Part 11

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"Do I get to surprise you, or do you need to know where we are going?" I think on it for a moment, I don't typically like not knowing something, but he looks so eager to keep our plans a mystery that I concede,

"Alright, but whatever you have planned better warrant all this mystery."

"What, buying you a car wasn't good enough?" I grin,

"Eh, it was pretty mediocre, I have to admit. I think you can do better." I tease, Benjamin get's that determined glint in his eyes, sharpening the playfulness in them just a little.

"Oh, game on baby girl, I'll show you. By the end of the day you are going to be admitting I am your favorite uncle." I laugh, enjoying our banter,

"That's a pretty bold statement. Also, one that will get you in trouble if I tell Landon and Lincoln."

"Oh, they know. We played Call Of Duty last night for the honor of first chance at wooing you to our side." I can't hold in the weird sound that escapes me at this revelation, somewhere between a laugh and a shriek,

"You what? Played for the honor? What is this medieval times Europe? Am I the fair maiden to be won in a contest?" I don't know if I am amused or indignant, maybe a little of both.

"Fair assessment. Yes, yes you are. We have never had a female in the family, one meeting and all of us love you already. You better prepare yourself for some intense spoiling and most likely smothering." I grimace, neither sounds pleasant. I knew this whole family thing couldn't be roses all the time, but I had hoped they would kind of let me do my own thing while living with them. It's not like I would be living there long, I go to university next year. Benjamin looks over to see my expression, his teasing grin morphs into something softer,

"Hey, don't worry about it. We just want you to be happy. And please, don't try to logic your way out of gifts like you did with the car. Let us spoil you, like I said it's more for us than for you anyway." We sit in silence for a moment while I turn over the implications of his words. I had kind of sensed that my uncles and cousins already felt protective of me, and if spoiling me made them happy, I couldn't really say no. I wanted them to be happy just as much as they wanted my happiness.

"Ok, I can do that." I agree.

"Huzzah! The Fair Maiden hath agreed to partake in the games!" Benjamin shouts. Despite my earlier misgivings, I find myself giggling. He grins at me before turning his eyes back on the road. It takes about forty minutes to reach our destination, mostly taking so long because we travel into the city, where traffic moves about a mile a minute. Finally, we pull into the underground garage of a huge skyscraper. I'm still clueless about why we are here but it becomes clear the minute we step outside of the vehicle. On the door leading out of the garage into the elevator bank is the same logo I saw on the plane yesterday. Rodenheim Enterprises, we are at the family company.

"What are we doing here?" I ask, running a little to catch up to Benjamin and his long legs.

"I thought you would like to see the company, and have lunch with mom and Landon." I smile, the prospect is exciting. I'm really curious to learn more about where my grandmother and uncle work. We take the elevator to the top floor, I'm surprised to learn that the whole building belongs to the company, when they had told me they owned a building near Wall street, I hadn't thought it would be this big. The doors open into a very comfortably decorated lobby. The gleaming wooden floors are accented by beautiful rugs made in the style of those fancy oriental rugs you see in videos about Morocco. The decorations seem to be in the signature blue, gold or black. It's stunning, high ceilings with several large leather couches seated around a reception desk where a woman in a stiff black uniform jacket mans a bank of phones with expertise. When she sees Benjamin, she immediately finished her call and comes out to greet him,

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