Page 55 of Words Unspoken

Michael looked at Noah wryly.

There was no point in suing.

“They just get away with it?” asked Ann. “They can print and say whatever they like on television just to get more readers and viewers?”

“On television?” enquired Elle.

“We have made the entertainment news,” Ann said angrily.

“You are kidding!” Elle looked at Noah who visibly reined in his temper.

“We can do a press release. An interview and present our side. Make them look like cads,” Noah said darkly. “It is about the only thing we can do.”

“I probably still have the name and numbers of the columnists from GQ and Business Weekly,” Ann offered. “They have been trying to get Michael to sit down for an interview for years.”

“If you will contact them, it will be a start,” nodded a grim Noah. “They are both reputable magazines. We can give a press release to the other magazines we choose.”

“Do you want to do the interview?” Ann asked Michael.

“We need to do this,” Noah interrupted. “The company’s reputation has suffered. This could affect the Claymont purchase. We need to present a united front as a family. That means all of us together. Although how we are going to get Dad and Max in the same room is beyond me.”

“Is there any way that your father would forgive Max?” Elle questioned.

“If Max were to apologize, grovel and admit that he was wrong which he will never do because he was right,” Noah said in disgust. “The old man cannot seem to forgive anyone.”

Michael grimaced. He could make it happen. He didn’t want to do it, but he had a trump card when it came to their father. While David had hired private investigators to monitor his children is lives and a few more people besides, Michael had hired someone to investigate his father. The result had been earth shaking. He had only confronted his father once about what he had found when it was a desperate situation. Michael would rather keep the secret to himself. He did not want to burden his brothers with it. It was better to forget what he knew.

“Forget dad, we can do it without him. He is too much of a headache to deal with. We should set up the interview for as soon as possible. You get released tomorrow, would that be too much for you?” wondered Noah.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ann queried softly of Michael.

He nodded. It needed to be done. Plus, it was not like he could answer any questions anyways. Michael was relieved that Noah seemed to be taking control of the situation.

“I still think we should give it a couple of days for Michael to be rested enough. I am sure the columnists will appreciate the time to run the whole interview idea past their editors and they will want to make up a list of questions for us to look at,” said Ann. “At least, the last time they wanted to interview they were willing to be limited to a list of questions. That may have changed.”

“We will find out when you contact them,” responded Elle. “In the meanwhile, I am going to see what trouble the twins have gotten into. I suggest we all leave and let Michael get some sleep. He is going to need his rest for the interview.”

Michael agreed. He was feeling fatigue creep up on him.

Ann grabbed her purse. “I will come back tomorrow with Max, and we will get you settled at the beach house again.”

Michael nodded. He was glad Ann was back in his life again. He would try to figure out a way to make her happy, he reflected drowsily as she left.

Chapter Eleven

Michael was pleased to be home. He could hear FedEx whining at the door.

“Is that a dog?” Ann asked in confusion.

Max, who had accompanied them, just grinned.

Michael entered the house and FedEx was jumping like she was on springs, easily reaching chest height. He leaned down and petted her roughly. She danced and licked his hands excitedly.

“Bout time. Thought you never come back,” FenLei yelled from the kitchen. “You forget you live here Mr. Michael?”

Michael smiled and went to the kitchen where he greeted the housekeeper with a hug. She pushed him away. “That dog wander all over house, looking for you.”

“Hello FenLei,” greeted Ann. She wondered when Michael had gotten a dog.