Chapter 37: The Billionaire Triplets Take New York

Silas breathed deep as he stepped out of the limo. The ride had been a long one but not as tedious as usual. Smiling he reached in and helped Ava emerge. He warned her it was likely colder up north so she dressed warmly in thermal leggings, sweater and her favorite red coat along with a knitted hat and scarf she had gotten from the kids for Christmas.

The kids emerged next. They were also bundled up but had shed their coats in the car forcing them to hurriedly pull the layers back on as they stepped out marveling at the thick blanket of snow covering the ground. Though it snowed several times in the city the snow was not nearly so thick or pristine. It really was like a winter wonderland.

The Prescott estate spanned over a hundred acres encompassing a stable and riding arena as well as miles of trails and scenic paths. Silas’s father despised loud noises so they didn’t keep snowmobiles with which the boys would have had more fun with but Silas supposed it was better this way. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about them breaking their necks.

Thomas circled to the trunk hauling out their luggage. Though they didn’t need to the kids immediately grabbed their bags. The boys hauled theirs as well as their sister’s up to the front door saving Thomas a trip as he followed with Silas and Ava’s. Ava wrapped a protective, guiding arm around Alexis as Silas escorted them up to his family home though it lacked the warm nostalgia of the brownstone he preferred.

Still…

As the boys reached the front door it opened. The older man standing there was frozen in shock as the boys pushed past and Theo saying, “Hello Jeeves! Did you come with the place or were you an extra feature?”

“I beg your pardon,” the man wrinkled his nose and his moustache seemingly bristled.

“Ah good, Joseph,” Silas said as he ushered Ava and Alexis in from the cold.

“Master Silas,” Joseph bowed greeting eyeing the young woman and girl curiously.

The butler’s gaze drifted to the boys as they set their luggage beside the stairs before shedding their coats and boots. They bore a striking resemblance to Silas but that simply couldn’t be. Silas had been stubborn about waiting to settle down: a constant thorn in his father’s side, and had never engaged in extra-marital affairs. There was absolutely no chance the kids were truly his. Where then did they come from?

Joseph’s attention returned to the young woman as Silas helped her out of her coat and took her things. He did the same for the girl stowing them in the closet himself. Silas was not one to be waited on and preferred to do most tasks himself but he also wasn’t the kind of person who waited on other people. Yet here he was treating the woman and girl with particular care.

“Whoa! Check this out!” Theo said flicking his finger against an antique vase. “This place is like a museum.”

“Theo,” the woman admonished. “Don’t touch and be careful. Come here and put your coats away”

“’Kay mom,” he shrugged but obediently complied along with his brother.

“Excuse me,” Thomas said moving past Joseph to add to the luggage at the bottom of the staircase. With the delivery made Thomas slipped out again to park the limo in the garage.

“Joseph, the boys are Sean and Theo,” Silas introduced. “This is their sister Alexis and this is their beautiful mother, Ava.”

Silas slipped an arm around her waist even as she blushed. Joseph eyed the young woman carefully. It wasn’t like Silas to bring company home especially not a woman with three young kids.

“I’m sure mother has already prepared their rooms,” Silas said. His mother would not waste time to make sure her grandkids had proper rooms to suit their preferences.

Joseph nodded recalling the whirlwind of remodeling and reorganizing Opal Prescott did soon after she returned from visiting Silas in the city. Two bedrooms had been completely redone with one now holding two beds instead of just one. The butler’s eyes widened as his eyes fell on the identical boys. Did that mean the rooms were prepared specifically for these children? But why?

The Madam had mentioned grandkids but that couldn’t possibly mean…Joseph turned back to Silas as the latter bowed his head to tenderly kiss the woman’s temple making her chuckle as her cheeks took on a soft blush.

“You can put Sean and Theo’s luggage in the same room, they prefer to share. Alexis will be in the room next to theirs. Ava’s things go in mine naturally. Is father in the study?”

Wordlessly Joseph nodded.

“All right, boys let’s go announce ourselves,” Silas escorted Ava beyond the door directing her and Alexis deeper into the mansion. Sean and Theo trailed behind gaping at the expensive décor.

“I hope you don’t pay that guy for his hospitality,” Theo remarked.

“If they paid him by the word they’d save a fortune,” Sean joked.

“Boys,” Ava said. “That’s not nice.”

“Mom and dad don’t entertain that often,” Silas said. “Joseph rarely sees more than just them.”

Though he tried to alleviate their apprehension he couldn’t help but feel tense. The moment his mother found out about the triplets he knew she would have prepared for their eventual stay so there was no reason for the staff to be surprised unless they hadn’t taken his mother’s news seriously. Even so Joseph was a professional. He wondered just what notions his father had been putting into the staff’s heads during his absence.

* * *

Richard Prescott was approaching sixty. Retiring several years ago he had very little to occupy his still active mind. Often he wondered if he retired too soon. There were plenty of others who still worked. Augustus DaLair was one of them, Alice Stanton another. Even though both had competent heirs to succeed them they continued leading their perspective companies.

It was well known Augustus worked closely with his sons and Richard had attempted a similar arrangement with Silas but it was clear their personalities were incompatible. If he wanted the company to grow Richard had to give Silas ultimate authority. It wasn’t the wrong decision but it left him with nothing to do.

He sighed scratching his thinning hair as he studied the financial pages. It was habit and the only way he could still monitor Prescott Industries standing in the business world. Most of his days were spent fantasizing the acquisitions he would have made. Though Silas didn’t always make the same moves he would Richard certainly couldn’t complain about how the company fared almost standing on even ground with the DaLairs.

If he did have one complaint it was his son’s stubborn refusal to settle down. For years Richard pressed him to get married and start a family. Not only were heirs important for the health and future stability of the company but he wanted to be a grandfather. Augustus DaLair wasted no opportunity to flaunt his sons’ progeny. Not only was March’s boy interning with the company Julius’s children were proven geniuses and acclaimed musical prodigies. Augustus certainly had every reason to boast Richard couldn’t deny that. He only wanted his chance to brag and yet Silas refused to even entertain the prospect.

Somehow he had to convince Silas it was time to settle down. His first thought was to get his wife to join him as a united front. Silas had always been close to his mother giving her untapped influence over their son. Yet she didn’t seem in any great hurry to be a grandmother either if their conversation from the previous night was any indication.

* * *

“Just what is that boy waiting for?” Richard grunted as the staff moved to clear their plates in preparation for the next course.

“What do you mean?” Opal asked.

“He’s not getting any younger,” Richard said. “Jenna’s a good woman but he can’t expect her to wait forever with her biological clock ticking away.”

“Well so much for romance.”

“Romance has nothing to do with it. A marriage is a simple contract.”

“There is nothing wrong with wanting love in one’s life.”

“Love does not make a marriage successful,” he snapped. “Our son needs a strong woman capable of giving him strong children.”

“Really Richard! A woman is more than just a brood mare and children don’t make successful marriages either.”

“That isn’t what I meant. Jenna is an excellent partner to support his business ventures…just like how we balanced our activities.”

Opal rolled her eyes. Richard had always been a practical man and didn’t like wasting his time. He had no patience for the hemming and hawing of social gatherings so he avoided them. But charitable donations were important for any prominent company both financially as well as for the notoriety. He left that aspect in Opal’s capable hands while he saw to the company’s growth.

Without a partner Silas had to manage both aspects himself. He possessed more patience than his father. As a child he often accompanied his mother to charitable events so he was familiar with them. So far he seemed to manage but it made no sense to Richard especially not when Jenna was perfectly capable and willing to be his partner.

“There is nothing wrong with Silas waiting to start a family. He wants a marriage that will last and be filled with love and kinship. He doesn’t want a business proposal.”

“I don’t see the problem. He and Jenna have known each other since they were children.”

“Time does not equal love.”

“That boy will be thirty this year. Mark my words he will be married before he turns thirty-one. I’ve waited long enough.”

Opal smirked her eyes sparkling, “Truer words have never been spoken.”

* * *

Now that he thought about it…Opal agreed with him far too quick. It wasn’t like her to acquiesce so easily. He wondered if she already had a plan in mind for their son. If she did it was rather rude she did not explain it to him. A knock interrupted his thoughts. The door opened and Silas stepped in with a nod.

“Ah Silas, good. I have something…”

Richard fell silent as Silas gently escorted a young woman into the room along with a girl not more than ten. Both woman and girl were brunette with green eyes. By looks alone it was clear they were related, most likely mother and daughter.

“Dad,” Silas greeted, “this is Ava, my fiancée and our daughter Alexis.”

“Your fiancée…and daughter…” Richard repeated as if his son were speaking another language.

“Ava, Lexi, this is Richard Prescott…my father,” Silas introduced his arm naturally settling around Ava’s waist.

The gesture was not lost on Richard as his eyes went from the woman to the girl. There was something odd about the way the girl’s gaze settled on him. It was not contempt but it also didn’t seem particularly friendly. It was somewhat vacant as if she were trying to solve a math problem.

“Mom! Lexi! They have a giant indoor pool!” Theo exclaimed as he and Sean caught up barging in before the door closed.

“It’s in a kind of sun room addition,” Sean explained, “so it’s warm all year and we can swim. And it’s a full eight feet on the deep end!”

“Great. Another place for you two to crack your heads,” Alexis sighed.

“You always say that,” Theo argued. “We’re not that bad! Oh hey.”

He paused suddenly realizing they had an audience. Richard stared at the identical boys as if he were in the twilight zone. They bore a striking resemblance to Silas but they were about the same age as the girl. How was that possible?

“This is Sean and Theo,” Silas introduced with a chuckle, “boys, your grandfather.”

“Hey Grandpa,” Theo saluted. “Nice place you got here. Spared no expense, right?”

“….G-grandpa,” Richard repeated too startled to argue. He stared hard at the boys with their flippant attitudes. Just who were they?

“I thought I heard some ruckus,” Opal stepping in smiling. “Ava, my dear, it’s so good to see you again.”

“Hello,” Ava nervously smiled allowing Opal to draw her into a warm hug. “Um…Missus Prescott.”

“Now I already told you to call me mom, didn’t I?”

“…Mom.”

“Better. Lexi! Come here, my dear!”

“Hi Grandma,” Alexis smiled hugging her. Whatever reservations she held against her grandfather didn’t translate to her grandmother.

“Grandma-O!” Theo greeted. “Looking good.”

“Boys! I hope the drive wasn’t too long.”

“Every drive is long with those two,” Alexis snorted.

Opal chuckled, “Well boys will be boys. Dinner will be in an hour and a half. We eat on time around here but let me show you around before then.”

She gently took Ava’s arm winking at Silas. Though he was anxious to keep his family close he trusted his mother and he sensed she was trying to give him a private moment to explain the situation to his father.

“Go on,” Silas encouraged. “I’ll catch up in a bit.”

“All right,” Ava agreed taking Alexis by the hand. “Come on, boys. And try to behave.”

“We’ll behave for Grams,” Sean assured her.

“Yeah Grandma-O is cool,” Theo seconded as they departed.

“Silas, just what is going on here? Who is that woman and those children?” Richard demanded as soon as the door closed.

Silas glared at him. His mother often said he and his father were too much alike and that was why they butted heads. He wasn’t sure if his mother was correct but one thing was certain he had no patience for his father’s blunt and often disrespectful behavior, especially not when it was towards his family.

“Ava is my fiancée,” Silas coldly answered. “Did you not hear me?”

“Your fiancée?”

“That’s right. Sean, Theo and Alexis are our children. If you haven’t already guessed they are triplets.”

“Your children? And just how is that possible? Immaculate conception?”

“You remember the incident in the hotel almost eleven years ago?”

“You mean the hotel room with that maid? She’s a maid!” Richard suddenly roared his face turning red. “Is she blackmailing you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Silas answered. “No, she’s not blackmailing me. And no, she’s not a maid.”

Richard stared at him suspicious.

“Avalynn Carlisle.”

“She’s a Carlisle! Those back-stabbing gutter rats! I should have known. Green eyes, like a snake.”

“Watch your tone!” Silas snapped.

Richard fell silent surprised by his son’s sudden outburst.

“Ava was a victim. Her sister drugged her drink intending to do to her exactly what my roommates intended for me. It was pure happenstance we were all in the same hotel. I had no idea it was Ava at the time and she’s been raising our children on her own for the past ten years. I will not allow that to continue,” Silas explained. “Ava and I will be getting married this summer. She and the kids are already living with me.”

“Married…now there is no reason to rush.”

“This from the man who’s been hounding me to settle down for years?”

“Well…we don’t even know if they are yours.”

“I’ve already had the hospital run paternity tests.”

“You have?”

“Of course. The Board would have insisted on it and I wanted their birth certificates amended as soon as possible.”

“Birth certificates?”

“Yes. Ava originally listed their father as unknown. I wanted my name where it belonged.”

“Why would she do that?”

“She didn’t think I wanted to have anything to do with her or the kids. She couldn’t be more wrong.”

“And you are prepared to accept those children and that woman?”

“I already have. Ava is the one I’ve been waiting for…the one I’ve been looking for all these years.”

“What about Jenna?”

“What about her?” Silas shrugged. “She has nothing to do with me or them.”

“You know I planned for you two to marry.”

“You planned. Not me. This is my life. Ava is the only woman I’ll marry so I suggest you come to terms with that and soon.”

“Silas, be reasonable.”

“I could say the same about you. You should be happy.”

“Happy? Why?”

“You have three grandchildren to boast about now. As well as a caring, gentle and beautiful daughter-in-law. Isn’t that what you always wanted?”