The Blonde Bowstring: Steelgray's Story

12

Nicole met her mom and her mom's wedded eye candy after stepping out of the elevator in the highrise. She wasn't surprised to see cameramen and reporters there, but she was disappointed.

She graced them all with a wide smile as she went over to her mother. In an embrace with her mother, Nicole whispered, "Are they here for me?"

Her mother answered, "Yes, why waste good publicity?"

The younger blonde clenched her jaw before pulling away and forcing another smile. The reporters approached the three of them, so Sebastian pulled his wife and stepdaughter into a glass room. It was completely see-through, but the meeting room was soundproof and provided a necessary barrier.

"You okay?" Sebastian asked Nicole. Her cheeks were red, and he figured she was embarrassed. Truthfully, all that smiling just made her face hurt.

"Fine," she answered sparsely for her mother's sake. If Jillian wasn't standing next to her, she might've ignored him. "So why am I here?" Nicole asked.

Jillian straightened in her dress and stepped away from her husband. She wanted to appear like the independent woman she was. "We're having an exposure benefit for adjacent companies that go far beyond the Colorado area.

Nicole nodded with a pleasant smile. "Congratulations, mom."

"Thank you," Jillian said. Sebastian had thanked her at the same time and Nicole sent him an awkward look.

"So this was a publicity stunt?" Nicole inquired. She was glad she dressed well and did her makeup before entering the Trust Rise. "My job was to show up and smile?"

"Just like the good old days," Sebastian West smiled. Nicole glared at him for the second time that day. "I read the tabloids."

"Mom, I actually had things to do today."

"Actually, Nicole, I think you should come work at Steelgray Trust."

Nicole narrowed her eyes. She only had to shake her head with a confused smile. Jillian caught on quickly.

She sent Nicole a smile before walking over to a whiteboard. However, Sebastian beat his wife there and posed against it. He pulled down the board, flipping it to the other side.

"We're rebranding!" Jillian said excitedly.

Nicole forced a smile. "Oh! That's--" she searched for words as she stared at the new, oversimplified logo. "-Great," the hazel-eyed blonde finally said.

"Isn't it? Sure it was a miracle by God to have you back, but we've been around long enough. I think enough people know our name for this."

"Steelgray Trust," Nicole read out loud so that she could feel the name on her tongue.

"Now, don't let this distract you. I know you just came back home, but I would love you to get involved with the company."

"Mom," Nicole chuckled. She walked over and touched her mom's shoulder. "I didn't even go to college. Wouldn't that create some problems when dealing with a company that literally specializes in student loans?"

"That's what we're here for, Nicole," Sebastian said. His lazy eyes met Nicole's sleepy ones. "And nobody here is going to give you any flack at all."

Nicole looked away from Sebastian and sent her mother a smile. "Can I think about it?" She had just decided what she really wanted to do with her time back in Limitless. Now her mother wanted her to be a businesswoman? This was just like the time her mom introduced her to Wynonna Wheaton when all she wanted to do was sign up for the mathletes.

"Spots are filling up, Nicole, but this will always be your dad's company. So it's your birthright," Jillian said with a comforting hand on her daughter's arm.