The Phoenix Ghost

Tying Up Lose Ends

Nathan Griffin....

I apologise for the delay in delivering this chapter. Despite it being small, there were several things that I needed to deliver carefully for the future plot line... so I ended up rewriting four times....

Good luck trying to riddle out the things I've hidden 😉

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Sang and Axel had only an hour until they had to leave to catch their flight back to Sacramento. Everly had helpfully arranged a second meeting in the smaller meeting room opposite her office in the HR section of the Academy's offices. Erica and Uncle had been settled in the room with a hot beverage, unaware that it was Sang they would be meeting.

'You don't have to do this, jewel,' Axel reminded Sang as he watched her trying to control her breathing and get herself into the right headspace to say what needed to be said,

'Yes. I do.' Sang opened her eyes to give Axel a level expression,

'The Blackbournes weren't the only ones who let me down in February. These people,' Sang pointed to the meeting room,

'They were meant to be my family and they judged me, with no evidence. While they had letters that were not clear, they both jumped to find me guilty without really taking the time to consider the facts. It's clear to me now that they never accepted me in the first place or they never would have said the things they said that day. Do I think they are bad people? No. Do I think that they never really accepted me for their sons? Yes, I think they never really accepted me.' Axel watched Sang with concerned eyes,

'I don't think it was as simple as that, jewel,' Sang's eyes hardened,

'I do,' Axel held up his hands in surrender,

'This is your show, jewel. You do what you have to,' Sang gave him a hard kiss before standing strait with determination and opening the meeting room door,

'Hello Ms. Lee, Mr. Taylor,' Sang greeted the two individuals in the meeting room. For a moment they did not recognise her as she was wearing a brunette wig and blue contact lenses behind large sunglasses. But when she removed the sunglasses, Erica realised the woman in front of her was Sang Sorensen, Erica jumped up to give her a hug only to be stopped as Sang held her hand out to prevent Erica coming near to her,

'No,' Sang shook her head at Erica sternly. Erica backed off instantly,

'Sadly, that is no longer the relationship we have. I take it the Blackbourne team have yet to explain the situation to you both,' Erica sank back into her seat in trepidation and Uncle was shocked by the quiet calm but steady woman in front of Erica,

'No, we haven't spoken to them since Christmas morning,' Erica spoke lowly. Sang's eyes became colder,

'Yes, when you told them about my children,' both Erica and Uncle were at a loss on how to handle the cool woman they were speaking to, she was so different to the warm, sweet girl they remembered,

'Yes...' Sang sat down in a seat on the opposite side of the table and levelled them both with an expressionless face,

'I will tell you what I told them. Our relationships,' Sang gestured between herself and the two of them,

'Are broken. You broke them,' Erica and Uncle both began to speak but Sang silenced them,

'Let me finish, please. Neither of you gave me the opportunity to speak on that morning. You both levied unsubstantiated, untrue accusations against me without allowing me the chance to even speak, much less defend myself,' Sang's face was an emotionless mask both Erica and Uncle cast their eyes down unable to meet Sang's intense eyes,