"-Dad, can I ask you a question?
-Sure Kiara, what’s up"
Robert put his paper down and smiled at his daughter. Kiara saw how much he was handsome, despite his surgery. His eyes were still deep ocean blue, and his smile was still so warm. Kiara sat next to him and smiled back.
"-Remember when you said I couldn’t see Lucky anymore, before we found out about him being your son? You said it was impossible to be in love at 17
-I remember. What about it?
-Why did you say that? I mean, you and Elizabeth were suppose to get married on your 17th year, you were together for a year before that, Lucky told me you vowed to love each other on Valentine’s day that year. Why did you say my feelings weren’t real?
-I didn’t say they weren’t real. I said next week you’ll be thinking about someone else. Just look at Elizabeth. It took her less than 3 months to forget about her great love.
-No I won’t. I love him dad. And this situation is tearing me apart. I mean, we were suppose to spend our lives together. Have kids, grow old. We were making plans for the future dad and then I learn he’s my brother.
-Kiara, I know it hurts. And I’m sorry. But if you had listen to me and stayed away from him--
-I couldn’t. I still can’t. Even though it hurts, I have to see him. I have to be his friend. I need him in my life. And I hope you won’t object.
-As long as it’s safe, I won’t. BUT If for some reasons the Spencers get into black dealings again, we’re outta here and I’m not looking back."
Robert kissed Kiara on the top of the head and took his jacket. He told her he would be home late, he had a client to meet about his new security system he put up. She said it was all right, she had to go and meet Lesley Lu anyway.
Robert parked in front of the store. It was a tiny store that sold original paintings. The woman managing it had problems with vandals and needed a good security system. He entered the store and smiled at the woman behind the counter.
"-Hi, I’m Robert Jackson from Symbiotic Incorporated
-Yes Mr. Jackson. If you’ll follow me, my boss is working in the back store"
The lady took Robert through a lot of paintings covered with sheets, boxes, big brushes, every little space was packed. They passed through a door and Robert saw a big, open room. Big windows were letting the sun comes shining through on three of the four walls. A woman with an overall was turning her back on them, but Robert’s heart stopped anyway.
"-Elizabeth? The guy from the security company is here"
It was nearly in slow motion. She turned around, her hair flying on her shoulders. She had two brushes in one hand and one in the other. She was startled and dropped her brushes when she saw Robert. The woman went back in front when they heard the bell on the door ring. Elizabeth and Robert were standing in front of each other, without saying anything. Her hands were full of paint, his hand was holding his briefcase.
"-Hi Elizabeth. Robert said softly
-I didn’t know it was you who owned Symbiotic.
-Is that a problem? He wasn’t being sarcastic, it was a simple question
-Not for me. I heard you were the best. What about for you?
-Hey, a business deal’s a business deal. He said simply
-Let’s step in my office, shall we?"
Robert followed Elizabeth to a tiny room in the back. It was full of sketches, incomplete paintings and other art related stuff. She showed him the chair in front of her desk and sat on the other side. He opened his briefcase and gave her papers with statistics and figures on them. She was looking at them, unable to concentrate. He was telling her how his security system worked, but she wasn’t paying attention. She was looking at his hands, passing her the sheets, his long fingers, the fingers that used to hold her hand and gently stroke her hair at night when she couldn’t sleep. His arms, those big, powerful yet tender arms that used to hold her countless times, when she was scared, sad, happy, or just for the feeling. His eyes, deep, beautiful, ocean blue eyes, looking at her, warmly, full of feelings.
"-So you will have access to 24/7 with HQ, and you will have an 8 hour security agent during the night.
-That sounds fine. Sign me in.
-Did you hear a word I said?
-Sure I did. I heard everything. I’m not sure I understood half of it, but I think it’s a good system.
-You said you heard we were the best, who told you, I’ll make sure the person has a discount for free publicity.
-Ok, I’ll be honest, I never heard of your company. I found the ad in the yellow pages and the name just hit me. Symbiotic.
-Really? Robert cleared his throat. It was Kiara’s idea.
-Really?
-Yes, I told her to choose a name and she chose this one."
Elizabeth tried to hide her disappointment. She thought he chose the name because of what it meant to them, both of them, like she did for her store, Medallion, for the one she gave him a couple of days before his "death". Nikolas asked her what a medallion had to do with art, and she answered that each of them was a work of art. He knew she lied, but didn’t say anything else. Neither did she.
Robert got up and shook her hand, saying he would send someone in the morning to install everything. He also told her he would come back to supervise to work, but she said it wasn’t necessary.
"-I always do that. I want to make sure everything is done correctly"
Robert lied again. He didn’t want to tell her he never did that, that it was only to see her again. Sweet torture. She walked him to the door and he stopped, passing in front of her painting, covered with a sheet.
"-Can I take a look?
-NO! She answered quickly
-Oh come on Elizabeth, I haven’t seen your work in 17 years
-That’s not my fault, now, is it? I’m sorry Lucky. I mean Robert, I didn’t mean to be cruel
-It’s ok, really. So, to make amends, how about letting me see it?
-In your dreams Spencer. No one sees my work before it’s finished. And especially not this one"
Robert got closer to her with a look in his eyes. The look she had learned to hate. The ‘I will tickle you’ look. She backed away, laughing.
"-Lucky, no. I mean it, stay away from me
-You know what you have to do, he said, his hands nearly touching her
-Lucky we are too old for that! She answered as she ran away from him"
Robert ran after her through the mess, making everything fall with their arms, one in the rush to get away, the other in the rush to get closer. Finally, Liz’s foot tangled in a chair and she fell. Robert looked at her from where she fell and she tried to crawl out of his reach but he kneeled beside her.
"-Now, he said, his hands on her waist, tickling her, do I have your permission?
-Lucky let me go!
-Just say yes and I will!
-What’s going on here? Liz are you all right?"
Robert quickly got up and came face to face with his brother. Nikolas was in the middle of the room, his hands in his pockets. Robert got mad thinking if he had been hurting Elizabeth, his brother would have waited before rescuing her. He heard Elizabeth got up behind him and she had a nervous laugh.
"-Yeah I’m ok, she answered. Robert was just showing me his new power of persuasion, weren’t you, Robert?
-Yeah I was. It was working until you showed up. Good to see you Nikolas"
Nikolas looked like he had been punched in the stomach. Everything he believed was untrue. Robert was really Lucky. He could see it in his eyes, his voice was exactly the same. Nikolas’ face was white as a sheet when he looked at Elizabeth, the reality about his brother’s return hitting him like a ton of bricks.
"-Hi Robert. He said softly before looking at Elizabeth. I don’t believe he was showing you anything Liz, I believe he was hitting on you, plain and simple"
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