The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 71

We pull into my driveway and make our way up to the house; Mark is in the driveway and he looks up puzzled as I park the car.

I glare at him. Where the fuck were you?

His face falls as he connects the dots and he rushes to open my door.

"Hello?" he stammers.

I get out of the car and slam the door; my fury is palpable.

"What's going on?"

"Ariana came to Violet's this morning. Apparently, she sat out the front of this house all night."

Mark's eyes widen in horror. "I didn't see her," he stammers, "I swear I didn't see a thing."

"Organize the plane, I need to take her home."

"Yes, sir."

I walk around to Ariana's side of the car and she's crumpled up in a ball, still crying. I reach in and lift her out of the car and Mark's eyes widen as he sees her state. He rushes ahead and unlocks the front door for us and I carry her in and place her carefully down on the couch. "Get me a blanket." "Yes, of course." Mark runs up the stairs.

"Ariana, I'm going to make you something to eat," I say softly as I swipe her hair back from her forehead.

"I'm not hungry," she whispers.

"You are eating, you've lost a lot of weight since I last saw you. You need something in your stomach."

Mark reappears with a blanket and I carefully place it over her. I put a pillow under her head and snuggle her in. "I'll be back in a moment, okay?" I turn to Mark. "Do not take your eyes off her," I growl.

I'm so furious that I can barely look him in the eye. What's the point of having guards at this house and Violet's if not one of them does their fucking job?

Heads are going to roll over this.

"Yes, sir." He drops to sit on the opposite couch as if scared for his life.

He should be.

I walk out into the kitchen and open the refrigerator, what the hell will I get her?

I take out my phone and text Violet.

I'm sorry

Ariana is distraught,

I'm taking her home to New York.

Call you as soon as I can.

I press send.

I get to making Ariana a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot chocolate and I check my phone, no reply from Violet.

Fuck.

I text her again.

This isn't how it looks,

"Where the hell were the guards on Violet's house this morning?" I'm livid, how could this happen?

"I texted them and they weren't starting until nine today because you weren't out and about yet."

"What?" I explode. "My ex-fiancée bombarded me in a house with my children in it. Do you think this is fucking acceptable?"

"No, sir."

"So tell me how was Ariana sitting at the front door here all night and you didn't see her?"

"After you left yesterday afternoon, I watched a few movies and then went to bed. There was no sign of anyone here at all. I thought the guards over at Violet's had taken over the shift."

"You thought wrong, get the fucking plane organized." I storm out my office and up the stairs to pack my bag.

I throw the things into my bag with force. After the best twenty-four hours in history...this happens. I check my phone to see if Violet has replied.

She hasn't.

I begin to pace as I dial her number, ring ring...ring ring...ring ring.

You've reached Violet Coleman, leave a message.

I hang up.

I'll deal with Violet later; I have to get Ariana safely home to her family before anything else.

Mark arrives at the door. "The plane is ready whenever you are."

I put a T-shirt into the bag. "We'll leave in twenty minutes."