The gift was a picture of her and Emily, when they were younger. Josey remembered that day, when they were with their mom and aunt, it was a beautiful memory, sitting on a bench in the park, wearing matching outfits and eating ice cream. “Oh Em, where did you find this picture?” Josey looked at her sister with tears, her chest heavy with emotion. “I found it the day we moved from auntie’s house, before she moved over seas. She told me to keep it, so I did, waiting for a good time to give it to you.” Josey lost it, and started crying as she got to the floor to hug her sister. Only seconds later Cece joined them and all three were sitting on the floor sobbing. “Thank you, both of you, this is the best party ever.” The started drying the tears when Cece’s phone suddenly rang. “Hello? What!? Okay, give me about 10 minutes, I’ll be there.” Josey looked at her friend, concerned, “Everything okay?” “I gotta go, apparently there is smoke coming from the apartment two doo
After Tarrin explained everything to Linux, who had his own input and speculations, he settled into bed and grabbed the laptop off his nightstand wanting to check the security cameras at Moon Terrace but, most importantly, Josey’s apartment door.A knock sounded on his bedroom door, and he grumbled, feeling interrupted when he logged into the security cameras.“Come in.”Linux peeked his head in, “Hey, I am going with Mara to get meat tomorrow, and no, she doesn’t know you asked me to go.”Tarrin doubted that. She pretty much guessed it earlier when they talked.“Okay, and?”Linux stepped in and started fidgeting, “Well, since I am doing you this favor, how about bringing me along to your uncle's Thursday?”Tarrin looked up from his laptop, “Why?”“Well, I have some ideas about controlling your change and wanted to discuss them with him. Since your uncle is a genius in biochemistry, I need some input on some chemicals from him.”Linux smiled big, and Tarrin narrowed his eyes.“What, ch
Both Linux and Mara nodded at Tarrin’s rational explanation. “Though that does make more sense, it still doesn’t add up in the end because I am certain the owner of Brightstone would not take the chance of burning down a building that my uncle was using. Unless they were led by the leash or threatened.” Linux and Mara nodded in unison before Mara spoke, “Either way, it’s all tied. It has to be. I will see uncle this week and bug him for more details.” “No need. You can join us on Thursday. Since he wants to meet my assistant under the guise of an informal meeting, it only makes sense for you to be there.” “That's fine. Well, I am going to bed. Linux, you crashing here again?” “Maybe. Why?” Mara grinned evilly, “Good, you can make breakfast!” She turned away quickly and headed to her room before Linux could protest. “No fair!” Tarrin chuckled, “See, that’s what you get for eating her favorite snacks. Anyway, I’m heading to bed now, also. Clean your mess up.” Tarrin h
Tarrin got out as the attendant opened the door, “Mara, this afternoon, make sure you and Linux make it over to the,” he glanced at the attendant and bent down to talk through the window, “market, today.” Mara rolled her eyes and drove off to park the car. Once inside, Tarrin hurriedly went to the service desk to check for deliveries. He knew Josey probably forgot that duty. Carrying the packets of mail, he walked over to the elevator. A group of employees standing nearby started whispering, “Did you see who got out of the CEO’s car this morning, the contract employee,” one of them said, and another responded, “I know. Who is she? She isn’t very attractive. Maybe she begged him to give her a ride? Figures.” Tarrin glanced at them and realized three women were standing there giving him googly eyes. He smiled slightly and nodded before staring back at the elevator door. Again they started whispering as Tarrin watched the numbers go up and down on the elevator. “He’s so handso
The sound of Josey’s voice brought him out of the horrible past he was reliving. The phone call had triggered memories he’d wished he’d forgotten. “Um, Mr. Stormway?” Josey knocked on the office door and peeked in to see Tarrin standing between her and the desk holding his phone. The look on his face was like he’d just seen a ghost. Whispering, “Sorry to interrupt,” she crept past him but stopped when he firmly grabbed her arm. “Please, stand there for a moment.” She heard his voice tremble and responded softly, “Okay.” She looked at the folder in her hand, only wanting to set it on his desk. Josey suddenly worried that he stopped her because he was upset she interrupted his phone call. Peeking over her shoulder, she could see he’d lowered his phone, and the faint sound of a woman could be heard yelling from it, “Tarrin! Why are you ignoring me?” Josey watched as he lowered his face, staring at the carpet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I figured this investm
The dizziness was starting to lessen as Josey headed to the breakroom. Her head and nose still hurt, but she didn’t dare take the day off. Opening the fridge, she went back to wondering who the woman was and why Tarrin was so affected by her., even though it was none of her business. “Just worry about yourself, Josephine,” she whispered and grabbed a bottle of water. As she walked back to the office, Tarrin opened the door inward and wouldn’t look at her, “I’m heading out for the day. If any calls come in, forward them to Mara if you can’t handle them. Also, email me a copy of the notes you typed up, and I will review them and send back my response to anything needed.” Josey nodded and handed him the water. “You keep it,” was all he said before heading to the elevator. Josey stood there for a moment facing his office door and then returned to her desk. Trying to focus on work, she opened her email and noticed she had over thirty emails from just 20 minutes ago. Taking a de
Tarrin had stalled the elevator long enough to give Josey time to head out of the building before exiting it and making the woman leave. She was a nightmare from his past, and it only took the threat of embarrassment in the building’s lobby to get her to leave. Luckily, Olana, the nightmare and daughter of the powerful cosmetics corporation FaceIT, left right as Mara was coming in. Tarrin quickly met up with her. “Head to security and do me a favor, check the cameras and make sure Olana left.” Mara just looked at Tarrin a moment and headed for the exit with sheer determination to kill on her face. Tarrin reached and grabbed Mara’s arm, “Mara, stop!” There were very few people that late in the large lobby entrance, but Tarrin lowered his voice. “You’ll only provoke her. I can’t stop her from coming on the premises, or Rex will have my ass. If you go after her and cause a scene, he will have your ass. The CEO of FaceIT is her father, who is friends with our uncle, remember?”
Josey lay in the living room late into the night. Her sister had come home and needed to study for a test, so Josey gave her the bedroom, figuring she couldn’t fall asleep and Emily would end up passed out with her nose in a book. The coat thing was still bothering her, so she checked the time and decided it wasn’t too late to text Jared. “Thank you, but you don’t need to buy me something so expensive. The coat is beautiful, but I could never afford to pay you back, so please swing by and pick it up when you can.” Before she could set her phone down, it chimed with a response. “?? Sorry, what coat?” Josey sat up and decided to call him. When he answered, she quickly said, “The coat you left on my doorstep, Jared, it’s too much. You don’t need to buy something as an apology. There isn’t anything to apologize for.” Even though he had been weird lately, she didn’t think an apology gift was necessary. “Sorry, but I didn’t buy you a coat. I had stopped by to bring flowers as an apo