Two Days Later-Souza Construction Company
Derek walked into his office less than thrilled. Yesterday he, Tori, and Simon had received 'invitations' to the St. Cloud Corporate Headquarters and not twenty minutes ago he found out that their father had received one as well. They hadn't heard from the St. Cloud Cabal in ten years.
He sat down at his desk and loosened his tie, what could be going on now? He wondered. Before he got the chance to ponder any further his office intercom sounded.
"Yes?" He answered
"Family to see you sir."
"Send them in." Moments later the doors to his office once again opened revealing his family. Simon closed the doors behind them as Tori and their father sat down.
"Did you find anything out Dad?" Derek asked when they were seated
"Hello to you too brother." Simon quipped. Derek rolled his eyes and focused on Kit.
"I made some phone calls and found out that for the past four years the St. Clouds have been sending a proxy to the Interracial Council Meetings. We all know that Lionel St. Cloud died four years ago but no one knew if he named an heir." Kit explained
Derek nodded
"Well I have some possibly useful information" Simon said "There's a rumor, a really small one, that Stephen St. Cloud-Lionel's son, got married in secret when he was 18. It's common knowledge that Stephen died a year later but the thing is that people are saying that his wife was pregnant at the time, leaving a possible heir for Lionel to name."
Tori spoke up "If that were the case the kid would be what six years old by now?"
Derek nodded "Making it very likely that this is the reason the St. Cloud's have been using a proxy. Stephen's wife is either not a supernatural or not a witch."
Kit agreed "I'm going with not a witch; in the past the St. Cloud's were the most ruthless in terms of dealing with other supernaturals, now their focus seems to be more on the business end. They've nearly wiped out the business end of the Nast and Cortez Cabals."
"Which means we're dealing with one stone cold Cabal Mafia Mama." Simon said his eyebrows furrowing.
"So what do we do?" Tori asked "Do we go?" Derek thought about it, his invitation had insisted that he bring Kelsey and if he was uncomfortable with that, Kelsey's bodyguard as well.
"We should go." Derek said finally, causing them to look at him with wide eyes. "It's better to know what we're up against, if we're up against anything at all."
Kit sighed standing up "I'll go dust off the monkey suit."
Jey watched as Dee fiddled with the already perfect flatware. "Honey, I think you've done enough."
Dee turned to face her, long brown hair falling in her face as she tilted her head to the side. Dee pushed her square-framed glasses further up her face.
"But it's…it's…" she struggled to find the words grasping at the air around the table.
Jey smiled stepping toward the four foot eleven inch witch. She placed her hands on Dee's shoulders "You have done an amazing job with this. Everyone will love it, and if they don't they'll answer to me."
Dee smiled at Jey's words. "Thanks."
"Dee! Put your shoes on!" the Werewolf and the Witch looked up to see Mari dangling a pair of all white high top converse over the ledge.
"Drop 'em M, I'll catch 'em." Jey said walking over to where the shoes would fall.
Mari smiled and let them drop, Jey caught them perfectly. "White? But you're wearing a black dress Dee." Jey said handing them over.
Dee leaned on the nearby couch, as to not spoil her perfect table, and put them on. "You know I can't walk in heels."
Jey laughed as she walked over to the front door to grab her own shoes, black four inch pumps. "That's not what I said Dee."
"Oh sure make everyone else feel even shorter!" Mari's Spanish-British accented voice came from behind her.
Mari's olive toned arms snaked around her shoulders and came back to fasten a necklace around Jey's throat. The necklace. The necklace that bonded them under the St. Cloud Cabal, more importantly it was a symbol of their friendship. The Triple Spiral.
Jey turned and smiled at Mari. "Show time!"
Simon watched as Tori's leg bounced up and down at an incredible rate. "You know that's not going to change anything, right?" He said, earning himself a glare.
"This wait is ridiculous!" She snapped crossing her legs, making her heels click.
"Tori, we got here a little early. It's only natural that we have to wait." Kit said trying to calm his daughter, to no avail.
Bonnie rolled her eyes and looked over at her young charge, who chatted excitedly with her father. Derek had taken on a lot in the past six years. His wife, who wasn't his mate, dying, and having to raise Kelsey all by himself…well not all by himself. He had people to take her to school and pick her up when he was especially busy but it was still hard all the same. Bonnie didn't even want to think about where she'd be if Derek hadn't pulled her resume.
"Daddy…" Kelsey's voice brought Bonnie out her potentially very dark thoughts. Kelsey was wearing a pale green dress and light brown shoes with a bow in her hair, she was adorable. "Do you think the host will like my gift?" Kelsey had insisted on making a gift to bring to the dinner. It was a unisex bracelet, meant for protection.
Derek smiled "I'm sure they'll love it." He assured her. Bonnie nodded to herself, they'd better, or they'd see how much of a werewolf she was.
"How much longer Daddy?" Kelsey asked.
They had arrived a little early and were shown to a waiting room on the 18th floor shortly after. The St. Clouds were known to be punctual people so with this in mind Derek answered "Not too much longer sweetie."
Not a moment after he said that the elevator doors opened and out stepped a small woman in a straight black dress with long brown hair and caramel skin. She had high top converse on her feet and square rimmed glasses on her face. The woman had her nose buried in her phone.
"Follow me please." She said revealing a thick Bronx accent and upon turning that her dress was backless. They all stood and followed her into the surprisingly spacious elevator.
The woman only looked up from her phone long enough to look down at Kelsey. "Would you like to push the button Miss?"
Everyone in the elevator smiled as Kelsey's face lit up "Yes please!"
The woman moved out of Kelsey's way as the small girl reached up but then paused and looked back "Which button?"
"Penthouse Miss. The very top button."
Kelsey nodded and hit the button. The elevator doors closed and Kelsy turned to the woman looking very proud of herself "What's your name?" She inquired.
The woman smiled "Dee Gustave. Miss."
Kelsey held out her hand "I'm Kelsey Souza!"
Dee, though obviously knowing that, shook Kelsey's hand "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Kelsey. Might I say you look lovely in your dress."
The child blushed under the compliment and went to hide behind Derek's leg. "Thank you." She said quietly.
Dee pursed her lips, hiding a smile as the elevator reached its destination.
The group exited the elevator and walked a short distance to a set of fogged glass doors. Doors Bonnie guessed were bullet proof. Just before Dee reached the doors they were opened by a slightly taller woman with long curly black hair, olive toned skin, and a sleeve of tattoos on her left arm. She wore a simple white dress and black high top converse.
"Oh behalf of the Madam of the St. Cloud Cabal, my name is Mari Cardona. Welcome, honored guests." Mari stepped aside to allow them to enter and as she did Bonnie got a wiff of someone she hadn't smelled in over six years. Her body tensed, her senses going into overdrive.
"Are you okay?" Derek's voice broke through the haze. "Yes sir." It was clear to both of them that she was lying but he thankfully let it go.
The group walked further into the room and was met with a hallway that led to stairs. To the left, a dining area, kitchen, and living room, and a small hallway that led to some other part of the penthouse. On the right were large canvases of the New York skyline. The entire front room was painted in black and white. There were others standing in vicinity. Two of them obviously kitchen staff for the evening, other was a tall, very tall, woman wearing all black.
The woman turned and all eyes in the room went wide. Jey stared at Bonnie. Bonnie stared at Jey. "You're a twin?! Simon's voice broke through the quiet.
It was true; Jey and Bonnie were identical, in every way. Except for their hair, where Bonnie had a short severe hair cut that was dyed red, Jey's hair flowed gracefully down her back. And where Jey's ears were only pierced on the lobe, Bonnie sported three additional piercings in her cartilage.
Mari stepped between the two wolves, a very brave choice. "This isn't going to be a problem is it?" She asked, her accent getting heavier with her tone.
Jey shook her head, pulling her eyes from her sisters "No, of course not."
"Good." Mari grabbed Jey's arm "Come help me with the wine."
Dee whistled low "Awkward…" Her phone beeped causing Simon to look at her "Time to make it more uncomfortable!" She said cheerfully. Dee walked down the small hallway and disappeared around the corner. Simon mentally bemoaned her departure until a wine glass was thrust in front of him.
"Pinot noir?" Mari asked a gleam in her hazel eyes. He took the glass with a smile "Thank you." Mari stepped around him and offered a glass to Tori and Kit who each took one. Jey handed Derek a glass then turned to give one to Bonnie.
"I'm on duty." Bonnie said, politely declining. Jey put the glass in her hand anyway.
"It's grape juice. I know you don't drink on a job." Jey started to go back to the kitchen when Kelsey grabbed her leg.
"I want some please!" she pointed to the glass Bonnie was holding.
Jey smiled "I'll be right back Miss." Shortly Jey returned with a smaller wine glass filled with grape juice. Bonnie had to admit, it was good juice.
"Guests." Everyone turned to Dee as she reentered the room, two figures behind her. "May I present the Madam's Father and Aunt, the Young Master's Grandfather and Great-Aunt." She stepped aside and Tori almost dropped her glass.
It was Dr. Lauren Fellows, and Mr. Steven Saunders. That meant one thing. Simon looked at Derek, his face was blank.
"You've got to be fu-freaking kidding me!" Simon said correcting his language in front of Kelsey.
"Well, that much hasn't changed." A clear voice rang out from the top of the stairs. All eyes turned as jaws dropped. Standing there, in new glory, was Chloe Saunders.
Gone was the shapeless, cowering girl they once knew, and in her place was young woman who had grown into her curves, probably due to the child that stood by her side, and oozed confidence. Speaking of the child by her side, it was the little boy they had met at the festival in Central Park the other day.
Derek met Chloe's eyes and she gave him a little smile. "Surprised to see me?"