"I do not get how you do this you know? You were sleeping one minute ago and still you manage to walk sleepily?"
Showing her tongue to her big sister Alicia shook her head while rolling her shoulders to relax them. It was not her but being near Lorelei could do that to someone. She was becoming maniac as her and her mother by how she worked every chance she had.
She had decided to not stop to her bachelor degree but power far. Between Lorelei and her mother there was no exemple of slacking for her mind. Even Kayley was thriving into a powerful woman, the best version of herself actually.
Long gone was the drunken Kayley. She never drink more than one glass, sometimes indulged in non-alcoholic drinks. It was amazing the changes in one person.
She was more authoritative with that rare charisma that lack nowadays. She felt safe to be around. Never belittling people anymore, she made effort to balance it with being an actual human being with feeling for others, starting with her little sister.
Alicia while almost sauntering lazily toward the out doors where the launch was served, spared a glance to Kayley attire, a simple but yet elegant dress that hugged her upper part going loose from her hips to her mid legs. It has that posh corsage that was up around the neck making a V line on her chest giving a small pick of her cleavage in a teasing way. She was really beautiful the small Fendrik admitted to herself with a small smile.
Shaking her head at her little sister failed attempt to be discreet, Kayley placed her hand on her lower back pushing her to her side. With a kiss on her temple she squeezed her shoulders amused by her late mannerisms.
"You know you are not bad yourself in you crumble but still good looking pants. I don't know how you do that. I try but it is not for me."
Laughing at her puzzled face, Alicia side hugged her thanking God she had her big sister at her side. With time she had become more expressive of her feeling for her. She was really the sister she had so many time dreamed of, someone she could look up to sharpen her own self. Kayley had been doing her best to mend their relationship throughout the year, it was really wonderful. There were now best friend which really was a dream come true.
"Nah. You were raise to be the second on the line of succession remember? Aaah stop assaulting me woman!" Massaging the not so sore spot Kayley had playfully smacked Alicia really cried out making her big sister looked at her in disbelief.
The moment she had her hand up to do it again, Alicia popped her index finger up warningly.
"If you smack me again I will call Lorelei."
"Oh! Is that so? To do what? Punish me?" Playing along like she was offense Kayley stopped to look straight in her sister eyes challenging her to pursue.
"Yes." Arching her eyebrows like their mother would do in such occasion. Kayley put a show to think about it then sighing dramatically she shook her head at Alicia to show her it was not a possibility.
"You should be afraid. We have a weapon that will shatter you almighty defense. It is one that could not even go through your mind. That will enlarge your thinking process"
Stopping at the entrance of the terrasse Kayley scrutinized the young woman that was likely her sister enumerating why she should be worry. Amused she already had her hand up to smack the back of her head when she jumped back ready to go in a scream fit. They both knew Lorelei whatever she was doing would come running like there was no bodyguards and cameras all over the house.
"Think wisely about it big sis, think about how many time it took you to be this untouchable image of grace. Think at how long you had to pull and style your hairs."
Stopping mid air Kayley wondered what kind of warning she was directing to her. Reflecting a moment on all she said she stared at her through almost closed eyes studying her serious face. She knew this was a playful banter, that came naturally to them now, but she also knew her little sister could be a terrific child sometimes pushing tricky prank here and there to spice life as she put it. So her warning was not unusual.
Thinking harder about it, Kayley finally got the hang because her eyes open warningly at once challenging Alicia.
"You will not dare!"
Removing an invisible dirt on her shoulder, Alicia smiled broadly showing her dimples while her eyes were twinkling. Smiling herself at the sight Kayley let her take her hand back with more docility knowing she was trapped. She really like to swap her hand here and there.
"Why lying to yourself Kay. We will. Remember Lo motto, born to be wild. We are, so if you do not want to wiggle on this very carpet laughing like a maniac under our tickles, be good with me. Huh? Am I not an angel?"
Tapping her hand like she was some kind of dummy, glowing Cristal green eyes asked with a charming smile toward the end. Tongue tie for a moment taking her in, Kayley wondered how this sight had angered her years before.
Alicia was really a warm being to be around, to be around made her think for the first time, that it would be go being a mother someday. Alicia was not utterly childish no, she was rawly real, in the human sense of it. Their mother had nurtured it, Lorelei daily presence had expended it. No one could be around her and stay in a bad mood.
Even Michaela she seemed to despise for some unknown reason, had come around. They were more civil around each others. It seemed like the Italian had understand something Kayley was still struggling with. But the fact was as long as she kept her distance with Lorelei, Alicia was with her as with everyone else.
After getting the magic trick, the designer was more smartly manoeuvring her way. It was an awesome lesson Kayley herself had learned form this new life they had.
There was not such thing as being higher than others. Knowing the value of life, was the only way to treat people with kindness with the right amount of control of one's footage. Lorelei was the epitome of it, she had power but never used it to crush, she would look at someone kindly but that very air of kindness holding in itself the roots of the danger you know could come into you.
So truly Kayley knew she would be doing as Alicia so greatly described it to her if she screamed for help.
Nodding her head at her big sister silence, Alicia if possible smile bigger happy with herself. Pulling a chair for her Alicia pointed at it with mocked reverence.
"This is intelligence, no! Wisdom dear. Now, sit we have to eat. I looove you." Placing a big kiss on both her cheeks, she took her own seat at the other side of the table. Which was the left of the head of the table while Kayley was at the right. Lorelei was the one using the head, they had just settled into it without more thoughts.
"I love you too baby." A smile on, Kayley uttered feeling happy with her life. At the term of endearment she saw Ali eyes do that weird thing where she was about to cry. Feeling a twinge of guilt she handed her her hand which met her trembling fingers half way.
"I really do. I'm here now."
Nodding at her feeling overwhelmed by emotions Alicia squeezed her fingers untill she felt she could let go with a kiss. All the while they were not aware of the man looking at them with curiosity mixed with envy both to how beautiful they looked to the relationship they had.
What he did not know was to never envy others if you know nothing about who they are and their whereabouts. You could want to improve yourself to the best of your abilities but never envy because therefore you should accept to carry the same weight, pain and scars they had faced to become who they are.
That is when the line get blurry, no one want the ugly, we want it all polish and ready to be used for only the best.
An ideal, that exploded, showing its naked face with the next move of, that moment Alicia almost cried. There reality colliding with his mind. Reminder of the game of Life.
The first and final rule - Love - pick up your cards and make the best out of them always keeping that word at the top of all actions.
What he saw in the one he supposed was the younger sister as she held the older one palm's in hers for reassurance, had him back on his feet.
An history had been written between them that taught her them value of love. There was hurt behind all the perfect facade. But as the woman that seemed like one of those untouchable beauty affirmed those words of reassurance, he knew she meant them by the reaction it had on the younger one who kissed her fingers after some time then let go of them.
Not knowing what to do, Benoit swallowed the water he had forgotten about in his mouth, coughing as it went a bit on the wrong side. Looking at his direction, the sisters eyebrows lifted at the same moment wondering who it was. For all the time they had been here no one else but maybe Mrs Blake had sat with them to eat. Rarely Kilian or Malone when they visited.
"Hi, I'm Benoit by the way."
Frowning at his words, Kayley leaned back on her chair crossing her arms on her chest, studying his face
" Hello Benoit by the way."
The way he violently became red had Alicia throwing a napkin to her sister who dodged it gracefully. Alicia was so easy,nshe knew she would react like that.
"Ooh! Huh not like..."
"Tss, Tss. She is playing with your mind. She is good at that sort of game. Don't be shy around her and most likely you will not be an easy target."
Staring at the young woman that was also a contemporary image of the one in the living room and entry. Benoit nodded eagerly accepting the helping hand thrown at him. These people was really nothing as out there. You would not think they were rich.
" Alicia Fendrik" Pointing at herself giving her name she directed her index to Kayley having her nodded at him.
"Kayley Fendrik, the big sister in case you wondered. Do forgive me dear sometimes it is a bit easy to have my way with weak people. No. Really do not take what i just said by heart. God Ali he is too easy "
The horror on Benoit face was so comic, even Alicia smiled meeting his eyes apologetically.
"Come on Benoit. Do not take it by heart. But no one ever sit on this table but us. If you do you are family so bear with us."
Smiling when he heard the explanation the young man smiled for the first time breathing out in relief. He understood the 360 degrees his life had turned to. First it was the others members of the staff that treated him with outer deference when he thought they were all the same but Sloan had been kind enough to tell him everyone else that worked here except him and Norman family stayed at the house that was on the other side of the land. Only coming in the mansion for work.
Lorelei really meant it when she said he was a part of her family now. Swallowing the lump in his throat he took another gulp of water.
"So Benoit who are you? If you do not mind me asking."
Getting out of the house at that moment, on time to hear the question, Lorelei smiled at her family presence she believed it was the way it had to be. The peace it procured to have them there was rare. Looking her way as he was about to answer Benoit smiled genuinely at her. At a dismissive movement she made him relaxed in his chair.
"My friend, Kay. Chill. He will be staying with us for now one."
Nodding his head furiously the young man waited for what was to follow. The interaction between the two was so simple that it put the princesses at ease.
"Okay. I see, Benoit dear, welcome to the house of the redeemed. I mean, if this was an orphanage Lorelei would be the one taking us all in. So you are our little brother then or what? Lorelei? "
"Don't Dramatize Kay, your are no one lost puppy I believe we are, just souls that find each others."
"Like soulmate?"Â Benoit input was right away set straight by Alicia who decided to throw him playfully a single popcorn like they knew each other for a while.
"Soul siblings maybe. Dear no way for soulmatage here." The playfulness she conveyed even for him was strained by an edge of seriousness. Liking the way they immediately was with him Benoit feeling more at home than ever elsewhere reciprocate her actions throwing her the same thing.
"Tiger calm down. I'm not one suicidal nerd I Know my limits is amongst mortals."
Smirking at their banter, Lorelei stood at the Chef making signs to her from the open window separating the terrasse from the wide and very stylish kitchen. The room was a dream for any Chef.
The three others followed the movement curiously to understand what was going on before Kayley looked back at Benoit her brows knotted in wonder.
"Why is that?" Lost for a moment, the young man made a "oh" Movement with his eyes.
Thinking everyone was aware of the obvious, he shrugged dismissively but Kayley stare force him to consider actually answering.
"I don't know about how you treat your significant one dear but in my little time in this world AND really big experience with money, whenever someone is pouring money like rain on another human being it is for two obvious reasons, first they are investments, second but not the least there is some kind of strong feelings involved like family but as soon as it become insane amounts of money they have to be lover. Which in this case is clear ."
"Clear." Playing her straight face to him with a touch of engaging smile Kayley stated bating her eyes decided to get to what she did not know.
"Yeah you know I'm not judging or something. But she had just opened you two coins wallets in the bit cloud to protect your interests, like you are richly bless to have her. You all get along well, and there is this clone of Alicia all over the place! Obvious right. I am just too smart!"
Glancing at Alicia who just puffed with laughter at how full of himself he was and just shook her head but said nothing to correct him. Instead she retrieved the tablet that was given to her earlier to hand him to her big sister.
"Here I was to give you this. And before you ask, Benoit firstly is Lorelei, what? Personal geek ingeneer. I know because I kept hearing that name before we met, and Norman told me we will be meeting with him."
Taking the item, Kayley tilted her head the information she desperately needed to know for so long sinking in her system. Processing it, she looked at the gadget in her hand, reading what was written. It was a link that took her to her bitcoins wallet, staying calm she acknowledged the amount it said was in her name, before placing it near her, feeling overwhelmed.
Her stare travel back to the kitchen where Lorelei was noodding patiently at Martha who was explaining something to her.
WOW! Kayley thought before looking at Ali who just shrugged her shoulders asking through it for her understanding. She knew. That is why she have been fighting tooth and nail to keep Micheala away. Stunned but weirdly happy in a selfish way, Kayley returned the shrug more than ever sure their mother had a valid reason to come to them for sure.
Back at the table, Lorelei gracefully sat, her eyes immediately seeing the blue tablet infront of Kayley.
"Ah. Your mother send money so we store it were crisis do not streak."
Keeping a seriously stare anchored in hers, knowing she just twisted the reality Kayley nodded, feeling the same way she had felt that day in her bathroom with her mother telling her she had always love her.
"Benoit just told us about it. He is a man of ressources. How did you meet?" playing it off Kayley responded smiling.
"He bumped on me at the mall one faithful day I was lost searching for-- What !?" At how furrowed both women faces instantly became, Lorelei started laughing even wiping some tears at the corner of her left eye.
"When was the last time you went shopping?" Looking at Alicia as she asked it Kayley shook her head negatively as she realized it at the very moment. They were the only one who did that in fact.
"You never go shopping, dear! WOW! It is true. We do. But you? NEVER. Like they bring clothes to you!" Saying that out loud, the older of the Queen's daughters could almost see her mother hands on everything surrounding Lorelei.
The woman was not there but when you knew what to look for you could not miss the grand scheme. Lorelei was Queen Katiandra what mistress? This was went far, it was almost like they were married but one was far away.
"Yeah. I was messing with you. Really we met at that Italian restaurant Malone showed us three months ago. He in fact ran into my car, running away from some dudes. Do not worry he is all clean. Sloan made sure of it."
Relaxed at how giddy she was being, Kayley, remarked she just passed over the shopping comments, so she also decided she did not care who Lorelei was for their mother. She knew the Queen also needed someone who care about her being. She all also deserve to be happy. In fact she could see that it was the arrival of Lorelei in their lives that had started the changes that ensued.
"Okay then, just to be clear Benoit. If you mess up this chance the universe is giving you? Maybe you do not realize where you are or who opened you their arms. But let me tell you. The moment it will cross your head to play her--- or any of us... You will not know the beginning or the end of hell. You will be so far inside that -- Even getting rid of yourself by yourself would not be a possibility anymore. You'll be lost in the nothingness of your own soul with no hope whatsoever. You should make that face dear... You choose what you want this place to be for you."
Silence graced those words of Kayley who was death serious, someone had to address the matter. While the words sank in the French man head, she took her glass in her hand swirling it as she met his eyes for a moment then drink some of the white wine. Benoit knew it was no use to looked Lorelei way it was clear what this woman said had to be said he would have done the same at her place.
" I know how lucky I am ka- Miss Fendrik."
Tilting her head she pursed her Lips frightening the hell out of him.
"Hmmm, stuttering is not what would save you from the real wrath. If you think that am scary. Which I'm sure you do. Then forbid your soul to meet our mother wrath. That woman you so proudly talked about earlier, could be that hell I was so simply portraying while talking about it earlier. That said I'm sure you understood the scheme dear. Welcome in this family which is your to handle carefully."
Taking her glass of wine up she made the toast with everyone following. Her eyes met Lorelei's searching one, she had caught the hint with Katiandra in its right meaning. Only smiling at her like it was not something to dwell on, Kayley pointed at the electronic device her sister had given to her.
"Thanks you. Even though I'm sure mother did not send you that money for you to make everyone gifts. The woman is all on trust fund and no spoiling. I'm just stating the facts. Work and get your own money with the opportunities you get to have. And so so..."
Smiling bigger at her silent acceptance, Lorelei shook her head positively then shrugged her shoulders at her last comments.
"Do not worry. I found a plan to make benefits very quickly."
Arching her perfect eyebrows Kayley leaned back in her seat, waiting to be told the great plan that could make her gain back the billions she invested in those wallets she had offered them. Because she knew it was her doing not their mother's. They were her daughter's not her lover.
For them Katiandra Fendrik would do everything but spoiled them, she always says everyone should earn what they want. That is why she only have a restricted amount of money on theirs banks accounts.
She had a trust fund for her daughters to not have them live a life of misery but, compare to what she had been giving Lorelei so far, Kayley understood she had been blind to the obvious. The Queen was making sure money would not be the reason why Lorelei would be sidetracked from her.
Smirking Kayley admired the bright brain of her mother. She understood Lorelei mechanism. Seriously it had worked until this day, and will still continue to work if she herself had something to do with it. Alicia had been invested doing the shade, but Lorelei mind and heart had been well protected by the Queen's. She loved the woman, more than she had ever seen it in someone eyes.
It was so clear now. More than she could count, kayley had caught her intensely looking at the queen image in the living room in total transe, but she had covered it up saying she was seeking for inspiration, thanks why she had zoned out.
Kayley coud slap her own head, because she had never lie, it was her who did not understood.
"In fact this is it. I plan to do something simple. Why not opening a store that would be a restaurant and a pastry. Porys food are divine I'm sure in no time that money will be refunded. I know Benoit here would be learning some pastry skills with Martha and her sister too. If he like it there the job will be yours but I also gather Norman has something to teach you too right?"
Her palms on the surface of the table as Norman wife was getting out of the house with more food the woman stood frozen for a moment after hearing what was said by her boss. Laying her weight on the table she looked at the young woman she had grown to love like her own and smiled.
It was a given how their relationship had worked out from the beginning they had just clicked so well it felt like it was normal to speak and be around this place. Around her and the princesses. They were not what Martha had ever seen of rich people or even those in Royal circle who was all shades of pompous.
"Ahem Ma'am. My sister work in Porys you know?"
Meeting her stare, Lorelei nodded positively before pointing at the pasta for her to keep going with beer service why they discussed.
"I told Norman to ask her to come. I mean this is a job we are talking about. That is only if you are okay with it hmm?"
At the older woman doubious stare, Lorelei smiled caught red hands on the matter. Her hands up in surrender she shippishly smiled at her chef, under the others warm stares. Theirs relationship reminded both the Queen's daughters the relationship their mother still have with thier cook at the palace.
"Okay. I may have heard something in the morning. But then it responded to a need I already had. Investment. I need to produce and make more money enter so we could forever live this life. Have you ever eaten what you cook? It is a spiritual experience, which I hope many that can afford it should experience.
So if you will accept it will be and honnor to work with ypu""
" I already work for you." Smiling tenderly the older woman retaliated her heart enlarged by the professor kindness.
"You do, but I recalled you have been helping Mina out from here with receipt you came up with. You can do the same from here. You taught her, she is certainly good. So what do you say?"
"Benoit will be working with us?"
"Benoit?"
"I am in!" Amused by the way he kept using those words, Lorelei pointed at him as an evidence to the Chef.
"See. What do we do then?"
"Thank you professor, you are too good sometimes it feels unrealistic. But you are. Thanks you."
"Keep feeding me like this and it will be Eternal." After tilting her head to the left and right Lorelei said then put a some food in her mouth closing her eyes as she did
All laughing at how she just deflected the older woman emotions. They started eating while Martha went back in the big kitchen where she found her husband and Sloan.
"You knew?" Almost trembling she asked her husband hands on her hips
"Yes. And it is not all we will talk later."
Nodding feeling emotional, the woman just went straight to her work to conceal her head on the news to have her sister with her.
The unfolding of the events had the two brothers looked at each others. They had spoken, and Sloan trust his brother to take care of his part of diamond and money that was how things worked in Porys. For someone young Lorelei knew the customs and even here in a foreign place, still respected them. Which had impressed the brothers.
One day Sloan knew he would hopefully have a family. For now Norman had put it away in a safe place, hearing the sound of a laughter the three of them looked out for differents reasons at Lorelei relaxed face, then met each other gaze. For how long will this go on? All wondered.
The way she had handled the money was a great indicator she was above it. Which mean when saving the world around her will not be enough, none of them wanted to think about it. That is why they individually decided to make their best to keep her safe in all the ways possible.
In fact this was not about money anymore, even though it never was, no one knows the things that could happen to turn it to money. Now though it could never be that ever. When you remove the issues of money what is left is dedication to your purpose in the land of the living.