She flinched and turned back toward the house. Donna, her sister's assistant, strode toward her with purposeful steps. The woman had been employed by their family in various roles for decades. Her dull pale brown skin, razor-thin lips, and hair pulled back in a tight bun hadn't changed in all that time. The woman gave her a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Ms. Serena would like to see you in her office," Donna said. "Please follow me."
As she followed Donna up the steps to the open-air loggia, past the butler and the staff who busied themselves with the morning cleanings, she gazed at the decor and furnishings that hadn't changed since she was sent away. She ran a hand along the expensive brocade fabric of a couch as she passed through the spacious area. Regret clouded her thoughts as memories flooded her mind. The days she'd spent running up and down the familiar maze of hallways as the warm ocean breeze flowed through the archways, caressing her skin.
Every detail of the property was as she remembered.
The bittersweet sting of nostalgia forced her to face her own part in the distance that had grown between her and her parents. She'd wasted years being stubborn and refusing to come home, even after her mother had tried to extend an olive branch of sorts.
It hadn't been enough for Gabrielle.
She'd wanted them to admit they'd been wrong for sending her away after the kidnapping. Banished and hidden with distant relatives when all she'd wanted was the love and support of her mom and dad. Fantasies of them groveling for her forgiveness and begging her to come home had stuck with her all this time. But her mom and dad had never come close to that. And now they were both gone. She wasn't sure she'd ever see them again.
Gabrielle fought back tears and followed Donna through the modern glass entrance to the executive suites. Serena's assistant stepped aside and allowed Gabrielle to enter the office alone.
Serena stood behind the mirrored glass desk, hands pressed against the surface as she said, "You have two weeks to get every last photo taken down. Do I make myself clear? Do whatever it takes to erase those photos of my sister from the internet."
Taking tentative steps forward, Gabrielle was struck by how perfect Serena looked in the space formerly dominated by Bernadette King. Serena was the new queen on the throne of Hullabaloo Enterprises, serving as interim CEO for two years since the plane transporting their parents to Africa disappeared.
At forty years old, her sister was stunning. Serena had the grace and beauty of the da Costa side of their family. Tall and lithe with butterscotch, sun-kissed skin, gorgeous faint freckles, and long dark brown tresses cascaded down her back in loose curls.
She, on the other hand, was every bit the West Indian version dominating the King side. Average in height, with hourglass curves, deep brown skin, and tightly coiled curls that took hours to straighten every weekend.
The differences between them extended well beyond their looks.
Gabrielle didn't have anything in common with her sister, who was thirteen years older. Given the age gap, Serena wasn't around for much of her childhood. Neither had made efforts to become closer since they'd become adults.
Serena looked up from her notepad with a huge smile. "My goodness, you are so beautiful." Serena moved from behind the desk. She crossed the room and rested her hands on Gabrielle's shoulders. "My baby sister is all grown up. I am so happy you're back home."
Gabrielle stiffened as Serena pulled her into a hug.
This was not the homecoming she expected, but she had to admit it was a pleasant surprise. Relaxing, Gabrielle leaned into the warm embrace. She pressed her head against Serena's shoulder as she inhaled the signature fragrance that reminded her of their mother. Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away.
Serena said, "I should have done much more to get you to come home years ago. But I'll make up for it now. Please sit down."
She followed her sister to a nook across from the desk arranged with two tufted couches facing each other. Sitting next to Serena, Gabrielle said, "You were talking to the lawyers about me. The photos that got released last night."
"Hannah filled me in this morning. While your lawyer has dealt with this in the past, I thought having the full Hullabaloo legal team at your disposal would make it disappear quicker."
Gabrielle nodded. "Two weeks seems ambitious."
"They know not to let me down," Serena said, squeezing her hand. "Sebastian briefed me on the news about Damian Hester and the potential threat from Quattro. We're going to get additional security installed at the house. I promise you'll be safe here. I had the staff prepare the ruby room for you. I thought you'd like that one the best. But if you prefer the opal or the jade room, we can make that switch."
"I don't know that I can stay here," Gabrielle said, swiping a shaking finger across her eye to catch the tear before it fell down her cheek. "This has been the hardest day, and now I get to King Estate, and the memories of Mom and Dad are about to crush me. I never realized how much I missed this. How much time I missed out on being with them because—"
"They sent you away when you needed them most," Serena said. "I still don't understand how they could turn their back on you that way. Maybe I could've stopped them if I'd been here, but it's too late now. Things will be different with me in charge. I will always take care of you, Gabrielle. No matter what."
"I never knew you felt that way about what happened."
“You know, Bernadette. She didn't allow dissension or disagreement with any of her decisions. We all had to abide by them no matter what," Serena said. "I miss her, too. But let's be real. We didn't have the best parents. A mother who was ambitious to a fault and thought money was a suitable substitute for love. A father who had his head in the clouds, thinking he could save the world from poverty and pain while neglecting his own children. Neither of them was equipped to raise kids, which is why we all have our personal demons to carry."
"So I wasn’t the only one?” Gabrielle shook her head. "I was so jealous of you growing up, thinking you were getting all the love and attention I wasn't."
"I was born to be the heir of Hullabaloo Enterprises. Shipped off at the age of eight to private schools in London. Then Oxford. MBA from Harvard. My whole life was planned out for me so I would be ready for this moment."
"I thought you wanted to run the family business."
"Oh, I absolutely do. But I need our greedy aunts and uncles and their useless spawns to stay out of my way and let me take this company to the heights it's destined to reach."
