Hiding from Mr. Billionaire

9 The Letter

When Vivian came home she rushed up the stairs into her bedroom. She lit the candles on both sides of the bed before turning around and eagerly tugging off her uncomfortable dress. Then she threw her face in a pillow and began to cry. Vivian felt a heavy weight barring down on her back as her stomach churned and twisted into a knot filled with nervousness. Her sister came in a little while later, surprised by the sight of Vivian curled up at the edge of the bed with tears streaming down the sides of her face. "Oh bless it me!" Ruby walked over to her and sat down at the edge of the bed a little farther from where Vivian lay. "I tried to talk to my mom, but father broke out into the kitchen crying and she told me to go upstairs and be with you instead. I don't think she likes me much either." 

Vivian set down her pillow on her lap in horror. "Oh god Ruby, did he say anything?"

Ruby shook her head, "he just had a letter in his hand marked with the companies signature on it, but the paper was a little wet and the writing was smudged so I didn't see what was going on."

Vivian sniffled. "I think I know what's going on"

Ruby scooted herself next to Vivian and looked at her in complete confusion.

"I snuck into Jasper's room by accident," Vivian confessed.

Ruby gasped and jumped all at once. "Accident! in what world is that an accident? honestly I understand that he's attractive to you.. in an odd way; and intimidating, and I know you were eying him a lot at the ball, but I thought you knew the limits!"

"Ruby-" Vivian rolled her eyes when her sister cut her off again.

"Are you mad!"

"Shhhh," Vivian put her palm over her mouth to silence her. "Yes I am, and no. I was admiring the artwork on the steps when he came. I got scared and hid in a room, stupidly," she admitted. "Anyway I overheard him and his nephew, Reuben, discussing the matters of my father." Vivian went on to tell her the whole story, and left out any parts that were mentioned of her family out of the conversation by the look on Ruby's worrisome face. "Ruby?" Vivian asked once she realized her sister wasn't answering her anymore. "Is everything alright?"

Ruby slapped her on the arm.

"Ow!" Vivian hissed.

"Why couldn't you just stay out of it," she whimpered.

"Because Jasper's kicking father out of his job!"

Ruby laughed and shook her head. "That's impossible, he's bluffing. Couldn't you tell? rich men always bluff. That's their trademark."

Vivian crossed her arms as her laughing dialed down and panic filled her eyes.  Both girls knew that Jasper's father was the CEO of a cooperation that merged companies into one large chain through a process known as horizontal integration. A chain which the Wrights family rightfully owned. Ruby threw herself around Vivian in an instant and broke out into tears. "Oh dear, what about we doing to do!"

The next day they woke up cradling each other. They both fell asleep crying in each other's arms hysterically the night before. Vivian woke up first, propping herself up on her elbow. The morning light shined in eyes, blinding her. She groaned and sat up on the bed. Betsy turned besides her and went back to sleep, hugging a pillow.

The floors creaked as she stood upright and trudged herself into the porcelain bathroom. She was instantly greeted by her puffed up reflection in the mirror. Bits of her hair stuck in between her pinkish lips. She rubbed her hand against her cheeks, pulling them out and revealing the dry bits of drool that built up on the corners of her mouth.

Gross.

Vivian splashed water on her face and cleaned up, every now and lifting up her puffy eyelids to show her big beautiful brown eyes, regretting crying so much the night before. Why must I look like a chipmunk every time this happens? she thought to herself before going downstairs in her undergarments.

Her parents weren't downstairs as she imagined they'd be. The floors creaked slowly as she tip toed forbiddingly into the kitchen. Vivian began searching everywhere for the letter Ruby mentioned before she broke into her fit, but couldn't find it. She groaned and leaned against the counter.

"Is there something wrong?" a voice startled her and she turned around to see her mother, standing there with her arms crossed and slouched shoulders.

"I-I," she stuttered.

"Sit down," she said softly, gesturing to the chairs at the table. "There's something I had to tell you before this got out to Ruby." It was as if their fight last night never happened when Gretchen stood next to Vivian, with one hand placed gently on her shoulder.

"Your father has been replaced as the head of his sector," she said quietly. "Do you understand what this means?"

Vivian shook her head.

"It means he can no longer support this family," she paused. "As a result we're left with no other option but to give you girls up."

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A/N - Please Vote and comment, if you enjoyed this short story-like book. I'd love to hear feedback from you.

Stay safe.