* * * * *
The wind had howled all night. Legacy had tossed and turned, but luckily, no dreams had plagued her. After the strange dream she’d woken up to yesterday, she was pleasantly surprised that this morning wasn’t a repeat. She didn’t need that kind of drama before starting her new job.
She got up and put on some khaki pants, a short-sleeved white blouse, and some comfy slip-on shoes. She figured she needed to dress up, but the light colors and breathable material would keep her cool and comfortable since she really had no idea what her work would entail.
She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Lissa had already left for work, but she left a note on the refrigerator stating she would be working late and she would have to fend for herself at dinner. This happened often, so it wasn’t going to be problem. She quickly ate some cereal and cleaned up her dishes, so she wouldn’t have to do it when she got back home. She grabbed her purse, keys, and paperwork and headed to her new job.
When she got there, she walked in and saw River standing against the counter.
With everything that had happened, she’d sort of forgotten about him. Calli must not be too obsessed with him since she hadn’t brought him back up after they left here Saturday. Maybe she was just being the true friend she was by letting Legacy talk about her own problems and squeal about Adin without any other distractions. Calli had even been forced into an hours-long conversation about her date as soon as she’d gotten home last night. Legacy would need to make sure she made this up to her friend by getting the skinny on River.
And as for the guy in question, he still looked gorgeous. On Saturday, he’d been wearing casual clothes. Today he wore slacks and a fitted collared shirt, which made her feel better about her own clothing choices.
“Good morning.” He smiled at her as she walked toward him.
“Good morning to you too.”
He looked at her with a strange expression. It reminded her of when she saw him as she was leaving here on Saturday. He had a similar expression then. Odd.
“How was your weekend?” he asked, his face returning back to a smile.
“Interesting, and yours?”
“Interesting works for me too,” he responded cryptically.
He just stood there staring at her. She wasn’t sure what to make of his demeanor. Then she laughed nervously and looked away from his gazing eyes.
“Interesting, indeed,” he whispered, but it seemed like he was whispering to himself.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and casually looked back at him. He continued to stare at her with a polite smile on his face, but his eyes were intense and full of questions. She didn’t understand his behavior, but for some reason, he rubbed her the wrong way. Part of her felt like snapping at him, asking him what his deal was, but he was the boss’s son and all. That would not be appropriate behavior on her first day. Not if she wanted to keep this job. Besides, she needed him to confide in her for Calli’s benefit. She couldn’t scare him off with a tirade, no matter how justified she felt it was at this moment.
Or maybe he was just shy and didn’t know how to articulate himself.
Legacy needed to focus. She couldn’t stand here and let him stare at her all day. She figured Ms. Gorgos wouldn’t think too kindly of her if she continued to stand here like an idiot on the clock.
“Er, where is Ms. Gorgos? I need to turn in my paperwork and find out what she needs me to do.”
River continued to stare at her, saying nothing. His gaze—before irritating—was now intimidating her.
“I-I’ll take these to her office,” she said as an excuse to walk away from him.
He wasn’t having that. “I’ll take those. She’s not here, and the office is locked,” he said as he reached his hand out to take the papers without releasing her from his stare.
“Okay,” she said as she handed him the paperwork. “What do I need to do?”
Again, he just stared at her. His eyes were hard, cold. Their emerald green color from Saturday seemed more forest green today.
“Are you going to answer me, or are we just going to stand here all day?” She tried to sound rude, but sounded more like a scared child.
He shifted his weight to his left leg and looked down. His features relaxed. He shot his eyes up at her again with a soft, apologetic look on his face. He looked back down to the floor before he started speaking. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t…” He trailed off. His gaze shot back to her and was penetrating, his smile fading.
“What?” she asked, hoping to avoid a repeat of his silent gazing.
He shook his head as if he were trying to clear it and smiled at her again. “I’m sorry, really. I’m just surprised. I didn’t expect,” he said, shaking his head again. “You look just like her.”
His reply caught her by surprise. He looked away from her because now she was the one staring, but her eyes were not cold, they were wide.
“Who?” she murmured, trying to meet his gaze.
He slowly looked at her again, but this time, his eyes were as confused as hers. “Dora,” he whispered.
She felt her knees wobble. They stood there looking at each other, both with a ton of questions in each other’s eyes. He was the first one to speak. “Are you all right?”
She couldn’t remember how to speak. She needed to think about what he just told her. She felt a wave of emotions come over her, and she knew she would have to remember how to move her tongue.
“How,” she started, still in shock and not really knowing what to say to him or how to get it out. “How do you know my mom?” She stepped closer to River. His body seemed frozen, but his confused eyes traced her every move. He took a deep breath and looked as if he were preparing to answer her question, but ignored it and asked her one instead.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said I look just like Dora. How do you know her?”
“I don’t.” He was being evasive.
“You know something,” she insisted as she stepped closer.
He stumbled as he took a step back, still staring, unable to speak.
“Say something!”
“Umm…I…don’t understand.” And she realized he truly meant that.
“Tell me what you know.”
River looked at her beseechingly. Then he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t know you were her daughter.”
Her spine tingled. Why did this new guy know anything about her mother? “What do you know?”
“Everything,” he whispered. “I know you’ll be a goddess. And you’re going to hate me for the truth.”