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“Why is that relevant to this conversation?”
I’m confused and he whispers, “Have you ever wondered how they could afford it? I’m guessing you did all the usual things kids do at these schools. Horse riding, tennis lessons, trips skiing and posh uniforms.”
“Yes, but…” He raises his eyes and I feel like such a fool.
“What has that got to do with my job at Remington Industries?”
My mind is spinning because it’s obvious I know nothing about my life, and he shrugs. “It has everything to do with your new position because Troy Remington knows who you really are and is planning on using it to his advantage.”
I say nothing because there are no words to make sense of the jumbled thoughts in my head and he surprises me by shifting a little closer and moving his arm to my shoulders and pulling me closer to his side, whispers, “I’m sorry to be the one telling you this but your parents, well, they aren’t your real ones. They adopted you at birth.”
Thank God he is holding me up right now because I’m liable to fall. My world is spinning so fast my mind is scrambled and as it tries to adjust to this devastating information, it’s as if my life flashes before my eyes. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces fall into place, and everything makes sense. The reason I’ve never seen my birth certificate, despite asking one day. The difference in my appearance and the lack of pictures of mom pregnant with me.The way I think differently to my parents and don’t appear to take after them in any way at all. The furtive looks they shared on occasions and, yes, the expensive schools they sent me to on ordinary wages. Something is telling me this is news I was destined to hear, but the messenger is definitely not one I would have expected, and it makes me wonder.
My voice shakes as I whisper, “Are we related?”
I wouldn’t be surprised because where my parents are both fair, my hair is almost black. Where they are all American, I have dark eyes and a Mediterranean appearance. I look nothing like either one of them and they explained it away by telling me my grandparents on my father’s side were originally from Italy. That also didn’t make sense because his parents were Joe and Ida from Arizona, not Sicily.
His low chuckle drags my mind back to my question, and he says evenly, “No. I am just the messenger.”
“Who sent you? My real family?”
I can’t believe we are even having this conversation, and he nods. “Your grandparents. I’m sorry to tell you this, but your real parents are dead.”
It’s as if he has punched me in the stomach as I gasp for air. Dead!
My eyes strangely glitter with unusual tears for two people I have never met or even knew existed a few minutes ago. It’s a loss I wasn’t expecting because now I will never know them. My life has shifted sideways, and I am preparing for more devastating shocks along the way. It’s all too much and my mind kind of detaches from my body, as I say in a voice devoid of any emotion.
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning.”
CHAPTER 14
TROY
Ihead to the office at the usual time of seven thirty in a bad mood. Max brought mom home three hours after our initial call. Apparently, she was at the cemetery sleeping on dad’s grave and when they returned she acted as if nothing had happened. I know we must do something, but it’s hard. She needs help but won’t accept any. The next step is sending her to a place where she will receive everything she requires, but the thought of it makes my blood run cold. It feels like a violation and despite hiring the best doctors and advice, that is all that keeps on coming back to me.
Melissa has promised to stay with her today and, as always, she was still sleeping when I left.
I’m irritated when I head inside the office to find it minus one personal assistant. Her desk is tidy, as if nobody has been there all night, and I sharpen my temper accordingly.
I head into my office and try to distract myself by burying myself in my work. It’s the only place I can focus my mind because it never lets me down.
By nine o’clock, I’m raging and as the door opens Laura heads inside with my coffee in a china mug and I swear I do a double take. The mild, meek mannered assistant of yesterday isgone and today the woman standing before me makes me sit up and take notice.
Her hair is long and hangs to her shoulder, shining as the light catches the highlights that dance in it. Her dress dusts her knees and offers no view of her tantalizing cleavage, although it is tighter than normal and merely accentuates the swell of her breasts even further.
Gone are the heels and in their place are knee-high boots that only appear sexier somehow and her make-up is perfectly applied, natural, yet highlighting a beauty I never appreciated until now.
“Good morning, sir.”
She drops the coffee on the desk and turns and my voice comes out like machine gun fire.
“What time do you call this?”
She turns slowly and raises a perfect eyebrow before saying firmly, “My contract states that I start at nine am until five thirty. I am exactly on time, sir.”
She nods and turns to leave, and I growl, “Sit.”
She says nothing and just perches on the edge of the seat, staring at me through enigmatic eyes.
