Asteria stood in the door way as Rilynn’s mother ran at her and pulled her into a long hug. Asteria stood there awkwardly before she finally hugged her back. She pulled away from Asteria who was still surprised by her sudden visit.

Rilynn’s mother was wearing a gray blouse that showed her upper chest but didn’t expose too much. She was wearing necklaces, her wedding ring along with other rings, a silver watch, a long black skirt, and a black blazer. Her hair was down up in a neat bun and she had make up on that made her look younger than she actually was. She was very stunning and it made Asteria uneasy as she couldn’t believe she knew someone so gorgeous.

“You have grown so well. You look like such a lady and a very beautiful one at that!” Said Rilynn’s mother making Asteria blush.

“Please don’t say that Ma’am. I’m nothing special,” said Asteria as she smiled brightly as she was taking the compliment very well.

“Ma’am?” Said Rilynn’s mother.

“Yes,” said Asteria confused.

Rilynn’s mother placed her hand on Asteria’s cheek,“Please call me Kendra darling and  have you seen Desmond yet,” said Kendra as she waved over to Desmond taking her hand off of Asteria’s face.

“Yes I have. He came recently with Rilynn to pick me up,” answered Asteria as she waved at Desmond who was waving back.

Suddenly Kendra pushed right through the door pushing Asteria to the side. Asteria closed the door and watched her as she looked over the house. Kendra turned to face Asteria with a smile.

“It’s fantastic. It reminds me of your mother quite well. This looks like a house decorated by her unique bland tastes,” said Kendra as she made herself comfortable on the couch.

Asteria didn’t understand what she meant by that but she knew it was either a compliment or a insult. Asteria offered her a drink but Kendra politely declined as she looked at a picture on the coffee table of Asteria’s father. She picked it up and rubbed her finger on his face.

“I always adored your father. He was polite and very sincere. My husband could trust him with his life and so could I,” Kendra said as Asteria sat down beside her.

Kendra sat the photo down and then crossed her legs. She then placed her hands on her legs  and folded them. She then asked Asteria how she felt.

“I feel great if you are wondering about what happened at the school that is,” said Asteria.

“I see. That is good to know. How about your mother? Was she worrying a lot as always?”

“She wants to have the boys arrested and I agree with her. Bray is in the hospital because they cut him for the fun of it,”

“Yes, cutting up that poor boy was very disturbing when I heard it from Rilynn,”

“What else did Rilynn say?” Asked Asteria as she sat up more.

“She didn’t say much just that you was attacked along with the Mayor’s son and I have heard the boys were just suspended from a source,”

“Today? And I didn’t know Bray was the Mayor’s son,”

“Yes, I am glad they will be punished for their actions and he is and I have met him a couple times and I do believe he did not deserve what happened to him at all,”

“Me too,” said Asteria as she rubbed her head.

“Does it hurt?” Asked Kendra as she looked concerned.

“Yes but I will be okay to go back to school tomorrow,”

“That’s good to know and instead of walking which I know from Rilynn you can get a ride from Desmond and her tomorrow. Would you like that?”

Asteria looked at Kendra as she was aware she wouldn’t take “no” for a answer so she said “yes” which made Kendra overjoyed. Kendra then went on a little bit longer about Asteria and Rilynn and how they used to play cops and robbers between the summer homes they stayed at. She used to enjoy seeing them running around enjoying their childhood as best friends. Asteria cringed at the words best friends as her hate for Rilynn rose inside of her.

“It was really fun playing with Rilynn. She was the only one who could keep me company other than my father,” said Asteria as she was acting.

“Rilynn was a difficult child unlike you,” said Kendra before she let out a long sigh.

“I understand it was difficult to handle a child when you and your husband were so occupied with work. My parents were the same,”

“Sometimes I had to get out of important meetings just to be with her which was a pain,”

Asteria felt uncomfortable as Kendra continued to talk about how being Rilynn’s mother was a hassle. It bothered her and she didn’t know why.

“Well I’m sure Rilynn appreciates all you and your husband as done especially when Riley and Rayne weren’t around so much,” said Asteria trying to end the conversation.

Kendra’s smile then turned sour making Asteria nervous, “My daughter Rayne, the oldest of my children left and never returned and my handsome and obedient son Raeleigh opposite from Rilynn runs away from the work he needs to be doing here,”

“Where is Rayne and Raeleigh?”

“Who knows where is my daughter, she moved out and ended all communication. I think she contacts Rilynn and Raeleigh and Raeleigh goes around the world helping his father with oversea business deals rather than be home with his family,”

“You can always tell me to come back. You did say he is obedient,”

Kendra laughed, “Not to me. He always shared that ability with Rayne. They did as their father said and refused to listen to me,”

“I’m sorry about that,”

“No worries I still had my ways to get them to do as I said especially Rilynn. She doesn’t listen to me or her father but I have my solutions to that problem,”

“Well parents have to figure that out if they want their children to respect them,”

“Very true Asteria. So smart as always,” said Kendra as she stood up from the couch suddenly, “I should go and I want your mother and you to come to the Christmas event we are hosting and of course please join us for dinner at our house one evening before then. My husband Constantine is dying to see you both,” she continued as Asteria got up to hug her.

“We will definitely do that Kendra and it was nice to see you,” said Asteria as they hugged her.

“Likewise,” said Kendra as she pulled away and kissed Asteria on the cheek.

Kendra made her way to the door and when she was leaving she stopped to tell Asteria something, “I am so glad you two have moved here. It’s just like the good old days but with obvious different living situations for you two but no worries being middle class looks good on you. Have a great day sweet heart and please get some good rest,” she said as she got into the car.

Asteria waved bye as she once again felt insulted but also nice because it could’ve of been a compliment. Asteia dropped the issue and went back inside for the day. 

Elsewhere in a conference room, Constantine, Blight, and Florian’s step father Presley were all sitting at a table. Constantine was switching through slides on the board on a projector with a remote as the other two watched. The slides showed a graph rising and another graph showing lower numbers. Constantine stopped there.

“We need to salvage this. The numbers showing the low numbers is from this  year of our companies Blight. We need to find a solution to this fast and I think combining our companies is the best way,” suggested Constantine as he turned his chair to face Blight.

Blight looked at Constantine and then to Presley, “Why would I do that?”

“It will help achieve our goals on both sides. Your technology will help approve our oil,” said Presley.

“Presley is right. You are now a partner with this company and so I think you should go all the way,” claimed Constantine.

“My father is on his death bed. You both know that right?”

“Yes we do,” said Constantine.

“Then how dare you both try to take the company that he had built right from under him in which he has trusted me to care for,”

“We did not mean it that way Blight,” said Presley.

“If we combine then soon they will become one and someone will have the crown. That person will be the face and the one to be in charge. That one will not be me,” said Blight as he turned his focus to Constantine.

Constantine gave Blight a sly smile, “Maybe but I can see you won’t give up easy,”

“Of course not,” said Blight as he gave a sly smile back.

Constantine then shut off the projector and stood up, “How about we end it here and go have a smoke?” He said as he took out his pack of cigarettes and shook them.

“I don’t smoke but you two can do as you wish. I’m going home. I have business to attend to there,” said Blight as he got up and fixed his tie.

As he walked to the door Constantine stopped him, “Luz will be joining next time Blight,”

“Why?” Asked a bothered Presley.

“You can say what you want Presley, this is not up for debate. Luz wants in and I can’t keep keeping him out of the loop,” answered Constantine.

Blight nodded to Constantine to show he acknowledged him as he left Presley to complain about Luz. He was able to hear that Luz’s daughter which is Vita was already too much to handle when she came to see Florian and so he didn’t want to to deal with her father too at work who was equally energetic. Blight was amused by his childish bickering as he left down the hall. He stopped at the chairs to see Asteria’s mother sitting.

“I really appreciate you driving me over here. I didn’t think my car would be at the shop for long,” said Blight.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Asteria’s mother as she got up. She gave Blight a smirk, “You can treat me to some food then,” she continued.

“I think I could manage that,”  said Blight with a kind smile.

The two of them then walked down the hall together. Constantine and Presley walked out the office as they watched them leaving. Presley mentioned something to Constantine about the other offer he wanted to give Blight and when he was going to ask him. Constantine told Presley to be patient before he went back in the office and closed the door on Presley.