Ch 67: What for?

He glanced at the number before answering it. He hesitated because it was Kylie. "Yes." "Owen—please don't hang up. I don't know what else to do." The fear in her voice made him listen, "What's wrong?" "It's your father. He's in the hospital. Oh god, I'm so scared!"

'What for?" "The doctor said it was cancer. He'd had it for almost a year and didn't tell me! He didn't tell anyone." "Tell me which hospital, and where you are right now." He said calmly. Inside he felt that same panic that day Abigail phoned him with the news of Joseph.

It seemed as though he was just made a breakthrough with his father and now this happened and from the sounds of Kylie's voice, this was serious.

After she told him, he hung up and called his pilot to warm up the plane. With one final glance around the apartment he left. Unfortunately, he'd have to deal with Abigail later. It sounded as if his father needed him right now.

*** Ruby Windmeyer, Owen's assistant was arranging the flowers on the long sleek glossy top of his boardroom table when Hudson strolled in looking as handsome as usual in a dove grey suit that set off his golden eyes and dark brown hair.

However, he didn't hold a candle next to Owen. Owen's hair was brown and his eyes were paler which made them seem more intelligent and authoritative. Not only was the man disgustingly rich and had a fantastic body, but he was also gorgeous.

She had been busy for months trying to get him to notice her. She wore tight clothes, high heels and went out of her way time and time again to do things that weren't in her job description.

This was a temp job, and she wasn't sure how long she'd have it. The rumor was that Owen was keeping it open for his future wife. She narrowed her gaze remembering how stunning the woman was. She also seemed genuinely in love with Owen.

Then again, what woman wouldn't be? She swore that she was. Yet he never indicated that he even noticed her no matter how dolled up she got. After she saw Abigail Shaw, she knew why.

However, she had a few cards up her sleeve on how to deal with her and hoped that she could play the consoling PA when Abigail dumped him.

Yet no one there knew anything about Owen's personal life when he suddenly disappeared and left Hudson in charge. Hudson was a loyal employee, just like the rest of them that were close to Owen, so he never said a word.

Normally Hudson flirted outrageously with her and she'd often thought about sleeping with him because she was sure he was good in bed from the confidence he oozed, but then Owen would walk in and spoil everything.

Him, she was sure, was a god between the sheets and it was what she was aiming for. However, she'd been considering Hudson more often to see if he would be prone to some pillow talk.

Maybe today she'd take him up on his offer for dinner. Owen had been absent for about three weeks now and Hudson, his VP of finance was running the show.

She knew he checked in with him constantly because she was in the room several times when he called. Hudson always asked her to leave when he did. Now he called a board meeting with Owen's executives and her curiosity peaked. It was also one of those meetings that she got to attend just in case Hudson needed anything.

***

She had just finished setting out water and snacks when the first of the twelve of Owen's board members walked into the room. Most of them were older than him, except Hudson who took Owen's seat at the head of the table.

What came next made her understand why Owen was absent. Hudson cleared his throat and handed Ruby a stack of leather-bound reports to which she immediately distributed. "This is the financial plan of Owen's father's empire.

We constructed it over the last two days." One of the older board members raised his arm," Hudson, does his mean what I think it means?" "Yes. Jayden Ross passed away three days ago.

Owen is going to be busy for the next few days with the funeral." "I didn't even know the old man was sick." Came the response, "I've known him for twenty years."