Book Two: Chapter Eight


    Emerson Carlisle massaged his temples. On theputer screen was an unttering picture of


    Marilynn partying in a club her face practically glowing from the alcohol in her system. Her dress was


    extremely short, barely covering her. Over the years she appeared more and more in the gossip


    columns and it was getting harder to ignore. Worse it was beginning to affect business.


    Carlisle Enterprises was a family business, not unlike the DaLairs, Prescotts and Stantons. Investors


    looked to Emerson and his family to gauge the vitality of thepany. Marilynn’s binge partying was


    not viewed favorably and he had no other children or grandchildren so thepany’s future also had


    an unfavorable outlook especiallypared to the DaLairs who had seen an incredible spike in


    investors and interest since Julius’s wedding and birth of his third child.


    As if the pictures themselves were not enough of an insult there were thements that followed. He


    paged down thement section with considerable ire.


    What a skank!


    Does she have no self-respect!


    Talk about a cheap whore!


    For a bottle of tequ this too can be yours for the night boys! Don’t all you bid at once!


    Can you just imagine how many diseases she’s carrying?


    Look on the bright side. She’s probably barren so there is zero chance of her breeding. Thank God!


    Can you imagine what hell-spawn she would unleash into the world?


    Emerson shook with fury at thements directed toward his daughter but there wasn’t much he could


    do about it. Hiswyers already informed him free speech ensured people could say what they pleased


    especially online. Even if he seeded in shutting down one site there were hundreds of others. He


    also couldn’t argue considering the pictures posted of her. Where did he go wrong?


    “Sir, a man from the Eagle is here.”


    Emerson hesitated. The Eagle was one of therger gossip magazines. In fact he was on their website


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    now. He really didn’t feel like talking to anyone associated with it but this might be a chance to clear the


    air and maybe salvage his daughter’s reputation.


    “Show him in.”


    Emerson waited as momentster a young man was shown in. His visitor was dressed rather messily:


    cargo pants, nnel shirt and scuffed, leather jacket. Yet the look on his face was anything but humble.


    Seeing the corporate mogul he smirked and didn’t look the least bit intimidated as he strode up to the


    desk.


    Offering a hand he smiled, “Mister Carlisle.”


    Emerson didn’t move merely stared at the offered hand. With a sigh he gestured for the man to take a


    seat.


    Smile fading the man cleared his throat and sat down but didn’t lose the arrogance of a salesman.


    There was something about his confidence that irritated Emerson. This person was far below him and


    should have been intimidated at the very least. Yet the man was rxed sitting back in his seat and


    bringing a leg up to rest on the opposite knee.


    “Exactly how can I help you?” Emerson asked.


    “It’s not about you helping me. It’s about what I can do for you,” the man replied sounding even more


    like a salesman.


    Emerson raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t one to be easily hooked and he certainly wasn’t going to be


    taken in by carnival barker.


    “I hear you’ve been having family issues,” the man said earning a re. “There’s a lot of ugly rumors


    around your daughter…and no other heirs to insure yourpany’s future either.”


    “Get to the point.”


    “A picture is worth a thousand words but how about a video?”


    The man took out his phone and selected a video saved on it. Handing it to Emerson he sat back as


    the familiar melody of Beethoven’s Für Elise issued out. Emerson reluctantly epted the phone


    expecting apromising video of Marilynn but sucked in a breath by what he saw instead.


    On the small screen was a young girl seated at a piano. Her green eyes were partially closed as she


    swayed to the melody she yed. It was as if she was one with the music. It poured out of her heart


    inviting everyone in. He had only seen one other y like this.


    “What is this?” Emerson looked up at the man his aloof fa?ade crumbling.


    “It is the girl who should have won the All Borough’s Music Competition,” the man said. “Herst name


    might be different but she looks and ys an awful lot like someone you tried to erase, Avalynn


    Carlisle.”


    Emerson flinched at the name he had struck from the family records. Avalynn had been a quiet and


    docile child, pure and innocent. Or so he had thought. Ten years ago scandal crushed his opinion


    revealing her to be the worst conniving liar he had ever seen. He had such high hopes for her but he


    couldn’t believe she would betray him like she did. Could this be…was this really…


    “Name,” Emerson repeated.


    “Carter. It’s not really that different from Carlisle if you think about it.”


    “What proof do you have?”


    “This isn’t enough?” the man genuinely looked puzzled.


    Anyone who saw the girl’s performance would agree with him. On top of that brown hair and green


    eyes wasn’t exactly amonbination but it was known as hereditary traits of the Carlisle family.


    Though his hair was graying Emerson passed the unique features to both of his daughters. Not to


    mention the fact that Carter was certainly derived from Carlisle.


    Although, now that he thought about it, no one else had drawn his same conclusions. The girl had been


    ate entry when the winner had all but been decided. Her talent took many by surprise as was the fact


    she was clearly blind. Several people pitied her but she hadn’t asked for pity. She let her music speak


    for her which no one else had done.


    Perhaps ten years was too long to stir the memory of everyone else. Scandal tended to eclipse talent


    though personally the man didn’t put much stock in rumor and gossip despite his upation. Avalynn


    Carlisle never once graced the gossip pages unlike her sister who seemed content to be a spectacle.


    She was sweet, refined and often overshadowed. Perhaps that was why they had forgotten her


    supreme musical talent.


    “Just what sort of proof do you want?” the man asked.


    “A picture of her mother at the very least. Preferably together…and her name.”


    The man considered this. He understood the other’s need for caution. Controversy swirled around his


    cherished daughter. If he was to suddenly announce the return of his shunned daughter, let alone


    granddaughter, it would be quite the shock to the elite world he lived in. It could make or break his


    But if this proved his salvation Emerson would reward the person who made it possible handsomely.


    That was the reason why he hadn’t offered the story to his editor. The money the magazine could offer


    simply didn’tpare to having Carlisle owe him a favor.


    “Fine. I’ll get you pictures and a name. I’ll throw in their address too.”


    “Two days,” Emerson said. His patience would notst longer than that despite his intent to step


    carefully.


    Nodding the man took his phone back before departing. It wasn’t the immediate answer he wanted but


    more information meant he could ask for more money.


    Once the man had left Emerson sat back in his chair with the memory of the child’s performance


    swimming in his mind. Ten years ago he turned his back on his daughter. He had no choice. The girl


    had betrayed him. Marilynn told him everything. She had no reason to lie about her only sister. He


    would have expected her to lie to protect her sister. Furious he kicked Ava out without a second


    thought and cut her offpletely.


    He expected her toe crawling back begging for mercy and forgiveness. Instead she disappeared.


    After six months he grew tired of her stubborn pride and sent his men to drag her back but they found


    no trace of her. It was as if Avalynn Carlisle dropped off the face of the world.


    Emerson finally understood he didn’t know anything about his daughter. He didn’t know her friends or


    who she might turn to. He simply had nowhere to start looking for her. She had always been quiet and


    obedient. Never had he suspected the strength residing in her. Could it be she had actually decided to


    raise her child on her own rather than seeking her family’s aid? Was she trying to punish him by inviting


    more scandal? He simply didn’t understand what was going on in her mind.


    Leaning forward he tapped his inte.


    “Mister Carlisle?” his secretary quickly answered.


    “Have Connore to my office.”


    “Right away sir.”


    Emerson stood and moved to the window overlooking the city. This time he would find her…this time


    she would act like the studious daughter she was meant to y or he would make her regret it. Either


    way his granddaughter would certainlyply. He didn’t know what kind of life they had been living but


    there was no way his granddaughter would turn down the chance for a better one.


    He was sure of it.