We Didn’t See it Coming by Christine Young-Robinson

prettier now than before. You’re free now. You’ll never know what could have been if you don’t go and see him while you’re here. The man may still have you in his heart. Run along and find your king.”
    â€œI don’t know about that.”
    â€œI thought you listened to my words,” Elsa replied.
    â€œGoodbye, Elsa.” Tessa giggled as she stood up to leave.
    â€œI think you’ll see more of me than you bet on. Call me. My number is still the same.”
    â€œI still have that number, but I was too embarrassed to call you.”
    â€œYou have nothing to be ashamed of. Pick up the phone.”
    Tessa left knowing that Elsa was right. The only way to bring peace to her heart was to visit Baron.

Chapter 14
    The Houstons stepped out into the lobby. Kenley was almost in tears. “I can’t wait to get home.”
    â€œMaybe it’s still your home, but it’s not ours unless one of us strangles her,” Milandra said.
    â€œI’m not living with any stranger,” Kenley wept. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.
    â€œForget that, first things first. We must get to Father’s office and pack all his personal belongings,” Milandra said.
    â€œWe can leave that to Mr. Chavis,” Noelle said, confident that her so-called man would handle things.
    Arriving at the elevator, Milandra tapped repeatedly on the down button until the elevator doors opened. “After what just happened, we’ll look into Father’s personal things.”
    They stepped into the elevator, taking it to the top floor, or as their father called it, the Penthouse.
    As they got off the elevator, they were greeted, one after another, by the employees of Houston Commercial Construction Company, who offered them their condolences.
    Milandra nodded her head while her sisters thanked them for their kindness. They reached their father’s office, noticing his bronze nameplate had been removed.
    Milandra turned around. “Who took my father’s nameplate off his door?”
    The employees became silent, not uttering a word. They kept their eyes glued to their computer screens; others acted as if they were on business calls.
    â€œDon’t say a word and every one of you will be fired,” Milandra sternly said.
    A woman in her mid-forties got up from her desk and spoke up: “I believe it was taken down by one of the cleaning crew. No one here would dare stoop that low.”
    â€œThen what’s up with the silence?” Milandra asked.
    The woman turned around and looked out amongst her co-workers. She mumbled, “Scared, I guess.”
    â€œHave it put back ASAP,” Milandra ordered.
    â€œI will, Miss Houston,” the woman said as she tried to walk away fast in the straight ankle-length skirt she wore.
    Milandra joined her sisters. They went inside their father’s office. “One of you close the blinds,” Milandra said as she shut the door.
    Noelle closed the blinds on a glass window that gave a good view of the employees at their desks.
    Kenley sat in the leather chair where her father handled his business. She giggled as she looked on the desk to see a photo of her as a kid posing at a piano recital.
    â€œGet up,” Milandra said as she nudged Kenley.
    â€œYou’re so bossy,” Kenley argued.
    â€œWatch your mouth,” Milandra said as she took a set of keys out of her pocketbook. She searched each key until it opened the desk drawers.
    â€œRun and ask for some boxes, Kenley,” Milandra instructed her.
    â€œWhy me?”
    â€œJust go,” Milandra insisted.
    With her arms folded and her lips poked out, Kenley stormed out the office.
    Noelle stood over Milandra to see if she found any other information about their father that they were not aware of.
    Milandra felt her breathing over her. “Don’t stand over me. Go check one of the files to see what you can find.”
    Noelle went over to