Theo looked around at the people in the church. Most were familiar faces he or his father had done business with but the rest were socialites and social climbers who would do anything to get noticed. After all, Marcus Sullivan was a well-known business tycoon and his death was worldwide news. All the reporters, bloggers, TV stations were there to cover the service and the opportunists saw that as their chance to be famous or at least appear on a paper. Half of the people present were strangers to him and he wondered why they would waste their time showing up to a stranger's funeral.

But maybe they weren't strangers. His father had been a conundrum and no matter how hard he'd tried to understand him he had failed. For a long time they hadn't seen eye to eye and when he married his wife their relationship had gone from bad to worse. The old man had his own opinions and they usually fought so much that Theo moved to another continent to avoid him. That was until Marjorie was born. Even so, he was still his father and it pained him to know he would never see him again. He looked around the church again.

His brother Bradley was seating at the front row decked in a black suit same as his own and sunglasses. He was alone on that seat and Theo felt his anger rising. Brad shouldn't be there alone. His mother, his wife, his daughter, they should all be sitting there with his brother but they weren't present. Ingrid Sullivan couldn't care less about her sons so it shouldn't surprise him that she didn't show up for his father's funeral. You'd think the woman would at least have the decency to show her face and pretend to care for her late husband but no. It was just the two of them against the world. Theo cleared his throat meaning to speak since he'd been standing in front of everyone for almost five minutes. Thank God it was a funeral and the people attributed his silence for grief.

He opened his mouth but was cut short when people shuffled at the back making way. Someone was coming in and whoever it was had to push through the throng of reporters to actually come in but since there were no seats available he wondered why they even cared. Seconds later a woman dressed in black from head to toe appeared then continued to attract attention when she walked all the way to the front of the church her heels clacking loudly against the marble floors. She sat beside Brad who looked up then hugged her. Theo wondered if she was his new girlfriend. Last time he checked Brad was still dating Ashley his high school girlfriend. Anyway, it didn't matter so long as his younger brother had someone by his side then it was okay with him.

He said a few words about his father then left the pew and sat down beside his brother. He didn't want to think about why Bridget hadn't arrived yet. These days everything she did was meant to irritate and anger him. Later. He told himself. After the service was over and his father was buried he would have a word with his wife. Whatever she was playing at would cost her dearly. "Are you okay?" the woman beside Brad asked him making Theo look over at her. Her dress was just above her knees while long stockinged legs peeked from under it. He found himself wondering if she was wearing tights or stockings. How did her body look like underneath that dress?

Theo shook his head. This was not the time nor the place for such thoughts. Right now he should be worried if his daughter was on her way home. He regretted leaving her with her mother but the news had come as a shock to him prompting him to leave immediately. Marjorie had been in school and that's the only reason he had trusted Bridget to follow him but clearly, his trust was misplaced. The service came to an end and people parted for him and Brad as they carried the casket to the funeral car outside, that would take them to the graveyard.

Two hours later the Sullivan mansion was filled with mourners who carried champagne filled glasses and huddled into small groups discussing Marcus'  sudden passing. Some approached Theo conveying their condolences while others just looked at him from afar. His face was a mask of fury. He had been trying to reach Bridget but her phone went straight to voicemail. That woman had a way of getting on his nerves even when she wasn't around. He wondered why he had wasted his time fighting with his father over someone like her. He should have known what kind of a person she was before rushing to marry her. Dammit!

"Theo" he turned his head and was met with emerald green eyes that were sympathetic. It was Brad's new girlfriend but as much as he wanted to snap at her to leave him alone, he couldn't. She had been there for his brother when no one else was. "Can we talk?" her voice was small but strong.

"Yeah, this way" he led her to the study letting her walk in first then closing the door. "I can't stand anymore 'am sorry for your loss' conversation."

"Oh I won't tell you that then," she said sitting down on one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"Thank you. So are you my brother's new girlfriend?" she started shaking her head before he even finished asking.

"No. Brad is still will Ashley. I was your father's friend"

He froze. "What?"

"Your father's friend. He was a really good man."

"By my father's friend you mean one of his girls?" Theo wasn't stupid. Of course, his father wasn't a saint. That was the sole reason his marriage to his mother had fallen apart.

"I wouldn't say it like that. I mean I never.... "

He cut her short. "Get out"

"What?"

"I said get out. The only reason I let you stay was because I thought you were Brad's new girlfriend. I should have known one of you would show up to try and act nice with us. Am married and my brother has a girlfriend whom he loves very much so do me a favor and leave. There's no one here to sink your filthy claws in" he snarled the last part

"Am sorry but your father was my friend. Not even you would have stopped me from attending his funeral," she said getting up.

"Don't pretend to have cared for my dad. Women like you are always after money. Thank God he died before he did something stupid like marrying a..... A woman like you" she slapped him. Theo growled shooting up from the seat.

"What, are you going to slap me back? Go on ahead. I dare you" she challenged him and if he wasn't so furious he would have admired her courage.

"Get. Out." he enunciated each word.

"You don't have to worry. Am leaving. I don't associate with people like you who think they're all high and mighty." she spun on her heels and left banging the door close louder than necessary.

Theo sat there rubbing his cheek and wondering why his brother would associate himself with someone like her especially when he was still with Ashley. The nerve of that woman to slap him. She should be grateful that he was worried about his daughter and he had just buried his father or he would have taught her a lesson. He couldn't believe he wondered what was underneath that dress. He should have known she was all trash and filth. He shook his head hoping to never see her again. He would do real damage to her if she showed her face anywhere near him. His phone vibrated alerting him of an incoming call. Son of a bitch! She was calling him now? 

"Bridget where the Fuck are you?"

**************************************************

Honestly, I can't write one book at a time. I find that it drives me crazy thinking about one story. That's why I started masks after a good person but somewhere along the way I got writer's block and took it down but now it is up. And complete so I'll be updating a chapter every day. I plan on doing the same thing with Matrimony and A good man so don't worry.

I really hope you enjoy it and stick around for more. It gets interesting or so I think.

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