Objects of Virtue

Chapter 04

* HI LOVES! JUST WANTED TO SAY A QUICK THANK YOU! CAN'T BELIEVE 150 OF YOU TOOK THE TIME OF DAY TO GIVE MY STORY A READ! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I HOPE I DON'T DISSAPPOINT!**

29th May 2021 - Holland Park, London

Louis rubbed at a spot on his shoe as he waited for someone to answer Simon's obnoxiously large door. It stood in stark contrast against the white bricks, not a speck of dust or dirty sullying them. Louis wondered if Simon had someone stood at the ready with a bucket of paint to attack a spot if one ever did show up. Surely houses got dirty? Liam's hand on his shoulder broke his thoughts as he realized that Simon's butler stood in front of him, looking thoroughly unimpressed by Louis' distraction.

"Mr. Cowell is waiting for you, young master Tomlinson, if you would be so kind as to follow me," Pryce said turning around swiftly for a 70 something old and walking sharply into the large house fully expecting Louis and Liam to follow him. Louis had been here many times, yet it always felt strange. The walls too were steep and daunting, the hallways always colder than Louis liked – all in all, the house did justice to its owner. Shaking the impending feeling of doom that was inevitable with every meeting with Simon, Louis made his way towards the study where Simon usually met his visitors. As Louis walked in Simon stood up, hand out stretched towards Louis. H supposed he should get used to this now, accepting people's condolences. Taking his hand and shaking it briefly Louis settles down in a brown leather back chair.

"So Louis, any word from the police about your father?" Simon asks Louis as he settles down behind his large writing desk. Liam lingers by the window, fiddling with the curtain, pointedly staring out at the shrubbery that lined the walls of the house next door.

"They are coming over in the afternoon Simon, I think they've found out something but they aren't being too forthcoming with it. Which is why I'm here actually. I need your help. As you already know, my dear father, stubborn as he was, never involved me in any of the business and such. So I have absolutely no clue as how I'm to even begin to tackle this whole situation. In fact, you probably know better than anyone how infallible he thought he was." Louis knew his words sounded spiteful. But they were the God's honest truth. His relationship with his father had been strained to say the least. But he was his father's son nonetheless. He had the same fiery determination and will to see things through. However, the resemblance ended there. Which, Louis found to be comforting.

"Well, yes he never wanted any of you involved in this whole – situation. But in hind sight, it probably would have served him well if he had gotten you acquainted with the business." Simon replied. "How are the girls taking it, Louis?"

By now Liam had seated himself down across from Louis in a matching chair, and was silently taking in the conversation. Louis knew that if he missed anything important, which was the case most times, Liam was sure to catch it.

"As well as can be expected. They never were that close with the old man. He's always been distant. Even with me. His only son. You'd think he'd take more interest in the one person who could carry on the family name, but no." Again, Louis felt the bitterness escape him before he could keep it in check. Emotions seemed to be failing him of late and he wondered why.

"Yes, well, Mark did have a lot on his plate Louis. I'm sure you will understand soon enough. For now, of course don't let the details bother you Louis. Let me handle the back end of the business until you are stable enough to get into the trenches, alright? It's what your father would have wanted Louis," Simon said smoothly. Something about it didn't quite sit right with Louis, but he shrugged it off. Almost everything that came out of Simon's mouth sounded scripted and dripping with deceiving sweetness.