"You asked to see me, Daddy?" Leah said as she poked her blonde head inside his office door. Her father looked up from his large desk filling a significant portion of the room with a wrinkled brow, but when he saw his daughter, brightened.

" Come in, Sweetheart. I do need to speak with you."

"Okay." Leah made sure to shut the door quietly before moving to settle in one of the cushioned office chairs positioned at perfect angles in front of the cherry oak desk. Her hands smoothed the faint creases in her skirt caused by several hours of reading on her bed as she waited for her father to finish whatever project he was pouring over. Finally, he dropped his pen and focused his azure gaze on her. His kind smile relaxed her worries over this visit.

"How have you been handling the kidnapping?"

Naturally, Leah's smile fell as she sobered, her mind snapping to the incident three days prior. "I'm actually doing fine. It's a good feeling knowing The Boss and Leroy are in prison. I'm a bit worried about Wren though. He's seems a bit down."

Tony nodded in agreement. "He just needs a bit of time, I'm sure. Then, you will have your butler back. I'm not worried about him though. Just you. If you need to talk to me or have any fears..."

Leah shook her head rapidly, her smile returning. "I'm not scared! Not with Butler Wren at my side and now that I'm - " Her words faltered causing her father to send her a questioning look. I need to tell him. she thought. God, help me tell him! She swallowed hard. "Now, that I'm a Christian. Daddy, I gave Jesus my life on my birthday."

Leah watched surprise flash across her father's face, followed by another emotion she couldn't decipher. He seemed to be struggling with the news and she waited for him to explode. Instead, he sighed and smiled small.

"You are an adult now. I trust you to make wise decisions."

She blinked, not sure she had heard correctly, but when his smile never diminished, she realized she had. Her own smile blossomed. "Thank you!"

"So you feel safe having Wren at your side?"

"Very safe. There is nothing he wouldn't face for me." Whether the young heiress had intended to reveal her true feelings at that moment or not, Tony knew his daughter well and gleaned much from her shining eyes and tender expression.

"I understand. I'm glad to hear it, but enough about Mr. Adams. I had planned to give you your birthday gifts at the Ball in front of the guests for the grand finale but plans changed, obviously. I hope you don't mind my lack of grandeur in giving them to you here."

"Not at all! I'll take birthday presents anywhere, at any time!"

Tony chuckled, rising with manila envelopes and a small box in his hand and rounded the desk to lean against it in front of his daughter. "My first gift to you is a new bank account."

Leah raised a brow as she was handed a small Bank deposit slip, her other brow following the movement as she stared at it. "Daddy! This is too much!"

Tony shook his head, still smiling. "Not at all. You officially own a quarter of my wealth at this moment. Including one of my construction chains. I decided to give you charge of the one here in Springfield. I trust my group leader and he has agreed to help teach you the ropes. Some believe college to be the answer to good leadership. I believe hands-on experience to be best, though I wouldn't argue if you would like to do online business courses."

Shock was the only emotion Leah could feel. She had known that she would receive money upon turning eighteen, but nothing of this significance! Tony wasn't finished and proceeded to hand her the large envelope. Leah's hand shook as she took it and the world began to spin as she pulled the large stack of papers from inside. Reaching to rest a hand on her head, she breathed deep, forcing the room back to stillness before lifting her tear-filled eyes to her father.

"Is this for real?"

Tony nodded, looking more than pleased with her reactions. "Totally real. The Kingsley Mansion and surrounding one hundred acres are yours. Happy Birthday, Darling girl."

Hand clamping over her mouth, the shock wore off rather quickly as the heiress squealed and with actions much as she would do, jumped from her seat and threw herself into her father's waiting arms. Tears and laughter bubbled from within as she hugged him.

"I can't believe it! Thank you. Thank you!"

Tony laughed and she loved hearing it. He didn't laugh often as sobriety was more his natural character. "You are so welcome. Oh, and here is a box of checks and your own debit card for the account. I left the password for you to enter." Tony untangled himself to hand her the items.

"Okay! No arguments from me!" She grinned.

"Good. Now, I need to speak with Wren. Would you mind sending him my way as well?"

"He's gone to the police station right now. He said they were needing to ask a few more questions. May I ask why you want to see him?"

"No, you may not. Just send him my way when he gets in. Okay?"

Leah nodded, unease replacing some of her joy, but she moved to leave just the same. Only when she pulled the door open did she pause and turn back. "Daddy?"

Already halfway back to his chair, her handsome father stopped and turned. Leah's finger tapped the metal knob she held as she fought for the courage to ask her question. "Was - was Mother a ... Christian?"

Tony's eyes widened in surprise before all expression was masked. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "That is true. Who told you?"

"Charles, but it was an accident. So... don't scold him."

Tony sighed and reached a hand to rub his jaw before offering a tense smile. "Okay."

"Why did she leave?"

Tony's jaw jumped as he clenched it, but no other emotion showed. "I cheated on her and she couldn't forgive me. She left a few days after finding out."

Hurt stabbed Leah's heart. So, it was true after all. "Is that all?" She asked, her voice soft.

Tony hesitated but nodded again, offering no other explanation.

"Okay," Leah couldn't stop the tremble in her lips as she tried to smile. "I'll tell Wren to come when he gets back."

"Thank you."

She flinched at the curtness of his words but left without saying more. Pain squeezed her heart as she moved down the hall towards her room. How could he have done that to her mother? Why hadn't her mother wanted some part in her life? She considered the similarities that she and Tony shared; Maybe it had been too painful to look at her daughter.

"Hey, you okay?"

Samantha's almost gentle voice jarred her from her misgivings and she looked up to see the girl leaning against her door post, just as she had done many times in the past. Only this time, there was no disdain curling the girl's lips; Rather, she appeared guarded with small specks of concern shadowing her green orbs. Still, Leah tensed.

"Yes, everything's fine. Do you need something?"

Samantha studied her for a moment before sighing and shrugging. "I've decided to go home. I think I've outstayed myself."

You got that right! But Leah tried to attempt a pleasant expression. "I hope you have safe travels then."

"Thanks." The redhead chewed her bottom lip, before scoffing and flipping a strand of hair. "Listen, I don't do 'thank you' very well, but I just wanted to say... Well - you were pretty awesome in the forest the other day."

Leah blinked in surprise as her nemesis began to fidget, struggling to say what she wanted.

"So, you know," Samantha continued. "Thank you." She shuffled her feet. "And I'm sorry."

Today was proving to be full of surprises. "Sorry? For what exactly?"

"For everything I did and for what I was planning."

"Planning?"

Samantha lifted a chain from her neck and handed it to Leah. On its end hung a green pendant. Leah took it.

"Its expensive you know and I thought I could frame Wren and force him to come to England with me. But considering the circumstance, I changed my mind."

At first, anger burned in Leah, but gradually it faded to a foreign affection: Love. "Are you giving this to me?"

"Yes, if you want it. It's a birthday gift slash apology gift. I really am sorry, Leah." Sincerity laced every word, causing the heiress to soften further.

"It's okay. I forgive you. You know, " Leah paused, wondering if she really wanted what she was about to offer. "Why don't you come again sometime and we can try things over. Who knows. Maybe we could be friends."

Still trying to retain a cool edge, Samantha shrugged again. "Yeah, maybe."

Suddenly, Leah grinned and reached into her skirt pocket. "I have a gift for you too!" Withdrawing a pen, she handed it to the girl. "I was planning on spying on you with it. It's a voice recorder. Now tell me that isn't just awesome!"

For the first time, Samantha's purple painted lips tipped in a smile and she giggled. "Heck, yeah. That is pretty cool." She took the gift. An awkwardness settled over the two.

"Well, I'm not planning on hugging you or anything so I'm just going to go now. Maybe, I'll see you again." Then with that, Samantha turned to her room, pen in hand, leaving Leah to stare after her.

"Who would have thought," Leah whispered to the nobody in the hall. Then, she too, entered her room shutting the door quietly behind her.