Chapter 45 - The Billionaire Triplets Take New York

“Thomas,” Alexis greeted when she and her brothers found their father’s assistant in the study.

“Hey you three, what you got there?” Thomas asked spying the wine bottle in a large plastic bag behind Theo’s back. “You three are too young to drink.”

“This isn’t for drinking,” Alexis said as Theo carefully set it on the desk.

“It’s not?” Thomas asked raising an eyebrow. “Then what is it for?”

“First a question…are you doing anything urgent?” Alexis asked.

“No, not particularly,” Thomas glanced at the computer screen. Though most of the office was closed for the holidays the stocks never ceased and they maintained a small crew to keep everything flowing.

“Good. We need you to drive back to New York.”

“Why?”

“To deliver this bottle to Auntie Tracy,” Alexis said. “We already called her so she’s expecting it.”

“Do I dare ask what is going on?”

“Probably not,” Sean said.

“Yeah the less you know the better,” Theo agreed. “Plausible deniability, and all that.”

“What exactly is your aunt going to do with it?”

“Test it.”

“Why? For what?”

“It’s just a precaution,” Alexis said, “but we think something was added to it.”

“I’m going to need more than that,” Thomas said. “I’m sure you’ve noticed the situation around here is rather touchy so you three should stay out of trouble.”

Alexis sighed. She was hoping to avoid getting him too involved but she supposed there was no other choice. Aloud she said, “Theo, show him the recording.”

Theo took out his phone and cued up the video he made of his mother and Jenna’s confrontation in the hall. He handed it to Thomas after pressing play and watched the man’s reaction. Thomas wasn’t sure what to expect but his mouth immediately dropped open.

“What is this?” he demanded.

“The nail in the coffin,” Alexis announced. “We’ve toyed with Jenna long enough. It’s time to end it.”

“Put her out of her misery,” Sean agreed.

“And out of ours,” Theo added.

“Does your father know about this?”

“Not yet. Theo only recorded it this morning.”

“I think we better share this with him.”

“Does he have a poker face?” Alexis asked.

“Once he sees this he’ll go on a warpath.”

“That’s exactly what we don’t want,” Alexis said.

“What do you mean? Why not?” Thomas asked.

“We want to wait until she makes her next move.”

“You want to wait””

“That’s right. She’s going to try something at the party when she has the biggest audience. And we’re going to be ready when she does.”

Thomas looked from one sibling to the next before asking, “What do you intend to do?”

“Before we tell you…are you going to help us?” Alexis asked.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Can you get us a projector and display screen?” Sean asked.

“You want to play this video for everyone, don’t you?” Thomas queried immediately guessing their intention.

Sean smiled. They planned to look around the manor for the needed items but it would be easier for Thomas. No doubt the office had everything they needed and Thomas had access to all its supplies.

“Let’s loop your father in. Then we’ll talk.”

They didn’t argue. It was unfortunate they couldn’t do this on their own. If they were old enough to have driver’s licenses it would be much easier. Then again, Silas had proven he cared about their mother and was a valuable ally. So they remained quiet as Thomas text Silas to meet them in the study. It was several minutes before Silas answered the summons.

When he arrived he was flush with rage and his expression dark. He had just spent an hour with his father listening to him question all the business decisions throughout the year and debated projected earnings of the year to come. No matter how many times Silas told him it was the holidays Prescott senior continued to nitpick his business decisions. If he wasn’t talking about work he was complaining about how Silas had not made any time to spend with Jenna. Seeing the kids his expression turned to one of surprise and confusion.

“What’s this about?” Silas asked seeing the bottle in a bag.

“The kids have something to show you,” Thomas said without explanation further confusing him.

“Show him, Theo,” Alexis nodded. “But you have to promise not to fly off the handle.”

“All right,” Silas agreed as Theo held up his phone and played the video again.

At first Silas was simply puzzled but his confusion quickly turned to outrage. A murderous gleam shone from his eyes and if not for his promise he would have immediately torn out of the study in search of Ava’s tormentor.

“When was this?” he managed to speak, enunciating carefully.

“This morning,” Theo said.

“And you haven’t shown anyone else?”

“Just Thomas and you,” Alexis said.

“Why Thomas first?” Silas asked unable to keep his hurt pride completely out of his voice. He knew he was still new to parenting but he thought he and the children had gotten a little closer. Yet they had gone to Thomas first before him.

“We wanted him to run an errand for us but he insisted on knowing why.”

“What errand?”

“We need a projector and a screen,” Sean said.

“You want to play this video on a larger screen,” Silas immediately surmised.

“That’s right. She publicly humiliated our mom so it’s only fair we return the favor,” Alexis agreed with a sweet smile.

“And the wine?” Silas asked spying the bottle in the bag.

“For Aunt Tracy to take in for testing.”

“Testing for what?”

“For anything that shouldn’t be in it…drugs probably,” Theo said.

“Why do you suspect that?” Silas asked surprised by the response.

The boys shared a look. They were uncertain if they should tell him. Alexis was pensive but there was no reason to hold back now. If they would were going to tell him part of their plan they might as well explain all of it, “We may have used you as bait last night.”

“Bait? Me?”

“We sent Jenna a text as if it was from you saying you wanted to meet,” Sean said showing the brief conversation in his phone.

“How did she not know it was you?” Thomas asked. Since Jenna didn’t have the kids’ numbers if would have shown up as an unknown contact.

“I switched his number in her phone to mine,” Sean shrugged.

“How did you…You know what, I don’t want to know,” Thomas shook his head. It was amazing the trouble the kids got into when they weren’t being closely monitored.

“But Jenna never showed up in my room,” Silas said, confused.

“She did. You were in the bath,” Theo said. “She brought the wine with her but when she bolted she left it behind.”

Silas stared at him his face growing red remembering what he had been doing in the bathroom with Ava. He cleared his throat trying to marshal his discomfort. Thomas smirked but said nothing. He had a good idea what was making Silas so awkward but he had no desire to tease him in front of the kids who wouldn’t see the humor of their parents love life.

Finally Silas managed to find his voice, “And you think she added something to the wine.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time she drugged someone using alcohol,” Alexis answered evenly.

Silas studied his children carefully. It was truly scary what they could do and the lengths they went once they settled on a target. He stared at Theo’s phone feeling his outrage bubble up again.

“We know she’ll try something at the party,” Alexis said. “She needs an audience.”

“So you’re going to let her make her move before you show your hand,” Silas guessed.

“Exactly.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…your kids are scary,” Thomas said.

“Well, we are Prescotts,” Sean shrugged.

Silas’s mouth twitched with a smile. It filled him with pride they considered themselves members of his family and his true heirs. Despite his father’s attempts to isolate them the kids knew who they were and where they belonged.

“Thomas, take the wine to Tracy and bring back everything they’ve asked for.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. I’d like to see just how far they and Jenna will to go,” Silas announced. “Whatever happens…it’s sure to be interesting.”

“That’s a fact,” Thomas agreed.

“Where is your mother now?”

“Helping grandma decorate. We figured she was safe enough there while we talked to Thomas.”

Silas nodded, “All right. We’ll keep an eye on her together until the party is over.”

“I don’t think Jenna will confront her again but I agree we shouldn’t leave her alone,” Alexis said.

“I’ll check on her now while you three finish up with Thomas. We’ll have lunch together.”

“As long as Duncan’s cooking,” Theo said.

Silas chuckled. He was in full agreement.