Chapter 5 - The Morning After
The morning sun broke over Pittsburgh in a brilliant blaze of gold and blue.
Down in the city, the morning newspapers were dominated by a single, explosive headline: STERLING REAL ESTATE IMPLODES: FEDERAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED, ASSETS SEIZED BY CALDER HOLDINGS. Julian Sterling was currently in federal custody, his reputation ruined, his fortune gone, and his political influence utterly erased.
Up on the third floor of Calder House, however, the atmosphere was completely peaceful.
The grand master suite was bathed in soft morning light. The massive king-sized bed was covered in plush white duvets.
Elena woke up slowly, feeling an incredible sense of warmth and security. She was wearing one of Vincent's oversized white linen shirts, the soft fabric falling to her knees.
Beside her, sitting cross-legged on the center of the massive bed, was six-year-old Sophie.
And beside Sophie, wearing dark trousers and a simple black t-shirt, sat Vincent Calder—the most feared man in Pittsburgh—holding a small box of bright red and blue crayons.
"No, Mr. Vincent," Sophie was instructing sternly, pointing her small finger at a piece of paper resting on a leather binder. "You have to color inside the lines. Otherwise the dragon looks messy."
Vincent held a bright yellow crayon between his large, tattooed fingers, concentrating with absolute, deadpan seriousness. "My apologies, Sophie. I am unaccustomed to dragon maintenance. Like this?"
He carefully shaded a small section of the paper.
Sophie examined it critically, then patted his large arm approvingly. "Better. You're learning."
Elena couldn't help it. A soft, joyful laugh escaped her throat.
Vincent turned his head instantly. The stern dragon-artist expression vanished, replaced by a warm, private smile that made Elena's heart melt completely.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Vincent said softly, setting the crayon down and sliding across the mattress to kiss Elena gently on the forehead.
"Good morning," Elena beamed, sitting up and pulling the linen shirt around her shoulders. "I see you're taking your new duties very seriously."
"Sophie informs me I have terrible color coordination," Vincent said smoothly, though his eyes lingered on Elena with a heat that made her cheeks turn pink.
Sophie hopped across the duvet, throwing her small arms around Elena's neck. "Mommy! Mr. Vincent said we can stay here forever! And he said I can have a pony in the backyard!"
Elena looked up at Vincent, her eyes wide. "A pony?!"
Vincent raised his hands in mock defense. "She made a compelling argument, Elena. The estate has twelve acres of unused pasture."
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"You are spoiling her," Elena laughed, though tears of pure, overwhelming happiness welled in her dark eyes.
"I am building a family," Vincent corrected quietly, reaching out to take Elena's hand, his thumb stroking her knuckles. "If that involves a pony, then so be it."
