I could see from the blank expression on her face when I was finally allowed in my damn kitchen, that mom had already started working on her. I know that look of bemused admiration only too well. I’ve worn it a few times myself after mom had worked one of her word games on me.

All through dinner she seemed a million miles away, hardly taking part in the conversation going on around the table. Mom was in her glory. It’s been a while since she had this many people to browbeat at once.

Tony the suck up was singing her praises, Travis, I think he was flirting and she was just eating it up. They talked about the school and the island and if he’d like to come out and see her place.

By the time the plates were cleared she had him all but moved in. His sister hadn’t said a word so I was pretty sure she was in her own zone. I don’t think I even want to know what the hell mom had put in her head to make her like that.

Tony left soon after and mom was dragging her tail

so we decided to call it a night. It was still pretty early for me so I sent them off and went to sit at my favorite window to look out at the world.

The thumbs up mom gave me before she disappeared behind her bedroom door was like putting a stamp on outgoing mail. It was a done deal. There was no turning back now.

I’d done two things with her in the last month that I never have with anyone else. First, I let her into my inner sanctum, and now I’d introduced her to the most important person in my life; until her.

No one ever gets near my mother, none had ever come close. It was easy for me to let her. It never occurred to me not to. That alone said a hell of a lot.

I looked down the street and across to the large monument in front of the park. I imagined the street the way it looks for the holidays and found myself hoping that she would be here with me then.

I could imagine taking her a few streets over to Fifth Ave when it was all lit up, and the store windows all decorated like a nineteen-thirties

black and white film. I actually got a warm glow from the thought and vowed to make it a reality.

I know enough now to know how to deal with her going forward. Had she not had any interest, she would’ve told mom in some way. The thumbs up and happy grin on mom’s face told me different.

I sat up for most of the night thinking of what I had to do. I had plans to visit Ray Morrison’s place of employment as soon as business opens tomorrow, I also have to get the ball rolling on Travis’ school situation.

I wasn’t sure about the particulars, or whom I was supposed to talk to about the kid. From what I’d gathered she was basically his guardian now, but I wasn’t sure if that was official or just how things ended up. That’s something else I’m gonna have to take care of.

I should feel crowded, panicky, all the things that usually happens when some female starts getting the feels. But I felt none of that. Instead there was that budding sense of excitement that I felt the first time I saw her.

I checked on her before turning in and went next

door to stare up at the ceiling for the next half an hour before sleep finally took over.

I heard movement outside in the hallway what felt lime mere minutes later and walked out just in time to see her sneaking out the door. A look out the window showed that it was still dark, but it was winter so that didn’t mean much. I checked my watch, five o’clock in the morning.

“I don’t remember a lot, but I do know there’s no college in the world giving classes at this hour.” She jumped a mile in the air and yelped. I had to grab her before she fell to the floor.

“What the hell, what is wrong with you sneaking up on me?” She hiss whispered in the dark.

“Where are you going?”

“Work, now if you don’t mind let me go or I’ll be late.” I held onto the front of her coat harder.

“What the hell do you mean work? You work for me and it’s nowhere near time.” Had she woken up dazed and mistaken morning for evening?

“If you must know I have another part time job.”

”You what?”

“Can we have this conversation later? I really have

to get going.”

“Wait right here, let me get dressed.” Un-fucking believable. No wonder she was only getting four hours of sleep at night. I pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie before grabbing the keys to my Spyder that was kept in the garage along with my other vehicles.

She was waiting for me just inside the door and opened it as soon as she saw me. I had a feeling had I taken even a minute longer she would’ve left. As it was she complained all the way down in the elevator.

She came up short when she saw the red sports car. “You drive?”

“Yes I drive, now get in. I thought you said you were going to be late.”

I helped her in and walked around to my side. “Tell me about this job, where is it?” I gritted my teeth to keep from saying anything negative, but she had to know this was nuts. How could anyone keep going like that for any length of time?

“It’s a coffee shop not too far from my school. I work there a few hours each morning, same as at your place, Monday through Thursday.”

“I open the shop until the owner and his son gets there. It’s only three hours, six to nine and then my first class is at nine-thirty. I left a note on Travis’ bed for him to meet me there before class begins so he won’t be in your hair.”

I have no explanation for the amount of anger I felt. “The kid is fine, it’s you I’m worried about. Today is your last day there.” So much for controlling my anger, but this shit is nuts.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, it’s your last day there. What are you trying to do? Kill yourself?” Fuck Max, wrong fucking thing to say. Her face went sheet white and she stared at me out of sightless eyes.

Thank fuck it was too early in the morning for any sane person to be on the road and I was able to pull over to the side. I wanted to kick my own ass.

“Hey, breathe, come ‘ere, shit.” I unbuckled both our seatbelts and pulled her into my arms as best I could with the shit in the middle of us.

What was I supposed to say? If I said the wrong thing she’d know that her brother had talked. “What happened, why did you lose all the color in your face?” I waited until she calmed down to ask. She eased out of my arms and back into her seat.

I held my breath hoping that she would open up and tell me the truth, but all I got was a shaking head and a dead stare straight ahead. I’ve felt low after fucking up a time or two, but nothing came close to how utterly gutted I felt.

I’d hurt her, the one thing I had promised myself I would never do. It was the last fucking thing I said to myself before falling asleep last night. That if I went there with her I would never hurt her, never cause her a moment’s pain.

Since she wasn’t talking and I’d already fucked up I started up the car and said no more about it. I pulled up to the place and she reached for the door.

“Hold up!” I slid out of the car and walked around to help her out. She still had her face set but I couldn’t give way on this one. I pulled her into my arms and held her precious head in my hand.

“No real man wants to see his woman suffer baby.” Her body reacted with shock at my words and I held her even closer. “I’m sorry I hurt you back there. Look at me.”

I hated the look of misery in her eyes. “It’s all going to be okay. I promise.” I lifted her chin and planted a soft slow kiss on her lips. She didn’t put up a fight and I let the kiss go on longer than I’d meant to, hating to let her go.

I walked her to the door and waited until she went in and turned on the lights before disappearing from view. Fuck this shit. I looked up and down the block and there was no one around.

Like hell she’s coming back here. This neighborhood might be better than the one I just dragged her out of, but it’s still New York. I went back to the car and sat on the place until the owner showed up almost an hour later when it was beginning to turn light outside.

I might have fucked up there at the end but I meant what I said. She wasn’t coming back here after today. ‘Don’t push’ my ass, if I don’t who will?

All the way back home I went back and forth on the best course of action. On the one hand she needed patience and on the other I feel like if I let her go on like this she’ll hurt herself.

I could either stand back and watch her self- destruct, or I can be the man that I am and take control of this shit before it goes off the rails. I’d promised to show her hadn’t I? Well what better way than to show her who I really am?

Maybe that’s just what she needs. Someone to take charge for a change and take the weight off her shoulders. If she gives me any shit with her pain in the ass self, well…she’s my pain in the ass. I’ll deal with it.

Mom was up waiting with fresh brewed coffee and a plate of her famous homemade raisin cinnamon rolls. “Is Tony on his way over here?” Those are his favorite.

“I woke up and you and that child were gone, I didn’t know what to think. Besides, we have a lot to do today and Tony’s a good boy, he deserves his favorite treat.”

“What makes him so good? The fact that he’s your snitch?” She smiled at me and got me a cup of coffee. No shame whatsoever in this one.

“Among other things. Now what’s the story?” I told her about Annabelle’s annoying ass, though I didn’t quite word it like that.

“That poor child. She’s hurting too much to stop and think. And she’s so lost. Poor little thing. We have to get her back to herself before she runs herself into the ground.”

“I understand maybe half of what you just said. Either way she’s not going back there. What the hell is she trying to prove?” If anyone would understand pain in the ass females she would, she’s damn near the mascot.

‘That she’s not her mother, that she’s not weak. But that’s only part of it. She has a lot of pent up stuff to deal with, things she’s not ready to face. And she’s smart enough to know that if she stops moving, she’ll have time to think and she doesn’t want to.”

“I think our Annabelle was a very sheltered person before all that mess happened. She never really had to fend for herself, and now with her safety net gone, she’s floundering around to find her footing. In her mind, she has to do all this for her and her brother since they don’t have anyone.”

“It’s scary feeling alone in the world like that, I know. I can still remember the fear of failing, of making the wrong choices. You’re always worried that one wrong step will make everything worst than it already is.”

“Mom I can’t watch her go through that. I know you told me not to push, but I can’t… Do you know how hard it was for me to watch you all those years? How tired you would be, but you’d still have to keep going?”

“Or when you were sick and still insisted on going to work? The first time I ever picked up a ball, the first time I realized I could get paid for doing it, all I could think about was making it so that I could make your life easier.”

“I know that son, I know how that heart of yours is and I’m glad for it. I’m happy that you’ve found someone that you feel that strongly for, but we have to be careful with her...”

“She’s breaking my heart mom. Because every time I see her I see you and the way things used to be, and all I want to do is make it better. I can’t watch another woman I love work herself into the ground like that.” I stopped talking when I saw the tears in her eyes. “What is it? What did I say?”

She dried her face and smiled through the fresh tears that fell from her eyes. “That’s about the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Huh? What the hell was she talking about?

And then I realized what I’d said, what I’d let slip. Well shit! It didn’t exactly send me into a blind panic, saying it out loud, but it was close. She took pity on me and didn’t bring it up, for which I was immensely grateful.

“Okay, we’ll work on her together. Go get the door.” I walked down the hall and opened the door to a frowning Tony. “What the fuck bro!”

“Calm down, I drove Anna to her job.”

“Her what?”

“Exactly!” I recounted the story I’d told mom to him and got pretty much the same reaction. The three of us sat at the kitchen table hashing and rehashing ways to deal with her.

Travis joined us not long after half asleep and bleary eyed. He showed me the note she’d left on his pillow and I balled it up and shoved it in my pocket. “You’re with me today.”

“Cool, I wasn’t looking forward to sitting in a stuffy college library all day.” Mom got up and made him breakfast. Tony had already polished off most of the rolls and I was satisfied with coffee.

I missed her. The apartment had a different feel without her in it. As I listened to what amounted to my family discussing ways to save my girl from herself, I knew that there was only one thing to do.

There was only one way to handle this, my way. I’d been too caught up in my head, couldn’t separate her from my childhood memories and the mother I’d watched go through way too much.

But she’s not my mother and I’m not her father. She’s the girl I’d come to feel for when I never thought I could feel this deeply for anyone. Her pain is now my pain and I don’t like pain one fuck, so I have to put an end to this shit right quick.

She doesn’t have to prove shit to anyone, that shit is dead. Anyone with that much intelligence has to

know that shit on some level.

I listened to mom and Tony pump the kid for information, trying to find the right approach, but my mind was already pretty much made up.

Nothing she was doing was acceptable. She had a noble reason, no doubt, for all that she’d undertaken, but at the rate she was going she’d be dead or close to it in just a matter of time.

Since I’ve decided that she’s for me, it was now up to me to put this shit right. I’d handled her with kid gloves because of the chaos in my head but that shit ends now.

I checked my watch before getting to my feet. ‘Tony we have to head downtown in an hour. I’ll go get ready. Mom you and the kid stay here until we get back, it shouldn’t take long.”

I took a quick shower and dressed in one of my power suits. Usually just my name alone was enough to change people’s attitudes, today I was going for the kill. I want Ray Morrison fired before I hit the exit.

I connected with my guys to see what else they had on Ray and Arlene and to call them off of looking for information on Annabelle. I knew more than enough already and whatever else was needed I wanted to get from her.

Both Ray and Arlene had been laying low, but the weekend had just ended so that could’ve been a hindrance. I wasn’t too worried about anything they could throw at me personally, but I didn’t trust one or both of them not to go after her.

I’m pretty well schooled on how that kind of mindset works, it’s always blame the victim, never take responsibility for my own actions. Plus I can’t forget that look he had thrown Annabelle on his way out.

We made it downtown just as the business day was getting started. I stepped out into the early morning sun and looked up at the skyscraper before heading inside.

In my hand I carried a manila envelope with everything I needed to bury Ray. He’s lucky he’s getting off this easy. If not for Tony’s meddling ass I’d have already broken that fuck in half.

“I’m here to see Mr. Howell.” I greeted the lady at the front desk who looked like every Monday morning desk jockey. “Do you have an appointment sir?” She turned to her computer screen.

“No! Tell him it’s Max Carrington.” She called through and the door behind me opened. There was a thirty something year old preppie standing there, but he looked like every little boy who ever asked me to sign an autograph.

“Max Carrington? THE Max Carrington?” His eyes were big as saucers as he held out his hand. I shook it and pushed my hand back into my pants pocket while he ordered his assistant to bring us coffee in his office like he thought I was staying.

I followed him in and cut him off before he could get started on the football talk. “I’m afraid I’m here on unpleasant business.” His face fell a little and I could imagine where his mind had gone since he first saw me in his outer office.

As the head of an investment firm he probably thought I was here to hire his services. I passed him the envelope and sat back to wait. The assistant came in with a tray, which I ignored as Howell got hot around the collar.

“This…what….We had no idea.” I knew I had him when he used we and not I. He was already shifting responsibility, which meant ole Ray was about to swim in the deep without a raft.

“I didn’t think you did, that’s why I’m giving you a heads up. I’m about to take this boy to school, so I figured you’d want to get in front of this thing as soon as possible.”

He picked up the phone and called out to his assistant. “Simone, get Ray Morrison in here stat.” I got up to leave, I’d done what I came to do. He stood and followed me to the door.

“I hope that our name can be kept out of this whole mess.”

“That’ll depend on how you handle things, the ball’s in your court. By the way, I did my research and come to find out, I know quite a few of your clients. Some of whom I’m sure wouldn’t like to know that this sort of person was handling their money.”

I just left that out there after dropping a name that had him losing the color from his face. I wanted to be gone before I ran into Ray. If it were just me I would’ve sought him out myself. But since she was involved I choose to avoid unnecessary confrontation.

“Is it done?” Tony asked as soon as I planted my ass in the seat.

“Drive around the block.” It took two turns around the block before Morrison came out of the building with the sack box in his hands. He was already looking a little rough and I had no doubt it was due to the job my boys had been doing on him over the weekend.

I didn’t just cost him his job, but everyone he owed has been paying him a call in the last couple days and the word has been spreading in his favorite haunts about just what kind of person he really is. Life was about to get real fucking hard for this asshole.

As to his aunt, I already knew how I was going to shut her down if she tried anything. It’s vicious and without mercy, but anyone who could do the shit she’d done to a young girl who was already suffering didn’t deserve my pity.