2 CHAPTER TWO

 

 

“Do you know what this is all about Trev?” Bethany asked on the phone as she paced around her swanky downtown condo.

 

She poured a glass of red wine as she listened to her stepbrother Trevor. “I don't have a clue, Beth. I mean he just got home from a trip to who knows where.  It's kinda sudden and all.”

 

She took a sip of her wine and let the warmth course through her body.  “Well let me know if you find anything out.  I don't like these little surprises.” She hung up without waiting for any response.

 

She was irritated. Family meetings never turn out anything good. She walked into her bedroom and set her glass of wine down.  She went to the bathroom off the master, and started a bath.  Pouring in a lot of bubble bath liquid, she went back to her room as the water continued to fill the tub.

 

Taking another sip of her wine she began to undress.  She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was surprised at the reflection.  She looked older than her 32 years. Although still an attractive woman, the lines around her mouth looked a little more prominent.  She tried on a smile and while it made the lines disappear, it didn't feel right. She went back to her natural somber look, and felt more comfortable. Turning sideways she looked at her reflection.  She was still pretty tight, as the weekly tennis kept her in shape.  She clenched her butt and smiled as her cheeks tightened and sat higher.  I have a nice butt. Turning full frontal she let her eyes wander, examining herself.  Her breasts were still nice and sat high. There were no turkey arms, something that seemed to be common amongst women in the States.  She kept her pubic area nice and trimmed. What am I doing? I am a fine specimen! Smiling she strolled into the bathroom, anticipating the bath.

 

She turned off the water and inhaled the aromatic steam that was rising from the water and bubbles. Getting in she made sure not to spill her wine.  Shit...I forgot my phone. Whatever...I can be without it for a half hour.  She fluffed out her long black hair and closed her vibrant blue eyes.  In truth she would have been considered beautiful if she smiled more.  Bethany had always had a gnawing feeling about everything, though.  She trusted no one, and very few situations.  Perhaps it stemmed from her Dad leaving her when she was little.  She couldn't remember ever having feelings of optimism or trust, though.  I'll just have to find out tomorrow about this stupid meeting...The warm water and the warmth of the wine were working and she felt the tension in her shoulders loosen.

 

The ringing of her phone woke her up.  Looking down she saw her fingers were pruned from being in the water too long.  Shaking her head she rose up out of the water and stepped out of the tub. Grabbing her towel she wrapped it around herself and walked into her room. The phone had stopped ringing, but she saw that the missed call was from Trevor. Wonder if he found something out...She tapped on the return call button and waited as the phone rang.

 

******

 

“Oh...Let's just all wait for you Beth...” Trevor grumbled out loud. He smacked the “hang-up” button and started toward his kitchen. 

 

Short and muscular, Trevor was almost handsome. He certainly wasn't his statuesque brother Evan, but he wasn't a troll either. Trevor had the misfortune of bad luck. It seemed whatever he touched turned to ash. When he opened a restaurant in the “Financial District” it received rave reviews. Six months later it was a bankrupt investment. There hadn't been a catastrophic event, or a health violation. The restaurant had just failed. When he talked his father into backing his property investment, which had been sound, it had dissolved within a year. Trevor seemed cursed.  Cursed from birth, his delivery had taken 23 hours. The one good thing he felt that was in his life was his stepsister Bethany.  She always had his back, and he would do anything for her.  But she did make him mad sometimes.

 

His phone rang, and he saw it was her.  His heart leapt a little at the sight of her name.  He answered on the second ring.  “Hey Beth! How's it going?”

A pause from the other end and then she replied.  She seemed a little down to Trevor. “Oh...you know...fine. I just took a bath.  So did you find out anything?”

 

Trevor smiled because he had indeed dug out a secret. While his own personal life seemed to always have one let down after another, he did have a certain gift.  His gift was that people really liked him. They felt comfortable around him, and often were very conversational with him. This ability allowed him to gather all sorts of useful information. A lot of the information he gathered was just interesting little tidbits.  On occasion there had been bits that had proved to be useful.

 

He once received information about a fixed boxing match, and had been able to gain a substantial financial payday at the bookies.  Since he was part of a rich and powerful family, he had also been able to find out some information about competitors and corrupt politicians. He had also cashed in on some of those secrets.  But the truth be told he was more excited about this bit of news that he had been able to coax from one of the cooks.  He also knew that the news would make Beth happy, or at least the fact that she knew something pertaining to the family meeting would make her happy.  He had known that Rita, one of the cooks, had a little crush on him.  She was always inquiring about his life when she saw him. They had fun and teasing conversations, and she always kept him up on any of the happenings at the mansion.

 

Now as he stood in his plush condo, three blocks from Bethany's, he smiled at the thought of pleasing his sister.

 

“Well...one of my well placed sources has given me a bit of info.” He let the statement hang for a minute.

“Stop being so dramatic you dork.” Bethany said, but Trevor could tell she was smiling. 

 

Grinning Trevor continued. “So it seems that when Dad got home the other day he had arrived with several extra suitcases. Then...when my source--”

 

Bethany cut him off. “--I know it's Rita you fuckwad.  Stop stalling and acting like you’re on CNN.”

 

Although the words could have been deemed harsh, Bethany had spoken them lightly. Trevor knew that her mood was improving and that made him happy.

 

Laughing he continued.  “Yes... okay. Well anyway, the next morning when Rita was cooking breakfast, dad ordered an extra muffin, a glass of juice, and a hard boiled egg.”

 

There was a moment of silence as Bethany took what he had just told her and digested it.  He could practically hear her mind working.

 

“Maybe he was just hungry. But why did he order another glass of juice and not just a carafe?” Bethany was talking more to herself than to him, so Trevor decided to drop the other shoe.

 

“Well then there's this Beth.  He sent the extra food to the second bedroom…on the master level. Not to his room.”

 

More silence and then Bethany came back.  “Who do you think is there with him?”

 

Trevor didn't have that answer. “I don't know...Rita said she hasn't seen anyone. But you can bet your ass that this is why he called the meeting. Or at least it's part of it.”