06

« Twenty… I saw- Nick- died two years after I was born. »

« Yes, his addiction took over his life- well, my life too. I couldn’t get him to stop. »

I shake my head, angrily. « Does this man- your husband- treat you right ? »

« Yes. Oh, yes. He’s wonderful. I’ve been trying to find you to see if you’d meet them. »

« Them ? »

« Yes, David and-and your sister. You have a sister, Iris. »

My heart drops to the floor at her pleasant confession- it’s suddenly difficult to breathe. « Sister ? You… had another child ? »

« Yes… I did. »

« How old is she ? »

« Iris. »

« How old is she ? »

« She’s twenty-two. »

I see red. Dark, bloody red. « So, she was worth the struggles, huh ? »

« Iris, please, hear me out-« 

« Go fuck yourself ! » I spit out with disgust before I hang up. Dazed, I look up from the small screen, the scalding tears burning my cheeks on their way down. I stare at the cream wallpaper, shaking with rage.

Four years.

She had a child four years later- a child she raised. I gape, feeling an unbearable sharpness in my chest. I hurl the small device in my hand at the wall as hard I can, feeling only pleasure at the loud boom it creates. I imagine it’s her face.

While I sat awake at night on that creaky, old twin mattress, dreaming I’d be brought into a family the next day, wondering why my mother left me- she was probably reading goddamn beside stories to another child.

« Iris ?! »

The sobs erupt from my chest like an explosion and I feel the sadness consume me- take ahold of my heart, pulling and tugging violently. I lose myself in the tears and my surroundings blur- I’m back in that orphanage. I’m back, tucking in the other girls into their beds, acting as if I’m their mother because that was something we all yearned for. I’m back, in that bed, letting that man ravish my body just to secure my future- just to make sure I don’t end up with nothing again.

I feel a strong pull on my arms and my legs straighten, until I’m standing and suddenly, there’s warmth. I’m being embraced.

« Iris. Baby, what’s wrong ? »

I clutch Stellan’s shirt tightly, unleashing the tears onto it, unable to stop. He runs a hand over my hair comfortingly over and over again.

« What happened ? » he whispers, pulling me back. I open my eyes and gaze into worried ones.

« My-my mother. »

« You spoke to her ? »

I nod, pressing my lips together in order to stop crying.

« Well, what did she say ? »

« I have a sister, » I utter as he wipes the water on my cheeks gently. He stares at me and frowns, clearly understanding.

« Oh. »

« She’s-she’s twenty-two. She raised her- she kept her. »

« Fuck, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, baby. »

« Why was I not worth it ? Why couldn’t she keep me ? »

« I’m sure she wanted to, Iris. I’m sure of that. »

I move away from him in a rush, shaking my head. Turning my back to him feels good- the vulnerability is too much right now. « I want nothing to do with her. She had twenty-six years to find me. She waited twenty years to start looking. She isn’t someone I need in my life. »

« You don’t think you should hear her out ? »

« I just did. »

« No, you heard the facts. You didn’t hear the why. »

Stubbornly, I shake my head, wiping my tears. « I don’t need her. »

« No, you don’t… » He rests his hands on my arms, pressing his lips to my hair. « But maybe she needs you. »

I lean into him, closing my eyes as he wraps his arms around my front, pulling me in close. « Let’s just get away. »

« What ? »

I rest my hands onto his arm, sniffling. « Let’s just go somewhere together- you and I. We could leave tomorrow. »

« We just got back from Paris. »

« But, let’s face it. We didn’t get away from anything there. » I turn in his hands, reaching up to cup his neck. « I want to get away- from everything. I don’t want to think about work, or Vance, or anything but us. We could get an island- a private island. It could be just you and me. »

« Iris, the trial… »

« It’s coming up in a couple months. »

« I need to be available if the lawyer calls. I can’t just run away from this. »

I lean my forehead into his cheek, nodding. « I know- I know. He would be able to reach us. Even if it’s only for a little while, I-I want to have fun. I want to enjoy my time with you. I feel like all we ever do is worry. »

He nods, running his hands over my back softly. « … I know. »

« … Then don’t you think this could be a good thing for us ? It will bring us closer ? »

He raises one of his hands to mine by his neck and pulls it down, running his hand over the emerald he gave me but hours ago. « Alright… Let’s go somewhere then. »

…

« Eric ? Do you have a visual of them ? » I watch my bodyguard down by the car, holding the phone up to his ear, glancing around inconspicuously.

« Yes. Behind me, on the left side of the street. A couple cars down. »

« Can you see if she’s with them ? »

« No, not yet. When did you say your appointment with her was ? »

« Right now. She should be-« 

« She just got out from the car. »

I shake my head and turn, laying out the contract she signed on my desk. « Follow her in, please. »

« Will do. »

I hang up and call Oli’s extension. « Yeah, boss ? »

« Have security on standby, please. »

« Jesus, again ? Why ? »

« Please, just do it. I’ll explain later. »

« Alright. »

I glance over at the clock on my desk, knowing Stellan’s going to be at the airport in twenty minutes. I have to do this quickly. My posture is ridged when there’s a knock at my door. I sit back in my seat, breathing deeply.

« Come in. »

The glass opens and she smiles wide. « Hello, Iris. »

« Allison… You ready to learn the ropes ? »