CHAPTER 94
(ELIZABETH)
Being on house arrest doesn't do much for one's social standing. I know that I shouldn't complain too much as I know things really could be much worse, and besides it is amazing how people who you thought were your friends simply melt away when any sniff of controversy or scandal appear. The only person who still keeps in touch with me is Corrine Giroux, a lovely girl and in my opinion far more suitable for Gideon than that bitch he married. After everything regarding that damn Ponzi scheme that Gideon handed over to the lawyers, I know for a fact that things could be a damn sight worse for me at this moment in time. I look around this pokey little apartment room and sigh.
It's not much but that is the whole point. That was a good idea on the part of my lawyer. Show that I am unable to provide any compensation that these victims want. Sadly, though as time goes on it gets closer to the truth of the matter. Chris has divorced me; he has effectively washed his hands of me and his lawyers have managed to airbrush me out of any meaningful settlement. I have received a token gesture from him and I was told I was lucky to get that, so with keeping my own lawyer with this ongoing shitstorm things are not as comfortable as they used to be.
I turn on the television, that is what my social life is now, just a night in with the television. No more dinners or galas, just all by myself with only the television for company. My attention is drawn to the tv screen as I see my son and that bitch he married appear. Then the pictures of the Grey's from Seattle appear. What is this? I listen carefully and it appears that there is going to be an exclusive interview of some description with them all. I know that Eva is related to Christian Grey's wife and it all came out in the media regarding that, so they have probably decided to cash in on that link in some way. Well, I have nothing else better to do with my evening so I may as well watch it. See what the fuss is about, as the way this is being touted it sounds as though this is the interview of the year.
The interview starts and I see an unfamiliar room, and I am assuming that this is in Seattle as I know Gideon and Eva were there last week. The woman doing the interview talks about Grey Publishing and I realise immediately that this is simply a promotional piece for Ana Grey's company. I watch half-heartedly as these people mean nothing to me, but there is nothing else worth watching. My interest peaks slightly when the first revelations come out that there is another sibling. That man who fathered those women must have been prolific. The interviewer asks the partners to join them and a moment later there is my son sitting there with her along with Christian Grey and a young Asian girl who is clearly the brother's wife. I suppose it is an interesting fact that the adopted brother of Christian Grey is also the biological brother of his wife, and I can see why they did this as if the media had got hold of this information and run with it they would've made it sound all kinds of sordid and dirty. This way the narrative is controlled and makes it seem a non-issue, thus preventing any perverting of the facts at a later date. He is clever, Gideon knows how to manipulate the media to present the best possible narrative, and I also reluctantly acknowledge that Eva may have had something to do with this as well as she is in Marketing and I believe she is also quite good at PR. My attention is fixed on my son as he is asked a question.
I haven't spoken to him since that day at the prison. He wants nothing to do with me and seemingly wants to forget I am his mother. However, I am still hoping that we could possibly be reconciled at some point. He accused me of watching him being abused and while I would never admit that out loud, I did do that and I just hope that if I keep denying it he could come around at some point in the future. I know that I suppressed the truth coming out about what Hugh did to Gideon, but what he doesn't realise is I did him a favour by getting Terry to lie about the abuse. Admittedly the main reason I did it was because I wanted to prevent any scandal spoiling what I was building with Chris at that point in my life. I had managed to distance myself from the financial scandal and Chris believed that I was clueless, I couldn't afford another scandal so soon as I couldn't afford for him to run and leave me. I don't see as I did anything wrong, I was protecting Gideon just as much as myself with my actions. He just doesn't seem to realise what a favour I did for him, if it had all come out it would've been a feeding frenzy and then there would've been a trial and I couldn't risk details of Hugh's past coming out then. No, Gideon doesn't realise the bullet he dodged by my actions and as long as I keep denying watching him being abused, then hopefully we can be reconciled - if only so that I could persuade him to help me out financially. It seems unfair that I am left to hold the can for everything that Geoffrey did and Eric Landon did for that matter. They were as culpable as I was, and for years I had managed to distance myself from everything. For me to be the one left standing and have the book thrown at me for what they did isn't fair.
My thoughts come to a juddering halt as I hear Gideon speak. My mouth drops open as he talks about Ryan Landon. He didn't? He isn't? Surely, he is not saying… he isn't? Another sigh of relief escapes me as he effectively makes the revelation but shuts it down at the same time. Oh, thank god for that, that is the last thing I need. Why on earth did he announce that? Now I'm going to have reporters calling me asking me for comment on this, asking me about my other son. Although… that might work to my advantage, if I can sell my story and make a bit of money. I could effectively push the blame on to Eric for everything and there is no come back as he is dead, I could say anything and try and gain some sympathy for the way I was treated by Eric which could help in the court cases against me.
I don't hear what else is said as I start to plan, if I'm sensible then this could be very advantageous to me and help me greatly.
oooOOOooo
One Week Later…
I am shocked, not to mention very disappointed as not one journalist has called me after that interview and Gideon's comments. What on earth is wrong with these people? Here I have been waiting patiently for someone to ask for my input and nothing. I come to the conclusion that it got lost with everything else that was said in that interview. After all it was primarily aimed at the information being given about Eva, and her family and the fact that Christian Grey's adopted brother is his wife's biological brother.
I must admit I am more than a little disappointed. I was looking forward to selling my story and hopefully generating some sympathy ready for when I go to court shortly, not to mention some income from telling my version of the story. Here I am again, another evening in front of the television. What delights do we have tonight?
I start channel hopping and pause as I see my own face on the screen, what the hell is this? I listen carefully as Gideon's face appears, along with Ireland and Christopher. What on earth are they doing? Perhaps they have been asked to do an interview regarding the trials which are coming up - after all they are my children. I hope that they speak well of me, I know that Ireland was upset with me for lying about Gideon's abuse but surely she has got over that by now? I can't see Gideon allowing Ireland to be present if she is going to say anything against me though, he knows better than that. Plus, there is the fact that Chris hasn't been in touch at all, so surely it can't be anything too bad if he has sanctioned this.
I settle down and pull a blanket over me. The opening credits show the Kavanagh Media emblem and I see the name Hazel Mathers appear on the screen. She was the woman who did the previous interview. I start to feel uneasy, has she persuaded Gideon to talk? I dismiss that thought, no Gideon wouldn't do that to me.
The lights come up and Hazel Mathers is standing and she is talking to the camera. I turn up the volume to hear what is being said.
"Good evening New York, and welcome to a very special programme. Tonight, I am here in New York at the Crossfire. I am sitting in the office of Gideon Cross at Cross Industries which occupies a substantial part of this beautiful building. After the interview last week in Seattle with Gideon's lovely wife Eva and her siblings, Ana and Elliot Grey, Mr Cross made comments which as a journalist I couldn't ignore. Mr Cross has very kindly allowed me access to expand on the comments made last week. We are also joined by Gideon's brother Christopher Vidal and sister Ireland Vidal who have agreed to give their take on the events which we will be discussing at length this evening. Also, joining us from the minimum security penitentiary is Ryan Landon and with him offering her support is Martha Landon, ex wife of Ryan's father Eric".
Oh my god, no, this isn't happening. I feel an awful sense of foreboding along with an icy shiver go down my spine as the camera pans out to a television screen and I see Ryan Landon sitting there in his prison clothing and next to him gripping his hand tightly is Martha Landon. What on earth are they doing? Surely? My mind goes back to the prison where Gideon opened up and revealed everything. I am reasonably confident he won't do that again. It is one thing doing it in a controlled closed environment where people can be persuaded to sign NDA's but this is very public - possibly nationwide. I pause thinking wondering what the hell is happening. I take a deep breath, I tell myself to calm down and I am fairly certain he won't talk about the abuse. He is clearly just going to talk about the fact Ryan Landon is his brother and that will certainly turn the spotlight on me and it could work to my advantage. I take a series of deep breaths and convince myself that this is not as bad as it seems. Gideon won't risk putting everything out there, he won't want this sort of spotlight on him as he is too private. Even when he previously got Terry's licence to practice revoked, he prevented the full details why he had done what he had done coming out and it was only disclosed that it was a malpractice suit… no, I have nothing to worry about here.
With these thoughts I settle down to listen to what is being said. Hazel Mathers is simply outlining the facts at the moment. Nothing to worry about and something I could capitalise on so I sit and listen.
"Thank you for agreeing to this interview tonight. Firstly if I could turn to you two, you have known Gideon all your lives. How did you feel when your brother discovered that he and of course you had another brother?"
I watch Christopher glance at the television screen and smile at Ryan… what the hell? That man shot him and yet he is smiling at him as though they are old friends.
"To not be too simplistic or glib - It was a shock, but I think in context with everything else that we had learnt though at that point in time it was almost a non-issue in the big scheme of things".
Mathers nods sympathetically, before she can say anything else Ryan coughs, "If I could interject here. We were all victims of other people's lies and deceit. I was brought up believing my father and his version of events but who was not as innocent as he made out. I was fed lies all my life which coloured my view of Gideon and made me incredibly jealous of him and hate him. I regret my years of trying to undercut him and make trouble for him now that the truth has come out and my father along with Elizabeth Vidal were as guilty as Geoffrey Cross and Gideon was an innocent party – like myself. All the written evidence my brother has regarding their involvement in the investment fraud has been passed on to the lawyers in the civil cases currently being built against Elizabeth Vidal".
"How do you feel about your actions at the gala now Ryan?" Mathers asks and Ryan puts his head down and sighs.
"Obviously, I now regret my actions. It's no excuse but at the time I was suffering from some kind of mental breakdown. My company was lost, and I blamed Gideon for it - and Christian Grey of course. Clearly that was inaccurate. Christian Grey invested in LanCorp long before the links between his wife and Eva Cross came to light. It was all merely coincidence but in the state of mind I was in at that point in time I didn't see that. I totally regret my actions that night and of course for the fact I accidentally shot Christopher. I had no intention of doing that, and I am thankful my brother wasn't seriously hurt and that he has forgiven me for my actions that night and we are all trying to build a better relationship moving forward. We are all having extensive therapy together and working through the years of mistrust and lies and while I can't speak for my brothers and how they feel but I can say that I am finding it very helpful and I am hoping something positive can come out of this whole situation and we can build a positive relationship from what has been something so negative and destructive".
Ireland smiles and looks at Mathers, "I think it has been the making of everyone. I am not as involved in the therapy sessions as I've not really been affected to a great extent. I have joined in on a few of them, Christopher has been involved more because of the shooting but it has mainly been Gideon and Ryan who have been working out the years of mistrust and lies between them". She pauses and taking a deep breath she reaches out and grasps Gideon's hand. He looks up and looks towards the side of the room briefly before acknowledging Ireland with a nod.
I watch the interaction closely wondering what is going to happen next as Ireland opens her mouth to speak again.
"Gideon, has been amazing he has really taken this opportunity and run with it. He has more reason than anyone else here to not trust the therapist, but the lady who Christian found for him to help him has worked wonders for him in every aspect. But what he has endured throughout his life at the hands of our mother is unbelievable".
My eyes widen, and I take a sharp breath in at that, what the hell? Surely?
Mathers turns towards Gideon, "Are you able to tell us what your sister is referring to?" she asks gently.
Gideon licks his lips and looks to the side once more, "I am" he says calmly.
I see movement and Eva comes to sit beside him and he reaches for her and grips her hand tightly.
"We are all here for you Gideon" Ireland says and Christopher nods in agreement and he reaches over and pats Gideon's knee.
"Tell your story Gideon, cleanse yourself of the poison you did nothing wrong and you are not to blame for any of it" Ryan says and Gideon turns and nods at the television screen.
There is a pause, and then Gideon looks up straight into the camera, his amazingly blue eyes so like mine are like sapphires glinting in the lights.
"When I became successful, I wanted to give back. I wanted to help children who had been abused, I had the resources and I had the influence and put it to good use… I wanted to do good, I didn't want to amass the wealth I had done and sit on it I wanted to use it to help people and so I set up my Crossroads foundation. It has helped millions of young people who through no fault of their own had become victims of predators. They had been violated and Crossroads has helped them transition from a victim to survivor of abuse. My reasons behind doing this are very simple…" Gideon stops and takes a deep breath.
Oh my god he's not?
"I was sexually abused, I was violated… I was raped" he says simply.
Oh my god he did! I cannot believe he has publicly admitted that, I feel my heart starting to pound. Surely that's all he is going to say? He's not going to go into detail about it, he can't do that to me.
I watch as he grips Eva and Ireland's hands so tightly and takes another deep breath. As he does so I hold mine as I wonder what he is going to say next.
"When I was five years old, my father died. I had no idea what was happening and I was confused. The man I looked up to, who I adored. The man who was loved by everyone as he made people rich was suddenly disliked and reviled. I had no idea why. Then one day he wasn't there at all, he killed himself. As a five-year-old, who had no idea what was happening, I immediately thought I'd done something wrong. Nothing was explained to me and my whole life was turned on its head. My mother comprehensively moved on. We moved out of the home where I had lived all my life and I was transplanted into a different home with another man – Chris Vidal. My mother was clearly with him now and I didn't know why. So, I was frightened and I was confused… I'd had every last bit of anything familiar ripped away from me… I wanted my dad back and my mother just coldly told me the facts one day when I asked about him. She simply told me he was dead and was never coming back. You can imagine the effect that had on me and as a small child with nowhere to turn I did what any small child would do under these circumstances… I acted out. I had tantrums and I had fits of rage where I threw things and smashed things. Eventually, my behaviour started rubbing off on my younger brother Christopher and my mother decided to put me into therapy. However, the therapist she engaged was a damaged man who she knew from her college days. He was damaged because he had been a victim of abuse… at the hands of my mother, my father and Eric Landon. She claims she had no idea who he was and didn't remember him or what she, my father and Eric did to him previously, but he came into our home and he was severely disturbed and he took his revenge on my mother by abusing me. I want to make it clear that with the help of the therapist I have been seeing I have made peace with what Hugh did to me, I do not blame Hugh for what he did. He was as much a victim as I ended up being, he had been warped and damaged by my mother, father and Eric Landon. He had been subjected to vile abuse along with many, many others. My father, mother and Eric Landon were known for their sex parties at college and people who attended were never the same people again afterwards".
He stops and letting go of Eva's hand he leans forward and takes a glass of water and sips it. I am rigid with shock. I cannot believe what I am hearing right now.
You can hear a pin drop in that studio it is so quiet and after a moment Gideon continues.
"I told my mother about the abuse, after I was raped. It had been ongoing for some time as he started slowly and gained my trust. I was groomed and made to feel that what was happening to me was alright… was normal. But as he progressed I started to say no, I knew this wasn't therapy and I started to fight back and say no. That was when he became nasty and when he violated me. He raped me. It happened twice and after the second time I told my mother. She took me to a paediatrician to be examined. However, what I wasn't aware of at that point was the fact that paediatrician was also an old college friend of hers and I believe he had been involved to a degree with the sickness my parents and Landon perpetrated in college. She had already spoken to him and persuaded him to falsify the results. She had essentially blackmailed him into doing so, stating that if it all came out about what Hugh had done, how would that effect his wife – who happened to be Hugh's sister. His wife was setting up as a psychiatrist at that point and it would've ruined her blossoming career, so he agreed. They went through the motions of doing an examination where I was sedated and he examined me and made me feel as though I was being violated all over again and then he lied. He said there was no evidence of abuse. I was branded an attention seeking liar and I was alienated from my family. I lived with that abuse alone for many years. I was wracked with demons from the abuse and from being disbelieved. As I became more successful, and had more resources at my disposal I dug into why a paediatrician of all people would lie and I discovered the truth. So, I went to his wife - I admit we had a sexual relationship which is not something I am proud of… I don't make a habit of sleeping with married women, but I wanted revenge I wanted him to feel how I felt, I wanted him to be alienated from his family. I also told her what had happened, she believed me and we worked together and we got the paediatrician stripped of his licence to practice and she divorced him. He later committed suicide. My abuser is also dead, when I was in a position to do so, I confronted him and told him that if he laid a hand on another child I would set up an unlimited fund for them to get their justice. He killed himself shortly after that. It was at that point I set up my Crossroads foundation. Over the years, I carried on dealing with my demons alone until I married and with the support of my wife and with the help of my brother-in-law - Christian Grey, I was put in touch with a marvellous therapist who has been helping me and helped me to learn that not all therapists are monsters. In recent times more and more evidence has come to light just how up to her neck in trouble my mother really was, and I am hoping that the victims of her and my father's abuse can feel that they can come forward to pursue historic civil claims against her and I will of course make what information I have available to their lawyers should anyone wish to pursue my mother".
"So, let's get this straight, you were raped, you told your mother and she conspired with a medical professional – she blackmailed him into falsifying results and she branded you a liar for going to her for help?" Mathers asks incredulously.
"In a nutshell… yes, that is correct that is exactly what happened" Gideon says.
Ireland leans forward and speaks, "When Gideon told us, we finally understood why he had cut us all out of his life, the first thing we did was tell him that we believed him as that was what he needed most. He needed our belief that we unquestionably stood beside him and that we weren't going to also brand him a liar" she says.
Christopher nods and adds his own comment. "Then when he uncovered all the evidence of what she had done with regard to the ponzi scheme his dad operated, she was totally up to her neck in it despite the fact she had always denied knowing anything. He shared all that with us as he knew it would affect us if he went public with it, and while he had no relationship with our mother at that point we did, but there was no question about it we stood with Gideon and we told him to do what he had to do and that he had our complete support, he was planning on how to do this when the events at the gala overshadowed things, but comments Ireland made to our mother that night regarding the fraud were overheard and subsequently it all became public and Gideon handed over everything he had discovered to the authorities".
Attention moves to the tv screen when Ryan speaks next, "Yes, and Gideon also made me aware that my father was much more complicit than I had ever realised. He showed me the evidence which proved funds I used to build LanCorp came from that ponzi scheme, I was always under the impression that what I had was all my father had left after he had been duped and he gave it to me which fuelled my need for revenge against Gideon. He also showed me the evidence which proved Elizabeth Vidal was my biological mother. I was estranged from the woman who I had always believed to be my mom. This wonderful lady sitting beside me was as much a victim of our parents as we all were. Mom do you want to tell your story now?"
Martha nods nervously, "I was at college at the same time as Eric, Geoffrey and Elizabeth… they threw these parties and people who attended them were different people afterwards. I was never invited as I wasn't considered with the 'in crowd'. My friend was though and despite me begging her not to go, due to the rumours I had heard about these parties she went… she was raped, she was beaten and she killed herself as a result. They abused people and they filmed it to hold over them to gain their silence. Elizabeth liked to watch Geoff and Eric abuse people. One of the people she got them to abuse was Hugh… Gideon's rapist. I tried to get it all brought out into the open after my friend died and to try and get them held accountable. But they were too clever, and it just brought me onto their radar of revenge. I was drugged and I was photographed in a compromising position with Hugh, he was violated again and that footage was held over me to gain my silence. When I left college Eric needed a wife, things were starting to leak out about their behaviour and in particular his sexual predilections and he needed to look good. My father got dragged into his plans and he ruined his company, and then came to me with the footage from college and told me that I was going to be his wife, I was going to play the role of doting wife to make him look good. If I refused he would release the footage to my father – which would kill him. If I agreed he would help get my father's company back on its feet. I agreed. Eric gained respectability and the rumours disappeared. I was in hell for years, he emotionally and sexually abused me, all the while still seeing Elizabeth and Geoff on the side. Elizabeth became pregnant with Ryan and he persuaded her to sign him over and we passed him off as mine. After the house of cards came tumbling down when Geoff died I took advantage of that and I got out. It is only recently that I have been reunited with Ryan and now that everything has come out and we are all fully aware of everything those three awful people did over so many years. Slowly we are rebuilding a relationship and we are learning that we are not to blame for any of it, we were victims of theirs and with the help of the lovely therapist and Gideon we are getting stronger and we want to tell the truth and hold the last remaining perpetrator accountable".
"Wow" Mathers says.
"I would like to make it clear, everything that has been said tonight can be proved and verified from paperwork, and from photographic and historic video evidence and also some audio recordings which were taken and which I now have in my possession" Gideon says.
"May I ask why now? Why have you decided to do it now?" Mathers asks.
Gideon nods, "You may, quite simply it is time. Since my wife discovered the truth about her origins and we became linked to the Grey family they have helped me come to terms with this car crash, this completely unimaginable wreck that was my life. Events unfolded, and the situation escalated to the point where everything just unfolded and came out. As a result of everything that happened I realised I was not to blame for any of it. I had believed for years that I was unworthy. I now realise that while I was a victim, and Ryan was a victim and even Ireland and Christopher were victims to a certain extent. We were victims because we were lied to and we believed people we should've been able to trust entirely. The more things came out the more it became obvious that my mother was at the very centre of everything. My mother has wriggled out of her culpability time and time again. She has had men wrapped around her little finger dancing to her tune. My father, Eric Landon, Chris Vidal they all believed her and they all did what she wanted and she betrayed every single one of them. She used them… admittedly in my father's case and in Eric's case they were as bad as she was and it's a shame that they are no longer with us to take some of the culpability of their actions. Chris was simply an unwitting victim who simply fell for her charms, but we have discovered that he was aware of some aspects which made him… in my opinion just as guilty because he chose to believe her over us" he pauses and waves between himself, Christopher and Ireland, before he continues.
"I am now at a point in my life where I am willing to stand up and say, I am not to blame for any of this. I was abused, I was raped and now I am a survivor. With the love and belief of my wife and family I am healing slowly. With the help of my therapist my family are slowly healing from the scars and lies inflicted on us from the actions and wickedness of other people and we are all now strong enough to stand up and say enough is enough and we want our mother to be held accountable for her actions… for all of her actions".
I stare at the screen, the bottom has literally just fallen out of my life, I have nothing. Gideon is going to be believed and I am going to be hounded and vilified. I cannot believe that Chris sanctioned this. Does he hate me that much?
As I think this my phone starts to ring. I pick it up and it is Chris and it is clear from his opening greeting that he was unaware of the events which have just unfolded on the television.
"Did you know they were going to do this?" he screams down the line.
"Of course I didn't" I say as I try and compose myself. "I assumed you knew and sanctioned it as you hadn't been in touch" I add.
Chris snorts, "You seriously think Gideon would give me a heads up? He hates me. When I made it clear that I stood with you, I sealed my own fate. I have lost everything; my own children despise me and they stand with Gideon now".
"You've lost everything, what about me?" I cry.
"You selfish bitch, you deserve everything that is coming for you" Chris snaps back and with that the phone line goes dead.
I return my attention to the television and see the interview is coming to an end. I have no idea what I am going to do now, I think briefly of Geoff and the way he committed suicide to avoid justice. At this moment that seems like a very attractive choice, I am finished there is no way I can get out of this and while I was ashamed of Geoff when he took the cowards way out I am seriously considering this option rather than face what I will do.