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As Benjamin leaned back against the counter, a folded piece of paper on the center island caught his attention. Feeling tired deep down in his bones, Benjamin leaned forward and picked it up. It was probably a note from the housekeeper. A smile spread across his face when he read it. Leaving the half-empty can of soda on the counter, Benjamin bounded up the stairs. He didn't knock on the spare bedroom door but walked right in.
Victoria sat reclined on the bed, an ice pack pressed to her forehead and a box of tissues beside her. Her eyes were swollen and red. Benjamin's good mood at reading Victoria's note plummeted when he saw her. She'd obviously been here alone, crying.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed beside her.
What tears had dried up before his arrival returned in a full torrent. His little sister's face distorted in a sob, and she held her arms out, begging to be held. Benjamin wrapped her in his arms. Her small body shuddered against him.
When the trembling stopped, he pushed her back and wiped his thumb across her cheek.
"Vicki, what's wrong?"
Her hands shook violently as she signed, but her chin shook worse and reading her lips would have been difficult. "Everything is so screwed up, Ben. Can I stay with you?"
He nodded. "Of course. Tell me what's going on."
"Daddy is trying to dictate my life again. He's even forcing his way into my love life now."
Benjamin smirked and shook his head. "That doesn't surprise me at all. I take it he found out about Dillon Ferguson?"
"Worse than that. Dillon asked me to marry him and Daddy found out."
"Vicki, did you really think Jon would accept Dillon? What were you thinking?" he signed, using the jerk of his hands to emphasize his point, doubting his voice could.
Benjamin's sister shrugged her shoulders. Black curls bobbed around her head. "I told Dillon we had to just run off and elope. I knew Daddy would never give his blessing. But Dillon wanted to do it the right way. He came to the house this afternoon to speak to Daddy."
"So what happened?"
"Daddy had been drinking all afternoon. I tried to catch Dillon before he went in to see him, but I was too late."
A shudder danced over Benjamin's nerves. Several nasty images and scenarios played in his mind. When Jon Roth, alcohol, and bad news came together the result tended to be explosive. As a boy, Benjamin had spent many of his evenings at home hiding in some remote corner of the house. It seemed the very sight of Jon Roth's eldest child was enough to send him into a tirade.
Until his adolescence, Benjamin was almost thankful for the months he spent at Bridlethorpe School for Boys. While away at school he didn't need to worry about what he might do to trigger his father's rage. But as Victoria grew older, Benjamin's concern turned to her. Would she be another target? Fortunately, Victoria didn't seem to inspire the same outrage as Benjamin.
"What happened?" Benjamin asked, not quite sure he wanted to know, but needing to all the same.
"Daddy went crazy! He locked me in my room and kicked Dillon out. Physically removed him from the house. George tried to calm Daddy down, but you have to know it did no good. I snuck out as soon as I could, but I haven't been able to get in touch with Dillon yet."
Benjamin shifted to face away from her. He knew Dillon Ferguson. Dillon was the grandson of George Ferguson, Jon Roth's butler, chauffeur and whatever else he was told to be. No matter how great Dillon might be to Victoria and no matter how much Victoria loved him, he was still the grandson of a chauffeur. He wasn't a member of the "old money only" country club. His name wasn't synonymous with wealth. For those reasons alone, Dillon would be deemed unacceptable. Jonathan Roth wouldn't allow his progeny to marry so low.
Jon had told Benjamin once "You can sleep with whatever trollop you want, just make sure no one knows it. Don't father any bastard kids who could come back to haunt you later. It happens every day. Trust me."
"You can stay here as long as you need to," Benjamin told his sister as he turned back to her. "Dillon is welcome here as well."
Victoria burst into tears again. Benjamin wrapped his arms around her and held her until she fell asleep.
CHAPTER TEN
"In conclusion, it is Bulwark's goal to continue a steady but conservative rate of growth throughout the bear market. If we need to tone down our aggressive approach to investing, it is what we will do to assuage the fears of our shareholders. Capital retention must be our primary objective over the next quarter to complete the year on a highly positive note."
Jewell signed the speech of their CFO, Barry Westmoreland, to Benjamin. Even as the words came from Barry's mouth, Jewell winced. She knew exactly what Benjamin's reaction would be to Westmoreland's conservative approach. Benjamin's eyes darted from her to their CFO, and back again. He shifted in his chair, the leather upholstery squeaking with the movement.
"Is he kidding?" Benjamin asked, one eyebrow arched high and his wrist twisting in question.
She shook her head as subtly as possible.
"Does anyone have anything they want to discuss to close out the meeting?" Barry asked.
Jewell relayed the question and saw the answer formulating in Benjamin's eyes. With slow intent, he sat forward and stood up. They sat on Barry's left, several chairs down from the end along the highly polished oak conference table. Fund managers from the various capital management departments took up all the chairs around the table, everyone from international growth to asset retention.
