One moment of weakness and his life was sliding out from under him. Pouring another drink, Julius returned to his desk. But really it started falling apart long before that. Hesitating, he unlocked the bottom drawer to remove a small velvet-lined box and a folder. Taking another sip of his drink, he opened the folder. On top was a pack of papers: divorce papers. Lying on top of that was a short note written in a careful scrawl. He was taken back to that night six years ago.* * * Slam! “Macey! How dare you ignore my calls!” Julius shouted as he stumbled into the apartment. “Macey! Don’t ignore me! We’re not done talking!” He made it through the entry, past the kitchen, tossing his keys and phone on the counter without really seeing it or the items left on it. Julius skirted the living room as he headed toward the bedroom. If he had been sober he might have realized it was too quiet and no one would be able to ignore his drunken rantin
“Chris, shut up!” Julius snapped. He was not in the mood for the usual antics of the director of his company’s IT department. “Okay geez. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” “Just shut it. I need you to track Macey’s phone and tell me where she is.” “You realize that is illegal, right?” “I don’t care! She’s not answering and I need to find her. Can you do it?” “What’s the number?” “646-555-4547.” Julius ran a hand through his hair. “Just so you know, I’m doing this because she might be in the gutter somewhere because that will hold up in court.” Julius let out an audible groan. She couldn’t be injured. Dear God, let her be okay. Out loud, he demanded, “Well?” “Hold on. This takes a little time, even if you do it legally. Do you know if her phone is on?” “It rang before going to voicemail,” Julius headed to the bedroom to change, switching
“Julius, you look like hell.” With a sigh, he turned to face an older version of himself. March was ten years his senior, and growing up the brothers had been quite close. Their connection remained to this day. Standing next to each other, it was not difficult to see the family resemblance: sandy blonde hair, gray eyes, prominent nose, chin and jaw. They could almost be twins. Julius gave his brother a warning look before sipping his whiskey. All around them were people dressed in fine suits and summer dresses despite the lingering chill. The air had a party feel with balloons and even a DJ as they crowded the wide, stone patio surrounding the pool of the DaLair family estate. A large sign declared: Happy Birthday, Augustus! At sixty-five, the DaLair’s reigning patriarch was as domineering as ever. Despite losing his much loved wife to cancer thirty years prior, Augustus soldiered on with a sharp mind and cutting wit. He was known to be ru
“Okay, you’re right. I don’t. But you might have to face facts. You might not ever see her again.” “Don’t you think I know that? Do you think it makes it easier?” “No. I don’t imagine it does. Is that why you put up with Katherine?” “She keeps the others away.” “And what about the wedding she’s planning?” Julius grunted, not offering a genuine answer. He had no plans to marry her. In fact, he had no plans to attend the function at all. Surely, that would send her a clear message. March studied his brother. It was hard to believe it had come to this. Like Julius, he grew up with Macey and considered her his little sister. He couldn’t remember exactly when he realized Macey had developed a crush on Julius, but he watched as she struggled to keep her feelings to herself while Julius remained oblivious. Like any teenager, Julius dated several girls and the hurt in Macey’s gaze as he ignored her was palpabl
Bending close to his employer’s ear, Stephen whispered low. Augustus’s expression immediately softened. He eagerly turned to his aide, saying, “Are they really?” Stephen nodded. Pecking a kiss on Rose’s temple, Augustus excused himself, claiming he had an urgent business matter to attend to before retreating inside with Stephen close at his heels. Rose let him go with a conflicted look on her face. It wasn’t like Augustus to interrupt such a gathering for business, but in the interest of reducing the guests’ tension, she let him go. Augustus hurried down the hall, his cane rasping harshly in his haste. Reaching his study, he disappeared inside. Stephen closed the door and remained outside, guarding it from entry. Reaching the desk, Augustus sat down and turned his attention to the open laptop. The sight that awaited him took his breath away and made him smile broadly. “Happy Birthday, Grand-père Gus!” two excited five-year-old
“Oooo! Here it is!” Katherine excitedly cooed as she dragged Julius into the art gallery. Though its grand opening was still a week away, it was open for business. Located along East Houston Street, it enjoyed proximity to several other galleries and ensured a steady stream of curious visitors. His father might not have much experience when it came to art, but he knew a good location. Julius was not surprised; however, it still didn’t explain why his father bought the art gallery in the first place. He sighed. It had only taken a day for Katherine to recover from his father’s public rejection. Julius hated to admit it, but she had some fortitude. She probably thought it earned her sympathy from him, but he couldn’t care less. If she wanted to punish herself by irritating his father, that was her business. Julius glanced around him to distract himself from her irritatingly shrill voice. Gray Studio Gallery’s mission was to be the premiere
“It’s an impressive series, isn’t it?” the curator asked, standing beside him. “It’s one of Gray’s masterpieces, the first really.” Julius nodded, not taking his eyes off the final piece. Would Macey have looked like that in her final month? What would it have been like to hold her then? To know their baby was soon to emerge. “People often make the mistake of thinking men have all the power, but in truth women do; after all, only a woman can create life.” Slowly, the thoughts that had been raging in his mind all week calmed and a new resolve formed. Somehow, he would find Macey again. When he did, he wouldn’t let her go. Before he left, he bought the entire Two Hearts series, only the third to do so from the gallery’s exclusive fifty print run.* * * Augustus scowled as the meeting droned on. He glanced at his youngest son, who seemed distracted, but better composed than he had been the last few days. Glad Julius seemed a little
Stephen escorted them to baggage claim and helped carry their five bags back to the car. Once they were situated in the limo, he drove them directly to the store. Augustus hadn’t just arranged them time to shop, but had reserved the whole store for their exclusive use. Security stood outside the doors, allowing Macey to shop unperturbed by other shoppers aside from her overly eager twins. The situation made Macey uncomfortable, but she decided to roll with it. She knew from experience how overbearing Augustus could be when he wanted something, but his heart was usually in the right place. Sifting through the racks, Macey eventually found one that piqued her interest. Taking it back to the changing room, she emerged wearing the hunter green evening gown. It had a high neckline, leaving her back and shoulders bare though it covered her chest. It fit her like a second skin hugging her curves and left very little to the imagination despite its coverage. Its snug fit c
“Mom and I were planning to play later,” Alexis said. “You can too if you want.” “Really? Thanks,” Caden immediately brightened. “…So you based the décor on the diner you used to work in,” Macey said after listening to Ava’s brief retelling of her past. “Were you thinki
Silas’s embrace tightened. He hated thinking about the trials she went through without him. Ava leaned against him relishing his comfort and support. Their past was not as important as their future. “You two aren’t going to go all kissy-face, right?” Theo asked. “We’re in public and
Two Months Later The restaurant was lively. Guests had been arriving for the past two hours eager for a unique dining experience. The staff was well-trained providing exceptional service despite the rush. They had been drilled in their duties by the restaurant’s manager, a tyrant the
She nodded. “Going down?” Silas repeated. “Just what have you three planned now?” “It was more like a hunch,” Lexi said. “Sean found something real interesting when he deep-dived Ryker Holdings. So we asked Duncan to keep an eye on someone, just in case.” “D
“Late? A test for what?” Silas asked not following. “Are you serious?” Tracy snorted a laugh. “Ava, you’re going to have to be a little clearer,” Opal chuckled. “Remember, it’s his first time.” Silas glanced from one to the other even more confused. Looking
“There you three are,” Tracy said as the trio returned to the party. “We were just about to send the search party to find you.” “Auntie Tracy, you’re so silly,” Alexis giggled. “How are you feeling mom?” Ava hugged her tight but Alexis didn’t feel any tension or strain in
Finding no support anywhere Jenna finally fled. No one paid her further mind as they watched the kids swarm around their parents comforting their mother. It was a sweet and tender scene and many began to see Silas in a completely different light. * * * Jenna screamed as she storme
Jenna stepped forward intentionally shoving her shoulder and made Ava stumble back. “W-What is—” Jenna stuttered as the video paused. “Who was calling who shameless?” Alexis demanded standing next to her mother arms crossed in front of her chest. “So playing with people’s
The music started slowly with just a few notes announcing the beginning of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. The simple melody became more complex as notes overlapped and weaved a new organic pattern but always maintaining the integrity of the piece. Conversation lulled as everyone turned their