The office door opened and the man inside the office smiled as he saw the other man step into the room.
"You know, you are absolutely the last person I expected to hear from today." Richard said as he dropped a couple of ice cubes in a tumbler. "When my secretary told me that the noble and esteemed Ralph Dineen was wanting to see me, I thought, there is no way." Richard grinned at Ralph before he started pouring scotch into the tumbler. "After all, I'm Richard Elia, a tech entrepreneur who only cares about making money and not caring how it affects anyone else." Richard continued grinning as he stoppered the bottle and sat it back down. "Scotch?"
"Cut the crap Richard. Just because I see things differently than you do doesn't mean I think of myself as somehow above you. Sure I think you'd deal with almost anyone over anything. But as a businessman I have a proposition for you, quid pro quo." Ralph told him even as he stepped up and accepted the glass.
Richard grinned as he gestured to a chair beside a small coffee table.
"So, something for something, I got to tell you I am dying with curiosity now." Richard told him as he turned and sat down himself.
Ralph stepped over and sat down before taking a sip and then looking back at Richard.
"As much as it will pain me to do so, I will do everything within my power to, legally, see that your permits for your manufacturing plant are granted." Ralph told him before he took a big swig of scotch.
Richard grinned and then laughed.
"Oh Ralph, oh damn. That had to be hard to say." Richard continued laughing. "Am I being played? You seriously want me to believe you are willing to help me get a foothold in this country to weave my evil? Something you swore not even six hours ago to prevent?" Richard continued laughing.
"You know I've never said you were evil Richard. Unconscionable, yes, and that can lead to seriously nasty consequences." Ralph told him trying his best not to rise to the bait, he needed his clout.
"You know, this would have been a great time to have had internal cameras, but they are only temporary offices. I'd love to have this moment caught to watch over and over again. Every time I feel a little down about anything, I could play this moment back and just feel so much better, uplifted even." Richard told him. "But now, I am extremely curious, what could you possibly need from me that you couldn't negotiate? You could broker peace in the Middle East if you were given the chance. Probably why they won't ask you. War is very profitable."
"It isn't something that is subject to negotiations and diplomacy. It calls for the brute force of money and power." Ralph told him, taking another sip of the scotch.
"Okay, well you had me just from coming to see me, so what is it I can do for you?" Richard asked as he sat his glass down and sat forward placing his elbows on his knees and setting his chin in his hands as his eyes probed Ralph intently.
"I need you to arrange for the world's leading Multiple Sclerosis Dr, Dr. Verbena of the Mayo Clinic to take on a patient here in Ireland. Video check ups, guiding, directing and overseeing treatments and therapies. Bringing the Dr here, a couple of times a year to do in person check ups." Ralph told him.
Richard frowned.
"Oh damn, Ralph, have you or a family member been diagnosed?" Richard said sympathetically as he sat back and worry flashed across his face.
"My daughter's boyfriend, his sister, was diagnosed a few years ago." Ralph told him nodding.
"That is weird. Why are you wanting me to make this happen?" Richard asked as he picked up his glass to drink.
"The O'Brien's are as good as family to us. And they are planning to send her to America for treatments and therapies. They want Walter to go with her to help take care of her. My daughter begged me to do whatever I could so Megan can have the best possible care here so they wouldn't have to be separated." Ralph explained.
"I got to tell you, I'd be happy if my daughter's boyfriend was being sent to another country." Richard smiled.
"If he was anyone else, I'd probably be happy too. But you are the Father of a daughter and you know if she came to you begging you for help, you'd bend over backwards to do anything you could." Ralph told him.
Richard slowly nodded.
"Including going to someone I couldn't stand to ask or beg for help. I suppose that is the one thing we both can agree on. The love we have for our daughters. Isn't this young man the same one you've been sponsoring in chess tournaments?" Richard asked.
Ralph nodded.
"He is, Walter is a true wonder." Ralph told him.
Richard sat there thinking for a minute before he finally nodded.
"Okay, I've got no problem doing this for you. I or one of my executives will have to come over several times a year anyway so we'll time it with the good Dr to come and visit as well. I'll set this up through my health charity program. I'll need to increase their budget a little so it doesn't detract from others. It's as good as done. You can let the family know to expect a phone call tomorrow from the Mayo Clinic." Richard smiled.
Ralph swallowed the last of the scotch and sat the glass down on the coffee table. He looked at his watch and noted the time.
"Thank you Richard, I'll start the ball rolling as soon as I get in the office Monday. Peter Ryan hates being disturbed at home with business matters. He'll be more receptive at the government office." Ralph said while standing up.
Richard stood up with him.
"I know you know the landscape better than I. But you know, I used to think we were miles apart. Maybe we're not as completely different as I thought. Maybe it has been my incessant need to win that has been the problem between us all this time." Richard said as he held out his hand.
"Well I'm sure that doesn't help, but I'm more for worker, public and environmental safety, costs be damned. You don't mind that as long as you make enough money." Ralph told him before shaking his hand.
"Well, you aren't wrong there." Richard smiled.
"As for your incessant need to win, I can have Walter humiliate you a few dozen times in chess to take the edge off of that for you." Ralph smiled.
Richard laughed.
"Have a good night Ralph." Richard told him as he opened the office door for Ralph to leave.
"You too Richard." Ralph said as he walked out.
"Ralph Dineen, you did not go see that snake to make a deal with him." Veronica nearly yelled.
Ralph held up his hand trying to get her to quiet down.
"Of course I did. You think I liked doing it? I felt like I needed a shower afterwards. But it was the only thing I could think of to spare Sean and Louise the agony of splitting up their family." Ralph told her.
"Or splitting up Paige and Walter, and us." Veronica said with a sad smile.
"Walter could possibly do well, over in America, but he'd be vulnerable. Megan's attention would be divided and so many things could slip past her that he could become embroiled with. It just makes sense. Get her the same level of care here that she can get over there and they both can stay. It keeps our family together." Ralph sighed.
"So why do you feel so icky about it?" Veronica asked sarcastically.
Ralph chuckled as he nodded.
"You know my thoughts on Richard. Though I have got to admit, once Richard found out what and why I needed it, he became a different person. Somewhere under that money grubbing parasite beats the heart of a real person." Ralph told her as she walked over and sat on his lap.
"I'm sure Sean and Louise were relieved when you told them." Veronica smiled and kissed him.
"I haven't yet. I figured I would swing by in the morning after breakfast. Sean usually comes back to the house for some coffee around that time. I can take Paige with me and maybe they can patch whatever is going on with them up." Ralph told her as he hugged her to him and kissed her neck. "Speaking of Paige, did she tell you anything about whatever is going on that has her so upset? I mean I get that the thought of Walter going off to live in America had upset her, but I just got the feeling something else is bothering her. Her attitude on the phone was…bizarre, to say the least. And that doesn't even count everything else that's happened the last few days."
"No, she's been so moody lately too. I guess I can go sit and try to talk with her again and see if she wants to open up about it." Veronica told him.
Ralph grinned.
"Well if so, I'll let you tell her the news first, maybe that will help her to open up." Ralph kissed her tenderly.
"Paige? May I come in?" Veronica asked as she knocked on her daughter's bedroom door.
"Come in Mom." Paige answered.
"How are you sweetheart?" Veronica asked as she stepped into the room.
"Okay I guess." Paige was looking up from her desk and shrugged.
"Well I have some good news. Your Father will be telling the O'Brien's about it tomorrow. But he has worked out a deal with a man of influence and he's going to see to it that the leading Dr. of MS at the Mayo clinic will take charge of Megan's care so they won't have to send Megan to the US for help." Veronica told her.
"Oh, well that is great news then." Paige said though a bit underwhelmingly Veronica thought.
"Sweetheart, what is wrong?" Veronica asked as she sat on the corner of her bed. "You know you can talk to me about anything."
Paige nodded.
"Walter and I had a bit of a fight over it, that's all. I reacted badly to the news and accused him of going along with it to get away from me." Paige told her.
"That's all? There isn't anything else?" Veronica asked as her eyes probed Paige even as Paige turned to look away from her, she nodded.
"Yeah, everything is fine. I'll thank Daddy when I see him, but would you give him a kiss for me, right now?" Paige asked.
"I'll do that sweetie." Veronica told her as she stood up. She paused for a moment and leaned over and kissed the top of Paige's head before leaving the room.
Ralph heard the doorbell and he frowned as he looked at his watch and saw it was nearly 10 p.m. Ralph stood before he walked out of his den and stepped up to the front door. He was shocked as he opened it.
"Megan? Girl, what are you doing out at this hour and by yourself? Come on and get in here." Ralph told her as he reached out and gently took her arm and Megan walked jerkily into the house, trying to balance on the one good foot as she went.
"I'm sorry Mr. Dineen I know it is a risk walking in the dusk hour but it took this long for my batteries to charge so I could. I needed to speak to Paige, if that is okay. And Happy's leg brace is helping a lot." Megan explained.
Ralph nodded.
"I'll have her come down to the family room." Ralph asked.
"That would be best if she would come down." Megan laughed.
Ralph nodded and escorted Megan to the family room and left her on the couch while he went to get Paige.
"Paige, you got company." Ralph said as he knocked on her bedroom door.
The door opened quickly as Paige stood there smiling.
"Is it Walter?" Paige asked hopefully, wanting to put what has been going on behind them.
Ralph shook his head.
"It's Megan." Ralph told her.
Paige frowned but then hugged her Father.
"Thank you again for arranging it so that Dr will be able to care for Megan here in Ireland Daddy, I really appreciate it." Paige told him before kissing his cheek.
"You're welcome sweetheart." Ralph smiled at her.
Paige hurried down and into the family room and frowned.
"Megan, did you come over by yourself? You know how dangerous that can be." Paige chided her.
"I had to do something, Paige. Walter is so upset. What has been going on this week?" Megan asked softly.
Paige sighed as she closed the doors of the room before walking over and sitting on the sofa with Megan.
"We just had a fight is all." Paige finally told her.
"Paige, I can't help you two if I don't know what the problem is. Walter won't talk to me other than to say he thinks you are mad at him. Talk to me, you are my little sister." Megan implored.
"I'm not mad at him, but I can understand why he thinks so. I acted like a fool and accused him of something I know that he would never do. I've been trying to think of how to apologize to him over it." Paige told her with a sigh.
"Well, talk to me, maybe I can help you figure it out." Megan wheedled.
Paige shook her head.
"Not here, let me walk you home and we can talk along the way." Paige told her.
"Okay, that will work." Megan slowly nodded.
"Daddy, I'm going to walk with Megan to her house and then have Walter walk me home." Paige stopped at his den.
"Maybe you should ride over for safety. Which agent is going with you?" Ralph looked back at her.
"Agents Gallo and Timbre are on until tomorrow morning. But we need to talk and the walk will afford us the time and privacy we need." Paige told him.
"Alright pumpkin, be careful, the both of you." Ralph nodded.
—-
"Agent Gallo, will you give us some distance to talk please?" Paige asked as they began slowly walking down the road.
"Of course kid, you know when it is just us you are welcome to call me Cabe." Cabe told her as he began walking backwards.
Paige smiled at him for a moment. Waiting until he was about forty yards away, just in front of the SUV following them.
"Remember my fifteenth birthday three weeks ago?" Paige finally spoke again.
"Of course." Megan told her while holding onto her arm with one arm and using the crutch with her other.
"That night after we got back from the restaurant. Walter and I snuck away from my detail and went out for a walk. We ended up by the creek that passes through the fields just before the woods. We go there a lot in the evenings to talk and makeout. Walter had brought the blankets with us and spread them out. We laid down on one and covered up with the other. We were holding and kissing each other, nothing we hadn't done dozens of times before. But that evening, we ended up making love." Paige told her softly.
"Oh my gosh, Paige. I can't believe it." Megan smiled. "Was it horrible?" Megan suddenly asked as Paige wasn't really smiling.
"No, no of course not. It wasn't planned, at least on my part. I don't think Walter planned it either. At least I hoped if he thought he was going to try having sex with me he'd have brought protection. It pretty much just happened. He had tried to back off, like we had always before, but I really wanted to continue, at least a little further and he gave in. I'm not sure if at that point I wanted to go all the way, but I wanted more than just touching each other through our clothes." Paige sighed.
"Oh no, Paige, are you pregnant?" Megan stopped and stared at her. She could see tears in Paige's eyes.
"I don't know. I'm a little late but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I'm so scared. Not about being pregnant really not even about how mad our parents will be. Or what everyone is going to say, at least as long as I have Walter with me, I could bear it all. When Walter told me about your parents, that they were planning to send him to America with you I lost it. I thought he was being like the guys we hear stories of. He finally got the one thing he really wanted and now he was ready to abandon me and run off to America and I'd be stuck here by myself, put down and made fun of by everyone as my pregnancy began to show. Our parents would be so mad at me and hate me." Paige told her as they began walking again.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - It was kind of like that moment wasn't it? lol Yeah, Sean was pretty barking mad...We'll see how that plays out Friday. lol And now at least Megan's gotten Paige to finally open up and she knows what is going on. Here's to some open communications and them not falling back into the same trap again.
2LawDog - hehe Yeah he's got some problems for sure! Yes, she's really concentrating on making what time she has count for something. Even if it is just being a big sister. She's certainly worrying with it enough! lol
Susan - Yep, it was a bit brutal. Ralph certainly came through for them in that regard! Megan is a true sweetheart. No true resolution this chapter...next chapter though...we'll see! hehe Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...another Jaws comes! lol
To the Adventure! -Tim