C10 Chapter 10

This was why being abandoned by him, his betrayal, had hit her so hard that she was nearly committed.

She had been careful, she had been sure, but she had been wrong – after all her life’s effort, she had been taken in, deceived, and become what she had always avoided – a burden from whom someone she loved wanted to escape.

==========

A knock on her office door pulls her from her thoughts. Kyle is standing there, looking concerned.

“You okay, Ma’am? You seem... off,” Kyle says, walking into the office. “Another client back out, vendor decline a deal?”

Marcia mutters something inaudible in response, then says clearly, “Jullian’s really pulling strings behind the scenes.”

Kyle shakes his head, a mixture of disbelief and frustration on his face. “The guy that came by the other day?” Kyle asks, taking a seat across from Marcia.

“Who is that guy anyway? Jullian…?” He presses, watching Marcia closely, remembering how she had dropped the crate lid and how she and ‘that guy’ had looked at each other.

Marcia stares at Kyle, and then blinks as if remembering something, yeah, he might not know who Jullian is...why should he anyway?

She clears her throat “Have you ever heard of the Grayson House?” Marcia asks Kyle, fixing him with a gaze that was all business.

Kyle sits up in his chair “Grayson House...that’s a....powerhouse in the alcohol industry, isn’t it?” Kyle responds, index finger on his chin, thinking, eyes looking towards the ceiling.

Marcia claps her hands, one clap, “I knew I did a great job hiring you Kyle!” She says excitedly, then pulling herself together she continues.

“That guy, as you so rightfully call him, is the heir to the House of Grayson,” she finishes, folding her arms across her chest and sitting back upright facing Kyle.

“What? But...why is he hitting us then? We are not even a drop in his ocean! What does he want?!” He exclaims, his cute face contorted with fear.

Marcia sighs, averting her gaze. “He’s trying to ruin my company, trying to get inside my head.”

Kyle frowns, keeping quiet for a moment, then says “You can’t let him win, Marcia. You’ve worked too hard. You can’t let him win.”

He leans forward, “You’re not alone in this, you know? You’ve got me, and others who believe in you.” Kyle says, gently and confidently.

Marcia looks up and smiles sweetly at Kyle, ‘Marcia’ ehy? Finally! She thinks to herself, and she gives a small laugh.

Kyle, taken aback by her response tilts his head slightly, a quizzical look on his face.

“Thank you, Kyle, I needed to hear that.” Marcia says gently.

Kyle smiles back at her.

“I just...,” she says slowly, her voice quiet, “It’s hard when it feels like everything’s falling apart. I thought I was ready...that it was time...to move back, but that guy...” she glances at Kyle and gives a small smile, “That Jullian...he’s making it impossible.”

The faint smile still hangs on Marcia’s lips. Kyle can see that her eyes have a distant look again.

Though she appreciates Kyle’s words, she feels the weight of the past and present heavy on her shoulders.

She has survived so much already – her parents' divorce, her childhood guilt, and now, she is faced with Jullian’s games. Marcia straightens her back again and places her palms on her desk. She won’t let this defeat her. She can’t. Her eyes refocus, and she looks at Kyle.

Her gaze shifts to the list of calls she has to make and then slides to the bracelet on her wrist, a small token from a time that was dear to her heart. It grounded her. Reminding her of the mountains, rivers, and seas she had crossed.

It reminds her that she is not the sick child who overheard the words of a bitter mother, not the burden of a man and woman whose love had broken, nor the young girl who was betrayed by her lover and left heartbroken.

She is a woman of determination, focus, and passion – capable, and damn certain that she could, take care of herself. She would not lose this time; not this time. Not ever again.

Her phone rings again, pulling her back into the fight.

With renewed determination Marcia nods to Kyle, placing her hand on the receiver. Kyle nods back with a smile and stands up.

As he heads back to his desk downstairs, Marcia picks up the phone and answers in a pleasant tone, “Good morning, you’ve reached Oltre Bacchus. How may we help you today?”

Whatever comes next, she is going to face it head-on.

==========

“Sir? Sir? Are you alright?”

“It's nothing. I'm fine.” Jullian responds, holding his stomach as he walks across the helipad on the roof of his company's building.

“Ah!” He stumbles and the man on his left, who had been asking him questions just now, catches him. Jullian pushes him away roughly and stumbles into the man to his right falling to his knees and holding the other man's arm tightly.

“Sir, what's wrong? Should I call someone? Do you need an ambulance?” asks the man Jullian had just pushed away.

“No need.” Responds the one Jullian is holding on to – Lucas. “You can take the briefcase in, Tom, I'll take it from here.” Lucas says, looking at Jullian and holding him up with the force of this powerful forearm.

“Are you sure?” Tom continues, concern in his voice, turning his head left and right, looking for someone, anyone, he could call on to help.

“Don’t concern yourself. I said it's fine. You can go inside.” Lucas replies curtly, his hard grey eyes locking onto Tom’s. Tom steps back, looking from Jullian to Lucas and back.

“Oh, okay. Sure.” Tom says hesitantly, backing up towards the roof exit. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.” Lucas responds, his tone a shade softer as he sees Tom complying with his request.

Jullian continues to moan, turning his head into Lucas's arm. “Sir, we need to go her. We need to see her.” Lucas says into Jullian’s ear.