Problems Compound
Virginia was elegantly sitting on a broad, plush sofa. The grey cashmere was supple against her bare legs. She was smiling knowingly because she knew her sisters were about to put on the most elaborate show the Lances may have had in an awfully long time.
She took a sip of the scotch in her glass. It smoothly slid down her throat and warmed her inside and out. She was deep in thought. She had found out about Jessica's shenanigans, and she was angry.
Amber Ann only wanted to shock their sister into obedience, but Virginia knew Jessica all too well—she was one of the few people who knew Jessica was essentially destitute and a thief.
She had helped Amber Ann for tonight, but she had decided to do more on her own. She would stop her sister. She sighed. Maybe Jessica would finally grow up and stop being such a lecherous wretch.
"I know that look. What are you up to?" Virginia was brought out of her musings by her brother—her twin brother—Paul.
She sighed a wispy laugh and took another sip of her drink. "You will see."
Paul looked to his sister over the rim of his glass of white rum. His eyes flicked to the door to the hall. "Why can't you get Amber Ann to come to dinner?"
"Ha! Don't worry. She will be here."
His head snapped back to his sister, a small smile spreading across his lips. He stood with a nod. "Let me tell the others so we are all prepared to back her up."
He walked to their older brothers, a sly smile on his face.
Jessica's Aston Martin slid to a halt in her parents' drive. She was feeling rather good. She and Christopher had almost certainly accomplished the task—good thing too, with his wife returning tomorrow. They had been essentially living together for the past week, having sex on a regular schedule, and now she had an appointment next week to ensure everything was in good working order.
She got out of the car and almost danced up the stairs. She couldn't wait until she could tell Amber Ann she was pregnant for Dan. She was going to love rubbing her nose in the fact that she could carry a baby to term and the perfect Amber Ann could not.
Just as Jessica entered the front door of the Lance estate, Amber Ann's car pulled next to one of her brothers' monstrous SUVs. She stepped gracefully out of the car and onto the gravel driveway. She took a deep breath as she looked up to the house. This was the first dinner she had been to since she left Dan—it was going to be odd being here without him.
...Without him and everyone knowing why.
Her mind felt like it was in the midst of hiccups as her nerves seemed to spark throughout her body.
She swallowed, took another deep breath, set her shoulders, and walked up the stairs to the front door.
Jessica entered the main living room and went straight to her mother.
"Hello, Mommy." They kissed, and almost every eye in the room rolled.
"Hello, darling! Come. Dinner is almost ready. Have a drink and talk to your mother."
They moved to the bar, and one of the family maids had a drink made for Jessica. Jessica was taking a sip just as she was looking toward the door of the hall. Her eyes went wide as she saw Amber Ann appear.
She wasn't shocked that her sister was there for the family dinner, it was because Amber Ann was more beautiful than she had ever seen her before.
Her dress was a fine silk, and it clung to her form—flowing softly and supplely over her curves. Her hair was wavy and bounced softly with every step, and she was wearing makeup. It was soft and subtle, but it was there.
Jessica stood staring at her younger sister, her mind a blur, as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.
Amber Ann walked in as if she had not noticed Jessica go stiff. She walked to their father and kissed his cheek.
Damon Sr. had brightened and sat forward to greet his middle daughter.
He just looked at her quietly; he didn't want to stir things up, but he wanted to look at her and make sure she was truly okay.
"Hi, Daddy." Amber Ann smiled to her mom. "Hi, Mommy. I am so sorry I haven't been to dinner in a while. I've…"
"You have been establishing an incredible new resort! I have heard whispers about it." Damon Sr. smiled with pride.
Jessica placed her drink down. "Pour me an apple juice, Amanda." She walked to Amber Ann, forcing her to look at her. "I heard you were having financing problems, little sister. Maybe you should ask Daddy for help."
"Don't worry, Jessica, I was able to pay my contractors." She smiled broadly at her elder sister. "I have money in my bank account."
It took everything within Virginia not to burst with laughter, as she watched Amber Ann smile pleasantly at Jessica.
"Besides, I am going to invest in the resort myself."
Jessica raised an eyebrow and looked to Virginia, but their father was the one to speak.
"You are? Have you looked into the resort?"
"Of course, Daddy. I want to invest in the bathhouse and spa. It is going to be a unique experience, and it is going to do very well. And they have these different little groupings of villas and three restaurants. It is going to be a world-caliber resort."
Jessica frowned, anger welling up within her. She sipped her drink and almost choked when she realized it was just apple juice. Her mother looked at her with a frown.
"You're not drinking tonight, hun? Calm down and have a drink. Your father wants a calm dinner."
Jessica cradled her belly. Her jealousy calming a bit. "I am pregnant, Mommy." She smiled broadly and looked straight to Amber Ann. "I am not going to be drinking the hard stuff for a while."
There was a twinkling in her eyes as she finished. She relished the moment of seeing her beautiful, PERFECT sister waver, her eyes slightly going wide as she looked down to Jessica's belly.
Jessica sipped her juice with a soft smile. Of course, she had no way of knowing if all her work with Christopher had paid off, and the baby had nothing to do with Dan.
Her family didn't need to know that.