Mixed Signals

are hiding? Your mothe

iliar bass echoing in the room

htly. She got up and thanked the gods above for her A

chard repeated, posing at the entrance, his ankle on his bent leg.

place. Richard was conflicted: he had lied. Regina was too preoccupied with her guests and sympathizers to worry about the whereabouts o

omorrow. Get down here for there is

no hand in the decision making. He had relinquished that right to Pet

was playing with a ball pen on a piece of paper to wh

orgotten that shameful night when he had lost his head. Jackie stare

ah Rossi, surviving heir of the Rossi inheritance and co-owner of Petals Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals, never married, no r

ad never had his life read to him like a biography. S

ine, I am

er the years? For abandoning the company that you both put together on his shoulders alone? Or," she paused

e mention of that memory. S

et a face or a

luence and I didn't know what I was doing or who was

t, I became trash, a common wh

e girl and it would have been wrong of me to take advantage of you. Y

hat am

to reply when a lanky

I was wondering where I could get something to eat, Jacq

ing how much he had heard. He hated the nickname

ueline. And you are? his conscience pricked him. He closed the door behind them and got down to business. It didn't take Richard long to find the binder he was looking for. Peter was so obvious a

ic was coming from but he would let Gina handle this one. She was the parent, not him. Minu

ing to ask questions. I can't be everywhere right now.

not send Kristin instead? I have no authority in this house

aid of her youngest daughter. Jacqueline was unpredictable, unstable and irrational. Her head ruled her heart and that would have proved to be an excellent discipline on her part if she only

lping out in my

at room and put an end to the noise yourself

r she could march into that room, unplug the sound systems and damn the consequences. Either way, her guests would leave

pleaded, her palms clasped together in petition. Most unlikely, Richard sai

te. Where is th

n't miss it. It says Jacq-Jacq boldly in black p

gining what Jackie and her street friends were up to. He ran up as quickly as his stamina would permit him and made a right turn. The music was getti