Maripolite

Untitled Part 22

Grace Morgan was usually upset whenever she did not get her way but recent events had made her somewhat intolerable and her husband felt it.

Colt had retreated into his study over the last few days in an effort, to get away from the barrage of insults being thrown at his sons' new girlfriend and the motherly 'he should know betters'' directed at Charles even if they were both absent and could not hear anything she said.

Colt could though and he nodded and smiled but saved his own interventions until he could talk to his son and get the entire story. For now, all he had to go on was his wife's and she could be nothing if not unrelenting when it came to having her way.

Grace was irritated over Charles' personal life for many years and Colt knew that she wished he'd marry Diana and start a family. It didn't hurt that Diana's family was also as financially secure as the Morgan's but Colt Morgan knew better if his son hadn't committed yet he probably never would; however, he would never let his wife in on a gentleman's secret.

So, it had piqued his interest a great deal that he was found to be at dinner with an old flame from college, he'd listened intently the first time his wife had relayed the story as they finished dinner the night she bumped into the woman at Alena's. Grace had quickly brought Colt into the loop as to who she was and her short but apparently permanent memories of her from Charles' time in college.

She was furious that night not only did she feel that Charles was making a mistake by letting Nathalie back into his life; he was no longer listening to reason and as per Graces' recollection he had the nerve to walk off on her and out on his bill like an irresponsible teenager chasing 'skirt' she had said, yes 'skirt'.

The word played on his mind and the many potential explanations that surrounded it, Grace felt that he had become such an outstanding manager in his handling of the family business but she felt deeply hurt by his actions on that night.

Colt had smiled at this, he knew that his wife was smarter than that and could only be deeply hurt when the mood suited her intentions. He loved his wife dearly for all her misgivings and therefore did what a good husband would he listened, he consoled and he hid when she had finished ranting until the next session. So far so good!

He'd tried to contact his son on his mobile phone – no answer.

Work – no answer.

Home – no answer.

He tried to no avail, so he waited.

Colt was sure that at least one of his employees had passed the message on by now but days had passed with no response.

Colt sat in his study contemplating his next move. He and Charles had always had a good relationship mostly because unlike his mother he never intervened or tried to dictate his personal life, he left that all to Charles, as a parent Colts' only vested interest, had been the role he wanted his son to play in Morgan Enterprises, admittedly, he'd pushed and he'd noticed that in recent years the company had played the role of family to Charles in the most uncomforting way.

But now his son had found someone who could replace the role Morgan Enterprises played in his life and most importantly someone who didn't exist in his mother's environment, whose family she did not know, whose parents she could not manipulate, someone who Grace did not know if she could or could not control.

He truly understood his wife's concerns even if he didn't share them; her baby boy was growing up and growing out of her control.

Finally, Colt thought, he was not as concerned as his wife. Colt wondered if, and when his son would contact him but decided that if he did not hear from him soon he would pay him and his new girlfriend a visit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Charles found Nathalie comfortably placed in front of the television.

"Hi stranger"

"Hi, been here all day?" he asked

"I tried to walk with the cane you bought but it was painful to stand let alone walk so I resolved to stay still as long as was humanly possible"

"Were you successful?"

"I was and the painkillers I took for my ankle caused me to doze off making the lazy effort very profitable"

"You're not lazy you're injured"

"I haven't since college not worked in almost a year, so forgive me if I feel kinda useless"

"I'll have to find something to keep you busy then"

She shifted when he sat on the comfy sofa at her feet taking the television off as he did, "Long day?"

"Very" he responded and sat back on the sofa raising her bandaged ankle and resting it on his lap, "How's your pain"

"Very" Nathalie responded rolled her eyes and relaxed into the comfortable cushions, "This house is big. I got lost getting directions to the entertainment room, buy the time I got here my ankle was aching so bad that I had to help myself to a few extra pain killers given my dire situation"

Charles snickered "Addict"

"That should get me a few more months in the care of Charles Morgan"

"You can spend your life in the care of Charles Morgan but you keep saying no to the ring"

"So, your serious tonight, why? Did the king of the castle have to fire some of the little people?" Nathalie said pouting her lips pretending that she hadn't heard his statement.

"Shouldn't put your lips like that, it puts you in danger of unlimited pleasure" Charles licked his lips and eyed Nathalie from head to ankle then ran his hand over the cast and stroked her calf "Any visits today?"

"No, but I was well taken care of just as Jessie was"

"Jessie"

"I miss her!"

"I know"

"I was quite bored had a lot of time to remember the good times"

He scanned her intently "Maybe I'll take you to work next time you can help packing my office up for the great move"

"Still unusually serious, do you want to talk about it or is it company-related and I can't help?"

"It's Diana related..." He looked over to Nathalie for a response

"Changed your mind so soon," She said and nudged him with her good foot eliciting a larger smile

"Never, you're stuck with me and all my gloomy seriousness from now on I only get to be the big dog on work with you I'm just Charles aka 'king of the kingdoms'"

She saluted "King of the kingdoms"

"I bearly knew her and I miss that I won't get to know her"

"Jessie"

He nodded "Can we visit her tomorrow?"

"I'd like that"

"Well that's the first stop tomorrow and then a day setting up my studio and some pictures with the new camera equipment... interested?"

"Yes"

"Does your ankle hurt much right this very moment?" Charles asked returning his eyes to the casted ankle.

"Yes," she feigned pain "I have been in pain all day and can't move. Can you help me?"

Giving Nathalie his full attention Charles inched up between her legs, leaned down over her and claimed her mouth as his own, she offered no resistance. Nathalie put her arms around his neck and drew him in as close as a second skin, "I guess" he whispered, "but first I'll have to carry you up those stairs" she nodded her approval.