Chapter Ten #3
In response, Carol and Tom started a repeat of the previous segment, dragging the Ramesly name through the proverbial mud.
“Everyone is speculating about what is really going on behind the public facade presented by the Rameslys…” a bubbly Carol started again.
Michael let Ann watch the whole thing, her hand covering her mouth as she watched in disbelief. After it was over, he turned the power off.
“This is worse than I thought,” Ann wiped away more tears angrily. “I cannot believe they just talked about us like that.”
He rubbed her back. Part of him was angry at these people who thought they could just speculate on the lives of others. Another part of him was grateful. Ann was not engaged or pregnant anymore. What did it mean though?
The door opened with Noah and Elle coming in. Kelly rolled her eyes from the hall and mouthed ‘sorry’ to Michael and Ann. Noah leaned against the wall, arms folded while Elle took the chair.
“Where are the twins?” asked Ann.
“I left them with my mama. It seemed the best idea,” Elle looked at Noah. “He thinks we should sue.”
Michael sighed. They could sue, but would they win? If they won, it would be worth it even if the retraction would be lousy. If they lost, it would add more fuel to the fire. The truth was, the majority of what was printed were facts. What was pure speculation would be hard to prove was libelous.
“I know what you are going to say,” Noah stated flatly. “That there is no use suing them unless we can win, and we probably won’t. The court will likely throw out the case or rule in favor of those trash tabloids like they have done in the past.”
Michael looked at Noah wryly.
There was no point in suing.
“They just get away with it?” asked Ann. “They can print and say whatever they like on television just to get more readers and viewers?”
“On television?” enquired Elle.
“We have made the entertainment news,” Ann said angrily.
“You are kidding!” Elle looked at Noah who visibly reined in his temper.
“We can do a press release. An interview and present our side. Make them look like cads,” Noah said darkly. “It is about the only thing we can do.”
“I probably still have the name and numbers of the columnists from GQ and Business Weekly,” Ann offered. “They have been trying to get Michael to sit down for an interview for years.”
“If you will contact them, it will be a start,” nodded a grim Noah. “They are both reputable magazines. We can give a press release to the other magazines we choose.”
“Do you want to do the interview?” Ann asked Michael.
“We need to do this,” Noah interrupted. “The company’s reputation has suffered. This could affect the Claymont purchase. We need to present a united front as a family. That means all of us together. Although how we are going to get Dad and Max in the same room is beyond me.”
“Is there any way that your father would forgive Max?” Elle questioned.
“If Max were to apologize, grovel and admit that he was wrong which he will never do because he was right,” Noah said in disgust. “The old man cannot seem to forgive anyone.”
Michael grimaced. He could make it happen.
He didn’t want to do it, but he had a trump card when it came to their father.
While David had hired private investigators to monitor his children is lives and a few more people besides, Michael had hired someone to investigate his father.
The result had been earth shaking. He had only confronted his father once about what he had found when it was a desperate situation.
Michael would rather keep the secret to himself.
He did not want to burden his brothers with it. It was better to forget what he knew.
“Forget dad, we can do it without him. He is too much of a headache to deal with. We should set up the interview for as soon as possible. You get released tomorrow, would that be too much for you?” wondered Noah.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ann queried softly of Michael.
He nodded. It needed to be done. Plus, it was not like he could answer any questions anyways. Michael was relieved that Noah seemed to be taking control of the situation.
“I still think we should give it a couple of days for Michael to be rested enough. I am sure the columnists will appreciate the time to run the whole interview idea past their editors and they will want to make up a list of questions for us to look at,” said Ann.
“At least, the last time they wanted to interview they were willing to be limited to a list of questions. That may have changed.”
“We will find out when you contact them,” responded Elle. “In the meanwhile, I am going to see what trouble the twins have gotten into. I suggest we all leave and let Michael get some sleep. He is going to need his rest for the interview.”
Michael agreed. He was feeling fatigue creep up on him.
Ann grabbed her purse. “I will come back tomorrow with Max, and we will get you settled at the beach house again.”
Michael nodded. He was glad Ann was back in his life again. He would try to figure out a way to make her happy, he reflected drowsily as she left.