Chapter 5
On that morning Catherine arrived shortly after ten o'clock at the company's parking lot, which was uncommonly late for her. Henry's Mustang already occupied the right CEO parking space. She parked next to him and checked her appearance in the rearview mirror, her heart beating wildly.
Today's therapy session had upset her more than usually wherefore she hadn't raised her insuperable defensive walls yet. Hence she felt emotionally damageable as well as vulnerable. The fact that she was in a parking garage made her distraught condition even worse, even though this car park was under video surveillance and her allocated space was right in front of the elevator.
She recollected her deep-breathing exercises Doris had taught her years ago to calm herself down and master her inner turmoil.
When she finally sensed that she had nipped her arising panic in the bud after a few minutes, she opened her eyes once again and checked her reflection in the mirrow.
Her carefully applied make-up covered the paleness underneath but could not hide the tormented expression in her eyes. To calm her fluttering nerves she put some more lipstick on and applied rouge on her cheeks.
"Okay, okay, I'm ready," she mumbled to herself but still checked the contents of her handbag in search for her lachrymatory agent before she looked around on alert. Only then Catherine opened the door and hurried to the elevator as fast as possible without appearing rushed.
She hated feeling helpless and insecure. That was one of the reasons she had stopped her therapy a year after the attack.
At that time she had put all her energy into working on their business and building it up, tirelessly making Val-Sec what it was today – a world-wide operating and incredibly successful company.
She had suppressed the attack, neglected her children as well as her husband while burying herself deeply into work.
Because only then had she been able to blank out all the terrible thoughts and feelings that would otherwise dominate her whole self mercylessly.
A traditional form of repression that had taken its toll several years later. Something she had to learn the hard way.
Because her sleep disorder along with nocturnal nightmares and anxiety had dramatically worsen over the years until she had not been able to go to sleep without taking strong sleeping pills or tranquilizers. So she had acted on the advice of her worried doctor and resumed her therapy.
Over time she had been able to reduce the usage of sleeping pills to a less worrisome level. In addition the intervals between her panic attacks had increased as well. The nightmares, however, were still her regular nocturnal visitors. In today's session they've talked about marriage in general and her complicated relationship with Henry in particular like they've done so many times before. A tiring topic that exhausted her again and again.
Henry and herself had already given up on their marriage despite the feelings she still may have for her husband. Why Doris insisted nonetheless on analyzing every dispute, each clash of wills to the smallest detail was a mystery to her.
Probably she wasn't able to make head nor tail of this explosive relationship no more than Catherine herself. But unlike Doris, she had already resigned from it.
Too much had happened, too much stood between them. Henry's sense of guilt, her inability to give him what he needed, his affairs - just to name a few of their differences.
There flew still some sparks between them, sparks that would burn up their explosive emotions in out-of-control discussions that often resulted in hot, mindblowing sex. Nevertheless they both knew that a normal, healthy relationship was simply not possible anymore. At least not for them.
Catherine scolded herself a fool and tried to shake off these unpleasant thoughts. In less than thirty minutes she had a first meeting with Mary Scott. A young European and sole heir who planned to sell the emerging company of her recently deceased parents. The innovative concept of this small enterprise that brought together new security concepts and private clients with the aid of a custom-designed app would broaden their portfolio quite nicely. And the fact that the protracted development work of creating an own app would be superfluous was an added bonus for Val-Sec.
Charlotte, her personal assistant and general drudge, was already awaiting her in her office, a freshly brewed coffee in her hand. Catherine accepted the cup with a grateful smile and slipped out of her coat.
"How are things?", she wanted to know right away.
"Everything's under control. Francis and Bash have already mad themselves familiar with Scott's financial records as well as the technical details." Charlotte reported and hang up Catherine's coat while the CEO turned on her computer and took a first cautious sip.
"That's a good one, but it's not my coffee," she said shortly thereafter, looking confused at the cup in her hands. Charlotte nodded.
"Yes, our machine is broken. I have already commissioned the repair service of the manufacturer, but it obviously takes some time. This coffee is from downstairs." Catherine nodded absently.
"Anything else?", she wanted to know when she realized that her assistant made no move to leave the room.
"Well, there actually is something else. Or someone. Kenna Albert." Catherine reached for the personnel file that was handed to her and skimmed the thin folder.
"I see. No significant qualifications but a pretty face. She is responsible for our employee survey project?" Sighing, she closed the file again. When would Henry stop offering jobs or in Kenna's case internships to his little playthings? "I'll take care of it. Thank you, Charlotte."
With these words she dismissed her assistant.
This Kenna person was not the first affair that Henry had tried to place in their company. And certainly not the last one.
Catherine had stopped counting how many of them she had already fired behind his back. He had complained on behalf of few of them, others he had never mentioned, maybe he didn't even notice. She couldn't rule out the possibility that she had even done him a favor by getting rid of them in cases where the little bitches got too clingy. Kenna was just another bimbo whose future plans would be smashed under the sole of her highheels.
The conference with Mary Scott took place in one of the large meeting rooms. Besides the beautiful European and her lawyer also her son Fancis and Herny's firstborn Sebastian were present. The eyes of both young men instantly widened upon the arrival of the dark-haired beauty and Catherine shook her head in irritation when Francis started to stutter while introducing himself.
The girl made an overall intelligent impression, though overburdened with the whole situation. Catherine wondered if she was even ready to sell her parents inheritance yet.
The female CEO let herself be led by her good instincts and after the first twenty minutes the younger woman lost her shyness. When Mary laughed at one of her tartly remarks, Catherine caught her son staring at her open-mouthed. But on the other hand the European also seemed to take a liking to her son. Time and again her gaze wandered over to the blond young man and just as often she shyly brushed her long hair out of her pretty face.
Bash seemed mesmerized as well but at least he remembered his role in this business meeting and questioned Mary about the technical details.
Mary had obviously done her homework and contrary to Catherine's expectation she was very familiar with all matters. So the older woman ended their first round table talk with what she hoped was an open smile and shook the European's hand.
"Mary, it was a great pleasure meeting you. I would love to invite you to lunch but unfortunately my next appointment is already in ten minutes. Francis, why don't you accompany Mary to lunch?"
She gave her eldest son a meaningful look.
"Yes, absolutely!", he agreed right away. His facial expression however didn't reveal if he understood the intention behind her suggestion. She could only hope that Francis would not be hormone but job-driven during lunch.
A bit later after she had said her goodbye to the young people, Catherine waited impatiently for the elevator. When the doors slid open she was suddenly facing the woman who currently warmed her husband's bed.
"Kenna Albert, right?" She asked with a fake smile and scrutinized the girl more closely. Long,shiny brown hair, a beautiful face and a slender yet feminine body. She wore a wide and dainty dress with embroidered flowers and a ridiculous headband.
Puh, a little cliffhanger - how do you think this chance encounter will turn out?
Many many thanks for your generous reviews. That's what keeps me going. Thanks again and I hope you like this new part although there is no Cathry interaction. I'm sorry - next chapter will be better.