Free Beginnings (Brady Trilogy) by Aneta Krpekyan Page B

by now you’re aware she used to work for me.”
    Luke paused. He predicted this call was one he wasn’t going to like. “Yes Ms. Stamos has been my personal assistant the last couple of months. Is there a message you’d like me to pass along to her?”
    “No it’s alright. I rather have her not know about this ca ll.” Scotts hesitated. “How is she doing? Is she alright? Does she seem fine?”
    Luke recognized worry in the old man’s voice and for once had received a call he wasn’t prepared to handle. “She seems fine, I haven’t noticed anything wrong.” A lie of course. Isabel cringed each time in mention of the firm.
    There was an awkward silence for a moment. One of those long pregnant pauses where both parties are too stubborn to speak first. Finally Scotts cleared his throat and continued. “She quit my firm and left town so fast I didn’t have a chance to talk to her and figure out what the hell was going on. I was away on a long trip to Nevada representing a client of mine and when I got back there was no sign of her. My partner told me he was unable to get a hold of her. I loved having Isabel working here. She was young, energetic and the best researcher I have ever come across my thirty plus years in this profession. And from my understanding she loved working here too. She was more than half way through her law degree and knew she had a permanent job here. So it came as a surprise as to why she left in January. I contacted her law school and found out she dropped out short after that. I tried to reach her at home but found her condo empty. I’m not trying to scare the poor girl I’m just trying to figure out what the hell happened and if she’s fine.”
    Luke sigh ed heavily but continued to remain quiet. The fact that he didn’t even know Isabel was once trying to obtain a law degree bothered him. Why hadn’t she told him about this?
    “I understand your concern Scotts but I assure you she seems perfectly fine. If I find out anything you’ll be the first to know.” Another lie. He had worked with the man before and respected who he was. But he wasn’t ready to discuss the personal life of his assistant with her former employer. Especially since she seemed troubled by something neither of them knew about. Yet Luke had a feeling it must have something to do with that damn firm. But what? If the firm was the problem surly Scotts would know?
    Luke hung up the phon e and walked out of his office to find her but Isabel wasn’t at her desk. “Hey Brian where’s Isabel?” Luke asked his savvy tech who was troubleshooting Isabel’s computer.
    “She took the mail downstairs. The mail clerk called out sick today.” Brian shrugged as he continued to hit the keys on the board.
    “It seems like I need to start hiring who should be working in that damn mail room.” Luke spoke irritably.
    His attention was brought to the large huddle his staff had formed around a tall woman with wild curly brown hair. Her back was towards Luke and he couldn’t see her face but he watched his staff beam in excitement as the woman was clearly signing and passing out autographs. When she turned around he recognized her instantly and was amazed. Vivian Taylor. What in the world was Vivian Taylor, the famous artist doing here?
    “Mrs. Vivian Taylor .  This is a pleasant surprise. What do we owe the pleasure of your company?” The woman was exquisitely beautiful with a slightly tanned face and large brown eyes. Luke had never met her but felt as though he had seen her eyes in person before. “Luke Brady”, he said as he gently shook her hand.
    “It’s a pleasure Luke. Sorry I arrived here unannounced. I was in town and wanted to see my daughter.” Vivian saw the puzzled look on his face.
    “Your daughter?” Before Luke could put two and two together Isabel walked through the elevator doors.
    “Mom? What are you doing here?” her face lit in excitement as she rushed towards her mother and held her in a