CHAPTER 68
One Week Later…
(ANA)
"Is that Gideon?" I ask hopefully as Christian's phone buzzes urgently.
He looks at the screen and shakes his head. "No" he says simply before answering the call and leaving the room, effectively dismissing me.
We have been back in Seattle for nearly a week and I just want to return to New York to be with Eva. I was not impressed when Christian announced we were returning home as that was my last thought when everything so spectacularly exploded. The only consolation I have is that Victor is now in New York and able to take care of her and look out for her. Eva and I talk everyday but it isn't enough and I know she feels the same way as she has said as much. It seems like everything has gone to hell, after Ireland's outburst at the gala. The police naturally followed up on the witnesses who told what they had heard that evening and it almost seems like the media is more interested in that aspect rather than the fact Ryan Landon went postal and tried to shoot Christian and Gideon. I cannot argue or complain about the fact that part of it was handled efficiently and discreetly by the authorities and I'm fairly sure that because Gideon and Christian are who they are things moved more quickly than would normally be the case, but the fact remains that the media are more interested in focussing on Elizabeth and her part in the Ponzi investment schemes.
Ryan Landon is currently awaiting trial. With all the evidence stacked against him, after all he burst into a gala filled with hundreds of people and threatened to kill two people it appears to be a fairly open and shut case. We have been informed that his lawyer is pleading his innocence on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to the mitigating circumstances of being made bankrupt and losing everything. However, our team of attorneys have a massive level of evidence to dispute that along with the evidence of Landon constantly poking at Gideon for years. Their argument being someone who has planned this course of action for so long clearly knew what they were doing.
I turn and walk out of the room, there has been a distance between Christian and I since we returned from New York, my resentment at being effectively hauled home and abandoning my sister when she so clearly needed me. My mind fills with the memories of that day a week ago when we flew home from New York…
"I can't believe you are doing this, Eva and Gideon need us" I say almost desperately as I watch Taylor take our cases out to the car whilst stoically ignoring my pleading look.
"Ana, we need to go home, we will still be in touch with Eva and Gideon, but I need to return to Seattle and I also need you safe" he says.
I shake my head, my anger rising "That's bullshit and you know it" I snap. Christian glares at me, he hates it when I call him out on his stupidity.
"Ana" he begins but I hold up my hand to stop him.
"No, I won't shut up and fall into line, you should know me better than that. First of all, your safety argument doesn't hold water as you know there is no threat now. Landon has been apprehended and he can't get anywhere near us… and besides, it's you he wants to kill not me" I say.
"Ana, I'm not going to even dignify that immature remark with a response" Christian says so coldly that I can almost feel the ice in his tone.
I ignore that comment and continue, "Secondly it just makes more sense to be here than back in Seattle with everything that is happening, it looks like we are running away". I pause and when Christian doesn't respond to that I take a step towards him.
"So, why are we leaving?" I ask.
"Because I need to get home, I have my own company which I have effectively been neglecting. Gideon is aware of the decision and he understands. I would've thought you would too" he says.
I take a deep breath as this is rapidly getting out of hand and I try and bring it down a bit. "Look, I get that" I begin gently trying to regain some civility.
"I don't think you do" Christian retorts which just makes my anger rise even more.
"Excuse me?!" I say staring at him defiantly. "Hang on one moment, yes I do get that and this is not just me having a hissy fit. How on earth can we realistically leave New York yet? All this crap with Landon which we are involved in. Then there is the stuff with Elizabeth being involved in that fraud which has overshadowed that and is going to run for a while so…" I am stopped by Christian cutting me off.
"Which is why we have to return to Seattle" he snaps.
It suddenly becomes clear why he is doing what he is doing, he is distancing himself from the fallout.
"Oh my god, you are distancing yourself from Gideon and Eva in case any civil cases are brought" I whisper. I see the look on his face and know I have hit the nail on the head.
"No fucking way, that is my sister, I won't abandon her. I am not going" I say and stubbornly fold my arms and sit down on the bed".
"Ana we are going and we are leaving now, even if I have to carry you on to the plane" Christian growls as he takes a step towards me.
I glare at him "No" I say and then with a sigh, Christian steps towards me and grabs me. I start kicking and screaming as he hoists me over his shoulder, using his strength against me and carrying me out of the apartment.
I am seething all the way to the airport; I am refusing to even look at Christian I am so angry and he is ignoring me by resolutely staring at his phone.
"Am I even going to be allowed to say goodbye to my sister?" I ask childishly, breaking the oppressive uncomfortable silence as the car heads towards the airport.
Christian looks up from his phone and nods, "Eva is aware we are leaving and Gideon is bringing her to the airport so you can say goodbye to her" he says in his clipped cold CEO tone before returning his attention back to his phone.
That's something I suppose, I don't say anything else and the uncomfortable silence spreads out between us once more. I pull out my own phone, I am too angry to speak to Christian right now and I don't trust myself to say something which I know I will probably regret afterwards.
I think carefully, Eva would be the first person I would turn to but I will be seeing her shortly and hopefully I will manage to give her some kind of explanation as to the fact this is really not my idea. I am surprised that she hasn't called me if she knows we are leaving and at that thought a cold rock settles in my stomach, is she as angry as I am? I don't have the guts to call her, instead I send a simple text.
Apparently we are flying home, I have no idea what is happening and this is NOT my decision
I look at what I have written and quickly hit send. I wait and a few moments later a reply comes through.
I know, can't talk now will try and explain when I see you
My eyebrows rise as I read this, does Eva have something to do with this? I dismiss that thought as quickly as I thought it. Surely not!
I am feeling restless and I pause and think. I don't want to involve my dad with all this. It took me long enough to calm him down when he found out about the shooting at the gala and I think I have just about reassured him everything is ok. The answer comes to me in a rush and before I can over think it any more I text Elliot.
Christian is watching me closely but not saying anything as I type out a long message.
"Who are you talking to baby?" he asks eventually.
"My brother" I reply more sharply than I intended to. "I'm texting El" I add.
Christian nods and moves his attention to his own phone.
I pause and read what I have written.
Hey! We are heading home. I am not happy about it as I feel I need to stay to support Eva. No idea what is going on, Christian is being an ass and won't discuss it with me. Sorry to offload on you like this.
I pause and delete it and then simply type Hey! we are heading home.
Elliot's reply comes almost immediately.
Hey! I would've thought you two would be staying out there a bit longer?
I snort as I read it and quickly send my reply.
Christian is distancing himself and GEH from the fallout and so I have to fall into line
WHAT?! That's bullshit is the almost immediate reply I get and I smile.
Tell me about it! I type and hit send. I look up and see we have arrived. The GEH jet is waiting and standing nearby, looking pale and unhappy is Eva.
Before the car has even stopped properly I have yanked the door open and I am running towards my sister. She grabs me and holds me whispering in my ear.
"I have no idea what Gideon is thinking, I swear I had nothing to do with this" she whispers and I rear back in surprise.
"Gideon?" I ask and she nods.
"I heard him on the phone with Christian, telling Christian to leave New York. This crap to do with the fraud and Elizabeth is going to get ugly fast. A number of people who lost money to Geoffrey Cross have come out of the woodwork and started kicking off. Gideon thinks he is being noble and protecting you and Christian from becoming tainted by it. I agree to a point with his thinking but…" she trails off and pulls me into another fierce hug.
I am left stunned, it wasn't Christian at all, so why did he let me believe it was him? I look around and realise Gideon isn't here. Only Angus is here and waiting a few feet away.
"Where is Gideon?" I ask.
Eva shakes her head. "He didn't want to come as he knew you'd be angry with him. After the argument I overheard with Christian I don't think he wanted to go through it again with you".
I shake my head and rub my eyes with my finger, "For fucks sake, he's being so stupid" I mutter.
Eva grins, "I know, I told him much the same thing. I think what it all boils down to is he doesn't want to be rejected again. He knows this is going to get ugly and he is pushing you two away before you can bail on him. Christian has told him he standing beside him regardless but he just won't listen".
My mind starts thinking things over and putting stuff together. "What about Ireland and Christopher how are they dealing with all this?" I ask as whilst Christian and I won't turn our backs on Gideon – despite what he believes, I'm not so confident about Christopher and Ireland.
Eva pauses obviously thrown at my random question. "They are behind Gideon one hundred per cent. Chris has gone. When it all came out about everything, he just decided to save his own skin and reputation. He left Elizabeth and he's gone, I think he is filing for divorce but I'm not certain. That has made Ireland and Christopher even more determined to support Gideon".
"What about Elizabeth?" I ask.
Eva snorts, "Still in denial. She is denying everything and despite all the evidence she is still maintaining her innocence and ignorance. That woman takes delusional to a whole new level".
I think for a moment, "Ok, I'll play along for now but only because I know you will now have Victor here to support you shortly, but this isn't over" I say.
Eva grins at me, "I was hoping you would say that, we will talk and we will do something to rectify this, I wasn't happy with Gideon at all for this, but I can also see his perspective on it".
I hug her tightly, "Well we will just have to come up with something to change that perspective" I say…
My mind comes back to the here and now, as I think about everything. I have been in constant contact with Eva but Gideon hasn't spoken to me at all and he is conspicuous by his absence when I skype Eva, as previously he was always around and would drop into the call and say hi. As I think this I come to a decision, if he won't speak to me then I will have to speak to him.
I pull my phone from my pocket and make the call. I wait and after a moment I am relieved when Gideon finally picks up.
"Cross" he says and I'm slightly taken aback by the brisk cold greeting.
I decide to forego any pleasantries and get straight to the point. "Cut the crap Gideon, why have you been avoiding me? You do realise that it isn't noble what you are doing its just fucking stupid. You were eaten with guilt when your business with Landon prevented Eva and I seeing each other when you bailed on that weekend, yet what you have done now is far worse. You sent us away, you told us to go… you don't want us". I stop and inwardly cringe at how my voice cracked at the end of that. I swallow hard and wait.
I hear a deep sigh and a low whispered curse.
"Christ… Ana I… I didn't mean for all this to happen. But since Landon's arrest and it all coming out about my mother being more complicit in my fathers' activities than what was originally thought, I've had people coming out of the woodwork creating trouble. It's a fucking mess and I didn't want you and Christian caught up in it" he says.
"You stupid man. For someone who is supposed to be so clever you don't have a fucking clue do you?" I say in sheer exasperation.
"What?" he asks surprised by my outburst.
"Gideon", I begin speaking to him as if he is a small child. "You really have to get over the fact that you don't have to fight everything alone anymore. You have people in your corner who love you and want to stand with you and help you" I say.
"But…" he argues but I quickly step in before he can say anything else.
"But nothing. What do you think is going to happen eh? Do you think that if it all gets stupid we are going to bail on you and turn our back on you?" I ask, and there is a long silence which tells me that is exactly what he thinks.
"Gideon, I am insulted you think so little of us that you believe we would do that. You should know Christian well enough that one of his strongest traits is loyalty and he is most loyal to his family and like it or not Gideon that is what you are. You are my sisters' husband so you are our family… and you don't get to make decisions like that for us, you don't get to push us away… we love you and we want to help and whatever thoughts are going through your head that we will bail and not want you need to stop". I stop with my tirade and wait.
"Fuck, Christ… Ana I… I'm sorry" Gideon mumbles.
"And whilst I'm here ripping you a new one, I will also add that avoiding me isn't cool either. You haven't called once since we returned to Seattle, when I've called and skyped Eva you have not popped into the call and said hi… that hurts Gideon, you are my brother-in-law and I love you. So, cutting me off like that really hurts".
I know I'm laying it on thick but I want him to realise just how stupid he is being.
"I'm sorry" he says so quietly I almost miss it.
"Yeah?! Well, don't do it again" I say.
After I hang up from Gideon, I go in search of Christian. I need to put my husband straight on a few things as well and try and find out why he is behaving like an ass.
I find him pacing in his study, and he looks round at me as I open the door. He is on the phone and I wait patiently for him to finish.
"Thank you Welch" he says and with a sigh he ends the call, before giving me his full attention, "What do you need Ana?" he asks.
I sigh at the cold distant tone and walk determinedly towards him and wrap my arms around him. This takes him by surprise as he stiffens slightly before wrapping his arms around me.
"I need the truth" I say quietly as I rest my head on his chest.
I am met with silence so I continue.
"I need to know why you have let me think you were behind the decision to return to Seattle when in actual fact it was Gideon being a moron rather than you".
I look up at him and I see his eyebrows rise.
"I've waited for you to tell me ever since we left New York, as I've known ever since I said goodbye to Eva on the tarmac at La Guardia. But I am fed up of waiting now and I want to know, you should also know that I have just spoken to Gideon and made my feelings clear on the matter, so now I want to know what your thought process is" I say.
I see his mouth twitch with a reluctant smile, "I told Gideon you would be upset, but he wouldn't budge as he was convinced he was doing the right thing and so then I feared that if you thought it was Gideon who had come up with the idea that it would create a wedge and damage your relationship with Eva. So, I thought if you were pissed with me instead then…" he trails off and shrugs.
I lift my hand up and stroke his cheek, my heart lurches as he closes his eyes and nuzzles into my touch. I love this man so much and I now see in his own idiotic way he was just trying to protect me and protect my relationship with my sister.
I shake my head and smile, "What am I going to do with you?" I say slightly exasperatedly.
With that Christian lowers his head and seeking out my lips presses his mouth to mine.
Meanwhile in New York…
(VICTOR)
I walk into the enormous room where Gideon is sitting with his head in his hands. I am staying at the Penthouse until the apartment which Gideon and Eva have found for me is ready as it is in the process of being gutted and decorated.
I pause as I look at the man in front of me. He hasn't noticed me and he looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I know all this business surrounding what his dad did being brought up again is creating problems with a number of people who lost money back then now being quite vocal on the revelations.
I look at the mugs of coffee in my hand, I had decided that I wanted to talk to Gideon while I am staying here, as the knowledge of what I overheard previously is weighing on my conscience and I have been looking for a good time to speak to him. I'm not convinced that this is that time as he is clearly upset about something but we are alone at the moment and I wanted to say what I have to whilst Eva isn't around.
I clear my throat and Gideon looks up at me.
"Victor" he says and I see the corporate mask slip effortlessly into place.
"I thought you might like a coffee, son" I say carefully as I hold up the mugs.
He smiles at me but it is forced and brittle, "Thank you" he replies simply and pushes a coaster towards me. I place the mug down on it and grabbing another I set my mug down beside it.
I sit down and take a deep breath; Gideon looks at me carefully before picking up his mug and taking a sip of the coffee.
"What do you need?" he asks simply and that is all the opening I want.
I lean forward, "Just a bit of a chat if you have time" I say and Gideon nods.
"That's fine, I don't have any plans at the moment" he says.
"What time is Eva due back?" I ask and Gideon looks at his watch.
"I don't know, she said she wouldn't be late. She is out with Cary so I'm not anticipating her being out too late".
I decide to just jump straight in with what I need to say, "I have a confession to make" I begin.
Gideon's eyebrows rise in surprise and he takes another sip of his coffee and leans back giving me his full attention.
"I unintentionally overheard something I wasn't supposed to hear, the day of the gala when I was here visiting" I say.
I watch as Gideon's demeanour stiffens as he is clearly wracking his brains trying to discover what it was I could've heard.
I lick my lips nervously and swallow hard. "I overheard what you said to someone on the phone, I overheard you say that you had been abused… sexually abused" I stop speaking as Gideon shoots to his feet in a rush and I also stand, with my hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Hey, calm down son… I would never repeat anything I overheard, it wouldn't be right but I felt it was only fair that you knew I'd heard it" I say.
I watch as his whole demeanour has altered. His hands are fisting at his side and he is watching me intently like a cornered frightened animal. I hesitantly take a step towards him.
"It's ok, Gideon… are you listening to me. When I found out about what had happened to Eva it destroyed me. I felt helpless, but eventually I took comfort in the fact that I had helped as I had got her the help she needed when I put her in touch with Dr Travis, even though at the time I had no idea why she was behaving the way she was". I pause and watch Gideon's demeanour, he is still wound up tight and I know the slightest wrong word will undo all the progress we have made.
"But you didn't have that kind of support did you?" I say carefully. I watch as he looks at me and slowly shakes his head.
"I'm also guessing that all this shit with your mom being involved more than was previously thought with what your dad did is dredging up a lot of unwanted memories for you and whilst its totally different its all linked because if they hadn't done what they did, your dad wouldn't have taken his own life and the sequence of events wouldn't have happened which led to you being abused" I say.
He still doesn't say anything but he nods his head, just once. "You are getting help now though, right?" I ask and he nods again.
He clears his throat before speaking so quietly that I barely hear him, "Christian recommended someone… a lady therapist and it is helping" he says.
I nod, "That's good, that's really good that you are doing that. That you are trusting that not all therapists are going to hurt you… It takes a lot of guts, as I'm sure it couldn't have been an easy step to take" I say.
He shrugs, "I had to, if I wanted my relationship with Eva to be successful I had to do it" he says.
I listen to his words, and in that moment I realise just how much my daughter means to him.
I take a step closer and hesitantly reach out and touch his arm. "Well I still say it took a lot of guts and I'm proud of you son" I say.
I watch how profoundly my words affect him. His eyes widen, and he sucks in such a sharp breath his nostrils flare and he even sways a little.
"Hey it's ok, sit down son" I say gently and he obediently sits down again. I take the seat beside him and look carefully at him.
"I'm sorry" he mutters, "Nobody has ever said that to me before and it took me by surprise as you would be the last person I would expect those words to come from" he says as he tries to make light of the situation.
I rest my hand on his arm, "Gideon, look at me" I say and as he turns his head towards me and I see a glimpse of the small boy desperate for acceptance and searching for approval, before he slides his impassive mask back into place.
I take a deep breath, "I've realised I've been very wrong about you. You are a good man, you have dealt with some seriously shitty things in your life and you didn't have the support, love and belief around you which you should've unconditionally had. You apologised to me for what you did and now its my turn… I'm sorry Gideon, I'm sorry I judged you and I am sorry that I said you weren't good enough for Eva as that could not be further from the truth. I now see as clear as day that you are perfect for Eva and I couldn't ask for a better son in law".
I watch as he takes in my words and then nods. "Victor may I ask you a question" he says after a moment.
I nod, "Sure, of course you can" I reply and I wait.
He looks up at me once more, "Do you believe me? Do you believe I was… I was raped?" he asks carefully and my heart breaks for this damaged man.
I squeeze his arm and pull him into a slightly awkward embrace, as I reply and give him the answer he needs.
"Yes Gideon, I do" I say.