Silas fled the board room practically hysterical at how long it had taken for them to reach their consensus about the company’s projected profits for the next quarter. None of it mattered when Ava and Alexis were in trouble. Thomas met him as he exited and quickly fell into step. “Wha
“Ava, are you all right? Did he hurt you?” Silas asked stirring her from her thoughts. “…N-no. He didn’t.” She shook her head. “Lucky for him then. If he had…” Silas let his words and thoughts fall silent not wanting to continue less he scare her. “I’m sorry.”
“Since we were, like, five.” “…That long? How? I never told you…” “We overheard you and Aunt Tracy talking late at night when you thought we were asleep,” Theo admitted. “And we’ve been planning our revenge on all the people who hurt you.” “Your revenge?”
“Wow! Check this place out! It’s huge!” Theo declared as they paused inside the foyer. A step behind him Sean whistled. Their father called it a villa but the brownstone was more like a mansion. Who would have thought such a place existed even on the Upper West Side? Behind them c
“Ava, I didn’t…I didn’t know it was you that day,” Silas finally spoke the words he wanted to say. “You…didn’t know?” “No. My friends thought…They wanted me to loosen up so they slipped something in my drink and…When I woke up and saw you I thought…God I thought you were a
Her head pounded from the contradictory thoughts running through her head. She rubbed her temples forcing them to the side. She would think about that later. Her gaze fell on the inviting tub now filling with steaming water. First thing first…a bath to sooth her frayed nerves. * * *
“So…What do you think of, you know, our father?” Theo gave a noncommittal shrug at his brother’s query as he lay at the foot of Alexis’s bed. The butler had shown them to their rooms without so much as a question concerning the origins of the four people his employer sudde
“She does,” Alexis said leaving no room for debate. “She’s just buried her feelings for so long she’s afraid to acknowledge them anymore.” “So…what do we do? Do we…help him?” “No,” Alexis said after a long moment. “He needs to earn mom’s love himself but we also don’t ha
“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