CHAPTER 63
We are having dinner with Eva and Gideon tonight but at this moment we are at our apartment getting changed.
I am thinking about everything that was said between Gideon and Christopher, not to mention the altercation I had with Chris. As far as I can see, it is obvious what Gideon has to do and it seems he has the evidence in his possession to do it. Unfortunately, he still holds a sense of loyalty towards his mother which in my opinion is unjustified after the way she has treated him all his life but until he comes to that conclusion there is nothing any of us can do.
As I am thinking about this, I receive a text from Eva.
What did Christopher say about Ireland?
I think back to the conversation earlier and his words and quickly type my reply.
He said she's steaming angry and she is vowing to make their mom and dad pay for what they did to Gideon and he also said that knowing Ireland he was sure it won't be subtle.
I wait and Eva's response quicky comes through.
Do you think she will go public about Gideon's abuse and Elizabeth's denial of it?
I quickly respond to reassure her.
No, Gideon is confident she won't as she wouldn't even tell Christopher why she had left home, he said that he didn't think she will go public with the details but he's fairly certain a public humiliation of some description of Elizabeth is on the cards.
I wait and there is a short delay before Eva replies.
So, if Gideon has this evidence about his mom's culpability back when she was married to his dad and if Ireland were to become aware of that information…
I know what she is hinting at and while I would love to agree with her this really has to be Gideon's decision and I tell her as much.
As much as we want him to get his revenge and to us this would be the perfect way to do so. But how clear and simple it looks to us it isn't that easy for Gideon and it has to be his decision.
There is another long delay before Eva replies to that.
You're right, but that doesn't mean we can't put a few well placed words in the right ears and I could also work on Gideon to bring him around to the correct conclusion.
I smile but also inwardly cringe at what she is proposing. So, I reply with a message of warning.
You would need to be extremely careful if you were going to do something like that as he could feel cornered and it may backfire on you, he needs to come to the decision himself and not feel like he his having his hand forced.
Her response is almost immediate.
You're right.
I let out a long breath of relief. As much as I would love to see Gideon get his well earnt revenge on his mom for the way she treated him, it has to be his decision to do so and no amount of pushing from us will help and could in the long run make him resentful. My phone pings again and I smile as I see the latest text from Eva.
It's just Elizabeth is an epic bitch and nothing would give me greater pleasure than seeing Gideon take her down.
I think for a moment and then tap out my response.
I know, but it's not our decision to make and the last thing you need is to alienate your own husband by forcing him to do something he isn't ready to do.
Before Eva can respond I see the door open and Christian appears pushing his phone into his pocket.
"I'm just talking to Eva" I say and he nods.
"Just so you know, Gideon called me asking my advice on what was discussed earlier. He feels a sense of loyalty towards his mom. I'm in no position to offer any advice considering my own maternal background and how recently I discovered the truth about my birth mother. However, I thought you might be able to help him… considering the issues you have had with Carla, so I suggested that he call you for some advice".
Christian looks at me carefully gauging my response to this but I just nod.
"Ok" I say simply. I look down as my phone pings again with another text from Eva.
Got to go, Gideon is here now x
My response is immediate.
Ok we will see you both soon x
oooOOOooo
We are sitting in a lovely restaurant at a discreetly placed table and I am taking in the luxurious surroundings. Christian is studying his menu closely and Eva is sipping a glass of wine. Gideon looks distracted, he is running his finger along the top of his glass and gazing into space.
"Everything ok?" I ask as I watch him.
He was clearly thinking deeply about something as he responds with a jolt and gives me a genuine but slightly brittle smile.
"I'm sorry I was just thinking about earlier" he says. He hesitates a moment and then looks directly at me, I suck in a sharp breath as it never fails to astound me just how brilliantly blue his eyes are.
"What would you do?" he asks me simply and I cock my head to one side questioningly. I glance at Eva who has now fully engaged in what is being said.
"What do you mean? Do you mean if it was my mom?" I ask as I remember Christian's words from earlier and Gideon nods.
With that I give a little snort, "I don't have a relationship with my mom, she really wasn't the best mom and I had a similar situation to you. Her second husband was abusive, I tried to tell her and she didn't believe me, she took his side instead of mine. At the time, I called Ray and he did everything in his power to get me away from her and I left Texas and went home to him, he fought for custody of me and the rest is history… so, in answer to your question, if I had irrefutable evidence in my possession to remove that woman from my life once and for all and get rid of all the resentment I have felt towards her for the majority of my life I wouldn't hesitate – and she would deserve everything she got. You got a brief taste of what she is like, how self-absorbed she is, on the night she called the house when you and Eva were there and all she wanted me to do was hook her up with Frank again when it all came out about him being our father".
Gideon nods thoughtfully, "So… in your opinion you think I should make the information I have on her public?" he asks.
I shrug, "Only you can answer that Gideon, but from what I have seen, heard and been told of your mom… in my opinion she would deserve everything she got for what she did to you".
I look at Eva again and she smiles gratefully at me. She is nodding her head in agreement, Gideon looks at her and a wry amused smile pulls at his lips.
"I have no need to ask how you feel about it do I Angel?" he says and Eva lets out an unladylike snort.
"Erm no, I think I have made my feelings crystal clear when it comes to Elizabeth and her total lack of morals, parental concern or basic humanity".
Gideon sighs and rubs his eyes with his hand, "I'm considering making Ireland aware of the situation that happened when my father was arrested and my mother's involvement. If, as Christopher said Ireland is looking to avenge me in some way I would sooner this was used rather than running the risk of the details of my abuse being put into the public arena. I managed to avoid that happening when I got my revenge on the perpetrators and I'm not particularly keen on the idea of it all coming to light now, I am making progress with the female shrink you put me in touch with and I am slowly working through that entire time" he says glancing at Christian as he says that.
I reach over and place my hand on top of his, "Gideon, this has to be your decision and you have to be one hundred per cent happy with it. You have to be comfortable with whatever you decide to do but whatever you do decide to do I guarantee you will have our full support". I look at Christian as I say this and he nods his head firmly.
Gideon moves and squeezes my hand, "Thank you Ana" he says and then he falls silent again. I know he is weighing up the pros and cons about this and after a moment I gently withdraw my hand from his.
Suddenly he seems to come to some decision and he thumps his hand on the table. "Fuck it I'm doing it, she didn't love me enough. She never behaved like a real mom, how a real mom should behave. Everything was about appearances, how she looked to the world at large. I was made to feel like an intruder when she rebooted her life and started again with Chris. I wasn't wanted, I was a reminder of her past life, the undeniable link with my father which also reminded her of her morally bankrupt greed".
Eva smiles and reaches for him, "Well needless to say you have my full support and I will take great pleasure in seeing that bitch being brought down once and for all" she says with an almost indecent eagerness.
"You have us at your side and we will support you in whatever way we can" Christian says simply.
"Thank you, thank you all" Gideon says as he looks around at us.
We are suddenly aware of a buzzing sound and Gideon reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone quickly answering it.
"Arash" he says by way of greeting.
A wide and genuine smile fills his face as he listens and we watch waiting for him to explain.
"Thank you" he says eventually and hangs up. "It appears the announcement of the release of the GenTen has sent Landon into a tailspin. It is better than we could ever have imagined. It seems the console he had originally developed was abandoned in favour of him trying to replicate the new technology which of course was bogus, apparently he is reeling from the news that the GenTen is being launched now and as the development on his console had stalled there is no way he can compete".
He has barely finished speaking when Christian's phone starts to ring and he quickly answers. "Good evening Ros" he says and then he leans back in his seat before giving Gideon a triumphant look. "Is that right? Yes, I agree… do it, thank you Ros" he says.
"The news of the GenTen release has caused panic amongst Landon's investors and they are all desperate to sell their shares in LanCorp, the stock price has plummeted and his company is essentially worthless. Ros is hoovering up all the remaining shares on offer to add to what we have already acquired and GEH is now in a position to implement the plan B we talked about".
"Plan B?" Eva asks with open curiosity.
Christian gives her a cold ruthless smile, "Oh yes, since I was made aware of the issues Gideon was having with Landon, I've been buying up all available stock in LanCorp and now with the remaining investors panicking I am now in a position to bankrupt him. The question is… Gideon do you want me to proceed?" he says turning towards Gideon once more.
"Let's just wait a day or so" Gideon says after a moment and Christian nods.
"Why?" Eva asks.
Gideon smiles, "Because Landon is up shit creek now and who will he turn to?" he asks.
"His investors and shareholders" Eva says, the understanding dawning on her face as she looks at Christian.
Gideon nods, "So imagine what a shock he will get when he turns to his shareholders and the majority shareholder pulls the plug on the entire operation and liquidates the company from beneath him" he says glancing at Christian who gives a wicked chuckle.
"Well, that's Landon taken care of so it's just your mom now" Eva says and Gideon nods.
"Do you have any idea how you are going to do this?" I ask and Gideon shakes his head.
"No, not really. As I have already said, I realise the first step would be to make Ireland and also possibly Christopher aware of our mothers' involvement in the fraud that caused my fathers demise; but after that I'm uncertain of what course to take as it would rely on what Ireland's reaction is".
"I think just take it one step at a time and play it by ear. You are so good at changing gear and adapting to situations and I think this is one where you will need to be flexible" Eva says, "Plant the seed and then watch it grow" she adds.
"More like light the touch paper" Gideon replies sardonically.
We all laugh at that, "By the way, on a lighter note. It is the annual charity gala in a few days' time for the Crossroads Foundation and as you are both in New York, I was wondering if you would consider staying on to join us?" Gideon asks looking hopefully at us.
I nod my head and look at Christian, "I'd like to go" I say simply and Christian nods.
"Of course we will" he says and as simple as that we are staying in New York for a while longer, I glance at Eva and grin at her knowingly, she says nothing but returns my grin with one of her own. I have a feeling that now Gideon is sure of our support he is counting on it for when he tells his siblings about what he knows about their mother.