I wanted to call Kyle, but I knew it wasn’t fair to bother him at this odd hour. I would save that late night talk for when I really need to.
Turning off the lamp, I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. I pictured my happy childhood with my father—him putting me to bed and reading my favorite bedtime story—him singing while he cooked us a meal with a huge grin—or when he taught me how to draw.
Memories of my father eased my troubled mind and put me back to sleep.
Sleep tight, my sweet pea….be strong…I love you….my dad’s soft voice whispered through the darkened night.
18
Blake
It was already eight at night when I left my grandfather’s estate just outside of London. Our conversation focused solely on Knightly Industries and where I plan to take it in the next few years. I’m ambitious and I like to invest my energy in various fields.
William was impressed with what I envisage of the company’s future. Since I tapped the mining industry in Australia, I want to expand our casinos across Europe and the Caribbean. I also want to explore more options for expanding our investments with crude oil, and I’m toying with the idea of doing business with Barrington’s shipping. I knew that Clive will eventually start training very soon. I’d rather talk business with my notorious cousin instead of the pompous Henry. We own stocks in Barrington Shipping because my grandfather, William, married the glamorous Corrine Barrington. When she died, twenty percent of that stock went straight to my father. Corrine was the sister of Edward Barrington, Henry’s father. Thus, Clive and I are second cousins.
Grandfather was pleased with the direction I have been leading our company. He knew I loved it as much as he did and wouldn’t jeopardize it anyway. He had a lot of reservations of making me a CEO at such a young age but my record proved I was worth the risk. I was born and raised to run our company and I take it personally when things do not go according to plan.
In a week’s time, I will turn twenty five and grandfather will officially announce that he is stepping down as CEO and will officially appoint me as his heir and successor. This is not new news but this how it’s done in the business arena. Nothing is official until it is made official.
Toby plans to have a huge bash in Spain to celebrate my birthday and I obliged his request. My best man has been out of sorts from his recent parting with Lucy. I cannot fathom how two lovely and very much in love couple can be separated from a mild interception of Toby’s parents. Rupert and Evelyn are ghastly and absurd. How can one feel threatened by that harebrained lot? Especially a sweet and strong-headed woman like Lucille Connelly?
Pulling out my mobile, I made a quick call to my pilot that I will be ready to leave London for Spain in an hour’s time. The plan was for me to leave tomorrow morning but I feel restless from all the travelling I have been doing for the past few days. To be quite honest, I want to see Sienna even if she doesn’t plan to speak to yours truly. It’s pathetic and rather pitiful to resort to this unusual type of emotional torture but I did admit that I tend to me a masochist where Sienna is concerned.
Robert was weaving through traffic to get to Luce and Sienna’s flat. She wanted to join me on the flight back to Marbella. I’m sure her delaying mechanism was to avoid Toby as much as she can. I don’t blame her, well not really. Break-ups are wretched and it becomes even more disconcerting when you run in the same circle of friends. I witnessed Lucy and Toby fall in love. They met a friend’s party in Knightsbridge and immediately were inseparable the day after. Literally the day after—they ate and made love for six whole days straight. I understand the whole concept of shagging a hot woman for six days straight but confine oneself with the woman for that long? It’s rather unprecedented—well I thought then—but changed my view of the particular subject once I met Sienna. They claimed it was love at first sight, but where is that everlasting love now?
“Lovely, thank you.” She thanked the stewardess who placed a glass of white wine and an assorted plate of snacks before her.
“You lost a lot of weight Luce. Have you been eating at all and not nibbling on your food?” Leisurely sitting across from her, I studied her gaunt looking face.
“I do eat, you cavalier man! I’d rather not banter with you for the next two hours whilst being confined in an airplane. That would bloody make me demented. A gentleman would leave the subject alone.” She popped a grape in her mouth.
“I need not broach the subject again if that pleases you but do pay heed. I do have another query if you will oblige me, dear Lucy.”
“Well hell, do go on. My curiosity is rather piqued.”
“What really happened with Toby? I do need you to come forth with honesty and not some fabrication of sorts. I trust we’re close enough that you will confide in me with confidence and certainty.”
She took a sip of wine and shook her head. Luce looked vulnerable and conflicted. “I don’t want to be the reason to break Toby and his family apart. Or the reason—if there is any possibility for that matter—for them to go bankrupt. You of all people know that I love him—I love him like no other. But I cannot live with myself if I put him in a situation where he will be forced to choose. That’s quite a horrid position to be in and I do not want to be the person to do that to Toby.” She toyed with her glass and watched the golden liquid swish about.
“Toby abhors his parents but does a proper job in concealing it,” I explained. “His father, Rupert, gambles on a daily basis. The losses can sometimes be covered with the family business earnings and most times—if the loss is too substantial, it simply needs to come out of their bank balance. Evelyn gets a generous allowance from her side of the family. But most of that goes directly to frivolous expenditures. Keeping up appearances can be exhausting, most especially when there’s not much money to go about to cover a gambling addiction and excessive spending by both parties.
“Toby was asked to cover Liam’s private schooling expenses because his parents cannot be bothered with cutting their spending to benefit and educate their second son,” I continued. “Upon learning this, I offered to help but Toby wouldn’t have it. He’s a proud man and wouldn’t accept any handouts. When he sold his apartment, I stepped in and eased his burden. I hired him and proposed a better deal that would benefit us both.
“The man is going through a blockade of hurdles one after the other, but what got him through unscathed was your unyielding support. Toby exalts in your love and support, Luce. Since you left him, he’s been obliterating his pain in alcohol. The man is desperate for you—he needs you. I implore you to bestow him again your unrelenting love and affection.”