CHAPTER EIGHT: THE THINGS MARGARET COLE HID.

Margaret Cole sat at the head of the long conference table, her hand folded neatly behind her.

Across from her, three members of the Cole's Group Board waited in silence.

The meeting had already lasted thirty minutes.

No one had touched the coffee placed before them.

“Harrison's absence is becoming difficult to explain,” one of the board members finally said.

“My son is recovering”

“We understand that Mrs.Cole”

“Do you?”

The man shifted his seat.

Margaret’s expression remained composed. She had spent years learning how to control a room without raising her voice.

“The company has functioned without Harrison before,” she continued. “It will continue functioning now."

“With respect, Mr Harrison has been directly involved in current negotiations”.

"And he will return”.

“When?”

Margaret's fingers tightened slightly.

“Soon”.

Another board member leaned forward. “The investors are asking questions. They have seen reports about the accident.”

Margaret's face remained still.

“The reports were exaggerated.”

“They showed the vehicle destroyed”

“My son survived”

“That is not only the concern.”

Margaret looked from one man to the other.

“My son will be back in charge as soon as his doctors clear him”.

“Can we tell the investors that?”.

“Yes.”

“Can we assure them that the board will not need to appoint an interim executive?”

Margaret paused. She dislikes the question. It suggested that Harrison's position could be discussed without him.

“Yes,” she said.” You can assure them that.”

The board members exchanged glances.

Margaret leaned back.

“I apologize for the uncertainty this has caused. Harrison's abscense was unexpected but it is temporary. The company remains stable and he will resume his responsibilities soon.”

Her tone was calm, polished and convincing.

That was what she wanted them to remember. Not the accident nor the possibility that her son was more seriously injured than she had allowed anyone to know.

“Ethan, please keep sending him whatever he should be aware of,” She added.

“Okay ma, I will do just that,” Ethan replied.

The meeting continued for another fifteen minutes before the board members finally left.

Margaret waited until the door closed. Only then did she allow herself to exhale. Her assistant, a lady in her late twenties dressed in black suits entered with a tablet in her hand.

“Mrs. Cole, Hamilton called.”

Margaret expression changed. She just managed to convince the board and now Hamilton too?. The day was already tiring, she thought to herself.

“When?”

“Some minutes ago ma'am. He said he's still in Europe but was making arrangements to return.”

“When”.

“He didn't give an exact date.”

Margaret walked towards the window. Her younger son Hamilton had always been different from Harrison. He was easier, warmer and less burdened by responsibilities. He could disssapear for weeks without anyone questioning him while Harrison had been expected to carry the family name from the moment he became old enough to understand it.

“Did he say why he was returning?”, she asked.

“He said he wants to come home” 

Margaret nodded slowly 

“Did he mention Harrison?”

The assistant hesitated.

“He said he saw something about the company in the news”

Margaret eyes sharpened.

“What exactly?”

“Didn't mention but asked if everything was alright.”

“Tell him everything is fine.”

“Mrs. Cole…”

“He insisted he speaks to you himself.”

Margaret walked towards the side of the table and picked up her phone. Hamilton had called thrice. She stared at his name. He had no idea and that was how she wanted it.

Hamilton had always been close to Harrison. If he knew about the accident, he would abandon whatever he was doing and return immediately. People will ask questions, demand details and the accident case will spiral again on the media. She could not allow it, not yet.

“She raised her hand signalling the assistant to leave.”

“Okay ma,” her assistant responded and left.

She tapped on her phone screen and dialled Hamiltons number. It rang several times before he answered.

“Mother”

“Hello darling”

“Are you alright?”

“Of course.”

"You sound strange”

“I'm in the Office.”

“You should be resting Mum and let Harrison do his work.”

“Speaking of Harrison, I saw something about the company online. Is there a problem?”

“No, There is always something being said about the company.”

“And what about Harrison?”

“He is busy”

“Busy?”

“Yes, when was the last time you spoke to him?”

“A week ago Mum.”

“Hamilton was silent. Margaret knew that silence, he was thinking.”

“Mother, I'm coming home.”

“You don't need to rush”

“Mother, i wasn't asking for permission”

Her voice tightened 

“You have responsibilities where you are”

“And Harrison has responsibilities here, he is managing.”

“Then why do you sound worried?”

Margaret looked at the city below, for a brief moment the image of Harrison lying motionless in the hospital bed entered her mind. The bruises, tubes, machines, blood. She pushed the image away.

“Mother are you there?”

“I'm not worried, son,” she said.

“You always say that when you are.”

“Come back once you finish whatever you're doing, take your time.”

“I'm already making arrangements.”

“Fine but you have to extend it. You can't just urgently decide to come back. Arrangements should also be made to welcome you properly.”

“Mother, Is Harrison alright?”

“He will be.”

This wasn't an answer and Hamilton noticed.

But before he could ask again, Margaret said; “I have another meeting..”  

"Mother…"

“I will speak to you later.”

She ended the call.

For several seconds, she remained beside the window. Then she walked towards the door and opened it to leave. Her assistant was there waiting for her.

“Make sure no one from the company contacts Hamilton with information about Harrison.”

“Yes ma."

"And if he asked about the....the accident?,” the assistant asked, her voice shaking.

Margaret's voice became colder

“There was no accident that concerns him.” 

The assistant lowered her eyes

“I will make sure of that ma.”

Margaret picked up her handbag. She had protected Harrison from the board, she had protected the company from panic and now she has to protect Hamilton from the truth at least until she knows what will happen next.

“Tell the men to get the car ready!”

The assistant immediately opened her tablet to pass the order while carefully walking behind Margeret.

    Hamilton Cole stood near the table in his hotel rooms with his phone still in his hand. His mother ended the call too quickly and that alone was enough to make him suspicious.

He opened the news article again and the headline was brief.

NEW YORK BUSINESS MAN SURVIVES SERIOUS VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

The name had been partially hidden behind the photograph but Hamilton recognised the vehicle. He scrolled down, the article mentioned a wealthy business man, a private hospital and an investigation into the crash. It did not give a full name and the extent of the injury wasn't mentioned. Hamilton read it twice.

He dialled Harrison's line, it rang but no one answered.

He tried again and again but it was now unavailable. His expression hardened.

“Harrison,” he muttered.

He immediately contacted his assistant.

“Cancel the remaining appointments for the week.”

“Sir?”

“I’m returning to New York.”

“Tonight?”

“As soon as possible.”

Hamilton looked once more at the article.

He had no idea that his brother was lying in a hospital bed nor did he know how close Harrison had come to death. All he knew was that something was just wrong and for the first time, he intended to find out what his family had kept from him.