The Heiress And The Ford Brothers

Diane stared around and realized that the situation with the handsome, elite looking man was beginning to attract attention so she took an excuse from the cafeteria manager and they all moved to the padre's tiny office. Victoria was with them because Diane asked her to come, she wanted support.

Diane looked at the man sitting elegantly across her now and said, "If you are really my uncle, as you claim, then why did you not come for me since? Why now? It's been twenty- three years. And where are my parents? Why are they not here themselves?"

"I am sorry about that, Emma. I didn't know about your existence until a few months ago, when information about you was intercepted from some people who wished your parents harm." He began carefully, like one who had a lot to say but didn't know where to start.

"Your parents were Catherine and Emmanuel Richardson, two of the wealthiest business elites in society. They ran in aristocratic circles until your father got a major deal that made him insanely wealthy and with that amount of wealth came a different kind of enemy." He cleared his throat, uncrossed his legs and crossed them back. It was obviously uncomfortable to talk about.

"Your parents started getting death threats and attempts, and it was after a ghastly accident, your mother knew they were in trouble. They were powerful but equally powerful people wanted them gone. She needed to keep you safe and the only thought that came to mind was to drop you here so I would come pick you up later on."

"She died alongside your father shortly after that; everyone knew it was a murder but there was no lead and the letter and email with instructions and all documents concerning you never got to me because they were confiscated by someone very close to your parents until months ago when I got the scope about them." He concluded, took a deep breath and let them out through his mouth. It must be a lot for him to share.

"Wow!" Diane said in disbelief.

"Wow!" Victoria concurred, mirroring Diane's feelings.

"So..so my real parents are dead?" Diane asked, her voice tinged with a little bit of silence.

"Yes, Emma. You do not have any siblings but two cousins, my son and daughter, who are about your age." He stated sympathetically.

Jonathan went on to show her pictures and documents her mother sent that were intercepted. There were pictures of her on the church doorstep wearing the exact clothes she still kept at home. The other half of the name tag necklace had Emma on it. There were other documents, like letters to her and her parents will, among others.

Diane took deep breaths. She knew there was a probability of her real parents being dead but to actually know that they were brought a different wave of sadness.

"Here is a picture of your parents. I mean, when you get to London, there are pictures and magazines about them because they were one of the media's favorite couples," Jonathan said, then handed her a picture.

Diane stared at her parents, and smiled sadly. Looking at her mom was like looking in a mirror, as the same auburn hair and green eyes stared back at her with the same facial features and curves. She lovingly caressed the picture.

After a while, she looked at Jonathan and said, "Okay, you found me, so what now? What happens next?"

"Well, Emma." he began and stopped when Diane intercepted him mid sentence.

"What's my full name? You keep calling me Emma but my foster parents called me Diane. They said they saw it in the basket." She asked, her eyes bright with curiosity, and Jonathan laughed.

She may have her mother's good looks but she definitely had her father's wits and mannerisms. He concluded that she would do just fine in the world she is about to be thrown into.

"Your name is Diana Emmanuella Richardson. Emmanuella is named after your father, who is Emmanuel. Everyone knew you as Emma Richardson but your mother wanted Diane when she dropped you here as part of the disguise." He explained.

"Why here? Did she know anyone here?" Diane asked.

"No Emma. She had a ghastly accident the previous day and came out with little injury but your father was not so lucky. She asked the doctor to leave as soon as she could so she could attend to an urgent matter. She hopped on her private jet here. She said she had visited this village on an outreach a long time ago and believed that you could stay here unharmed until I could come get you. At that point, she was a desperate mother." Jonathan explained, stood up and asked the padre and Victoria to excuse them.

He handed over a luxury leather suitcase to Diane and said, "Right here in this box are letters from your parents with pictures alongside documents relating to assets and businesses you legitimately own, Emma. What's next is that you go and take your rightful place, but I must warn you that with this will come some dangers and some sacrifices, but I am here for you no matter what and my military squad will not rest until every culprit is brought to book this time."

Diane took the box from him and thanked him. She placed it in her big backpack so it would not attract unnecessary attention.

"Although those documents are photocopies, please keep them safe. I will be back in a week to know your decision. If you would want to take your rightful place in London or live quietly as you have for years." He thanked Diane, gave her his contact information if she needed anything and left.

Diane went home and met Michael asleep and she sat down, thinking long and hard into the night.

****

James stepped out of his BMW and entered the skyscraper that was his father's office building. There was a shorter route that senior executives in the company passed at the rear but he wanted to make this journey as long as possible.

He smiled and said many "hellos" and "good mornings," but he did not feel merry at all, as he knew what this meeting was about. He remembered the conversation he had with his mother just that morning while he was still in bed.

She came in, already dressed for work in her elegant two piece, pecked his forehead and sat down at the edge of his bed.

"Did you meet someone on this trip, Jamie?" she asked, searching his eyes.

"How did you know?" He asked in a groggy voice.

"I know that look Jamie you came back with, as I had it once so I checked your art book. It was deeply passionate." She was referring to his private art book, which he used to draw things that mattered to him or happened to him in his spare time when he was not working. Only his mother knew about the art book.

They stayed quiet for a moment, then she said, "She's very beautiful."

"Aphrodite is the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on, mom." He agreed and was grateful that he could have moments like these with his mom and his sister Elizabeth.

"Aphrodite?" His mom asked with raised brows.

"We knew it was just for the moment so we gave each other names but I can't get her out of my head. I want her again and again." He confided and raked his hand through his dark blond hair.

"I know that feeling, James. I had it before my parents arranged my marriage to your father. The sad part about mine is that I know his name and my heart still skips a beat whenever I see him but we don't always get what we want."

"Your father expects you to be in the meeting later today with the Barretts and go along with whatever he says. You know your father will never stop until he gets what he wants. I am glad Aphrodite is nowhere near you right now. It would have been very hard for you. Let's hope the Barrett girl will do a number on you too. See you at the meeting, love." She said, kissed his forehead and walked out elegantly.

His mother was beautiful, elegant, and classy, but she was unhappy in her marriage as she was stuck in an arranged marriage to a man who loved money and elite status first, even before his own wife, not to mention his children and James feared his brother, Edward, was learning fast from their father.

He entered his father's spacious luxury office and saw his parents seated on a couch with the Barretts on another. He spotted her and cringed inwardly. He had not only heard the gossip about her but seen a thing or two for himself.

****

Diane took a deep breath before entering the restaurant to meet with her uncle. She saw him sitting elegantly in a far corner, sipping coffee.

He stood up and greeted her cheerfully when he saw her.

Diane settled in her seat, took a deep breath and said, " I went through the documents and letters, Uncle Jon, and I have decided that I will move to Kessington to take over the reins of affairs under your guidance, but my foster brother, Michael and my best friend, Victoria, will come go with me."

"Of course, Emma, I would be glad to have you all in Kessington." Jonathan smiled, glad that she had agreed to come. The next hurdle is to tell her about her arranged marriage to one of the Ford brothers.