I don’t know what I expected last night, but it was easier than I imagined. The food was incredible, and the company was warm and inviting. Even meeting Gabriel was a pleasure I didn’t expect. I knew he would be charming and gorgeous, but he had a calming nature about him; but I can see how he could be threatening to others. He dominated the room and ran it the way he wanted.

Liam, on the other hand, acted like he had no manners or social skills. I know I told him we needed to stay out of each other’s way, but he looked lost and hardly spoke through the entire dinner. I don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable in his own home. Then, just to prove my point, he tried to punch Zander, and I have a feeling it had to do with something about me. This is even more reason for me to leave.

The major reason I want to leave is Catherine; she announced she was going to have a party in my honor. I know that means she’s ready to tell my parents I’m back, but I can’t let that happen. That’s why I need to confide in her; I need to tell her everything. I just pray she believes me and will keep my secret a little longer.

I begin to search for Catherine and find her in her office. I knock on the door frame to get her attention. “Catherine, may I speak to you for a minute?”

“Yes, dear, come in and close the door.”

I close the door and sit, instantly fearing what might come from this. She’ll probably think I’m nuts.

“Catherine, I know you want to throw the party for me so my parents will know I’m here, but I can’t let that happen.”

“Why? You need to explain what I know you’ve been holding back, Avery. It’s time to tell me everything.”

“How did you know there was more?”

“Avery, I’ve always prided myself on being able to read people; I know when they’re lying or hiding something. You, my dear, have been hiding something since you arrived, and I want to know what it is.”

“I’m sorry, Catherine, I didn’t know how to tell you without you thinking I was crazy; after all, you are friends with my parents.”

“That, my dear, is subjective. Your mother likes me as much as I like her. It’s a friendship based on convenience. So, tell me, Avery, what has you so scared? Your mother never struck me as the kind of woman who could put that kind of fear in someone.”

“She’s not, but Adam is.”

Catherine goes still and leans back in her chair, waiting for me to go on.

“Adam is the reason the senator had me. He gave me to him.”

Catherine’s thinking; she doesn’t look like she doesn’t believe me, which I guess is a good sign.

“Why, Avery? Did the senator tell you any more?”

“No, but I think it has to do with my family’s money. Mom and he were arguing about the fact that he wasn’t in the will. She came to me and decided to have Mr. Harold draw a new will up and add him as a beneficiary in addition to me. But she hadn’t told him yet.” I start crying. “Catherine. I can’t let him know I’m alive. He’ll try to kill me again. I need a way to stay off his radar.”

Catherine stands and goes to a wooden file cabinet. She digs a file out and moves back behind the desk. She lays the file in front of me. “Everything you need to know about Adam is in that file. Go ahead, take a look.”

I stop crying, eye the file and open it. I read in astonishment how complete it is. The file has his birth information, his Social Security number, and his banking information. But the further I look, the more I see the real Adam. There are records of him extorting money from the medical practice, along with bankruptcy records. They have dates, times, along with women’s names he has cheated on my mother with and gambling debts he has acquired over the years. The worst is there are records of prescription drugs he’s illegally distributing.

I can’t believe this is Adam Edwards. My mother wouldn’t have married him if she knew all this. Then I become curious and ask, “How do you have all of this, and is it all true?”

“Avery, everything in that file is the complete truth, and how I have the information is a different matter. Let’s just say, you don’t know everything about me or my family, but I trust you will soon enough.”

“Now what do I do with this information? My mother will never believe me over him.”

“You’re right, she won’t. So, we’ll just have to show her.”

“How?”

“Tell me first, what do you want to do, Avery? How do you want to handle Adam? Do you let him go on with this life, or do you fight back and take it from him? Like he tried to take yours?”

I think on it as I look back down at the file. “I want to destroy him.”

“Then I’ll help you, but you have to trust me. Can you do that, Avery?”

“I’ve trusted you since the day I met you.”

“That’s what I was hoping to hear. Think about it, where should we start? Come on, Avery, what is his life about?”

“Well, it’s not my mom, that’s for sure.” Then it dawns on me. “His career, his practice. Even though it looks like he married my mom for her money, he doesn’t want anyone to see him as a gold-digger. He prides himself on being a doctor.”

“That’s right. Now you’re thinking. We need to destroy his livelihood and put the blame on him. We can’t use his patients against him; it would take too long, and I think you need instant satisfaction.”

I nod and smile at her. She’s right; I want him to be put down now.

“Let me make a call. Hold on.” I watch as she grabs her phone and waits for someone to answer. Then I watch in awe as she gives orders to whomever is on the phone.

“It’s me. I need a job done right away. Dr. Adam Edwards, I want his practice burnt down to the ground, and I want it to look like arson. I don’t want the insurance to make a payout. Make it look like he is the only one who could have possibly caused the fire.” She pauses, as the other person must be speaking. “No, I don’t want anyone hurt, just the building. I will trust you to take care of it all. Be careful, please.”

After another minute of her silence, she hangs the phone up. I can’t help it, I have to ask.

“Catherine, who was that, and how do you know you can trust him?”

She eyes me for a minute before she answers. “Trust me, I would trust my life with that person, and have. But I will not let you have anything to use against him. I might put myself in danger to help you, but his life I am not willing to risk.”

“Catherine, I want you to know I would never hurt you or your family. I am indebted to you for the rest of my life.”

We stare at each other, and I can tell she is trying to read me, but if she is, she will see nothing but sincerity. I meant what I said. Catherine is the only person I feel I can count on, and that means more to me than she will ever know.

I decide to break eye contact and ask, “How will he be able to do what you asked of him?”

“He is an expert at what he does. He will not fail. I quit questioning his ways a long time ago. Now Avery, what’s next? Look at the file again. I think you will find it interesting that I have his overseas accounts listed. You’re a numbers girl, are you not? Work some of your magic and figure out how to get his money he has been stealing from your family back.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good. Now, we are not canceling the party, and you will attend. You are under my protection, and like I said, no one would dare touch you. Adam and your mother will attend, they have no choice. Your mother’s social calendar is starting to dry up, and Adam will never allow that to happen. We will not tell anyone outside this family the party is for you until the party starts. There will be nothing but trouble waiting for Adam, and you will be the icing on the cake.”

“How? What do you have planned?”

“Well, like you said, Margaret will never believe you about Adam. So, we will invite a few people from his other life. The shock on his face when he sees them and then you will be priceless. I know a particular bookie who would love a chance meeting with your mother. It will all work out. Margaret will never risk a scandal. Once confronted with the true Adam, she will throw him out without a dime. Then he won’t have the power to ever hurt you again. You see, dear, without Margaret, Adam is nothing.”

“I think it could work. I’ll go along with it. But what do I tell my mom about my disappearance?”

“You simply agree with them and say you ran away or tell them since you are an adult, you left to live your life the way you wanted. That is an embarrassment to Margaret in and of itself, but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind throwing some of that her way. Would you, dear?”

She’s right; I couldn’t care less what my mother thinks anymore. Catherine showed me how to be stronger and more independent. I could never go back to that life, even if Adam was not there.

We finish discussing the details, and I leave to meet with Zander.