GUARDIAN OF HER HEART

IT'S TIME

“I'm sorry ma'am, but no one is allowed to see him” the guard said, extending an arm across the door, in an attempt to stop her from entering.

She took a step back, took off her shades and considered the daring guard for a couple of seconds, “I want to believe you're new to the job, hence your misconduct. I would forgive that, but if you stand in my way one more time son, you would be sorry. Now move!” Mrs Greyman ordered in a low but authoritative voice.

“I really do not mean to challenge you ma, but I'm only following orders” the guard insisted, with every composure he could muster, because he knew very well who he was up against; he knew who she was.

“Are you dense or just incompetent?? Take your pick!” she asked rhetorically, her voice was beginning to heighten, threatening the decorum of the hospital. The poor guard was at a loss for words, he knew what to say but he was only threading with caution.

The other guard just stood motionless like a statue, it was best if he didn't get involved, because Mrs Greyman had a long history of making people's jobs disappear.

“Don't you know me??!! Cat got your tongue?? Answer me!!” she yelled, “I know b.. but I...” the guard stammered, but before he could complete his sentence, Mrs Greyman had pushed past him and gotten into the room.

“I'm sorry ma'am but you can't go in!” the guard protested after her, “It's fine, you can leave now, Marshall” a baritone but frail voice said, “Yes sir” Marshall replied with a slight bow then exited the room.

“You asked them not to let me in, didn't you??” Mrs Greyman queried gloomily. “Good afternoon to you too Juliet” the man said sardonically, he had his head buried in the newspaper he appeared to be reading since the time she entered.

“What's wrong with you Anderson??” Mrs Greyman asked, something in the tone of her voice suggested that she was referring to something other than the feeble and debilitated condition of the old man.

“You mean?” he asked uninterestingly still not sparing her a glance.

“The next time you make a decision regarding the future and wellbeing of our family, I hope you let me in on it!” she sounded.

She seemed to have finally said something that caught his attention, because he folded the papers and put them aside and then looked at her intently, but with an expressionless face.

“I've made quite a number of decisions in the family of late, so you're going to need to be a little more specific” he said. “Anderson!” she yelled frustratedly “Why are you here Juliet? Are you here to constitute nuisance? Cos I heard your clatter outside from in here.

I'm not surprised though, that's what you've been doing all these years” he said ever so calmly.

Mrs Greyman seemed like she was going to explode, but somehow managed to maintain composure.

“Anderson, what do you mean by making Alexandra your stand-in? What becomes of Kevin??”

“Who?” he asked feigning ignorance.

“Oh come off it Anderson! You cannot possibly choose Alexandra over Kevin, that is logically incomprehensible! Yes, Kevin has made some mistakes in the past, but he still remains your best bet! Alexandra?? Really?? She doesn't even have a knack for business, no experience whatsoever, she can't even man the receptionist desk! This decision is a joke! Don't you get it??” Mrs Greyman explained, if she was going to convince this stubborn old man, she needed to be practical and get her facts right.

“Out of everything you've said, only one is true, Kevin is a mistake! A walking disaster! I give him control, and he would run my legacy to the ground in a week! I would rather play peek-a-boo with Alexandra than willingly hand over control to Kevin! I'd given him a chance once and he blew it, I would die first, before that would happen again.”

“Really?? So you're just going to give up on him that easily? You would just discard him like a used tissue paper at the first chance you get?? Andy, that boy gave up his passion for you! For this empire! Stood by you all these years! You used him! You're a user Anderson!” Mrs Greyman said brokenly.

“Stood by me?? Tell me, where's that son of yours right now? Any idea where he is?? Do you?? That's what I thought! Thank God I've got options! I have two other children, I will take my chances with them” Mr Greyman stated vehemently.

“Oh you would regret this Anderson, I just hope you haven't made the mistake of extending this ridiculous decision to your will, I want to believe that this is only temporary, else, I swear by god that, the last time this family experienced peace would be the last forever!” Mrs Greyman threatened.

“You wouldn't dar...” he started to say but, began to choke on his words, his respiration became impaired as he clutched his heart gasping for breath; his heart was failing him again.

“Now look at you, look how pathetic and miserable you've become, you're nothing without me Anderson” Mrs Greyman said as she reluctantly pressed a red button, and as soon as the medics entered she left.

Outside the hospital, outside the whole drama, Mrs Greyman sucked in a deep breath like she needed a generous amount to live.

“And who's waiting for the will??” she said to herself. It was time to start pressing the big buttons.

She took out her phone from her clutch bag and dialed a number, after 3 unsuccessful dials, the receiver finally picked up.

“What do you want mum? Anything going on?” the receiver asked nonchalantly.

“You've got to be the most unserious person I know Kevin! You know that right??”

“Look mum, I'm not cut out for all of this right now, I've got a guest. So, if you called to scold me, then I would rather spend my time doing something a lot more gainful” Kevin said.

Mrs Greyman felt very irritated, she could swear he was in bed with a cheap w***e as they spoke.

“What would be ‘a lot more gainful’ is you getting serious with your family's business for once!” she said irritably.

“I knew it! Jeez mum! What haven't I done for that family?? What do they want this time?? My blood?? I don't give an F about them anymore!”

“your sister is about to take your birthright, moron!” she finally broke it to him in a pissed off tone.

“What??!” Kevin asked finally paying attention.

“She's standing in for your father until... well, if he ever gets better! Sober up!” she yelled.

“That's impossible! What does she know?! Why would father make such decision?! What about me??!”

“Well, I don't know, ok? So, quit asking me some dumb questions and get your ass down here ASAP!

....

“How long have you known about this??”

“Well, not long after you got the call to come home. I'm so sorry Lexi, look I only knew about your father's illness and the ‘not returning part’, but I swear that's all I knew. I didn't know you were meant to take over the company” Fel explained apologetically.

Lexi exhaled sharply, she couldn't blame poor Felicity, she wasn't even mad at her, it's just that there were too many information at a time, the whole thing was taking a toll on her.

“It's okay Fel, it's not your fault at all. I'm just too mad and I can't even take it out on anyone, I can't even blame my poor father, he's in the hospital fighting for his life right now, gosh I need to go and see him” Lexi said drained; she was, physically and mentally.

“Hey, take it easy, you'll pull through in one piece, and your father will be fine too. It's all temporary Lexi, as soon as he's well on his feet again, you will be back to military service. Although, with the way things are playing out right now, you might miss the graduation, but don't fret, it will soon be over, trust me” Fel encouraged her.

“You don't know that Fel, we all don't, we don't have control over these things. I don't have a choice than to dance to the rhythm of the music, I just feel like the sacrificial lamb.”

“You're not! Come on, you're doing this for family, nobody asked for this, no one planned for it, but whatever life throws at you, you face it and make the most of it, don't let this break you Lexi, you're stronger than this” Fel said.

Lexi wish she could accept this thing that life has thrown at her and act like she's got it together, but she couldn't, but at least she could pretend. “Alright, I'll try, I.. I won't let it break me.”

“That more like it! That the spirit!” Fel said elatedly.

“Yeah, uhm... Someone's at my door, I need to go check and see who. Talk to you later” she said, “alright, cheer up and take care, bye.”

“Bye” Lexi replied and hung up.

How in the world is she supposed to run Greyman bridge for even a day?? Now this was her biggest challenge. Having a major in business administration and a minor in economics still doesn't cut it, you need more than just theory to run the country's top construction company.

She was lost in thoughts when a sudden realization hit her.

For the very first time, she realized that this might have been planned since day one, think about it, when she wanted to go to military school, everyone opposed it, mum wanted her to go into the world of fashion and modeling just like her, while father wanted her to study business in Harvard university so she can co-run the company with Kevin when he's no more, but she declined all offers and stood her ground.

Father only gave in at last, but under the condition that she studied the course of his choice. At first she was skeptical, but after much consideration she decided that it didn't matter what she studied, as far as she was in the military, so she accepted.

All these facts might just prove that her becoming acting CEO of Greyman Bridge, isn't by chance, but then, is her father's illness also part of the plan?? She didn't think it was a possibility, maybe it's all just fate.

She slumped into her bed, her head was beginning to bang from too many thoughts and worrying, just then Kyle walked in with a cup of tea.

“Hey sis, you're still in your uniform” he pointed out, she looked at herself as though only realizing it.

“Yeah, my head feels like it's gonna explode. Is that for me?” she asked, gesturing to the cup of tea in his hands.

“Yeah yeah. Here” he said handing it over to her, she took a sip relishing and savouring the satisfying taste of it.

“Thanks, just what I needed” she said as she put it down on her table.

“Mrs Blake says it's good for the nerves, it soothes it or something” Kyle said and Lexi chuckled lightly.

“How are you taking it in?” Kyle asked, Lexi knew he was referring to the ‘big news’.

“Still taking it in. I've handled a lot of things in my life, but I don't know how I'm gonna pull this one off, Kyle” she admitted honestly.

“You will, trust me, it isn't exactly rocket science... Maybe a little, but still, I think you can pull it off.”

“You think I could?” “I think you can. Take it one day at a time, that's what you studied in school, right? and Gabriel's there to put you through, you have all you need to make this work Lexi” Kyle encouraged.

“When did you grow into this wise young man??” Lexi teased and they both laughed it off.

“I meant that though, you speak with so much wisdom” Lexi said in a more serious tone.

“Thanks. Do you want to go see dad now?” he said suddenly.

“Yes, sure. Just give me a moment and I will change into something more comfy then join you downstairs" she said.

“Alright, I'll be waiting for you then" he said and then left.

...

Far away in the metropolis of Quintin city, in a room with dull lightening, a man who appeared to be in his mid 60s sat gloomily by a fireplace, with a glass of whiskey in one hand. He seemed to be fascinated by the flickering of fire, but he was actually lost in thoughts.

In his other hand, he had a photo of a woman so beautiful. He stared at the picture with an expression quite difficult to read; it was a cross between anguish and anger.

He gulped down the content of his glass in one go, settled the photo on a table and returned his attention to the fire. The door to the room where he was, suddenly opened and a younger man entered.

“I’m sorry to intrude sir, but you need to see something” the man said urgently.

“What, Fisher?” came a throaty question from the older man, “here sir” Fisher said as he came and stood in front of the old man, while holding out a newspaper to him.

The man took it and read the headlines of the page already opened to him, then slowly a wicked smile appeared on his face.

He gave the paper back to Fisher and returned his attention to the fire again, then said, “call him, it's time.”