Hostile Takeover

Chapter Four

"Come on, Evie. Stop being a sook."

"But I don't want to go."

"Neither do I, but I'm sucking it up," Gray said to his little sister through the door.

She came out of her bedroom. At least she was dressed to go out and not in her pyjamas, which was a start. Now just to get her in the car.

"Why are you going to this dinner?" she asked, eyeing him carefully.

"I told you, to make amends with Mum and Dad."

"To be honest, I think we were doing just fine without them. I mean, I'm actually eating for a start." Gray pressed his lips together. He'd had no idea that Evie had been anorexic because of his mother's comments over the years. "To think she used to blame it all on Quinn," Evie continued. "She was the only person who understood me." Gray knew where this was heading. "And now she's gone."

"There it is," Gray said, throwing up his hands.

"Well, Gray. I don't think you thought about the ripple effect your divorce would have."

"You can still remain friends with her, I'm not stopping you."

"But she's not here anymore. Hey, I have an idea, why don't you move out and Quinn and I can stay here."

"Cute, but no."

"You know, I think I like Quinn more than you."

"Everyone does," he mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's go or we'll be late."

"Fine, but I still don't know why we're doing this. Dylan is a dick and you want to see him again."

"I have my reasons," Gray said. "And I've decided I'm going to tell Mum and Dad that Quinn and I are getting divorced."

"You're going to tell them tonight?"

"Yes, but do me a favour, don't mention she's been gone four months already. I don't want to give Dylan any sort of satisfaction about this."

He never discussed business with Evie and he wasn't about to start, especially not when he needed to keep his cards so close to his chest. It wasn't that he mistrusted Evie, but she could unwittingly slip up and that could be disastrous for both of them. He had her to think of, too and with Dylan hot on his heels trying to take his newspaper from him, his whole empire could come undone. Once upon a time, he would've also factored Quinn into that equation, doing his best to protect her from Dylan, but he didn't need to worry about her now.

The house was the same as he'd remembered it, Gray thought as Curtis drove them into the grounds of Willoughby, the mansion his parents owned in the suburb of the very same name. Gray had grown up here on the expansive property but he guessed he didn't have a normal childhood like most people his age. He remembered Quinn telling him about riding her bike around the streets of her neighbourhood, climbing trees, building forts, digging holes. Gray would never have considered doing something so mundane as digging a hole. It was so pointless and he'd remembered how Quinn had told him he'd missed the point completely.

He still didn't really understand, Gray's childhood had consisted of violin lessons, tennis training, swimming laps and hard study. There had been no time in his schedule even as a child to fit his childhood in. Maybe if he'd had a more normal childhood he'd be able to do things like... be normal. Quinn had often been miffed at his way of life and he knew a big reason was his childhood. Things like being unable to switch off, he was always working, he was like a machine. Which was probably one of the reasons why he couldn't always empathise with her. For the first time, he realised he was partly to blame for the end of their marriage, that maybe he could've done things better.