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by Michelle Congdon

  I counted back from three quietly to myself before taking a step forward. This is it.

  After passing all the mandatory security checks and dealing with a few stunned receptionists trying to piece together who I was, I was finally able to meet up with my brother in his office. Except, instead of receiving a happy greeting, I was met with a serious-faced Connor, watching me from behind his large, wooden desk with today’s newspaper opened up in front of him. Oh no, what now?

  “Evie…” he said in a tone he often reserved for when I was doing something he never agreed on.

  “Hello to you too, brother,” I replied trying to keep my tone casual to help lighten the mood.

  I walked towards him just as he stood and greeted me with a firm hug and a kiss on the cheek. After he let go, I walked back around the desk and took a seat on the sofa over by the window that looked down on the city.

  The very room that was my father’s and now Connor’s was barely recognizable. What did you expect after twelve years? The old style wood furnishing had been replaced with a new chic interior. The walls were a light shade of gray while the furniture was all black― including the huge desk Connor was sitting behind. Above me, two large, black, circular lights hung from the ceiling and a large bookcase was to my left. The room was spotless with nothing out of place, even the water jug and glasses sitting at the end of Connor’s desk looked as though they’d been carefully placed there. That was my brother for you, everything had to be organized and clutter free.

  As I looked around, I could see splashes of Amelie Lemieux’s signature style. Knowing my brother, as soon as my father stepped down and put him in charge, he told his fiancée to do what she liked with the place. While the rest of the room was black, white and different tones of gray, a large abstract painting that hung on the wall behind Connor added some color to the place. Small, colored vases and abstract sculptures, that matched the painting, were immaculately laid out around the room while a vibrant indoor plant that stood next to the doorway added much needed greenery to the room.

  “Are you sure everything’s alright, Evie?” Hearing Connor’s voice snapped me back into reality. I turned to face him. What was he going on about?

  “What do you mean?”

  “What I mean is that I know you don’t read the papers or search the Internet but there are articles written about you and your boyfriend every single day.” What? Why? “I want to know how you are. You’ve always been afraid of the attention, Evie. I’m worried for you, that’s all.”

  I smiled at Connor. He was only trying to be the protective big brother. “I’m fine, seriously. Like you said, I don’t read the papers but Derek generally mentions a few things every now and then.” That was the truth; expect I couldn’t stop the unnerving feeling that was building up inside the pit of my stomach now that he mentioned it. What were they saying about me? What lies were they spreading now?

  “You’d tell me if you started getting your panic attacks again, right?” he asked, giving me a worrying look from behind his desk. I just nodded at him, shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

  Connor knew me well enough to know when to stop pushing the subject. Instead he picked up the paper folded in front of him and set it down in one of the drawers.

  “Shall we go grab a coffee? Dad’s lawyers are running a little late and it appears so is the witch.” He spat out the last part of his sentence.

  That brought another smile to my face. Connor had never liked our father’s girlfriend. He always believed that all she ever wanted was his money. While my father spent his time working hard and investing, she spent her days shopping and spoiling herself with cosmetic surgery. Derek had shown me gossip magazines with photos of her partying at exclusive parties or enjoying an exotic holiday somewhere.

  Connor and I walked down the halls of the ritzy building my father and mother once owned and made our way into the tearoom. It felt strange to be back. Nothing looked the same as I’d remembered it and there were all new faces among the staff.

  “I cannot believe my eyes.”

  I came to a halt and turned to the unfamiliar voice behind me. Connor eventually turned, but unlike me, he knew the name belonging to the aging face smiling at me. “Look at you, all grown up and so beautiful. You look exactly like her, you know.”

  “She doesn’t remember you Edna and you’re beginning to scare her.” Connor laughed beside me.

  Edna... The name did sound somewhat familiar.

  “I do remember you,” I started, “You used to feed me candy whenever my father wasn’t looking and let me try on the accessories.” I smiled remembering the memory.

  “Now see, Master Connor, I told you she would.” Edna smiled stepping closer and pulling me into an embrace.

  Connor shook the surprised look of his face and laughed. “Well, I’m glad father will never know what you two got up to then.”

  Edna pulled away and held my face between her hands. “You are a splitting image of your mother, child. You have the same stunning features as our dear Karoline. I bet you’re as smart as her too. That woman was also very strong willed. She stood up to your father all the time. This empire wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for her.”

  Edna’s smile suddenly vanished and a saddened expression replaced it. “I miss that woman a great deal… I still think about her and Master Alexander all the time.”

  I smiled at her. It was nice to hear such kind words said about my mother and that there were others that missed my family just as much as I did. “It’s nice to see that you’re still working here, Edna.”

  “I’ll be here until I turn to dust, little one. That’s if your brother allows it.”

  “You’re a valuable employee, Edna. I couldn’t possibly replace you.”

  Her gaze flicked over to Connor and she smiled.

  Edna had been working for my father for as long as I could remember. I was four the first time I came into my parent’s work place, and I remember being picked up and passed around but Edna always had a protective watch over me.

  “Your brother is just like him you know? And I don’t just mean his handsome good looks.”

  Connor had turned away and started making the coffee, but I could tell that he was listening and had a smile on his face.

  “Well, I should get back to work. Listen, Evangeline, you let me know if you ever need anything, okay? I made a promise to your parents a long time ago that I’d be there if you ever needed me. I plan to up hold that promise.”

  “Thank you, Edna. And of course I’ll be sure to let you know.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  “Just no candy and sneaking into rooms to check out stock, got it?” Connor teased, turning back around with cups of coffee in both hands. We all laughed at that.

  After Edna hugged and kissed me goodbye, Connor and I made our way back towards his office. His assistant was already waiting for him by the door.

  “Ms. Moreno is here with her lawyer, and so are Steve and Mike.”

  “Thank you, Belinda, send them all in.”

  Belinda didn’t move but stood awkwardly for a moment. “Is there anything else?” Connor asked.

  “Connor, it’s just that...”

  It was strange hearing his assistant address him by his first name. But Connor showed no signs of it bothering him so I guessed it was how he preferred it.

  “I refused to let her in before you got back and she kind of lost it. She threatened to fire me once she had hold of the company.”

  Connor burst into a fit of laughter. “Oh Belinda, you have just made my day. Believe me when I tell you that you have nothing to be worried about. There is no way I am giving up this company and handing it over to her. Your job is safe.”

  She smiled nervously before turning and walking away.

  “Jeez, this will be a very vivacious next hour or so,” Connor deadpanned as we stepped inside.

  We didn’t have to wait long until two men wearing expensive, tailored suits; wh
om I assumed were Mike and Steve― Connor and our late father’s lawyer’s ―appeared. The older of the two had silvery white hair and a neatly trimmed moustache, while the other had his short, peppery hair parted to one side. The woman my father was with, and her young lawyer, shortly followed them. I gripped the mug I held tightly in my hands as the tall, slender woman stepped into the office.

  Her eyes scanned the room quickly before settling on Connor, ignoring me entirely.

  I could see her much better now that she wasn’t wearing a veil over her head. Her bleached blond hair sat perfectly around her heavily make-up covered, cosmetically enhanced face. It hadn’t reached the point where it looked overstretched and down right scary, but it was well on its way if she continued. Her huge fake breasts stood out, stretching the material of her blouse to its limits. I wondered how on earth she was able to walk straight without toppling over or how guys found that attractive. My breasts weren’t small but they weren’t ridiculously oversized either.

  Connor greeted the room and introduced everyone to each other.

  The men politely shook my hand before taking their seats while the witch sat there and continued to eye me coldly without so much as a blink. This was going to be a long morning.

  “I cannot believe how much you resemble your mother, Evangeline. It’s great to finally see you again after all this time and I’m sorry for your great loss. Your father spoke of you often,” the older one named Steve said, evident of the growing tension inside the room.

  His statement about my father came to a huge surprise but I was in a professional environment so I couldn’t question him about it. Instead, I turned and was about to say thank you when an icy voice interrupted.

  “That’s funny. I don’t ever remember him uttering a single word about you.”

  “Angelica, your rudeness will not be tolerated here. If you wish to proceed further and get my father’s legal issues resolved today then I suggest you sit quietly and act like an adult,” Connor warned in a strict but professional tone.

  I had never seen anyone’s jaw drop so fast. “How dare you. You have no right to speak to me like that―”

  “Angelica, please, let me do the rest of the talking from here,” her lawyer insisted, cutting her off mid sentence.

  It struck me as odd to see the way her lawyer placed his hand over Angelica’s arm. It was definitely much more of a personal gesture than a professional one. Maybe they were close? Did everyone always have such personal relationships with their lawyers? Were they seeing one another? The thought made me sick to the stomach. It wasn’t that the guy was unattractive, because he wasn’t and they were a lot closer in age than she had been with my father. But it was just too soon, wasn’t it?

  Angelica immediately closed her mouth and looked over at her lawyer. The look they gave each other only heightened my suspicion and I wondered whether anyone else in the room noticed.

  To my surprise, Angelica listened to her lawyer. She was quiet the entire time as the men went through my father’s will and all the lengthy, mind-churning, legal documents. Well, she stayed quiet for most of the time.

  “This is absurd. So, you’re trying to tell me that Rupert left nothing for me and my sons yet, this...” she spat, pointing a long, thin finger at me. “This girl, who hasn’t been apart of Rupert’s life at all, has been left with everything?”

  “Calm down. You two were never married, yet father was kind enough to include you in his will. You have been left with the apartment you share with the children and a considerable sum of money. As for the children, they have been left with a great deal of money in a trust fund for when they each turn twenty five,” Connor replied confidently. “And as for your comments regarding my sister, I suggest you keep your mouth closed. You know nothing of what Evangeline and I have been through.”

  Angelica narrowed her eyes at Connor. “What of the company?”

  “You were never part of the company. Mr. Montgomery strictly advised that his empire be divided into equal halves, between his two surviving heirs, Connor and Evangeline. And since Evangeline has no interest in taking part ownership, her half will be given to Connor as requested by her,” Steve replied.

  Angelica’s nostrils flared and her jaw tensed tightly. “How can that be possible? I was with the man for six years!” she shouted. “And what do you mean, ‘his two surviving heirs’? George and Fletcher are his own!”

  “According to the medical reports I have here, and the close friendship Steve and I shared with Mr. Montgomery, Rupert had a vasectomy right after the losing his wife and son.”

  “What?!” Everyone else in the room said in unison, including me.

  My eyes flicked over to Connor, who also appeared stunned by this revelation. “So, Mike, what are you trying to say? That they aren’t his children?” Connor asked.

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Rupert never mentioned the procedure to you, Angelica because he was already aware of your infidelity. Nothing else mattered to him after the accident except his remaining children and the company―”

  “This is all one sick joke! Those kids are his, damn it! I’ll prove it!” Angelica yelled, slamming her hand down on the desk. I jumped at the sound.

  “Feel free to expose the children to a DNA test, Angelica,” Steve began. “But if I were you, I’d accept the offer Rupert has stated. He has willingly provided the two boys with a future knowing they aren’t his and you are able to keep your current apartment.”

  “It’s okay, we’ll fight this,” Angelica’s lawyer cut in. Then he turned towards our side of the table adding, “Gentleman, I will discuss this with my client and get back to you in a matter of days.” He proceeded to stand, quickly followed by Angelica. “Good day to all of you.”

  Once they had left the room, the four of us sat there silently until Connor began to chuckle. “Okay, I’m sorry, but did anyone else happen to notice the way they were behaving?”

  My eyes widened, stunned that Connor had noticed it too yet blurted it out so casually.

  There was a small snort from Steve but Mike was shaking his head. “We all knew that witch was never with your father for love. We aren’t going to give her anymore than proposed.”

  “Was that true about her kids?” I asked, wondering why no one had mentioned it already.

  Connor shot me a look as if he’d suddenly just remembered and turned back to the two men.

  “Yes,” Steve started. “He was a good man, Evangeline. It pained him knowing Angelica mothered two children with another man but to be honest, your father was never the same after the accident. That’s why he went ahead with the operation. He never wanted any more children, just like he refused to get married again. He didn’t want the chance to lose anybody else. I’m sure he loved those two boys like his own but it was you two that kept him going for as long as he did.”

  I forced a smile every time Steve looked my way. He had been another close friend of my father but I still didn’t understand why my father left me if he loved me as much as everyone kept saying he did. None of it made sense.

  “We must be on our way, Connor,” Mike said as he stood and straightened out his suit.

  Connor nodded and preceded to stand, followed by Steve. “Thank you for all your help today, gentlemen. I’m sure we’ll be in touch soon.”

  The men shook hands while I waited for my turn. “Thank you,” I said to the both of them.

  “Oh, I almost forgot. Here, Evangeline. Your father wished for me to pass this on to you,” Steve said reaching into his opened briefcase and pulling out a creamy envelope.

  “What is it?” I took the envelope from his hands and studied my name written on the front in my father’s neat handwriting.

  “This letter contains the answers you’ve been searching for.”

  My eyes shot up to meet his. My heart was pounding. Could it be? Was this the explanation for my father’s absence or the reasoning behind why I was left with almost everything in the will?

&
nbsp; I swallowed the lump in my throat.

  CHAPTER 25

  Later that afternoon, after lunch with Connor, I managed to find the time to call Derek and fill him in on the rather bizarre morning I’d had.

  “That’s great news, Evan! I think we should celebrate! I know you don’t want to celebrate getting your father’s fortunes but realizing the wicked witch isn’t getting any more than she has to is worth throwing a party. I still can’t believe the kids stitch. What a conniving bitch!” Derek said into the phone. “Listen, I have a couple of friends heading to a gig tonight. We should go to dinner first, yeah?”

  “Sounds great. I definitely need a drink after the day I had and what that woman put me through. I’m so proud of Connor though, standing up to her like that.”

  “Something you will learn to do eventually, Evan.”

  His comment stung. But he was right. “Next time, but tonight we just drink, okay?”

  “Deal. Pick you up at six-thirty.”

  “Done.”

  After I hung up, I sent a quick text to Ryan filling him in on my morning. I was yet to open the letter from my father and I was hoping Ryan would be there when I finally did.

  Today was extremely unexpected. I have so much to tell you. How did your day go? Derek and I are going to dinner first then a few drinks? Free? I really hope to see you before you leave. Xx

  His reply came instantly. Unexpected, but in your favor I hope? I have news too! I’m taking your advice and seeing my therapist tonight. I’m going to tell her everything. It’s because of you I have this new strength. Although, that means I won’t make tonight and I won’t get to see you for two weeks. I’m sorry, baby. Xx

  I frowned at my phone. The rejection hurt, but I was so proud of him for finding the courage to speak to his therapist about his father. I typed a short response back then threw my cell into my handbag. I understand. You need to do this. I’m so proud of you!! Xxxxxxx