Eleanor sat on the edge of the bed and watched her husband sleep. Adam hadn't slept in like this for years. Eleanor reached out to stroke his head as he began to stir.
"Morning sleepyhead."
Adam stretched and then rubbed his eyes, giving them a moment to adjust to the morning light coming through the bedroom windows. "Hey, babe. What time is it?"
"Don't worry about the time. You clearly needed the sleep. How's your head?" Eleanor moved her hand from Adam's forehead and held his hand.
"Yeah, better. Think the headache is gonna take a few days to pass but I'm alright." Adam smiled at Eleanor.
"Good. Phillipe has almost finished breakfast. And Anna has agreed to stay for the weekend, just to help out. I've let her take the main guest bedroom." Eleanor took one last look at her husband, smiled, and then sat up to leave the bedroom, "oh, your phone has not stopped all morning, by the way. I got CILLA to mute everything in the end, in case it disturbed you."
Adam lay there until Eleanor left, smiling at her even with her back turned. He waited until he heard her start to walk down the stairs before he bolted up out of bed. He felt a little dizzy for a moment but quickly found his feet. He grabbed his phone and a stream of notifications. There was a lot of the usual stuff, business updates, appointments, news. There were messages from concerned colleagues, as the apparent rumour mill had begun to spin. Then he saw the messages from Martin Aldridge.
'How was your meeting?'
'Bad one?'
'Oh, Adam, don't be like that. Ping me back'
'Adam, I did not...'
'You've been sent home?! I...'
'This was not me, you need to...'
'We really need to talk, urgently...'
Martin had sent dozens of messages. Adam read every one. He was either maniacal, or he truly wasn't behind the leak to the Board. He ping'd Martin back.
'I'm here. I got roughed up leaving the building. Been out of it since yesterday morning. Feel like I've been run over. No idea what you wanted me to do but, right now, I'm locked out at Calder. Not my fault. Please don't tell Eleanor.'
Adam got a reply within seconds.
'I know. When you didn't reply I did some digging. Seems someone really doesn't like you. Don't think this gets you out of our deal. Speak soon.'
Adam sat on the edge of the bed and read the last line of the message several times. Despite him being suspended, it was not over. But for now, he could rest. He got changed into new clothes and headed downstairs.
Phillipe had almost finished plating breakfast when Adam entered the kitchen. He leaned over the side of the chef and grabbed the plate with the largest portion. He walked across the large kitchen area and towards the breakfast nook.
Eleanor joined him with a plate of food and a large glass jug of green juice. They sat. The first time they'd sat together in months. She left yesterday alone. Just as they almost finished their breakfast, a high-pitched oscillation rang out through the home.
“Your brothers' car has just pulled into the driveway, Adam,” CILLA announced.
Eleanor looked at Adam, unsure how to respond to the announcement. Adam shrugged and rose from his seat. Anna had already headed for the front door.
The doorbell chimed.
“Good morning, Sir. How may I...Yes, Mr Ashworth is home. Wait, you can’t just barge in—” Anna's shocked voice could be heard from the foyer.
Daniel stormed into the kitchen. Without saying a word he punched Adam in the face. Adam stumbled backwards and a sickening thud echoed around the kitchen as his head hit hard on the marble floor. Phillipe rushed forward and was met with an upward kick between his legs. He crumpled to the floor like a sack of La Ratte. Anna had rushed in behind Daniel, demanding that he leave, then let out a piercing scream. Eleanor ran to Adam on the kitchen floor.
“WHERE'S MY MONEY?” Daniel screamed.
Adam could barely speak. “Wha… Money? Why…” Daniel stood over him, snarling like a deranged animal.
“You took fifty grand off mum! I don't give a shit why, but I'm not leaving until I get it back!" Daniel was a garbled mess of emotion.
“Mum… the money… I don’t have it. Why did she—”
“Because precious little Adam, with his perfect life, doesn’t have enough, apparently! Your slime-ball antics might work with the elites at work, but you make me sick! Couldn't possibly say no to the gold child! So instead she drags half the family into debt! The silly bitch never could say no to you!” Daniel grabbed Adam by the scruff of his shirt and screamed in his face. “And because of you, I’m going to lose EVERYTHING! WHERE’S MY FUCKING MONEY?!”
Anna had tried to grab Daniel several times, but he just shrugged the diminutive maid off. "Anna, call Aegis, now!" Eleanor shouted.
She ran back towards the foyer. Daniel dropped Adam and turned to run after Anna. Eleanor took the opportunity to grab an expensive ornament from a nearby stand and smashed it against Daniel's head. He crumpled to the floor.
“CILLA, alert security, tell them we need a medic too, urgently," Eleanor commanded, her voice like ice. "Anna, check on Phillipe.” She took a sharp breath, her professional composure taking over.
She hadn’t seen him for years, but she recognised him as soon as she saw his face. Daniel started to come to, he grabbed the back of his head and turned on to his side.
“Daniel… what are you doing? Why would you come to our home and attack us?!”
Barely able to focus, Daniel propped himself up with his arms. He looked at her and shouted, “Because your husband took fifty grand from mum! Except, mum didn't have the money, so she stole it from Leo and me. Now Leo's lost his job, Dad can't afford his cancer treatment, and my kids are about to get booted out of school, and probably repossess the house!”
Eleanor couldn't even begin to stitch together the statements to make them make sense. She had no idea Adam had needed money, let alone fifty thousand pounds. Adam was in and out of consciousness, the cut on his head had re-opened. She cradled his head in her lap.
“Adam, is this true?”
“Babe… I have no idea, what he’s...” he grimaced.
“You’re a liar,” Daniel shouted as he stared at Adam. “You’ve always convinced everyone else that you're hot shit, but not me! Fucking scumbag!”
Eleanor looked down at Adam, who had fallen unconscious once again. She placed a hand on his chest. Aegis Security sirens could be heard in the distance. She looked down at Daniel, “I suggest you stay down. Aegis will be here soon.”
Daniel said nothing. He bent his legs in front of him and held on to his own knees. His head sunk into them.
Sirens grew louder as they approached the property.
Aegis Security burst through the entrance to the home, guns drawn. The leader quickly assessed the situation and demanded that Daniel lie on his stomach. Daniel surrendered without resistance. He was quickly handcuffed and escorted to the Aegis Security vehicle. A Meridian Ambulance arrived a minute later and its crew rushed inside to tend to Adam. They stabilised his neck, connected him to their on-board Nexus system for monitoring and drug management, and rushed him off to hospital.
Phillipe had been helped onto a seat in the kitchen by Anna. Once Adam was taken to hospital, Eleanor wandered back into the breakfast nook. She looked at her two staff members and burst into tears.