of sufficient value to keep both Sarah and her family in comfort as well as support her charitable work. He may not have been able to marry Sarah and as time passed his longing for her slowly diminished, but he would not forget her. With maturity he became more rational and gained a greater understanding of the realities of life. Sometimes life was not kind.
Sarah had been right, their relationship could never have worked. Ken doubted he would ever see her again. She had impacted his life as no one before ever had and as no one would again for many years to come. Ken felt he owed Sarah a great debt. She had never shown any disrespect to her family or his. She never once compromised her own beliefs or faith. She was the most remarkable person he had ever known and he would always treasure his time with her.
Chapter 5
- This will make interesting viewing for you before you go to bed tonight. Enjoy and have a good night's sleep. We’ll be in touch in a few days -
With Sarah gone, Ken decided to move out of his parents' house and into his own small apartment. With all that had transpired he sought the time to think and to make decisions regarding his own future. So much about him was different now and he needed to find a place where he belonged. Rather than taking up the role with his father's law firm he joined an organization whose primary purpose was to fight for the rights of the poor and needy. People who had no voice of their own.
Before leaving home, Ken assured his parents that he harbored no grudge against them. Nor had he intended any disrespect. He understood their position and the concerns they had for him but his life had changed. He would never be that same puerile, immature person he had once been.
Secretly, his mother was pleased that Ken had grown to become his own person and in her view a man of moral fibre. Reminding her of another young man she had once known. His father, while accepting his decisions remained angry with Ken's choices and although he said nothing, he privately focused the blame on Sarah.
Simply by default Ken was destined to join the political party of his forefathers who had, for many generations been prominent members and financial contributors. Ken was to be fast tracked to run for government with the promise of a safe seat and an election victory assured. A risk free future and an armchair ride through life born out of a birthright and little more.
Once he had settled back into an ordered life, the task of cultivating him for the role ahead began. He was invited to all the right places, introduced to all the right people and the carefully selected women. High society women of good breeding, well-educated with refinement and culture. The party hierarchy had accepted the change in Ken. They even considered his current working position and social attitudes to be advantageous to their plans. A man of the people, a man who cared, displaying a track record that would show the party had changed. The old guard was waning, being replaced by a young, caring and forward thinking generation of people.
It was whilst attending a function of the party that Ken was introduced to Cathy. She had been invited for the specific purpose of meeting him. Cathy had no knowledge or real interest in politics but she was very attractive, presenting as a lady of breeding and poise. She matched every criterion for his standards and expectations, a perfect match for a future high profile politician. Ken, being aware of the manipulation taking place was determined to make up his own mind. He did, and happily married Cathy eighteen months after their first encounter.
It was following his marriage to Cathy that he caused the most controversy amongst his family and the political party. He resigned from the party and immediately joined the opposition ranks. At that time he was a relative unknown to the people, but his defection was a coup for the opposition who had struggled to capture any real talented candidates for some years. Many others followed Ken seeing his defection as the new trend in politics. He would rise rapidly through the party ranks, win a seat in parliament and eventually be elected party leader.
Ken had fulfilled his father’s ambitions for him albeit with the wrong political party. His father was proud of his son but never forgave his defection and he himself retired fully from public life as a result of Ken's actions. A retirement that was described as a great loss to the party and to the public he served. Ken was oblivious to the pressures his actions placed upon his father or for that matter from where and whom they came.
While Ken still often thought of Sarah he never made the mistake of personally contacting her at any time. That was then, now is now and he knew they would both have changed in the pursuing years. He did, however, continue to send money, a risk he knew could cause him grief if ever discovered by the wrong people. He had no doubts that his motives were above board and right. Sarah had opened his eyes to the real world and she had been instrumental in his maturity, taking him from his place of self-interest and helping to make him the man he was today. Feeling he owed her a great debt he would remain grateful to her for as long as he lived.
Cathy, who had been supportive throughout the long months of electioneering, had remained at home during the final days leading up to the poll. This allowed Ken to concentrate on the various activities that would consume him over these intensive, hectic days and relieve him of having to worry about her or her needs.
Ken should have felt like he was the most blessed man alive, Cathy, attractive, intelligent and well educated, a woman whom he believed was totally committed to both their marriage and his ambitions. He felt without doubt that she would never betray his trust and that she would, no matter what always stand beside him. However, something always nagged at him, a doubt, a feeling of uncertainty. There was something that just wasn't right, something that was out of place and he couldn’t put his finger on it. The party hierarchy, the public relations people and his support team considered Cathy to be the perfect wife for a politician with ambition, and so, he dismissed these thoughts and doubts from his mind as silly nonsense. They simply had no logical foundation.
Gathering his thoughts back to the present, Ken drove his BMW into the hotel basement and entered the parking bay reserved for him. Turning off the engine, he slowly got out of the car and walked towards the elevator where he was approached by a man in dark clothing, wearing a cap that half covered his face. “Oh no,” Ken thought, “not another time waster, not at this time of night.”
As the man came closer he reached into a bag he was carrying and pulled out a small flat package, handing it to Ken he said, “This will make interesting viewing for you before you go to bed tonight. Enjoy and have a good night's sleep. We’ll be in touch in a few days” and with that the man turned and hurriedly walked away.
Ken stood uncertain, bewildered for a few moments, concerned that the man had, despite the security measures in place been able to approach him so easily. After a pause he considered throwing the package into a nearby bin. However, his curiosity got the better of him and he opened it. The parcel contained a video addressed to his personal attention and, what seemed odd; it was marked as 'Strictly Confidential'. The doors to the elevator opened and without thinking Ken entered, pressing the button for the lobby. Walking through the brightly illumined foyer, acknowledging with a wave and smile those he encountered, he came to another set of lifts which would take him to the accommodation suites. He exited at the 11th Floor, walked down the passageway wearily opening the door to his room.
Chapter 6
-In that moment a shudder of desperation enveloped him, he felt himself shrink into an abyss so deep that all light and warmth left him. With time seeming to stand still, disbelief and desolation consumed his soul. -
The hotel accommodation had been selected by party officials. Apart from offering high level security it included a meeting room, sitting room with a large television and a spacious well laid out bedroom. Ken went to the amply stocked drinks cabinet where he selected a light drink then he switched on the television and player. Once ready, he inserted the video.
