Author's note: I dedicate this chapter to Conrad Grayson, who was definitely the most interesting and versatile character of the show (just after Victoria of course ;)). I still can't believe that the writers decided to kill him. He never ceased to entertain us with his witty comments, his develish plans and of course with the epic ConVict fights. Revenge will never be the same without him. R.I.P.
Please enjoy and review :)
Who did that godforsaken woman think she was?
Conrad Grayson was seething with rage pacing up and down his study like a predator.
In his hand he held a glass of his oldest Scotch, the best way to calm his nerves in exceptional situations like the one he was facing right in that moment.
Damn it! Damn her! And above all: Damn that idiot of an employee David Clarke!
Conrad took a big gulp of the strong alcohol before he smashed the glass on the table wrathfully.
It had taken him until late afternoon to draw the conclusion that his wife was not just on a long and unannounced shopping trip, but had rather decided to leave with her not-so-secret lover-boy.
And not only that, she had also managed to get their son out of boarding school to drag him into this… this… Conrad didn't even know how to call it so he decided for mess. Yes, this was definitely a mess.
His breathing got heavier as he started to think about his wife and son being with David Clarke right now. He needed to sit in his comfortable desk chair and come up with a plan, but as soon as he settled in a seating position, an unpleasant memory snapped back to his mind.
Conrad had been sitting in that chair the evening he had first smelled him on Victoria.
She had come home later than usual claiming she had been at a friend's but Conrad had been able to tell that she was lying right away.
He had not only noticed a man's cologne on her when he had kissed her good night, but he had also recognized that look on her face. A look, he had once been very familiar with since she was always wearing it after sex. Just like her messy which she had failed to fix properly.
Nevertheless, Conrad hadn't said a word that evening, because he had assumed that with whomever she had slept would've been some meaningless one-night stand serving to bring more excitement into her life.
The following weeks, Conrad had still let her believe that he didn't suspect anything, although it had become clear that his wife had been meeting the same man for quite some time.
That had been the reason why he had started investigating in order to find out who she was having the affair with before punishing her for her discrepancy.
The moment Frank had told him that Victoria's lover was in fact his new employee at Grayson Global, that naïve single Dad, David Clarke, Conrad had lost his nerves.
It had all come down to one night when she had come home late not even bothering to find an excuse for her absence so that Conrad simply hadn't been able to hold back his anger anymore.
He had started screaming at Victoria pushing her against their bedroom wall and violently grabbing her wrists. He had explained to her that he knew everything about her affair with Mr Clarke and that she had to end it immediately.
Victoria however had protested making him remember all of his own infidelities and stating that she had the right to do the same.
After that Conrad recalled that he had shouted at his wife calling her a "whore", a "home wrecker" and worst of all "a bad mother".
Victoria had been crying the whole time and when he had finally left her bedroom, he had still been able to hear her heart wrenching sobs from the room down the hall.
As it appeared, that night had not only been crucial in terms of their wrecked marriage but also because from then on everything had started falling apart.
Victoria had permanently ignored her husband not even giving him one of her icy glares and on top of it all she had also continued to see David.
However, Conrad hadn't found the time to fix the relationship to his wife, because he had been occupied with work since someone had discovered that Grayson Global had been laundering money for the terrorists who had brought down Flight 197.
That meant that his whole existence was in absolute danger.
He couldn't admit to supporting terrorists. That would ruin his company and more importantly he would have to go to jail.
Giving up was definitely not an option, so Conrad had decided that it was finally time to punish his wife and demonstrate his power over her.
One thing he had not taken into account beforehand was the option of Victoria telling him that she was actually in love with David Clarke and therefore refused to assist in framing him.
Nevertheless, Conrad hadn't believed her and had threatened to take Daniel away from her and to throw her out on the streets if she didn't stick to his plan.
He knew that with those words he had hit her weak spot and he had been satisfied when Victoria had finally agreed to help him.
But as it seemed, she had only been bluffing.
Conrad got out of his chair again staring out of the window into their beautiful garden.
There was so much anger inside of him, he was balling his fists and throwing them against one of the windows.
How could she do this to him? After everything he had given to her?
Conrad lowered his head and closed his eyes trying to control his temper.
It was then that he noticed that beside from anger, he was also feeling something different.
A feeling so much more powerful than pure aggression. It was jealousy.
Victoria had been his for all those years now and he couldn't bear to think of her with another man.
But Conrad Grayson also realized that his jealousy was based on yet another emotion.
An emotion he usually tried to push aside but when it came to his wife he just couldn't deny it.
It was love.
He loved Victoria.
Truly and unconditionally.
He always had since the first time he had seen her in that little art gallery.
When he opened his eyes again looking into the garden, it became even more obvious to him.
She was everywhere and so was his love for her.
She had picked those flower arrangements and that strange sculpture which had cost him a fortune but he had bought it anyway because she had been fascinated by it.
He remembered Victoria relaxing in one of their designer chaise lounges in the patio when she had been pregnant with Daniel and how happy she had looked when she had finally had the chance to show their baby boy all the different plants and animals.
The only mistake Conrad had made was taking it all for granted.
He had slept with many different women in the time of their marriage expecting Victoria to accept it and play the devoted wife.
But she had always been a wild creature.
In fact, it had taken him a lot of time, care and love to tame her, to make her the Victoria Grayson she was today.
And after some time, Conrad had forgotten about the wild creature she had once been and assumed she had become just like all the other boring wives of businessmen or politicians.
Her affair with David Clarke was proof enough to show that that was definitely not the case.
Conrad knew exactly that his wife needed a great deal of attention, love and appreciation which he had failed to give to her, so she had sought comfort in the arms of David Clarke.
However, he did not expect the bond between them to be strong enough to make Victoria risk her social status, wealth and even the future of her son.
Quickly, Conrad turned back to his desk picking up two picture frames.
One was showing him and Victoria on their wedding day. She was wearing an opulent Dior dress, altered to fit her perfectly, and Conrad was in a simple black suit admiring his beautiful bride.
It was not their official wedding photo and only a snapshot taken right after the ceremony had been held, but it still was Conrad's favorite picture of them.
He remembered how brightly Victoria had smiled at him the moment they had stepped out of the church and how he had thought that that was the woman he would start a family and spend the rest of his life with.
The other picture also captured a meaningful moment in Conrad's life.
He had taken it himself when they had brought Daniel home from the hospital and had decided to send the whole staff home to enjoy some family time.
A slight smile crept on Conrad's face as he remembered how exhausted Victoria had been but nevertheless had insisted on showing their newborn son the Manor while he was still awake.
"He's only 32 hours old, Victoria." He had laughed at how enthusiastic his wife had been.
"I know, but that doesn't mean that he's stupid. I think he wants to know where he's going to live. Right Daniel?" She had looked down at the little boy in her arms, proudly caressing his tiny cheek.
Before she had turned around to start walking around the house, Conrad had taken the photo he was now holding in his hands.
He sighed.
Victoria had always been a natural with children.
In the first weeks with Daniel at home, Conrad had cut back at work in order to be with his family.
He had never quite known how to hold his son, how to bath him or what to do if he wouldn't stop crying. But Victoria had shown him everything.
It had always fascinated him that she could take care of Daniel all on her own, knowing exactly what he needed and when. Conrad had assumed she wanted to have a nanny, just like he had one as a child, so that she would have more time for herself, but Victoria had refused that offer claiming she didn't want a stranger raising her son.
Conrad often thought that his wife must have been a mother in a previous life, because she seemed so experienced when it came to taking care of Daniel.
Suddenly, he was forced back to reality by the loud ringing of his phone.
He put the two picture frames back on his desk and answered the call.
"Grayson." He cleared his throat trying to focus again.
"Hello, Mr Grayson, this is Mrs Davis. I…" It was inevitable to hear the nervousness in the young woman's voice. "I… I just wanted to inform you that Mr Clarke did not show up at the office this morning and that I am not able to reach him. He has not left a message for us either…"
"Thank you, Mrs Davis." Conrad interrupted his employee's secretary. "I have to discuss a very important matter with you. You need to drop by my private home immediately. I'll send you a car. It's extremely urgent."
Before she could ask any further questions, Conrad hung up the phone being pleased with the unexpected turning of events.
If his own wife denied him a false testimony accusing David Clarke of all the illegal actions concerning the downing of Flight 197, then at least his secretary would be easily influenced and save him from going to jail.
Conrad knew that blonde woman sitting behind her desk in front of David's office greeting him every morning with an insecure smile.
He was sure that she was just the right person to back up his story of David Clarke being a ruthless terrorist using Grayson Global to steal enough money and then disappearing to make Conrad take the blame for the tragedy of Flight 197.
Yes, that sounded like a reasonable theory to him.
And as for his wife and his son, he would get them back at all costs.
After convincing Mrs Davis to carry out his plan, he would call his security experts and PR-managers to develop a strategy to not only find Victoria, but also preserve their image as the golden couple of the Hamptons.
That bastard David Clarke had to pay for taking the most precious persons in his life away from him.
Conrad would make sure that he suffered more than he ever had in his miserable existence.
As he poured himself another glass of Scotch he couldn't help but smile at the cruelty of his plan.
You definitely chose the wrong enemy, Mr Clarke.