Page 64 of Billionaire Corruption

“I’ll take them,” I said.

“Would you? Ah, God, you’re a lifesaver!”

I laughed and he helped carry Liam and Luke to the bathroom where I drew them a bath, got the bubbles going, and placed both of them inside, watching them while they played. The twins had dark hair and eyes, taking after Tyler. I couldn’t help but wonder whether my mom would be a doing a better job raising them than she had done with Toby and me.

“I’m so glad you came to visit, honey,” my mother said later that evening when the twins were sleeping, and I’d cleaned the kitchen after dinner. “I haven’t seen you in ages. But you look well, so grown up!”

My mother had cut her hair and the shorter curls suited her. She was still an attractive woman and I had to admit that she seemed happier, calmer here, with Tyler and the twins. It was her second chance at happiness, I guess, and I hoped things would work out for her. She started telling me about the jewelry she was making for shops in town, how she wanted to start selling them at markets. She was so enthusiastic and keen, and it took my mind off all my troubles.

It was only once I went to sleep at night, on the lumpy sofa in the living room, that my mind filled with all kinds of worries. I had texted Toby and my grandmother, who said they were fine and only wanted to know when I was coming back.

I didn’t know, exactly.

I couldn’t stay here for long, but I was helping out my mother and it felt good doing that. I had been hard on her in the past and it occurred to me that maybe, I was too harsh, too unforgiving. She’d made mistakes and she had apologized for them many times, but somehow, I was never able to hear her.

I was still awake when I heard my phone ping.

It was Paul. I felt my heart beating faster.

R u still awake?

He had been texting me every day, never giving up.

I did miss him, more than I thought I would. I missed the closeness we’d had. Now that I was away from the madness of the city, from the threats that might have been there, I was left with a yearning to talk to him, to find out how he was.

I called him.

"Hey," I said.

Paul's voice was tight and strained. "I know you said not to call..."

"It's okay," I said, quickly. “How are you?”

There was a heavy silence.

"Not good," he finally said.

"It's Alana. She had an accident at work."

I thought of seeing Alana only days ago.

I felt my heart sink. "What kind of accident?"

"The security guard found her at the bottom of the escalator this morning. Dead," he said. "They say it was an accident.”

“An accident?” It made no sense.

“Looks like, she fell. Or something. Broke her neck.”

“Oh, my God, that’s terrible.” I was horrified.

“What was she doing there at night?”

“I think she came to fetch some things? I had to let her go a few days ago.”

“I know,” I said.

“How do you know?” he asked. I told him about meeting her in the street, how she had seemed angry.

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