Isabella heard her father yell angrily at her grandfather from the upstairs room, but couldn't make out what the argument was precisely about. The shouts became muffled and indecipherable through the walls. She was not accustomed to such family feuds, even though she knew perfectly well what went on behind closed doors when she wasn't there. Her father and Jocelyn were known to have 'debates' every now and then, mostly involving a one sided screaming match from Jocelyn. It had been a very long time since she had experienced the full extent of her father's anger. Even through the barriers of the ceilings and walls, it sounded terrifying. It was when things like that happened that Isabella remembered how people described her father as a young man. Even her grandmother had said he was a little 'hot-headed' as a youth, although she thought she was downplaying the truth a little. Lucille sat next to Isabella at the dinner table, keeping a caring hand on her shoulder. The servants stayed at their respectable places, not wanting to seem impolite as they tried to eavesdrop on the upstairs conversation. They all knew the Hockleys had many skeletons hanging in their perfectly organised closets, so well hidden that nobody ever suspected the truth. Inside stories were worth a lot of money on the outside gossip circles and, even though it jeopardised their jobs and the Hockleys were wonderful employers, most of them were willing to do sell hem out in a second for the right amount.
With an all-mighty thud, the main doors slammed shut. At the same moment, Isabella and Lucille stood up and tottered over to the window to see what all the commotion was. They watched as Nathan, barely able to stand unaided, fell into the back of his car and yelled at the driver to do his god-damn job. As the speeding wheels sent gravel flying in all directions, Lucille's grip tightened on her bewildered grand-daughter. Over fifty years of marriage to that man had taught her to ignore certain things in order to keep peace, but this was too much. And recent times had put this silent vow into overdrive. Lucille could easily put her feelings and common sense aside and when Nathan had started to drink more than usual, she put it down to stress, nothing more. Even as he made more and more crude comments about her, she put that down to stress too. But his growing bitterness towards Isabella was impossible to ignore. He positively despised the girl at times, something she couldn't quite comprehend. The fond times of their fun days out together as three generations of the Hockley family seemed but a distant flash of nostalgia. She would never forgive Nathan for calling Isabella a bitch, there was a line that shouldn't have been crossed.
Jocelyn watched Nathan from the landing, making not a sound or movement. She curled her lip in amusement. The old man had finally snapped. She'd watched him for the 10 years he had been her father-in-law for and seen the drunken wrath build up to boiling point. It was only a matter of time before something snapped and she'd be there to pick up the pieces for Caledon, like the good wife she was. Isabella and Lucille shuffled slowly through to the landing, looking at the door as if they expected Nathan to burst through any moment.
"What the hell did you say Nathan?" Lucille whispered to her absent husband.
"I'm guessing the sign-over didn't go to well." Jocelyn said with a smile that seemed totally inappropriate for that moment. She was the only one happy at the time, contemplating the possibilities this chance could open up for her future. To keep up pretences, she put her spindly hand on her step-daughter's shoulder. It was an attempt at being comforting but her freezing palms were anything but. Isabella shrugged it away, knowing perfectly well Jocelyn didn't do sympathy, especially where it concerned Isabella.
"I'm gonna go and check on my dad." She said, heading towards the stairs. Jocelyn cornered her off. "Excuse me!"
"I'll go and see him first." Jocelyn insisted. "He needs someone to comfort him."
"And I can't do that?" Isabella asked, becoming more irritated with the pursed lipped woman in front of her.
"I know your father better than you do. Much better." Jocelyn smirked, bringing her left hand up towards her face so that her oversized diamond wedding ring was on show. "Trust me Isabella. I'm just what he needs right now."
Isabella doubted that, but she didn't want to add any more unnecessary arguments to the already tense mood amongst the family. She backed down and turned back to her grandmother, who needed someone to hug her dearly. Happy with her victory of sorts, Jocelyn ascended up the stairs to visit her husband.
Cal knew that his estrangement from his father would happen one day. Their relationship was far too tempestuous to withstand their fights. Yet when it had actually happened, and he had had time to reflect, it was a peculiar feeling. He didn't want the man back in his life again, not after those despicable things he had said. As a father himself, willing to do anything for his daughter, he couldn't understand how Nathan could so easily toss aside his child's feelings. Those weren't the actions of a true father. Cal looked down at the signed contracts, deeming him president of Hockley Industries, then at the unsigned documents he was going to present to his daughter once she turned eighteen. He knew that circumstance aside, he was a true father.
He knew that Jocelyn was standing in the doorway, she had an aura around her that was impossible to miss, but he chose to ignore her. What he really needed was some peace and Jocelyn never allowed him that. She hated to be ignored, so tapped her long nails across the door frame, creating a rhythmical tapping. Soon, her presence became irritating, and he had no choice but to acknowledge her.
"Yes, Jocelyn?" Cal asked, with a tone that made sure Jocelyn knew she wasn't welcome. Choosing to ignore it, she wrapped her arms around him to take a sly peek at the documents. They were all signed and ready to submit and make official. Next to them were the files to create the second in command. Her smirk grew wider, flashing her teeth. Cal stiffened under Jocelyn's grip. He still carried a dislike for her that grew with the passing days, but her knowledge kept him in his place, like a dog faced with a strong hand.
"We heard your little discussion from downstairs. I take it that Nathan wasn't happy." Jocelyn replied, sitting up and positioning her cold hand on the back of Cal's chair. Cal's head jutted around in shock.
"What did you hear?" He asked, panic obvious in his voice.
"Nothing we could really understand, just raised voices. Your final shout shocked us in particular." Jocelyn reassured her husband. His reaction made it clear to her that his biggest secret was their topic of heated debate. "What did he say about Isabella?" She asked.
"I don't wish to discuss it any further." Cal said, refusing to make eye contact with Jocelyn. Unfortunately, she wasn't about to stop.
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Nathan's barely been able to stay sober for quite some time you. You'd think that prohibition would have put a stop to it, but when you've got the money, anything goes." She continued with a lilt in her voice. Cal had heard these sentiments countless times before and didn't wish to hear them again. He gathered up the signed documents and placved them in the drawer where he kept his picture of Isabella - along with several other items he preferred to keep out of public view. Jocelyn watched him lock the papers away and slide the key into his jacket pocket.
"His hostility towards Isabella isn't exactly unexpected." Jocelyn knew she'd hit a raw nerve with Cal, who was becoming more stern faced with each word she said. Jocelyn, loving her grasp of power yet again, continued. "Did you ever see him say anything nice to her over the past few months? She's barely been acknowledged by him, except for when he has a drunken rant. It's almost as if..." She paused to pull out the tension a little more. Cal's face was burning furiously. "...as if he didn't see her as his grandchild." She finished.
"Enough!" Cal snapped. He knew what she said was true but it still hadn't completely sunk in. His own father hated his grandchild. The biological link that Nathan obviously needed did not exist, therefore he would not view Isabella as one of his own. Cal had had enough of it all. If need be, he would cut all ties with those in his inner circle if they meant to harm his relationship with his daughter. He felt like he couldn't trust anybody now. There was a time when he was willing to stab anyone in the back to get his own way, but now he carried a heavy burden that had matured over the years, leaving him feeling helpless and pathetic. A quick look in the antique mirror displayed on the wall confirmed his progress into old age. His hairline was noticeably further back than it once was and the remaining hair was whispy and much lighter. The wrinkles were proof to all that life had been much more stressful than it once was. The fear of turning into his father was not helped by his striking resemblance to than drunken fool. One day he would just decide to stop looking in mirrors. He turned back and looked back at his wife. Ten years of marriage had not left him dumb, he could tell exactly when she was conjuring up some sort of plan and they were seldom positive.
"You know I'm right Caledon." She said in a hushed voice. "One day he'll let something slip and who knows what will happen."
"I don't care about that man anymore. He can die for all I care, he isn't important to me."
"Well he doesn't need to be here now. You've got his business, Mr President of the company." She emphasised each syllable of her new title for Cal, loving the authoritative sound it created. "Now you can do everything you've ever wanted."
Cal merely nodded, already imagining his future.
"Yes. Yes of course. Now Hockley Industries will be in safe hands. The family business can continue without any stupid delays."
Jocelyn smirked further, creating slight dimples in her sunken cheeks. No amount of extravagantly priced make-up would ever hide the fact that Jocelyn had aged beyond her years. Her malice added to that.
"So, where do I sign?" She asked. Cal looked confused, wondering if she had taken a sip of whatever Nathan had been drinking that night. "Oh don't act so coy Cal. You know what I mean." She picked up the unsigned documents that lay on his desk. "Just on the dotted lines?"
Cal's reaction of contempt disguised as a laugh was not expected.
"What on earth has come over you?" She asked.
"God, woman. You didn't seriously think that I would give you control of anything to do with the business, did you?" Cal said, still laughing. Jocelyn was not a woman that should be scorned but that that point he couldn't have cared less about her. Even as her mouth crinkled and her eyes turned to reptile-like slits, he continued to laugh. She let the papers fall back onto the table.
"You said that you were keeping the business in the family." She murmered.
"Yes, and it will be kept in the Hockley name, Ms Rutherford." He replied. By using her maiden name, Cal made Jocelyn feel disconnected from his life.
"Isabella?" She asked. His nod was the final straw. "So you're going to keep the family business running by handing it over to a girl you picked up from a ship."
"She's my daughter."
"No, she's someone else's kid and always has been. I'm your wife!"
"Love has never existed between us, this was all about convenience and you know that. It's a piece of paper, nothing more."
"Excuse me, a piece of paper is all that makes that girl your daughter in the eyes of the law." Jocelyn fired back. She stepped closer to Cal, feeling his hurried breath across her skin. "This is all a farce and one day you're going to pay for what you did."
Cal had already snapped once tonight and could feel the beginnings of another scream building in his throat. But he restrained it with all his might. He did not want to turn into that man again. Instead, he turned his back to Jocelyn and picked up the documents he planned to present to Isabella, before walking out. He did not look back at Jocelyn and hoped that she would not raise the subject again. It was time to make some drastic changes to his life - changes that did not include that Rutherford woman. The world was against him and he planned to run until he could not hide it anymore.
Standing in the study, hands clasped together, Jocelyn wondered how on earth her marriage had made it past one whole decade. Tolerating Cal could be a challenge, but nothing compared to watching him coo over that girl he practically abducted. She had been second best for too long and was intent on bending things to her advantage. It was just her luck that Cal always wore jackets with large pockets. Large enough that she could dig her twig-like fingers into them and pull the smallest object out without him feeling it's absence. Opening her hands, she revealed to herself the study desk key, which she used immediately.
In the drawer - which she had never gazed upon before - lay several items, mementos of the younger Cal, a totally different man. The one that particularly grabbed her interest was a sepia picture in a simple golden frame. The edges were visibly worn and the picture itself bore the signs of folds and wrinkles in the paper. Without having ever seen her before, she knew exactly who the girl was. A young, unblemished face with lots of anguish hidden in her wide eyes. She was willing to take a guess that the picture was fourteen years old or so. Cal's ex-fiancee was a beautiful girl. Isabella could only wish that her mother was like this. She knew Cal had said her mother was called Rose. It seemed as if the young society girl still remained in his eyes despite her perishing so sadly. From the tragedy, Isabella was 'born.' Jocelyn smiled. How interesting her step-daughter would find this picture...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Author's Note: Sorry this is short. The next chapter will be short too but full of drama! Thanks to everyone who's favourited this and commented. (Special thanks to Sunshine-EmmaM for all the comments, they mean a lot!) and I promise that this won't be a total cop out!)