Chapter 42 Chapter 41:
Devon:
Jenna Harper, the CEO of Aurora Digital is seated opposite me, dressed in a tailored pant suit adorned in sophisticated jewelleries. We are discussing the clause for our new contract to be signed very soon; of course this contract signing plays a huge deal for me in securing the CEO position.
“I think the whole clause is alright.” Jenna says, smiling up at me, “However, you do know that we have to make some sort of appearance together, nothing serious, just for publicity?” She raises her brows, expecting an answer, she’s right. The public needs to see us together before they believe the contract has been signed.
“What about casual breakfast or dinner?” She suggests, wriggling her brows.
“I am sorry but I can’t do dinner, either breakfast or lunch sounds like a good idea though.” I say, dinner is spent with Arya each day, and I will be a fool to ditch that because of a contract. The past me would have agreed upon any time of the day to eat dinner together, but now, I have a daughter waiting for me at home, I have Arya.
“Oh. Well then dinner’s out of the list then.”
Daphne stands in the door; her face is a series of shock as she grips a set of folders tightly across her chest. “Mr. Brookes, sorry to barge in like this but it’s about your father.”
My legs are already forcing me up despite my best struggle to remain calm. “What happened to him?”
“Your step-mother just phoned, he just had a heart attack.”
My mind blurs immediately, the words heart attack managing to reel me past to the present. It can’t be, my father’s the strongest man, he can’t possibly be having a heart attack.
“Jenna.” I turn towards the sophisticated woman seated; she directs a warm smile my way, as if to tell me she understands. A look of understanding passes between Daphne and I, she knows well to cancel all my meetings scheduled for later.
I don’t know how fast I walk out of the company and towards my car, igniting the key. I grip the wheel too hard, my knuckles turning pale white. Everything blurs as I speed towards the hospital.
“Focus,” I mutter under my breath, staring straight ahead.
It takes twenty minutes to pull into the lot of Golden Horizon’s hospital; I stumble out of the car, the cool night air slapping my face. Stepping into the hospital, everywhere is too bright, the smell of syringes enveloping my senses.
This kind of panic hasn’t gripped me since my mother died. I need to see my father and make sure he’s alright.
“Devon!” Liam runs towards me, panting. Strands of hair frame his forehead, sweat clinging to every part of his face. “I ran here the moment Barbara called me, have you seen any doctor yet?”
“Not yet,” I say, my voice shaking a bit. Liam and I take the hall, before turning right. It’s where the VIP section is located, this part of the hospital is less busy, the doors to the patient room are much wider and the walls thicker, masking the sound of beeping monitors.
We sight a doctor walking towards us, Barbara following silently behind him; Liam stiffens beside me, hardening his fists.
He gives us a pitiful smile when he reaches us, he’s middle aged, with tiny strands of grey hair growing at his temples. “We are sorry. Mr. Brookes was a much respected man here.”
“What happened to my father?” Liam steps in front of me, his green eyes blazing with anger. “Don’t stand there and give me a pity speech.”
“He died before the ambulance came. He died as a cause of the heart attack.”
Death....Death.....My whole body goes numb and cold, the doctor’s still moving his lips but everything he says blends with the background. Heart attack? He died because of a heart attack?
My chest tightens as I try to piece it all together, but my mind doesn’t work. It goes stiff.
The doctor looks uncomfortable to be with us, normally people’s reactions to grief are sadness, tears and anger and not two men not saying a single word.
“I will leave you to it,” he coughs awkwardly, before turning and walking away.
“The news is already out, the whole world probably knows now.” The existence of Barbara in our midst is clear to us as we stare at her; her face is smeared with dried tears, her hair, now messy, is tied in a knot.
“You did this.” Liam points out, his anger directed at her. “My father has no problem with his heart!”
“The medics don’t lie,” she meets his stare with a cooler one. “He died of a heart attack.”
“We spoke to him!” Liam’s voice shakes, and it looks like he’s at the verge of tears but I doubt he’s going to cry. I can’t remember the last time we both cried. “He said he was okay, we were going to meet up and hang out, you did something. I am sure of that.”
She loses guard a bit, I sense it in her posture, but she doesn’t bother responding to Liam’s words. “I already called up the lawyer,” she says calmly, “Unfortunately your father wrote down that the will is to be read a month after his death. It’s the order,” She chuckles lightly.
“That’s what you are concerned about?” I finally find my voice and it’s hard. “You don’t care the least bit about your husband? He’s dead and all you care about is the bloody will?”
“Let’s meet to discuss the details about the funeral, alright boys? As you know, I am a grieving, sad and depressed widow. Let me mourn my husband in peace.” Without waiting, she walks towards the elevator.
Liam and I both make our way back to the main lobby; it’s suddenly hard to breathe. Everywhere is so suffocating.
“Devon! Liam!” We look up to see both Arya and Wanda running towards us, their hair fanning their face. What is she doing here?
“Devon, I saw the news that your father was rushed here,” Arya doesn’t wait for me to respond before she wraps her hands around my waist and tugs me closer. My grief pauses due to the presence of her warmth; it feels so good to be embraced like this. I lean on her shoulders as we remain like that.
“I am so sorry,” She whispers, patting me gently, I don’t move, trying to relax into her embrace. She leads me to the open space outside the hospital, designed for patients to relax. We walk around, my mind is reeling around places and I am so grateful to have someone by my side now.
“I am sorry, Devon.” She repeats, turning to face me, she probably knows about the twisted relationship with my father, to be honest, Liam was closer to him then. They used to do lots of things together until my mother died, so this must be harder for him.
I still can’t bloody believe it, my father is dead. Heart attack?
“So...about the CEO’s election?” Arya asks, it’s going to be postponed for another week, which means it will be in three weeks, after thanksgiving.
“It will be postponed.” My voice sounds weak, I am exhausted due to the panting around, I have never felt like this before. Twenty years ago, I vow not to show my weakness to other people, but Arya isn’t other people.
“Am I supposed to feel like this, Arya?” I ask, standing still, watching the stars in the sky. They look so peaceful, neatly arranged together, when am I ever going to feel peace?
“Why don’t we travel out?” She suggests, shrugging. “Like a mini vacation just to take your mind away from the election and your father’s death, it’s a great way to battle with stress.”
I have never taken a break from anything in my life before, she’s pushing me to try out things past me would have never even considered.
“Alright, okay.” I sound defeated.
“I am sure one of my friends will be happy to watch Vera while we are gone.” I nod my head and she suggests that we return back to the hospital, Wanda and Liam are huddled by the vending machine, his lips pursed into a deep line and Wanda’s frowning, whatever they are talking about, I don’t want to know.
“We are going to head home now,” I declare. Liam nods, patting my shoulder briefly; it’s a symbol of understanding. He might end up calling and we’ll talk till midnight.
The ride home is slow; Arya drives my car and turns up the music to a sad song on the radio. When we reach home, I try to put on a happy face for Vera, she blubbers about her day, smiling and giggling. At least it helps to relieve my stress. We have dinner, but I rarely touch my food, all I just want to do is sleep the day’s stress away.
Arya helps in bathing and clothing Vera in her nightwear, telling me that she got everything under control. I slip into my bedroom, sitting on the bed. The dark room stares back at me, I can’t bring myself to look at my phone, millions of messages will be waiting for me by people I am not even close with.
I stay awake till midnight, finding it hard to fall asleep. Finally Liam’s call comes in at one in the morning, like me, I am sure he can’t sleep.
“Hey,” I pick up his call, staring at the ceiling. “Can’t sleep?”
“Actually, I am feeling sleepy, but I am in my hotel, tons of coffee cups sprawled on the table, I am planning Wanda and I’s heist.”
I sit up straighter, resting my head on the headrest. “You are going through that?”
“Yes.” He says, frustrated. “I have a feeling Barbara did something. That was actually what we were discussing by the vending machine, Wanda and I...” He coughs slightly, “We are going in tomorrow’s night.”
“Don’t get caught.” Temporarily, the property is now owned by Barb until the will is read, so Liam going in there will be considered trespassing, he could even get arrested if Barb catches him.
“I won’t get caught.” He firmly says.
“Arya suggested a vacation and we are going soon.”
“Can I watch Vera while you both are gone?” Liam asks hopefully, “Please, I really want to bond with my niece, please...I can be a very responsible uncle.”
“First of all, you are currently living in a hotel room, that does not probe responsibility.”
“I thought I wasn’t staying long here!” he sighs, his discomfort making me smile a bit. “Fine, I will ring up Arya tomorrow, she can’t deny her grieving brother-in-law.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I massage my temples, “I’ll have to talk to Arya about it. Okay?”
“Yes. Yes. By the way, I rang up my buddy from the U.K, luckily he’s working temporarily in the hospital where dad is, I asked him if he could conduct a thorough autopsy, he did warn me that it could take weeks though.”
It looks like Liam and I are always thinking alike, when we were kids, sometimes, he would beat me to solid ideas, it always made me love him more.
If it takes waiting weeks to know what really killed our father, then I am sure it’s worth it.
“That’s okay,” I say, glancing at the clock on the wall. Liam and I talk for a solid thirty minutes, the conversations jump from Barbara to Father, reminiscing old childhood memories, to a boring meme that Liam found while scrolling through Facebook.
We end the call with Liam begging me to talk to Arya about letting Vera stay with him.
After ending the call, I feel much lighter as I rest my head against the pillow. Father's death is still a surprise to me and I know that Liam is right. Barbara did something to him. We don’t have concrete proof but it’s that twin instinct that both Liam and I have.
I make a silent wish to Father that whatever happens, I will uncover the truth to his death.