Page 5 of Bully Billionaire Dragon

“No, no problem at all.”

We spend the rest of the meeting going over logistics, and Dylan explains what evidence they have. He also introduces me to his coworker, Genevieve.

It seems like they have a really solid case, and with me working on it, I know that KobiTech has a good chance at winning.

While I am eager to take on this high-profile case, knowing I have to return to New York is a bummer.

I haven’t seen my family in years. They’ve visited me in Washington D.C., but I haven’t returned to the city. I know that I must reach out to them now and go back to my hometown.

Having only seen my family when they come to visit me it will be weird returning home. I can’t go to New York and not stay with them.

***

New York is even busier than I remember, or at least the airport is.

JFK airport is thriving, and I physically run into at least three people after getting off my flight. They are also rude as hell. The last guy who bumped into me did not hold back his disdain, and I'm still reeling from that when I hear my name.

“Taylor. Taylor Montgomery!”

I turn towards the shouting and see my mother, father, and brother standing near the baggage claim, waiting for me with a sign that says ‘Welcome Home.’

Swallowing, I walk toward them, but am embraced by my mother before I can make it halfway there.

“Honey, it’s been too long,” my mother, Giselle Montgomery, whispers into my ear as she wraps her arms around my shoulders.

I try to hug her back, but my hands are pinned to my sides. My mother never did anything wrong, but she was friends with the Rubens and a reminder of TJ. I shake my head, not wanting to think about TJ Rubens, the boy who caused so much sadness within myself. I'm no longer that girl. I'm a strong woman who is not only confident but thriving.

“Hi, Mom,” I manage to mutter out through my collapsing airways.

“Tay, how’s it hanging?” Shane, my older brother, greets me with finger guns.

I think about how tasteless it is to shoot finger guns at his age, especially in an airport.

“I’m fine, Shane.”

He looks exactly the same as me, but tall and lithe. We have the same dark hair and big green eyes. We take after our mother, whose hair is now graying and short, but whose eyes are just the same.

“Glad to be home?” My father, Anton, opens his arms once my mother releases me.

I can see in his brown eyes it's an insincere question. I can feel the resentment coming off him in waves.

Out of all my family, I was closest with my father when I was a child. When I decided to up and move to Washington D.C. to pursue a law degree, he was not happy. I know it's because he missed me, but I can still feel the cold shoulder he's giving me.

“Of course, I missed you guys,” I lie through my teeth.

Part of me feels bad for not missing them or my old life, but I'm glad they're okay. They never treated me poorly, but they gave others the opportunity to do so.

“Let’s get you home then,” my mother squeals.

The four of us make our way out of the airport and towards my parents' SUV. I sit in the back with Shane, and he tells me all about his work.

He's been working as a psychologist since he graduated from university. He loves his job. I zone out as he tells me about how the ladies love how in tune with emotions he is.

Gross.

I watch as we drive toward my childhood home, right outside the city. The skyscrapers become fewer and fewer until I see our two-story home.

My mother is a nurse, and my father is an architect. They were middle class and gave us the best childhood that they could.

---