Then came Earl. He listened to her past and tried to comfort her the best way he could. She was eighteen, he was twenty. One evening after her twenty-first birthday, she gave Earl the news of her pregnancy. Being raised in a Catholic environment, termination wasn't an option. The last thing Sylvia wanted was a baby. She had absolutely no idea how to raise one, and had no experience with children in general. They got married in front of a judge, and she moved her meek belongings into Earl's modest apartment.
When Sylvia was six months pregnant, she was contacted by an attorney representing her father's estate. She had no idea she was an heir to the struggling Desmond Enterprises. She was given three hundred and fifty-thousand dollars, a beautiful home in Berkshire Estates, and two matching Mercedes, a month after her father's death. According to the death certificate, Samuel Desmond had died from a heart attack. Sylvia didn't know what to do with the company, but Earl flew with her back to Michigan and met with the officers and attorneys for the company. Being experienced in a successful business, Earl did what was best after seeing the potential of his wife's newly inherited company. He sold his restaurant and took over running the failing Desmond Enterprises. He spent his days and nights going through the papers and accounting records. There was so much corruption his head began to spin. One by one, the board was replaced, the accounting firm was fired, and Burlington Enterprises was born.
Sylvia was delighted with her new found friends in high places and her wealth. Before she realized it, she was even speaking differently. Sylvia thrived in all the attention, and loved how people treated her while she was pregnant. Earl hired staff for the house and a nice young woman to cook. Sylvia slept, shopped, complained, ordered people around, and always looked like a million bucks.
At three in the morning, baby Chloe woke Sylvia up with such horrible back labor that she insisted on having her tubes cut so she'd never go through that again. Besides, the baby girl wasn't even that cute. Her head was kind of pointed and her face a tad smashed. Sylvia had no intentions of walking around with a baby glued to her breast, and changing diapers wasn't exactly her thing. When the little bundle would cry or need changed, Sylvia was excellent at convincing her husband that her head was killing her. She did, however, feel well enough to call a photographer for a family picture, dress herself and the baby in designer clothes, and smile wide while she held her daughter in her arms.
Earl couldn't stay at home all the time. He'd already missed a few days in a row of work, and his wife wasn't quite cut out for motherhood. But he knew when the baby got a little older and could walk, talk, and not be so dependent, Sylvia would be all over her. But for now, he'd have to hire a nanny.
Lois Shepherd, the cook, had no children of her own but seemed to be the most personable and would even offer to hold the newborn when she wasn't in the kitchen. She was never officially hired as the nanny though. As a matter of fact, Lois hated the nannies who were employed. She tolerated the ones on night shift because she left between five and seven every night, and someone would have to be with the baby. But during the day, it was a job she took upon herself. No matter how much she tried to teach Sylvia, or encouraged her to hold her baby, the young mother wanted nothing to do with being a mom.
As Burlington Enterprises grew into a prosperous business, Earl decided it was time to expand further internationally. Because the company mined and sold precious metals, Earl spent a lot of the year flying to different parts of the world. It didn't take him long to discover how many countries needed schools, medical facilities, and clean water. Burlington became a household name rather quickly when his projects became public. When a large steel mill went defunct, Earl quickly bought it. Sylvia was livid over how much he spent. But he knew he had to spend money to make money, and his brain was flying with ideas. The cost of steel was hindering his ability to help those in need.
A year later, Earl met with his technology department. Laying his plans out for everyone to see, it was clear he'd found a less expensive and faster way to melt steel. His idea would save millions. The amazing machine was built the following year and sold all across the nation. Earl was on his way to take charge and make the world a better place.
Sylvia wasn't having any part of it. She couldn't make her husband stay home no matter how hard she tried. She knew Earl loved his daughter and wanted to build a wonderful empire for the future Burlington generations. Even though she desperately wanted him to stop traveling and working so much, she was unwilling to cut back on her luxurious lifestyle. Sylvia continued to spend, and Earl continued to travel. One day, she packed her bags and hopped on the plane right beside her husband.
At first it was just for a week or two here and there. But soon enough, Sylvia wasn't going home after traveling abroad to see Earl. It was okay though. She promised to spend the summers back in Michigan, all holidays, and one weekend per month. That happened until Chloe turned two, then slowly over the next couple years, the visits disappeared…But that was okay, too. She promised to call every day and talk with Chloe and would promptly fly home if she was needed. That rarely happened.
Sylvia hated being a mother. It was her biggest fear in life. She loved the idea of having a child and could even say she loved the little girl. But Sylvia had no idea how to bond. When Chloe began to treat Lois like the mother figure, she knew the best thing to do was keep away. Wasn't it better this way? As Chloe aged and realized that her mother wasn't coming home, she began to ask questions. Lois explained the best she could.
As Burlington Enterprises grew, so did the attention of the press. Photographers and reporters frequently hung around the estate. After Earl was contacted by his secretary regarding staff complaints at the house, he quickly installed a security system, gates, guards, and twenty-four hour surveillance at his home. The first kidnapping threat came when Chloe turned four. When Lois called Earl after phoning the police, Sylvia answered the phone. Lois demanded she come home to her child and protect her, and be a decent mother. Sylvia told her in no uncertain terms to ever call directly again. The office knew how to reach them after all.
Earl was informed of the threats, due to a police leak that ended up in the newspaper. He was furious, and also unaware that his wife had any knowledge of the crime. That was the beginning of Chloe's secluded life.
Sylvia and Earl had many arguments over their daughter's welfare. She made all kinds of promises but never kept them. When Chloe turned eighteen, Sylvia was more than sure a mother wasn't necessary. She turned out just fine after all. That didn't fly with her husband. A husband. Yes, that was the answer to all her problems. She needed to find her daughter a husband and get her out of that house.