I knew the size ... that kind of correspondence ...
- Laura Thoen? - He asked.
- It's me.
He handed me the document and picked my signature.
- What happened? - Zahner wanted to know.
- Probation officer. I think someone cranking me for some reason.
- What did you do?
- Nothing that I can remember - I opened the envelope - but always give reasons to someone for life.
- You do not seem worried. - She exclaimed admired and I smiled.
I smiled to read the line highlighted on the first page of the quote.
To read the reason for the official visit.
Then the smile faded from my face and I believed from the bottom of my soul, I would never be able to smile again.
It was a guard action.
Gregory wanted my son.
Chapter 16
My whole body was shaking, as if the fury reverberasse through my bones. Follow the flow of people in the lobby and found the location of the conference. A large, bright room, the pulpit was ready with several coupled microphones, reporters spread by not fully occupied chairs and several cameras were already supported in their tripods in the back.
Zahner was following me closely, begging me not to do anything stupid. But it was too late. Stupidity was made and if it would compromise her precious operation, that is. I had reached my limit.
I found Gregory as if my body had a radar able to detect its presence and something inside me could feel his aura.
There he was. attention of the center of a small group of people around you. Recognized Eleanor sitting next to Elizabeth the front row, listening to every word grandson, and Andrew Conaughy standing smiling muttering words to Holt. Instructions, suggestions or requests, I could not tell. And I did not care. It was better than all these people were there. Thus, all of them could witness all at once and that was over.
I went through the last few meters that separated us with hands clenched into fists. Holt noticed my presence as I approached. His mouth risked a small smile that did not reach his confused eyes and his forehead wrinkled questioning.
it did not take more than two or three seconds. The people around him were silent, watching me. Some recognize me in the past, other cover any defamatory magazine. Eleanor turned in the chair waiting for my reaction and Elizabeth mimicked breathing.
- Sun? - Holt called - What ...
But I interrupted the rest of your question with my hand flat spinning hard against his cheek.
- YOU BASTARD! - I exclaimed angrily, raising his hand and snapping another slap in his face because, as I soon realized, only one had not been enough.
Gregory had wide eyes full of misunderstanding, his hand on the cheek without deciding if what had hurt most was physical aggression or verbal.
I filled my lungs and took another step toward her when I felt someone behind me, pulling me by the arms.
Two security guards dark jacket and offensive posture shook my point of pain, trying to pull me away from the hall.
- Stop it! - Gregory cried out, shoving between us, impeding the work of security - Unleash it! Right now! Drop it!
Worried, she touched my arm where the guards had tightened me tightly. I just pushed him away and so I had enough room, slapped his face again. This time he grabbed my wrist away from my blow. I risked using his other hand, but he was soon around me, between a hug and a handshake, trying to keep my arms still and away from your face.
- Laura! - Asked - What happened?
I shook trying to get away, but he was so strong and I had to escape. Imprisoned, my anger soon turned to frustration and I was struggling to keep the tears from falling.
- Damn you! - Growled - YOU PROMISED!
- What, Laura? - He asked in a panic - What I promised?
- All that sweet talk that no one would take my son from me! YOU PROMISED!
- You need to explain to me what's going on. - He yelled back.
- It is you who needs to explain to me, Gregory! - Changed how moved my shoulders, trying to get away instead of attacking him and he let me go - Need I explain that this is bullshit! - I took the pocket of the folded paper, open the sheet and blow on his chest with a short punch.
He scanned the paper, still confused and I understood everything.
- But what the hell is this? - She murmured in disbelief. I felt her incredulity even though he was not looking at him. I was watching her ... sitting in the front row. Gray hair and gray eyes, staring at me with his eternal air of superiority, as if no outrage or contempt in the universe were not enough to explain how much I did not belong to that place. How much I did not deserve to breathe the same air as her.
I suddenly realized that all this time I was slapped and punched in the wrong person had passed the time to correct that mistake. The way I advanced to Eleanor must have left my crystal intentions and this time Zahner reached me.
- Holt will not press charges, but she will. - Advised in my ear. My lower lip trembled and I had wanted to bite that flaccid jugular and watch her bleed and die. - If you are going to have to fight for his son's best to do it without an assault complaint, Thoen. - Recalled and consistency hit me.
- But how can one be ... - Holt was whispering to himself and probably doing the same reason as me.
Lowered the document facing Conaughy first and then her grandmother.
- Laura. - He extended a hand between us carefully. As if it feared future attacks on my part, and this time, thought I had the fullest right - I did not do it. - Shook the document in the air - I have an attorney with full powers signed to the office of Baxter Inc ... and you know how these things work: they did it for me. It was not me. - Said the last three words slowly, giving me time to digest them.
- I know who it was. - I smile, angry - I'll give you a chance to guess only.
He lowered his eyes, turning his face carefully and I knew she was his focus.
- I will solve it immediately. - He promised. A red stain in the shape of my fingers stained your skin clear at the time of the cheek. I do not spared strength and was sure it would be burning.
Around us, flashes indicated that my rebellion had been as public as I intended. Maybe even more.
- Since you're here, why do not you sit down? - has invited.
- How do you stay so calm? - Blow - Gregory! WAKE UP! - I screamed - she handles her entire life as if it were her property. - Pointed a homicidal indicator for the old Hell - I do not believe! The man I knew must be in there somewhere! - Was despair. Sheer desperation. I will never going to end? Does she would always be able to play it from one side to the other like a rag doll and he would never react? - The man who saw how this life was harmful and turned away! - He breathed deeply as he listened to me, as if he knew something I did not know. Something that would solve everything. Something that might redeem or condemn, but one way or another, had already been resolved and my words were in vain. - I think part of me would rather that - I took the document back - were you. Whatever your decision! Because at least I could scream and fight you. We could argue for the sake ours! But it is not! - I stuck his hands in his hair - It is never our problem. It's always her problem. And I ... I can not stand it.
- Sun...
- Write a collective, Holt. - I decided. I turned back and followed me Zahner - For! - I complained, snarling at him too - Stop following me! I'm a grown woman! You stay! - Chid. Gary raised his hands rendered in a comic fear as if he believed he could get well.
- Laura! - Gregory exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing through the hall, following me when Zahner was back - You are very nervous. - He reached me at the door - I'll ask the driver to ...
He held my wrist with affection and I allowed myself to drop a tear.
Only one.
- I remember those four weeks when it all began. - He sighed and fell silent - As I did not think he could be in the world a man as gentle as you. And as I did not believe I could be in the world a
s gentle man so just for me.
- Don ... - panted.
- And there happened so much thing. - I rubbed his temples - That gives me a headache just thinking. And ... No more conditions, is not it? - I pressed my mouth, leaving me feeling invade and destroy - We came too far to come back. You made his confession yesterday, Gregory. Now I'll do mine: I love you. And I wanted to go on loving you more than anything. But doing this is not healthy, it is not rational, it is not safe. You changed me and made me a better person. If you had not shown up in my life I could never be a decent mother to Tyler. But the price I paid for this change was to suffer and be hurt as I never imagined it could. And it arrives, Greg. Enough.
- Please Laura ... Just listen to me. Let me just finish this and then ...
- No. - Deep breath - Enough. I can not take it anymore. You say it was not you and I believe. - I pointed out the document in my hand - I hope you solve. Then I hope you in my house to have a good long talk. I will not stay here with my son. I will not be near her. I hope you understand.
- Sun!
- I hope you respect! - warned.
He panted heavily.
- It's all right. Talk to you later.
- Call before coming.
- Is that really necessary? - He shrugged.
- You'll have to be.
- I was not all bad, Dom! - Cried when I was already back - I? For you? For Ty? - I could hear the pain in his voice.
I turned back to him and let me give you a smile.
- Loving you was the best thing that ever happened to me. - Admitted, leaving my smile fade away into serious - and loving you was the worst thing that ever happened to me.
***********
I could only breathe again when Gregory left her at the door and returned to the hall. Honestly, if he had abandoned a news full of representatives of the country's largest media scandal after that to run behind a skirt tail, I would send hospitalize him.
But there he was. Impeccable. Adjusting his tie and the sleeves of his jacket. A sober and coherent expression of strong men who do not let themselves down.
I would prefer if the guards had snatched it away in one second. But I think Gregory pictures protecting a defenseless woman could be better for your reputation. Small victories.
Lifted so it was close enough so we could talk. Not everything could be said there, in front of so many cameras and microphones. But the first step to reduce the damage could be given.
- I was me. - I confessed.
- And you think I'm stupid enough to no longer be deducted from it? - He asked dryly.
- Was worried about you. The woman can leave the country at any time, you have done it once. What steps did you take to ensure that my great-grandson ...
- Eleanor. - Panted impatiently - I'll only ask once, please, shut up.
- Go to press charges against her?
She bit her lip at me as if I did not believe it was real.
- She beat you! This has implications! - I remembered.
- Yes ... yes ... - he agreed. He was controlled, but I felt the aloof tone in his words - Everything has implications, is not it? You taught me that well.
- Gregory ...
- But all right, Eleanor. You threw me against the wall and gave me no choice. And then he says that "it is for my good." You know what would make me well? If you stop meddling and let me make decisions about my own life. - The volume of his voice dropped until it becomes a menacing whisper - But you do not know what "privacy" means and shoved me that shit. No choice. Was not that what you wanted? Make matters worse and force me to a final decision? Well then sit and enjoy the show. - Growled with half-closed teeth, holding my elbow hard and guiding me back to the chair.
He walked away toward the pulpit and I sat down to listen to his words.
***********
The taste of bile infested my tongue.
How could I be so blind?
How can I be so stupid?
I deserved the slap that Laura gave me. Each one of them.
In fact, I think she was even merciful.
I deserved worse.
- Gregory! - Conaughy interrupted my way to the pulpit, microphones and my destiny - Eleanor assured me that he had spoken to you. - Roared rushed. His indignation was just more false than their loyalty - was just why ...
- Andrew, Andrew! - I gestured to silence.
- You know how it can be, do not you?
- You're fired. - I nodded and left behind.
I positioned myself behind the apparatus, before the microphones and took a deep breath.
Come on, Greg. Just get it over with at once.
- Good Morning. - I greeted - I thank you all for coming and I apologize for the incident. It seems I have been involved in some of these lately. - Brief smile appeared, relaxing environment - and that's exactly why I'm here: to talk about the flood of rumors involving my name have been so widely disseminated by the media. Rumors about my marriage or divorce, about my involvement with a mysterious woman - ironizei the words - on the situation of Baxter Inc, my photos in a police station ... Well, I do not need to name all, you should know them much better than me. - I pulled the air into my lungs slowly, while the audience was still laughing, polite - About all these rumors only one thing can be said. - I said slowly, staring at Eleanor with a smile - are all true. - A small stir gifts was followed by an increase in the number of flashes. Eleanor was not breathing - Eleanor Janine Baxter. - Warned - Get used to that name. They will hear me repeat it a few times in the next few minutes. - She stared at me as if daring me to continue. A delight is not, Grandma? When they put up against the wall and fuck you? Your turn now. Have fun - To ensure that everything will be perfectly clear, I think I need to explain the beginning. The woman who was in the restaurant that night ... the same woman who just left this room ... is not my lover. She was my girlfriend for years and almost my bride. You see, she got pregnant and my grandmother, Eleanor Baxter - pointed out the front row with a gesture - thought it would be good form to offer money for an abortion and out of my life. - This time the shock was even more audible - Of course, my then-girlfriend did not accept the proposal. See the seven year old son that I have today with her. - Gifts panted and manifested themselves abruptly. It would be difficult for the audience to keep control and I had barely started - I found it all a few weeks ago and it was a moment of heated discussion that led to my inappropriate behavior that fateful episode restaurant. I take this opportunity to publicly apologize and officially both the owners and staff of the establishment as customers present that night. financial compensation to those affected will not be a problem, I insist, inclusive. When this episode happened, I and Elizabeth were already separated. Divorce, like so many other rumors, it is true. - Elizabeth looked ready to run and cry, but Eleanor held where it was - our marriage, like so many other hypocrites who make up the so-called cream of our society was exclusively for appearances and not even share the same room for much more one year. Even we share the same bed for all this time. So you can see: divorce is more a formality. Our marriage has not existed for a long time if it ever existed. I would like to reassure investors Baxter Inc, noting that, contractually, Elizabeth is not entitled to any part of the company, so my divorce itself does not imply any change in the management or operation. And then we have the issue of sexual harassment, denounced by my former secretary Laura Pillhix. The Pillhix Miss was an official copy by the time he was with me in recent weeks, however, his conduct has become inappropriate. We had some embarrassing moments and finally an unfounded accusation made by Miss Pillhix followed decisions in the company that it had no position to take made me believe that it would not be a person so able to be in my direct team. For still believe that it was competent to other sectors, I gave him the option of being transferred to another location within the company. If my word has no more weight it once had, I must add that I have irrefutable proof of what I say, but I prefer to keep confidential to preserve what remains of the image of
my former employee because of the little respect I still have for it . She's young, something like that could destroy his career and I will not be frivolous or stingy with that decision. I ask only that ask: Is not it appropriate that the family of my ex-wife this an excellent position for a curricularmente unworthy girl in such a position and take the public with information that would taint my image? - Elizabeth hid his face with his hands. Yeah ... she would sue me. I would do this with an unwavering fury. But I had found that button in me that activated the "what the hell" and it was a wonderful feeling to experience. - I think we pointed out all further damage my reputation that happened in recent times. It remains only the most recent of them, what you all just witnessed. Okay, well I explain objectively. Eleanor Baxter, without my permission, made master of the law firm Andrew Conaughy, representing Baxter Inc and has a power of attorney with full powers signed by me, solicit in court custody of my son Tyler, and this was clearly the outbreak of the justified anger of his mother. The staff of this situation it is just me and I think I have already explained in points too involving my privacy. The only thing I will talk about this issue is that Baxter Inc ended his representation agreement with Mr. Conaughy office. - Now it was the very Eleanor who seemed to fight the urge to run away. Act as if I were a boy taken and inconsequential, infantilizing me and get away with standing nose and an expression of disdain. But she was curious. She wanted to know how far I was willing to go. What was great: because I was eager to show you. - Having said that, I would like to acknowledge my responsibility to the company. And I do not say in relation to the name that the company takes and my family. But one responsibility to investors, employees, the board and all the outsourced team. It is with this responsibility in mind I recognize that all these rumors and rumors involving my name may be harmful to the company and it is not fair that the whole body suffers, hostage decisions I took and my life story. - I kept silent for a second. A second to breathe. A second before the end. A second to look at Eleanor. A second to say goodbye. A second to note that it would not make me any lack - And that's why I'm moving away from the presidency of the company immediately. Baxter Inc. - raised his voice when the whispers around me intensified - will be headed from now on by the board of directors, to find a new president who meets all requirements satisfactorily. The only related activities Baxter Inc to continue performing will be advising the audit procedure that is still taking place. Otherwise, I will not be linked to any other activity of the company. My resignation is final and definitive. Thank you all.
My Life in the End Page 34
