Sitting at the back of Wendell Billington’s Gulfstream, Liz waved away the stewardess offering her a cold glass of Dom Perignon, wishing this whole damned wedding would just hurry up and finish. It didn’t help that she had always imagined she would be flying on this jet alone with him, side by side as business partners and as lovers, yet instead Wendell had graciously lent the G-5 to the Asgill family to fly from New York to Key Biscayne. She looked out through the small porthole window at the carpet of clouds below and curled her fingers into a fist. In four days’ time it would be New Year and, frankly, Liz couldn’t wait. This year had been ghastly and she needed to move on, leave it all behind her. Okay, so Wendell might have pulled out of financing the Skin Plus spin-off but she would find somebody else, she could meet the challenge – she would enjoy the challenge – and as soon as this dreadful wedding pantomime was over she would start looking for backers. She might even meet that investor at the wedding.
Glancing down the aisle, she saw Brooke engrossed in a magazine and Leonard asleep in a cream leather chair. She was sleepy herself, although the small bed behind her was occupied by a mountainous linen dress bag that contained her sister’s gown. She groaned silently as Meredith stood up and approached her. Just what she needed.
‘You’re quiet,’ said Meredith, taking a seat opposite Liz.
Liz smiled thinly. ‘Well, the party hasn’t started yet.’
‘Are you sure it’s not because of Rav?’
Liz almost laughed out loud. She had finally killed off that romantic charade a week ago and her mother seemed to think it mattered.
‘Rav’s and my relationship had run its course,’ she said politely.
‘Well, it was good of Wendell to let us use the jet, wasn’t it?’ said Meredith, changing the conversation.
It stung just to hear his name. She had spent the whole Christmas period feeling numb, emotionally exhausted. If she was honest, Liz had been deeply hurt by Wendell’s rejection. Somehow he had got under her skin and made her drop her guard, then when she was just softening – hell, even considering a relationship, for Christ’s sake – he had delivered his knockout punch. Liz Asgill wasn’t used to being on the canvas, her first instinct was always to go on the offensive; but this time … well, this time she wasn’t sure she knew how to strike back.
‘Wendell’s just asserting his power and financial position by giving us the jet,’ said Liz caustically. ‘He’s reminding us who’s boss.’
Meredith touched her hand to her daughter’s knee. ‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.’
Liz felt her back stiffen. ‘If it’s about the financing for Skin Plus, I have two meetings lined up in the new year,’ she said quickly.
‘What I have to tell you may make you reconsider,’ said Meredith. She sat back in her chair and paused.
‘I want you to be CEO of Asgill’s.’
Liz looked at her mother, unblinking, not willing to let one trace of emotion show.
‘What about William?’ she said. Her brother had not taken the jet with them. Liz had thought it strange at the time, but now it was beginning to make sense.
‘He is stepping down. I spoke to him yesterday. It’s a very long story, but suffice to say William wants to spend more time with his family.’
Liz wasn’t sure if she had remembered to breathe. ‘What happened?’ she asked.
‘I can’t go into that now. Problems with Paula, shall we say? And he wants to make his marriage his priority from now on.’
She looked at her mother archly. ‘Ah, for one moment I thought it might have something to do with me being better suited for the job.’
‘Don’t be like that, Liz,’ said Meredith impatiently. ‘I thought this was what you’ve always wanted.’
‘Yes. It is what I always wanted, but I’ve never wanted anything by default.’
‘It’s not default, Liz. You’ve always been good enough – the best, in fact – but the company was your brother’s birthright. Maybe he isn’t as ruthless as you, Liz, but as a family, I’ve always hoped we’d be able to work together, using all our skills and talents to make the company as great as it can be. But you’ve never wanted that. It’s always been like a competition for you.’
‘You made it a competition, Mother,’ she replied harshly.
Meredith’s cool face showed a flash of hurt and surprise. ‘Is that really how you feel?’
Liz nodded, feeling a dull ache in her chest. ‘It’s always been about the others,’ said Liz, her voice thick, tears welling behind her eyes. ‘It’s always been about Brooke’s beauty, Sean’s charm, William’s so-called birthright. What about me?’ she said, thumping her chest with her fist.
She looked away, angry that she’d revealed the burning sense of injustice she’d been carrying around with her for so long, ashamed that her mother had brought her to the edge of tears.
‘You are my most capable child, Elizabeth,’ said Meredith softly.
Liz turned on her. ‘Then why do you reject me?’ she hissed.
‘Because you don’t need me,’ said Meredith quietly.
Liz turned towards the window, closing her eyes, trying to make sense of all these unfamiliar emotions. It was true that Liz had never needed anyone in order to succeed in the world, but didn’t everyone need to be wanted? She suddenly felt cold and lonely.
Her mother had rejected her because she felt that Liz didn’t need her. Wendell had wanted her, but discarded her because he didn’t need her.
Liz took a deep breath and turned back to Meredith. ‘I’d want to increase my shareholding,’ she said. ‘Build stock options and bonuses into my contract.’
Meredith nodded. ‘As I’d expect.’
Her mother moved back down the plane to speak to the pilot, and Liz sat back in her seat. She should have felt on top of the world, but she just felt empty. Here she was, being handed what she’d always wanted, and yet somehow the victory felt hollow. Come on, Liz, she scolded herself. The business was hers, and the business had always meant everything to her. Just for a moment, she thought of Wendell, and a solitary tear escaped down her cheek. She brushed it away angrily. Yes, business meant everything to her. Because it had to.