Freyja Williams surely is a woman of sheer will, beauty and wealth combined.

She left the country to train and hold the businesses internationally, learning and first handedly experiencing how it is to lead the corporation on its brighter path in the future.

She is beautiful at its best, kind was subjective to people she knew, and more of strict, tenacious that made her highlight in a sea full of kind beauties. That particularity in her attracted many men can fall prey to such face embodying the goddess of beauty, her name, strong enough to make them kneel upon her feet, but one could assure that a corporate woman about to be next empress of a business empire cannot be bothered by a permanent position of settling down, not if that disposition puts her dreams of leading in her best go to jeopardy.

Could have been a few distractions could happen outside of her job scope, but all of her decision to do so to appease herself for her hardships.

And of those few distractions are of course, her truce with men. Well, truth to be told there’s only one man for that aspect that she comes to, pays to, perhaps. She’s never the type to ask for a favor, she pays you to do the favor for her.

However, that few distractions also came down to this day by letting herself take back her lead to the main branch of their company, and most likely a much needed excuse for a vacation after that long years of loneliness she had to endure in a far land without the guidance and love of her mother, and the kind warmth of his brother. She had been looking forward for it for about a week already! Freyja had been dreaming for them to spend time at the relaxing places she had booked early, to have small family talks at the table with a lingering light atmosphere in contrast to the heavy decision making meetings she had to do every time, nor a dinner with strings attached to it.

My, how much she craved to be with them again! Finally, a time to let herself loose and out of her guard!

“Freyja!”

Her ocean blue eyes gleamed from the sight of her mother alone waiting for her in the airport’s waiting area like every other family excited to see a long time family member, giddy with a signage in hand as if she’s acting like a commoner, just a simple mother like everybody else—like she’s never the current matriarch of a financial empire. Just simply Frigga Williams, mother to Freyja Williams, her precious treasured daughter.

“Mommy!”

Not even a half of it she finally let his guard down, like a child she craved for a mother’s hug she ran despite almost slipping down onto her face in shame in the airport—jumping on her mother’s arms. She rarely even called her ‘mommy’ anymore, she considered herself adult enough to refrain from such childish endearments and address her as a proper matriarch, but at times like this she simply preferred to lose herself around her after staying tough all over the years.

“I missed you so much!”

“Me too Freyja, me too. Mommy missed you so much! You’ve been away for too long, I don’t usually let my children out of my sight!”

Frigga’s motherly touch alone almost made Freyja sob, crossing her line to promise herself to never be emotional in public places. She sobbed softly, inhaling her mother's sweet scent, the familiar perfume making her more emotional.

"C'mon Freyja, no need to cry here. We should go back home first, then you cry along with Freyr. You too are such emotional little kids."

"Freyr's already here?"

"He arrived an hour earlier than you, cried when he came here then now resting in the car after some jetlag. You know him, he's a softie than you."

The two of them walked on the outskirts of the airport, with loads of guards hanging around them. With one swift motion a limo went past them, the two getting in while Freyja's baggage were being accommodated by the rest of the staff brought by Frigga.

There, Freyja saw his brother laying down the large surface of the seat with a bag of ice resting upon his head to ease the jet lag but with a quick sight of his sister, he was glomped down on his position, smothered by his doting sister.

"Aw aw aw, Freyja.." his soft voice whined while his emotional sister refused to let go, just missing her dear little brother much.

"C'mon Freyja, he's still jet lagged. You can smother your baby brother with hugs and kisses later after dinner!" Frigga chuckled at the sight of his grown children still being the same as if they're the same little kids she raised before. They've matured all over the years, and her motherly heart does skip a beat when she sees the fun part of her children.

Freyja sat properly in the car as it began to move, properly composing herself. My, she left herself open and vulnerable so much but it felt so good. Back with her family and less stress pushed onto her back—less loneliness.

"Oh darlings, by the way I want you to meet someone back in the estate."

Her mother's voice sounded sweet and excited, her eyes sparkling with a tint of blush on her face. Freyja could easily guess that her mother met a good man in her life, someone who could make her heart beat. She had seen it briefly happen before, and she can easily recognize it and cannot help but to crack a giggle for her.

"Seriously, mother? So who's the lucky man?"

If Freyja could remember right, her mother's taste in men was the gentlemen type. Men that can make her feel like a queen that she is, romantic, respectful of her decisions and understanding the lack of time she can part due to her busy schedule. She had been looking for a man like that half of her life, her last love died that fitted on the criteria passed early. But if it means her mother was like this one shy teenager, then there it is. She found the man.

"Soon enough. But I'm telling you, he's really a nice man! He's respectful and all I can ever speak of nice can describe him fully. He made me feel comfortable, relaxed and—"

"Made you feel young?"

Freyja seemed to fit the right words right there and then.

"Y-yes. And incredibly handsome too."

"Where did you meet him?"

"At a party, he's a man from London that came here for business."

A man from London there for business? Not bad. Maybe she even knew her from some business arrangements, if he's certainly a businessman then it opens more opportunities for her especially if that man is gonna be a step father.

And business aside, if her mother is that happy, then so be it. She's happy for her, knowing that a man right now after years of her hardwork and sacrifice is now making her feel adequate and more settled after the failure of her father.

"I'm happy for you, mother."

Her palm rested against her mother's hands, a form of her reassurement and full support for the pursuit of her happiness.

"Thank you, Freyja."

Soon enough they found themselves now entering the large estate, Freyja's eyes lighting in astonishment. A lot of things remained the same, few decorated things were added per usual. Wow, he really missed being there rather than living on top of a really tall building! The way she can see how the estate garden was well maintained and everything—finally a fresh breath of air than the air conditioned and polluted city air.

When the car doors open, they were already at the entrance of the estate mansion.

All of them went out of the vehicle, met by a properly dressws young man that ushered for Freyja's heart to stop abruptly.

No.

No, no.

No no no.

Why is he here?

"Freyja, Freyr. Remember I told you that I..erm found the man for me?" Oh god, her mother's sweet voice suddenly sounded like a slow horror for her.

Kind, handsome man than made her feel like a queen—that's what her description is.

And Freyja now dreaded how it came down to this. He knew this man so well, very well perhaps that he also made her feel the same way her mother felt; kind on taking care of her and made her feel like a queen. When she avails his services.

Now she understood, how her mother fell for this man.

Because that was his speciality.

That was his job.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sebastian Adler."

The way Freyja heard his voice, especially his name made her blood run cold. Certaonly it wasn't nice to meet him, not in this place that isn't the bar—not her home! Its him, its really him and she can see it clearly! She silently prayed that he could have been just her mother's sweet boy toy, one that can be casted away later on—not a lover. Most certainly not a husband. But she feared that's not her mother's taste, she's a lover; not a player.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck!

"And..he's now my husband too. I hope the two of you will get along with Sebastian, he's hospitable and nice as said. He's..young too you'll relate to him."

Freyja suddenly felt the world came to crash around her as she heard that proclamation. He's now his mother's husband!

This can't be real!

He availed the services, slept with this host man, and now he's his stepfather?!