Chapter 22

Catherine looked up in irritation, watching Henry rush past her, wordlessly disappearing upstairs.
"Henry?" She called after him, but she didn't get an answer. With a shrug she went into the hallway where he had dropped her bags and carried them upstairs herself.
While Catherine unpacked her purchases, she was still wondering what had prompted Henry's strange behavior as of late. She just couldn't make head or tail of it.
His newfound interest in her, the uncontrolled anger he displayed towards Richard that had escalated into a violent outburst and the accusation that his former best friend had feelings for her.
And he apparently accused her of ... well, of what exactly? That she returned these feelings? This very idea was made up out of thin air and lacked any basis. Richard was her friend and confidant, but nothing more.
And how could he be more? Because she loved Henry. She loved him still and against all reason.
"What the hell are we doing?" she asked herself aloud, and the extent of her thoughts made her head spin.
Therefore, she grabbed the Scott contract and retreated to her study in hope of finding distraction in her work.

Almost three hours and two cigarette breaks later, Catherine took off her reading glasses and sagged back into her chair in exhaustion. Sighing, she closed the files in front of her and stretched her limbs that had become stiff from sitting for so long.
The Scott company had withstood her experts reviews and assessments and promised to become a gain in a division that had not yet sufficiently been covered by Val-Sec in the global market. The small European company's figures were in the black, they had a brilliant, patented concept as well as committed and competent employees. These employees, however, were all based in Scotland and Catherine doubted that moving to the States would be an option for them.
In addition, Val-Sec was only interested in a technology acquisition, not in expanding their already existing European affiliates. They would certainly make an offer to one or another promising employees, but most of them would have to find a new employer sooner or later.

And that was exactly where their conflict lay. The young company heiress was only willing to sell her parents business if Val-Sec guaranteed a permanent employment for the staff in Scotland. But Barry, her lawyer, had done a damn fine job and found a loophole in one of the contract paragraphs that would allow them to disintegrate the company under certain conditions after the first twelve months had passed. Conditions that could easily be induced.

Catherine got up from her chair and massaged the tense muscles of her neck. Decisions like these were never easy and she was quite capable of showing compassion for the Scots concerned, but Val-Sec would never have become the multi-million dollar company it was today if she had let herself be guided by sympathy or her emotions alone.

"Mom?! There you are, I gave you a call a few hours ago, but you didn't answer." Her eldest child had entered her study unnoticed, startling Catherine.
"Dear me, Francis! I'm sorry, I took the day off and…" Catherine started to explain and hugged her boy in greeting.

"Please Mum, do never apologize for taking a day off. You should do that more often. I have asked Charlotte for the Scott contract, but she said you took the documents with you. I'd like to take another look at them, if you don't mind." With a nod of her head Catherine pointed at her workplace, where she had left the files.
"Sure, go ahead, I'm done for today. But I could do with some coffee. How about you?"
Catherine walked past her son towards the stairs. Francis followed her, carrying the Scott documents under his arm.
"Sure, I'd love some."

Down in the kitchen, her son sat down at the counter and started studying the files while Catherine busied herself with the coffee maker. A few minutes went by with Francis attentively leafing through the documents, but then he furiously leaped to his feet and looked over at his mother accusingly.
"I can't believe it! You are looking for a way to break up and smash the Scott company? Mom, you've got to be kidding me! A permanent employment guarantee is Mary's primary condition, and what you plan to do is a breach of contract." Francis pointed at the convicting passage in Barry's notes.
"Not if we bring paragraph 7, section 16 to fruition," in a matter-of-fact voice, Catherine pointed out the loophole her lawyer had discovered.
"You deliberately plan to plunge the Scott company into ruin just to exploit it and to get rid of all employees?! I can't believe you're even considering this." With a sigh, Catherine closed the folder and looked up at her son, who was still staring at her in complete bewilderment.

"You have to think bigger, Francis. This software, combined with their app, means a significant gain in the market for us. But as you know, we already have an ample number of European offices, including Scotland. We already have a broad presence there and we can easily cover this new market share with our existing affiliates. Besides, Scott's business policy differs from ours on many points."

"And you think that justifies your plan? Mum, we're not only talking about securing existences in Scotland, this is about Mary's parents lifework."
Francis' words prompted Catherine to exhale an impatient sigh.
"Don't you think your first concern should be Val-Sec's interests?" She sensed that her son's growing feelings for Mary Scott were leading him right into a conflict of interest and she was annoyed with herself for not having Francis recuse himself from the negotiations before.
"Not if you're literally willing to go to any lengths for it." There was an uncharacteristic sharpness in Francis' voice.
"In our business it is all about eating or being eaten. I thought you'd have figured that out by now." Catherine's words didn't lack harshness either.
"But certainly not at any price. Mom, you made me a junior partner because you appreciate my integrity and business acumen. Those were your words. And you put me in charge of the Scott negotiations. I think, as you do, that Mary's company would be a great asset for us, but I'm not going to take part in this." Once again, Francis pointed at the documents in front of him accusingly.

"As you wish, I hereby officially exclude you from these negotiations."
"Are you serious? Trust me, I will not stand by idly and watch Barry and you fleece Mary." By the tone of his voice Catherine knew that Francis' statement was not an empty threat. She could tell from his posture and the annoyance that was flickering in his eyes how serious he was.
"Please remember which company you work for and who pays for your living expenses," she reminded him, in a no less threatening voice.
"Right now, I doubt whether I even want to continue being employed by such a company."
His words hit Catherine with the force of a physical blow.
"I only know that I won't throw Mary under the bus. Either you work out a decent offer, or I will inform her about your intention to break up her company."
After having said that, Francis left his parent's home without a word of farewell.

Catherine wordlessly stared at the files on the counter. She still could not grasp what had just taken place in her own kitchen. Was everyone around losing it? First Henry and now Francis? Her golden boy. Or was she the one who was slowly but surely losing her mind?

Her argument with Francis, Henry's behavior and the events of the last few days were slowly getting to her. Following an impulse, Catherine buried her face in her hands and exclaimed a groan of frustration.
A long and hot shower would hopefully make her feel better. Maybe it would not only relieve her tension, but also help rinse away the problems that were starting to outgrow her. Catherine entered the bathroom through her bedroom and listened at the connecting door, leading to her husband's room. All she could make out was the noise of a running television. Apparently Henry was watching the synopsis of last night's basketball game and since he was not doing this downstairs in the living room, she concluded that he was still sulking.
Sighing, she undressed and stepped into the spacy ground-level shower.
A few seconds later, hot water was pouring down her body, prompting her to close her eyes and silently surrender to the comforting warmth that began to wash away her worries and fears.

Suddenly a sound startled her and Catherine opened her eyes in alarm. Only to catch sight of her husband who was standing in front of her, staring unabashed at her naked body.
"Henry!" Completely taken by surprise, she turned the water off and turned her back on him. But then Catherine realized that she was now presenting him with an unhindered sight at her uncovered ass. At lightning speed, she tore open the glass door of the shower stall and fished for the towel she had deposited there within reach.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she hissed furiously and covered her nudeness with the bathing towel.
"Are you sleeping with Richard?" Henry's question caught her completely offguard.
"Excuse me, what?!" Catherine stared at her husband dumbfounded, searching his eyes for a sign that he had finally lost his mind. Henry withstood her gaze and she could see a wild mixture of determination and desire gleaming up in his expressive eyes. An expression that caused her to wrap the towel more tightly around her body.

"Well, obviously you've been putting a lot of effort into your intimate hairstyle lately." Henry's gaze wandered to her pubic area unabashedly, which, thank God, was now covered with the towel. "And you're certainly not doing it for me. So you surely understand that I ask myself the legitimate question: Are you doing it for Richard?" His words dripped off bitterness, vulnerability and a hint of anger. But her own anger over so much impudence and complacency did not allow even the tiniest spark of understanding to arise in her. Much less compassion.
"I don't have to put up with this bullshit. Not from you. The man whose number of affairs I have lost count of. Get out of my face, Henry!" Catherine watched him flinch under the steeliness of her words.

Henry moved his lips as if to protest, but no sound escaped his throat. Then he closed his mouth and swallowed so hard that Catherine could see his Adam's apple moving up and down. Slowly and crooked as if in physical pain, Henry finally backed away from her until his back hit the door. Catherine saw a plea flickering in his eyes, but she resolutely crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"What are you waiting for?" she hissed, thus giving her husband a verbal death blow. The desire in his eyes had disappeared, as had the hint of jealousy that was so untypical for Henry. What remained in his eyes were disappointment and a sadness she hadn't seen for a very long time.
Then he finally opened the door and fled into his bedroom.
Only when the door fell close behind him, did Catherine dare to exhale her breath in relief.

She could not explain what just had happened. Innumerable emotions rushed through her - body and mind - plunging her down into a sea of confusion where she was in extreme danger of drowning.

Last weeks' events still seemed terribly surreal to her. Starting with Henry's behavior that was a mystery for her. His newfound love, his sudden consideration and contribution in their company's business, combined with his interest in their family life felt strange, but she had admittedly begun to imagine a future with him.
But Henry's unfounded jealousy threw her off track. How could he believe that she would cheat on him? How could he think that she would allow or even enjoy another man's touch, when sometimes she could not even bear the caresses of the man she loved? This very idea was absurd.

And hadn't Henry noticed that she had sought his company - even though only in baby steps? She had even allowed some physical closeness. How could her sharp as a tack development genius of a husband be so stupid and blind to overlook the obvious?
The only man she would ever want to have sex with was Henry Valois, and he, in turn, now did everything he could to destroy that desire in her.

Catherine felt wild and untamed rage flooding every fiber of her being, discharging in an electric tingling sensation on her heated skin.
"Unbelievable," she said out loud and started ranting while grabbing another towel. Angrily she rubbed her hair dry. But the harder she rubbed, the greater her rage became, threatening to overwhelm her. Thus Catherine dropped the towel with a frustrated sound and reached for her bathrobe.

She could no longer ignore the things that were going on between them. She had to come to terms with Henry once and for all. For she could not stand this rollercoaster ride of emotions one minute longer.
And either she would save her marriage now or she and her husband would go straight to hell together.

Wrapped only in her bathrobe but more determined than ever before, Catherine de Medici entered her husband's bedroom.

Phewwww, I know, it's been ages... and I'm sorry. I kind of wasn't in the headspace for writing this story.
I have received many many new reviews during the last months and I want to thank you. It's amazing that there are still people outside, waiting for a new chapter. And here we go.

I hope you like it.

Have a great weekend, Dearies!