CHAPTER 69

I watch as Gideon stares at me almost in disbelief that I am unconditionally believing him with only what I overheard him say to go on. It makes me angry that he has been treated so shabbily all his life to the point where he is convinced the only person he can truly rely on is himself.

"You have so many people who believe you Gideon. Your brother and sister believe you; Eva believes you and Christian and Ana believe you and they all stand beside you". I pause and grip his arm, "…and you have me as well now. I believe you and I stand beside you" I add with firm certainty.

Much to my surprise a wry smile fills Gideons face and he lets out a small snort of laughter, before shaking his head in what looks like a strange mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"What?" I ask, slightly confused by his inappropriately amused reaction.

He looks at me, "The call… the person I was talking to on the phone just before you came in… I was talking to Ana, and she tore me off a strip for insisting that she and Christian return to Seattle. She basically said I wasn't alone anymore and that they stood beside me regardless of what would happen and that I had to believe that people would have my back and that I didn't have to fight all my battles alone… so, what she said also fits in and mirrors what you have just said" he says.

I don't say anything to that, I hesitate a moment and then I ask, "So, why is it so hard for you to believe that people will stand beside you and why do you feel you have to deal with everything alone?"

Gideon just stares at me warily and drains his mug before placing it back on the table. I wait patiently for him to respond and I realise something monumental is going to be said and he is just working himself up to saying it. Then with a look of steely resolve in his eyes, just like the time in California when he apologised and opened up a little he begins to talk. I just sit and listen as Gideon basically tells me his entire life story in detail right up to the present moment. He tells me of the years of torment he endured, both personally where he grew up unwanted, unloved and disbelieved and how he had gone out into the world looking for somewhere to belong and something to call his. How he had fought and built his empire from the ground up where the name Cross was an albatross around his neck but how with his single-minded iron will he dragged the name out of the gutter and restored a level of respect into it with his success. It's a heartbreakingly sad story, and explains the man completely but after hearing all he says I am now left with a new level of respect for him and I completely forgive him for his actions regarding Eva.

As I am thinking this, he says something which attracts my attention and sets my cops mind buzzing. "A number of people who lost money with my father have recently come out of the woodwork again since the revelations about my mother. They have always maintained that there was money set aside and hidden for me, which I then used to start Cross Industries. That is why they have never completely gone away and why I have had issues with Ryan Landon all these years. These people resent my success and the fact that they believe that, that success came of the back of the fraud my father committed".

I listen and then I ask the only question I can think of asking at this point although I know that I could potentially destroy everything that has just been built between us.

"And was it?"

I wait and Gideon looks at me, sighs and then simply shakes his head.

"No, there was nothing left and I have documented proof of that" he says with utter sincerity.

I hesitate, and then follow up with my next question, "So, if that is the case… where? I mean how did you…" I fade off wondering how to word what I want to say.

Gideon smiles somewhat ruefully at me, "Blackjack" he says simply.

My eyebrows rise in surprise, I have always maintained that he is a phenomenally difficult person to read, his poker face is second to none so this revelation doesn't actually surprise me, but in other ways it has completely floored me.

"Gambling?!" I say with total surprise.

Gideon nods again, "Blackjack and Poker, I was surprisingly good at them and regularly won. I won large sums and what I won I invested wisely and before I knew where I was, I had enough base capital to start my business and the rest as they say is history".

I lean back in my seat and shake my head in disbelief, "You know, part of me is saying I would never have guessed that in a million years as you have always struck me as so controlled and ordered that anything that relies on the element of luck and chance would be totally out of character for you… and yet… in an odd way it doesn't surprise me at all" I say.

Gideon smiles again, and this time when he speaks there is an element of warm affection in his tone. "Angus taught me how to play and how to perfect the element of bluff when the cards were not in my favour - he is an amazing card player, I am very good but when we play together, I never win" he says and my mind immediately flies to the genial Scotsman who is Gideon's head of security.

"You are close to Angus" I say. I mean it as a question but it comes out more as a statement.

Gideon's eyes soften considerably and he nods. "I am… as I have already said, growing up when my mother and Chris got together I was set aside, she had airbrushed everything to do with my father out of her life and I can see why now as she was more complicit in the fraud than was originally thought. But I was so very young, I was five years old when my father died and my whole life changed dramatically as a result. My mother couldn't erase me but she tried. I was never wanted in her shiny new life as I was a reminder of her old one – and what she had done. Angus filled that void for me. He first came into my life as the driver who took me to school each day, but he also defended me and protected me when complete strangers started ranting at me about what my father had done and when I was bullied at school. He was everything to me as I grew up. He was my friend, protector, confidant and father figure. I spent more time with him than anyone else in the household. When the abuse started, he was the first person I confided in. I told him what was happening and I pleaded for him to help me as I knew whatever he told me to do would be right… but that was the only time he was ever wrong. He told me to tell my mother, he told me she would believe me… but he was wrong. He always maintained his belief in me though, despite the so-called evidence to the contrary. He didn't turn against me when the paediatrician persuaded my mother that I was an attention seeking liar, he continued to believe me to the point of risking his job to defend me and so as soon as I was old enough and in a position to do so I hired him away from Chris. Aside from Eva he is the person I love and trust most in this world". He stops as there is a knock at the door.

"Yes" he calls and I frown wondering who else is in the penthouse as I thought we were here alone.

The door opens and the man we have just been talking about appears.

"Angus, I was just talking about you" Gideon says as he stands up.

Angus grins at him, "I deny everything" he says holding up his hands in mock surrender.

Gideon lets out a sharp bark of a laugh, "What's up?" he asks.

"I dropped by as I have had some interesting information come my way" Angus says after nodding a greeting at me.

"Oh?" Gideon replies.

Angus nods, "Yes, Welch – Christian's man has managed to uncover a few more interesting details regarding your mother's involvement in your fathers' activities. I have no idea how he managed to get this information but it appears that it also implicates Eric Landon. He is sending me copies of what he has uncovered and if this is correct it could have massive repercussions not only in the trial of Ryan Landon, but it could also be significant with any other civil cases which may arise considering the people who are being most vocal are all former business associates of Landon Senior as well as your late father".

"So, are you suggesting we could end this once and for all and close that chapter of my life completely?" Gideon asks hopefully.

Angus shrugs but then nods, "I am reluctant to go that far at present, as I don't want to give you false hope but the evidence Welch has uncovered is certainly compelling" he says simply.

"Why did Welch go to these lengths?" Gideon asks.

Angus smiles at him, "I believe he was originally instructed to find out everything he could about Ryan Landon by Christian when he was in the process of taking over LanCorp and it grew from there. I have to say that I have no idea how that man manages to uncover the things he does. I thought I was good but I'm an amateur compared to him, although I have a feeling I don't really want to know how he manages it". He takes a shot look at me as he says that and I realise that Welch clearly doesn't stick to the letter of the law when doing his investigations.

I watch Gideon smile again and he shakes his head, "Ana told me that Christian was loyal and that there would be no question of him abandoning me and it seems she was correct" he says almost to himself.

"Thank you Angus" he adds and I watch as Angus nods and disappears.

"I didn't realise he was in the building" I say as I watch the door close.

Gideon nods, "He has a key to the apartment. Apart from Eva he is the only person who has complete unlimited access to the apartment". He pauses and snorts, "Not that getting in would prove to be a problem for him even if he didn't have one" he adds.

I frown at that and look questioningly at Gideon, "Angus is ex MI5 – British Secret Service" he explains.

"Oh" I say lamely as I don't really have any other response to that.

A moment later I hear someone else and then a familiar voice calls out, "Gideon! Dad! Where are you both?"

I watch as Gideon's head whips up and his face lights up in response to the call.

"In here Angel" he calls and a moment later the study door opens and my daughter appears looking flushed and happy.

She saunters over and gives me a warm hug as she passes me, "Hi dad" she says and I respond by holding her tightly and placing a small kiss to the top of her head.

"Hello sweetheart, did you have a good time with Cary?" I ask.

"I did" she says simply as she pulls away from me and walks towards Gideon.

"Hey Ace" she mutters and I watch as she wraps her arms around him and he responds by enfolding her in his arms. The look of utter contentment and adoration on his face makes me swallow hard and make my excuses to leave them alone.

(EVA)

"I passed Angus on the way up, he was going down as I was coming up" I say, after my dad has left us alone.

Gideon nods, "He came with some information which he has received from Welch" he says vaguely.

"Oh?" I look at him questioningly waiting for an explanation.

"Ana also phoned" he says instead and I smile as I think about my sister.

"Ana?" I ask.

Gideon nods, "She called to tear me off a strip. It appears she knows that it was me who made them go home and she has been waiting for me to come clean about it and she was upset with me for avoiding her" he says warily.

I let out a snort, "She's known the truth since the day they left. I told her it was down to you Ace as I said goodbye to her. She wasn't going to say anything though until Christian admitted it so it seems he has now".

Gideon frowns at that, "What do you mean?" he asks.

Eva sighs, "Christian tried to make Ana believe that it was his decision to return to Seattle. He tried to make her think he was distancing himself from the fallout from the clusterfuck that was the charity gala. That obviously pissed off Ana considerably and so I put her right and told her it was your decision and that you and Christian had argued about it. Every time we have talked since she has told me that he still hadn't admitted it and that things were strained between them, she said she was getting to the point where she was just going to confront him if he didn't say something soon so he has either cracked or she has dragged it out of him. I'm sure I'll find out when we talk next".

Gideon rubs his face with his hand, "Christ, what the fuck have I done? I don't want to be the cause of discord in their marriage" he says.

I rub his arm, "Hey, don't panic. I'm fairly certain you have nothing to worry about".

He shakes his head, "I'm going to call Christian and find out. I was going to call him anyway after the news Angus relayed" he says adamantly.

"Oh yes, what did he say?" I ask as I recall his words previously.

I watch as Gideon takes a deep breath, "Apparently, Welch has been digging and he has uncovered that Landon senior was also more involved in my father's fraud than was originally thought and other people are implicated – the same people who have recently come out of the woodwork and been vocal since it all came out about my mother".

"Really?!" I ask in complete shock. My mind starts working things out. "So, what are you saying? With this information and evidence we could get rid of Landon for good and also possibly many of the other assholes who are jealous of you and your success?" I ask.

Gideon shrugs, "I don't know, I am hoping so but I don't want to get my hopes up too much at present as I don't know exactly what has been discovered and how that would help us… hence my call to Christian, as I want to find out".

I pull away from him, "In that case I'll leave you alone to call him and I'll go for a shower and I'll call Ana and find out what happened between her and Christian" I say.

Gideon nods and pulling me back close to him he leans down and presses a kiss to my lips before reluctantly releasing me again.

(CHRISTIAN)

I glance at my buzzing phone and smile; I am guessing that Gideon has been made aware of the interesting information Welch has managed to uncover. I was going to call him myself and tell him but after Ana confronted me about leaving New York I got a bit side-tracked and distracted by my wife.

"Hello Gideon" I say as I answer, "I am guessing Angus has told you what Welch has managed to uncover".

There is a pause, and then Gideon replies, "He has, but I am more interested in finding out why you took the blame for leaving New York. The last thing I wanted to do was cause discord in your marriage".

I let out a small snort of laughter, I admit that wasn't my cleverest move and I really should've known that Eva would've told Ana whose decision it really was but considering the very pleasant time I have just spent with my wife I don't consider there to be any harm done. I feel myself hardening as I glance at my desk where a short while ago I took my wife as we made up and physically reaffirmed our love for each other.

"Don't worry, there was no harm done. I did it because I didn't want Ana and Eva's relationship to suffer due to your asinine decisions" I say wryly.

I hear a small chuckle, "I guess I deserved that, after all Ana said that and much more to me when she called to rip me a new one".

I let out a small sigh, "I will admit things were a bit strained between us for a while, as I had no idea how to make things right again, but it seems as usual my wife knew exactly what to do".

"Did she tear a strip off you as well? I didn't mean for you guys to be fighting over this" Gideon asks anxiously and I smile.

"Forget it Gideon, it was my own fault. I made her think it was me which, with hindsight was stupid as I should've realised Eva would tell her the truth but I had no idea how to get myself out of the hole I'd put myself in, but she said she'd spoken to you".

I hear another deep sigh, "Yeah, she basically told me that I was an idiot, that you guys wouldn't turn your back on me and that you would remain loyal. She also said that it has hurt her and she was insulted by the fact that I'd thought otherwise… which neatly leads me on to the other topic I need to talk to you about, the stuff you got Welch to uncover. Angus dropped by and said Welch has found out some stuff which implicates Landon Senior more directly to my father's fraudulent activities".

"Oh yes he has, and let me tell you from what he has told me it is pure gold" I say smugly.

"Well, I'm all ears so do tell" Gideon replies.

"I have no idea how he has managed to get this but he has uncovered evidence to prove that Landon senior was equally as involved with the fraud, and the public perception that the Landon fortune was decimated by Geoffrey Cross wasn't entirely true as Welch has uncovered details of offshore bank accounts which were regularly deposited with money from Geoffrey Cross' company, but then a number of years down the line those very same accounts – those very healthy accounts were transferred to Ryan Landon and he used the money to start LanCorp".

"You are fucking kidding me?" Gideon gasps after a lengthy silence.

"I kid you not, Welch is convinced there is also more to be found so he is continuing to dig" I say.

"Fuck! So all these years… do you think Landon knows where that money came from?" he asks.

I hesitate before replying, "That's difficult to say, but whether or not he was aware is irrelevant, he benefited from that money so regardless of whether or not he was culpable after the way he has treated you all these years it really doesn't look good for him in any respect".

"No it doesn't" Gideon agrees.