The Secret Obsession of the CEO-Chapter 225: The Slimy Politician

Rory was surprised that Count Charles is taking her to the Alastair Gentlemen’s Club. She was more surprised that they allow women to be members of their club these days. That club used to be exclusively for men in the past.

Times have changed, huh?

Count Charles was excited to see his buddies. Contrary to Rory’s expectations, the club was occupied by men alone. Maybe ladies don’t like to suffocate in cigar smoke, after all.

Those men dressed in exquisite suits and quaint little family heirloom jewelry were happy to see Charles too.

And as if they were already expecting them, their eyes were on Rory and Liam.

"Gentlemen, Lady, and Lord of Sterling," Count Charles gave an exotic bow, and all the men clapped on the table to welcome them.

Like the gentlemen they are, they all stood up for her. Liam acted fast and pulled a chair for her. It was odd for Rory to be treated as a Lady, but she could get used to being treated this way. It’s nice.

They all introduced themselves and that was followed by the dry conversations men make. Most of them were around the age of Count Charles, and Rory could see them holding back their words. She could sense that they are holding back their words because of her.

They are mem from a different era, and they talk differently. She was not planning on getting offended by their jokes. But if they wanted to watch their language in front of her, she appreciated that too.

They all got attracted to Liam from the get-go. Rory wondered if they know about Liam’s story here. Lennon’s case was big and surely it attracted international attention. But maybe these men don’t care about serial killers more than their stocks. They were discussing politics, the stock market, and even the weather.

Rory got bored after some time. But she smiled and chatted with them with the little knowledge she had on that topic.

They asked about Liam’s citizenship. Even Rory didn’t know that he had applied for and gotten citizenship in this country too. She had dual citizenship and by marrying her, he has become a citizen too.

Or is it an extension of the castle he obtained?

Liam then talked about his ancestry.

"Her father was not the Roberts we hoped for..."

One of the men said rather sadly.

"But I learned that my great grandfather was from around here..." Liam pulled out his ancestry reports and showed them.

"Ah, you’re from the Norman family from Blighton!"

"Your great grandfather’s family still lives there. You should visit..."

The men got all excited and talked about it for some time. Rory could see that they accepted Liam in their group. She didn’t know that Liam’s mother’s family was from around here too.

The men didn’t stop there. They offered Liam their investments after asking more about his business.

Rory smiled at Count Charles thanking him. She has a lot of people who help her when it is needed. She was glad.

"Ah!" Count Charles slapped his thigh seeing someone enter the room.

Rory turned to see who it was. It was John McCullen. She was surprised to see the same disgust on everyone’s face.

These men do hate the politician!

"If not for this lovely young lady, you never would have stepped foot inside this club, eh, McCullen?" one asked with a sneer.

"Don’t provoke him. He might ’oink’ in fear," Another one said, and everyone started laughing.

Rory pressed her lips. When Uncle Charles told her that he will arrange the meeting in a "public" place, she didn’t know it would be like this.

John McCullen has no advantage here.

The politician and the former contender for the Prime Minister post squirmed in front of those men. He used to have so much power, but he was stripped of everything because his son’s past was dug up. And so, his past as a politician who only served his needs came out too.

And now, his party abandoned him, and he is blacklisted from any place that might give him connections and access to connections.

Ah, grandma can be cruel!

Rory did not pity him. He deserved it. His son took her parents from her and avoided justice for ages. And as a father, rather than teaching his son good habits, he enabled him by helping him out of his troubles.

"Go on, Poppet... Hear him oink for some time. We’ll be here," Count Charles said. Everyone laughed with him.

Comparing him to a pig again and again... He deserves it!

Liam looked at her to see if she needed him. Rory shook her head. Those men loved their conversation with Liam, and she didn’t want to disturb them. She can handle John McCullen alone. Especially in this place.

Rory brought him to the restaurant inside the club as she didn’t want to get disturbed by this old uncles who loved to tease this sly politician. She wanted to hear what John McCullen wants to say.

"Tea?" Rory asked John McCullen.

He looked haggard and thinner than the last time she saw his picture. He must be under a lot of stress.

Good!

She had a feeling that her parent’s accident won’t be the only cover-up he did for his son. There should be more. Maybe that’s why he resigned from his posts to stop them from being exposed.

Well, sinners should not live in peace, unless they repent.

John McCullen sighed looking at her. She asked the waiter to pour him a cup of tea. She got herself a cup of tea too.

"You... must have heard what happened with my son..." John said.

Rory nodded and took a sip of tea.

"It was very unfortunate... what happened to your parents that night," John said.

Rory ran her tongue over her teeth. She was getting angry.

Unfortunate? Is that the word he uses when a 12-year-old lost her parents?

But she decided to let him speak. If he speaks more, she will know what he truly thinks.

"He was very young and did a stupid thing. I, as a father, not knowing how to react, reacted in a way any parent would react. I protected my son. I am not proud of it. And I am not saying that I did the right thing. I just want you to know as a parent, how I felt," he said and looked at her.

Rory met his eyes. "Are you apologizing?" she asked.

He still looked stoic. As if he had the power here. He was haggard, but he was talking down to her. The way he looked at her, the way he talks to her, the way he "explains" why he did what he did... It all seemed patronizing.

And it was not even an apology!

"I am glad you understand me!" John smiled. And in that smile, she saw pride. As if he knew that she would agree to him.

"What am I understanding?" Rory asked. She maintained an innocent expression as if she really didn’t understand him.

"Uh... that..." John furrowed his brows and started stuttering. The pride in his eyes was displaced with confusion.

"My son..." he cleared his throat. "I know how much you suffered because your husband ended up in the clutches of law. You have a daughter, and she is young and it would have put a lot of strain~"

"What do you want?" Rory interjected him. She placed the teacup on the table with a clatter. Her lips were pressed, and she glared at him.

He dared to bring up her daughter! He dared to!

And how could he compare what happened with Liam to what happened with his murderous son? The nerve!

"My granddaughter is just 4 years old. She is not at the age where she could understand everything clearly. She misses her father so much. And my daughter-in-law is... the press here is viler than the press back there. They wouldn’t leave us alone, and my daughter-in-law had filed for a divorce. She wants to take full custody of my granddaughter..."

John looked at her with pleading eyes.

"And? I don’t see any of that is my problem," Rory raised her brows.

"A letter... If you write a letter, they will set bail for Jason. A case like this... The judge went too far to give a no-bail life sentence. It is unfair. They will... Look... Jason cannot survive prison and... A letter of goodwill, that you’ve forgiven Jason for..."

"For what?" Rory leaned back on the seat and smirked. "What should I forgive your son for?" she asked. He should be able to say that his son murdered her parents. She should at least expect that from him, right?

John gulped. He could see that she is not going to compromise.

"I’ll give you anything I can... I will... I will confess that I drove that car... anything..." his eyes reddened. "I came here as a grandfather pleading for the sake of his granddaughter... I want my granddaughter to have a good life with both her parents. Please... take out your anger on me. You don’t have to understand me. Just... please help my son..." he pleaded.

Rory laughed out loud.

"Now you know how to be polite," she said laughing. "What a joke of a man you are, John!" she pressed her lips.