Book Two: Chapter Thirty-Three


    Ava breathed a sigh of relief when her mother finally departed. Tracy gave her a brief hug before


    following Grace out as she had driven the older woman to the diner. Before Tracy left she whispered


    she would callter to check up on her and that she was proud of her. Perhaps Ava should feel bad


    about how the conversation had gone but she felt light, as if a weight had been lifted.


    “Ma’am.”


    Ava nced at her escort who had stood silently the entire time. His brow furrowed and he looked


    conflicted.


    “About what you were talking about…something Mister Prescott doesn’t know and would cause him to


    rampage?”


    “Oh. My sister pushed me down the stairs.”


    “What!”


    Ava grimaced. She supposed that should be the natural reaction but honestly she didn’t feel much of


    anything when she thought back to the incident. Perhaps it was too far in the past or maybe she was


    simply inured to the pain of betrayal after all it wasn’t exactly the first time her sister had done such


    things.


    “She pushed you down the stairs…intentionally?”


    Ava nodded.


    “Why?”


    “She wanted to be an only child.”


    Mike’s mouth dropped at the candid response.


    “So she pushed me down the stairs, knocked me down in front of the limo, spooked the horse I was


    riding, gave me severe food poisoning…I don’t remember all of them anymore, for better or worse.”


    “And you haven’t told Mister Prescott?”


    Ava shook her head, “Could you imagine his reaction if I did?”


    Mike grimaced. Knowing Ss’s temper he would certainly go on a warpath. But still… “You should tell


    him.”


    “Maybe,” Ava frowned, “but it won’t change anything. It’s all in the past. I’d rather focus on the future. Is


    that wrong?”


    “No. It’s admirable you want to put the past behind you and move on. That takes real strength.”


    “Thank you.”


    “You okay honey?”


    Ava turned as Gretchen approached. She smiled and nodded. Amazingly she really did feel all right.


    “Good. It looked like it was getting pretty tense over here. Who was that woman anyway?”


    “My mother.”


    Gretchen blinked. She hadn’t seen the resemnce especially now with the fresh, flush of life in Ava’s


    cheeks. ncing at the silent escort Mike merely gave her a nod to confirm.


    “Do you have time for a coffee?” Ava asked. “There are a few things I owe you exnations for.”


    “Honey, you don’t owe me anything. From the moment you set foot in this diner I knew you were


    running from your past. But if you’re willing I would like to hear as much of your story as you’re willing


    to tell. Go on, have a seat. I’ll grab the coffee.”


    * * *


    “Mister Prescott?”


    Ss looked up from his paperwork to see his secretary nervously fidgeting in the doorway. He raised a


    brow and gave her a curious look.


    “I’m not sure if you care but Mister Carlisle is on the line for you. I tried to convince him you weren’t


    interested in speaking to him but he’s insisting.”


    “I’ll take the call. Line?”


    “Line One.” With a sigh of relief she quickly departed thinking she narrowly avoided punishment for


    wasting his time.


    Tapping the speaker button Ss retrieved the call, “What is it you want Emerson?”


    “You don’t beat around the bush do you?” Emerson’s disgruntled voice replied.


    “I don’t like to waste my time. I have somewhere to be after work so I can’t bete. People are waiting


    for me.”


    “Those people wouldn’t happen to be Ava and my grandchildren would they?”


    “My children and my fiancée, yes.”


    “I’d like to see them.”


    “You and I both know that is not going to happen.”


    “Then I’d like to see you, talk face-to-face.”


    Ss considered the offer. He didn’t have any reason to ept but his curiosity was piqued. Emerson


    Carlisle wasn’t likely to take no for an answer. Denying him could lead to issues in the future so hearing


    him out now might prevent future interference.


    “Let me take a look at my schedule for today,” Ss finally said. “I’ll see if I can’t block out some time


    and I’ll have my assistant call you.”


    “I’ll be waiting.”


    Ss hung up ncing at Thomas. There really wasn’t anything pressing so making time wouldn’t be


    difficult. The question was where. Emerson would not want toe to his office and Ss had no


    reason to go to his. Neither needed the publicity of meeting in a public ce since both would be easily


    recognizable. Having Emersone to the brownstone was out of the question. Ss had no intention


    of allowing him anywhere near Ava and the children.


    “Call him back. Tell me to meet me at my condo…say five o’clock,” Ss finally said.


    “Are you sure that’s wise? You really don’t have any reason to meet with him.”


    “Call it curiosity. The fact he called at all is strange.”


    Thomas smirked. Well it wouldn’t do any harm to hear the old man out as long as Ava and the kids


    weren’t around.


    * * *


    “Come right in.”


    Emerson hesitated as Thomas held open the door. He stepped into therge, luxury condo peering


    down halls and into rooms he passed as he was led inside.


    “They aren’t here.”


    Jerking to attention Emerson turned to see Ss. The younger man had discarded his jacket and tie.


    With a gesture Ss led him to the living room. There they sat across from each other in matching


    chairs. The ss coffee table between them was devoid of refreshments. There were no distractions


    and nothing to interrupt their discussion.


    “How are Ava and the children?” Emerson finally asked.


    “Happy and healthy,” Ss answered. “Thest ten years has not been easy for Ava so helping her


    recover is my top priority.”


    Emerson nodded. When his men first brought her to see him she had been pale and thin. Her


    weakness disgusted him. However at the hearing she had put on some much needed weight and she


    didn’t look quite so pallid. Though she had remained silent she didn’t cower at his presence.


    “So Ava is doing all right?”


    “Of course. She’s thinking about starting her own business.”


    “Really?” Emerson looked up incredulous.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “She worked every day for ten years so she doesn’t like being idle. I suggested she open her own


    restaurant since she’s familiar with the industry.”


    “Ava knows nothing about running a business.”


    “That’s what college courses are for. Her previous employer already suggested as much. There’s no


    reason Ava couldn’t do it.”


    “You honestly think that?” Emerson asked. Try as he might he couldn’t picture such a mouse of a


    woman in a position of management. Her employees would walk all over her.


    “Ava’s smart, strong and observant. I’m confident she’ll be sessful whatever she chooses to do. It’s


    my job to support her dreams.”


    Emerson fidgeted. Ava had always been quiet, a sheep. She never took initiatives or even spoke


    unless spoken to. Finally he said, “You may be giving her too much credit.”


    “And you don’t give her enough. She raised three kids on her own.”


    “That’s different.”


    “Is it? Could you have managed half so well without your vast fortune?”


    Emerson cleared his throat. This line of conversation was going nowhere and it wasn’t what he came


    all this way to discuss. It seemed Ss was content to let the conversation drag until their limited time


    was up.


    “I came here because I wanted to know the truth. How was it you fathered Ava’s children? And why


    was she raising them alone?”


    “Marilynn.”


    “Marilynn? I don’t understand.”


    “I don’t suppose you would,” Ss sighed before exining the events from ten years ago. There was


    no reason to hide it and he didn’t downy his own part. He added how he first realized the triplets


    were his to bring them to the present.


    To his credit Emerson silently listened to everything he said without interrupting. Ss was certain he


    would protest Marilynn’s alleged involvement but he didn’t.


    “So you had people watching them,” Emerson said after a moment.


    “That’s right. A team followed when you summoned Ava and Alexis. The kids had already spotted the


    tails so they used my team to make a quick exit.”


    “That’s how they disappeared that day. The children already spotted their tails?”


    “They are very observant,” Ss couldn’t help but smile, “and very clever.”


    Thomas stifled augh. Since Ss settled in with his family he had found a sense of humor much to


    Thomas’s surprise. Even in front of his greatest rival Ss was rxed. Was this normal for a man once


    they started a family?


    “So it was Marilynn’s doing,” Emerson sighed. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering.”


    “Considering what?” Ss raised a brow.


    “I’m sure you’ve seen the article concerning my daughter’s illicit affairs…I confronted our family doctor


    about it. ording to him Marilynn’s been carrying on these affairs for years. What’s more…she’s tried


    to…”


    Emerson hesitated. Ss waited in silence.


    “When Ava was young she was prone to idents and injury. She fell down the stairs, was bucked off


    her horse…at least I thought they were just idents.”


    “Are you implying Marilynn has been trying to kill Ava since they were children?” Ss demanded his


    gaze suddenly going cold and dangerous. “And you im you knew nothing about it?”


    Emerson hung his head, “I have no excuse for not knowing what was happening under my own roof.


    But I’m far from the only guilty party. Our family doctor, staff, security personnel and even my wife knew


    what Marilynn was up to and none of them tried to stop it. Ava was such a meek child and they all knew


    I favored Marilynn so none dared risk their jobs to help Ava. None.”


    Ss gripped the armrests of his chair until his knuckles turned white. Rage unlike any he felt before


    bubbled up like a volcano preparing to erupt. If Marilynn presented herself to him now he would


    probably kill her with his bare hands. Thomas immediately saw and felt the change watching Ss


    carefully wondering if he should separate the two men.


    “I’m dealing with my staff as we speak. Most have been let go,” Emerson said. “The worst offenders will


    be handled personally.”


    Ss listened barely containing his rage despite Emerson’s assurance.


    “Then there is Marilynn herself. I have something special nned with her in mind,” Emerson added


    clenching his fists. “But I want to see Ava…and the children.”


    “Not going to happen,” Ss said. He would be a fool to allow an abuser near their target.


    “Please…I just…I want to make sure she is okay. I am the children’s grandfather. You can’t keep me


    from seeing them.”


    “I’m their father so I can,” Ss stood. “Besides, the children don’t want to see you or any of your


    family.”


    “Y-you don’t know that.”


    “Oh? Who do you think wrote that article about Marilynn? Who do you think has been spreading


    unttering rumors about her all these years?”


    Emerson jerked to attention as Ss reached for his coat and slipped it on. Adjusting his cor Ss


    gave the older man a sardonic smile.


    “As I said, my children are exceptionally clever. They are also very protective of their mother and


    vindictive towards anyone who seeks to harm her. So consider this a warning though you’re already on


    their list.”


    Emerson grimaced. Ss headed toward the door. He had to prepare for his date with Ava. He refused


    to bete. As Thomas opened the door Ss paused. It was probably a mistake but for some reason he


    suddenly felt a little sorry for the old man. After all the work Emerson had put into his business empire it


    was going to fall apart and there was nothing he could do about it.


    “If you really just want to make sure Ava is well, and if you can get a reservation, be at the Le


    Bernardin. Eight o’clock. But you better not cause a scene. This is a special night for Ava and I won’t


    have it ruined.”


    With that Ss departed. Whether Emerson followed his advice or not did not matter to him. What


    mattered was Ava’s health and safety. Marilynn would not be allowed anywhere near Ava again.


    “So are you going to ask her about…all of this?” Thomas asked as they stepped off the elevator and


    made their way to the car.


    Ss sighed, “If Ava hasn’t mentioned it herself then she probably doesn’t want to think about it. I don’t


    want to cause her any undue stress. She’s been through enough.”


    “And you’re not upset she didn’t tell you herself?”


    “Trust is not a given, it is earned and I hurt her deeply. That is not something easily forgiven or


    forgotten.”


    Ss slid into the backseat and remained silent as Thomas headed back to the brownstone. It would be


    wrong to say he wasn’t disappointed since he thought he and Ava had grown close but he also didn’t


    have a right toin since he had abandoned her in her time of need.


    If anything Emerson’s confession highlighted how much farther he had yet to go topletely win Ava


    over. But he had time. He would never stop trying. Knowing Ava’s past struggles only meant it was


    more imperative he do everything he could for her.