Chapter 106: Grew Cold

"Uncle Simon." Jack ran to Simon and hugged him. He stood from his seat at the study and quickly grabbed jack lifting him off his feet happily.

"How is my little professor doing?" Simon asked happily. 

"I'm great. School wanted to drain me but fortunately, Anna saved my life." Jack replied.

"Hmm, so much sarcasm at such age. How old are you again?" Simon asked dropping him on a seat while Anna shut the door to his study. 

"I am a big man uncle, age is just a number." Jack replied.

"That is not an answer to uncle's question jack." Anna scolded amidst laughter.

"Now run along, I want to talk to your Anna." Simon told him.

"Okay, I'll see you later. I'll be with Grandma Emily if anybody needs me." Jack shouted as he ran off. Anna took a seat opposite Simon with an expectant face. 

"Sherman said you asked to see me. You did miss me so much didn't you?" She asked with a smile after sitting down comfortably. "What is so important that you couldn't wait to see."

"Annabel, please I'm extremely tired. I really don't have the strength for laughter at the moment." Simon told his sister with a happy face. "Have you met Aunt Bridget yet?" He asked.

"Hmm, not yet." She replied.

"Scared?"

"For her, yes. Cause I'd end up giving her a good treat with my tongue if she tries insulting me or Emily." Anna fumed.

"She won't, I promise you that. I spoke to her already and she won't insult or talk down at anyone. I told you she only do those as a form of defense mechanism. She is only trying to shield herself in the best way she can." Simon explained.

"I rest my case Si." Anna said in finality. "How are you though? You look better than you left. How is therapy going?" She asked.

"Great." Simon replied. "I've made tremendous progress so far. So, I'll just keep getting better." He told her.

"I'm happy for you brother." Anna told him touching his wrist. "So, why did you send for me? Something is wrong, right? I can see it from your expression. What is it? Tell me." She urged him.

Simon sighed. He stood up and took few steps to the window in his study. "There was a plot against my life at Galvile, courtesy of Timothy." He said placing his hand on the window frame.

"T.i.m.o.t.h.y!" Anna exclaimed emphatically with clasped teeth and a burning rage. Where is he now?" Anna asked raging.

"He's resting with father." Simon replied.

"Good for him. Who sent him?" 

"We're still working on that. I have Charles stay at Galvile to see what he can find out. Tamil is now managing Galvile and helping Charles out too." Simon explained.

"This has Ausborn and his allies written all over it brother. By his allies, Philip Emerson is not exempted."

"I feel same too." Simon replied. "I hope the boys find something soon. If Emerson has a hand in it, then I'll have no choice than to include him in the list during my retaliation plan." He said.

"We agreed that Ausborn will be next after Dasilver. But you suddenly grew cold. The rule have always been to eradicate a threat or remove a rot before it spreads. When Charles brings back a report. Please strike hard and fast before they gather more allies. If they could convince Timothy whom you've done so much for, then they can get to more people. We need to be careful and fast." She suggested.

Simon nodded. "I will take care of everything once the wedding is over and mum heads back. I've had a lengthy discussion with her. Her flight is booked for Wednesday already." Simon told her.

Can't she stay a little longer? Please. I want her to stay a little longer. I want to spend more time with her Si." 

"Na, I'll be leaving for Lakeview after the wedding and with Ausborn still out there, it's not safe for her to stay here all alone." He explained. "I need to go back to work, so do you." 

"I know, but I've adapted already. She can stay with me. My house is like a fortress. It will take trillions of Grace to infiltrate. She will be safe with me. I promise. Emily like it here. Seeing her children alone gives her so much joy. Once Ausborn is out of the picture, she can come back home and we can visit as often as we want to. Brother, Creek Island is our home. We can't run away from our home and we owe Emily safety. This is her home too. Her husband's house." She stressed. "Please Simon, Emily really want to stay here." Anna pleaded.

"Anna," Simon called with a pause. "I don't know, but I'll think about it. I can't give you an answer yet." He told her.

"Okay, that is better than nothing. Thank you so much." Anna told him. "So, how are you, generally?"

"Fine." He replied. 

"A little birdie told me the dog went out with his cat today. Hope you had fun."

"Cat and Dog? Really?" Simon asked laughing as he turned towards his seat. "Such a crazy sense of humour Annabel." 

"How was it please? Do not change the topic." Anna said smiling.

He walked up to his seat and instead sat on the table top. "Tenor is hosting his restaurant's annual Rum party on Wednesday. Care to come?" Simon asked changing the topic entirely.

"Oh, I enjoyed last year's Rum party. It was so fun. Are you attending this year's?" She asked her brother excitedly.

"Yes....." Simon replied.

"With your cat?" She asked smiling.

"Mhmm."

Anna stood from the chair tapping her brother's laps. "That's my brother. You're gonna have fun. It's guaranteed. "There are lots of fun activities to get by. Sadly I won't be able to make it down. I have a very pressing case at the moment that need my maximum attention." She lied. The truth is she didn't want to ruin her brother's time with his date and she was not ready to attend the party solo. Last year, she attended in the company of Nelson, her brother's friend and they had fun. But this year, she'd rather stay home with her mother than join them all alone. She wondered if Bruce would go with them and considered Simon but changed her mind when she imagined the stern reply she was going to get.

"It should be dinner time soon." Simon said looking at the wall clock. "I guess I'll meet you downstairs then." He added as his sister made for the door.

"I'll see you later." She replied. "Do let me know if need help with fishing out Ausborn. My men can help. She said to Simon who nodded in acknowledgement. Anna left for her room downstairs while Simon sank into his seat in his study. He thought about Paige and smiled. "My sunflower." He murmured yo himself. But he needed to keep her safe. The gun threat from Fiona will be nothing if he doesn't come up a contingency plan from whoever wanted him dead. They will keep coming for him and who knows, if they are unable to get to him, they might end up getting to his loved ones first. He wasn't scared for his sisters, Anna is strong enough to take care of herself and so is his little June. He also trust June's husband capabilities. Alfred was a strong man who loves his family just like Simon. So there is no doubt about June's safety. There are only few people whose safety gives him sleepless nights and they were his mother, Paige and little Jack. It is no news that Simon love Bruce and his son like his own flesh. These are the people whose safety gives him serious thoughts.

Shifting these thoughts to the side, he placed a call to Charles. "Any news?" He asked once Charles picked up.

"We might be on to something Boss, but it will take a while. Maybe two days or more." Charles replied after exchanging greetings with his Boss.

"What is it looking like?" Simom asked.

"Like an Ausborn kind of entanglement Boss." Charles replied.

"Are there leads pointing to Emerson?" Simon asked.

"There is a lead pointing to someone else without a name but it's definitely not young Emerson. He is not that talented." Charles replied.

"Talent huh? Alright, keep me posted when you finally have a sure lead Charles. And please, be careful. I don't want to loose you." Simon told him.

This made Charles smile. Simon was indeed the best employer he could have ever asked for. So patient, understanding, kind, compassionate, yet ruthless. These combination of words are rarely used together in a sentence but Simon have always been an exception. "I will be very careful Boss." Charles replied. "Send my warm regards to Miss June on Sunday." He added.

"I definitely will. Take care of yourself. I will hang up now." Simon said before hanging up. He dropped his phone on the table and combed his fingers through his scanty hair. Slowly, he stood up, arranged her study and left for dinner downstairs.