Convenience

Part 30

Beatrice did her best not to feel sorry for the man standing in front of her.

She folded her arms and said quietly, "I sat down and talked to my grandfather about what I had learnt. " She told David, completely unaware of the fact that he had changed gear and had reached the conclusion that he was no longer going stand around while she took pot shots at him.

Pot shots. Hardly. Nuclear warhead is what she had opted for as her weapon of choice.

Oblivious to the changing scenario, Beatrice said calmly, "My grandfather wanted me to marry you because he wanted me to have some form of security." She sounded terribly sad when she spoke about her grandfather. "He wanted to know that when he died, I would not be alone in the world. He knew he was ill. Wasn't sure how long he had. But he wanted me to have a husband, someone who'd be there for me, provide me with companionship. Maybe even have children with me. He wanted me to have people who cared for me, in my life." She said in a voice that became increasingly quiet.

David did his best not to wince even as he reminded her pointedly, "I was at the funeral." With hindsight there was probably more he could have done, like maybe hold her hand at the funeral, or offer a shoulder. Beatrice nodded at his words. "I told you to get in touch if you needed anything." He told her when she said nothing. He was not inclined to defend his actions. He had looked out for her in those early days. "I sent people round to make sure you were ok." She had sent them away. That wasn't his fault.

He was accountable to no-one. He'd done what he could. He'd attended the funeral and he'd offered to help her if she needed it. She'd chosen not to contact him. Even as he replayed that silent conversation he knew his actions were selfish and heartless. Leaving her to get on with her life, while he moved on with sorting out his family business. Different sets of priorities in action.

Beatrice nodded again.

"So?" He growled.

"So, I guess your idea and mine about security, about having someone there for me, are entirely different concepts." She raised her chin, a movement he was coming to associate with defiance, and ongoing challenge. "Someone being there for me, doesn't need me to tell them to get in touch if they need anything." She told him. His eyes went flint hard when they heard the silent accusation. But despite the fact she knew he had registered her indictment, she said softly, "They would be there."

"I had a company to rescue!" David snapped.

He'd spent years dragging the family firm back into credit. Ensuring people had jobs to go to. Unlike her, he couldn't afford to be self-centred when it came to personal issues. The women in his life came and went because they carried no baggage. It was sex. Both parties knew what they were getting and that long-term commitment was not possible. His business came first. His personal and social life came second. They accepted that, even if his wife did not.

"Yes, and a wife to console." Beatrice said sadly.

He snorted. Well, two could play at this guilt trip. "Like you consoled me? When my grandfather died." He accused with heat in his voice.

Beatrice remembered the attempt she'd made on the aircraft, and remembered his response. "I tried." She replied quietly.

"Really?" He snorted with disdain. "You tried? When?"

Clearly he didn't recall that event. She could remind him, about the way she had tried to console him. But after a quick look into his eyes, she decided against going down that route. What was the point? The man thought she was point scoring.

So she settled for a simple, "Yes. I tried." She turned once again and stalked away. There was no point rehashing what might have been. If he wanted to drag her down, wanted to reduce her to starting from scratch, wanted to get his share of her assets, then she was going to let him do all that. It was the course of action that warranted the least amount of emotional energy. "Look, just take what you want." She said softly, she shrugged, and added quietly, "You want half of my business, go head. Take it." He was held by the glints that sparked in her eyes, even though her voice remained quiet. 

"Take it?"

"I won't fight you. Take what you think you are entitled to have." She said quietly.

"You seriously expect me to believe, knowing as I now do, that you know that I'm probably worth billions, that you won't be coming after me for your share?" David just could not get his head round this. The women he dated loved the fact he spent a fortune on them. His wife, a woman who wore his wedding ring, but a woman he really did not know, apparently did not seem to care about his wealth and he'd spent nothing on her. She didn't want anything from him. That just struck him as impossible.