Sampson was busy making calls and hunting leads on his own. As much as Monty was an ace at his detective work Sampson had made a fair number of connections in the city over the years. His information network however only led him to the very basic information. Kinley Cross was going to speak at the banquet yet she hadn't yet set foot into Bell's corporate building. However someone had mentioned seeing a limo driving into Baron Heights a rich gated community where Logan Bell's house once stood. However he was told that the house's title had been changed after the wedding to a Bell he had never heard of. His detectives had said it was probably to a distant relative or illegitimate cousin. Still he considered going to check it out.
His grand parents had a manor out in Baron Heights and it wasn't impossible for him to enter the community. But if he were to go a visit with his grandparents would be unavoidable. And while he didn't have a bad relationship with them they were like all grandparents hoping for him to find someone to marry so they could have more grandchildren to spoil. And since he never kept a girlfriend for more then a few months, they were always trying to set him up with someone they just knew would be the one. In the past he may have entertained them and dated the girl they chose for a brief amount of time but now with Miss Cross resurfacing he didn't have time to play nice. His concentration needed to be elsewhere. Instead of going to investigate himself he figured that he could have one of his close friends who owned his own small manor there look into it for him. Aiden owed him quiet a few favors after all.
He shot Aiden a quick text asking his friend if he had time to meet up tonight before he got back to company work. There were several properties they were looking into buying and redeveloping and a few pieces of land that were also supposed to be coming for sale. He had to research all information about the locations as well as about their competition. His work kept him busy and he kept his focus on work for now promising he'd keep hunting down information after closing time.
His phone dinged with a text alert. 'Samps I have time after 9 tonight. Meet at the usual place for a drink?' Aiden finally replied. Sampson thought a moment and decided that the private room at their local bar would work well enough for a talk. He sent a quick 'Sure' back and plans were made. tonight he would take another step forward in his investigation. The ball of anger in his stomach seemed to ease slightly and he smiled. Now that Cross was back in the country where his resources were he didn't doubt that he could find out anything and everything about them. It would just take time. But for his dead mentor he was willing to put in as much time as it would take.
Sorry the chapters kinda short today. I covered a shift for a sick coworker so ended up with less tie then I planned. Tomorrow will be 2 chapters with the FL as well.
Sampson made it to the bar about 20 minutes ahead of schedule and the private room was not yet ready for him. So he sat at the adjoining restaurants bar and orders two finders of their best whiskey. The young bartender didn't blink twice and poured the expensive liquor. Everyone knew that the Dancing Rose Restaurant not only served the general public but had private rooms that often hosted the most elite of the city. The Restaurants bar was pushed to the side and as Sampson looked into the mirrors behind the wall of glassware and liquors he could watch the diners here.
He quickly found one table that made his stern lips twitch with amusement. Just two tables behind him sat a tall woman with a blond bob streaked with pastel blues and greens and two very young and interesting children. The boy looked to be about five maybe six and his hands never stopped moving as he continued talking to both the woman and the young girl bit his voice didn't raise to a level that made the other diners unable to enjoy their own meals. In fact as he looked he saw a couple nearby them also watching and listening to the boys story. On the other side of the woman was the little girl who calmly colored on a notebook with her crayons. The little girl concentrated with her colors looking up from time to time. And she had the cutest habit of sticking her youngest out just a hair as she focused on something on the pages before her. Her light brown hair kept falling into her face until she turned to the woman and pointed saying something quietly that had the woman smiling and nodding. Then even as they sat in the restaurant the woman took the girls hair and quickly braided it back earning a beaming smile for the little girl.
He watched them a bit longer before his gaze drifted across the rest of the room. People were served beautiful dishes of food that made his stomach rumble in envy. But he told himself he would just wait until Aiden got here and they could have food along with drinks in their private room. He flagged that bartender down and got a glass of water to also drink along with his alcohol. His grandmother had always told him that the nest way to avoid a hangover besides not drinking was to make sure you drank water along with your whiskey.
As the hostess came to fetch him to the room now that it was ready Sampson was about to stand and go when he felt a shy tug at his shirt sleeve. He turned and saw no one, that was until he looked downwards. It turned out there before him were both of the adorable children that he had been observing before. It looked as though the little girl had been the one to tug on his sleeve as she still had her tiny hand out stretched her pale blue eyes staring back almost in awe into his. Her brother stood beside her hand crossed as if he really hadn't wanted to come over. His hair was a reddish brown and his own blue eyes were darker and seemed more grounded then the starstruck eyes of his sister. He couldn't help but speak softly as he spoke to them, "Can I help you two with something?"
"No," the boy quickly answered raising his eyebrow almost suspiciously. "Why would we need help from a strange man we don't even know?" Sampson blinked and scratched his head awkwardly. Had he said something wrong? Perhaps he needed to spend some more time around kids. The boys sighed heavily and then nudged his sister forward. "Reg has something for you." It was then that Sampson saw the paper clutched in the little girls one hand.
With her brothers urging she held the paper out to him and he gently took it was a small nod and a polite thank you. When he looked down he did not see a scribbled mess like he had expected, but a very well done silhouette of him at the bar a drink in his hands. He blinked and saw that at the bottom she had even scribbled out her name.
He met her bright eyes and saw the shy smile. "Thank you, I like this very much. It very well done little artist." This made the girl giggle and blush happily and she grabbed her brothers hand in excitement.
Sampson was about to ask where their mom was since he didn't immediately see the woman with the blond bob. When the boy tried to shake off his sister and said. "I don't know why you even like this guy. Hes so cold."
"Yes!" The little girl agreed excitedly speaking with a very melodic voice. "He's like the cold Prince in Mommy stories. I like him!" She smiled at him sweetly and he really didn't know how to respond.
When he cleared his throat about to say something to the kids he heard a woman's voice from behind him. It sounded like honey dropping off a fresh comb, thick and slow but so sweet. "Who are you? And what are you doing to my children?"
He turned and gazed into a pair of bright green eyes that looked fierce and protective. "I'm Your Prince." He found himself saying his heart beating faster in unexplained excitement.
Sorry I had some issues and deleted chapters instead of posted them. Quickly will work to rewrite them and have them available for you as much as I can over the weekend.
Thank you again for reading.
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