The Blood Heiress

Possible Solutions

Evander

For the umpteenth time today, my hand found its way to the back of my neck to rub it in frustration. I was losing focus again. The attendees stopped their presentation, all eyes on me. No matter how I tried to mask my frustration, as people with whom I worked closely with, they knew my tells.

“That’s enough for today, it is getting late.” Lauren Teller, the gentleman presenting nodded and began packing up. The others scattered back to their offices. Conference Room A was soon devoid of any employees. With a heavy sigh I picked up the office phone and jammed in the number. I had let this go on too long. Perhaps I had made a serious lapse in judgement. The frustration was boiling in me I felt it rush out of my control and filled the air around me.

"Evening" Her lilting but somewhat bored voice came through as the line picked up. It drew my attention from my purpose for calling. Her casual tone even more so. The tide of my frustration receeded.

“Who is this? Who answers a business phone so casually?” I heard a small gasp come from her as it registered. I was not who she was expecting. That made two of us and went a long way to explained the casual manner with which she had answered the phone. I fleetingly wondered who it was she had expected.

“Miss Smith, Mr. Gaultier’s assistant. Who might I be speaking to?” She slipped effortlessly into her professional mode. My lips twitched up slightly. She knew very well who this was.

“Ah, Miss. Smith. This is Evander Santos. Please inform René that I have called. I require a call back immediately.” I wondered when she would drop pretence.

“Yes, sir I will let him know right away.” Her quick dismissal tried to hide the worry in her voice. I caught it anyway. That charlatan was giving her the slip too it seems. No matter, perhaps this would work to my advantage to clear up some other issues.

“Thank you. See that you do.” I hung up, pleased.

I gave her some time to try to reach him. It would most likely prove as futile as earlier attempts from my end. It was toi much to expect him to finally make good on his promises. I waited, reining in the bubbling irritation at having to wait for five, ten more minutes. As expected nothing came of my prodding him from another angle. He was ghosting me again. Cowardly, spineless, sniveling man that he was, backing out yet again on the very last agreement I had deigned to make with him. He left such a distaste in my mouth. How he had managed to hang onto his position within the Russo empire was beyond my comprehension. René Gaultier wasn't even his given name. Benetto Costas and those lawyers must have had their hands full to have let that slip past them. But Mr. Gaultier wasn't the only one going by a false name. It was time to pay her a visit.

“Miss Smith.” Her startled expression at my sudden, unexpected appearance was just as I had imagined. Large blue eyes thrown wide, long, dark hair framing her delicate face. She was such a perfect mix of her parents. There was no doubt to anyone who had known them who she really was.

“Mr. Santos,” Hiding behind her professinal veil she stood and approached me cautiously. “What brings you by?” I could almost see her mind working, putting together the reason for my sudden appearance. “Has Mr. Gaultier not returned your call?”

“I thought I made it clear that I needed a response immediately,” At the mention of his name I felt the frustration surrounding this whole mess surface. I remembered to rein it in as she visibly cringed.

“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.” Her body was still tense, waiting, watching me for my next move.

She was too wary to have been raised away, sheltered and pampered as had been my first thought. So then, where had she been hidden? When she had disappeared shortly after her father's death and before her mother's we had all assumed that the heir had been sequestered safely away and left it at that. Anyone with a brain could see that Benetto and the two blundering barristers were carrying on in their stead for the eventuality of her return. But then she hadn't returned. Her eighteenth had come and gone, the year that she should have ascended. And yet here she was, a whole year late. Ostentaiously parading around with that name. There must be a reason for her chosen charade, if that was what it was. She almost seems…to believe it herself. This wouldn’t do. I felt her probing stare and pulled myself from my thoughts.

“You should always know where your supervisor is. That is a necessary requirement for you to do your job well.” Her job. Why was she doing this janitorial work? She seemed complacent being relegated to menial labor when she in fact, should be the legal owner. Once again, where she was concerned things did not add up.

“I am sorry Mr. Santos. I should have pressed him before he left” A trace of self-doubt laced her words. It incensed me towards René once more.

“I wonder if he didn’t tell you because he doesn’t trust you or if he doesn’t trust himself.” I understood the depravity of Mr. Gaultier. Knew his ways, his choices before he did. But she was complicating matters a great deal.

“Excuse me?” I brought my gaze to her and looked her over once, she stood taller now and wore a determined expression. Now this is a Russo.

“Do you have some insight?” Curious about what an incesenced Miss Smith might say or do, I gave her the leeway to have her say.

“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?” Her attempt to stare me down gave me reason to smirk, though it was short lived. Even at her most offended she was barely more than a mouse. Troubling.

“It wasn’t a question of your character Miss Smith that I brought up but a question of his. I apologize for the misunderstanding.” I wasn't going to make it easy for her. She had not demanded anything, she had not displayed any cleverness in her rebuff. She would get nothing but a precursory response. “As to your situation, I may be able to help with that.”

I leaned against the doorframe and gave her one last long look over. She had yet to contact me regarding my job offer. I had thought she may have been offended. Surely, the heiress to the Russo holdings didn't need a job. I hadn't thought much more of it. I had after all offered the position at the behest of Benetto. It troubled me now, however, as I sized up the squalid office. She would refuse my offer yet here she was toiling away for someone she should have fired. Certainly, not be taking orders from.

“I am in need of someone to accompany me to two events and eventually put together some events in the near future.”

“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.” She had the audacity to rebuff my offer again. How unexpected. Perhaps there was hope for her yet.

“I am quite aware I ‘have’ more qualified individuals. I chose to ask you.” Her reasoning was not something I had anticipated. Anyone else, anywhere else would have jumped at the opportunity to work for me, experience or not.

“Oh” Perhaps my intentions had finally sunk in.

“You do not need to respond at this moment. I do need a response by next Monday. You have my contact information.” My work was finished here. I had a full list of appointments and tasks to attend to. And Mr. Gaultier of course, mustn't leave him out.

“Wait, Mr. Santos what would you like me to do about reaching René?” Her slender frame followed behind me as a shadow. I turned, amused. She had yet to understand his true nature. The futility of such an endevour.

“Do you have a way to reach him that you have not already tried?”

“No,” An attractive shade of red colored her cheeks with the realization that she could do nothing more. My point had been made.

“I will find him. I have an idea where he might be. Have a good evening, Miss Smith. I look forward to your answer.” She let me leave then without further protest.

Tate, my driver waited on my instructions as the car idled. It should not have been a difficult decision but after our brief meeting things had changed drastically. I weighed the advantages of continuing on with my schedule as planned or following my gut and indulging my curiousity. I had already paid a visit to Benetto since her return. He was a wiley character and had managed to politely keep me at arms length. He was one of few who could dance the fine line of my paitience. At the time, I hadn't had many questions that he hadn't been able to answer. However, more time spent with her had shown me the questions I should have asked. Another meeting with Mr. Costas soon was imperative. I am due some answers. Overdue.

I allowed my decision to be made for me when I caught Adella leaving the gallery perfectly unaware of my car still parked outside. She was quite lost in thought and wandered a bit in the plaza while looking at her phone. My eye caught upon a masculine figure rounded the corner and entered the plaza headed straight for her. Damn Curiousity mostly but also some other foreign feeling compelled me to watch the scene unfold between Adella and that Moretti upstart.

She transformed into a coy young lady as he approach. I felt the bile rising as I watched their intimate exchange. Her wide, open smile and his preening became too much. The tender touches, the physical closeness. It was all I could do to keep myself firmly seated in the car and not charging across the plaza cobblestones. What was this reaction? It had surfaced in a milder manner when I had seen them together at the gala. Considering the complicated history between the Moretti's and myself I dismissed it as a residual of our falling out. Perhaps it had not been simply a product our history.

"Mr. Santos?" Tate's worried voice broke through my thoughts. It would be best to leave. No one would benefit from me loosing control here, least of all Adella.

"We should be going" Tate relaxed as he put the car into drive.

With controled movements as I was still on the edge I carefully dialed my secretary.

"Mr. Santos? Germany is holding are you ready for me to patch them through?" Ah, right Germany. Gaultier would have to wait. Not a peep came from my secretary as I deliberated my priorities. She was the epitome of efficiency and professionalism as any secretay of mine should be.

"Yes, but first please schedule a meet with Benetto Costas and his lawyers for tomorrow."

"Yes sir. Which appointment should I bump?"

"The late afternoon with Siobhan Ramont. Reschedule for next week."

"Yes sir. I am connecting Germany now."

I relaxed, the pressing matters now attended to, I could focus on work or at least aim to. Until I knew for certain the complete situation surrounding the Russo heir, there were no guarantees I would be able to confine my complete attention. Just until tomorrow. It would have to do.

***

Adella

Ben had been less chatty than usual on the way home. He had stiffly handed me a proposal for solving the problem of Verity's tuition and then disappeared into another part of the house. I didn't feel particularly like hearing his misgivings about Cassian. Between his suggestion for Vertiy to be 'housed' elsewhere and his disdain towards my choice to spend time with Cassian I wasn't sure what was up with Ben.

We had never had a traditional butler boss relationship. But what did he have against who I kept close. Surely, he didn't think I couldn't chose wisely.

At least I had some good news for Verity and her schooling. I arrived at her room and knocked. Her 'come in' was faint but I still managed to catch it. The room across the hall from mine was a typical guest suite but it looked like Verity had found a few ways to make it her own in less than twenty-four hours. I hadn't officially let her know she was welcome to stay for an extended amount of time. But I planned to change that now.

"Verity?"

"In the bath, I am getting out now. Be there in a sec!"

There was not a sitting area like my suite and no large attached room that was called a closet but it was still well appointed and cozy. I took a seat on her bed.

"How was today? Did you get a chance to eat? Could you keep it down?" I rambled off some questions to fill the silence and time.

"Today was kind of exhausting yet totally exciting. This room is way better than the one at home. I had plenty of food today. Almost like someone told them to keep me well fed." She answered from the bathroom.

"I didn't tell them why, I just didn't want you to not have access seeing as you are in a new place." She emerged clean and dressed in pjs.

"Thanks. I was able to keep some of it down. I am feeling way better. Best I have felt in weeks." Taking the spot next to me on the bed she laid down. I was tempted to relax next to her but wanted to give her the news first.

"So, I found a way to get you through the rest of your degree." I excitedly waved the paper in her face. She quirked an eyebrow at the news.

"Really?" Verity sounded skeptical but sat up and took the paper from me.

"Yes, I am going to sponsor you. You get to chose how." She frowned slightly as she looked over the options.

"Why are you doing this Addie?" She finally looked up and I was put off by her lack of enthusiasm.

"So you can finish your degree. You shouldn't have to choose between a baby and your education."

"But I already have." She put the paper down and began to fold in on herself.

"A baby needs you to be educated. How else will you be able to provide for it?" She glanced at the sheet.

"Well, what if I try to do both and I can't. What if I take your offer and don't finish?"

"Then you put your education on hold and finish it later. But some is better than none." I felt like an imposter, I could only provide best case scenario assumptions.

"It's just alot of money to spend on a screwup." With that she curled in on herself completely and hugged her knees.

"Ver, you are not a screw up. I am sorry your parents made you feel that way..."

"They didn't, I mean not at first. They just solidified my feelings. I feel that way. Tell me, who goes out and has a fling with some rando and then gets pregnant? Why didn't I use protection? Why didn't he? What even happened that night?? I absolutely HATE that I can't remember much. That isn't how I wanted to bring a baby into this world. Hell, I didn't even know if I had made the choice that I wanted to be a mom before that night. And now..." Anger punctuated her words. And though she had petered out by the end I knew deep down that her getting angry was good, far better than moping.

I grabbed the sheet with the financial data points on it and scooted closer to give her a hug. "I am sorry" I looked her straight in the eyes to make sure she could see I meant it. "I am sorry that the choice was taken from you and that you were in a situation that was less than ideal. You are still my kick butt best friend though. You are going to be a kick butt awesome mom too. And you are welcome to stay here as long as you like. But you need to be going to school or working."

She snorted at my conditions and rolled her eyes. "Yes mom."

"I mean it Verity. I am here for you. Don't you think you need to do something besides hang out around my house all day. It won't be good for you or the baby."

"Who are you and what have you done with my sweet, shy, sheltered, soft spoken friend?" She sat up and pulled her legs off to the side. "Fine, let me see the options again Miss Bossypants."

"There are a few different options. Scholarships,grants and loans. It looks like Ben went ahead and looked into scholarships the school is offering that you match with. As well as giving you some options for grants from the government and this estate. The final option would be a loan to span any gaps in funding. If you so choose." Her eyes grew wide looking everything over.

"Can I hang on to this and think on it a bit. I mean what is my deadline to meet your rules?" I laughed then she laughed.

"Sure, hang onto as long as you want I am sure Ben has it saved somewhere. How about two days? If you need more time you can always let me know."

"Nah, two days will be enough." She pulled me into a crushing hug. "Thanks Addie."

"Of course Ver." I gave her a wide smile that without warning transformed into a large yawn. "Guess it is time for me to get some sleep. Night See you tomorrow!"

"Nighty night"

I left her on her bed looking over her options, she had pulled out her phone and was crunching numbers.

I set my alarm before snuggling in my own bed and left a note for myself in the morning to talk over Evander's proposed job with Ben, assuming he would be at breakfast. There didn't seem to be a downside but Ben would be the person to catch one if there were.