Page 40 of The Facilitator, Part 2

M ackenzie needed to meet with Christopher and Alex.

Vivienne’s new will had been prepared and Mackenzie had news regarding the bank account.

He wanted me to stay with Gabriella and Vivienne.

He was as on edge that morning as he had been the previous day.

By now, he’d said, both Daniel and Addison would know their shares were worthless.

“The shit’s hit the fan, baby,” he said, using my words as we drove to Vivienne’s house. I don’t think I’d ever seen his smile so broad.

“You know something, don’t you?” I enquired.

He raised his eyebrows at me. “I know lots of things, Lauren. I know how much you love me to fuck your cunt from behind. I know how you squirted and it surprised you. I know…”

“Whoa!” I shouted. “Those are words for last night, not driving down the street with the windows open and people around.”

“No one can hear a word I’m saying, but I know all those things.” He smirked at me.

“Yes, so you know all those things, but what’s making you smile so much now?”

“Maybe I’m thinking of your hot pussy, Lauren.”

“Can you get off my pussy and sex for a moment? Stop being so childish.”

“Only if I have to. Yes, I know something, and you’ll know when it’s all done,” he said cryptically.

Mackenzie exchanged me for Alex when we arrived at Vivienne’s. I was ushered inside and the front door was closed and locked behind me. There seemed to be more staff than I remembered from a few days ago, but then I had been out on a horse ride for most of the day, so I might not have noticed.

“How are you, Mrs…Vivienne?” I said, remembering she had insisted on the use of her first name.

“I think I’m still in shock, Lauren. There is a large part of me that is not surprised, and the rest so very disappointed.”

I followed her through to the kitchen. There was a chef busy in the kitchen and Gabriella was sitting at the table on her mobile. She waved and half stood as I approached. I kissed her cheek as she spoke to her caller.

“Do we know anymore?” Vivienne asked, offering to pour me a coffee.

I accepted the cup. “Mackenzie knows something but he’s not telling.”

“I feel so sick with the anticipation. Do you think they know yet?” she asked.

I nodded. “I believe they may. Is that why the additional staff?” I cringed at the word, staff .

“Alex and Mackenzie are a little worried Daniel may do something stupid. He isn’t prone to rational thinking.”

Gabriella laid her mobile on the table.

“Anything, darling?” Vivienne asked.

“News has hit the company lost the government contract and shares plummeted on the stock market from two dollars to thirty cents as shareholders offloaded. Mackenzie hasn’t offloaded his and his broker is buying up all stock as it becomes available.”

“Why?”

Gabriella raised her eyebrow and pursed her lips.

She smiled, mysteriously. “Well, I wonder what will happen when it’s discovered there is a rather large American airline manufacturer interested in placing an order for a sizeable fleet of commercial airlines with that company.

It may have lost the government contract, but in four days, a miracle recovery will occur.

The company doesn’t just make navigation systems.”

“And those shares will skyrocket. And Mackenzie will own the majority of them,” I finished.

Vivienne clapped her hands. “We did raise him well, didn’t we?” she said, and then laughed. “Get me some of those shares, darling,” she added.

“Isn’t that illegal?” I asked.

“No, absolutely not. Mackenzie is just one shareholder. He has the right to buy those shares if he wants to. We genuinely lost that contract because it’s deemed there is a conflict of interest. Mackenzie advises the Secretary of State for Business on foreign businesses in the UK.

It’s an unpaid advisory role, but to then hold the majority shares of a business with a government contract could be damaging.

Now, if you also meant Momma buying shares on my news , then…

probably, but I think we’re too far down the road to criminality to care now, don’t you agree? ”

I laughed at the thought, but then wondered if we actually were.

We sat and chatted more about the various businesses Mackenzie was involved in. We killed time while we waited on news.

Lunch was prepared; a delicious seafood salad was laid out on the kitchen table, an informal lunch as Vivienne described it. Wine was poured and talk turned to Gabriella and Alex, their move to Boston, and whether Vivienne would see grandchildren before she died.

“Mother, I’d rather you not be so dramatic,” Gabriella said. “However…” she rested her hand on her stomach.

I screeched; Vivienne fanned her face with her napkin. “No way?” I said.

“It’s really early, so please don’t tell anyone. I’m only nine weeks, we believe, so I want to wait a little before any formal announcements…Mother!”

Vivienne pretended to zip her lips. “You know I insist on a baby shower,” she said.

“Baby shower, birth party, whatever, but just don’t tell anyone until I say so,” Gabriella stated.

“You won’t be wanting this, will you?” Vivienne said, as she reached for Gabriella’s wine glass.

“It’s diluted with soda, and completely harmless.”

I laughed at their spat. “I’m so happy for you both,” I said.

“Alex is thrilled, although he wished the timing could have been a little better. What this does allow for is Mackenzie having to accept my resignation, because I want to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said.

An hour or so was spent discussing birthing options, some of which turned my stomach; and whether traditional family names would be in the running. At some point, Gabriella quietened. She picked up my hand and held it.

“I’m sorry, this is really insensitive, isn’t it?” she said.

“Absolutely not. Don’t even go there, Gabriella. I won’t have it,” I replied.

In truth, I did feel a pang of longing, but it was so quickly washed away with a mouthful of wine. I was not going to allow myself a second of hurt or thought if I could help it. Only, I couldn’t always help it.

“We’ll be the most wonderful aunt and uncle,” I said.

“Godparents, at least,” Gabriella asked. I smiled and nodded, we hugged, and a pact was made.

A little while later, and more for something to do, Vivienne showed me around the house and gardens.

She pointed out flowers and plants that been brought in from foreign countries and tended to so lovingly by her husband; a self-taught gardener, she’d said with pride.

We sat and looked through photo albums and she skipped quickly past anything with Daniel.

I confessed to finding Mackenzie’s wedding album and became a little emotional when I recounted how I felt.

“He will marry you, my darling girl,” Vivienne said.

“I don’t know, and it’s okay, we don’t need to get married.”

“Listen to me. When Mackenzie wants something he goes for it. I’ve seen him with you, even when you are talking to someone else, his hand is on you, his eyes are not focusing on whoever he is talking to, he’s watching you.

He’s subtle, but you consume him. He is not going to let that go easily,” she said.

It seemed a little obsessive to me, and I wasn’t sure I completely believed Vivienne. She was a totally different woman to me, very traditional in certain ways, unconventional in others.

I hadn’t realised how much time had passed, but the sound of car doors closing from the front of the house had us running to the window.

Mackenzie and Alex stood beside his car chatting.

Both looked over as the front door opened and Gabriella stood on the veranda.

They soon joined us back in the kitchen.

“A new will has been prepared. Alex will take you to sign it tomorrow. We’ve dissolved the trust completely and formed a new one.

I’ve made you, Alex, and Christopher the only trustees.

Vivienne, someone else had to have helped Daniel.

Alex and Christopher are the only two I trust to keep everything safe. ”

“You mean David was involved?” she asked.

“I suspect so. Think about it. Had I known you’d signed to allow him access to his funds, I would have discussed it with you.

So would have Christopher. I’m not suggesting David did anything wrong, only that he didn’t do a good enough job in keeping the money safe.

He has been told the trust has been reformed.

The Lockhart Trust remains as is. Daniel knows nothing about it, and with the measures we’ve put in place now, no one can get access without everyone’s signature. ”

A pot of coffee and fresh cups were placed on the table and I poured for us all.

“I’ve also managed to recover just under one million dollars, which is currently on its way to a new account in your name, Vivienne. What you choose to do with the money is up to you. The rest, sadly, is gone.”

“I’ll arrange for that money to be returned to your friend, Lauren,” she said.

“You don’t need to do that, it’s mostly your money,” I said.

“It’s mostly Daniel’s, if we’re to be honest. Okay, so he was supposed to wait until I died before he got his grubby hands on it, but I’d prefer Jerry had the money. I have enough, Lauren. There is still a sizeable chunk for my granddaughter,” she said, giving Gabriella a wink.

“Grand…” Mackenzie said. He looked to Alex who held his palms up.

“I was forbidden from speaking about it until her ladyship deemed it safe to. I guess she has. And we don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy yet,” Alex said. His grin spread so far he looked like the Joker!

“Well, I’ll be…” Mackenzie stood and pulled Alex into a hug.