Seduce Me ~ The Path To Forgiveness

Path Two, Step Three: My Mind, Like Glass

I pull past the looming iron gates and park at the top of the winding driveway, the memories stirred by my therapy session already settled back into their dark corners. I step into my home and am greeted by Matthew seated on a chair against the far wall looking over a small doll adorned in a white and sky blue dress, the lace trim of her petticoat peaking out along the edges. He looks up at me and smiles as I enter but I catch his eyes dart over my dress, picking out the similarities. I return his smile, widening as the seconds tick past and color tints his cheeks as he realizes he's been staring.

"W.. welcome back. How was your appointment?" He asks, once again flustered.

"Unnecessary." I wave my hand dismissively before looking pointedly down at the doll in his hands.

"I couldn't help myself, it's such a cute dress." I say in response to his unasked question before glancing around. "And the others?"

"They should still be in the study." He shrugs and sets the doll back in her place, glancing around at the filled shelves one more time before following me down the hallway.

"________?" He asks as we near the study.

"Yes?" I glance over at him with my hand poised on the doors handle.

"Not that I'm complaining but.. why do you have so many toys?" His question makes me wonder if he's speaking of the toys in the foyer or if he's looked around the rest of the house and my smile is bittersweet as I open the door.

"Because I'll never grow up."

I was fully expecting James, all of them really, to be thrilled but instead I am met with a mask of confusion as he looks up at me from his place behind the heavy oak desk.

"Shouldn't we be celebrating?" I ask as I take a seat on one of the two couches and pull Matthew down beside me.

"Of course I would be honored to fill your late fathers position at the company but I thought you would take over in the event of his passing." He explains and I giggle in amused disbelief.

"Me? I'm much too childish for such an important job. Paperwork, meetings, decisions? How boring."

"But don't you work for the company? Surely William was preparing you for this eventuality."

"I do, well technically I'm 'temporarily suspended' until a new CEO is selected and they decide if I'm still a 'good fit' for the company courtesy of my fathers actual son who holds more sway in the company then I had expected. And no, I told my father that I would never be interested in taking over Anderson Toys."

"What exactly did you do at the company, Miss?"

"Promoted new toys, played in commercials, attended events with my father. I guess you could say I'm the face of the company." The pride of my position is clear in my voice and after looking me over, as though seeing me for the first time, he nods.

"You seem well suited for the job."

"In that case I certainly hope you're given the position so I can have that job back." I laugh though my words are genuine.

"But Miss it seems to me that your father had hoped you might change your mind." I frown and move towards the table. I reach for the letter but James snatches it up, standing up quickly to keep it out of reach as I grab for it. I place my hands on my hips as irritation creeps into me but the crackle of distant thunder on this clear day, a sound only I seem to hear, calms my emotions as I pout my lips.

"It seems hardly fair to use a ladies height against her." I tease, only half joking as my curiosity of what could be written in the letter that he seems so desperate to hide from me mounts.