Abigail

My heart almost leapt out of my throat.

I whipped around, my heart hammering in my chest, ready to confront whoever it was only to come face to face with a beautiful teenage girl beaming at me like Christmas had come early.

"Uh... hello?"

It was a bit chilly out. The cool evening breeze wrapped around us as I took in the young girl’s stature. The gala was definitely off limits to children, so why was this kid here, dressed in blue jeans and a pink sweater?

Wait a minute, those eyes...

"Hi! I’m Angel Wolfe," she said, sticking her hand out, her grin stretching impossibly wider. "And you have no idea how much I’ve wanted to meet you."

I froze for a second, my brain going on a brief holiday while I processed what I’d just heard. No wonder those eyes looked so familiar. So eerily familiar, almost an exact copy of Finnegan’s and Gina’s.

Damn, the genetics must be strong in their family.

Holy smokes! This was Angel, Finnegan’s daughter. Did Finn know his daughter was at the gala?

Angel arched her brow, glancing at her outstretched hand and then back at my face. "I promise my hand doesn’t bite."

An awkward laughter slipped from my lips and I took her hand in mine. "Sorry, my brain is all frozen. You look exactly like your father."

Her grin widened, a flush rising in her cheeks. "You’re even prettier in person. Dad’s descriptions don’t do you justice."

I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Your dad’s been describing me? Should I be worried?"

Angel laughed, throwing her hands in the air. "That’s exactly my point. He doesn’t describe you. Getting any information out of him about you is like trying to wring juice out of bugs."

My head reared back in surprise. "That’s a very distinct analogy."

"I try." She shrugged, closing the gap between us, her eyes shining and sparkling with delight.

"You really are pretty," she grinned.

"Thanks, Angel." I tilted my head to the side. "Do you want to tell me how you got here though? I’m pretty sure your father doesn’t know you’re here. What are the odds that a UFO picked you up from home and suddenly dropped you here?"

"Very high odds," she whispered, and we both dissolved into giggles. "What are the chances that you wouldn’t tell him I was here and I could call the UFO to take me back home?"

"It’s your father, girl. Lying to him is like digging a hole the size of Texas. He’ll find out."

"And he’ll be mighty pissed about it," Angel chuckled.

"You could give him those puppy eyes and be saved. What do I have to give him?" I teased.

She parted her lips to respond and I just knew it would be cheeky with that mischievous look in her eyes — when a woman’s voice rang out several cars away.

"Angel Wolfe! You are in so much trouble, young lady!"

A tall, elegant woman with black hair and pretty blue eyes rushed toward us.

"Oh no, Aunt River’s found me," she groaned.

Aunt? Was that his sister? Finnegan Wolfe had a sister?!

"Angel, why did you run off like that? Your father is going to kill me when he finds out!" River panted, slightly out of breath.

Angel giggled. "He’ll have to catch me first."

"You know, to be in his good graces, I could rat you out to him," I teased, while River burst into bright laughter. She turned to me, her eyes shining with fascination.

"Oh my gosh, you’re Abigail!" She clapped her hands excitedly. "I’ve heard so much. You have no idea how happy I am to finally meet the woman who’s been driving my cousin crazy in the best way possible."

Oh, she was his cousin. I felt my cheeks heat up, burning under her intense gaze. "He talks about me that much?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

River smirked. "Oh girl, you have no idea. It’s more of what he doesn’t say, you know? Finnegan might look cold and terrifying to the rest of the world, but I can read him like a book. And lately? You’re doing something very right, because he’s been so warm."

I shouldn’t have felt all fuzzy from her words, but I did. Finnegan made me feel things I couldn’t explain, and it felt vindicating to know I was on his mind just as much as he plagued mine.

We were still chatting and laughing when voices drifted from the side entrance.

Gina Wolfe stepped out with her son beside her.

"Mother, can we not do this here? You embarrassed me in there in front of my guests."

"Your guests? They’re our guests, Finnegan," Gina spat, her stiff black dress hugging every inch of her haughty self. "First off, you throw the charity without my approval—"

Finnegan let out a frustrated groan, the vein in his forehead jumping as he rubbed his temple. "Mother, I do not need your approval to host a charity gala for my own company, dammit."

"Is that how you intend to treat me? Discard me like some old tissue? What has gotten into you lately? You do not listen to me, and I don’t know what has convinced you that you can run Wolfe without me."

"I can and I will." He barked it out before dragging a hand through his thick dark hair.

Angel shifted uneasily next to me, and I glanced down to see her lips curled in anger as she glared daggers at her grandmother.

"Ha!" Gina scoffed. "You think you know better? It’s because of that girl, isn’t it? If you had listened to me when I told you to fire her, then maybe you would still have an iota of sense—"

Her eyes landed on me, River, and Angel standing awkwardly in the car park a few meters away.

"Angel?" Finnegan’s face went pale in disbelief.

The anger on Angel’s face vanished immediately. Her face lit up and her hands shot up in the air, waving. "Hi, Daddy!"

Gina’s face twisted with pure crystalline rage, her cold eyes locking onto me like I was the source of every problem in her life.