Holt's Holding part two (The Holt's Series) (10 page)

“How long have the two of you known each other:” Charlie
asked Brady and not me

Ugh,…did he think I wouldn’t give him a truthful answer?

“I’ve known Lilly since what we were ten…well I’ve known
her since five but we didn’t start playing or didn’t become good friends until
10. Lilly didn’t start speaking until…”

“I spoke…I just nothing to say to you” I cut him off

“What do you mean she didn’t speak?”

“Ugh I can’t believe you went there Brady” I looked up to
Charlie. “I could speak. I just didn’t” I stuck my tongue out at Brady.

“I’m just warning him in case your daughter is like
you…don’t want him worried”

“Oh stop it. And let’s hope she is like me!”

“What’s that supposed to imply?”
 
Charlie asked, looking from me to Brady for
an answer.

“It implies that you want your daughter to be like
her…Lilly here was a child genius.”

“You knew?” I looked to Brady.

“Of course…everyone knew. You had college textbooks when we
were ready Dr. Seuss. Everyone knew Lilly.”

“Ugh, and here my dad made me attend normal school at the
same time…he said he wanted as normal of a childhood for me.”

“You’re a genius?” Charlie looked shocked.

“You look so surprised…I don’t know how to take that?” I
looked up to his shocked expression.

“Oh this good” Sam added.

“Fine …yes my parents thought I was autistic since I didn’t
speak so they had me tested and to their surprise my test scores were off the
charts…the therapist said I was bored so they found things to stimulate me…I
guess you could say I was just in need of enrichment or some shit. I went to
school like a normal child and took college classes at night.”

“So how many degrees do you have?” Sam jumped in and cut
off Charlie before he could even form a thought.

“Hmm…a lot.”
 
I
laughed.

“Wholly shit Lilly!” Charlie looked down at me “no wonder
the trust was set up the way it was…your father knew you were more than
capable.”

“Yes…why do you think I tried to fight you both from go? I
advised my legal team thru the entire process and the courts to give me a stay
until I reach the trust maturity age.”

“But you didn’t accomplish anything as it relates to the
takeover.”

“Sure I did…I kept you two from taking over for almost
eight years Charlie…eight years. That provided time for those whom worked for
my father to retire with a pension. It ensured jobs for those whom were
employed by the company. I accomplished a lot in my opinion.”

“I’m sorry you’re right you did do all that.” Charlie
leaned down and kissed the top of my nose. “We were wrong to underestimate your
abilities.”

My eyes slowly skirted to Brady. He held one more piece of
the secret and I knew this one would be held tight regardless of Charlie’s
presence in my life.

“I think we’ve had enough stories from the past and time to
fry your brain cells with a little True Blood” I smirked his way.

“Oh dear lord” he ran his hand down his face. “For as
fucking brilliant as you are, why you watch this shit; I’ll never understand”
he shook his head

“Oh Brady baby…there’s lots of tits and ass…you’ll enjoy
it” Sam laughed as she cozied up to him

“Ok I can do tits and ass.”
 
Brady teased.

“Really? Soft porn” Charlie added

“Yes…soft porn with a bunch of crazy shit” I laughed and
kissed him quick.

We started with episode one and somewhere along the way I
noticed Sam passing out. I knew I was soon to follow. The boys however seemed
to actually enjoy it after we caught them up. Charlie even looked to me a few
times when I explained the whole love triangle…I wonder if his mind was still
stuck on Sebastian and me.
 
I guess if
the roles were reversed, I would.

My eyes heavy, I let the sleep take me…not fully but
enough.

Moments later I could hear Brady make a comment to Charlie
and I was interest…I faked the sleep.

“You hurt her, I’ll find a way and make you pay…no
disrespect but I know your reputation.”

“I have no intentions of hurting her Brady…I’m very much in
love with her. When I thought she died then heard of the coma…I’ve never
experience that type of loss.”

“I hope for your sake you’re telling the truth…She’s
strong, smart and she can pick up the pieces if you leave, but she will never
recover and I know this. She’s never expressed this type of emotion…never … not
even when she dated Chris in College and he is a very good man who would lay
his life down for her. He was her first boyfriend and only…she’s had a very
hard life and her experiences,”
 
I could
hear the trepidation and disgust in his voice. “Let’s say she has a very dark
past when it comes to men. Her reputation of using men, not so.
 
She’s just guarded and rightfully.
 
I don’t doubt that she’s falling in love with
you, even if she doesn’t know it. I see it.
 
And that worries me.”

“Brady, I appreciate your concerns.
 
For the record I think I love her and always
have.
 
There was a moment between her and
I, which had me questioning everything.
 
I thought it to be some cosmic joke, she reminded me of the past.”
 
Charlie laughed, “Clearly the person she
reminded me was precisely who she was.
 
When I was younger, the first time she and I met, I was floored and she
scared the crap out of me.
 
My feelings
of jealousy and longing were at war.
 
I
was grateful that she was younger, giving me time to sort through it.
 
I always knew that she would have me falling
hard, even then.”
 
His arms gripped me
tight.
 
“But, I understand your
concerns.
 
I have a reputation of toying
with women for my personal needs.
 
I
don’t deny it.
 
I am who I am and my
lifestyle has afforded me with the ability to do as I see fit.
 
That said, Lil is not a game or a toy for
me.
 
She never was.
 
Even when I had no idea who she was, I had
already begun to fall for her.”
 
He
sighed, “The accident, I thought she was dead.
 
In my entire life I have never grieved or felt the loss the way I did
with her.
 
I love her Brady.”

“I hope you do, for both of your sakes.”
 
I could hear Brady shuffle, “The accident was
horrific, I saw the car. I couldn’t believe that she was alive. I got her the
best neurosurgeons I could. I honestly didn’t think she would wake up. The
swelling subsided after 5 weeks and they tried to pull her from the coma, but
she didn’t wake up. When they finally called…I’ve never felt so much relief. I
have to admit, when I came and heard her screaming I wasn’t sure if I should
jump for joy or be seriously worried.”

“Screaming? Why?” I felt Charlie’s body tense around mine.

“She had just woken up and the dumb ass told her she was
pregnant. How would you feel? Being in a coma for three months then to be told
your pregnant?”

“She hated me that much; didn’t she?”

“Yes for eight years she’s been bent on hurting you and
Sebastian, if we want to be honest. Can you blame her? She’s not much different
from you and your brother. She idolized her father and yours. But the death of
her little sister…and what happened immediately after, She’s been grieving all
this time. I believe this pregnancy and the fact it’s a girl….well, I think
this is the best thing that’s happened to her. Mark words she will protect her
daughter fiercely and if today wasn’t a tiny taste of her will; I’m afraid of
what would actually happen if she were forced to do so. I had a feeling
Sebastian wasn’t the father; him and his stupid petition for custody.”

“This makes sense…that’s why she was so up in arms
today…the bat…nice touch; I had no idea what was going on when I got to the
conference room. Security suggested I not go in. However, I just was too
curious. At first, I thought it was some scorn woman that Sebastian fucked
around with going bat shit crazy. So naturally, I wanted to witness it. When I
realized it was she and that she was Elizabeth…the Elizabeth that I’ve spent my
entire life,…It was so surreal. I was so confused and torn, then when I grabbed
her and felt the baby…the way my brother looked to me…I knew it was mine…and
the debate in my mind lost to my heart…yes, I have a heart and it seems she’s
had it all this time.”

“Charlie does she know how you feel?”

“Not in so many words. I didn’t want to scare her off. I
know she is guarded. Plus, she has only been awake for four days. This all must
be so much for her to process. I just don’t want to lose her.”

“I can respect that Charlie. I hope for both of you that
you find a way to work all this out for something tells me there will be a lot
to work out and a lot to get past.”

“You are very right. We will have a lot to work out. I’m
sure of it. However right now I need her to trust me and even admit her
feelings whatever they are”

I couldn’t get over the conversation I was hearing…shit
Brady and Charlie…talking like friends and Charlie admitting he loved me…that
was huge.
 
Brady was correct in his
observations of me…he knew me all too well, and I was indeed falling in love
with Charlie.

“Brady….I love her and have no plans of letting her go.”

“Somehow I believe you.”

“I think the women might need to be moved to their beds and
it looks like it’s up to us to move them.”

“I think your right Charlie…but shit I have stairs to carry
her up you have a quick walk”

“Yeah good luck with that” Charlie laughed.

I felt him move off the sofa and reach under my body
lifting me up into his arms.

Groggy, I wrapped my arms up around his neck.

“Hey sleepy”, he whispered.

He said his goodnight to Brady, and walked us into my room
placing me into the bed.

Pulling the covers up, he laid down next me holding tight.
 
His chest to my back, I felt his hand travel
down to my belly and hold firm.

“I love you Charlie” the words just flew out of my mouth
like they had a control of their own. I felt his body tense for a moment and
his kiss on my head.

“As I love you,” he whispered.

It was a few hours later when I woke…looking to the clock
it was about 4 in the morning…and I had to pee.

Moving quietly out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom.

Finished with my need, I heard something stirring outside
of the room, so I went into the hall. Brady was awake and in the kitchen.

“I didn’t wake you did I?” he whispered as I made my way
into the kitchen.

“No…I had to pee and heard you out here.”

“So you realize that this all changes things?” he looked to
me as I entered the kitchen.

“Not really. I did what I did, and I wouldn’t change it.
Grant it, I do have a better understanding of him and Sebastian, but it doesn’t
change things as far as the company is concerned.”

“What about the other stuff Lilly? How do you think he will
react?”
 
Brady rose a brow and stared
firmly at me.
 
I knew what he was
referring to, I just had no answer for him.

“On all matters? Not sure. I guess I’ll find out when we
cross that bridge. I hadn’t really thought it through.
 
The past is the past.
 
As far as the other stuff, I was honest about
by the game with him and his brother and I’m hoping that this isn’t an issue
but there’s a lot he’s done too Brady. A lot that he thinks I don’t know.”

“He’s very in Love with you…you do see that don’t you?”

“Yes…I do. The scary part is you’re right…I’m falling in
love with him and it scares the shit out of me.”

“You over heard?”
 
He
placed his glass down and laughed silently.

“Brady…my brain works on over time…when do I ever fall in
that deep of a sleep?”
 
I matched his
earlier expression, trying to keep things light.

“Good point. “

“Brady, I was looking over the accounts today.”
 
I had been meaning to ask him and now seemed
like a perfect time.

He looked wide eyed to me he knew I knew.

“Why?” I asked waiting for an answer.

“I didn’t want her blowing everything out of the water. So
I’ve been paying for her silence.”

“You should have told me”

“When? - I planned to; just think you had enough to deal
with.”

“Well after next week she and I have a reckoning coming.
She’s gonna wish she never fucked with me.”