The machines kept breathing for him.
Soft beeps. Steady. Artificial.
I stood by the bed, hands in my pockets, staring at him. Not intensely. Not searching. Just… looking. Like if I waited long enough, he'd rearrange himself back into the man I knew.
He didn't.
The door opened behind me.
"Gregory?"
Theodore.
I turned.
They both stood there, frozen between disbelief and denial. Theodore composed, barely. William not even trying to hide it. Their eyes moved from me to him, then back again.
"What happened?" William asked.
"Stroke," I said. "That's what they're saying."
They stepped closer. The room felt smaller with the three of us in it.
"He was fine yesterday," Theodore murmured.
"So was everything," William replied.
Silence settled. Heavy. Familiar.
Three sons. One man. An empire waiting.
"He'll pull through," Theodore said.
Not hopeful. Not certain. Just necessary.
"Let's step outside."
We moved into the hallway. Brighter. Colder. Realer.
"What are they saying?"
"Monitoring. Brain activity's there."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one we have."
William exhaled sharply. "What happens now?"
The question wasn't about health.
"We keep everything steady," Theodore said.
"And if he doesn't recover?"
A pause.
"Then we adjust," I said.
Simple. It has to be.
"The government will be watching," Theodore added.
"They already are," I replied.
"So we maintain the image," William said.
"Exactly."
We spoke like that for a while. Business. Structure. Control. The language we were raised in.
Then I said it.
"Rebecca."
They both looked at me.
"Who?" William asked.
"Rebecca Quinn."
Theodore studied me. "You sound like you know her."
"I do."
"And?"
"She said no."
William blinked. Then laughed softly. "She said no to you?"
"Yes."
Theodore's expression shifted. "And you're still thinking about her?"
"Yes."
Silence.
"You like her," William said.
"I think I do."
"That's new," Theodore muttered.
"It is."
They exchanged a look. Then William leaned forward slightly.
"Then go after her."
"I already am."
"How far?"
"Far enough."
They didn't believe that.
Theodore straightened. "If it's real, you don't hesitate."
I looked at him. He meant it.
"You don't get many chances like that," he added.
William smirked. "What's stopping you?"
Nothing.
"Then go back," Theodore said.
"To London?"
"We'll handle things here."
William nodded. "Yeah. You go chase your Rebecca."
I exhaled. "It's not that simple."
"Make it simple," Theodore replied.
William shrugged. "Or buy the station she works at."
I looked at him.
He didn't look like he was joking.
Theodore didn't dismiss it either. "That guarantees proximity."
Money talking. Control talking. My language.
And yet… this wasn't supposed to be that.
But the idea stayed.
"You'd actually do that?" William asked.
I thought for a second. Not long.
"Yes."
Silence. Then Theodore nodded.
"Then do it properly."
I glanced through the glass. He was still there. Unmoving.
Everything here felt heavy. Expected.
For once, I wanted something else.
"I'll go," I said.
They both nodded. No resistance.
William pulled me into a quick hug. Firm. Real.
Theodore followed. Shorter. Just as meaningful.
"Go get her," William said quietly.
I stepped back. Looked at them. Then through the glass again.
At him.
I held it for a second. Then nodded.
Once.
And turned away.
The call was simple.
"Prepare an offer," I said.
My secretary didn't ask.
"The entire station."
A pause. Then—
"Yes, sir."
By the time I got home, everything was moving. Numbers. Documents. Approvals.
I opened my wardrobe. Pulled out a suitcase. Started packing.
Shirts. Suits. Essentials.
My movements were faster than usual. Not rushed. Just… eager.
I paused. Looked at my reflection.
I was smiling.
Not controlled. Not subtle.
Real.
My father was in a hospital bed.
Everything was shifting.
And yet…
I felt light.
Alive.
Focused on something that had nothing to do with power.
Her.
I zipped the suitcase. Picked it up.
The feeling didn't fade. It grew.
Stronger.
I let out a quiet laugh.
I was happy.
And I couldn't believe it.