Blaine

I never thought I would see the day I actually surprised myself. It's been three days since I proposed formally, and we're headed out to New York. I've never made such a huge commitment so quickly, but it feels right with this woman. Cora is doing good, and it seems planning our wedding has given her something positive to think about. We all made it through my aunt's funeral, and I got Cora's house cleaned and put on the market. Most likely it will be slow to sell after what happened with Gray.

I can't wait to marry Cora. Making love to her is like a dream come true, and the way my body reacts to hers still surprises me. I can't help but stare at her while we are on the jet going home. I've never seen a more beautiful woman in my life. She's strong to have picked herself back up after everything that happened.

Will fell asleep with his head in her lap. Her fingers are stroking his blond hair as she looks down at him. She is already a mother, even though she's so early in her pregnancy. Will needed just what she is giving him, and, to be honest, she's exactly what I needed in my life. I feel alive and excited about my future for the first time in my life.

Her engagement ring sparkled on her delicate hand as she comforted Will in his sleep. I love seeing that ring on her finger, and can't wait to add the other half to it. She tilted her head and looked up at me with a smile. "I love you." She whispered before she looked back down at him. Right at that moment, I felt myself fall a little deeper in love with her. Everyday, my love for her grows. My first marriage was nothing like this, and, unfortunately, I will have to face Ciara when we get home.

Not only do I need to confront her about Cassidy, but I also want her to know about Cora before the announcement of our engagement hits the newspapers.  I'm sure as soon as the news gets out, she will be approached, so I need to give her a warning. I'm not sure yet what to do with her presence at work, she betrayed me and my family. 

Once we landed in New York, I helped get Will settled with my housekeeper and Cora said she wanted to take a nap.

"I need to run to the office.  I had an extra key card made for you, and if you get hungry, just order from downstairs." I said as I leaned down to kiss her cheek.  She's already curled up in bed. 

"Okay, will he be okay with your housekeeper?" She asked about Will.

"He will be fine, and I won't be gone long," I said.

"Okay." She said, and I gave her one last peck on the lips and headed to my office. 

"Mr. Lowell, you're back." My assistant said.

"Just for the afternoon.  Is Ms. Lowell on her office?" I asked as I walked toward my office.

"I'm not sure, but I can call up and see." She said.

"Please do, and if she is in, tell her I need to see her immediately," I said as I sat down at my desk.  Work has piled up and that should not be the case.  I left the V.P. of Operations in charge, so all of this should have been done without me.

I turned on my desktop and worked for a bit, before I heard a light tap on my door.

"Come in." I didn't have to look up to see who was standing there, its Ciara.

"Have a seat," I said, before I looked up and saw my former wife.

"I couldn't believe my ears when I heard you took a vacation." She said as she sat down across from me.

"It was hardly a vacation, Cassidy is dead." I said, and she gasped.

"Don't act surprised, Ciara.  You knew all along where she was and helped her hide from us."

She didn't say a word.

"So, you knew she passed?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Savannah told me." She said.

"Are you aware my aunt is also dead?"

Her eyes shot up at me.  "What?"

"She killed herself and Corey." I said.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea." She said.

The hell she didn't know something bad would come out of this whole thing.  She tried to bat those long lashes to look innocent, but she's far from it.  She is so different from Cora.  Her jet black hair and brown eyes are only beautiful on the surface, but her heart is not the same as the woman I once married.  

"How exactly did you think this was going to end, Ciara?  You also knew about Cora Ashley?" I asked.

She shook her head.  "I tried to talk Cassidy into coming home, but she refused.  She couldn't face you or your family.  I thought when I had her friend transferred to Cincinnati, she might follow." She said.

"Well, you defied both me and my family, and I'm not sure we can work side by side any longer." I said.

"Why? Nothing has changed." She said.

"Everything has changed, I can't trust you.  My family can't trust you, and my life is about to change.  I don't need to feel like I constantly have to look over my shoulder.  You knew before we even married, there's no excuse for what you've done." I said.  

"Wait, what do you mean your life is changing?  You're going to be raising Cassidy's child aren't you?" She asked.

I just stared at her before answering.  Images of Cora visit me, and I thought for just a moment.

"Why are you smiling right now?" She looks pissed, but I'm not. What she did is in the past, and now I'm getting everything I ever wanted.

"Yes, I will be raising Will, but I am also about to be married." I said, and she looked surprised.

"Married?  What the hell, Blaine?" Now she looks upset.

I smiled.  "I'm going to be a father, and not just to Will." 

She shook her head.  "I'm confused."

"My fiance is pregnant, and we're having a baby.  It's simple." I said.

"No, it's not as simple as that. Please tell me you didn't get Kelly pregnant." She said.

"Kelly?" I asked.

"Oh come on, Blaine.  We both know you've been visiting her bed since our divorce." She said.

"So, not only have you deceived me, you're keeping tabs on me?  That is none of your business, and no, Kelly is not pregnant.  Anyway, you should know my father wants to call a board meeting to discuss your future with this company.  I can't save your job, all I can do is warn you." I said.

"I am Co-CEO, you can't have my job!" She screamed at me.

"My father and I are the majority stock holders.  We can do whatever we please, and your father can't bail you out of this one.  It's about trust, Ciara!" I yelled back.

She started crying, but I dont feel sorry for her at this point.  She cheated my mother out of my sister's last days.

"Do you even realize what you've done?  If we would have had the chance to talk to her, we could have let her know how proud we were of her, but you took that chance away from us and she died thinking we were ashamed of her.  That's low, Ciara, especially since you knew this before we married." I said.

"Who are you marrying?" She wiped a tear from her eye as she changed the subject. 

"Cora Ashley." I answered, and she started laughing.

"A weather girl from Ohio?  I thought I actually had something to worry about." She laughed.