Thanks to the short chapter earlier this week today you have a two for one kind of deal.
...
Adam was sat up in bed scowling at the television in the corner of his hospital room. The news was reporting the incident at the airport.
The anchor man was coolly reporting his script in an unemotional manner which made the words he was saying even worse.
"Riots at Pine Valley Airport brought a stop to all air traffic in this small Pennsylvanian town. The violence was sparked between two groups of rival protestors caught up in the on-going battle over the parental care of the young Adam Chandler; a child torn between his lesbian adopted mother and a father who is recovering from a severe nervous breakdown. The violence of today's clash between these two groups adds further fuel to this increasingly controversial dilemma."
"What dilemma?" Adam growled at the screen. "The boy is with his mother!"
"I shall now hand you over to Pamela Brookes, who is at Pine Valley Airport… Pamela are you there?"
The camera cut to a blonde reporter standing with a microphone in one hand and finger in her ear as she adjusted her ear piece.
"Thank you David…" she said smiling broadly at the camera. In the background was debris surrounding the glass exit doors of the airport with a few people milling around in the distance.
"Although it is now back to business as usual at Pine Valley Airport, a few hours ago this building was the site of a violent confrontation between two fierce rivals awaiting the flight from Paris that was returning home Bianca Montgomery, daughter of the famous starlet Erica Kane, her girlfriend Marissa Tasker and their three children. One child in particular is the source of strong feelings from both sides; Adam Chandler, known to his family as AJ. This little boy has become the poster child for some over very controversial issues. Pro-Christian groups are vocal in their opposition of a male child being brought up in a lesbian household against the biological father's wishes, especially as both mothers are not themselves biologically related to the child…"
"Do your research idiot," Adam snapped, "She's his aunt as well as his mother!"
"… At the same time those in the gay rights faction… are demonstrating their support to the mothers who are raising their children under very difficult circumstances. Both women were severely injured during the Chandler Mansion shootings a year ago. Strong feeling on both sides led to violent scenes today with eight people being taken to hospital with severe injuries. This video footage was taken during the riot, there is violence from the start…"
The footage changed to a shaky phone video of people jostling together, then there was a scream as a bottle flew into frame, striking a large man on the head and then there was a lot of blood, screaming and people pushing each other away in panic. The camera footage shook some more and then abruptly cut off.
The camera focused back onto Pamela with her wide smile, trying to ignore something that was going on to her left.
"I am here with two people who were among those caught up in events at the airport."
The news team obviously thought it would be cute to try and promote a little confrontation. There was a short lady with a bad perm wearing a t-shirt with a large picture of AJ with the slogan, Daddy loves you underneath; there was no mistaking where her allegiance lay. The other figure had an oddly familiar face, it was Camilla, Reggie's girlfriend.
"So I understand you witnessed the events?" Pamela asked, first pointing the microphone to the short woman.
"Yeah…" said the woman, "I was standing with my friend Heather when this bottle came flying out of the crowd towards us. It was uncalled for, we were not hurting anyone, and we certainly weren't there to cause violence. Ours was a peaceful protest; promoting proper Christian values. I came here to pray for that little boy"
"Not hurting anyone." scoffed Camilla, too irritated to wait her turn in the interview. "You are undermining a little boy and his family."
"I'm not undermining anyone." The woman retorted quickly. "AJ's father has made a public statement that he doesn't want his child raised by two lesbians. He is the biological father; his rights surely should have priority over the opinion of two women not even directly related to the boy. Just because one of them is a Billionaire we are supposed to ignore the terrible situation this child has been left in? Kept from his father by a woman who isn't even his mother!"
"You do realise that statement just belittled the position of every adoptive parent and child on the planet?"
"That's not the point. We didn't cast the first stone!" the woman responded looking flustered by the rebuke. "They threw bottles..! The Reverend Gregory almost lost an eye!"
"I was not involved in that and that something so terrible has even happened because of this is unforgivable." said Camilla calmly.
Pamela, still smiling inanely turned the microphone to Camilla.
"Now you were actually on the flight from Paris, and as I understand it you are friends with the family that is in the centre of this controversy…"
"I am and I was." said Camilla. "Fortunately the police were quick to react when the fighting started, they cordoned off the arrivals lounge and we were completely safe."
"Lucky you." grumbled the short woman.
"What do you think Bianca Montgomery and Marissa Tasker would feel about today's events?" Pamela then asked.
"They would be horrified by it." said Camilla, "They were horrified by the protestors even before things got violent!... And I'm sorry…" Camilla added, turning to the short protestor standing beside her. "I have to pick you up on something… A moment ago you said that wasn't the point but what is your point? Why are you here? You clearly don't know the first thing about this case or the people involved in it. This was hardly the welcome home this family deserved after everything they have been through. You coming here has caused hurt whether you see it or not! I'm not sure if it's simply ignorance on your part or something worse! JR Chandler is the boy's biological father, yes… but he is also an alcoholic and a very unstable man. He lost his custody rights to the child after suffering a mental breakdown that resulted in a horrific assault of Bianca Montgomery. An assault where he savagely beat and hospitalised an already paralysed woman."
The short woman opened her mouth to protest but Camilla raised a finger for silence and continued.
"This same man is currently awaiting trial for the attempted murder of his ex-wife Marissa… AJ's mother. He shot her point blank in the head! This is a man that you believe should have a say in the welfare of a child?!"
The small woman was speechless.
"I… I…" stammered the woman a real look of surprise on her face. "I d-didn't know that… Attempted murder?"
Things were obviously not becoming as confrontational as the film crew was hoping for, the camera swung quickly back to Pamela, who's smile had now slipped a bit.
"Thank you both and now back to the studio." she said loudly as the calm conversation was carrying on behind her.
The anchor was looking startled by the quick return.
"Thank you Pam… As you can see this is still a controversial issue." he said quickly.
"And you're still an idiot." mumbled Adam.
…
Just them the door opened and a nervous Scott stepped in.
"Adam." He began and then he noticed the television was on. He took the remote from Adam's hand and turned it off. "You know you shouldn't be watching the news, think of your blood pressure."
"My blood pressure is fine." replied Adam.
Scott gave him a nervous smile and then licked his lips.
"Good, because I spoke to Caleb this afternoon about the proposition we discussed."
"Going into partnership with Courtland Electronics?"
"Yeah." said Scott. "He has another proposal, but he wants to see you in person." Scott pointed over his shoulder towards the door. "In fact he's just outside."
"Then show him in." said Adam sitting up in bed and straightening his hospital gown. "The sooner we save the business the better I will feel."
…
As Caleb entered he gave Adam a slow smile and settled on the chair beside the bed.
"Now I have spoken to Scott here," said Caleb, getting straight to business, "And he has spoken a lot of sound commercial sense with his proposal to merge our two companies. But as I see it, a move like that to strengthen your business could also weaken and undermine my own. There is nothing wrong with your portfolio, your business should be thriving but it isn't and there is only one reason for that… The problem with Chandler Enterprises is the Chandler name, no one trusts it anymore and if I go into partnership with you no one would trust my company either."
"This is just a temporary problem." protested Adam. "When I am out of hospital I will rebuild my business!"
"In the current financial climate there is no such thing as a temporary problem, you are either a success or you are dead in the water."
"So what do you propose?" Adam asked.
"Well as I said there is nothing wrong with the portfolio as it stands… so instead of a partnership I would like to offer to buy you out."
Adam sat up straighter and glared at Caleb.
"You want me to sell my company… something that has taken a life-time to build… to a Courtland?! Get out!"
Caleb held his ground for a moment but Adam looked furious.
"I said GET OUT!"
"I'll give you time to reconsider, but I will need to know your considered answer by the end of the month." said Caleb, getting up and slowly leaving the hospital room.
"Did you know that was what he was offering?" Adam roared turning to Scott, red-faced with anger.
"Your blood pressure…" warned Scott.
"Damn my blood pressure! Did you know that was the offer?"
"We have no choice. His offer is a good one."
"We don't need him to save the business." Adam spluttered.
"There is no business." said Scott. "We can barely afford our outlays for this month, we are close to bankruptcy. I've tried everything but no one wants to invest in the Chandler name anymore."
"No." said Adam, his face now paler and his elderly body suddenly looking very frail. "No, it can't end like this!"
…