Bryan

I was in the study when Michael returned from following Mari.

"Mr. Worthington," he said as he entered. "I have the information you requested."

"Good, thank you." Michael stood before me at the desk.

"Mari is in fact taking classes, Sir.'

"She is?!" I raised my voice. I just knew she was lying to me. She had to have someone doing it for her. I wonder if Vicki would do it since I kicked her out of the family home.

"Yes, she is. In fact, I spoke with her teacher and she would like to have Mari become her assistant as she feels Mari has great potential and an untapped talent."

"Hmm. Is that so?" Mari had always shown her talent in the arts ever since she was little. She was either painting or acting in her own plays she would write.

"Yes, Sir." He said confidently, looking directly at me. I had no reason to not believe Michael. He has been loyal to me for quite some time and I trust him fully.

"Understood. It is not the outcome that I expected but I have someone else working for me as well."

"I understand." Michael responded.

"Michael, can you please check on Mrs. Worthington? She hasn't returned yet." I knew Angela was upset, but I expected her to return by now.

"Yes, I will make sure she is well taken care of."

"Thank You Michael, I know I can trust you to handle sensitive matters for me."

"Of course Sir. It's my pleasure, Sir." I looked at Michael and nodded.

"It's getting late so I won't keep you. But tomorrow, remind me to give you a letter of recommendation. You have been an outstanding employee and I want everyone to know how valuable you are." Michael smiled.

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate that." I held out my hand and Michael took hold, shaking it tightly. The desk phone rang, displaying the name, Russell Norman.

"See you tomorrow. I need to take this. Please let yourself out." Michael nodded.

"Good night, Sir." He turned and left the study.

"Russell!" I said as I answered the phone. "Tell me you got something."

"Bryan! I wish I had good news, but I don't."

"What do you mean?" I did not like the information I received. This was blow number two.

"Well Bryan, it looks like she's legit. She has a bunch of books that have been published. It looks as if she's been writing for a while."

"This is not good news." I felt defeated. This person was behind all of the shit I was dealing with, somehow.

"I'm sorry, buddy. She was born and raised in Atlanta and moved around with family. It looks as though her father was in the military, so she's a military brat. Her last known location was in Paris."

"She lives there?" I asked, thinking she was the person who leaked the photos.

"Not exactly, it looks as if she has an apartment there though."

"Seriously?" I wondered how she could afford an apartment in Paris.

"Did you do anything to this woman, Bryan?"

"Not that I know of, honestly. She just seems to be obsessed with me."

"Or did you do something to her mother?" Russell said laughing sarcastically, making me smile.

"I probably have, but I have no idea." I may have bedded her mother at one time or another.

"I'm sorry Bryan, but it just looks like she has some kind of grudge against you indirectly."

"I assume so."

"Well, I hope you find what you're looking for my friend." Russell said.

"Thanks Russ, I'll call you later on in the week. I might just come for a visit."

"Oh ok Bryan, just let me know. I ain't going anywhere." He laughed and we disconnected.

I sat wondering again if Madeline had something to do with us being photographed. She offered me to go along with her to Paris.

Why? I wondered if the meeting only included a business deal. As I sat in deep thought, my cell phone rang. I picked it up and the display read: Madeline.

"Hello Madeline, I was just thinking about you?" I smiled.

"Were you now? I was thinking about you too." Her sultry voice called to my loins. I was addicted.

"Mmm, to what do I owe the honor?"

"Well Bryan, I've been thinking about you since you left the other day."

"You have? Why?"

"You seemed really stressed about the book thing and the picture being leaked to the media. As well as our discussion thereafter. So I wanted to help you relieve some stress."

"Keep talking, I like how this is going. However, the last time we did something like this, our picture was broadcast all over public television."

"Yes, and I understand that. I don't want to mar your image as it has taken a beating already. However, I will make it worth your time." She said so eloquently I couldn't refuse. Everything Madeline does is exquisite therefore I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked curiously.

"I have a friend I would like for you to meet." Madeline suggested.

"A friend? Are you passing me around now?" I asked. She chuckled.

"Let's just say, we'll be sharing you." I completely understood.

"I must say I'm interested. But how can I be sure, I won't be seen. I do have an image to uphold."

"No worries. I will contact you on where to meet us."

"Understood." I hung up. Madeline was a handful all by herself, but to have the opportunity of having her along with a friend of hers, piqued my interest.

§

Mari

Vicki and I met up with Bryan at the restaurant and seeing him walk through the door was like seeing a younger version of Father stride slowly over to our table. Vicki and I were in awe as we watched him walk over and sit in the empty chair next to Vicki.

"Oh wow, Bryan!" I squealed while Vicki just covered her mouth.

"Hello Sisters." He said with a deep smooth voice, a mixture between Father's and Randall's voices. "Nice to meet you." Bryan smiled a beautiful contrast of bright white teeth against his dark chocolate features.

"It's like looking at Father." Vicki whispered. He turned towards her and chuckled.

"You look beautiful, like your Mother. Both of you do."

"You know our Mother?" I asked, leaning forward.

"Yes. I know about all of you." He uttered.

"How long have you known?" Vicki asked.

"I would say since I was about 10 or 12 years old. I know it was at an age I could really understand everything my Mother informed me about my Father and my other family."

"Wow." Both Vicki and I said in unison.

"I'm glad you found me though."

"Did you ever want to reach out?" I asked.

"Always, but I didn't want to ruin anything for my Mother and disrupt our lives with all of the publicity the family gets." Bryan said.

"I can completely understand that."

"My mother told me everything and I did my research."

I sat back and looked at Vicki who was already looking at me.

"What did you find out?" Vicki asked as she leaned on the table.

"I found out that you were removed from the house, but Father set you up in a condo."

"True."

"I learned that Mari is an artist and still lives at the family home as well as Randall, who followed in Father's footsteps, going into law."

I crossed my arms in front of me. Bryan had done his research.

"I also know about the family secrets, me being one of them."

"What other secrets?"

"Well I know Randall is in a relationship with the son of Madeline Rutherford, the very same woman Father was just seen with in Paris." He blurted.

"Damn!" I sang. "What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a private investigator for a lucrative firm."

"That figures as much." Vicki uttered. "So what made you respond to Mari's message?"

"I wanted to know my family and I wanted them to know about me." He smiled.

"Did your mother have any other children?"

"No, she said she didn't want to be a single mother again." He uttered. I felt bad for him that he grew up alone. "But I had a bunch of cousins and friends so Mother did well. Father made sure she had a monthly allowance to take care of me."

"Really?" Both Vicki and I were amazed Father would even take care of an illegitimate child, let alone acknowledge one. "Well that's good you had a great childhood. Which is more than we can say."

"Right," Vicki chimed in. "We had to be primed and molded on how to act and respond for every situation."

"Exactly, we just wanted to be kids."

"Well you both have grown up now and are living your lives now, right?" He asked.

"Well I am," Vicki said looking at me. "She's still stuck at home and arranged to be married."

"That was another thing, what is up with that?" Bryan said. "Father actually made arrangements for you to marry into the Abrams family?"

"Yup." I said tapping on the table.

"It must be getting something out of this business-wise because your fiance is so gay." Bryan quipped.

"Yes, I know. But it's being taken care of." I said confidently.

"Oh really?" He sat back and smiled.

"Yeah, I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well."

"Good to know."

"So Bryan, I have a question," Vicki asked leaning towards him. "Have you heard about the book, The Prominent Doctor?" she asked. Bryan frowned as if he was thinking; he looked at me and then back at Vicki.

"Isn't  that the book that is similar to the family?"

"Yeah, it's loosely based." I quipped. He nodded.

"Yeah, I've heard of it in passing. I think my mother is addicted to it. She tells me a story about Father each time a new chapter is added."

"So how does your Mother feel about the book?" I asked.

"She thinks it's hilarious. She said the main character is Father, she knows it." I smiled at the fact that she loved my book.

"I would love to meet your Mother."

"You can. She's always said she would have loved for you two to come and visit. She really didn't care for Randall too much."

"Wow, the things we learn." Vicki sang and Bryan and I chuckled.

"Let's get some food so we can talk more." I said as I opened the menu. I was hungry and enjoying the conversation.

Bryan was pretty cool so far and had done a good job learning about us. As we sat talking and eating, I got a random text from Jeffrey - he had left town due to Randall trying to contact him. It seems as if the bird has left the cage.

Well tomorrow is going to be different for sure as I will be able to tell Father that the wedding is off as Jeffrey has gone missing. I might just wait and give myself a little time away from the house pretending as though I'm knee deep in wedding planning. Little did Father know, I will be taking the time to do the things I wanted to do, without his knowledge.

Besides, I'm sure he'll be busy trying to find some other piece of ass he can run up behind. Mother is being well maintained so he won't needn't worry about her at all; to her, he doesn't even exist.