a known stranger

prologue

Darien Dale Scott, CEO of Scott Industries came down from his room with dark shadows under his eyes. He bent to kiss his grandmother good morning, and she grasped his hand as he made a move. She looked hard into his eyes, he was forced to meet the same midnight blue eyes and he looked away.

Grand Ma Anna Scott was his father's mother, and the matriarch of the Scott clan. She had wisdom and many special talents among it the gift of foretelling. She raised her hand to cup the face of her eldest grandchild and said, "Take some time off and go seek your soul mate, Darien, you will know when you see her, and you will find her," her eyes darkened and a look of compassion passed over her features. She smiled and patted his cheek. She let him go. He bent and kissed his grandmother and bid farewell to her.

Grabbing a glass of juice the housekeeper had prepared for him, he downed it in a swift gulp and went to the backyard where his mother was practicing her yoga.

Felicity Morgan Scott did not look like a mother of three, with her eldest hitting the ripe age of 33, her midnight dark hair was the only attribute she passed on to her son, the rest of his features were from the Scott stronger gene pool.

She was lithe, small built and looked to be the same age as her son. He kissed his mom, and said he was going to Toowoomba for a week, and will call soon.

She said, "bye Darien, call me as soon as you arrive in Toowoomba. They were living in Sydney, where the Scott Industries had its headquarters.

Darien was thinking hard as he drove his Porsche Turbo S to the office. He will need to change his car to the Toyota Rush 4WD and ensure it has been fueled and maintenance had been done.

The usual 30 minute drive from his home to the city, took slightly longer as there was an unusual amount of traffic on the highway. He finally reached his office, he wished, "Good Morning, Stella, his receptionist who had greeted him cheerfully for the last 10 years she had been with the company.

He went to the lifts and got on. Making small talk with some of the other inhabitants of the building, he strode out of the lift and walked towards the double doors that held his suite of offices where his capable Assistant, one Junior Secretary and his own private office was held.

As he got into the office where it split to 5 rooms, comprising the pantry, a washroom, his Assistant's Room with the small Filing room attached, and his private room. The Junior Secretary was a fresh graduate, Margaret Holt was sitting at the desk, the guardian to the inner sanctum of his private office. His Personal Assistant Marina was in a discussion with Margaret, looked up when Margaret got off her chair.

"Good Morning Marina, Margaret," Darien said nodding to them. "Margaret can you contact Vehicles and Utilities, let them know I want my Toyota Rush to be ready in an hour. I am driving down to Toowoomba, Marina, can I see you in my room?" he said in rapid fire mode. He swiftly walked into his room, and as he started up his laptop, Marina walked in with his cup of coffee, black with no Sugar.

Darien looked at her nodding his thanks he took the cup from her. He took a gratifying sip and started talking in his rapid fire CEO way, as he went through her list of appointments she had for him for the day and the week.

He drops the bomb on her, "Marina, I'm taking some time off, please handle this, postpone all appointments for the next 1 month for me. I am going to Toowoomba, I am not sure if I will be in Toowoomba the whole time, I will check in with you from time to time.

Marina his PA for the past 6 years looked at him slacked jaw. Her professionalism stood her in good stead, she caught herself and schooled her expression and says, "Ok, I will handle it,"

She leaves the room, and he continued checking his mails, and prioritizing the issues he needed to attend to and the ones he could delegate to Marina. Having compiled them, he sends a mail to Marina, and just as he clicked on "Send" his intercom buzzes, "Darien, Vehicles called and said your car is ready, they have it waiting in the front," Margaret's voice came out softly. "Ok, thanks Margaret," Darien says.

He shuts his laptop down and packs it into its bag. He then intercoms Marina, "Okay, I am leaving; I have sent you a mail, bye."

He leaves his rooms, waves at Margaret and gets into the lift.

His Toyota Rush was waiting outside for him. He passed his Porsche keys to the Attendant and takes the Rush keys. Putting the laptop into the back of the car, he got into the driver's seat, and took off.

He started his long drive to Toowoomba. He could not explain why Toowoomba, it was his instinct that was driving him. He had lived long enough to know to trust his instinct and he had never had to regret the choice.