**
ChApTeR fOuR::::DiSgUiSeD MoTiVeS:::::
**
"Wait!" Irina voice filled the room, "Please don't leave. Please!" Irina's demeanor had changed greatly. Suddenly, it seemed she was sincere. Like she was apt to beg for whatever it was she wanted.
"What do you want now?!" Sydney thundered. She couldn't-and wouldn't be fooled by this woman.
"Please Sydney. I beg you to understand!" Irina pleaded with her only daughter.
"What?! Understand what?!" Sydney returned.
"Please understand that I need you to stay." Irina squeaked.
"Why!?" Sydney shot back.
"Because. Because I..I need you here!.."Irina trembled.
"After you kidnap my friends and the man I love you want me to stay because you say you ...need... me?!" Sydney was incredulous.
"Please. Just do this one thing for me. Just stay. Not for long, just ...just until..."
"Well?! Until what?! What could possibly keep me from leaving after all you have done?!" Sydney sneered.
"Sydney. I am dying. I have cancer. I was diagnosed 6 months ago. The doctors say it is impossible for me to live longer than 2 months more. I never really wanted you to come to work for me. I wanted you to come and see me so that I could tell you what you need to know. About the past. About your childhood. I kidnapped the people you were close to because I didn't want to die without you knowing the truth. Please Sydney. Stay." Irina's voice cracked as she finished, "I knew you wouldn't come if I just told you the truth, so I had all of this arranged. Please understand!?"
Sydney was speechless.
"So will you please stay with me?" Irina urged.
Sydney looked around the room as if looking for approval. What she saw on the faces of the people around her was sympathy and forgiveness.
"Yes. I will stay with you.... No hidden agenda?"Sydney added as an afterthought.
"No hidden agenda." Irina promised with a genuine smile on her face. "I wouldn't dream of it."
ChApTeR fOuR::::DiSgUiSeD MoTiVeS:::::
**
"Wait!" Irina voice filled the room, "Please don't leave. Please!" Irina's demeanor had changed greatly. Suddenly, it seemed she was sincere. Like she was apt to beg for whatever it was she wanted.
"What do you want now?!" Sydney thundered. She couldn't-and wouldn't be fooled by this woman.
"Please Sydney. I beg you to understand!" Irina pleaded with her only daughter.
"What?! Understand what?!" Sydney returned.
"Please understand that I need you to stay." Irina squeaked.
"Why!?" Sydney shot back.
"Because. Because I..I need you here!.."Irina trembled.
"After you kidnap my friends and the man I love you want me to stay because you say you ...need... me?!" Sydney was incredulous.
"Please. Just do this one thing for me. Just stay. Not for long, just ...just until..."
"Well?! Until what?! What could possibly keep me from leaving after all you have done?!" Sydney sneered.
"Sydney. I am dying. I have cancer. I was diagnosed 6 months ago. The doctors say it is impossible for me to live longer than 2 months more. I never really wanted you to come to work for me. I wanted you to come and see me so that I could tell you what you need to know. About the past. About your childhood. I kidnapped the people you were close to because I didn't want to die without you knowing the truth. Please Sydney. Stay." Irina's voice cracked as she finished, "I knew you wouldn't come if I just told you the truth, so I had all of this arranged. Please understand!?"
Sydney was speechless.
"So will you please stay with me?" Irina urged.
Sydney looked around the room as if looking for approval. What she saw on the faces of the people around her was sympathy and forgiveness.
"Yes. I will stay with you.... No hidden agenda?"Sydney added as an afterthought.
"No hidden agenda." Irina promised with a genuine smile on her face. "I wouldn't dream of it."