Embrace Me (6 page)

We made Will wait outside for a few minutes simply because we could. I was glad I had worn my dark brown hair down and put my best black suit on today. As Will wandered into the boardroom, he took a breath as he caught sight of me.

“
You’re looking well, Shannon,” he commented as he took the seat directly in front of me.

“
Thank you,” I replied firmly, trying to stop my legs from shaking under the table. “This is Lorna Harris, my Assistant Director. I want her here as a witness.”

“
You still don’t trust me, Shannon,” he smirked.

I saw red. “Do you blame me?” I spat back at him.

“
No, I suppose not,” he winced, looking away from my eyes. He seemed shocked by my sudden strength.

“
Why are you here, Will?”

“
To ask you to let the Roman Marketing contracts go. Seriously, Shannon, Headcom doesn’t need them.”

“
You are wrong. With this merger, we are unstoppable. You must understand, it’s just business.” I couldn’t help but smirk as I spoke. “Field Organisation isn’t afraid of a little competition, are they?”

“
It’s hardly fair competition. You have already blown us out of the water. Shannon, you have offered twice what Roman Marketing is worth.”

“
Like I said, it’s just business.”

“
Do you hate me that much?” Will’s blue eyes were soft as he watched my reaction.

“
Will, do you have any idea what you and your family did to me?”

“
I have reflected on what my family and I did. You need to know my feelings for you were never a lie. I loved you from the bottom of my heart, and I am so truly sorry it got so out of hand. When I realised you and Charlie were in love…I just lost it.”

“
That’s an understatement,” I muttered. Lorna agreed with me.

“
I know we don’t deserve anything from you, but this merger means a lot to us.”

“
Will, you tried to destroy my whole life. Why the hell should I do you any favours?” I wanted to propel myself from the chair and yell at him, but I resisted. “You really have some nerve.”

“
You shouldn’t mix your personal problems with business.”

“
Is that what you think I’m doing?”

“
All I can say is I’m sorry, Shan. What more do you want from me?”

“
Why are you here, Will?” I questioned again. There had to be more; he wouldn’t risk coming here just for Roman Marketing.

“
I wanted to see you.”

“
Oh, please!” Lorna broke her silence beside me as she began to get out of her seat. I laughed, pushing her back down.

“
It’s okay, Lorna.”

“
I still love you, Shannon.”

“
Will, seriously, you need to get over yourself. You are not in love with me. You are in love with who I am.”

“
Charlie is a lucky man.”

“
Well, he doesn’t go around threatening and blackmailing people,” Lorna interrupted again. “And I have never seen two people more in love. “

“
Was I even talking to you?” Will glared angrily at her.

“
No, but you do realise I was the one who helped Charlie solve your little plan, don’t you? Out of curiosity, how did your family pay off the doctor who delivered Shannon?” she seethed. I touched her arm to calm her down. Maybe having her here wasn’t the best plan, after all.

“
I don’t know what you are talking about.” Will said, sounding confused.

“
Oh, come on. The least you can do for Shannon is tell her the truth. She has a right to know why the doctor pronounced her dead at birth when she quite clearly wasn’t.”

Will looked at me, torn. My heart was racing, hoping he would tell me. “If I tell you, will you forgive me, Shannon—for everything?” I was too stunned to answer, but something in my face made him carry on. “My father
did
pay the doctor off. He was the one who put you into the orphanage, made up your fake birth papers and controlled every step you made. The plan all along was for us to marry and then unearth your secret birthright once you had conceived my first child.” I felt sick; I was frozen and I couldn’t speak. Luckily, Lorna could.

“
You asshole! Does your family have such little regard for a human life?” She was out of her chair now, but I was too frozen to stop her. “You almost
destroyed
her whole life. Do you understand that? Is money that important to you? If you truly loved her, you would never have done this to her!”

“
I had no choice. You don’t understand. From a child, I was told I was going to marry this girl.” Will gestured towards me.

“
Well, I have news for you…I think
Charlie
has that right, now.” Lorna was right in Will’s face but he didn’t move. His face was in pain, watching me from across the table.

“
I have given her the answers and told her I am sorry. What more can I do?”

“
It was all a lie,” I muttered, stunned. “My friendship with Megan…you…everything.”

“
No, it wasn’t a lie. I loved you, Shannon. I still do. And Megan valued your friendship over everything. When our father told us what he had done, we never thought we would find it so easy to accept you, but you were easy to love.”

“
Get out!” I spat, shaking with anger. “Your family took me away from my mother. I had to spend twenty years of my life alone…and it was your entire family’s fault!”

“
I’m sorry, Shannon. If only I could make you understand.”  

“
Get the hell out of here before I call security. You have overstayed your welcome,” Lorna snarled, opening the door for him to leave.

Will turned to look at me. “Shannon, I really am sorry for everything, from the bottom of my heart,” he said tenderly as he left the boardroom.

I was still lifeless when Lorna sat beside me.

“
I am so sorry, Shan. I wasn’t expecting him to admit everything like that,” Lorna whispered as I began to sob. “Do you want me to call Charlie or your mother?” I looked up at her through wet eyes. “I’ll call Charlie. I am sure he can get a flight and be here in a few hours.” She knew me so well; all I needed right now was Charlie.

I stayed in the boardroom, shaking in my seat. Claire brought me a coffee in, but didn’t ask why my eyes were red and blotchy. Her face was concerned, though.

I stared at the different grains in the wood table, following the patterns with my fingertips and wondering why the Fields hated us Downings so much; something must have happened. I knew I would eventually have to ask my mother about it, but it would have to be at the right time.

Charlie didn’t take long at all to get back from Canada. How he managed it, I wasn’t sure, but he burst through the boardroom doors and rushed to my side. All the pain from Will’s words melted as Charlie’s arms wrapped securely around me.

“
Sweetheart, are you okay?” Charlie asked into my hair as he held me.

“
I am now…it’s just difficult to hear that a doctor was paid to fake your death at birth,” I mumbled.

“
Lorna told me everything. It’s okay, I am here now.”

“
I’m sorry. I interrupted your photo shoot. Were your clients angry?” I sobbed.

“
Shannon, who cares? You come first for me,” Charlie almost laughed. “I am so proud of you, Sweetheart. Lorna told me how you stood up to Will.”

“
I hate him so much,” I muttered. “Did Lorna tell you he had the nerve to tell me he still loved me?”

“
Yeah, she did. It’s a good job I wasn’t there,” he replied, absolutely livid. “I can’t believe it was his father who hid you in the orphanage. I can’t believe the level he went to just so you would be a member of his family.” When Charlie began to laugh to himself, I looked up at his gorgeous face in confusion. “I really messed up Sir Field’s plans by falling in love with you, didn’t I?”

“
I am so glad you did,” I sighed. “You really are my hero.”

“
So this doctor is the one who your mother tried to track down, is that right?”

“
Yeah, the one who had died, but at least we have the answers now.” I rested my head against Charlie’s chest. “I am glad my grandfather is innocent in all of this. It will please my mother.”

“
I wouldn’t want to be a Field when she finds out.”

“
I think this war between the Fields and Downings runs deeper than we thought.” I looked up at him. “I mean, this hatred goes through generations. I don’t want our children drawn into this war.” Charlie looked at me in a strange way but I couldn’t work out what he was thinking.

“
What?” I asked when he didn’t speak.

“
I thought you would only marry me if my proposal was good. Why are you talking about children?” he teased.

“
Hypothetical children, Charlie. Don’t get too excited,” I teased back.

“
Oh, okay,” he smiled, kissing my lips softly. “Shall we go back to the apartment so you can call your mother?”

“
Yeah.” It had been a tiring morning and would be good to just relax for the rest of the day. I also wasn’t sure how long Charlie would be able to stay, so we had to use the time wisely.

The telephone call to my mother wasn’t as dreadful as I first thought it would be. Knowing that her own father was not to blame made her almost grateful to Will for telling the truth. My mother also promised to fill me in on the Downing and Field history next time she saw me. I had a feeling it would be detailed; most of her stories were.

Charlie had to return to Canada the next day, but I was glad he was able to stay one night with me. The week would not feel so long while he was away.

“
Are you sure you will be okay?” he asked for the fourth time as he began to get his things together.

“
Yes, Charlie, I will be fine. I am going to take the rest of the week off, just like you and my mother suggested. I’ll do some shopping, read a few books, and go for dinner with Lorna and Brad. Are you happy with that?”

Charlie pulled me in close to him, kissing me forcefully on the lips. “Very happy,” he breathed against my skin. It sent tremors down my spine. “Please don’t get into any more fights with the Field family while I am away,” he teased.

“
Ha ha…I will try my best.”

“
Good girl.” Charlie kissed me. “I love you. I should be back on Sunday.”

“
I miss you already!” I shouted as I watched him get into the lift. He turned to smile at me and was too striking for words. I was sure my heart skipped a beat as I watched him exit.

Chapter Five

My mother visited a few weeks later, and for once, it was just a social visit. Rachel came with her and took Charlie out for lunch so my mother and I could talk.

I wasn’t quite sure if I was looking forward to hearing about my family’s past with the Field family or not, but if things were ever to settle down between the two families, I needed to know the whole story.

“
So, how much do you know about the Field history with the Downings?” my mother asked, sipping her red wine on my veranda.

“
Nothing. All I know is that they hate us.”

“
Sir Field never told you the reason?” my mother asked in shock.

“
No, why would he?” I questioned, confused.

“
My grandmother, your great-grandmother, fell in love with my grandfather while she was engaged to Peter Field’s grandfather.” My mother watched me, waiting for my response.

“
This war is all over a woman?” I asked, taken aback. I never dreamed it would have anything to do with love.

“
My grandmother came from a wealthy background. The Fields saw it as an investment, while my grandfather saw it as love.”

“
So, they are angry because she chose to marry my great-grandfather?”

“
Partly, but you see, a lot of wealth came our way when oil was found on land belonging to my mother. Once we had the capital, Downing International just kept rising. Sir Field thinks we stole what should have been his, which is why he has been trying to claim it back ever since.”

“
Ridiculous,” I muttered.

“
You were the key all along, Lizzie. If the Field family had succeeded in their plan, I would have given them anything just to be close to you. I would have even joined forces with them.”

“
We are lucky their plan didn’t work, then.” I smiled at my mother, watching her emerald eyes shine in the midday sun.