The Blood Heiress

A Chance Meeting

Adella

I had to be up early for work the following morning. So, I extricated myself carefully from the bed to leave sleeping Verity, sleeping. Down at the dining room Ben, Maria and I gathered as had become our tradition. It was a good way to get caught up on the estate issues, businesses and changes in schedules.

"How did your friend sleep?" Maria was the first to start conversation this morning.

"Pretty well I think. She is still sleeping. I did too, no nightmares." Both of them looked pleased at the news.

"That is wonderful!" Maria exclaimed beaming. "I still have some of that concotion the doctor whipped up if you would like to try it again next time."

"I think we are all hoping there isn't a next time" Ben chimed in. I finished off my omelette and nodded my agreement.

"Verity is going to be staying here for a bit. I am not sure how long. She is in a tough situation and doesn't have any other options. I have some idea of how to solve your concerns too, Ben" I caught his gaze and held it, not in a challenging way but just to let him know the I had heard him earlier and I still wanted things this way.

"I will have the girls put together the room across the hall for her, dear" Maria piped up.

"As you wish Adella." Ben gave me a reserved look and nodded.

"She is a college student. Her classes and studying demands will keep her out of the house. Problem is that her parents had been paying for it and now they are not so she had to quit. My idea is to create a scholarship for her, or a grant. Even a loan with no interest works for me. She needs to finish school. And Ben was concerned about her being in the house too much. So we make it a requirement for her to go to school to be here. My question to you Ben that I need an answer to before I bring it up with her is: Can I use the funds my parents left me this way? Is that allowed?"

"I will consult the lawyers and trust today and let you know as soon as I do. But to my understanding it shouldn't be a problem" Ben had a smile on his face now and I wondered what had changed his attitude.

"Thank you both. She will be around all day today and her appetite comes and goes. Please make sure to have some easy on the stomach foods handy. I will have my phone with me today, so maybe we can get the app on her phone so she can order as needed. It doesn't need to have everything available right now. Just access to food." They both nodded and I stood up to get my things and head to work.

Ben dropped me off as was customary now, in front of the gallery. No more alley access only for me. Silvia and Greta were already inside opening up the East and the Main. Valerie's collection still graced the East. Her glasswork caught the sunlight so prettily. I avoided looking at the large painting that dominated the collection. The centerpiece, focal point with the blood red eyes. It had so much more of an effect on me now that it was haunting my dreams.

"Good Morning girls!" I shouted as I entered and headed back to the office. Their lack of a response was not due to them not hearing me and was of little consequence to me. One day, I would win them over. I suspected that day would be the one they find out I acutally own the gallery.

The office is where I spent most of my time now. René's absense at this time of the day was of no surprise to me. Ever since my promotion he had been coming in later and later if he came in at all. Many times he would simply phone in what he needed me to do. It gave me all sorts of freedom, and as an employee I couldn't complain. But as the business owner, I had plenty to be concerned about.

The files I had been organizing for the past few days were still littered through out the room, organzined in a way that perhaps only I understood. I wasn't entirely certain if this was the scope of 'tidying the place' that René had meant the last time we talked. But I hardly cared. I was learning so much about the gallery through purging and organizing paperwork. With some coffee made and in hand courtesy of my new office coffee pot, I set to work on the nearest pile of paperwork.

I took my first break after my normal lunch time. With the spring giving way to early summer eating outside was an appealing way to spend my time. I chose one of the benches under some of the plaza trees. The mid afternoon sun was bright in the cloudless sky and I was thankful for the shade of the trees. I ate my sandwich and checked my phone for any updates from back home. Verity had messaged me a few times to let me know she was up and had eaten. I texted her back to inquire what she had been up to and then saw a message from Cass that had been hiding.

My heart skipped a beat as I opened it. It was a simple offer to come by the bar at my earliest convenience. I sighed a little as I had to let him know that I wouldn't be free tonight. I softened it with an offer to come see him tomorrow after work. Hopefully that would work out if Ben could get an answer for me today. I wanted to make sure that Verity was set up and taken care of first.

My lunch finished and my messages attended to I returned to the messy, and in comparison stuffy office. It had taken me a good two weeks to wrap my head around the fact that my promotion had literally no meaning when there weren't new exhibtions to be planned. It took an adjustment in how I looked at the gallery, from employee to owner, before I could appreciate the lack of direction in my new role. I decided then to make my new role one where I slowly took over the gallery, put my mark on it as the next Russo in line. Easy to do so far due to the aforementioned absense of my supposed boss. On the clipboard that was previously used for intern instructions, I had placed instead a list of things that needed changing, organizing, redoing throughout the building and business. It pleased me greatly to look over the items that I had so far managed to cross off. I hoped to add the filing disaster to that group today.

The only items I had felt comfortable purging were literal garbage. Everything else I held onto as I didn't know, couldn't know exactly what needed to go and what should stay. Instead I devoted one whole cabinet to filing anything older than two years and the other for anything younger. Then by type, account or as a last resort alphabetically by first line. I filled my coffee up again and let Ben know I was going to work late, then got right back into the swing of it.

The office phone ringing jolted me out of my built momentum. Though very late even by René standards he hadn't yet called to check in.

“Evening"

“Who is this? Who answers a business phone so casually?” It was not Renés voice that spoke on the other end.

“Miss Smith, Mr. Gaultier’s assistant. Who might I be speaking to?” Very few others called that phone at all, I had discovered. So, when I answered to the cold, collected voice of a certain CEO I shortcircuted.

“Ah, Miss. Smith. This is Evander Santos. Please inform René that I have called. I require a call back immediately.” A small change in his voice made him sound a few degrees warmer.

“Yes, sir I will let him know right away.” I didn't bother to try to explain that René was not someone I could just get ahold of.

“Thank you. See that you do.”

He hung up. Leaving me feeling, for the first time since seeing him in the gallery, not in awe, not even chilled from his demeanor but incensed at his dismissal and indifference.

René was out for the day, and I made sure to leave a message on his cell when he didn’t answer. I also texted him to ensure he saw the message. I figured that would have to do, seeing as I didn’t know where he was or what he was up to.

The worn clock on the wall told me it was just after five which meant Silvia and Greta were already gone. I made a deal with myself to work another hour as I was almost finished and did not want to deal with any more filing tomorrow. But I only managed a good thirty minutes more because for the second time Evander Santos thwarted my efforts.

“Miss Smith.” His figure graced the open doorway into the office. He filled it easily and cast a shadow inward.

“Mr. Santos,” I stood up to properly greet him. “What brings you by?” My mind racing. “Has Mr. Gaultier not returned your call?”

“I thought I made it clear that I needed a response immediately,” Anger flashed in his blue eyes that were focused on me.

“I passed that along. He hasn’t been in all day. I don’t know where he is at the moment but I did leave a voice mail and a text.” I tensed, hoping that was enough to placate him. All I had yet to experience was his indifference, I hoped he wasn’t so entitled and privileged as to take out his frustration on the messenger.

He let out a defeated breath and then straightened, his icy façade back on. “You should always know where your supervisor is. That is a necessary requirement for you to do your job well.” His eyes detached from my person finally and I let myself relax a little. They roved around the office taking in the stacks of paper I was organizing.

“I am sorry Mr. Santos. I should have pressed him before he left” His eyes snapped back to me.

“I wonder if he didn’t tell you because he doesn’t trust you or if he doesn’t trust himself.”

“Excuse me?” the previous irritation surfaced.

His eyes flashed for briefest of moments but their reserved and focused nature quickly returned. “Do you have some insight?”

“I am new to this job, true. I am doing the best I can with no training. How can you question my character when you don’t know me or my situation?” I matched his icy glare the best I could manage.

“It wasn’t a question of your character Miss Smith that I brought up but a question of his. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

Though he said the word apologize, his tone didn’t make me think he meant an apology. He probably never has to. I still took it as a win. I sat at the edge of René’s desk the stifling quality of our conversation broken.

“As to your situation, I may be able to help with that.” He leaned against the door jamb. “I am in need of someone to accompany me to two events and eventually put together some events in the near future.”

I shook my head “I am flattered to have you ask me. But the Moretti gala has been my only event. I haven’t had much experience. I am sure you have others that are more qualified.”

He straightened up, his eyebrows drawn together quickly and then released but the frown remained. “I am quite aware I ‘have’ more qualified individuals. I chose to ask you.”

“Oh” It hit me then, that he had been serious all along. I had thought the whole thing was a prefunctory social thing. Congratulate the new employee with some higher level connections dangled in front of her with the promise of more to come. But I realized my mistake, Santos was not a man that dealt in the prefunctory. I should have spent more time thinking about his offer.

He waved off my lack of response. “You do not need to respond at this moment. I do need a response by next Monday. You have my contact information.”

I nodded. He turned gracefully and left the office. I followed aware suddenly, that he had not resolved the original issue.

“Wait, Mr. Santos what would you like me to do about reaching René?”

He turned, shadow of a smile ghosting his lips. “Do you have a way to reach him that you have not already tried?”

“No,” A small blush crept onto my cheeks.

“I will find him. I have an idea where he might be. Have a good evening, Miss Smith. I look forward to your answer.”

With fate working against me I decided to go home and leave the rest for tomorrow to worry about. I replayed the conversation with Evander in my head a few times, looking for anything that stood out as suspicious. I still didn't trust that he wanted a nobody like me to plan out his events. But I couldn't ignore how perfect the timing was. A CEO would certainly count as an appropriate mentor. I would have to talk it over with Ben.

Out in the dimly lit plaza, the lamps were turning on and a familiar figure approached. I quickly hailed a ride from the estate and couldn't wait until he came closer.

"Cass, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the bar?" I was giddy to see him and that superceeded any true concern I had for his bar patrons. He met me halfway and squashed me in a hug, I reveled in being close to him again.

"Dells, I couldn't wait another night to see you. Sloane can handle it for an hour on his own. He handled it for almost a month just fine." He let me go, my whole body still tingling at being so close. He kept a hand on both of my shoulders as he looked me over. "You look well, did the nightmares stop?"

The elation at seeing him in person gave way to feeling self-concious. It was one thing to tell him all about the nightmares that he featured prominently in over the phone and another thing to discuss them in person. No matter how many details I left ambiguous. I grabbed his arms on either side of me and gently pulled out of them. I felt too vulnerable, on display like that. Instead, I moved to his side and took one of his hands in mine before I could second guess myself. He squeezed it, sending little shockwaves up my arm and happily met my gaze. "Last night, yes. How was your trip?"

He led me to the same bench I had used for lunch and we sat. "Boring?" He shrugged. "It wasn't where I wanted to be. It was productive though. I am glad Val could handle the end of it and I could come back a little sooner." I took my hand, which had grown clammy out of his and he instead put his arm around my shoulders. I took that for an invitation and leaned against his side. Sitting so intimately felt right somehow. I looked up at him and found him gazing at me.

"What is that look for?"

"Next time I have to leave I am taking you with me." I definitely blushed hard enough to see in the low light at that. I immediately looked away. "Only if you want to come of course."

"I haven't ever been out of the city." I focused on the nearest lamp post. "That sounds like fun."

He pulled me closer with his arm around my shoulder and his pleasant scent filled my nose again. It was calming. "Good." He rested his cheek on the top of my head and we just stayed like that until I saw Ben's headlights approaching. I was the first to move and stood up. Cass's face wore a questioning expression.

"My ride is here. I can come see you tomorrow." I smiled at the thought of getting more time with Cass, no matter how fractured.

"About that, what if instead of the bar we saw each other in a different location." Now it was my turn to wonder what he was getting at. He stood up, his eyes catching the lights. "What if, instead of the bar you and I go out to dinner?" I felt the expectation before I understood it. He was upping the stakes, this was a dinner date being proposed. Despite the anxiety that coursed through me at the thought of something so formal, so structured with Cassian, I answered without hesitation.

"I would like that." The car was now parked and Ben was exiting to retrieve me. Cass leaned in and gave me a quick hug.

"I will send you the details shortly." His voice tickled my ears and sent another blush roaring across my cheeks. He pulled back as Ben approached and wore a silly grin on his face. I knew my own matched his. "See you Dells."

I waved as Ben cleared his throat and watched Cass walk away. "The bartender?" The disdain dripped from his voice.

"A friend, Ben." I moved quickly to the car but knew my cheeks probably gave me away. He held open the car door and I did not miss the way he examined my face as I passed him.