, except the dogs we don’t really have anything.” She shrugged a shoulder again “And it’s a big house.” she repeated for good measure.

  “It is a very big house, but that hasn’t bothered you before. I can see what you are thinking about with regard to Lilly. But maybe you are thinking it is bigger because someone is missing?”

  “Maybe. I thought he was quite nice. But I only knew him for a week. You can put on a good show for such a short time. All those magazines have him out with different woman on a weekly basis. And I certainly don’t measure up to their beauty. They all look like models. Supermodels.”

  “You know you are right there. You don’t look anything like them. You are a real woman, with a natural beauty that those plastic girls cannot match. You have taken a crumpling, bankrupt Estate with tenants that had taken out legal action to get Archibald to fix up their issues. I know that you had no idea what you had been handed when Archibald passed away. And we were all sorry to find you in that position, especially as you hadn’t signed up for any of this. I don’t want to speak ill of the dead but Archibald was an ass. He took what he wanted and didn’t care about anyone.”

  Sophia hadn’t really considered that anyone would know the situation as well as they obviously did. She should have known that they would be aware of the situation. Let’s face it Harold had known that Brandon was in this room yesterday morning.

  “Sweetheart, there is not a person on this Estate or in the Villages that can believe what you have done in, what? Six years. Look at where you started and look at where you are now. So yes, you are right you are nothing like those magazine women. You are amazing. They are not.”

  “Thank you. I often feel completely alone, you know.”

  “Yes and I don’t know why. It has been said to you before that you have a fantastic family. Not a conventional one, true. But still a family and we are not going anywhere.” With that Agnes stood and walked out the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Brandon fell into bed sometime around 5-30 in the morning and if he hadn’t been falling asleep on the couch of Fleur’s motel suite he would have driven straight back to Sophia. He had to get out of the Motel because he didn’t want to spend any more time with Fleur then had been necessary. He stayed long enough for her Manager and a doctor to turn up. Fleur begged him to stay with her and he figured it wouldn’t do any harm to stay until she fell asleep. There were two other people in the suite and Fleur would have to eventually give up on the idea that they were a couple. She fell asleep before that happened.

  He still couldn’t believe how deluded she was. She had so much going for her yet she craved more and more attention. After their first date he realized how unhinged she was and had tried to distance himself from her. Brandon fell asleep fully clothed laying face first on his bed. He woke up feeling really lousy with his phone ringing somewhere in his clothing.

  “Hello, have you seen the Sunday papers?”

  “No Lisbeth. What time is it? And good morning to you too.” Brandon said to his PA.

  “8 am and you may not be too happy. Go to your front door, I’ve had the doorman run you up a copy.”

  Brandon walked to the front door in time to hear a soft knock on the door. The Sunday papers were waiting for him. He had a sinking feeling about this.

  “This is not good, is it?”

  “Just turn to page three, you’ll see the article and the pictures. I’ll stay on the line……”

  “Oh, Holy Crap.”

  “I thought that would be your reaction.” Lisbeth said.

  “Let me have a shower and I’ll meet you at the office.”

  “I’m already there.” Lisbeth rang off.

  Of course you are, thought Brandon as he glanced again at the four photos. The first was of him and Sophia standing close in front of the Manor House just before the Hunt was about to start. They were standing too close together and the look on his face gave it all away. His eyes were smoking at Sophia. He had a quick laugh, he had never realized that his thoughts were so transparent. He should have thought about the press being at the Hunt and that someone would have recognized him. The second photo was more of a surprise…. It was taken when they were waiting for the Hunt to pass them on the road. Sophia sitting on the front of the Land Rover with her arms and legs wrapped around him. The photo wasn’t very clear but you could make out the figures well enough. They were in the same clothing if nothing else. It was an intimate moment. The third photo was of Fleur in his arms in the lift. That he had a warning of. He disliked this photo the most. Fleur was looking up at him with a loving expression on her face. She was an actress so he was somewhat skeptical about any expression she could produce. In fact the timing of the photo was a little too good if he thought about it. The last photo was of him leaving the front foyer with the first light of day breaking. He didn’t really care about how it looked for him. His public persona had always involved lots of beautiful women. What terrified him was how Sophia would feel when she reads the Sunday papers. The obvious thing to do was ring her and tell her firsthand what was happening. He scrubbed his face and realized that he was still exhausted and in need of a shower. It might brighten him up a bit. He’d read the article later and see just how close to the truth they were. He knew from experience that the paparazzi were never worried about letting the truth get in the way of a good story. His inner voice said, have a shower first.

  He had just stepped out of the shower to the phone ringing. “Lisbeth, I’m on my way in. Just getting out of the shower.”

  “Brandon, I need you to put some clothes on and get out to the front door. Do not answer your phone, unless it’s me ringing or until I speak to you. Your car is waiting out the front. Do we agree?”

  “I guess………what’s up?”

  But Lisbeth had already hung up. As soon as he hung up, the phone started to ring continuously.

  What was going on here? He dressed in whatever he could put his hands on. It was the jeans and long sleeve shirt he had discarded when he packed for his two weeks off. He stood and looked out the window at the view of London. Was it really only a week ago? So much had happened in that week. Lisbeth’s clipped voice shook him out of his reverie, she had him worried.

  With the phone now ringing constantly he jumped into his waiting car. He was lost in his own thoughts for the short distance into the office. The doorman let him in and welcomed him back. Brandon was starting to become intensely irritated. He could just feel something was wrong. When the lift doors opened on his floor Lisbeth was waiting for him. No smile or warm greeting. OK this was not good.

  “Did you answer your phone?” was her first question.

  “No. But it has not stopped ringing. What the hell is going on?”

  “It’s Fleur……”

  “This entire secret service act is about Fleur. What has she done now?”

  “She has overdosed on sleeping tablets and left a note saying that it is your fault.”

  The color fell off his face. “Dare I ask? Is she alive or ….”

  “She was found in her hotel room unconscious on the bed with three empty bottles on the bed side table. She’s fighting for her life in ICU at the moment.”

  Brandon needed to sit down before his legs let him down. He strode for his office and sat heavily on his chair. “Alright. What did the note say?”

  “I only have that information second hand but evidently she saw the morning papers and decided to end her life because you don’t love her anymore. “ Lisbeth shook her head at the rising protests coming from Brandon. “I know, I kno
w. I am your PA, I know most things about you and there was no “us” between you and Fleur. But she obviously thought so. The note went on the say that she couldn’t believe you would betray her with an English bit of fluff, her words not mine. I’m trying to see if I can get a copy of the note. It may take some time though we’re not on home turf here. The police want to ask you a few questions when you are available. My suggestion is to speak with them sooner rather than later.” She walked for the door. Brandon lifted his head from the couch “Could you ring Marty and see if he can come in this morning? I have something I want him to do ASAP.” Lisbeth raised a questioning eyebrow. “You are talking about Martin Waldock your London Lawyer?”

  “The one and the same.” He put his head back on the back of his chair.

  Five minutes later Lisbeth brought him in a cup of coffee and sat down on the table opposite him looking worried. He could nearly have smiled if he was not quite such a mess.

  “Don’t look so serious, it doesn’t suit you.” He said.

  “What is going on? Did something happen in Fleur’s' suite that you are not telling me about? And who was the women you were with in those photos?”

  “That is far more questions than you are entitled to. When is Marty coming in?”

  “He was on his way in whilst still on the mobile to me. He saw the papers. I think he was expecting the phone call to be honest.”