Princess of the Fitzgerald and the O'Brien's

Part 7

When she got out of the car, she saw Declan waiting at the top of the stairs and sighed. Brady must have called his brothers and hers to see who was free to meet her at home and about what happened and what he overheard about being James's "date".

"Thank you for today, James, but appears Brady did not waste time in tattling on me. I'll meet you tonight at the even at 7 pm" She saw James look out over up at Declan and then nod and shut the door. Then turned and straightened her back and walked up the step.

"Declan how was your day" She greeted her cousin with a smile and started past him as he gaped at her. "Let me guess until Brady called you were fine?" She was already through the front door when he started up the steps. "What is going on with you Clover? Brady said called and told me about today and well that just does not sound like my little cousin. Who is the guy who dropped you off?"

She was saved from answering as her Mother Nora came into the room and greeted her and whispered in her eye "everything is all set". Nora looked up at Declan and saw his expression and asked what was wrong.

Declan answered by summarizing his call with Brady. Nora looked between her daughter and nephew and simply took Kathleen's arms and said, "good for you, now show me all these new cloths you bought with James's help today. We also need to pick out what you will wear tonight and then you can help me." Nora said with a twinkle in her eye. She had deliberately said all that in front of Declan who would no doubt make calls out to her brothers and his.

Sure enough, she heard him on the phone with someone not thirty seconds later as she and Mom walked to her room.

Nora and Kathleen spent the next hour talking about the evens of the day and even Kathleen's worry about the Bar exam results which she should have tomorrow afternoon. Kathleen outlined how she was planning on addressing the board once everything was out in the open. She was nervous and hoped her family would see her fully after dinner tomorrow. She knew no matter what her brother's and cousins would always look out for her as she had done for behind her mother's name for all of them. They talked about trivial stuff when Kathleen confessed to her mother that she was going to review properties and wanted to buy a home of herself and that her hopes that she could meet a nice, handsome name and really start to live a little. Nora was thrilled to see her daughter coming out of her shell. She would have to remember to have a talk with the boys (all seven of them) and have them look out for her, but not to smother her. After all she wanted her daughter to find love and a family. Not to mention she really wanted grandchildren and she had a feeling she would get them from her daughter before she did her son's and nephews.

When Nora and Kathleen entered the front room, they saw them. "Well, I have to say I am not surprised to see you all" Kathleen said boldly and seemingly out of character for her in front of her family. Her cousins looked at her with a mix of shock and pride. While her brother's all wore stern expressions.

Ryan walked up taking her hand and leading her outside to was waiting limos. She had glad she had the silk green wrap on already. The last this she needed was her family seeing that her dress, this lovely green emerald dress with thin straps and it low back. The only think out of place was her black flats, but since she refused to wear heals would have to do. The silk wrap covered her shoulder and back so her brothers and cousin would not flip out. It matched the green four-leaf clover and white platinum neckless her father had made for her 13th birthday that she never took off. When she turned 17 her mother had commissioned a set of earrings that would match the green color and style. It showed off her long neck and cheek bones. This was the first occasion and even the opportunity to wear them other than just around the house. "You look so beautiful our green little clover", he said and took her arm and escorted her out to the waiting limos. "Come, ride with Liam, Patrick, Aiden and I". She heard her mother say, "Finn, Brady and Declan you will ride with me please." It was not a request and they all knew it. They all settled in the front limo and she knew she was about to be question about James and this afternoon. Deciding to speak first she held up her hand as Patrick started to talk. He paused and they were silent.

"Please, this afternoon was not what you are all thinking. Ms. Williams came over interrupting a private conversation and was arrogantly keeping a date with James or Brady I so not think she cared which. She dismissed me as inconvenient and was overall rude. I simply called her on it. Also, yes, I am meeting James tonight. He has been trying to get my to open up for years. He knows me better then you all do and it my very best friend, but also like a brother. He also sees me as a little sister to care for, but a woman also who needs to be more engaging in life." It all came out in a rush.

Liam nodded, "Ok, sweet girl. We understand and glad he has been so good to you over the years." He paused and looked hurt and nodded to Patrick, Ryan and Aidan. "I called them meeting after getting Brady's call and explained some important revelations to them. They needed to know to help with the plan. I told them everything you and mom told me" Ryan then spoke, " Clover I have suspected that Aunt Nora was not the one helping out O'Brien Securities or calling the shots at Fitzgerald Enterprise for a while now. I just could not figure out who it was. Out of respect to Aunty since the calls being made where always 100% in favor of the families and their business, I never approached her. Although I have to say I am in awe of you little cousin and all that you have done from behind the curtains for years. I am proud of you and cannot wait to see you take New York and the world by storm now that you are stepping out into the light." He said with such emotion she knew he really meant it.

"Yeah, the others will also be thrilled once they too get over the shock. The only girl born into this family in five generations and she is the most talented, brilliant and youngest of us all." He chuckled, but his smile showed his words were sincere. Kathleen signed and looked at each of their faces then said, "I'm so glad I have your support It means the word to me. I know my age is going to be something talked about for a while and I am going to be making so changes that will be questioned. I just want you to know that I have always approached thinks in steps and take great care to gather as much information as I can before making a call. I would like you and the others all they're on Monday when I address the board for the first time, but also have some things I want to talk to your Ryan and Aiden about concerning security and safety. We can talk more about that all tomorrow when we have our family meeting and the others are told. Until Monday after the board meeting no one can know I have the new CEO of Fitzgerald Enterprise. Some of the board will be in attendance tonight anyway. For tonight I am waiting for the right time to introduce myself as a member of Fitzgerald family. Mom is calling it my instruction into the Fitzgerald family publicly. James and I have it all worked out and mom know her part to play. Please just keep the others in line play along." Then she when into an overview of the plan.

The limo pulled up and Patrick stepped out first and then offered his little sister is hand. Once they were all out Kathleen saw Ryan walk over to the other limo and get in before the driver had the chance to stop. She knew he was letting the others all know not to react tonight and to trust them all. Mom would have said something similar to them and told them of my lover for James like a brother and how he has always treated me like a little sister. Not five minutes later they all go out and moved behind us as we entered the gallery.

James was waiting for us just inside. "I trust everything is in order and I am not going to get my ass kicked later?" he said teasingly to us all. They guys all nodded and we walked in. Everyone preceded to talk the wine from the servers walking around. I stopped one of the women and asked for a glass of ice water. As she walked away, I saw Diana Collins and her husband across the room. "Crap" I said under my breath getting moms attention and she followed my line of sight. "Don't worry dear, I will be close and with be able to intervene". She knew all about the incent with Ms. Collins a couple of years ago. Nora even sought ot Diana Collins and befriended her for her kindness towards her daughter. She knew that Diana regretted not being able to locate the young women who saved her that day. Her husband Mark had looked, but never found anything. Diana also never mentioned the contents of the envelope or talked about the Williams. She knew that she wouldn't talk poorly in public about anyone else's business. Nora had just heard that the Williams postponed the expansion and then later when they did circle back to it when with another company with not explanation one way or the other. Nora respected the Williams immensity for how that did not address things. They have become good friends. She never kept my identity from Diana, but they never met at the house and since most of the world did not know me as a Fitzgerald it was not hard to avoid the topic.