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Reece “What if the baby is yours?” Angie pulls up a chair and sits so we are almost at eye level and cocks her eyebrow at me. “I’m really not sure how, we never talked about kids and were always careful. I was always careful with her.” “Always?” She has this sarcastic tone that tells me she knows more about my sex life with Lindsey than I do. “As far as I know, we only had one time that I didn’t wrap it up.” “So, what you’re telling me is you need to get off your doomsday mind track and wait to hear from the doctors and talk to Lindsey. It only takes one time, genius.” She looks like she wants to smack me upside the head. And she’s seriously considering it. I really need her to stop pushing my buttons right now. “But when you do go in and talk to your wife, and my best friend, you will do it calmly and respectfully. Because I will beat your ass if you hurt her with your accusations after everything she just went through. Like you said you only had contact with her twice while she
Epilogue Lindsey Well Reece was true to his word and has kept me barefoot and pregnant for the better part of 3 years. He was intrigued by the idea of practicing to make babies and took his job very seriously, and so did his DNA. When I am done with this pregnancy I will be 21, almost 22 and have 5 kids under the age of three because fate seems to like to mess with me and I was blessed with two sets of twins. Angie is convinced that our oldest, Carter, would have been a twin or was probably a twin, but due to all of the trauma he was my miracle baby. The thought makes me laugh and also makes me sad that I might have had complications we knew nothing about. He was what helped me get through the worst of the healing from my time in captivity with Vaughn Benedict. Although I wasn’t harmed much, the memory of the isolation and waking up alone still haunts me and Old Man Raines’ death gives me nightmares. The dreams seem to be more vivid as I get further along in my pregnancies too. Reec
Reece“Wait, Wait, Wait!” Fabian exclaims. We have had a rough year and our clients are not all paid in full, which has left us strapped.“How is that my problem. Learn to manage your company and, I suspect, your spending habits.” I barely lift my eyes from the documents in front of me. “You have twenty four hours to produce the balance of the loan or I am taking your company, Fabian.” I say low and slowly to make sure he gets the full effect of my threat.“You know that I can’t do that. Even liquidating everything I own would not produce the amount my company owes. Is there anything else that I have that I can offer as repayment?”“Are you trying to bribe me, Fabian?”“No, never, just , just barter. There must be something you need or want that I can provide for you.”“Why would I need anything from a rat like you?”There’s a long pause that I refuse to break. Watching him squirm is all part of the fun. I was going to absorb his company no matter what. He was a terrible employe
LindseyI was so nervous and I had no idea why. This guy came for me, I really shouldn’t have anything to prove, but I really felt like I did. What if he took one look at me and decided I wasn't worth his time or effort? What if he was old and ridiculous? I wasn’t a gold digger and would refuse right on the spot.I allowed my brother to bring in a stylist considering I had nothing left in the house, but I did stop him when he started making suggestions that would make me look more like a drag queen than a socialite. I went with a blue knee length dress that was sleeveless. The bodice was form fitting, but modest and the skirt had a flare to it allowing for ease of movement.I can’t believe I am going through with this meeting. I hated everything about my brother’s pretentious world. I loved the options that money brought, but I also knew how to work hard for the money I had and used it well. I had to remember this ws for mom and dad and all of the people who depended on our busin
Lindsey After Reece drops me off I walk slowly through my apartment not really paying attention to anything in particular. I walk past the living room where my roommate and closest friend is sitting on the couch waiting for me to come in a spill. I walk down the long hallway to my bedroom walking in and closing the door, I lean on it and just slide down, starting to have a small panic attack. I can’t believe I am going to go through with this. What the hell am I thinking. I have plans for my life and they definitely don’t include getting married in a week. There’s a light knock, “Linds, you ok?” Angie asks me, muffled through the door. I can’t answer yet, I’m focused on my breathing and trying not to shed tears. “Lindsey, you need to let me know how you’re doing, otherwise I’m going to think the wors
ReeceI had noticed a car following me from Fabian’s house as Lindsey and I were driving around. I wasn’t sure how they found me so fast, but they always seem to. I also noticed they didn’t follow me as I left her apartment. I’m glad I had the forethought to have James tail us just in case there was a problem. This was already complicated enough without the paparazzi scaring her off too.I got hourly reports from James while I gathered all the things I wanted Lindsey to have. I had my lawyer get her a copy of the contract as well as all the documentation she would need once we were married, the paperwork seemed to be endless for women who just want to change their name. Knowing her brother, I wasn’t sure she had access to family funds, so I set her up with an account in her name a
Reese “Just answer. Inside or Outside?” “Outside” “Favorite Color” “Purple, like indigo, not pastel.” I laugh. “Favorite flower?” “Forget-Me-nots and Hyacinths” “High Heels or flip flops?” “Neither, barefoot.” “Dresses or Pants?” “Depends on the occasion, I wear both” “Favorit
LindseyBy the time 7pm rolls around I am in a black pinstripe romper. The top fits like a vest, high in the back with a deep ‘V’ in the front. The pants are comfortable, but not too baggy. I am going to have to recruit Bandon and Anton together more often. My light brown hair looks soft in big waves like a 1950’s pin-up model. Anton even got my hair into one of those fun victory rolls. My make-up was light and classic, with just enough to highlight my caramel eyes and a soft pink lipstick. The jewelry was just as simple. Little silver teardrop earrings and a delicate chain necklace with a matching teardrop charm that went well passed my cleavage into the romper. To finish the look I had on bright blue heels with one thick strap across the toes and a strap around my ankle. I know I’m not ugly, but this outfit and the hair and m
Epilogue Lindsey Well Reece was true to his word and has kept me barefoot and pregnant for the better part of 3 years. He was intrigued by the idea of practicing to make babies and took his job very seriously, and so did his DNA. When I am done with this pregnancy I will be 21, almost 22 and have 5 kids under the age of three because fate seems to like to mess with me and I was blessed with two sets of twins. Angie is convinced that our oldest, Carter, would have been a twin or was probably a twin, but due to all of the trauma he was my miracle baby. The thought makes me laugh and also makes me sad that I might have had complications we knew nothing about. He was what helped me get through the worst of the healing from my time in captivity with Vaughn Benedict. Although I wasn’t harmed much, the memory of the isolation and waking up alone still haunts me and Old Man Raines’ death gives me nightmares. The dreams seem to be more vivid as I get further along in my pregnancies too. Reec
Reece “What if the baby is yours?” Angie pulls up a chair and sits so we are almost at eye level and cocks her eyebrow at me. “I’m really not sure how, we never talked about kids and were always careful. I was always careful with her.” “Always?” She has this sarcastic tone that tells me she knows more about my sex life with Lindsey than I do. “As far as I know, we only had one time that I didn’t wrap it up.” “So, what you’re telling me is you need to get off your doomsday mind track and wait to hear from the doctors and talk to Lindsey. It only takes one time, genius.” She looks like she wants to smack me upside the head. And she’s seriously considering it. I really need her to stop pushing my buttons right now. “But when you do go in and talk to your wife, and my best friend, you will do it calmly and respectfully. Because I will beat your ass if you hurt her with your accusations after everything she just went through. Like you said you only had contact with her twice while she
Lindsey What the f*ck? Cousin? I am stunned and have nothing to respond to that revelation. “We have a deal.” Benedict says after I sign the documentation with all of my stipulations written in and initialed by both of us. “Come get your girl cuz, we just opened up the IP address for you to search. Although, I wouldn’t mind a bit more alone time with her, seeing as you’ve been with mine, it’s only fair.” He laughs at Reece’s look of pure fury as he touches my face again. This time I did pull away and gave him my most murderous look. He better not come anywhere near me, the sleezeball. Dominique looked offended at the exchange, but what can she expect, this douchebag thinks he has everything. What he doesn’t realize is I didn’t sign everything and I used his inability to keep his hands off Dominique to my advantage while his lawyers and I handled the paperwork. And his lawyers really aren’t that smart or they straight up let me get away with signing my maiden name and ‘under duress’.
Lindsey As I am being escorted down to meet with, I assume Benedict, I make a decision. I believe I am going to die here no matter what I do, so I need to think through what is going to happen to everyone that depends on us. “You look positively radiant today” Benedict sneers from the table as I walk in. What the hell does that mean? Does he know about me being pregnant? I should assume no one here is on my side and figure he knows, but is probably playing me to see if I confirm his suspicions or what doctor Beth told him. I hate not having information. And where the hell is Dominique? “That’s the result of being fed for the first time in days, I guess.” I try to keep my smartass remark to a minimum, but I also want to see if he will let anything slip as well. We can both play this game. “How can I help you today Mr. Benedict?” I try to let as much sarcasm lace my sugar sweet tone. “You know what I want, and I will have it today.” He gestures for me to sit across from him.
Lindsey HOLY SH*T! HOLY SH*T! HOLY SH*T! I can’t move and I’m barely breathing. I think I’m in shock. I sit there staring at the screen, I know Reece is still in front of me, but I’m not really seeing him, not anymore. Someone shot a gun right behind me and a thump tells me someone was hit. The gunshot came out of nowhere. There were no threats made, we were just having a conversation. Although, I was trying to stall for enough time for Reece and Max to hopefully get closer to figuring out where we are. The old man was just whimpering like the weak little man he truly is, was. How he ever ran a company like Raines Corporation is beyond me. He was a great actor I guess. I really should feel bad for him, but I am just scared for myself now. They aren’t going to hesitate to do what is needed to get what they want now, and they just proved it. “Every time we all meet and this isn’t resolved, someone else loses the privilege to go home.” Benedict says from somewhere near me. It
Reece “Reece.” Her breathy little whisper is all my heart needed to jumpstart and start racing like it was trying to jump out of my chest. “Lindsey, baby.” That's all I can get out. I just stare at her beautiful face. She’s thinner, her cheeks are sunken in and her hair is dull and flat, but she’s alive. I can feel my heart beating wildly in my chest like it trying to jump out and get to her. There is so much I want to say, so much I need to say. We talked about what to do once we were able to get her on, but I just froze, my mind seizing up completely at the sight of her sitting there. “First things first, Mr. Raines. We have made contact as requested, you see your wife is unharmed, now we want the documents signed and you can have her back within the next 24 hours.” A deep voice off camera instructs. Lindsey looks down and if I wasn’t staring at her so intently I would have missed the slight head shake she gave me. She’s telling me not to agree, but what the hell else am
Reece We are now going on a month of Lindsey missing. We have been tracking Eyler for a few weeks and Conrad is building a case against him, just on his activities here. Thank God Eyler doesn’t look too closely at his phone. I do know that they are trying to turn people he has contact with into informants, but it all takes time. I did receive a proof of life photo about a week and a half ago, but that is all I have heard. It was of Lindsey sleeping. She at least looked peaceful, but I could only see her face, the covers pulled all the way up to her chin. I don’t know if she’s actually sleeping or knocked out. I can’t see if she’s injured or harmed in any way, but it’s the only thing I have of her right now. I have the photo in my wallet and pull it out every chance I get. I have actually started talking to her photo. Telling her it’s going to be alright and we are coming for her, that I am coming for her. I have started asking her what she would do when I come across a situ
Reece The elevator to the top floor seems like it is taking forever. I just want to get this over with and clear up all of the misconceptions that have been going around for the last decade in my business. When the bell chimes as we hit our floor, Max and I walk out full of angered purpose. I am doing a full house cleaning, but I also need to know if any of these guys have information on Lindsey’s whereabouts. I trust no one outside of Max, Brandon, Angie and Anton. I feel like all of them have had some part in this for their own gain and Eyler and the old man were just crazy enough to take it this far. “Down to business gentlemen.” I say sitting at the head of the table. Max to my right. All of the guys look paler and more ragged than usual. Being cut-off doesn’t suit many of them. Only Reg seems to have been able to maintain his usual lifestyle. Good, I think to myself. They know I mean business now and won’t be complacent any longer. “I’m glad your investigations are ov
Lindsey “What are you going to say to Benedict? We need to have the same or at least a similar story as to why I am here. I still have to figure out what he wants exactly. I don’t believe he would put this much effort into taking over a company. From what I have heard he’s more likely to kill the person in his way and replace them with his own people. What’s he playing at?” “With your current condition and the test I have run, I can easily claim you are diabetic. Similar signs and symptoms and necessities to control it as your pregnancy. Like food and vitamin regulation, also lowering your stress levels.” “Okay, I guess that works. I don;t know anything about the condition though.” “That will work in our favor. I can keep regular, daily checks on you, which is what I would do with an actual newly diagnosed patient here.” “What about me?” Dominique almost whines. “Is he going to try and keep us separate? I’m pretty sure she is the only reason I am still alive right now