Chapter 8

Walker

The sound of voices in the meeting room faded into an indistinct murmur as I fixated on the phone cradled in my hand. My fingers danced anxiously over the screen, tapping and swiping with a growing sense of urgency. Each impatient touch was accompanied by a quiet, frustrated whisper escaping my lips: "Why isn't she responding?" The silence of the screen felt deafening as I anxiously awaited a reply that never seemed to come.

I knew she was fine and there was nothing to worry about. After all, I had sent Jenna to keep her company, and they were probably busy gossiping about who knows what. Yet, an uncomfortable tightness settled in my chest. It had been two years since that time, and I thought I had gotten over it.

You never really get over some things, I guess. "I know it's nothing, but maybe I should call... just in case." I was about to press the call button when a message popped up:

- Okay.

I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "...Sir?" I suddenly became aware of my surroundings and looked up to see the nervous stares directed at me, especially from the guy giving the presentation. Logan, my secretary, shot me a knowing look. I recognized that expression all too well.

Clearing my throat, I announced, "Please bring the files to my office. You are all dismissed." I can't even describe how quickly they disappeared. Logan sighed. "I don't know what is happening, but you could at least pretend to listen," he said.

"What's next on the schedule?" I asked, completely ignoring everything else. Logan let out another sigh. "The Director of Anderson Entertainment has requested a meeting," he informed me.

A scowl quickly formed on my face. "Tell him I'm busy," I replied hastily. Logan cleared his throat. "He's already here," he whispered. I looked at him in disbelief.

As soon as I entered my office, I found the idiot sitting in my chair with his feet on my desk, snacking on the energy bar I kept in my drawer. Logan slipped away, mumbling something about coffee.

"Hello!" Blake, my annoying younger brother, greeted me with a stupid grin on his face. "Get off my chair," I said, shoving his legs off my desk. Blake chuckled and hopped out of the chair. "Oh, come on, big bro. Lighten up. I was just trying to make myself at home."

I narrowed my eyes. "What are you doing here? You can't just drop by my office unannounced." Blake shrugged. "I was on my way to meet Grandma. But then she called me and told me to bring you along," he explained. "Why?" I asked, and he shrugged again.

With a sigh, I grabbed my jacket and keys. "Let's go." As we exited my office, Logan was coming in with our coffee. I collected the coffee cup holder from him. "You won't be coming back to the office, Sir?" he asked, and I sensed the unspoken question behind his words.

"Didn't you say you were going somewhere with your wife today? I'll be heading home right after this, so you can leave early today, Logan," I told him. There was an instant relief in his tone. "Oh, thank you, Sir," he replied, and I scowled at him.

Then Blake and I entered the elevator. "Is Destiny pregnant?" Blake asked as the doors closed. It wasn't surprising that he knew; it was about time since my family, especially my mother, had a bad habit of snooping. Nothing could remain hidden from them.

"I overheard something yesterday when I went to see Mom. I heard her talking to that lady..."

"Which lady?" I inquired. Blake thought for a second. "The one with the funny-looking dog, the hospital director's wife," he said. I remembered who he was talking about. "She saw Destiny leaving the hospital a few days ago and came to tell Mom," he told me cautiously. Then he looked at me with anticipation, "Is it true?" he asked.

I smiled and said, "Yes." Blake laughed and slapped my back. "Congratulations, bro! I'm so happy for you. Damn!" He seemed ready to hug me, but I gently pushed his face away. "Thank you," I replied, then paused. "How many people have you told?"

Immediately, his smile faded. "I only told Mark," he said, clearing his throat. "I mentioned that I wasn't sure and asked him not to say anything, but then he told Celine. Celine told Adelaine, and Adelaine told Will. So, what? If Adelaine knows, then everyone knows. She's such a gossip," he added with a sigh.

"So I'm guessing that's why Grandma sent for me," I concluded. It all added up.

As we pulled up to the hotel, I could see my mother's car parked outside and her driver waiting. Blake sighed also seeing the car, "This was going to be a long afternoon," he mumbled, voicing my thoughts.

Blake and I got out of the car and walked into the hotel lobby. I almost immediately sighted my mother seated in the lounge area, sipping a cup of tea.

"Ah, Wlaker!" she exclaimed, as we approached. "I'm so glad I could see you before you met the chairwoman," she turned to my brother, "Blake, dear, go get yourself some tea, would you?"

Blake looked between us, " I already had coffee-" "-go get another one" Mother interjected eager to send him away. Blake was displeased by this but nodded and headed off to the beverage station, leaving me to face our mother's inquisition alone.

Mother gestured for me to sit and I did, " I'm sure you're already aware that I know that Destiny is pregnant," she started, her face devoid of any emotion.

Honestly, I didn't know why the older generation of my family disliked Destiny. She never did anything wrong that I could think of.

Destiny is the ideal woman for any rich heir. She was from a wealthy background. She went to one of the best universities in the world. She was smart, intelligent, beautiful, graceful, fierce, loving and yet it wasn't enough for them.

I smiled wryly, "You don't seem pleased at all," I said. My mother sighed, "It's not that I'm not pleased. I mean this is my first grandchild since that...unfortunate incident," she looked at her watch and sighed, "Anyway I just wanted you to be careful and don't say anything unnecessary when you're talking with your grandmother. She's not in the best mood today. I have a meeting to attend now," she stood up, a weary expression on her face.

"Walker," she called softly, her voice filled with a hint of sadness. I looked up at my mother, trying to understand the weight of that look in her eyes. "Yes?" I asked, concerned.

A small smile crossed her face, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's nothing. Just... take care of yourself," she said gently before walking away, leaving behind a noticeable sense of worry.

Blake, who had been standing there the whole time, asked, "So what happened?"

I shrugged, also wondering what that was about.

Knock. Knock. "Come in," a voice said from inside the office. Blake and I entered the office. The chair behind the mahogany table was empty and Grandma was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of her office.

"Hello, Grandma," Blake said as she turned to look at us. Grandma didn't respond and instead went to sit down and threw an envelope at Blake's feet. Blake picked it up and opened it.

It was filled with pictures. Pictures of him and a young lady. Blake's fists tightened, "What's this grandma?" he feigned a clueless smile. Grandma glared at him, " You tell me."