Secret Revenge

by T N Lowe

  “It’s a simple blood test.”

  “Okay, that shouldn’t be a problem,” I tell him.

  The server returns with our drink then takes our lunch order. Patrick orders the seared tuna with gingered rice; Samuel orders the roasted swordfish with crab gratin and mustard vinaigrette. I order a simple Caesar salad with chicken breast; my stomach is in knots to eat that much. When the server leaves we sit in uncomfortable silence. As our brunch conversation replays in my mind, it stops on “I think he may have told her some things about my family that if taken out of context it looks quite damning.” What did he mean by that? What could be so bad that Mom would leave a man she loved when she was pregnant? So I ask.

  “I can’t be sure what Maggie and Martin spoke about because I wasn’t there, but I think he may have told her about some of my father’s dealings. My father, your grandfather, was the congressman for Virginia, but before that, he was a businessman. However, some of his clients were not good men, now their business deals were all above board and legal, but he met with members of organized crime. If Martin showed Maggie photos of their meetings, it would look worse than it was.”

  “What kind of business did your father run?”

  Samuel looks worried like he’s not sure he should say more on the subject. Taking a deep breath, he finally says, “He made connections, a broker of sorts.”

  “How did that lead him to meet with members of organized crime?”

  “Not all the business organized crime members are involved in are illegal. Many have legal businesses too; that is why my father was meeting with them because a client of his was interested in their legal business.”

  I shrug, “That makes sense to me. But I can also see how people could miss understand. But I don’t understand why Mom wouldn’t have asked you about it, she was an open-minded person.”

  “That is something none of us will know,” Samuel says looking sad. Talking about Mom and why she left must be hard for him. I can tell he still loves her when he was telling me about how they first met the love he felt for her was in his eyes.

  “Did you ever marry?” I ask Samuel trying to put my stock and fears aside to learn more about him.

  “No, I never met anyone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I had a girlfriend, but that ended a few months ago.”

  “Do you have any other children?”

  “No, you are the only one.”

  “Have you lived in Virginia your whole life?”

  “I’m starting to feel like I’m being interviewed,” Samuel chuckles. Looking to Patrick, he says, “She must have given you a run for your money when you first met.” Patrick just nods.

  “Yes, I was born and raised in Virginia. My house was built by my great-great-grandfather and it has been passed down to the oldest son. And one day it will be yours,” Samuel tells me matter-of-factly.

  “Wow, that is amazing. Mom refused to talk about her family. When I asked she told me they were estranged. Are your parents or other family members alive?”

  “Both my parents passed away a few years ago. But I have aunts, uncles, and cousins I would love to introduce you when you are ready. Maggie was raised by a single mother; before she left for college they had a huge fight and never spoke again. I’m not even sure she is alive, but I can look into it if you would like. As for her other family, I’m not sure, Maggie never said anything about them.”

  I lean into Patrick for support, it is all overwhelming. It was Mom and me for so long. “I would like to meet them, just not right now,” I tell Samuel.

  “We can wait till you’re ready.”

  “Thank you for understanding.”

  “We’re in this together,” Samuel says as the server comes with our lunch. For the rest of lunch, Samuel tells me stories about Patrick when he was younger. He was definitely a spirited child.

  “Thanks, Samuel. My parents didn’t even embarrass me that much.”

  “That is what you get for dating my daughter,” Samuel retorts.

  After lunch, I promise to meet Samuel for a father-daughter dinner next week. I’m still freaking out that the father I thought was dead is not. And not only is he alive he wants to spend time with me and get to know me. It’s a childhood dream come true.

  Patrick and I walk back to the Mall hand and hand, “Now that wasn’t so bad was it?”

  “No, you were right. Samuel is a nice guy. But it still feels like a dream, and I’m scared he will leave just as easy as he came into it.”

  “Princess, Samuel is not that kind of man. He is excited to be a father even though he missed a large chunk of your life.”

  “Are you sure?” I ask still feeling insecure about Samuel’s dedication to me.

  “Yes, I’m sure. Now princess pick which museum you want to visit first.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Monday Patrick goes into the office; a deal he is working on isn‘t going well. From what I understand, the CEO of the new company Patrick is trying to acquire is fighting the buyout. Now Patrick has to make him see that if he doesn’t sell to Patrick, his company will be sectioned off and sold for parts, Patrick wants to keep it whole and keep the employees working.

  Patrick refuses to leave me by myself, so he called his sister Rylie to keep me company. I told him I didn’t need a babysitter to watch me watch TV, but he insisted. Now Rylie is dragging me to every dress shop in the city. I told her I hate shopping, and I’m fine with the clothes I brought with me, but she won’t hear it. “You are the daughter of a presidential candidate you need to dress the part; jeans and t-shirts won’t cut it.”

  “I guess I see your point,” I tell her “but I don’t like it.”

  “You don’t have to, but you do have to play the part.”

  “Fine,” I huff following Rylie into the fifth shop. Rylie greets the clerk by name and asks if she can start us a room. As the clerk walks into the back of the store, Rylie pulls me to the clothes racks animatedly tossing clothes into my arms. “Rylie, I don’t need all this,” I tell her.

  “Yes, you do. As soon as the news is released, you and Patrick will become the next It couple. You will be invited to everything, and you will need to dress the part.” Latching onto my arm, she pulls me to the dressing rooms, “Now try those and be sure to come out and show me or I will come in there.”

  I do as I’m told trying on every outfit and modeling them for her while she sits back and declares the winners and losers. When we’re done, I walk out with three pantsuits, three cocktail dresses, two evening gowns, five pairs of shoes, and two fancy coats. All of which Patrick insists he pay for. Before he left for work, he gave Rylie his credit card and said to buy me whatever I wanted. I think his exact words were, “Buy everything that makes her happy.”

  “Now we have our chores done for the day, let’s go to lunch,” Rylie says handing her bags to Bryan. When Bryan joins us Rylie asks him to take us to Paul for lunch. “Paul has the best food, you’ll love it,” she tells me.

  Rylie was right the food is amazing. Over lunch, Rylie and I learn that we have a lot in common, other than shopping. “Even though Patrick told me to not ask I have to. How are you doing with the whole Dad’s alive thing? I think I would be freaking out.”

  “Oh, I’m completely freaking out. I like that Samuel wants to get to know me, but I don’t know how to deal with any of this. When I was on the phone with Samuel yesterday, he was talking about hosting a dinner party to announce me as his daughter. I have no idea how to dress or act at a fancy dinner party.”

  “Don’t worry we got you the clothes you need and as for acting, just be yourself.”

  “But what if I use the wrong fork or embarrass Samuel and Patrick?”

  “No one cares about what fork you use. And as for embarrassing Samuel and Patrick, that won’t happen. Samuel and Patrick are powerful; no one wants to do anything to piss them off. But if it will make you feel better, I can come over before the party to do your hair and make-up. And we can go over forks an
d other information you need to know.”

  “Thank you Rylie, that means a lot to me.”

  “It’s not a problem. Now let’s get you home before Patrick beats us there and has a heart attack.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  I spend the rest of the week cleaning the house, watching movies, surfing the internet, and making dinner. It is driving me crazy, I have always worked and having nothing to do all day is making me insane. I need to talk to Patrick about finding me something to do during the day. Or maybe I can help Samuel with his campaign.

  At noon Samuel and his private physician arrive. Sitting at the dining room table, the doctor explains what will happen. “I will take a vial of blood, I’ll send it to the lab with a rush order, and we should have the results in about four days.”

  “Okay,” I answer because all I care about is if Samuel is my father.

  The doctor pulls equipment from his bag, “Okay Lena if I can have you place your arm on the table and I’ll draw your blood.” Moving my arm to rest on the table he draws one tube then says, “Okay. I’ll call you with the results in about four days.”

  “Thank you, doctor,” I say walking him to the door while Samuel waits for me at the table.

  As I walk back to Samuel at the table, he asks, “What do you think about a dinner party next Saturday?”

  “I’ll have to ask Patrick to see what his schedule looks like, but it should be okay.”

  “Good ask him tonight, and I’ll have my assistant set everything up.”

  “Okay. I was wondering if I can ask you something?”

  “Anything,” Samuel answers with no hesitation.

  “I’m going crazy around the house with nothing to do; I was wondering if I can help with your campaign?”

  “Have you talked to Patrick yet?”

  “Not yet, I was thinking about it before you, and the doctor arrived.”

  “Talk to Patrick first, then if he thinks it a good idea, then I’m sure I can find you something.”

  “I’ll talk to him tonight, but no matter what he says I need something to do; even if it is just stuffing envelopes here at the condo.”

  Samuel laughs, “I was thinking he might have something more challenging for you at Kindred Corp.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t think of that. I don’t know much about buying and selling companies,” I tell Samuel as we move into the family room.

  “See what he says. I promise I won’t let you go crazy cooped up in this condo.”

  At five I ask Samuel if he would like to stay for dinner, “I’m not making anything special, just chicken piccata with angel hair pasta.”

  “I’d love to stay. Do you like to cook?”

  “I love cooking and experimenting with new recipes.”

  “If you need a guinea pig call me, I love trying new food,” Samuel says with a chuckle taking a seat at the kitchen island to watch me cook.

  I have dinner half done when Patrick walks through the door from working all day. He comes into the kitchen with his tie undone and hanging limply around his neck, the top buttons of his shirt are undone, and his jacket slung over his arm. “I don’t know what you’re making, but it smells amazing,” Patrick says kissing me quickly before turning to Samuel. “Hey Samuel, you staying for dinner?”

  “Yeah, Lena invited me, and I couldn’t turn down chicken piccata.”

  “Go change, dinner will be done soon,” I say shooing Patrick upstairs.

  “Yes princess,” he mocks giving me one last kiss before running upstairs to change.

  I fill three plates with chicken piccata and angel hair pasta. Samuel takes the plates to the dining room table while I slice up some Italian bread and put it in a basket then pull down three wine glasses. Samuel takes the bread and glasses to the table while I chose a bottle of wine.

  “Thank you for dinner princess, this looks amazing,” Patrick says sitting next to me after changing into jeans and a red sweatshirt.

  “You’re welcome; I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”

  Samuel takes a bite and moans, “It tastes better than any I’ve ever had at a restaurant. You can cook for me any day.”

  I blush at the complaint coming from my father, “Thank you,” I say taking a bite of my dinner.

  “Samuel’s right princess, this is really good,” Patrick says stuffing more into his mouth.

  “Thank honey, I love cooking for you. But I have a request.”

  “Anything, you know that.”

  “I love hanging out with Rylie, but I’m used to working every day. I was wondering if I can come to work with you or I can help Samuel with his campaign.”

  “Actually this is perfect. My assistant had to return home for a family emergency for a few weeks. You can help me part time and help Samuel part-time if you want, and if that works for Samuel.”

  “Whatever Lena wants will work for me,” Samuel says using a piece of bread to clean his plate.

  “That sounds like a perfect solution, as long as you two are okay with it. You are both important to me, and I don’t want to cause waves.”

  “Sweetheart, I think I can speak for Patrick and myself when I say we want you to be happy.”

  Once we are done eating the guys help me clear the table and load the dishwasher. While I finish cleaning the kitchen, Patrick yells from the living room, “I’m going to walk Samuel to his car.”

  “Okay. Bye Samuel I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I yell back.

  “Thanks for dinner,” Samuel yells then I hear the door close.

  I finish cleaning the kitchen then sit in the family room and wait for Patrick to return. Twenty minutes later Patrick returns and plops on the couch next to me. “I hope you don’t mind me inviting Samuel to stay for dinner,” I tell Patrick snuggling into his side.

  “Of course not, I want you to be comfortable here,” Patrick says pulling me into his lap. “I love you princess, and I only want you to be happy.”

  “Me too,” I say kissing him.

  Patrick stands, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he moves us upstairs to our bedroom. Setting me on my feet he quickly undresses me then himself. Picking me up he lays me on the bed, starting at my feet he places soft kisses up my right leg stopping just above my knee then starting over at on my left foot and leg stopping right above my knee. “Patrick,” I moan.

  “Princess?” He asks in between kisses.

  “Hurry, please,” I whine.

  “Not tonight princess.”

  “But,”

  “No buts. Tonight is all about you. Lay back, relax, and enjoy your night.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Monday morning Bryan drives Patrick and me to the Kindred building in Logan Square. Bryan stops at a mirrored glass fifteen story building; Kindred Corporation is etched into the glass above a large door. “Wow, this is your building?” I ask as we exit the town car.

  “Yep, this is what you get with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.”

  “It must be empowering coming to work every day and see the building you built.”

  “It is most days,” Patrick says as we enter the lobby which is more impressive than the building. The floors are tiled with large travertine tiles, the walls are an off-white that makes the space feel bright and welcoming rather than sterile. There are large planters full of flowers adding color and warmth to the space. Patrick leads me to security; the lead security specialist takes my picture and prints me a badge. Moving to the security checkpoint, we present our badges then pass to the elevators.

  “You have to show your badge too? You’re the boss.”

  “Everyone shows their badge for safety reasons,” Patrick explains as we step into the elevator car. A few other people join us in the car all saying hi to Patrick, and he introduces me as his girlfriend and temporary assistant while Lorie is away for a family emergency.

  After we stop on the twelfth floor, Patrick and I are the only two remaining. He stocks towards me, “Have you fantasized about having sex with your b
oss in an elevator at work?”

  “Never,” I say walking to the other side of the elevator car. Patrick pins me in the corner kissing me, “Patrick we are at work. We need to be professional.”

  “Come on, I’ll be quick,” Patrick says trailing kisses down my neck.

  “First you are never quick, and second we are at our floor,” I say pushing him back as the door opens.

  “Fine,” Patrick pouts leading me down the hall to his corner office.

  “Wow, it pays to be the boss,” I tease as Patrick pushes open the double doors to show me his office. On the left side of the office sits a large dark wood desk that would let two people work at it comfortably, with large windows behind it. The back wall of the office is covered with bookshelves various business and finance books lining their shelves. Opposite the desk is a large conference table with sixteen chairs. The walls are pale green with landscape photos of the mountains.

  “It does,” Patrick answers with a laugh setting his briefcase on his desk.

  “Where would you like me, boss?”

  “In my lap would be preferable.”

  “Patrick,” I admonish him.

  “Fine, you can set up shop at the conference table.”

  “Are you sure you won’t rather I use the desk outside?”

  “No, then I’ll spend more time at your desk than mine. At least in here I can stare at you and get some work done.”

  “Fine,” I take a seat at the large table. Patrick pulls a laptop from a drawer and sets it on the table in front of me.

  “If you don’t mind checking my schedule, I think I have two or three meetings today.”

  Opening the scheduling program, “You have three meetings today. The first should be here in ten minutes. Do you need me to do anything before they arrive?”

  “If you don’t mind getting a pitcher of water and glasses from the kitchen down the hall on the left, printing the agendas and then taking notes during the meeting that would be a great help.”

  “That’s what I’m here for,” I say leaving the office to find the kitchen.

  After setting the table with the water pitcher and glasses, I print the agendas and place them at each seat just as the phone rings; I answer it, “Mr. Love’s office.”