Found Family

Chapter 1- Introductions

I was walking out of my building, feeling the glares being drilled into my back. I smirked at their jealousy and continued walking. Once I was out of the building I waited for my driver, Mark, he was a big teddy bear. He acted as my driver and bodyguard. Him being my bodyguard made me laugh because while he was 6'5" and 250 pounds, he was such a sweetheart. He was an older man, with a wife and two teenagers at home. He had been my bodyguard since before my parents died, and he had been the first to hug me after I heard the news.

I gave him a small smile as he drove up, he smiled and nodded in return. He knew that I had an image to keep up. After all, I was the self-made billionaire, Natasha Clarke. I am the daughter of Lilly and Mateo Clarke, both are now dead. Both were multi-billionaires, both didn't leave me a single cent. However, I knew they wouldn't. They had told me several times before they died, that 'The only way to get my inheritance was to have a family'. Thinking about that statement I chuckled.

They were my family, then they left. Not only that but the only way to have a family was to have a stable income. Did I take that over the top when I started my own company? Yes, of course I did. I am a Clarke afterall. Mark pulled me out of my thoughts as he opened the car door. I got out and was faced with my house. It was a regular three story house, with a basement. I walked to the front door and unlocked it. After putting all my bags in my house office, I walked down to the basement. I had turned the basement into an entertainment center, equipped with an 82 inch flat screen Tv, video games and their consoles, bean bag chairs, a giant brown leather couch and a mini fridge. Speakers were wired around the room, which I used to play music from my phone. I turned on my favorite playlist and 'I fall apart' by Post Malone started playing.

I smiled at the song, thinking about how ironic that it played right now. After all, I was kinda losing it a bit. Being constantly busy with work, worrying about what my parents would want, and trying to also balance emotions I had yet to delve into. With the music still playing in the background I turned on the Tv, going straight to ESPN. I watched the basketball game playing on the screen with interest. Commenting on bad plays and even worse calls from the refs. I watched till the game ended and then shut everything off. I walked back to the main floor where Lucy had dinner waiting for me. I smiled at the delicious looking chicken noodle soup. I ate in silence, having left my phone in my office. Once I was done I put my dishes in the dishwasher and went to the third floor where my office was. I walked into my phone buzzing on my work bag. I picked it up and answered the call.

Luca was on the line and he spoke quickly saying, "Youofficenow!"

"English, please Luca."

"You need to come to the office now!"

"Okay, calm down, I'm coming. Explain what happened."

"Eve"

"Shit. Okay I'm on my way. Be there in 10 tops." I hung up and told Mark that I needed to go to the office. We drove there and I hopped out, running into my building. I took the elevator up to the top floor. There I found Luca, my assistant, trying to calm down a furious Eve. Eve was the daughter of one of my many competitors. She enjoyed barging into my several offices and yelling at random people. Why? No one knows. Currently she was taking her rage out on my assistant, who looked like he was about to cry. I knew he had a rough day and made a mental note to give him the day off tomorrow for dealing with Eve. I cleared my throat and she whipped around to face me. Her face went from red fury to white fear. She knew that I could have her dragged out by security and have the press record the whole thing.

I walked to Luca's desk and said "Luca you are dismissed for today, I will handle this. Please take tomorrow off."

He nodded in relief and his eyes lit up at having the next day off. I then whispered to him "Give your girlfriend white roses and take her on a date tomorrow. She misses her time with you and you miss her."

I then turned back to Eve who was still very pale. I motioned for her to follow me into my office. I walked in and went to my black desk with white leather office chair. I motioned for her to sit in one of the white leather chairs opposite of me. She did so with shaking legs. I spoke first saying "Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

She shook her head 'no' and I continued "Well, then let's get straight to business. This is the fifth time that you have accosted my assistant, and the tenth time you have come to my office in a yelling rage. Would you care to explain yourself?"

She shook her head 'no' again.

"Verbal responses are preferred, Miss Smith."

"No, I do not wish to explain myself to you."

"Why not?"

"Because it's all your fault! He is furious every night because of you and your stupid company!"

My eyes softened as she raised her voice. I spoke softly saying "Eve, do you need help? Are you safe at home?"

Her eyes met mine, and she saw my understanding in them, her eyes filled with tears. She nodded. I got up and rounded my desk, pulling her into a hug. She sobbed into my shoulder. Between her sobs she tried to speak, saying names "W-wren... Griffin-n... L-liam... Nolan!"

I shushed her and rocked us back and forth, trying to calm her down. When she had finally calmed down enough to speak she said the names again "Wren, Griffin, Liam and Nolan. They are my b-brothers. I can't take care of them when our parents go to jail."

"It's okay we will work something out. First and foremost, we are going to your house and we are going to get them. Then you all can stay at my house until this situation is handled. I will call Child Protective Services tonight and they will come tomorrow, so you can tell them everything."

She nodded numbly, having finally stopped crying. I stood up and helped her stand. We made it to the lobby, where Mark was waiting. We got in the car and Eve gave me her address. I told Mark, "We are going to pick up some friends before heading to the house."

He nodded in response knowing to ask questions later and do what he was told now. We drove silently to the house. I got out of the car and motioned for Mark to stay in the car. Eve told me that her parents weren't home and we walked upstairs to find her brothers. We split up to tell the brothers everything. I found Wren first. He was sitting on his bed with headphones on. I pushed the door open and walked slowly in the room, making my steps very deliberate. He looked up and took off his headphones. He stood up and stepped back until his back was against the wall. I smiled gently and spoke, "Hi, you must be Wren. I'm with your sister Eve. We are getting you out of this house and you're going to stay with me for a little while, okay?"

He nodded in response. My smile grew slightly at his eyes which shone with trepidation but relief to be out of this house. I spoke again saying "Please pack whatever you need while I go search for your other brothers."

He nodded and began getting his duffel bag. I walked out and found that the door across from Wren's was marked with a sign that said 'Nolan's room'. I walked into a room that had cars all over it. On the walls, on the bed and on the floor. I giggled at the child's interest. He heard me and his head snapped up. He saw me and studied me. He looked into my eyes and he must have seen something there because he got up and ran to hug my legs. He looked to be about 5 years old, but he acted so much older. I hugged him back and told him the same thing I told Wren. I helped him pack. I grabbed his bag when we were done and we walked back downstairs, hand in hand. At the bottom of the stairs Eve was there with the three boys. A boy of about 14 years old yelled saying, "Holy Shit! Nolan trusts her!"

Nolan cringed at his brother's yelling. He buried his face into my side. I turned to the boy and said "No more yelling, okay? It scares your brother."

He nodded, apologizing. I smiled gently and said "Let's go have a sleepover."