“I’ll be taking over from now on, Uncle Philip.”
Philip’s face darkens as rage must heat his blood to a hundred degrees.
“I don’t think you understand, Harriet,” he says, his voice lowering with a menace that he is trying to unsuccessfully cover with charm. “Your father’s businesses were not all as they seem.”
“I’m aware.” She moves towards her father’s desk, never dropping eye contact with Philip. “Aidan, Vaughan and Julian can update me and show me the ropes. My father has made clear to me that I am the next in line to take over, with Jack and Brig by my side.”
Philip steps forward, meeting her challenge. There isn’t a huge discrepancy in height between them, and I wish I’d bought a slight heel for Harry, giving her the edge.
“No, sweet girl…” Spittle is forming at the corners of his mouth while his blood pressure turns his face puce. “You have no idea what you’re messing with.”
Now I step forward, a sense of protectiveness I don’t recognise overcoming me. “Careful, Philip,” I say. “That almost sounds like a threat.”
Harry
One thing I am certain of is that my father wanted me and my sisters to try and make this work. Seeing Philip in my father’s office didn’t sit right, the telltale prickle of unease at the back of my neck bringing up memories from before. Dad wasn’t just disappointed with Philip, he was infuriated. He wouldn’t want him heading up any part of the business.
He wanted him out.
It’s going to mean a huge upheaval for all of us, but between us, I know we can do it.
Uncle Philip looks positively poisonous as he leaves the office, demanding James follow him.
James hesitates only for a moment, but I notice it, and I know it’s to do with Brig. The sooner we figure this out, the better I’ll feel for all our safety.
Philip is a risk. Not just to the business. I feel he is a risk to me and my sisters. The fact he walked out of the office without discussing further business tells me he wants it all, and wouldn’t be satisfied with working for us as part of the family.
I lean against the desk, stroking my hand over the old wood and imagining my dad sitting behind it. It’s so easy to see him sitting here in a dark grey suit, tapping away at a laptop or writing out some documents or other.
Was this where he sat when he wrote our letters?
Aidan’s phone vibrates and he looks at it with a frown.
“Huh,” he says quietly.
Julian is poking around in the bar and Jack and Brig are walking around the spacious room, taking it all in.
“What is it?” Vaughan asks, bringing my sisters’ attention back to Aidan.
“You know that wedding we went to the other day,” he says and waits for Vaughan and Julian to respond. “Well, they want to talk to us.”
“Tell them to come up here,” I say.
***
It doesn’t take long for a beautiful but very young couple to walk through the door to the office.
“This is Bram Grant,” Aidan says, his words clipped, as the young man steps forward and shakes my hand. He can’t be much older than Jack, a little younger than I am. “And his wife Skye Grant, Nee Cordez.”
“Skye!” Brig runs to the girl and envelopes her in a tight hug. “It’s been so long!”
Skye laughs, her pretty eyes glinting. “I know! I’ve missed you all so much.”
“Why did you stop visiting?” Brig asks, the disappointment and sadness evident on her pretty features. Skye used to come over most summers until Brig turned ten. They are similar in age and were so close as kids.
“Dad wouldn’t let me after Uncle Richard cut him from the business.”
I watch as Bram snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her close, a little envious of their bond, wondering if I’ll ever have that.