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Chapter 43: Family Crisis
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2022-10-26 14:06:25Related chapters
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 44: A Rescue
Yet, for some reason I don't put my car back in gear and return to the highway. Instead I shut it off and sit in the driver's seat in the far corner of the Price Road park-and-ride waiting for my jerk of a boss and his driver to get here. It takes less time than I expect for the black car to stop in the open spot next to me.Vincent gets out of the front seat and approaches and opens my door. I turn to him, the tears starting again, and wrap my arms around his middle. With heavy but safe hands, he draws me from my seat and walks me over to his. I slide into the smooth leather bench and nod once at Davis who looks at me in the rearview mirror with sad eyes.Once the doors close, Davis starts again, and Vincent tucks me under his arm in a warm embrace unlike anything I'd expect from the man. Where's the cold heartless jerk I spoke to on the phone twenty minutes ago?"I'm sorry I'm crying." This isn't the way a boss should see his employee. Especially my boss."Take all the time y
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 45: It's Not About the Chips
For the first time since we've met, he doesn't bite. He only shakes his head and points to the revolving door at the front of the hospital. What a wonderful time for him to become the bigger person and leave me standing on the sidewalk looking like a fool alone.With slow steps I walk past him and into the cold white building. As I follow the signs for intensive care, my steps pick up until I'm almost running when I barrel through the large metal doors to the unit where my mother said my father has a room. A small lobby with chairs and vending machines is to the right and a woman, my mother, with a tear-stained face steps out."Kens," she says grabbing onto my arm while clutching a small cup of coffee in her other. "Have you heard from your brother?""No," I say and her face falls. There's so much sorrow in the lines of her face and I don't know how to fix the problem.My mother wraps me into a deep hug squeezing tightly as if she can somehow suck the life out of me and return
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 46: Back to Formalities
Her eyes brighten at the thought and she nods for the first time. "Something cheesy. No salt and vinegar."I smile. Salt and vinegar potato chips have been an ongoing struggle in my home growing up. They are my father's favorite and my mother can't handle the smell of them. "On it," I say digging through my purse for loose change.If she wanted to munch on cheesy chips rather than food then I could at least give her that wish. There wasn't much else I could do to help her.She grabs onto my hand as I step out of the room. "If your brother contacts you, run right back to the room."I agree, promising I will, but I'm no further than the corner of my dad's room before my real thoughts surface. Like hell if my deadbeat brother finally contacted me would I race back in and tell her. I'd walk slower while telling him the fuck off. His crazy behaviors caused my father to have a heart attack, and he ran away from the problem. The not answering phone calls is the least of his issues onc
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 47: It's a Stupid Crush
In the end, after a few seconds of internal back and forth, I realize there is no way I can say no. It's my father."Okay, thank you." I say and realize for his faults and for the times he's upset me, I owe Vincent a thank you. A big ass one. He never waits to hear appreciation for his last good deed before doing another. It's amazing and... annoying. How can he be a saint and an asshole at the same time?"The next time you see your father's doctor, let him know I'll have someone there in the morning and to get the OR prepped. And for the love of God, Mackenzie, keep your phone on so you get my texts." The first signs of his annoyance show through in his voice."I'm sorry. There's no signal in the room.""Well, check in on occasion. Doesn't the hospital have guest Wi-Fi?" His overbearing concern has me smiling even if it's ridiculous. I have no place being happy in a hospital waiting room. There was an unlocked Wi-Fi, but it sucked too. I considered it a commentary on the entir
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 48: Bad Motives
He tracks each of my steps to his table, and as I get closer, he pulls the second chair from the opposite side to sit beside him. Next to his laptop a brown sandwich with big yellow arches sits beside him next to a steaming cup of coffee."They serve coffee here. You know?"Vincent's nose crinkles. "I can only imagine the taste resembles river water.""Hey, we treat everything before we drink it." I'm sure Vincent has Davis driving all over town looking for an acceptable cup of coffee, and I can picture his disdain when he found out there isn't anything. McDonald's is as good as it gets."How did you survive without a place to get a decent cup of coffee for eighteen years?" Vincent asks unrolling the top of the brown bag."We made it at home." Or we have low standards of coffee. It's obvious he hasn't spent much time away from the city. Life doesn't work the same way here."I picked you up one of these. I figured you wouldn't eat breakfast this morning."He hands over a w
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 49: Henry's Return
What?He must be joking.I pull my hand back a fraction, puzzled at his response. All of this is to get me back to work? It can't possibly be the truth, but why would he say it? Why can't he admit that he feels something too?I shake my head, gathering my thoughts, and realize maybe he hasn't admitted it because he doesn't. It's possible those things people say about billionaires becoming rich because they're ruthless is the truth. There's no shining nice guy hiding under his gruff exterior. Would Vincent do this for his other assistants? The man is so utterly frustrating.But as much as I tell myself he's a jerk and stare at him as he goes back to his computer undisturbed by the fact we're no longer holding hands, I can't see past what he's done.The obvious jealousy with his client in Chicago and the help he's gotten for my father. The furniture in my apartment. Hell, the apartment. These are not the things an asshole does for his employees. It's so much more.And the kis
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 50: Annoying Men Everywhere
Vincent told me to take as many days I wanted, but I hadn't planned on a week. It went by so quickly with my father in the hospital and then my father coming home. After that I need an extra day to help get him set up to recover in front of his TV in the living room. My brother returned to school in Big Rapids to finish out the summer session and it left me and my mother to do the dirty work.I lean down, hugging my father in his chair and squeezing him hard, his face the constant reminder of how close we came to losing him. My family and I might not always agree, but in the end they're the only people we have in times of need. I vowed multiple times throughout the week to do a better job of being a good daughter."Stay healthy, Daddy," I say squeezing him one last time and pulling back."Of course, your mother will feed me nothing but broccoli for the rest of my life.""If that's what it takes for you to have the rest of your life then so be it." He needs to make sure and live
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 51: Here We Go Again
I tap my foot three more times on the carpet, but there's barely a noise. Nothing satisfying at least. An annoyed foot tap is only good when you can get a satisfying thunk from it as well. The tough Berber carpet doesn't create a sound, which forces me to tap my foot harder and harder to no avail.I stack the seven card on top of an eight in my solitaire game and a loud chuckle comes from Vincent's office. With narrow eyes, I whip around and stare at his door, trying my best not to think evil thoughts but failing.It's been five fucking days since I've been back to work. Every morning I place his coffee and his sandwich from the cafeteria on his desk as I've always done since accepting the position, and every morning he comes in, asks me how my father is while staring at a corner of the room and then goes to his office, closes the door, and I don't see him again for the rest the day.Five days.It is complete and utter bullshit. Vincent laughs again and I visualize myself stabb
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
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The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 171: Epilogue
My enormous stomach stretches against the seatbelt in Vincent's expensive car. I'm no longer just showing a small bit as my due date creeps ever closer. The trees have budded along the highway as his car continues to travel north."Vincent, where are we going?"He smiles. "Our weekend place," he gives me what I suspect is the first semi-honest answer he has the entire trip.When we left this morning, I asked if I needed to pack a bag, but he said it was only a day trip. If I am being completely honest, my first thought was he bought the home in Okemos and planned to drive the fifteen miles to get away for the weekend. But we've been driving for over an hour at this point, passing my family home along the highway to continue north."I can't give you any more than that, Mackenzie. It's a surprise." He says turning off the highway.I hold back a sigh. They never do any good, anyway. "And you know how much I hate surprises.""Yes." His hand falls to my knee and squeezes, rubbin
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 170: Doctor's Orders
"I promise you, Mr. Valiant, your wife and baby are perfectly fine. I don't even see signs of a concussion. She's one lucky woman." The doctor's smooth voice does nothing to lessen Vincent's irritation."Can't you check them both again?" he grinds out annoyed he has to ask.The steady beeping of the baby's heart monitor, a large device they've wrapped around my tiny stomach, beeps consistently. "Vincent, I am fine."He looks back at me in the hospital bed and squeezes my hand. "I know, baby. I just want them to check you again."The doctor sighs, smiling at me as if apologizing I have to put up with the man for the rest of my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way."They've looked me over three times. I'm perfectly fine," I run my fingers over his arm, but it doesn't lessen his scowl."Your wife is right, Mr. Valiant. We've run every test. She and the baby are healthy. I'm going to write up her release papers as soon as I leave the room. Go home and get rest. That's the
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 169: November Winds
"I'm sorry we can't go on a honeymoon right away,""Vincent, I promise I understand. Really." He's an important CEO of a billion-dollar company. I don't expect him to take off whenever he wants. He can throw together a quick weekend wedding, but we can't drop everything and go on a three-week honeymoon like he's promised without notice. We have plans to make.I wrap the sheets around me tighter, the northern winds of November howling outside the window. We've been newlyweds for exactly twenty-four hours, and after I sneezed four times yesterday, Vincent decided I need to take Monday morning off to lie in bed and stay warm. He's obnoxiously worried about me catching a cold while pregnant. Any other time I would find it annoying, but the baby is involved so I'm listening to his heavy-handedness. This time."I'm sure I'll forgive you for not whisking me away on a honeymoon immediately during the three weeks we're on the boat in the Bahamas over Christmas." He thought of the best way
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Another two weeks laterA gust of wind batters the outside of the car, but the frigid temperatures we're walking into aren't enough to sway Vincent. He allows Davis to open the black limos door and then reaches for my hand when he exits."Is your mom going to kill us?" I ask as I step out into the freezing temperatures of northern Michigan in the late fall and wrap the white fake fur shawl around my shoulders."Probably," Vincent says with a devilish smirk, meaning he doesn't care what his mother will say. I wish I had his self-confidence.At least we'll go down together. "Good because my mother is going to murder me in my sleep."The newest personal protection guard—I'd never get used to that name—steps up to my side. Nicki is tall and her body thin, but she's never once looked at Vincent inappropriately over the last two weeks she'd been protecting me.When Vincent introduced her and brought her into the team, I hadn't argued. Safety isn't something I can take for granted
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Two Fridays laterMy eyes have just begun to close as I settle into the post-work catnap. The doctor said it wasn't a big deal I hadn't experienced any morning sickness or other complications during the pregnancy and I should consider myself lucky. But from the way I dozed off at my desk every couple hours the last few days at work, the exhaustion part of being pregnant is hitting me hard and making up for lost time of the first trimester.I still can't believe I'm pregnant. I've seen the evidence, we have the pictures to prove it, but besides being tired I don't feel different. Even though it is too early, I definitely haven't felt anyone moving around in there. Because I lack so much evidence, it is hard to picture me with a baby. It's even harder to picture my big rigid Vincent as a father. Not that I have any doubt he'll be a great one, I've just never seen him with kids. I rarely even babysat myself. Only once or twice in high school. I spent a couple of nights watching the Wa
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 166: You Can't Hid Glam Wear
Without thinking about, it I place my hand on my desk and the metal in the ring that sits so heavily on my finger hits against it with a clink. It draws my attention back to the fresh addition to my finger and I smile as I stare at the beautiful piece of jewelry.I tried not to wear out of the house this morning. It was Monday and even though Vincent's employees handled his email well, I couldn't imagine it would get the same response as the newspaper article outing his previous wife. I prepared for a full-on tizzy. To my relief the article didn't publish as expected. Vincent answers my text with only a smiley face—so unlike him. I figure it cost him a pretty penny, but he worked his magic.Me walking through one of the company floors wearing a big ass ring on my finger would only add to the clusterfuck I was sure our day would turn into at any moment. Therefore, in the name of less drama I tried to leave the item on my nightstand, but Vincent must have swiped it. He followed me on
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 165: Book Deals and Broken Promises
Vincent moves my feet off the couch and sits in the space. I don't like him being so far away, so I reposition myself until I'm leaning next to his body and getting into his personal bubble.He leans back on the couch wrapping one of his muscular arms over my shoulders. "Today's been shit. Huh?"He'd spent most of Sunday on the phone with his legal team and public relations employees. Everyone in Valiant Industries had quite the weekend. Even though he said he didn't plan to take action against Tiffany, he wants to stop the book from being published. Vincent doesn't elaborate on how he plans to make that happen, but I have faith in him.His legal and PR teams worked for hours and now had a course of action moving forward. Tiffany might strike the first blow with the article about her book, but Vincent wouldn't take it lying down. Tomorrow morning his office would release a statement countering the article and hopefully combatting any speculation. There will still be rumors and ta
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 164: Agreements
By the next morning we still haven't come to an agreement on the house. I want to continue living in the penthouse and Vincent wants to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a weekend place fifteen miles out of the city—a home we won't officially move into until the baby is school age.Something warns me if I don't put up a big fight, Vincent will buy the house and just not tell me about it right away, so I make him promise in the car on the way home he won't do anything without getting my permission first. It's his money, and I feel bad bossing him about his own bank account, but a house is a big damn deal. You can't just buy a house. I'm only half sure making him promise will work, but it's time for me to stretch the trust part of our relationship."You're hiring the chef who made the sandwich and the chocolate cake. Right? I ask biting off another piece of my breakfast bagel."We are hiring and yes."All the meals we tested were delicious, and my core heats remembering the
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 163: A Ruined Evening Fixed
The early Saturday morning sun wakes me the rest of the way after Vincent's alarm starts the job by rattling on his bedside nightstand. Who sets an alarm for Saturday?Vincent rolls over and wraps his arm underneath mine cradling a breast in his hand. I snuggle my back to his chest and reposition my head on the pillow, hoping I can fall back to sleep and he can do whatever he incorrectly believes is important enough to wake up early on a weekend."I'm sorry last night was ruined." He kisses the back of my neck sucking lightly."You mean when your wife broke in here and tried to steal what I strongly suspect was an engagement ring?" We'd talked about many things the night before but never got around to that topic.I'd planned to ask him, but after finding out Tiffany's demands for his sperm and then the sex, the thought completely fled my mind. We lay in bed together for another hour as Vincent held me tightly, but eventually he slipped from under the covers.Hours later I fou
