Chapter 4 - Anatomy

chapter 4 – Anatomy

Antonella Cross

POV

“Wendy, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to help you.” I take her hands in mine.

A smile finally forms on her face. Her face is swollen and beaten black and blue.

“Thank you, Jianna. Thank you so much for helping me. When Arla told me about you, I didn’t believe her at first, but I didn’t believe her.” she confesses.

Arla Quinton, a woman I helped vanish from her abusive father, her father and Wendy’s husband are friends. Wendy was forced to marry a man twice her age because her father only cared about money.

“I’ll contact you as soon as everything is sorted. Do everything you’d normally do. Don’t pack any clothes. No personal belongings… I want to stress the fact that you’ll have to leave everything behind…” I look right into her eyes; I wanted her to know how serious I am.

“I have to do this. I found out I’m pregnant last week. I can’t be with him anymore…” she says.

My eyes widen. Carter’s not going to like this. We’ll need to use another way to get her out of the country. There’s no way she’ll make the usual trip in her condition.

I nod my head deep in thought.

“Why didn’t you save me?”

My head shoots up in shock.

Tears run down her face.

“You promised, you promised to save me and the baby. He killed me. He killed me, you lied to me…”

I try to comfort her, but she doesn’t let me touch her or speak.

“Antonella.”

“Nelly!”

“Antonella!”

“Nella!” I hear.

I shoot up and my open wide.

My cousin Louisa.

“Are you okay? You were crying in your sleep…” she asks.

I nod slowly still trying to wake up. I couldn’t believe it, it felt so real. It’s been a week since Wendy’s accident and I still blame myself for not acting quickly. Today I fly back to America.

I’m not ready to head back just yet.

I’m not ready to face reality. To face Allister. We ended our night on bad terms once more.

He went to the gala with Larce, I saw the pictures. They looked like they were having the time of their lives. They looked like a real couple.

I do hope if they do end up together, she treats Leah with love. Leah’s going to need a motherly figure in her life when I’m no longer there.

“You could stay a few more days if you like…” Louisa suggests.

I give her a smile. “I’m fine…” I tell her.

“Your papa called; he didn’t sound very happy. You think he saw the pictures too?” he asks.

I sigh, probably.

I pick up my phone from my bedside table.

He did call. I wasn’t ready to deal with him, but I guess I’ll have to.

Louisa leaves me alone in the spare bedroom.

I call him.

“About damn time I’ve been calling you all damn morning. Where the hell are you?” the first words out of his mouth.

“I’m in Italy. I fly back tonight…” I tell him.

“You’ve been married for so long and he’s still clinging to his ex. Where the hell is the heir? Why haven’t you given birth to a son yet?” berates me.

I’ve gotten used to this; it’s been years now. My father was disappointed in my mother for giving birth to two girls, no sons. He blames my sister and I for the company going bankrupt because we weren’t interested in business. He blames me for not having control over Allister. The way Allister and his family double crossed him, yet he planned to do the same to them, he planned to do exactly what they did. Him trying to bring them down, even though it would mean my daughter and I could end up on the streets if he succeeds. The man only cares for himself. And he still doesn’t understand why I won’t help him.

After my father’s rant, I got up, took a quick shower, and got dressed, I had breakfast with Louisa and her family. She had three children with her husband an Irish businessman, Johnathan Lynch. They’re here until next week then they head back to Ireland.

After spending time with them, I head to the airport, dressed the way I usually do when I head out at home. A pair of CR nude sharp toe heels, a beige trench coat, out open and a cream wide leg pants and a simple blush pink cami.

============

I walk out of the JFK airport swamped with paparazzi.

Questions about Allister and Larce. I don’t answer only smile like I always do.

I walk to the car and Reece opens the door for me.

“Good morning, ma’am to the house?” he asks.

I shake my head. “To the office. I’ve put work off for long enough…” I tell him.

He looks at me before starting the car.

I know Reece is worried about me. He is one of the few people who know about my condition and my deepest secrets. He is someone I trust.

“How is Leah?” I ask him.

He was driving her to and from school while I was away, with Allister working on a project while I was away, he didn’t have much time for her, so she’s been staying with Dean and Lucinda.

“She’d good Miss, she has been excited for your return…” he tells me.

That brings a smile to my face.

“Mr. Cross asked for you to phone when you return, he would like to speak to you about something.” He tells me.

I nod.

Dread fills me. I wasn’t ready to face him yet.

When we get to the office, I get out and head up to my office. There’s a pile of paperwork waiting for me.

I get on it right away. If I want to fetch Leah from school, I’ll need to finish this before lunch.

“It’s like you never left.” Dean says as he enters my office.

I look up from the mountain on my desk.

“I don’t think there’d be a mountain if I were here…” I smile.

He laughs. “I have a meeting with Redford this afternoon…” he informs me.

I nod. “Good, make sure to get him on board with the changes to the system…” I tell him looking back at the winter proposal.

“You know I got this right?” he asks.

I nod. “Of course you do. I’m just worried, he’ll stall again. like he did the last time.” I tell him.

I frown. “Who came up with this program?” I ask.

Dean walks up to me and checks the proposal; he frowns as well.

I lean back in my seat.

“This wasn’t run by me before it was on your desk for sure. This belongs in the damn bin…” he chucks it in the bin.

It brings a smile to my face.

The proposal was for us to rent out a toy store to show the kids the toys, but no toys or gifts for them, that’s like dangling something in front of someone and telling them they have no right even touch it.

“I was thinking, what if we rented out a church or a community center in one of the underprivileged neighborhoods and we run a winter program for the kids, a place they could be while their parents are at work, help them stay out of trouble and provide food for them and food for them to take home for their families as well.” Dean suggests.

I run the numbers in my head thinking about how it would work exactly. It would have to be a large-scale project.

“We’ll need volunteers…” I tell him.

He nods. “We’ll need a cook as well, someone to make soup and other goods for the kids.” He tells me.

I nod. “When you have it, all done and dusted, get back to me, I’m going to look at the budget and how much we have left after the fall project, then we can plan from there.” I tell him.

He nods. “Goodluck with that, I hard the planning department was having a hard time.” he nods to the mountain.

I smile and salute him.

He smiles before leaving.

I get back to work, going through the list of proposals.

Allister’s birthday is coming up, normally I’d help Leah pick out a gift, but this year he turns thirty, I’m wondering if people want me to throw him a party.

I doubt I’d want anything from me.

I should ask his parents. Allister’s parents treated me better than I expected them to. They don’t exactly trust me with family secrets, but they do treat me like a daughter in law and they love their granddaughter. They’re happy with Leah and the Heir to the Cross empire. Aalayah Cross is the sole heir to not only my Foundation, but the Cross empire, Dean and Lucinda said if she wanted there will always be a place for her in the foundation.

Dean is like the older brother I’ve never had.