Book Two: Chapter Seventeen


    “…Boss…Boss?…Si!”


    Ss jerked out of his idle thoughts to see Thomas standing at his desk. Thomas grimaced at his


    friend’s deep frown. Unfortunately it was bing amon expression. He hoped that finding the


    woman Ss had been chasing for years would have solved his problems but it seemed to have only


    caused more.


    After their shopping spree the kids certainly loosened up. Duncan installed a t screen TV in the boys’


    room recing the Van Gogh above the mantel. They could be heard at odd hours ying online and


    even coerced their security detail to join their games. Each now had their ownptop. The one in


    Alexis’s room was loaded with several programs for the vision impaired. Dozens of books had been


    special ordered and delivered all written in Braille which Duncan helped her arrange on her shelves.


    Theo had already assembled two of his Technic Lego? sports cars together disying them on his


    shelves while a third had just been started.


    The kids were certainly settling in to their new home and making their rooms their own. Ava on the


    other hand was still as reserved as ever perhaps even more so now. She seemed intent to make him


    forget she was there and not draw his attention. Sensing she needed a little space Ss elected to go


    back to the office but his thoughts continued to wander back to the woman who consumed his mind.


    “Things not going well?”


    “I took too long.”


    “Pardon?”


    “Ten years was too long.”


    “I don’t follow.”


    “Ava has always been gentle. She never wanted to make waves or cause trouble. People overlooked


    her, dismissed her. She never learned to speak her mind or demand respect. She’s so used to denying


    her needs and suppressing her wishes she can’t even express them anymore.”


    Thomas nodded. If there was one word to describe Avalynn it was mouse. She was quiet, unassuming,


    never asking for anything even things she needed. When it came to her children she was a more


    assertive. Though he, Duncan and the security personnel struggled to keep up and monitor the kids


    one word from Ava was all it took to rein them in. The triplets were far more out-going and rowdy to the


    point of chaos yet they deferred to their motherpletely. She never had to raise her voice.


    Thomas never dealt with children and he was quite certain Ava had no idea how amazing it truly was.


    He never saw anything like it especially considering the kids’ undeniable intelligence. Thomas would


    have thought they would be more rebellious but they were wholly devoted to their mother and never


    acted out against her.


    “So what are you going to do?” Thomas asked.


    “I have no choice but to take it slow,” Ss said standing and moving to the window overlooking the city.


    A light snow had fallen overnight and he imagined the kids were probably out in the backyard making


    the most of it. “I need to coax her out. And maybe she’ll start trusting me.”


    “Ma’am you can’t go in there!”


    They turned at the muffled protest in time to see the office door fly open revealing a tall, lithe blonde.


    She wore a business suit and her hair was tamed in a bun but her face was twisted in anger as she


    boldly imed, “Oh he’ll see me…Right now.”


    Ss looked to Thomas for answers but the other merely shook his head. The blonde looked familiar


    but for the life of him Thomas couldn’t ce her.


    “And what business do you have with me?” Ss asked. “Miss…”


    “Lamont, Tracy Lamont.”


    “Oh!” Thomas finally recalled why she looked so familiar. “You’re Aunt Tracy.”


    Ss remained confused for a moment before recalling the kids mentioning their aunt. ncing at the


    waiting secretary he waved her off. With a nod the woman closed the door leaving the trio alone.


    Without hesitation the blonde strode up to him and demanded, “Just what do you intend to do with


    Ava?”


    “Marry her…if she’ll have me.”


    Her mouth fell open. Though she had been ready to respond his replypletely blindsided her. It


    wasn’t the one she expected especially not from him: Ss Prescott infamous bachelor with no interest


    in women.


    “Shall we sit?” Ss gestured to the couches.


    Mutely Tracy nodded. Letting herself be escorted she slumped into the leather upholstered seat unsure


    how she should take all of the information in. When the kids Skyped her they said they were fine and


    staying with their father. At first she thought it was a joke since they didn’t even know who their father


    was…at least that is what she thought until Ava called her to exin everything in detail.


    Ss sat across from her watching her closely. His mouth twitched with a smile. Was it only a few days


    ago he sat in the same spot across from his family? If his kids referred to this woman as their aunt then


    she was family too. But, more importantly, he needed answers.


    “Miss Lamont, have you known Ava long?”


    Tracy looked up her blue eyes studying him closely before saying, “We’ve been friends since middle


    school even though I was a grade ahead of her.”


    “Then I have a question,” Ss said, “I know there is no way Ava would willingly take part in my


    roommates’ tasteless joke…but how did she end up in my hotel room ten years ago? Lexi said it was


    because of her sister.”


    Tracy hesitated. Her first instinct was to tell him to talk to Ava but she knew Ava struggled to forget the


    whole incident. Perhaps it would be best for her to exin it now and spare Ava the embarrassment.


    With a sigh she leaned back into the couch and studied the man in front of her.


    Ss Prescott was not a man to be taken lightly. It was the reason why Ava had always been afraid of


    him finding her and the kids. Tracy thought he looked stern and humorless. He was the kind of person


    who stood alone and she pitied any woman who eventually found herself with him because he wouldn’t


    spare her a thought. In front of her now though was a man who seemed devastated by the events of


    ten years ago. He seemed genuinely concerned for Ava so she couldn’t help but want to tell him the


    absolute truth.


    “Marilynn.”


    “Who?” Thomas asked.


    “Her sister,” Ss said. “Marilynn Carlisle.”


    “Oh, right,” Thomas nodded. “But why would her sister do that to her own sister?”


    “Because Marilynn is a conniving, heartless bitch,” Tracy said. “As kind and sweet as Ava is Marilynn is


    her pr opposite and she’s always been jealous of Ava.”


    “Really?” Thomas asked. As far as he knew Marilynn had always been the more popr sister. Why


    then would she be jealous of her sister?


    “Marilynn always traveled the most popr circles,” Ss agreed. Ava was always on the fringes. It


    didn’t make much sense to him either.


    “Right and Ava didn’t,” Tracy agreed, “but that didn’t matter to Marilynn. It wasn’t about poprity. Ava


    is sweet and kind. There is just something that draws you in and when she ys…well you’ve heard


    her so I don’t have to tell you.”


    Ss nodded.


    “Marilynn can’t stand to see someone else in the spotlight. She belittled and bullied Ava all the time.


    She spread rumors in school all to keep Ava on the fringes.”


    “But not you?” Thomas asked.


    “Of course not. I’m not a stupid sheep willing to go wherever I am led,” Tracy gave him a withering look.


    “And I can think for myself. Ava always wants to see the good in others even when there is none and


    she always felt inferior to Marilynn. Marilynn was their father’s favorite so Ava never dared speak a bad


    word about her. All Ava ever wanted was her family’s love and eptance. Unfortunately her parents


    are trash and her sister is a psycho.”


    Ss grimaced but didn’t argue. There was a reason his family had long been at odds with the


    Carlisles. They had no sense of loyalty or honor. Though others might have found it surprising how


    quickly Ava had been abandoned Ss did not. Emerson Carlisle was ruthless and would cut ties with


    anyone who did not bring value to him. Ss gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.


    “I was away at college,” Tracy sighed after a moment. “If I had been there…Ava would never have


    made it to that bedroom. Ava isn’t a drinker. I don’t think she’s ever had more than a single ss of


    champagne in her life. Marilynn slipped a drug into Ava’s drink but Ava is such a light weight it probably


    wasn’t even necessary.”


    Ss breathed deep to calm his rage as Tracy shook her head.


    “Marilynn confessed the whole thing after the fact just to rub it in Ava’s face, including how she met


    these college guys at the bar who needed a willing girl to y a trick on their friend…which apparently


    was you.”


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Ss’s gaze turned cold. Marilynn practically sold off her sister all to ruin her in the name of petty


    jealousy because shecked actual talent herself. And he had fallen into the trap as well.


    “If it’s any constion…I don’t think Marilynn had any idea it was you,” Tracy said. “If she knew it was


    you she probably would have offered up herself instead.”


    Thomas snorted. He cleared his throat before asking, “You know all of this for fact?”


    “Marilynn told Ava and Ava told me,” Tracy said. “After her father banished her from the family Ava


    called me because she didn’t have anyone else to turn to. I drove four hours from campus to New York


    to pick her up. I was ready kick that mansion door down, give them a piece of my mind and punch


    Marilynn in the face but Ava just wanted to leave. So I took her back with me. Luckily I lived in an off-


    campus apartment so it wasn’t a problem. We spent the weekend drowning her sorrows in ice cream.”


    Tracy allowed a small smile at the memories of that time. Ava was almost her old self again after a


    tortuousst year of high school. The dream ended when Ava received her rejection letter from Julliard


    resending her eptance, then her positive pregnancy test.


    Even Tracy couldn’t say what went on in Ava’s head as the reality of the situation settled in. But in the


    end Ava came to the only logical conclusion she could: if she wanted a loving family she would raise


    one herself.


    “Ava wasn’t afraid of having a baby. She actually seemed pretty excited all things considered. But I


    don’t think anyone is prepared to be told they are going to have twins.”


    “Twins? Wait…there are three of them,” Thomas said.


    “Yeah,” Tracy smiled. “The boys were hugging their sister so tight we didn’t realize there were three of


    them until the pregnancy was almost to term.”


    Ss echoed her smile. It seemed his sons were protective of their sister from the very beginning. And


    all were devoted to their amazing mother. In that he had noints at all.


    “Were you serious about marrying Ava?” Tracy suddenly asked.


    Ss jolted from his thoughts. He met her gaze steadily before answering, “Yes.”


    “But ten years ago…”


    “Ten years ago my roommates spiked my drink and ced a woman in my bed to get me to loosen up.


    I thought she was a maid they paid for the night. I had no idea it was Ava. I never saw her face and I


    would never have even imagined it was her. I took my anger at my friends out on her. If I had known…”


    Ss fell silent rubbing his forehead fighting his own shame. He had lost control of his temper and it


    cost him everything. He chased Ava away and she had been forced to raise their children alone. He


    wasn’t there to hold her or their babies. How could any of them forgive him?


    “You really didn’t know it was Ava?”


    “She never looked at me and I would never expect her in…that sort of situation.”


    “And you really want to marry her.”


    “Yes. I’ve been looking for her for ten years…ever since she disappeared. I never thought…It never


    urred to me…”


    “Why though? Why would you…Wait. Are you…do you love her?”


    “Ever since I first saw her y when we were kids.”


    “But in school you were always with other girls.”


    “The daughters of my father’s business associates,” Ss waved a dismissive hand. “They meant


    nothing.”


    “All this time…” Tracy slumped back staring at him for once speechless and seeing him for the first


    time. She remembered her conversation with Ava when they found out she was pregnant. Tracy urged


    Ava to demand some support from Ss but Ava refused. If they had approached him back then Ava


    and the kids…


    Ss Prescott…the most popr guy in high school with a new girl every week. Ss Prescott…the


    youngest CEO to take over his family’spany. Ss Prescott…New York’s most eligible bachelor


    with no interest in women. Ss Prescott…


    “Ava always had a crush on you,” Tracy said quietly. “She never tried to catch your eye. She could


    neverpete with the girls you were with. She didn’t think you could ever be interested in her, a


    Carlisle.”


    “I don’t give a damn about her family,” Ss grunted.


    “What about yours? They okay with you marrying a Carlisle?”


    “I got where I am because I don’t let anyone stand in my way when I want something,” Ss coldly


    replied.


    “For Ava’s sake I hope so,” Tracy said. “She won’t be able to stand having her heart broken twice.”


    Ss flinched. He wouldn’t allow that.


    “Well if the kids are willing to give you a chance I guess I can too.”


    “What?” Ss blinked.


    “They Skyped mest night to exin what happened. I was getting worried after Ava’s call so I’m d


    they did. I don’t know how you did it but they are willing to let you have a chance.”


    “A chance at what?” Thomas asked confused.


    “To win their mother’s heart, jackass,” Tracy rolled her eyes at him before looking back to Ss. “But


    don’t get too excited. You have to win Ava back yourself. They aren’t going to help you. They just won’t


    interfere. Considering how protective they are of their mother you should know that is a huge


    concession.”


    Ss nodded. He had no doubts.


    “Well I need to go.” Tracy stood with a sigh.


    “So soon?” Thomas smirked. “You barged in here so suddenly.”


    Tracy raised a brow saying, “Well maybe you should consider upping your security if you have a


    problem with uninvited guests. Anyway I have a big case to prepare for.”


    “Really?”


    “Yeah my best friend is going to have to defend her parental rights from her worthless father,” Tracy


    scowled.


    Ss and Thomas tensed in surprise.


    “The kids filled me in. With all his family troubles Emerson isn’t going to let this opportunity pass by.


    He’ll go after custody of all of them just to hurt Ava, but he especially wants Lexi.”


    “He touches one hair on their heads, he’s a dead man,” Ss scowled.


    “What are you nning?” Tracy asked. “How do you think you can stop a grandfather from seeing his


    grandkids?”


    “I’m their father and once the paternity tests are filed it won’t matter what he has to say.”


    “Paternity tests? So you don’t trust Ava’s word?”


    “My faith in her is not an issue,” Ss eyed her coldly. “When I announce the children as my heirs my


    shareholders and board members will demand proof. To prevent interference it is best to obtain it now


    while few know about them.”


    “Interference?” Tracy asked. “How could one interfere with a paternity test?”


    “By switching samples or forging results,” Thomas answered. “It’s happened before.”


    “…Oh. All right. Well I have to go.”


    “You will be representing Ava during the custody hearing assuming there is one?”


    “Of course. Custody battles aren’t my specialty but I’ll be damned before I let anyone take my niece


    and nephews from their mother. Why?”


    “Send me the bill. Spare no expense and take whatever precautions you think are necessary.”


    “As if I would ever charge my best friend…but you? Sure.” Tracy gave him a wink before letting herself


    out.


    Ss’s brow furrowed wondering just how Ava and Tracy had met and what made their bond so strong.


    He could hardlyin. It wasforting to know Ava had a dedicated and loyal supporter.


    “Man she’s something else,” Thomas whistled. “And hot as hell.”


    Ss looked over his shoulder raising an eyebrow.


    “What? Everyone loves leggy blondes,” Thomas shrugged. “Oh right…you prefer petite brtes.”


    He fell silent at Ss’s warning re. Ss moved to his desk, “Keep an eye on Emerson. Let me know


    the moment he makes his move.”