A couple of weeks later. 

Jessica exited the elevator in a floral sundress, sandals, and a Gucci shoulder bag, her blonde hair coiffed into a wispy updo.  

"Good morning, Tina; where is my favorite Uncle Victor?" Jessica asked as she strolled up to the assistant desk.  

"Somewhere," came a bemused response. Tina's green eyes twinkled behind her rimmed glasses. Jessica gave her a knowing look. "He went out a while ago for coffee."  

"Sure," Jessica stated in disbelief.   

Her grey-blue eyes scanned the office setting with its art deco and sleek glass paneling. The main offices and meeting areas lay at the back, while the front featured compact desks, whiteboards, and digital screens. VLJ employed roughly around ten to fifteen employees. Jessica recognized most of the in-house faces, although others were freelancers.  

"Victor!" She caught sight of him as soon as he stepped off the elevator. He donned black denim jeans, a white dress shirt, and white leather sneakers with coffee in hand.  

"I told you so," a vindicated Tina expressed from behind her workstation. Jessica smirked while Tina shrugged her shoulders and afterward answered an incoming call.  

"I could say that I am surprised."  

"You know why I am here," she replied, folding her arms. 

He quickly ushered her up a short staircase into his spacious office. It featured a solid dark wood desk at its center with his laptop, files piled into a neat display, and framed photos of Evangeline, Sam, Jack, and Starr. Behind the desk was a leather executive chair with two armchairs at the front and one on the side. A cabinet with books and periodicals stood at the back wall while abstract art decorated the remaining walls.   

He stretched forward his right hand and said, "Have a seat."  

Jessica eased down in one of the armchairs. Victor took his seat and dialed his assistant. 

"Tina, please hold all my calls until I say otherwise."  

"As you wish, Mr Lord, remember you have a staff meeting in the next twenty minutes."  

"Of course, but if I am not ready, Ryan can carry on without me."  

"Yes, Mr. Lord."  

"Now, where were we?"  

"Cassie informed me that you ghosted her."  

Victor slowly sipped his coffee. "This Caffe Americano is very delicious if I knew..."  

"Victor be serious."  

He set aside his cup. "Hold on; I told you not to do this."  

"You agreed."  

"If I remember correctly, I vehemently disagreed. Besides, I do not think you quite understand my taste in women. This Cassie is a real piece of work. How could I ghost a person when I never said boo in the first place? Your friend is delusional." Jessica stifled a laugh. "Jess, I told you my plate is full with Sam, this business..."  

"Your novel."  

"Well, that is on a bit of a hiatus..."  

"Lost your muse, I see." 

"Huh?" 

"Evangeline," she interjected, pursing her lips.  

Victor leaned forward and asked, "Am I your pet project?"  

"Of course not!" Jessica yelled, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Pet project implies that you are an object and not my beloved Uncle, whom I care very much about. I see a man holding on to this pipe dream of you and Evangeline sailing off into the sunset..."  

"Don't," He balled his right hand into a fist and slammed it hard on the desk. His face flushed crimson, eyebrows knitted together, jaws clenched. He pointed an accusatory finger. "Evangeline and I take pretty good care of ourselves without others interfering. You and Vicki need to back the hell off!"  

"Okay, okay," Jessica held her hands up in surrender. Her face went through a kaleidoscope of emotions. She rarely saw this side of him and instantly knew she crossed the line. Evangeline was a touchy subject.  

Fairly, soon his anger subsided. He rose from his seat and sat by the edge of the desk with his back turned. He tried his best to calm down, gazing at his palms and thinking. Jessica was one of the few people who stood by him through thick and thin. It was important not to chase away his remaining supporters. 

"I am sorry my anger got the best of me."  

She stood next to him. "And I get that I am the last person that should be giving out relationship advice. I have been married and divorced how many times?" They shared a chuckle.  

"Still it's great to have someone in my corner for a change. I have not been the best Uncle, especially during my "Todd" days."  

"You performed as expected and did it perfectly for eight years," she replied with an embrace and kiss on the cheek. "I want to see you happy."  

"You also believe I am hitting my head against the same wall." Jessica chose to remain quiet. "I can't let go, at least not yet," he said softly. "I hope you understand and allow me to live my new life." 

"I get that it has been difficult." She leaned her head on his shoulder. 

"It's hard not to look back and dream. Irene altered my entire world - face, character, identity. Todd Manning became my core existence. His family, business, and values were my own. I don't recall anything about my life before, yet it is what it is, and I must move on. Thankfully, I have Jack and Sam." 

"And me." 

"And you," he agreed with a smile. 

"I will see you later, Victor. You and Sam should stop by for dinner sometime."  

"Jess."  

"Yes."  

"This is off-topic, but I may have a freelance job for you. Interested?"  

"I'm game. What is it about?"  

Victor pulled out a small manila folder from his desk drawer and gave it to her.   

"Read the contents very carefully, then get back to me."  

"Sounds covert," she said sheepishly.  

"Let's just say I have been sitting on this story for a while now. It involves a lot of investigative work. At times, you must be very discreet." Jessica nodded. "Should you choose to accept it, I will make it worth your while."  

"Chi-Ching."  

"Possibly for the both of us," said Victor with a wry smile.  

Suddenly, Victor's buzzing cell phone captured his attention.  

"Hello.......Yes, I am Sam's father......Tell him I am on my way."  

"What is wrong with Sam?" asked Jessica, her face etched with concern.  

"He is not feeling well. I need to take him home. You can stay here and review the paperwork."  

"Okay. I hope Sam feels better."  

"I am sure he will. I am just grateful it's not something major."  

Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, S & L Arizona was surrounded by universities, museums, and a vibrant art scene. S & L New York dwarfed its office structure, personnel, and client base. However, Evangeline and Ellen's outstanding skills and job performance brought a renewed focus and success in terms of exposure. Yet exposure can bring its own unforeseen consequences. 

An upbeat Ellen stepped into the office, prepared to whisk her friend away on a much-needed lunch break. These days, Evangeline was clocking in much more hours than her, and the strain was evident. She often complained of fatigue and sleep deprivation. Suddenly, Erin, one of their legal assistants burst from Evangeline's office door.  

"I suggest you do not go in there right now."  

"Why?" Ellen asked very puzzled.  

"Just thread lightly," Erin replied, without explaining further. "I am going for my lunch." She massaged her forehead and said, "It has been a long day."  

Ellen entered the office to see an animated Evangeline furiously talking away, clad in a navy blue sheath dress, black pumps, diamond studded earrings, and a pendant necklace, hair styled in a low ponytail with minimal makeup. Her office featured the usual bookshelf stocked with legal texts, a desk stacked with pending files, a laptop and phone, chairs, and the perfect view of downtown Phoenix.  

"Ace, I have had it up to here with your shenanigans. I'm your lawyer, not your girl from Club Bizzo. It's time to grow up and stop relying on Daddy for everything. Have a good day!" She clicked off the phone and sighed deeply.  

"Ace still stirring the pot."  

"Oh, Ellen." There was light in her eyes again. Evangeline gave her a quick once-over. The bubbly brunette fitness routine meant anything looked great on her. Today it was a grey suit and flats. The only pop of color on her face was the red lipstick with her hair pulled back in a sculpted chignon. Evangeline clasped her mouth. "I almost forgot about our scheduled lunch."  

"What happened to that work-life balance?"  

"Out the window, I guess," she replied, unable to hide her disappointment.  

"What is going on with you and the Maslow case." Ellen's hazel eyes showed worry.  

"Nothing much other than my client is being a complete bastard. I almost wish he had skipped out on bail."  

"That bad huh."  

"I think he enjoys it when I go off on him. I am this close to walking away from this case and asking another attorney to take over the reins. I have dealt with many narcissists in my life and career, but he takes the wedding cake."  

Ellen burst out laughing. "I don't mean to laugh at your expense, but your description is too funny." Evangeline hardly smiled. She appeared lost in thought.  "Something else on your mind?" 

"Sometimes I wish I was back in New York. I would have a whole team to assist with this case. I can't do it all," she sighed in frustration. 

"What about Erin?" 

Evangeline's expression hardened. "What about her? Is she incapable of doing the research, or is she holding out on me?" 

"Maybe it's all there is." 

"Still, I sense there is more that I don't know. Sometimes, I believe my mind can't give up on an instinct; other times, I wish it would," she softly added. 

Ellen speculated. "Are we still discussing work?" 

"Work and life." 

"Come on, Evangeline, let's get out of here. I'm starving for lunch, and we have much to discuss."  

"I believe I will purchase a dartboard on our way back."  

The two friends exited the office, chuckling at the thought of a few targets for that board.