Sunday, September 30 2017, 7:00am

Hydrangea Park

....

Unspoken, they had fallen into a regular Sunday morning routine. She would stay out all night and find herself in the park at the crack of dawn. Ira would arrive not too much later, already halfway through his run. She would silently join him for the rest of it. It was odd but as long as she had an excuse to give Ezra that was all that mattered. Besides, the running was helping her stamina and that was invaluable during her nightly escapades.

"And then he just said he doesn't eat coconut. It's not like he's allergic or anything!" Aviva huffed as they kept pace around the park trail. "Do you even know how hard it was to get those? They're sold out everywhere!"

Ira simply nodded. That was the nice thing about him. He didn't judge her when she ranted and it wasn't like he would tell her family what they talked about. She could tell him anything. Well…almost anything.

"But then Brandy brought him the same snack later and he didn't reject hers at all. I asked him why and he said he didn't want to hurt her feelings. What about my feelings?"

"And what are your feelings?"

Aviva frowned as she narrowly avoided an exposed root in the trail. What were her feelings? Why did it bother her so much that he didn't treat her like other girls? He didn't treat her like a girl at all.

"I just…I have feelings too and after everything you'd think he'd at least care about them."

"Ah romance. How exciting." Ira drolled and Aviva felt her face heat up- this time not from the exercise. "I remember my first love."

"You had a first love?" She asked skeptically.

Ira was too much of a black box to have ever actually loved someone. Besides, it was hard to tell when he was being serious. Where was this lover anyway? As far as she knew he was single.

"I did and I lost her to work…to life. That's how it goes."

"That's not going to happen to me. I'm not going to be some boring adult."

Ira chuckled and picked up his pace.

"I'm sure you won't be Aviva."

Later that night, well after their run ended and they parted ways, Aviva couldn't get his words out of her head. Would she one day become a tragic adult just chained to her desk? Forced to work day in and day out for a cause she didn't believe in? She was expected to join the Hato corporation like her sister and cousin. Sure, she wasn't the heiress but she was to be a pillar for the company.

The thought of slipping into a pair of blister-inducing heels and listening to old men drone on and on sent a chill down her spine. How did Amia and Ezra do it every day? How did she get out of doing it? Money she supposed. Lots of it.

"Well." She sighed as she pulled out her phone and scrolled through the contacts. "I at least know how to do that."

….

Friday, October 4, 2017, 2:21pm

Hato Enterprise

...

Amia clamped her hands over her mouth as she tried to muffle her moans. It wasn't doing much good but it was better than nothing. His rough hands gripped her hips tightly as he slammed into her repeatedly. She knew that there would be bruises there later. It was an even trade since his back was marked by her nails.

"Fuck." He groaned as she continuously met each of his thrusts in time.

Strewn around them were papers and pencils that they had haphazardly knocked off the desk in their haste. They certainly would have a mess to clean up later but for now, neither cared. It was the first time they had been in a room alone together all week. They would deal with the consequences of their hasty decisions later. Sylas grabbed both of her hands and pinned them above her head as he leaned down to capture her lips.

They shouldn't be doing this. She knew it was wrong but what could have easily been dismissed as temporary lapses in judgment had evolved into an addiction. Every touch, every glance left her wanting more. It was never enough. Sylas' devilish tongue swirled around hers, blurring her thoughts and electrifying her all the way down to her toes. As he continued thrusting into her she felt the coil tightening inside of her release. Her toes curled in her heels. Her hips bucked

involuntarily as she rode out her orgasm, bringing Sylas to a quick finish as well.

He released her hands but buried his face between her shoulder and neck. The heavy panting of their breathing and a phone ringing incessantly was the only sound to be heard. Wait. A phone? Amia turned her head to the right to see her cell phone which somehow had managed to remain on the desk. Sylas groaned into her neck as it continued to ring. She smiled and answered the call.

"Hello?" She said and smacked Sylas' arm when he lightly bit her neck. He was incorrigible.

"Amia where are you?" Ezra asked, the severe tone of his voice dictating that this was not a casual call. In the background, she heard many unintelligible loud voices.

"I'm in my office, why?"

"Amia have you forgotten about the press release?" Ezra said with a sigh and Amia mentally cursed. "Get down to the fifth floor now. You still have time before Uncle arrives."

Ezra hung up the phone shortly after that and Amia let out a sigh of frustration. She couldn't believe that she had forgotten something so important. Sylas hovered over her with a slight look of concern.

"What happened?"

"The press release!"

"Fuck."

….

Friday, October 4, 2017, 4:00pm

Hato Enterprise

...

Thank you all for joining us here today to witness this announcement. We hope to have your continued support as we head into a bright future for the services with which we provide." Felix said and nodded his head in Arlo's direction who leaned into his mic.

"On behalf of the Hato and the Uri, thank you."

The bright bulbs of the cameras flashed incessantly from the press pool. Amia fixed her eyes on her father's broad back as he and Felix stood side by side to address the questions being lobbed at them. It wasn't often two powerful men shared a stage together and the media was curious about what brought on their sudden alliance. While on the outside it appeared that they merely wanted to merge for the sake of innovation into the future, there was a much more worrisome truth. Amia wasn't quite sure what would make her father come down off his high horse to align with his rival, but it had to be something serious. Even Ezra, essentially her father's right-hand man, had no idea of the full extent of his reasoning. None of them dared to question him openly. Arlo Hato has his reasons for everything.

More unintelligible questions were shouted by the press as the two patriarchs cordially shook hands before filing off of the stage. Amia and her sister stood from their seats behind their father and followed him off of the stage. They walked in lockstep a foot behind their father and Ezra managed to push his way through the crowd to their side. Once they were outside the building, they were escorted to their limo, which was surrounded by more press people who could not make it inside the building and protestors. Amia had expected some backlash against the merger but to be faced with the reality of it was a different story.

"Capitalist scum!"

"Fucking rich bastards!"

Amia kept her eyes glued to her father's back and tightened her grip on Aviva's hand. Between the constant camera flashes and the deafening noise, it was all she could do to keep one foot in front of the other.

"You don't give a shit about little people like us!"

"How can you sleep at night knowing you are running other people out of business?!"

"People like you make me sick!"

They banged on the limo's windows once the doors were closed and she imagined that their protest continued well after they had driven away. They were being accused of everything from corruption to stock manipulation to aiding in the economic suppression of the lower class. All of the vitriolic claims were false but their words still hurt just the same. Had her father anticipated this backlash? Amia could not blame people for feeling suspicious of the merge.

The Uri and Hato influences were so far-reaching into different sectors of their society that it made sense for others to see them as the bad guys. All they saw were two powerful family-run businesses about to become even more powerful.

While she knew that eventually they would once more fade to the back of people's minds, she knew they had to do something about their image. She looked over at her father who was busy scrolling through his phone and bit her lip. She wanted to say something to him, to voice her concerns but she let the words die in her throat. Judging by his furrowed brow and deep scowl, now was not the time. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind of all thoughts. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

…..

Friday, October 4, 2017, 7:00pm

Uri Residence

...

"It's been so long since I've heard you play." Maria sighed as she rested her cheek in her open palm and took a small sip of red wine.

"It's only been a little over a month and a half Mother." Sylas said as he skillfully strummed his bow along the thick strings. He often practiced in their old home but now he rarely found the time.

"A month and a half too long!" Maria pouted. "I missed you."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Sylas tried to suppress a blush from creeping up his cheeks. His mother always said the most embarrassing things. He focused his concentration on the vibrations created by his cello instead. His fingers flew over the strings in conjunction with his bow, filling the apartment with his mother's favorite song. The front door to the penthouse opened and Ira entered the room with their Uncle Marshall and cousin Samson in tow. Maria slid over on the couch to make room for Ira to sit down. Marshall sat on the arm of the couch while Samson leaned forward against the back.

"My, my, Sylas you certainly have improved since the last time I heard you play." Marshall said and Sylas rolled his eyes.

"The last time you heard him play he was fifteen, Uncle." Ira defended and Marshall huffed.

"Really? I could have sworn that you just turned sixteen yesterday. How old are you now?"

"You're getting old Uncle. You can't even keep up with the age of your nephews." Samson snickered but Marshall only waved him off.

"When you have lived as long as I have, you have earned the right to forget things from time to time."

Sylas rolled his eyes again and finished up his song. Maria smiled and clapped her hands.

"Wonderful!" She said.

"Where is father?" Sylas asked the new arrivals and they all pretended to suddenly become preoccupied with other things. Sylas narrowed his eyes. "Ira."

"He has a few loose strings to tie up before tomorrow's events." Ira said.

Sylas nodded but a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach didn't subside. He placed his cello back into its case by his feet and stood up to stretch. Whatever his father was doing had to be pretty important to keep him away from home this late. He picked up the case and began walking from the living room toward his bedroom. He had only just closed the door when he heard a soft knock.

"Come in." He called as he set his cello case in the corner of the room.

The door creaked open and Ira walked in. From the serious look on his face, he was not here to joke around. The younger Uri crossed his arms over his chest and prepared himself for whatever Ira was about to say.

"Sylas," he started. "Father is meeting with a lawyer."

"Is someone suing us?" Sylas asked and Ira smiled and shook his head.

"No, nothing like that. He's stepping down."

"Hn, we both knew that this would happen eventually." Sylas sighed with a shrug of his shoulders.

This was the day that was always meant to happen. Ira would ascend to the role as the head of their family and corporation. A position he had always been born to fulfill.

"Congratulations."

"I am not accepting my position as his heir." Ira said and Sylas looked at him as though he had grown another head.

"What?"

"I'm not accepting-"

"I heard you the first time, why are you doing this?" Sylas interrupted. "Are you trying to leave us?"

It wouldn't be that far in left field for Ira to do such a thing. He had rejected the role of an heir for many years before their father had finally worn him down. Ira laughed and sat down on the bed. He motioned for Sylas to join him but the younger man refused.

"I'm not leaving you, little brother. Father has been the head of this company since his father stepped down and his father before him. Each Uri male has taken up the mantle of our family and has inched us further and further down the path that we are currently on. It has led to our success and at times, near ruin. With this merge with the Hato, this will become an even greater responsibility. Unfortunately, I am unable to carry this burden on my own. You have grown so much, even Father is beginning to take notice of your efforts."

"Ira-"

"No, let me finish. Father is meeting with a lawyer to reverse all of the documents and shares that are in my name and make it so that they will now hold yours as well. We will be equals in all things from this day forward little brother."

…..

Saturday, October 5, 2017, 6:30 pm

Renaissance Hotel

...

Amia bit her bottom lip as she stepped into the hotel's lavish lobby. Everything was opulently decorated in gold leaf and marble. A giant chandelier dripping in crystals loomed overhead, casting a bright light over the room. By her side, Aviva let out a low whistle of appreciation.

"Father has us sparing no expense tonight huh?" She said. Amia and Ezra nodded.

This event on its face was to celebrate the union of the Hato and the Uri. It was meant to convey their hope for propelling their new company into the future. In reality, it was all about power. The place would be stocked with the extended branches of the Hato clan and the Uri. Everyone from their competitors to their allies would be here tonight to ring in the new era of their newly combined strength. Tonight had nothing to do with hope and change. Tonight people would kiss their feet and talk behind their backs; such was the way in the circle they resided. At the moment they were at the top of the hierarchy but one misstep would send them tumbling down to be devoured by the masses.

Amia absently ran a hand over her silver gown to even out any imaginary wrinkles and prayed that everything went off without a hitch. These kinds of events always made her nervous. All around them, pale-eyed Hatos bowed deeply to pay their respects to the heads of their family. Ezra stepped in between the sisters and they hooked their arms through his. He confidently led them through the lobby and up a wide, winding spiral staircase. Once they had reached the second floor, they entered the first door on the right which was meant to be a waiting area before they entered the ballroom. Already inside of the room were Maria, Sylas, and Ira.

Sylas had his back to them as he adjusted his dark blue tie in the mirror while Maria stood next to him with her hands on her hips and a disapproving look. Her deep burgundy dress with quarter-length sleeves complimented her figure nicely and one would have never known that she was the mother of the two other men in the room. Ira was slouched in one of the many plush chairs that dotted the small room finding pure amusement in his brother's struggle.

"Stop fidgeting Sylas." Maria chided and smacked his hands away from his tie. "I already fixed it."

"I would listen to our mother if you want to keep your fingers." Ira chuckled and looked up when he noticed their arrival. "Look what we have here."

Amia blushed as Ira quickly crossed the room and grabbed her hand. He pulled her away from Ezra and spun her around.

"Don't you look absolutely gorgeous!" He gushed and Amia laughed at his theatrics. "We will have to beat your suitors off with a stick tonight! A true angel is in our midst."

"Hey! What about me?" Aviva pouted as she put her hands on her hips. Ira's smile widened and he took Aviva's hand as well.

"You are like a breath of fresh air." He said as he placed a short kiss on her knuckles.

Ezra pulled them both back to his side and glared at the eldest Uri.

"Hands off Uri." He said flatly but Ira only smirked and gave him a wink.

"Now now Ira, behave." Maria reprimanded as she approached them. She kissed both of their cheeks and smiled brightly. "You girls do look beautiful. Hikari would be so pleased."

Amia blushed as she felt the woman's lips press against her skin. It reminded her of the way her own mother would constantly smother her face with kisses when she was a little girl. She pressed her fingertips to her cheek as though it would keep the fleeting feeling of the kiss there for a little longer. Maria clicked her tongue as she held Aviva's slightly messy braid and removed the pale blue ribbon at the end, effectively unraveling the braid. She expertly raked her fingers through her long brown hair and began redoing her hair in a much neater fashion.

"I always wanted a daughter." She sighed as her fingers nimbly weaved through Aviva's brown tresses. "I imagine she would listen better than these two stubborn boys of mine. Hikari is lucky she got two girls instead."

"You knew our mother?" Aviva asked bluntly, not minding in the slightest that the Uri matriarch was taking such liberties with her hair. Maria's eyes softened and she nodded her head.

"A long, long time ago. We used to be very good friends when we were girls but, as with many things, life happens." She said distantly as though recalling memories that had been buried deep down. The sisters listened with apt attention. Their father never talked about their mother.

"We stayed in touch pretty well when I first got married and had Ira but then I had Sylas. My hands were much too full taking care of two boys and helping their father lead the company when I could. Over a year after Sylas was born, Hikari had a baby girl of her own to care for so it was only natural that we drifted apart. We did see each other occasionally over the years though and she seemed happy. The last time I saw her, she told me that she was pregnant with her second child..."

Maria's voice trailed off as she realized how deep the waters were that she was wading through. She retied the ribbon to the end of Aviva's braid. The Uri matriarch rubbed a thumb over Aviva's cheek and smiled.

"There, much better!" She said just as the door to the room opened and the two family heads walked in. "Now you truly are the prettiest of them all."

"It's time." Arlo said and led them all out of the room.

…..

Saturday, October 5, 2017, 9:00pm

Rennasaince Hotel

...

Amia clutched Sylas' arm tightly as he intercepted yet another aspiring ladder climber from pawning their son/cousin/nephew off on her. Ira had been correct about one thing, they certainly did have to beat off the greedy barrage of suitors. Unfortunately, they did not have a stick. She had not anticipated that it would be this bad but Sylas was an excellent deterrent. He stayed by her side and was not distracted by any of the female offers that had been thrown his way. Since they were both of marrying age, it was no surprise that everyone was throwing their eligible relatives at them. The thought of getting married to any of them sent a chill down her spine. Someone of her stature would have been promised off to some wealthy son of a billionaire by now but she had managed to stave off the inevitable.

When her relationship with Noah Douglas had begun organically, her father had seemed satisfied to let her make her own decisions. One does not climb much higher than the son of the nation's leader. If their relationship had worked out, Aviva would have been named the heir and she would have joined the Douglas political family. Everything would have been tied up rather nicely. She might have even stayed with him, as unsatisfied as she was if it meant that her sister would have the possibility of rising up as the heir. However, after dating for almost three years, Noah never showed any indication that he wanted to marry her. He was too preoccupied with building the foundation of his political career to think of things like getting married or having children.

She had broached the topic once when her love for him was just starting to waver though the idea of little blonde children still made her heart flutter. He replied that if she wanted to get married and have children, he would give that to her. The answer had left a sour taste in her mouth. She didn't want him to tie himself to her further because that's what she desired. She wanted him to want those things just as much as she did. If he had been more enthused about the prospect of a future together at the time would they still be together? Would she be planning a wedding right now? Would it have made her happy?

Amia shook the thought from her mind and continued to smile and nod as a wealthy older woman droned on about something she didn't care about. The woman's young male companion tried to slyly grab her hand but she dodged it by sidestepping closer to Sylas. She subtly squeezed Sylas' arm and he smoothly extricated them from the awkward interaction. When they had gotten a considerable distance between them and the woman she squeezed his arm again and he looked down at her. His dark eyes made the chaotic environment around them cease to exist and she stood transfixed by his gaze.

"Thank you, Sylas." She said softly and he smirked and opened his mouth to reply.

"Hey, bastard!" A familiar voice shouted behind them and she felt her blood run cold.

'It couldn't be!' She thought, panic beginning to set in. Had she conjured him up just by thinking too hard?

"Idiot." Sylas said as he turned them around to face the person who had shouted out to them.

Amia felt her voice catch in her throat as her first love bounded up to them. He didn't seem to see her at first but when their eyes locked, he sped up. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as he came closer and closer. This was the first time she had seen him in person since the day she had packed up her things and left. He had been smiling that day too although it didn't quite meet his eyes. Today his smile was huge, just as she had remembered when things between them were fine. When she was within arm's length, he wrapped her up in his arms and squeezed her tightly before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek. It was all typical Noah behavior but he had pulled her a bit too close. His lips had remained a second too long.

"You look beautiful tonight Amia!" Noah said warmly. "Congratulations on the merge!"

"H-H-Hello Noah." She stammered when he released her slightly but still kept an arm around her shoulders. "Thank you."

"You two know each other?" Sylas asked tersely, his dark eyes searching for an answer between them.

"W-well-"

"Actually-"

"Excuse me for a moment." The deep rolling baritone of her father cut in. "I need a moment alone with my daughter."

….

Saturday, October 5, 2017, 9:37 pm

Renaissance Hotel

...

The cool fall night air should have calmed her nerves and settled her blush, but she remained a nervous wreck. On the outside, she was the picture of perfect calm as she had always been taught to be. On the inside, she was full of anxiety. In the hotel, her current and former lover were more than likely conversing with one another. She had no idea how that conversation would turn out but it didn't look good. She sucked in a deep breath and tried not to focus on tripping over an errant rock as she and her father walked along the carefully cultivated garden path.

"Amia." He began and she looked up at him expectantly. "Do you know what it means to be a Hato?"

Amia nodded her head slowly at her father's inquiry. Family above all else. Duty to the cause. Honor what is right. The words of her ancestors had been ingrained within her since the day she took her first steps. It was this phrase that pushed the Hatos throughout history down the path of prosperity. The cool breeze brushed against her flushed skin and the lights of the hotel were getting further and further away as the hedges grew taller.

"Family above all else." She recited as they continued down the dark garden path leaving the noisy Gala behind. "Duty to the cause. Honor what is right."

"Correct. Do you understand what it takes to uphold those three principles? To ensure that those below us are able to thrive?" Arlo asked.

Amia remained silent. This was not a question her father requested an answer to. He motioned to the rose bushes that surrounded them. The late blooms were lush and the color was painted black by the dim light of the crescent moon above them.

"Sacrifice." He said as he plucked one of the choicest blooms from the bush. "To get the best blooms one must constantly tear down and prune a rose bush so that in the following year the bush will flourish. At that point, one may admire their diligence but the pruning never ceases. Over and over one must take care to ensure that the roses are not allowed to run wild. Otherwise, they will swallow each other up and suffocate the less viable blooms. This sacrifice allows one to capitalize on a future you cannot see."

He pushed aside a few of the leaves of the bush where he had taken the rose and motioned for her to come closer. Just inside a lower branch was the start of a smaller bud just waiting to see the sun. It would have never had the chance to bloom if her father hadn't removed the already full rose from blocking its progress. Her father stepped away from the bush and led her down the path again, deeper and deeper into the maze of rose bushes.

"Roses are difficult to work with. They are stubborn and turn the soil acidic, making it difficult for other plants to thrive near them. If one is not careful they will prick themselves on its many thorns. Yet they are resilient plants that will survive on nearly any plot of land they are placed and when cared for properly, will no doubt flourish."

He stopped near the center of the maze and pointed toward a marble fountain in the center of the sprawling garden. Seated on the edge of the pool was Aviva, the edges of her pale blue dress dipping slightly into the water as she toyed with the end of her braid. Standing beside her was a tall, lanky boy with dark brown hair and a sheepish smile. Suddenly she recalled the picture that Aviva had shown her a few weeks ago of that same boy. At the time she was much too tired to place a face to a name but now it all connected. That mischevious-looking boy was none other than

Timothy Lancaster was the only living grandson of the Lancaster dynasty and heir to their massive fortune but by oil and rail. The Lancasters and a handful of other old money families that descended from royalty were the only ones higher than the Hato. When they walked into the room, heads would turn. Their family had ruled the nation for hundreds of years and had only entrusted that task to the Douglas on the condition that they were still pulling the strings behind the scenes. While they were no longer the face of the nation, their name was held in high esteem and held more power than anyone could fathom. A family as old and as powerful as the Lancaster would never accept a mere second daughter to be a match for the only grandson to carry on their lineage. Even if she was a Hato. She needed more.

Timothy placed a hand on Aviva's head, ruffling her brown locks so they looked slightly messy. She tried to smooth it back out but he grabbed her wrist. What Timothy said next they could not hear but it made Aviva blush furiously and mumble something under her breath. When he let go of her wrist, she punched him lightly on his arm. Her response caused the boy to laugh, the joyful sound echoing into the night. Arlo took Amia's arm once more and led her back to the party in silence. When they reached the entrance of the hotel, her father stopped and handed her the rose he had taken. Now that they were in the light she could see the deep red color that coated the thick petals. He cupped her cheek and raised her face so that she was looking into eyes that had given her her own.

"To uphold our family there are things that we must do. Sacrifices that we must make for a future we can't see."

The sound of the glass door to the garden sliding open effectively ended their conversation. Her father's hand slowly left her face and she turned to see the one who had interrupted their conversation. Standing before them was George. His red hair was slicked back and his green eyes shone with that natural intensity they always possessed. Her fingers tightened around the stem of the rose but Amia ignored the sharp prick of the thorns. Slowly but surely she was beginning to understand the meaning behind her father's words. That she would never be his heiress.

She would have to prune her blooms to make way for a brighter future. The continued future of their family. A future where she would tie herself to a man she barely knew for the sake of their family. She straightened her back and looked ahead, past George, past the other guests that milled behind him. Inside she saw Maria ruffing Sylas' hair and Ira smiling at his brother's grimace. The brief happiness that had bloomed in their presence, in his arms had to be cut down. A heavy lump formed in her throat.

"Good evening Arlo, Amia."