Chapter 22: The Perfect Grandson
BEFORE THE CALL.
The smell of antiseptic hung heavily in the air. White bulbs hung from the ceiling, lighting the hallway.
Men in sharp black suits stood on both sides of the hallway, perfectly lined up, hands placed behind their backs, their sharp eyes surveying the entire space.
Leo stood in front of the door bearing the inscription "VIP." That was the room his grandmother was in.
He was about to open it when a man standing close to the door stopped him. He wore the same black suit as the others, but carried an air of authority. In his hand was an iPad.
Leo’s eyes narrowed into a sharp slit, and he turned his head towards the man with deliberate slowness.
Grayson may have been his grandmother’s right-hand man, but he was still just staff, how dare he try to stop him.
Grayson, however, didn’t look the least bit frightened by Leo’s glare. "I’m sorry, but you can’t go in." he said in a smooth tone, completely devoid of fear.
"And who are you to tell me that?" Leo asked, sizing him up.
"Those aren’t my orders. Besides, she has no idea you’re here." Grayson said. His voice carried across the hallway, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Leo’s jaw ticked. "Inform her of my arrival." he said. His grandmother had regained consciousness over an hour ago, but he hadn’t been informed. He’d only found out from a passing nurse. And now he was being stopped from entering, when he knew perfectly well that Frederick was already inside.
"Tell her I’m here." Leo tried to maintain a calm, collected demeanour. If he lost his temper now, it would only cement his grandmother’s belief that he wasn’t fit to be her heir.
Grayson hesitated for a moment before stepping into the room. Leo tucked his hands into his pockets as he waited for his return.
He felt a pang of pain in his chest, knowing Frederick would never be subjected to this kind of treatment.
Margaret Kings had never hidden her favouritism from anyone, and as a result, even her employees, people he considered beneath him, treated him without respect.
The door finally clicked open after a few minutes, and Grayson returned. "She wants you to come inside." He opened the door wide enough for Leo to enter.
Leo shot him a dangerous glare before stepping in. Once he took over, Grayson would be the first to go, and he’d make sure the man never got hired anywhere again.
The hospital room was large enough to fit ten smaller beds. In the middle sat a queen-sized bed, machines beeping softly at its side, and on the nightstand beside it stood a vase of fresh flowers.
Margaret Kings lay on the bed, her head propped up on a soft pillow. Beside her, Frederick sat on a stool, his hand wrapped around her aged, wrinkled one.
Leo’s shoes brushed softly against the floor as he made his way to where she lay. The sight in front of him upset him deeply, and he wished desperately that he was the one holding her hand instead.
"Grandma, how are you feeling?" he asked, taking a seat on the stool at the other side of the bed. He didn’t bother acknowledging his brother at all. He was never one to pretend to tolerate his rival.
Margaret Kings turned slowly towards him, her face straight and cold, the crown of white hair framing it making her look every bit the ice queen she was known as.
"As you can see, I’m still alive." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leo reached to hold her hand, but she pulled it out of his reach. "Did you come to tell me about the Hillstone Estate’s progress?" she asked. With Leo, her tone was clipped and professional.
Her question didn’t surprise him. Margaret Kings hadn’t built her estate empire on dreams and wishful thinking, she was a hard worker who’d earned every cent through sweat and blood. Even in a hospital bed, all she cared about was business.
"The deal fell through, the stocks were—"
"Why can’t you be more like your brother?" she interrupted, her croaky voice rising higher than before. Her face twisted, her disappointment visible on it. "Another business deal fell through. Again? For the fifth time in eight months. You—" A harsh fit of coughing shook her chest.
"Grandma, please calm down, the doctor said you need complete rest, you can’t strain yourself." Frederick said, genuinely worried about her health. He shot a quick glance at his brother.
He’d come to the hospital because he was worried about her, not to be scolded. His hands turned damp as he watched the scene unfold in front of him, Margaret coughing, and Frederick tending to her like the perfect, dutiful son.
Something tight and heavy pressed against his chest. She was always comparing them, without ever acknowledging or giving him credit for the things he did do right. He’d lost 5 deals, but closed 10, yet she never once praised him the way she praised Frederick.
Was it too much to ask to be shown the same love and appreciation?
"Get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you unless you have something important to offer." Margaret said, turning her face away from him.
Leo flattened both hands on his knees, his eyes dangerously red from a mixture of pain and anger.
Seeing that he was still seated, Frederick chimed in. "I’ll call you when she’s in a better mood. For now, please respect her wishes."
’Must be nice, playing the perfect grandson.’ Leo thought.
His eyes lingered on his grandmother for a moment longer before he rose to his feet. ’Just you wait, I’ll bring something Frederick could never top.’ he thought as he walked out.
He would prove himself. He would ensure Kings Estate secured a deal with Jill and Jones through him, and he was certain that single act would push Frederick out of his way for good.
It was after he left the hospital that he placed a call to Violet.