Chapter 3

Clayton was relieved that his father had not taken offence at his words and that eased the tension that was beginning to build between them. Damn. He was not a child anymore. He was a grown man who would have to make his own decisions himself.

" If I want to get married, I will do so without being match made or forced. I have met enough beautiful women to choose from if I want regardless of patrician birth. I do not want to be pressured and trust me sire, I have no desire to be bound to one woman forever".

He said. He had risen to his feet as he spoke and Hugh watched as he headed for the door.

" Do have a good day sire. I shall meet with you during dinner. For now, Adieu" .

He opened the door and walked out into the hallway and Hugh could only nod his head. More from surprise that he could still remain adamant on the issue than from acknowledging the greeting with which he had made his exit.

When it was dinner time, the family sat to dinner, still talking about the many things that worried england and what they planned to do next and of course, the weather and fashion.

"The weather has been indeed incredible! This summer is one like no other. One enjoys the sun and relaxes at night in the cool evening air. What do you think about the weather?"

Abigail asked to no one in particular. It was typical English style to talk about the weather all day and not do anything about the weather _ not like anyone could _. It bored Clayton to death each time he had to make unnecessary conversations about the weather. There never seemed to be a good enough conversation without talks about the weather.

"I do think the weather is lovely. It is good indeed as you have said, Abigail".

Hugh agreed as he picked up lettuce from his plate and stuffed it in his mouth.

"Clay, my dear, do we old folks bore you? I'm so sorry. What would you rather talk about? Tell us about london! Your father and I will visit soon. Maybe in the winter".

And she knew the winter was not soon. She had read Clayton's mind and was able to tell that the conversation bored him for that, he was genuinely happy but he had no idea what to talk about. Was it the very few events he attended or the business he was running and building legacies all around the world?

"There is not much to talk about london, Ma. Perhaps, you two could visit earlier than winter?"

He suggested. He knew he had made a vain suggestion. He looked in the Direction of his father and the man looked away. He hated the hustled and bustles of town and he would rather remain in England. His mother on the other hand was always needing an excuse for which she could visit London and stay for a short while but Hugh never let her stay for more than a day. She did her shopping in London and got good fashion magazines in london and most skin care products, she got them in london but she was never allowed to stay longer than a day.

"What do you think father? I know you detest travelling but It would be convenient for you. My private aircraft will bring you two."

"That is good enough, Hugh. We should go. I ache to go have a look at London ".

Abigail said.

RUTH MCCURDY

Ruth was teetering on the brinks of depression and it did not help that she too, like Alicia, had no job. When she had first told her friend, Alicia that she was involved in office romance with her boss, Alicia had expressed so much fear in her words and when they had eventually met, she had spoken about it.

"I Love Mark and I'm sure he loves me too. Why don't you chill out and let me give him a chance?"

She had asked Alicia when she would not have the idea of being entangled with one's boss at work. To make it worse, the relationship had been kept discreet. Totally ways from public stares and mouth. Not like too many people cared about her. But they did care about her boss, Mark!

She had had the best one year of her life dating her boss who was thirty nine at the time. She was twenty eight and more than eager to get married and Mark had promised her endlessly that their relationship was leading to marriage. Now she was twenty nine now, single and heartbroken. She had quit her job and had been on the brinks of hysteria when she had realized that her boss, Mark was a family man who did all he could to keep his family from the media and the general public. She had decided after one year, to Start making little findings about him since she had intentions of marrying him _ he was never in the papers for any reason other than business_ . The first sites she had visited did not provide enough details about him but she had been sure it was mentioned that he was married. She had been horrified. He was married, not divorced?

She had called in sick the next day at work and had locked herself up in the room, making online search about her boss, Mark. How totally foolish she had been to not have done this earlier!

He was married with two kids and a Japanese woman. The names of his kids and wife were witheld but the sources indicated that he was very much married and his family lived in New York! The same New York where he worked and dated her?

She was too tensed to believe it. She had built her life around the relationship and had been sure she was getting married soon. Marriage to her was very important and she had not been able to marry earlier as she had always wanted as a young woman . With tears in her eyes, she had called Alicia, her hands shaking and her lips quivering. Alicia did not pick the calls. She was probably busy at work. When Alicia called back, she was shivering. She picked up the receiver and held the chord in her left hand. Her lips trembling and her hand twisting the chord to still herself.

"What is wrong? "

Alicia asked Immediately she took the phone. She heard the sniffs and it worried her.

"Alicia.... I'm sorry I never listened to you. Mark is not a single man!"

She said the last word hastily and broke down crying. True, Alicia had had her misgivings about the relationship but not once had she pointed out what could be wrong and so Ruth had dismissed her worries and had taken it for paranoia.

"He is married?"

"Yes".

"How come you never knew? How did you find out now?"

"I searched on google and there it was. I am disappointed I trusted him so much that I never tried to find out things about him. I messed up big time Alicia and I feel like I should drop dead".

She was sobbing again and her sniffs was loud enough to disturb her neighbors.

" Don't think like that, Ruth. You should confront him and hear what he has to Say."

Alicia had adviced. Ruth took the advice. She had spent the previous night crying and scribbling away on paper after paper and eventually, she had typed her resignation letter. As she stepped into his office that morning, he saw in her eyes that she had learnt something about him and he did not look like he would ever apologize for whatever it was. He was braced for whatever bombshell she had come with and he took one last deep breath before she reached him. He flashed her a smile but she did not grin in return. He waited.

"You never told me you were married , Mark.."

She stated. She obviously had no desire to make small talks with him and he knew that much

"Well, are you asking or telling me?"

He asked. He had never been known to be apologetic, no matter how wrong he was . He was the boss, was he not?

Ruth looked at him then and hated herself for ever having thoughts of marrying a man like him.

"You are married, Mark. Why did you ever tell me you will marry me? Why did you ever lie to me, Mark?"

"I know this building is soundproof, still, I would appreciate if you did well to keep your voice down".

"Mark! "

"Don't shout. Whatever finding you made on your own about me, I have no desire to debunk the claims".