Okay so a lot of this chapter focuses on Victoria and her relationships but don't worry there is still Emily and Aiden! And Emily is jealous! And Nolan is still featuring so no worries there! Read on to find out what our fav characters are up to!
Chapter 2
Victoria stared down at the beach house from her balcony. Ever since Emily Thorne had left, things had gone from bad to worse. First Mason Treadwell had told national news that Grayson Global, not David Clarke, had been responsible for the downing of flight 197. Then Charlotte had decided she was going to move in with that boy from Montauk. Now she was faced with another thing she wasn't ready to deal with.
"Hello?" she answered her voice warm and encouraging.
"Hello Vicky." Victoria almost dropped the phone.
"Dominick?" she asked. She had not heard from him since Conrad had paid him to leave. She didn't even think about how he had gotten her number.
"It's me."
"Where are you?" she asked already planning an intimate meeting in her mind. But Dominick's next words shocked her.
"Vic I met him." Victoria froze, knowing immediately who her former lover was referring to.
"Y-you met him? How? Where?" she asked. Dominick was silent for a moment.
"Look we need to talk. Can you meet me?" He asked and Victoria didn't even think.
"Of course. Where? When?"
"Same place as last time." Dominick hung up. It was only then Victoria realised what she had just done. She couldn't meet Dominick. She couldn't face him, not now. But something nagged at her mind, a curiosity about the son she had abandoned. What was he like? What does he do? Questions ran rampant through her mind but she shook them away. How could she look him in the eye knowing he had spoken to him? The baby she had barely held before her mother had forced her to give him away.
X
A shrill cry filled the room as the doctor held up the baby.
"It's a boy." He told her and she smiled as she settled back against the pillows. Dominick grinned at her and she was filled with dread, knowing he would have so little time with his son. In the corner her mother Sheila stood nodding at Victoria. Victoria nodded back shakily as the doctor handed her the little baby.
The thought of what she had to do broke her heart as she stared at the tiny boy whose bright blue eyes blinked up at her. His body felt so small and fragile. Victoria sniffled. She turned and handed the baby to Dominick who looked so happy Victoria had to look away.
"What do you think for a name?" the nurse asked. Dominick glanced at Victoria who stared at her mother. Giving the baby a name would mean creating an attachment but Victoria felt this little baby needed something from her.
"I like the name Aiden." She commented and Dominick nodded.
"Me too."
Later when Dominick had gone to get some sleep Sheila came over to Victoria who was holding the baby, unable to imagine having to give him away.
"It's time." Her mother said but Victoria shook her head.
"No. I thought it would be easy but… I can't. I can't give him up." Sheila held out her arms.
"You must. Conrad Grayson is very interested in you but I can hardly see him being willing to look after your kid. Now hand him over. What sort of future could you offer him anyway?"
Hours later when Dominick returned, Sheila and baby Aiden were gone.
X
Victoria shook her head. She couldn't let herself fall back into the memories. It would only make her wonder about what ifs and none of them would change what had happened. No she had given up her baby. She had no right over him now.
Conrad came to stand beside her.
"The police will be here again in the morning probably with more evidence to convict us." He told her. Victoria focused on the beach house again. Inside there was a light on and she could see that strange man Nolan Ross inside, eating with his secretary.
"Do they have enough?" She asked, turning to face her husband. In the dim night light Conrad's face looked old and worn and his wrinkles were starting to show. He had his usual suit on but his shirt was untucked and the top buttons were undone.
"I don't know. Who knows what dirt they can dig up on us?" he replied casting a dark look out across the beach. "We've made a lot of enemies over the years Victoria and I guessing if they sense we're weakening they won't hesitate to come forward. A lot of those we paid to testify have lost everything since and even they would be more than willing to talk." He looks at her. "This may be it for us."
Victoria looked down at the beach house again, something in her gut was telling her there was a lot more to Emily Thorne's disappearance than a job offer as Nolan Ross had told Charlotte. The girl was almost as rich as Grayson Global and there was no way she needed to work.
Also her disappearance the very same night as Treadwell's revelation just over a week ago seemed suspicious.
Of course Charlotte missed her and Daniel was still pining after her but when Victoria had heard of Miss Thorne's "job offer" she had been more than pleased. At least she didn't have to worry about her trying to take her son away from her any more.
"Conrad… Emily Thorne. Have you ever wondered whether it was more than just a coincidence that she left the very same day as Treadwell decided to out us? It seems strange to me." Victoria admitted and Conrad's brow furrowed.
"I never thought about it really. But what other reason could there be? It's not like she could have known about David Clarke." He pointed out. Victoria nodded.
"Of course. Just trying to narrow things down." She replied. Conrad nodded. He put a hand on hers.
"We'll figure this out. I promise." He told her. She smiled and he walked away.
Victoria continued to stare at the house she had visited very often. She hadn't trusted Emily from the moment she met her and now with her sudden disappearance Victoria began to realise maybe she had been right about her all along.
She picked up her phone, dialling the number she already knew so well.
"Hello?" Jamie answered.
"Jamie it's Victoria. I need you to track down somebody for me." she tells him. Though she doesn't trust him as much as Frank she knows he is loyal.
"Okay. What's the name?"
"Thorne. Emily Thorne."
X
The three new recruits stood in front of Emily and she had to admit they had potential.
The first of the two guys who Takeda introduced as Thomas looked over six foot tall and very handsome. His muscles bulged beneath his t-shirt and he shot Emily a charming look but she crossed her arms trying to show she wasn't interested.
The second guy, named Manuel was the same height, his tanned Spanish features making him even hotter. He wasn't as muscled as Thomas but he looked just as strong.
Emily didn't like the girl at all. Cassie was petit with pale skin and wild red curls. Her eyes were dark and Emily didn't like the way they kept looking at Aiden.
But there was nothing she could do about it.
X
Emily took a breath as they entered the building she knew so well.
"Just remember Takeda doesn't like intimate relationships now anymore than he did last time so he can't know we're together." Aiden reminds her. She nods. Takeda had often seen romantic relationships a weakness that enemies could exploit.
When Emily came face to face with Satoshi Takeda he repeated what Aiden had said. Emily told him what she knew he wanted to hear and then he told them of their job.
"I have decided to help others the way I helped you. So we shall start training others for mission such as yours and if I need a job down then you are the ones who will do it." He spoke very clearly as he showed them to the rooms they had inhabited all those years ago.
"The trainees will be arriving in an hour so get settled quickly."
X
"Welcome. Before we start your training, Aiden and Emily here will demonstrate what you'll be able to do once we're finished." He nodded at Emily and Aiden and they turned to face each other.
There was a small smile on Aiden's face as if he was looking forward to this and Emily was pretty sure he was. They bowed towards each other before Aiden started by throwing a punch her way. Emily grabbed his fist and flipped him over but he landed on his feet.
His hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder and she tried to twist away but he caught her and pinned her hand to her shoulder blade. Emily threw her head back and head- butted him as he stumbled back.
Emily moved quickly towards him and tried to pin him against the wall but he slipped beneath her arm and managed to pin her instead. She raised her knee but Aiden dodged and Emily slipped her head beneath his arm, in turn switching positions with him. She twisted his hand behind his back and he was stuck.
Cassie, Thomas and Manuel all clapped and Emily released Aiden.
"Better luck next time." She says and he smirks.
"I had to let you win. You would have killed me for showing you up. Or you would have tried." He adds and she glares at him but he just laughs. They turn to face the recruits again.
"Now it is time to begin your training. Cassandra-"
"Cassie." She interrupted. Emily bit back a laugh at Takeda's face.
"Cassandra you shall train with Emily. Thomas you shall train with Aiden and Manuel you will train with me. All of you will train with each of us but for now lets start like this." Emily nods as Cassie takes a step towards her.
Emily smiled. She was going to enjoy this.
X
Daniel was pissed off. No he was really pissed off.
First that author Treadwell outed his family as terrorists. Then his ex-fiancée skips town. Now Nolan Ross was being very unhelpful.
"Nolan, I know you know where she is and I know she has something to do with my parents being under investigation. So tell me. Where is Emily?" he demanded but Nolan shrugged.
"I don't know! She didn't give any details." Nolan lied. He had gotten a call from her a week ago as they prepared to board their second plane. He knew where she was heading. Whether or not the plan had changed since then Nolan didn't know.
Daniel shoots him a look.
"Nolan don't give me that crap. She was like your best friend. Surely she told you something. What did she know about David Clarke?" Daniel demanded but Nolan shook his head.
"I honestly don't know. All she told me was that she was heading off somewhere for a job with some guy." Nolan told him only half lying this time. He knew she was going working for Takeda, he knew where and he knew who the guy was. But Daniel didn't need to.
"Some guy?" Daniel asked sounding more jealous than angry. A memory popped into his mind.
X
Daniel walked away from Nolan. He needed to talk to Emily and Nolan had said she was up on the balcony.
As he made his way up he found he was nervous. Why would he be so nervous? All he had to do was tell her he still loved her and then hopefully she'd say the same. Easy, right?
As he reached the balcony he heard voices inside.
"As well as expected." Emily's voice spoke and Daniel paused. Who was she talking to? He waited another moment hearing very little except people moving. When he looked around the door he was shocked.
Emily was there with Takeda's proxy Mathis. That wasn't the shocking part. The shocking part was the Emily was sitting up on the balcony, her arms wrapped around Mathis's neck while his hands supported her back. The worst part was her tongue was in his mouth.
"Oh sorry. I… I just…" Daniel turned to leave. Mathis glanced at Emily as she attempted to catch her breath.
"No, no. You're ok. I was just leaving." Mathis replied. He glanced at Emily before walking past Daniel and out the door. Daniel was more hurt than shocked.
Emily had never kissed him passionately like that. She had always acted very carefully around him. She had never kissed him like that or never looked at him as she was now staring at the door where Mathis had just disappeared.
She had never loved him like that.
X
"Thanks Nolan." Daniel replied now having a very certain feeling he knew where to find Emily.
"For what?" Nolan asked as Daniel walked away but he didn't reply. Daniel whipped out his phone.
"Hey Ashley. Book me a flight for Japan. For tonight."
X
Victoria held the phone cautiously at arms length as if that would stop her from making the call. She hadn't heard back from Jamie yet but that was generally a good thing. It meant he had something to work with. That wasn't the present issue. No her present difficulty was trying to call Dominick to cancel the meeting without asking for another meeting as she knew she would, given a chance.
She took a steady breath as she dialled the number. The phone rang three times before Dominick answered.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Dominick? It's Victoria." Dominick was silent for a moment.
"You aren't coming, are you?" He asked and she took a breath for a moment.
"No. I can't make it today I'm afraid." She told him but she paused for a second considering what she was about to ask. "I was wondering… if you could tell me some things about him. You know. Just little things." She asked nervously. Dominick was silent on the other end.
"He wants to meet you. Has done for the past three years." He tells her and she closes her eyes trying to close out the emotions that rush towards her.
"Please Dominick. What's he like?" she asks glancing around but Conrad was the only one in the house and she could see him in his study on the phone, probably arguing with his lawyer.
"Vic… he's great. He really is. He's tall. Handsome. He's manipulative, a trait I'm sure he didn't pick up from me. He's good at martial arts. He… he's got a girlfriend." He tells her and she tries to imagine him in her mind.
"What about his adopted family? What were they like?" she asks, her eyes closed as she tries to picture him more definitely. Dominick pauses for a moment.
"He was never adopted. He was raised in British care homes. Passed from foster family to foster family." He tells her eventually and Victoria is suddenly furious with her mother. She had promised she had a loving family ready and waiting. How could she have cared so little for her only grandchild? At the time anyway.
Victoria takes a breath. She can't let these little things get to her.
"What about his girlfriend?" she asks hoping for some good news.
"Haven't met her but the way he talks about her… she sounds great. He's really happy with her. Says she's gorgeous. Met her a few years ago but they split up but they're back together again now." He tells her. He sighs already knowing this conversation won't end with another meeting.
"That… that's great." She replies glad that he has some happiness in his life.
"So how about you meet him?" Dominick asks. Ever since Aiden had asked about his mother and Dominick had promised to find her for him, Dominick had been trying hard to track her down. Surely she couldn't say no to meeting her son.
"I… I don't think that would be a good idea. He doesn't need to know me." Dominick was about to argue when Victoria hung up. He sighed slamming the phone down.
Victoria leaned over the balcony as tears slipped through her lids. She cursed her mother. She had sworn she had a better life planned out for him. That he would be cared for the way Victoria would never be able to. Of course she loved Daniel and Charlotte and without losing Aiden she would never have had them but her mother had broken the one promise Victoria had begged her make.
X
The five of them entered the kitchen as Takeda's chefs handed laid out meals. Emily chose a random one. It was Sheppard's pie. She picked up a drink and walked out of the kitchen, catching Aiden's eye as she went.
She was just out when an arm grabbed her elbow.
"Cassie we're finished for the day." She told the younger girl. Cassie glanced behind her.
"Oh I know. I just wanted to ask you something." Cassie replied, still looking behind her.
"Well I'm in a hurry so spill." Emily demanded, starting walking towards her room.
"See I know there are rules against romantic relationships here and all but I was wondering…" Cassie trailed off. "I was wondering if Aiden has a girlfriend." She asked. Emily struggled to keep her face neutral.
"How would I know? And anyway you should be focusing more on your training and less on your instructors." Emily snapped, sounding harsher than she intended but Cassie backed off so Emily didn't feel too bad about it. She made her way to her room feeling vindicated. She had known there was a reason she shouldn't like Cassie. She knew Aiden loved her and everything but for some reason she still felt jealous.
She ate her dinner in her room, leaving the plate outside her door when she was finished. Someone would come and collect it soon enough.
She found her toiletries bag and took it to the bathroom with her. When she returned she found Aiden sitting on her bed.
"You've got an admirer." She tells him. He looks confused.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"Cassie. Came up to me at dinner asking if you had a girlfriend." She tells him. He raises his eyebrows.
"Really? And what did you say?" he asks, looking up at her as she came to stand in front of him.
"I said I wouldn't know." she tells him. He laughs and pulls her down towards him.
"Well I hope you know. Anyway she ain't got nothing on you." she grins as she lies over him. She brings her mouth down on his, Cassie already forgotten.
X
Victoria paced her bedroom. Daniel had left for some mysterious trip an hour ago and Conrad was still in his study. Memories of her conversation with Dominick played through her mind and she couldn't shake her mental image of Aiden.
It had been almost thirty years and she couldn't shake the memory of Aiden's face as her mother had taken him away.
X
Victoria didn't move as her mother bent down and picked Aiden up from her arms.
"It's for the best Victoria. Trust me." Her mother told her. Then she wrapped him in a blanket and made her way out of the room.
Victoria's last memory of her first-born son was a flicker of his face as her mother left. She may have imagined it and probably had but in that split second she imagined she saw hurt and pain in her young son's eyes. Like he knew what she was doing.
X
Victoria shook the memory away. He had been a few hours old. Of course he hadn't known what she was doing. But it still haunted her.
Her phone beeped and Victoria looked at it. It was a message from Dominick.
You left him once. Don't do it again. The message read. Victoria's hands shook as she picked up the phone.
No. she threw the phone back on the bed and kept pacing. The urge to call Dominick back was so strong she almost reached for the phone but she resisted, the baby's accusing eyes burned into her mind. How could he want to meet a woman who had given him away? Surely he must hate her for the life he had been forced into. He could have had a loving family. He could have had a better life. Surely he wouldn't want anything to do with the woman who had taken that all away from him.
Victoria edged closer to the bed, her hand itching towards the phone.
"No." she whispered to herself. But it was a futile attempt. She paused before picking up the call thinking back to Dominick's message. If she arranged to meet him then she couldn't back out.
With shaking hands she picked up the phone and dialled Dominick's number.
X
"Conrad?" Conrad's head lifted at the sound of his wife's voice. A moment later she appeared in the doorway.
"Yes?" he asked looking at her grim face.
"I'm heading to the city tomorrow to talk to my lawyer."
Okay so that's that chap! What do ye think? Yay or nay? I'll leave a few spoilers below for the next chap! I know there weren't as many flashbacks in this chap but I'm hoping to have more in the next chap. Thanks for reading.
Next time
Aiden meets his mother. How will he react?
Emily has a visitor. What does he want?
How will Victoria feel after meeting her son?
Don't forget to review! No reviews no update!