Epilogue #2
"Consider it a forewarning." Arthur, that old coot, tilts his head. "An admonition, perhaps."
"Consider me admonished." I draw myself up to my full height. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, and a message pops up on the screen. It’s a name and an address
I message back.
Me: On it.
Then I delete the message string, pocket my phone, and turn to my grandfather. "I don’t need your money. I have enough of my own."
Arthur leans back in his chair, then places his fingertips together. "Don’t forget who holds majority shares in the company of which you’re CEO; the company which also happens to own the patents to your various biochemical discoveries."
I stiffen, “The patents are—”
“Not on your personal name, because the Davenport Group filed them on your behalf,” Arthur adds in a silky voice.
The old man is…right. I’d done that on purpose. But now’s not the time to reveal that. I set my jaw, pretend to be upset at this revelation, then curl my fingers into fists for good measure.
"I’m simply pointing out the reality." Arthur lowers his chin. "Of course, you could choose to walk away from your patents but—”
"What he means is that he’s worried about you." Imelda stares at Arthur, who surprisingly subsides.
She rises to her feet and walks over to me.
"You travel a lot and work so very hard. Arthur feels you don’t look after yourself enough.
He only wants you to meet the right woman, so you’ll settle down.
He wants you to be as happy as your brothers are.
" She levels a look at Arthur. "Isn’t that right, dear? "
Arthur looks like he’s about to protest. Then, with a disgruntled expression, he jerks his chin. "I do worry…about all of you." He looks around the room. "It’s why I helped all you find your soulmates and look how happy you are."
Tyler coughs. "I think the credit for finding the women we love and want to spend our lives with goes to us. Mainly."
"I played a role, didn’t I? If I hadn’t put the condition to have you all get married in order to inherit, I wager, none of you would have taken the final step needed to seal the deal."
Tyler’s lips quirk. He exchanges a glance with Nathan, who shakes his head in an imperceptible motion. Probably warning Tyler not to say anything which might antagonize the old man further. Not that I care.
Arthur thinks he’s responsible for my brothers getting their happy endings.
But I’m too wise. I’m not going to fall prey to his machinations.
It’s one of the reasons I’ve managed to stay away as much as possible from the family.
Also, because I’ve been busy carving out my career.
I’m determined to be independent. So far, I’ve succeeded.
The only reason I stayed on this long is to help Tyler.
I could never turn down my brother when he needed my help.
But Tyler’s settled now. His daughter Serene walks into the room, followed by Brody, with Tiny on their heels.
She heads straight for her mother, who picks her up.
Tyler wraps his arm around both of them in a protective gesture.
Serene leans up and kisses him on his cheek, and his entire face lights up. He pulls both of them close.
My heart stutters in my chest. My chest hurts a little. It’s wonderful to see Tyler so content. But is that burning sensation in the pit of my belly jealousy? Nah, not possible.
I don’t begrudge my brothers their happiness. But I’m not going to fall into the same trap. I’m not going to give up my freedom. Besides, I’m too busy focusing on my job. Unlike my brothers, I didn’t become a Marine because I’ve always felt I could do more for my country on the outside.
And now, thanks to my buddy James, I have a new mission. It’s time for me to move on. I’ve never been good at being in one place.
I’ve always felt smothered when my family show their concern for me.
Perhaps, it comes from being a nerdy kid who got bullied at school.
Whose older brothers always had to rescue him from being pounded in the playground.
It’s when I swore to find a way to show the world that I could take care of myself.
I knew, even then, I could use my brains to outwit anyone.
But I also realized I needed the physical strength to go with it.
I focused on building up my body, focused on being so strong that no one would dare bother me.
Paired with my high IQ, I'm virtually invincible when it comes to the kind of career I've forged. One where I can use my intelligence to come to the aid of those who need it most. It’s what led to my becoming a private contractor for the government.
I can serve my country, but I can choose the missions I go on, like the one I am taking on now.
With what I can only describe as relief that I have a reason to leave, I nod in my grandfather’s direction. "I appreciate your being concerned on my behalf, but there’s no need. I know what I want."
"Do you?" My grandfather frowns but doesn’t say anything else.
I pat Imelda’s shoulder. "You take care of yourself. Don’t let the cantankerous old coot get you down."
Arthur makes a noise of protest which I ignore. I kiss Imelda’s cheek. Nod toward Nathan and Knox and their wives, then head over to Tyler’s family. I ruffle Serene’s hair, clap Tyler on his back and smile at Priscilla. "I’ll see you guys soon."
"Thanks for your help." Tyler lets go of Priscilla and his daughter long enough to squeeze my shoulder. "Anything you need, don’t hesitate to reach out."
"I won’t." With a last wave at the group in the room, I head out of there. Nodding at Arthur’s butler Otis, who holds out my coat for me, I shrug into it, then leave through the kitchen using the back door.
Cutting through the garden path, I head out toward the door behind the garden shed which leads out onto Primrose Hill. It’s locked.
I use the code Otis, Arthur’s butler shared with me to let myself out.
I step out onto the grassy knoll and jump down from it onto the walkway that leads down to the entrance to the open space.
The London skyline, made famous by scenes in so many movies, stretches out in front of me. I pause for a second to take it in.
Thankfully, I’m not jaded enough to not appreciate the beauty of the afternoon sun which bathes the scene in a golden glow.
Cyclists overtake me. A couple holding hands walks past me, lost in each other.
A family sits on a blanket in the grass having a picnic.
Everyday sights and sounds surround me. The breeze ruffles my hair.
I draw in a deep breath, and smell freshly cut grass mixed with fragrant flowers. More tension slips from my shoulders.
Why am I more comfortable when I'm on my own? I don’t hate my family.
Far from it. Despite my impatience with my grandfather’s tactics in trying to get me hitched, I know, deep down, he only has my best interests at heart.
He was there for us when our own father was too self-absorbed, and our mother too preoccupied with her society life.
It was Gramps who brought us up. His methods might have been more befitting that of an army sergeant who expected complete discipline from his troops. But even then, his love for us came through. Which is, perhaps, why my brothers and I put up with his meddling antics.
Not that Arthur has any military experience, but his father did. Our uncle Quentin was the first to enlist in the Royal Marines, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. And later, so did my brothers. I decided to follow my own instincts. Even then, it felt more natural to strike out on my own.
It took a few false starts, but here I am.
The CEO of a biochemicals research company which I built.
It did have seed funding from my grandfather, but everything else is mine.
I'm the one who raised money for the IPO from the stock market.
I'm the one who decides which initiatives we’ll focus on.
I've kept the team small. Kept my own hours.
Kept a low enough profile that it's a perfect cover for the missions I take on for the government. This one, though, is personal.
I exit the park, pull the hoodie of my sweatshirt over my head, hunch my shoulders, and do my best to blend in.
With my six feet six inches height, I’ll always stand out.
But wearing everyday clothes helps. Ensuring I keep my chin lowered so my features aren't caught on any closed-circuit cameras is another.
I head to the nondescript white van with the name of a building company stenciled on the side. A bit predictable, but the best way to mask my presence. I asked one of my team to have it delivered so I could use it.
I take the key fob from the glove box, after keying in the code to open it, then drive off. A half-hour drive brings me to a quiet borough.
Not as well-heeled as Primrose Hill, but also, not as gritty as the East End.
With its tree-lined streets and green spaces, Archway is quickly becoming sought after, in real estate terms. Given its proximity to Whittington Hospital, which is where the subject of my interest works, it makes sense that she lives here.
I double-check the address that James sent me, then shoot off a message to the investigator whose part of my team, asking him to send me a full background check on her.
I park the car a few houses down from the address I’ve been given.
I don’t have to wait long before the door to the house opens. A woman dressed in scrubs, which mark her out as a medical professional, steps onto the pathway.