The Perfect Beginning

by Madyson Grey

  The Perfect Beginning

  A Thrilling Romantic Suspense

  Madyson Grey

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Book 2 Sneak Peek

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  About the Author

  Also by Madyson Grey

  Copyright © 2018 by Dungeon Media Corp.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter One

  The tap of Victoria Thornton’s heels on the tiles was loud in the silence. She strolled around the museum, reveling in the quietness. Ah, yes silence. That was how she liked things: quiet. She was a simple girl and wanted a simple life, free of excitement and drama. She’d had more than plenty of that growing up. That was all behind her, however. Now, at twenty-six, she was exactly where she wanted to be. She was in a museum, working as an art curator.

  Victoria was doing what she loved and she was quite content. No one who met her knew that she came from a background of money and extravagance. No, as soon as she had turned nineteen, she had hiked up her long, expensive designer dress and high-tailed it out of Los Angeles. She had run for dear life, run to hold on to her soul, run from a world that she had never wanted to be a part of. Unfortunately, it was one she was born into.

  Miles away in Seattle, on her own, she was safe. It was a beautiful day in her life when she had made up her mind to leave Los Angeles. She had been bold, which was not like her. Victoria was quiet and timid, not the traits that were needed to stay or survive in her former life. As she walked around the large room, admiring various pieces of art and sculptures, she was taken back in time to the day she decided to rescue herself.

  It was a hot summer’s day in July, seven years ago. Victoria had paced the outside of her father’s home office for nearly twenty minutes. She was surprised she didn’t wear a hole into the hardwood floor. Telling her Father what she wanted to tell him would be particularly hard. Well, probably not that hard. David Thornton was a kind and gentle man. He was always supportive of her.

  The problem was her mother. If she were in that office, there would be hell. Even if she wasn’t present at the moment, she would hear about everything later, and then there would be hell. So, Victoria knew the drama was inevitable. Hell now or hell later. Marian Thornton was a spitfire, not one to be trifled with. She wanted everything her way and if she didn’t get it, there would be consequences for everyone around her. When Marian found out that her daughter wanted to leave for art school, she would be livid.

  She had groomed Victoria with hopes of her daughter using her beauty to achieve something significant. Victoria snorted. Yeah, bagging a rich one is real important. Marian had drilled into her that it was smart to set herself up well in life. And that could be achieved by using one’s assets. She would lift up strands of Victoria’s silky strawberry blond hair, run a finger over her pale, ivory skin, and peer into sea green eyes and smile.

  “Such a beauty you are. Use it to your advantage girl.” There was always a bite in Marian’s tone when she spoke of Victoria’s beauty, so she always wondered if Marian meant it. Was it her imagination or did resentment flash in Marian’s eyes when she said the words as well? No, it had to be her imagination.

  Victoria would always force out a smile when Marian gave her those small life lessons. But, none of it stuck because she wanted a whole different life. She dared not say a word to Marian, though. She had always feared her mother. When Victoria was a child, she often avoided her. With her jet-black hair, cold blue eyes, and severe facial features, she looked like the evil stepmother from Snow White. David, her father would reprimand her for saying such a thing, but Victoria always saw the laughter in his eyes. As a result, she was much closer to her father, her anchor in an ocean of insanity.

  Therefore, when she received her acceptance letter from University of Washington School of Art, History and Design, her father was the one she wanted to break the news to. It was ridiculous. She wanted to go to college, got accepted into a great one, for pete’s sake. She should be excited to tell her parents, knowing that they would be happy for her and proud. Instead she was pacing, anxious as if she were going to be tried and convicted for some great crime. Sure, she had kept it a secret that she was applying for college in another state, but that was because she knew they wouldn’t understand. Her father wouldn’t let her. He would encourage her to stay at home.

  Over my dead body. She simply had to get away from this shallow life, from her mother. And she was willing to risk the sentence of beheading from the queen to get away. Victoria let out a breath. If only she could muster the courage to walk into her father’s office and spill the beans. She let out a low groan, staring at the envelope in her hand. It was her acceptance letter. It had arrived weeks ago. She couldn’t hide it anymore.

  “I’m such a coward.” With that, her pacing increased.

  “Victoria, is that you?” She jumped at the sound of her father’s voice.

  Well, here goes. “Yes, Daddy. May I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  Victoria pushed the door open and stuck her head inside, still too afraid to enter. Maybe she could drop the news from afar and make a run for it.

  David chuckled. “Are you going to stand behind the door the entire time?” He frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  He had a right to ask. Victoria was always comfortable in his office. In fact, she’d spent a vast amount of time there growing up. She loved to keep her father company when he worked at night, pretending to help him work. She smiled at the memory of him giving her a chair at the desk and paper to scribble on. She would mimic his look of concentration and scribbled away, feeling quite important. He used to call her his little assistant. And boy, was she proud to be helping. Of course, her mother would arrive and rant and rave about how important it was to get her beauty sleep and run her off to bed. Beauty sleep? She was ten. What did she need with beauty sleep?

  Victoria stepped out from behind the door. “Um, no nothing is wrong.” Everything was right, actually. She got accepted into her school of choice.

  “Good. Come, have a seat.”

  Victoria hesitantly walked toward David’s massive oak desk. She smiled at him. His age was starting to show, his blond hair graying and his skin wrinkling. He was still quite handsome, though. He assessed her keenly with green eyes much like hers.

  “Did you lie to me, Vicky?”

  Her eyes widened. “Why ever would you think that, Daddy?” She sat down in the leather chair beside his desk.

  “You told me nothing is wrong. But I can see that something is. Your eyes give you away, sweetheart. You are a terrible liar.” He held up a finger. “Not that there is anything wrong with that. Honesty makes a man-”

  “Or woman,” Victoria threw in with a smile. She had heard these words many times.

  David grinned. “Or woman. Always tell the truth and live it, Vicky. Being honest is a great thing. It takes guts and integrity.”

  Victoria hu
ng her head. “I know, Daddy.” That’s why she couldn’t keep her secret anymore. She felt terrible lying to him. “That’s why I have to come clean.”

  David pushed his laptop aside and took his glasses off. “Go on, honey.”

  She stared at the envelope burning a hole in her hand. Holding it up, she pulled out the acceptance letter. “I applied to the University of Washington some time back. I got accepted.”

  Surprise flickered across David’s face. “I didn’t even know you sent out applications. I always thought you would find a college in Los Angeles.” His surprise was replaced by guilt. “I should have been paying more attention to you,” he murmured. He had so much going on with work, he had failed to even notice such a major part of his daughter’s life.

  “Don’t worry about it, Daddy. You have a lot of work to do. I understand.” Victoria swallowed. “I don’t want stay here. I-I would prefer to go to school … elsewhere.”

  He let out a breath, his expression pained. “Of course you want to get away from us.”

  Who wouldn’t want to run away from a home filled with anger, resentment, and fighting? Things were getting out of hand with his wife. David studied his daughter. He had tried to protect her from all of that, but he had failed miserably. He was well aware of how his wife treated their daughter. Shame coursed through him. He failed to put his foot down and demand Marian treat Victoria with love and respect. But, he had been so blinded by love. Marian got away with just about everything.

  “No, Daddy it’s not you. It’s just—if I stay I will never get to do what I really want to do. I want to go to art school, pursue a career in that field. If I don’t leave, you know Mom will have her way. I don’t want to be just some socialite prancing around from event to event.”

  It drove her crazy to be among the rich and shallow. In all her nineteen years, she didn’t even have one genuine friend. It was all about who had more money, and who wore the best dress to the party. It was so tiring.

  “Sometimes I feel so out of place here. Okay, I feel that way all the time.” She looked at her father with pleading eyes. “Please, don’t try and stop me, Daddy. Please just try and understand.”

  David was silent for a while. He simply stared at her. For a minute Victoria thought he would forbid her to go to Washington, tell her there was no way he would pay tuition for art school. Finally, he spoke.

  “I understand fully. I would never try to stop you from fulfilling your dream. I admire your courage to step out and do what makes you happy.”

  Sadness washed over him. She certainly hadn’t learned that from him. “By all means, go to art school. Live your life the way you want to.”

  Victoria brightened. “Thank you, Daddy.” She jumped up and ran to him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She let out a delighted squeal and clapped her hands.

  A smile spread across David’s face. “Let me do a bit of research on the institution. I want make sure my little girl will be all right there. Plus I need to know the amount to put on the check.”

  Victoria let out another joyful shriek. David watched, amused as his daughter jumped up and down. It had been a while since he’d seen her so happy.

  “Oh, Daddy you’re the best. I knew you would support me. I’m going to go celebrate with Wildfire.” Wildfire was her horse, and only real friend. She danced and twirled to the door. Before disappearing, she turned and gave him another, “Thank you!”

  David chuckled and shook his head when the door closed. His amusement quickly dissipated at the thought of telling his wife. When he broke the news that their daughter was going art school, and he was footing the bill, Marian was going to go through the roof. Marian in rage was nothing normal. He let out a low groan and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  Hours later, Victoria sat by the window her bedroom, deeply engrossed in an art history book. Delving into the vast, creative world of art had always been her escape. She had a fascination for all things art and had developed a fine eye for detail.

  Suddenly, her door flew open. It hit into the wall with such force it bounced off. Victoria yelped, her eyes widening as her mother stormed in. Her face was twisted in outrage, her eyes wild. Oh, no. And here we go, Victoria thought with dismay. Her father broke the news to Marian and she was on the warpath. She gulped and snapped her book shut, turning to face the storm head on.

  “Art school? Tell me it isn’t true.” Marian stood over Victoria, hands on hips and blue eyes turned to fire.

  Victoria trembled under the hateful glare. “It-it’s t-true,” she stuttered. “I applied some time ago and I was accepted.”

  “You foolish girl. Why would you throw your life away like that?”

  “Well, I won’t be. I’ll have a college education and a career in art.”

  Marian threw her hands in the air. “What kind of career could you have in art that will make you enough money to maintain a certain lifestyle?”

  Victoria gazed up at her warily. She would tell her that money wasn’t on the top of her list of priorities; neither was maintaining a prissy lifestyle. But, that would infuriate Marian more.

  “It’s what I want.”

  “You don’t know what you want. Have I taught you nothing?”

  Of course, not turn out like you. Oh, how she wished she had the grit to say the words out loud. Instead, Victoria stared at the floor demurely.

  “You’ve taught me a lot.”

  “Then why in heaven’s name do you wish to run away to art school? Look at you. You can be a model, a billionaire’s wife. Why art school? Do you think your father will be around to hand you money your entire life?”

  “No.”

  That was why she wanted to get her own life, her own career, her own money. It didn’t matter if there was no extravagance. As long as what she had was her own and she had maintained her dignity achieving it. What dignity was there in being some old rich man’s trophy wife? Her mother truly disgusted her sometimes.

  Marian’s rage seemed to dissipate. Victoria’s non-aggressive response was working. She had learned over the years not to ruffle her mother’s feathers any more when she was in one of her rage. All too often, she had been awarded a slap to the face for talking back. Marian hated a “mouthy child.”

  “Well, it’s settled then. We’re finished with this nonsense of art school.” Marian studied her perfectly manicured nails. “Aren’t we?”

  Victoria rose from her seat slowly. Sucking in a deep breath, she murmured. “No.”

  “What was that?”

  “I said no, Mother. I’m going to college in Washington. Daddy already said I could go. Besides, I don’t need permission from anyone. I’m nineteen years old.” Victoria held her breath. Was that really her speaking? Standing up to Marian? Oh crimeny, I’m going to get killed.

  Marian let out a humorless laugh. “Your father is a just as foolish as you are. Always allowing you to run around, with no regard for your proper training.”

  Victoria wanted to laugh. Her proper training? What was she—a soldier? A puppy? She gave an inward snort. As fearful as she was of her mother, she was not going to back down. Not about this, her future and her sanity.

  “I’m sorry, Mother but I’m going to my school of choice.”

  “Not if the tuition isn’t paid, my dear. You father will not spend a penny on art school,”

  Marian spat with contempt. “I forbid it.”

  Victoria blanched. “But-”

  “She’s going, Marian. Accept it and calm down.” David’s quiet voice sounded from the doorway. Both women turned to look at him, Marian with shock and Victoria with relief.

  “David, don’t you dare-”

  “Don’t you dare question my authority, my love. I have never put my foot down for anything with you before. But, I will this time. Our daughter will have the opportunity to pursue any career she wants, go to any school she wishes and I am going to pay for it.” David had watched for years how his wife steamrolled over V
ictoria, never giving her the chance to be herself. He’d always turned a blind eye, denied what went on right under his nose. But not this time.

  Victoria sent him a grateful glance. She would have shouted thank you, but didn’t want Marian’s attention back on her. Marian huffed. She turned to give Victoria a vile, dismissive look then turned to David.

  “Whatever. She’s your daughter.” With that she sashayed out of the room, leaving behind a trail of cloying perfume.

  Victoria gasped. Did her mother just disown her? Well, that was painful. At least, she had gained her freedom, thanks to her father. She gave him a sad smile, which he returned and left the room.

  Victoria sighed, coming back from her trip down memory lane. She glanced around the museum and smiled, feeling at peace. She didn’t make a fortune doing what she did, but at least she was happy. And she was fortunate enough to be on the higher end of the pay scale for Art Curators. Her father had also set her up financially. He had paid her full tuition, paid her rent while she was a student and gave her enough money to have a comfortable life after. So, the figure on her paycheck worried her none. Thank you, Daddy. She adored him even more after he had stood up to Marian on her behalf and gave her the opportunity at freedom.

  She had gone to college, had fun and made real friends. Victoria now surrounded herself with people who didn’t live for money and keeping up appearances. It was a life completely different than the one she would have led had she remained in Los Angeles, under Marian’s “training.” A smile, a genuine one, formed as people started entering the art museum.

  Chapter Two

  The dim lighting and the décor of the restaurant gave off a romantic ambiance. But, it was lost on Victoria. It was due in major part to her dinner companion. Harry, the man she had been dating for two months chatted away, unaware that he didn’t have a captive audience. Victoria stifled a sigh and picked up her wine glass. At least her entire day hadn’t been a bore. Being at the museum working, always brought her joy. She had been looking forward to a nice dinner to finish off the day, but she was very disappointed.