Trinty nodded to the ladies at the check-in desk as she made her way to the back of the lobby where the hotel manager's office was located. She had agreed to join Josiah at the hotel to meet the new manager he had hired and go over a few basics with her.

Knocking on the door, she waited until she was told to enter before she opened it. When she did, she saw Josiah alone, standing at the desk looking down at some papers. He had his suit jacket off, and his sleeves rolled up and looked as if he had been working for a few hours.

"It's only eight in the morning, how long have you been here?" Trinity asked as she set her bag down on the visitor's chair.

"A while," Josiah said with a smile as he looked up at her. "Tessa will be here in half an hour. I asked you to come early so that we could talk." He moved around to the side of the desk and motioned for Trinity to take a seat, and then he took the chair next to her, fixing his tie as he sat. It wasn't like him to fidget, and Trinity took pity on him.

"It's fine Josiah, we don't need to talk about anything," she assured him. He must not have liked her answer because he stood up again.

"We do. I need to apologize, what I said was unforgivable. You are not my mother, and I had no right to compare the two of you." He leaned against the desk and frowned.

"Why not, I spent the better part of the last two months comparing Levi to my ex-husband. That wasn't fair to him, but I still did it." Trinity stood and joined him, leaning against the desk next to him. "I think when we have emotional pain and scars, it's natural to want to compare. Perhaps it's our built-in security system."

"I've always liked you, Trinity, and I always thought you would be good for Levi."

"But you worry," Trinity nodded. "I get it, why do you think my brother is here. He is checking out you and Levi too." Trinity reached for his hand and took it in her own. "We protect those we love. I get it."

He squeezed her hand. "You're not cold and unfeeling."

"I can appear that way on the surface, though. I know I can because I work hard at it. It's part of my defensive walls. " Trinity took a deep breath. "Perhaps it was the same for your mother?"

Josiah shook his head in doubt. "Promise me you'll take care of Levi?"

Trinity stood up and turned to face him. She got it now. Josiah was scared she was going to steal Levi away from him. "We can both take care of him, Josiah. He's still your father."

"I know, but now he has you." Josiah stood, finished with the conversation. He tried to walk away, but Trinity grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"He has both of us!" she insisted. Their eyes met in a battle of wills, and eventually, Joaish caved with a grin.

"Does that make you my wicked-step mother?"

"No, we're not married." Trinity smiled.

"You soon will be, and then there will be kids, and I'll have to share my inheritance." Josiah's voice took on an overdramatic tone that let her know he was teasing.

"I don't know if I'll ever be able to take that step again," she said in a serious tone, "but if it should happen, I promise to make us all enough money, and no one will feel left out."

Josiah reached for her and pulled her close in a tight hug. "We're good then?"

Trinity hugged him back, tearing up a little. "We're good."

The door to the office opened, and Trinity stepped away from Josiah, keeping her back to whoever had entered while she schooled her features. When she turned around, it was to see a mouse of a woman with large glasses and a business suit. Her brown hair was coiled in a bun at the nape of her neck, and she couldn't be much above five feet tall.

Trinity watched as she entered. "Should I come back?" she asked in a soft voice.

"No, come on in and meet our CFO, Trinity Emerson."

Trinity had pulled herself together and pasted a polite smile on her face as she held out her hand.

"Trinity, meet Tessa Baker. She's our new manager."

Tessa stepped forward and took Trinity's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her handshake was firm, and she met Trinity's eyes. All good signs.

Tessa wasn't as polished as Trinity was expecting, but she had an honest and wholesome look to her, which made a nice change after the last manager.

"Are you from the area, Tessa?" Trinity asked.

"No, I'm from Texas." Trinity watched Tessa tense and gathered that she didn't like to talk about herself.

"You know ranching then?" Trinity asked.

"No, I'm from the big city. I can ride a horse, but that's about it."

"Don't worry. I don't know much either, and my eyes tend to glaze over when Josiah and Levi start to talk about ranch business." Trinity looked over at Josiah, and they shared a smile.

"What about you, where are you from?" Tessa asked in her gentle voice.

"I'm from Georgia," Trinity said, turning her attention back towards Tessa as she asked the question.

"Then you know about cotton farming?" she asked in a charming tone.

Josiah covered a laugh with a cough, and Trinity's eyes grew wide. "Touche, Ms. Baker. Point taken. Shall we get down to business?"

Despite Tessa's warranted rebuff, Trinity had to admit she liked her. She had a backbone, which was a good thing. They spent an hour talking about the state of the hotel finances, and then with a look at her watch, Trinity stood.

"I have to go. Walk me out, Josiah," she asked as she picked up her bag.

Josiah stood and followed her out of the office. "What do you think?" he asked.

Trinity looked at him and wondered what he had seen in the timid looking woman. Josiah liked polish and flash, so she found it odd that he had chosen Tessa.

"I like her, and she seems to know the business."

Josiah nodded. "Good. The sooner she settles in, the sooner I can get back to the office."

Trinity nodded. "We'll talk later."

Josiah put his arm around her and squeezed her. "Yes, we will." Then he winked and walked back into the office, closing the door behind him

With a smile to herself, Trinity started her walk across the hotel lobby towards the entrance. She was halfway there when she felt someone quickly approach her from behind. Then she felt something hard poke her in the back.

"Keep walking. Move towards the elevator."

Trinity turned her head and saw Christopher standing next to her. When she still didn't walk, he poked her once more with the gun. "Walk, and if you make a move I won't just shoot you, I'll shoot everyone in here."

Trinity didn't doubt him, so she changed direction and walked towards the elevators behind the check-in desk. She nodded towards the girls there, hoping they would remember seeing her.

"What now?" she hissed. "You know everyone here knows me, right? They've seen you and will tell the police."

"Push the up button." Christopher adjusted his jacket over the gun. "I don't need much time, and by the time they realize what's happened, I will be long gone."

"It's a weak plan, Christopher. Just walk away now," Trinity tried one more time.

"Push the button," he hissed, twisting her arm behind her and engaging the chamber of the gun at the same time.

Trinity reached out a shaking hand and pushed the button. When the elevator door opened, he forced her through it. "Third floor," he said.

Trinty did as he asked as her mind raced for a way out of her current situation. When they arrived on the third floor, he pushed her out of the elevator and down the hall towards a room. He trapped her against the door and his body.

"Reach in my left pants pocket for the key," he ordered.

Trinity did as he instructed.

"Unlock the door and open it." He looked down the hallway, making sure they were alone.

As soon as the door was opened, he pushed her in, causing her to trip and fall.

She heard the door click ominously behind her, and she tried to get up, ready to fight, but before she could, he hit her on the back of the head with the gun, causing her to blackout.