They looked into her eyes and saws young woman. A woman who had to bear the weight of grief, and a company on her shoulders. A woman who had to stand up to the world and look like she was ready. But they also saw a girl. A girl who wanted nothing more than to be held by her parents. A girl who needed to cry a lot more than she was. A woman, but a child.
"Miss Darcy? The board of directors is waiting for you."
Katie tried to turn around. Tried to muster some courage, and channel her mother and father into the way she spoke to the older men who were to advise her. She took a deep breath, nodded to her secretary, and walked out of the door of her father's office.
There were a lot of meaningless condolences given, and a lot of people staring at her, as if she would break down at any moment. The conference room was huge in her eyes, but still too small. She wanted to be outside. All the advice and concerns being piled onto her was too much.
"I have to go. Sorry. Excuse me."
Everyone stared at her in concern, so she plastered on the fake smile she had perfected, and walked out. The San Francisco air was stifling. She needed to get on a plane and go to England. Go to the countryside, but she couldn't just leave. She was the CEO of pemberly digital now, and the legal guardian of William and Anne.
She sat down on a bench and thought.
"How can this happen? It happened to dad. He lost both his parents at a young age and now me too?"
"How is this fair" she whispered. Then shouted "HOW IS THIS FAIR?!"
"It's not." Came a quiet voice behind her.
"Sorry... I... I just... I needed to..."
"You don't need to explain yourself. I'm sorry to disturb you". It was George. The one person who had always been there. The one person who would help her, without any gain for himself.
"Wait." She said hurriedly. "Don't leave. Please". She needed him. She needed time to herself. He smiled at her, sat down next to her and pulled her in close. Forgetting everything she had been taught at private school, she allowed herself to lean into him, to lift her legs up on the bench next to her, and for the first time in public, she cried.