By Chance Read online

  Standing just outside the car, Seth reached a hand back inside, offering it to his sister so she could climb out. He smiled at her, stiffening the muscles in his arm when he felt her grab hold.

  “I should have gone out the other side. It would have been much more lady like,” Suzie told him as she hopped to the ground.

  “Which is exactly why you didn’t.”

  Suzie laughed, releasing Seth’s hand so she could fuss with her hair.

  “If you’re planning anything reckless, I think we’d all prefer you do it tonight rather than tomorrow,” Seth told her when he caught a glimpse of her hand trembling slightly.

  “Seth Richard Ellison! Why would you say such a thing?” Seth cringed at his mother’s shrilly-voiced question.

  “It was a joke mom. Ya know, trying to lighten the mood.”

  Cindy Ellison stepped right in front of her son, so close that if he hadn’t been a foot taller than her, their noses would have touched. “Keep your jokes to yourself. I don’t think they’re funny, and neither does anyone else.”

  “Mom.” Suzie’s soft voice drifted over the tense moment. “They’re waiting for us. I think we should go in.” She looked up at her brother with an apologetic look on her face. Seth tried to reassure her with a smile as she took their mother’s arm. He stood and watched them walk toward the church.

  Seth and Suzie had made an agreement the night he’d told his parents about the business. He’d been keeping it all to himself, but the press release was going to be in the New York Times the next day so he’d known he had to tell them. It hadn’t gone well. He remembered every moment. His mother had asked him how on earth they’d gotten the idea, and when he’d told her that they’d taken jobs as mold models to pay rent, her response was so ludicrous he almost laughed at her. Her exact words had been, “So since your father and I don’t baby you and expect you to carry some responsibility for yourself, we forced you to become a pimp?” He was too shocked to respond immediately, and Suzie had stepped in, trying to save him.

  Their mother had turned on his sister, ranting and raving about how she’d better not turn out to be just as big a disappointment as her brother, as well as various expletives they’d only heard come out of their mother’s mouth a handful of other times in their lives. That was when Seth made the decision that he’d tell Suzie that he didn’t want her to show him any support in front of their parents. He didn’t want her taking the heat for something she had nothing to do with. They weren’t kids anymore. There were no tit-for-tat punishments they could check off. He’d made the decisions on his own, he would carry the weight of their consequences on his own. Plus, he’d known he had her full support without her throwing herself under the bus with him.

  Seth felt his father come up behind him. Richard Ellison was a man of few words, so when he put a hand on his son’s shoulder and told him, “Try not to let her get to you … she just doesn’t understand,” Seth was taken completely aback.

  Seth felt his knees wobble at his father’s encouraging words. He opened his mouth to respond, but his dad wasn’t finished. “It’s harder for us at public things. Everyone asks after you and wants to know what you’re doing. How do we tell our colleagues, friends, and family that our son makes plastic dicks and rubber vaginas for a living?”

  Seth couldn’t help it. He laughed, and it turned into a snort. “I suppose you could say it the way you just did to me, and they might just think you’re crazy and walk away.” He smiled, reining himself in.

  His father nodded. “They might. Or they might ask us what colors you offer … and that isn’t something I think your mother could handle.” He squeezed his son’s shoulder before dropping his arm. “Bottom line, son, is that we need some time. We need to figure out how to do these things. For now, we’re just telling people you’re taking a year off before you head to grad school. That explanation alone has already gotten us crazy looks and intrusive questions. So, try to give your mother a break, okay?”

  Seth wasn’t sure what to say so he nodded in agreement. After his father passed him and entered the church, Seth followed, not really seeing where he was going. He had a hard time believing that the only issue his mother had was that she didn’t know what to tell people. She could make something up if that was the case. It was that moment that he realized that it wouldn’t have mattered.

  His name being called broke through the jumbled mess in his head. Shaking himself and taking note of where he was, he plastered on a smile and put on his best salesman face. This weekend was for his sister … his issues with their parents would not ruin it.

  Seth stood at the end of the long aisle beside a bouncing Dr. Todd, waiting for his sister to appear beneath the giant wooden doorframe. He looked across the aisle to where her three bridesmaids had arranged themselves, all of them wearing matching pale yellow dresses. Seth knew each of them. He’d known them since they were kids. He’d even had a crush on Hannah. Seeing them brought back many memories, and he found himself staring. When he realized it, it was too late. Hannah was staring back with a goofy grin on her face. Seth felt a flush creep up his neck, but tried to keep a straight face. The music had just started, cueing his father and sister to walk down the aisle. He turned to watch, thankful for the interruption.

  Suzie had tears pooling in her eyes as their dad released her arm, placing her hand in Dr. Todd’s. Seth watched intently, happy but a little sad. The minister started to speak, and Seth’s mind wandered through the happiness and sadness he was feeling. He was surprised when his swirling thoughts revealed a face—Shannon’s. He hadn’t thought about her since he’d left the office the day before. But now, as her blue eyes swam before him, creating a veil over the ceremonial union of his sister and her intended, the sadness floated away.

  Seth blinked, and the moment was gone. The crowd was on its feet and cheering. He focused on the happy couple before they locked in a tight embrace. He smiled and brought his hands together as his baby sister and her new husband broke apart, entwined their hands, and took off running toward the door. He laughed a little to himself. She was happy. His little Suzie had really found the one; anyone that was willing to run so much that they’d run down the aisle at their own wedding had to have been made specifically for her.

  The church cleared out quickly. Most guests rushed over to the reception hall—motivated by the promise of free booze. Seth followed quietly behind the other groomsmen, choosing to ride with them rather than having to ride submerged in mother-induced guilt the whole way there. He climbed into the back of the huge black SUV that belonged to Dr. Todd’s brother, Scott. Seth wasn’t sure what make it was, but he was pretty sure the government had built it to run over those little Smart Cars that make the annoying whirring noises as they crawl down the road. It might even be possible for Scott to hit one of those cars and not even notice, Seth thought as he slid across the leather and settled into the middle of the back seat.

  Scott and the only other groomsman, Brian, shut their doors in unison with Seth … and almost immediately they both turned around, staring at him with expectant glances. Seth felt his eyes pop a little. “What’s up, guys?”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  ‘Tell you what?” Seth asked, clueless as to what Scott was talking about.

  “I mean, I know we don’t know you well, but the bachelor party was a blast. If there was ever a time, that would have been it.” Brian leaned through the break in the front seats to look at Seth.

  Seth was still confused. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Do you get to hand pick the models?” Scott asked.

  “How do you come up with the ideas, and know they work? Do you test them?”

  The lightbulb went off in Seth’s head when Brian asked about the models. “How’d you find out?”

  The groomsmen looked at each other. “Suzie told us.”

  Seth laughed and shook his head. “Everyone in my family wants to hide me in a cupboard under the stairs, and my
little sister is running around shouting about my profession.” Seth shook his head. “I guess this side of it is better, anyway.” Seth wasn’t really talking to them, more to himself, so when he looked up in to blank stares he wasn’t all that surprised.

  “Yes, we pick the models, both male and female. Yes, we test the products, no I don’t watch the testing. It doesn’t work the way you think. As far as ideas go, we have a monthly brainstorming meeting that involves as many free minds as we can muster in the building. Everyone, from us three CEOs to the guy that works the desk in the lobby, is a part of Genesis Inc. We also get a lot of very specific requests from our clients, and we do our best to cater to them.”

  Brian and Scott sat thoughtfully before the latter turned and started the massive car.

  “I still don’t get why you didn’t tell us … can we help with product development?” Brian asked.

  They backed out of the parking space and Scott navigated them onto the road. Once Seth was sure he could speak without laughing, he told them, “Anytime. You’re both welcome to come to the city whenever you want. I’d love to show you around Genesis Inc., and I have plenty of room if you’d want to crash for a weekend or something.”

  Scott and Brain looked at each other, nodding. “Sweet. Thanks man.”

  Seth spent the rest of the drive wondering if he’d made a huge mistake, but ended up deciding there wasn’t much harm the two of them could do on a short visit. Plus, they couldn’t possibly get in more trouble than Gideon.

  The reception was a hit. The music was great. Not too many of those cheesy wedding reception songs. Seth was thrilled with his sister’s choice of caterers. She and Dr. Todd had chosen to have very informal food—BBQ pork and chicken with all the fixings. The food didn’t reflect the rest of the event though. Everything was exactly perfect, from the crystals on the centerpieces to the little placeholders on each table. Seth knew that his sister had spent months upon months doing everything she could to make sure that her wedding day was perfect. He was very happy for her.

  The night moved quickly, and the drinks went down very smoothly. Seth found himself alternating between self-pity and berating himself for not having the balls to stand up for anything. He didn’t stand up to his family about his job. He couldn’t even ask Shannon out. He’d almost done it several times, but then the wuss in him took over and he choked.

  His wallowing sent him spinning into a deep whiskey pit, so when his Uncle Frank—the black sheep of the family because he’d only gotten a Master’s degree instead of a PhD—came and sat next to him, he wasn’t as put together as he should have been.

  “How ya been Seth? Your parents said you graduated.”

  Seth nodded and swallowed a mouthful of whiskey. “Sure did. It’s nice to be done with all that.”

  Uncle Frank may not have been a doctor, but he had the same mentality as his parents … Seth should have known better than to talk to him at that moment. “Well, I know you’re taking a break, which can be wise … but you’re not done, son. Far from it.”

  Seth took a long swig from the glass in his hand and shook his head. He swallowed hard and looked his uncle in the eye, making an alcohol-induced split-second decision. “I’m not going back. There’s no reason to. I’m happy where I am.”

  Uncle Frank chuckled the way that older men did, way down in their belly’s. “Of course you are. No responsibilities, no absolutes. But you can’t live like that forever. You need income.”

  Seth could feel anger rising in his chest. He knew he should keep his mouth shut, but the whiskey had burned through the part of him that could put thought into action. “I have plenty of income, Uncle Frank. In fact, I could retire tomorrow a very wealthy man. I work because I love my job.”

  Uncle Frank stood, looking angrily at Seth. Seth couldn’t stop himself. His voice was increasing in volume as he spoke, and people were staring. “No worries, Uncle Frank. Once everyone else finds out I make plastic dicks and rubber vaginas, you won’t be the black sheep anymore.”

  “Seth!” He heard his father’s voice from across the room. The entire reception seemed to be watching him. Seth ignored them. He tipped his half-full glass to his mouth, finishing the dark liquid in one swallow before he stood and calmly walked out of the reception hall, fishing his phone out of his pocket as he went. He could hear footsteps following him, but he ignored them as he looked at his phone, trying to decide if he should call Gid, or Aaron; one of them could call the helicopter for him.

  “Seth, wait!” His sister’s voice made him look up.

  “I’m sorry, Suze. I’m so sorry I ruined your day.” He reached out to hug her.

  She stepped into his arms and spoke against his chest. “You didn’t ruin it. You made it more memorable.” She laughed. “But really I’m glad it’s out. Mom and Dad aren’t, but they’ll get over it. You shouldn’t have had to hide, and now you don’t.”

  Seth squeezed his sister. “Thanks Suzie. Apologize to Dr. Todd for me, would ya? I’m gonna have one of the guys send the helicopter for me. I’m in no shape to drive, and I’m not staying at Mom and Dad’s tonight.”

  “What about your car?”

  Seth shrugged. “I don’t really need it in the city. I can go a few days without. Once I’m back and settled in, I’ll send someone out to drive it back.”

  Suzie loosened her grip on her brother. “Love you, Sloth.”

  “Love you too, Snoozy,” he said as he released her, turning back toward the exit.

  Seth decided to call Aaron, figuring that Gideon would be busy with God only knew what … or who. He didn’t like disturbing either of them, but Aaron was safer. He scrolled through his contacts until Aaron’s face appeared and he could push his thumb against it. He waited for the call to connect and brought the phone to his ear, listening to it ring.

  “Did she run from Dr. Toad?”

  Seth smiled despite himself. “He isn’t Dr. Toad anymore. He was cool at the bachelor party. And no, she didn’t run. She’s locked into the thing now. Has the ring and everything. Can you call the chopper for me? I haven’t put the number in my phone yet, like an idiot.”

  Seth heard Aaron let out a low whistle. “That bad, huh?”

  “Actually, worse than that bad.”

  “Damn. Yeah, no problem. Can you get to the airport?”

  “Yeah, I’ll call a cab.”

  “Okay, man. My guess is about two hours and you should be on your way.”

  “Thanks, Aaron.”

  “No thanks needed, brother … but I’ll want to hear this story soon.”

  Seth nodded, then laughed, forgetting his friend wasn’t standing in front of him. “You bet,” he finally said before letting the phone fall from his face, ending the call before proceeding to Google local taxi companies.

  Three

  Thankfully, it was a clear night and the helicopter ride went smoothly. Seth still hadn’t gotten used to having a helicopter—riding in it still freaked him out a bit. Evan, their pilot, was super easy-going and had a great sense of humor, which made the ride much more manageable. Seth was grateful that Aaron and Gideon had no desire to be involved in any hiring processes. He’d been able to hand-pick Evan. He’d been one of fifteen private helicopter pilots that he’d interviewed, and he came with glowing recommendations. He was former Army, had served two terms in Iraq, and piloted emergencies for three hospitals in the New York Metro area before deciding he wanted a quieter, less bloody life.

  Seth smiled as they touched down on the roof of Genesis Inc. and started to take off his harness. “Thanks, man. Sorry again for calling you out so late.”

  “No worries. That’s why you pay me the big bucks,” Evan responded with a laugh.

  Seth laughed with him as he got free of his chair and leaned forward. “True. I’ll see you later. Have a good night.”

  Evan nodded in return as Seth took off his headset, hanging it above his vacated seat before he braced himself and opened the door. The noise was deafening, and t
he motion of the blades made his heart race uncomfortably. He stepped onto the roof, ducked and ran to the access door, pressing his thumb to the reader without looking back. He felt the air shift as Evan lifted the helicopter off the concrete, hovering, waiting for Seth to enter the building.

  The door buzzed, signaling that it had accepted his thumb print, and unlocked. Seth pulled it open while tossing an all-clear wave at Evan. The roof access doors led to a small lounge. The guys had decided to furnish the space since they’d occasionally be hanging out waiting for Evan to arrive—plus it was a nice welcome for any guests that arrived by chopper.

  Seth was never short of surprised by the things that money could buy. He’d never wanted for anything growing up, but he also couldn’t just do whatever he liked on a whim. Those days were a thing of the past. Now he had a private helicopter at his disposal, a penthouse apartment in his favorite small city, and he was currently standing in one of the biggest buildings in that city … and it was one-third his.

  He shook his head to himself as he thought about the first day they’d all shown up to Lily and Oak.

  Seth had been so nervous he’d sweat through his t-shirt. Aaron had retreated into his ‘I don’t speak’ hole, and Gideon … well, Gid had been Gid. He’d flirted with the receptionist, winked at the people in the waiting room, and had even gotten three model’s phone numbers before they’d reached their destination on the third floor.