{Victoria}

Jaxon, Jenny and I took a seat on the couch in the huge office that Frank directed us to. The office was about as big as an apartment building. There were two couches sitting across from each other in front of a huge desk. It reminded me of a movie scene where the Mafia boss sat at the desk like a king in order to give instructions to his crew. Although Frank does dress like a mafia boss.

As my thoughts started racing and going nowhere, Cody started barking at me.

Jaxon's eyes went wide. "Oh no, Victoria, do you have your anxiety medicine with you?"

That was when I started feeling like I couldn't breath and the room started spinning on me. I heard Jenny calling my name and freaking out when I fell over and passed out.

***

{omniscient}

Jenny managed to catch Victoria before she hit the ground. Cody on the other hand was barking his head off and started pawing at Victoria's purse where her anxiety medicine was.

Jenny picked Victoria up and placed her on a couch.

"What happened?" Frank asked.

"She passed out from a panic attack," Jaxon said. "Her anxiety's been really bad lately and it started happening ever since the art exhibit. She'll be fine. She just needs to rest for a little bit. And when she wakes up we'll make sure she takes her medicine."

John shook his head in dismay. "Mrs. Randal really is heartless! Just think what would have happened at the dinner table and Victoria didn't have her dog with her."

"Yeah I think she had a panic attack because of what happened at the dinner table," Jenny said.

Jenny sat down next to Victoria and pulled her onto her lap and held her while she was passed out.

Frank smiled at Jenny's action. "It's good that Victoria has her siblings looking out for her."

Jenny nodded. "Yeah I'll whatever it takes if it means she has a better life now. However, I did think it was funny that Jaxon ruined Delilah's dress by throwing a piece of sausage at it. And if I had doubts that Jaxon was the favorite child before, I don't have any doubts now considering she declared Jaxon was the favorite right in front of everyone."

Frank laughed, "Good job destroying her dress by the way. Yeah she deserves it. Anyway, Victoria will be staying here for the night in one of the guest rooms since you guys think all she needs is rest and she'll be fine. And you guys can stay the night too if you want?"

Jaxon shook his head. "I can't, I have to go to work tomorrow."

"It might be a good idea to call Walter here in the morning," Jenny said. "I have to go to work tomorrow too."

"Who's Walter?" Maverick asked.

"He's Victoria's caretaker," Jenny answered. "More like a Government Sponsored Babysitter if you ask me. She had a severe episode that required her to be hospitalized and she couldn't go home until she had someone to take care of her."

"Oh," Maverick said.

"Whatever you do, don't give her that look that says you pity her," Jenny said. "She hates that look and I don't blame her. She wants to be treated like everyone else regardless of her health conditions."

John nodded. "I agree. My sister feels the same way about her health issues."

"So what did you want to talk to us about Dad?" Maverick asked.

"Well I want to try and convince Victoria to become a part of the family. But it's like pulling teeth! And it's because I'm married to Delilah," Frank said.

Maverick took a seat on the couch across from Jenny and Victoria. He crossed his arms and nodded. "Well that makes sense that woman is evil. Exactly how have you been married for two years and not do any background checks on her?"

"She probably would've passed the background checks. She has no criminal record surprisingly," Frank said. "She didn't want me to meet her children for the longest time and I couldn't figure out why. Now I know because it would've brought to light what she did to Victoria. And she was right because that's exactly what happened."

Maverick sighed, "So exactly why do you need Victoria to be in the family? Isn't she becoming a popular artist now? I've bought a couple of her paintings myself. To think she only started painting a few months ago! Her paintings are awesome!"

Frank paused for a moment and then sighed, "I made a promise to her father before he died to take care of her if something happened to him."

Jenny looked at Frank and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Frank nodded. "It's a rather complicated story but Victoria's father really wanted her to live the best life that she could for whatever the reason. I was going to adopt her after she was born but Delilah refused to give her up. So Victoria wound up living a life she wasn't supposed to live. I'm just sorry I didn't get to her sooner but now she doesn't trust me because I'm married to her mother."

Jenny frowned. "Damn, I wish my Dad was like that I got adopted by a rich dude! Then I wouldn't have had to put up with Delilah. It's a shame Mom had me with some other guy before she got married to Jaxon and Victoria's father."

"Well here's your opportunity to get adopted by a rich guy even though you're an adult now," Frank said. "If you choose to become a part of my family, I will give you whatever your heart desires." He looked at Jaxon. "The same thing goes for you and for Victoria. I will spoil you guys rotten just like I do with Maverick."

Maverick smiled. "Yeah, I agree Dad does spoil me! And I love him for it! I also love the fact that he accepts me even though I'm gay."

Jenny nodded. "Alright then, I'll do it. You don't tell me twice but that doesn't mean I'm going to quit my job and be completely reliant on you Mr. Randal."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Please call me Frank. Calling me Mr. Randal makes me feel old."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Jaxon laughed, "Okay then, since you say it's okay we'll call you Frank. And I'll join the family too."

"It's okay you don't have to quit your jobs or anything like that if you don't want to. I'll support you with whatever you need. You'll have rights to the family name and everything else," Frank said.

"Sounds good to me," Jenny said.

Frank and everyone else in the room talked at length to figure out a way to convince Victoria to join the Randal family so he could fulfill his promise to her father finally. After that Jenny and Jaxon went home, Maverick and John stayed in a guest room for the night and Frank had one of the maids take Victoria and her service dog Cody to a guest room.

The maid changed Victoria out of her clothes and put her in a comfortable shirt and sweatpants that were just her size. The maid who changed Victoria's clothes was the Head Maid, Quinn. When she put Victoria in bed for the night, Cody jumped up on the bed and snuggled up to Victoria.

Quinn smiled. "That is so adorable. Don't worry Ms. Lee, Master Frank will take good care of you just like he does with everyone that he cares for in his life. You're safe here even though Mrs. Randal isn't the nicest person, lives here. Goodnight and may your dreams be peaceful."

With that, Quinn turned off the lights and left the room.

***

{Victoria}

The next time I woke up I was in a room that wasn't mine and confused as to why I got there. Not to mention the sun had come up and I figured something had to have happened to warrant me sleeping here.

"Fucking manic episodes! Why the hell is it so hard to remember anything after I pass out from these things?" I grumbled.

"It's a trauma response," I heard someone say. I looked up to see Walter sitting by my bedside staring at me with concern.

He sighed, "You probably had one because of all the excitement that happened with your mother yesterday."

I grit my teeth. "She's not my mother! She's Delilah and that's all she'll ever be to me for the rest of her life."

"Okay sorry, how are you feeling? Because I know you didn't take your medicine last night considering you passed out in Mr. Randal's office," Walter said. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Being in Frank's office and the room started spinning on me," I said. I searched my memory of last night and laughed when I remembered Jaxon ruining Delilah's $26,000 dress.

Walter tilted his head. "What's so funny?"

"Jaxon ruined Delilah's dress by throwing a piece of sausage on it!" I laughed.

Walter snorted. "Well damn, that would've been hilarious to watch! Too bad I couldn't be there."

"Yeah it was funny alright," I said. I paused and looked around the room. The room that I was in. It was another big room that was big enough to be a small apartment! But it was a bedroom and the bed I was lying on was a huge king size bed big for at least four people to sleep comfortably on. It's too much space for me and it kind of irked me a little.

"Let me guess, we're in a fancy hotel or something?" I asked.

"It's or something because you're in a guest room at Mr. Randal's house," Walter answered. "Oh, that reminds me, I brought your medicine with you because it would be best for you to take it now considering you didn't take your medicine last night."

I nodded. Walter went and grabbed a bag that was sitting on a small couch that was next to the bed. As he was doing that a maid came into the room and smiled at me. I didn't realize Cody was still sleeping next to me until he perked up and stared at the maid and I'm going to assume that he was trying to figure out if the maid was a threat or not.

I petted his head to let him know everything's fine and he settled down. The maid smiled. "Your dog is very well trained, Ms. Lee."

"Yeah, he has to be because he's a service dog," I said.

"Okay," the maid said. "Master Frank wants to know how you're doing and if you need anything this morning like medicine?"

"Don't worry Walter's got it," I said. "Although a small tray for putting the medicine on so I take it would be great. And I'll probably need something to eat afterwards."

The maid nodded. "Yes Ms. Lee, any preference in mind for food?"

"Eggs and bacon with a coke would be nice," I said. I looked at Walter. "Walter, do you want anything?"

Walter shook his head. "No thanks. I already had something to eat while you were sleeping."

"Oh, um what time is it?" I asked.

"It's 11:30 am Ms," the maid answered. "From what I was told, that's your normal wake up time?"

"And how long was I out for?" I said.

"Only since last night," the maid said.

I sighed, "Well that's good to know."

"Do you need anything else?" the maid asked.

I shook my head. "No thanks. That'll be all."

The maid gave a short bow and left the room. Shortly after that she returned and handed Walter a small tray to put my medicine on and a tray of food that had what I requested on it.

The maid left the room again and I started to eat. Once I was done eating Walter had my medicine on the tray that the maid gave him and he handed it to me. I took my medicine and after that I was ready to get out of bed. As soon as my feet hit the floor I staggered a little bit. Walter caught me as I regained my balance.

"Maybe you should wait a bit before getting out of bed?" He suggested.

"Nah, I'm good. I need to walk around for a bit," I said.

He shrugged, "Alright then."

Just as I walked back and forth across the room there was a knock on the door. It was the maid from earlier. "Ms. Lee? Master Frank wants to come in, is that alright?"

"Sure it's fine," I answered.

Frank came into the room and when he saw me he smiled. "How are you feeling today Victoria?"

I took a seat on the couch. "I'm feeling better now. Thanks."

Frank took a seat on the couch next to me. "That's good. You scared the hell out of me yesterday when you passed out. Good thing your dog alerted us to the fact that there was a problem."

I nodded. "Yeah, that's what he's there for."

Cody got down from the bed and sat down next to me.

"Ah yes that reminds me, we do have food for him," Frank said. He looked at the maid. "Can you go grab the food and water bowls that we have prepared for him?"

"Yes Master Frank," the maid said.

After the maid brought Cody's food in she set the bowls down off to the side and Cody went right up to them and started eating.

"So," said Frank, "I have convinced your brother and sister to join the family!"

I blinked. "Seriously?"

"Yup, I'm going to draw some contract making sure they have rights to the family name and all that jazz. You said that you'd join the family only if Jaxon and Jenny joined and they have," Frank said.

Walter sat down next to me and nodded. "Yeah they did join Mr. Randal's family. Jenny made sure to have me tell you that when you woke up. I'm sure you're going to want to talk to her about this as soon as possible."

I nodded. "You bet I will talk to her about it! It's just surprising at how easy that was."

Frank nodded. "They want what's best for you. And if they become a part of the family and it helps you realize that I have your best interests at heart and they're more than willing to do that."

"Huh, interesting," I said. "Well if Jaxon and Jenny are in, then so am I."

Frank smiled rather pleased about this situation. I have no idea why he's so insistent on me becoming a part of his family. But I'm fine as long as Jaxon and Jenny are along for the ride with me. I've always felt safe around them because when they were around Howard wouldn't beat me and the same thing happened with Wyatt. That's because they knew that if Jenny or Jaxon were there they would defend me tooth and nail.

"Well alright then, I'll go and draw up a contract and you'll be legally and officially accepted as a Randal!" Frank cheered.

He stood up and left the room. When he left Walter looked at me. "Are you going to be okay?"

I shrugged, "I don't know why he's so insistent on me joining his family but okay. I'm sure he has his reasons. I am going to need a powerful ally in the business world anyway. And having the Randal family name behind me will help me out big time."

Walter nodded in agreement. I had no idea how I would be proven right about having the Randal family name helping me out in the future but it would help me out a lot.