Page 103 of Lochlan

“Check into the hotel, then call Granda and let him know that we've arrived.”

“I still don't understand why you want to stay in a hotel, although it's one of the best, instead of staying at the residence.”

“Because after weeks of talks, we're nowhere closer to a resolution. I'll not stay with him and be underfoot, begging for him to come around to our way of thinking. We're together on this, and he needs to accept that we won't budge.”

“I hope he relents soon; I don't like this estrangement from Ian. We've talked almost daily for years; it seems unnatural.”

Over three years is a long time to be away from a place you lived in most of your life. The city as old as Edinburgh doesn't change much structurally, but there's enough new among the old to make me feel I've been away too long.

I've chosen to stay in one of the smaller boutique hotels. They built this structure in the 1800s. It was once a home for the insane. Now it's one of the trendiest hotels in the city.

I'm trying to make a quiet reentry; I'm avoiding the prodigal grandson returns headlines in the tabloids. After three years, I'm betting that there are enough rock stars, actors and politicians who have enough unacceptable behavior between them, that they won't notice me.

I walk Fiona to her room, then take the elevator one floor up to mine. I pull the big velvet curtains away from the window to watch the people below bustling down the street. The big city has an energy that I miss. I've been tucked away too long in the country near Silicon Valley.

I punch in Granda's number, anxious as each long ring stops and begins another one. I'm about to leave a message when he answers. “Lochlan, is that you?”

“Aye, Fiona and I are here at the hotel. When would you like to meet?”

There's silence on the phone while he considers. “Both of you can come to dinner. Are you up for a day of hunting while you're here?”

I chuckle. “I'm not in the frame of mind to trounce around with you all day to end up in that shanty of a hunting cabin.”

“About the hunting cabin. I had that rebuilt into a four-bedroom luxury cabin with a gaming room about two years ago. I got tired of my friends refusing to hunt with me because of that shanty. You should see it, lad. I've had requests to do photo shoots, it's that grand.”

“Maybe I'll drive out with you to the cabin, but I'm not interested in hunting.”

“Pity. Well, let me show you my newest addition to my gun collection. That activity doesn't require tracking down any beasts.”

“That would be acceptable.”

“You and Fiona should arrive about 7 o'clock. I know this is not a social visit. You want to continue our talk about the company. I agree that we should settle this tonight. I've asked your brother Harris to join us; we'll discuss this as a family.”

“Geordie won't be present.”

“Geordie is not a part of the management team. He'll be fine with whatever we decide.”

Fiona is nervous when we enter the residence. I share her tension that Harris will be present. I've come to terms with what he and Fiona did in the cathedral, but I haven't forgotten that betrayal. After Granda said the CEO position would not pass to Harris, I'm surprised he'll be attending the meeting.

We're escorted into the study. We sit in two of the three chairs in front of Granda's massive desk, and the aroma of cigars, whiskey, and leather triggers memories of this place.

The click of a walking stick hitting the ground announces Granda's arrival as he moves to his overstuffed leather chair. It's been only a few months since I saw him last, but his gait appears to be slower.

“I just saw Harris come into the foyer; he should be here any minute. We'll all have a chance to express our opinions.”

The door opens and Harris strides in with a set jaw and narrowed eyes, ready for battle. Our builds are similar, but I'm a few inches taller with more bulk. There are the signs of a belly forming and faint streaks of gray about his temples, but his cruel blue eyes are the same.

Harris says nothing to me, but nods to Granda and Fiona. He takes the seat on the other side of her, not giving me enough time to truly study him.

“I'm aware of everyone's position on how the company should move forward,” Granda says.

I steal a glance at Harris as his chair creaks when he shifts his position.

“Harris is the oldest of my grandsons. He will speak first.”

My brother directs his remarks to Granda, ignoring Fiona and I in the room. “I've been preparing to take over the position for the last two years. I've worked in the company since I left university. As the oldest, it's my right to take the helm of this company as CEO. It's time to announce your retirement and my assuming the leadership.”

Granda steeples his fingers and levels his gaze at Harris. “This company is not a fiefdom. The oldest is not guaranteed the position. Our business has survived because we have elevated the best in our family to take the reins. We have talked about this before. A company needs to grow and be a vibrant force in the marketplace.

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