《The city of Blood and Nightmares》


 Chapter 1

    "What did you say?" Sebastian''s father screamed and he could understand his reaction all too well. Mister Coleville was a man of principal, this is what both of his sons knew, but that did not mean that Albany, Sebastian''s older brother and their father''s heir, lived by the same idle. Better said he took off with his pregnant girlfriend, a secret girlfriend, because he, Albany knew all too well that he was betrothed to the daughter of the Quince family, the closest thing this city had to a royal family. The head of that family was the major and owner of the largest business in town. This marriage was supposed to boost the Coleville company who was not as large as the Quince business but it was not a small company either. "Get him back right now!" His father yelled. "He needs to marry the Quince girl."


    "Dad, I already know that. I tried to knock some sense into him, but you know how stubborn he is." His father nodded. Sebastian was standing in front of his father''s desk inside the office building his family had owned for three generations. "He said that he did not want to marry someone he did not know." Something Sebastian could understand, besides is what he brother had said was true, he would become a father in the near future. "And if the girlfriend spoke the truth about her condition..." His father slammed his fist on the wooden desk.


    "I know what you are going to say. If that girl is indeed pregnant he should take his responsibility." His father said, his face was still red. "But what am I going to do about the Quince family. Everything is already paid for by them, and there is no way I can pay all of that back without breaking the bank." Sebastian nodded, his brother left their father between a rock and a hard place. The redness left his father''s face. Again Sebastian understood his brother, he would not want to marry a girl he has never met before either. But to leave him, Sebastian to deal with their father. Albany knew that Sebastian is going to get yelled at, even that there was the possibility that he was going to be blamed for it. Which was not unusual, because he was the youngest and the unwanted child. Their mother died while giving birth to him, and his father still blames him for what happened. But he was going off-topic.


    "I am sorry dad, but there is no way in hell that I am able to bring Albany back. He did not tell me where he is going." Sebastian said, to break the silence. His father looked at him, the redness in his face coming back.


    "You know that excuse is not going to fly with me. We have enough money to hire private investigators and stuff. So it does not matter were he is hiding, we will find his sorry ass." His father shouted.


    "Only this will not be for the wedding." Sebastian pointed out. Something he should not have done, and he knew it.


    "I know that." His father snapped at him. But then the anger left his body, and Sebastian was fearing the worst. "You know what, people often have told me that you and Albany look so much a like. Except for the eyes." This was indeed true, people often assumed that they were twins. A pit in his stomach started to form, his father was not going towards that. Sebastian had seen the Chinese dramas where this trope is done to perfection and sometimes even went over the top. And usually it happened with the female protagonist, he knows were this could lead and in those dramas it usually ends well for the couple. But that was television, this was the real bad world.


    "Dad no." He said. "I am not going to replace Albany. If the Quince family finds out about the switch, this will only hurt our, I mean your reputation even more. And no you can not blame me when they find out." Because he had recorded his brother''s words and now his father''s, just in case one of the parties wanted to listen to them.


    "I have raised you, and this is how you are going to repay me for this kindness." His father said. "You are going to marry that girl, instead of your brother. The contract states a son of the Coleville family, it those not state which one." Sebestain didn''t know if this was true, but there was no way that his father was going to give him all the information. "I do not even think about repeating your brother''s stunt." His father knew that he would never do such a thing. Sebastian hung his head, his father was really putting him through the same trope as those poor protagonists from those dramas. He walked out of the office, his assistant, Adam Pelch, was waiting for him.


    " And how did it go?" Adam asked.


    "I am getting married, instead of my brother." Sebastian replied. Adam made a pained face, and Sebastian nodded. "But there is no way that I am going to lie to the girl. I will tell her who I am, as soon as I have the change." Adam nodded.


    "This sounds like a plan. But boss do you already have a suite?" Adam asked, and Sebastian nodded. He had bought one for the wedding, his brother''s wedding. "A ring?" Now Sebastian froze, he turned around and walked into his father''s office.


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    "What do you want now?" His father snapped. "I am not going to change my mind."


    "I was just wondering, about the ring?" Sebastian asked, and his father looked confused. "Should I but one?" His father was still confused, Sebastian shook his head in disbelieve.


    "Should I buy a ring for Albany, no sorry, mine wedding day? To give it to the bride." Sebastian asked, while explaining it to his father. His father sighed. "You know what, I am going to the jewelry and buy one for her." He closed the door of the office and looked at his assistant. "I need to find the closest jewelry store."


    *******


    He was sitting in his car looking at the store, he should get out of this car and buy that cursed thing. But he didn''t even know what to look for, he of course could ask a female employee inside the store. Only that made him slightly more uncomfortable.


    "Come on boss. It is just a ring." Adam said.


    "It is not just a ring, it is a wedding ring." Sebastian said. Adam looked smug, and then nodded.


    "You are already thinking, like a husband." Adam said and Sebastian got out. Adam was a good friend from time to time, it did not help that he was his only friend. He got into the store and looked a bit lost. A nice girl with brown hair and blue eyes came to him.


    "Hello sir, can I help you?" She asked, he nodded and sighed. How would he say, I need a wedding ring for a girl he has not met, not to say that she was his brother''s fianc¨¦e and his brother bailed. Oh, the wedding was tomorrow. So he went for it.


    "I need wedding rings, for tomorrow. I never met the girl and she is in fact my brother''s fianc¨¦e. It was an arraignment marriage and he could not get behind it. He got his girlfriend pregnant!" He explained, the girl nodded.


    "When do you need the rings?" She asked. He hung his head again. This was something he would do quite often, it would be a ridicules sight for his new wife. She frowned. "That soon?" She asked and he nodded. "When is the wedding?"


    "Tomorrow." He replied and she smiled, "I know what you must be thinking?" But she quickly shook her head.


    "Not at all, I know that me friend is getting married tomorrow. Which is an arranged marriage, her name is Aemilia Quince." She said with a smile. That was purely coincidence, then this girl knew what he needed to get. "But alright, let''s go look for the wedding rings." She said and she guided him towards the glass counter. Which had so much ring in it, he would not be able to count them or set them apart. Without this girl''s help, she had taken out three trays out of it. "These rings all come in sets, but you will only see the female version of the ring." He nodded and looked at them. But once again they looked the same for him.


    "You are friends with the bride, so can you help me with this." He asked and she laughed. Maybe this was a bit of a silly question.


    "Aemilia those not like flashy items, so a wedding ring with a large diamond would be lost on her. She would wear it, but that more because she most." She replied, and then pointed towards the simpler rings. "These are more to her liking." He nodded, and looked at a simple white golden wedding band, with a small heart shaped diamond in them. He pointed at it.


    "What do you think?" He asked and she looked at it. Her eyes started to shimmer, was she getting emotional?


    "I know for a fact that these design is her favorite." The girl replied. "Do you want to see the men''s version." But he shook his head. If this was her favorite he would get it for her. He was the decoy groom and so he needed to make up for it somehow.


    "If she loves it, then I will take it. Also can you give me a small list of flowers, sweets and that kind of stuff? I want to treat her the best way I can." He said and she nodded.


    "You are very thoughtful, at first Aemilia was not sure what to think of this marriage. But now I can put her mind at ease." She looked at the other employee. "Gloria can you pack this ring up, and also get the men''s version of it as well." Sebastian had not seen the other employee, who was snickering behind her hand.


    "Sure." Gloria replied, the girl that helped him took out a piece of paper and started to write down a list. Favorite flowers: pink roses, favorite sweets: Milk chocolate, sent: jasmine and roses. And the list went on and on, the girl knew a lot about her friend. He knew for sure that Adam was able to list one or two things, but that was it. Maybe girls talked a bit more about this stuff than men. He was not sure about that, but then again he never interacted with women a lot.


    "Here you go." She said, giving him the list. "What is your name, by the way?" He stuck his hand out towards her.


    "Sebastian, like the little crab dude." He said and she nodded, took his hand and shook it. "What is your name." She gave him a smile.


    "You should wait until tomorrow." She said before walking away. He paid for the rings and then left the store. Adam was still sitting in the car, he said nothing to him when he sat down.


    "We are going to do more grocery shopping, and you are going to help me with that." Sebastian said to Adam, he wanted to object. But Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "You are my personal assisant, and that means you need to help me with everything. I need your help with this." He gave Adam the list of things Aimilia supposed to like. "Apperently I bumped into my fianc¨¦e''s friend. And she gave me this list with all the things she likes. And now I need to get this things, to make her at home inside my house. Also I need to make room inside my closet, you get the idea." Adam started to nod.


    "Fine."

 Chapter 2

    Gloria looked at the door and started to laugh out loud when the guy in his fancy car drove off.


    "Aemilia, you are such a lucky girl." Gloria shouted out. Aemilia rolled her eyes, she did not know if she called it being lucky. Yes sure, her previous fianc¨¦e had bounced to be with his pregnant girlfriend. And his brother seems like a decent fellow, good-looking too. But was he really that decent or was this just an act. Maybe he had not known that she was his fianc¨¦e and he seemed a bit embarrassed when he needed the rings that fast. But she needed to see how this all was going to play out. "Come on, he picked your favorite design. Not even looking at the price tag or the men''s version, because you told him that it was ''your friends'' favorite. He asked for a list of things you like to eat and favorite flowers and scents. In my book that is a very nice beginning." This all was true, and Aemilia had to confess that this was indeed very nice of him. Still she had doubts, and wished that she was able to bounce as well. Or at least had the change of meeting the guy beforehand to get to know him. She frowned, she just had met him. But he did not know it was her.


    "We need to go back to work Gloria. I still need the rest of the jewelry." Aemilia said. "We can do that, until the next costumer comes."


    "Why don''t you pick something for him, a watch or bracelet?" Gloria said. "You know to raise or fall, how you want to look at it, level as him." Aemilia nodded, she had seen the nice beaten up watch on his wrist. It was old but maybe it had sentimental value. But a bracelet or cuff links. The latter sounded more appealing, and they had cuff links with the same design as the wedding rings.


    "I think I will go for cuff links." Aemilia said and Gloria started to nod.


    "I know just the ones." Gloria said, she walked away and got the box with indeed those cuff links in it. The white gold and the engraved hearts were shimmering in the lighting of the store. They were indeed a good match to the rings, it was no wonder that she loved the designer of the jewelry. "I will pack these in for you and I place a bracelet of white gold in it as well. See it as a wedding present from me, to your new man." Aemilia smiled at Gloria, she was a good friend and her only friend for that matter. Gloria was the only friend at school who was not impressed by her money and status, she even hated Aemilia for it. But when Gloria entered the coffee shop where Aemilia worked this all changed. Aemilia hated to rely on her families wealth and wanted to work to make her own money. Of course her parents'' wealth was always there to help her out, but she rarely or never tapped into it. This was something Gloria admired in her, would Sebastian too. Maybe, she did not know much about him and that was part of the problem. She did not know if he would allow her to keep on working, she did not know if he wanted kids. She sighed and looked at a collection of jewelry that just came into the store, it looked good, expensive and not something she liked to wear.


    *******


    Gloria hammered on Aemilia''s bedroom door, it was the day of the wedding. It was not that Aemilia was still asleep, no she was wide awake and full of nerves. She was going to marry Sebastian Coleville, and she was nervous. She was surrounded with carton boxes, when they were attending the wedding a movers'' company under the watchful eye of her father''s assistant would move her stuff to Sebastian''s place. This would be the first time she would live with a man since she left home. This would be the first time without Gloria by her side 24/7. They were roommates in collage and after that. Gloria was staying in the apartment, were Aemilia was paying for, until she could find other accommodations. This was something they agreed on and it was only the proper thing to do. It was not Gloria''s fault that she was going to get married, to a stranger with a handsome face.


    "Come on, Aemilia." Gloria shouted. "Your parents would be here any minute and they expect for you to be dressed and in the beginning status of make up." Aemilia stood up from her bed, she had already done her hair and make-up. Nothing too elaborate just light touches of make-up and she wanted to wear hair down. So that was the easiest part. She opened the door and Gloria looked at her. "Okay, we only need you to get in that brutally expensive dress." Aemilia nodded, this was like the whole wedding not her dissection. But her mother wanted to see her in a big princess dress. Which she only would wear for the ceremony, then she was going to switch to the dress of her choosing. A simple dress, that could be more described as a beach dress, then as a wedding dress. But it was light, but still elegant and most of all it was not breaking the bank. Gloria helped her as good as she could in the princess gown, which was heavy and full of small diamonds. Which added to the weight. But still Aemilia didn''t feel like a bride in it, more like a girl playing dress up. Gloria added the simple diamond neckless and white golden earnings. In the same style as what she now knew her wedding ring. The doorbell sounded, which was only a sign that her parents were about to enter the apartment. This was something they had agreed on, before she gave them the key. Her father a practical man, understood where she was coming from. But hr mother was a different story. Her father entered the house and was directly moved to tears.


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    "You indeed look like a princess." He said, sobbing. "But I do understand why you wanted a second dress." Her mother scoffed behind his back. "What I still you complaining how heavy your dress got after just a couple of hours." He was right, her mother indeed complained about that until this day. "But are you ready to marry Albany Coleville?" She shook her head, her father apparently did not know about the switch.


    "I am going to marry Sebastian Colevile. Albany bounced yesterday morning to be with his pregnant girlfriend. And to safe face Mister Colevile let me marry his youngest son instead." She said. "And I think this is the best solution to the situation." Her mother looked shocked, but her father nodded. Only narrowed his eyes after.


    "How do you know all of this?" He asked.


    "Sebastian Colevile, came into my jewelry store yesterday to buy the wedding rings." She said as if it was nothing. "Do not worry he did not know that I would be his future bride." Her father started to chuckle. "He picked the wedding rings I loved, the white gold ones with the small diamond hearts." Her father clapped in his hands.


    "He also left with a whole list of things she liked and I have here a list with things she dislikes and is allergic too." Gloria said, holding up the piece of paper. Aemilia was glad she thought about that last evening before they went to go to bed. Her father looked at Gloria confused. "He simply wanted to know her favorite things, probably to make sure that they were already at his house after the wedding. Something I can get behind." Her father smiled.


    "Me too, now that I think about it and that list with her allergic was a smart move." Her father said.


    "Hector are you serious, we were promised the eldest son. Not the second-best son." Her mother said, she was still in horror.


    "Mom, really I am fine with it. Now that I met the guy, and know that he really cares about what I think." Aemilia said. Something her mother had never done. "But let us be off. I can''t be late for my own wedding." Her father nodded and offered her his hand.


    "Did I already tell you, that you look beautiful?" He asked, they passed his assistant. "Micheal, send her stuff to the youngest Colevile brother''s house." Micheal nodded and then sighed.


    "I just wanted to tell you sir, but you were in a hurry. I am glad that you have been made aware of the situation." Micheal replied, the man was just as old as her father and he had acted as if he were her uncle throughout her life. She loved Micheal and that was not an understatement. "And I even want to have it said that I think that Sebastian is the better of the two."


    "Did I ask for your opinion?" Her father asked, Micheal shook quickly his head.


    "Daddy, please go easy on him. Uncle Micheal was just saying this to make you feel better. And besides that I already need to miss my wedding." Aemilia said, and her father smiled at his friend. He already knew that, but there was no one else they would trust outside the family to oversee the move.


    "You are a gem Aemilia, I hope Sebastian will see that too." Micheal said and he took her hand. "My little shadow is grown up and getting married. Safe a slice of cake for me please." She nodded, before her mother cleared her throat. Again her friendly relationship with the ''hired help'' was something that her mother was not able to understand, but which aspect of her life did her mother understand. The short answer for that was none of it, her mother did not understand her at all. And this was fine if she did not dictate how Aemilia should life.


    "See you later uncle Micheal." She said and let her father guide her away. The fancy looking car, her father''s priced item in his collection of cars, was waiting for them. The driver, was already holding the door open. She would be lying if she would say that she understood which car it was and what it could do, but this hobby made her father happy and that was all what mattered.


    "I drove you home after your mother gave birth to you in this car, now it is only fitting that I am going to drive you off to your new life with it." He said, while he helped her get in. Pushing the dress in it, carefully so that it wouldn''t be damaged. He had told her the story over and over, and it was only sweet of him to think about this in an emotional way, something he those not often do. Finally, the dress was in one piece inside the car. Her father got in the front seat next to the driver, her mother was going to drive in a different car. Something her mother had reqeusted on, multiple times, because the car was not the lastest model. Aemilia wanted to shake her head, her mother was a whole other level of rich and spoiled. Aemilia smiled as they drove away, this was her wedding day and this would be hopefully the only wedding day she was going to get. So she was going to enjoy it as much as her mother would allow her.

 Chapter 3

    Sebastian was hoping nervous from one foot to the next, the bride and her family had just arrived at the church. So the ceremony would start soon, but he was not allowed to enter the hall. Because of reasons he did not understand, Adam was with him though, only that was not helping it all.


    "Mister Colevile." A woman said, a young woman with golden blond hair, green eyes and in a light pink bridesmaid dress approached him. It was one of the girls for the jewelry store yesterday. "Congratulations, I am here with gifts. One from the bride and one from myself." She handed him a box. "Open this one first, because the ceremony is about to start and you want to wear these."


    "Thank you, Gloria." He said, he was so glad that he remembered her name. He opened the box and saw two little cuff links. Both were made out of white gold with two little hearts engraved in it. "They look a lot like the ring." She nodded.


    "They were made by the same designer, and they are in a match with the gift I am giving you. But you might not have time to open that one." She said, he nodded and started to change those old and boring links he got in now.


    "Adam can you place these somewhere?" Sebastian asked, holding up his two old cuffs. But Adam shook his head.


    "Sorry boss, but I am already babysitting those rings." He replied. Gloria looked at him and rolled her eyes.


    "Are you not the best mam?" She asked, but Adam shook his head. "Then what are you?"


    "The fall-in man." Adam replied. Sebastian already put the cuffs in his own pocket, and sighed. This man was maybe the only friend he got, but that those not mean that he would take all his crap. He wanted to open his mouth, but the pastor appeared in the doorway. Meaning the ceremony was starting and he needed to enter the room.


    "I will see you later, I am the Maid of Honor and I do take my duties serious." Gloria said and she rushed off. Sebastian smiled, he was glad that his future wife had such good friends. Although he met two of them, but still two were more than what he got. He walked into the room and stood on the spot that was marked for him. Facing all the guests how bother to come, his family, his fianc¨¦e''s family. So more rich people, that only loved the free food and the party that would take place after the fact. The wedding march started to play, the guest rose up, and the double door swung open. A man in his late fifties was guiding the other young woman from the jewelry store down the aisle. She gave him a large smile, and he was aware that his mouth was standing open. He quickly closed it, if this was Aemilia Quince she had fooled him greatly. And he thanked God that he had followed her list to the letter. Her father stopped right in front of him and gave him a smile.


    "Sebastian Covile am I right about that?" The man asked, it was maybe wrong to assume it was her father. But who else was walking her down the aisle. So Sebastian said nothing and simply nodded. "I can understand the shock you are most in, finding out that you were going to marry my princess, so late in the game."


    "That is an understatement sir. But I will do my best to do right by her." Sebastian said. He looked at Aemilia and she smiled. "She is treating me well this far." Her father nodded and sighed.


    "I hope for you that you do. But I know that my daughter is not an easy person to deal with. She has, like most young women her age, her own mind." Her father said, while giving her hand to Sebastian. "Take care of her."


    "All right this is my quo then." The pastor said, and he started the ceremony. Sebastian started to give Aemilia the vows and she did that in return. "Now it is time for the rings." Sebastian looked at Adam, who did the old-fashioned stunt of pretending that he did not have the rings. "Sir, we are at a wedding, not a comedy show." Sebastian thanked the man for saying this and Adam sighed.


    "Tough crowed." He said under his breath, while giving Sebastian the rings. The rings Aemilia herself helped him pick them. He placed the ring on her finger and she again did the same for him.


    "With this I pronounce you husband and wife. Alright you may kiss the bride." The pastor said, Sebastian looked at Aemilia.


    "May I kiss you on the cheek, because we are not at the kiss on the lips stage." He asked and she nodded. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. The guests started to clap, he kept hanging there for a second. "I love the dress."


    "Thank you, I hate it. But my mother... She will come for you during the reception." She said, coming for him, why? But he was not going to ask that here and now, He straightened his back and together with his new wife, strange to name her that way, they walked down the aisle. Gloria followed her and by the doors, Aemilia let go of his hand to hug her friend. "Can you help me out of this dress." He could hear Aemilia say to Gloria. Hid she hated it that much? But he remembered that she told him that she did not like big fancy stuff. So this all made sense.


    "Are you sure, your mother is still on a war path. Do you want to make him deal with her on his own?" Gloria said. "I know he is a grown man, and he can take care of himself. But your mother is called the shark for goodness¡¯s sake." Aemilia look at him and nodded.


    "Then we need to take him with use." She said, he shook his head. He was not going to be with her in the same room when she was changing clothes. The kiss was as far as he was going to take it today.


    "No I am fine, believe me I amused to sharks. My family is full of them." He said, she looked at him and he sighed. "Go change if this dress makes you uncomfortable." He said and he motioned for her to go. "I will be fine." She nodded and left with Gloria. This was indeed far from idle, but then again they might be married. But they did not know each other. He sighed and looked at the people who came out of the hall. Some of them wished him well, others congratulated him. Some membered of his family, specially the younger men were condoling him after he lost ''his freedom''. Newsflash to them, with a man like his father there was not such thing as freedom.


    "He, you are married and it seemed to me that you already get along with your wife." His father said, his hand landed on his shoulder. "Adam told me that the reason you skipped work yesterday is to arrange a warm welcome for her inside your home."


    "He is correct about that, father. She is going from her comfort place, to mine. All I can do is make her feel at home, that means have her favorite flowers in her bedroom. The bathroom items she is used to." Sebastian said.


    "Really, her favorite flowers?" A woman, who looked a lot like Aemilia''s older sister. But in her tone of her voice she made clear that she was much older then that.


    "Pink roses, madam. I also have a rich collection of rose and jasmine soaps and at the home. Her favorite meal is authentic noodle soup and her favorite chocolate is filled the sweet cabinet inside the kitchen. My wife would sleep in a separate room, which has its own bathroom. Until we are both comfortable changing this agreement, she those not have to worry about her job. She can stay at my place, or keep on working. I am not the type of guy who is going to tell her what or what not to do." He was rambling, but her father was also standing next what he assumed be shark mom. And in his opinion it was a good thing to have this all out there.


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    "And what is her favorite chocolate?" Her mother asked.


    "Milk, and I bought again different brands and varieties. All Fairtrade of course." He said with a nod. "I hope that you already have my address, and I hope you would be able to visit use after the honeymoon."


    "Honeymoon?" Her father asked. "I was not aware of a honeymoon." Sebastian nodded.


    "It is not much sir, the next three days in a spa hotel in the next town over." Sebastian said. "That was all I could do, on such a short notice." Her father nodded.


    "But she those not like spa''s" Her mother piped up. Sebastian frowned and got the list of things Aemilia liked out of his inside pocket. His new shark-in-law looked at it. Sebastian went over the list.


    "You are right about that, but she likes a musical that is currently playing in the theater, in that set town and yes I got tickets." Sebastian said, that of the spa was a lie. She clearly wrote down that she loved a day inside the spa. He is never been into one, but he had heard that it was relaxing something he could use after all of this. "And it gives use some time to get to know each other. I have booked two separate books, sir." Her father, his new father-in-law nodded once again.


    "Give the man some grace, darling." Her father said. "He just got married."


    "That is no excuse to slack off." Her mother pipped up. "He got married into our family, to our only daughter. That means he needs to raise to a curtain level." Sebastian already knew that, although his family was not that high on the rich social ladder, it was also not all the way at the bottom. It was high enough to get this marriage, but that was with his brother not him. He reminded himself. "Our daughter was promised the firstborn, not the second-best version." This was indeed true.


    "My son is a hard worker, madam. And I want to apologize for my eldest, it was also news to me. I did not even know that he had a girlfriend, but children what can you do?" His father said. Of course this was all about Albany, it was his wedding, but it was all about the golden child. "You can raise them, guide them. But at the end of the day they will make their own decisions." Aemilia''s father nodded.


    "My daughter is the same, although she did not bounce. She stayed true to the commitment." Her father said. He then looked at Sebastian, who was standing with his arms slumped. "But you have at least one son that is willing to try his best for our daughter. Did you know she fooled him yesterday, she is the owner of the jewelry store where he bought the rings. And she helped him picking out the rings of her favorite designer." Sebastian looked at his father. "She only did not tell him who she was, she even gave him the list with things she liked." His father narrowed his eyes.


    "My son is indeed a gentleman, but he is also a fool."


    ********


    They had traveled towards the location of the reception. Sebastian was not all surprised that it was inside a hotel that the Quince family owned, to safe costs and all of that. Rich people love only one thing more than their own status and that was free stuff. Sebastian had not seen his new wife, since she left him inside the church to change dresses. But Gloria, yes Gloria, assured him that she would be at his side. He hoped so it was almost time for their first dance, after that her father daughter dance, cutting of the cake and the rest of the buffet. The whole crowed looked at the double door which opened, and Aemilia entered the lobby, in a simple dress. Simple, but she looked stunning in it. It was so much different from the princess dress she wore during the ceremony. No large skirt, no little diamonds, nothing that would make it special, except for her in it. The music of their dance started to play, a number he did not know, but it did not matter it was a simple waltz right? She walked towards him and took his outstretched hand.


    "May I have this dance?" He asks, she smiled and nodded.


    "It is not a waltz, it is just a slow dance." She said quickly. He lowered his head. "But we can waltz if you like, it is also your wedding." He was relieved that she said that. After the ceremony his father had made it clear that this was supposed to be his brother''s wedding. He was just the second-best son as his shark-in-law had named him, and there was nothing he could do about that. But she was willing to make it also his wedding.


    "Thank you, I do not know how to slow dance." He said, and she giggled.


    "Then we are going to waltz, my mother would have a fit, but who cares." She said. He guided her towards the dance floor and they started to waltz. One two three, one two three. Sebastian indeed could hear his shark-in-law''s voice over the music, complaining about how this was not supposed to be a waltz and that she knew that this was a bad sign. The music died down and he let go of her. Her father stepped on the dance floor with a large grin on his face.


    "Thank you for making my wife upset, but I need to say that I love this more. Sweetheart, are you also willing to waltz with your old man?" Her father said, Aemilia nodded. It was clear that she had a good relationship with her father. He was willing to take her side, even if it went against the mother of the bride. Another song started and Sebastian left the dance floor, for the father daughter dance. He looked at his new wife, she was beautiful, sweet, and so far she was being kind to him. But maybe this was all an act, she was the daughter of a rich man after all. He needs to be on his guard, and need to be care full to not give his heart to her before he was sure about her. The music died down once again and now it was time for the cake. Aemilia''s father guided her towards, and she had a huge grin on her face. It was clear that she was having a blast. "I will give you your wife back."


    "Sir, no matter what happened, she will be your daughter. Nothing that I can do that will change that." Sebastian said. Her father nodded, and went back to his own wife''s side, where he got an ear full.


    "That was sweet of you to say, my mother is the one who arranged this marriage. And my dad just went along with it to keep the peace." Aemilia said, it seems to him that she did not have a good relationship with her mother. "It will be easy to say that my mother and I do not seem eye to eye. She those not like that I work for my money, that I shared my apartment with Gloria until now." She stopped and looked at him. "Do you mind if I keep working?"


    "It is 2023, it is not my place to tell you what to do. You do not have to work, I earn enough to support us both. But I heard from your father that you own the jewelry store." He said. She squeezed his hand softly. "I am only going to tell you, that you will not be working in that store for the next three weeks. I booked use a small honeymoon in the next town over. And for tomorrow evening I have a surprise." She looked confused.


    "A honeymoon?" She asked and he nodded.


    "Separate rooms, and into a spa hotel." He explained as if this was the reason why there was a honeymoon. "I already informed Gloria, and she even called the hotel. I do not know what she has done, but she assured me that she did nothing to the separate room thing. Because she believes that it is the right thing to do, take it slow." Aemilia wanted to say something, but got interrupted, by a large cake that entered the room. A large cake, that was an understatement. There was a much smaller cake next to it, which had an ornament of a couple on it. The waiter handed them a knife with a white sparkly ribbon on it. Aemilia sighed when she looked at the cake.


    "I am going to bet that it has strawberries in it. I hate strawberries" Aemilia said under her breath. He looked at her and frowned. "Like I said, my mother and I do not see thing eye to eye." That much he did understand, but getting a cake with flavor the bride did not like. He motioned towards the waiter who gave them the knife.


    "What for flavor is this?" he asked the man, as quietly as possible.


    "Strawberry sir." The waiter replied. Sebastian looked at Aemilia.


    "Do you have something else in the back, because I just heard that the bride those not like strawberries." Sebastian said. "I understand that I am not the one paying for this, but she is the bride." The waiter nodded.


    "I have a small chocolate cakes, but those were meant for dessert." The waiter replied. "But you are right this is her day. I will grab one for her." He rushed away and came not much later back with a chocolate cake. Aemilia looked at it with hungry eyes. "Here you go." The waiter said. Aemilia wanted too huge him, but he stepped back.


    "Sorry about that, but you were coming at me with a knife." He said with a smile. She giggled and cut the strawberry cake. But instead of giving her a piece of that cake, he gave her a bite of the chocolate cake.


    "Thank you for that." She said.

 Chapter 4

    Aemilia was overjoyed when it was time to leave all this behind, her mother was after the cake cutting on a power trip. How did Sebastian dare to go against her wises, he was not the one paying for all of this. And so on and so forth. She did not stop even when Aemilia took her aside and told her that Sebastian did that, because she hated strawberries. It only added fuel to the fire. So she was glad that he was taking her away on a small honeymoon, a day relaxing in the spa, getting a madi-padi. Together with Sebastian, it seemed to her like a dream. They got into his car and drove off.


    "I am so sorry about my mother." She said. "She is just a bit sour because..."


    "I am not my brother and not the firstborn who will inherit my father''s company." Sebastian said and he sighed. "I know she made that pretty clear to me, right after the ceremony. But like I said back then. My family sees me the same way, so my shark-in-law." She started to giggle, shark-in-law that was a funny way to describe her mother. But she was his mother-in-law after all and she herself described her mother as a shark, so it made in a way sense.


    ''May I ask why you booked a honeymoon?" She asked, her parents were the once who said that they didn''t need one. Because they just knew each other.


    "I do not see why we would not go on a short trip to know each other, without people butting in. Which I am sure now your mother would, I will bet that she is now standing in front of my house. And telling everybody who wants to hear it or not how small it is." He said. She nodded, that sounded like her mother. He had figured her out after one day, that was impressive. "And I really think that we need to charge up for the battles to come. My dad will urge use to get children as soon as we can, your mother would do anything in her power to break us up. Creating fake old girlfriends, make me jaulouse with an old boyfriend or a crush off yours. My brother might come back to claim you." She looked at him.


    "Were do you get those theories from?" She asked.


    "Chinese dramas." He replied. "There always happens something, like I mentioned before. Which leads to misunderstanding and drama." She nodded and giggled.


    "So you are a fan of Chinese dramas, who would have guessed." She said and she sighed. "I always heard they were good." He simply shrugged and looked at her. His stormy gray eyes and black hair made him quite handsome, she never would have guessed that he would be such a gentleman. So fare he has been upfront with her, and now he told something personal about himself. Except how her in-laws saw him. She wondered if this was all an act, but what would she do if it was all an act. They were married now, well there was always divorce. But would her father except that? Of course, he would, she was his princess and if Sebastian would mistreat her than he would be the first to back her up. Once again she looked at him, he was driving at the speed limit. Not over not under, so he was following the rules of the road to the letter. According to her father that said a lot about a person. He kept his eyes on the road and often checked his mirrors. There was not much traffic and the car was comfortable. It was not the latest model, something her mother had a fit over, but her father told her that it was a reliable car. Aemilia sighed, what he said about their future might be true. Especially that about her mother, she will find ways to break them up. Or at least she would try, but is what good to know that Sebastian said fake past girlfriends. So he never dated, or he had dated only nothing serious. "So did you have girlfriends in the past?"


    "Not in those terms, I have been on dates. Forced by my father, I had some flings. But none of them led to anything serious. I slept with a few, but again nothing serious grew between use. But before you ask if one of them might come back with a child by her side, the answer is no.  I kept taps on them for a year, only one got a child during that period of time and I requested a paternity test. The mother refused at first, but after telling her that I only wanted to know if the child was mine and that I would not judge her. But the child was not mine, still the father did not want the child. So I supported her and the child for a while, until she got married to a cousin of mine. Now her lovely daughter is a part of my family." He said. "And you?" She shook her head.


    "Although I am not a virgin, does that bother you?" She asked and this time he shook his head. "It was during collage, I studied Gemology, and a party. You can say that I was in a rebellious phase, which only lasted until that night. I do not even know his name, and I do not remember his face." She said, and this was the honest truth. He smiled at her and she gave him a smile back. "Do you hate your brother for bouncing?" She asked, and Sebastian shook his head.


    "I do not hate my brother, in some ways I do understand why he did it. He is going to be a father, and he needs to be there for the child and its mother. But why did he need to wait until the last possible moment? On the other hand if he had done it sooner my father would have found ways to find him and drag him back towards the altar." He replied. She giggled, she had only met his father during the wedding and there they had not spoken about much. But she believed Sebastian on his word. "Once we are back and we visit my father, you will hear a lot about him. The only thing my father has to say about me is how I killed my mother, which is bull. She died during childbirth." She looked at him, that was, well beyond sad. "O yeah, there is one other thing that you want to know. I do work for my father, and I am very good at my job. But there is a possibility that I will get sacked when my brother takes over. That is why I have a little start-up. It is legate and stuff, but that means that I have a lot of work." That was indeed good to know, when her mother finds about this she would throw it in their faces. "Once we get home I will show you the papers and I will show you were the company is." She nodded once again.


    "Thank you for telling me this." She said.


    "You are my wife, you have a right to know."


    ********


    They stopped in front of a large hotel. One valet took the car, while another took their bags out of the trunk. None of the bags was something she owned, but she had the feeling that one or two of those were for her. The lobby of the hotel was grand, just as grand as the hotel her family owned.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Good evening, sir and madam." Said the desk employee. "Do you have a reservation?"


    "We sure have, Colevile." Sebastian said and he fished all the documents out of a plastic bag.


    "O yes, the honeymoon suite and a smaller room on the same floor." The desk employee replied. "Well this is the cards to your rooms and this is the lay-out of the hotel. The elevators are on the right, the valet will bring the bags to the respective room." Sebastian left the desk with a hand full. She quickly took some things off of him. He thanked her, what else was she supposed to do? Leave him hanging. The elevator shot up and it was a mater of seconds to arrive at the right floor. Sebastian looked at the information.


    "E01 is the honeymoon suite and my room is E07 is my room." He said and he pointed towards the rooms. He gave her the card of room E01 and kept the other one. "Get some rest, I will wake you up for breakfast." He walked towards his room and entered. She did the same thing but then in her own room. The honeymoon suite was decorated with swans, and the rose pedals on the floor were pink. On the bed were two towels folded like swans, in the middle of pink rose peddles in a heart shape. A bucket with champagne was standing next to the bed. The bathroom was spacious, and there was a small shelf that hold the bathroom supplies. Soap, bath salt, rose paddles, shampoo and conditioner. There was a knock on the door she rushed towards it and opened the door. It was the valet with two bags.


    "Here are your bags, madam." He said. "Also I am here to inform you that the bottle of champagne is not a bottle of champagne. It is a bottle of apple cider." She thanked the man and apologized that she was not able to give him a tip. But she did not have any cash on her. Which he seemed to understand, still she felt guilty. She zipped open the bags. One of them was filled with new cloths, all in her size which was impressive. But no new underwear, or swimwear. She might be able to buy those tomorrow, understanding why he did not dare to go into that territory. She quickly walked towards the bathroom and opened the tap with warm water. Adding some salt and peddles, but there was another knock on the door. She opened it and a woman stood on the other side holding a couple of shopping bags.


    "Hello madam, I am a personal shopper and your new husband has hired me to select some under-, swim- and a night wear for you. He did not have your measurements, so I selected some things on the hand of your clothes sizes." The woman said. A personal shopper, and a female one. This man had a solution for everything. "I am glad to see that I have some pieces that would fit you perfectly." The woman motioned if she could come in.


    "Oh sure, sorry you surprised me that is all." Aemilia said.


    "Which is understandable. And I applaud your man''s solution to this. Instead of just guessing, hire something who has knowledge of this kind of thing." The woman said. "I am Morgan Colevil by the way. I believe he already told you about me." Aemilia looked at her, was this the woman with the child. "He took care of me when the father of my daughter bailed on use. I am also the only one, besides my daughter who will speak well of him. Just a warning. Just to be clear, I do not have any romantic feelings for him. He is a nice guy, who stepped up. But I am only thankful for what he did." Aemilia smiled at the woman.


    "Oh the bath." She rused towards the bathroom and turned of the water. "He has indeed told me about you, and I am glad that we are able to meet."


    "Good, now what are the messermenst of your BH''s?" Morgan said. Aemilia gave her the information and Morgan started to fish some pieces out of the bags. Aemilia tried them on inside the bathroom, over the underwear she was already wearing. "Alright, then I will Sebastian about our sucess." Morgan said when they were done. She grabbed the pieces that did not fit in a bag.


    "Wait, I have some apple cider, and two glasses. Maybe we can chat for a while." Aemilia asked. She really wanted to know this woman better. Morgan looked at her nodded.


    "I think I already know the topic, but sure." Morgan replied. Aemilia grabbed the glasses and the cider. "Alright were to begin, Sebastian and I met during a blind date. Which was set up by his father and my parents. And to keep them off our backs we decided to date a bit longer, one drunk night we were intement and we broke things off a month after that. But he kept in contact and asked how I was doing. He already told me that he did this with the other two women as well. To make sure that he was not being jumped on with a child, which back then I did not really understand. Now I do. But I got pregant, and he asked for a test. I thought at first that he accused me, but when he assured me over and over that this was not the case. I took the test and it became clear that he was not the father of my daughter. Only the father of the child dumped me and wanted nothing to do with my daughter. So Sebastian took my daughter and me in. For a while, so that he could help with the baby. Taking the night shifts, so that I could sleep and take care of her in the morning." Morgan sighed. "As if she was thinking back towards it. "He did so much for me, but there was nothing romantic between use. But one day we went to the park where I met his widowed cousin, and from on e thing came the other. Now I am happily married to John, we have a son together and he is a wonderful father to Cindy, my daughter. John is sometimes a bit jealous of Sebastian because of the time we shared, but he changes his tune, when I remind him that Sebastian was there when Cindy and I needed him and my own family dropped me." She took a sip of the cider. "He is really a nice guy. And he will move heaven and earth for you when you earn his trust, but winning his trust is not as easy as you might think. This is because of his entire, my hubby included family." Aemilia nodded and looked at the bags with clothes. Was he not moving heaven and earth for her now, he didn''t need to buy all of these and she would happily pay him back. "Maybe she will bring that up, during breakfast. "He also those not like favors, he believes in paying someone for their work. I would have shopped for you for free, but that man of yours didn''t let me. He even didn''t except a discount. So do not even think about saying you will pay him back." Aemilia smiled, but then sighed.


    "Thank you for that, so let me spill the tea a bit about my family." She said and she started to tell about her life, her one-night stand and her opening a jewelry store.


    "Wait what your store is working with Daniel Velvet?" Morgan asked, Aemilia nodded and showed Morgan her wedding ring.


    "This was the wedding band of his latest collection. I would not go as far as to say that we are friends, but we studied together. I only now sell the items he creates." Aemilia said.


    "What is your store''s name?" Morgan asked.


    "Jeweled Rose." Aemilia said and Morgan nodded, stretched out her hand.


    "Well cousin, I will be in your store often, one of my clients is bashing me to get some of his pieces. But I couldn''t find them anywhere, besides that I love spending time with you." Morgan said, she took her phone out. "Oh, heavens. Is that the time. Well let me note this down, here is my number. So give me a call when you are back, I will jump by." Morgan waved at her and then rushed out of the room. Aemilia smiled at the now closed door, she knew that her bath water was cold, but she was going for a bath anyway.

 Chapter 5

    His alarm went a little too early for his taste, he was on a holiday for heaven''s sake. He frowned, he couldn''t remember setting an alarm. So he got up and grabbed his phone, the number of his father was visible. He knew better than to let it ring.


    "Good morning, do I need to remind you that I am on my honeymoon?" Sebastian said, before his father was even able to get a word in. "Or did my brother show up at your doorstep?"


    "Do not talk to me like that boy, you forget that I am your father." His father snapped back at him, of course he played that card. "I heard you hired Morgan for her serves."


    "I did, she knows a lot more about women''s clothing than I do. And specially the special clothes. I took my wife on a honeymoon, without giving her time to pack her own stuff. So I needed to provide her with something to wear." Sebastian replied. "I can not have her walk around the town in her wedding dress, or even worse, naked." His father sighed on the other side of the line. "Father, I spend one night with Morgan and she married John. And besides that, I am now also married."


    "Only on paper, you have not consumeted the marriage. And I think you are not going to do so, until she lets you into her bed." His father said, and he was right about that. Aemilia was a strong and independent woman, who took care of herself. "Do I understand it correctly that she owns her own jewelry shop."


    "Yes father, and she will keep owning it." Sebastian said. "I have already a prenup ready that say so, and I already signed it." This was a lie, but as soon he had found out who Aemilia was, he had requested her father to make a prenup. Which will protect Aemilia''s shop. Her father was grateful for him, but he stated that it was to protect Aemilia. He knew his father would find out about the shop sooner or later.


    "You have what, but boy?" His father screamed.


    "No, father, it is hers and I will not change my mind about this. If this was all, I will go back with I was doing before you called." Sebastian said, noticing it was not even seven o''clock in the morning.


    "You ungrateful piece of...." And he cut off the line, he knew what was coming after this. A long list of insults, one he didn''t want to listen to on his honeymoon. He doubted he would be able to get some more sleep. So he stood up and stepped under the shower. A cold one because his father made him angry. But there was nothing he could do about it, he knew even with the abuse he received of his family. Yes he could see for what it was, he went to therapy for it, he still went to therapy for it. Something he might tell Aemilia about that as well. Because it was something his new shark-in-law could use against him. But this what he was going for with his train of thought, he was going to admit that he still had a privilege life. Something he had taken advantage off, he went to the best schools, launched his carrier by working for his father. And that means he worked hard, with all the other workers he only started from a much higher position then some others. He used all his savings to buy and start up his own company, something he had told Aemilia''s father so that he was able to include that in the prenup. Because it was only fair that he had nothing to say about her company, the same will go for her. He turned off the shower and sighed, it was too early to go to breakfast. So maybe he would use the coffee machine inside his room for an early cup of coffee, although after talking with his father made him long for something stronger. Only he knew all too well that it was a bit early for that. Maybe he should talk with his lovely therapist about his father''s behavior. He frowned, would Clive Wyvern be awake by now? Well, it never hurt to call him, he will know it soon enough.


    "Bloody hell, do you know how early it is?" Clive replied when he picked up the phone.


    "That was what I wanted to say, to my father when he called me earlier." Sebastian said and shared his story of the last couple of days. "So here I am, married and on honeymoon. Ranting about my messed up life, while my new wife is sleeping in the other room."


    "I am starting to think that you are pushing me to write a novel about your crazy rich life." Clive said.


    "Be my guest, as long as you change the names, and make a few things up, so nobody can trace it back to me." Sebastian replied, he knew Clive all too well. And this was one of his many jokes to defuse the situation. Something Sebastian could appreciate, it was the only way that someone outside would be able to make sense of all this.


    "But good, I already knew about your brother''s marriage, which is now your marriage. But what I fail to understand is why are you calling me when you could tell this all to your new wife. Which I recommend doing, by the way. Give her as much inside into your trauma and how you are dealing with this. She needs to understand this all, before she can support you." Clive said. Sebastian knew that he was right about that. But there was only one problem with this, he did not know if he was able to trust her. "Sebastian, I know you. You pay me well enough to be able to rant to me about your family, in the early morning. I know you have trouble trusting people, but she is your wife. And I know you only know her for a couple of days. But if you can not trust your SO, then who else?" Clive had a point there, but still he felt uneasy thinking of it. "Just do it, during breakfast. That would be your homework for today, and do me one more favor. Do not ever call me this early in the morning."


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "I can''t promise you anything."


    *********


    The talk with Clive helped somewhat, it was good to know that his therapist was there to support him. But also to tell him how things were. He was right, of course, he needed to find it in himself to trust Aemilia. Trusting her did not mean giving her his heart, it just meant that he allowed her to be part of his life. He walked through the decorated hallway, he was on his way to Aemilia''s room. Would she be awake, would she like the clothes Morgan had selected for her? Or should he prepare himself to tell her that he was not trying to dictate what she allowed to wear. Something he would never do, he would never dictate something in her life. He knocked on her door, he didn''t have to wait long before she opened the door. Was she awake already? What would she be wearing, he had no idea what Morgan had chosen for her. He wanted it to be a surprise for him as well. And surprised he was, she was just wearing a pair of shorts and a sweater. Which looked great together and on her. But he was starting to believe that she would look great in anything she was wearing. She might be one of those women, and in this case it was a good thing.


    "Good morning." She said, and she surprised a yawn. "Is it time for breakfast already?" He nodded and she smiled at him.


    "It is, and we also need to talk." He said, her smile faded. Like snow on a summer''s day, or was it a sunny day. He couldn''t remember the saying. "It is nothing serious. It is just some stuff you need to know." Her smile however did not return. Something he cursed himself for. "Let''s go down, I heard that their breakfast buffet is to die for." They did and it was indeed a rich buffet, eggs, bacon, even some salmon wraps which were his favorites. He filled his plate and got some jasmine tea instead of coffee.


    "Alright, we have our food. Now spill." Aemilia said, so she was very direct. Good because he started to doubt if this would be a good idea after all. But now she made it unable for him, to cower out of this. So he did what she said, and started to tell his life story. "I have to agree with mister Wyvern, your story is better suited for a novel. But now I understand why Morgan told me that your trust is the hardest to gain." So she had gossiped about him with Morgan, was this a good or a bad thing. "I wanted to hear her side of the story, too. So that my mother does not surprise use with this kind of thing. Morgan is a very nice woman, and I am going to see her often. One of her clients is desperate for some Daniel Velvet jewelry and my store sell exactly that."


    "Is he that good?" Sebastian asked and she nodded. She reached out towards his hand and tapped on his wedding ring. He looked at it and nodded, so this was one of his designs, well then he can say that the man has talent.


    "He and I went to the same collage and were most of the time in the same classes. But we are not friends or anything, he is a nice guy, but I do not know I do not feel comfortable around him. That is why I bring Gloria with me when we are meeting him." She said. She took a sip of her tea, the cinnamon prickled his nose. "But Sebastian, you have to know that Gloria suspects that he is the guy that you know." He nodded, this was indeed good to know.


    "I spoke with your father during the reception, I asked him to draft a prenup. I know normally one signs one before the wedding. But we did not have much time to do that. It is for both our businesses, my father already called me this morning about this. That prompted me to call Clive. But he wanted to know what my plans for it were, I lied about have already a signed prenup. But he will quickly see through the lie. The prenup will state that both businesses are not joined, and the spouse has no say in it, or claim to it." He said and explained. She nodded, and sighed.


    "So you really do not mind me working." She said, it was not a question. But he replied by shaking his head. She sighed again. "Thank the heavens I would really be bored out of my mind if I sat at home all day." He could image that.


    "Aemilia we are maybe married, but I will never tell you what you can or can''t do. I can''t tell you what to wear, except wear something nice tonight. But that will be it."  He said, she smiled.


    "You can tell me what to wear, if it is to a special location or if it is a surprise. But I agree, it is not your place to tell me what to do, and I will say it is also not my place to do the same to you. But, and here it comes. But please lets agree that if we feel uncomfortable with something, that we are able to voice it. We are partners and we should respect each other enough to do that." She said and he agreed with her. This was indeed a good point.


    "Agreed." He said and he reached out his hand. "Let''s shake on it, and eat all of this food. Because I believe we have been sitting here long enough. And there is so much to do inside the spa. I heard the messages are highly recomanded, and I bet you want to get your nails and hair done for tonight." He said, she frowned. But then nodded.


    "Lets join our stay here."

 Chapter 6

    Aemilia enjoyed every minute she had spent inside the spa today. It was no wonder that the messages were highly recommended, she never had felt so relaxed in her life. Her nails were beautifully done and so was her hair. She only hoped that Sebastian enjoyed it as much as she had, but she couldn''t see why not. After the message he was coached into a manicure and pedicure, by the beauty expert. The man told him that he wouldn''t be the first man in his chair and he promised him that he will not paint the nails. But that a man also should take care of the hands and feet. She sat in her hotel room going through the bags of clothing, something nice. There were a few dresses inside the bags, but still she didn''t know where they were going. So there was only one thing she could do, she left the bags for what they were and went towards Sebastian''s room. Knocked and he opened the door, in his suite, so that kind of nice.


    "Sorry, but can you help me pick something?" She asked. "I didn''t know what you meant by nice." He nodded and closed the door behind him. Where were they going, the hotel had a buffet so they were not going out on dinner. But now she at least had something to go off to. He stopped inside her room, who was filled with clothing and she hung her head. "I promise I will clean it up. But I really did not know..."


    "It is alright, I was rather phage." He said, walking towards the bed where the dresses were laid out. "One of these will be perfect, and please do not ask me which ones look better on you. I already came to the conclusion this morning that you look good in anything." This was nice to hear, but she was not even going to ask him. She grabbed an elegant green dress, made from satin. It was simple, just like her wedding dress, alright her second wedding dress. She changed inside the bathroom, while leaving the door ajar.


    "Sebastian, because you told me your life story. I want to tell you mine." She said, and she started to tell her story. About how she was raised to be the perfect little girl, that was quiet and never complained about anything. At least from her mother''s point a view, her father let her be who she was. It was him who pushed her towards collage and even told her that he was fine with her working there, but that she needed to get high grades to do so. This made her time at collage even harder, because she wanted to do it on her own instead of relaying on her parents'' wealth. About how Gloria hated her in the beginning, but later turned around when she found Aemilia behind the counter of the coffee shop on campus. "I know that you used your families'' wealth to your advantic, which I applaud you for. I wanted to see how far I would go if I did it on my own. We both still put in the hard work and we both hadn''t it easy because we had the money to get out of the other and debt free. I would dare to say that we both needed to shoulder our families expectations, or the lack there off."  She came out of the bathroom and her room was already tidied up.


    "I indeed used my father''s wealth and business to jump a head. It is something I am well aware of and not in the least ashamed off. But I respect your choice to do it on your own, mostly that is. It is true that you worked during your studies, your parents covered the rest." He said and she nodded, that was indeed true. "But you at least knew how to work." He checked his watch. "We really should go. You look amazing as always, green really suites you." She smiled, she already knew that Gloria had told her this many times. But somehow her world light up when he told her this. Was she falling for him already? Well he was generous, he has given her all these clothing. He was polite, and thoughtful. He was honest with her, and although it was on orders of his therapist he had shared a huge trauma with her. Something she did not expect he would do, not this early into the game. And in return she could be herself with him, he gave her compliments and even tried the manicure and pedicure thing to make her happy. Yes she was falling for him. They left the hotel and he took his car over from the valet. "It will not be far, but we will be quicker if we drive there." She nodded took place beside him and they drove off. It indeed did not take long before he parked the car in front of a large theater, her heart stopped. The billboard showed the picture of her favorite musical, Aida. A Romeo and Juliette type of story set in Ancient Egypt. She had seen the show over and over, the soundtrack was her go to when she felt down. And her heart was overloading with joy that she was now able to see it, but now with her husband.


    "Thank you." She kept saying this over and over. He giggled softly and got out of the car. How did he know that she loved this musical, she did not write it down on her list. But her social media was plastered full of it, the only problem with that is her social media is private. It did not matter how he knew it, she was going to see her favorite musical with him. Their places were not the best, she still could see the podium so that was really no problem.


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    "I am sorry for these seats, it was all a bit last minute." He said, she nodded and gasped when the lights dimmed.


    ********


    The musical was in one word amazing, she loved the cast. They were very skilled performers, and she was glad that she was able to share it with Sebastian.


    "I do not have to ask if you liked it, do I?" He asked and she shook her head.


    "It was magical, thank you so much." She said. "Did you like it as well?" She looked at him. "If not, I can completely understand. It is not for everyone and..."


    " No it is not that I didn''t like it. It was a beautiful preform and the story was solid. And besides that you love it, but I am not a musical person. I rather love a good concert, if you understand what I mean." He said and she smiled at him. So he went through all that trouble for her, she did not like concerts. Most of them were too loud and there were always drunken idiots. "I mean the concert with an orchestra, I have been to one where they played music of various movies." She nodded, she had heard of those. But she was never been to one. "I will take you to one next time." He promised.


    "Deal." She said. He nodded and drove back to the hotel. He wanted to go to his own room. "Sebastian, why don''t we order some wine and talk a bit more inside my room?" She wanted to spend more time with him and see if her feeling were real and not just an at the moment of weakness, was that what they called it? She didn''t even know who they were, but this felt right. She wanted this evening to last for a bit longer, and it gave them more time to talk. Talk about their dreams and wants, like children, does he want them and if so how many. Did he want a boy or a girl? Did he like animals? She was allergic to most pets with hair, but if he already had a pet she would not dream of making him give it up. Because she liked animals too, and there were medicine she could take. If this was the case she needed to contact her doctor and ask him about this.


    "A drink will be nice." He replied, and her heart started to beat faster. "One drink, and we will only talk. I do not want to move this quickly in our relationship." This sounded fair enough and realistic. They were just starting so moving things slow was probably the best way to go. They entered the room and with a special app on his phone he ordered coke, and it did not take long for room service to bring the soft drinks to her room. This time the valet got his tip. "Alright, what will be the topic of our sober conversation." He said, while giving her a glass. Did he order coke, to not repeat his night with Morgan? That was none of her business, he was honest with her about his relationship with Morgan. And Morgan repeated the same story, well having alcohol in her system.


    "Just the basic, people who are starting a relation talk about." She replied and he nodded.


    "Our expectations." He said amused. "Well you know about my career goal, I have a decent job at my fathers'' company as an accountant. My own company, is helping other businesses like your father''s with all kinds of stuff. And I am saying that because I have an appointment next week. This appointment was already there before the wedding." She nodded, if her father''s employees had not made an appointment with a start-up if her father didn''t see the potential in it. "Children, yes I want them. But only if you want to, of course. It is your body who is going to change, not mine. I hope we are blessed with two, one of each gender. But I really do not care which gender they are as long as they are healthy. I do not care about specific names as long we both agree to the name I am fine with that."\


    "I want children too, I do not care which gender. Because they might change it when they are older." She said.


    "That is true, I did not think of that." He pointed out.


    "Do you have pets?" She asked. He nodded, and her heart sank slightly.


    "Kitty, she was a stray before she entered my house and decided never to leave. She is around the age of ten according to my vet. Why?" He asked. "Are you afraid of cats, or are you allergic?" She lowered her head, for a short moment and sighed.


    "I am allergic to all animals, but I think with some medication and some strict rules were the cat can and can''t go it will not be that much of an issue." She said and he looked her dead in the eye. But she shook her head. "That cat is part of your family, and I will not break the two of you up. And if she is really as old as you say, well..." She did not have to finish her sentence. He already nodded.


    "She was never allowed in the guest room, which is now your bedroom. And she is not allowed in the kitchen. Which means there is no cat hair and anything cat in there, I will ask the housemaid to vacuum clean every day. I am also going to buy some air cleaners'' fort inside the house. But if that those not help, I will find her another home." He said. She still did not agree with that, but it will be a good start to begin.

 Chapter 7

    Sebastian hated how fast the honeymoon went by, they were sitting inside his car on their way home. He couldn''t wait to see Kitty again, the little fur ball had grown on him in the last couple of years. Morgan had cared for her, while he was away. She was the only one in his direct circle he would trust with her care. Aemilia sat next to him, looking at the road that passed them by. They had numerous talks over the course of their stay, and he had enjoyed those, and it was the main focus of the trip to get to know each other. He loved how the way she talked about jewelry and the many different stones, he could see that she was really passionate about it. Would they be able to talk about these kinds of stuff once they were back home, or would they be too busy to fight for their marriage? Was he willing to fight for it? He nodded, answering the question he would fight everyone who threatens it. He would only accept defeat is she was the one who pulled the plug, and maybe not even then. Sebastian sighed when he parked inside his driveway, and then looked at her.


    "So what do you think, is it big enough for the two off use?" He asked and she nodded.


    "It is much bigger than my apartment that I shared with Gloria." She replied, she had told them about that. And about the fact that Gloria still lived in that said apartment. Something he was totally fine with. They got out of the car, and were greeted by a man in his late forties. She gasped and rushed to the man. "Uncle Micheal." Well wrapping her arms around his neck, now Sebastian knew who the man was he understood her reaction to him. Micheal was the assistant of her father and her father''s best friend.


    "Hello, Aemilia. It is so good to see you. Your stuff is inside and a woman who said she was a friend of your husband pointed use to one of the bedrooms. She also took the liberty of packing out your clothing and placed that in the closet inside the room." Micheal said.


    "That is my friend Morgan, she was here to take off Kitty. I am Sebastian Coleville by the way." He gave Micheal a hand. "I didn''t know how late we would arrive here, and I didn''t want Aemilia to be bothered by packing out all of her clothing." Micheal wiggled a bit with his head. "Morgan is also married to my cousin John." Aemilia nodded.


    "I met her uncle Micheal, Sebastian had hired her to buy me clothes for our trip. She is a personal shop assistant, she picked out this." She said, while showing her the long beach dress she was wearing. The light blue matched her eyes pretty well. Micheal was still not convinced, but he backed off.


    "I have here two things, the prenup and your medication. I alerted the doctor, directly after I saw the cat." Micheal said, Sebastian frowned. He did not know that was even possible, he got it the man was close enough to the family, but still this kind of contacting the doctor and getting subscription medication. That went a little bit too far, he did not trust Adam with his cat, let alone with his medication.


    "Aemilia, here is my key. So you can invite your uncle in, I will grab the bags out of the trunk." He said, he gave her the key, her key to the house. Micheal was already sitting on the couch when he had placed the bags inside the laundry room, another no cat zone inside the house. "Do you want anything to drink?" Micheal shook his head.


    "No, thank you, I need to head back home." Micheal said and he laid an envelope on the table. "Read it carefully through, if you have questions please ask." Sebastian nodded and took the envelope. There were not as many claws inside the prenup and the lawyer of mister Quince did his best to protect both parties, as best as possible, but there were of course some extra protections in place for Aemilia and even for their future children.


    "I need to contact my lawyer and update my will. Not that I suspect to die anytime soon. But this section about future children, if we are blessed enough, makes me rethink my will." Sebastian said. He locked his eyes with Micheal. "I update my will every year, so that there is no question left about my decisions." Now he looked at Aemilia. "I can advise you doing the same, you never know what life will bring to our doorstep." She nodded.


    "I will contact mine, tomorrow morning as well." She said and Micheal looked confused.


    "Why would you do that, this prenup protects you and your children." He said, so he read it. That is good to know, Sebastian hoped that it was to be sure that everything was in order. He did not want Aemilia getting hurt by someone she loved. But then the man should know that this prenup is only in the case of a break-up, not death.


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    "That is true, but this prenup expires as one of use dies. With a will, we can protect our assets and future children when the prenup fall through." Sebastian explained and Micheal softened a little. "I can let you read a copy of my will once it is done. If it makes you feel better." Micheal shook his head.


    "No, thank you. But I hope you do well by Aemilia." He said. Sebastian nodded as an answer. But Micheal did not look at him, instead he looked at Aemilia. "If he does anything you do not want, please call me." Sebastian wanted to go against this, he has treated Aemilia with nothing but the upmost respect ever since they were married. He took her away for a couple of days to relax, he bought everything she needs and likes. So that she would felt welcomed in his house. But Aemilia laid a hand on Sebastian''s shoulder. Somehow she got up and walked around to stand behind him.


    "Uncle Micheal, wasn''t you who said to my father that you were glad that I was going to marry Sebastian, instead of Albany. During our honeymoon, Sebastian has done nothing that I might object against. He let me set the pass for this relationship." She said. The last part was not interlay true, it was him who wanted to take things slowly. But he understood why she said stuff like this. "If I wanted to sleep with him tonight, he would let me." He looked up at her in shock, was she serious? But she did not look at him, instead she looked at something in the distance. His gaze followed hers, and it landed on Kitty. "She is beautiful." Kitty was indeed a very beautiful.


    "The vet told me that he suspects that she has some Bengal in her." He said and Micheal also looked at the cat.


    "Bengal, you say if that not a combination between a wild cat and domestic cat?  Then she most has cost you a fortune." Micheal said.


    "You are correct about the breed, but she was a stray before she got here. One day she walked into my home and never left, now I am her humble servant and I wouldn''t change it for the world." Sebastian said. But quickly looked towards Aemilia. "Unless somebodies'' allergies make it impossible for me to keep her."


    "You know what I have said about that." Aemilia said. "She is part of your family, and I married into that. Also, you told me that she is at an age that makes it really difficult to put her up for adoption. No matter how beautiful she is." Kitty looked pretty pleased with those compliments, she yawned and started to groom herself.


    *******


    Micheal left them, after they signed the prenup. Now they were alone, inside his, no it was now their house.


    "Let me show you around." He said and he stood up. "Well this is the living room, the kitchen is through that door." He pointed towards an closed of door. She nodded and he walked through the rest of the house pointing and telling her which rooms they were. This here is your room, he opened it. Suspecting to find a lot of carton boxes inside the room, but to his surprise this was not the case. Morgan had done more than only getting Aemilia''s clothing out of the boxes. Aemilia stepped inside the room and looked around.


    "Are you really sure this is mine?" She asked and he nodded.


    "The bathroom is here, I already stocked the cabinet with your favorite things. Even sanitary pads and tampons. My bedroom is across the hall, and at the end of this hall is my office. Where all the important documents are being kept, the parental test results, documents for my company. The safe is under the desk, and it reacts on fingerprint so I will add yours to it in the morning." He said and he was backing out of the room. Not only because he wanted to give her space to become familiar with her new home, but he also wanted to prevent going too fast. Her comment about sleeping with him that night, made him feel un easy. It was not that he didn''t want her but it was more about the fact that they did not even have a huge, only a simple kiss on the cheek. She turned around and saw that he was backing down.


    "Sebastian, are you alright?" She asked and he nodded. But then she raised one single eyebrow. Not even married for one week and she already could tell when he was lying, very impressive. "Is this because of the sleeping comment?" He nodded again and she sighed. Walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "This, and a kiss, is as far as I will go." She looked into his eyes, closed them, and softly kissed him on the lips. At first, he was frozen in place, but quickly he melted in her arms, wrapped his arms around her waist as well and deepened the kiss. One of her arms came up and her fingers started to dig in his blond hair. This felt so good, normal even. As if they had been in a relationship for years, instead of only a week. This and only this thought brought the doubts, were they ready for this? He knew that he had protection inside the house, in his bedroom. But that was not the answer to his own question, were they ready to take this step? Well, she clearly was, but he was not so sure about himself. She stepped back, breaking off the kiss. "So that is as far as I will go." She said. He still had his eyes closed, and he sighed. He missed her already, and maybe this was the sign that he was ready for taking the next step. "Are you alright?" He opened his eyes and nodded.


    "I feel if I can take on the world, right now." He said, she gave him a big smile. He stepped forward and pulled her towards him, and he smiled. "May I have one more kiss?"

 Chapter 8

    Aemilia smiled when she placed the coffee cups under the coffee machine, she was now married for over a month. But she was still in the honeymoon stage, she felt more like home inside the house she currently lives in. Sebastian still comes home with flowers and her favorite chocolate every day.


    "You look happy." Gloria said, while she grabbed her cup from under the machine. "What did he this time?" Aemilia knew that she had bragged about Sebastian. About the fact that he had given the flowers and sweets, this weekend he has given her tickets to a jewelry throughout the ages'' exhibition. Which will take place in the local museum next month. Which again was very thoughtful off him.


    "He made breakfast." Aemilia replied. "Normally I would do it, because I wake up earlier. Only this time he beat me to the punch. Complete with scrambled egg, bacon and coffee." Gloria gave her a soft smile and sighed.


    "Really, girl, you are so lucky. He sounds like an amazing guy. Given you all those gifts and now cooking breakfast, What is next..." Gloria said.


    "I hope divorce." Her mother''s voice echoed throughout the shop. Aemilia rolled with her eyes, she knew better than to engage. Because when her mother started a rant, you better let her go at it until she runs out of full. "Did you know that the man has a child with another woman. Which wouldn''t be as bad, a lot off man had a sex live in the past, but he those not even pay child support." Her mother looked at her and Aemilia shook her head. "Do not tell me, that you know all of this already? How can you support a man that those not take care of his own flesh and blood?"


    "Because it is not his own flesh and blood. It is true that Morgan and Sebastian shared a bed, one drunken night. But when he found out that Morgan was pregnant, he requested a paternity test, which came back negative. However, the father of the Cindy, wanted to do nothing with his unborn daughter and that is when Sebastian stepped in and let Morgan and Cindy, live with him. Until she got married to his cousin John. Morgan and Cindy were in here, the other day. Such a lovely girl, wasn''t she?" Aemilia asked, turning to Gloria. Who nodded. "Morgan is a shopping assistant and she works for a number of clients, one of which wants jewelry of one of the designers my store carries." Her mother''s mouth fall open.


    "Did you know about him going to therapy?" Her mother asked, Aemilia nodded. "His secret and illegal business?"


    "Which is not so illegal, I have seen the documents." Aemilia said. "And yes mother, he told me all of that himself. After some incurousments of his therapist, who I also met and the therapist wife Ellie." Her mother''s mouth fall open, which was the first time in forever that Aemilia had seen this. Her mother really went through all these lengths to accuse Sebastian. Just like Sebastian predicted. "We also talked about couples therapy, to learn more about each other."


    "This is the first time I heard about that. But it makes a lot of sense." Gloria said.


    "Stay out of things that does not concern you, girl!" Her mother screamed. "That man is bad news, I am telling you." Her mother started to stamp her feet on the floor, like a little child having a tantrum.  "He is the youngest son, of a second rate businessman! You were supposed to marry the firstborn, the one who will inherit the company!"


    "Mother, can''t you just be happy for me? Sebastian is treating me like a queen and I think he is starting to love me." Aemilia said, she really wanted to know what her mother thought about that. Her mother narrowed her eyes, and said nothing for a couple of minutes. Or were they just seconds, it felt like they were minutes.


    "No, Aemilia. I can''t be happy for you. Not when I know that he is going to lose his job when his brother takes over, not when he lives in a small house in the suburbs. Not when I know he still owns his cat, when he knows you are allergic." Her mother said.


    "Mom, I am the one. Who is against rehoming Kitty. She is a gem of a cat, really sweet and does not go inside the kitchen or either of the bedrooms." Aemilia said. "And if you really feel that way about mine husband, then there is nothing more for us to discuss." The door of the store opened and Morgan, with a mini version of herself entered the store. Aemilia walked around her mother and gave Morgan a large smile. "Morgan, how lovely to see you once again." Now she focused on the child. "And you must be Cindy, I heard so much about you." Cindy started to smile.


    "Is this the tramp, who slept with your husband?" Aemilia''s mother said behind her back. But Aemilia ignored her.


    "What can I do for the two of you?" Aemilia instead asked. Signaling Morgan with her eyes not to engage. Morgan answered with a simple nod.


    "Cindy is begging John and me to have her ears pierced. Something we did not want to do until she was a bit older. But she is wearing my clip on earnings for a month now, and John and I agreed that we would do it if you are the one piercing her." Morgan said. Aemilia nodded, she had followed a piercing workshop before opening the shop. So she was able to do it.


    "That is no problem at all, Cindy come with me and you will be able to chose your buds." Aemilia said, reaching out her hand towards the child. Cindy took her hand and walked with her towards the counter. Gloria already had grabbed the buds out of the case. They were simple buds, with a small zirconia stones in various colors. There were also some blend ones, but those were mostly picked by the boys. Cindy''s eyes went over the buds, but chose the purple ones. The door of the shop opened once again.


    "Hey darling, you are just in time." Morgan said, Aemilia looked up and saw a man standing next to Morgan. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Where is George?"


    "My mother picked him up, she does not agree to our decision. But I told her that we thought long and hard about it." John said.


    "Rosela is right and you should listen to her more often." Aemilia''s mother chimed in. "It is clear that who has the pants on in your household." Aemilia sighed.


    "Gloria, take Cindy out for some ice cream." Aemilia said. Gloria nodded and took Cindy out of the store. "Mother, I know you do not like Sebastian. And that is maybe the understatement of the century. I know you do not like me working, I know you do not agree with other life choices. But all that gives you no right to dictate my costumers and their families, not even when you know them. This is my business, and they." She pointed to John, who clearly had to say something, and Morgan. "Are my costumers." Aemilia took a deep breath. "So I am not even going to ask this nicely of you, leave me the hell alone. Leave my husband alone. Do not show up at our house, do not show up here. And do not tell me that my father will hear of this, no worries I will call him soon after you leave." Her mother''s mouth fall open, the second time that day. She nodded and left. Aemilia looked at John. "I am sorry about that. My mother is on a path of war ever since she found out that I was going to be married to Sebastian, instead of Albany. This however those not excuse her comment about you or your family." John nodded and sighed.


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    "I may not be Sebastian''s biggest supporter, I leave that role up to my wife and daughter. But if I have to choose between the two brothers, I would pick Sebastian every time. He took care of a woman with child that was not his own. He did not have to, but he did it anyway. He was the one who introduced me to Morgan. So yeah, I am so grateful to Sebastian." John said and Aemilia could see it in his eyes that he meant every word of it.


    "There are Gloria and Cindy, it is going to hurt her. So do not be alarmed when she starts crying, the buds need to stay in her ears for over a month. After that she can take them out and I would recommend replacing them with other buds, until she gets much older." Aemilia said, she hopefully didn''t need to explain why this is. John nodded slowly and Morgan nodded much quicker, she knew why. "Good." The door opened. "Hello, well we are ready for you." Aemilia grabbed her tools and went to work.


    ********


    "Yes dad, I know she is my mother. But that those not give her the right to say stuff like that." Aemilia said. She was at home, after a long day of work. Cindy was very brave and did not cry, which was a good thing. Still Aemilia knew how much it hurt, as a reward she got to pick two sets of follow-up buds. After that she completely had forgotten to call her father. But what she did not expect was that he would wait for her at her home. She was shocked at first, but quickly realized why he was there. She had invited him in and told him all her mother had said and done. "It was not so much the things she said to me. But Morgan and John were at that moment my costumers. Yes they are also my family, and I want to believe that Morgan and I are at the beginning of a friendship. But not at that time, at that time they were paying costumers. With their seven-year-old." Her father took a sip of his tea, Kitty was lying next to him. The cat was so sweet, and her father even dared to give her some pets.


    "Aemilia, I totally agree with you on that front. But cutting all contact with her?" Her father asked and Aemilia sighed.


    "Dad, I know you love me, and that you want the best for me. But just as I said, I can handle the crap she is throwing my way. And Sebastian is so used to this kind of crap from his own family. That he would take her crap as well, but as his wife and partner, I can not and will not stand for that. She is my mother, but he is my husband. I really care for him and I know he cares for me." Aemilia said. Her father nodded and started to pet Kitty once again. Aemilia smiled when she saw that, her father also smiled at the cat.


    "I think this little one has you to thank for her still being here, even with your allergies." Her father said, as it was a matter of fact and it was. "Your mother, thinks we got the wrong side of the deal. But hearing you talk about Sebastian, seening you things throughout the house. I believe we got the better man." Aemilia nodded and smiled. Her father was clearly listing to her, which was a good sign. "I can also see a lot of vases, with your favorite flowers. I am drinking your favorite tea. And I know from Micheal that you are not responsible for the groceries." This was true, even when she insists on going to the store to pick something up or do the shopping, Sebastian tells her that it is all taken care off. Something she admires, but it slowly starts to irritate her. Before she moved in here, she was able to do some shopping. Maybe that would be something they need to talk about, no not maybe, it was something they needed to talk about. She was happy and glad that he was willing to take care of her, but she was more than capable to take care of herself. Her father nodded. "Your mother also ranted about the two of you going towards couples therapy." She nodded.


    "We still are learning so much about each other, yes we are married. But we need to have the tools to work on a healthy relationship. Something therapy can help with, it was his therapist who suggested it. He and his wife are going every month and he claims that it those wonders." She replied. The door opened and Sebastian stepped inside.


    "I am home, and I got your favorite ice cream, oh hello sir." Sebastian said, he froze when he saw her father sitting on their couch. "Keep on talking, I was planning on making dinner anyway." He looked at Aemilia. "I am going to make pasta carbonara. The way you like it." That means he would make it with extra mozzarella. Her father nodded and smiled.


    "Are you making it with bacon?" He asked.


    "I am sir, just the way she likes it." Sebastian replied. He always makes it in the way she likes it. Claiming that her taste in food is much better than his, which she had heard from Morgan was not true. And she herself had called him out for it. She wanted to know what he liked so that she could cook his favorite meals, she already got some recepies from Morgan. And every time she cooks something he was eating it, loving every bite and telling her that he loved the way she had made it. Saying that she gave it a special touch, something that was bull because she had followed Morgan''s instructions to the letter. But maybe it was because she had cooked the meal. She did not know, again something they can talk it out during therapy.


    "My daughter is a lucky girl." Her father said and he stood up. "I am glad she married you." This was hopefully true. "But I think we are done talking, her mother will be waiting for me. And after I told her what Aemilia told me, and the fact that I will stand by her decision..." He stopped for a moment and looked at is cup. "You know what I will first finish my tea and then prepare myself for a scolding. Her mother will be not too pleased with me." Sebastian frowned, So Aemilia started to tell him the whole story.


    "You do not have to go no contact, for my sake." Sebastian said.


    "I am going no contact for our marriages'' sake. You take care of me, and I take care of you. I made that promise on our wedding day, and I will keep it." She said, while standing up, and went over were he was standing. "My mother did exactly as you predicted, telling me about Morgan, your therapy, your supposed illegal business." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Who knew that watching Chinese drama series could be so helpful."


    "Wait, he knew that this was going to happen because of Chinese drama?" Her father asked and Aemilia nodded. "Well at least you will not get surprised."


    "I hoped to be wrong sir." Sebastian said.


    "I believe you, and I am going to watch some of those dramas, myself. Maybe I learn a thing or two." He said placing his empty tea cup on the table. "You two have a nice evening."  And he left the house. Leaving them alone. What to do? She placed her lips on his and started kissing him. They never went further than a stolen kiss or two. But deep down she was longing for something more then a kiss. She wanted him all for herself. She took the ice cream out of his hands and placed it on the diner table. She did not care if it would melt, she would have a salted caramel milkshake. All what she wanted now was him.


    "Aemilia, what are you doing?" He asked, between two kisses. She however did not answer, but turned him around and pushed him towards the couch. Her hand were already under his shirt, feeling his muscles tighten under her thatch. Normally she was not a person driven by desire, except for the one-night stand during collage. But this was different, this was totally different. He fell on the couch pulling her with him, not breaking the kiss for one moment. "Aemilia." He whispered, something that made her melt. She grabbed his shirt and pulled it off him, breaking the kiss for only a second.


    "I want and need you." She said. "Because I love you."

 Chapter 9

    It was a quiet evening when Gloria sat down inside the crowed restaurant, she had not told Aemilia about her blind date. But she did not hide the fact either. Still, her best friend was so caught on her own cloud nine, that it was impossible to make anything clear to her. Gloria''s mother didn''t know what no, meant and kept on insisting that she was not getting any younger. But her mother did not threaten to engage her into an arraigned marriage, like Aemilia''s parents had done, but her parents were not that rich. It worked out for Aemilia though, she was clearly in love with Sebastian and she wished she would feel the same thing for her partner. The same type of love, the same devotion, and she hoped that her partner will honor her with the same thing. Only her blind date was not here yet and she was already on the later side. She looked at the menu before her, she was going to order one glass of wine. To help with her the nerves, she rolled with her eyes. It was a bloody expensive, but she could handle one wine. The waiter arrived at her table.


    "Good evening, madam. Do you like something to drink?" The man asked. She sighed.


    "Yes, one glass of Radacini Vintage, please." She said. "I am waiting for a date." The man nodded, and walked away. She knew that the man did not need any more information. He would serve her drink, but will only come back after that when her date arrives. Or when she requested the check, something she would do after fifteen minutes, that is how long she was willing to wait for the man, for any man who was late for a date. Even she herself got there just in time, the waiter came back with her drink and basket with garlic bread. She might get a bite out of one of these, she was after all hungry and she did just that. The door of the restaurant opened and a man she did not expect to see entered. It was the bloody, good for nothing, best man, of Sebastian. She only had forgotten his name, he looked over and froze when the host of the restaurant pointed towards her table. No, that man couldn''t be her date. But her disbelieve started to change into a slight frustration when he came to her table, or rather their table.


    "Did not expect to see you here." The man said, she rolled her eyes and took another piece of garlic bread.


    "You are late, did your mother not teach you that it is rude?" She said, and there was no mistake about her tone. He sat down and nodded. "Good, then, she might also tell you that I am only doing this to keep my mother off my back. Of course, she did not say who I was supposed to meet. Otherwise, I had flat out refused to come here." She said.


    "Do you think I wanted to be on a date with you." He said. "But my parents insisted, and now that we are here, let''s have a meal. It was a long day at work, and Sebastian left me no room to have a proper lunch."


    "You work for Sebastian? I thought the two of you were friends." She said, taking a sip of her wine. But the man opposite of her started to chuckle.


    "I am his personal assistant, the closest thing he has to a friend. But we are not friends, he might tell you a different tale. Because the poor man has no male friends." The man said. Gloria narrowed her eyes, she was starting to hate the man more and more. "But it is nice that he thinks so highly of me, but that those not prevent him for working me to the bone." He lowered his head. "I know he is not well liked inside the company, all that nepotism, although he works harder than any other employee. And from what I understand about his own family, well let say the man has never got it easy. Not even when he was pushed into marriage with your best friend. She is liking him, from what I gathered."


    "She does a little more than only liking him, I know her as good as she knows herself. She is falling in love with him and he is a very nice person." She replied.


    "I know he is nice, I never said he wasn''t...." He said, he wanted to say more, but the waiter interrupted him.


    "Do you like to order something to drink, sir?" The waiter said.


    "The same as her, please, and I will take the lamb. What do you want?" He asked her. "I can recommend the lamb, it is pretty amazing."  She shook her head.


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    "I will take the duck with orange sauce, and I see you also have sweet potato fries." She said, "can I have those instead of the regular once?" The waiter nodded.


    "Sure madam, and sir, I will come with your drink in a matter of seconds." The waiter replied and backed off.


    "I am paying for the meal." He said, but she shook her head.


    "We are going dutch." She said. "I am not the type of girl who wants a man to pay for her meal." He nodded slowly, but she could see that he didn''t agree with her. It was only not up to him, this was up to her. "But I am not here to talk about, Aemilia''s and Sebastians marriage." He nodded again. "So tell me a bit about yourself."


    "Alright, I am Adam. You know where I work and who I work for. I love running in my free time, hiking and taking my four legged friend out for a walk." Adam said.


    "You have a dog?" She asked, this was the third time that he nodded. "I love dogs, it was because of Aemilia''s allergy that I could not take one myself." He leaned forward.


    "Really, which kind of breed did you have in mind?" He asked, she shrugged. "No prevents, normally people do have a clear view about the pet they want, or rather a more crystal view about the pet they do not want."


    "I rather go to the local shelter and adopt one." She said and he gave her a very large smile. "I know most people want a puppy, to shape them in the dogs they want them to be. But there are so many dogs inside shelters, and if I adopt one from there. I will create an opening for another one who needs care and attention." He nodded again.


    "It is funny, I thought the same thing when I adopted mine. He is a mutt, I believe there is a German shepherd inside the mix. But he is a sweet and waits for me when I get home. My mother had promised me to walk him, that is why I am able to meet you here." Adam replied.


    ********


    The food was indeed good and she wouldn''t change how the evening went. To her surprise, it went well. They talked about their hobbies, their jobs and now shared friends. But most of the time they were talking about dogs. And she can not believe that she is even agreed to a second date, this time to take a hike with his dog. Maybe it was time to adopt a four legged friend of her own. Or maybe she needs to talk that one over with Aemilia, she was still living in her apartment after all. But it was already late and Aemilia would be sleeping. Gloria sighed and entered the building, and it took a while to get into her apartment, which was empty and lonely now Aemilia was gone. Maybe a pet wouldn''t be such a bad idea after all. She closed the door, but then heard something. It sounded a lot like someone inside the apartment, someone at this hour. She quickly opened her bag and took out her deodorant spray, it might not be pepper spray but it worked just the same.


    "Just to warn you, I am armed and do not take any prisoners!" She screamed. The stumbling became louder, so the unwanted visitor came towards her. She raised the hand with the deodrant, ready to attack. The door of what supposed to be Aemilia''s room swung open and three men flocked out. The first, and largest one of the lot, came running towards her. She pressed the button and the spray landed in his eyes. He screamed, but still came at her. He smashed her towards the ground, her head hit the ground hard. Maybe one of the neighbors heard the screaming and slamming, so maybe they would call the cops. Something she should have done, but she never had expected that there were three of them inside her house.


    "It is not her." One of them said. "This is not the Quince brat."


    "She might know where she is, though." Another said. They were after Aemilia, but why? She didn''t need to think long, money. They were after Aemilia''s money.


    "She is no longer lives here." Gloria said. "And I do not know where she is living now, I am just a tenet." She was not stupid enough to think that they believe her, but Aemilia was her friend so she needed to try.


    "As if we believe that, Gloria." One of them said with a low voice. "We know you are her best friend, so tell use and we let you life." They knew who she was, and her relationship with Aemilia. This was getting worse, and she did not know how to get out of this. But she was not going to give them shit. So she kept her mouth shut. "Are you really trading your life fore hers. Knowing that she will trade yours for hers in a heartbeat." This was not true, but she was not going to tell them that.


    "Forget it. She is loyal to the brat. Maybe we should take her instead, she will not get use, not such a high reward. But it is worth trying." The man who was holding her down finally spoke up. He grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her and himself up.


    "You are right about that." Again another said. "And we better go, quick. I believe your little fight with the woman has coursed some calls towards law enforcement." Gloria wanted to protest and scream, but some kind of cloth was placed over her nose and mouth. Her head started to get lighter and it did not take long before she was overtaken by a pit of darkness.

 Chapter 10

    Adam did not know how to feel when he got the call from Gloria''s mother this morning. They had been on one date, but her mother sounded really worried. He would be to, if Gloria was his daughter. But he was sure he dropped her off in front of her apartment building. He stayed until she was inside and even stayed for a little while longer, but drove off after a view minutes. But now he was back at the place and now he was going inside. The elevator was quick, but not as quick as the one in the office building. But it did well for one in an apartment building. But he was not prepared about what he was going to find next. He got Gloria''s house number from her mother, but he didn''t need it. The apartments'' door was open wide, clearly someone had made their job to leave it as messy as possible. Something that made him feel uneasy, and this feeling got only worse once he stepped inside the place. He reached towards his phone and called Gloria''s number, but it went straight to voicemail. However, it was not hard to find where it was, her bag lay on the ground. A can of deodorant lay a bit further in the living room. He quickly called 911 the emergency hotline after that, and it did not take long before the police arrived at the scene.


    "And what is your relation with the woman?" The female officer asked.


    "I only met her twice, during the wedding of my boss and her best friend. And yesterday we went on a blind date, which was not that blind after all." Adam replied. "My boss is Sebastian Coleville, and her name is..."


    "Is her name Aemilia Quince, by any chance?" The male officer asked. He came out one of the other rooms.


    "That is her maiden name, she is called Aemilia Coleville now." Adam replied. "Why?" The officer sighted and shook his head. "I can call my boss, and ask him to bring her here." The male officer nodded.


    "That might be a good idea."


    ********


    Sebastian woke up next to Aemilia, last night was the best one in his entire life and he knew that there were still more to come. Something he looked forward too. He got dressed and went down to make them some breakfast, an English breakfast. With sausage and all, but he just got at the bottom of the stairs when his phone started ringing. And kitty started to complain about food, or rather the lack there off. He quickly picked up his phone, it was Adam who called him. Why would Adam call him on a Saturday morning, there was no project that they worked on, no other work related things. But still he took the call.


    "Boss, I know it is early. I am at Gloria''s apartment, with a bunch of police." Adam said. Wait, why was he at Gloria''s apartment, and why were there a bunch of police there?


    "Is she alright?" He asked.


    "That is the thing I do not know, and the police wanted to speak with Aemilia." Adam replied. "But boss, I think it is serious." Of course, it was serious, otherwise he wouldn''t have called.


    "Tell the police that we will arrive there shortly." Sebastian replied, he hung up and rushed back upstairs. There would be no English breakfast or special couple time afterward. "Aemilia." He sat down at her side of the bed and softly shook her awake. She moaned, but her eyes opened up. "Sweetheart, you better get dressed. There is something with Gloria, I do not know what it is, I only know that there is something wrong." She was wide awake after hearing that. She nodded and got up, he rushed back downstairs and gave Kitty her breakfast and grabbed a few breakfast bagels. As soon, Aemilia came downstairs, they went. Sebastian did not know what to expect, but all what he prepared himself for fall into nothing when he stepped inside the apartment. Aemilia had told him stories about the place, she already told him that it was big enough for only Gloria and her and he needed to agree with that. But it was not the size, or the neighborhood. No, it was the mess. The amount of police, the horde of people who had gathered inside the hall. One of the male officers came towards them.


    "Mister and madam Coleville I presume." He said, and they nodded. "Good, follow me, the mother of the victim is already here."  Sebastian''s heart stopped when he called Gloria a victim. He glanced over to Aemilia, who looked at the mess in her former apartment. Probably hoping for a sign of an inkling about what happened to her best friend.


    "Oh, Aemilia it is so good to see you." Gloria''s mother, a woman who was an elderly version of Gloria, said and took Aemilia by the hand. "It is good that you are here, I am worried sick. But the police wouldn''t tell me anything, until you were here." Aemilia looked at him over her shoulder.


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    "Sebastian, this is Lilith. Gloria''s mother." Aemilia said, Sebastian nodded towards the woman and then focused on the two officers who came towards them.


    "Well now I have all of you here, I think it is time to reveal what we have found." The male said. Adam joined them as well, Sebastian still didn''t know what his connection was to Gloria. But right now he did not care all that much. "According to mister Pelch, he brought miss Nightegale back to the apartment around ten last night. We have spoken to the neighbors, and this fits well in the timeline. Now you might wonder which timeline, well we found a rand some note in one of the rooms." Wait, did the man say rand some note. Does this mean that Gloria got abducted. "I know what you think. But miss Nightegale, is not from some wealthy, well known family."


    "Not at all, sir, Gloria Nightegale might not be from a wealthy family. Or at least not as wealthy as our respective families, but she is befriended with members of the both of them." Sebastian said. "But from your words, I gather that Gloria was not their target. And this was Aemilia''s apartment. So their target was my wife." The police officer nodded.


    "Officer Blackwater." The police officer said and a female officer. Her tanned skin and light green eyes might her a sight to be hold, but her beauty didn''t hide the confidence and annoying to her coworker on her face. Something Sebastian could understand, and he had a feeling that he already knew her. He looked at her again.


    "Wait, Emma Blackwater?" He asked, the woman now looked annoyed at him. "Sorry, officer Blackwater. I did not want to interrupt you." She shook her head.


    "You didn''t mister Coleville. And yes, I am glad that you were so kind to remember me." She said. Sebastian bowed his head, she still remembered him, but at her tone the memories are not very pleasant. Only that is not why they were here now, they were here for Gloria. "I am a specialist in this kind of cases, that is why I am here." Sebastian nodded. "The rand some note stated a large amount of money, even by Quince standards. I would advise not to pay it, until we know miss Nightegale is a life and safe. But this large amount was meant for madam Coleville, there is no doubt in my mind that the kidnappers will seek out contact to strike a bargain. So when they do, contact me at once." She gave them her card, with her number. "Mister Coleville, only when they make contact." So that was why she was so cold towards him, it was because he kept taps on her.


    "Emma..."


    "It is officer Blackwater, for you." Emma snapped at him.


    "Officer Blackwater, with all due respect. I have explained my actions, and why I did what I did. I just wanted to make sure that..." He started.


    "You wanted to make sure that I was not pregnant. I know that, but I can not but wonder what you would have done if I was?" She asked.


    "He would have taken his responsibility, officer Blackwater." Aemilia chimed in. "And do not tell me that I do not know what I am saying, because I do. He took care of another woman, during her pregnancy, even took care of her child after it was born. Until she got married to his cousin. The child was not his and he knew that, but still he took care of them." Emma was taken aback by this.


    "Did he tell you all of this?" She asked.


    "He and the woman in question did. He told me about you too." Aemilia said, and he nodded to confirm it. "But we will keep our eyes and ears open, and inform you when they make contact." Again he nodded, and the police slowly left the apartment. Lilith, Gloria''s mother, was in tears and Adam looked defeated. Aemilia wrapped her arms around Gloria''s mother and he lay a hand on Adam''s shoulder. There was not much else he could do.


    "She and I went on a blind date yesterday, today we would Wolfie." Adam whispered. "I should have insisted walking her to the door, instead of waiting inside my car. I should..."


    "Adam stop, I am not saying this to be mean. But these men were here with a goal in mind, and they would have done anything to get what they wanted." Sebastian said. Adam looked at him, there were tears in his eyes. "You need to be strong, keep your ears and eyes open. That is the best thing you can do for her at this point." Sebastian sighed and looked at the two women. "That is all we can do right now. Madam Nightgale, you are welcome to stay with use for a couple of days."


    "That would not be needed, but thank you." She replied, nodding. She looked at Aemilia. "I better go and call Gloria''s father." She left the apartment. Adam soon followed her, saying the name of his mutt. Sebastian felt for him, he wouldn''t know how he would feel if this had happened to Aemilia. Which was the kidnappers'' goal.


    "Sweetheart, I do not know how to say this. But after what happened to Gloria, I would feel better if you had a bodyguard." He said, she sighed and wrapped her arms around him.


    "Normally, I would object to this. My parents had tried it a few times and that did not go so well." She said, and he already knew that. She had told him this. "But after what happened." He nodded and pressed his lips on her forehead.


    "I love you." He said.


    "I love you too." She replied.

 Chapter 11

    It was a crappy week, Aemilia was very worried about Gloria. Which was understandable, but that meant no nightly games. She was back sleeping in her own room, again it was something he could understand. The bodyguards he had hired didn''t help either, but she knew that they were there to keep her safe. He sighed, Adam stood in front of the office. As usual.


    "Morning Adam, no there is no news." He said, Adam nodded and put on a brave face. "I let you directly know when there is contact."


    "Thank you, Sebastian." Adam replied. He no longer called him boss and his adequate had changed a lot. Maybe they were getting closer because of this. He hated the fact that it needed a kidnapping. "How is Aemilia holding up? The two of them are so close."


    "Look in the mirror and then you know." Sebastian replied. "That came out a little bit hateful, I am sorry about that." Adam lay a hand on his shoulder. They entered the office, some coworkers stopped in  their tracks when they saw him. Adam looked at him.


    "Do you know what is going on?" He asked.


    "I have a feeling that I am out off a job at the end of the day." Sebastian said. They walked into the broom closet that was his office, and Albany was sitting on his chair. Sebastian sighed. "Welcome back, brother. How is Candy?"


    "She is doing wonder full thank you for asking. And how is it with my sister-in-law? You know the bride you stole." Albany said.


    "It is not stealing when the groom, runs away a day before the wedding. But she is fine apart from the fact that her best friend is being kidnapped." Sebastian replied. "But let''s talk about why you are really here."


    "A straight to business as usual, brother do you ever change?" Albany asked, but he did not wait for Sebastian''s answer. "Candy and I are expecting a baby boy, and I need to provide for my son. So I am taking my rightful place inside the company."  Sebastian nodded, he knew full well were this was going. "And for that to happen we need to let you go. You have until the end of the day to hand over your work to me." Albany stood up and walked towards the door. "You knew that this would happen, somewhere down the line. Well, you reached the end."


    "I know that, brother. But a heads-up would have been nice." Sebastian said. "And what about Adam, while he becomes off him?" Adam is going through enough at the moment, looking for another job wouldn''t be ideal. Albany looked past him, and Sebastian already knew that Adam was standing behind him. Probably with some other employees, waiting for a big explosion of some sorts. But there will be no fire works, at least not today.


    "Yes, what about him, that is a good question. Father already has an assistant for me, who currently is getting coffee and getting stuff done." Albany replied. In other words, the man or woman is set up to do all the work. Because, Albany was not an accountant. He was good at setting people to work, but that was it.


    "Do not bother, if Sebastian goes, I would go too. It ridicules, the rest of the work force at least gets a month notice." Adam looked behind him. "Many of use are not agreeing with how he got here, being the boss''s son and all. But he has worked as hard as everybody here, every time we needed to work overtime." Sebastian turned around and saw others nodding.


    "Adam, you do not have to do this." Sebastian said.


    "You are wrong, Sebastian. I need to do this." Adam said. He looked at him and then walked towards his own office.


    "So the trash, is taking itself out. Good, one day, brother. That is all you get." Albany said when he walked out the office. Employees looked at him in disgust, but Sebastian sat behind his desk and went to work. One female co-worker came in with a cup of coffee.


    "Thank you, Helena." He said. "Do you know who has become my brother''s slave?"


    "I do, it is me. Thank you for referring me as his slave." She said. "But we know both that this will be probably the truth. I am here to say that this is so unfair." He sighed and took a sip of his coffee. "I will not even blame you if you would delete everything, contact every client you recruited to tell them what happened." He nodded, he could do all of these.


    "But that would make your life a living hell, and you have nothing to do with this." He said, she shook her head.


    "You always carried more about others, Adam, is right. Yes, you entered the company through napertischme, but ever since you got here you have worked just as hard as the rest of use. Maybe sometimes even harder, always the one who clocked out last. At least before you got married." Helena smiled at him.


    "You are right about that. But still, I know who would pick up the work, so I am not going to pull some stunt. Besides that, it would not look good when I apply for another job." He said. He winked at her she was one of the few who know about his start-up, she only nodded. The both of them wouldn''t put it past Albany to place a recorder somewhere inside the office. "But I better go back to work. These files do not print themselves." She again nodded and left the office


    ******


    Aemilia smiled at the male bodyguard, who had taken up place inside her store. He had often looked at the collection of female neckless.


    "Hendrik, how is your wife?" She asked. He never told her this, but the ring around his finger and him looking at the jewelry told her all she needed to know. At least so, she thought.


    "My wife past away, a few years ago. Why do you ask, madam?" He replied. She looked startled.


    "I am so sorry, you still wear your ring. And you look at the female jewelry, so I thought..." She explained. He gave her a smile.


    "It is my daughters'' birthday, and she has a keen eye for fashion." He said. "I wanted to ask your help, later today."


    "There comes a new shipping in today, all the pieces are Daniel Velvet''s latest designs." She said. "If she likes fashion, then she will love a piece off that collection." He clearly wanted to thank her. But she shook her head, there was no need. She liked Hendrik, he was a more parental figure than a bodyguard. Sebastian clearly had listened to her, when she told him about the guards her parents hired for her when she was at collage. Some of the guards were stirring the pot, creating more trouble instead of protecting her. Others took their duties a bit too serious, keeping even Gloria away from her. Hendrik did neither of these things, he kept an eye on her while she worked, even helped a costumer or two. But did not overstep her boundaries, and was overall a pleasant person. The door opened and Daniel Velvet entered the store, with a load of boxes in his hands. "Daniel, what the hell are you doing here?" She asked, while Hector and she rushed towards him to help the designer out.


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    "What you were suspecting, a delivery of my newest collection." He said.


    "Yes, did, but not you. You never visit the store, we always meet in coffee houses or in your studio." She replied. Daniel just shrugged it off and looked at Hector.


    "Is this your new employee?" He asked.


    "Sort of, he is my bodyguard. My husband hired him after what happened with Gloria." She said. Daniel looked at her with his eyebrows raised.


    "Husband?" He asked and she nodded. He knew that she was going to marry, she personally had sent him an invitation to the wedding. "I did not think you would go through it." He looked at he and she got a bad feeling about this. Gloria and she herself suspected that he was the one she had sex with. But he never said anything about it, so why would he do that now?


    "Well, I clearly haven''t and I love Sebastian with all my heart." She said. "So, let me look at your collection. Hector, come take a look too." She wanted to walk away, but Daniel grabbed her by the arm.


    "Mister Velvet, I give you 5 seconds to let go off her, after that I am forced to manhandle you." Hendrik snapped at him, and Daniel to his credit let go off her.


    "I am sorry, but I thought we were building something." He said. "After we spend that drunken night..."


    "Let me stop you there, mister Velvet." She said, deliberately using his last name instead of his given name. "I am happily married and my husband takes good care of me. There is nothing between use except friendship and the business relationship." She now pointed at the boxes, with the jewelry inside them. Daniel took a step forward.


    "Those, he take good care of you!" He snapped. "He might be just another rich boy, who has not worked a day in his life."


    "Sebastian, is a hard worker who, besides working for his father''s company, runs his own business. So do not talk about him as if you know him, you know nothing about him or of me for that matter. So let''s keep it strictly transactual, from now on." She said, went towards the counter. The pieces were fine and from good quality, she would not suspect anything else from Daniel. "Alright, thank you for these." She then looked to Hendrik. "Is there a piece you want to give to your daughter?"


    "Are you giving my work, away?" Daniel asked.


    "Who said anything about giving it away, Hendrik was looking for a present for his daughter. And I am willing to sell him, one of the newer pieces." She said, and Hector crossed his arms. He looked at the pieces one by one, and then pointed toward a smaller neckless with a small rose on it. It was indeed a nice piece, and it would fit a teenager. She gave him a smile and looked then at Daniel. "What are you still doing here? I made myself clear didn''t I?"


    "You did." He said in a low voice, he sounded wounded. "I will leave you alone, have a good day Madam..."


    "Coleville." She said quickly. He nodded and left the store, Hector made sure that he was indeed gone.


    "This encounter will bite you in the butt, madam. I would advise you to tell this to your husband as soon as possible, because I doubt that the young man acted alone." Hendrik said and she nodded in agreement. It was indeed strange that he made his feeling clear to her after these many years, not only that but there is also the fact that Gloria was not with her. Something what happened not that often when she visited Daniel in the coffee shop or in his studio. But Hendrik was right she needed to tell Sebastian about this, their relationship was build on trust and honesty.


    "You are right about that." She said.


    *******


    Sebastian sat on the couch inside the living room, he had turned in all the files Helena needed to do Albany''s bidding. He was right about Albany recording him, this was made clear when he spoke with his father when he left the office. His father did not even apologize for the way things were handled, something that he had not expected, but it still hurt. This was his father and brother, his family and they discarded him like trash. He sighed, Kitty lay on his lap and he slowly petted her head. The front door opened and Aemilia entered the house, she was early.


    "Hello sweetheart." He said. "You are early." He gave her a smile, which faded when he saw the expression on her face. "What happened?" She opened her mouth to say something when the doorbell rang.  Aemilia turned around and went back to see who was disturbing their conversation. Sebastian was not as surprised to see his shark-in-law, she had probably heard about him being fired and wanted to rub this in his face. Trying to use that in her tactic to convince Aemilia to leave him. "Rosetta, what a surprise. Do you want something to drink?" He did not want the woman inside his house, and he knew that Aemilia felt the same way. But there was nothing he could do about it now. Rosetta smirked at him and pushed something in his hands. It were photo''s, from Aemilia with another man, inside her store, another man then Hendrik.


    "I am so sorry to inform you about my daughters'' affair, but as a mother I wanted to inform you anyway." Rosetta said with a honey glaceed voice. He looked at the photo''s the man had his hand wrapped around Aemilia''s arm and Hendrik was standing close clearly saying something about it. There was only one problem with this, it was clear from the pictures that Aemilia was agreeing with this contact. "And that after the day you already had, being fired from your father''s company and all."  He sighed, and looked at Aemilia.


    "Is this what you wanted to tell me?" He asked her, she nodded. "I gather that this is mister Velvet, and he clearly has feelings for you." She nodded again.


    "He confessed being the one." She said, she did not have to go further then that. He knew what she meant, the man was the one she slept with during collage. "He snapped when I told him that I was happily married." He nodded and sighed.


    "Well Rosetta this is indeed a clap in my face, after what happened to me. That a mother who is saying that she loves her daughter, is trying to make her look bad. But I need to inform you that I am aware of mister Velvet''s role in your daughters'' and my wives'' life. He is a designer that uses her store to sell his jewelry, a former friend and past sexual partner, although the latter was only for one night. I am aware that she was not a virgin when we married, and you already know that she knew this about me." He looked at the woman in front of him, her smirk was whipped off her face, due to his words. Something he counted on, so he continued. "I excepted this as a part of her history, as she excepted mine."


    "Are you kidding me!" She screamed so loudly that he had no doubt that the neighbors had heard her. "You expect me to believe this bull crap?" He shook his head.


    "No I am not, but it is the truth. So deal with that as you see fit. Oh, and do not worry about me, being without a job and such. I knew that this was going to happen, sooner then later. So that is why I started my own business. Now that I am fired, I can work less and focus more attention on Aemilia. Maybe even works towards starting a family of our own." He said. "I know I am not the son-in-law you dreamed off madam, but I am the son-in-law you got." Rosetta clearly wanted to say something else.


    "Enough, mother. I already told you to stop meddling, and you simply do not listen." Aemilia said, she was clearly in tears. Her own bloody mother had hurt her in every way that was humanly possible. "You know how hard the last couple of days have been for me. My best friend is missing, the kidnappers were after me! But when they couldn''t find me, they took her. There is no contact with them so we still do not know where she is, or if she is even alive. And here you are trying to separate me from my husband, who is being my rock during these weeks." She walked towards him and took him by the arm.


    "What Gloria is missing, I did not know that." Her mother replied coldly.


    "That is a lie Rosetta, and you know that." Aemilia''s father entered the room, Sebastian had giving him a key during one of their business meetings. "I told about her kidnapping myself."


    "Hector, what are you doing here?" Rosetta said, she was in shock, good.


    "I came her to discuss something with Sebastian, now that he is fired from his fathers'' company." Hector said. "I didn''t expect to find you here, hurting our little girl. And do not dare to tell me that you are the victim in all of these, I heard everything." He looked at his daughter. "I am so sorry, about all of this. I am going to take her with me. Sebastian, I will talk with you inside your new office."


    "I will be there, starting from tomorrow morning sir." Sebastian replied. Hector grabbed Rosetta by the arm and dragged her out of the house. Sebastian looked at Aemilia, so now everything was out in the open. But not in the way he wanted it to be.

 Chapter 12

    Gloria sat on a bed inside an empty room, she did not know where she was and how long she has been here. What she did know was that the door and widows were locked and that there were at least three men in the other parts of the building, maybe even more. She had not seen any of them, after their brief moment in the dark apartment. They had given her food through a small opening inside the door, and she had a small bathroom where she was able to see to her basic needs. She only did not dare to take a shower, in fear of one of the men creeping inside the room to spy on her, or maybe to do even worse. She had heard them talk about it, but there was one among the named Frank, who was against it. Not knowing who of the three was Frank, but she was grateful that he was guarding her from that faith. But she wondered what else was going on outside the room, did they make contact with her family. She did not know how much they were going to ask her parent, probably, much more than they were able to afford. Her family wasn''t as rich as Aemilia''s or Sebastian''s. Maybe the both of them will jump in to help out, if her father excepted their help. He normally wasn''t as keen, but her mother will talk some sense into him. She sighed, who was she kidding. Her mother couldn''t convince the man to divorce her, even when she spelled out how unhappy she was. This all made her feel even more hopeless, will she see her friends and family? Will she survive this? These were questions she loved to answer with confidant yes. Only this was not the case, at least not now. The door flew open and one of the men entered the room. He was already unbuckling his belt.


    " Hello, we just discovered that you are worth nothing more than the dirt under our boots." He said with a smirk on his face. "Parents spending working hard to pay off debt and all that boring stuff. Facing divorce and all with all, we are not able to hustle much out of them." She jumped from the bed and ran towards the furthest corner, away from him. "So I know a way you can make it up to us." He jumped towards her, and grabbed her before she was able to flee. "Not so quick." He turned her so that she was facing him. That is when he struck her, so hard that she fall towards the ground. He grabbed her again, only this time she started to scream as loud she was able. Hoping that this man wasn''t Frank. Another man appeared in the door opening.


    "Justin, what the hell are you doing?" The man screamed.


    "Having fun with our guest, little brother." Justin replied. The man entered and peel Justin off her.


    "Did you forget, why she is here. Do you think that her parents will pay if she is being thatched?" The man, she hoped, was Frank said.


    "Her parents are not able to pay half what we were hoping for." Justin remarked, trying to grab her once again. But the other hold her outside his reach. "So she is not even worth the trouble, so let use at least have fun with her."


    "Did you already forget who''s friend she is. Aemilia will not let her friend suffer." The man snapped. "Just contact someone, make the demand and we see what we are getting." Justin growled. But left the room.


    " Thank you." Gloria whispered.


    "Do not thank me. He is right, you will not fetch much." The man said. "But I am not willing to course more harm than I need too." He glanced at her, just for a brief moment, before leaving her alone. She still didn''t know who he was, but at least for now she had seen two of their faces. But will this help her, she did not know.


    ******


    Sebastian sat inside his office, Adam was sitting at the desk next to his. He had not asked him to be here, but he did not have the heart to send him away. Hector, Aemilia''s father, entered.


    "So this is your business. In my eyes, it is an upgrade from the hellhole you came from." Hector said loudly. "You were smart to prepare for it. Maybe not as smart to mail every client off your fathers'' company about what happened, not that I blame you for that." Sebastian frowned.


    "It is not that I didn''t play with the idea, but in the end I didn''t do that. I wanted to show professionalism." He said, and the both of them then looked at Adam. Who shrugged, and sighed. So he had mailed all the clients, well it was his father and brother deserved. That and a bit more. Hector sat down, and sighed.


    "Well what is done, is done. There is nothing we can do about it now. The same goes about my wife." He said, and Sebastian hung his head. "I knew my wife was not happy about your marriage, but that she will go so far as by hurting Aemilia..." He shook his head. Sebastian knew what he meant, it was something he had suspected, but he never expected that she would do it. "I have talked with my lawyer, and initiated divorce, I do not want to be married to that woman." Sebastian couldn''t help but to see the irony, Rosetta was pushing Aemilia and him towards a divorce, but now she was the one getting one.


    "I am sorry to hear that." He said.


    "No, you are not sorry, but she is still Aemilia''s mother. So she stays your..." Hector started.


    "Shark-in-law." Adam finished him and all three of the men started to chuckle, which quickly changed to a full belly laugh. Other employees looked at them, which did not take long.


    "But I am not here to talk my personal life with you." Hector said. "I am here to discuss business. Now that you have the time, I want to give you a boost." He placed a folder on the desk, which was quite thick. "This is the numbers of the current quarter, from one department." Sebastian sighed, he was already gasping for breath by the idea of doing the numbers of all the departments. "The accountant of that department came in a car incident, he is fine besides a minor head injury. But I gave him a month off to rest, and heal. That was before I heard about you getting fired, but when I heard it, I knew that this was the right moment to give this to you." Sebastian looked once again at the folder, Hector had not told him which department he would be crunching the numbers for. But to give this to an outsider was a huge deal.


    "Sir, I do not know what to say." Sebastian said. "But are you sure about this? This company is there to support the bigger companies with this kind of thing. I do not know if we are capable of doing this."


    "But I do, and that is more than enough." Hector replied, Adam nodded. They indeed could use this extra boost in their business. Sebastian wanted to thank him, again this was not a small favor. But his phone rang.


    "I am sorry, can I take this?" He asked, showing Hector his phone.


    "By all means." Hector replied. Sebastian picked up, it was an unknown number. Which was strange because this was his private cellphone, nobody called him with an unknown number on this. Only when someone lost his or her phone, or had a new number. Still, he picked up.


    "Hello?" He said, there was nothing the whole time. Only somebodies breathing and some kind of static as if someone was busy on their phone. "Hello." He repeated.


    "Is this mister Coleville." Said a disfigured voice, that was probably what they had done on their phone, activated the app to disfigured it.


    "This is him." He replied and he quickly placed the phone on speaker. So that the others might hear him as well, he placed a finger to his lips to let the others know that they need to be quiet. He had the feeling that this were Gloria''s kidnappers, Adam grabbed his phone and activated recording, and Hector grabbed a pen and paper to write down the phone number. Which was probably a burner, but it was useful nonetheless. He looked at his phone, waiting for what is to come.


    Stolen story; please report.


    "We have your pretty lady friend, and we want a large sum of money." The voice said.


    "What is your price." Sebastian said, as calm as he could.


    "Twenty million." The voice replied. "But ten would also do." He nodded, this will be a large sum of money, but not as large as they wanted for Aemilia. It was only a large sum of money he did not have, maybe he could borrow money of Hector. But that was a concern for later.


    "How do I know that she is still alive?" Sebastian asked. On his screen, popped up a message with a photo. He only could see once, he quickly took a screenshot from it. Knowing that they might need to use this photo later, and Emma really wanted to see it.


    "She is still in one piece and untouched. But I am not willing to promise that this will stay like this, she is a beauty after all." The voice said. Adam jumped up, a combination of anger, sadness and helplessness showed on his face. "You have one week to gather the money." Then the owner of the voice hung up the phone. Adam screamed in anger, Hector sat in defeat, and Sebastian quickly picked up his phone and called Emma Blackwater.


    "Mister Coleville, to what do I owe the pleaser." She said, when she picked up the phone.


    "They made contact." He said, and quickly told her what happened. She said that they needed to stay put and she would be there in a matter of minutes. Which she was, she requested the recording, the screenshot, send towards her and she took the paper with the phone number with her.


    "I will do my best, but it will be better if you all take the steps they requested. Gather the money, inform her parents." Emma said, and the men nodded. Sebastian did not know how he was going to tell this to Aemilia, maybe just how it is. That the kidnappers had made contact, and which the amount of money the requested. He sighed and Hector nodded.


    "It will not be easy, but we will do our bests. Officer Blackwater, I thank you for your hard work." Hector said, he shook her hand, and Emma left them. Adam sat down with his hands in his hair.


    "Adam, we are going to everything in our power to get her home." Sebastian said, Hector looked at him. Probably wondering what his connecting with Gloria was. "He has being on a blind date, the evening that Gloria got abducted. He feels guilty that he was not there to protect her." But he suspected that there was a lot more going on, but that was how much he was willing to share with him. Hector nodded.


    "I understand what you mean, I wished that I upped the securaty of that building. Something I wanted to do when my daughter was still living their, but this would have gone against Aemilia''s wises to stand on their own two feet." Hector said. Sebastian looked at his father-in-law, he loved his daughter with all his heart that much was clear. He knew how much Aemilia hated the bodygaurds her parents, and he now thought mostly her mother had hired. To get her back in line, which of course never happened. It was because the last guard that she slept with mister Velvet during the party. He knew all of this because she had told him, and he took that information with him when he looked for a bodyguard. That was why he landed on Hendrik, who was an older man with a daughter of his own. Aemilia herself had told him that she liked having Hendrik around, which in his books was a good thing.


    Hector looked around. "I am going to contact my bank and tell them to make preparations for the withdrawal." Sebastian nodded.


    "I already emptied my savings account." Adam chimed in and he gave Hector the envelope with cash. "It is not much, but it is all I have." Sebastian was surprised at this, Adam always told him that he was proud of his savings and that he withdraw the money only when he absolutely needed. As when his dog needed a surgery a couple of years ago.


    "I am going to do the same thing." He said while walking towards the rest of the office. "Everyone, we just got a large assignment. This means that from tomorrow on, we will put our best foot forward. There are also some personal things going on inside my life, some of you already know what it is. This thing just got a new development, which will take up some of my attention." A man called Frank stood up, Sebastian did not know this man very well. But he worked hard and never complained about anything.


    "Boss, I think that I am speaking for all of use that we understand. Although a lot of use, myself included, do not know what this is. We know that you will give it your all, like you always do." Frank said, Sebastian nodded and thanked the man in silence.


    "Thank you, Frank, I am going to take the day off and deal with this personal matter. As well, reviewing the assignment to divided under the team. You will receive an e-mail this evening." He said, turned around to grab his back and together with Adam and Hector left the office.


    *******


    Aemilia was passing the store, Daniel Velvet was leaning against the counter. He clearly had not taken the hint that she did not want him there. Hendrik was standing in the store, ready to remove the man. But Aemilia feared for their professional relationship if he did that. Maybe she put too much value in that relationship, but she was so proud when Morgan had told her that her store was the only one selling Velvet''s pieces. The door of her store opened and Sebastian entered the store, together with her father and Adam. She quickly looked at Hendrik, had he called Sebastian? He shook his head, so no he did not call, but why were all three of them here? Daniel pushed himself off the counter when he saw Sebastian.


    "So you most be the husband." Daniel started.


    "And you must be the one-nightstand." Sebastian replied. Daniel looked shocked. "Yes she told me, and you know what I do not care what you think about our marriage, I do not care what you think of me. But Aemilia has told me that she asked you to keep this relationship to business only. But yet I find you here inside my wife''s store, I see at her that she those not know what to do with you. Because she loves the pieces you create, so much, though, that we both wear it on our fingers." He now showed Daniel his wedding ring. "I believe that is the only reason Hendrik here as not put your ass outside this door. So I am now here to tell you as a husband, not a jealous one, but as one that cares about his wife. Leave her alone." Daniel raised both his hands, was he surrendering or was he mocking Sebastian. She was not able to see his face, and Sebastian''s expression didn''t tell her much either. But Daniel turned towards her and smiled.


    "He is a keeper, I will respect your wises. And sorry that I crossed a boundary, but I wanted to see the better man." Daniel said and then turned towards Sebastian. "Take care of her, otherwise I will be back." And he left. Aemilia couldn''t believe it, he was here all this time to meet Sebastian. How did he know that Sebastian would be here today? It did not matter, or did it.


    "Aemilia, the kidnappers have made contact." Sebastian said. Getting her back out of her own thoughts.


    "They did, is she still alive?" Aemilia asked and Sebastian, with her father and Adam, told her everything. From the strange voice app, to the photo and the amount of cash.


    "Did you already inform officer Blackwater?" She asked, of course he had. What a stupid question to ask, but there was not much else she could do at the moment.


    "There is one other thing you need to know, sweetie." Her father said. "Your mother and I are going through a divorce, I can no longer stay with her after what she has said and done." This somehow did not surprise her, she knew that her parents were not happy with their marriage. They had different views, morals. Something that she was able to see even when she was little. "That said, she will still be your mother and she most be respected as such. Although, I will support you if you are going low- or no- contact with her."


    "Yes, she is still my mother, however my respect is something earned. She lost mine a while ago, and I think I will sleep better at night if we go no contact with her." Aemilia said, meaning every word. She did not hate her mother, but she simply did not trust her.


    "As you wish. Do I need to arrange a lawyer for a siege and desist letter?" Her father asked. But she shook her head, that was something she was able to do herself.


    "Thank you daddy." She said. She walked over to Sebastian and wrapped her arms around his waist. Silently preying for a good and happy ending.

 Chapter 13

    Daniel was glad that he was able to see how much that Sebastian guy loves Aemilia. She desirves it, he knew that when they slept together all those years ago, that it did not mean anything to her. To him it meant a lot, she was, and is still, hot as hell. But not only that but she is also nice, which is rare for girls who have a lot of money. Still he knew right away that their time did not mean anything to her, right after the act. How she snuck out of his room, never said anything about it afterwards. As if she did not know with who she shared a bed, well she was drunk that night so that could play a role in that. This only did not explain why she never interacted with him as she had done before, maybe it was because of Gloria. Who never let her out of her sight after the party, which was a good thing in his books. Gloria was not poses over Aemilia, she simply looked out for her. He sighed and looked at the sketches of his designs, all were made with some kind of love. The desire he had felt from that night, the hope that one day she would be his. But that day will not come, he had seen how her face light up when the husband walked in. The same goes for the husband, when he saw her. Those two were clearly head over heals, maybe they even slept with each other.


    "Hello Daniel, of course they have. They are freaking married." He said to no one in particular, because there was no one inside his studio except for himself. Talking to himself was a habit which was really hard to break, not that he needed to do so when it was only him. His gaze went from his work towards the clock, it was getting late, maybe a drink in the local bar will set him more at ease. He and maybe he finds some lady or gentleman who can distract him from his broken heart, something that was not easily done. He took his leather jacket and went down to the bar. It was not busy, which was not surprising it was a normal day, not even close to the weekend. But there were some patrons, he took his place at the bar. The bartender did not even ask his order and already placed a glass of cold beer in front of his nose.


    "You are late." The bartender said. "I was starting to wonder if you would show up tonight."


    "I did not know that we had a date." Daniel said playful, but the bartender, he did not know his name, was right about him being later than usual. "Sorry, had a lot on my mind. I just found out the girl I am crushing on, is already married. The worst part is, I like the guy." The bartender hissed.


    "That is rough, man, but I thought that you were playing for the other team." The bartender replied. Daniel placed a grin on his face.


    "Who said I can''t play for both." He said, the bartender nodded and then shook his head. "But she was my first, after her it went all down hill." The bartender hissed again.


    "But she is already married, so what are you going to do now. Hook up with every one who is willing?" The bartender asked. Daniel shook his head. That was originally the plan, but now that he heard the plan out loud from someone else''s lips. It did not sound that appealing to him.


    "No, but I am not going to wait until I find the one. It would be not right for me to do so." Daniel said and sighed, placing the glass at his lips and took a large gulp. The beer was not that bad, it was not a Belgium beer, but it was not bad. "Still, I need to keep my mind off the fact that I lost my change."


    "You know, I will be free in half an hour. I can spend a few hours with you." The bartender said. Daniel looked at the man, he was not bad looking. Brown short hair, blue eyes and a three-week stubble beard. All with all, a nice catch, if he said so himself. And he was the one that offered, so why refuse this nice offer.


    "Why not." He said. The bartender smiled and it would indeed be a night he would remember forever.


    *********


    Frank was at his widths end, Justin was simply out of his mind to threaten Sebastian and the other like that. He was at work when Justin made the phone call with that burner phone of his. That app that changed his voice sounded phony as fuck, but he knew that it was all Justin got. He only wished that Justin did not call his boss directly, he did not know that Gloria knew Sebastian Coleville until today. But it explained a lot, why the Quince family business showed interest in the small start-up. Sebastian was Aemilia''s husband, that at least is what he heard during the break. He hated the fact that he got involved with this, but ,885, Justin was his younger brother. Only the man did not show any sign of reason. Frank shook his head when he opened the door, Justin and his buddy, named Buddy were sitting at a table playing cards. He did not ask how they were doing, or how their guest was doing. He had changed the locks after Justin''s attempt, which made it not so safe for her while he was at work. But at the same time she was not going to be raped by any of these two. Which set his mind at ease when he is at work, he was the only one of this little group who did. Buddy and Justin never hold down a job for long and were now putting so much time and afford into stalking this poor woman''s family and friends." Frank unlocked the door and entered. Gloria lay on the bed.


    "I have some new cloths, and food with me." He said. She pushed herself up and looked at him.


    "I am not hungry." She replied, she had not eaten since Justin attacked her. Maybe she was afraid that the food and drinks he provided were drugged, which was not a strange thought.


    "It is still in its original wrapping. Straight from the covenant store." He said, but still she came not towards him or the food. He packed out the plastic bag and took the plastic bag with him. Afraid that she might hurt herself with it if he left it there. But when he checked upon her again, a few hours later she still had not thatched the food, or the clothes for that matter. He sighed, he was already afraid for this. Maybe this would be a good idea to pull the plug out of this plan. But how would he do it, he couldn''t call the police while he was here. He needed to do it when he was at work. Then Justin and Buddy will not find out that it was him. Just in case something goes wrong.


    ******


    The next morning he entered the office, and went straight towards Sebastian''s office. Sebastian was already sitting at his desk.


    "Boss, can I talk to you?" He asked. Sebastian didn''t look up.


    "Is there something wrong with the assignment I gave you?" He asked, but Frank shook his head and quickly closed the door.


    "I am here to tell you that I have called the police, it is about Gloria Nightegale." Frank said, this made Sebastian look up. "I know where she is because I am part of the group who kidnapped her." Now even Adam looked up. "I knew it was wrong, but helped my brother anyway. I already informed the police where she is and also where I am. I have to warn you that she is not doing so well, I protected her as much as I could. But I am here all day, working my butt off to keep my head above water, well, supporting my baby brother and his good for nothing friend." Frank hung his head. "I am not making excuses or anything. I just wanted you to know why I did it." Sebastian stood up from his desk and looked him straight in the eye.


    "Why do you tell me this now?" Sebastian asked.


    "She stopped eating, I bought her sealed off food. To let her know that I wouldn''t drug her or something. But she has not touched a meal or something to drink for an inter day." Frank said. "This can''t go on, so I made the call and I think that there is the police to arrest me." Frank turned around and saw the police woman of yesterday coming towards him.


    "Mister Coleville, mister .... I am here to inform you that we have rescued miss Nightegale, thanks to a tip." The woman said. She now looked at him. "Mister Ness, please place your hands on your back." He did as she said and she walked behind him.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Officer Blackwater, let him walk out of here without them." Sebastian said. "I do not think he is a flight risk."


    "That is for me to decide, mister Coleville. He is a criminal, after all." She said, pleasing the cuffs on his wrists, but she did not put them on too tight. "But it is thanks to this man that miss Nightegale is going towards the hospital. She was highly under fed and dehydrated. Do not worry, mister Ness, I am not blaming you for this. I have seen the food and drinks in the room."


    "That is the main reason why I called you, officer." Frank said, he looked at Adam and Sebastian for one last time. "I am really sorry about all of this." That was before the woman took him away, his colleagues were looking at him in shock. But he knew that he did the right thing, he would face his crimes with his head held up high. "Madam, do I need to face my brother and his friend?" He asked before she opened the door of the car. She looked at him with her bright green eyes, she was beautiful and strong.


    "Are you afraid of them?" She asked, and he nodded.


    "You have seen my brother''s records, if not you will see them. But let we say that my brother is not that stable." Frank said, she nodded and motioned for him to get in.


    "Then no, you do not have to face them." She said, before closing the door. She stayed out of the car and made a phone call. He did not know who she was calling, but he hoped that it was protective services. It did not take long, before she hung up the phone, took her place behind the wheel and drove off.


    *******


    Adam jumped up and made his way out of the office. He needed to see her, and there was nobody who could stop him. Not that Sebastian would try, because he was following him. He was going to pick up Aemilia, to get her to the hospital. But he would go straight up. The road was empty and the traffic lights were not stalling for time, for once. But he wouldn''t have cared, he needed to see her. He needed to be with her. He needed to ask mister Quince for his money, so that he could help her. He parked the car and rushed inside, the smell of the sterial inverment hit his nose. He did not care he rushed to the desk.


    "Hello, I am looking for miss Nigthegale. She has being brought in?" He asked the lady behind the desk. The woman looked at her computer screen and then gave him clear directions. He followed them, while trying not to run. This was a hostpital, not a racing track. He entered her room and saw her laying on a bed. She was vast asleep, there were wires and tubes everywhere around her. The doctor followed him in.


    "Are you family of miss Nightegale?" The man asked, he wanted to lie, but he shook his head.


    "I am a friend. Her family would be here not before long." He said, the doctor nodded and sighed. "Doctor, I am willing to help her in anyway I can." The man sighed.


    "I would not be surprised if the woman has PTSD after this, so maybe look into therapy. Or maybe a service animal." He said. A service animal? That was maybe a good idea, he took out his phone and started to look it up. "I know a shelter who trains this types of animals, cats, dogs, even small pigs." The doctor grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the adress.


    "Thank you doctor, I will look into it." Adam said, just as Sebastian, Aemilia, her father and Gloria''s parents walked in. Gloria''s mother was in tears when she saw her daughter. The doctor told them what was going on, and even more tears were shed. The doctor left them. "Gloria talked about adopting a dog, before she got kidnapped."


    "So I just got an address from a shelter that does train service animals. Maybe it will be a good idea for her to have a service dog." Adam said, and Aemilia nodded.


    "That is a great idea." She said. "I will help with finding one." Adam smiled at her, she was indeed a great friend and he fired up the site. For them to look at profiles of the dogs. All of them were looking cute and the descriptions really helped to figure out which dog would be up for the task. A three-year-old Chow chow named Padditon was his personal favorite, but it will be up to Gloria which dog she was going to pick. He looked at her, and she looked at him.


    "You are awake." He said, now all the focus was on Gloria, who nodded.


    "I am going to look for the doctor." Sebastian said, and he left the room. Adam walked over her and took her hand, her first reaction was to pull it away. But after that she was the one who took it once again.


    "Sorry." She said.


    "That was something I wanted to say." Adam replied with a soft smile. By God what was it a relief to see her awake, she was once again safe. "I am so sorry that I was not there when you needed me." She shook her head.


    "There is no way, you could have known that this was going to happen." She said. "So, do not beat yourself up over it. I am back, and did I just hear you are talking about a service dog?" So she heard that, he showed her the picture of Paddington. Her face light up and she nodded. "Can we go to the shelter as soon as I am discharged?" He nodded, he would do anything for her at this point. Move mountains, cross rivers, so the least he could do was drive by a shelter for her to adopt a dog. "Good."


    "I will call them and ask them if that is alright with them." Aemilia said, and she left the room. Adam looked at her parents, they clearly wanted some alone time with their daughter.


    "I am going to grab something to drink, do you guys want anything?" He asked, her parents shook their heads. So he left the room, Aemilia looked at him and sighed.


    "She is safe." He nodded, she was.


    *******


    Gloria was glad that she was able to leave the hospital the very next day. Adam was the one who picked her up.


    "Good morning, sunshine." He said. He opened the door so that she was able to get in. "We have an appointment, at the shelter, in half an hour." He said while he got in the car, he started the car and drove off. They did not drive for a long time, and she felt nervous. What if none of the dogs were suited for what she needed? Or another problem, what if none of the dogs liked her? Adam got out of the car and breath in deeply. "Tell all the lovely doggo''s that it is adoption day." He sounded so sure, maybe she needed to push her worries to the side. She got out of the car and together with Adam entered the shelter. A young woman greeted them.


    "You most be miss Nightegale, what I am glad to meet you." The woman said. "I will take you to our living room and then we are going to introduce three dogs to you. Paddington is one of them." She smiled. "Please come with me." She turned around and walked away. "Our shelter get our animals from shelters that have a high kill rate, we look for dogs, cats and other animals that we can train to be service animals. It is not an easy task, not every animal understands the game that they need to play. But there are some gems among them, like Paddington. He is trained to be an emotional support dog, he can guide the blind and notice when people going in apoplastic shock." Gloria listened carefully to the woman''s words. " I heard you need a dog for PTSD." The woman said, and Gloria nodded.


    "It is still not diagnosed, but both my therapist and doctor suspect it. I am not going into much detail." Gloria replied. The woman nodded.


    "And I would not dare to ask any further. If those two are suspecting it, who am I to doubt it." The woman said. The living room was nicely decorated, it was not overly loud in colors. Which was nice, but it was still cozy. There was a couch big enough for Adam and her. But Adam chose to keep on standing.


    "It is your dog, not mine." He said, when she looked at him. The woman brought in the first dog, which was a small dog. Gloria liked him, but the dog didn''t want anything to do with her. Which was fine, this meant that this dog was not for her. The next one was a shiba-inu mix, and again there was no connection between her and the dog.


    "This is so strange." The woman said, while taking away the dog. Adam sighed.


    "Let''s hope everything will be alright with Paddington." He said, she agreed with him on that note. She hated the fact that the other two dogs didn''t like her. The door opened and Paddington, a chocolate brown chow chow, rushed in, and he went straight towards her. Jumped on the couch and lay down, with his head on her lap. He licked her hands, she felt better.


    "He went straight to work." The woman said. "Normally a dog needs to be with you for a period of time to pick up your signs, but he already pulled on the lease when we came near the door. As if he could smell that you needed him." The woman stroke Paddington''s fur. "There is no doubt in my mind that he is the dog for you." Gloria nodded and then looked at Adam.


    "I got a dog." She said, he started to smile too.


    "Paddington is used to be with other dogs and even with cats. So other animals will be no problem, you need to train with him. But that can be done at home with a personal trainer, or you can do it here. Also take the dog to therapy with you." The woman said, she stood up and came back with all the paperwork.

 Chapter 14

    Sebastian was glad who it all turned out, Gloria was safe and sound. Those who took her were being arrested, and all will be well. At least he hoped, he parked the car in front of the house. When his phone buzzed. He looked at it and it was a message from Adam. Or not so much as a message, rather a picture of a brown ball of fur. It was a cute picture, and he hoped that this dog was able to help Gloria with what she needs. He got out of the car and entered the house.


    "Hello darling." He said, while still looking at his phone. "Just got a message from Adam, Gloria has found a brown ball of fluff to be her support animal. Come and look, it is really adoreble." But Aemilia didn''t reply, was he mistaken and was she not at home. He looked up and to his shock his shark-in-law was sitting on the sofa. Aemilia had tears in her eyes, but she didn''t look sad. No she looked rather angry.  "I am so sorry, didn''t know that you had company. Madam, nice to see you here. Can I offer you something to drink?" But the woman stood up, and looked at him as if he was a bug. He wanted to roll his eyes, he knew that this day would come and here it was. Time to dust off that spine of his, but she went off on him before he even could open his mouth.


    "You second rate..."


    "Mom." Aemilia snapped at her. "This is not his fault, it is just now that I am living full time with Kitty." Sebastian looked confused, what was going on here? What was this about his cat, didn''t they visit this topic the last time they fought? "But then again it is not his fault that you lied to me all my life!" Sebastian was taking at back, what was this all about? "You lied, bribed Doctor whatshisname, to lie to me as well. And why because you didn''t want me to get a pet?" Sebastian looked shocked, Aemilia focussed now on him. "I wanted to switch doctors for a while, but never got the time or lacked the courage to do it. But I brought up the pet thing with, Clive''s wife, and she found it strange that I was able to live with Kitty even when I am on medication. So I got myself tested, and what do you know, I am not allergic at all. There is not even being a record from me that said I was tested for an allergy when I was a baby." Sebastian narrowed his eyes.


    "Wait a second, you are not allergic to animals" He asked and she shook her head. "But what the hell did you take all this time. You have being taken medication ever since you lived here?" Now he was really concerned, those types of medication did have side effects, he looked it up after she had menaced her allergy.


    "Placebo''s!" Aemilia said, "Or at least I hope that they were?" She focused her attention towards her mother. "Otherwise it might be some kind of drug to do God knows what!" Her mother got red in the face.


    "I will not allow that you have children with this lower class man. My grandchildren are not going to live inside a house like this!" Her mother screamed.


    "What did you give my wife!" Sebastian lost it. He was afraid that she had poisoned Aemilia. Shark-in-law looked smug. Sebastian looked at Aemilia. "Grab the meds, I am brining you to the hospital right now." At that point her father walked inside the house.


    "Why are you bringing my daughter to the hospital?" He asked.


    "Your soon-to-be ex, lied about Aemilia''s allergy and all the time she has being on some kind of drug, we do not know what it those. But shark-in-law just said something about us not being able to have kids." Richard became pale and grabbed his soon-to-be ex-wife by the arm.


    "I hope for you that our daughter is fine." He growled. This was the first time Sebastian saw him this angry. Which he completely understood, he was angry as well. And maybe even that was an understatement, but he was glad that he had some back-up. Richard worked his soon-to-be ex-wife out of the house, and came back into the room. At the same time Aemilia came back.


    "Dad?" She asked.


    "I will explain later, we have to go and yes I am coming with you." He said. Aemilia nodded and all of them left the house.


    *******


    Sebastian didn''t know what was worse, to explain the nurse and then the doctor what was going on. Or the endless waiting, that followed. Aemilia was taken away for a shitload of tests. Richard has contacted his lawyer and the authorities which was also done by the hospital. What kind of joke was this, this could only be a joke right? Richard landed in the uncomfortable seat next to him.


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    "Well that was fun." He sighed. "It will not take long before the police and my lawyer are here. John will also represent you and will collab with your own lawyer in the morning." Sebastian nodded, why didn''t he think of contacting his lawyer? He was of course too worried about Aemilia, and there was no doubt in his mind that Richard saw this as well. Hence, contacting his own lawyer, making sure that everything is set up for him as well. "I can''t believe that this is happening. My princess is being tested because she got poisoned by her own mother." Sebastian wanted to say that his family dynamic was not much better and is his brother had thought about something similar he would have done it, with the blessing of their father. But this was not the time nor place to say stuff like this. Two officers entered the waiting room, together with a man in a very nice and expensive suite. The man in the suite gave Richard a hand.


    "I am John Sawyer, and I will represent your father-in-law and you mister Coleville." John Sawyer said. Sebastian could only nod.


    "Can we do it here? I want to be here, when there is news about my wife." He said, the officers nodded. The waiting room was empty except for them. The officers sat down, grabbed their notebooks and started to ask questions. And Sebastian answered them, while making eye contact with John before answering them. Knowing that he had nothing to hide here. The officers then turned towards Richard, who of course went into much deeper.  He was married to the woman who did this, Richard of course blamed himself for being not as much involved in his daughter''s life and that he was a fool for believing his wife when she told him that their daughter was allergic to animals. He himself was planning of giving her a kitten that Christmas. But that plan became void, when he heard that news. Then he told them something Sebastian didn''t expect.


    "My wife had an affair with my best friend, Micheal Knight. Which I found out to day, it started around the period that Aemilia was ''diagnosed''. I believe that Micheal spilled the beans about the kitten idea." Richard sighed. "Micheal Knight is also the one who supplied Aemilia with her medication after she moved in with Sebastian.  I do not know if he knew what kind of drugs they were, but you should ask him that." The officer nodded.


    "Mister Coleville and Mister Quince, thank the both of you for your time. I am so sorry we needed to do this." The officer said, but Richard raise his hand up.


    "Officer, you only did your job, there is nothing more we can ask for." Richard said, and both officers left. John Sawyer staid with Richard, talking about all kind of maneuvers they can pull in court. "We signed a prenup before we married, all my money stayed mine and all her money stayed hers. I am willing to give her the house, but nothing more than that." This was not the kind of discussion Sebastian wanted to hear, but it was a nice distraction. That was probably why the two men talked about it here and now. John was about to say something to Richard about that, but that is when the doctor came in.


    "Mister Coleville, and mister Quince. Aemilia is done with her tests, the drugs are being tested and we are still not sure what they are. But we believe that they are not regular medication, they are no placebos. We informed the police of this as well, Aemilia is being tested for all kind of things, with the main focus her productive organs." The doctor took a deep breath. "Well, Aemilia told me what her mother said about her not being able to have children with you, mister Coleville. And I have to say if those pills were trying to prevent that, well then her plan has failed." Sebastian frowned and Richard put his hand over his mouth. "Congratulations, mister Coleville. You are about to become a father." Sebastian''s eyes grew and he felt a little wobbly on his feet. Aemilia was pregnant, they were going to have a baby. They were not ready for that, who ever is ready for that. He looked at Richard, who was supporting him. The first thing that came to mind was shark-in-law.


    "Mister Sawyer, when you speak with my lawyer. Tell them that I want a size and desist letter drawn up, ext to it a protective order against shark-in-law and this mister Knight. I will be a father and I will protect my child." John nodded and Sebastian looked at the doctor. "May I see my wife?"


    *****


    Aemilia lay in a hospital bed, completely wired in. A doctor was going over her belly, next to the bed stood a monitor showing the echo from the child. It was not big, but it was their baby. He softly sat down next to her, tears were streaming down his cheek. This was not the first echo he had seen, the first time he had seen one was from Cindy. But this was different, this time it was his child. It was his baby.


    "I would say that you are 4 to 5 weeks, Mrs. Coleville." The female doctor said. "Lucky that those pills didn''t mess this part up." The doctor now looked at him and smiled. "We of course can not see the gender of the baby."


    "Is it healthy?" He asked, now Aemilia looked at him shocked. But hat quickly gave way to a soft smile. "Gender is something for the child to decide, but health is the most important factor." The doctor nodded and smiled.


    "Heart rate of both mother and the baby are good. We are going to keep an eye on the both of you." That last part she was pointed at Aemilia. "And of course we are going to inform you about those pills." Aemilia took his hand and sighed.


    "Thank you all, for your care." She said. The doctor stood up and started to pack up the machine. Aemilia focused on him. "You are going to be a dad, for real this time." He took her hand and brought it towards his lips for a small kiss.


    "You are going to be a mother. And d not worry about yours I have taken care of it." Sebastian said. She nodded and sighed,


    "I didn''t expect it any other way. But good, let me see that ball of fur."

 Chapter 15

    Sebastian had a huge smile on his face when he pulled up into the driveway, but that smile disappeared when he saw Micheal Knight standing in front of his door. Aemilia sat next to him and he could see that she didn''t know how to feel. Hector had told her this morning about the affair and Aemilia didn''t take it well, something Sebastian could understand. She idolized this man, he was an uncle to her and she believed that he could do her no harm. But she thought the same thing about her mother, and as a result she had spent a night inside the hospital.


    "I am going to talk to him." Sebastian said. "Do you want to come with me, or do you want to stay in the car?" She sighed.


    "I want to take Kitty inside my arms and cuddle her until she grows tired from me." She replied. She stepped out of the car and walked towards the door. Sebastian followed her and stopped Micheal when he was about to say something to her.


    "Leave her be." Sebastian snapped. "She has being through enough." Micheal looked angry at him. "And don''t you dare, blaming me. Your affair partner has a talent for doing that, but I think you are smarter then that. Then again, you gave her those pills."


    "I didn''t..." Micheal started.


    "So not as smart as I thought, who in his right mind gives someone pills if he those not know what they do?  I have to say I already found it strange when you brought them the first time and that should have being a solid warning for me. Now I know better and I will not let you near my family again." Sebastien said. His voice was cool and collected, something he tried hard to maintain. He knew that there was no point in losing his temper, but that didn''t mean that he was not angry. Micheal opened his mouth. "What, do you still think you have a role to play inside her life, or do you think her mother is going to play a role in her life. Well think again, my lawyer is already busy with all the documents and I do not doubt that they are being delivered this afternoon. You and her mother are no longer welcome, near our house, our places of work. Am I clear?" Micheal hung his head.


    "But who is going to protect her..." He stammered


    "That was never your job. It was her father''s job and now it is mine. So I suggest you remove yourself from my property, or I will call the police." Sebastian said and he already grabbed his phone.


    "There is no need to call use, mister Coleville. We are already here." A male voice said. It was indeed a police officer. "Mister Knight, you are a hard man to find. But there you are and it is time for you to come with use. We have some questions for you." The police officer walked towards him and lay a hand on Micheal''s shoulder. Softly pushed him away. Sebastian gave them a nod of gratitude and entered his house. Aimilia was sitting on the couch, with Kitty in her arms. He could hear her content from where he was standing.


    "He is gone." He said, she nodded and sighed. "I need to call my lawyer, to include him too." She nodded again and then sighed. "After that we can discuss stuff we need to buy for the baby. We also can shop for some maturity clothing, if you want." This seemed to cheer her up a bit.


    "I was thinking about a bee theme for the nursery, to make it gender natural." She said, he nodded.


    "Deal, but sweetheart if it is a girl I want to name her Katherina, after my mom." He said. "I never knew her, but I want to believe that she loved me." Aemilia closed her eyes and nodded.


    "Katherina. That is indeed a beautiful name, and the meaning behind it is perfect." She said and smiled. "We will eventually call her Kitty, but that is beyond the point." She let go off Kitty, who made clear that she didn''t appreciate it. But Aemilia didn''t pay much attention to her, and grabbed her laptop from the cabinet under the coffee table. Sebastian saw that she was already looking for clothes and strollers. "Ohh, sweetheart. Can we invite John, Morgan and the children? And Gloria of course. I want to share the news with them." He nodded.


    "Everything you want today, it will be yours." He said and disappeared into his office.


    *****


    The call took longer then suspected, of course he didn''t only take care of the Micheal and Shark-in-law matter. But he also set up a collage fund for the baby. His lawyer was a gem, and he promised to keep the news about the little one to himself. But he was beat when he left his office, he almost bumped into Nana, his housekeeper.


    "Ohh I am so sorry, mister Coleville. But your wife asked me to move her stuff into your bedroom. She assured me that you were fine with it." The woman said. He nodded, to make clear that he was fine with it. "You do not have it from me, but I think she is pregnant."


    "I know that she is, that is part of the reason she asked you to move her stuff. Also, Nana we are going to have some friends over for dinner, can you make something delicious like your stuffed chicken with orange. She was talking about inviting Morgan, John and the children." He said, the woman raised her hand.


    "You''re only telling me this now, I need to go to the store and clean the house." Nana said. She pushed the clothes into his hands. "I am going to call my sister and daughter. I need more hands." She rushed away, already with her phone in her hand. Sebastian sighed and walked into his room, with the clothes. The wardrobe doors were already open, and he saw an open spot so he lay the clothes in there. Nana will come back and correct him. He was sure about that, and as planned she rushed into the room. "Oh, where am I with my head. I am so sorry."


    "Do not apologize. I indeed sprung this on you and I could understand that you are a bit stressed." Sebastian said. "You know I will pay your daughter and sister for their services, so do not make a fuss over it. I am not going to except free labor inside my house." She nodded and sighed.


    "Thank you, mister Coleville. You are a good soul, let nobody tell you otherwise." She said. He nodded and left her to her work.


    "Oh sweetheart, what have you done to poor Nana? She just ran in here, panicked and all." Aemilia asked when he entered the room. He told her about his request and she started to giggle. "Her stuffed chicken with orange is indeed delicious. Everyone is coming, including Adam he was with Gloria when I called her." He nodded, he didn''t mind that Adam came. He was a friend, more so then a couple of months ago. "I will give Nana the number of people."


    "No need, I already heard it. I will make extra, you never know how many more will turn up. Mister Coleville, can you open the door when the bell rings. I have my hands full at the moment." Nana said, and the bell rung.


    "On it." He said and walked towards the door opened. "Hello Martha, welcome in. Nana is upstairs and please when you have time write down your bank details, you are not working for free." The woman nodded.


    "You have a kind soul, mister Coleville." Martha said and she rushed towards her sister. He walked towards the couch and sat down.


    "So that is taken care off, I also set up a collage fund for the little one. So that is also taken care off." He said and took her laptop and looked at the list of items. "You are indeed going for the bees, ooh this wallpaper is so cute. We can lay green carpet on the floor. Ohh, I love that crib and that is just too cute." He smiled at her and she had tears in her eyes. Happy tears this time. He took her in his arms and kissed her on the head. "I love you Aemilia. You took a piece of my heart, and I do not want it back. You, Kitty and the little one are my world." She nodded and closed her eyes. He looked at the laptop and started to order every item that was on there, even adding a large bee plushie.


    "Ohh, is that the theme of the room?" The voice of Nana asked quietly. She then pointed to Aemilia, who clearly was sound a sleep. He nodded and smiled. "That is so cute, my husband is handy with wood I will ask him to make something for the room."


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    "I ordered almost everything." Sebastian said, and showed her the list of items. She looked at it and nodded.


    "We will think of something. Don''t you worry, but if I were you I would make a list of gifts with this theme than people know what to buy." She said and then went back to work. He shook lightly his head, what would he do without her. He started to make a list with gift idea''s. "Did you also thought about a name. I know it is early, but still?"


    "I will tell you in the evening. Why don''t you invite your husband too? So you do not have to cook more then you have too." Sebastian said, she nodded.


    *****


    The evening rolled around, and the house smelled of chicken and orange. The guests dripped in, one by one. John shook Sebastian''s hand when entering the house.


    "Never thought I see the day of you inviting me over cousin." John said. "You know that Dorian hoped that he was right behind you. But no, he is still there. Too afraid for my mother''s reaction if he would quiet." Sebastian shook his head.


    "But aunt Maria is a scary woman." Sebastian replied.


    "Uncle Sebastian look, I have earnings." Cindy said, jumping up and down, showing her ears. "Aunt Aemilia shot them, she told me that it would hurt, but it didn''t hurt that much." Sebastian looked with a smile to the girl.


    "They are pretty, for such a pretty girl." He said, and Cindy took off. "She had grown so much." John nodded, and sighed.


    "For you know she is in collage, married and with a family of her own. Man I know she is not mine flesh and blood, but I love that girl so much. I never thanked you for what you have done for her, and continue to do for her." Sebastian looked confused. "I overheard the conversation with Harald, a collage fund. I didn''t tell Morgan about this." Sebastian started to chuckle.


    "John, that collage fund is not for Cindy." He said quickly, John frowned and he clearly started to puzzle. The doorbell rang again and this time it was Adam, Gloria and the brown ball of fur. "This must be Paddington. There are children her who love dogs, just a fair warning."


    "Aemilia already warned me. And assured me that Margan had a talk with the children." Gloria said, she got in and George and Cindy gathered around the dog.


    "Hello miss, we heard about you doggie and we are only allowed to pet him once. May we pet him now?" Cindy asked. Gloria nodded and the childrens hands plunched into the brown fur.


    "Dinner is ready." Nana said from out of the kitchen. "Anja, please take your seat with the small children please." Anja, Nana''s daughter did as she was told. And the other adults took their seats. However the doorbell rang again, Martha stood up and opened it. It didn''t take long before she came back with Sebastian''s father, brother, Candy and a little boy.


    "Oh it seems that we interupted something." Albandy said. Candy rolled with her eyes and sighed.


    "Sebastian, I am so sorry to interupt. These two wanted to come, no matter what, and I just tagged along with your nephew." Candy said, walking towards him giving him the baby. "Those two want you to sign something. Do not sign it, no matter what they say."  He nodded and founded over his little nephew.


    "Nana, are there three other chairs?" Aemilia asked. She stood up and gave Candy a hand. "I am Aemilia, I wanted to thank you. If it was not for you, I would have being married to someone who is not afraid to step his brother in the back. Don''t get me wrong, I really am grateful. I love my husband and I wouldn''t change him for anything in the world." Candy smiled.


    "Oh, believe me I do not take it the wrong way." She said and thanked Nana for the chair. "Madam, it smells delicious. If it is not too much to ask, may I have the recipe. I love to cook myself, as a matter of fact I was learning to become a chef. But the baby came and now I am stuck at home, writing my own cookbook." Nana nodded towards her.


    "It will be no problem at all, madam Coleville."  Nana said and the diner started. Sebastian ate while holding his little nephew. "What is his name, madam?"


    "Markus, after my grandfather." Candy replied. "Do you have children, madam?" Nana pointed towards Anja.


    "My daughter Andrea, she is eighteen and going off to collage." Nana replied. "She is going to study marketing, my husband and I couldn''t be prouder." Nana took her husband''s hand. Candy nodded and sighed. While looking at her son, she smiled.


    "Children are a treasure, and we should do our best to keep them safe and happy." Candy said. Sebastian was surprised to say that he liked Candy. She was smart and blended in to this crowed as if she knew them for ages.


    "I totally agree dear." Albany said, with a smirk on his face. "That is why I did what needed to be done. Sebastian once you become a father you would understand." John stood up and looked angry at Albany.


    "He already knows, Albany. Or did you forget that he took care of my daughter for years. He took care of her diapers, he fed her and her mother. He didn''t kick you out of your office when he did that. Did he." John said. Albany wanted to say something, but John stopped him. "You dropped in her with your family unannounced, and then you say something like that?  What are you thinking. No uncle I am not done. Aemilia asked my wife and I, our children here. Together with her best friend and her partner to tell use something and I think what it is. At first, I thought Sebastian was being his generous self, but he told me that this was not the case. That made me think about what I overheard, and now I know." He looked at Aemilia. "Am I allowed to share, what happened yesterday?" Aemilia looked at Sebastian, and he nodded. So did she. "I am part of Sebastian''s legal team, and I know about the case against your mother. Aemilia was told from a young age that she was allergic to animals. This however was not the case, but still she received some medication when she started to life here. What these pills were and what they do is still unknown. The fact is that her own mother was behind the pills and told her daughter in no uncertain terms that she was allowed to get pregnant. At least not with Sebastian''s child." Now everybody looked at Aemilia.


    "That is ridicules!" Sebastian''s father shouted out. "He is still my son."


    "But he is just your second born, and that was something my mother couldn''t look past. But her attempts to prevent it failed." Aemilia said. It stayed quiet for a hot minute. Candy was the first one who rejected.


    "You are kidding?" She asked, Aemilia shook her head. "So Markus will have a cousin?" Now Aemilia nodded. Now that it was made clear everyone started to shout, which upset Markus. Nana took him away and assured Candy that she knew what she was doing.  Sebastian looked at his father.


    "If it is a girl we will call her Katherina, after mom." Sebastian said, and his father nodded.


    "We came here to let you sign something, but that is not going to happen. I am not going to hurt my grandchild." He said, grabbing a piece of paper out of his bag and ripped it apart. "Your mother would have being ashamed of me, if she knew how I treated you. She died giving birth to you, for god¡¯s sake. I know that apologizing is not coming close, and will not heal the damage that I have done. But know this, I am not going to hurt your family. And if you do not want to see me, I will be fine with it." He now looked at Aemilia. "Take good care of my son, and my grandchild." She nodded. "Come Albany, we are leaving. Candy if you want you can stay here a little longer, and if you want to go back to school I will fund it. I will also arrange for a babysitter." She also nodded and thanked him. Then he and Albany who looked stunned left. John quickly grabbed the paper pieces and started to read.


    "Wow. Uhm I am not going to say anything. Other than destroy this, more than it is now. And from now on never sign anything from them without a lawyer going over the material." John said. He gave it to Sebastian and he didn''t even look at it. He simply stood up and walked with it to his office, not looking at it. Candy waited for him outside his office.


    "Again I am sorry to border you, but can we talk?" She asked. "Aemilia knows what I am going to say and gave me permission." He nodded.


    "But we stay out in the open." He said. Candy started to tell him that she was sorry about how things planned out. But that she was glad that he was forced to marry Aemilia, and that he was out of that toxic company.


    "I hate the fact that my baby boy will be forced into taking over the company, even if he wants to choose another path." She said and she started to cry. "I am sorry, you have your own child to worry about. But I do not know who else to turn to." He sighed.


    "Candy, you are part of this family. And yes some members are toxic, and there are some that are not. Like Aemilia and I, Morgan and John. Those are just a view, but you will find more." He said, she nodded and smiled.


    "Thank you. I will get Markus and leave you be." Candy said. She turned away from him and walked away. He didn''t walk after her, and wondered about what she had said to him. Markus will indeed be forced into the role, just as much Albany was forced into the role. And he himself was also forced into the role of the spare. But ever since he got married he had stepped out of this role and took matters into his own hands. He smiled. Yes he was lucky that he got to marry Aemilia, he was lucky to grow their family. He walked towards the stairs and looked at her while she laughed about something. She was his wife, the mother of his unborn child, the love of his life. Their lives may not have being perfect, but he was willing to fight to make it close enough to perfect. He was willing to fight for her, for the baby, for their future. He was willing. She looked up at him with a smile and he knew that she was willing to do the same.