See, I kept my word :)

Have you guys seen the new cover for this story, it's actually really nice and I made it! Well fine, I photo-shopped it, but still...Anyway, have you heard Carlos' new Spanish single? It's sounds AMAZING. It's called Electrico! It's absolutely fantabulous!

Thank you itsallguchicauseyolo, hiddensecretxc, 4ever with Kames, , LoveSparkle, Remembering-Sunday514, annabellex2, thesandbar and Jazzy for the terrific reviews and for giving me the motivation to continue this story :)

Chapter 7

Jo' POV

"Josephine, make sure the Orchild contract is secured and make sure to call the lawyers after you've read over the Fernando contract." Father ordered.

"Yes father." I said.

This is my life. I am a puppet. Only useful for a handful of things, never given sole responsibility for anything, just a puppet for my father to control. That's all I am. I'm too scared to stand up for myself, because I've never done it before. I've always been sheltered.

I need this merger to go through. It's my only way at freedom. It's my only way to own the company fully. It's my only way to escape his clutches. He already ruined my mother's life. I won't let him ruin mine.

"And Josephine?" He said, coming back into my office.

"Yes father?" I asked,

"Have you set a wedding date?"

"Yes father. It will be on the first of June. And our engagement party will be in one week." I said.

He smiled. "It's good to see you taking responsibility over your life. At least you've come to your senses."

I clenched my jaw. "Yes father." I said.

"Soon this company will be yours and your husbands. And I can retire in peace with your stepmother." He said, proudly.

I took a deep silent breath in. "Yes Father."

"Okay. See you in a few days." He said and left for his business trip to Japan.

I need this merger. I need this company. I need to be free.

Katie's POV

"Do you think they'll like me?" I asked. I can't believe of much of girl I'm acting like. I even asked him if my hair was okay!

Jett just smiled. "You're perfect."

"I'm glad one of us thinks so." I sigh. "So, how are you introducing me?" I asked.

"Um… As my girlfriend?" He asked, not sure if that's okay or not.

I smile at him and take hold of his hand, so now we actually do look like we are dating. "I love that you said that, but you can't introduce me as you girlfriend."

"Why not?' Jett asked, completely lost. He knows that 'm happy, but I don't want to be known as his girlfriend. "Do you not want to be…did I do something?" He asked.

I chuckle a little. He's so cute. "No, you didn't. I'm still fifteen and you're already eighteen. They aren't going to like you very much for dating a fifteen year old who kind of looks like a younger" I said, cringing at my own words. I know I look thirteen.

Jett bowed his head in defeat. "The age difference is kind of weird. Isn't it?" He asked.

"Just a little." I said, holding his hand tighter and rubbing my thumb against his skin to comfort him. Mom, as in Kendall's mom, always did that to me when I was sad or worried.

"But I do really like you. You as a person, not your age." He said

I cocked my head. "Why?"

We were in his car, driving to his grandparents' house and the atmosphere in his car was getting tense.

"Why I like you?" he asked.

Jett's POV

"Yeah." Katie answered. "Why did you kiss me?"

I let go of a breath, I have never dated anyone like Katie in my entire life. She's just was out going and so determined on what she believes. She has so much life and so much good. She's far more mature than I've ever been and she's so selfless that it makes me want to give her everything she ever wants. She's just amazing. I don't know when I started to fall for her, but I know that I have. She may be fifteen, but her birthday's right around the corner and I don't plan on touching her until she's eighteen.

"Jett?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"You have to answer me with your mouth, I can't read your thoughts." She said, smiling, clearly in awe with me. I know what that look looks like and I know I have the same look when I look at her.

"I just knew." I said lamely. "I don't know, you're just everything I could ask for and so much more. I don't even know how I got so lucky." I answered.

"Well, you can thank Sebastian for that." She smiled. "Now, just introduce me as a friend. And maybe on my sixteenth birthday, you can introduce me as something more."

"But we can't do anything, until your eighteen." I reminded.

Katie blushed and I so badly wanted to kiss her, but I didn't. I was driving, I couldn't, but as soon as I get out of this car, that's what I'm aiming to do.

Line Break

Kendall's POV

"What are you thinking of doing then?" Logan asked me. I think we fell asleep in each other's arms and then we somehow managed to get up and eat something and now we're back where we started; in bed, talking about life.

"As soon as they married, I'll leave, move to my own place." I said.

"With what money?" He asked. I don't think I've ever told him I had an inheritance, it doesn't activate till my eighteenth birthday, but that's only a few months away, so I should be fine.

"I have it covered." I said.

"What about Katie?" He aside, stroking his hand up and down my arm. My mom used to do that when I had nightmares, it made me fall right back to sleep, it also calmed me down when I was angry.

"I'm not moving to Alaska, she'll still see me."

Logan took in a breath. He does that when he's nervous or worried or when he thinks something terrible is going to happen. In all honesty, I'm glad I can read him so well, by reading his expressions, I'm able to predict the future. The future being that I know Katie will have her worst fear realized and that I will probably spiral out of control, wanting to hurt myself even more than I should.

It wasn't always this bad. It was worse, but it got better and it will, I just need to get away from the catalyst that's causing this.

"So are you staying the night?" He asked.

"Yep." I said.

"Great. Wanna watch a movie?" He asked. It's good to have a best friend who knows when to drop certain subjects.

"Now you see it. I love that movie." I said.

"Sure buddy, anything for you." He said.

Line Break

James' POV

"I'm so glad you decided to take over, James darling." Said my mother.

Like you gave me a fucking choice. "So am I, mother." I smiled. I sat behind my desk, with my mother in front of me. She is retired, she decided to opt for an early retirement, she said that building a company from the ground up had taken it's toll on her and she just wanted to have fun, again.

"And you're getting married to Josephine. I'm happy that you've found someone." She said, giving me a warm smile. I didn't think it was very warm.

I hummed in response.

"How are Katie and Kendall?" She asked. She's been doing that a lot more lately. She always used to ask about Katie, a part of me always wondered why my mother never took a bigger interest in Katie, feeling sorry for my baby sister, but the other part of me was grateful that she hadn't.

"Katie's freshmen council president and Kendall's the captain of the hockey team is they are going to the championship in a couple of days." I said.

"Oh that's wonderful." She said smiling. My mother looked thinner. She also looked so much more tired that I remembered her to be. "James."

"Yes mother?" I asked.

"Can I ask you a question?" She asked.

"Yes?"

"Will you promise to always continue this company?" She asked. "Without me checking on you every month?"

It's not every month; you come here every two weeks! Why'd you retire in the first place if you couldn't stay away! You owned this company! I'd gladly give it back to you! "Yes. Why? Are you going somewhere?"

Her eyes bowed slightly and her smile fainted Her look seemed much calmer. "James, I'm sorry I've been such an absent mother."

I furrowed my eyes together. "Mother?"

"I'm sorry that I have never been any type of figure in Katie's life. And I'm sorry that I always put my business before my family." She said quietly. I've never known my mother to apologize for anything.

"Mother, what's going on?" I asked, leaving my seat and going over to the other side of the desk.

"James." She took a deep breath. "I have breast cancer.

"What?!"

"That's the only reason I threatened to take Kendall away from you. I needed you to take over the company." She explained, looking sad, but still smiling. "I never hated that boy. He's been a good influence on you." She said.

"Mo-mother?" I stuttered. No. She can't.

"I knew you weren't going to take over even if I asked you. A good businesswoman knows when to play her cards." She looked almost ashamed with herself. "I…I knew how much you cared for him. I thought that if I could make you feel threatened with the prospect of Kendall going into foster care, you'd take up my offer. You see, I always knew I'd need someone to take over." She enlightened.

She played me. She's been playing. "H-how long have you known?" I

Her smile grew sadder. "It was one of the reasons your father and I never made it. I didn't slow down, even when I was sick."

"You've had it for t-twelve years?" I asked. I couldn't trust my voice right now. My mother. My mommy was sick.

"No, I had it for two years and then I went into remission, but it came back again last year, when I decided to retire." She said.

"I-I-I never…I never knew." I said, the guilt heavy in my voice.

"I never wanted you to know." She said. "Now, I know that the three of you might think of me as the evil witch and I haven't given you reason to think otherwise and I just want to say…I just wanted to say-" She paused a little, her voice cracking up. I knew she felt like crying. I feel it too. "I'm so proud of you James." She came forward and embraced me. I don't remember the last time my mother hugged me like this. It feels so foreign, yet so inviting.

"What's going to happen now?" I asked.

"Well." She said, wiping away tears, careful not to ruin her mascara. "Now, there's noting left to do, except enjoy." She said.

"But treatment-"

"Has stopped working." She explained chiding me on my foolishness.

"How long?" I asked.

"A few more months, a year, at best." She said. She gave me another smile. "I know this is a shock, but I thought it was better to tell you now, then to leave you in the dark."

My mommy…no. She can't. I can't…no. "What are you going to do now?"

"I've done all my travelling, I've seen the world. I found love with your father and gave that up too. I had a beautiful son and a wonderful daughter, who I know doesn't completely love me and I have a stepson who I would like to apologize to." She said like it was noting.

"Why are you being so…so calm?" I asked.

"Life's too short to worry about such things, dear." She said.

I don't know what I feel. I feel numb. Its almost as bad as before, with the car accident. I can't feel anything. "Come move in with us?" I asked her. I didn't have enough time with mom and dad. I'm not making the same mistake twice.

"I don't think that Katie or Kendall-"

"Like you said, you want make amends, the easiest way to do that is by living with us." I said.

"Are you sure?" She asked. Looking slightly worried.

"Yes."

She smiled at me once again. "I love you, James dear."

"I love you too, mommy."


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Susuki