“Has,” Neal insisted, “and I’m not claiming anything. It’s the truth.”
“He never mentioned he was seeing anyone.”
“Did he make it a point to discuss his personal life with you?”
Cliff’s silence was his answer.
“I thought not,” Neal said with satisfaction.
“I believe this woman was someone I hired?” Cliff said shrewdly.
Neal reminded himself to be careful here.
“She was the sculptor you hired a few months ago.”
“I see… and in so short a time, George became utterly besotted with this woman. Enough to want her provided for?”
“Stranger things have happened,” Neal said with a casual shrug.
“I don’t doubt it,” Cliff said, his eyes searching.
Neal turned and walked out of the room. He was finding it difficult to breathe and he could feel the panic begin to take control of his calm. He was sure now that Cliff suspected what was coming next. Clifford Stanley was a smart man, one who was difficult to fool, but if Neal could provide the tests that proved paternity, then despite Cliff’s suspicions, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Neal prayed hard that he was not walking himself, and Elena, straight into a brick wall.
***
Elena walked back into Neal’s house, clutching a bag of her things. She felt strange walking into the house, knowing it was going to be her home for the next few days. She wasn’t sure where to set her things down. There didn’t seem to be a second bedroom in the place. She settled for leaving them conspicuously in the living room.
She helped herself to some fruit from the sparsely stocked fridge and then settled in front of the television. She was watching a mindless reality show that she couldn’t concentrate on, when she heard Neal in the doorway.
“Hello,” he greeted her somberly, as he walked in.
“Hi,” Elena returned, and then she added cautiously, “I brought some things.”
“Oh, good,” Neal said absentmindedly.
“Neal – are you OK?”
He didn’t answer for a minute and then he looked up, his eyes were far away.
“I need to drop by my brother’s apartment for a bit.”
“Oh,” she said, “alright. I’ll be fine here.”
“Actually,” Neal said tentatively, “I was hoping you would come with me…. for some moral support.”
Elena leaned in and gave him a hard hug.
“Of course,” she said willingly.
The two of them made the trip to George’s apartment in complete silence, both consumed with their own thoughts. The doorman gave Neal his cond
olences as they went up in the elevator.
Finally, they reached his apartment. Neal stood at the door for what seemed like an eternity, but Elena never pressed him to turn the key in the lock. She just stood behind him until he was ready. Finally, he took a deep breath, turned the key and pushed the door open.
They walked around. Elena started cleaning up, the musky smell of desertion had already settled over the rooms. Neal simply stood there, doing nothing. Then finally, he walked into his brother’s room. He looked through the drawers, the cupboards, and the wardrobe. He searched with single-minded purpose, but even he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. Somehow, a part of Neal hoped that there was something hidden among his brother’s possessions that could save him somehow.
Something that could get their company back and keep it in the family. Perhaps a second codicil that out dated the first and thus rendered it null and void. Perhaps this one would state that in the absence of any children, Hargrove Brothers would pass to Neal and his children. He had gotten so used to receiving lifelines from his brother, that a part of him still expected that, even in George’s absence. He was so involved in his aimless hunt, that he didn’t notice Elena behind him.