The Secret's Out

A Year Later

Ironshield Structures has taken on a new challenge. In addition to renovating, selling, and renting structures, they have started building new structures and modifying homes to meet the owner’s vision.

It started with a small request from Elder Elgar, who wanted something unique. Not an entirely new structure, but enough changes to make it look like new.

“You have an appointment at three. He requested a meeting with you specifically, but he only gave a company name.” Ealish reminds Charleza as she returns from one of the lower floors.

“Ask Aldyn if he has time to attend. If someone requests me specifically, then I’d rather have a witness.” Charleza responds as she walks into her corner office.

Her eyes move toward the door, connecting her office to Aldyn's, and for the umpteenth time she wonders when she will have time to sort through the papers in that filing cabinet.

Every time she thinks she has time to spare, something happens that calls her away from the office and those papers.

“Aldyn will be here. He wondered why someone would ask to meet with you. I told him I asked, but your three o’clock wouldn’t tell me.” Ealish places the little information she has on Charleza’s desk.

“Thank you, Ealish. I guess we will be informed during the meeting.” Charleza responds.

For the next thirty minutes, Charleza reads the information and searches online for additional information on Future Landscape. It turns out to be a small family business that has built a reputation for consistency and quality.

“I think I understand why he wants a meeting, but he could have scheduled a meeting with Aldyn,” Charleza says to Azura after reading everything.

Just before three, Aldyn walks into her office and reads through everything Charleza found.

“This might be worth discussing. If they are as good as this implies, then a partnership would seem a logical step forward.” Aldyn says as he moves to the oval table in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Charleza chose the table because it let her look at everyone without leaning in front of someone else. Six comfortable chairs surround it, and natural light falls across the table as the sun peeks out from behind a cloud.

“Charleza, your appointment is here,” Ealish says after knocking on the doorpost.

A broad-shouldered man walks in, and Charleza freezes for a moment. The man eerily resembles Aler Mildglow, but as far as she knows, Aler didn’t have siblings.

“My name is Thurian, and I am the owner of Future Landscape.” The man says, his hand outstretched toward Charleza.

A growl escapes her as she stares at Thurian, and Azura is near the surface, ready to rip him a new asshole.

“Thurian, have you lost your mind? I told you to take it easy because we don’t know what happened.” A woman appears next to him. “Hello, Charleza. I am Yoanie, and as you can see, my mate and you are related.”

Charleza stops growling, but Aura has no intention of retreating. Both are still in a state of shock and unsure how to handle this.

“My name is Aldyn Hydraore, and I am the CEO of Ironshield Structures. Why don’t we sit down so you can explain why you resemble the asshole?” Aldyn gestures to the seats behind him.

It takes a little shove from Yoanie for Thurian to move, but eventually he sits down in a chair facing the window.

“Rozena was Thurian’s aunt, and we weren’t informed of her death until six months after she passed. Aler has refused to meet with us and has refused to answer any of our questions regarding Rozena’s estate.” Yoanie says.

“Grandma…” Charleza doesn’t get to finish speaking because Thurian jumps up and knocks his chair over.

She can see the questions crossing his face and knows she has a lot of answers, but the same applies vice versa.

“I think I need to back up a little. It will be a lot to take in, so I will arrange some refreshments first.” Charleza looks at Ealish, who nods, then walks out of the office.

Charleza explains what she knows about the circumstances surrounding her birth and childhood.

“It must have been the second year we lived on the Beta floor that I got a missing piece of the puzzle. I was leaving Grandma Rozena’s room when I heard Rivanon ask Aler why they didn’t give me up for adoption, and to tell you the truth, I had wondered the same for years.

Aler explained that Grandma Rozena had threatened to disown him if they did that, but Rivanon apparently didn’t understand the consequences of Grandma’s threat. At least not until after he explained.” Charleza looks at Thurian as she speaks.

“Don’t they teach you in school that disowning a child can cost them their family’s position?” Yoanie asks.

“I never said Rivanon was the smartest in the family.” Charleza’s eyes widen when she realizes she said it aloud.

Ealish walks in with a tray of refreshments, sets it in the center of the table, and leaves the four of them to their business.

For a little while, they talk about Charleza’s childhood and Thurian’s family.

“You mentioned Grandma Rozena’s estate and Aler’s unwillingness to answer questions. Truth is, he couldn’t answer those questions. I was the only one who showed up for the funeral or will reading.” Charleza states.

Thurian is confused because, as her son, Aler would have inherited her possessions and, therefore, should have been able to answer at least basic questions.

“I think I am beginning to understand.” Aldyn chuckles. “Yes, as Rozena’s son, Aler would inherit, but only what she left him in the will.”

Yoannie laughs as she understands what Aldyn just told them. Rozena had a will, and Aler never knew what was written in it.

“Grandma Rozena’s will only contained two things. A trust fund for Aler, and a trust fund for me. A portion of the proceeds from the five rentals in Ebonpost goes into Aler’s trust, and he can request funds if he needs them.

My trust is a set amount, and I can do with it as I please. No other items were in the will because there weren’t any left to distribute.” Charleza explains.

“What happened to the rental properties and her cottage?” Thurian asks, even though he suspects he already knows.

“Grandma Rozena signed them over to me on my eighteenth birthday. Including the account for the rental income, and anything else associated with the properties.” Charleza smiles as Yoanie laughs again.

Charleza leans back in her chair as she looks at her relatives and hopes the family is a bit bigger than just the two of them.

Thurian is 6’4” with dark brown eyes and a permanent scowl on his face, unless he is looking at Yoanie. His hands, the size of shovels, rest on the table while the fabric of his shirt stretches across his muscles.

She never considered Aler as frightening, but the same can’t be said about Thurian. He looks like the type of man you don’t want to piss off.

“You might look like Aler, but there is a considerable difference between you two. If I ran into Aler in a dark alley, I wouldn’t walk the other way; if you were in that alley, though…” Charleza let the sentence trail off.

Thurian opens his mouth, then closes it when he realizes he has no idea how to respond.

Yoanie and Aldyn chuckle while Charleza takes a sip of her soda and keeps her eyes locked with Thurian's.

“My grandmother is going to love you. Like her, you aren’t afraid to speak your mind. Especially not when it comes to Thurian.” Yoanie shakes her head as she mentions the old woman.

Soon Charleza will discover she has a large extended family who will accept her for who she is and not for what she might give them.