When I woke up, Ken wasn't in bed with me anymore. I grabbed at the empty space beside me and then sat up in a flurry of sheets. I looked around and noticed that Ellis wasn't on the couch either. My heart hammered in my chest. Pushing back my worries, I grabbed my robe and slippers and raced from my room, not caring that my hair was a mess and my shirt was rumpled. "Mom?" I ran to her room. The door was open and her bed was made. She was probably back at the hospital with my dad. What if Ellis had taken Ken while I was asleep? He had been intent on being in Ken's life. Would he go so far as to steal him?My slippers padded heavily on the floor as I raced through the big townhouse, looking for my son. "Ken?" I called, every time I popped my head into a room. He wasn't anywhere! I found some of his toys on the floor and a maid who was cleaning just shrugged and shook her head, telling me she hadn't seen him. Real panic filled me now. I was about ready to call the police

While Bennett was in town, he organized a piano concert for me to play. It was a debut for his orchestra in New York and my name as the headlining pianist. Ken waited with the stage hands, like he usually did, and they showed him the ropes that moved the curtains. I stood side stage, wearing a floor length, red, satin ball gown with a round train that pooled on the floor behind me. I had fresh flowers pinned up in my hair. I gripped the edge of the red velvet curtain while the New York Orchestra conductor announced me to the audience. I took a deep, shaking breath. Bennett came up behind me, resting his hand on the small of my back, his fingers grazing my skin where the low cut of my dress didn't cover me. "You're going to do fine, Olivia. You've done this dozens of times before," Bennett said softly. He pressed a kiss to my cheek. "I've never played in front of this many people that I know," I reminded him. My parents' friends, friends from school, people I'd known for yea

**Olivia POVSince I wasn't planning on going back to Vienna until things with my father were resolved, however that went, I decided to enroll Ken in school in New York. I wanted him to get socialized and start getting an education. While I was packing Ken's backpack, my phone rang. I smiled when I saw that it was Bennett's number on the screen. "Hey there," I said, pinning the phone between my shoulder and ear as I kept packing his lunch into a brown paper bag. "Is Ken excited to start school today?" Bennett asked. "He is. He's around here somewhere while I pack his bag," I said, chuckling. I'd told Ken that he could pick out a few small toys to bring to school with him. "This is a big day for Ken. I was wondering if I could drive him to school with you," Bennett offered. "Ken's been talking about this for days. I want him to have the day he's imagining, so let me ask him," I said. "Alright, I'll wait," Bennett said kindly. He was always so patient. I smiled

"I can't believe you just did that!" I snapped, grabbing my phone back from Ellis. "We are not together!""And you're not with Bennett, either," he said smugly. His eyes roamed over my disheveled clothes. I hurried to straighten them and smooth out my hair. I must have looked flushed and flustered, which made sense since we had just been kissing. "That doesn't give you the right to interfere with my life!" I snapped. "I told you that I was going to get you back. I will do what I have to," Ellis said, his tone even. He had no remorse over what he was doing. My stomach twisted. He was so determined it was hard to turn away from devotion like that, from persistence. "No!" I cried. "Why won't you listen? You don't have a place in my life or Ken's." I shook my head and jumped out of the car, slamming the limo door. I headed down the sidewalk but Ellis caught up to me. He grabbed my arm to stop me. I spun around, glaring at him. "I'm not letting you go. I love you too

"I'm not kissing you!" I insisted, stepping back from Ellis. He cocked his head at me, his eyes dancing with amusement. "A kiss is the price to pay. I've been more than generous and that dress is…" Ellis trailed off as his eyes raked over me again. I shivered under his intense gaze, my heart pounding. He always knew just how to look at me to make me feel like I had no clothes on. "… very expensive," he finished, smirking. "What does that have to do with it?" I asked. I crossed my arms to try and shield myself from his eyes. "Seeing as the last dress you wore got soaked in red wine, I do worry how much this act of kindness will cost me, financially. So, I want some collateral. A kiss to seal the deal," he explained, chuckling. "And you can't just do me a favor out of the kindness of your heart?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow. Ellis sighed and shrugged one shoulder. "I've been kind enough, don't you think?" he asked, tilting his head again. "Fine, if you want a