Chapter 1

I'm a thief

A really really big thief.

I'm such a crook, my name hasn't even showed up on any records. My crimes are unknown of.

Am I heartless? No I never shed blood of any sort.

I have Bentley to do that for me. I kid, I kid. My name is Blaine, Blaine Anderson. I'm an investment banker, who's bought my way into a few partners here and there. I used to work on Wall Street where I learned the tips of the trade and the game.

I no longer work on Wall Street however, it no longer entertains me.

'I have a child, well technically she's not mine by blood. Amelia, she's the sun shine of my life. I remember meeting her like it was yesterday.

It was a nice cool spring day. I had on a sweater, my slacks, and a nice pair of loafers for a days stroll in the park with my news paper and sketch pad.

Does it surprise you that a man so well with money and power has a great interest and skill in the arts? In the older days, ha-ha, well I'd just be a Renaissance man.

I popped down on a bench, pulled out my kindle in hand and relaxed reading Dracula.

A woman came by and flirted with me, a few came by actually none had actually peaked my interest...I dismissed them all quite well.

About 10 minutes after the last woman however, something happened. I felt a tug at my leg, expecting it to be some dog or something I looked from my kindle with a side eye, only to see a child. No older than five standing there.

'Hi'

That was a first of many odd things in my life. First off, she was a child. I had no idea what to do with one of those. And two, weren't kids supposed to be like with their parents or something and not be talking to strangers

'I'm Amelia, what's your name.'

'I'm Blaine.'

I said offering my hand for the small child to shake. She shook it, and for how much longer passed I don't know but she was seated on the bench and talking to me until.

'Amelia!' Said a woman in a pair of jeans and a blue polo came over and said to the girl.

'Amelia, I was so worried about you don't run off like that.'

Amelia looked down, almost a hint of shame? I had to take up for the kid; she did entertain my day after all.

'I'm sorry ma'am, your daughter came up to me-'

'Oh she's not my daughter, I'm her social worker' How wonderful.

'Ah, how interesting I'm sure that a woman as beautiful as you wouldn't mind sitting and chatting with us for a few moments then.' I was always smooth; I was smooth with talking to anyone on anything. She blushed, took a seat opposite of Amelia, the three of us talked, I swear I don't know what to do with kids, but technically, Amelia's not a baby, maybe I'll be able to deal with her better.

I treated the both of them to dinner at the Oceanaire. I sweat the social worker thought I wanted her, how wrong could she be.

As the evening ended and I dropped the both of them off I spoke to Amelia's social worker out of the car.

'I want her.' was all I said to her, and this is how I'm a crook in some aspects; I sweet talked this woman into letting this child go in grab her bag, go home with me, all without any form of background checking yet, no approvals, she told me to expect her by sometime in the next two days. But she let me take Amelia home that night.

God I love being me sometimes

Amelia became my best friend, and child. She's been there ever since two weeks of bringing her home. I mean yea she's got a nanny and all because honestly I have no idea what happens to girls as they grow

See

Almost like it was yesterday

Which brings up what dreadful event happened this morning...you see Amelia always knew I had money...LOTS of money. But she never questioned how. Over breakfast one morning, it was oddly quiet.

'Alright, Amelia what is it you want.'

I asked her putting down both my kindle and my orange juice.

She put down her spoonful of oatmeal and looked up

'Daddy, I would like to go to boarding school. '

I exhaled, deeply telling by the look on her face. My best friend was leaving me. How lovely.

'I'll be right in Ohio so I'll be right by Nana and Papa if anything should happen.' She's already thought about this?

'You already have a school in mind?'

She gulped still keeping her composure and looking me dead in the face.

'There's a school called Crawford Country Day that has really good reviews, and a very well known arts program.' Ah! Okay, I think I can handle her going there.

Still not too keen on her going to Ohio, away from me, but hey, they all leave the nest soon anyway right?

'Ah. My Alma matter's sister school. Nice argument.' I paused I already knew my answer, I just wanted to see her lose it.

She didn't, I raised a good kid, a smart, persuasive kid.

'You can go' she squealed.

'Thank you thank you thank you!" she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek before running back up stairs

*two weeks later*

It's the 1st week of august, and Amelia's all packed. We're in a similar situation as her asking me to go, but now we're on different subjects.

'Daddy?' she looked at me nervously

'Yes darling' I looked up from the TV, leaning my head on the arm chairs arm. She was sitting on the sofa cross legged

'I know I may be out of line with this...but ...'

'But what'

'You work, you work a lot, you and I both know, you have dated by not necessarily kept a relationship steady over the time I've been living with you, but I think that maybe, you know you should...find someone.' I think I just choked on my ice cube.

'I'm sorry what?'

'I think you should find someone, someone to love you I mean, I know I'll be back on holidays, and weekends and maybe even summer, but I realllly think that you should, find someone, I'm grown up, Ms. Marie has taught me all I need to know and now you and I both know there will just be need for the house keepers, cook, gardener and that's about it. I don't care if you even adopt a dog or some form of animal but something to have you happy.'

I hate this kid because I swear she's my adopted child. Part of her sees through me like a book.

'Ah, maybe. I doubt it though, I've been alone all this time, don't really need anything now. I'm established, well known to those who matter. I think I'll be alright.'

Boy did I know how wrong I was

The next week was drop off

We met my parents at the gate, and straight from the airport to Amelia's school. Of course, I wasn't surprised to find out that Crawford Country Day had the same policy for transfers and freshmen as they did for Dalton.

'Alright, you be safe now, be good, keep in touch. And write me, Skype me and I'll be here in a heartbeat if anything is wrong or you need a teacher or something.'

'Dad, *chuckle* I'll be fine. But remember what I said make yourself happy, I'm out of your hair and you can go do whatever now. I'll be home in a month for a visit.' I smiled; my baby is all grown up, now. Weird. I feel more like we're just saying goodbye casually versus a whole parental thing I mean sure we've argued, punishments, amusement park visits and all. But now...I just feel like we're just saying good bye as friends.

'I love you dad' she said on our final hug.

'I love you too kiddo, and that was it

She turned into the school

I went back to New York

Over the next few weeks, I noticed my house was quiet.

Really quiet, I got out, around, sure I head friends, but never ones on a more intimate level. Prostitutes became like crack to me, whatever I could find, I didn't need them that often, just when I felt a void.

When Amelia came home for the first time, she was having a ball at CCD, maybe I need to be finding myself and settling here too...