The party continued on into the night, ending only when dusk arrived on the horizon. Central Park was left in a devastated state of broken glasses and half eaten food that would be cleaned up by the waiters later in the day. Only the Hockley family remained in the dinner tent, still declaring toasts to Cal and Jocelyn's future. Nathan Hockley, Cal's father and business partner, was merry with alcohol and becoming rather emotional. His wife, Lucille, tried to restrain his merriments, but it was difficult for someone just as intoxicated as him.

"And here's to the beautiful Jocelyn. I myself couldn't have picked a better wife for my son." Nathan declared, lifting his 12th glass of illegal brandy. They all clinked their glasses together, each feeling as content with theirself as the last person. Jocelyn only pretended to take a sip from her glass, knowing Nathan would berate her otherwise for not joining in. By the end of all the day's events, her hair was beginning to loosen and her make-up had smudged at the lips, looking a little bleary.

Cal was not in a party mood. He wanted the whole event to just disappear. Unfortunately it would be the talk of the socialite town and make headlines in the gossip columns for weeks. His parents had organised the entire party, insisting that such a wealthy and imporant figure in American high society could not let his wedding anniversary pass without celebration. It could only have a positive impact for the business.

"Thank you father." He said. "Maybe it's time that we let this party wrap up and all go home."

"Nonsense!" Nathan slurred. "It's just getting started. We have so much to celebrate for." He grabbed his drink again, letting most of it spill on the table-cloth.

"Nathan, I think you've had enough to drink." Lucille said, swaying in her chair.

"I'm fine, Luc, stop bothering me. You'll ruin Caledon's day." He pushed away his wife with a laugh. He didn't know Cal's day had already been classified as a disaster. Cal turned around to see Isabella sitting by the piano they had brought down from the Hockley estate for the party. A so-called professional had been hired to serenade the guests but Cal had considered him incompotent and fired him 2 songs in. Isabella straightened her back, like her piano teacher had taught her, and started to play a piece she had been learning recently. Although she faltered a couple of times with some of the keys, she played the piece competently and with all her heart. Her weeks of practice were paying off and she soon hoped to be able to play the piece flawlessly. Cal was struck with a surge of pride. He had showered Isabella with nothing but the finest things that money could buy and she had grown into an exceptionally bright young lady with a good head on her shoulders. She would make a good wife, although it seemed a waste to let her waste away in a household when she would make a wonderful partner in Hockley's business. Cal intended to do so, but only after his misogynist father handed over the reins.

"And we have Miss Isabella Hockley!" Nathan yelled, unable to control his voice thanks to the alcohol. Isabella stopped playing and turned to her family. "She's a good girl. She's made us all proud and I'm sure that Cal's glad she came along when she did! And bloody shocked I was when he turned up on our doorstep with her!" Nathan's laugh was booming and filled the tent. His statement made the family freeze. Nathan was always a little loud mouthed when in such a state but this was the first time he had mentioned - in a way - Isabella's heritage. Cal stood up and decided to force his father out. The imbicile was practically mocking him!

"I think it's time you got home to sober up." He ordered, grabbing his dather's arm. "Mother, would you inform the driver that both of you are ready to leave?"

Lucille nodded and dashed off as quick as her wobbly legs would carry her. Nathan clung to his son, thinking they were sharing some sort of bonding moment. "Bye bye Isabella..." He managed to coax from his mouth before he left the tent.

Although a little perplexed by his choice of words, Isabella deemed them to be nothing but the incomprehensible ramblings of a drunk man and returned to her music. She was tired but continued to play, even as her fingers cracked. She reminisced of a time when she detested her music lessons. Nothing could have been more tedious to a 5 year old girl than being forced to sit by that overbearing piano every night until the combination of keys was imprinted into her mind. But as she got older, something matured inside her and she realised the true beauty of music. Her father was right to push her into piano lessons, he made sure she had the best teacher and all the right tools. Now she played as often as possible, hoping to perfect her sound and one day perform to crowds in the music halls of America. Of course, it was only a dream, a Hockley would never be allowed to work in such a life, especially a woman.

Cal returned, having made sure his father was sent home with minimal fuss. The stupid man! He wanted to scream in frustration. Two close calls in one day was enough to send him over the edge. But he held onto the realisation that he had a beautiful and perfect girl that was his daughter, no matter what. She didn't come into his life the way that he had imagined his child being born, but she was the best thing in his life and had lead him in a new direction. He had made sure her upbringing was exceptional yet never let her past life become involved. Isabella was raised a Hockley and would remain one until her death. He listened to her music again, amazed at her talent. Cal had played piano as a child too but had forgotten about it when he entered adulthood. Fortunately, Isabella would not make that mistake. He grabbed a chair from a table and sat next to her, watching her nimble fingers expertly work their ways across the black and white keys.

"You're getting rather good at that," Cal said proudly. Isabella reached the climax of the song and ended with a smile. Cal gave her a small applause, a piece of praise that meant more than anything her tutor ever told her. "How about another one? Just for me?" He asked. Isabella started another tune, this one a little more sombre than the last.

"I don't think we should let grandpa drink so much when he's at social occasions." She said, continuing to play. "I think we've heard the Harvard story twenty times tonight." They bothed laughed, comfortable in each other's company without the interruptions of strangers.

"Yes, well I'm just glad this whole frightful night is over." He said, filled with relief.

"Who was that woman we spoke to earlier?" Isabella asked. "The big woman ho was filled with enthusiasm.Was she a friend of yours?"

"More an aquaintance." Cal insisted, his heart skipping a beat. "I hadn't seen her in 14 years before she turned up tonight. It was completely unexpected."

"How did you meet her?"

"My, you are curious aren't you? She's just an old lady who hangs onto her past." he laughed, happily avoiding the subject. "Don't worry, she won't be bothering us again."

"Okay," She concentrated on the lower notes, loving the vibrations against her hands. "Jocelyn didn't seem too thrilled with tonight's celebrations."

"You know what she's like. It's damn near impossible to bring a smile to her lips unless it involves spending money." Despite the negative comments, Cal did care for Jocelyn in some manner, if not that of a proper husband. "Dont be too cruel about her, you know I don't like it."

"I wasn't being cruel, I was merely making an observation. At one point I hought he was going to fall asleep whilst holding a cocktail glass."

"Now, now. She may be a little...unusual, but she is my wife. And your step-mother, Isabella. One day, you'll properly experience the life of a high rising wife. Then you'll know exactly why she wanted to fall asleep." He leaned over and placed a kiss on his daughter's head.

"I can't wait." she said dryly. "At least the conversations won't be too difficult. I've been hearing the same topics spoken for years. Do socialites really have nothing else to talk about but money?"

"Maybe you can educate them a little."

"I'm still trying to convince Jocelyn that there is more than one composer in the world." Isabella said back, speeding up the tempo of the music until her fingers were mere blurs to Cal. With her movements, the music sped up but kept it's morose mood. Her clear enthusiasm for the music was boundless and, even as Cal became overwhelmed by the emotions of the notes, she kept a smile on her face until the last note. She looked at her father's face and hoped that his wide-eyed expression of shock was positive.

"Astounding!" He finally said after a few moments of silence. "And to think, you wanted to give it up when you were 7."

"Well, all children are defiant of their father's wishes for a while," Isabella joked. "Would you like to hear another one?"

"Maybe later on, I'm close to falling asleep here. It's been a very long day that I don't wish to repeat for a very long time. Grab your things, I'll get somebody to pick up the piano later." Isabella grabbed her jewelled purse, a little worn with a few sequins missing but she loved it too much to discard it, and stood up to give her father a hug. Cal kept a hold of her for a few seconds, remembering the first time he held the little girl in his arms and thought of her as his child. He didn't want anything to spoil the 14 years of bliss he had achieved through accidental fatherhood.

"Tell you what, how does this sound?" Cal asked, pulling Isabella back. "You have a month until school starts again. We can go out into grandpa's house in the Hamptons for a Summer break. No stupid parties or business deals, just the three of us and the piano. Does that sound good?" Isabella nodded. "Great, we can leave the day after tomorrow. Go wait for the driver."

She left the tent with a newfound spring in her step that replaced her tiredness. As she left, Jocelyn came back in, her make-up removed to avoid any more accidental smudging. The day had taken it's toll and her face seemed sunken with exhaustion and in need of a good night's rest. She had also admitted defeat with her hair and allowed it to frizz up from her head.

"The driver will be here in a few minutes." She informed her husband. who only nodded in reply. "Has she asked about Nathan's drunken remark yet?"

"No, thankfully. I'll be having a word with father when he sobers up."

"You know he hasn't been 100 percent sober in years. How he runs that business, I'll never know." Jocelyn sat next to Cal, slowly trailing her long, manicured fingernails up his arm and towards his neck. She tried to grasp his neck and bring him in for a kiss, but Cal pulled away quickly and tried to act as if nothing had happened. Then again, Jocelyn thought, nothing ever happened between them. Not in a very long time. Cal had decided that affection was only required when his self-control became too difficult and he absolutely needed to relieve himself. Jocelyn complied to this demand but often wished for a little more in terms of kisses and hugs. Luckily, Cal had no problem in displaying his feelings through gifts to his wife.

"He's had a tough life, he's entitled to a little happiness." Cal reasoned, although he knew perfectly well that Nathan was nearing the end of his ability to run the family business competently.

"We all are, but we don't let our personal states get in the way of making business decisions. When you take over fully as president of Hockley Industries, we'll all be better off for it. You and your...business partner." Jocelyn said, a sly smirk coming across her face. Cal knew that, whle Jocelyn had no head for business ventures, she revelled in the idea of being a part of the business. The image of husband and wife running a business together was something Jocelyn hoped to achieve in the very near future.

"Yes, I guess it will. And I have the perfect business partner in mind." Cal said, standing up and meeting Jocelyn's eyes. Although he was tall in stature, she was of equal height when in her heels.

"Perfect," She grinned, giving Cal a peck on the cheek. She immediately imagined how she would organise her new business partner office. The familiar rumble of their car sounded outside. Jocelyn circled her arm around Cal's and lead him outside. While she couldn't wait for her imminent promotion to business partner, Cal thought of working alongside his daughter in the family business.