Love And A Family Secret

** #1808081 Not An Image ** Ariana Winfrey was already having a hectic day. Being a Fashion Designer was a a lot of hard work and she loved it. It had made her a millionaire and she had earned every dime. At twenty-eight years of age, life was good. Ariana hailed a taxi and she wished that she had lived anywhere except New York City but in Tacoma, Washington where she was originally from, there was no call for Fashion Designers. Maybe someday she would return to live there when she was ready to give up Fashion Designing. Maybe she would return to Washington and live in Forks. She could hang out with Bella, Edward and Jacob.She laughed to herself. Back to reality. She was going to meet her boyfriend Shadow Avery for lunch. Shadow was thirty-one years old, a handsome muscular man with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. She loved him dearly but marriage wasn't for them. He had a career as a music producer and she was busy with the fashion industry but they always found time for each other.

Ariana arrived at her favorite fancy restaurant Cherry's Shades. Ariana stepped out of the taxi and her red hair blew out of place. Her spray net wasn't cutting it. She would have to go comb her hair. She entered the restaurant and went to the Ladies Room to fix her hair. Her eye shadow had stayed in place. She had a heart face and was petite and pretty green eyes. She was ready to meet Shadow. He had an unsual name but it fit him. There was a mystery and certain charisma about him. Ariana smiled. She went to the hostess and he directed her to her table. She was in shock.

Shadow was kissing a young blonde girl on the cheek. "I love you. I always have and I always will. We will never be apart again. I promise."

The young woman smiled. "I love you, too. I promise we will be together forever. No one will ever come between us again." Shadow hugged her and he looked up to see Ariana. The blonde woman turned around and it was Ashley Whitmer. The pretty young fashion model she had just hired yesterday. WAS THIS A JOKE? They would be laughing at her. She had just hired her boyfriend's lover! Ariana had lost her appetite. She was going back to work. She left and she heard Shadow calling out her name. There was nothing Shadow could do or say to fix this.

Ariana hailed a taxi and returned to her office and cried all the way back to her office. Her world was shattered. Should she fire Ashley Whitmer? No, this was business and Ashley had looked great in the pictures they had taken and she had looked beautiful in the clothes she had modeled. She was a natural. Ariana had modeled in college to pay her tution and became the Fashion Designer and was successful. She would let Ashley have the job but someone else would have be her promoter. Ariana wanted no part of Ashley.

Ariana went over layouts and her cell phone kept ringing. SHADOW. She just ignored it. Flowers came to her office. Beautiful red roses. Her favorite. From Shadow of course. The card said: "I AM SO SORRY FOR WHAT YOU SAW. TRUST ME. IT ISN"T WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I CAN EXPLAIN ABOUT ASHLEY. CALL ME. WE HAVE TO FIX THIS. YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SHADOW

Ariana was so mad. Yeah, right. She had to focus on work. Just then her secretary buzzed her.

"Yes? What is it, Lanelle?"

"Miss Ashley Whitmer wants to talk to you. She is in the lounge."

THAT LITTLE TRAMP! WANTING TO BRAG THAT SHE WAS TAKING SHADOW? Alright. If Miss Whitmer didn't watch her step, she would fire her in five minutes.

"Send her in, Lanelle."

Ashley walked in wearing a pretty lavender dress. She was carrying an manilla envelope.

Ariana looked at her. "Have a seat, Miss Whitmer. I don't want the details of you and Shadow being lovers. You have a lot of nerve getting me to give you a job and steal my boyfriend."

"Miss Winfrey. I am not Shadow's lover. I am HIS SISTER."

"What? Shadow has no family. Lying is worse then stealing a woman's boyfriend."

Ashley opened up a manilla envelope. She handed Ariana a birth certificate.

The certificate said:
Ashley Avery born to Madison and Rachael Avery
New York Hospital May 26, 1986

"Your last name is Avery?" whispered Ariana.

"Yes." Ashley handed Ariana a picture of her and Shadow. Shadow was ten and Ashley was four. They looked like brother and sister. Ariana looked at Ashley again. She smiled. THAT WAS SHADOW'S SMILE!

Ashley handed Ariana a newspaper article. It said that Madison and Rachael Avery were killed in a car accident and their surviving children were: Shadow and Ashley. Shadow and Ashley weren't lovers. They were brother and sister.

"I am so sorry. I had no idea. Shadow never told me about his parents or you."

"We were sent to foster homes. We weren't raised together. I was in an abusive marriage and I got married when I was seventeen. The foster brother of a family I lived with and my ex-husband treated me like a prisoner. I finally got divorced and Shadow and I found each other. We have lost time to make up for. I am sorry that you didn't know but now you do. I tried to find Shadow for years but my ex-husband hardly let me out of the house. He was by my side constantly. I had no fredom what so ever. Shadow tried to find me but he was told that I was dead. I think my ex-husband and his parents had a hand in that one. Anyway, that is our story. I am hoping you will forgive me. Shadow said he never told you about our parents and me. It was too painful for him. Can you forgive him?"

Araina went over to Ashley and hugged her. Just then Shadow walked in the door.

"This is more like it." Shadow was carrying a rose.

Ashley released Ariana.

Ariana ran to Shadow and hugged him. "Ashley told me everything. I am so sorry. Why didn't you tell me? You can tell me anything."

"I promise I will tell you everything for now on. I love you, Ariana. Marry me." Shadow pulled out a ring.

"What? Are we ready for this?"

Shadow pulled out a big diamond oval ring. Ariana gasped. "Yes, I will marry you." They hugged and kissed.

"I will be going now. I am glad we are cool now." Ashley started to leave.

"Ashley, thanks. Meet us for dinner tomorrow night at my house." Araina said.

"See you then. Ariana, you will be my sister. I love you already."

"I love you, too." Araina was so happy.

Ashley left. Ariana told Lanelle to hold her calls. She locked the door and she and Shadow spent the rest of their day on a fancy pull out couch in the office. Their love was the best and their marriage was, too after they got married.