Page 27 (2/2)

MyI told her I'd be at her house in an hour to talk She was furious and I had been avoiding her calls It was time I talked to her She would know soon who the new board members hen I held a party at the club to celebrate their new positions Everyone would know and she wasn't going to be happy about it Dean Finlay e She should be prepared

When I arrived at her house, Harry, the chauffeur I'd hired for Mother after I fired Leo when I returned to Roseoing somewhere, obviously Good That was probably best

I nodded as I passed Harry He was my employee Leo had been my father's Leo had also left Della in handcuffs for five hours in the back of a car and hadn't let her use the restrooet , I see"

Harry nodded "Yes, sir I' her to the airport at nine," he replied

"Thanks, Harry"

I headed to the door and didn't knock It was standing open The house cleaner, Martha, was standing there, wringing her hands nervously I was sure she'd seen and heardat the bottom of the stairs, I called out, "Mother I'm here"

Then I turned to look back at Martha "It's okay You can finish doing what you were doing She won't kill me Even if she's threatened to"

Martha didn't look too sure but she nodded and scurried off

Mother came to the top of the stairs with her purse over her arured that out already

"I see that," I replied

She walked down the staircase and I waited for more of an explanation

"You have chosen to defy your father'she set into place and thrown it away Those ton Club for over thirty years They are trusted confidantes You thumb your nose at that You're a foolish child I don't want to stay here and watch you destroy this legacy Your grandfather was a sillyto you A twenty-five-year-old boy isn't old enough to run a business like this one You know nothing"

I let her angry words seethe froet this out and it was tiaze leveled on me and stayed there I decided it was my turn to speak

"Those men were my father's confidantes Not mine I put in place those who are close to e The club will be run differently now I'm not Father But I strive every day to be like the randfather and hope to be worthy of his legacy one day I hope you travel safely and will check in withwell I love you, Mother You may not believe me or even care, but I do You're e"

She opened her ain I believed, deep down, that she lovedto accept that emotion where I was concerned She pulled her purse up to her shoulder and looked at the door "I' to our apartment in Manhattan I have friends there, and I prefer to live there now Roseed"

Yes, it had And I hoped it would keep changing "I wish you happiness," I replied

She didn't look back at me I watched as she walked out the front door with the click of her heels echoing through the house She would come back one day She would love o She had to beI could do