Twenty-four

                                    

                                          
Elena Patel
I feel guilty looking at Ava. She looks so much like my brother and I've done so little to try and be part of her life. It feels like she was just a baby, and now she's already seven years old. It's like I missed half her life. She still has her precious smile and her ability to speak incessantly is a habit that I see hasn't changed. My gratitude to Vincent and Christian is endless. They both arranged this.
We're walking around in this beautiful garden, and I glance over my shoulder seeing Vin on the phone, his eyes on us. The air is brisk outside and the sky is turning dark. "when are you going back to York?" she asks me, and I smile at her because she always forgets the 'new'. "Well we're on a little holiday now so Vin will take me back when we're ready to go. Did he tell you when you're going back home?" I ask her, and she nods. "tomorrow morning. Very early, Mr Flynn told me." Ava has the ability to turn any bad situation into a better one, simply because of the way she speaks. Her innocence is so pure, despite what I know she's gone through. I know she's had it rough with her mother and growing up alone.
"this house is so beautiful, chaachee, I would stay here forever. Why do you have so many cars?" she asks, and I look around the manor. She's right, there must be about twelve sports cars parked out here, and all of them look brand new. There's even a motorcycle that looks absolutely beautiful. I ought to ask Vin about that later. "well, Mr Flynn is very very rich. He owns hotels, buildings, and he's very good at business. So he buys nice cars. Your dad was good with business, too. You must be like him." I say, and she smiles. "you got very lucky to marry a nice man like Mr Flynn. He likes you a lot." she says, and I laugh softly. If only she knew how much we despise each other. "oh yeah? You think he likes me?" I ask playfully and she giggles. "I think he loves you. When I get married, the man must be just like him." I shake my head but she doesn't see me. She's gotten so mature. "hmm, you're a long way from that. Come on, let's get you some food." I say, and she locks her hand in mine as we walk back inside.
The fireplace is on and Vincent is busy looking through paperwork. He turns his head and looks at both of us when he hears us enter, and there's a softer look on his face. He almost looks calm. It's crazy, I never thought I'd see him with his facial muscles relaxed.
"I'm going to cook tonight, Viola still isn't back." I say to him, and he nods. "whatever you want, princess." he tells me. I've become so immune to him calling me that, and he hasn't stopped even though I'd asked him to. Somewhere deep down though, I don't want him to stop. "why do you call chaachee princess? Is she one back in York?" she asks, and I shake my head with a smile. "she is one here, and she's pretty like a princess, isn't she?" he tells her, and gets up to help Ava onto a chair. I hope to God I'm not blushing. Did Vincent just call me pretty? "she is too pretty, but she needs to get fat. You will fly away." she says, the most serious look on her face.
"thank you both for calling me pretty. And I model now, kanna, I can't get any fatter or they'll fire me." I say, and she frowns. "that is nonsense, why would they set you on fire?" she says, and Vincent tries to stifle his laughter. I look over at him, the glass of whiskey in his hand as he leans against the kitchen island looking at Ava and I. His face is shadowed with stubble, and his white crisp shirt isn't buttoned at the top and his sleeves are rolled up, showing a few of his tattoos on his forearms and his silver handchain. For a force of evil, he looks really good. I could stare at him like this for hours, I love it when he unwinds from a long day and lets me see it. 
"chaachee, do you miss me back in York?" she asks, her face turning a bright red from all her running around. I'm busy at the stove and Vincent is trying to help me out but miserably failing. He gripped the plastic strainer too hard and broke it. "of course I miss you. I used to wear the earrings you picked for me every day." I say to her, and she frowns at me. "now you've got big shiny diamonds I see. My earrings weren't nice enough?" she tells me, with her arms crossed. I hear Vin's soft laugh. "actually, sweetheart, I got those for her. Is that okay?" he asks her. She ponders for a second. "I will allow it for now, but one day I'll buy you something better. Bigger diamonds. You'll see." she tells Vin, a defiant look on her face. He looks at her briefly then back to me, with a smile.