Chapter three
I opened my laptop on the living room table and leaned over it. One of our biggest clients, a huge drinks distributor, was facing a class action lawsuit that we couldn't afford to lose. There was a lot at stake, including the name of Lennox & Associates, so we didn't want to take it too seriously.
I needed to think of a good settlement that would benefit my client and not lose him too much money. The aim was to prevent the case from going to trial and creating an even more negative image.
New York used to be a big stage, and people loved to turn everything into a spectacle, especially the media...
“Dad!”
I turned away, my thoughts interrupted, when I realized that a small hand was tugging at the hem of my shirt.
“What is it, Mary?” I examined my daughter for any sign of unease.
Other people, especially my family, had trouble differentiating between the twins, but I knew them so well that I knew exactly which one they were.
“Come with me...”
“I'm busy, child.”
“Read a story ?”
“Didn't Genevive read it to you?”
“I want you...” She squeezed her eyes shut in a pleading expression that knew how to convince me.
“Okay!”
I could spend a few minutes with her and then go back to work.
“Let's go to bed.” I picked her up. “Where's your sister?”
“Mirroring history.”
“Okay.”
I went into their room and saw Anne sitting on the bed. She came over to me carrying a book as I settled her sister down. They both came closer, and each laid their head on one of my legs. I kissed each of them on the forehead before opening the fairytale book.
“Once upon a time...” I started to tell the story until I was interrupted by Anne.
“Dad?”
“What's wrong?”
“Is Aunt Helena a princess ?”
“Helena?” I squeezed my eyes shut at the thought of the name. I couldn't immediately associate the image with a person. “Which Helena?”
“Plofesola.”
“Ah! She's not a princess.”
“Why?”
“Princesses are the daughters of kings, and I imagine that's not the case with your teacher.”
“But we're princesses.”
“When we call you princesses, it's just an endearment. It doesn't mean you're a real princess.”
“No?” Anne pressed her lips together as if she were upset by the information I had given them.
“You're both beautiful, and I love you both very much.” I kissed each of you on the forehead.
“Is Helena beautiful?”
I had no idea what could have prompted them to ask me that, but I said no because I didn't think it was appropriate to talk about that kind of subject with my daughters.
“Don't you want me to continue the story?”
They said yes.
“So let's go.” I resumed reading, saying the sentences slowly so that they could understand, and they soon fell asleep.
I tucked each of them into their beds and covered them up so that I could get back to my work.