THE GLASS INHERITANCE

Chapter 4: The Concrete Jungle

Teterboro Airport was like a show with black roads and flashing blue lights everywhere. When the Gulfstreams stairs touched the ground the hot air of a New York summer hit Juno like a punch. It was not the wet air of the Atlantic, it was heavy and smelled of fuel and people wanted to be rich.

Elias stepped out first looking like he just came from a party. He had changed into a suit. It was blue this time. And his hair was perfectly combed back.

"Stay close to me. Do not talk to the reporters if they are near " Elias said, not looking back at Juno.

"The reporters?" Juno asked, holding the kestrels box in one hand and an old bag in the other. She was wearing the clothes Elias gave her: a nice cream coat that felt strong and silk pants that felt smooth. She felt like she was pretending to be someone. "Who told them I was coming to New York?"

"The people in charge, " Elias said. "They want to see if you will get upset before we even get to the car."

When they walked out of the airport building a lot of cameras started flashing. People were shouting questions.

"Juno, is it true you are the daughter of Arthur?"

"Are you here to fight for the money he left?"

"Elias, are you finally going to lose your power?"

Elias did not stop walking. He put his hand on Junos back. It looked like he was protecting her. It felt like he was controlling her. He moved her through the crowd easily. Put her in the back of a waiting Maybach car before the reporters could take a clear picture of her face.

Inside the car it was very quiet.

"Welcome to New York, " Elias said, fixing his tie in the window.

"Is it always like this?" Juno asked, her heart beating fast. She looked at the kestrel, who was moving around in his box. "People yelling at you for things that're not their business?"

"Only when you have something they want, " Elias said, looking at Juno's new clothes. For a moment his cold eyes seemed softer. "The coat looks good on you. It hides that you are shaking."

"I am not shaking because I am scared, " Juno said, though her hands were tight on the box. "I am shaking because I want to hit someone. Maybe the person who thought this was a way to introduce me to the city."

"Then we agree, " Elias said. "I did not want this to happen either." He tapped on the glass wall between the driver and them. "Marcus take the way. I want to see if we are being followed by the reporters."

"Already doing it sir " Marcus said.

As the car drove onto the George Washington Bridge, the New York City skyline looked like a crown of lights in the dark sky. Juno put her head on the window. She had seen pictures. The city was much bigger than she thought. Every light was a person, a deal, a life she did not understand.

"You will stay in the penthouse " Elias said, his voice sounding business-like again. "It is the place I own. My staff knows you are coming. You will have a floor to yourself but some areas are shared with me."

"Shared?" Juno asked, looking at Elias. "Are you staying there too?"

"It is my home, Juno, " Elias said. ". Until the meeting on Friday I am like your guardian. It is better if we look like we are working together."

"Working together, " Juno said, like the words were from a language. "We are not a team, Elias. We are two people who happen to have the family name. I am here for my birds. You are here for your money."

"In this city those are the things, " Elias said. He put his hand near Junos then pulled it back to check his phone. "Money buys you the quiet you need to do your work.. Right now quiet is the most expensive thing in New York."

The car stopped in a garage under a big glass building in Chelsea. An elevator, which needed a card to work, took them up to the top floor very fast.

When the doors opened Juno was surprised.

The penthouse was like an art gallery. The walls were glass so you could see the whole city. The furniture was leather, metal and stone. Everything looked perfect and untouched.

"Where is life?" Juno asked, walking on the floor.

"It is outside, " Elias said, walking to a bar and pouring himself a drink. "Inside I like things that do not change."

Juno walked to the middle of the room. Put the kestrels box down. The bird made a noise.

"I need a room with a balcony " she said, her voice echoing in the space. "He needs air even if it is New York air.. I need a space to work. I am not just going to sit around looking nice for a year."

Elias turned, the ice in his drink making a sound. He looked at Juno, this girl standing in his perfect clean world. She looked out of place. She held her head high, with dignity.

"The north suite has a balcony, " Elias said quietly. "I will have my staff bring you what you need.. Juno?"

She looked at him, the city lights shining in her eyes.

"Tomorrow morning someone will come to help you look nice. Someone will come to teach you things. You can help the birds at night. During the day you are part of the Thorne family."

Juno did not argue. She just picked up her bird. Walked to the north suite.. When she got to the hallway she stopped and looked back at Elias.

"You said you like things that do not change Elias."

"Yes I do."

"Then you are going to dislike me, " she said with a smile. "Because I change everything I touch. It is the way things can grow."

She went into the suite leaving Elias alone with the city noise and a drink that did not taste good anymore.