Chapter 34

Silence had settled on the NICU as the hour grew late, disrupted occasionally by the beeping of machines and the sounds of the nurses on duty as they kept an eye on their fragile charges. The only visitor at the moment stood outside the door, his eyes fixed on his 2 day old daughter as she fought to live.

"Julius." The man in question looked over his shoulder, a half smile coming to his face. "Hey, Stuart."

"Hey." Reilly handed him a cup of coffee. "I brought you something to drink. You looked like you needed it."

"Thank you." Julius sipped the lukewarm drink, turning back to watch his child.

"You know, you really should go home for a while, Julius. You've been here almost 3 days."

Julius shook his head. "I can't. Not until Chloe is ready to come home. Until then, I'm going to be here for her."

Reilly touched his friend's shoulder. "And what about you? That child needs you to be strong for her, and you can't do that if you don't take care of yourself as well, my friend."

"What if something happens to her while I'm gone, Stuart? Tyler almost died last year because I took my eye off her for a second. Karen would never forgive me if the same thing happened to Chloe."

"Nothing's going to happen." Reilly looked in on the now sleeping Chloe. "She's beautiful, Julius. She looks just like you."

"Thank you." Julius sighed ruefully. "Hopefully she got her mother's personality, not mine."

"Hmm. She's determined, that's for sure. Like someone I know very well."

Julius turned on Reilly. "Are you saying I'm stubborn?"

"No, I never said that. But Chloe isn't giving up. She's fighting to live. And she will live. Just have faith, Julius."

"I hope you're right, Stuart. I really do." Julius looked down briefly. "Stuart? I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"I want you to promise me that if my children are ever in trouble, and I can't help them, you'll do whatever you have to to keep them safe."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Stuart, please. Promise me. I know this is big, but I know you care about my children. And I trust you."

Reilly nodded. "Okay. I promise."

"Thank you."

Reilly gave him one more pat on the back. "I'll give you a few more minutes, then I'll take over, and you go home and get some rest."

"All right" Julius grudgingly agreed. Once Reilly had left, he turned to Chloe. "I know you can't hear me, Chloe, but... I want you to know that I love you. Don't give up. You are going to beat this thing."

2424242424

"Julius, we need to talk." Julius looked up to see his wife standing outside his study, her hands on her hips.

"Can't this wait, Karen? I've got work to do."

"You've always got work to do. You're always busy. You never have time for me or the kids anymore."

Julius rolled his eyes. "Here we go again."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"You don't understand, Karen. I am running a company here- a company that's about to go public."

"And I should care... why?"

"You should care because if this goes well, our family will be set for life. I will be able to give Jason, Tyler, and Chloe the opportunities to be successful that we didn't have. That is what I've been working for the last 4 years."

"Do you think those kids care about any of that?" Karen retorted. "All they know is that their father is never around."

Julius looked down. "I know. Believe me, Karen, I'd love to spend time with them. But I can't, not until this deal goes through. Once it does, then I promise to cut back on work."

"Don't make promises you won't keep, Julius. I know you." She glared. "And those few times you're not working?"

Julius glared back. "So I like to go out and have a couple drinks with Stuart. We rarely get the chance to see each other anymore. What's the big deal?"

"I don't like him."

"He's my best friend, Karen. I've known him my entire life. He's been there for me when no one else was."

"He works for the government. You hate the government, Julius."

"No, he doesn't. He works for an energy consortium."

"That's not what he told Jason." Julius looked at her in surprise. "That's right. I heard them talking one day. He told Jason that he was going to work for the government, but not to tell you, because you'd flip out."

Julius sat down, staring out into space. "He lied to me? All this time, he's been lying to me?"

"Look, Julius, I love you. But I want you to be here for your family."

Julius was about to reply, but the doorbell rang, and he got up to answer it. Reilly was standing outside. "Hey, Julius. You ready?"

"Stuart, we need to talk. Inside."

"Okay." Reilly stepped inside. "What's going on?"

Julius shut the door. "Have you been lying to me?"

Reilly looked confused. "About what?"

"About your work. Karen told me you told Jason you were working for the government. Is that true?"

"...I can't talk about it."

"So it is true" Julius said harshly. "You've been lying to me for years."

"...Yes. I wanted to tell you, Julius, but I really can't talk about it."

"Damn it, Stuart, you know how I feel about the government. And I thought you felt the same way."

"I did- once" Reilly replied. "But not anymore."

"I see." Julius sat down. "I'm sorry, Stuart, but I can't be friends with someone that works for a corrupt, godless entity like the government. I have to protect my family."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Julius, but I know what I'm doing is right. I can't just leave."

"Then you've left me no choice." Julius stood back up and opened the door. "Get out. I don't ever want to see you again."

"What?"

"You heard me. Get out. And stay away from my family."

"Julius, don't do this. Don't throw our friendship away."

"You threw it away when you lied to me, Stuart. Now leave, or I'm calling the police."

"...Fine." Reilly walked out and Julius slammed the door behind him. He glanced back at his wife, who had witnessed the entire exchange. "Was that everything you wanted to talk about?"

"No. I got a call from the Academy today. Chloe got into another fight."

"Again? This is the 7th time in 3 months."

"I know. She's been suspended for a week." Karen frowned. "What are we going to do with her, Julius? We can't just let this go unpunished. Chloe's got to learn to respect others, and not just lash out every time she gets angry at someone."

Julius looked determined. "And she will. By the time we're through with her, she'll know respect- even if I have to beat it into her. No child of mine is going to act like this."

2424242424

"What's on the agenda for tomorrow, Daria?" Julius asked his assistant.

"You have an 8 AM with Jeff Roberts, then the presentation to the board at 3."

"All right. Schedule a lunch meeting with Dave Grey. We need to go over his proposal for expanding our Midwest operations. Once that's done, go home."

"Yes, sir. Oh, I almost forgot. Your wife called. She's not going to be back from Boston until Thursday. She wants you to call her as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Daria." Julius disconnected the call, then dialed his wife's number. "Hello?"

"Hey, honey, it's me."

"Julius. Did Daria tell you I called?"

"Yes, she did. What's going on in Boston?"

Karen growled. "You know that consortium that's been trying to muscle us out over here?"

"I thought we took care of them."

"So did I. But apparently we didn't finish the job. Julius, these guys are serious. And apparently they've got backers with deep pockets." She paused. "What's the game plan?"

"Find out what you can about their payroll. Once you find something out, then we'll go from there. Until then, keep them out."

"I will. Listen, Julius... I ran into Chloe when I was in DC the other day."

"I told you not to mention that harlot's name!" Julius hollered.

"Julius... please. It's been 6 years since you've seen her. Don't you think it's time you two settled things?"

"No. Karen, I spent years working to give that harlot a future, and she threw it away for a one-night stand with some loser she barely knew. And what about when Jason was dying? We couldn't even see him because she was there all the time. No, no, uh-uh. I'll never forgive her for that. And Tyler wasn't much better. She got Jason killed, then she ran off like a coward to risk her life for total strangers. No, I can't trust this company with them."

"And what happens to this company once we're gone? We agreed to keep it in the family."

Julius scoffed. "What family? The only one of those kids that ended up being worth a damn, that wasn't a disappointment, is gone." He glanced over at the picture of Jason on his desk. "This discussion is over, Karen. You are all the family I have left. Tyler and the harlot can rot, for all I care."

2424242424

"Mr. Anderson?"

"What is it, Daria?"

"Here are the notes on the briefing you asked for, and Mark Redfield called. He wants to reschedule your meeting with him for Friday afternoon."

"Friday's fine." Julius looked down.

"Mr. Anderson? Are you okay?"

"...No, not really." He sighed. "How long have you been with this company, Daria?"

"Since we went public, so... almost 20 years, sir."

"Are you happy here?"

"Yes, sir. I am... Mr. Anderson, what's going on?"

"Why'd you stay so long? You're highly qualified. I'm sure you've gotten offers from other companies. Why would you stick around and put up with me?"

"Because unlike other bosses I've worked for, you actually listen to me. And you pay me very well. Besides, I happen to like working for this company. Why would I want to leave?"

Julius ran his fingers through his hair. "Because everyone else has. Daria, I've driven everyone that I've ever cared about away from me. My wife and I are divorced, my son is dead, and both my daughters despise me. Not that I blame them. I was a horrible father. The way I treated those girls..." He scoffed. "I called my youngest child a harlot, a slut, so many awful names, simply because she made a mistake. She came to me for help, and all I did was turn my back on her. I drove her away, drove them both away. I want to make things right with them, but I don't know how."

She merely dropped the folders she was carrying on his desk. "Mr. Anderson, I'm the last person to be giving you advice, but... if you really feel strongly about it, then reach out to them. If you're afraid to talk to them, then write a letter. Try to make things right. It might not pay off the way you want it to, but you can at least try."

"I will. Thank you." He switched off his phone. "Can you make sure I'm not disturbed for a while?"

She nodded and left, and Julius reached into his desk, pulling out his notebook. He sighed loudly, then began to write. Half an hour passed, but Julius didn't notice the passing of time as he continued to write. He finally set down his pen and read over what he had written.

Chloe,

I know I'm probably the last person you want to hear from. If you don't want to read this, I understand. After how horribly I treated you all those years, you have every right to hate me. But please hear me out.

All I wanted was what I thought was best for you and your brother and sister. But what I wanted was wrong. How could I possibly have known what was best? I was never around for you, my business interests always my first priority. I was so stupid. My obsession with building this company cost me everything and everyone I ever cared about- especially you. Chloe, you were the reason I started this company up in the first place. I didn't want you to struggle the way your mother and I did. I realize now what I should have done- be there for you, encourage you to do what you wanted with your life.

I still remember the day you came home and told me you were pregnant. You reached out to me for help, and I... I hurt you, not just physically, but emotionally as well. The things I said to you were unforgivable. I'm so sorry, Chloe. I know nothing I can say or do will ever take that pain away, or excuse what I've done to you, because there is no excuse. If you only knew how much I regret the things I've done to you.

I've heard you're working for the government, helping to keep this country safe. If that's true, then I'm proud of you. You're going your own way, doing what you want to do with your life.

I'm not going to ask you to forgive me, Chloe, because what I've done to you is unforgivable. But I want you to know that I love you, daughter. I always will.

Love,

Dad

P.S.- I've also heard from your mother that you and Tyler have not spoken to each other since your brother was killed. Chloe, don't make the same mistakes I have. I would like you to settle your differences with your sister. You two might hate each other, but you're family, and there's nothing more important than family.

Julius brushed back tears he hadn't felt coming. "That was hard. But it was important." He reached over and switched his phone back on. "Daria?"

"Yes, Mr. Anderson?"

"I need you to book a flight to Sacramento for next week."

"I'll take care of it, sir." She paused. "Why are you going there, sir? Is there pressing business up there?"

"It's not business... it's personal. Also, see if you can find out where my daughter Chloe is living. I need to see her once my business in Sacramento is done."

"Yes, sir. Was there anything else you needed from me?"

"No, there's nothing else. Thank you." He disconnected the call. "I swear to you, Chloe, Karen... I'll make things right."

2424242424

Chloe watched as the images faded, looking over at the stoic Jason in shock. "I don't know what to say. He really did care about me, about us."

"Yes, he did." Jason frowned as Chloe looked away. "Chloe, what's wrong?"

"I don't understand, Jason- why would ending his friendship with Stuart cause him to get so mad at us? I could see that they were close, but he just snapped. It doesn't make any sense."

"You have to understand, Chloe- Dad and Stuart were friends their entire lives. Dad had a lot of anger growing up, because his parents were horrible to him, but Stuart was always there for him. He kept that anger in check. When Stuart left, Dad couldn't control his anger. He couldn't take it out on Mom, so he took it out on us instead." Jason looked up. "Our time here is almost up. You have to go back."

"Now? But I still have things I want to ask you."

"I know. And you'll find those answers in time. But for now... go back. Live your life."

Chloe stood up, giving her brother one more embrace. "I love you, Jason."

"I love you too, sis. And we'll see each other again one day. Just do me one favor."

"Anything."

"Tell Tyler I don't blame her for what happened. It was just meant to be, and she should stop blaming herself for my death."

Chloe sniffed. "I will. I promise."