Chapter 2- Apologies

I woke up to the birds chirping outside my window. I have to admit I had a good sleep last night. Maybe I was extremely exhausted. But whatever the reason is I'm thankful for resting peacefully after a long time.

I had a tough day ahead, I said to myself. Some apologies need to be exchanged. A warm shower would be nice right now. I opened my wardrobe, took my clothes and head to bathroom. The moment water made contact with my skin my body relaxed under it. Just a nice warm shower could do wonders. I stayed under the water for few good minutes. After the shower I brushed my teeth and wrapped a towel and came out to my room. I looked at myself in the mirror and was surprised by my appearance. Just one peaceful shower did it's effect on me. My skin looked healthy than before and the bags under my eyes were almost gone. Happy with myself I decided to get dress nicely instead of wearing pajamas. Yeah you heard that right I wore pajamas when I don't have to go out 'coz I didn't feel like getting dressed. But today I felt good so I'll get dressed.

I decided to wear crop top with jeans shorts and flip flops. It would do for today. I also have to fill college form and I promised to take Amy and Ash to a planetarium. I also have to call Realtor. I have a lot to do. While remembering all the things need to be done I made my way downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. Like expected Sienna was making breakfast and Amy was sitting on a stool. I took my seat beside her.

"You had a nice sleep I see." Amy commented stuffing her mouth with pancakes.

"Jeez girl, No talking while eating." I said amused with her eating ability.

"So you feeling good? I see you are all dressed up huh!" Sienna said with a smile making it's way on her face.

"Yup. I had the rest I needed and I'm feeling good. Thank you very much." I said saluting both of them. They chuckled at my childishness. Yeah well I can be childish sometimes.

"Maggie called. She said she have something important to talk to you." Sienna informed while sliding me my plate of pancakes.

"Oh, I'll call her." I shrugged

"Child care people came yesterday." Amy said looking everywhere but me. I almost choked.

"What? Why?. What do they have to do now. Everything is already settled. Court has given it's decision." I said with furious expression.

"Calm down dear. They're gonna be paying random visits to check everything for one year." Sienna said softly.

"One year!? There is no need for that." I was fuming with anger by now.

"Actually there is. They'll keep updated of the situation and how it is handled. That's court's order." Sienna said placing plates in dishwasher.

"Bullshit." With that I went to my room, losing whatever appetite I had.

I have been handling the situation very well from past few months. Those sick childcare people wants to keep an eye on my house. They couldn't just do that. I'll file an application to the court. My little mind debate was stopped when Amy entered in my room.

"Hey. Look I know you are angry but it's okay. They are not gonna get anything from these visits you know that right?" She said eyeing me cautiously.

"I know but this isn't correct Amy. I have been handling everything good. At least I guess I am." I whispered the last part getting sad.

"Yes you are. And don't you ever doubt yourself Su. You're doing everything you can for us and I'm thankful for that. I truly am. You are the best sister one could ever get and you are a great aunt, please don't ever think less of yourself." She said hugging me.

"Aw sweetpea. Thankyou. You are the best little sister." I hugged her back. Her maturity throws me off guard sometimes.

"I'm sorry." She said sobbing in the hug.

"Hey, hey what's wrong sweetpea?"

"I.. just..." her voice was interrupted when my phone started ringing. Ugghh this phone had to ring now. I took my phone from my pocket and gave a pleading look to Amy which in return she just smiled. God I love this little girl.

** ** ** **

"hello?"

"Hey Susan, it's me Maggie. I called earlier when you were probably sleeping. I have to discuss few things with you. Can you come to the office?" Maggie said in her professional work tone.

"Um.. okay I'll be there in an hour?"

"I'm really sorry but you have to come now. If it wasn't urgent I wouldn't have asked you."

"Okay." I sighed.

** ** ** **

"I'm so sorry Amy but I have to go to the office, Maggie said it's urgent." I said in sorry tone.

"It's alright, if Maggie said it's urgent then it must be pretty important." She said smiling. God how does she do it. She was crying five minutes ago and now she's smiling. She's so understanding.

"We'll continue this conversation when I'll come back. I love you sweetpea. I said hugging her and gave her a peck on forehead. With that she made her way out of my room.

I changed into high waist jeans and ankle length heel boots with a jacket on top to complete my look and went downstairs.

"I'm heading to the office. I'll be back in few hours." I announced grabbing my car keys.

Drive to the office was of 20 minutes. Living in a small town has it's perks. But since our town was just an hour away from city. it's pretty known. I don't like driving in silence unless I need it, so I turned on the radio. The song playing on the radio was 'Back to you' by Selena Gomez. I liked this song so hummed with lyrics. When I reached the company's building I headed straight to my father's office where his PA, Maggie must be waiting for me.

Nostalgia hit me pretty hard when I stepped in my father's office. This was one of the reason I didn't like coming here. I was at the verge of crying but I controlled myself.

"Hey." Maggie greeted with a sad smile seeing my reaction.

"Hey." I matched her expressions.

"Okay, coming to the point. Second partner of this company, Mr. Grant, who was a good friend of you father is here and he wants to meet you. And also the third partner, Mr. Everett will be shifting in this town this week at most and since he's not a very socialising person and he's very professional, Mr. Grant will be helping you with me to understand work a little better. I know it's a lot of pressure but we don't have a choice. You are a partner of this company now so you have take part in company's work now. And I'm always here to guide you." She directly came to the point and gave me supporting smile.

"Um...I, Um okay, But it's a lot take ya know!" I said nervously, fidgeting my fingers.

"I know and I understand that's the reason Mr. Grant decided to help you Susan." Giving a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder she looked right into my eyes.

"Yeah okay. good." I couldn't make eye contact. I knew this was bound to happen at one point but now that it's happening this soon, idk if i was completely ready for it.

"Hey, it's okay sweety I know this is hard but we'll be there for you." She hugged me sensing my doubts.

"Thank you." I said relaxing a little into her hug.

"Come on now, Mr. Grant is in his office."

She guided the way to his office. Well it was just few steps away with his name on the door. She knocked on the door and opened it when she heard a faint sound from inside probably a 'come in'.

There in front of us was sitting a man possibly in his mid thirties. His face was familiar. Yes! I saw his photo in my father's camera when he went to a trip for office work.

"Susan dear, look how beautiful you have grown in past few years. When I last saw you you were just 11." He greeted with a cheerful smile. Well I don't remember much of what he was talking about but I let it slip for now.

"Hello sir." I said trying to keep my voice as professional as possible but I received a chuckle from him. Perfect! I ruined my first impression.

"Please call me Mike."

"Um, okay... Mike."

"See it's easy." He smiled. Okay he's not what I thought of him at all. He's rather extremely nice. Maybe because he was my father's friend.

"I see Susan is comfortable here, so I'll take my leave now. If you need anything Su I'll be right outside." Maggie said with a sweet smile and left the room.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Well those past few hours in his office was overwhelming and hard. We talked about my parents. He knew them both which was shocking for me. I was expecting him knowing my father but not my mother. But he knew them both quite well actually. He explained some things related to company's policies and told me about Mr. Everett. According to him, Mr. Everett was a cunning and a professional person. And I was also told that he didn't really like me because according to him I'm a child(which is partially true) and I'm not capable of running a company. How dare he judge me when he didn't even meet me.

Okay first, I'm an adult now and second, I didn't ask to be a part of this company. It just happened. I didn't ask for any of this. Ugghhhh these thoughts are causing a headache.

When I entered my house I was greeted with a ball thrown at my face by my little nephew.

"Oo you little devil." I picked him up and started tickling him. His soft laugh filled the room and my headache was gone just like that. I smiled with him and started giving him wet kisses all over his face. He don't like these. And like I expected he started wiggling in my arms so carefully I put him down and he ran and hid behind Amy. I laughed at his cute pout.

"How was everything in the office?" Amy asked walking with Ash to the living room. I followed behind.

"Uh exhausting but okay I guess." I said sitting beside Amy. Ash crawled and made himself comfortable on my lap.

I sat there silently watching Ash drifting off to sleep in my arms. If peace was somewhere, it was right here at this moment. When he was completely asleep I took him to his room. When I came back Amy was fiddling her fingers, a sign that she was nervous.

""What are you nervous about sweetpea?" I asked concerned.

"I'm sorry." She said sighing. This reminded me of the conversation we were having earlier.

"Why are you sorry? There is something you wanna tell me?" I asked scooting closer to her.

"I knew you were missing them yesterday and I knew you were crying in your room but I didn't, I couldn't do anything." Tears glistening her eyes

"Hey you don't..." I tried to speak but she interrupted.

"No, please let me speak. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. You were always there for me everytime and it makes me feel bad 'coz I couldn't be there for you. You are going through the same thing as me but still stay strong for me and Ash. I also wanna be there for you but I couldn't and it makes me feel like a burden." She murmured the last part. I was stunned by what she just said. She was looking at her hands and sobbing silently which made my eyes water. But my eyes caught something. I took her wrist and stretched her arms towards me to take a better look.

"What the hell is this!?"

What I saw was something I never even in my dreams imagined to witness.