ã€ŠMr Billionaires Secret Baby by sweetwanderer987ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Betrayed

    I blinked several times refusing to believe the scene unfolding before my own eyes. Was I seeing things? Had my mind been ying tricks on me? My doubts faded seeing as the longer I stared at the horror in front of me, the more of a reality it had be.

    The excitement that I felt rushing over to the highest floor of this building began to dissipate. The papers I held in my hand slowly began to drop in defeat at my side.

    ¡°Congrattions! You¡¯re pregnant.¡± The doctor¡¯s congrattions gradually disappeared only to be reced by the sound of my crashing, aching heart pounded deafeningly within my ears. My blood, sizzling with anger yet rancid with pain, coursed through my veins as my vision began to cloud up with unshed tears at what had been witnessing.

    The scantily dressed red head that I had known all too well had been closely pressed against the chest of my husband of six months as he held her in his embrace. I watched in mortification as he stared down at her in yearning and glee at her return. His ex that jilted him at the alter!

    The ss of his office door spared no concealment of their actions allowing me to view in full strife.

    I should have know that this would happen. That Dante Crawford could love none but himself and his runaway ex- bride.

    Blinking away the burning tears from my eyes, I took in a breath despite it being difficult to overlook thepressed feeling in my chest. I pushed open the door determined to break this little scene apart. My one hand clutched my newly found information at my side while the other cleared the way for me to enter.

    The nerve of both of them. Neither one of them appeared to be remotely ashamed especially my dear husband but why should he? This was all a contract to him anyways. The uses of which he could easily vite.

    ¡°What on earth is going on in here?¡± I managed to illicit the right amount of rancor and anger without letting my hurt sl*p through the cracks.

    ¡°Ahh, Sophia, I was meaning to sp*ak to you about this but lucky you¡¯ve arrived in time.¡± Dante spoke as casually as he could and not like I actually deserved a genuine exnation of what the hell was going on.

    I raised a confused brow at him urging him to speak further in hopes that I would receive some rity.

    ¡°I want a divorce.¡± For a moment I thought that I had misheard him, that those words were a figment of my imagination but it echoed loud and clear through the air.

    ¡°A divorce?¡± I asked, dumbfounded and caught entirely off guard. My gaze darted at the minimal space between Pheobe and him.

    I thought he hated Pheobe after what she had done to him. After all the bacsh he had to face and the wrath of his father that push him in to this contract, surely it was enough to resent the person who caused this uproar but it would seem that I was wrong.

    Pheobe moved from his tight embrace but just enough so that she could ce a supporting hand on his zer d bicep showing of her candy red nails.

    ¡°Pheobe and I are getting back together. She exined a few things and I¡¯ve decided to forgive her.¡± Dante exined as the woman beside him tried to contain a smug little grin.

    I tore my eyes away from her and looked to him. ¡°But we are married.¡± I reminded him to which he scoffed.

    ¡°Only because you trapped me into marrying you.¡± I stared at him in disbelief. This cold demeanour was not like him but obviously he would believe that I had something to do with the scandal that had us marrying in the first ce.

    ¡°Dante, please you must reconsider. Do not make such a rash decision.¡± I begged clutching the papers in my hand. ¡°I have something to tell you but-¡° my eyes darted to Pheobe. ¡°I¡¯d prefer to do it in private.¡± I prompted not wanting to speak on front of her.

    Dante waved his hand through the air dismissing my request. ¡°Whatever it is you have to say you¡¯ll have to say in front of Pheobe.¡± He responded abruptly and for a fraction of a seconds I couldn¡¯t believe that this was the same man I¡¯d known in the past 6 months.

    The man I agreed to marry purely because I had fallen for him. The man who I married to save from being torn apart in a scandal. It was not like we lived as strangers. The information in my hand was proof of it.

    He was the father of my unborn child but whatever part of me rushed over here in excitement to tell him had been dead. I was never going to mention such a vital thing to him in front of Pheobe who I couldn¡¯t trust at all.

    Besides, judging from his change of heart, Dante would probably want nothing to do with this child considering how enraptured he is by the return of his old me.

    ¡°Well?¡± Pheobe prompted impatiently as she carassed Dante¡¯s arm. ¡°Spit it out.¡±

    ¡°On second thought, I change my mind.¡± I muttered bitterly.

    ¡°Since everything is settled then, I hope you remove yourself from my house before tomorrow morning. I thank you for your help, Sophia, but I won¡¯t be needing it anymore.¡± I opened my mouth to say something but he went on. ¡°If you¡¯re going to ask about the agreed settlement amount then know that it will be deposited in to your ount before the end of the day. To rectify the situation, divorce papers will be sent to you in a matter of days.¡± He said with finality in his tone and an inpatient look in his eyes.

    I tried to swallow the ball in that had painfully formed on my throat. It was still a shocker to me that all of this was happening in the first ce.

    ¡°Dante, please. You can¡¯t do this to me. Not now and not like this.¡± I begged, my lower l*p quivering but I refuse to let my eyes shed tears in front of these two.

    Pheobe stepped forward now. ¡°You heard what he said. Don¡¯t make him repeat himself. Get your stuff out of the house and leave him alone. You¡¯ve trapped him in a marriage he never wanted and now he¡¯s free.¡± She emphasised thest word and my nostril red itching to tell her to stay out of this but it was a losing battle.

    Dante has clearly made up his mind and I was not going to sit her convincing him otherwise. Especially not with Pheobe gloating by his side.

    I hid the papers at my side and merely nodded before turning around and leaving. What started out as a seemingly exciting day turned out to be my nightmare. I loved Dante from the time I began working as his personal assistant three years ago to having shared a life with him for the past half a dozen months. This was not the Dante I knew but perhaps I never really knew him to begin with.

    The little blob in my stomach was all I had now and I would be damned if I jeopardized this also.

    As I stormed out of the building, all I could think about was the bitter, conniving way that Pheobe had red at me. I was never one to scare easily but it was rare for someone to look at me with such evil disyed tantly on their face.

 Chapter 2

    After wondering around the city for who knows how long, I finally mustered up the courage to go back to the house I once considered my home forever. The home that I shared so eagerly with my soon- to- be ex-husband.

    The car that carried me to the ce I would soon depart from was one assigned for my own personal use by Dante. Jeffrey, my assigned chauffer, knew that something was horribly wrong but he never dared to ask. Aside from small nces through his rear- view mirror, he merely focused on the road and wordlessly carried us back to the house so I could retrieve my things.

    My head rested against the cool leather seat as I reyed the scene of this morning over and over in my head. I still couldn¡¯t believe that this was happening. That Dante would do such a thing after all that we had shared as a married couple. Of course, we were not married under normal circumstances but we had shared more than stranger would dare to share. Dante loved to me me for the scandal that lead to our marriage but I had nothing to do with it.

    A pain pierced my chest as I willed myself to make peace with all that was happening but I couldn¡¯t. I loved Dante more than anything in the world and just this morning I couldn¡¯t stop envisioning the life that we were about to have with the blessing of a childing our way but it was a life I would have to live alone.

    The car approached therge ck gates and the warm feeling of home no longer lingered. Jeffrey steered us down the open gates and on to the paved driveway until we came to aplete halt in front of therge mansion. I undid my seat belt while Jeffrey held the door open for me and just as I stepped out and squinted my eyes from the onught of the sun above, my eyes focussed on the mess that was in front of me.

    There stood Pheobe at the open entrance of the house with an array of my possessions. in her grasp. One hand held the items whilst her other hand grabbed greedily at the pile beforeunching it out and over the front steps.

    Anger bubbled within me at the audacity and sheer bitterness of this woman. She had Dante. She had won. Couldn¡¯t she see it? There was no need for her to humiliate me any further yet here she was.

    ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t the star of

    farewell gift to offer your show. I¡¯ve been waiting for you. I thought what better of a

    than a helping hand to send you on your way.¡± She mocked as

    she tossed thest of my clothes in to the air.

    ¡°It would have been better if I hadn¡¯t seen your face at all.¡± I retorted but she grinned gleefully at my reaction,

    I was happy that Jeffrey had left and that there was no one in sight or else I would have

    14:25 Sat, 27 Jan D

    felt even more humiliated than I already had been.

    My legs moved through the sea of my things on thewn which I didn¡¯t care to gather just yet. When I approached the doorway, Pheobe blocked my path.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± She raised a brow at me like she was the owner of

    this house.

    I red at her resisting the urge to scratch her face with my slightly long nails. ¡°To gather my things and leave so I do not have to suffer another day or seeing your face.¡± The words squeezed themselves through clenched teeth and her nostril twitched.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, dear sister.¡± She said in a sweet fake tone when I knew she took me as anything but. After all, we were only step- sisters. ¡°I already took the liberty of leaving all your things at your feet.¡± She motioned to my thrown out clothes.

    ¡°Get out of my way right now, Pheobe.¡± My voice rose as octave but her face had grown determined.

    ¡°The ce that you remember no longer exists. This house is now for Dante and I to share and celebrate our endless love. It was always me that he loved. It was and always will be me. You were just dumb enough to believe otherwise. Dante loves me more than anything in the world. It the very reason he is able to toss you out so easily. He would do anything for me.¡± She gloated and I hated hearing it.

    It was like stingy, course salt being pressed and rubbed against my open wounds. It burned, stung, and outright wanted to make me scream in pain.

    I swallowed the lump that had been forming on my throat before bringing my attention back to the she- devil that stood in front of me.

    ¡°That sounds like you¡¯re trying to convince yourself more than me.¡± I mocked and chuckled enjoying the look that overcame her expression.

    ¡°You bit ch. Do you think-¡± Her words caught at the back of her throat when her devious orbs lowered to my hand.

    Sh it.

    I quickly tried to hide the pregnancy report but it was toote because she had already

    seen it.

    ¡°What do we have here?¡± I stepped away but her hand had already grasp the papers. before she yanked it out of my hold.

    ¡°It is nothing that concerns you.¡± I reached for the papers but she moved away enough for her to read the report.

    Pheobe¡¯s cyes had widened the size of saucers before she looked at me over the edge of the report. A whirlwind of emotions crossed her face but her eyes were filled with fury and jealousy.

    ¡°It is a good thing that Dante is divorcing you so he wouldn¡¯t have to father the child of another.¡± She said but her words were weak.

    ¡°It is Dante¡¯s child, Pheobe. Just because you refuse to except it-¡±

    ¡°It means nothing. Your child will be born a b astar d.¡± She yelled and I could no longer contain my anger.

    As if on its own ord, my hand raised in the air beforeunching at her until I pped her. Pheobe yelped but she overcame the shock of what had just happened faster than I expected. A loud growl left her throat before Pheobe pushed me with force too stron for me to recover from.

    A scream escaped my l*ps and my hand reached out to grab on to something, anything, but it was toote. My b*dy tumbled down the steps until Inded on the hard paving with my head hitting the ground first.

    Pain shot through my entire b*dy as I tried to regain the air knocked out of me but my head felt like a bounder had just descended upon it. I reached up weakly to cradle my head when but I felt something warm and wet sl*p down the side of my face. The smell of metal had me scrunching my nose telling me that I was bleeding and there was a lot

    of it.

    I tried to move, to get back on to my feet, but my entire b*dy was numb and motionless, refusing to cooperate with me at all.

    ¡°Take this as a warning!¡± Pheobe muttered in a chilling tone. She was now hovering over me, her eyesden with hatred. ¡°If you ever show your face here again you will meet even worse consequences.¡± She warned and just when I thought she took a step away from my limp b*dy to leave, she did something far worse than I could ever imagine.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Pheobe grunted in her rage. I watched in horror as she pulled her pointed heeled covered foot back beforeunching it forcefully right in my stomach.

    I screamed as the pain shot through my abdomen and I cried out as a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. My hand reached to cradle my stomach but it felt like I was paralyzed.

    ¡°I want you to remember this moment. Never forget how weak and at my mercy you are.¡± She crouched down and I flinched but her hand already balled up tightly in hair.

    my

    ¡°Pheobe, p- please.¡± I begged not wanting any further harm to be caused to the life within me.

    ¡°Just because you¡¯re pregnant doesn¡¯t mean Dante will change his mind. He loves me more than you can even imagine. He doesn¡¯t care about what happens to you or your little ba st ard.¡± She whispered bitterly through tightly clenched teeth.

    She threw me a final scathing look as Iy whimpering in pain before she swung around with a huff. Her heels clinked against the paving as she sauntered back into the house.

    I opened mouth to call for help but no sound came out. Suddenly, a wave of cold washed through my b*dy and before I knew it, my vision got blurry until I could not longer keep it open.

    Thest thing I remember was everything turned ck before I, too, sumbed to the darkness.

 Chapter 3

    Everything hurt.

    Every time I regained some semnce of consciousness, the throbbing began until it turned in to a pounding within my head. I tried to force my eyes open but to no avail. I knew i was in the hospital by the smell and the incessant beeping from a monitor.

    I wanted to look around and demand to know if my unborn baby was okay but no effort of mine was significant and before I could try again, I felt a needle p rick the inside of my arm before I fell back in to a deep sleep.

    Hours, days, perhaps weeks may have gone by but I couldn¡¯t tell. When I woke up this time, my eyelids opened with great ease allowing me to look at the white walls of the hospital room I had been held in. The fluorescent lighting struck my eye but I blinked a few times until my orbs adjusted to the light.

    I did a quick scan of my surroundings. The ward I was in had been a private one seeing as my bed was the only one in here. The monotone coloured curtains were pulled apart giving me a view of stormy grey sky above the bustling city below.

    Just then the door opened and emerged a nurse who looked surprised yet relieved to see me awake.

    ¡°Morning, Mrs. Crawford.¡± She greeted me with a warm smile as she reached over to check a folder that I could only assume held all of my information.

    I offered her a nod in response not feeling like my voice was going to cooperate with me. She did a few checks on the monitor then nodded in approval to herself before closing the folder and looking at me.

    ¡°Is my baby okay? Please, I need to know if everything is fine after what happened.¡± The words tumbled out of my mouth and sounded foreign, almost high pitched, in my urgency.

    ¡°You¡¯ve lost a lot of blood, Mrs Crawford.¡± I clenched my jaw hating that she kept addressing me by Dante¡¯s name.

    I narrowed my eyes at her hating that she didn¡¯t out right answer my question. ¡°Is. My. Baby. Okay?¡± I uttered each word slowly but with a primal instinct ready to wreak havoc on Pheobe should anything have happened to my baby.

    ¡°You need to remain calm. Everything is okay. Your baby is safe and free from any harm but you need to rx.¡± She said carefully not phased by my almost burst of anger

    at all.

    I took in a deep breath to release the tension from my b*dy and felt a little better

    14:25 Sat, 27 Janu

    knowing that the little life inside of me was safe.

    ¡°Are you in any sort of pain?¡± The nurse queried with concern in her eyes.

    ¡°I have a headache but it¡¯s not too bad.¡± My voice was course. I reached to press my fingers against the bandage wrapped around my forehead and winced as I touched something tender.

    72%?

    ¡°I¡¯ll get you some pain killers for that.¡± She turned to leave but I needed to know a few things.

    ¡°Are you sure everything is fine? With me? With my baby?¡± I asked again wanting to make sure. She paused and turned to look at me and I held my breath for a fraction of a second..

    ¡°You fell pretty hard. It¡¯s a good thing your head injury was minor. As for your baby, he or she is as healthy as can he. I assure you.¡± She smiled warmly at me and I felt every ounce of my b*dy rx this time.

    ¡°Is there anything else that you would like to know?¡± She asked and I nodded immediately.

    ¡°How long have I been here for and when can I leave?¡± I needed to know this because she could say anything from a few hours to months and I would believe her.

    ¡°Three days. You will be discharged tomorrow after the doctor does a few final checks.¡± She informed me and I nodded.

    After the nurse had left, a tray of food was brought in for me which consisted of a hearty breakfast and a bowl of fruit. I should be starving but I had no appetite at all. In fact, the sight of food had me feeling the need to gag. I did force myself to eat a few pieces of fruit thinking more about the baby than myself.

    Once I was out of here, I needed to speak to Dante one more time before I could sign any papers. Maybe if I spoke to him when he was alone and Pheobe was nowhere near him then he would be more open to consider what I was saying.

    Ugh, Pheobe.

    I found that I felt a newfound hate for her that now was etched with a fierce rage of my own. She was such a wretched women and sought to purposely injure not only me but my baby after discovering I was pregnant. For a split second, I considered the possibility that she might have told Dante about it but then I realised that she would never s..

    anything about it especially if she thought that it would jeopardize her

    position.

    With all the

    1:25 50L, 27 Jan

    not to think about my predicament right now. Next to the tray of food was the remote for the TV mounted a little too high forfort. I switched it on and my breath immediately hitched in the back of

    my throat.

    Dante and Pheobe had been glued to each other.

    Pheobe clung on to his zer while Dante had his arm around her lower back. They k*ssed passionately, smiling against each other¡¯s l*ps and a sharp pang of pain slit through my heart like a double edged sword.

    The cameras shed violently and both of them waved at the pap araz zi with heady. grins on their faces. Dante held her close to his side as they headed over to his awaiting car. They paused just before the could get in to share one more lingering k*ss for the cameras followed by another one.

    All this time there was a small part of me that held on to a tiny shed of hope that maybe, just maybe, Dante had not been as taken with her as Pheobe had made it seem. I thought that I had a shot to fix this, to make him see reason and persuade him to go back to how things were.

    But seeing him like that while the cameras shed hungrily at their public disy of affection, I knew that Dante¡¯s mind would not waiver. He had made a choice and that choice was to be with Pheobe.

    Sadness ripped through me all over again.

    I recalled things in my marriage that I shared with Dante. I put in so much of effort, yed the role of a the perfect, virtuous wife, and stayed by his side devotedly all this time. I never gave him a chance to find fault in me and what good did that being? I gained nothing but heartache in return.

    I scoffed heavily then felt my eyes burn before warm tears slid down my cheeks.

    Da mn him! Da mn him for doing such a thing to me. I realised then that there was no speaking sense to him unless I intended looking like a fool.

    But, my sweet innocent baby.

    I cradled my belly tenderly knowing that there was already a little but sacred life inside. A life that deserved better. I knew that I needed to move on from this, from him. And it was not just for myself, but for my baby. It was the realisation I wished I didn¡¯t have but one that I needed.

    After hours of sleeplessness, renewed pain, and fallen tears, I knew what I had to do. The next morning, Without any hesitation, I found Dante¡¯s name on my phone and decided to send him a text ending all of this once and for all.

    72%

    ¡®Please send the divorce papers to me as soon as possible. I will dly sign it..

    -Sophia.

    My finger hovered over the send key but I pressed it before I changed my mind. The second it sent, I felt a little relieved. All that was left was for me to properly gather my belongings and leave for good.

 Chapter 4

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    I nced at my wristwatch to gage what time it was lending my ear to whatever Pheobe was speaking about.

    ¡°Next we can stop by at the boutique. I need a few new dresses for the uing social season.¡± Pheobe did that thing with her fingers against my arm hoping her contact would prevent me from refusing her request.

    She always had a knack for spending and she knew well how to splurge but it was a good thing I made more than any woman could spend. It didn¡¯t matter as long as she was around. I shook of the feeling of disconnect that had been there since Pheobe return. A man needed time to readjust and full embrace such a shift.

    ¡°Whatever you want.¡± I offered her a half smile then reached in to my zer pocket for my phone.

    I read through a few emails from my assistant then clicked on some videos about world politics while Pheobe told the chauffer where to pull over.

    The car came up to a halt and the back door was held open for either of us. Pheobe had already gotten out but not without rushing me along. I sighed then went to ce my phone back in to my zer when it vibrated.

    My thumb slid across the screen to find a text from the one person I was not expecting any sort ofmunication from. The message she left was far worse than I ever thought it could be.

    Sophia was asking me to send through the divorce papers expressing her great eagerness to sign it. My jaw clenched tightly without me realising it and I was furious. I wanted this. I wanted her to do exactly what she was saying but her sending me such a message made me unexinably uneasy.

    Why did she want to leave so willingly all of a sudden? Back in my office she was begging me to reconsider and choose her yet dayster she has a strong change of mind.

    Where the heck has she even been these past three days? Did she have some secret lover filling her head? I knew she hadn¡¯t left yet because her things were dumped on to the bed in a rather untidy manner but I didn¡¯t question it.

    I didn¡¯t think I loved her at all and I still don¡¯t think so. It was always Pheobe that I wanted then why was this irking me as much as it was.

    My door was pulled open but I was determined to type back a response asking her to

    meet me.

    ¡°Darling,e on. I¡¯ve been standing out here forever. Surely your business can wait untilter.¡± Pheobe impatiently looked at me from the paving she had been standing

    on.

    I groaned, shoved my phone back in to my zer pocket before stepping out of the car to endure Go d knows how long at this boutique.

    Thankfully, she had only taken about an hour but she managed to buy nearly half of the boutique in that time. I swiped my card and left to get some air still feeling a little unsettled from Sophia¡¯s message.

    ¡°Thank you so much for all these dresses.¡± Pheobe¡¯s voice caught me off guard as she got in to the car beside me. ¡°I think you deserve a treat.¡± Her eyes became n ted. apanying her seductive tone as she leaned closer to me.

    Her l*ps pressed against my n*eck before she moved to ce a lingering k*ss over my jaw right before she aimed my own l*ps but something within me made me turn my face away enough so her l*psnded on the corner of my cheek.

    ¡°Later, Pheobe.¡± My hand touched her arm to gently push her away and I hated that I felt nothing when I touched her. I didn¡¯t feel that electric current like when I touched¡­.

    I shook my head refusing to admit it even to myself.

    After an afternoon of throwing myself in to work in hopes that it would ease this n ig gling feeling within me, I decided to call it a day and head back home. It was ratherte and there was no one else in the building but I made my exit.

    When I had gotten home, I sl*pped in through the front door as quietly as possible hoping to venture past Sophia¡¯s room. Perhaps the maids could rearrange and pack her things back in to ce. However that was not an option.

    Sophia¡¯s bedroom waspletely cleaned out and devoid of any of the things that imed the space as hers. Her smell no longer lingered in the air neither had a single article of her possession could be spotted. She actually moved out.

    The realisation left an acrid taste in my mouth that refused to wash out no matter how

    think that once the dust settled. empty.

    hard I swallowed. I didn¡¯t expect to feel this way. I did.

    and my decision became a reality that I would feel so¡­

    She was gone and I didn¡¯t know when I would ever get to see her again or if I ever would. It all felt like it happened too fast. I expected more of a fight from her. I expected to see her at least once more before we called it quits for good.

    Before I knew what I was doing, my phone was in my hand and my finger tapped

    against her name. I pressed the phone to my car as it rang awaiting her to answer the phone just so I could hear her voice again. I didn¡¯t know what I was going to say but maybe it will go along the lines of us meeting to discuss the finality of the divorce.

    My grip tightened around the phone when it rang for far too long. Sophia didn¡¯t answer and it seemed like she had no interest in doing so either. I tried again then two more times but to no avail.

    The next few days felt like agony and the weeks that followed were worse. What was wrong with me?! How could I he feeling this way over Sophia.

 Chapter 5

    Four Years Later.

    My hand wrapped around the warm porcin mug that contained the dark caffeinated. liquid that I required each morning to give me the kick I needed to handle my day ahead. Days that were usually busy but I hade to adapt to it quite well and efficiently.

    After moving from New York to Canada, I wallowed in my self pity for a bit before I got back on to my feet again. Inded a job as an assistant manager before working my as s off to get to being the head of the department. The shift in my career had me so caught up in it and distracted that I soon forgot the ache of the life I left behind¡­ of the man I left behind.

    I shook my head, refusing to entertain any thoughts of the life that I left behind especially since I swore never ever to return to it.

    Whatever my life was now, I loved it as much as one could. I had my booming career and my beautiful baby girl who was every bit a fighter as I am. What more could I ask for?

    A knock on my office door dragged me out of my thoughts before it was pushed opened to reveal Adam. Dressed in his signature three piece suit and not a single strand. of his rich chestnut hair out of ce, Adam marched in to my office moving to the ss wall that overlooked the busy city below.

    ¡°Good morning to you too, Adam.¡± I snorted sarcastically. ¡°It isn¡¯t like you to be in here this early.¡± I pointed out..

    Adam threw me a look that was anything but threatening. I would have never spoken to him like this had we not passed formalities by now considering he was the CEO of thepany itself. But Adam and I have shared too much since I began working here to be anything but friendly. Of course, I knew my limits and ce at the end of it all.

    ¡°Is it? Is it really a good morning, Soph?¡± He asked negatively and I raised a quizzical brow at me.

    I brought my mug to my l*ps to take a sip of my coffee before responding to him. ¡°Wow, the Monday blues has got you down bad.¡± He waved a hand at that.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t the Monday blues so much as much as it¡¯s this meeting I have to go for.¡± Heined as he turned around to ready his shoulder against the ss and cross his arms over his broad chest.

    Adam, at the ripe age of 32, was extremely handsome and had everything a man- and woman- could want. He was sessful, focussed, and possessed the perfect bnce of

    wit and gentleness that saved him from being an as s. It always baffled me why he was still single but he appeared to be happy with that.

    ¡°You go for meetings all the time, Adam. Why is this one getting you so worked up?¡± I leaned back in my chair still nursing my steaming cup of coffee.

    ¡°This one is in New York. Not my favourite ce really.¡± That had always been something we shared inmon.

    He let out a small sigh but his sparkling green eyes lit up like he had thought of something.

    ¡°Perhaps you may be able to brighten my mood if you join me for lunch today at that new seafood ce that opened up along the harbours edge.¡± He looked at me expectantly and it was not unusual for us to eat together on most days but my lunch hour was already booked out today.

    ¡°As tempting as that offer is, I actually have to take Hayley to her physio appointment.¡± I informed him. Adam nodded slowly in disappointment but I knew he understood. If anyone did, it was him.

    He was a huge support for me since I began working here and over the years we just gotfortably close and it was nice. We both enjoyed each otherpany and matched on intellect.

    ¡°How has it been going with that? Is she doing any better?¡± He questioned with concern.

    I nodded. ¡°Oh, yes, a lot better actually. The numbness in her legs have decreased and she is starting to move around by herself now but some days are tiring than others for her.¡± I said with a sigh.

    Hayley was born with a neural tube defect called Spina bifida. Although it isn¡¯t on the severe spectrum of what it could have been, it still is quite challenging at times. Aside from that, she was a brilliant little girl with so much of determination.

    ¡°She is an amazing kid. I¡¯ve never quite seen any little person as strong willed as her.¡± Adam knew her well since he was basically around her since she was born.

    Hayley was fond of him from the get go and Adam was good with kids. It was surprising at first but then he exined all the kids his sister¡¯s had and it exined a lot.

    Adam left shortly after but not before saying something dramatic about his meeting. Once he left, I went through my personal email as I did every morning before I got down to doing any real work. There were a few emails that were spam and for advertising purposes but one on particr had caught my eye.

    I recognised the email address being of one of the most renownedw firms in New

    York and quickly clicked on the email to see what this was all about.

    A part of me feared that Hayley¡¯s existence was discovered and this was a custody hearing but thankfully when I read through it. It was none of that.

    However, my eyes widened with each word I read in disbelief and I had to read the email once more to make sure my eyes were not receiving me.

    After his death nearly five years ago, my grandfather had left his entire estate andpany in my name once I had turned twenty-six which I had about a month ago.

    I couldn¡¯t believe it but here was the catch.

    I would need to return to New York to sign the papers and take ownership of thepany my grandfather had left behind.

    In the years that have passed by, I swore never to return. I refused to subject myself to any sort of difort from being in the same country as Dante Crawford and my step- sister. Returning meant facing them after all these years and I didn¡¯t know if I was ready to do that.

    The hurt was still there buried away but not deep enough. The feeling of betrayal was one confrontation away from renewing itself and the anger that festered scared me to even think of it. I couldn¡¯t ruin all that I worked so hard to ovee by going back there.

    My b*dy immediately jerked up pushing my chair back. I rushed out of my office to find Adam. If anyone could advise me well, it would be him..

 Chapter 6

    This was not a typical way to start a Saturday morning but I didn¡¯t have much choice in the matter. Thewyer¡¯s office was located just across town and had not been a struggle to get to at all. I had an appointment with Mr. Hendricks who had been my grandfather¡¯s trustedwyer for as long as I could remember.

    After speaking to Adam and giving things a lot of thought, I had some sense of direction and I knew exactly why I was here at thewyer¡¯s office aside from obvious

    reasons.

    ¡°It is nice to see you here, Sophia. I can still recall the day that I met with your grand father and penned out his will. He was rather fond of you.¡± Mr Hendricks said with a small smile toying about his aging face.

    My grand father and I had shared a close bond for as long as I could remember yet I didn¡¯t think it was close enough that he would leave his entire business for me to handle the reins once I came of a certain age.

    I didn¡¯te here to make small talk since I had more important issues on my mind that opened up with being the sole inheritor of thispany.

    ¡°Shall we proceed to go over the will?¡± I offered gently and he nodded pushing a copy of the will across hisrge solid wood table.

    I reached for the crisp sheet of paper and scanned through it. It stated exactly what I had already known.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t

    name now, Ch to go over. Whatever your grandfather had left behind is in your

    name now. He leaves behind not only thepany but also his assets in the form ofvish vehicles, his mansion in the city, and arge sum of money.¡± Mr Hendricks said. with a slight shrug. ¡°And it could not havee at a better time.¡± He added in a cl*pped

    tone.

    I frowned at him. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± I queried and he immediately let out a heavy sigh.

    Mr Hendricks sat forward in his arm chair, the leather squeaked beneath his weight. ¡°Thepany is not performing at its best as ofte. If there had been a way for me to intervene sooner, I would have, but the will stated not until you were twenty-six of age.¡± He informed me and that was news to me.

    years

    It had been a good business that boomed and performed highly. Perhaps years of negligence had caused it¡¯s damage but I could only hope that it had been repairable.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure I could mend things once I have a few virtual meetings with the board members and the rest of the departments.¡± A look of disapproval had marred his face at

    E

    what I had said.

    ¡°Virtual meeting?¡± He shook his head instantly looking like a dog trying to shake out the water from his fur. ¡°I¡¯m afraid if you really want to save the business from bankruptcy, you will need to be hands on. It still has great potential and it¡¯s just in need of a guiding hand. It had been a while since any one has checked in on the business operations leading to its current state. The shareholders are influential people and it is only a matter of time before they be restless and pull away from thepany.¡± He advised and it gave me hope for betterment but it wasn¡¯t what I wanted to hear.

    Being hands on means a lot more than I was ready for. It meant returning back to New York for more than just a friendly visit. It meant running in to the people I did not want to see ever again. It meant exposing my child to a part of her life that was best kept concealed.

    On the other hand, it was my grand father¡¯s legacy that I had the opportunity to save. Once I had done that then my life would be set and I would be free from the convential working hours. Not that I hated working but it meant for freedom to be with Hayley for more hours in the day.

    After a week of dying and contemting over heading back to the one ce I never ever intending of setting foot in, I had arrived at a decision. It was with Adams help that I managed to conjure up the courage knowing that he would be apanying me to New York. Adam could go for his meeting and I could see to taking over as head of thepany with out feeling like I was all alone.

    My departure was scheduled a few dayster in which time I held a few meetings with thepany¡¯s managerial department to inform them of my arrival along with the PR team. It was then suggested by the PR team that a shareholder meeting he scheduled a day after I arrive. Shareholders would want to know who is thepany¡¯s new owner and it was a good opportunity to develop rtions and gain trust from them before they began getting weary.

    My years of experience in the business world had proved vital and beneficial in me taking on such a role but having said that I still felt intimidated by all of it.

    Days had flown by and before I knew it, my bags were being loaded on to Adams private jet along with Hayley and her nanny. It was her first time flying and she was excited for the new experience.

    It was one of the things I loved about Hayley. She never let anything hold her back. from taking joys in even the most simplest of things. When days were tough, she got tougher and I admired her so much for it.

    ¡°How are you feeling about all of this?¡± Adams voice moved my y attention away from Hayley and on to him where he had sat next to me.

    72%%%

    The knitwear he had worn had been a dark grey in colour andplemented his eyes well. I shook the thought out of my head and responded to his question.

    ¡°I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t scared to death.¡± I tried to sound light about it and failed terribly. ¡°Returning back to the country I swore to never spare a second nce does have its own kind of strain.¡± I leaned my the side of my head against the soft seat and watched Adam¡¯s eyes scan my face.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen you brave a lot of challenges, Sophia, and I don¡¯t have a shadow of a doubt that you¡¯ll be able to sail smoothly through these treacherous waters of uncertainty.¡± His full l*ps spread in to a gentle smile and I appreciated him so much.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t just taking over a wholepany that I¡¯m worried about but it¡¯s also the reality that I would be cing myself right within arm¡¯s reach of people I should never be sharing the same air as. People who hurt me without sparing a thought.¡± I swallowed the lump that had formed on the back of my throat realising just how hurt I still felt about

    all of it.

    Despite thinking I was over it for years, that I worked on forgetting it all, that I was unaffected by it, had all been shattered in just a second.

    ¡°You do not give yourself enough credit, Soph. Adam said in disbelief. ¡°The woman they knew and the one sitting across from me are two different people. You have to go back there and show them that you are no weakling. The position you¡¯re in grants you more than enough reason to behave the role.¡± Adam¡¯s face was serious now and his words made me realise that he was right.

    I left New York hurt, disadvantaged, and weak but I return being far from those things. There was no reason for me to not utilise it to my full advantage and then maybe I¡¯d see how little I had to fear.

    Driving from thending strip had been a memory reviver. Each street we had driven on or each shop we had passed by jogged my memory of life here when I worked as an assistant. There was nothing about it all that I missed. It hade as a surprise to me that there was no string sense of nostalgia welling up within me.

    ¡°Mama.¡± Hayley calling for me got my attention in a heartbeat. I tore my eyes away from the scenes shing past the windows of the SUV and looked to her.

    ¡°Yes, baby.¡± I reached out her hand to caress her dark hair that was the exact same shade as her father¡¯s.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± She asked as she turned to look out at the ce that was all unfamiliar to her.

    ¡°To the ce mama grew up in.¡± I responded watching her innocently look out the window.

    Wishes peased Mooy f

    Pl

    0/

    I knew that I would protect her if it meant doing so with by own life and I was determined to keep her away from any sort of harm.

    My phone pinged and checked it to find an email from thepany. A list of the shareholders had been forwarded to me beforehand and I knew that I should go through it before the meeting just so I was familiar with who would be

    showing up.

    With less than 12 hours to prepare, I had a lot to do.

 Chapter 7

    Dante¡¯s POV

    ¡°Why do we even have to attend this event this evening? We had much better ns for this weekend.¡± Pheobe whined from beside me as she toyed with the white gold earrings I got her.

    ¡°It hadn¡¯t been my n either but it is business rted and, unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t miss it.¡± I exined for the umpteenth time since I received the invitation to this share holder meeting.

    It was not unusual for these things to be held but one from this specificpany hade as an unexpected surprise. It had been dormant in any new news for a while that a sudden share holder event was a bit intriguing..

    Pheobe scoffed, her irritation audible but I ignored her. She¡¯d be back to her best behaviour once she mingled with the high society present.

    ¡°What is this event for exactly?¡± She quizzed and I knew it was not for her to understand but for her to gage whether or not the weekend getaway was worth being cancelled for.

    ¡°A transfer of ownership. The founder, and owner, of Deluxe Enterprises has passed on years ago leaving thepany to operate monotonously. I¡¯m assuming the man¡¯s will has finally been dispensed with leaving a new inheritor to take over the reigns.¡± I exined in a cl*pped tone warning her not to drawl on any further.

    ¡°Sounds like some thing that could have just been an email informing every one about the change.¡± She shrugged but I didn¡¯t respond and. Instead I kept my attention on the road as I steered the car to the venue.

    The crowd had been thick once we approached the venue and it has been a bit of a wait as each car paused at the end of a red carpet and their car had been driven away by the valet to be parked. It was all a little unnecessary but whoever the new owner had been had certainly wanted to make an impression.

    Paparaz zi went wild clicking away at each wealthy man and his arm candy as they walked the carpet hungry to get the perfect shot for their newest issue tomorrow. The shing of the camera was violent enough that it had shed even to where we had been parked 2 cars behind the current car that had been driven away.

    ¡°Is that Katie Griffin?¡± Pheobe leaned forward to get a better look at Carter James, the importing ma, and his top model girlfriend.

    ¡°I believe so.¡± She didn¡¯t catch my dry remark but instead seemed to have forgotten all about how she didn¡¯t want to be here.

    14

    1 held back an amused scoff. If there was one thing I knew about Pheobe it was that she loved high society and good thing for her, I was always emersed in it.

    The car moved forward and both of our doors had been held open for us. I got out of the driver¡¯s seat preparing myself for rapid shing of the cameras. Pheobe found her way to me and the car was driven of from behind us.

    ¡°Look at me like you are utterly smitten.¡± Pheobe whispered in my car even though she knew that was not my thing very often.

    The camera¡¯s shed loudly and I found it a rad bit annoying but this was high society business events. We were ushered further down the carpet to the rest of the paparaz zi could get their perfect shot. Pheobe clung to me, sliding her hand through my arm and shifting her pose every few seconds to even pretending to smile and say absolutely nothing of note to me but I let her be. It was something I was used to by now.

    ¡°Who is that?¡± One of the paparaz zi with a receding hair line and crooked teeth yelled loud enough for every one else to stop taking pictures of Pheobe and o and shift to look at the approaching car making its way to the carpet.

    Pheobe was annoyed but I was not. The shing lights were about to give me a headache but Pheobe groaned beside me.

    ¡°How dare they disrespect us like this? Who are they even looking at?¡± Pheobeined yet craned her n*eck to see what every one else had been looking at and I did, too.

    A shiny ck Bugatti had pulled up causing a bit of a show making it understandable for the turning heads. Tonight¡¯s event was prestigious but not enough for one to bring their best cars to.

    Nevertheless, a tall, richly dressed man emerged from the driver side and I

    immediately recognised him. Adam Huxley, CEO of Huxley Inc, one of the most sessful incorporations in Canada. It was unusual for him to be here since he rarely frequented the country.

    ¡°Adam Huxley.¡± Pheobe whispered beside me sounding awestruck which annoyed me a little. ¡°Oh, he¡¯se with some one.¡±

    I zoned her out and focussed on the sliver of crea my skin belonging to the leg of the woman that had apanied him. He held out a hand and slender, manicured fingers. sl*pped in to it. Adam moved aside to allow his date some space but the moment the woman in question emerged and stood in the spotlight, the camera¡¯s went wild.

    It had taken me a little bit before I could get a clear view between camera shes and when I did, it felt like the breath had been knocked out of me.

    14.26 Sat, 27 Jan BD

    The woman apanying Adam had been a face I¡¯d recognise easily. Dressed in at ck floor length dress boasting a slit that showed enough skin to make my blood stir. Her b*dy had changed in an unexinable way making it appear more full and womanly but she was still well kept. Her face was made up and she looked wlessly breath taking and nothing like that woman I remembered her being.

    Not because she was not wless back then but because she possessed a confidence and strength that was unshakeable now. It made her desirable in an uncontroble way. Gone was the weakling begging for me not to throw her out of my life and now stood a woman unrecognisable to me, unfamiliar to what I knew about her, and why the hell. was she with Adam Huxley?

    Sophia was all smiles and poise as she stood tall and proud beside Adam. His arm sl*p around her back and she didn¡¯t seem to mind it one bit. The paparaz zi along with other guests present began to lose their mind. The assault of shes were crazier than ever and the round of chatter was unmissable.

    ¡°What is she doing here?¡± Pheobe gritted her teeth right close to my ear. ¡°Did you know she was going to be in attendance tonight?¡± Her usatory tone had fallen on to deaf ears because I was too enthralled at the woman standing on the arms of another man at the end of the carpet.

    But what was she doing here? As far as I could tell, neither Adam nor her were shareholders in thispany and this was an event held for shareholders and

    shareholders only. Sophia was untraceable for four whole years and this is the event she chose to make a reprise at?

    ¡°Looks like she managed to trap another rich man.¡± Pheobe snickered beside me just as Adam and Sophia looked at each other and smiled boldly for the camera¡¯s.

    The sight of it all was simply too much to make my blood boil all at once. The nces they shared, the way the man¡¯s hand moulded against the b*dy with familiarity, the fact that Sophia was so at ease beside him and open to his touch. She was beautiful and all this time that passed by had made me forget just how enticing she could be.

    ¡°Mr Huxley, here! To the left.¡± Paparaz zi yelled their orders determined to get the best angle.

    ¡°Mr. Huxley, what brings you to New York? Are you the new owner of Deluxe Enterprises? The reporter held a mic to the man and he chuckled, a sound that made Sophia smile in a way that brightened her warm blue eyes.

    ¡°My goodness, no. I¡¯m not the one who inherited thispany and, though it is a shame, it couldn¡¯t have been given to any one better.¡± The looks of confusion was unmissable until Adam motioned to Sophia beside him.

    ¡°Miss Miller is the new owner of thispany now.¡± Adam Huxley beamed with pride

    17240

    as she spoke about Sophia.

    Pheobe¡¯s gasp mirrored my reaction. I was shocked to hear such a thing. How did Sophiae to inherit thispany? I had been married to her for a while yet I had no idea she was rted to the owner of this business let alone a close enough rtionship for it to be handed down to her.

    ¡°What?!¡± Phoebe snapped beside me, her disbelief didn¡¯t seem to be dissapating and I couldn¡¯t me her because I was still stunned by now than just this new piece on information.

    Sophia Miller looked almost like a woman I had never met and yet I had. There was some thing about her that I couldn¡¯t quite ce my finger on that made it impossible to look away from her. Every thing is me yelled to storm over to where she stood with Huxley¡¯s arm around her and sna tch her from him. The sight of any part of her touching him infuriated me more than I couldprehend.

    What was their rtionships together? By the possessive way he moved with her, it certainly appeared to be more than just friendship. My hands balled in to fists at thinking about her with another man.

    They had been approaching us and Pheobe began yanking on the sleeve of my zer.

    ¡°Let us go inside, Dante. I would hate to have to pretend to be civil when the camera¡¯s are rolling.¡± She whisper yelled in my ear.

    My feet felt nted to the carpet and when I thought Sophia was about to turn and look and my direction, my breath caught but she waved at some one on the other side of the carpet.

    A jolt of disappointment shot through me. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I want her to notice me so desperately? I had been the one to end things, to kick her out of my life for good.

    Pheobe yanked at me again and, this time, I saved myself any further embara s sment following Pheobe in to the banquet hall but with each step I took away, my b*dy ached to turn back. I could distinctly recall the smell of her mixed withvender and just the pure scent of her skin. I wondered if her nose still scrunched up every time sheughed a little too hard or if she still liked the things she did.

    ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost, Dante. Get a grip of yourself.¡± Pheobe berated me through the mask of a smile she stered on her face. ¡°It is only Sophia. Not the Queen¡¯s reincarnate.¡± She snorted.

 Chapter 8

    The evening had been in full swing and the turn out was better than I thought it would be especially considering that the event had been held on a weekend. Most people. would much rather prefer to be out of town altogether than attend a business event.

    I had to hand it to the P. R team who set up the entire event. The venue was new, neat, and had modern finishings making it a breath of fresh air. With therge doors open letting on a decent amount of the cool evening air, it took away the edge from being cluttered or too full.

    Countless people I had recognised as being from amongst the Elite which made me wistful in my endeavours or regaining the business to its secure standing. There were a few faces I had been familiar with simply from the business headlines I had seen them. in and some new face that I had been introduced to that were just as wealthy.

    I went from share holder to share holder and engaged each of them in conversation making myself approachable with as much confidence as I could muster. Up until earlier this evening, barely any one knew that I was the new owner of the business itself but once this information had been known, people were eager to get to speak to me first hand.

    It was definitely a test from their side to gage just how capable I was and I thought I did pretty well. Thankfully, Adam had been by my side for majority of the evening. He served as a guiding hand and moral support never allowing me to doubt myself for even the smallest of seconds.

    Regardless of all of it, from the people I spoke to to Adam¡¯s presence, I couldn¡¯t quite ignore the elephant in the room. It was impossible not to notice the two of them the minute I stepped in to the room and I tried not to pay them any attention since but it was a next to impossible task.

    My gaze would avert to them every so often and it was crazy how I always seemed to have some sense of where they were about the room. However, it would appear that I was not the only one who had been mindlessly keeping track of whereabouts. Each time my eyes darted in their direction, I always met dark choctey eyes that I wish I hadn¡¯t recognised so well.

    Of course, Pheobe had been with him. Myst encounter with the woman still scarred me and my temper was hanging by a thread just looking at her.

    Naturally, the hushed whispers had not gone unnoticed but I pretended to not hear them. It would have been naive of me to assume that no one would say a word about it. At some point, they will, forget.

    ¡°You have interacted with every share holder in this room, Soph. You can¡¯t avoid him

    forever.¡± Adam smiled as he spoke to not give away what we had been speaking about.

    He handed me a ss of champagne which I took. ¡°I know but I can¡¯t help not knowing how it would turn out.¡± I shrugged before taking a sip and feeling the weing cool liquid bubble down my throat.

    Adam nced over my shoulder before his eyes met mine again. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have much time left to wonder because they seem to be making a move in our direction.¡± He gave me a heads up behind the rim of his fluted ss and a wave of dread washed over

    me.

    But I reminded myself that I was no longer the fragile woman that Dante discarded when he no longer needed me. I was stronger than ever and I¡¯d be da mned if I let them intimidate me.

    ¡°Adam Huxley.¡± Pheobe¡¯s voice sounded behind me making the hairs at the back of my n*eck stand as my anger began simmering.

    I turned cing myself next to Adam so I could see them. Pheobe had dressed in an all pink ensemble that made her look like a mingo. Her l*ps were painted a nude shade and she tried to rock the wet hair look but it just looked greasy.

    Her

    eyes lowered itself to me. ¡°And you, of course.¡± She said in a mocking tone but her eyes were bitter with jealousy.

    ¡°The infamous Dante Crawford.¡± Adam said ignoring Pheobe entirely which made her cheeks heat in embaras sment.

    I looked over at Dante and my breath caught at the back of my throat. He was dressed in his signature dark suit that hugged his b*dy like a second skin.

    ¡°Huxley.¡± Dante responded carelessly. He was clearly upset about Adams presence for some reason or had it been because he hated the fact that I was the one who inherited thepany he was an investor in.

    ¡°I never thought you¡¯d ever show your face back here.¡± Pheobe butted in refusing to allow herself to fade in to nothingness. ¡°Things had not quite been in your favour thest time you were here.¡± Her eyes danced with malice and I knew that she was referring to her actions that had me in hospital.

    ¡°Perhaps but it is now.¡± I responded briefly not wanting to engage with her too much.

    Dante opened his mouth to say some thing but Pheobe cut him off. ¡°You better watch your steps this time. You may not be as lucky as you were previously. Despite inherenting, you are still just as you are.¡± She mocked and I grit my teeth.

    Had there not been half the room watching out interaction, I might have struck the

    woman with out sparing it so much as a second thought.

    ¡°You should heed your own warning. You don¡¯t know who you¡¯re messing with this time. around and I¡¯d advise you against biting of more than you can chew.¡± I scoffed humorlessly as I red at her.

    Her nostril twitched and her surprise at my verbal retaliation was visible on her face. ¡°Just because you now have the back of a rediculously wealthy man doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯ve suddenly grown a back bone. I¡¯ll say it again. You are just as you were once years ago.¡± She sneered and Iughed lightly causing her eyes to tighten and Dante¡¯s brows to raise in shock.

    ¡°Not every woman seeks to climb their way to relevance by sleeping around with the first rich man they find. It is a tacky tactic used by worthless, irrelevant individuals such as yourself. If any one hasn¡¯t changed at all than it is you.¡± The look on her face was. priceless and I already felt better.

    Dante¡¯s gaze was fixed on me and I could have sworn I heard him growl when he saw me look

    up at Adam who ce his hand around my waist.

    ¡°If you¡¯d excuse us, we have many people to meet.¡± I said before allowing Adam to whisk me away from those two.

    ¡°You did great.¡± He said as he guided me to a more quiet side of the room.

    My head was pounding in my ears and my face was heated. I needed a moment to recollect myself before I could manage the rest of the evening.

    ¡°I need to use the restroom just to freshen up and rpose myself.¡± I said to Adam. ¡°I won¡¯t be too long.¡±

    He nodded and I broke away from the room and headed out in to the hall way until I arrived at the rest room. I pushed open the door and stepped inside thankful that it was empty. My shoulders hunched over the porcin sink, my hands clucthing the edges of it tightly as I breathed haphazardly waiting for my b*dy to regte itself.

    Meeting Dante again was never going to be easy. It was a fact that I was well aware of. However, I also knew that it had to be done. Maybe it would have been a better had I actually gone through the list of shareholders expected to attend tonight so his presence wouldn¡¯t have caught me so off-guard.

    It didn¡¯t help that as the night progressed and I spoke to people, I gathered that Dante Crawford was a major investor in thepany making my life just a tad bit moreplicated. It meant that he was a vital part of my ns to regain thepany¡¯s standing and if he is lost as a an investor then every one else will likely follow.

    I inhaled slowly and exhaled just as slow as I straightened my back and stood up. I did a

    quick inspecting look to make sure nothing was out of ce before I could exit the rest

    room.

    When I pulled the door open to make my way back to the room filled of people, a tall figure filled the door way. I gasped in surprise and nearly jumped back.

    Dante towered over me showing no intent of moving out of my way. His eyes were unreadable as they ran the length of me before settling back on my face.

    ¡°You are in my way.¡± I squared my shoulders ready for this battle.

    ¡°I will move but after you answer my question.¡± He said in a rough tone and I raised a

    brow at him.

    ¡°You did not ask a question and, even if you did, I owe you nothing.¡± My response had his l*ps press in to a thin, disapproving line.

    He didn¡¯t move from the door way but he did straighten his posture in an attempt to intimidate me.

    ¡°What are you doing with Adam Huxley? Are the both of you romantically inv-¡± I scoffed at his question before a small chuckle escaped me.

    are

    ¡°I must say that you are utterly ridiculous to think that you have the right to ask me such a question.¡± I retorted at the nerve of him. What was it to him whether Adam and I were a couple or not?

    His jaw clenched from myck of cooperation. ¡°Answer me!¡± He raised his voice leaning forward like he was willing to scare an answer out of me.

    ¡°I will not. As a shareholder in mypany, I may offer you professional responses to your queries but my personal life is mine to live as I please. I owe an exnation to no one. I paused looking at the anger take over his face. ¡°Least of all you, Dante.¡± I muttered then took a step forward hoping he would just get out of my way but stubborn as he had been, he didn¡¯t even move a muscle and I was too annoyed to step back and let him think I was intimidated by him.

    ¡°Sophia, I¡¯m going to ask you again and I want a da mn answer.¡± I opened my mouth to protest but he went on. ¡°What are you doing with Adam Huxley?¡± He pronounced each word slowly and I was beginning to grow tired of this.

    ¡°You are wasting my time. Please, get out of my way.¡± I said but he moved closer ending whatever space had been between us.

    The smell of his cologne that I remembered distinctly tickled my nose and I was immediately hyper aware of his close proximity.

    ¡°Get out of my way or I will-¡±

    ¡°Or you will what?¡± His breath fanned my face. ¡°Scream?¡± He scoffed. ¡°I dare you. As if people haven¡¯t discussed our history enough already tonight.¡± His eyes shes daringly and I clenched my hands in to fists.

    I brought my hands to shove against his abdomen and push him out of my way but Dante was too fast. His hand gripped both of mine in one of his and he pushed me in to bathroom causing the door to m shut. I fought against his hold but he was too strong.

    His eyes darkened with a look that made my stomach churn. His gaze lowered to my l*ps and I knew then that he was enjoying this. My fiesty nature had set some thing alight within him.

    ¡°This is rediculous! You can¡¯t just behave like such an entitled little piece of-¡± Before I could finish my insult, Dante¡¯s l*ps pressed against mine brutally. His l*ps moved against mine roughly as he k*ssed me ferociously.

    I fought against him, against his k*ss but I felt my self control crumble and, for a split second, I gave in. My l*ps moved against his matching his wild abandon as he moved my hands behind my back so he could press every inch of me to him.

    My erratic breathing caused my n*pples to brush against the front of his shirt making them sensitive and tender but when Dante tugged my lower l*p with his teeth, the pleasurable pain made me jerk back to reality.

    My entire b*dy grew stiff and in one swift motion, I pushed him off and away from me. Dante looked down at me in confusion but I yanked my hands free and used of them to nt a small right on his left cheek. The sound of my palm shing against his cheek echoed through the bathroom.

    I didn¡¯t spare even a second to gage his reaction before I pushed past him and left with my heart pounding in my cars, my head a mess, and l*ps swollen from k*ssing Dante.

    COMMENT

    0

 Chapter 9

    The day after the meeting had been just as tiring. Not only had I had very minimal sleep the night prior but I also set an rm for an earlier morning. In total, I think it would be a stretch to say that I had more than four hours of sleep total.

    Most of my sleepless hours had been due to my mind refusing to let go of what happened earlier during the evening. I was partly still shocked and also confused at what had transpired between Dante and I.

    He

    His behaviour had been throwing me off big time. He had been the one who say he didn¡¯t want me on his life any more. He was the one to sent me the divorce. papers. had been the one to refuse even allowing me to convince him other wise yetst night he was behaving like he was a wounded lover that had been abandoned. Dante questioned me about Adam like he was so entitled to know what the nature of our rtionship had been. It was entirely out of line and I could not understand what had been going on in his head.

    I really didn¡¯t want to see him so soon after returning back to New York but I guess some things were unavoidable especially considering he was a major investor on thepany that I now owned. It made it a little bit baffling that a man as sharp as him had not figured out that the business was a little bitpromised at present. He was just as surprised to see me therest night as I had been to run- in to him. I could say that I wished it had been thest time that I would see him but him being such a vital part of

    that I would see him but him being such a vital thepany made it impossible.

    As for Pheobe, the woman was pathetic. Not that it came as any sort of a surprise to me but she had be too over zealous. The nerve of her to openly threaten me like I was. a harmless fly that she could easily smash with her pointed toed heel. I may have let her have her way once but I¡¯d be dam ned if I allow her any sort of leniency ever again.

    ¡°Miss Miller?¡± I blinked out of my reverie at the voice of the butler calling my name. By the cl*pped tone of his, he had called me more than once.

    ¡°Yes?¡± I was a bit withdrawn but he motioned for me to enter therge house fit to be a mansion that my grandfather had left to me.

    The entire estate had been breath taking and he had made a few modern changes to the ce since I wasst here. The front garden framed the long driveway that lead to the main entrance of the house. Arge marble fountain was situated just to the right of thewn and across the front door. Roses and other pretty flowers swayed in the gentle breeze and the light from the sun danced of them.

    ¡°Shall we proceed to take a tour of the house?¡± He asked and I nodded while trying to fight of a yawn.

    ¡°Of course. That would be lovely.¡± I smiled warmly at him and allowed him to lead the way all around the home I once remembered but seemed so different now. Not that I minded it at all since I liked the changed that had been made.

    The colours were more clean and neutral. The old carpets were removed and either porcin tiles or wooden flooring had been fitted in its ce. The light fixtures that I recalled hanging from the ceiling as a child were now gone and reced with fancier lights.

    The tour hadst nearly an hour with the outhouse and by the end of it, I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to just take a dip in the pool at the back of the mansion.

    After staying at a hotel for almost three days, it was finally time to get settled and officially move in to a more secure lodging. I just made a quick stop here before heading in to the office to make sure every thing was in order for us to move.

    ¡°Thank you for your time. I will have my luggage sent overter today.¡± I informed him before leaving the estate and heading over to the office.

    I had a meeting in half an hour with the managerial team and I had to get to it on time. I was enthusiastic to get to know the different departments and people in it.

    I swiped my ess car at the private parking and drove through parking my car right in the reserved spot allocated for me and close to the entrance and elevator. I reached for my hand bag and got out, straightening my pencil skirt and tucked in blouse before heading in to the building.

    The meetingmenced shortly and important issues were raised to my attention. Issues such as the unstable rate of sales, ounts that have not been paid for some reason, and other significant problems that we discussed on a way forward to fix it. By the end of the meeting I had felt a little lighter knowing that I was slowly, bit surely, getting things on track one department at a time.

    ¡°The press conference will be held in the uing days. We will try and determine a decent stock price and take things from there. I must thank each of your for being amodating and open to getting the operation back on track.¡± I concluded before the room dispersed but I stayed back in the board room for a short moment to take a breather.

    I had been looking out of therge window at the bustling city below when a knock sounded on the door. I turned to see a young woman standing there with fiery red hair that reached the tops of her shoulders with big sses framing her eyes.

    ¡°Miss Miller, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± She spoke clearly and with a soft expression on her face. I hadn¡¯t seen her before now.

    14:27 Sat, 27 Jan G

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you as well.¡± She might have picked up the note of confusion in my voice because she quickly introduced herself.

    ¡°I¡¯m Lucy, your personal assistant.¡± She informed me and I smiled at her knowing where she fit in now.

    ¡°Hello. Lucy. I didn¡¯t even know I had a personal assistant until now.¡± I said for conversation sake.

    ¡°I was in admin for a while since your grandfather¡¯s passing and it¡¯s nice to be getting in to a role I prefer again.¡± Lucy and I were going to get on just well, I could tell.

    ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡± She seemed touched by that but quickly gave her head a small shake.

    ¡°I almost forgot, there is some one here to see you. He didn¡¯t leave a name but he refused to leave when I mentioned that you were upied with a meeting.¡± She sounded a little annoyed by that and I frowned not expecting any one at all. Adam was away attending to his own meeting today and wouldn¡¯t be done until a littleter so it couldn¡¯t be him.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see to it.¡± I said curious to see who it had been.

    ¡°He is in your office.¡± She said before turning around and leaving.

    After Lucy had left, I exited the boardroom and moved down the floor to where my office had been. It was quite well kept even though it had been vacant all these years and not a spec of dust was in sight.

    I pushed open the door that now had a que with my name mounted on it to discover that the man who hade to see me was none other than my ex- husband. Even though his back was faced to me as he looked out of the floor length window, I knew it was him. As much as I hated it, every fibre of me knew it was him.

    ¡°Mr Crawford.¡± I greeted formally then took enough steps to ce me behind therge hard wood desk making sure that there was some thing between us.

    It felt safer that way for two reasons. One being that I¡¯d have some leverage in case this was going to be a tough encounter and two being that keeping space between was good. There was no need for us to share any kind of inappropriate proximity especially after what had transpiredst night.

    My l*ps still tingled and I hated it. I hated that he had any sort of effect on me at all. It wasn¡¯t supposed to exist any more. After all this time, I was supposed to look at him, be in his presence, and think of nothing else but how much I hated him.

    His tall pants and t-shirt covered length shifted from the window as he turned around

    to face me. Dante¡¯s face was unreadable and his eyes were a mask making me reinforce what ever walls I had up prepared for what ever he was going to throw at me.

    ¡°Mr Crawford?¡± He asked in distate like I had offended him.

    I nodded. ¡°I do believe that is the way you are to be addressed as in a formal setting.¡± My response was stating the obvious. What did he expect me to call him?

    I let out an exhausted breath before setting in to my chair and motioning for him to take one of the two chairs across from my desk. Dante didn¡¯t even look at the seat but stood where he didfortably.

    ¡°There was nothing formal about what happenedst night.¡± His words hung in the air and my cheeks instantly heated up.

    ¡°That was a mistake and you know it. You acted out of anger and it meant nothing. If any thing, it says more about you than me.¡± I mocked but he didn¡¯t phase him at all.

    ¡°And what did you act out of?¡± His flung at me, walking around the room. ¡°As much as I k*ssed you, you als

    did k*ss me back.¡± Da mn it!

    That was the stup idest thing I ever did.

    ¡°Perhaps it was anger as well.¡± I shrugged carelessly. ¡°In any case, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Dante¡¯s eyes narrowed at me like he was waiting for me to crumble to his feet and beg him to take me back.

    Well, if that was what he had been waiting for then he could wait for an eternity.

    ¡°Why are you here? I can¡¯t imagine you have nothing to do but show up here to discuss ack of judgement.¡± My choice of words had him clenching his jaw but I felt satisfied. ¡°I¡¯m here in the best interest of my own. As a vital share holder in thispany.¡± There was some thing devious in his tone that made my shoulders tense up.

    ¡°I know what the other investors do not.¡± He paced slowly in front of my desk like a predator stalking its prey. ¡°I have known about the battling finances of thepany from the get go and I find it scandalous that you have not disclosed it to the shareholders first hand.¡± He pause right in front of my desk.

    ¡°Because it is a minor fix. Nothing to really cause any sort of unnecessary rm amongst the investors.¡± I tried to brush it off but his eyes were to fixed on me that he caught the slight fear that shed across my eyes.

    ¡°What guarantee can you give to us investors to ensure such a thing?¡± His words hung in the tense air of my office and my mouth ran dry.

 Chapter 10

    For the first time in the entire day, I felt the exhaustion of all of it crash over me. The dull ache in my head had now turned in to a full blown headache and the sun rays shining in through the ample windows of my office.

    It didn¡¯t help that I had Dante standing over me in my office adding to my already stressful day. His question, which I had heard loud and clear, hung in the air unanswered. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t have a response but I was stunned that his tone had turned threatening and cun ning like he was willing to expose thepany¡¯s predicament to the rest of the investors.

    I should not be shocked in the slightest that Dante was aware of the struggling finances of thepany. He didn¡¯t reach the height of his wealth by being aloof and irrational. What did catch me of guard was that he was using it against me.

    What on earth did he want from me after all these years? Had he not been the one to throw me out of his life with out so much of the chance to get a proper exnation? Yet here he was standing in the middle of my office when he could have been anywhere else.

    ¡°You do not have an answer I see.¡± He responded in a smug tone like he was betting on it. ¡°I wonder what will the other investors think of this when they hear of it. Some will definitely pull out their sizeable investments whilst others may even take to the media to expose the dishonestly conducted by such an esteemedpany.¡± The look on his face grew more tarty as he continued to threaten me taking my silence as a weakness and assuming that he had me right where he had wanted me.

    ¡°It¡¯s a minor fix. I said lightly with a wave of my hand. ¡°It isn¡¯t any thing a little guidance and determination can¡¯t fix.¡± I leaned back in my seat pretending to be unphased by the information he was using over me. If I did not give power to what he was saying then perhaps it¡¯ll discourage him altogether.

    Except instead of looking appeased, his eyes grew brighter. ¡°You¡¯re a little too wistful for your own good, Sophia.¡± My name rolled of his tongue like it yearned for him to say it. I had forgotten how my name soundeding from his l*ps.

    ¡°On the contrary. I¡¯ve assessed the figured and damage myself and I can assure you, along with any one else who may be concerned, that the recent figures are only so due to the fact that the business was left unattended since my grand father¡¯s death.¡± I paused to take a quick breath before going on. ¡°A steady hand will fix the issues in no time. Of that I am sure so you can take your condescending tone and doubtful, threatening words and pis s off.¡± I snapped growing infuriated with his presence and his intent of even showing how here to begin with.

    His jaw clenched at my harsh tone causing the tendon to stick out over his defined,

    chiseled cheeks. His eyes were aze as his anger began to rise but I was no afraid of him at all.

    ¡°If you are that confident in this then why not disclose or to the others. Tell them what- the figures currently stand at and inform them of where you intend on taking it. It shouldn¡¯t be such a difficult-¡±

    ¡°There is no need to create unnecessary discord and worry between thepany and its investors. At least not over some thing so miniscule.¡± He raised a sardonic brow at

    me.

    Dante leaned forward, his hands dripping the back rest of the seat on from of him with such force that his fingers cause an indent on the material beneath his weight. His eyes locked with mine and for a small second I caught my breath.

    ¡°You are ying a dangerous, dangerous game. One that could easily back fire and go south fast.¡± He warned but I didn¡¯t need to pay him any heed. He didn¡¯t see the figures yet to know how fixable it was.

    ¡°Then that is for me to bare the brunt of.¡± I responded defiantly but my eyes slowly narrowed in as I focussed on his face which made him a little ufortable. I crossed my arms over my chest and rested my elbows over the hardwood desk between us.

    ¡°It sounds like you are concerned about my well being.¡± I taunted knowing that that would annoy him. ¡°A busy man such as yourself has shown up to my office in the midst. of a work week to serves as an advisor in hopes that I would stay away from making over zealous decisions.¡± My words were dramatic yet each on everyst nerve of his, ¡°On the contrary, I only care for my own financial gain or loss.¡± She said with an aloof shrug. ¡°Yourpany is leaning towards offering me thetter of the two and that is what I want is to stay ahead of.¡± He justified in a co cky, rough tone.

    I sighed and rose to my feet. My n*eck hurt cleaning to look up at him and I felt like I need my height to intimidate him. Regardless of the fact that I was still a whole foot below him.

    ¡°Then you have wasted your time showing up here because you are at no financial detriment, Mr Crawford.¡± His nostril twitched at being addressed so formally again. ¡°I have a good, experienced advisor that I trust so you need not to worry.¡±

    He snorted, pressing his l*ps in to a thin line. ¡°Is that advisor Adam Huxley? The man you parade yourself around with no title.¡± His eyes darkened with irritation but I couldn¡¯t understand why.

    ¡°He is an excellent man, One whose advise and judgement I trust.¡± Adam was not much of an advisor as much as he was a very close friend that happened to give his insight on my business predicament but I knew it would infuriate Dante to think other wise.

    14:27 Sat, 27 Jan

    72%

    What ever his dislike towards Adam was for, I might as well use it to my full advantage.

    ¡°So be it. If you are so sure in yourpany and Huxley¡¯s advise then allow me toy a proposal at your feet.¡± He stood up straight now, buttoning his zer as he did so before fixing his cuff links.

    I raised a quizzical brow at him awaiting him to go further. ¡°Go on.¡± I pushed even though that uncertainty was wreaking havoc on my insides.

    ¡°Allow me to propose a bet- on agreement.¡± Sh it.

    My eyes may have widened the size of saucers when he said that. He was openly challenging me, testing me, provoking me.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± Adam¡¯s intruding voice sounded from the now open. jar but neither Dante nor I had looked at him. We were too busy ring at each other refusing to look away and be the one to crumble.

    ¡°If you, by some miracle, manage to get those figures up by fifteen percent then I will invest 1. 7 Billion in to yourpany but if you fail to do so then I want to buy out yourpany entirely.¡± He spoke ignoring Adam entirely but his eyes did grow angrier since. his presence was made known. Dante¡¯s face was firmly set just as his offer had been. Hist breath was harsh and so was mine.

    All I could think about what how rediculous his proposal was. It was extreme and not to mention unfair.

    ¡°This is preposterous! Sophia, do not agree to it!¡± Adams voice filled with urgency rang in my cars, his foot steps grew louder as he stormed in to my office.

    I knew I should listen to Adam and not allow my ego to drive me to a decision that I could potentially regret. It would be the biggest mistake I ever did second only to marrying Dante years ago.

    ¡°Go ahead, listen to your lover like you don¡¯t have a brain to make your own decisione

    Dante shifted his gaze over to Adam and if it weren¡¯t a crime, Dante looked like he would have killed Adam already.

    Adam grunted angrily, his torso overpping with my shoulder protectively but Dante watched this small movement and his l*ps thinned. I couldn¡¯t understand why he disliked Adam so much. Was it because Adam served as a pir of support guiding me through this.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you leave her alone? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t caused a lot of damage already.¡± Adam spat out and Dante took a step in his direction ready to tackle him.

    ¡°Look at you being a good guard dog. Did she neuter you already?¡± Dante mocked and

    Adam took a step forward.

    ¡°Not as much as that twi nky of yours has-¡± Adam started but I had hear enough of this

    nonesense.

    ¡°Stop it!¡± I yelled loud enough that my words bounced of the walls and echoed through my office.

    Dante stopped mid-unch and I moved in front of Adam in case Dante reconsidered his decision but that only seemed to have triggered Dante further. He trembled with fury, his nose ring like a bull ready to obliterate it¡¯s target.

    Adam inhaled beside me then let it out. His expression softened when he looked at me. ¡°Sophia, do not agree to it. It is a trap and nothing more but a distraction.¡± I knew that, too. I knew it was no good.

    ¡°Go ahead. Refuse to agree to my bet but that only says all I already know. You do not truly have it all in hand which only makes sense for me to disclose the truth of the matter on your behalf to the rest of the share holders.¡± Dante watched me closely looking for even the slightest of cra ck in myposure.

    I squared my shoulders and I looked up at Dante¡¯s towering, overbearing figure. He still thought that I was the weak woman he once knew and just for that, I was going to prove him wrong.

    ¡°You want to have a bet- on agreement? Fine, so be it but 1. 7 Billion is far too little a bet. It isn¡¯t a fair stake. Instead, when thepany rises by its 15% then you will invest 10 Billion in to thepany and not a penny less.¡± Dante merely scoffed like that was not even a challenge at all and it probably wasn¡¯t to him but I could use that money to do a lot of expansion in ces necessary.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Adam asked in disbelief but I would deal with himter.

    ¡°What needs to be done. I can¡¯t handle the man constantly doubting my capabilities.¡± I snapped wanting to just be alone right now and away from Dante. His mere presence threw one off my game.

 Chapter 11

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    My hold tightened around the device that had been in the palm of my hand. I felt anger. bubble within me with each word that my I had glided over in the form of an email. An email that had been waiting for me at the top of my inbox with no other reason but you infuriate and hold the upper hand.

    It had been an email from Deluxe Enterprises stating all the terms as well as the finalization of the verbal bet that had been made yesterday itself. I knew exactly who was behind this email and I knew to expect anything from Sophia Miller. not only was the woman entirely unpredictable but she was certainly refreshing as well.

    I didn¡¯t know what to make of my ex- wifes unexpected return back into the country. but I did know two things. The first being that she had returned nearly a different person. Her newly found confidence and feistiness was something that I found utter frustrating and enticing at the same time. The second was that I did not know how to deal with her return just yet.

    Not only had she been gone for four full years but she was back now and right under my nose as the owner of thepany that I was a major investor in. Her determination was admirable and the back bone she seemed to have grown in her absence was just as usable. It had managed to rouse not only my attention but also make my blood stir causing me to impulsively do unthinkable things.

    That night at the share holders meeting, I had absolutely no intention of following her with the inclination of k*ssing her but when my questions begin causing her orbs to brightening in anger and her mouth parted as she berated me continuously, I had given into the urge of pressing my l*ps against hers.

    It was partly done to silence her and in great part because I wanted to feel her l*ps beneath mine again, to taste her sweetness as I once remembered it. It had caught her off guard at first but eventually gave in allowing herself to indulge in her own desire but itsted for a brief moment because she came to her senses. Her desire filled gaze quickly shifted to that of fury right before she pped me and walked away.

    A part of me wondered if the only thing that made her pull back was her recalling that Adam Huxley existed in her life. I couldn¡¯t quite ce their rtionship just yet because as much as they evade the paparaz zi¡¯s questions about it, Adam behaves a little too protectively around her and Sophia never seemed to push him away.

    My jaw clenched recalling the number of times I¡¯ve seen him wrap an arm around her in front of people. Every time he had touched her, some thing in me instinctively fuelled with wild abandon wanting to tear his arm right out of it¡¯s socket.

    Chapter II

    between Sofia¡¯s newly attained position and her permanent return paired with Adam Huxley flying around her as if you were a bee and she a flower it had left a lot of questions and nk spaces that I was determined to fill in.

    it was exactly what had prompted me to make a call yesterday to a long lost friend. Frederick Sanders had been one of the best private investigators in the business. I have used these services years ago and haven¡¯t required them up until now.

    I needed him to dig up as much dirt as he could have gotten on Sophia in thest 4 years that she had left the country. I wanted to know everything that there was to know and just exactly where Adam Huxley fitted in all of this.

    A knock on the door had dragged me out of my thoughts before it opened and there walked in Frederick Sanders.

    ¡°Good day, Mr Crawford. It has been a long while since I¡¯vest seen you.¡± He strode in to the office wearing his twead pants and a button front shirt which had always been his look. I have never seen the man in a suit even once.

    ¡°Frederick, I have been awaiting your arrival.¡± I motioned to one of the two seats situated across my desk for him to settle in to and he did.

    ¡°What you¡¯ve requested didn¡¯t take too much time to dig up.¡± He sounded proud of himself there but I didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Then you should have been here sooner.¡± I said in a t retort but he didn¡¯t react.

    ¡°I have every thing that you¡¯ve requested right here so don¡¯t be uptight. Your patience will be fruitful.¡± He waved the leather bound file in front of me before sliding it across the polished table.

    I ced a palm on top of it just in time before it sl*pped of the edge of the table. I undid the straps that bound that file together. I was impatient and wanted nothing more than to rip it open.

    ¡°What did you find, Fredrick?¡± I questioned before even looking at any of the papers.

    ¡°Sophia Miller left America and moved to Canada 4 years ago right after your divorce. She shortly began working for Huxley enterprises where she performed outstandingly securing her position as head of her department. She rented a decent apartment in a secure neighborhood but she has resigned recently after her new position at Deluxe Enterprises.¡± Ahh so Adam was her boss for all intents and purposes. Not like her to mix business with pleasure but people change.

    I looked down to find her employment contracts along with pictures of her entering and leaving her work building. She dressed well, professional, with a hint of understates feminine appeal.

    14:27 Sat, 27 Jan

    ¡°When she had just relocated, she had been seen frequently visiting the doctor often. when she had moved to Canada.¡± My head snapped up to look at Frederick at that piece. of information.

    ¡°Was she sick?¡± It was surprising to think so because she didn¡¯t look sickly now or like she had any medical issues. ¡°Why on earth would she need to visit a doctor so soon after her move? She hadn¡¯t been ill here.¡± My bafflement was audible.

    Frederick shook his head in the negative. ¡°For a short while, she had been. I suspected that she had some long term medical issue but after digging a little deeper I discovered that Sophia was not visiting just any doctor but an OBGYN. A doctor by the name of Dr. Jackson who is known to be the best gynecologist in Canada.¡± I blinked a few times knowing exactly what this meant but refusing to ept it.

    ¡°A gynecologist?¡± I asked, bbergasted.

    ¡°Yes. She was pregnant when she left America. Early stages, too.¡± Frederick looked at me like I was slow but my brain just did not want to ept this.

    ¡°Did she miscarry, then? Anyplications that rendered her pregnancy null?¡± I questioned since I had not heard any thing about her having a child let alone ever saw her with said child.

    ¡°On the contrary, she gave birth to a healthy girl baby. Check the hospital and doctor reports for yourself. It is all there.¡± He motioned to the folder and I turned the pages to find images of the ck and grey sonograms along with pictures of Sophia heavily

    pregnant.

    There were still pictures of her entering her work ce when she was heavily pregnant. Weird that she hadn¡¯t taken any leave beforehand.

    ¡°She definitely makes sure to keep her child away from society for some reason. I¡¯ve never seen her child in all the time that I¡¯ve encountered her since she returned neither had she mentioned it.¡± I felt my forehead creases deepen. ¡°But why would she?¡±

    ¡°Who knows. She could have her reasons. Aside from that, I couldn¡¯t find any other information on her.¡± Frederick said in careful conclusion.

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± I muttered finding myself grow annoyed with every thing all at once.

    Seeing Sophia so closely yet not being able to have her under my thumb like before. Adam Huxley and her curious rtionship. And now a whole child! That exined the fuller look her b*dy had since she returned. It made her less fragile looking and more womanly. Her hips were more curved, her chest held a fullness to it that made her irresistible.

    8K 72%

    Chapter II

    madness! How could this woman have such an effect on me. No other woman ever illicited such a reaction from me just by thought and it was unsettling, infuriating even to know that here I was burning at her mere thought of her and she despised my very

    presence.

    ¡°I shall take my leave now, Mr Crawford. If you require my services again, do not hesitate.¡± Frederick left and I nodded not really paying attention to him too much.

    I needed to meet this child of hers. See if she bore any resemnce to her father or if Sophia was more promiscuous than I had assumed her to be.

    Asking Sophia outright was not the way to go. It would only lead to her being defensive about it all. I ran a hand through my hair

    roughly resisting the urge to tank at it out of sheer helplessness.

 Chapter 12

    Today was a very important day.

    I said to myself all through the morning that I had went about my routine. From taking a shower to getting dressed, it was all I told myself.

    Today was the day that thepany held an official sit down meeting with shareholders amongst other potential investors who wanted to buy in to thepany. It was all in hopes of stabilising the stock price and getting it to a decent rate. If the demand for investment increases than that would prove beneficial for the future of thepany making it desirable.

    I didn¡¯t even want to consider what would happened if the opposite case prevailed. It was all positive thoughts this morning. No matter how much my fears began whispering doubt in my head, I shut it off.

    I did my face up just enough to look fresh and presentable. The stormy grey pencil skirt that I had worn sinched in at my waist where a ck button front shirt had been tucked in neatly. I added a neutral shade of l*p stain to my l*ps before applying a few sprits of my perfume.

    ¡®You got this. It will all go as well as it can.¡¯ I convinced myself then slid on a pair of heels and left my dressing room..

    It was still a little early and Hayley should wake up any moment now making it possible for us to enjoy breakfast together out on to the back terrace making the most of the excellent weather while itsted.

    was once

    The move in to home that my grandfather¡¯s was an easy one. It didn¡¯t feel like a transition that needed to be adapted to, instead it had felt as natural as ever. Even Hayley had settled in well in to the room which had been right across from mine. It was ample enough for her equipment yet warm enough that it didn¡¯t feel like a hospital facility.

    I heard the sheets rustling in her room once I stepped out in to the hall way and I didn¡¯t hesitate for even a moment to enter in to her room. Her eyes were open and, judging by the look of frustration on her face, I knew that she was awake for a little bit now.

    It was one of those days were the mornings were harder for her because her legs. wouldn¡¯t cooperate with her.

    ¡°Good morning, my little princess.¡± I greeted her gently not wanting to overwhelm her.

    Hayley squealed conveying her frustration. ¡°Mama, my legs are not moving with me.¡±

    that she felt and it tugged at

    Her sleepy voice was over shadowed by the helplessness are n

    my heart.

    ¡°I know baby but that¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I came to get you so we can have breakfast together. The chef made pancakes with chocte chips. They¡¯re your favourite.¡± I tried to distract her while moving the wheel chair closer to her bed.

    I saw her eyes lighten up at the mention of pancakes and chocte chips and I took the chance to swoop her up and hug her tightly. I held her for a few moments longer before 1 settled her in to the wheel chair.

    ¡°Can I also have some syrup on it?¡± She tested the waters as I wheeled her out of the room ¡°Just a little bit.¡± She quickly added before I said no.

    ¡°Only if you eat the berries and fruit with it.¡± I negotiated and she pondered for a short while before agreeing.

    Despite her challenges, Hayley was a joy to have as a child. Her sharp wit on some days. shocked me but I knew that she had to inherit some thing from her father.

    A father that didn¡¯t even know about her existence at all. My hands tightened around the handles at the recollection of how tantly Dante had refused my request to speak to him in private so I could tell him about being pregnant.

    It was a shame that he missed his shot and I didn¡¯t intend on changing things at all. Hayley lived a good life with out his presence in it and I wasn¡¯t about to make it known to him that he had a daughter. Knowing Dante in his current state of mind which was out to get me at every turn, I didn¡¯t want a custody battle. It was thest thing Hayley herself needed.

    As I drove to the office, I braced myself for the outugh of reported that would be present but the publicity was good for thepany. ording to Adam, of the public knows that things are changing with a once thrivingpany, it will spark interest and gain more investors.

    When I had reached the office, I was surprised to have found it dead with not a single investor or camera sh in sight. My phone buzzed and I dig in to my bag for it to find an iing call from Adam.

    ¡°Adam, hey.¡± I greeted him.

    ¡°Sophia, where are you? The investors have began arriving and you¡¯re not here yet.¡± The confusion had me frowning./

    ¡°I¡¯m at Crawford¡¯s banquet hall. Didn¡¯t you send out an email saying that the venue was changed?¡± He asked sounding baffled.

    I did not make any change to any venue and least of all shifting the entire venue to Dante¡¯s banquet hall.

    14:27 Sat, 27 Janu

    ¡°No, I did no such thing.¡± But I knew exactly who had done this. ¡°It was a set up, Adam. Dante sent out an email without my consent.¡± My anger began to rise at how meddling

    he was.

    ¡°What?! The email was sent yesterday and I knew it couldn¡¯t be but I thought you had a good reason for changing venues so I didn¡¯t question it.¡± Adam exined appalled at what Dante had done.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe he did such a thing. He had no right what so ever to interfere.¡± I seethed.

    ¡°Dear go d, the man really is menace.¡± He sighed but then inhaled. ¡°In any case, just get over here. I¡¯m waiting for you on the parking lot so we can enter together.¡± He informed me but I wanted to know if the turn out was at we had hoped it would be.

    ¡°Are there any potential investors present?¡± I questioned and Adam chuckled lightly.

    ¡°Come and see for yourself, Sophia.¡± The glee in his tone was enough to have my spirits rise up.

    When I had gotten to the Crawford banqueting hall, my jaw dropped at the scene on front of me. The parking lot was full and the number of people present and being ushered in to the building was thrilling. More people meant interest and that is what I needed at present.

    With the eargerness bubbling inside me, I stepped out of my car and smoothed my blouse and pencil skirt before finding Adam¡¯s car a few spaces away from mine.

    ¡°Not a bad turn out.¡± He grinned at me as we walked to the entrance where reporters were working their cameras.

    ¡°Not bad at all. However, I don¡¯t know why Dante moved the venue with out anymunication. He has no right to do such a thing despite him being a major investor.¡± My mood was dampened further when I caught sight of Dante and Pheobe at the entrance doors weing guests as if it were their event to control.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s a clear as day, Sophia. Adam threw me a sideward nce and I raised a brow at him.

    ¡°It is clear that the man wanted to have every thing under his close watch. Especially after the bet you two have struck, he is now more involved in thepany than ever.¡± I groaned at what he said since it did sound like Dante.

    The prideful, arrogant man was not going to let me win so easily or not until he knew exactly how I had secured my win.

    ¡°He is an investor not the owner. He had no right to meddle.¡± I gritted my teeth together as we got closer.

    Pheobe had spotted me in the distance and she strategically ced her hand on Dante¡¯s chest before smugly smirking at me.

    ¡°True as that may be, it works out in your favour whether he realises it or not. People are always watching the moves of apany¡¯s current investors. If they see that the current investors, especially a major one, is being retained then they all bite the bait.¡± I nodded slowly taking in the people that showed up and I knew that Adam was right.

    Dante thought that he could ruin me by changing the venue, perhaps make it seem like I was so unprofessional by switching locations at thest minute but all it did was show his interest to the public and it would work out well for me. His irrational judgement worked out to my benefit.

    The camera shes dragged me out of my thoughts and reminded me that we were now in the public eye. I rposed my face concealing what ever anger had lingered. and smiled professionally for the cameras.

    My eyes had locked with Dante and my heart did that stu pid thing where it felt like I was falling but I ignored it. He shed me a challenging re before he looked at Adam and clenched his jaw tightly.

    Adam pulled me closer to his side knowing exactly what he was doing and I smirked at. Dante seeing his eyes narrow to slits.

    ¡°Miss Miller! Miss Miller!¡± The reporters all called out to me to speak in to the many. mics shoved in my face.

    ¡°When are you and Mr Huxley going to tie the knot? We would love to witness a power couples union.¡± One of the bright blue eyes reporters asked excitedly like she rooted for Adam and I as end game.

    Adam chuckled heartily beside me and I smiled ever conscious of the watchful eyes.

    ¡°Perhaps sooner than you might think.¡± Adam said vaguely and that: of questions to which we simply avoided and asked for more professional questions.

    a stream

    ¡°What caused thest minute change of the venue?¡± Asked the bald headed make at the front.

    Adam gave my arm a firm squeeze but I looked to Dante who¡¯s eyes shined with anticipation of what I was going to say. He was probably hoping on me not being able to contain my anger at his move but I was going to one up him.

    ¡°As you all know that Mr Crawford is a major investor in mypany. We thought it only fitting to host the event here, an idea that was entirely his, and I agreed. After all, Deluxe Enterprises is known for maintaining excellent rtions with their investors.¡± I darted my eyes to Dante and saw that he was no impressed since his own n had

    SEND GIF

    GIFT

    backfired against him.

    A few more questions were asked before we had to be mindful of time and refuse to answer any more untilter.

    As Adam and I entered the banqueting hall, Pheobe looked expectantly at Adam but we didn¡¯t even stop to speak to them. Instead, Adam leaned in to whisper nonesense on my ear just to irritate the both of them and it worked wonderfully.

    Dante was clearly in a horrible mood by the time we all had taken our ces but his gaze had followed me all throughout the meeting. I didn¡¯t even have to look in his direction to know it because his gaze weighed heavy on my person and I found it unnerving.

    He appeared to be specially more annoyed when Adam was next to me or speaking to me or touching me in any way possible. What a hypocrite he was. The man literally made his choice years ago yet here he was acting like he had some im of ownership

 Chapter 13

    ¡°I look forward to working with you, Miss Miller.¡± Mr. Levinson, an elderly man and CEO of Hatchys Imports, said as he exited the banquet hall.

    ¡°It is my pleasure.¡± I smiled agreeably and he nodded curtly before heading out.

    I spent the next few minutes receiving the samement or just a simple farewell before we dispersed from the meeting and up to the ball room where refreshment and an open bar was set up courtesy of Dante Crawford.

    So, the meeting had gone on well enough and I was rather relieved by the end of it for two reasons. One, that this was finally over and two, it gave me a whole lot of confidence and reassurance that I needed.

    The existing stakeholders were not willing to sell yet there were new faces present who were more than keen on bing part of thepany in the role of an investor. It was absolutely riveting to see the potential.

    Despite Dante¡¯s doubts and his condescending nces, I was happy to say that he was wrong. Reaching 15 percent will be a piece of cake and before he knew it, he¡¯ll be coughing up a decent portion of his wealth to thepany. It was a day I couldn¡¯t wait for.

    ¡°You did well, Sophia.¡± Adam joined me at the door smiling from ear to ear. ¡°I never doubted you for even a second.¡± He pulled me in for a bear hug which he usually would not have done but there were still two remaining people in the room and thest of the crowd to leave.

    ¡°Tone it down a little bit. I don¡¯t want any fights. Especially not here.¡± I whsipered close to his ear before he pulled back.

    Dante and Pheobe were just a few steps away from us now. I noticed Pheobe eye Adam up and down and I knew that no amount of money was enough for this woman.

    ¡°I must thank you, Mr Crawford. His jaw clenched at my use of such a formal addressing but I didn¡¯t care.

    He opened his mouth to speak but Pheobe¡¯s face contorted in to concern. ¡°What for?¡± She asked sounding on edge that Dante might have done some thing for me behind her back.

    ¡°For setting the venue at this location. Although I don¡¯t approve of it having being done with out any consultation with me prior to such and intrusive change-¡± The distate for his high handed action was thick on my words. ¡°but it worked out well in my favour.¡± I said a bit lighter as I beamed but Dante was not amused at his n that back fired.

    ¡°Nevertheless, it was a sess. I hope you¡¯re ready to ept your defeat soon enough.¡± I grinned and his nostril red but I turned to Adam.

    ¡°Shall we join the rest of them in the ball room? I do believe that we should share a celebratory drink together.¡± Adam lead the way and walked with him close behind but not with out being ever aware of Dante¡¯s watchful eyes follow us.

    The mingling was full swing by the time we had gotten to the ball room. The men were more than happy to see themselves to a drink at the bar and the rest of them engaged in conversation that, by the jovial energy of the room, had not been business rted.

    ¡°A ss of champagne to celebrate?¡± Adam appeared after a few minutes holding a delicate fluted ss in his hand filled mid way with bubbling, golden champagne.

    I took it from him. ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do.¡±

    I took a sip then another feeling the cool liquid fizz on my tongue and cool my parched

    throat.

    ¡°Some one is making use of the open bar, I see.¡± Adam whispered with a scandalous look in his eye as we both looked away to nod at a passerby.

    ¡°Us? we¡¯ve only had one ss since we got here.¡± I pointed out but he quickly shook his head before nudging it to the left side of the room.

    ¡°Not us.¡± He said and my eyes followed the direction he slyly motioned in to find Dante drinking a ss of amber liquid in one go.

    ¡°Not used to losing. It¡¯s a shame but I¡¯m not surprised.¡± Pheobe was next to him, of course, pretending like nothing was awry.

    I always wondered why they hadn¡¯t settled down yet. I mean Dante seemed to sure that she was her every thing yet he hadn¡¯t popped the question as quickly as I expected him to. Our divorce had gotten finalized within a month and these two were not even engaged. It was questionable and I refused to entertain any possibility as to why that

    was.

    ¡°He is really irked by my presence especially when I¡¯m around you.¡± Adam pointed out the obvious but I was d that it hadn¡¯t been just me who had noticed it.

    ¡°I did notice that but I can¡¯t understand why.¡± I shrugged in bafflement but Adam just looked at me dumbfounded.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t know? Come on, you can¡¯t be that clueless, Sophia.¡± He took a sip of his drink while I frowned at him waiting for him to exin what it is that I was missing.

    ¡°The man is clearly jealous.¡± It was my turn to look at him dumbfounded. ¡°What? I¡¯m

    being serious. Any one with a paid of eyes could see it.¡± Iughed at that.

    ¡°That¡¯s rediculous, Adam. The man wanted nothing to do with me. He made his choice and I don¡¯t think he regrets any of it. He may be irritated that I have you around as a guiding light but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s some thing as far fetched as jealousy.¡± For Dante to be jealous, he would have to care for me to a certain extent which I knew was not there.

    Not after what he had done to me.

    ¡°Take it from a man, we never want to see what was once ours belong to some one else.¡± His eyes had tightened at their edges as he red in Dante¡¯s direction.

    ¡°But I was never truly his. I was a mere convenience to him and that was it.¡± A small lunp formed in my throat and I didn¡¯t want to talk about this any more.

    a few moments of silence had passed between Adam and I until he nced at his wrist watch. ¡°I better get going before I¡¯mte for the follow-up meeting. if you need anything I¡¯m just a phone call away. ¡°he winked at me then ced a friendly k*ss on the side of my head.

    He left and my gaze, by chance, fixed with a pair of stormy, furious ones that roared with anger. Dante downed another ss of alcohol and Pheobe looked at him in disgust. She muttered something beneath the stiff smile she tried to maintain and Dante didn¡¯t even acknowledge a word she had said.

    I brought my own ss to my l*ps and took sip then mustered up the social energy to make my rounds about the room and engage in lighter less business oriented conversation. I met a lot of new people who knew my grand father personally and were eager to work with me. Having said that, I also met a few people who conveyed the opposite.

    An hourter, guests began leaving and I was thankful for that. I was exhausted and I also wanted to take Hayley out for a little bit. I scanned the room quickly taking of who had been left and it were just a handful of people enjoying thest of their drinks, I knew that Pheobe had left a while ago looking rather annoyed and Dante was some where around but this was his property so it didn¡¯t bug me too much.

    I headed to my car shielding my eyes from the sun as I did so. I unlocked it the reached for the handle but I heard shuffling behind me causing me swing around.

    There stood Dante Crawford with a sombre look on his face and a bitter setting to hist l*ps. His eyes were pained yet angry and I couldn¡¯t understand what the hell was going with him.

    ¡°Mr Crawford.¡± I muttered and he scoffed narrowing his eyes at me.

    He swayed a little but then propped his arm out to steady himself. ¡°Do you call Adam

    72%

    by his formal name or is that reserved just for me?¡± I groaned not in the mood for this pettiness right now.

    I crossed my arms over my chest. ¡°It is none of your concern what I call-¡±

    ¡°You must call out to him with familiarity. He¡¯s employed you in hispany when you had no one, serves as your shoulder of support, and he has staked his im.¡± I stared at him, bbergasted at what he was saying.

    Adam was right. Dante was jealous of him being around me but this still shocked me because it did not make any sense.

    ¡°If you have followed me to my car to utter nonsense then please do not waste my time.¡± I warned him but he swayed forward.

    He was not outright drunk, just a little out of sorts.

    ¡°Nonesense? On the contrary, Sophie.¡± No one had called me Sophie but him. Ever. Hearing it after all this time sent a weird feeling through my chest.

    ¡°You were seen frequenting a doctor in the early months that you ran off to Canada. I thought it was illness but turns out-¡±

    My eyes widened and a gasp escaped my l*ps. ¡°Have you been stalking me?!¡± I snapped at him. Hisck of boundaries and carelessness for others privacy was infuriating.

    He ignored me and went on. ¡°You were pregnant when you left America. It makes me wonder who had wronged who to begin with.¡± His words were like a p in the face.

    I felt my anger bubble like a hot wave of fire washing over me. The utter nerve of this man! He was the one who had thrown me out of his life with out sparing a second thought yet here he was trying to assign me on me insinuating that I had been the one who had stooped to a low level.

    ¡°What is it to you? We were never a love couple to begin with. A point you made abundantly clear before making your decision. If I chose to carry out my own endeavours on the side then why would that bother you?¡± His l*ps pressed in to a thin line.

    Perhaps it was better for him to think otherwise. I owed him no exnation after what he had done. If he wanted to think that I carried a child that was someone else¡¯s then so be it. It would save me a lot ofplications.

    ¡°So, Huxley was in the picture when we parted ways. That was why it was so easy for you to just sign those papers.¡± His words ced a lot of me on me and took it off him.

    ¡°What did you want me to do? Beg you for your favour, insist that you pick me when

    14:27 Sat, 27 Jan

    Chapter

    you¡¯ve made your choice.¡± His expression turned regretful but I didn¡¯t care. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but you have no right to stand here and pass the me that may feel too heavy for you to carry.¡± I yanked the car door but his hand reached and pushed it shut again.

    ¡°You could have at least told me you were pregnant.¡± He said angrily and I resisted the urge with every ounce of me not to p him.

    ¡°Why would I inform you of me carrying some one else¡¯s child?¡± I asked sarcastically.

    His face grew hard and he took a step forward causing my back to press against the car with hisrge figure towering over me, locking me in. I shrunk in to the side of the car. to ensure that even his zer didn¡¯t touch me but it was of no use because with easy breath I had taken, my chest rubbed against his clothes.

    The familiar heady smell of his cologne mixed with his natural scent filled my and sent my pulse racing.

    nostrils

    ¡°You have done me wrong, Sophie.¡± He whispered a pained whisper close to my l*ps.

    ¡°No, Dante, you were the one who did me wrong but there is no use for us to go digging in to the past.¡± My words were breathy and his eyes lowered themselves to my l*ps.

    Lust and desire swirled through his orbs chasing the pain away. I swallowed in anticipation despite my better judgement telling me to end this charged situation that had suddenly enveloped us but my b*dy was frozen to the spot.

    His l*ps hovered over mine just a hair width away from mine. ¡°The past, you say?¡± He moved a tiny bit closer and my head moved back to brush against his ever so lightly.

    ¡°Y-Yes.¡± I quivered.

    Dante lowered his mouth to mine but just to torture me with a lingering peck. When he moved away, a protesting groan escaped me causing him to grin..

    ¡°I don¡¯t quite agree with you on that.¡± He growled before his mouth devoured mine.

    There was nothing calm about the way he k*ssed me. His l*ps moved against mine hungrily until his teeth bit against my lower l*p causing me to gasp. He took advantage of that and delved his tongue in to find mine where we both fought for dominance.

    My heart mmed against my chest and the blood rushed to myher region. His b*dy pressed against me further, his groin pressing against my thigh showing me just how desperately he wanted me.

    A car approaching snapped me out of the trance Dante had me trapped in. I broke the k*ss and nudged him away roughly but he barely even moved.

    ¡°I have to go.¡± My voice sounded foreign to my own ears.

    I didn¡¯t wait for him to say anything before getting in to my car and driving off.

 Chapter 14

    Dante knew that I had a child.

    It had taken every inch of me not to show him how much the fact that he knew about Hayley irked me. Dante was too observant and he would have been waiting for even the smallest sl*p up in my demeanor for him to retaliate.

    I had managed to keep Hayley away from any attention that may prove stressful to either her or the current situation. However, I did not take in to consideration the fact that he had found a way to dig up as much information about my life than I was prepared for.

    I didn¡¯t know what infuriated me more about it all. The fact that he actually intruded in on my personal life or that he had assumed that Hayley was Adam¡¯s child and didn¡¯t consider an alternative reality to the one he had conjured up in his head. It was convenient for him to ce the me on my shoulders and take away the guilt from his own wrong doings.

    I swallowed my anger like burning coals and went with his assumption. It would prove easy for me to entertain that route than to try and convince him that Hayley was his own flesh and blood. I scoffed just thinking about how that would have went.

    Dante would never believe me and even if he did then who is to say that he will not make the gruesome decision to issue a custody battle. It was not some thing that I would put past him given his current and game n which seemed to be to get

    mindset to me in whichever way he could possibly think of.

    It was also information that I hoped he would keep to himself. I didn¡¯t want Pheobe knowing about it at all. As far as she knew, whatever child I had been carrying met a tragic end after what she had administered to me before I left. I didn¡¯t trust her one bit especially since things may not bode well for her if Dante does find out that Hayley is his child.

    A throat cleared dragging me out of my thoughts. ¡°Are you ready to order, ma¡¯am?¡± The blonde waitress stared at me appearing to me mildly annoyed at myck of acknowledgment the first time she¡¯d asked.

    ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± I folded the menu and handed or back to her. ¡°I¡¯ll have a cappino and an eggs benedict.¡± She nodded, taking the menu back in her hold before shing Adam a wide, bright smile that she didn¡¯t seem to care to offer me even half of that smile.

    ¡°And for you, Sir?¡± Her voice was high pitched and she stuck her chest out even though her uniform didn¡¯t allow for much cleavage to be visible.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the same as her.¡± Adam didn¡¯t notice her obvious flirtation and handed her back the menu without even looking at her.

    She left after letting out a disappointment huff leaving me to look at Adam to see if he had deliberately ignored her or if he genuinely did not notice her.

    ¡°So, how did the rest of the banquet go? I know Bernie Collins was looking to speak to you. He was more than keen to join in the ranks of investors.¡± Yep, he definitely didn¡¯t notice the waitress at all.

    I looked around the cafe seeing that it had been filling up for the brunch rush but it was a good thing that we chose a table at the corner of the cafe allowing us some privacy.

    ¡°It ended of well. I didn¡¯t get to speak to Bernic but there was an email sent early this morning.¡± Adam rxed in his chair after having shrugged off his zer revealing the sky blue button front shirt that he wore beneath it.

    ¡°I thought Dante would have more nned than just relocating the meeting.¡± He scoffed in amusement.

    ¡°It would have been better if he had as opposed to what had actually ured.¡± I looked at Adam and he leaned forward so he could look at me closely.

    ¡°What did the man do to you?¡± He asked, pronouncing each word dangerously slowly. I pondered on how I could answer that question but all options were inappropriate and out of the question. He had done a lot of things that he should not do¡­ to me. I was never supposed to know what his l*ps felt like again after all these years. I was not supposed to be familiar again with the feel of his b*dy press against me or the weight of him that I forgot how much I liked. He was not supposed to grind against my thigh allowing me to feel his arousal and need for me. He should have not done any of that!

    ¡°It isn¡¯t what he did but what he knows.¡± I inhaled deeply smelling the coffee wafting through the air.

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± Adam asked impatiently.

    ¡°He knows about Hayley, Adam.¡± My tone jad grown serious and so did Adams expression.

    He knew first hand how much I wanted to prevent this froming to his knowledge. It didn¡¯t matter what Dante thought but that fact that he knew about Hayley¡¯s existence meant that he could do a lot more digging behind my back and unravel the truth.

    ¡°What? How?¡± Those two words flew out of his mouth in shock.

    ¡°He did some digging and-¡± I didn¡¯t get toplete my sentence because he cut me off.

    14:28 52

    ¡°The gall of this guy.¡± He spat out. ¡°He is a confusing individual.¡± Adam ran a hand through his perfect hair and it some how managed to still stay perfect.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know that Hayley is his daughter though.¡± I lowered my voice as if someone was evesdropping nearby but that was just how determined I was to hide it away from him.

    Adam raised a brow at me. ¡°So he thinks that Hayley is another man¡¯s child. Typical.¡± Adam scoffed angrily. ¡°What is his exnation as to who the father is?¡± He questioned resting his forearms on the table between us.

    ¡°Funny you ask that question because he thinks it is you who fathered Hayley.¡± Adam¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know how old she is then.¡± It was not a question. ¡°Because if he did then he would know that the timeline doesn¡¯t add up.¡± Of course, it doesn¡¯t add up that¡¯s why he thinks I was unfaithful to him.

    A while we

    ¡°Oh, no he knows. He just reached the conclusion that I had cheated on him were still together.¡± I grit my teeth just thinking about Dante¡¯s nerve of saying such a thing.

    ¡°I really thought Dante Crawford was a more intelligent man but I¡¯m starting to doubt that notion greatly.¡± Adam¡¯s said angrily before exhaling in exasperation. ¡°Did you clear his misconceptions?¡±

    I pressed my l*ps together looking around the cafe. ¡°No, I did not. I thought it better for him to assume whatever he wanted to than to convince him that Hayley was his. I don¡¯t want any moreplications that there certainly will be once he knows.¡± Adam nodded in understanding just as the waitress approached with our order.

    The waitress ces our food and coffee in front of us before eyeing Adam desperately before giving up and walking away. I ignored her, too caught up with my own dilemma at present.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to piece together why on earth he¡¯s trying so hard to meddle in things that have past as a result of his own decision. It¡¯s like he can¡¯t make peace with the matter.¡± I reached for the fork and knife but didn¡¯t cut in to the food on my te yet.

    ¡°And have you?¡± Adam threw me a suspicious look.

    ¡°Of course, I did. I had no other choice but to move on. Hanging on to the past is futile especially when I have a child.¡± I cut at the poached egg a little too violently causing the golden yolk to squirt but luckily it didn¡¯t ssh anywhere but on the te.

    ¡°You know that Dante is not going to leave this alone. The man is going to either pester you until you crumble and tell him the truth or he will find out by himself.¡± Adam

    popped in a fork full of his food in to his mouth and chewed.

    I didn¡¯t want to think about it but Adam was right. Dante wasn¡¯t going to stop. He seemed hell bent on investigating what ever he had missed out on.

    ¡°He should be more upied with Pheobe.¡± I muttered sarcastically.

    any thing,

    ¡°He should but they don¡¯t seem like the most happiest couple in the room. If we are more happy around each other then those two.¡± Adam said with a shake of his head.

    ¡°They did at one point. I really thought they¡¯d be married by now.¡± I looked down at my te surprised by the bitter taste in my mouth from saying what I just did.

    A part of me was rejoiced in the fact that they had not tied the knot and thinking about them doing just that didn¡¯t sit well with me. It came as a revtion to me since I didn¡¯t. care after some time but now, after having shared more than one k*ss with Dante, it felt maddening to think of.

    My l*ps tingled instantly thinking about that k*ss that we sharedst in the parking lot for goodness sake. It had awoken a whole new side of me that was better left dormant. I didn¡¯t want to feel attracted to my ex- husband neither did I want to crave his touch but I did. It was a good thing that I stopped things before it could go too far. I couldn¡¯t help but think what would happen should I have actually felt his hands over my b*dy.

 Chapter 15

    Most of my day had passed by in a sh.

    Between finalising contracts with new investors and carrying our countless innerpany meetings with various departments, I was already yawning by noon.

    It was probably the first time since the morning that I got a moment to myself and I relished the silence and freedom to just breathe with out worrying that there had been eyes on me at all times.

    I pulled up the calender tab on myptop to see what the rest of my day had looked at and all I had for the entire afternoon had been one meeting with the P.R team. My eyes wandered over to the tinted ss window. It was a bright, sunny day outside. Perfect to take Hayley out for some ice cream and maybe a stroll on the park just down the road from the ice cream store.

    I pursed my l*ps wondering just how eptable it would be for me to reschedule the meeting for early tomorrow morning and spend the afternoon with my daughter. Hayley was easy going but I missed her and ever since the move back here I felt like I had not spent that much time with her as we often did back in Canada.

    She neverined or whined but the change in lifestyle, routine, and setting must be challenging for her to adapt to regardless of whether she expresses it or not.

    With out sparing it a second thought, I called in Luey and informed of the change in ns to which she was more than happy to see to. I logged out of myptop then pushed back the chair and walked out of the building.

    When I had gotten home, Hayley had been colouring in the back yard amongst the gardens flowers along with her nanny. I dismissed Nancy for the day and Hayley was ecstatic to see me home so early.

    ¡°You¡¯re home to have a snack together?¡± Her eyes that were the same shade as her father¡¯s looked up at me hopefully and my heart squeezed together.

    Hayley did miss me more than she had let on and I felt horrible about leaving her so much recently.

    ¡°Better than that.¡± I grinned at her and her l*ps broke into a wide smile. ¡°You and I are going out for ice cream and then to the park.¡± I held out my arms so she could be carried but she confidently hopped of the bench and followed me back in to the house to get some shoes on.

    It was a good day for her today seeing as her legs were not losing feeling enough for it to render them motionless. It usually was better just after a session of physiotherapy.

    72% 17

    ¡°Ice cream? Can I get a big fat scoop of chocte ice cream. I love chocte ice cream. She beamed in excitement as she slid on a pair of fl*p flops that didn¡¯t quite match her floral dress but I didn¡¯t worry about it too much.

    ¡°You can have what ever you want, sweetheart.¡± I ruffled her hair gently then we both left the house.

    The ice cream parlour was one I was familiar with from before moving to Canada and it had been one that I frequented often when an ice cream. craving had hit hard.

    I found a parking spot then cut the engine. ¡°Do you feel fine to walk by yourself or would you like mama to take out the stroller?¡± I asked giving her the choice to choose and feel a little more in control of what she wanted.

    She thought about it for a second and I caught her move her legs making sure they still cooperated with her.

    ¡°I can walk.¡± She smiled again showing her perfect set of baby teeth.

    I unbuckled my seat belt then got out of the car and helped her out. After we had both secured out ice creams, Hayley¡¯s big ol chocte scoop and my strawberry one, we headed to the park less than a minute away.

    I held the ice creams while Hayley helped me carry a light weight nket that I usually had washed and kept at the back of the car for random, spontaneous days like this. The nket was set out of the grass and Hayley and I enjoyed our ice cream together.

    ¡°Do you like it herepared to home?¡± I asked her carefully but also in a calm, open tone that made her feel safe enough to speak her mind.

    ¡°I like it here, mama. It¡¯s different but I love our house. It¡¯s so big and the garden is my favourite ce. Nanny Nancy lets me have breakfast there every morning.¡± Hearing her say it so genuinely relieved me of a lot of guilt that I had felt.

    Thest thing I would want was for her to feel ufortable or out of ce.

    ¡°My grampa left it for me. For us.¡± I looked at her as we moved out empty ice cream bowls to the side.

    ¡°Like a Christmas gift?¡± She asked innocently.

    I nodded. ¡°Some thing like that.¡±

    We spent more time there under the setting sun and it¡¯s warmth ying silly games and joking around before we both justy on the nket looking up at the orange sky.

    Hayley yawned and I did so, too. ¡°I think we better get going.¡± I sat up and Hayley was already on her feet.

    14:28 Sat, 27 Jan

    ¡°Can we have dinner out in the garden together?¡± She asked and I couldn¡¯t say no to those eyes.

    ¡°Of course, we can.¡± I already knew what I would make for dinner tonight and it had been a favourite of hers.

    Hayley was quiet for most of the ride home to the point that I thought that she had fallen asleep but when the car came to a halt outside the house and she moved in her seat, I knew that she was awake.

    ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± I announced in a sing song voice and she craned her n*eck to see her surroundings before she let out a big, audible yawn.

    ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. Can you carry me to my bed?¡± She batted hershes at me and her lower l*p stuck out in a little pout.

    ¡°I¡¯ll carry you in, sweetheart, but not to the bed. I think a shower will be nice after being out doors then you can go to sleep. I bargained and saw her sleepy eyes droop but she agreed none the less.

    I got out of the car and carried her straight to the bathroom where I adjusted the shower temperature for her and she got in. It was probably the quickest showers she has ever taken. Soap wasthered over her skin then rinsed off before she washed her face and asked for her towel.

    I didn¡¯t usually watch her when she showered because she was capable for her age but today had been a long day and I made sure to be around her just in case her legs grew tired and gave up.

    I wrapped her in her towel then noticed for a moment just how big she had grown. Hayley was no longer the little baby that clinged to me and fed through me but she was now a fully capable child. She had more than two front baby teeth and, as I lifted her up because of the sinking nostalgia that crept up in to my heart, she was no longer easily nestled in my arms.

    ¡°You¡¯ll always be my baby, Hayley. No matter how big you grow, I¡¯ll always love you.¡± I ces k*ssed against her da mn hair and the soft skin of her cheeks.

    ¡°I love you too, mama.¡± She cradled her head in to the crook of my elbow as I carried her towel wrapped b*dy to her room.

    ¡°Have you fallen asleep already?¡± I asked just as I entered her room.

    She rubbed her eyes then shook her head. ¡°Nope.¡±

    I helped her put on her pajamas and tucked her in to bed but she stared up at me a little more bright eyed than before. Have I just been tricked by my four

    year old?

    1

    inned then eyed her carefully. ¡°Hayley Miller, did; mother?¡± She grinned but then shook her head profusely.

    just y a trick on your

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t. I was tired to walk but after the shower I¡¯m a little fresh. But even as she said that another yawn ripped through her and I stifled a grin.

    ¡°Good.¡± I reached for one of the books she had on her night stand that we haven¡¯t read

    but we bought it for this week¡¯s reading.

    yel

    ¡°Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sally. Sally lived on the forests edge in a cosy cottage with her mother and fath-¡± I stopped mid way not wanting to say the word.

    I avoided books with the ¡®F¡¯ word just to keep a difficult conversation away. As far as Hayley knew, her father passed on before she was born and she seemed to make her peace with that. You can¡¯t particr moarn over someone you have never known.

    ¡°Why did you stop, mama?¡± She asked innocently. ¡°Did Sally stay with her mother and father?¡± Shepleted the sentence that I hesitated to say with our any signs of sadness

    or strain.

    I nodded slowly watching her face carefully to gage her feelings to the topic.

    ¡°Yes, she did.¡± I said with a weak smile.

    ¡°Father.¡± She said the word slowly. ¡°It¡¯s a weird word to me.¡± She scrunched up her nose.

    ¡°Why do you say so?¡± I closed the book in my hand and looked at her again awaiting to hear her view on this subject.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t have one and I don¡¯t get to use the word.¡± She exined as much as she understood it.

    ¡°Do you think you would have liked a dad?¡± I asked thinking that since the topic was up, we may as well knock out the creases.

    Hayley tilted her head against the pillow, her hair moving to the side. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some times I think about it like when we watch movies then I wonder what it¡¯s like.¡± She wiggled her pursed l*ps to the side. ¡°But I think I would do great with a dad. We¡¯d be best friends and he would give me piggy back rides and throw me up in the air and and teach me to ride a bike.¡± She yawned again, rubbing her puffy eyes.

    ¡°I could teach you how to ride a bike.¡± I offered immediately wanting to fulfil her ever need even ones as innocent as the ones she mentioned.

    She smiled crookedly as her eyes fluttered closed. ¡°I know you can, Mama, but maybe tomorrow. I¡¯m sleepy now.¡± She rolled over to her side and tucked my hands under he r cheek.

    ?

    I ced a k*ss in her forehead. ¡°I love you so much.¡± I whispered but she was already half asleep.

    Ìï

 Chapter 16

    Pheobe¡¯s POV.

    The chandelier hanging over my head, gleaming with pride as I dressed for brunch beneath it. The entire dressing room had been remodeled under my persistence and it was unrecognisablepared to before I moved in with Dante. It cost a pretty fortune but it wasn¡¯t a dent for a man like Dante. That was why I was with him, after all.

    I cl*pped on a dazzling pair of Carrier diamond earrings to my lobes, added a diamond choked around my n*eck, and it paired beautifully with one of the white dresses I had purchased on Dante¡¯s card on my weekly shopping sprees. Ah, this was the life, indeed.

    After sl*pping in a pair of Louboutins, I applied perfume to

    my n*eck before heading out of therge house that I still had to grow used to. The servants walked past be with lowered heads knowing better than to so much as look as me too hard. It did bode well for the maid who had done it previously. The newest addition of a range rover awaited me and the back door was held open for me to get in.

    I was so foolish to have abandoned this lifestyle once before by leaving Dante for the man I actually loved. Life without luxury was hard and I had grown ustomed to thevish living and endless limits that came along being the woman of Dante Crawford. I could run up a massive bill and it still wouldn¡¯t be enough for him to mention it and I loved every second of it.

    When Dimitri was taken to prison, I discovered that I could have the best of both worlds. Relish. away in thefort of money and jewels and all things nice whilst also retaining the man I loved but just from a distance. I still met him religiously every week and we sent letters often with the promise of us marrying when he had gotten out. Hopefully, by then Dante and I would marry and divorce so Dimitri and I could live a good life with the assets I walked away with.

    The car hade to a halt right out side the country club that Dante was a member at. After all, my parents wouldn¡¯t be able to get in her otherwise.

    Drinks were brought to me the moment I entered the lobby which I took without so much as meeting anyone¡¯s eyes. I wasn¡¯t here to be friendly with the help but to meet my mother whot waved me over to the private table over looking the golf course.

    ¡°Phoebe, my darling girl.¡± My mother beamed as she I neared the table. Her striking green eyes. locking with mine as we exchanged k*sses on the cheek.

    ¡°Mother.¡± I responded, removing my sun sses and settling in to the chair across from her.

    ¡°You look so well. This life is suiting you handsomely.¡± My motherplimented, her eyes scanning every single diamond on my choker greedily.

    ¡°It is, isn¡¯t it. I can¡¯t believe I considered living a life with out it.¡± I said with a chuckle and my mother joined in.

    She toyed with her worn out pearls on her n*eck that she used for as long as I could remember. Portia Mane was used to finer things in life but the business world had not been nearly as kind to my father as it had been to Dante or the likes of Adam Huxley and he lose most of it on debt shortly after I was born. Ever since then, they pretended to fit in to high society but every one of

    C

    16:10 Tue, 5 Mar

    note knew better.

    ¡°Do not be a fool like your mother, dear.¡± She warned but this was some thing she told me often. ¡°Love is nice and warm and all of that but it is money that truly makes a good life. I thought I secured that when I married your father but our life has taken an unfortunate turn of events.¡± She sighed, her eyes growing tired and heavy with regret.

    I waved my hand through the air. ¡°I know, I know. I should learn from your mistakes.¡± I mumbled tly and she nodded.

    ¡°Yes, you should. You still have a chance to secure your ce and solidify it. You can have every thing that I couldn¡¯t. Dante is a very established man and the chances of him losing every thing he owns is next to none. If any thing, that estate of his will keep growing for years toe and you could be in the middle of all of it. The travelling, the money, the life!¡± She spoke with too much intent and I knew her well enough to know when she had an agenda on her mind.

    I crossed my left knee over my right just as a breeze blew by. ¡°What do you mean solidify it, mother? Am I not already stable in my footing?¡± I asked tightly hating to hear her say it like I failed.

    She scoffed mockingly. ¡°If you have to ask then you already know the answer to that question.¡± She stuck her chin out in disapproval. ¡°Right now, you are only his girl friend, a mistress even who he beds and spoils but offering you no other sense of security and promise.¡± Her words were like p in the face and I felt my nostril re.

    She was one to talk sitting across from me wearing year old clothes and not a single new jewel in site but I held my tongue.

    ¡°You are not recognised by the world as his equal. Just his arm candy. If you want to be given the respect, security, and secure thevish life that you have at your fingertips, then you either need to carry his child or get his ring on your finger. Only marriage or his child will solify your footing. Every thing else is nonesense, easily destroyed by a change in his mind.¡± My mother shrugged with disdain and I considered what she said.

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t popped the question yet.¡± I muttered angered by that thought each time I thought of it.

    ¡°It¡¯s been years. Force his hand. Coax him in to it. If you have his child then that child will inherit and you can live through that and, if you marry him you get you maintain your lifestyle and, if he does kick you out, then you walk away with half of what he owns and we both know that that is a sizable amount that you could life your entire life onfortably.¡± Her eyes sparkled with scheming glee and it was clear where I had recieved that streak from.

    ¡°It will be a win-win situation for you.¡± She leaned back in her chair and brought the rim of her ss to her l*ps before drinking the bubbly liquid in it.

    ¡°But if I get pregnant then my entire figure will go to sh it. It would ruin my b*dy and, ugh, stretch marks.¡± I shuddered just thinking about the horrors of child birth and pregnancy.

    ¡°Then you best focus on getting Dante¡¯s ring on your finger before it¡¯s toote.¡± She warned. seriously and let out a huff.

    I hated that she was right: Dante was reluctant for some reason and I didn¡¯t find the need to push the topic if I felt so secure and he never ced any restrictions on me. It didn¡¯t matter how

    Tue, 5 Mar

    upied he was with work because it meant that I could do what ever else I wanted to. It was why I didn¡¯t exactly consider pushing the issue if marriage until now.

    My mother made a good point. If I lost him, if I let him sl*p through my fingers then I will regret it severely. No other man can fund my lifestyle as well as Dante does.

    After finishing of at the club, I gave Dante a call pleading with him to join me for lunch at the Italian restaurant a few streets away from his office. He gave me some excuse about work and I masked my anger. I had to be as sweet as honey with him if I wanted my way.

    After insisting, he agreed and met me for lunch. The restaurant was filling up but not too much giving the space enough airiness to not be ustrophobic. I booked us a table, settled in to it, then proceeded to wait for my target go arrive. When he did, he continued to check his emails and didn¡¯t put his phone down at all.

    It usually didn¡¯t trouble at all because I couldn¡¯t care less but his attentions was so divided that it made me realise just how out of my control he had grown but it was a problem that I would fix in

    no time.

    ¡°Dante,¡± It came out with a bite. ¡°Darling.¡± I added gently and saw his face soften but he didn¡¯t put his phone away.

    ¡°Pheobe, this lunch is very impromtu.¡± Dantecked the vigor that any thrilled lover would have when dining with the woman they loved.

    ¡°It is and you are very distracted.¡± I pointed out as I popped an olive in to my mouth.

    ¡°Work. You know how it is and today is a busy day. He said tightly like I was an inconvenience to his day.

    I ignored his tone and kicked one of my heels off so I could trace a slow line from his ankles up to his knee before moving in to his inner thigh, He stiffened, looked at me with a bleak look in his eyes, before catching my ankle and removing it from his person entirely.

    Okay, this was worse than I thought. My mother was more than right about what she said. I needed. to do some thing before things took a horrible turn for my own interests.

    ¡°Not in the mood?¡± I asked and he sighed like it was tiring being around me..

    ¡°Again, busy day.¡± He tapped away at his phone and a part of me felt like he had been typing to no one in particr.

    ¡°You¡¯re always busy for me recently, Dante. I hardly see you. We don¡¯t even go out that much any more.¡± I made sure to keep my tone low and sad knowing that he hated seeing me sad.

    ¡°It has never bothered you before, Phoebe. You have always understood my life and my schedule. I don¡¯t see why it is an issue now.¡± My nose red now finding it impossible to remain calm any longer.

    ¡°You¡¯ve never been this distracted before, Dante.¡± The bite in my tone was loud and clear.

    His eyes darkened but not in desire but anger. He looked away from me and out through the

    16:10 Tue, 5 Mar

    restaurant windows trying to calm his own anger down.

    ¡°Some times I wonder if it is really work that distracts or some thing else.¡± I paused eyeing him carefully before he turned and red at me.

    ¡°What are using me of exactly?¡± He spat out, his face expressing some thing I hadn¡¯t seen on him

    before.

    ¡°Nothing at all. All I¡¯m saying is that I miss you dearly and I feel like we need time to ourselves to reconnect.¡± I swallowed looking down at myp and blinking rapidly so he thought that I was tearing up.

    He sighed before inhaling deeply and his face rxed back to the Dante I knew. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pheobe. You¡¯re right and I-¡± His words caught in the back of his throat when he someone had caught his eye behind me.

    I shifted to see who it had been and my l*ps curled in disgust. This woman was hell bent on ruining my life! I should have ended her when I had a chance.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter <b>17 </b>

    Pheobe¡¯s POV.

    What on earth was she doing here? Did she stage this purposely just so she could show up at lunch and sabotage every thing?

    Sophia entered the restaurant wearing a checkeded pencil skirt, a grey button front that tucked in to the waist band of her skirt. The ck heels she wore clinked as she walked and could be heard. even through the chatter of the restaurant.

    I watched in utter bewilderment at the scene unfolding before me. I had my doubts, my goodness, did I have any doubts but it was all bing too real for me to handle the truth that was right in front of me.

    Sophia walked in to the restaurant and Dante, like he had some radar that went of when the minute she entered, fixated his eyes and his attention on her. It was like I was no longer seated right across from him and he was here alone, forgetting all about my presence entirely.

    His eyes moved, following her every move like he couldn¡¯t see, hear, or focus on any thing else but her right now. I followed his gaze and saw the wretched woman there talking to a waitress who lead her to her table but she would have to pass us first before she got there.

    Sophia a return back to the country was wholly unwee and unsettling. Nothing has felt right. side she returned. Sophia was proving to be like a bug that needed more than just being squished beneath a <b>shoe </b>to get rid off.

    She walked past our table and I noticed her designer formal wear. She was wearing branded items from head to to and even those earrings she had on were a limited addition with only a total of five pairs made by the most exclusive jewellery designer in the world.

    I wondered if Adam had gotten it for her. If there was any thing I should be thankful for it would be the fact that she was with Adam Huxley but even then I wouldn¡¯t let myself rx until I knew what Dante¡¯s intentions was and were his perception of her hady.

    ¡°Sophia.¡± Dante had the nerve to call out to her to get her attention. Sophia looked at Dante and paused right before I saw it.

    The flicker of yearning in her eyes when she first looked at him. It <b>was </b>gone as fast as it had appeared but I had caught it and was not going to be fooled. Sophia still had feelings for Dante.

    I nced back at Dante trying to gage if he had felt the same way.

    ¡°Mr. Crawford.¡± Sophia addressed him formally which was not what I had expected but what I did not expect more <b>was </b>finding that Dante was very offended at being addresses for formally.

    His jaw tensed <b>and </b>his eyes hardened but he still continued to speak to her like I was not discussing some thing important minutes ago.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you here. She <b>said </b>but I knew better than to believe. The desperate b*tch. must have followed us here just <b>so </b>that she could interrupt our lunch date.

    Tue, 5 Mar

    Sophia¡¯s eyes moved to me finally taking note of my presence and her face couldn¡¯t hold back her dislike for me. It was mutual emotion so I <b>wasn¡¯t </b>surprised.

    ¡°Neither was I. Taking an early lunch?¡± Dante questioned, leaning his shoulder against his <b>chair </b>like he was some love sick puppy.

    ¡°You could say so. As much as we work, we got to eat, too.¡± Sophia eyed the waitress in front of her waiting to show her to the table. ¡°I better get going.¡± She feigned innocence but her very presence and <b>voice </b>irritated me!

    ¡°Why

    nerve.

    join us? Pheobe won¡¯t mind and we just got here as well.¡± My eyes widened in anger at his

    Dante knew full well that I disliked Sophia immensely yet he still went against what he knew and asked her to third wheel our lunch<b>. </b>

    Sophia looked to me then shook her head, declining <b>his </b>offer. ¡°I¡¯d rather not. I do not want to intrude and, besides, I had to rush any ways. Thanks for the offer but I¡¯ll pass.¡± She declined <b>tightly</b>, her whole face looking like she swallowed a lemon.

    I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against my seat satisfied to see that Dante was rejected but he stupidly opened his mouth to persuade her but she rudely walked away from the table and continued to her own one at the back in a more quieter corner. That still did not stop Dante from craning his n*eck to look at her<b>. </b>

    I scoffed<b>, </b>and a huff escaped my mouth which snapped his attention back to me. He saw my angry expression, read the fury in my eyes, and he bloody shrugged nonchntly.

    ¡°What?¡± He asked like he was a clueless.

    ¡°You are damn unbelievable, Dante. Never have <b>I </b>been so humiliated in my life.¡± I reached for the napkin, blinking hard and fast until my eyes teared up enough to pretend that I was wiping the corners of it.

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. My fault for wanting to have a quiet lunch with you, to spend time with you, to actually build on our rtionship only for you to tantly ignore me and invite that woman to our table right in front of me.¡± His jaw clenched and I faked cried harder, sniffling for added effect.

    ¡°Pheobe, you are over reacting.¡± He said in a low voice.

    Enough of this. I pushed my chair back and stormed out of the restaurant feeling nothing for Dante but an unbridled fury that raged like an inferno for Sophia.

    I knew <b>I </b>should have ended her years ago <b>just </b>like I did her baby when she was pregnant. <b>She </b>never should have gotten a second chance to live life elsewhere and flourish only to return and be a torn right up my ass.

    It was not difficult <b>for </b>me to take things back in my control again. So long <b>as </b>Sophia was removed from the equation, Dante would focus on <b>me </b><b>and </b>only me and that was all I had wanted. It proved fruitful when Sophia had ran off to Canada and it¡¯ll prove <b>just </b>a good when I take care of her<b>. </b>

    If any thing. Dante wille crawling to me, begging for me to take him back, regretting being <b>so </b>

    Tue<b>, </b>5 M

    careless with me.

    I got in to the awaiting car and drove away despite Dante calling out to me from the restaurants entrance. I knew how to get him where I wanted him and if I held on to this mess up of his, he would eventually feel so terrible that he would spend a fortune trying to fix it all.

    I knew Dante probably more than any one else. He was easy to manipte and I¡¯ve been doing it long enough to know just how to work around it.

    As for Sophia. I was going to get rid of her once and for all. Too long has past with her darkening my doorstep and preventing Dante and I from moving forward and I will not allow it any longer.

    I asked the chauffer to drop me of a street away from the prison and hailed a cab to actually take me there. Dante didn¡¯t need to know about my side quests from his workers.

    When I got to the prison in hopes of speaking to Dimitri to see what he could help me out with, I discovered that Dimitri was no longer with them.

    ¡°What do you mean he is no longer here?¡± I asked in confusion.

    The security nkly stared at me. ¡°Exactly what the words mean, ma am.¡± He said roughly but I was too stunned to put him in his ce.

    ¡°Are you certain? He didn¡¯t mention any thing about the end of his sentence. The security nodded like he was sure enough.

    ¡°He was let go a week ago. Now, if you are done with the histerics, you better leave. He dismissed. me before stepping forward forcing me to move to the exit.

    A week ago? What the hell was going on.

    ¡°Do you have any idea who I am?¡± I narrowed my eyes at him but he scoffed like I had humoured him

    ¡°No and neither do I care. Now leave before we have you removed.¡± He threatened taking another step forward.

    ¡°Well, you should. I couldnd you in-¡±

    ¡°big trouble.¡± He mocked and my hand itched to p him for his nerve. ¡°You can try but we¡¯ve dealt with worse people than you.¡± He said tantly not willing to cooperate.

    I let out a humph then swung around and left.

    The news shocked me. Dimitri Hadn¡¯t mentioned any thing about this before neither did he tell me <b>that </b><b>his </b>sentence was not going tost as long as he lead me to believe.

    I left the prison as fast as I had gotten there and soon enough I was back in the car with the chauffer driving me back the house<b>. </b>

    If Dimitri crossed me, so god help me, I would have him castrated. I couldn¡¯t think of any reason why he wouldn¡¯t tell me about his release date.

    When I had gotten back to the house, Dante was still not home which gave me enough time to try and call Dimitri in hopes that I could figure out what the hell was going on!

    I tried calling his phone several times but he did not answer. Frustrated, I tossed my phone across the room where it hit the wall and fell to the floor. I let out a shrick of utter fury and fought against myself to hold back from trashing the entire room!

    To hell with Dimitri <b>and </b>Dante and that horrid woman he was married to.

    COMMENT

 Chapter 18

    Pheobe¡¯s POV

    My mood was utterly foul. I knew it, I could feel it. I went to bed each night like a tensed woman and awoken the next morning like a mad one. I hated feeling so out of control of things, of people.

    Dante had been not been aloof <b>after </b>his behaviour at the restaurant but he was less adamant on pacifying me as he used to be before when I would be upset about even the smallest of things. He had tried to make conversation with me but I had ignored him.

    I would deal with Danteter when I had less important things on my mind at present like the disappearance of my boyfriend. Days had gone by and I couldn¡¯t find Dimitri. He didn¡¯t answer any of my <b>calls </b>and when I tried calling him <b>again</b>, his phone was off.

    It was like he didn¡¯t want to be found, like he didn¡¯t want to engage with any one or was it just me<b>? </b>If that was the case, I would make him pay for it

    We have made ns for our life together. We wanted a future with each other and afortable one at that. It was exactly why I was doing what I was doing. For him. For us. We deserved a good life together despite the means that that life woulde from.

    But before we could run along and live out our fantasies, there were matters that needed to be taken care of. Issues that I needed his <b>assistance </b>and expertise to carry out. It was impossible for me to do it by myself and it was why the man needed to answer his goddamn phone!

    ¡°You barely touched your breakfast.¡± Dante pointed out over his espresso.

    We had breakfast this morning on the balcony underneath the bright sun. I hated it since the sun. hurt my sensitive eyes and the breeze blew my hair about.

    ¡°I do not feel to eat.¡± I muttered and be looked at me over his cup.

    He ced that small <b>cup </b>to the table and leaned forward fixing his eyes on mine. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many times to apologize, Pheobe. Please forgive me.¡± His tone was gentle but he was still doing it to get <b>it </b>over with and not because he was genuinely sorry.

    ¡°I¡¯m not ready to.¡± I refused to meet his eye <b>and </b>I gathered all my hair together to keep from flying in my face. ¡°Ugh, why are we eating out here when it¡¯s so damn windy?!¡± It <b>was </b><b>a </b>horrible idea.

    I pushed my te away from me then <b>got </b>up and stormed back in to the house. This was madness. I needed to get a grip. I needed to get away from here for a day. I needed to destress.

    The migraine that had not left me for the past few days returned and I massaged my temples. roughly. <b>I </b>needed <b>a </b>spa day to help deal with my nerves. A nice deep tissue massage will do the trick <b>and </b>then some shopping after that.

    I called the spa ce and made an emergency appointment which they never refused. No one dared to refuse me knowing just how easily Dante could ruin their reputation. I didn¡¯t inform Dante that I was leaving but he would see the car driving away from the balcony <b>and </b>connect the

    dots.

    D

    16:10 Tue, 5 Mar

    Good. Let him wallow in his guilt. It would only make his redemption better.

    After that deep tissue massage, my shoulders felt amazing but my mood was still awful. I knew that there was some thing that would mend that until I found Dimitri and knew exactly what was going on with him.

    I gave my head a shake and sauntered through the boutiques one after the other buying what ever I could get my hands on and never once looking at the price and even that half failed to lift up my sour mood.

    By the end of it I <b>had </b>given up and had countless bags fill the back of the car.

    ¡°Are you ready to go home, madam?¡± The chauffer had asked trying hard to hide his judgement and failing miserably.

    ¡°I will tell you when I am ready to go home. Your job is not to ask me if I¡¯m done. Your job is to take my instruction and not question me.¡± I berated him aiming all my anger at him.

    ¡°On second thought, you go home. I¡¯ll find my way.¡± He didn¡¯t utter a word but got back in the car and drove off..

    I wandered through the busy street until my feet hurt from the heels and uneven ground and I settled on the bench to catch my breath.

    I <b>leaned </b>my head back, soaking up the sun but itsted a second before a cloud blocked it from my face. I groaned thinking why the heck couldn¡¯t any thing go right in my life for once.

    My eyes fluttered open and instead of a cloud blocking the sun from my face, it had been. very upside down view of the man I was searching for.

    My b*dy sprung out of the bench as I made sure I was seeing correctly. Dimitri stood there behind. the bench looking dashing as ever. His face was all clean shaven and he got himself a haircut. The all ck attire he had on made him look knee shakingly handsome.

    ¡°Dimitri?!¡± I reached out to touch his muscr arm making sure it was him and I <b>was </b>not imagining

    it all

    ¡°My Pheobe.¡± He responded and his voice was like music to my ears.

    I withdrew my hand before balling it in to a fist and mming it against his chest many times but he let me until I gave up.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me that your sentence was so close toing to an end. I went looking for you, I tried calling you over and over again but you didn¡¯t even return a single call of mine.¡± I waiting for him to give me an exnation.

    Dimitri¡¯s tanned skin shifted as he lowered his face to mine. He didn¡¯t say a word but k*ssed me like

    a mad man.

    ¡°I missed you too.¡± He grumbled but I moved away from him.

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    0

 Chapter 19

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    the loud chatter had be numbingly annoying wouldn¡¯t the first half an hour of being here. truth be told I would choose to be anywhere else but at a family reunion involving Pheobe¡¯s immediate family as well as her extended family, when she had first told me about this gathering he had lead me to believe that it would only be her parents and perhaps a few distant cousins but this was far more than I think she was prepared for stop

    like any other day I would have t out refused her offer and made up some other excuse like work just to get out of it but granted that her mood at present was not the best especially when he diede to me I decided to just be on the <b>same </b><b>side</b>.

    the sharp sound of ady letting out a donkey like loveugh made me wince telling at thest put of my patience that I had left for this evening. the main in Phoebe¡¯s family were not the brightest would exception of a handful but even they were interfere to be around. since they were the chosen. few amongst the entire generation that had actually aplished something sustaining in their lifetime they had taken to point themselves to be overfully boastful with an extremely fragile

    ego.

    I tried to engage as little as I could and make sure to drink a few good sses of alcohol if I was too put up with this event for the rest of the evening. Phoebe had stayed by my side for a little bit until she had seen her mother at the end of the room and quickly broke away from my side and rushed over to her mother.

    it didn¡¯t bug me too much that she had done so, if anything I had felt a slight wave of relief knowing that I could sneaky maneuver about the room without having being questioned about when Phoebe and I would be tying the knot.

    I didn¡¯t even want to think about any of that at present they were simply too much going on and I¡¯ve never found myself feeling so unsettled before now, even as I sat here in a room full of people my mind still wondered over to Sophia.

    I had this unexinable need to always know what she was up to or what she was doing or who she was doing it with beginning to drive me insane because I¡¯m no longer had ess to her life or her in any way aside from a professional aspect. the mere thought of her spending her days with Adam. Huxley had my hand tightening around the ss in my hold.

    I chugged back thest bit of dark liquid in my whiskey cup and felt the burn at the back of my throat before I set the cup back down motioning for the bartender to hit <b>me </b>again.

    ¡°I never thought that Dante Crawford would be a man who drowned his stresses of the day in a bottle. ¡°Mason Pearson, one of Phoebe¡¯s distant cousins, said with a smug grin on his face <b>as </b>motioned for the bartender to fix him a ss <b>as </b>well.

    I offered him no response and redirected my attention back to my now full ss when Mason had. taken the seat next <b>to </b>me.

    ¡°I guess <b>I </b>can¡¯t really me you that much. being married to my cousin certainly must not be the <b>easiest </b>of tasks but I mustmend you for how long you¡¯ve put up. ¡°I could sense the mocking in.

    his tone almost like he had beenughing from the outside.

    every single family had their feuds but not quite like the way Phoebe¡¯s family did. everyone assume that the next person had their best interesting heart and they put on the show off families. everything when given the slightest bit of chance for their own gain and benefit not a single person in this room would resist stabbing the next person in the back.

    Mason on the other hand was no different. he portrayed this brotherly figure to Phoebe for as long as I could remember then yet he was the one person in the entire family who spoke the most smack about her.

    ¡°how about we talk about your pregnancy instead. ¡°I threw him a sideward re. ¡°I hope you know that there are some circumstances that money just can¡¯t get you out of. ¡°it was like he had <b>a </b>lot of it to begin with anyways.

    Mason¡¯s face hardened as myment bruised his fragile ego prompting him to leave maybe with <b>his </b>ss. I had soaked up the momentary peace but it didn¡¯tst too long because Phoebe had approached me.

    ¡°you are being insufferable, ¡°she whisper yelled at me through tightly clenched teeth making sure that nothing seemed awry from the outside.

    ¡°we have been here for nearly 45 minutes and you choose to sit yourself at the open bar like some miserable man, do you have any idea how many horrible questions I have to endure tonight?¡± she continued to whisper yell at me but this was nothing that I was not used to.

    ¡°I told you that we shouldn¡¯te here. you know how I feel about gatherings like this and you also know that these type of ufortable situations are unmissible when ites to your family. ¡°it, was the truth and she knew it, even if I had walked by her side the entirely evening stuck to her like glue we would still face some rather the invasive questions either way.

    Not wanting to create <b>a </b>scene in front of watchful eyes that were certainly focused on <b>us</b>, I offered Phoebe the most neutral andid back look that I could muster.

    ¡°you want to socialize around the room on my arm then so be it but I must warn you never to berate me like a child again. ¡°I warned her but that had only fueled her anger.

    Phoebe let out an exasperated huff before groaning in her anger and storming away. I let her be knowing that nothing <b>I </b>said in her <b>current </b>state of mind would fix anything, all it would serve to do would be create <b>a </b>magnificent scene for her countless family members to witness.

    I swirled the amber liquid in my ss and continue to sip on it at my leisure, with all the alcohol in the air and the attendees stomachs the noise had only grown louder, it had drawn loud enough that I did not even hear Portia approach me and I was unaware of her presence until he ced her hand <b>on </b>in my shoulder and settled herself in the seat that Mason had taken not too long ago.

    ¡°I must say that I am offended that you didn¡¯te to <b>greet </b>me this evening but I must forgive you because I do know how Phoebe can be,¡± she started gently and with slight humor in her tone.

    ¡°it <b>was </b>not something dong intentionally, <b>it¡¯s </b>just a little bit too much of people in the room for me to have cut through to reach you. ¡°I exined and Portia nodded in understanding.

    PS4%ì¶

    ¡°we are a ratherrge family, there is no denying that fact. ¡°she chuckled lightly while I downed the rest of my ss.

    when she inhaled deeply and a little heavily I knew that she was about to say something on the

    more serious note..

    ¡°I can see the tension between Phoebe and you and it really isn¡¯t a good thing, as much as she may try to put on <b>a </b>good front I am her mother and I can see right through it ¡°so this is what she hade over to actually say but I didn¡¯t say a word and let her get on with it.

    ¡°I know she seems a little bit angry all the time recently but any woman would be when they have been with a man such as yourself for so long with no proper or truemitment, she is bound to be uneasy and doubtful of where your affections lie when you give her no direction of where your rtionship is heading.¡± She spoke in calm and gentle manner like the way a mother would speak to her child in advice.

    ¡°she¡¯s never expressed that need to me though, as far as I knew Phoebe was quite content with our arrangement and she never onceined.¡± I tried to speaking as lower of a tone as I could not wanting any possible to hear knowing that it would spread like gossip throughout this entire room.

    Portia let out a small chuckle as she tapped me firmly on the back. ¡°you men are really clueless to the way the female mind works, obviously Phoebe¡¯s not going to ask you formitment. no serious woman would.mitment isn¡¯t something that should be asked for especially if it is in naturally given, do you think that she was to feel that you are fullymitting to her do something else Solid as married just because she asked you for it?¡± she raise a brow at me, tilting her head to the side.

    Portia gripped my shoulder to assist her in getting back up from the chair. ¡°do not be thrown off by this frustrated Phoebe and remind yourself about the Phoebe you know before. the one that saved you all those years ago from drowning, she at one point had just her life to save you and I¡¯m not saying you owe her one but you kind of do. ¡°he let go of my shoulder before walking away leaving me feeling even more frustrated then I first enter this room..

    my

    had scanned the room for Pheobe until I found her speaking to one of her blonde haired cousins <b>at </b>the corner of the room.

    I recalled the day I drowned vaguely. It was a long time ago and I couldn¡¯t quite remember Pheobe¡¯s face being the one to have rescued me but she did. I knew it for as long as I could remember. We were at <b>a </b>trip with her family years ago. Sophia was there too being Pheobe¡¯s step <b>sister </b>but she barely socialised with her own family.

    I woke <b>up </b>from my chair and sauntered over to Pheobe where the crowd split to make way for me to go through but not before staring at me like I was thest cookie in the jar.

    ¡°Pheobe.¡± I said her name and she looked up at me confused and still angry at my presence.

    She excused herself from her cousin and looked at me. ¡°What, Dante?¡± She <b>asked </b>in <b>a </b>sharp tone but I ignored it.

    ¡°Do you want to go on a date with me tomorrow night<b>?</b>¡± I asked with <b>a </b>smirk and she blinked in

    <b>conf </b>

    Çú

    Tue, 5 Mar

    usion a few times before she grinned at me, her eyes dancing in triumph.

 Chapter 20

    Thest day of the week had alwayse along with this sense of relief. As the day changed from bright blue sky¡¯s to an orange canvas as the sun set, I was eager to log of until the next week began.

    After the longest week, I had finally heard from Adam. He had been rather upied with his own business meetings on this side and that included international conferences that happened <b>at </b>rediculous times of the night to counter for the time differences.

    But today he had finalised it all and tied what ever loose ends that he had left to tie. When he gave me a call, I knew it was to arrange some <b>sort </b>of meet since we haven¡¯t dined together in such a long time and Hayley had been asking me about him. What I had envisioned had been a lovely home cooked meal where the three of us just rxed in the confort of the house but Adam had a different

    idea.

    He wanted to check out this fancy restaurant that opened a few weeks ago that had been all the rave ofte. It was <b>a </b>five star dining experience and Adam wanted to go all out for their seven course meal package. It was a fancy restaurant <b>and </b>a fancy restaurant required a bit more effort when it hade to attire<b>. </b>

    I could use a night out after the week that I have had so I weed his suggestion with an open mind. The little ck dress that I chose was more <b>on </b>the cocktail side. It was a mix between a wrap dress <b>and </b>a very b*dy hugging one at that. The n*eckline was a low cut square but it didn¡¯t show <b>too </b>much. It has stopped just above my knees allowing a pair of glossy ck heels to shine through.

    ¡°You look pretty, mama.¡± Hayley said as she watched me apply l*pstick to my parted l*ps.

    ¡°Thank <b>you</b>, sweetie.¡± She beamed at me before going back to ying with one of the make up brushes she found in my vanity.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be out toote. I promise, I¡¯m just going to have dinner with Adam and then I¡¯ll be right. back before you know it.¡± I promised her but she shrugged like it didn¡¯t bother her.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. Nanny Nancy and I are going to watch a movie.¡± She <b>said </b><b>in </b>excitement and I realised that I was going to have a harder time going <b>out </b>with out her than she was going to have staying in

    with out me.

    Each time she surprised me I always looked at her and realised just now much she had grown from being a little needy toddler to now bing independent for her age. It never failed to make me sentimental and a little sad to know that she will never be a baby again.

    Adam arrived at the house and after letting him in with the small bouquet of flowers that he had, Hayley rushed over to <b>him</b>.

    ¡°Adam! Adam!¡± She called out to him <b>in </b>sheer joy at seeing him.

    Adam crouched down to catch her before picking her up and spinning her and the flowers around. Hayley¡¯s giggles filled the room and Adam stopped but didn¡¯t set her back down yet.

    ¡°I missed you <b>so </b>much, Adamy.¡± She said side eyeing the flowers.

    ¡°I did too, little one, but it¡¯s why I got you these.¡± He handed her the flowers and her entire face lit

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    16:11 Tue, 5 Mar

    Chapter <b>20 </b>

    up like <b>a </b>Christmas tree.

    4%

    ¡°Flowers! I love flowers. She grabbed it from him and brought it right to her nose to take a big sniff. ¡°Thank you.¡± She said with a small blush and I bit back augh.

    We said a goodbye and Hayley refused to let go of the flowers until I told her that it needed water to survive longer. She immediately dragged Nancy to the kitchen to help her find a vase to ce them in and Adam and I had left.

    We chatted about work on the way to the restaurant but Adam was not as talkative about work as he usually was which I found a tad bit weird but I let it slide. We approached the restaurant and found a parking spot before heading in where the <b>doors </b>were held open for us by happy faced door men.

    The doors open to reveal an elegantly moderny out. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, soft music yed in <b>the </b>back ground, and tablesid out neatly and well spaced of the next one. The entire space just had this feeling like I was transported to a whole different ce.

    ¡°This <b>ce </b>is beautiful.¡± I whispered to Adam as I inspected the ce.

    He agreed before speaking to a waitress about a reservation made and we were immediately directed to a table that had a nice view of the fountain situated dead centre of the restaurant. We took our seats across from each other and sses filled with champagne were brought to us.

    ¡°This is a much fancier ce than I thought it was.¡± I admitted looking around. ¡°But it¡¯s nice.¡±

    ¡°I heard many good things about it and who better to try it out with than you.¡± He took <b>a </b>sip his champagne and I did the same but just as he was about to set his ss down his eye caught on some thing behind me and his entire expression became sour.

    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked not sure if I wanted to turn around to see what he saw.

    ¡°It¡¯s Dante Crawford and Phoebe.¡± He muttered and I groaned. This couldn¡¯t be happening again.

    New York was a big city. Surely we could enjoy one meal out with out bumping in to each other <b>all </b>the time. I decided not to turn around and ruin my mood by seeing them and I look at Adam

    instead.

    ¡°This is the second time this week that I bumped in to them.¡± I said to Adam feeling my face pull up

    in distate.

    ¡°I really thought that they¡¯d be broken up by now. They didn¡¯t seem to happy recently but who knows.¡± Adam grunted but I was not going to let them ruin our night out.

    ¡°Leave them be. hopefully they get a table far away from us and we¡¯d barely know they¡¯re here.¡± I inhaled trying to lighten up the air.

    I brought the ss <b>to </b><b>my </b>l*ps and instead of taking just one lone sl*p, I downed the entire ss. Adam eyed me over the rim of his with a judging look but I waved him off.

    ¡°Stop. I needed it. I was about to say some thing else when a waiter walked past us with Dante <b>and </b>Pheobe in tow and motioned for them to <b>sit </b>at the table right behind Adam.

    To make matters worse, Dante sat at such <b>a </b>spot that I was in full view of him whilst Pheobe¡¯s back

    Tue<b>, </b>5 Mar

    .5%Ö¹:

    was faced to us. If they noticed us, they didnt¡® make it known and I wasn¡¯t about toin about that..

    Dinner had gone on splendidly <b>and </b>the meals that we served to us were well bnced and extremely delicious. despite it being a seven course meal it did not leave a person full to the point of feeling sick. the light pana cotta that was served with a pomegranate msses was your rather refreshing end to the entire meal.

    we had been in the middle of sipping on thest of our drinks at which point I would assume that Adam and I would begin to leave, however when Adam had rose from his seat without any warning, I began to stand up but what he did next had my mouth hanging open.

    Adam Huxley, my closest friend andpanion, had dropped to one knee in front of me. At first I had assumed that he had been trying hisces because that would be a more logical exnation. However<b>, </b>he reached in to his zer pocket and retrieved a turquoise velvet box.

    ¡°Adam, What-¡±

    ¡°Sophia Miller, you have been the light of my life since I¨Cmet you four years ago. I have never felt what I feel for you for any other person and I only want to grow what exists between us.¡± I tried to tell him to stop but I noticed that the entire restaurants eyes were on us including my ex¨Chusband

    and Pheobe.

    I noticed Dante look mortified at what was happening in front of him. A whirlwind of emotions. washed over his face ranging from shock, anger, to out right objection.

    ¡°Will you do me the honour of marrying me, Sophia<b>, </b>and making me the happiest man.¡± Adam¡¯s low, coaxing tone snapped my head back to him.

    I stared nking at Adam whilst he looked at me with the most hopeful and expectant eyes. Suddenly the entire room became too small and it felt like the mes of the kitchen were surrounding me until my own skin felt heated up. My throat immediately closed up and I gasped for air while shaking my head.

    ¡°Adam, I- This <b>is </b>all-¡± My words failed me and I felt the entire restaurant grow tense as every one already could see my visible rejection.

    ¡°I cant, Adam. I- I- need some air.¡± I shuffled away from the table and kept my head down as I rushed out of the restaurant leaving Adam behind.

    The look on his face would haunt me for the rest of my life but I couldn¡¯t <b>do </b>it. I couldn¡¯t marry him. Not when my own life was so all over the ce at present. Adam was nice and every thing a woman could ever want but I couldn¡¯t do him the disservice by marrying him and not being fully <b>his </b>because a part of me was still torn between what I once knew and what I feared to even

    consider<b>. </b>

    The second I burst out of the restaurant doors, the cool nights <b>air </b>hit against my skin and I kept walking without any direction or intention. I just needed to <b>walk </b><b>and </b>catch my breath <b>and </b>forget about the <b>look </b>that Adams face had when I <b>said </b>no.

    I couldn¡¯t understand what brought this on. Adam and I were still in between things. We were neither here <b>nor </b>there. We were <b>close </b>friends but not <b>quite </b>a couple officially. We hadn¡¯t discussed

    moving forward, we hadn¡¯t discussed any of this <b>and </b>we definitely didn¡¯t n this at all.

    We were both happy with our saperate lives. It was selfish of me to assume that he¡¯d wait he¡¯s whole life but I wasn¡¯t holding him back to moving on. I felt horrible and awful and insane!

    Çú

    0

 Chapter 21

    My legs dragged me streets away from where the restaurant had been until they hurt enough for me to stop. It didn¡¯t help that I had heels on. In the end, I was too fatiqued to walk back to the restaurant and instead I gave up and sat on the cold sideway beneath the clear, full moon.

    If the moon had any thing to do with mood and temprement of man then this was a reasonable exnation as to where Adams proposal hade from. Ugh, thinking about his face had brought a twinge of guilt biting at my conscience.

    Adam had been there for me when I needed him the most, when I literally had no one else by my side, he was my supper system in my darkest times. It isn¡¯t like I didn¡¯t care for him. I did. A lot but I just am not ready for such a step

    Even if I was, I would be doing him a great disservice considering my mind was still very torn between the way I felt for Dante <b>or </b>what I felt for him after all this time. It would be naive of me to think that seeing him again wasn¡¯t going to bring about any old feelings. It didn¡¯t help that Dante kept himself present in my life since I returned. It all made for a very contradictory situation.

    Why was my life alwaysplicated? Just when I thought I had it under control and found <b>some </b>sense of direction, the rug was pulled from beneath my feel throwing me off bnce all over again.

    I felt a trickle of tears over my cheeks and I wiped them away with the back of my hand, blinking away any others that threatened to follow. A part of me felt like I had jeopardized my entire rtionship with Adam and I didn¡¯t know if <b>he </b>would understand my view point

    A set of footsteps approached me but I didn¡¯t look up not wanting to deal with Adam right now. What <b>was </b>I going to say to him? Would he even forget the humiliation he faced in that restaurant?

    ¡°Go away, <i>Adam</i>. I¡¯m not in the mood to discuss what happened in there.¡± I sniffled, ignoring how strained and shaky my voice had be.

    The footsteps didn¡¯t retreat but moved slowly closer to me until he settled on to the side wall next to me. Just one whiff of that cologne and I knew that it was not Adam who hade to find me.

    ¡°Dante?¡± I said in surprise as I looked at him for a brief moment before looking back at the rough tarred road.

    ¡°That¡¯s better than Mr. Crawford. I think we¡¯re making progress. He said in a jovial tone that made me chuckle lightly.

    ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want tough right now.¡± My shoulders slumped in defeat since I didn¡¯t know what I wanted right now.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t but I¡¯m not going to leave you alone in the middle of a dark, quiet road all by yourself.¡± He <b>said </b>authoratively causing me to tilt my head and look at him.

    Was he the same Dante that I had know? The very same one that kicked me out of his life for my step sister with out so much as a care in the world yet here he was trying to be my protector and shoulder to cry on.

    I scoffed, bringing my knees to my chest and resting my chin atop of it. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine Phoebe is

    16:24 Tue, 5 Mar

    too pleased at being left alone in there.¡± I mentioned thinking about the foul look she always gave <b>me </b>when she saw me and Dante in the same room.

    He snorted. ¡°She¡¯ll survive<b>.</b>¡±

    ¡°She will but will you?¡± I asked trying to hide my amusement but he just sighed.

    We were silent for a moment with the only sound being the crickets that chirped in the distance and the faint sound of the hustle and bustle of the central city.

    ¡°Not ready to settle down just yet?¡± He asked carefully bringing the topic up and unable to hide his curiosity.

    I groaned. ¡°Can you me me? One horrible marriage would do that to a person.¡± My words tumbled out of my mouth before I could help it and his face fell.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad, you know. We had fun and we got along. That was true until he tossed me aside like yesterdays newspaper.

    I swallowed the lump that had formed at the back of my throat and looked away from him.

    ¡°We did until you changed your mind.¡± I said in a pained whisper before giving my head a shake. ¡°But anyways, it isn¡¯t because of that.¡± I rified turning to face him again.

    ¡°Then why?¡± He pried and I considered if I should actually express the way I felt about Adams proposal to my ex¨Chusband.

    I looked at him, so eager and attentive to hear what I was about to say and my resolve crumbled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think Adam and I are ready for that just yet. There is so much for me to figure out still with all the changes that happened recently but Adam has been there for me through everything and I can¡¯t help but feel like I may have strained our rtionship beyond repairs.¡± I covered my face with my hands in despair but not before missing the way his jaw set firmly as I spoke about Adam.

    It was a good think I didn¡¯t spend time applying any eye make up because it would have definitely gone to shit with the turn of events the evening had taken.

    ¡°Believe it or not, I actually understand exactly what you mean.¡± He said in a sombre tone and I knew <b>that </b>he was in a simr situation with Pheobe. It exined why the two of them had not yet been wed in all these years passed.

    Another longer moment of silence had passed between us only to be ended by a long sigh let out. by both Dante and I at the same time. We chuckled like two children before Dante grunted and got of the sidewalk, standing to his full length.

    ¡°Come on. Let us get out of here. I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± He wasn¡¯t asking but ordering and I was too meh to put up any sort of a fight.

    Besides, I didn¡¯t have any other way to get myself home and Dante was my only shot at a ride. home. If Adam had left the, restaurant or not, I wouldn¡¯t have known but I could not imagine him. staying there after the scene.

    Dante held out his hand for me to take and I looked at it before sliding my hand in his. His fingers

    Tue, <b>5 </b>Mar 2

    wrapped around my hand before his hold tightened to help me get up and off the side walk. His hold didn¡¯t loosen around my hand until I gently nudged my hand away and he reluctantly let it

    <ol>

    <li>go. </li>

    </ol>

    We traced our steps back to the restaurant in afortable silence with the asional small talk here and there. I noticed that Adams car was no longer there where he had parked it and that same wave of guilt washed over me. I would have to try and speak to him to clear all of this out but not tonight.

    Dante and I hopped in to the car and once we were on the smooth road, my head rested against the seatzily as I felt the weight of the day crash over my b*dy like a sack of bricks,

    I watched the night sh by through the window and the familiar scenery feltforting until the scene was no long what I knew. The city side road was now tall trees and I could spot thekes edge over the cliff.

    This isn¡¯t the way to my house. Dante. I reminded him thinking that he did not know where my new lodgings are.

    ¡°I know. I thought we should take a scenic route to ease your mind a little bit.¡± He said gently and I rxed once again.

    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± I said in awe of the way the high water glistened beneath the moonlight. It was dark with silver ripples from the reflection of the moon and simply breath taking.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know about this route home before but I wish I did. My face was pressed up against the window as the car neared the roads edge.

    Dante inhaled to respond to me but a set of blinding lights shined in to the car from behind us.

    ¡°What the-¡± Dante didn¡¯tplete his sentence because the car behind hit in to us send us forward.

    ¡°We are being attacked.¡± He warned, panic filled his voice and the air grew tensed.

    I gripped my seat belt just as the car rammed in to us again twice but this time Dante could not control the <b>car</b>.

    His arm reached across to shield me right before the car wentpletely of the road. My stomach felt weird as the carunched itself of the cliff and went falling through the air.

    I screamed in fear but my b*dy hit the top of the car hard as it came crashing with therge mass of water. A strained gutteral sound escape Dante and I looked over to find his head hanging limp.

    The car was filling up with water and I had to act fact. I quickly unbuckled my seat belt before working on Dante¡¯s<b>. </b>

    ¡°Dante, wake up. We have to get out of the car. It¡¯s sinking.¡± I said in a frantic voice as his seat belt came undone.

    Before wasting any more time, I pushed open the door to <b>Dante¡¯s </b>side and it had taken a tremendous amount of strength since the bottom of the door was seized with the waters pressure:

    16:24 Tue, 5 Mar

    The second I got the door opened, water gushed in pushing the door wide open but the car also sank faster.

    <b>.6</b>%Èâ

    I hung on to the edge of the door for leverage as I yanked on Dante¡¯s arm until his dead weight b*dy hit the water throwing us both down under. I gasped a lung full of air then went down but just to secure my hold on Dante¡¯s shoulder from around his arm.

    I held on to <b>him </b>as I kicked my legs with as much adrenaline I could until we both rose to <b>the </b>surface. It was not as hard after that. Much of the Dante¡¯s weight was carried by the water as he floated. I scanned the water for where I could swim to and we could get out on tond. I saw a light pole in the distance and followed it

    My b*dy had grown exhausted and tired but I could see the shore and kept going. Dante waspletely passed out and, whilst I didn¡¯t feel anything yet, I knew that I was injured some where but with the adrenaline pumping through me, I didn¡¯t know just how severe it was.

    ¡°Stay with me, Dante.¡± I begged and dragged his heavy weight out on to the water¡¯s edge enough that just his feet touched the asional ripple..

    I checked his pulse and he was breathing. That was all I needed to know before I copsed right next to him feeling my entire b*dy finally give in to the crash and fatigue.

    0

    COMMENT

    Çú

    16:24 Tue, 5 Mar

 Chapter 22

    Dante¡¯s POV

    This wooshing sound of waves crashing against the shore wildly rang through my cars. The bright blue sky was above me and the vast ocean was before me. My hair was wet as were much of my b*dy but the tideing in was tempting.

    Too tempting that I refused to listen to the warnings of staying out of the water. I grabbed my surf board and charged forward right in to the blue abyss. The blood rushed through my ears, the wind trickled through my hair, and I waited for the adrenaline to kick in.

    ¡°Dant, are you insane? Get back here! The water is too wild.¡± I heard the wanting voices of the elders call out to me but I paid them no heed.

    My surf board had already touched the waters surface and stood steady just as I climbed on top of it. The thick current of the water propelled me forward giving me a boost and for a fleeting second I was on top of the world.

    Until that moment ended.

    A high, violent wave washed took the board from beneath my feet unexpectedly with so much of force and a mind of its own that I was caught off guard. The board moved faster than my legs could keep up sending me right in to the heart of the monstrous wave. The loud shrieks and screams were thest thing I heard before I was catapulted on to the ocean.

    The salty water travelled through my nose, burning like a freshly cut skin dipped in spirits. I gasped for air but there was none, just the wild, uncontroble ocean that threw me from here to there. My efforts at regaining my control of the situation was futile. The water was too wild for me to navigate and despite my attempt ating up for air, another wave crashed over me and this time I had nothing left in me.

    I willed myself to kick my legs, to get back up again, to try once more and save myself but my b*dy didn¡¯t cooperate. Every thing was dark and I was hopeless. This was the way that I was going to die just because I wanted to feel the exhrating thrill of riding the wild waters.

    My vision turned ck and my b*dy allowed itself to be thrown around where ever the tide had taken me. My senses were bleak and unclear, so when a pair of arms wrapped around me, gliding me through the water, <b>I </b>assumed that this was it. This was my soul being carried away in to the nothingness.

    ¡°Oh my god!¡± I heard the frantic exmationbas my back felt rough beads against its skin.

    ¡°His pulse is weak. Some b*dy, do something.¡± Portia panicked loud enough that it hurt my ears.

    ¡°No. No! Stay with me, Dante. Another voice begged but this voice was low and rippled with fear.

    Her l*ps pressed against mine as she blew in to it while closing my nose all the whilepressing my chest until my b*dy began coughing out whatever water had been making its way in to my lungs. I coughed and it burned my insides, my throat, and my nose.

    My eyes opened widely and I saw the woman who saved me loud and clear as day but when I

    16:24 Tue, 5 Mar

    <b>Chapter </b>22

    blinked, she looked different. I could have sworn it was Sophia who saved me but just one blink had refocussed my eyes as Phoebe filled my vision. I took a few deep breaths before my b*dy passed out from sheerck of energy which made me feel like I was dying all over again.

    Snapping me out of it like a rug being pulled from beneath my firm feet, I gasped as my eyes flew open only to be greeted by the white florescent light that hit me right in the eyes.

    Oh, <b>thank </b>goodness! It was just a damn dream.

    I sat up immediately only to find that I was in a hospital room with monitors hooked up to me leading to a beeping machine.

    Suddenly, it has alle back to me. I recalled the incident when I had drowned and I knew now for sure that it wasn¡¯t Pheobe who had saved my life but Sophia! Sophia had been the women that risked her own life to save mine. She dived in to the violent, uncertain waters just to pull me out of <b>it </b>with out caring that she could have drowned herself for even trying.

    My breath was harsh and erratic through the room <b>and </b>my head pounded painfully as I made sense of it all.

    Pheobe had lied to <b>me </b>from the start and so did <b>her </b>mother. Portia had been <b>the </b>one who reinforced how indebted I was to Phoebe for saving my life when she knew that that had been an utter lie. A lie told to gain my favour only so that I would view Phoebe in a different light and feel like I owed her my own life in return.

    This whole time I kept myself nted at Pheobe¡¯s side thinking <b>that </b>I couldn¡¯t fully leave her, that I had fallen for her in the first ce, because of her selfless act of saving my life years ago but that <b>was </b>all bull shit.

    It was Sophia all along!

    She had saved me from the deep waters of theke just as she had done so from the crashing waves years ago. Sophia never reminded me about it yet she knew the truth while Pheobe and Portia kept throwing it at me every time they thought that I was sl*pping right through their fingers.

    I reached to massage my temples as it throbbed but felt a bandage wrapped around it. It was tender to the touch and I vaguely remember much that happened after the ck SUV knocked in to us sending us over the edge of the cliff. The impact had hit my head against the roof of the car and I couldn¡¯t remember much after that except for Sophia¡¯s voice as she dragged me out of the water.

    Shit! Where the hell was she? Had she been injured? Was she okay? Did something happen to her?

    Countless bone chilling thoughts ran through my head and I needed to know that she was okay. I needed to know that she did <b>not </b>give her life up in the process of saving me once again. I needed to know that she was perfectly unharmed.

    Who ever had been responsible for our attackst night would be tracked down and dealt with ordingly but that could wait. I needed to know where Sophia was right now and so god help <b>me </b>if she was not. I would rain hell on down on to the culprit until they wished they did not exist!

    1

    The situation could have been a lot worse. At least no severe harm hade to Sophia but I still wanted a full medical report on her. I needed to make sure that we had not missed any thing, it was

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar F

    6%

    already my every intention to bring forever was responsible for this attack to a brutal horrible Justice but so god helped me if any internal harm had been caused to Sophia because of the entire ident.

    I was here to make a call to Frederick but it would have to wait until I get out of here. I don¡¯t understand why they have chosen to keep me in the hospital for this long, beside from my head which hurt like hell and the pain in my arm, I was perfectly okay.

    I threw my legs over the edge of the hospital bed which certainly was not designed forfort in mind and pulled out whatever monitors had been hooked Up to me. I needed to see Sophia and make sure she was doing okay. I took the first step towards the door and realize that I had a mild limp from the pain in my back but it wasn¡¯t anything I couldn¡¯t bear.

    ¡°Mr Crawford you should not be walking around in your state.¡± a nurse called out from behind me <b>the </b>minute I had exited the room but I paid her no heed and kept moving down the hallway peaking into each room.

    ¡°Sir you need to get back to your room right now, the doctor needs to do a thorough examination on you while you are conscious before you are free to just walk around as you please. ¡°this was the voice of another nurse that I also ignored and continued walking practically looking through the <b>small </b>cutout in each door hoping to find Sophia soon.

    I could hear collective footsteps walk behind me as if I was some deranged psych <b>Ward </b>patient on the verge of doing something dangerous.

    ¡°what are you looking for? you are not allowed to barge in to-¡±

    The nurses were beginning to get on myst nerve. ¡°I am looking for Sophia Miller. if I assume correctly she and I will brought in together. ¡°I snapped at them after pausing and swinging around to face all of them catching them of guard.

    ¡°you would assume correctly. ¡°the first nurse who had tried toe in my way spoke actually too the one that joined herter. ¡°however has already been discharged. ¡°a wave of relief had washed over me knowing that she was well enough to have been let go.

    ¡°had someone arrived to be up? ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of Adaming to pick up after what had happened between them and I didn¡¯t want to assume that she had driven herself home in her condition.

    both the nurses darted skeptical eyes at each other. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we are not allowed to disclose such information to you. ¡°the second nurse Who initially joined the scene said like she was in control of everything that went on around here.

    I took a step forward and cleared at both of them meeting them know that I was not here to y. games neither did I have the time for it.

    ¡°who picked her up from the hospital? ¡°I demanded to know once more and I saw their professional resolve crumbled.

    ¡°a man by the name of Adam Huxley,¡± she said and that had caught me entirely of guard since Adam was thest person I was expecting to show up after Sophia had tantly declined his proposal.

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar

    aside from that a bitter taste was in my mouth partly from being absolutely thirsty but it also tasted. like jealousy. I thought Adam Huxley was out of her life once and for all but the man was proving to be a leech that refused to let go.

    ¡°which of the doctor needs to assess me before dismissing me from here I need to see him and I need to see him now. ¡°both of them shook their head in apprehension.

    ¡°the doctor is currently unavable. ¡°my nostrils red as I begin to lose my patience with the both

    of them.

    ¡°if the doctor cannot see me right now then I have no choice but too leave ording to my own. will.¡± I muttered angrily as I ignored the protests of both of them and headed back to the room to get my clothes on and go to Sophia¡¯s.

    ¡°Sir! Sir! You can¡¯t just leave with out the doctors permission. There are still remaining tests that need to be conducted on you before you¡¯re deemed well to leave the facility.¡± The nurse barked behind me but I ignored them and continued walking determined to leave.

    ¡°Then get me the bloody doctor.¡± I barked finally having¨Clost my patience. ¡°But neither of you can do that so do not try and get in my way.¡± I warned them and saw both of them take a shaky step

    back

    Good.

 Chapter 23

    The usual calm that existed around the pristine living room in the home that I now called mines felt non¨Cexistent. In ce of the serenity and easy atmosphere had been the tension that built on the air until it felt like I could cut through it with a knife.

    I paced the length of the living room until I was quite certain that I could power up a low voltage light bulb from the static electricity that I produced. The sun shining through the open drapes didn¡¯t help either. It added a warmth to the room that made the palms of my hand mmy.

    My eyes darted to the clock that hung high on the wall. It was an antique and ticked loudly making each passing second feel like impending door drawing closer.

    Adam had heard about the incident and, despite my rejection to his proposal, he hade to see me at the hospital and was by my side until the doctors had dismissed me. My injuries were not as bad as I had assumed it would be. <b>Aside </b>from whipsh and a constant migraine, I was rather alright.

    As for Dante, he had incurred a few injuries. His hand had been injured from when he tried to save me as we braced for impact. His head had been injured as well causing him to pass out. It was why he had been kept in for observation longer than I was asked to stay.

    However, Dante was not at the forefront of my concern at present. Adam had beening over any moment now. He hadn¡¯t given any reason for his visit aside from wanting to see how I was doing but it was inevitable that the ufortable topic was going toe up.

    The sound of a car approaching the front entrance made me tense but I breathed out gently to calm down. It was only Adam and we would discuss things as adults and, by any luck, we could go back to how we were with our any of this awkwardness looking over us.

    I heard the butler let him in and informed him that I was in the living room. Adam appeared in the door way dressed in a golfer and a pair of chinos. His work attire was no where to be seen but it suited him well. I don¡¯t think there was much he could wear that would not suit him.

    ¡°Hey.¡± He greeted from the door way before he walked deeper in to the room.

    ¡°Hey, Adam.¡± I greeted back rather awkwardly.

    ¡°You look well. He said after his eyes ran a quick assessing sweep of me. I was worried sick about you.¡± His shoulders rxed in relief.

    ¡°It was terrifying¡± I admitted as a shudder ran down my spine thinking about the ordeal.

    ¡°But you¡¯re okay and that¡¯s all that matters.¡± He said with a small smile on his l*ps but his eyes<b>. </b>shed with the hurt and confusion of what needed to be ironed out between us.

    The air was ufortable and this was not the usual energy when Adam and I were in the same

    room.

    o was

    I inhaled deeply deciding to clear the air once and for all. Adam and I were friends and nothing going <b>to </b>change that. Not a misunderstanding, not the wrong timing, and not any issue that could. be workable.

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar F

    06%

    ¡°Adam, this isn¡¯t us and we need to clear the air about what happened.¡± I put it out there and waited. for him to refuse or reject my idea.

    I held my

    breath until he sighed and nodded. ¡°We do need to clear this up. Adam agreed.

    I lead him to the couches where we sat across from each other and spoke over a ss of red. I exined to Adam my perspective and how there was still so much to figure out before I could think about moving forward in to anothermitment. Adam understood and exined how he might have misread my actions.

    In the end, we made peace with it and were willing to move on from it as some thing to look back at andughter on. Adam cracked a joke and we chuckled <b>and</b>, just like that, every thing was back to normal again.

    ¡°How is Dante doing?¡± Adam asked after a moment of silence.

    ¡°He <b>has </b>gotten a little bit more injured than I. He is still in the hospital and I haven¡¯t heard any thing from him since.¡± I informed him, setting my empty ss on to the coffee table.

    He nodded but his eyes were tensed at their edges causing the skin around it to crease. ¡°The whole incident sounds like a proper attack.¡± He frowned, drumming his fingers against his shadowed chin.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t any other way to look at it. The car behind kept knocking in to us until we went over the edge.¡± My stomach formed a knot before it rxed thinking about how it felt to go over the cliff and fall in to the mass of water.

    ¡°But who would have such a vendetta against you two?¡± Adam mused seriously and I shrugged not wanting to think about having some one after either Dante or myself.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know and I don¡¯t want to know. The whole thing is just some thing I want to forget like it was bad night mare.¡± Adam was not ready to let it go as easily as I was.

    ¡°You should. If you¡¯re on someone¡¯s attack list then who¡¯s to say that they are not willing to harm Hayley. I gasped at that since it hasn¡¯t ured to me at all.

    ¡°Not many people know about Hayley and, besides, why would anyone want to harm an innocent child?¡± I shrugged it away not wanting to entertain such a chilling thought

    ¡°I know that it is grim to think about but you have to consider it. If it means being on the safer side then why not? If you do not want to take on <b>the </b>stress of investigating then let me do it. I¡¯ve been fond of Hayley since the day she was born and I hate to think of any harm looming over her.¡± Adam offered and despite knowing that he meant well, I didn¡¯t want to discuss this right now.

    my head still hurts from the ordeal and I needed a few days rest to overe every thing until it felt like some horrible nightmare and not an ident that was a reality and took ce less than 48 hours ago<b>. </b>

    ¡°Look, it isn¡¯t what I want to do right now. Heck, for all intents and purposes, I just want to go back to normal <b>again</b>. That isn¡¯t to say that I will not look in to it but just not right this second.¡± I exined gently and he understood but <b>his </b>eyes were still tensed thinking about it.

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar

    6%*

    Adam opened his mouth to speak but rapid knocking against the front door had us both falling silent. The knocks were desperate and I rose from my spot and made my way to see who it had been. As I approached the door, the urgent knocking had turned in to thunderous banging and for a second I would have thought that it was an intruder trying to get in.

    ¡°Stand back. Let me deal with this.¡± Adam grunted but I already leaned forward to peak through the peep hole.

    Dante? What the hell was he doing here?!

    ¡°It¡¯s Dante.¡± I said to Adam and his face scrunched up in disapproval.

    I pulled open the door and nearly gasped at the sight that awaited me. Dante was very bedressed. His clothes were crumpled, his head bandaged along with his arm. The side of his forehead had spores a few bruises and there a cut on his brow but he didn¡¯t seem to be in any pain<b>. </b>

    ¡°Dante? What are you doing here?¡± I asked frantically as I assessed him to make sure he was truly okay.

    ¡°I had toe and make sure that- His eyes darted over to Adam and his orbs became angry mes.

    Not wanting the two of them to get in to a fight, I looked at Adam. ¡°Maybe you should go. I¡¯ll get in touch with youter.¡± I said but Adam didn¡¯t move at first.

    both men stood there in a stare of until I nudged Adam gently. He muttered something beneath hist breath before leaving, closing the door behind him until it mmed and closed shut with a loud

    thud.

    Dante stood quiet as his eyes ran from my head to toe assessing me thoroughly. His eyes scanned my face then moved to my hands, then my arms, across my n*eck like he could see right through my skin.

    My skin tingled beneath his observant gaze, heating up the path it drew. Even in his disheveled state, there <b>was </b>this maic pull to him. His natural allure that he possessed didn¡¯t diminish at

    all<b>. </b>

    ¡°It is good to see that you are doing as well as you can. I offered since he <b>was </b>definitely not in the best shape.

    I waited for him to say some thing. Any thing, but he didn¡¯t. All he did was stare at me like he was trying to memorise my face.

    ¡°It was you.¡± He whispered and I frowned immediately mot understanding what <b>he </b>was talking about.

    ¡°It was you all along, Sophia.¡± He said louder this time, taking a step forward to me.

    ¡°What are-¡±

    ¡°It was you who saved me.¡± He said loud and clearly.

    My eyes widened when I realised what he was speaking about. How did he discover this after all

    0.6%#

    these years? The incident took ce a long while ago. Dante was drowning. I managed to save him. from the harsh current, but Portia berated me and loudly eximed that it was Phoebe who saved Dante. It was an easier to fight to let go and I didn¡¯t care about it too much. For a short while, I have even forgotten about it.

    may

    ¡°All these years ago I thought it was Pheobe. I felt indebted to her because my conscience always told me that I owed her my whole life because of it but she lied to me.¡± He spoke in a low tone more to himself than he did to me.

    His face was pained and regret marred his gaze deeply as he realised just how wrong he had been. Pheobe and her mother had been lying to him all these years but I reminded myself not to get carried away with this. He was still with Pheobe and she was still very much present in his life.

    ¡°It was a long time ago. Dante. It <b>hardly </b>holds Anh meaning now.¡± I swallowed audibly but he shook his head disagreeing with me.

    ¡°on the contrary. It means far more than any one knows. His hand moved forward to cup my cheek but he caught himself, dropping it back to his side.

    The once blue clouds were now grey as it rumbled loudly. It was going to storm. I looked away from the windows <b>and </b>back to Dante.

    ¡°You better get going, Dante, before the storm <b>starts</b>¡± I took a step away from him not wanting to get lost in his vulnerable looking eyes.

    He was deceived and for that I pitied him but I couldn¡¯t allow myself to fall for any sort of hope with him again.

    Dante¡¯s eyes had grown pained and offended at me suggesting that he leave. If any thing he stiffened like he was solidifying his stance and nting himself firmly in to the floor.

    ¡°Do not chase me away, Sophia. Let me be here for a while.¡± He pleaded, looking down at me like his entire world depended on my response,¡±

 Chapter 24

    The crackling sound of crusted chicken shnitzels frying away in the pan became the back ground noise to the kitchen while I prepared a simple sd. I had three tes lined up atop of the counter ready to be ted once the food had been ready.

    Hayley still wanted to eat outside despite Dante being a new addition to this evening and I wanted the opposite. I wanted him to leave. I did not want him around Hayley at all let alone him staying by for a meal.

    I watched the both of them sit across the counter from each other as Hayley engaged in conversation with Dante, the man she did not have even the slightest clue was her father. Hayley was friendly in general but tonight was the first time I witnessed her behave so outgoing and weing to aplete stranger. It made me feel like I had not known my own daughter as much as I had thought I did.

    ¡°Do you go to school yet?¡± Dante <b>asked </b>her with far too much interest than I was

    with.

    Hayley shook her head confidently. ¡°Nope.¡± She popped the P in the word. ¡°Not yet. I have this little problem with my legs. I think that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t start school yet.¡± She exined maturely not. minding at all telling him about her legs.

    Dante nodded and even though I turned at that time to get out some sses, I kept a close ear on

    them. It was <b>a </b>good thing that Hayley hadn¡¯t insisted on goingth out me. I didn¡¯t want

    any unwanted information to sl*p out from Hayley innocently and I wouldn¡¯t put it passed Dante to slyly interrogate her.

    ¡°I see. I¡¯m surprised because you¡¯re a very clever girl. Heplimented her and she beamed at

    him.

    ¡°It¡¯s because I eat my veggies.¡± She responded <b>and </b>I smirked fl*pping over the shnitzel to reveal its golden browness.

    ¡°All of them?¡± Dante raised <b>a </b>skeptical brow at her.

    Hayley shrunk a little bit. ¡°Most of them. I don¡¯t like Brussel sprouts or cauliflower. She scrunched. her nose up in disgust.

    ¡°Those are not my favourite veggies either.¡± Dante confessed to her and she seemed to appreciate that little tidbit

    <b>As </b>much as he irritated me at present and how on guard I was with him in my house and around Hayley for the first time, I had to admit that he was good with her. It was like when he spoke to Hayley, he didn¡¯t think of himself of the wealthy billionaire that was ruthless in his dealings but instead it <b>was </b>like he was just an ordinary man entertaining a <b>kid</b>.

    It was freaky watching them side by side as they interacted. The more I saw them interact with each other, the more I realised just how alike they were. Dante didn¡¯t seem to suspect anything or, if he had, he did not let it on.

    I removed the shnitzel onto a wire rack lined with kitchen paper to drain for a few minutes whilst d ted the sd on one side of the te. I heated up the light zesty drizzling sauce and had it

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar

    waiting to pour over after I ted the shnitzels.

    ¡°Dinner is ready.¡± I announced interrupting them.

    ¡°We

    ¡°We can go eat in the garden <b>now</b>?¡± Hayley asked eagerly and I nodded.

    5%

    Dante carried two tes in his hand while I brought the third along with the sses and cutlery before we headed out to the back garden. Wey every thing out on to the table beneath the night sky. I cut Hayley¡¯s chicken in to smaller pieces making it easier for her to stab with a fork and eat. Dante watched me the entire time as I did the small task but I ignored it despite feeling self conscious beneath his gaze.

    ¡°Is it only the 3 of us <b>that¡¯s </b>going to be dining tonight?¡± Dante questioned and I knew that he was slyly asking about why Adam was not present this evening.

    Hayley opened her mouth to speak but I spoke before her not wanting her to give anything away.

    ¡°It would seem so. Work makes you miss things some times.¡± I said in a calm tone <b>as </b>I cut in to my shnitzel.

    Dante nodded but the corners of his eyes were creased. Damnit! This man just needed to eat and get out. I didn¡¯t want him here in the first ce.

    His presence upset the bnce that I felt like I created after a while of being so on edge. The air was different when he was around and I hated it. It felt charged, rejuvenating of memories best left forgotten.

    ¡°I see.¡± He forked food in to his mouth and chewed as I did the same.

    There was silence for <b>a </b>while and all that sounded through the air were the noise of crickets and nightly insects along with the ttering of utensils against tes.

    ¡°Did you always stay here?¡± Hayley asked Dante out of the blue.

    ¡°I did. Although I did travel a bit. He always had this lightness about him when he responded to her and Hayley warmed up to that.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t stay here always. Mama and I lived in Canada.¡± She exined to Dante who pretended to not have known this piece of information.

    ¡°And do you like it here?¡± He asked but waited for a response while Hayley chewed on some greens.

    ¡°I do. I didn¡¯t see a lot of it but mama and I do go out on little adventures and I thought it was nice.¡± She spoke so clearly and like she was older than just four years old but it was some thing that I knew nanny Nancy worked on with her.

    ¡°Maybe I should take you around some time. There¡¯s an aquarium, a ce you can see how chocte is made <b>and </b>even eat a lot of it. Hayley¡¯s eyes widened in interest before he was even done speaking.

    ¡°Chocte? I love chocte.¡± She responded instantly and I shrugged inwardly.

    Dante was crossing a line and he damn well knew it. As far as he knew, she was Adam¡¯s child and he

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar

    had no ceing here and making his own ns with out consulting with me first.

    ¡°So do I.¡± He eyed me with that challenging look in his orbs knowing just how much this was infuriating me.¡±

    Dinner was finished shortly and I stacked the tes and cleaned up while Hayley followed me around as I did <b>so</b>.

    6%

    Dante was still outside finishing the rest of his drink and I was happy to get some space away from him.

    ¡°Mama, can I go with your friend to see how chocte is made?¡± Hayley asked as she handed me <b>a </b>fork to pack away in the dishwasher.

    For a short while I didn¡¯t say any thing but just pondered over how to respond to this request. It was never like her to <b>ask </b>for things and it felt horrible of me to crush her down for the rare asion that she did but I wasn¡¯tfortable with Dante taking her out.

    I didn¡¯t want her getting attached to him only for him to ke on her the minute she thought that Dante was a male figure to look up to. With Pheobe still in his life, I didn¡¯t want her any where near him. Who knew what she would do the minute she found out that Dante was taking my child out on little adventure.

    ¡°How about we go together? Just you and I. I¡¯ve been wanting to go there too. She grimaced for a little bit but she didn¡¯t outright express her displeasure.

    Hayley clearly wanted to go with Dante and now that I kind of sneakily said no, she was not pleased

    with it.

    ¡°We can do that but I feel like your friend loves chocte as much as I do.¡± She tried to reason and I shut my eyes for a bit when my back turned away from her to shut the dishwasher door.

    ¡°I know but he is a busy man, i

    try and ask him toe along but I don¡¯t think he will.¡± Hayley already began walking away from me to ask Dante but I quickly stopped her.

    ¡°Not now, Sweety. Some other time. It¡¯ste and we need to get you all showered and clean for bed time.¡± I said gently but she nodded without a fuss and headed down the hallway to the bathroom.

    I followed her leaving Dante behind in hopes that he would conclude his drink and leave with out. me having to face him again. His presence in close proximity for such a long time set me off and I needed some space away from him. It didn¡¯t help matters that my brain was still upset from the two encounters that he had k*ssed me, having him here pretending to be interested in my child like we were a family was not some thing I wanted to add to the mix.

    After giving Hayley a <b>bath </b>and setting in her bed, I tucked her in securely like she liked. After the activities of today, she was exhausted and it was long before her eyes fluttered closed and she was sound asleep.

    I ventured back to the kitchen just to lock the back door to find that there was no sign of Dante in the garden. Taking it as he had left, I locked the door.

    ¡°Very interesting kid you have there.¡± I jumped back, startled by the voiceing from the corner

    16:25 Tue, 5 Mar 9

    of the kitchen that was some what a blind spot from where I had been standing.

    6%

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I ever interacted with a child that I liked until now.¡± He said like that was supposed to be apliment.

    Dante abandoned his wine ss and instead <b>drank </b>it straight from the bottle as he rested his hip against the marble ind.

    ¡°Hayley is an interesting kid,¡± I admitted, smiling weakly.

    Dante was quite for a moment but his eyes danced with many things that I did not want to name.

    ¡°She bares very little resemnce to Adam.¡± He said carefully and my nostril twitched.

    ¡°I know. We were also baffled until we discovered that she inherited more of the genes on Adams. mother¡¯s side.¡± I mumbled as I moved a few strands of hair <b>away </b>from my face.

    He scoffed, tilting his head and looking at me like he was no fool. ¡°Ahh, I see.¡± Was all he said.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be heading back home? I can¡¯t imagine Phoebe will be pleased to know where you¡¯ve spent your evening. I moved to turn half the kitchen lights off hinting none too vaguely that it was time for him to leave.

    Dante ced the bottle on to the counter then stood up straight. ¡°Just as Adam won¡¯t be pleased to know that I¡¯ve dined here tonight.¡± I scoffed at that.

    ¡°On the contrary, Adam isn¡¯t as controlling.¡± I taunted and saw his l*ps press in to a thin line. I left the kitchen and lead him to the front door where h

    e¡¯de from.

    And, to my surprise, Dante left without putting up a fight or responding with any sharp remark.

 Chapter 25

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    There wasn¡¯t much that bothered me about pretty much any thing. The reality of my life was that I was either too busy to worry about what ever was secondary going on around me or I simply could not be bothered by any thing else enough to show greater interest in it

    But this was different.

    After spending about over an hour with Sophia and her interesting daughter, Hayley, some thing just did not sit right with me. The child bore no resemnce to Adam Huxley what so ever and the bull shit excuse fed to me defending that was just asughable.

    Sophia may have taken me for a fool but I was familiar with Adams family. Many people were. They were influential in their time and managed to keep one of the most profitablepanies running. Adam¡¯s mother¡¯s side possessed looks on the lighter side. From the hair to the eye colour and even their features.

    I tried to get a hold of Frederick. There were things that I needed him to find out for me before 1 made a proper approach or confrontation but I was <b>still </b>waiting for him to give me a call back.

    ¡°Dante, sweetheart.¡± The voice called me as it approached and I immediately became irritated.

    I was yet to confront her about the lies and deceit that she kept up for years. The timing wasn¡¯t right and I needed to figure out bigger <b>things </b>at present.

    0

    I reluctantly shifted my attention from the phone in my hand to find Pheobe stand in front of my. sitting figure. The bright red wrap dress she wore used to be one of my favourites until she started wearing it at every turn she could when we were alone at home causing it lose its luster.

    ¡°There you are. I thought you¡¯d left already. She settled herself in myp and <b>I </b>quickly turned my phone over and gently ced it to my thigh.

    ¡°My mother calledst night when you were out on your meeting. She thinks that we should have dinner this weekend at the Lamshire estate.¡± Phoebe pressed her l*ps against my jaw and I resisted. the urge to turn away.

    ¡°You can go if you¡¯d life. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll make it.¡± I responded not being able to keep the impatience out of my tone.

    Her eyes immediately stared me up and down before her l*ps contorted in to a disapproving line. Here we go.

    ¡°Now that is unfair. You don¡¯t ever attend any gatherings with my family! She whined but her eyes. were nted in <b>a </b>fiesty angle.

    ¡°Exactly so they won¡¯t be disappointed when they know <b>that </b>I can¡¯t make it to this one, <b>too</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>Pheobe¡¯s family were not people I liked being around.

    They pretended to be sophisticated around me but I knew better. Her father was known to be an avid gambler that was so engrossed in his filthy habit that he thought nothing to gamble away his

    16:25 Tue, <b>5 </b>Mar

    entire lifes earnings until he had be a pauper. As for her mother, the woman looked at me <b>as </b>if I was a walking gold mine. Their pretense was feeble and I could see right through it, more clearly so, now that I knew the truth.

    ¡°You are being such a brute recently and I have some idea as to why that is.¡± She leaned away from me until she was at the edge of my knee.

    ¡°It is just work, Pheobe. Things are changing and require my full attention. I simply have no time at present to relish in social gatherings when I could upy myself with more beneficial matters.¡± I tried to diffuse the situation before she ran with her wild assumption.

    Knowing Pheobe, Sophia was already a problem in her mind. Regardless of what I did, she would use her as the reason should it <b>not </b>be favourable for her.

    ¡°And these changes don¡¯t have anything to do with the reappearance of your ex¨Cwife frolicking about in the arms on Adam Huxley?¡± My jaw tightened immediately, almost like an instinct that was triggered by the imagery her words illicited.

    My hands gripped the side of her waist and moved her until she was of of me and back on to her

    feet.

    ¡°I will see you in the evening, Pheobe.¡± I muttered sternly before leaving the living room and house. altogether.

    My phone buzzed just before I reached my car and I looked at it to see an iing call from Frederick. We agreed to meet at his offices in about thirty minutes and I didn¡¯t make any other stops. instead, I went straight to him.

    His office was nothing fancy let alone up to date with modern interior and colour schemes and, had I not known first hand how good he was at what he did, I wouldn¡¯t have even considered his services at all based on his location.

    The chair beneath my weight creaked but it felt secure. There was no desk but a medium sized coffee table between where he had sat and I. I didn¡¯t care if it got me the answers I was looking for.

    ¡°I hadn¡¯t been expecting to see you <b>so </b>soon again, Mr Crawford.¡± He crossed his one leg over the opposite knee.

    ¡°I need to know if you have any more information about Sophia¡¯s daughter? Any DNA samples or paternity proof. I rified cutting right to it.

    I didn¡¯te here to waste any time and I didn¡¯t want my time to be wasted.

    Frederick looked at me nkly before shaking his head. ¡°That is information I don¡¯t have ess to because those are documents that do not exist for me to get my hands on.¡± He exined but I didn¡¯t want to hear it.

    ¡°Well, I need it and I want you to get it for me. I¡¯ll pay you double what I normally do.¡± His brows lifted knowing that was a hefty sum but they fell slowly and back on to ce.

    ¡°Tempting as that is, I can¡¯t do it. Unless I have ess to the child or Sophia actually agrees to a paternity test, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do a thing for you in this regard.¡± He said with finality not event

    16-25

    ue, 5 Mar

    <b>Chapter </b><b>25 </b>

    giving me any hope.

    I swore under my breath before running a hand through my hair. I couldn¡¯t ask Sophia for a paternity test urider the current circumstances. She wouldn¡¯t agree and it would be a challenging ordeal trying to request such a thing with no evidence or reasoning.

    ¡°Unless¡­¡± Frederick rose from his chair and <b>paced </b>the boundaries of the carpet.

    ¡°What?¡± I persisted.

    He stopped pacing and tapped his fingers against his cleanly shaven jaw. ¡°Unless you bring me some sort of DNA sample from the kid. I could run the necessary tests and you would have an answer. Frederick¡¯s l*ps spread in to a satisfied smile, proud at what he had just thought of

    ¡°It could be hair or saliva.¡± He spoke and I knew that I needed to force another encounter which could p

    get me close enough to Hayley for me to get a sample.

    ¡°I think hair would be easier to retract.¡± He suggested but I already blocked him out.

    Barging in to her home may not be the easiest of tasks yet again. Sophia was protective of her daughter and it was evident that she did not want me any where near the kid but something didn¡¯t sit right with me. If Adam was <b>not </b>the father based on gical appearance, then who the hell is?

    Did Sophia have more than just one lover during the time we had been married? Is that the reason. why it <b>was </b>so easy for her to walk away and leave me all these years ago?

    My hands balled in to fists and I sprung up and out of the chair. I needed to think of some thing. I needed to get that DNA sample to prove just who Sophia had thought she was toying <b>with</b>.

    Regardless of my refusal to attend dinner with Pheobe¡¯s family this weekend, I might as well make use of the kidsmon interest and like in chocte as mine. I knew the owner of a luxury chocte store and securing a private tour and tasting would be a <b>piece </b>of cake.

    I hopped in to my car and immediately worked on setting up the n for this weekend. Sophia will

    be furious but I can handle her. As

    for the kid, she was fond of me in an acquaintance level way and that was enough.

 Chapter 26

    06%A

    6%Æ¬

    The week had gone by in a sh with all the things that had taken ce at work. Between finalizing the new investors contract and the countless meetings, both in person and virtual, had taken a lot

    out of me.

    I hadn¡¯t seen much of Adam for the week but I knew that he was busy with his own business that brought him along with me to New York to begin with. All I wanted to do this weekend was rx and unwind at home. Perhaps test out the pool with Hayley and just have some mother¨Cdaughter fun before the week kicked off again.

    But I was not that lucky.

    When Friday had approached, I left the office earlier than usual because Hayley wanted to check out an art store that she had heard of just down the road from the <b>main </b>Street. I was happy to oblige <b>and </b>she was ready when I got home. <b>Nancy </b>helped strap her in the <b>seat </b>and we were off beneath the still brightter afternoon sky.

    ¡°I love this store, mama!¡± Hayley eximed receiving a few nces from passerbys that didn¡¯t mind but instead smiled at her innocent enthusiasm.

    ¡°I knew you would. Pick a few things <b>that </b>you like. I encouraged her, walking behind her as she looked at all the shy, artsy things on disy.

    From paints to glitter, various stationaries, wooden trinkets that needed assembling, Hayley was too taken away with it all.

    ¡°Look, I have boogily eyes.¡± She reached for a pack of big googily eyes and ced them over her

    <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>

    I chuckled at her and she smiled. ¡°Those are googily eyes and I find them very funny.¡± She ced them back then lead me to the next aisle where she immediately reached for a canvas with the ck outline of a farm house and an array of animals loitering at the front of it

    Hayley looked at it for a moment before giving her head <b>a </b>small nod more to herself than me. ¡°Can I have this one?¡± She asked fluttering her eyes at me.

    ¡°Of course, you can. You will need paint for it.¡± This lead us to the pain aisle where she carefully chose the colours she needed for the idea she had in mind.

    ¡°Maybe I should take one more colour.¡± She tested but I nodded without

    any hesitation. any

    ¡°Take what ever you want.¡± Said a strong voice behind me that sent an I weing shiver down my spine.

    I shifted enough to actually verify that I had heard correctly and it was not just a figment of my imagination and, clear as day, ¡®Dante stood there dressed in a delectable three piece suit. His hair was tousled from the stresses of the day yet the corners of his eyes remained bright and refreshed. Gone were his dressing and bandages around his head and arm. In fact, he looked like he had been fully healed and back to normal.

    My nostrils twitched seeing him there since a man of his appeal and demeanor lookedpletely

    10 25 Tue, 5 Mar

    out of ce being in a stationary store yet here he was in all of his arrogant, intruding glory. Did he follow us here? Why else would he be here? His hands were empty and I <b>couldn¡¯t </b>imagine hin dropping by for some glitter and washy tape.

    I couldn¡¯t even imagine him stopping here for office stationary. Knowing Dante and the scale his business ran, he was not seeing to such an errand personally

    Hayley tugged at my hand and the excitement coursing through her was instantly palpable. It made me feel uneasy that she had gotten so sparked up when ever she saw him.

    ¡°It¡¯s your friend, mama.¡± Hayley said like she was reminded me who Dante was because I hadn¡¯t said a word yet.

    ¡°Yes it is.¡± I said tightly eyeing Dante skeptically, preparing myself for what ever he had nned this

    time.

    It was like he could not leave me alone <b>and </b>to be peacefully with out finding <b>some </b>way or the other to meddle in my business.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to run in to you both today.¡± He looked at me smugly before shifting his attention to Hayley before a snarklyment could leave my l*ps. ¡°but I¡¯m happy <b>that </b>I did. It saves me making a special trip all the way to your house. His orbs danced with mischief knowing full well that I did not want him any where near my house.

    1 frowned, staring at him with curiosity. ¡°What ever for?¡± I questioned <b>him</b><b>, </b>crossing my arms over my chest waiting for him to speak.

    Dante opened the side of his zer and retrieved 3 ticket looking rectangr papers. I couldn¡¯t quite see any details from where I stood aside from therge font about an experience of a lifetime.

    ¡°I am d you asked. You see, I managed to pull some strings and get 3 tickets for a full tour of the chocte factory tomorrow morning¡± I felt my face fall and my anger bubble beneath the surface, ¡°I know Hayley was eager for the experience.¡± He beamed at Hayley who seemed like she couldn¡¯t believe her ears.

    ¡°Can we go, mama? Please. Please. She begged, tugging at my hand <b>and </b>I caught the ghost of a <b>grin </b>before it disappears from Dante¡¯s face like he had achieved exactly what he intended.

    ¡°As nice as that sounds, we did make ns. I faked a smile ignoring Dante¡¯s raised, condescending brow.

    ¡°To sit at home and rx. I¡¯m sure we can do that in the afternoon.¡± Trust your own kid to betray you like this in your time of need. ¡°But please can we go? I really want to. She pleaded for this like she had never done for any thing else.

    ¡°I will think about it.¡± I said trying to calm her down and

    use the situation untilter when I

    could tell her that we go some other time together with out Dante¡¯s looming presence.

    ¡°Perfect. It <b>is </b>all set <b>then</b>. I will pick you both up tomorrow at 10 am.¡± Hayley was already vibrating

    with excitement.

    16-25 Tue, 5 Mar

    6%Ãæ

    I red at Dante but he didn¡¯t care at all. Hayley was so excited once he had finalized the ns for tomorrow that I didn¡¯t have the heart to tell Hayley other wise after this.

    But this high handed, entitled behaviour of Dante¡¯s needed toe to an end and I vowed not go let him get away with these things after tomorrow. I needed to set firmer boundaries in ce so that he didn¡¯t feel like he could just do what he please with out asking me first.

    In any case, he shouldn¡¯t be showing such a great interest in Hayley, the fact that he was didn¡¯t sit well with me one bit. It gave me a slight inkling that Dante was skeptical and on to some thing when it came to the matter of Hayley¡¯s paternity. I knew that he would like to think that I was the one who wronged him and <b>it </b>didn¡¯t help that I actually lead him to believe so only because that was the easier way out.

    All I had to make sure of was that tomorrow I kept a close eye on Dante <b>and </b>try my best not to let Hayley get carried away with his tricks and ability to pull strings for random adventures she just expressed an interest to.

    ¡°We do not need to be picked up. Thank you very much. It is a nice gesture but it is simply too much. I am more than capable of meeting you there and, besides, there really is no need for you to take time out of your busy schedule to apany us.¡± I tried to side track him and kick him out from this nned outing entirely but he was too cunning.

    Dante grinned at me with a look in his eye that said he knew exactly what I was trying to do and he expertly had his own devious way of holding his grounds.

    ¡°It¡¯s a Saturday and my schedule is only as busy as I decide it is.¡± His hauty response was no surprise.

    His attention shifted over to Hayley and I saw some thing sh through his orbs but it was gone before I could analyze it any further. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, Hayley.¡± He waved at her in a way that was so unlike him before he left the store leaving me looking at his retreating back.

    I like him. He¡¯s nice.¡± Hayley said to herself with a small nod of confirmation and I stiffened feeling angered by all of this.

    I couldn¡¯t exactly exin to Hayley why she shouldn¡¯t be so epting of him because she was <b>a </b>child after all. Her mind was innocent and it should remain that way. She shouldn¡¯t be dragged in to theplicated matters of adults.

    The drive home was long. Aside from the traffic, it consisted of me having to listen to Hayley express her joy for tomorrow and answer all her questions about what it would be like and where chocte came from. I didn¡¯t mind her at all but the man behind all of this was getting on my nerves to the point that my hold tightened around the steering wheel.

    #

    0

 Chapter 27

    True to his word, and his arrogance, Dante showed up at my front door at 11 in the morning. Despite my assurance that I could make my way to the chocte ce myself, Dante still showed up and he did note empty handed.

    Arge teddy bear the size of Hayley was in his hand along with a pink glittered covered case that looked like a brief case. It had caught me by surprise when I opened the door and saw him standing there with his hands full.

    Dante, surprisingly, had not worn a suit this morning. Instead, he wore a pair of dark ck jeans, a button front shirt and a pair of leather boots. This was the most casual I have ever see this man dress. His hair was still damp but mostly dry from the slight breeze in the air and a few stray hairs. hung over his forehead.

    ¡°Dante, what are you doing here?¡± I questioned not stepping aside for him to enter..

    He shed me a grin like he was unaware of why I had asked him that question and shrugged.

    ¡°I told you that I was picking you up. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± He added taking away from my protest to him being here when I clearly said other wise.

    I heard Hayley approach me from behind since we were all ready to leave. I red at him, narrowing my eyes in his direction firmly.

    ¡°This is thest time I let you get away with some thing like this. I muttered through angrily.

    clenched teeth.

    Stepping aside, I opened the door allowing Hayley to see Dante and all that he had his hands filled with. I didn¡¯t miss the way her eyes lit up brightly when she saw Dante before she even noticed the items in his hand.

    ¡°Ie bearing gifts.¡± Dante did a Santa use voice and, despite my anger, I found myself trying to bite back a grin.

    Hayley giggled loudly, jumping a few times in excitement. ¡°Both of those are for me?¡± She asked hesitantly <b>as </b>she reached her hands out for it.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Dante responded as he passed the teddy bear to her which Hayley needed both her hands to hold.

    ¡°Thank you. I love it so much and it¡¯s so soft.¡± Her voice was muffled against the fluff of the stuffed animal.

    ¡°Wait until you see what¡¯s in this.¡± Dante wiggled his brows at her but she couldn¡¯t see much.

    I chuckled lightly before helping her with the bear and she reluctantly let go of it. Dante dropped to one knee on the porch, cing the glittery case on the floor then undoing the sp at the front centre of the box facing Hayley. It popped open and Dante pulled back the top which

    which prompted another twoyers to spring out revealing a whole art set that consisted of colouring pencils, paints, various coloured pens, and many pink, girly notepads.

    6%

    Hayley gasped as she took it all in but the excitement got too much for her little b*dy <b>so </b>she let out a squeal.

    ¡°There are so many colours and paint! I love paint.¡± She touched the stuff gently like she didn¡¯t want them to get hurt before retracting her hand.

    Before either one of us could even take another breath, Hayley ran to Dante and threw her hands around his n*eck in a tight hug. Dante¡¯s face instantly dropped and Hayley just hung on to him.

    ¡°This is the best gift ever. Thank you.¡± She said but Dante was still processing this gesture of hers. I watched him slowly wrap his arms around her before he rxed and hugged her back.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy you like it, little one.¡± He whispered but his expression was unreadable.

    Little did he know that this was the first hug that he was sharing with his daughter. Hayley didn¡¯t even know that this was her father yet it was visible that there was a natural pull between them. They probably didn¡¯t know it and it was better that way. I knew that Hayley¡¯s affections for him may be innocent but I didn¡¯t know what Dante wanted. After all, he only knew that she was my child and nothing more.

    <b>¡°</b>Alright you two, we need to get going¡± I said lightly breaking them up. Hayley stepped away from Dante and nced at her gifts before <b>we </b>took them in to the house and left.

    Dante had driven <b>us </b>to the choctier renowned for producing the finest locally produced. chocte in the country. It was a rather impressive tour and I actually enjoyed it a lot. The whole thing was never an experience I intended on actually focussing on but I kind of got carried away with it all.

    Each stage was exined and shown first hand from the extraction of the cocoa bean; fermentation, roasting of it, to the making of it in to delicious treats that we got to taste.

    Dante¡¯s whole focus had been on Hayley and the both of them seemed to be happy by the tour. Hayley was attentive and listened and walked through the factory all by herself with out asking for help or to be picked up but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it would catch up to herter on in the day.

    But I watched as Hayley sampled the end product from the bitter, dark 97% percent which she spar out to the delicate semi sweet that she endured and finally the delicious milk chocte sample that <b>was </b>her favourite.

    Dante had gotten carried away quite a bit at seeing Hayley so pleased and he petting her head many times before toying with her pony tails. At first, I thought it an instinctual gesture but I eventually noticed that it <b>had </b>been more deliberate.

    rm bells went off in my head and I moved closer to her forming a wall between Hayley and Dante. Surely he couldn¡¯t doing what I assumed he had been? Perhaps my mind was ying tricks on me. Dante would never try to snatch

    a strand of her hair for a DNA test, would he?

    I gave my head a small shake when Dante moved away naturally and not like I had interrupted his n but the thought still had me on edge forcing me to stay close to Hayley to prevent any such urance. I guess it would exin why he had gone out of his way to arrange this whole tour.

    ¡°I had so much fun! I <b>think </b>this is the best chocte I¡¯ve ever tasted.¡± Hayley beamed, hopping her

    16:26 Tue, <b>5 </b>Mar

    <b>way </b>out of the chocte factory clutching her paper bag of even more chocte.

    I was going to have restrict how fast that bag got eaten before I had an over active, sugar high kid bouncing around the halls.

    Dante ruffled the front of her hair before he stopped but I still held my breath the entire time that he had touched her hair. I even made sure so lingering strands had been caught on his hand before looking back to Hayley.

    ¡°I¡¯m d you had fun. kid.¡± Dante said to her with the most sincere smile I¡¯ve ever seen him disy.

    ¡°Mama, can Dante join us for dinner again tonight?¡± Hayley asked looking up at me with her big eyes that she knew just the way to nt them to tug at my strings but I was not going to allow this.

    I think we¡¯ve had enough Dante for one day and I needed to be away from him with Hayley out his reach until I was sure that he had not been trying to plot some ulterior motive behind my back.

    ¡°Not tonight, sweetheart. Maybe some other time.¡± I said with a smile to her but my words were tight warning Dante not to push his luck.

    Hayley sighed and her shoulder slumped. This is what I did not want. Hayley was bing to used to have Dante around when he was a man who would never be consistent. I couldn¡¯t even understand why he was here to begin with but I did know one tantrum from Pheobe would have him scurrying away from Hayley and then I¡¯d be the one left to deliver bad news and excuses about why Dante was not around as much.

    ¡°I think your mum is right. Dinner times are mostly meant for close family. Your father wouldn¡¯t be too happy if I were there interrupting family time.¡± Dante uttered and I squeezed my eyes shut tightly at the mention of Hayley¡¯s father figure.

    I opened my eyes again to see Hayley grimace but then she shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t have a father. He died before I was born. Isn¡¯t, mama?¡± She stared at me for confirmation and even though she was so small, her eyes bore some forlorn look like she missed someone she hadn¡¯t know her whole life.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Dante looked to me with a tight, calcting re.

    ¡°Yes.¡± I swallowed nervously but then yed it of by directing Hayley to the car where I got her in and shut the door <b>closed</b>.

    I moved to the other side of the back seat to get in but Dante blocked my path standing tall, towering over me. He looked down at me like he was on to me but also like he didn¡¯t know what he himself wanted to do.

    ¡°Do you mind? I¡¯d like to get in to the car.¡± I averted my gaze from his but he didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°You are ying a dangerous game, Sophia. One that I hope does not y out as you see it.¡± He warned in <b>a </b>low tone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡± I muttered before reached for the door handle but his hands beat me to it causing my hands to be trapped beneath his.

    16:26 Tue, 5 Mar

    B6%

    The sudden constant made sent a jolt of electricity shooting up my arm. I tried to pull my hand away but I couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°If you think you can get away with what I think you did, then you will be highly mistake.¡± His words squeezed themselves through clenched teeth.

    I red up at <b>him</b>. ¡°Enough of your threats. Dante. This is my life and my <b>child </b>and I will not let youe between that or try and use me of things.¡± I shot back at him furiously.

    We both stood there ring at each other for what felt like minutes. Dante muttered some thing. under his breath that I didn¡¯t catch before he yanked the door o for me finally allowing me to

    remove my hand from his heated one.

    He drove us home wordlessly and only spoke of Hayley had a question for him but aside from that he stayed to himself. When we had gotten home, I unbuckled Hayley but she as she tried to throw her legs over the side of her seat, I saw them tremble but refused to move.

    Her carefree expression became grim and her eyes zed over but she didn¡¯t cry. I knew she hated when these things happened even though she was so strong and understanding about her disability.

    ¡°Not this again.¡± She whined, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand while she held her brown paper bag in the other..

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Hayley. I¡¯ll help you.¡± I reassured her but she was still unappeased.

    ¡°I know but <b>not </b>in front of Dante.¡± She darted a look at him in the front seat and he had heard what she had said<b>. </b>

    Dante got out of the driver¡¯s side and came to stand next to me. He looked down at Hayley trying to assess the situation but I didn¡¯t want him around to see this.

 Chapter 28

    0.6% *

    In all this time since I had Hayley, there had only been 2 people who had seen her struggle with her disability. Over the years, it had gotten better for her and manageable but things still got challenging now and again depending on various factors. Besides Adam and Nancy, no one else had even been aware that she was challenged in any way.

    She didn¡¯t show it and she was capable of understanding but there had been rare asions where. she didn¡¯t have the patience for it and today was one of those days.

    Hayley whined and squealed at her helplessness but I knew exactly why she was fussy today. With all the excitement of the day and her being buzzed with Dante being around, she didn¡¯t want <b>him </b>to see her like this neither did she want this toe in the way of her ending off their meeting for today on a good note.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Hayley. Remember, mama is here and I

    ere and I can carry you inside. It¡¯s okay. I whispered calmly to her while Dante just stood watching Hayley in distress not knowing how to help her.

    My motherly protective instinct kicked in and I didn¡¯t want my baby to be looked at like a wounded puppy.

    ¡°No! I want to do it myself.¡± She insisted, hitting her balled fists against the leather seats.

    I know you do but allow mama to help you this one time. I tried to reason with her darting my eyes to Dante who seemed to be lost in his own thought.

    I didn¡¯t understand why he stood here. It only ced more pressure on Hayley to perform when she couldn¡¯t. Even if she wanted to give in and let me carry her, she wouldn¡¯t because Dante was right there.

    ¡°No! no. No!¡± She cried, her b*dy jerking in frustration as she tried to kick her legs over again but <b>all </b>it could manage was a small movement at her ankles.

    ¡°You want to it by yourself? Come.¡± Dante spoke causing both Hayley and I to look up at him. ¡°I won¡¯t carry you <b>but </b>I will hold your hand.¡± He said gently then waited for Hayley to think it over.

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Her legs are not going to-¡°I tried to exin to him but he cut me off.

    ¡°Let Hayley decide then the rest can be figured out.¡± He tried to remain calm in front of Hayley but I <b>saw </b>the heat in his eyes at me undermining him.

    We both looked back at Hayley, saw how overwhelmed she was, but her resolve had crumbled.

    She didn¡¯t say a word but just notided to Dante slowly. Dante squared his shoulders before asking

    aside which I did curious to see how he intended on handling this.

    me to step

    Dante helped her out of the car by supporting her under her arms before he ced her feet to the <b>ground </b>but not quiet. instead of the ground, he ced her feet on to his shoes then lowered her enough until her foot was flush to the top of his shoes. He didn¡¯t care that there was no dust and d*rty in his fine Italian shoes <b>as </b>he moved his right leg then left giving Hayley the illusion and feel like she <b>was </b>walking making her not entirely helpless.

    06%

    It was a technique I had never thought of before and one which seemed to have worked better than I thought it would.

    Hayley¡¯s expression was no longer dull and frustrated but it had changed to one that was bright and bubbly again. She, herself, was fascinated by this and she kept her attention fixed on Dante¡¯s moving steps beneath her feet.

    ¡°See, you¡¯re doing it and no one is carrying you. He cheered her on and she smiled.

    We reached the front door and I expected Dante to leave but he did not. Instead he proceeded to ask Hayley where she wanted to go to in the house and lead her there speaking like he wasmanding a ship. Hayley obviously loved that and herughter echoed through the house ast their ship ventured toward the living room where Hayley wanted to watch her favourite show.

    I headed to the kitchen to fetch myself a ss of water. All that chocte tasting has made me thirsty. After finding a ss, I poured myself some cold water and gulped it down. The distant sound of Hayley¡¯s animation yed and she was quiet but the footsteps approaching me was not.

    It was determined and stormed in my direction with deliberate calction. He was on his way to have a say about some thing as opposed to silently letting himself out of the house.

    Dante appeared in the kitchen with a grave <b>look </b>on his face. His brows were furrowed, his face. morphed in to concern, and he almost looked pained but his eyes were angry.

    ¡°How long has she been suffering from this for?¡± His words were icy cold as they hung in the air.

    He stood at the end of the ind with me on the other side leaving ample space between us.

    ¡°Ever since she was born.¡± I answered briefly not wanting to share too much with him.

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t mention any thing about it to me. He muttered angrily causing my anger to boil at his entitlement.

    I straightened my posture and took a few angry steps forward. Safe distance be damned. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared right in to his own furious eyes.

    ¡°I do not need to mention any thing to you, Dante. I don¡¯t think you remember clearly but we <b>are </b>divorced. We have been for a while and I owe you no in on my life.¡± His eyes darkened at my words. and his l*ps pressed in to a cunning line.

    He took <b>a </b>step forward to me leaving just an inch between us but I <b>didn¡¯t </b>care about it.

    ¡°There is no need to remind me of the past. I am well aware of what happened between us and 1 regret it with every passing day but that is irrelevant.¡± Dante ran a hand through his hair roughly like he was willing to pull it out. <b>His </b>anger had taken away from his words.

    ¡°Hayley. What is condition that she had been born with?¡± His eyes softened in concern but his face

    <b>was </b><b>as </b>hard <b>as </b>stone.

    ¡°Spinal bafida. That is what she has but she is so much more than her difficulty.¡± I said protectively not wanting anyone, let alone Dante, thinking differently of my

    child.

    ¡°You should have told me beforehand.¡± He said, his words turning tight.

    6%*

    ¡°Again, I do not owe you any information neither did I expect you to be in either of our lives.¡± My words were bitter and all the hurt that I felt years ago came back to the surface.

    I hated that Dante had thrown me out of his life so easily yet here he was trying to have some sort of role on it. It only messed with my head because I couldn¡¯t gage where to slot him in, where he fitted in.

    ¡°Perhaps but you would if we found out who her biological father is. His words were low, intentional, and sharp. Dante was well aware of what his words would do and the nk, shocked look I couldn¡¯t control proved him right.

    ¡°What does that have to do with any thing?¡± I asked ignoring how my

    voice shook.

    ¡°Everything. It has every thing to do with it. You first lead me to believe that Adam was her father but Hayley was told otherwise. Why are you so determined to keep her father hidden from her and her from her father?¡± He tilted his head to the side eyeing me with a challenging look.

    ¡°Because it is for the best.¡± My voice had dropped to a whisper.

    ¡°For who? For you?¡± He used. ¡°I don¡¯t see how it¡¯s good for her to grow up with out a fatherly figure and one who didn¡¯t even get a choice in whether they wanted to y that role or not because you hid her away.¡± His tone had turned usatory again but he had no right to hurl these things at

    <ol>

    <li>me. </li>

    </ol>

    Dante was not aware of the things I faced, of the challenges that lead to the decision that I had made and he would never understand.

    ¡°You are a selfish mother. One who thinks only of herself and herfort. His words cut through me deep and my hand reached back with anger beforeunching a p on his face but Dante was

    too fast.

    His hand caught my wrist tightly right before I couldy a finger on him. He yanked me forward until our b*dy¡¯s crashed with each other.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare question the decisions I made <b>as </b>a mother<b>. </b>You have no right nor the knowledge of what lead me to it.¡± I warned him but his gaze had dropped to my l*ps.

    ¡°The decisions you took were to shelter you from being ufortable.¡± He said in a husky tone, his breath fanning against my l*ps.

    My l*ps trembled feeling the air tickle it. ¡°Watch yourself.¡±

    ¡°Really? Or what?¡± He whispered his l*ps moving closer to mine whilst his eyes challenged me to

    move

    My mind was in a whirlwind of confusion. He was too close, his l*ps were less than an inch from mine, I could smell his heady, intoxicating cologne mess with my sense.

    ¡°I will ce a restraining order against you.¡± I warned but his l*ps spread in to a wide smile.

    ¡°Go ahead. Do it but before that I want to do a paternity test.¡± His words snapped me out of the trance he seemed to have momentarily trapped me in.

    16:26 Tue, 5 Mar

    6%%

    I moved away from him but he didn¡¯t let go of my wrist. My eyes blinked several times hearing the words I dreaded to hear buzz through my head. I wanted to pinch myself and wake up from this horrible dream.

    ¡°N- No. Do not waste your time with that because I can assure you she is not your child.¡± I stuck my chin out defiantly but his hold tightened around my wrist.

    ¡°You may be telling the truth but I hand allowing to fall to my side.

    tit in medical documentation stating it He let go of my

    ¡°I do not consent

    to it as her mother and you can¡¯t force it as a stranger. It is unnecessary stress that she does not need. She is perfectly fine with out a father.¡± I stood by my opinion but Dante obviously disagreed.

    Dante took a few steps back before shaking his head in disbelief. He threw me a scathing look before leaving the kitchen without another word Momentster I heard his car drive away and I crumbled to the floor ovee with so many emotions.

    It was easy for him so say that I was selfish when he <b>was </b>not aware of the circumstances that lead to be. If I allow him to do this paternity test and he finds out the truth, he would be unbearable but he <b>was </b>not my biggest worry. Pheobe is. The woman would never tolerate Dante being distracted by Hayley and I didn¡¯t trust her. She would do whatever she needed to to get her way even if that meant harming an innocent child. She attempted it before and what <b>would </b>stop her

    now!

 Chapter 29

    My morning rm went off at its usual time but I <b>hit </b>snooze only for it not to ring again. Through my slumber, the amount of sleep that I was getting began to be suspicious. My eyes flew open and I searched the bed for my phone. Once I found it next to the pillow, I checked the time and instantly swore under my breath.

    Kicking my legs over the side of the bed, I quickly rushed to the bathroom and took the most brief shower I had ever taken in my entire life. I changed up just as fast in to a pair of formal pants and chiffon blouse with ruffle detailing along my n*eckline.

    chaos of the morning had still not worn off before I had been thrown in to an unexpected. meeting with a few of the newly recruited investors but luckily Nancy had whatever I needed to know allpiled in to a folder.

    The meetingsted a while and by the end of it I was famished. Breakfast was not some thing I had the luxury of this morning due to my negligence but I was determined to rectify it before I could go on with the rest of the day.

    I walked out of the boardroom and handed a file with notes back to Lucy which she took along with the instructions I left for her to draw up new contracts for the investors. It was a positive start to <b>the </b>day despite the rocky way it began. New investors meant more money which would be used properly in achieving the goals and proving Dante Crawford wrong.

    His bet still stood and I was determined now more than ever to see to it <b>that </b>me, and thepany, emerged victorious against his bet.

    I headed to my office and grabbed my bag right when my phone began to ring. I fished it out of my bag and saw Adams number <b>sh </b>across the screen.

    ¡°Well, well, well, look who finally called.¡± I said cing the phone to

    my car.

    ¡°What can I say, you¡¯re not the only trying to sort out business.¡± He joked back and I chuckled. leaning my hip against the edge of my desk.

    ¡°Work is keeping you busy then. I thought the American dealings wereplete.¡± I said since that was what he hadst said to me about it.

    ¡°It is but now it¡¯s time to sort out the specifics.¡± He sighed like he was already exhausted. ¡°Any ways, are you busy now? I was just about to drop by at your office.¡± I could hear the chatter of people. around him <b>as </b>he <b>spoke</b>.

    ¡°Actually, I have a better idea. I¡¯ll meet you in the lobby. I was heading out for ate breakfast anyways. You might as welle with.¡± I suggested moving to the door.

    ¡°I could use an espresso and a snack.¡± He agreed and the elevator doors opened to take me down to the lobby.

    The cafe we visited was the usual one I always ate at since I got back. It was convenient being so close to the office building and the food was behind decent. The whole cafe was done up to fit in to the recent standards or being aesthetic.

    16:26 Tue, 5 Mar

    Adam and I had taken a booth in the middle of the cafe and ced out orders to the waitress. We chatted for a short while but Adam excused himself to use the men¡¯s room.

    <b>I </b>sat and sipped on the ss of water that I requested when I had gotten here and looked around the ce which was not really busy at this time of day. People were mostly dropping by to pick up their coffees and a snack to go with it before heading on their way.

    For some unknown reason, almost like it was an instinctual move, my gaze moved to the entrance door. Maybe it was a movement that caught the corner of my eye or what ever but there entered thest person I imagined to see this morning let alone wanted to

    Dante Crawford dressed in his formal apparel unlike yesterday where he donned on casual wear walked in to the cafe. At first, I thought that he might be looking for some one but there really was not any one else here besides Adam and I and, what looked like a university student at the far end.

    His face wore a look of stubborn determination. His l*ps were firmly set and some thing about his stance made my b*dy stiffen in uneasiness.

    I was no equipped to deal with him <b>so </b>soon especially after what had happenedst night. I¡¯d assumed that he would leave me be and forget about it all at least for a few days before he appeared and annoyed me again.

    But luck, these days, had not been on my side.

    I looked away hoping he wouldn¡¯t see me and get his food and leave but to my utter surprise, he steered his b*dy directly to the booth I had been seat at like he knew I was here beforehand.

    ¡°Dante, what are you doing here?¡± I questioned, my voice a little high pitched.

    Dante ran his eyes over me in a way that was a little to closely analysising like he could see right through my

    blouse.

    ¡°I stopped at your office but you were not there but it¡¯s a good thing some one spotted you head this way.¡± His tone was cocky which only served to send my anxiety through the roof.

    ¡°What ever it is you want. I¡¯m sure it can be a phonecall or an email. I brushed it off but his nostril red and he quickly rxed it before he lost his <b>cool</b>.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this cannot be.¡± He grunted sliding himself in to the bench across from me uninvited.

    I stared nkly at his audacity but he didn¡¯t seem bothered. He pulled back his zer and retrieved an orange folder which he slid across the table.

    ¡°If this is work rted then it is best to meet me when in the office and not here. I mocked at improper conduct but his jaw clenched.

    ¡°This is not business. He said in a low, gutteral tone.

    I frowned but pulled the folder closer to me, fl*pped the tab at the end and pulled out a that had the heading Paternity Test in bold.

    document

    I swallowed audibly. ¡°I see it <b>isn¡¯t </b>but it¡¯s not relevant to me.¡± I shrugged trying to keep cool when !

    Tue, 5 Mar 2

    was any thing but on the inside.

    6%*

    ¡°Oh, but it is. Considering you and I were married around the same time Hayley was conceived, it is only fitting that a paternity test be conducted. It is no longer an option.¡± His tone was hard and so was his eyes like he already knew the truth and was ready to unleash his anger towards me if I did what he assumed I had.

    I opened my mouth to say some thing, any thing that might just deter him from persuing this <b>path </b>but to no words escaped my l*ps. Adam arrived at the table with his expression neutral until he saw the man who had been in his seat that he upied minutes ago.

    ¡°What is he doing here?¡± Adam asked me with displeasure on his face.

    Dante¡¯s scoffed at not being referred to directly and his l*ps curled. ¡°It isn¡¯t a matter that concerns you so I¡¯d stay out of it.¡± Dante growled but Adam lurched forward but caught himself.

    ¡°It is why I never asked you.¡± Adam retorted. ¡°You just can¡¯t leave her alone, can you? What? That shallow girlfriend of yours that you refuse tomit to fully isn¡¯t satisfying you any more?¡± That struck a nerve because Dante hurled himself out of the booth.

    His hands gripped Adams cor tightly and he shook him violently. ¡°You should mind your words. I¡¯m not the one chasing after a woman who isn¡¯t interested.¡± Dante muttered right in Adams face and I gasped at his audacity.

    Both men began pushing each other back and forward but Dante was stronger. I knew <b>I </b>had to intervene before this turned in to a full blown fight.

    ¡°Why are you so hell bent on making her life a misery?¡± Adam yelled at him angrily causing the staff of the cafe to gather in the distance to behold what was happening.

    ¡°Stop it you two!¡± I said as loudly as I could but their raging anger was too wild to hear a word I said.

    ¡°You kicked her out of your life once yet here you are eager to lick at her heels. Adam¡¯s words sent. Dante¡¯s anger to a new height.

    He pushed back until Adam was a few steps away from him but Adam charged forward. I watched. in horror as Dante balled his hands in to a fist ready tounch it at Adam. I couldn¡¯t let him get hurt because of me.

    With out thinking, I threw my b*dy between theirs. Adam hit the back of me with his b*dy with full force whilst Dante¡¯s fist cameunching right at my nose before he could hold it back.

    I screamed as the pain shot through my nose sending a burning sensation radiating around it. I stumbled back and would have fallen had it not been for Adam standing right behind me.

    ¡°F***! Dante swore.

    ¡°This is all your f**king fault!¡± Adam yelled at Dante before looking to inspect my face. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He asked as he tipped my head to the side trying to get a look.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t. Her nose is bleeding and swelling. Dante shoved him out the way, gently cupping my

    16:26 Tue, 5 Mar F

    face as he inspected it.

    My own anger hade to the fore front at these two especially Dante. His entire behaviour was appalling and he didn¡¯t know where to draw the line <b>and </b>just stay out of things.

    I threw both his hands away from my fave angrily then turned to get some tissue from from <b>the </b>table to hold my nose but the minute I touched my nose 1 winced loudly at the pain.

    ¡°We need to go to the emergency room. It could be broken.¡± <b>Adam </b>panicked feeling his pockets for his keys.

    ¡°Sophia, I- I¡¯m so sorry. 1-¡± Dante began apologizing but I threw him a sharp look.

    ¡°Save it. I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± I snapped at him.

    <b>¡°</b>Let¡¯s go.¡± Adam said as he guided me out but Dante followed behind <b>us</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°My car is right here. Might as well get in. He insisted but Adam already began protesting.

    ¡°No, we don¡¯t need any help from you.¡± Adam ground out.

    ¡°Now is not the time to have pride. Sophia is hurt and she needs to be checked out.¡± Dante sounded like the most caring individual <b>right </b>now despite the rage in <b>his </b>voice.

    I¡¯m hurt because of you two idiots. Just get me to <b>the </b>damn ER room.¡± I snapped at both of them feeling the injury in my nose pound painfully like it had developed a heartbeat.

    Çú

 Chapter 30

    I swirled the ss of water in the double walled ss before downing it to <b>wash </b>down the meds for pain and infection. The visit to the ER was brief which I was more than thankful for. I didn¡¯t break my nose but it has swelled a tad <b>bit </b>because of the impact of Dante¡¯s fist to my nose. Some ice had helped to reduce the swelling and now it <b>was </b>just a bruise.

    I couldn¡¯t think of heading back to the office and neither did I want either of the men that I was with to drive me back home. <b>Against </b>both of their protest, I call an uber and got home in the early afternoon. Hayley was <b>shocked </b>to see mee home so carly during the day but she also had plenty questions about i nose.

    Naturally, I made up a story about me missing a step and falling to the floor nose first and she was

    the

    very apologetic about it but I assured her that I was okay. I took a nap after that to sleep. Was

    stress of the morning then woke up to have supper with Hayley and put her to bed.

    With her out and asleep, <b>I </b>cracked open a bottle of wine and decided to enjoy it by myself as I binge watched some mindless si that I didn¡¯t had to pay too much of attention to.

    I carried the bottle with me to the living room and rested my head against the cushions. Moving back to New York was bound to hold its own challenges and difficulties but I didn¡¯t think they would prove to be so trying.

    Between trying to resurrect the business that I had now owned and managing Dante, it was all proving too much. I expected Pheobe to work on my nerves more than Dante had been but there was some thing about him and his inability to leave me alone.

    Initially, I thought that he was merely trying to annoy me but recently its like he was just looking for any sort of excuse to be around. <b>As </b>much as I tried to ignore it, he looked at me differently recently and it was a look that I knew all too well. I also knew that it was one that was better left

    unnamed.

    A part of me was still holding on to resentment of the past but there was also some thing about being around Dante again. Despite my fury for him, some thing deep within me yearned for him in a way <b>that </b>I hadn¡¯t yearned for another man before. I hated it because I knew that I couldn¡¯t have him <b>again</b>.

    The thought made me down my <b>ss </b>and pour another. I didn¡¯t want Dante to do a paternity test. He already had strong suspicions as to Hayley being his but I didn¡¯t want proper papers and medical tests proving it. If Hayley became the reason that Dante discarded Phoebe or stopped being as present for her because of her, who knew what Pheobe would do. She already tried her hand when she found out I was pregnant and if she came to know <b>that </b>the child she tried to kill in my stomach had lived jeopardizing her grand n then she would be furious.

    I didn¡¯t even know why Dante was with her still. Pheobe and him were visually unhappy to even the most aloof bystander. She was bitter with a motive and Dante was just there.

    The thought of them together made me down another ss and I poured myself a third. I was just about to sip from it when heard some thing like a knock sound against the front door. I paused thinking that I had imagined it then heard it again. Three rythmic knocks followed by a pause before it sounded again.

    10-20

    I rose to my feet, ss in my hand, and sauntered over to the front door. I leaned forward to see. who it could be at this hour and, much to my surprise, it was Dante standing on my front porch.

    I waited for a moment deciding whether or not I wanted to deal with him right now but before I could decide against <b>it</b>, my fingers unlocked the door just as Dante was about to knock again.

    He still wore his suit from earlier but his zer was shrugged off and the two buttons of his shirt had been popped open revealing a little of his skin. His eyes softened when he saw me, running around my face inspecting the damage he unintentionally caused earlier.

    ¡°I dropped by to see how you were doing. His voice was so light yet filled with tenderness at the same time.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. I convinced him just as his gaze ran down the rest of my b*dy.

    I was immediately aware of the shorts and tank top that I had on revealing my legs and a sliver of my stomach. I tried to hide behind the door but it was toote because Dante had already seen me.

    ¡°Do you mind if Ie inside?¡± He asked being the most courteous I¡¯ve ever heard him be. ¡°Maybe have some of that wine you¡¯ve got there.¡± A small smirk toyed about his l*ps tugging at some thing within me.

    Before I even knew what I was doing, the door was being held open and I moved out of his way to allow him inside. I shut the door then moved to get a ss for him from the cab.

    ¡°Is Hayley asleep?¡± He asked looking around and not seeing her anywhere.

    ¡°She is. She hasn¡¯t been one to linger around toote. I focussed on pouring some wine in to his ss and not at him.

    Even though my gaze was not fixed on him I could feel his fixed on me. It was heavy and heated. my skin until I felt it in my shoulders and n*eck but it could also have been the wine.

    I carefully carried the globe shaped grass to him holding it by the delicate stem and he took it, swirled it within the ss, before tasting in it. He nodded in approval the motioned for me to lead the way out of the kitchen.

    I traced my foot <b>steps </b>back to the living room then instantly regretted it when the smell of Dante began permeating <b>the </b>air. <b>I </b>should have lead him to the garden outside or even the porch.

    Dante moved to the window looking at the garden view from there and I did the same. The garden was well lit and maintained beautifully highlighting the rose bushes and flowers blooming gracefully.

    ¡°Does it hurt still?¡± Dante¡¯s voice snapped my attention away from the garden and back to him where I found him looking at me and not at the garden as I thought he had been.

    ¡°It is a little tender but it doesn¡¯t hurt too bad.¡± I shrugged taking a sip of my drink.

    His gaze be tensed and his face grew hard. I¡¯m so sorry about that, Sophia. You know I¡¯d never ever hurt <b>you </b>intentionally.¡± He apologised and I wanted to scoff and remind him how he had hurt me so badly before.

    0.6% *

    ¡°It was a mistake.¡± I reasoned. ¡°For that I can forgive you but for constantly picking a fight with Adam. I may never. I threw him an amused look but he wasn¡¯t amused.

    ¡°The man gets on my nerves. I hate seeing him around you so much like a puppy¡± He gritted his teeth and I raised a sardonic brow at him.

    ¡°Ah, so you don¡¯t dislike him per se but you dislike him being around me. I tested and with out so much of a doubt, he nodded catching me off guard<b>. </b>

    ¡°Precisely. He said with a straight face.

    I looked out the window giving my head a shake and taking a sip of wine.

    ¡°You know you blew your chance when you had it. My words hung in the space between us which had gotten smaller even though I didn¡¯t recall moving neither had I seen him moving.

    ¡°Oh. I know. One of the most regretful things I¡¯ve done. His voice was soft. barely a whisper but his words were firm.

    His eyes locked with mine and I saw every drop of regret that he felt. It was almost as if he were pained but he blinked and it was all gone away just like that..

    Dante cleared his throat, taking a sip of his drink before looking back at me.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me it was you all along? Had I known that it was you who saved me all those years ago I would have never He caught himself running <b>a </b>hand through his hair appearing to be restless now.

    ¡°You would have never what?¡± I challenged.

    His eye shot to me, holding me captive. I would have never given Phoebe another shot. I only stayed with for so long because I felt like I owed it to her when she returned.¡± He exined but what difference would it make.

    ¡°And yet you still didn¡¯t hesitate to throw me out at her mere request.¡± I scoffed bitterly feeling the pain of it wash over me anew.

    His jaw ticked and this time I saw him take a step closer until we were an inch apart. So close that my arm could easily brush against his shirt.

    ¡°Had you told me the truth then maybe things would have been different. I didn¡¯t know any better.¡± His breath fanned against my forehead as he spoke tickling the skin there.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would matter <b>as </b>much <b>as </b>it did. I muttered, annoyed that once again he med me for things.

    ¡°But it did.¡± He said moving closer this time my arm shed with his broad chest.

    I looked up at him and saw that <b>look </b>in his eyes build until it darkened. There was that look that I knew all too well. Before I could do or say anything else. Dante¡¯s face had closed in on mine until I felt his l*ps press against mine in a gentle k*ss.

    It was slow at first, small nips and k*sses but that didn¡¯tst long. Before I <b>knew </b>it Dante let out a low

    gutteral growl before his arm sn*ked around me pulling me against his b*dy. His k*ss grew wild and hungry as he found my tongue and deepened the k*ss. My hand had run to the back of his n*eck and in to his hair like I needed to hold on to him.

    His other hand, free of his ss, snuck beneath my top until he cupped my bare breast. His thumb teased my n*pple until they hardened and grew sensitive against his touch. I gasped and moaned at the same time, my back arching pressing me further in to him.

    ¡°Dante.¡± I moaned his name and he grunted against my l*ps before k*ssing me passionately again.

    ¡°I miss this. I f**king missed it all. He swore against my l*ps before k*ssing me again.

    He pushed my tank top up to my n*eck revealing my chest. His l*ps k*ssed a slow trail down my jawline, down my n*eck, then my corbone until his mouth took the hardened n*pple in to his mouth.

    He suck and swirled his tongue around it and teases until I was squirming with desire. The ache between my legs needed to be satisfied the way I knew that he could. I cried and begged but he ignored me, paying attention to the other n*pple but his hands kept pressing my core against his erection that begged toe free.

    The band of my shorts were pulled down to allow his hand entry in to my underwear. His fingers found my swollen, pulsating nub and he slowly rubbed it. A loud moan escaped me echoing through the room and his fingers moved fast whilst his tongue sucked hard against my n*pple.

    The sensation was too much and before I knew it, my head rolled back as the wave of pleasure began washing over me and I screamed out his name, shivering from the intensity of my orgasm.

    ¡°Good girl.¡± Dante praised against my skin right when hos fingers sl*pped in to me the sensation was mind numbing but it also snapped me <b>back </b>to reality.

    ¡°S- Stop.¡± My voice shook and he immediately withdrew his hand away from my core.

    ¡°We can¡¯t- This can¡¯t¡­ We can¡¯t do this.¡± My legs were shaky from the havoc swirling about my b*dy. but I leaned against the back of the couch for support.

    Dante looked at me in utter confusion and a hint of anger but I shook my head.

    ¡°Not while you have Pheobe in the picture. We can¡¯t do this. I refuse to be some woman on the side.¡± I said firmly finding my back bone despite my mind being utterly mushy.

    0

    COMMENT

 Chapter 31

    Despite the several hours that had passed by since what had transpired between Dante and I, I still couldn¡¯t erase it from my mind. Every time I thought about it, each time my mind so much as went

    entire b*dy to what happened, my l*ps tingled like it could still feel his devour me while my became charged all over again.

    I <b>couldn¡¯t </b>me myself since I had not been touched like that since I left and thest man that did touch me renewed my desire unleashing it from its dormant state that it had sl*pped in to. Fort years I thought that perhaps my carnal desires had simmered away after I had given birth and it was just one of those things but I was wrong.

    If any thing, my b*dy craved it more and it burned for more that even a single thought sent a jolt of need washing over me until I felt it in my core. It was like my b*dy needed one orgasm to reveal the vixen that I had thought was long gone.

    I didn¡¯t regret it exactly because I finally felt alive <b>again </b>but I do wish that I had stopped it sooner before I came undone on his fingers. Dante¡¯s own <b>desire </b>for me was tenfold. It was clear that he could not control it <b>either </b>and had I not stopped <b>things</b>, who knew where it would have lead us.

    But Dante had the gall to make such an advance when he was still very much involved with Pheobe. It was a boundary <b>that </b>I was not going to cross. I did not want to be a <b>side </b>piece neither did I want to invoke any further unnecessary drama that woulde should Pheobe find out.

    ¡°Miss Miller, what do you think?¡± Mnie, the head of marketing, asked looking at me expectantly. with a hint of impatience.

    Shit. I didn¡¯t even know what she was asking me about because I hadpletely zoned out, Not only had Mnie been looking at me, several pairs of eyes from the rest of the room <b>had </b>been waiting for my response. I needed to think <b>and </b>I needed to do it fast.

    ¡°Sounds <b>good</b>. Although I would like to see the detailed ns before I pass <b>a </b>final verdict. Phew, I saved that nicely ensuring I got to see what she proposed before agreeing to it especially when 1 had zoned out.

    The meeting had concluded and Lucy entered the board room just as every one had left. Her steps. were urgent as she walked toward me where I was still seated at the head of the table.

    ¡°Now that your meeting is concluded, Mr Crawford had dropped by to see you then minutes ago,¡± She informed me and my heart did that stupid thing where it felt like it had fallen and missed a

    beat.

    ¡°W¨CWhat did you tell him?¡± I queried hoping that I could get out of this. It was too soon for me to see <b>him</b>. The events ofst night were still <b>too </b>fresh, too embarassing to see him.

    She frowned at my reaction. ¡°told him to wait in your office until you¡¯re done.¡± She said hesitantly fearing that she had done the wrong thing.

    I massaged my temples with my thumb and index finger for a moment before looking back at Lucy. ¡°Tell him that an important meeting hade up and I won¡¯t be avable for the rest of the day¡± I instructed her and she frowned but nodded and left anyways.

    11:26 Wed. 6 Mar <b>R </b>

    Being in his presence when my own desires were so out of line was not an ideal situation. In any <b>case</b>, I doubt that he <b>could </b>havee here for any good or any thing of importance.

    I peaked out of the boardroom door to see if Dante had left and I had caught sight of him just as he had disappeared in to the elevator. A sigh of relief left me and I exited the board room heading back to my office. I pushed the door open and was immediately greeted with the potent smell of Dante¡¯s cologne. My pulse immediately began racing as just scent of him illicited the most <b>x</b>¨Crated thoughts.

    After giving my head a shake to stay focused, I couldn¡¯t miss therge bouquet of lilies left on my desk. It stood all beautifully arranged in a vase as they boasted their full bloom. I got closer to the flowers and immediately got a whiff of the sweet smell of lilies. My eyes spotted a card and I pulled it from the little holder <b>in </b>the midst of the bouquet. I fl*pped it open and saw the nearly inky inscription.

    The smell of you still lingers on my fingers.

    -Dante.

    My cheeks heated up in a blush until I felt it already to my n*eck. What was this man doing to me? More over, what was I allowing to happen? Dallying with Dante was not a safe game to y.

    My n was to do what I had been doing already. Pretend as if nothing happened and not allow him to seek me put unnecessarily. Eventually he would tire out and leave <b>it </b>as some thing that was never meant to be rekindled.

    But I was wrong.

    For the next few days, Dante had tried his best to find <b>me</b>. Be it during meetings to mymute back home or even the meals I took at the cafe down from the office, he <b>was </b>determined to get me alone but I did not allow it. It was ying a game of hide and seek which, by the look of it, Dante was enjoying.

    It was thest day of the work week when I walked in to my office after enjoying a peaceful brunch all by myself. I headed back <b>to </b>the my office and opened the door to find the man that I had been avoiding for the past week seated leisurely in my office chair.

    Dante toyed with a letter opener in his hands and his <b>head </b>snapped up the second I entered the office. His face was unreadable and his eyes were darker than ever. I couldn¡¯t tell if he was mad or up to some thing based on how unreadable his face had been.

    ¡°Dante.¡± His name was a breathy whisper.

    ¡°Sophia.¡± He said my name like it was poison against his tongue. Tired of running away from me?¡± He taunted, a sly grin on his l*ps.

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I feigned innocence but he scoffed humoured by my act.

    ¡°You have been avoiding me ever since-

    ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± I begged closing my eyes.

    TTHE

    <b>Wed</b>, 5 Mar R

    70%

    ¡°Ever since I made you cum all over my fingers. He said stubbornly and I inhaled sharply as my b*dy recalled the entire scene.

    ¡°That is not true.¡± I denied but he pushed back the office chair and rose to his <b>full</b>, intimidating length.

    ¡°You are a horrible liar. Either that or you think that I am stupid.¡± He said in a neutral time but his eyes were anything but. ¡°Or is it because you prefer to run away when things get a little too real.¡± He muttered tightly taking several steps in my direction.

    My eyes snapped up to look at him like he had lost his mind. He spoke as if what happened the other night <b>was </b>perfectly fine but how could it be? Pheobe was technically still his girlfriend and she <b>will </b>remain in that position because she will never ever let <b>go </b>of the gold mine she found within Dante. Whether he was aware of this fact or not, was his problem, but a man <b>as </b>sharp as him couldn¡¯t miss it.

    ¡°Too real? You call that <b>too </b>real? Don¡¯t you see that such a thing can¡¯t happen ever again.¡± My voice. <b>rose </b>an octave as I red at him.

    He grabbed my chin in his hold between his thumb and index finger tipping my head back. My nose was not mere inches away from his.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re scared of how much you want it or because you¡¯re simply running away?* He taunted bringing his l*ps too close to my jaw line that I felt the skin there tingle.

    ¡°We are two grown adults. It¡¯s evident that we both still desire each other. I don¡¯t see the harm of it.¡± Of course he didn¡¯t because he did not know what Pheobe was truly capable of.

    ¡°It <b>is </b>a dangerous game to y, Dante, and as always I will have more to lose at it than you do.¡± I swallowed tightly, my throat still tensed at being held up.

    He ced a light k*ss against my jawline and my l*ps quivered. I had to fight every instinct of mine and not turn my face so that my l*ps could sh with his. His l*ps moved lower along my jaw line until it hovered torturously over my l*ps.

    ¡°No one will lose anything.¡± He whispered huskily coaxing me, inviting me to give in to both of our raging, unsatiated desire.

    His

    eyes remained fixed with mine, watching carefully to see my resolve crumbled and it did. His l*ps pressed against mine in a teasing, taunting k*ss. One that sent my toes curling in my shoes and a pulse forming between my legs. It was not a full blown k*ss but it was enough to leave me wanting more and sent my head in to a muzzy whirlwind.

    ¡°This is what you do to me, Sophia.¡± He reached for my hand and brought it to the front of his pants so I could feel his erection fight to break through.

    A <b>wave </b>of power washed over me feeling his need and desire so desperately.

    ¡°It¡¯s what you¡¯ve always done to me and you know it.¡± He l*ps moved against mine again but he broke away too soon causing a protesting moan to escape <b>me</b>.

    I shut my eyes tightly fighting logic and outright desire within myself. I wanted to throw every

    É«

    caution to the wind and dance in the darkness with him but I also had a lot to think about, a lot on

    the line<b>, </b>and a lot to lose.

    The image of Pheobe bent over me as she kicked my stomach years ago shed through my clouded mind and I was immediately brought back out of the trance that he had entrapped me in.

    I took a few steps back with urgency like I needed to escape him as I shook my head. He didn¡¯t know what Pheobe had done to me and I was not going to say any thing about it to him now.

    ¡°No, Dante. I cannot. So long as your name is linked to Phoebe, I <b>can¡¯t </b>allow myself to go ahead with this.¡± I shook my head again affirming it to myself.

    He knew better than to question me further because asking me for any further <b>reasoning </b>would solidify how ready he was to cheat on Pheobe. He may have known the truth about her lies for saving him but did he actually do any thing about it?

    CO

 Chapter 32

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    My fingers drummed against the dark Oak table of my study. The clock ticking away the minute of the night began to irritate me beyond belief. The leather chair I was seated in for the past few hours felt like it stored every ounce of heat that it could find but every thing around me seemed to work on myst nerve right now.

    In truth, it was not the loud ticking of the clock neither had it been the heat. None of those things were responsible for my foul mood at present. All I could think about was how head strong Sophia was. Adamant to stand her ground despite how much her own lust filled her eyes.

    I couldn¡¯t ce my finger on when she had be so fiesty but it had only served to send my desire for her through the roof. There was something about her that awoke a dangerous side of my carnal need. It was the very reason I couldn¡¯t resist her in the years that we had been married even though our rtionship was more for convenience than any thing else.

    The mere sight of her sent my blood stirring and all I wanted to do was to make that fiesty spark in her eyes fade away as the waves of passion ripped through that b*dy of hers. That b*dy of hers had be so much more fuller and it was something that managed to make my pants feel tight.

    Da mn it.

    I adjusted myself in my seat. This was insanity. No women had ever managed to make me feel like an adolescent barely out of puberty but some thing about Sophia had be my own personal strain of carnal fueling.

    Ever since that night I went to her house to make sure that she had been fine, I was burdened with this unsatiated difort that I knew only having her beneath me, releasing it with her b*dy, was going to ease.

    I couldn¡¯t understand why she was so afraid of Pheobe. The two of them never ever got along when they lived under one roof but she never feared her until now. Pheobe was a lot but Sophia could easily take her.

    I needed to stop thinking about her. I pulled out my phone then scrolled through my notifications. to find an email from Frederick. His newest assigned task from me was to investigate who had been behind that attack the night I drove Sophia home from the restaurant.

    So far, aside from knowing that the vehicle was unregistered and stolen, Frederick hadn¡¯t stumbled on any thing of note but I was not going to give up until I knew who the culprit was behind it. Had they been after me or Sophia? I couldn¡¯t understand why any one would be after the both of us together.

    The sound of movement just put side the door of my study snapped me out of my thoughts immediately. The door opened and I didn¡¯t have to guess who it would be since I knew Pheobe was some where around the house this evening.

    She walked in all heeled up and dressed in a fluffy silk night gown. Her presence instantly had me clenching my jaw without any control. After her deceitful tactic, I no longer had it in me to put up with her over bearing personality.

    870%

    ¡°Dante, darling, it¡¯s sote. I had to look around the entire house to find you.¡± Her tone was one that I knew well by now.

    Pheobe walked closer to the desk before hopping on to the edge closest to me. She ran her bare foot from my ankle to my knee and before she could go any further, I pushed myself away from her.

    ¡°You are so tensed these days and after that unfortunate car crash. I feel like you do not have any time for me.¡± Sheined sticking her lower l*p out like a child to gain my sympathy and to guilt me in to a shopping trip.

    I didn¡¯t say a word mostly because I didn¡¯t want to speak to her at all but she was not one to give up so easily especially since she was unaware that I knew of her deception.

    In another attempt to gain my attention, she moved between my parted thighs, propped her hands. on her arm rest of my chair and leaned forward so I could get a full glimpse of her crea my skin but it absolutely nothing because she was not the woman I wanted. She never was. I just thought that she was in my foolishness.

    ¡°How about I relieve some of your stress. She looked at me through heavy eyes as she lowered herself on to her knees but I pushed my chair away from her before her hand could touch mynbelr buckle.

    Her face immediately became furious. Pheobe rose to her full length. ¡°What is going on with youtely, Dante? I try to get close to you and you push me away. I want to make you feel better but you are so cold!¡± She yelled at me and that was thest straw.

    I stood up abruptly from my chair sending it shing with the wall behind me. I towered over her and looked down at her with the same anger she felt for me. I saw the confusion in her eyes but once she knew why I was this was with her, she would lose all footing to show any form of anger.

    ¡°You really want to know what¡¯s going on? Fine, let me enlighten you about what I had recently discovered.¡± She stood her arrogant ground and didn¡¯t back down but she would once I tell her about her own deceit.

    ¡°You and your mother have been lying to me for years, haven¡¯t you?¡± I spat out roughly and she blinked but still managed to keep her hairy expression of hers.

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Her tone was high pitched, a tell tale that she was guilty.

    ¡°About you being the one that saves me from drowning all those years ago.¡± And there it was. Phoebe¡¯s face soured like she had just bit in to a lemon seed.

    ¡°It was Sophia who saved me. Not you. Yet you and your mother held it over my head like a debt that I was obligated to pay back, My fury bubbles beneath my skin now that I saw the look on her face proving that she was guilty.

    But Pheobe was Pheobe and she would never admit to even though she was visibly guilty. She swallowed audibly and her l*ps trembled.

    ¡°Sophia. She is the one who poisoned your mind against me! It all makes sense now. Of course, she would feed your lies. She always wanted you, she was always jealous about our rtionship! You

    11:26 Wed, 6 Mar RD

    know this and yet you still-¡±

    I cut off her tantrum with a deepugh. ¡°Only thing is, she didn¡¯t tell me any thing.¡± I said loving the way nostril red at being put in a corner. The only excuse she had to escape this had backfired on

    her.

    ¡°Then how do you know?¡± And there it was.

    ¡°Does not matter but I want you out of my house before the end of this week. Gives your plenty time to arrange other lodgings.¡± I muttered but she gasped loudly, her eyes widening the size of

    saucers.

    ¡°Dante, you- you can¡¯t do this to me. Please. I only lied because I loved you since we were young and I didn¡¯t know how else to make you see me.¡± Her voice shook and her l*ps quivered but her unshed tears meant nothing to me any more.

    ¡°Lying wasn¡¯t the way to go about it.¡± I couldn¡¯t bare to be around her any longer so I stormed out of the room ignoring the many words she called me as I left.

    The minute I stepped out of the study and away from Pheobe, it felt like a weight had been listen away from my shoulders. It felt freeing to know that she, along with her entire family, was out of

    life now and I wanted nothing more than to keep it that way.

    my

 Chapter 33

    The investor lists had finally been concluded and finalised after several weeks of nning, stressing, and even hosting. It was proving to be positive as far as I could see. With some impressive investors on mypanies sides, sess was guaranteed to soon follow.

    I signed thest of the files being Mr. Vanderbilts one. He was the most impressionable one by far. Hispany was well known on a global scale. The man was wealthy behind belief and he could afford any thing he wished even the women on his side were expensive.

    Closing the folder, I pushed it to the side right where the sun had shined through therge window creating a designated rectangr to which the files stacked up in.

    I was finally done and was about to lean my weight against thefortable office chair when my door opened and in walked Lucy. Her steps were eager causing her hair to bounce around in the sleek back pony tail it had been in. Her heels clicked against the marble tiling and her crimson coloured l*ps were set in a gleeful, estatic smile.

    ¡°You won¡¯t believe what I had just recieved in the mail this morning!¡± She waved the ck envelope in her hand that had a familiar crest embossed in the middle of it.

    ¡°I won¡¯t until you tell me.¡± I swung my chair enough to face her, my own curiosity highly piqued.

    Lucy handed me the envelope to take and I did but her excitement couldn¡¯t contain itself neither did her impatience wait until I actually got the envelope open.

    year. The

    ¡°It¡¯s an invite but not just any invite. It¡¯s an invite to the most sought after event of the Vanderbilt Ball in the name of charity.¡± Lucy¡¯s voice rose an octave but I understand her reaction to this.

    The Vanderbilt Ball was reserved to just business associates and partners to thepany. Not a soul extra. Having just finalised the contract with them, it made me the newest, or at least one of, addition. You get to rub elbows with renowned business men and broaden thework effortlessly. Being seen at such an event itself boded well for ones reputation. It gave of the notion that one was in line with them and on the same level.

    ¡°It arrived just this morning, minutes ago in fact.¡± Lucy reiterated and I looked at the invite that finally unravelled itself.

    The gold calligraphy against the ck tri- folded paper proudly invited me, requesting my presence at the ball thising weekend.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be damned.¡± I whispered still, overing my surprise but I was overjoyed by this.

    It felt like an indicator that I was doing some thing right. I guess Lucy knew it too hence her own thrill over this invitation.

    ¡°It¡¯s a fancy event from what I heard over the years. The pictures thate out from there are always perfect like it had been professionally photographed. The whole thing is kept hidden from the paps on a secret location that is only revealed an hour before the Ball. You can¡¯t even be chauffer driven there.¡± She added thatst bit with a hauty tone which made me raise a brow at her.

    14

    ¡°That¡¯s surprising. I¡¯d think that chauffeurs would be wee since such high end socialites attended. I pointed out but she waved her head from side to side.

    ¡°They used to allow it until one year a chauffer was responsible for ratting out the location.¡± She exined and I pursed my l*ps finally understanding why this was so.

    I opened my mouth to ask Lucy for a list of the people attending but my phone began buzzing loudly against the wooden table. Lucy excused herself and I reached for my phone but immediately held back from answering it.

    Dante¡¯s number shed across the screen but I was not going to answer it. He was trying to contact me ever since thest time he was in my office but I kept dodging his calls. No good coulde of us giving in to our desires where he was still in a rtionship and I had a business that I couldn¡¯t risk, a child that could get easily dragged in to all of this if I was not careful.

    I pushed my phone to the side and let it ring until it stopped. My entire b*dy was still electrified at the mere thought of him. Shunned for years only to be unleashed so vigorously by the man whost touched me. I thought after having one orga sm from him fingers would be enough to rid me if the ache but it had only some the opposite making it more greedy, more ferocious, and downright mind boggling.

    The severity of this shared desire was proof enough of why it¡¯s best I keep away from him. A man like Dante was not easily shook. He had enough to wealth and security to ensure that his life moved smoothly. He had enough power to ensure that he remained unshaken but what about me?

    I

    gave my head a shake and pushed my seat back before leaving to go get some thing to eat. I also had to break the news about the Vanderbilt Ball to Adam. I knew that he would be just as estatic knowing exactly how big of a deal this was.

    The rest of the week went by like a whirlwind. Between making several stops until I found the perfect dress and it¡¯s essories, taking Hayley to her physio appointments and her little dates that she wanted to go on, I was exhausted by the end of each day. To top it all off, I had to make an actual effort in dodging Dante like the gue.

    The man was not willing to give up. He called my phone countless of times, ha rras sed Lucy for ¡®not knowing where I was, and even showed up at my office but I had been in meetings which served to my own benefit. I would deal with him at some other time only because being in the same room as him, breathing the same air as him, being close enough to reach out and know that he would be mere inches away from my touch was agony.

    The night of the Ball had finally arrived and it was most anticipated. I had a full scrub down shower by the end of which I had to sit down for a little bit so I didn¡¯t faint from the steam but once I had. recovered, I unzipped the ck bag concealing the ruby encrusted dress that I would wear. My inner child was dancing in nostalgic bliss to y dress up just on a much fancier scale.

    I slid on a pair ofdy ck matching underwear forfort and seemlessness before I dried my hair then worked on styling it in to a sleek, pulled back chignon leaving a few curled tendrils to frame my face. I moved on to make up which I made sure to keep dewy and fresh. I didn¡¯t think this event called for dark, sultry tones and instead I went with a clean make up look adding just the right amount of rouge to my cheekbones. Ipleted the look with a crimson l*p before turning to retrieve the dress from the hanger.

    2.3

    It was a breath taking dress that hugged my figure to perfection. The square n*eckline kept it elegant whilst the beading added the sparkle and the re that revealed just enough of leg kept it yful. It had every thing a dress for such an even could need. I sl*pped on a pair of heels and a teardrop white gold earrings then stood back and inspected the look in therge mirror of my dressing

    room.

    I nodded, grinning in approval at how satisfied I was with this look. It all came together better than I thought it would and I was more than ready to set our for the night and frolick with the elite socialites. It was a big achievement for me, one that happened over such a short time.

    You look like a princess, mama.¡± I turned to find Hayley in her wheel chair at the door way with

    Nancy behind her.

    Today was one of the days where she had grown tired and her legs didn¡¯t cooperate the best but it was also one of those instances where she was okay with it. When she was okay with her situation then it made it easier for every one but, naturally. I never faulted her for how she felt. She was evenfortable enough to be left this evening with Nancy even though I reassured her that I would easily stay back.

    ¡°Thank you, Hayley.¡± I moved over to her to ce a k*ss on her soft hair. ¡°Do you know what you want to do tonight?¡± I asked since she always liked to n things with Nancy when I would be out for the evening.

    ¡°We are going to watch a movie and Nancy is going to make popcorn. I love me some popcorn.¡± She pressed her l*ps together as she smiled.

    I chuckled and ruffled her hair a little bit. ¡°Sounds like fun. I would just rather be home with you and not wearing these heels all night long.¡± Iined but she saw right through me.

    ¡°Lying is horrible, mama.¡± She said the line I always said to her and we bothughed.

    After making sure that she was settled. I left for the ball feeling my heart hammer eager against my chest with each street I took that lead me closer to the venue.

    0

 Chapter 34

    The location for The Vanderbilt Fundraising Ball had finally been revealed. It was taking ce at the Vanderbilt¡¯s state of the art conference centre. It was their newest built location which had been kept hidden until tonight. The big reveal was saved for this evening¡¯s ball making it an added

    bonus.

    The entire building was quite a spectacle with the exterior being made out of ss from floor to: ceiling and the structure forming in to unique shapes making it unusual to sight. The entire location was brightly lit but also super secured.

    The invitation was spared for the wealthy and elite only and a select hand picked at that all in the hopes that they woulde out and donate generously to the cause deemed fit by the Vanderbilt¡¯s.

    In addition to that that, it was apetition especially since two head strong rivals were in attendance like the steel manufacturing tycoons. They both usually went head to head to out bid the other in their egotistical wake to be the best as opposed to their counterparts bringing in a huge winnings for the causes. It was a show of money than the less fortunate that rugged generously at their

    purse strings.

    I approached the security guarded gates right where the conference centre was situated. The array of bright lights that shined from the awaiting cars to be let in through the gates had causedbmild chaos enough to have passerby cars slow down to make sense of it all but the the line was moving swiftly and the valets were efficient in guiding the cars through the gates once they were screened.

    The glossy back jaguar in front of me slowed down until it came to aplete halt catching my attention. A man went to the window at the same time one came to mine. I rolled down my window and gave my name and shortly was let through at the same time as the car in front. A valet dressed in his uniform had pulled open the drivers side door and stepped aside.

    Being next in line, I was quite intrigued to observe whoever it was that would emerge from this ck beast looking car but I took my thought back when I saw exactly who it had been.

    Dante had emerged from the ck beast looking the image of the most notorious billionaire of the city. He wore an all ck tux that clung to his muscr b*dy and wide shoulders like a secondyer of skin contouring itself to his rippling b*dy. His dark hair had been styled to the back with the sides of it a little shorter.

    To my surprise, his sharp jawline was not cleanly sha ven. Instead, a visible stubble had grown but it was easy to notice that he cleaned it up a bit but kept it on. In some unexinable way, it had given him a more alluring intensity to his look and, I dare say, it made him look a whole other type of appealing. Some thing that I did not think was possible.

    He stood proud and tall as he threw the key to his Jag in the air and the valet caught it with excitement brimming in his eyes eager to get behind the wheel. Dante told him some thing to which the valet said something back causing Dante tough. His perfect teeth had been in full disy, his eyes

    had gentle creases at their edges, and the expanse of his chest was only brought to attention but his straining jacket. The valet had got in to his car, atst, and drove off.

    It was about then that he happen to turn and immediately caught sight of me in my car with my attention clearly fixed on him. The moment his eyes had locked with mine and he gave me a very

    knowing look before his expression turned hard. I knew that his expression was because of me avoiding him so hard all these days. I stuck my chin out defiantly and it was just about then that he had been guided further down the red carpet so that he could pose for a few pictures whilst the backup valet had seen to me. I noticed that Pheobe was not in attendance and was surprised that she did not insisted oning to such an event like this. She would kill to be in such a gathering.

    Dante had begrudgingly tore his eyes away from me and moved further down the carpet but he was still quite in full view. I pulled up onto the designated spot and waited for my door to be open before I undid my seat belt and was helped out.

    I on the other hand had not moved an inch seeing as Dante was still in the same spot that I would be in if I moved further down the carpet. It was the order of things. One pulls up then poses for a photo by the back drop where two photographers clicked the pictures then proceeds inside.

    I knew that he was aware of me standing where I had been because the photographers were looking at me to move forward. Naturally I had expected him to move along but I inhaled sharply when he had turned fully in my direction and did not hesitate to take a few confident strides until he stood right in front of me. His dark gaze had ran over my face before it dipped lower to do a sweep of my entire length. Even though it had been a swift look, I felf like each part of my b*dy had been brought to my attention beneath his gaze.

    The shes of the cameras had stopped for a moment and my eyes had widened as I tried to silently indicate to him to move ahead and get away from me. However it was quite idiotic of me to assume that this man would listen to anything I ever said. I saw his l*ps press in to a firm line as his tall figure towered over me and he looked down at me with the nk look. I clench my jaw together and told him to move away from me and get going into the conference centre.

    Instead he had held out his arm for me to take knowing full well that there was no possible way that I could refuse him when we were quite in the middle of all the attention especially the shing cameras and the guests behind.

    I forced out a smile purely for the cameras and wound my hand around his arm and I could not help but noticed just how prominent and firm his bicep had been.

    ¡°Have you ever tried smiling?¡± I muttered through clenched teeth as we were been waved through to exit the carpet but a grunt was all the response I got.

    We began making our way through the grand entrance doors and I was waiting to break away him. I did not want to be seated next to him if I could help it.

    from

    ¡°You have been avoiding me, Sophia.¡± He said in a cl*pped tone just as we both nodded in acknowledgment of people giving us surprised stares before they would whisper to the person next to them.

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯d think so. It was a busy week and I didn¡¯t have time for friendly chit chat.¡± I turned to tell him but found his face rmingly close to mine.

    ¡°Pretending to be busy and actually being busy are two different things.¡± I gasped at what he had just insinuated.

    I inhaled as I prepared myself to retaliate but I had only got a nostril full of his intoxicating cologne. I swallowed and for the first time after a long while I have found such a simple task to be

    so testing.

    ¦°

    ¡°Are you saying that I pretend to be busy?¡± we were now entering the banquet hall where circr tables elegantly set with name tags along each table.

    ¡°Not precisely but seeing by how defensive you¡¯re getting, it makes me reconsider.¡± He shot at me and my nostrils red.

    ¡°I am not defensive. The fact that I was given an invite to tonight¡¯s even proves how fruitful my efforts have been.¡± 1 boasted knowing that even he couldn¡¯t deny it.

    We paused and patiently waited for our turn to be ushered to our seats and I could not wait for him to leave me be and move away to his seat which I hoped would be as far away from where where ever it is that I was supposed to be seated this evening. The less I saw of him the better.. I would be more at ease knowing that I would not be clutching onto my better judgement.

    ¡°It only proves that you secured Vanderbilt as an investor.¡± He shrugged like such an achievement meant little when I knew other wise.

    ¡°Right this way Mr Crawford. ¡°The usher who had appeared in front of us had said before looking back down onto the cl*pboard that he had in his hand.

    I was already removing my hand from around Dante¡¯s arm when the usher had looked up me again. My eyes darted from side to side like I was refusing to ept what he was about to say to

    me.

    ¡°You as well, Miss Miller. This couldn¡¯t be happening. The Vanderbilt¡¯s would have known better than to seat is at the same table.

    Dante had reached for my hand and repositioned it right back where it had been on the crook of his arm before he practiced sympathetically even though he wore the most annoying grin over his face.

    Aaron had all but dragged me along seeing as there had been a crowd umting behind us also waiting to find their seats and I was not going to move on my own ord.

    ¡°Did you have a hand in pulling this stunt.¡± it certainly was not some thing that I would put past

    him.

    Dante had scoffed at my question as the both of us had settled into our seats. He had done so fluidly whilst I had done so begrudgingly.

    ¡°Why would you think that I would have any thing to do with it? sometimes luck is just on the side. of those who are good. ¡°He said sarcastically.

    I bit back augh. ¡°If that was truly how it had worked then you would certainly be the most unluckiest of them all. ¡°he ced a hand over his heart dramatically and I rolled my eyes at him.

    ¡°you truly say the most sweetest of things. ¡°he said sarcastically and I turned my attention away from him to do a sweep of the room.

    ¡°you see this is what happens when you avoid me for no eptable reason.¡± Dante¡¯s deep voice had

    said from behind me and I turned to face him with a straight face.

    ¡°It is for a good reason and you are well aware of it. ¡°I pointed out calling him out on his feigned innocence.

    ¡°Nevermind the specifics but it only goes to show that luck is on my side here. You finally have no choice but to face me.¡± he pointed out smugly almost like he was also satisfied with the situation right now.

    ¡°Perhaps you

    ire correct about this, after all I certainly don¡¯t see how all of this could have happened if it were not for luck because there¡¯s no way that I would willingly be in yourpany. ¡°he scoffed at that as if my words had meant absolutely nothing to him.

    ¡°That is what you would like to think.¡± I gasped in disbelief.

    ¡°so you suddenly have me all figured out. ¡°I raised a sardonic brow at him.

    ¡°Not suddenly but gradually. It has taken me a lot to rediscover you.¡± He said on a t tone and I felt my nostrils re in anger.

    ¡°And yet you are still so far off. I mocked but his eyes narrowed at me.

    There was an instant shift in the air based on how he had began looking at me. His face was serious, his jaw firmly set and his orbs looked in to mine like he could read me like an open book.

    ¡°Is that so? So I would be wrong if I said that ever since my arm wrapped around your waist outside, your pulse hadn¡¯t been beating faster, that your mind hadn¡¯t been racing with all things you want to do but are too afraid to let yourself indulge, that if I recreate the events of thest time we were in your living room, I wouldn¡¯t find you as wet and eager for me?¡± His voice was a low husky whisper and my cheeks immediately turned scarlet.

    I swallowed audibly and his eyes darted to the movement of my throat. He didn¡¯t smirk or grin or show any indication that he was mocking me. All I saw in his eyes were red, hot desire that bubbled and boiled like an inferno with no hopes to an end.

    I didn¡¯t know how the rest of the evening had gone on or how I managed to bid for a piece of jewellery that caught my eye but it was all a blur with Dante constantly touching me through out the night. It was small touches but it reached to my depths begging for me to seek salvation from him.

    Çú

 Chapter 35

    ×Ô70%S

    The Vanderbilt Ball hade to a close and it had been one of the most magnificent experiences. By the end of it, I walked away from the conference centre with more than just a few stunning jewellery pieces that I had bidded for. In addition to my newly collected treasure, I left the Ball with more far more than I had bargained for.

    I checked my mirrors as I drove home and saw the sleek ck beast cutting through the nights air following closely behind me. I grinned feeling my heart fluttering in anticipation and my stomach twisting in eagerness to what had awaited me.

    My entire b*dy was electrified from being in his presence all night long and I needed the peak toe to a crash so I could feel like I could breath again. So, when Dante asked to apany me home after the ball with a gleam of deliverable promise in his darkened orbs, I hesitantly began to object but Dante shocked me with the news that he had kicked Phoebe out of his life for good.

    She had been the only barrier holding me back from crossing this line and with her out of the picture, I could dally with what I thought was impossible.

    I was certain not to over indulge in the drinks tonight but the few that I had consumed sent my b*dy in to a lull and shut down the part of my brain that would otherwise chicken out.

    This was happening tonight. It was really going to happen and nothing could stop it. Despite me being entirely in to it and extremely charged right now, I was stilling to terms with how solid. this was. There had been some thing intoxicating about the way that Dante had k*ssed me before I got in to my car that sent my mind in a whirlwind, making the decision for me.

    I was far too desperate for him and, as I clenched my thighs together, I could feel need for him between my legs.

    my own slick

    Dante revved his car loudly behind me urging me to be hasty and drive a little faster so that we both could get this started with. I obliged happily and stepped on the gas which saw us arriving at my front gate in no time.

    The moment we got in to the house and Dante had shut the front door hastily, he wasted no time in yanking my b*dy against his before his full l*ps had shed hungrily against mine. He k*ssed me passionately, wildly, and with a ferociousness that had my knees wobble and my hands clutch at his cor. His hands had wound themselves around me line a vine, pressing my b*dy to melt against every hard contour of his own.

    As his mouth had caught mine so intensely that I had no choice but to let out a moan. My l*ps parted as a result and Dante had taken full advantage of my parted mouth and sl*pped his wet, hot tongue taking charge. My tongue had met his, challenged him, and then tangled with his until my core began to ignite itself at the feel of him coupled with his scent and his expert mouth.

    There was no doubt that he was supporting all of my weight since he had been leading me some where even as our bodies had been pressed against each other and our attention solely focused on holding back from ripping each other¡¯s clothes of right where we stood.

    His warm, weighty hands had wreaked havoc over my back before he reached down to my ass with both of his hands and gave me a firm, painful squeeze before he pressed me against him again but

    15

    this time to feel apletely different part of him. When I felt his erection, hard and stabbing at my thigh. I found my heart lurch and my b*dy shudder in anticipation. When my back had hit a door, Dante did not even care to open it for a long moment, leaving me to be pressed deliciously between his heated b*dy and the cold door against my back.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take this. You are going to drive me utterly crazy. He hissed in a gutteral whisper against my mouth before he dropped his l*ps to my n*eck so his teeth could nip at my sensitive skin.

    My b*dy shuddered with each pleasurable pained bite. I was ready, I needed him. I needed him to make me explode in to a million pieces until I couldn¡¯t make sense of the universe.

    ¡°Dante, p- please. I need you. I need to-,¡± I begged and felt him smirk against the skin of my chest where he was so close to my hardened nub.

    ¡°Soon.¡± He vowed huskily and I felt my lower abdomen clench at the promise in that single word.

    Any coherent thought I had was obliterated when his fingers skillfully undid my dress which he instantly pushed over my shoulders simultaneously revealing my heaving breasts fully to him. The cool nights air had whisped against their bareness and I felt my n*pples tighten catching his

    attention.

    A single moment that felt like an eternity had past as he merely took the sight in until I reached to caress them myself which only got a protesting grunt from him. Dante pushed my hands aside to lock them on either sides of my head with his strong hands. His heated gaze that felt like it could scald my skin locked with mine briefly before his lowered his head and I felt his the tip of his tongue tease the hardened nub of my breast.

    I shuddered restlessly, my back arched, and I wanted so much more. His moist, hot tongue swirling and circling over my n*pple, sucking against it fast until my legs pressed together. He moved his mouth to the other one and began his delicious, wicked torture all over again.

    I managed to lift my head and look down at him just as a gasp escaped me. The n*pple that he had already worked on had glistened in the light of the hallway but the sight of that was nothingpared to watching him do it. He caught me watch him and his teeth grazed my n*pple just enough to have my back arching of from the door and jutting my n*pple further into his mouth. He created a suction around it sending a mix of pain and pleasure sharply coursing through my core and I was certain that I was about to

    I let out a harsh, desperate whimper. Please, Dante. I begged and felt him smirk against my skin. again. He flicked my n*pple one more time with the tip of his tongue before he brought his face to hover over mine.

    His heated dark eyes locked with my brown ones that reflected every thing that he had felt like a mirror. He let go of my hands that had been pinned to my sides then sn*ked an arm around my waist to hold me from leaning against the door before he pushed it open and get us in.

    The second we got in to the bedroom and the door was closed, Dante had meant business and I was more than ready.

    ¡°Get the rest of that dress away from your b*dy.¡± He ordered and I obliged immediately slidingout of my dress and dragging down it over my hips and legs before it fell to the floor, pooling around. my heels.

    2:5

    I stepped out of it and looked back to him to see him eyeing my ckck panties. ¡°Take those off too. Hemanded just as I moved to slide my heels of but he grunted in disapproval. ¡°Leave those on.¡± He ordered mischievously.

    Dante stood there and just ran his eyes on every inch of my b*dy like he had not seen it before tonight. I ran my eyes over him and saw that he was still fully dressed, much to my disapproval.

    My eyes locked with his as I began to undo the buttons of his zer feeling his muscles ripple at my touch through the thin material of his shirt. When I had unbuttoned it fully, I pushed it over his broad shoulders then quickly worked on his shirt which he nearly ripped of.

    My eyes was no longer on his face but scanning every inch of his silky smooth and taut skin. In the years past, he had grown more muscr and lean. I ran my hands from his shoulders, down his throat and over his chest. I moved my hands further down to trickle over each of his packs and relished in the feel of his b*dy. It was like silk lined tauntly over steel. He was watching me take in the feel of him in all over again.

    I traced the V line on his side¡¯s and followed it until it lead to his belt that prevented me from exploring any further.

    Dante immediately began to undo the buckle before sliding the belt off. I didn¡¯t let him undo his pants since it was some thing I wanted to do myself.

    I reached for the button and felt his throbbing erection against the bottom half of my palm as it brushed against him. His swore under his breath at the dull contact and I felt so powerful in this moment. This ruthless man was so weak against my touch.

    I got down on to my knees, eargerly ready to move things along, and yanked his pants down along with his boxers just enough to have his coc k break free nearly hitting me in the face with the force that it hade undone with.

    He was huge but this was not some thing that I was unaware of but it was still impressive even after all these years. I swallowed my intimidation and opened my mouth to envelope him in. His hips had buckled instinctively wanting to push forward before he steadied himself and I went on closing my mouth around him as moved it up and down on his shaft.

    His hands had balled up in my hair tightly and he began guiding my mouth in a rythmic move that felt good for him. It was not slow but a medium pace until I sucked my cheeks him and heard him swear under his breath before he picked up the pace.

    I ced my hands on his hips and pushed further until he slid down the back of my throat. I felt the need to gag but quickly got over it. I smirked at him while he looked down at me in astonishment.

    ¡°You little vixen,¡± Heplimented me before withdrawing from my mouth andunching me to my feet before hauling me against the bed.

    My b*dy bounced against the mattress and I had no time to adjust myself because Dante had gripped the inside of my thighs. He spread them apart with my knees resting on either side of the

    bed.

    His face quickly disappeared as he got down on his knees. I felt my legs close instinctively but he

    11:26 Wed, 6 Mar RD

    870%

    ¦°

    tightened his grip around my knees and kept them in ce so his tongue could find my c it. I threw my head back letting out a cry as he started to torture me, teasing my cl it, brushing against it until I writhed beneath him. He showed me no mercy and as my b*dy jerking and my back arching and my impatient moans,

    ¡°Dante, I¡¯m going to- I can¡¯t hold it back. I¡¯m going to-¡± My words hung unfinished as I gasped when he sl*p one finger then another into me. He pausedpletely waiting for me to adjust before he moved them.

    I could hear just how wet I was from his fingers sliding in and out of me. His l*ps returned to my cl it and the sensation of it all had me on the brink of exploding but when Dante could see it, feel it, he immediately brought his fingers to a halt.

    ¡°No! No, D- Don¡¯t Stop! Please, I need to.¡± He ignored me my pleas and got back to his feet so he could stare at my b*dy like thispletely sumbiting itself to him, spread wide, wet and begging to have him do whatever he wished.

    His hands wrapped like a vice around my ankles and pulled me to the edge of the bed. He brushed his weighty co ck against my cl it and my b*dy jerked knowing just how close it was to getting what it wanted.

    His hands moved to cling to my hips and I felt his tip poke at my opening before he mmed into me causing me to scream as I shattered into a million pieces just from one thrust. My b*dy jerked. my back arched and my head threw itself back as shivers and spasms wreaked havoc over my entire b*dy.

    Dante did not wait any further before he began moving in me hard and fast. The sound of skin pping coupled with our rapid breaths, loud moans and gutteral groans, had been the only sounds echoing through the room. I felt myself build up again which each hard thrust as he continued to m in and out of me before I was throwing my head back again and screaming as my second org asm washed through me.

    ¡°We are far from done!¡± He warned roughly before he fl*pped me on my knees while he was still inside of me, sp anking my as s.

    My face was buried against the soft covers of the bed, my back arched and I felt him go at it again. He moved in me with an urgency in this position and it felt deeper. Dante¡¯spalm had pped my as s and I jerked as the pleasurable pain spread through the area. My hole tighten around him when he had done that which only made him groan.

    Dante sp anked me a few times, ramming in me harder with each thrust and I came violently nearly copsing on to the bed. Dante didn¡¯t stop. His b*dy moved against mine a few times before his b*dy jerked against mine as he grunted and groaned as he found his own release. I felt his hot liquid shoot in me and I resisted the urge to close my legs but he held it in ce.

    ¡°My b*dy has ached for you for years. I need more.¡± He demanded between clenched teeth.

    This time, Dante h ooked my knees over my elbows then carried me of the bed so his hands could wrap around the back of my n*eck. He slid in to me slowly before he picked up the pace pounding. in to me as he carried me like I weighed nothing.

    We had gone on for hours by the end of which I copsed from exhaustion against the sheets, I

    11:26 Wed, 6 Mar RO

    barely remembered Dante¡¯s covering me and adjusting mefortably against the pillows before Ipletely cked out.

    COMMENT

 Chapter 36

    Pheobes POV.

    The rain hit hard against the windows rattling thetches with their ferocious anger. The thunder cracked loudly sending a bright, blue strike of lightning shing out side blinking through the closed drapings.

    I paced the length of my father¡¯s townhouse drawing room in absolute anger and helplessness. Two things that I hated to feel. I couldn¡¯t begin to fathom how I hadnded myself in such a situation after all my years of hard work and effort to keep things under my control and run the course that I willed it to.

    Another cra ck of lightening shed loud enough for me to feel it reverberate through my bones. The harsh weather outside mimicked my inner feelings to the T.

    Who the hell did Dante think he was? He could not just throw me out of his life on a whim and 1 would see to it that he isn¡¯t sessful. I had only left his home temporarily to give him a sense of false victory but I would be back, digging myself firmly in to his life until I extracted as much of his wealth as I had intended on doing.

    If any one was to be med for this mess it was Sophia. That bit ch thought that she could out smart me by telling Dante the truth about who had saved him when we were younger. As if that mattered to any one but her. She was growing too bold for her ce, too c unning like a bird whose wings were growing too big and in need of a good cl*pping.

    I should have ended her when I had the chance but Sophia proved to be tougher than I thought like a c ockroach that refused to be killed by even the harshest of chemicals.

    Dante really thought that he could toss me aside for her but he forgets that it was I who made him remove Sophia from his life with great ease and I could do it again just as easily. I just needed to figure out a way to get him where I wanted him with leverage so good that he has no choice but to give in to my demands.

    Felix shifted in the settee that he had been lounging in sipping on a ss of scotch neat like he had no care in the world. He, too, had failed to carry out a single simple task correctly and for that reason Sophia walks healthily at present and noty drowned and lifeless at the bottom of that da mnke.

    His return had caught me off guard with how untimely it was but it only ced a lot more pressure on me to see my ns through. I thought I had plenty of time to do what I needed to but with Felix out of prison and out and about again, it changed a lot of things. The leisure to take things slowly. and at an easy pace no longer existed.

    ¡°You¡¯ve walked a trail in to that carpet, Phoebe. Come, sit by me and enjoy a drink to rx.¡± Felix called over his ss causing me to pause in my path and nce at how calm he seemed to be sipping on his drink while I was here scheming for our future.

    ¡°How can you be so calm, Felix? Do you not see the gravity of the situation?! If I cannot figure out a way to get back in to Dante Crawford¡¯s life then out entire ns together are impossible.¡± I snapped at him and he finally sat up straight understanding just how upset I was by all of this.

    ¡°I believe that you will find a way to fix it all.¡± He responded carefully but it had only made me furious. Must I do all?

    He handed out thest sip of his drink over to me but I looked at it like it was poison because, at present, it kind of was. The pregnancy test revealed what I suspected this morning but I had not told Felix yet.

    ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯m pregnant.¡± I muttered and continued my pacing thinking about howplicated this was all bing.

    ¡°What? You are- Pheobe, do not joke around. Are you really pregnant?!¡± Felix jumped up from the settee and crept up on me.

    His hands gripped myaems excitedly before he crushed me to his chest on a hug. I patted his chest. trying to settle him down but his glee knew no bounds.

    ¡°This is incredible. We¡¯ve always spoke about starting a family of our own.¡± His hands cupped either side of my face before he pressed his l*ps to mine in a brief k*ss

    I shrugged out of his hold entirely. My inner feelings and his were currently not on the same page and it was only serving to fuel my anger.

    ¡°Are you not happy that we are going to be having a baby?¡± Felix asked, confused by my reaction. It was annoying some times how hard it was for him to understand me.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t that. I am beyond happy but there is a lot to set in ce before I can embrace things and rx. We need money, a lot of it. Money that we do not have. Having a baby is a huge cost. It only drives me harder to get back on to Dante¡¯s life.¡± Finally, at longst, Felix began to understand why I was so worked up.

    He nodded slowly. ¡°Our attempt at taking out his ex wife was not sessful. Now she¡¯s be some what of torn in our ns. His gruff voice was music to my ears as he said what I wanted to hear.

    ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m surprised there has been no talk of an investigation about the attack.¡± I pursed my l*ps but then shrugged the thought off.

    ¡°Well, there better not be.¡± Felix grunted, running a hand nervously through his hair. ¡°if I get imprisoned again, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be given the liberty of release again.¡±

    I shook my head. ¡°Never mind that now. Our primary concern is figuring out how I can weave my way back in to Dante¡¯s life in n a way that he cannot kick me out.¡± It felt like I was saying the same thing over and over again and getting no where.

    Before Dante and Sophia traced their steps back to each other, I needed to do some thing. The both of them were already acting a bit strange and Dante¡¯s willingness to kick me to the curve told me all that I needed to know.

    ¡°I know exactly what you need to do.¡± Felix looked at me at the same time my gaze snapped to his. His eyes

    danced with evil and I knew that he was on to some thing good. ¡°You need a way to get to Dante that he can¡¯t refuse and has no other option but to keep you around. The opportunity is perfect.¡± He rambled on and I narrowed my eyes at him.

    11-27 Wed, 6 Mar R 0.

    ¡°Just get on with it. What is the n?!¡± I demanded to know not caring for the run around.

    70%

    Felix threw me look like he could not believe that I hadn¡¯t figured this out yet. ¡°Tell him that you are pregnant but let him believe that this child is his. He would have no other option but to care for you and cover the upkeep of your lifestyle and it gives you time force his hand at marriage then we¡¯re set.¡± Felix concluded and I could feel my face split in to two at the grin that over took my face.

    ¡°That is a genius idea, Felix! I can¡¯t believe that I hadn¡¯t thought of it sooner. Dante may not be ast favourable to me as he once had been but he would never turn away his own child let alone the mother of said child. The more we spoke about it the more fool proof this n was proving to be.

    Dante may be ruthless in his ways but I knew him well enough to know that he would never turn away his own blood. It was why I had to make sure that Sophia didn¡¯t see a fruitful pregnancy. Dante would have never left her had he known that she was actually carrying his child.

    ¡°I only need a few months. Dante and I will get married and before the baby is born I will demand a divorce which he will be happy to give me. Then I will seek to take half of every thing he owns.¡± The more I spoke about this n the greater relief I began to feel. It was bordering on to euphoria at this point.

    ¡°You should go to him tomorrow morning. First thing in the morning. y the part of the sick. pregnant woman to get his sympathy. He suggested and I nodded already ahead of him. I knew just how I was going to execute this and dare any onee in my way.

    The very next morning. I had awoken and set out to carry out my task. I purposely didn¡¯t apply any make up to give me that morning sickness look which hadn¡¯t kicked in yet. I hailed a cab which was some thing I hated doing and it was why I couldn¡¯t wait to get back in to Dante¡¯s life so I could enjoy the wealth and power without feeling like a poor peasant.

    I shook my head focussing on the positives as I scrolled through my phone but what I found circting the media this morning was enough to stir my anger.

    The Vanderbilt Ball was two days ago and Dante had attended as he did every year but this time he was photographed with none other than Sophia. That bi tch was more cu n ning and conniving than I had ever expected her to be. Their b*dynguage was stiff and it showed some discord between. them which I could live with but all of that didn¡¯t matter because soon enough what ever Sophia thought she had with Dante woulde to a dead end.

    The car pulled up to Dante¡¯s house and I spotted his car still in his front yard. I got up to the front door and knocked on the door like a da mn visitor. Stay calm, Phoebe. Thest thing I needed right now was to lose my temper and ruin the n.

    I found Dante in his study and he was less than pleased to see me. Not that I expected a warm wee or flowers at my feet but he was visible displeased by the sight of me.

    This was it. I needed to give the most convincing act of my life. I sniffled when I saw him, kept my head low like I was in shambles with out him, professed my love for him over and over again then, when he was about to berate me, I blurted out the news watching the rug get pulled from beneath his feet as he processed all of it.

    I could feel the victory already mount within me.

    Wed, b Mar R

 Chapter 37

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    This was thest thing I f ucking needed right now. Thest thing I expected to be thrown at me.

    The words that were thrown from Pheobe¡¯s mouth along with the information that she had just revealed before proiming her love me hung in the early morning air. My ears heard her loud and clear but my mind refused to acknowledge what she had said and give any sort of truth to her im.

    This could not he possible. If I recalled correctly, I had not touched Pheobe since Iy eyes on Sophia again. So, this was all sounding a little too sudden. I would have known if I had knocked her up enough to not be in doubt.

    I looked at the woman standing in front of me looking pale and unlike her usual well kept self. The colour was drained from her face, her l*ps were a tad bit dry and I could see it from across the room right where I stood. Had it not been for her current state, I would have assumed that she was lying but she looked sick and drained from perhaps throwing up her stomach before getting here.

    My mind silently baffled between what I knew and the desperation that Pheobe disyed before me. Never would she had ever dared to be cau

    so bedressed on even her worst day. Phoebe was a little obsessed with her appearance but could the strain of early pregnancy get down so bad that it caused her to focus on more important things than doing her hair and make up before she could. see another person for the day?

    ¡°When you turned me away, kicking me out of your home and life I thought I was ruined but I willed myself to keep going but being pregnant leaves me no choice but to beg at your feet, Dante. For our child.¡± She added thatst bit with a whimper and I clenched my jaw tightly.

    ¡°You im that this is my child but, Pheobe, please try to remember correctly. I had not- we hadn¡¯t. been intimate in months.¡± My words battled to remain calm and gentle since she already looked fragile enough and I didn¡¯t want to hurt her but, on the other hand, I was so sure that this could not he possible.

    Phoebe¡¯s l*p trembled and she sniffled like she was trying to keep her tears from falling from her eyes. She averted her gaze from me and moved to the corner of the study where therge window over looked the front fountain.

    ¡°I knew that this would happen. I knew that you would forget that night.¡± She muttered vaguely and I felt my brows furrow together in sheer and utter confusion.

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about, Pheobe?¡± I demanded to know. My patience had been growing thin and I did not want this to be true.

    ¡°Do not get hauty with me, Dante. It is you who has put me in this situation, you who is responsible for my helplessness. So, don¡¯t you dare get snappy with me. Ahh, there was the Pheobe I hade to know and loathe. The sharp tongued woman beneath this weakling of a facade that she wore

    §Ý§à§ê.

    As if she had recalled her desperate need, she sniffled and swallowed audibly. Her breath was shaky, her shoulders slumped, and her fingers dabbing the corners of her red eyes.

    @70%

    ¡°It was about a month ago when this happened. I had remained at home while you attended some meeting. I was expecting you toe back sooner but hours past by before I heard. your car pull up. I had already tucked myself in to bed but there was quite amotioning from the hall way which disturbed my slumber. I got out of the room to see what all the noise was about and that¡¯s where I saw the footman and your chauffeur trying to guide you, in your drunken state, to the room but you were angry and insisted on fighting them until you saw me.¡± She paused to inhale and I wracked my brains inside and out trying to recall this incident.

    There was one night that I drank myself silly and that was the night I saw Sophia with Adam Huxley and I didn¡¯t know how to process it but to drink my liver away.

    ¡°You only calmed down once you saw me, some thing I felt proud about, knowing that you wouldn¡¯t hurt me even when you were so angry and drunk.¡± She smiled but it faded as she went on and she gave her head a small shake. ¡°Anyways, I helped your out of your clothes and for you in to bed before getting under the covers myself. You babbled on then huped them fell asleep. If was only after you had fallen asleep did I find myself rx enough to sleep myself but just as I began to dip in to sleep, your hand reached over and wrapped around me tightly. At first, I presumed that you just wanted to cuddle and didn¡¯t question it but you began to get needy and eager and one thing had lead to another.¡± She threw me a pinned look telling me to fill the nks but that is all it had been¡­ nks.

    ¡°You slept in till noon the next morning and I let you be undisturbed thinking you¡¯d remember what had transpired between us the night before. However, much to my dismay, you remembered nothing and continued to withdraw from me. I didn¡¯t remind you of what happened because I didn¡¯t think it was significant but that was obviously until I knew what I knew now. I didn¡¯t think it would lead to such a huge development but it did and here we are.¡± She shrugged a little forlorn.

    where 1

    I heard her entire narration of the night that I held no recollection of aside from the part was out at the bar getting absolutely hammered in my raging jealousy. I eyed her suspiciously waiting for even the smallest c rack in her story but I found none. Herposure was strong and steady and I couldn¡¯t detect the skeptism that I was trying to find.

    ¡°I shall give you the benefit of the doubt.¡± I said catching her shoulders rx and the brightness return to her eyes the moment those words rang in her ears.

    ¡°But-¡°I began firmly narrowing my eyes at her warning her not to celebrate too early. ¡°Once the child is born, I will do a paternity test just to make sure what you¡¯re saying is true.¡± She smiled a little too eagerly for my liking.

    ¡°Yes, yes. Of course.¡± She nodded rapidly. ¡°It is only natural that¡¯s you¡¯d want such proof.¡± She agreed with me and I found it very unlike Pheobe to be so¡­ amodating.

    My mind was still trying to wrap itself around this new development. It was thest d mn thing I expected let alone wanted especially with the what had just happened between Sophia and L. The woman had finally opened her bed to be and the past few days that I have shared it with her had. been utter euphoria.

    My phone buzzed on my pocket and I reached to see who had been calling. Sophias name shed across the screen. I swore under my breath. We had ns for breakfast ones that were not consisting of food. Phoebe showing up here unannounced had taken up far more time than I thought.

    I had

    23

    11:27 Wed, 6 Mar R

    I knew better than to take this call in front of Pheobe so I muted it until I could leave the study. This was a delicate matter now. I needed to know how to keep Sophia in my life again whilst dealing with Pheobe and her situation until I knew for sure that what she was saying had been true.

    Moving out from behind the desk, I headed to the door but Pheobe called for me right before I could step out of the study.

    ¡°I just need to speak about one more thing.¡± She asked hesitantly and, again, it caught my attention since she was never hesitant about asking for any thing she ever wanted before.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡± I raised an impatient brow at her.

    ¡°We should get married.¡± She blurted out and covered my shock with a small cough.

    She couldn¡¯t be serious. I watched her carefully waiting for her to correct herself or say some thing that would indicate that maybe I had heard her wrong but she did not rectify herself. If any thing she stood more tall and proud.

    ¡°You are serious.¡± It came out as more of a surprise to me.

    She nodded. ¡°I am serious. You can¡¯t expect me to carry your child and be unmarried while I do so. It is embaras sing. People will talk and I can¡¯t handle any more scandal.¡± She insisted but was stunned by her ask.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit extreme. It won¡¯t be necessary.¡± I said t out dissming it but she stepped forward.

    ¡°Extreme to you, maybe, but to me it gives me the respect I need for baring your child. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s unreasonable of an ask, Dante. It was in our ns any ways to marry and have a family together. I don¡¯t see why now it¡¯s such a hard no.¡± She crossed her arms below her chest and eyed me with a hard look in her icy orbs.

    ¡°The answer is no, Pheobe. I will do no such thing I denied her request t out and stormed out ignoring her string of curses and shouting the ensued behind me.

    I needed to be far far away from her and the only person my b*dy yearned for was Sophia and where she was is exactly where I steered my car to getting there in half the time than it would usually take me to get to her.

    É«

 Chapter 38

    COMMENT

    The fragrant scent of vani wafted through the air but the morning breezeing in through the bedroom window caused the me of the candle eminating the scent to dwindle. It was not thergest candle and since it has been burning out for thest hour, it looked a little deformed and no longer remained as perfect of a white rose figure as it had once been.

    I had grown tired of waiting for Dante to join me for breakfast this morning but he was a no show. and neither did he return any of my calls. Gosh, could some thing havee up at work that he had to see to some emergency and he couldn¡¯t make it?

    I have up trying to call him like half an hour ago and, as I looked at the poor candle, I decided to put it out of its misery by blowing out the me anyways.

    It was still early, early enough that Hayley would still be asleep for a while and it was why it was the perfect time for Dante toe over this morning for a quick¡­ treat. But I guess that was not. happening this morning.

    But these past few days had been far better than I could have ever imagined it possible. It was not strings attached, no talking about the past, and just pure animalistic S*x. I didn¡¯t expect to be so involved and okay with it until it happened but I was. I guess Pheobe being around him had me on

    degree but she was no longer in the picture and Dante was a free man.

    guard to the highest

    Giving up on the hope that he was going to show up seeing as it was nearly past 8, I decided to get on with my morning and get dressed for the day. I showered, dressed in something work appropriate and left the house with the intention of getting breakfast on my way to the office or maybe some timeter during the morning.

    My spirits was a little dampened after this morning¡¯s disappointment but I drowned most of my morning in work before I was too famished to continue. It was then that I halted my work and began waking up to get some food from the cafe.

    My hand reached for the handle of my office door and pulled it open just as Dante raised his hand to knock on it. I looked at him in bewildered surprise since I was not expecting to see him here at the office at all but here he was.

    ¡°Hey.¡± He greeted me but it was a very unusual way for him to have greeted me. ¡°Can Ie in?¡± He asked but pushed past me any ways and shut the door behind him.

    ¡°You are here. At my work ce.¡± I said slowly but he didn¡¯t care for small talk before the moment that door was shut closed, Dante wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me against him ravishing my mouth with his l*ps.

    I broke the k*ss a littleing up for air but also needing to ask him what the hell happened this morning.

    ¡°You were supposed to show up at my house like three hours ago.¡± I said breathlessly and his jaw clenched tightly. I felt his shoulders stiffen beneath my hold and I moved away from him but just a little bit because his hold refused to loosen.

    ¡°I know but some thing came up.¡± He said vaguely causing me to raise a brow at him. His l*ps found my mouth again and he k*ssed me but I pulled back.

    ¡°Was there some emergency that you had to see to?¡± I queried and eyed his face closely.

    It was evident that he did not want to speak about the situation or he either did not want to speak about it to me. I couldn¡¯t quite ce my finger on which of the two it had been.

    ¡°You could say that but it¡¯s all taken care of. Now, please, let me f uck you until I forget all about this morning. He hissed close to my ear, his anger and lust fighting to win.

    I could resist him no matter how hard I tried. My b*dy was still eagerly ready for him since I waited all morning electrically charged by lust awaiting his arrival and his touch. So, when he k*ssed met and his hand sl*pped beneath the hem of my pencil skirt, my heels wobbled against the floor right when he found my sweet spot and massaged until I was dripping all over his expert fingers,

    ¡°So, so wet for me. He growled over my l*ps.

    I didn¡¯t have time to take in another breath because Dante lifted me from below my derriere and all but threw me on top of my desk where he pushed my skirt up to my hips.

    In one move he undid his pants and just as he was about to reveal his thick erection to me, his phone began vibrating in his pocket but he ignored it and continued to undress but the ringing didn¡¯t stop and only grew more incessant.

    ¡°Just answer it. What if it¡¯s another emergency.¡± I said thinking that perhaps some thing hade up again with work.

    He swore whoever had been calling him before he did I to his pockets for his phone. When Dante retrieved it and saw who it had been calling him his entire face grew bleak and hard.

    ¡°What?¡± He barked on the phone displeased at being interrupted at such a time.

    Dante was silent for a long while as he just listened to the rapid male voice speaking to him over the phone in a rushed manner. Yep, it was definitely an emergency.

    I dropped myself of the desk and began fixing my clothes knowing that nothing further was going to happen right now because he would have to leave any ways.

    ¡°This is rediculous. I made it clear as to why I would not so exactly that. I do not see the urgency for it right now. I made my sentiments clear on the matter.¡± He said in such a harsh tone that I was d that it was not me on the other side of that call but who ever it had been was gutsy and continued speaking with the same firm vigour that they began speaking in.

    I couldn¡¯t hear any part of the conversation aside from the mu ffled voices. Dante¡¯s jaw clenched tightly enough that the tendon above it popped under the pressure.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± He said before hanging up.

    ¡°Another work emergency?¡± I asked knowing that it probably already was.

    His face was bleak and expressionless but he looked pissed off. Dante fixed his closed and fastened his belt.

    ¡°Indeed. His responded tly.

    ¡°Two crises before noon. You¡¯re having a hot day.¡± I tried to lighten up the atmosphere that had

    grown

    thick and tensed.

    Dante refused to meet my gaze and I suddenly began feeling very uneasy for some unknown reason but it was probably because of how the air had tensed up since his phone call.

    I wanted to ask him what predicament he had been facing but then decided against it. He didn¡¯t look too pleased with what ever had been going on and I doubted that he wanted to speak about it let alone having the time to do so.

    ¡°How about I meet youter at your ce?¡± I suggested hoping to mend this ufortable turn of

    events.

    ¡°No.¡± The single word flew out of his mouth in a temporary wave of panic causing me to frown.

    hte cleared his throat, running a hand roughly through his hair. ¡°I mean I don¡¯t know what time

    be heading home after I deal with this current work issue but if I¡¯m home at a reasonable hour, I will call you.¡± His tone had be formal and business like and it felt like we were suddenly in a two man meeting as opposed to us have juste down from our almost high.

    I merely nodded but I could not shake of the feeling that some thing was off. I could be over thinking or my mind could be trying to protect me from repeating the past but I could feel myself wanting to close off.

    Dante took a step back his eyes lingering over my face but still averting my gaze like I was going to shoot Lazer beams through my eyes and burn him to a cinder.

    After he had left, I didn¡¯t have any interest in going to get some thing to eat. I thought to drown my wandering, assuming mind in work but that, too, was no possible. No matter how hard I tried to focus on the paper work in front of me, I kept zoning on thinking about Dante¡¯s unusual behaviour earlier. It could be work and it probably was which is why it made me feel like I was being irrational thinking it was otherwise or that some thing was being hidden from me.

    Never the less, as I drove myself back home, I had a small hope that he would call me up soon and he would either sneak in here once Hayley was asleep or I would go to his. I kept my phone close by just in case but with each passing hour, I had began to lose hope until the sky became dark. outside and I had seen myself off to bed. When I had awoken the next morning, the disappointment settled in my chest seeing that there was no call let alone a text message from

    Dante.

    33

 Chapter 39

    Dante¡¯s POV

    My jaw hurt from how tightly I had clenched it and the numerous amount of times I found the need to do it all over again. It was the only way I could think to manage the anger that was flowing through my veins with each mile that my car had consumed.

    Phoebe was proving to be a pain in the most unimaginable of ways possible. I knew she was stubborn and had great potential to be vicious when she did not get her way but never in a million ways did I assume that she would be this cunning.

    She wanted me to marry her and I said no to which she created this entire fiasco that was driving me insane. Not only had she been on my case since this morning but so had her family. They had been involved in to the mix when Pheobe decided to attempt slitting her wrist because carrying a child out of marriage was horrifying for her.

    Portia had been hysterical in the background whilst George filled me in on the incident in great detail and disapproval in his tone like this was entirely my fault and not his daughters poor judgement. I couldn¡¯t make sense of what on earth was going on.

    For a short while every thing felt as it should have been. Pheobe and I going our own ways and Sophia and I kind of getting things started again. I saw her far differently now after I knew the truth of who had saved me and what ever integrity and obligation I once felt towards Pheobe was nowpletely gone<b>. </b>

    <i>meeting </i>wit

    It didn¡¯t do much for my anger that this call had interrupted my meeting with Sophia and 1 <b>had </b>to stand there right in front of her and she dressed herself again with out telling her any of it. The guilt was eating at me for lying to her but the second I mentioned that Pheobe was not easily moveable from my life at present, she was going to see me as the viin in her life all over <b>again</b>.

    If that had to happen, I had a strong feeling that getting back in to her life was going to be next to impossible. I could risk losing her again over my stupidity. I had messed things up with her once and I can¡¯t think of even doing that again.

    ¡°Dante, you haven¡¯t looked at me once.¡± Pheobe said from the bed she had been resting in.

    Her hand had been bandaged and she was given plenty of blood topensate for what she had. lost in her stunt. The doctors still insisted that she stay in over night to ensure she and the baby were in the best of health given the strain of the ordeal.

    I didn¡¯t want to look at her because the mere sight of her set my already ring anger aze. It didn¡¯t help my temper that Portia and George were in the room at present and seemed to show no intention of leaving the room at all.

    Portia scoffed, ring at me temporarily as she patted Pheobe¡¯s hair like she was a toddler.

    ¡°What else can you expect from him, dear. A man who can¡¯t honor the mother of his child would. never be able to offer any one any sort of kindness.¡± Portia taunted but I clenched my fist as a way <b>of </b>containing my temper.

    ¡°You take advantage of my daughter, have her pregnant, then abandon her when she reaches out to

    Wed, Mar

    70%

    ¦°

    you.¡± George turned away from the window he had been looking out of with his hands behind his back.

    +h

    ¡°I did not abandon anyone neither have I taken advantage of your daughter, as you im. Because she carries my child it does not mean that I need to give in to her every whim and fancy. I heard my own voice crack through the <b>air</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°She is pregnant and you must marry her!¡± Portia demanded from the corner of the room and never have I hated that woman more than right now.

    ¡°I am not obligated to do that. She wants financial support, I¡¯m willing to give it but marrying her is not necessary. We do not live in the olden times where her reputation would be ruined if she carried a child with our being married.¡± I snapped firmly and George looked appalled at such a thing.

    ¡°That is beside the point! We are a reputable family and we cannot tolerate this. Look at her condition! Look at how much of a toll this is taking on her. George spoke with out even looking at his daughter much.

    ¡°The medical bills are going to be a lot and I¡¯m not paying a cent for it. This is all your fault.¡± George demanded but this did not surprise me at all.

    George was know to leave his tabs unpaid and had a reputation for being a bad payer. I didn¡¯t think <b>that </b>there was one ce that he took an ount that he ever paid back with out trying to evade it.

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯d be worried about your shallow pockets at a time like this. Makes me wonder why you critique me so harshly when you ce money over your own blood. Nevertheless, I will pay for the medical cost. It¡¯s nothing to me.¡± I muttered furiously wanting nothing more than to storm out from this hospital entirely.

    Georges face had turned as red as the apple sitting on the tray next to Pheobe.

    ¡°<b>An </b>abortion may be the answer to this whole problem.¡± Pheobe¡¯s voice cracked from the bed and, for the first time since I had gotten here, I looked at her to find a single tear sliding down her pale cheek.

    Portia gasped beside her looking mortified <b>and</b><b>, </b>once again, red at me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Portia whispered to her.

    ¡°No, it makes sense. It¡¯s the only way that we can iron out this whole situation. Dante will be free from this horrible situation and I will spend the rest of my life grieving the lost of the child that we could have had.¡± Pheobe wiped her eyes with the back of her <b>hand</b>.

    Oh, dear <b>god</b>.

    ¡°I do not want to agree with you, sweety, it¡¯s a horrible thing to do to an unborn child especially. since this has a clear solution.¡± George said looking up at me with a judging look in his fading eyes. ¡°But perhaps you¡¯re right. That is the solution.¡± George said to Pheobe leaving Portia mortified at the corner of the room.

    My nose red and my ¨¢nger sizzled beneath my skin furiously. ¡°There will be no need for that. I

    11 27 Wed, 6 Mar RD

    said with finality in my voice.

    I couldn¡¯t believe that I was going to give in to this craziness but damn it I couldn¡¯t think of any other way go shut them up and get Pheobe to not act so unreasonably and impulsively.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Phoebe asked from the bed <b>in </b>shocked tone but she also sounded like she was holding her breath in anticipation awaiting my confirmation of what she was thinking I meant.

    ¡°You¡¯ll marry her, then?¡± George asked reflecting Portia¡¯s unspoken thought.

    I grunted, running my hand through my hair in frustration. It <b>was </b><b>a </b>surprise that I hadn¡¯t pulled all my hair out.

    ¡°Yes, after a decently timed engagement. Rushing in to marriage would only raise just as much question which is exactly what we are trying to avoid.¡± I reasoned but a prolonged engagement would buy me enough time to figure out a way to clean up this mess.

    Pheobe sighed and Portia petted the back of her hand gently. ¡°That will do but only for a short while. Do not think me foolish enough to allow you to drag me through an engagement that would end I¡¯m futility.¡± She snapped at me being too cunningly smart for her own good.

    ¡°Then we are in agreement then. I shall leave you to get some well deserved rest after the stunt you¡¯ve pulled today.¡± I said to Pheobe tightly and saw her roll her eyes at me.

    George and Portia red at me for my carelessness but I couldn¡¯t care less. I was sick of them and after their lies and deceit, I no longer held any sentiment of patience for any of them. George was a greedy, money hungry lout and Portia was second to him.

    I stormed out of the hospital faster than I gotten here. It was beyondte at night and every inch of my b*dy burned for Sophia but it was toote to disturb her and my entire head was a mess right now. I didn¡¯t want Sophia to see me this all over the ce. She would take one look at me and know immediately that some thing was troubling me deeply and it would be a delicate situation to tell her that Pheobe is carrying my child and now demands that I marry her when Sophia thought that she was out of my life for good.

    I thought that Phoebe was out of my life but I was so wrong. If any thing she was no deeply rooted. life than ever before. If the child that grew within her was actually mine then Pheobe would never ever leave me alone and in peace.

    in my

    I needed to find out what happened that night when I had gotten home drunk out my wits.

    Despite the time, I rushed back home and sought out the footman along with my cheuffer and questioned them both about that night. Both of them shared that they helped in to the house and Pheobe had taken me down the hallway assisting me to the room. Naturally they do not know what urred after that but their story lined up to the point where Pheobe¡¯s picked up making this less helpful than I thought<b>. </b>

    I swore beneath my breath before reaching for the <b>ss </b>of dark amber liquid and chugged it back. it burned my throat but I weed it hoping that it would dull my thoughts for the rest of the evening. My fingers ached to reach for my phone and call Sophia but I resisted against it finding it unfair to involve her in this mess neither could I make her understand what was going on.

    É«

    11:27 Wed, 6 Mar RO

    +

    It was best for the both of us that we remained at a distance. I didn¡¯t want Pheobe finding out about what had transpired between Sophia and I because who knew what the hell the deranged woman would do in her rage. On the other hand, Sophia would never believe me if I exined what had happened. She would paint me as the viin any ways and there was nothing that I could do about

    <ol>

    <li>it. </li>

    </ol>

 Chapter 40

    70%

    The brown sandwich bag containing two seeded bagels, cream cheese, and smoked ham had been held securely in my grasp as I tried to carry the coffee cups in the other hand trying my best to bnce it all so it didn¡¯t fall and make a mess on the prestine driveway paving.

    I didn¡¯t have any intention of ever walking on this driveway ever again <b>after </b>I had left years ago. In fact, I had spent a great amount of time contemting whether or not I should even be doing this but here I was. I didn¡¯t know what I was thinkinging here and here being the house I had once been thrown out of.

    The entire area had so many memories both good and bad. I recalled the day Dante had carried me across the <b>threshold </b>maintaining silly old tradition right down to the time Pheobe had assaulted me out side these very steps I now stood on.

    Nothing around here had changed. The gardens were near and rose bushes in full bloom, one aspect of the ce that I love alot, but over the years I had forgotten just vibrant and refreshing they were when it had been in full bloom. The house keeper would always make an arrangement for me to ce at the dinner table and I loved it.

    However, I could help but feel the wave of nostalgia wash over me <b>as </b>my mind went through all the good and bad that it had stored away hoping to never visit some memories yet here I was.

    I wouldn¡¯t have been here if I didn¡¯t think that Dante needed some sort of cheering up. What ever major issue was going on with hispany seemed to be far more serious than he might have let off. It had been two days since I hadst heard from <b>him </b>and I decided to take matters in to my own hands and seek him out myself. Surely a shared breakfast with a friendly face would ease his spirits and aid his wounds, no matter how vicious they may be..

    Although, I didn¡¯t think they were too bad considering there had been no circting news about Dante¡¯s business that could raise any possible concern.

    I took I¡¯m a deep breath as I stared at the light wood front door that was just asrge as I remembered it to be. My hands wee rather upied at present <b>and </b>I used the heel of my shoe <b>to </b>gently tap the bottom of the door <b>to </b>imitate the sound of knocking before I waited for the door to be pulled open

    It would probably be opened by the house keeper who, to be <b>frank</b>, would be shocked to see me standing there. As much as the help may have no known the true story of what had ured but they undoubtedly connected the dots <b>and </b>figured the jist of it.

    I heard shuffling behind the door and Iposed myself to be prepared to greet which ever face that had opened the door and<b>, </b>to my utter surprise, the door was pulled open to reveal a rather taken aback Dante.

    He was not dressed for the day as yet and, if any thing, the man had possibly just woken up from his sleep which was <b>unlike </b>him.

    What ever <b>traces </b>of sleep he seemed to have left in his heavy eyes had immediately vanished as panic over took his expression when hos mind registered exactly who had been standing in front of

    him.

    Wed, 6 Mar R

    70%?

    The smile on my face had slowly dissipated especially when I caught sight of adylike scarf thrown over the coat hook in the passage way but Dante quickly shielded my view preventing me from looking any closer.

    ¡°Sophia, what are you doing here?¡± He asked in a tone that had my l*ps thinning.

    He did not sound too thrilled to see me as I had hoped he would be neither did he seem to make any move to open the door and allow me inside.

    I reluctantly shook the contents in my hand bringing attention to them. ¡°I- I brought breakfast and I thought that maybe we could-¡± His face immediately tensed and my words faded in to nothingness.

    Immediately, I began to feel utterly foolish and like this was a huge mistake that should not have taken ce.

    ¡°What is going on, Dante?¡± I asked out right, exhausted of what ever the hell he was ying at

    He shook his head. ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s nothing. I just, I¡¯m kind of busy at the moment and now is not a good time.¡± He muttered weakly causing me to narrow my eyes at him.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have ten minutes to spare for coffee and a bagel? I raised a sardonic brow and waited for him tough and move aside to let me in after telling me how he was just pulling a quick one on me but that was not going to happen.

    ¡°I do not. Now just is not a good time. I hope you understand.¡± He said vaguely and I shook my

    head.

    ¡°No, I do not understand. First you chase me down so hard then you fuck me like you missed me for years and now you just avoid me.¡± His eyes darkened at my tone but I didn¡¯t care. He looked over his shoulder like he was making sure that who ever he had in there had not heard my voice.

    ¡°Do you have some one in there?¡± I demanded to know but the guilt on his <b>face </b>spoke volume.

    My heels immediately dragged me a step back as the truth of the matter all began to make sense again. He had used me for a few days then moved on to some other chick and was now discarding me just like he did before.

    Oh, the nerve of him!

    ¡°No, it- It is not what you think, Sophia. Please.¡± He begged but offered no further exnation.

    I shook my

    head refusing to be singled by his lies and deceit. ¡°No. Either you let me in or I will believe every single thing that my mind is telling me the truth right now.¡± A lump was forming in

    throat <b>and </b>I <b>was </b>silently praying that he would let me in and I would find not a soul in there but

    my

    him.

    Except he did not move at all.

    ¡°Darling, is there some one at the door?¡± I heard <b>that </b>voice. I knew that voice all too damn well!

    I could not believe this! My ears heard Pheobe loud and clear, knew that it was her voice sounding behind Dante. A look akin to fear crept over his face and my widened eyes just stared at him in

    wed, o MB

    shock as his entire game was making sense.

    709

    Dante <b>had </b>lied to me. He did not leave Pheobe after all. She was still very much on his life. That is why he had been avoiding me. He could never leave Pheobe since she was the one he loved. He lied to me all this time and made me believe that Phoebe was entirely out of the picture just so that I would sleep with him.

    Dante had used me. I was an itch that he had to scratch before he discarded me once again. He was despicable! But it all began making perfect sense now. The reason he was so eager thenpletely the opposite just dayster. Did he think me some sort of toy that he could push and pull when ever he wished for it?

    My eyes became blurry as the tears pooled on them flooding my vision but I quickly blinked it away. A look of guilt washed over his face and he began shaking his head to me like I had misunderstood but how the hell would I misunderstand some thing so clear cut.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s no one. Just someone who has gotten the wrong address.¡± He yelled over his shoulder and that was like a punch in my gut.

    Damn it! I was so incredibly stupid! How could I have not known that he would do something like

    this.

    My legs dragged me away from the front door in startled movements. My brain knew what had happened but the rest of me refused to ept it.

    ¡°Sophia, this is not what you-¡± He began to whisper still keeping the door half closed.

    I held a hand up and immediately silenced him. ¡°Do not even bother to lie to me. Dante. You are the worst mistake I have ever made!¡± I spat out hearing my voice sound foreign to my own ears as my pain took over my words.

    I didn¡¯t care to stand there for another second before I swung around and headed back to my car feeling like I was doing the most horrible walk of shame.

    I was so stupid!

    Damn it! Damn me!

    Didn¡¯t I know better by now than to trust Dante? Yet I so stupidly went and did exactly that. Was his charms so powerful over me that I threw all logic and reasoning to the wind just to indulge in my

    lusts and <b>desires</b>?

    I drove off and away from hisrge house wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand. I did not want to cry about this at all but I couldn¡¯t help myself. It felt like all of the emotions I spent years hiding and building myself back up from had suddenly resurfaced all at once like a flood that was drowing me.

    Going to the office was a no no. Not when I had been looking like such a mess. I couldn¡¯t go home. right away either because Hayley would see me like this and I did not want that. In the end. I drove to some parking lot where spent the next half an hour bawling my eyes out.

    I felt pain and embarassment all at once. My sniffles filled the car and I rested my pounding head.

    Mar

    against the steering wheel as I cried until I couldn¡¯t any more. I knew I had to stop crying and, when I did, I drove home with the air conditioning as cold as it could go hoping that it would reduce the redness in my face.

 Chapter 41

    ¡°And that concludes our meeting this morning, gentlemen.¡± I said to the men seated around the table. ¡°The ns for expenditure will be drawn up and finalised and we should be able to take it forward from there.¡± I turned the projector off by a press of a button <b>on </b>the remote that I held throughout this meeting.

    The board room had emptied out after a short wait and I always made sure to be thest to leave the room but today I didn¡¯t make haste in exiting the board room. Instead, I stayed back a little while longer allowing myself to drop the mask ofposure I had maintained for the past hour and a half.

    Had it not been for this meeting on my agenda for the day, I would have still been in bed moping. in my self pity than dressed up in work clothes and heels. Maybe being in the office was good. It would served as a well enough distraction that would tire me out by the time I got home.

    I looked over the bustling city below, watched the cars drive by and allowed my shoulders to slump. It has been less than 24 hours that I had discovered that Pheobe had been with Dante all along.

    It had reached a point where I felt numb to it all. I wanted to forget that we shared a week of S*x only for him to drop me once he realised that he had his full of me. He offered me no exnation on the spot yet he had the audacity to try and contact meter that day. Obviously, I did not entertain his call and left it to ring but he never tried to contact me after that, much to my dismay

    I nced at the silver wrist watch I had on. Shit, I had another meeting with the marketing department in about ten minutes time. It wasn¡¯t a major meeting like this morning¡¯s once had been and I would just be seated there whilst the head of marketing carried us through thetest progressions.

    I rposed myself and fixed the mask of being neutral over my face before leaving the board. room and heading to my office to fetch a file with the meetings outline before I could head down to the marketing floor.

    As I neared Lucy¡¯s desk just outside my office, I noticed that her head had been down and she was focussed on some thing on herputer screen but the second she heard the sound of my approaching heels clink against the floor, she looked up to see who it had been.

    When she saw me she did a bit of a double take before her eyes lit up and her face beamed at me. I couldn¡¯t understand what had illicited this reaction especially since she had not been seeing me for the first time today.

    ¡°I have been waiting for that meeting of yours to finish.¡± She said with a huff as she stood up her chair and leaned over her desk.

    from

    I raised a quizzical brow at her.¡°¡°And why would that be? I haven¡¯t been gone for long enough for some thing detrimental to arise.¡± I said lightly but her facial expression told me other wise.

    ¡°Because I had discovered a small tid bit about one of your most valuable investors that was released during your meeting.¡± Lucy said wiggling her eye brows and my interest was piqued.

    ¡°Do tell.¡± I shifted my weight from my right to left foot and waited for her to drop the bomb.

    11:27 Wed, 6 Mar R

    ¡°Mr. Crawford, thepany¡¯s most vital investor, has announced his engagement to Pheobe Ashford, his girlfriend of many years now.¡± Lucy announced the news to me right before she shoved her work tablet in my direction leaving me with no other option but to look at the screen.

    The screen held an article photographing the both of them from out side Dante¡¯s house as they posed for pictures after announcing their engagement to each other. The article imed that it was a long awaited engagement and once that came as quite a surprise. I scoffed at that part.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude but I don¡¯t like her very much. She¡¯s known to be a bit of a harsh personality but I guess all these rich people have that side to them. Lucy gave her opinion freely but I paid her little heed.

    All I could focus on was Dante standing next to Pheobe posing willingly for the paparazzi. They smiled and waved and Pheobe showed of her engagement ring with far too much vigour.

    The lump that had formed in my throat had turned painful. This was all just a massive reminder of what <b>a </b>mistake I had made in my cloudyck of lustful judgement.

    Dante was actually going to marry her. That was his intention and he was delivering in it. I found it ironic that he had popped the question so soon after out little fling. It was almost like he had to get me out his system before he did it and that just stung even more bitterly.

    ¡°Miss Miller?¡± Lucy called dragging me out of my torturous thoughts.

    I cleared my throat and blinked a few times trying to muster up the appropriate reaction to this new piece of devastating news.

    ¡°Good for them. We must send them some flowers.¡® I didn¡¯t actually mean it but Lucy¡¯s eyes

    lit up.

    ¡°That is an excellent idea. I¡¯ll work on that right away. She ced the tablet back on to the desk. before reaching for the office phone and making the calls.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± I said before walking away not knowing what the hell else I was expected to say,

    It was <b>all </b>still so unfathomable to me that Dante had done me so d*rty. From lying about Pheobe and him being over to pretending to be so needy for me only for him to go and do all of this to me like I was a worthless.

    Çú

    0

 Chapter 42

    The crips white tri- folded sheet of paper <b>was </b>suspended in mid air. The feel of the textured gold border pressed against the skin of my thumb as I looked down at it in utter shock and disgust.

    When Lucy knocked on my door earlier and with great eagerness I was expecting some sort of good news but this was not the kind of news <b>I </b>was hoping to receive. Nevertheless, I had taken the envelope and dismissed her so I could open it myself.

    An engagement party had been arranged for the new couple under such short notice and invitations were being spread to the elite and close friends to celebrate Dante and Pheobe¡¯s sudden jump tomitment.

    I nearly grimaced at the gold calligraphy that was spread across the page<b>. </b>At the top of the invitation, their names were entertwined boldly and in therger font as opposed to the rest of the words on the paper. It read that I was cordially invited to celebrate love and togetherness by attending the engagement party of the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Crawford.

    My jaw clenched tight enough that I heard it make a clicking sound in my head. The nerve of them to send me an invite after knowing what the hell had went down. The absolutely audacity for Dantel to even approve of an invitation card being sent to my ce of work-

    My office door was pushed open suddenly, the noise of it unlocking had caught me off guard. Adam stepped in with a bright expression unknowing of my current dull mood but his face fell soon enough when he saw me appear to be the simr colour as the page in my hand.

    ¡°Christ, what happened?¡± He asked

    ntically as he made haste to shut the door behind him.

    I didn¡¯t say any thing except hand out the paper in his direction which he nearly snatched from my <b>hand </b>impatient to know what was going on.

    His sharp intake of breath was expected and his brows furrowed together as his eyes scanned over the paper.

    ¡°The damn nerve.¡± He swore under his breath.

    Adam remained silent for a few moments while I stared nkly at the wall behind him. The shock. still coursed through my b*dy and the betrayal had scared itself anew.

    ¡°Have you decided if you¡¯re going to attend this engagement party at all?¡± Adam asked carefully <b>as </b>he dropped the dreaded paper from mid air over the table where it wobbled and swayed as it settled on my desk.

    I nearly choked on my saliva. ¡°What? No, <i>I </i>don¡¯t think it would be a good idea if I did.¡± I

    shrugged not wanting to think about it at all just yet.

    ¡°I think otherwise.¡± He said with a gleam in his orbs. He moved to settle in to one of the two chairs. across from the hardwood desk. ¡°If you attend by my side, seeing as you <b>have </b>a plus one, you could. pretend that this all means nothing to you and that you are there in goodwill <b>and </b>as just a business partner.¡± He suggested but I still shook my head not feeling this n.

    ¡°I- I don¡¯t know about this, Adam. I don¡¯t even want to think about it right now. If I could help it, I

    <b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>b </b>

    would pretend this all didn¡¯t happen, that I did not get an invite to this engagement at all.¡± I

    swallowed the lump that had formed painfully in my chest, thankful that Adam had not noticed my voice begin to sound strained <b>as </b>a <b>result</b>.

    ¡°Dante is a lunatic!¡± He burst out in bafflement catching me a little off guard. ¡°First he demands a paternity test for Hayley then he backs off, second he lies that Phoebe and him are done only for them to get engaged a weekter, and what about the investigation? Did he suddenly forget that some one tried to attack either one of you?¡± From the way Adam put it, Dante was beginning to sound like <b>an </b>actual loon.

    ¡°I¡¯m relieved that he let up on the paternity test. I do not want Hayley any where near Phoebe¡¯s knowledge.¡± I muttered then thought about <b>the </b>investigation.

    ¡°As for the investigation, I don¡¯t think its going any where. I shrugged, slumping my shoulders against the leather office chair causing it to squeak.

    ¡°I still say we attend the engagement party, Sophia. If we go, I can find a way to rough up Dante for what he did to you and make it look like an ident.¡± He winked at me trying to lighten up the mood but I merely scoffed.

    ¡°We have <b>a </b>few days to decide. I¡¯ll let you know if my mind changed about the invitation during its course.¡± I said firmly and he nodded curtly.

    Adam had left about half an hourter and I decided to check with the department¡¯s about a few projects and finance ns. In the midst of it <b>all</b>, my mind had finally gotten distracted away from Dante and his bride to be and I felt a tad bit lighter.

    However, that relief was short lived when I arrived back to the top floor where my office had been. Lucy looked up from her screen and handed out a yellow envelope for me.

    At first nce, <b>I </b>assumed that it was some reports or contracts that some partner sent through <b>mail </b>but as I tore open the p of it as I sauntered to my office, my breath caught at the back of my throat and I nearly double over feeling sick to my stomach.

    Dante had sent me official paperwork demanding <b>a </b>paternity test for Hayley. The legal

    implications, should I fail toply, were highlighted in a bold font catching my attention before. any thing else.

    I was back to believing all over again that Dante wanted nothing more than to make my life a living hell go the extent that he wouldn¡¯t leave my child alone in his attempt to seek out some sort of

    revenge<b>. </b>

    By the end of the day, I <b>was </b>more than ready to leave the office building and go home. I wanted nothing more at this moment to strip this professional facade that I managed to maintain throughout the day and just crumble in to countless pieces with out worrying about being mocked or rediculed.

    But as I steered my car down the road, my irritation had caused me to make a small involuntary detour which lead me, after a few minutes of driving, to park in front of Dante¡¯s ss corporate castle. I didn¡¯t even know if he was here but I¡¯d be damned if I went to his home where Phoebe would definitely be.

    11:28 Wed, 6 Mar <b>R </b>

    I stormed through the lobby and headed straight to the elevator ignoring the protesting warnings from the receptionists as I marched forward. Luckily, the metal doors had closed before any one could get to me. The button of the highest floor was jabbed none too gently by my index finger as I imagined it being Dante¡¯s eye ball.

    The very

    instance I stepped out of the elevator, made my way right to Dante¡¯s office which I knew <b>was </b>at the end of the hall way with the full intention of giving him a damn piece of my mind. I could hear his muffled voice behind the close door as I approached it but I didn¡¯t care to knock.

    Instead, I mmed the door open hard enough that the chrome handle hit the wall behind it with a loud crash and I would be shocked if the paint work hadn¡¯t taken a hit after that impact.

    His chair swung around to see who had such audacity to interrupt him so rudely. The anger shed across his face as he looked at me but soon surprise had over taken his expression.

    ¡°Eh, Russo, I¡¯m going to have to call you back.¡± He muttered in to the phone. The man on the other end, Russo, shouted in protest but Dante hung up any ways.

    ¡°Sophia? I- I was not expecting you at all.¡± He ced his phoned against the desk that saperated my seething b*dy from him.

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re not.¡± I spat out. ¡°What game have you been ying at all this time, Dante?¡± I demanded to know. I deserved to know!

    A frown formed between his arched brows. ¡°I have yed no game with you, Soph. His use of the nickname he used years ago on me only made me <b>angrier</b>.

    ¡°Do not lie to me! From the minute I arrived back in to the country, you¡¯ve been hell bent on seeing to it that my life is a misery.¡± My voice was octaves higher than what was normal and it bounced of the walls of his office.

    ¡°You interfere in my business, you meddle <b>in </b>my ever affair, you lure me in to believing that you are a free man who I could share my bed with again then deceive me, and now you go after my child! All this for what?! What the fuck did I ever do you that you have taken it upon yourself to make my life so miserable?! My blood rushed through my <b>veins</b>, my heart pounded against my chest, and my head hurt from the strain of it all but I needed to know.

    Dante was silent for several moments which only infuriated me further but he rose to his feet abruptly and stood to his full length. His eyes locked with mine as he slowly rounded the table to stand right in front of me.

    I expected to find him angry himself but he was not, making him harder to read. His eyes were soft, his jaw rested, but somehow he looked pained and that was not what I wanted to see. I did not want to stand here and believe that he <b>was </b>capable of feeling anything but bad, horrible things.

    His hand moved to cup my face and I tried to move away from his touch but the second I felt the warmth of his palm against my cheek, I held still.

    ¡°It was never my intention to cause you any grief<b>, </b>Soph.¡± He whispered, moving his thumb gently against my skin.

    ¡°Stop calling me that.¡± I ground out through clenched teeth.

    11:28 Wed 6 Mar RO.

    ¡°I never wanted to hurt you.¡± He whispered again in a more firm tone.

    1 shook my head slightly. ¡°Do not lie to me, Dante.¡± I shrugged his hand away and took a step back but he only took a step forward.

    ¡°I speak no lie. Whatever happened was far from what I had intended. I saw you after all those years and I realised just now much I-¡± He paused, catching himself but his eyes scanned my face closely.

    ¡°How much you what?¡± I asked in a sharp tone.

    ¡°How much I had missed you, damn it! I hated that I missed <b>you </b>so much and that you had moved. on <b>with </b>Adam. The thought alone was enough to drive me insane. His tone was louder now, sharper even.

    I red at him, shaking my head in disbelief. ¡°So you did all of this because you were jealous? Because you wanted to prove to yourself that you could still bend me to your will if you so wished it?¡± Anger shed across his orbs and he red at me now.

    ¡°No. For goodness sake, no!¡± He yelled but I was not a scared of him.

    ¡°It definitelyes across that way. It¡¯s why you lied that Pheobe had been out of your life so you could lure me in to you trap only for you to get engaged with her dayster¡­¡± I paused and felt my nose scrunch up in disgust ¡®dayster after you used me!¡± My voice shook and my lower l*p quivered out of absolutely no where.

    But Dante did not notice it because he was <b>now </b>infuriated. His hands gripped by arms tightly as he shook me.

    You have no idea what obligations I am bound to. You cannot even begin to think what situation I am in. It¡¯s very easy for you to stand here and use me of these things when you do not have even. the slightest inkling of what I am dealing with.¡± He yelled in my face refusing to let go of me.

    Then tell me! Tell me what ever the hell is making you behave this way.¡± I demanded to know but he immediately let go of my arms then and turned away from me to rub his temples.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand even if I tried. You have already painted me the victim in your life, so be it. He muttered then opened his eyes to look at me. ¡°As for the paternity test, I have the right to it. If Hayley is my child then I would want to be aware of such an important fact that you have chosen to hide from me. His cl*pped tone irritated me, wing at my anger further.

    ¡°You would have known had you not-¡°I was about to say if he hadn¡¯t kicked me out of <b>his </b>office the day I found out that I was pregnant then he would have known but I caught myself just in time before <b>I </b>could say it

    ¡°Had <b>I </b>not what?¡± He stepped closer again eyeing me with a pinned stare.

    I shook my <b>head</b><b>. </b>¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± I spat out.

    I needed to get out of there and I needed to it as soon as possible. I couldn¡¯t stand here with both of our tempers raging so much. One of us was bound to screw up and I would hate for that to be me.

    ¡°I will send the date and further details for the paternity test and you¡¯d better show up with Hayley

    11:28 Wed, 6 Mar <b>R </b>

    to see it through or else you¡¯ll see the worst of me.¡± He threatened but I scoffed looking at him with. utter disappointment.

    <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>a little toote for that, Dante.¡± I mumbled softly before turned around and leaving his office.

    I should have known nothing constructive would <b>have </be out from this. Dante was never one to cooperate with me and this time was no different.

    I took a moment before I could get out of the car to recollect myself and put on a happy face for Hayley. She was ever so observant and even the smallest frown on my forehead when I walked in to the house at the end of the day would prompt a stream of questions from her.

    When I saw her after I entered the house, a quick thought ured to me but I brushed it off not wanting <b>to </b>think about it too much but as the night had gone on the thought kepting to me but I knew that running away was not the answer.

    É«

 Chapter 43

    Chapter <b>43 </b>

    I couldn¡¯t believe that I was doing this.

    After the days of battling with myself and insisting that I was not going to attend the much talked about engagement, here I was pacing the length of the foyer.

    I couldn¡¯t tell if I was hyperventting or if I was straight up having a melt down but my palms were sweaty and my heart had been racing like I had just ran the marathon and emerged victorious. Except there was nothing aplishing about the way that I was feeling.

    Adam had been thrilled at my change of mind but I couldn¡¯t even begin to understand why I had agreed to go. Perhaps it was my curiosity or some sort of FOMO that I was experiencing but what ever it was, it was strong enough to have me throw on a royal blue cocktail dress, some heels, do make up, <b>and </b><b>add </b>some curls to my hair.

    my

    I heard the sound of a roaring engine approaching and my heart felt like it had stopped for a split second knowing that my haphazardly internal emotions needed to stabilize before I set foot out of this house and got in to Adams car.

    The engagement was held at Dante¡¯s house. The very house that I had called home once but I tried not to think about it too much. I was quiet for most of the ride there while Adam spoke casually trying to help me ease up a little bit but the further down the familiar road his car had taken us, the bitterness had began to leave an acrid taste on my tongue.

    When the brightly lit up house came in to full view, my stomach did somersaults and I felt like I was going to throw up but I took deep breaths and soon the feeling had passed by by the time Adam had found a parking.

    There had not been as many cars as I had expected parked beneath the starlit sky and it was really looking like just an intimate celebration which was why I couldn¡¯t I understand what I was doing here. Sure <b>I </b>spotted a few cars of associates and business partners suggesting where I had fit in on the guest list but, aside from that, it was not going to be an unmanageable crowd.

    <b>¡°</b>Hey.¡± Adam nudged my shoulder with <b>his </b>gently as we headed to the back entrance.

    I looked up at him with questioning eyes but he smiled gently at me.

    <b>¡°</b>You <b>are </b>going to be just fine. Remember your social standing and do not let any of them get to you.¡± He said heavily but then grinned at me. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t mind knocking a sucker or two out this evening.¡± He joked but I rolled my eyes at him not putting the acti

    past him anyways.

    ¡°I just want to stay away from the lime light <b>as </b>much as possible but I doubt that would be too much of a struggle.¡± I said noticing thenterns arranged magically guiding us down the green path which lead to the back of the house where I knew the Grand garden was.

    The chatter of people became louder <b>as </b>we made a small turn before we were greeted with the sight of the mingling crowd in the well lit garden that was so done up, it looked extraordinary.

    Arge mezzanine floor covered the short <b>grass </b><b>as </b>people sipped away on their drinks. Soft music flowed in the background adding <b>a </b>romantic feel to the air and the lighting was urately positioned that it did not even look like it was night at all.

    IA

    11:28 Wed, b Mai

    Adam wrapped a reassuring yet guiding hand around 1

    the concrete step we were on gathering some attention.

    ¡°Let¡¯s f

    waist since my feet had nted itself to

    get you a drink.¡± Adam whispered close to my ear and I nodded following his league and allowing him to lead me to the fully equipped open bar on the left side of the garden.

    Drinks in hand, Adam and I began socializing with the familiar faces we knew but most of them. were business rted individuals making it impossible to keep anything but aposed face. It was not some thing that Iined about seeing as I did not want to show a sl*p of mask to any one this evening.

    I avoided Dante and Phoebe like the gue and Adam was careful enough to steer me away from them every time they would grow closer in proximity. If they were on one side of the mezzanine, we were sure to remain on the other side of it.

    That did not stop them from noticing my presence because several times when I would instinctively look in their direction either one of them with be looking at me. Their individual looks were different from each other with Sophia¡¯s being daggers but also a smugness to her <b>grand </b>

    achievement.

    Her fiance on the other hand looked at me in <b>a </b>way that I much rather not put in to words. His eyes would darken the minute I looked at him and a flicker of hunger would cross his orbs only to

    be

    coupled my his anger at seeing Adam right next to me. I would look away each time not wanting to let my true emotions show but I still felt his heavy, heated gaze watch my every movement <b>as </b>I made polite conversation and mingled with the guests.

    Aside from them, Portia and George were also in attendance. Naturally their attendance was counted on being Pheobe¡¯s parents but even they seemed a little apprehensive and disapproving of my presence here this evening.

    I didn¡¯t care but it had been a while since I had seen them since I chose to maintain a far enough distance from them for years now. My intention was to avoid them, too, but trying to avoid the hosts itself had pushed me in to a rather inescapable situation.

    ¡°Sophia.¡± My name was said as both recognition as well as a subtle threat. A warning in case I tried. to ruin their precious daughters engagement party.

    ¡°I never thought that you¡¯d ever return back to America. Portia taunted with a wave of her hand through the air causing the tassels on the ck dress she was wearing to dangle about.

    ¡°You know, after Dante had divorced you.¡± Her aging eyes looked at me with rancor and it was evident to any one with eyes that she was trying to embarrass <b>me</b>.

    ¡°Neither did I. Especially considering the amount of scum and low life people that upy it. I retorted back throwing her a stiff, assessing look up and down her length.

    It irked her that I retaliated but she didn¡¯t show it.

    ¡°Well, now you have added to it.¡± Sheughed it off and I grit my teeth.

    I opened my mouth to say some thing but she waved her half full ss in the air to cut me off.

    11:28 Wed, 6 Mar R

    ¡°I see you¡¯re quite friendly with Adam Huxley. A catch of a man but I¡¯m not the least bit surprised that he keeps you as arm candy to patrol at his leisure to the cameras.¡± My eyes darted to Adam who had been conversing with an old business man at the end of the garden under a sparkling light making him impossible to miss.

    ¡°Every rtionship has its course. You should best to speak, Portia. As far I recalled the story going, George only even considered marrying you because you had trapped him with a child.¡± That one made her face turn scarlet red and she quickly looked around her to see if any one has been. looking or close enough go have heard.

    ¡°Shut it, you insolent little shit.¡± She hissed at me reminding me so much of Phoebe in the way eves nted in her anger.

    <b>her </b>

    ¡°Why? Is the cap fitting a little too well?¡± I smirked at her but soon enough she was not alone as Pheobe joined in seeing her mother¡¯s expression and cutting her way through the crowd to serve as a back bone.

    ¡°What is going on here?¡± Phoebe whisper yelled to her mother.

    Portia looked at me with using eyes. ¡°What do you think?¡± She asked Pheobe who immediately reached her own assumptions.

    ¡°Ugh, you should know better than to speak to such undeserving people, mother. I don¡¯t even know why I thought to put her on the list.¡± Pheobe muttered but I chuckled enjoying this unexpected hit of wit.

    ¡°You know exactly why you invited me, Pheobe. You wanted me here to burn at what you consider. a triumph but, my god, if only you know what I know, you¡¯d stop being so smug.¡± Iughed again at how delusional she had been.

    This engagement to her meant the world for her status and gain but little did she know what Dante was up to nearly two weeks ago.

    ¡°Do not let her get in your head, dear.¡± Portia ced a hand on Pheobe¡¯s shoulder right before she was about tounch at me. It is your engagement party and people are watching. She whispered. then threw a bitter look in my direction.

    ¡°Leave the scum where she ought to be. Orphaned and alone. Portia mocked before nudging her daughter away and i hated to admit it but her words had been a low blow. One that I felt in the pit. of my stomach.

    ¡°Sophia, <b>are </b>you alright?¡± Adam¡¯s concerned voice found me but <b>I </b>was stuck to the spot trying to keep myself together but I shook my head and ran in to the open back door of the house before muttering that I needed a moment.

    Thankfully, Adam left me be. Inavigated my way to the restroom but the familiar surroundings or the ce I once considered my home made it impossible for me to keep it together.

    I shut the door the minute that I was in and the tears began falling from my eyes uncontrobly. It was all weighing too heavy on me in <b>every </b>sense and no matter how much I tried to control my feelings, the tears just kept rolling over my cheeks.

    11:28 Wed, 6 Mar <b>R </b>

    Coming here was a bad idea. I knew I would he able to see Pheobe parade around greeting guests happily on Dante¡¯s arm but Portia being in attendance was just the cherry on the top.

    I fanned my face avoiding looking at myself in therge mirror stered over the basin. I didn¡¯t need a mirror to tell me that I looked like a damn mess right now I did know that I didn¡¯t have much time before I needed to fix myself up and get back out there to pretend as if nothing had happened and I was not in the bathroom crying my eyes out.

    My tears had finally dried up and I found a tissue to wipe my nose. This was the first step to fixing my appearance but the knock on the door was not what I had expected and who ever it had been was not waiting to be permitted in.

    ¡°It¡¯s upied.¡± I said in a wave of panic not wanting to be seen by any guests but the door was already being pushed open.

    There stood Dante in all of his dressed up glory looking every bit the soon to be groom and theplete opposite of being the mess that I had been. Turning away from him was futile because he had already caught sight of the mess that I had been.

    I knew my eye make up was running down my face and my eyes were probably bloodshot from the pressure of crying.

    Dante stood in the door way, his tall figure barely fitting within the confines of the door frame. His eyes ran over my face before his face tightened and his eyes grew dark with anger.

    I didn¡¯t know what to do when he sl*pped in and closed the door behind him before locking it leaving us both alone and staring at each other in the confined space of the bathroom that now felt even constrained than before.

    0

    COMMENT

    Çú

 Chapter 44

    It was reaching that point in my life where <b>I </b>realised that I may be the cause to my own suffering in some way. Though it may not be entirely direct but it was evident that I had ced myself in situated and settings in which would lead to my suffering when it could have all been easily avoidable.

    <b>This </b>evening was a prime example of it. Why on earth I was here, looking like aplete and utter mess when I could have been at home nestled up with my daughter on the couch watching some Disney movie. Instead, here I was crying in the bathroom of the house that was not mine for a long time now and confronted by the man I wished the least to see yet I willingly came to his house.

    Was I the idiot?

    Perhaps I was. Maybe it was my inability to leave Dante in the past for good and move on truly and whole fully but the more I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I was not the one at fault here. I was perfectly fine being away from Dante but it was he who chased after me, who refused to leave me alone. He had meddled in my life more than he should and until he had gotten beneath my skin just to get me beneath his b*dy again.

    Even now as he stood on front of me in the secluded, constrained space of the bathroom, I couldn¡¯t read his expression at all. What ever little expression his face contorted in when he first stepped in here was nowpletely gone. His eyes were a zed mask as was his face.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± I croaked then cringed <b>at </b>the sound at my own voice.

    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t show up tonight.¡± He said as he took a step forward. Subsequently, I had taken 2 steps back and away from him.

    I sniffed. ¡°Why <b>would </b>I not have attended?¡± I asked but it was so stupid of me since the answer to that question was literally right in front of both of us<b>. </b>

    ¡°Because I know all of this is hard for you, Sophia.¡± He said in such a calm, gentle¡­ almost pained

    tone<b>. </b>

    ¡°Hard for me?¡± I tried tough but it caught in my throat when he closed the distance between us in one swift step.

    I tried to take create distance between us but my back soon hit the cold tiled wall leaving me trapped between the hard contours of Dante¡¯s chest and the unwavering wall behind me.

    ¡°Sophia, I want to tell you that- I held my hand up to silence him but it had only brushed against the front of his crisp white dress shirt.

    I felt his muscles tense beneath the thin material and caught his jaw flex. An amber sparked in his orbs igniting a look <b>that </b>I knew all too well yet did not want to see right now.

    ¡°There is nothing that you can say to me that would make any difference in any way.¡± My voice was barely audible because I was suddenly too aware of his presence.

    His scent lingered in my nostrils, the heat of him radiated of his b*dy and through my clothes. hearing up my own skin. His eyes dropped from my eyes to my parted l*ps and I could read his

    <b>11:28 </b>

    mind <b>easily</b>.

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right but-¡± His face moved a fraction of an inch closer and my breath caught at the back of my throat.

    ¡°But?¡± I pushed, my orbs looked at him through myshes.

    ¡°But I at least have to try. His champagne scented breath fanned against my l*ps causing the skin there to tingle slightly.

    ¡°What is left to say? You are half way to the alter and I was just some one that you used.¡± I whispered in a pained voice and saw some thing in him crack.

    ¡°You were never ever some one that I used, Sophia. His words were firm and he looked at me seriously. ¡°I had a different route for us in mind.¡± He said sincerely nearly begging me to believe him.

    ¡°You may

    y have but it didn¡¯te across that way to me.¡± I countered with a scoff but look from him.

    Way

    Dante¡¯s index finger curved beneath my chin bringing my eyes back to look at him. I noticed <i>the </i>that his face was much closer than it had been before. I swallowed audibly and it was my eyes that now dropped to his l*ps.

    ¡°I am obligated by far more than I can exin to you.¡± He grunted with a sigh.

    ¡°And yet you are here standing too close to me instead of seeing to your duty as a fiance.¡± I retorted but my eyes were still settled on his l*ps.

    Dante¡¯s face moved closer to mine until his l*ps brushed against my ready and awaiting ones. I inhaled deeply and his arms sn*ked around me like a vine.

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t. This cannot-¡± I began to protest but when I looked into his eyes again and saw the burning neediness in them my words fell away.

    It was I who then pressed my l*ps against his and k*ssed him with a ferocious aching need that I did not even know that I possessed all evening. All logic and reason had left my mind the second Dante began k*ssing me back with wild greed that left me breathless yet aching for more.

    I pulled away to get <b>some </b>air but Dante¡¯s hands were already pushing my dress up until it bunch. over my ass. His hand found my cheeks and cuooed each one pressing me against his crotch to feel his hardness.

    His nose nuzzled the side of my temple. ¡°Why the fuck do I want you so bad? You¡¯re like a drug that I can¡¯t get enough of no

    wanted me. Wanted how hard I try to get you out of my system. All I heard was how he

    wanted me. Wanted me enough to be here with me risking so much. His reputation, his

    engagement.

    ¡°Dante,¡± I said partly breathless. ¡°We <b>can¡¯t</b>¡­ This can not happen again.¡± I said more to myself than I did to him as he grinded against my already lubricated core.

    ¡°Why not?¡± He whispered just below my ear.

    <b>11:28 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b>b Mar

    At that moment, with his l*ps against the sensitive skin behind my n*eck, I couldn¡¯t think of a single reasonable reason as to why I should end this<b>. </b>

    Not the fact that he was literally engaged neither the fact that I knew how this was going to end. All I seemed to care about, all my b*dy seemed to care about, was how much it needed him right now.

    ¡°B- Because you are engaged.¡± The words blurted out of my mouth like word vomit. ¡°Because you <b>have </b><b>a </b>while fiance. My voice rose <b>a </b>octave and it seemed like the louder I said it the more real it had gotten.

    And just like that I was back to my senses. Hearing myself say it made me realise just how wrong this was and the level to which Dante had been using me as his some thing on the side and the pathetic part of it was that I was allowing him to.

    ¡°Yet here we are in thispromising situation that neither of us should be a part of¡± My hands found his rippling chest that vibrated beneath my touch but I pushed him away.

    Of course, given his sheer size, he did not budge. Instead Dante looked down at me with a critical look before he removed his hands from my ass and took a step away from me but it was still not s far as away from me that I needed him to be.

    ¡°You are engaged. Dante, and soon enough you will be married. I will not allow myself to be a side piece even though you are quite content with that fact. If you are going to cheat on Pheobe, don¡¯t think that you can do it with me. It¡¯s a shame it already happened once but that was due to my own ignorance but now I know better. Gone were any remnants of desire that I had felt and all that remained was the anger that always seemed to be simmering just beneath the surface when I was in his presence.

    His brows pulled together and I could see that he was holding back his own anger but I did not care. Caring for him was the reason I had gotten myself in to this position to begin with.

    I crossed my arms <b>over </b>my chest and shot a scathing look at him. ¡°Why do you do this? Propose to her when you¡¯re here with me on the night of your engagement. How can youmit to her yet <b>be </b>so careless that you¡¯re willing to fuck me in this bathroom like it¡¯s nothing?¡± I was genuinely curious about this because I simply could not understand the nerve of it

    Dante¡¯s eyes had grown furious causing his face to tense up and tighten. His jaw clenched until it

    ticked but he ran a hand over his face in frustration. For <b>a </b>second he turned away from me but then returned right back to his prior position.

    ¡°Because I love you, damn it!¡± His voice boomed and echoed, bouncing against the walls and mming in to my ears loud and clear until his words rung in my head.

    ¡°What?!¡± The single word flew out if my mouth.

    ¡°It is my fault that I had realised it way too damnte and now <b>I¡¯m </b>paying for my mistake!¡± His pain caused his voice to turn rough.

    His admission had done nothing to soften me up. I heard it, acknowledged what he was saying, yet it didn¡¯t do anything to soften me up in any way. I looked at him and all I saw was another woman¡¯s

    fiance.

    28 Wed<b>, </b>6 Mar

    ¡°You are right. This is your mistake. One that I will not allow myself to be burdened to bear.¡± I muttered swallowing the lump that had painfully lodged itself in the back of my throat.

    70%

    +6

    Dante was not expecting <b>that </b>response from me. I scoffed as I looked at <b>him</b>. Did he think that I was going to rush in to his arms and ease <b>his </b>mind from the bed he had made and now had to lie in it for the rest of his life?

    But then a thought popped in to my head and i brought myself to look at him.

    ¡°Why are you marrying Phoebe then? If your affectionsy with me, why are you going ahead and marrying her?¡± I raised a witty brow at him waiting for his response.

    He groaned, running his hand roughly through his hair.

    ¡°Because I have no choice!¡± He snapped but he was not angry with me.

    ¡°Every one <b>has </b><b>a </b>choice, Dante.¡± <b>I </b>said in sharp tone but he shook his head.

    ¡°But I do not.¡± He reiterated and just as he was about to say some thing further, a knock sounded on the door.

    ¡°Dante? Are you in there?¡± My eyes widened the size of saucers and Dante swore beneath his breath.

    ¡°Dante, answer me if you¡¯re in there. I¡¯ve been looking all over for you.¡± Pheobe whined with a hint of irritation but boy was she about to be mad when that door opened.

    ¡°Hide behind the door so when I open it she does not see you.¡± He ordered and, not wanting any more drama this evening. I obliged.

    With me behind the door, Dante unlocked it and as the door opened it concealed me behind it.

    ¡°I am here. I think I¡¯ve eaten something that made me sick but I¡¯m all good. He lied like pro- managing to make his voice rough like he was actually unwell.

    ¡°Oh, goodness. I hope it¡¯s food poisoning and nothing contagious. Thest thing I¡¯d want right now is to get sick with you.¡± Phoebe continued her painful whining and even I winced at how annoying her voice could be.

    I bit back a bitter scoff. So much for ¡®in sickness and in health, I thought wryly, but Dante was a fool of he thought Phoebe was going to be the wife of his dreams. However, my the look of it, he was already aware of the fact but what the hell could she have over him that would force him to marry her?

    That was <b>a </b>question that I could not think of a suitable answer for. Dante was an unfathomably wealthy man. If anything, he would be the one to threaten and not be threatened. Nothing made

    sense!

    I moved to the mirror and nearly gasped at how horrible I looked but I quickly cleaned my face. and made myself look presentable enough to make my back to the party without so much as raising a suspicious eye.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to locate Adam especially since he was in the corner of the garden keeping an eye in

    the direction of the entrance I had disappeared in to several minutes ago. So, when I appeared in his view he crossed the garden with out any hesitation.

    ¡°Are you alright? You look a little different. His eyes scanned my face but I smiled at him but it didn¡¯t reach my eyes..

    ¡°I¡¯m fine but I am ready to go home now, if you do not mind.¡± He nodded immediately and offeded me his arm which I took.

    As Adam lead me out of the garden and back down the path that we once made our way from. I couldn¡¯t help but try and get onest look of Dante before I left. I saw him beside Pheobe as they spoke to a man and the woman on his arm smiling as if nothing had been amiss, like he hadn¡¯t just said that he loved me minutes ago and that he didn¡¯t want to marry the woman beside <b>him </b>yet looked the part.

    I looked ahead as I stepped down the paved steps and I knew what I needed to do and I was hell bent on seeing it through.

    he

    É«

 Chapter 45

    The once bright blue sky that hung proudly above was no longer than same. If some one were to tell me that the now dark, almost ck, sky was once an airy blue, I would have found it difficult to believe had I not been witness to it myself.

    Not only had the sky conformed from one parallel to another but so did the temperature outside. The slight warmth that moved through the air had disappeared entirely once it had struck noon. Since then, it had be cold enough that the air felt cold before it turned in to a biting temperature.

    It should not havee of as any much <b>as </b>a surprise to me as it had considering that I spent years. in Canada. I guess thest few months back in America kind of threw me off slightly from the unpredictability of Canadian weather.

    I did not know of how long I had nned to be here because it was the most on the spot decision I have ever made but <b>I </b>knew it was the best possible decision I could make given the situation.

    I needed to be away from Dante and Pheobe and what ever mess those two seemed highly determined to entangle themselves in. It also bought me some time to keep this paternity test from taking ce. It was not some thing that I could run away from forever but I could try to until Dante would give up. He had to give up at some point seeing as he would be married in who knows how many months and then he would have a lot more to focus on than Hayley and I.

    As for Hayley, she had been a tad bit happy toe back since she did miss her familiar surroundings especially since this was where she was born and brought up. No matter what, I doubted any ce on earth would feel like home in the truest sense to her as much as she felt it here.

    A sneeze dragged my attention away from the deteriorating weather out side the window. I <b>turned </b>just enough so I could see Hayley in the corner of the room scrunching her nose right before another sneeze caught her off guard.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked lightly.

    Hayley shook her head as she sniffed. ¡°I think it¡¯s the dust.¡± She reasoned and I couldn¡¯t disagree.

    The ce did get dusty in the time that we had been away but I was determined to take care of it.

    ¡°I know, sweety. I did call the cleaning agency toe in tomorrow and tidy up.¡± I informed her but she rolled herself over to me across the room.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to storm in no time.¡± Hayley pointed out as she, too, observed the weather. ¡°I forgot how unpredictable the weather could be back here.¡± She shrugged before looking at me.

    ¡°I hope it isn¡¯t too bad of a storm.¡± I said as I reached to move a few tendrils of hers behind her ear<b>. </b>

    ¡°Are you happy to be back here?¡± I asked and saw her purse her l*ps as she pondered over it.

    ¡°I guess but I feel a like I need some time to adjust to the ce <b>again</b>.¡± She exined and I knew just what she meant.

    <b>11-28 </b>Wed<b>, </b>b Mar

    ¡°Plus the house that we have in America is so much cooler and bigger<b>. </b><b>I </b>had more ce there to move around and I loved the garden during the day.¡± She looked around the apartment <b>as </b>she made theparison and I felt a tad bit guilty for taking her away from what she had grown used

    <ol>

    <li>to. </li>

    </ol>

    ¡°It is a pretty nice house and I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll go back in no time.¡± It was inevitable considering it would be impossible for me to work from here for too long.

    There were only a certain number of meetings that could be held over the inte especially since there would be finance meetings that would be vital for me to attend in person. The growth of the business was still at the fore front of my focus. I was more determined now more than ever to win this over Dante after what he had done.

    ¡°Do you ever miss your friends, mama?¡± Hayley asked out of the blue causing me my brows to furrow together.

    ¡°That <b>is </b>such a random question but it depends. Some times if I don¡¯t see them for a long time then I do miss them.¡± I exined lightly. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°Because I was <b>thinking </b>about thest time you¡¯ve seen Dante and it has been too long.¡± She sounded more disappointed than I could understand.

    ¡°He is a busy man so I hardly get to see him but that¡¯s okay.¡± I tried to diffuse the subject of the man she addressed by his first name who was her father.

    ¡°But he said that he was also my friend and I miss him. I think he¡¯s fun.¡± The heaviness in her voice was unmissable and I didn¡¯t think that she had taken such a liking to him enough that she remembered him even after a while of not seeing him.

    ¡°He¡¯s not too bad. I think Adam can be more fun than him though.¡± I tried to sway her but she shook her head adamantly.

    ¡°Adam is nice but Dante felt like he was a proper friend to me. It¡¯s the first time that I felt like I had. a friend besides nanny Nancy.¡± In that moment I felt horrible.

    As much as I did not want her to take so much of a liking to Dante, I also knew that making friends. for her was challenging some times and how could I take away the one friend she assumed she had aside from Nancy yet I still went on to say what I did.

    ¡°You¡¯ve hardly gotten to know him properly.¡± I reasoned trying to douse out the fire and calm down any further interest she had with Dante.

    ¡°Not true. He¡¯s had dinner with us and he took me to that chocte factory tour. He wouldn¡¯t do that for just any one. You said he¡¯s a busy person but he made time to take me to taste all of that chocte.¡± She exined right back at me passionately and firmly holding her stance about Dante.

    ¡°Alright, alright, Dante is your friend then.¡± I held my hands up yfully in surrender and she smiled in satisfaction.

    ¡°Can we get pizza for supper?¡± She batted her eyes at me to soften me up but she didn¡¯t need to do that especially since I never or hardly ever refused her request for pizza.

    11:28 Wed, 6 Mar R

    The next morning while Hayley had still been pretty much asleep, I finally took the chance to set up myptop so I could be a part of the reviewing meeting that is scheduled for this morning. before I had left this meeting was supposed to be held in the boardroom but seeing that I was not there it just made most sense to host <i>it </i>as a digital meeting.

    the meeting had onlysted about an hour and for the most part I had already known what was going on since I reviewed the paperwork prior to the meeting itself. the meeting had barely just concluded when my phone began to vibrate signaling that some one had been calling me. I quickly exited the meeting before reaching for my phone to see that there was an iing call from Lucy.

    I frownes since it really wasn¡¯t like her to call me and most of ourmunication had been conducted over emails. nevertheless I picked up the call to see what she had wanted.

    ¡°it hasn¡¯t been 24 hours since I have left yet you are already missing me. ¡°I joked to y fully as I shut the screen of myptop.

    I heard Lucy take in a deep breath before she spoke. ¡°aside from the fact that I do miss you it¡¯s not the reason that I¡¯m calling you for. ¡°she said in a bit of a tense tone.

    ¡°is there something going on at thepany? I¡¯m sure that I have seen two whatever urgent matters needed to be taken care of before I left. ¡°my shoulder squared preparing myself whatever horrible news about a drop on me.

    ¡°No, No. every thing is perfectly fine at thepany, however Dante Crawford dropped by early this morning and he was not very pleased to discover that you had left the country. ¡°I let out a slow breath knowing exactly what his disapproval was mainly about.

    st time I checked there was no dealings to be seen too between thesepanies. did he say why exactly he had stopped by? ¡°I questioned curious to know if he would mention anything about the paternity test to Lucy.

    ¡°nope. ¡°she said popping the P sound. ¡°he entered then asked if you were in your office and once I had mentioned that you will not even in the country he was visibly furious. ¡®she sounded confused herself with his reaction but I was not.

    ¡°don¡¯t worry about him but I will send him an email to find out what the reason he is seeking me out for. ¡°I lied just to close the matter before hanging up.

    it came as no surprise neither had it been any sort of a secret that Dante would not be please to find out that I have taken Hayley and left especially since he warned me clearly about the repercussions that I would face if I evaded this paternity test. however as much as he had threatened me I doubted that he would ever stoop to that level. Heck, if they had been even a shadow of a doubt that he may exercise his legal right I would not even have considered being so risky.

    I did not even know how long I nned to stay in Canada for but it really could not be any more than a few days before certain matches would require you my attention and I would have to return.ing here was just a means to get a break from everything else that had been going on.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter <b>46 </b>

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    My grip around the whiskey ss tightened until I could feel it squeak against the palm of my hand, the contents of it had been drained several minutes ago after being refilled countless of times. it was really not like me to drink before noon but I had reached the point where I could not longer give a fuck.

    I could not recall thest time that I had been so furious. the only difference was that this time I did. not know who I was more angry with. A part with me was why the irritated with Sophia for taking Hayley and fleeing the country the first chance she had gotten, it had made matters worse that she had done so after I explicitly warned her not to evade or do anything to prevent this paternity test from happening. however judging by how adamant she was from ensuring that it did not take ce I thought like a no longer needed to carry on demanding a pattern detest because her behavior was. an answer to my assumptions all along.

    on the other hand my own anger towards myself had been eating at me for the past week. never have I ever regretted a decision so hard in my entire life. all this time I thought that I wanted Phoebe and that her walking out of my life was the end of it. I had believed that mad assumption so hard that I had taken for ground to the woman that I actually had that I only knowe to realize was irrecable.

    Sofia had been the one I wanted all long but it had just taken me too long to realize it and by the time I did things had gotten a bit too messy. if Phoebe and her family had not been so difficult about it marrying her would not even be on the table let alone getting engaged to her. I would have concentrated on nothing more but winning Sophia back.

    But it was proving impossible at this rate. I needed to know that Phoebe was not carrying my child for sure before Imitted to her on paper. however that would require me to wait nine long unbearable months, it was also no shocker that she was using this pregnancy her full advantage. from constant pampering to already shopping for when new maternity wardrobe, she was unbearable. on top of all of this she made sure that I was home as much as possible but a new that it was just her way of trying to keep an eye on me.

    but I would be damned if I allowed Phoebe too control me let alone think that I would y right into her hands. I mean not be able to gauge the child¡¯s true parentage until said child is born but I could investigate into Phoebe¡¯s life in the past few years as hard as possible. whatever I could find to use <b>as </b>an exnation or to my advantage would not be missed. something told me that she was not carrying my child despite what the situation said there was no hard truth to the matter, I may have been drunk that night but I was not that out of it to not recall such a thing the morning after or at least remnants of what had ured.

    at this very moment in time it was just Phoebe¡¯s word against mine with neither one of us having substantial proof to support either of our stances.

    of course, my good man Frederick Sanders had been contacted and was working hard than ever to dig up whatever dirt that he could on Phoebe.

    when Frederick had contacted <b>me </b>the next morning eager to find me and actuallye over to discuss what he had discovered I had toe him down and insist that <b>I </b>meet him at his office. I

    <b>83 </b>

    did not want to discuss matters with him within the confines of my own home considering Phoebe shared the same home and I did not trust one but neither did I put eavesdropping past her.

    The next morning, I showered and dressed in my usual 3 piece suit before rushing out of the house with out even caring for my morning cup of espresso. Frederick would be kind enough to fix me at cup himself.

    His offices were empty and I walked right through to find him smoking leisurely on a Cuban cigar. The bastard never really cared for smoking out if his office.

    ¡°Really, Fred, it¡¯s not even 9 yet.¡± I motioned to his smoking cigar.

    His beige pants held a shirt tucked in to it that creased when he turned to slide behind his desk and the chair that he settled in to.

    ¡°I need it for survival.¡± He said like a true smoker but he pulled open a binder and his face immediately transformed to mean business.

    ¡°You are going to want to see this.¡± He said with a suspenseful note in his words that had me leaning closer to his desk.

    If this had offered me a way out from Phoebe¡¯s clutches then I wanted to know every bit of information that he had found.

    Frederick slid a picture of a burly man in my direction with pitch ck hair. At first nce at the picture it was not hard to gather that this man, whoever he was, was not to be trusted but what the hell did he <b>have </b>to do with Phoebe or her family for thai matter.

    ¡°Who the hell is this?¡± I asked impatiently.

    Frederick blew a puff of smoke from his mouth in to the air above before speaking. ¡°That, my friend, is Demetri Toretelli. Busted 3 times for bank heist and recently released from prison. I¡¯m talking three months ago.¡± He babbled on but I knew that he was getting to some thing, he had to be otherwise he was sjnoly wasting my time.

    He slid another picture across the table and this one connected the dots for me a little. It <b>was </b><b>at </b>picture of Pheobe and this man leaving the doctor¡¯s office hand in hand as th

    man¡¯s face hovered over hers like the picture was taken right before a k*ss.

    ¡°This picture was taken a week ago outside the gynaecologist office. Demetri Toretelli and Pheobe go a long way back. He was the man she was with a long while when you were newly married. Then he got busted for his heist at the back on main Street and that¡¯s when Pheobe came back in to your life rather coincidentally.¡± He slid a third picture in front of me.

    I looked down at it to find a ck and white picture of Pheobe and Demetri leaving a motel together and they k*ssed with his hand on her breast.

    ¡°This image was snapped the day Pheobe¡¯s child would be suspected to have been conceived. Demetri was just released from prison a few weeks prior and my sources tell me that they had reconnected instantly, picking up where they had left of. My jaw clenched tightly as my fury began to bubble all over again like an inferno that reached a new booking point.

    ¡°Now, we can¡¯t be sure that the child isn¡¯t yours but the evidence does suggest otherwise. After all, she definitely has been physically involved with this guy the estimated time that her child would

    have been conceived. My guess is that Demetri doesn¡¯t have much and Phoebe is used to the luxury

    of the life you afford her. Could exin why she wants to push the child on you. If you actually ept the child then it¡¯ll some day inherit leaving her at an advantage, too.¡± It all made perfect damn sense!

    That is why she disappeared when I had kicked her out only to return pregnant with no prior suspicion before she had left. She had messed around behind my back then returned to me pregnant with another man¡¯s child for me to bear the responsibility of.

    It made perfect sense why her family and her insisted so adamantly on me marrying her and us not just being co- parents which is rather normal in today¡¯s day and age. Pheobe was not a very traditional woman. If any one knew this it would be me.

    ¡°Now, hold on before you think that is all that I have managed to dig up.¡± Frederick sounded smug like he knew that he had achieved far more than I had expected him.

    ¡°What else did you find?¡± I pinned my narrowed eyes on him.

    ¡°You know that ck SUV that rammed you over the cliff a month ago?¡± He asked and my eyes immediately widened.

    ¡°Yes, what the fuck about it?¡± I demanded to know. He needed to get out with it because the suspense <b>was </b>going to add to my fury.

    ¡°A man with the same characteristics and feature description hired that car and returned it utterly bashed with no tes fitted on. For some reason, Demitri Toretelli had made either you or Sophia his target that night but it was just that night. There has been no reports or sightings of him trying any thing else with either of you leaving me to conclude that he was just after you two for that night.¡± I swore beneath my breath.

    Demetri was behind that night where either Sophia or I could have met with horrible ends. But if he was after me for ¡®stealing Pheobe then his attack would have been more constant and not just a once off attempt. Could he have been after Sophia exclusively? But why?

    The second I asked myself that question I knew the answer already. Pheobe.

    ¡°Pheobe¡¯s family is falling further in to debt and I can¡¯t help but strongly feel like this all motivated my money. Demetri doesn¡¯t have anything to his name and my guess is that Pheobe is trying something smart to walk away with as much money from you as possible.¡± I nodded curtly knowing that that was exactly what she had nned.

    After speaking to Frederick a bit longer and informing him to let me know if any thing newes up, I left with the intention finding Phoebe and making her pay for her actions. I did not enjoy

    being toyed with and especially to the scale that she had done so.

    To hell with her and her family. They could rot and perish for <b>all </b>I cared. The only reason I even offered her shelter was because there had been the question of her carrying my child but now that there was a clear alternative, I couldn¡¯t care less what happened to her neither the scandal it could, cause once every one hears about our broken engagement.

 Chapter 47

    Dante¡¯s <b>POV </b>

    when I had left Frederick¡¯s office my temper had only just been simmering beneath the surface but <b>with </b>each mile that I drove back to the house my anger had reached a boiling point.

    not only was I in a constant <b>stage </b>of irritation on a normal day whenever I would think about the predicament Phoebe and her family had tied me down to but knowing just how scheming and the amount of lies that they had spoken in order to guilt me into even giving into such a decision was enough to have me do some things drastic given the gravity of my anger at present.

    knowing what I knew now there was no way I was going to allow her to put me in such a position <b>of </b>doubt that she could get me into doing what she wanted me to do.

    I cut the engine the moment my car had reached the paved area just below the steps leading to the main entrance. I wasted no time in getting out of the car and entering the house but I tried to be as sneaky and silent as possible. it was not usual for me to return back home so soon once I had left in the morning so Phoebe would not even be expecting my return leaving me in the perfect position to catch up guard.

    And, my god, did I catch you off guard.

    her voice could be heard from the foyer and seem to grow louder as a moved in the direction of the drawing room. at first I assumed that she had been speaking to someone in person but as I need the arch of the drawing room I found that she was alone. her back had been facing towards me and she had no idea of my presence. she held her phone to her ear and toyed with her hair as she spoke in a very soft and almost seductive tone.

    she had already been all dressed up but that was not unusual for Phoebe since she had always enjoyed making up her face and doing her hair and getting dressed in the mostvish dresses.

    ¡°if you want we can meet at the usual spot. I¡¯d invite you home but things are still very unsettled at the moment and I do not want Dante suspecting anything between us. ¡°Pheobe spoke in to the phone with no caution or care,

    I hid my self behind the wall when I suspected that she was about to turn and this definitely sounded like a conversation that I wanted to be eavesdropping on.

    ¡°I know but if we are so much as spotted together then it would give him the chance to suspect that this child is not his. Right now he believes that he was the only man in my life and he does not want this child anyways. Thest thing I want to do is give him a chance to believe it.¡± She spoke so casually about it like this was all a damn joke to her<b>. </b>

    ¡°It is our child but Dante doesn¡¯t need to know that, Demetri. You know how delicate the situation is. It¡¯s just for a few months. Once he marries me then I will file for divorce. It¡¯s all part of the n sweetheart. You just have to be patient then we can frolick freely to out hearts content.¡± Pheobe¡¯s tone held a great amount of glee and ambition to it but to me, she had just put all the puzzle pieces in to ce.

    I knew all that I needed to know. What ever she had just said removed any room for assumptions <b>and </b>made everything that Frederick discovered facts.

    <b>83</b>%

    It was finally time to make myself know. I stepped out from behind the wall and stood right in the arch. Pheobe saw me instantly and her face went as white a sheet of paper almost like she had seen a ghost in broad day light.

    ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± I asked with no trace of lightness or humour to my words. Nothing could be heard but red hot anger.

    The phone from her hand quickly cut and fell to her side as she <b>stared </b>at me with widen eyes that <b>were </b>the size of saucers.

    ¡°D- Dante,¡± She stuttered baffled at what <b>to </b>say hi it also trying to gage how much of her conversation I had listened to. ¡®Is isn¡¯t like you to be home so early. Did you forget some thing?¡± She tried to maintain a neutral tone but her face was now flustered as she panicked.

    ¡°Cut the act, Pheobe. I know about every thing.¡± I warned her <b>not </b>in the mood for her to try and cover this up to suit her better.

    ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about.¡± Her eyes darted to her phone thaty on the floor. ¡°Oh, that, I was just talking to my mother. She lied which only made me more annoyed about it all.

    ¡°Funny since I can¡¯t recall when your mother changed her name to Demitri.¡± I pointed out and she swallowed audibly as her nerves shot up around her.

    I stepped further in to the room and saw her get ufortable but I didn¡¯t care. From here on out, I couldn¡¯t give two shits what happens to her.

    ¡°I always knew that the child you carry has never been mine. I am never so drunk to not recall events and I wondered why I could never remember that night you speak of and that was because nothing happened. You put me to bed and I passed out. We never had S*x that night as you so imed but-¡± I grinned at her but nothing to be friendly just enough for her to get intimidated and she did.

    ¡°You did meet Demetri on the same day where you guys shared a long time a motel together. Tell me, Phoebe, was it before or after this did you scheme to trap in a marriage for a child that wasn¡¯t mine just so you could divorce me and take half of what I owned leaving you a rather wealthy woman but, too bad, your ns will nevere to fruition.¡± I mocked her holding on to that because so god help me if I gave in to my anger.

    ¡°You- you have got this all wrong. I promise you.¡± She began pleasing but she could cry blood for all I cared.

    ¡°Please, do not think I am stupid enough to be fooled again by you. I know your true colours and nothing will change my mind now. You and your scheming family can go to hell.¡± I snapped at her, my voice loud enough even for my own ears<b>. </b>

    Phoebe jumped back a little and I waited for her to speak but she was <b>too </b>stunned, too shocked that her grand n came crushing right before her very eyes,

    ¡°I want you to pack your things and get the fuck out of my life for good!¡± I yelled at her but that only triggered her own bitterness.

    I saw it bleed in to her eyes and watches <b>as </b>she squared her shoulders ready to fight.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get the fuck out of your life but don¡¯t for a single second assume that Sophia would take you back. What do you think? that by getting rid of me all your problems would be solved? <i>Th </i>Sophia will ept you and you can finally be a father to child that she keeps hidden from you?¡± My head snapped up when she mentions Hayley.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡± I muttered demanding to know.

    Her eyes flickered and her l*ps pressed together in amusement. ¡°Ah, she hasn¡¯t told child being yours but I can¡¯t me her. At one point, after she tried to tell you about her pregnancy

    you about the that day in your office when I returned and your refused to hear her out, I had taken it upon myself to eradicate that child before it was born but, unfortunately, I failed but I¡¯m d today that I did because it will make you realise how many years you¡¯ve missed out on being a father to your child that needed you desperately.¡± She retorted and my hands balled up on to fists.

    ¡°You attempted to harm her baby while she was newly pregnant?¡± I yelled louder than I had expected and she winced realising how she fucked up by admitting to it but her anger made her abandon all reason and logic.

    ¡°Yes but only because I wanted her out of your life for good. She admitted and I was ready to tackle her to the ground had she not been a damn woman.

    ¡°It is now you who will be leaving my life for you. As for that boyfriend of yours, I¡¯m not done with him yet. His crimes are also well know and the life you imagined you¡¯d live together after looting me of my money will never evere to light. He will be behind bars again, Pheobe, I promise you that. He can run and hide but we will find him and I will make sure he rots away in prison.¡± I vowed to her and saw her look scared for the first time in the years that I had known her for.

    ¡°Get out of my house before the day ends or I will throw you out myself.¡± I warned her before turning around and leaving the house entirely.

    I couldn¡¯t stand being in the same space as her without thinking of harming her for what she had done. The only thing I needed to focus on now is winning Sophia back and taking my ce as a father in Hayley¡¯s life.

 Chapter 48

    Pencil skirt. Check.

    Enough make up so I didn¡¯t look dead. Check.

    All the preparations for thepany growth meeting done. Check.

    After avoiding returning back to reality, I had no choice but to catch the earliest flight back <b>to </b>attend this meeting held at thepany. I had managed to hide away in my quaint apartment in Canada for almost a month before I received this email a week ago from Lucy informing me about this meeting. It was not one to be missed and neither could I attend it remotely.

    This meeting was important. It determined the growth of the business and also the standing of the bet which I was still determined to emerge victorious.

    It was not a meeting for investors and I had not been expecting any of the investors <b>to </b>be there but that was changed at thest minutes as I got in to my office to gather my things for the meeting. Lucy entered my office after knocking once on the slightly ajar door.

    ¡°I¡¯m just dropping by to inform you of a slight change in ns.¡± She mentioned hesitantly testing the waters before she spoke.

    I looked up from the papers that I had been organising. ¡°The meeting better not be cancelled.¡± I said with a narrowed re but she shrugged it off.

    ¡°No, that is still on but Mr Crawford will be sitting in on the me at her nkly.

    I blinked a few times looking

    Why? Why was he attending the meeting when he had no business being here. This meeting was for thepany team <b>and </b>myself and no external persons.

    I waited for Lucy to correct herself but she didn¡¯t. instead she just looked at me for some sort of

    <b>response</b>.

    ¡°What? Why?¡± I blurted out, my disapproval to this change of n audible enough for her to frown and not understand why I was so opposed to it.

    ¡°B- Because he is thepanies biggest and most vital investor. Apparently we do not have much say in the matter <b>unless </b>we wish to cause detriment to ourselves.¡± She warned me with tightly pressed l*ps.

    ¡°I know but how on earth did he even get to know about his meeting?!¡± I demanded to know but she scowled.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t the slightest of clue but I don¡¯t see what the big deal is if he is a part of the meeting. He probably won¡¯t say a word and will sit as a bystander and nothing more. She said rationally but she did not know Dante like I did.

    I knew that he was not to be trusted and in the past month that I had been away, I had sealed my heart and mind from him knowing that he was no good and I could not trust a word he said. It was a pity that he was such a vital investor or else he¡¯d be out of my life in ever possible aspect.

    ???

    <b>83</b>%

    ¡°It just took me by surprise that he would be attending. Nothing more.¡± I said with a tight smile looking down at the folder.

    ¡°Guess he has free time now that his engagement has been broken off.¡± I did a double take as she said not, my ears rejecting what I had just heard.

    What are you talking about, Lucy?¡± I questioned her and she looked at me like I had been living

    beneath a rock.

    ¡°How do you not know about this?!¡± She asked in baffled surprised before closing the door behind her. ¡°No one truly knows what happened between him and his fiance but news broke out shortly after their engagement that they have split. There has been no further exnation and, quite frankly, no one is brave enough to ask Mr Crawford about the real reason it hade to an end.¡± She straightened her posture then rxed her expression like she hasn¡¯t just dropped the hottest piece of gossip.

    ¡°I guess I had better things to worry about.¡± I said pursing my l*ps. ¡°Either way, his personal life is none of any of our concern.¡± I said but more as a reminder to myself than to Lucy.

    Dante had fooled me once before about Pheobe¡¯s standing in his life and I was done with him, Pheobe or not. I¡¯d given him too many chances and he messed up each time.

    ¡°Of course. She agreed but very half heartedly.

    I inhaled deeply before checking my watch and saw that it was nearly time for the meeting. I gathered the folder and left my office trying not to think about Dante sitting amongst us during the meeting.

    I didn¡¯t want him there for many reasons but the main one being that I wanted to know before him what thepanies progress had been. If it was unfavourable for me then I could buy myself more time and fix it until I reigned in enough growth that Dante would lose the bet but if it worked to my benefit then I wanted to have a grand ¡®in your face¡¯ moment. His presence denied me of that.

    When I arrived at the boardroom, I noticed that every one had already been seated and, by the look of it, had been awaiting my attendance. I frowned thinking that there was no way that I could have beente and checked my watch again only to discover that my watch had died on me.

    Nevertheless, I held my chin high and my shoulders squared as I took the remaining seat at the end of therge table trying not to pay attention to the unmissable man to my left.

    The meeting hadmenced and was conducted by Jenna, our head of analysis, who steered us through the figures and highs and lows before her counterpart had taken over to go on.

    I waited with bated breaths for the verdict to be delivered about whether or not thepany had reached the percentage of growth that I was expecting.

    ¡°Now since the changes that ured to thepany, we have managed to boost progress by an impressive 10 percent although-¡±

    ¡°That can¡¯t be correct.¡± I blurted out without thinking.

    10 percent was too little and I knew that that figure was wrong. The team had missed some thing

    Thu, Mar

    83<b>% </b>

    but that was not a point to being up now considering that I did not want to embarass my team in

    front of Dante<b>. </b>

    ¡°I apologize. What I mean to say is that I would like for this percentage to be closely looked at again and re¨Cevaluated. Ourpany has been on the rocks for a short while but with the efforts put in my all of us and the changes made, I merely think that we should look in to that percentage to be sure.¡± I suggested a little more carefully trying not to sound condescending and rude because that <b>was </b>not my intention at all.

    Jenna frowned but nodded anyways withholding herments as did Josh, her counter part. Both of them shared a nce before sharing a small nod of agreement.

    ¡°We will give the figures a look over once again in case there is a chance that we missed some thing. Josh said politely but the air in the room had tensed after such an unexpected interruption.

    The meeting was concluded shortly after and I made haste to leave not wanting to be cornered or be put in to any position what so ever to interact with Dante and some thing told me that he had not juste here for the meeting.

    The entire time that I had been seated in that board room, I felt his heavy eyes fixed on me watching my every move and watching me closely to the extent that I began to feel self conscious for the breaths that I had been taking.

    I rushed in to my office and shut the door informing Lucy that I was not epting any one in my office <b>as </b>I wished to bit be disturbed. She nodded and didn¡¯t seem to care much as she type on herputer.

    But, surely enough, less than ten minutester my office door was pushed open with out so much. of a knock before Dante stormed in like he owned the damn building.

    ¡°Mr Crawford, you can¡¯t go in¡­ Her words trailed off when she realised she was a little toote to stop him but I didn¡¯t think that she had the power to because he was determined.

    Determined, pissed off, yet unreadable.

    É«

 Chapter 49

    <b>Chapter </b>49

    The air within the confines of my office had turned a few degrees warmer since Dante had barged in to it. I could not tell if the heat was from theck of air conditioning due to maintenance issues or if it was the sheer amount of warmth radiating from Dante himself.

    His signature suit clung to his b*dy like a perfectly crafted, hand tailored, second skin that was made from the finest and most expensive quality materials and finishings. It was impable the difference <b>a </b>well made suit made on a man but having said that, I felt like Dante in all his physical glory, would make any piece of clothing look like a S*x icon.

    As if he had read my thoughts, his own orbs darkened with mischief as he took a single step closer to me, squaring his shoulders to make himself lookrger than he already had been. I couldn¡¯t tell what it was but I some how felt like I had the upper hand between the two of us.

    in

    After discovering that Pheobe and Dante were allegedly no longer engaged and having Dante here my office, I felt like I was in the position to refuse him now and shut him out. It was some thing that I had intended to do from the day he had doubled crossed me and made me look like a fool. His promation of his affections meant nothing any more and I was done with the man¡­ for good

    this time.

    ¡°Your little stunt back in the boardroom saved your ass.¡± He muttered expressing his disapproval at what I did back there,

    I pursed my l*ps, frowning innocently. ¡°I have not the slightest clue what you¡¯re speaking about.¡± I shrugged moving a few fly away tendrils behind my ears.

    ¡°If that verdict was past at the meeting and that percentage was set as the final count then you know very well that you would have lost the bet on agreement that we made.¡± He shook his head in admonishment. ¡°Not very truthful and ethical of you.¡± He mocked.

    ¡°Oh? I merely asked for a recount so that we are certain of the numbers before we go ahead and set that as the finally increase. I do not see what was wrong in my wanting to me thorough.¡± I pressed my l*ps in to a thin line as I watched him grin sarcastically.

    ¡°I could bet that you wouldn¡¯t have asked for such careful reconsideration had the situation been the other way around.¡± He spat out and I smirked at him.

    ¡°And we both know how fond you are of striking bets.¡± His eyes darkened at my words.

    ¡°Just as much as you are of ying d*rty.¡± He retorted causing me throw an uninterested look his

    <b>way</b>.

    ¡°The meeting was reserved forpany Intel only and not investors yet I still allowed attend and I¡¯m the one who fights d*rty?¡± I ced a hand over my chest dramatically and he

    you to

    scoffed.

    ¡°We both know you had no say in the matter of whether I could attend or not.¡± Dante said dryly.

    My face fell. ¡°And it¡¯s not like you had any ulterior motive by attending today either.¡± I faked <b>a </b>smile. at him but he grunted. ¡°In any case, I can¡¯t see why you came all the way to my office just to speak about such an irrelevant incident.¡± I narrowed my eyes at him and he took in a breath deep enough

    that his chest broadened and expanded before he let it out.

    ¡°I have a bone to pick with you.¡± He threw me a scathing look, one that was totally unexpected.

    He moved to the edge of my desk where he leaned his hip against the edge so he could throw an assessing look up and down my length which annoyed me greatly.

    ¡°I would be shocked if you showed up was not really well recieved by him.

    here for

    any other reason.¡± I responded sarcastically which

    ¡°Enough with your hauty, high handed behaviour. I have tolerated it and given you many passes but not any more.¡± I raised a brow at his rough, scathing words.

    I blinked a few times before ring at him. ¡°You? You are the one who has tolerated me?¡± I scoffed with augh. ¡°Please, if any thing it is the other way around. I countered but he let out a huff.

    ¡°You have no sense of moral obligation. You lie and run away from the first sign of inconvenience to your path. You¡¯re just a coward. He insulted me, his teeth pressing together tightly.

    I actuallyughed at his allegations when he was the one who was guilty of all the things he had just used me of

    ¡°Moral obligation? Are you going to be the one to teach me about being moral now? Says that man. who lied to me, who deceived me, and all just for what?¡± His nostril twitched when I chuckled mockingly. ¡°All for nothing.¡± I added.

    Dante stood up to his full length towering over me. He looked down at me with warning written all over his face. He was angry, that was clear enough but i was done with him ying the part of the self righteous leaving me to shoulder the me for his fuck ups.

    ¡°You left the country with Hayley when I warned you not to. I sent you the details for the paternity test and sent another reminder not to miss it and what did you go and do? exactly the thing I told you not.¡± He yelled this time and the sheer booming of his voice echoed through the office and reverberated right through me causing me to jump back in fear.

    ¡°I- I couldn¡¯t allow,¡± I stuttered unable to find the words but he cut me off.

    ¡°Allow what? Allow me to find out the truth which you have been hiding all these years?!¡± He yelled in my face and I could see his anger raging and wreaking havoc within him but I could also see the painced through it all but I didn¡¯t fixate on it because if I did, I would begin to feel sorry for him.

    ¡°I do not know what you¡¯re talking about, Dante.¡± My words were shaky and my voice was unconvincing.

    ¡°Save it. When you used to make all of these ims so confidently before, a small part of me believed you but now I know better.¡± He said, narrowing his eyes usingly at me.

    ¡°You know nothing.¡± I shot back at him, my chin jutting out defiantly.

    ¡°I know, without a doubt, that Hayley is my child. He spoke each word with slow deliberation making sure that I heard him and prevented any further attempts of me trying to convince him otherwise<b>. </b>

    <b>??? </b>

    <i>O </i>

    <b>83</b>%

    Hearing him im Hayley as his had me absolutely stunned and speechless. I stared at him nkly not knowing what on earth to say because I did not want to confirm what he was saying even though he seemed like he did not need it.

    ¡°And you have kept her as a secret from me for nearly 5 full years. Have you shame that you kept a child away from knowing her father? Does it ever get to you?¡± He questioned with such judgement that only set my anger aze.

    ¡°Do not try and pretend like you are self righteous, Dante. If you remember correctly, I had asked, no, no, begged that we speak in private the very day I found out which happened to be the same day you broke the news to me that you and Pheobe were rekindling the ambers of your old me but you had refused me mercilessly and didn¡¯t even award me privacy to show you the reports in my hand that I was pregnant.¡± It my turn to have at him and finally say what I wanted to tell him for

    years.

    I saw his eyes withdraw as he recalled that exact day and moment that I was speaking off. His guilt bit at him and so did his regret but it was toote.

    ¡°But you had already made your mind up by then and chose Pheobe over all else and who was I toe in between that? I was not going to beg any further like some pathetic creature begging for your favour. So, I did what I thought was best. I ended of taking a deep breath in feeling like I needed it.

    Dante was quiet for several moments. His face became unreadable and for a flicker of a second I thought that I had won this one but that assumption had onlysted a short while because his face contorted in to what it had been before.

    ¡°Opportunity presented itself time and time again for you to disclose such a vital piece of information to me. I had every right to know about my own child and I could get you in to so much of trouble for what you did.¡± I couldn¡¯t tell if he was joking or not but it sent a chill down my spine thinking of all the ways he had the upper hand in this situation.

    ¡°You think I didn¡¯t want to tell you? That I wanted to keep her a secret from you from the start? You are <b>mistaken</b>. I only kept her hidden because of Pheobe. If only you know what she had attempted on me same day I went to your house to get my things, you would stop being so judgemental of the decisions I had to make and perhaps you¡¯d begin to understand.¡± My eyes prickled from unshed tears just thinking about how I had almost lost Hayley before she was even fully formed in my womb.

    But I blinked back the tears not willing to show Dante even the slightest sliver of weakness.

    ¡°But Pheobe is no longer in the picture now. She is out of our lives for good.¡± He said in gruff, raspy

    tone.

    I crossed my arms over my chest. ¡°You sure about that because I¡¯ve heard you say this before. I threw at him and saw his jaw clench. ¡°Besides, she was out of the picture until you decided to bring her back. I can¡¯t imagine that it hadnded you in a better ce.¡± I snickered and he growled warning me to watch my words.

    ¡°Pheobe was a damn mistake. There, <b>I </b>said it. There isn¡¯t more that I can do.¡± He mmed his fist against the hard wood desk in frustration.

    83%

    ¡°True but it also doesn¡¯t change any thing. Her out of your life makes your own life easier. You would have still been hanging on her every word had you still believed that she was the one who saved you.¡± Even <b>as </b>I said that, it still stung.

    ¡°Soph, please.¡± He begged but for what I couldn¡¯t understand.

    I shook my head. ¡®Do not call me that. Your right to use that name on <i>me </i>has expired the minute. you kicked me out of your house.¡± I reminded him and his jaw clenched.

    ¡°You can hold all of these incidents over me but let me tell you what you have no control over. He took one step closer bringing him to stand right in front of me with only an inch between us.

    The anger that simmered between us was enough to extinguish any other emotions of currents. Dante pierced me with a sharp re and I tried with all my might to return just as intimidating of a look to him.

    ¡°My rtionship with Hayley. One that I have decided to mend and make up for lost time. Of such <b>an </b>unfortunate thing, we both know who we have to me. He trailer of but I knew exactly what he had insinuated.

    ¡°So, this <b>is </b>all my fault now?¡± I felt my own nostrils re as I angrily exhaled.

    ¡°I was not the one to keep a parents from its child. You connect the dots.¡± He said roughly.

    My hand itched to p him right across the face and I couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer. Before I knew it my hand was flying through the air and aiming right for Dante¡¯s cheek but he had seen iting.

    His hand gripped around my wrist tightly stopping it from making any contact with his face. His eyes locked with mine before dropped it allowing it to fall back to my side in defeat.

    ¡°Better luck next time. His tone <b>was </b>low and course.

    That was all he had said before he took a few steps back from me before he turned around and left my office.

 Chapter 50

    COMMENT

    STAKE

    oved to the Sonu Ta Goli Sagar Bolig om om self an

    sonte vi?jer som det trough ne bu ? pusdied a vive dnes 1 dia

    Meny Happy an you pron home town mies refined ilionghi (he Bouis

    albo ponnanenude Mechre on day trips out of her was cook then ethilting & Hommand boughts sun hrought my hart and i

    Name an Moniletku vec¨©ba

    Taking my Bangles ou am the the Wilson t? duk

    The house was quiet¡­ a little too quiet for my liking.

    I had left work early with the intention of taking Hayley out for a little treat since it felt like with every thing going ontely, I barely got <b>to </b>properly be with her. Aside from dinner and a little TV time together each night, we rarely did borate outings and it was time to change that.

    With that in mind, I eagerly left the office after informing Lucy that I would not be in for the rest of the day. I thought of all the things that Hayley and I could do during the afternoon but I¡¯m sure if I asked her she would already have ideas of her own. She was a fairly decisive child and I always loved that about her.

    However, when I arrived to the house that finally began feeling like home, I found it too still and eerily quiet. It was only just after noon and it would be too early for Hayley to be taking a nap yet there was no sign of any movement or even life in the entire house except for my own breathing.

    I could not hear footsteps, nor voices, nor any sound whatsoever to indicate that perhaps they were some where around the house. A wave of panic washed through me but I pushed it away since I did not want to jump to any conclusions.

    My legs dragged me throughout the house to search for either Nancy or Hayley before I could reach any drastic conclusions but as I inspected the rooms followed by the outside garden to the pool side and even the kitchen, I couldn¡¯t find either one of them.

    ¡°Nancy? Hayley? Are you guys home?¡± I called out but my own voice echoed through the house only toe back at me unresponded.

    Nancy was not authorised to spontaneously take Hayley on day trips and if there was a need then I would be notified so this was all very unsettling. A thousand thoughts ran through my head and I didn¡¯t know which one to believe and run with.

    This has never ever happened before making it all look very suspicious.

    I finally gave in to the panic that begged to be unleashed. My brain felt numb for a moment<b>, </b>paralyzed by all the things that I could and should do.

    My elbows hit the marble counter top as I ran both my hands through my hair before balling it in

    to fists.

    What was I going to do? What on earth could have happened to my child?! Where the hell was Nancy?

    As those questions swirled through my mind, my eyes flickered on some thing that I hadn¡¯t noticed before stuck on the dark grey fridge with a cupcake ma holding it in ce.

    Without any hesitation, I rounded the counter and snatched the yellow square of paper from underneath the ma where I saw something scribbled on it in handwriting that I knew.

    ¡°Taking my daughter out for the day. We¡¯ll be back before it¡¯s dark.¡±

    That was all the paper read with no name for reference because there was only one other person

    O

    .83%

    besides myself that could call Hayley their daughter.

    My hand balled in to a fist crumpling the paper along with it. A frustrated scream escaped my throat shattering the still silence that existed in the house.

    If Dante wanted to take Hayley out for the day then he should have damn well consulted with me first before going and doing his own things. Hayley was far capable than I expected but she still had a disability that some times needed more patience and care than others.

    Dante was not aware of this. He did not know much about her condition and neither did he know how to manage it. If Hayley did grow tired, she would refuse to ept any help especially in front of Dante as she had reacted once before<b>. </b>

    I ran a hand heavily over my face not caring if it dragged my eye liner with it. This was the reason that I held back from telling Dante about Hayley because the man could be spiteful and difficult and he was choosing to do exactly that.

    Retracing my steps back to where I had left my bag, I fished my phone out of it and called Dante. It rang continuously before it had went straight to voice mail. I tried again and then another time and then two more times and still no response let alone a call back.

    I tried calling Nancy and, thankfully, she did pick up.

    ¡°Nancy, thank God you answered. Where is Hayley?¡± The words rushed out of my mouth and I heard breath on the other end but she was silent for a short while.

    ¡°I- I thought you knew. Mr Crawford came to the house and said that he has your permission to take Hayley out for the day.¡± She said in a confused, half panicked tone.

    ¡°You should have called me or left a message or some thing,¡± I said over the phone even though I knew that it was not her fault.

    ¡°I insisted on calling you first but Mr Crawford said he had legal custody of the child and left a note for you on the fridge. She informed me and I grit my teeth together.

    That bastard lied to Nancy about having legal custody. I wondered then if he had mentioned to Hayley that he was her father making me to be the liar to my own child.

    ¡°Well, I knew nothing about this. Please, do not allow such a thing to happen again without calling me first.¡± I said as gently as I could manage before hanging up.

    I didn¡¯t have much choice but to wait for them to return back home before I sent Hayley to shower <b>or </b>something whilst I gave Dante a piece of my mind.

    It didn¡¯t help that Hayley was fond of Dante. I guess blood was thicker than water but it made trying to make her understand all the more tricky.

    There was nothing much that I could do except drag myself over to the living room where I crumbled to the floor with my back leaning against the couch like a back rest.

    This has never ever happened since Hayley was born. She and I were never away for more than a day¡¯s work and it was time away from her that I knew exactly where she was, roughly what her

    schedule would be, and I could get a hold of her should I feel the need to check in on her.

    As much as I knew deep down that Dante would keep her safe, I also could not help the worry that ripped through my b*dy. It was hours of pushing away unwanted thoughts and what ifs that would surely lead to me having a small time break down.

    I even considered heading back to the office for a few hours to make the time pass by faster but I couldn¡¯t even get myself to leave the house let alone thinking of driving right now in my current state of mind.

    I couldn¡¯t tell after how long of my mind torturously assaulting me that I had fallen asleep on top of therge rug. In fact, I did not even know that I had fallen asleep until I was awoken by the sound of the front door utching and opening. The open door brought a chill in to the house and I sat upright immediately aware of the situation before I had fallen asleep.

    1 got to my feet instantly and rushed out of the living room to find Hayley enter the house with Dante right behind her. Him, I would leave forter but I rushed over to Hayley and quickly began inspecting her.

    ¡°Hey, mum. I went out with Dante and I had so much of fun.¡± She smiled from ear to ear but I looked at her legs to make sure that she was truly okay.

    ¡°I was so worried about you, Hayley.¡± I said in a soft whisper feeling my heart wanting tobust at the sheer relief of having close to me again.

    ¡°Why? I am alright. She said in a matter of fact tone and a small crease formed between her eyes.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re alright and I¡¯m happy that you had a fun day but I missed you. That¡¯s all. I k*ssed the side of her face and my nose tickled her ear causing her to giggle.

    ¡°Oh, mum, it <b>was </b>so fun. We went for waffles and then to the amusement part and then we went to see the sun set from Dante¡¯s building right at the top.¡± She filled me on the activities that they had gotten up to and I offered her a smile.

    She was not the subject of my anger and she didn¡¯t deserve to be. If anything, she was the most innocent in this while situation.

    ¡°Sounds like heaps of fun.¡± I said as I moved her silky hair away from her face. ¡°How about you go and wash up andy down for a little bit. I suggested and she nodded.

    I waited for Hayley to disappear entirely down the hall way before I so much of looked at Dante still standing where he had been all along. If I had looked at him any earlier then I would have lost my cool right in front of Hayley <b>and </b>I didn¡¯t think that she had ever seen me angry.

    ¡°You!¡± I felt my face immediately transform from being gentle with Hayley to absolute tightened

    <b>anger</b>.

    ¡°You had no right to do what you did today.¡± I said through tightly clenched teeth.

    Dante stood there with no sense of remorse or realisation that what he had done was bad. He just stood there looking unaffected and unphased by how wrong he was doing things.

    ¡°Taking my daughter out for the day? I think any legal member would agree that I have the ess. to such a simple right. Dante responded coldly and my eyes narrowed to slits at him.

    Of course he would use the legal trump card on me at this moment but I did not care because what he did today was wrong on so many levels.

    ¡°You could have at least informed me about this before you took her. I got home assuming the worst¡± I hissed at him but he turned to the table at the side to deposit all of the shopping bags he had been carrying revealing his tan coloured coat that oncealed his all ck look beneath.

    He turned back to face me and his l*p was pressed in to a thin line before he spoke. ¡°Let me tell you how that would have went. I would have called and asked you if I could take her and you would make up some dumb excuse about why I could not or, what you love to do best, run away and his her for the next few years. Now that I know with certainty that she is mine, I will not be deterred from making up for lost time with my own flesh and blood.¡± He spoke with determination and stubbornness in his entire demeanor.

    ¡°Besides, I did leave you a brightly coloured note on the fridge.¡± She shrugged like that was going to make up for it.

    I stared at him in utter disbelief. ¡°That note was as vague and brief and informed me of nothing.¡± I snapped at him. ¡°You do not understand the nature of her disability which troubles her from time to time. She can¡¯t just be uprooted and thrown in to a day of activities without any consideration.¡± I admonished him but she scoffed shaking his head at what I said.

    ¡°But she is fine. Hayley had no issues and if she did I¡¯m sure we learnt from thest time that I am more than capable of calming her down and helping her. He paused to take in a heavy breath. ¡°Look, Soph, I know this is all new to you but Hayley is as much as my child as she is yours. I will never ever harm her and I would die protecting her. I just want to get to know my own daughter.¡± He added gently yet his eyes warned me against taking advantage of him.

    ¡°Did you tell her that you¡¯re her father yet?¡± I asked roughly and he shook his head immediately.

    ¡°I wanted to. It would be way better if she saw me as her father and not a friend to her mother which is far from the truth but I wanted to know if you would like to exin it to her only because you were the one to tell her otherwise to begin with. I let out a sigh of relief thankful that he had the decency to think about that.

    I knew that I needed to tell Hayley about it now more than ever. Dante was clearly not going to back of any time soon and it would be easier if things were cleared out.

 Chapter 51

    Dante <b>was </b>bing unbearable!

    From whisking Hayley away at the most random times during the day to partake in what ever activity or random doings to inviting himself to our meal times especially breakfast which was now a full on daily event unlike before.

    His newest doing <b>that </b>had got me increasingly furious had been when he hade in the way of what ever ns Hayley and I would make. Hayley, being the observant child that she was, would insist that she wanted to do what we initially had nned but I knew better. In the end I would shrug it off like it didn¡¯t sting a little and send her of with Dante and she was immediately thrilled to go with him.

    Her entire <b>face </b>would light up at any given second that Dante would enter any room and I liked that she was finally

    Setting all the fatherly attention she had missed out on but it felt like Dante was

    It had taken a few days for me to tell her about who Dante really was to her but I finally got to it. It was one night after dinner where we both were in pajamas <b>and </b>the night was a chilly one. Over two cups of hot cocoa <b>and </b>3 mini marshmallows, I carefully exined to her that Dante was her father.

    Naturally, she had questions which ranged from why I hadn¡¯t told her to her asking if that was the reason <b>she </b>and Dante shared the same eye and hair colour. Ultimately, she had taken it well and I <b>guess </b>I expected that seeing as she was already so obsessed with him. She hadn¡¯t called him dad or anything like that yet but she did refrain from calling him by his first name which posed a small amusing issue when <b>she </b>wanted his attention.

    I let out a heavy breath as I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hands before kicking my legs over the side of the bed and finally starting my morning. I knew that Hayley was awake since I had heard. her shuffle about in her room a moment ago.

    It was a Saturday which meant that there was no rush to do a thing and I intended on having a full day with Hayley myself since Dante hadn¡¯t called any ns with her yet.

    I threw on a silk robe over my shorts and tank top before sl*pping on my grey sl*ppers and leaving my room. It was just then that Hayley exited her room bringing us both to face each other in the hall <b>way</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°Good morning, Hayley.¡± I smiled at her and she giggled still wearing her white pajamas with small pink hearts all over it.

    ¡°Morning, mama. We left our rooms and the same time.¡± She pointed out and I nodded.

    ¡°We did. Are you hungry?¡± Just as I posed the question, her stomach growled as if getting to a response before her.

    That had caused the both of us tough at that before I motioned in the direction of the kitchen with a nudge of my head.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get some breakfast going.¡± She beamed at the words and began heading down the hallway and the stair case.

    Chuner M

    I followed her reminding her to be careful down the stairs. When we entered the kitchen, I pulled at high chair for her to 44 on behind the counter.

    ¡°Can I help do some thing?¡± She asked and I nodded as I stood in front of the open fridge to get eggs, milk, some fruit, and whatever else I needed for breakfast pancakes.

    ¡°Of course, we can make breakfast together.¡± That obviously excited her and she did a little dance.

    I shut the fridge and moved to give the berries a wash before I stood next to her at the counter. I cut up the berries and Hayley ced them in the bowl as we chatted but then a small moment of silence over came us.

    It was just the two of us making breakfast enjoying the ease but I could tell that some thing was <b>on </b>her mind. Not wanting to rush her to it, I let her be and momentster she opened her mouth to speak.

    ¡°Mama, why don¡¯t you and Uhm,¡± She struggled to call Dante by his first name.

    ¡°Your father.¡± I helped her.

    ¡°Yes, my father. Why don¡¯t you live together like normal parents do?¡± She questioned and the knife in my hand stilled for a moment.

    I tried my best not to get all seized up when ever she had questions about Dante and I but I also had to exin things in the most simplest and easy way possible to her.

    ¡°You <b>see</b>, it¡¯s a little different with us. Your father and I were married for a short time but then we parted ways and I had you.¡± I paused to give her a k*ss on her head before resuming to chop thest strawberry.

    ¡°It would be the coolest thing ever meals together and go out together. Like a family.¡± She spoke so innocently that it shook my heart

    if we stayed together in the same house. We¡¯d share all of our and I wanted to hold her so tight but I also didn¡¯t want to over stress the moment.

    ¡°I know but it will get better. Your father will make as much time for you as he can and you¡¯ll grow in to a routine with it and it will feel normal.¡± I tried to ease her mind away from things that were not going to happen.

    She was quiet from then and I handed her to wipe her hands after she ced the

    bowl aside.

    1 paper is

    ¡°Now, do you want to make pancakes all by yourself?¡± I asked her and that immediately had her all bright and excited again.

    I weight out the ingredients and let her put it all by herself in to mixing bowl. She didn¡¯t let me crack the egg because that was some thing she wanted to try herself and I let her. I exined to her how to do it and she followed the steps before cracking the egg in to a smaller bowl. It was her first try and while she didn¡¯t spill any of the egg, she did crack the yolk which was no issue.

    all.

    She celebrated her first time cracking an egg and I was happy to watch her enjoy this moment. She poured in the milk then slowly mixed the batter together and watched it form just as there was a knock at the door.

    It was firm and unmissable but it was also early on a Saturday for me to be expecting any one but some thing told me I knew exactly who had been behind that door.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird. I¡¯m not expecting any one today.¡± <b>I </b>said as I wiped my damp hands on to the kitchen

    towel.

    Not wanting to assume just yet, 1 sauntered over to the door <b>leaving </b>Hayley on the chair to mix the batter not missing her saying that she hoped it was Dante at the door to which I didn¡¯t respond.

    The knocks sounded again, a little firmer and impatient this time. I reached for the door knob and twisted it open and low and behold stood the father of my child unannounced and at my door step before 10 in the morning like it was normal.

    Dante <b>was </b>freshly showered. I could tell by the damp tendrils of his hair that had been styled in his signature look. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a muscle hugging ck Ralph Lauren shirt. His jaw was cleanly shaven and I could smell the sharp scent of his after shave.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I held the door open just enough so that I could wedge myself in the small <b>space</b><b>. </b>

    Dante had the nerve to smirk like he was trying to charm me but I knew otherwise. He leanedzily against the door frame taking up most of the space..

    ¡°Good morning to you too, sunshine.¡± He said sarcastically..

    ¡°What. Are. You. Doing. Here?¡± I pronounced each word with careful deliberation.

    ¡°Can¡¯t a father stop by to see his child on a Saturday morning?¡± He raised a sardonic brow at me and I felt my nose twitch.

    ¡°He can but not when he has been here nearly every single day this week.¡± I retorted but he was not bothered <b>at </b>all.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see the problem with that at all.¡± He said with a shake of his head before peering over my head to see in to the house<b>. </b>

    ¡°Of course, you do not but you have been showing up here unannounced and with out any prior arrangement. I haven¡¯t had one single bit of time alone with Hayley all week.¡± I said, my frustration. audible in my words but Dante was not moved in the slightest.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had her all to yourself for years now, Soph. I never thought you¡¯d be so selfish. He tilted his head to the side to throw me an observing look but I knew that he was doing this to beg on my

    <b>nerves</b>.

    ¡°And I never thought that you would be so over bearing but all I can say is that I made the right decision all these years

    not telling you about her. Your behaviour proves that my life would have been hell had you know about her. I guess I bought myself nearly 5 years of peace.¡± My words were sharp and it had cut him.

    I saw his eyes tighten at their edges, his l*ps press in to a thin line for a few moments, and his shoulders stiffen.

    ¡°Pray <b>that </b>I do not counter your peace for the rest of your life. He said tightly threatening me from doing what we both knew he had the power to.

    ¡°Now, move aside so that I can see my daughter.¡± He pushed me aside with his own b*dy that manoeuvred his way between me and the door frame.

    I shut the door behind him just as I heard him call out for Hayley as he entered the kitchen. Hayley¡¯s squeals of excitement grew louder as I approached the kitchen.

    ¡°You made it just in time. Mama and I making pancakes for breakfast. Hayley said to him with <b>a </b>bright smile on her face.

    Dante ruffled her already static hair. ¡°I am hungry beyond belief. I didn¡¯t have Breakfast because I was in such a hurry to see you today.¡± He said to her causing hayley to blush and I let them be.

    I moved to set a pan on to the burner to heat up then fished out an ice cream scoop from the

    drawer.

    Their chatter filled the kitchen while I reached for the batter and began dropping scoop fulls of it on to the heated pan and waited for the bubbles to form.

    ¡°If you like to see me so much why don¡¯t we stay in the same house like a normal family?¡± Hayley proposed the same question to Dante and I could only think that that had been because she was unsatisfied with my response to it.

    I fl*pped the pancakes over to reveal their perfect golden colour before darting my eyes over to Dante who had his forearms propped against the marble counter.

    ¡°That is a good question. Dante said a bit hesitant and I knew that he was buying time to think of something. ¡°I think it¡¯s because we are a unique family. Different doesn¡¯t always mean bad, Hayley.¡± He exined carefully and she nodded seeming to like his analogy more.

    ¡°Unique. I like that.¡± She said with an affirming nod of her head.

    ¡°Now, tell me. He winked at Hayley. ¡°Have you thought of any thing you would like to do today?¡± Dante asked with every intention to make her every wishe true.

    I loved that for Hayley. I loved that she was getting a true sense of father love and spoils and she was over all a happier child but I felt a little left out and unable to have my daughter to myself for even a Saturday morning breakfast.

 Chapter 52

    Theter afternoon sky was some thing to behold. With colours of deep crimson, remnants of the darkest blue hues, and whisps of orange, it <b>was </b>like a work of art. I observed said art from the window in the kitchen <b>as </b>I sipped on <b>a </b>ss of water.

    It was yet another evening that I was left to myself but I had grown ustomed to it. Not that I was happy with it at all but I was not surprised by the quiet house and eating alone. Dante would make some <b>n </b>or the other whilst I was at work and send me a message about it. I never dared to dispute it since it would only prove his point.

    It didn¡¯t help that Hayley always seemed so much happier when she got home and I readied her for <b>bed </b>using that time to it¡¯s full potential to cover up missing her all day. It was clear from the way she spoke that Dante took care of her, thought her things, and cared for her far more than I thought he would in such a short span of time.

    Hayley lived being with him and she enjoyed his attention leaving me in a tough position. One one hand if I put a stop to it and fought against Dante, Hayley would be affected and, on the other hand, if I did nothing about it, I would soon slowly begin losing a bond with my own daughter. A little far fetched but at least that is what it had felt like.

    I couldn¡¯t exin this to Hayley since she was only a child who had already endured too much to bare the burden of grown up issues. I also did not want her to feel any sort of guit for being with her father neither did I want her to make sacrifices out of guilt. Again, she was only a child enjoying the newness and warmth of fatherly affection.

    I took in a deep breath then exhaled through my mouth. The ss in my hand was empty and I gave it a rinse before cing it back on to the rack to dry.

    Dragging my feel across the kitchen, I opened the fridge to see what it is I could cook up for one when my phone buzzed against the counter. I shut the fridge and reached for it to find Adams number sh across the screen.

    ¡°Adam!¡± I eximed eager to hear from him.

    ¡°Sophia, hey.¡± He greeted me back with just as much enthusiasm.

    I haven¡¯t seen Adam for weeks now. He had to make an unexpected trip to Europe for business that hade up and I guess he had only just returned recently to the states.

    ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re back on American soil.¡± I pleaded.

    ¡°As a matter of fact, I¡¯m a minute away from your house and I have food.¡± He said causing me to smile immediately.

    I was more than ecstatic to be with a familiar face especially Adam. He was the one person who would understand what ever I had to exin to him and even if he didn¡¯t have any solutions, it would be nice to have a listening ear.

    ¡°I will open up a bottle.¡± I said to him before hanging up and moving to pull out an unopened bottle of wine.

    THE

    09:28 Thu, 7 Mar D

    ºÅ83%Á¿

    Adam showed up in no time and I had let him in with his hands full. He rushed over the the kitchen and deposited the contents on to the counter and my mouth began salivating from the smell of the <b>food</b>. It was only then did I realise how famished I was.

    ¡°Ah, I cannot exin how happy <b>I </b>am to see you, Adam.¡± I said before pulling him into a bear hug.

    He chuckled then hugged me back before we broke apart. Adam hadn¡¯t changed at all in the few weeks I did not see him except for the stubble he had which made him look so serious.

    ¡°Hold on a minute. I have something for you.¡± He said moving the paper back of food to reveal a very fancy box.

    ¡°What is this?¡± I questioned but he had added another smaller velvet box over therger rectangr

    one.

    ¡°The bigger box is hand crafted, Belgium chocte but the other box you¡¯re going to have to open for yourself.¡± He said with a grin and I instantly popped open the box and gasped at the sight that greeted me.

    A stunning pair of dainty white gold hoops sparkled beneath the lights. The diamonds shed and twinkled and I just looked at it in awe.

    ¡°This, wow, this is absolutely beautiful. I love it!¡± I said still a little stunned at how pretty this piece. of jewelry had been<b>. </b>

    It was extravagant enough to turn heads but dainty enough to be worn on the daily and I could not wait to wear it tomorrow,

    ¨C

    ¡°And for Hayley, I have a little something too. He reached for the pink gift bag with arge satin. ribbon on it before he frowned.

    ¡°Where is Hayley, by the way?¡± He asked looking around as if he had missed her.

    ¡°She actually isn¡¯t home right now.¡± I said trying not to let the way I felt about that leak through my

    tone.

    ¡°What do you mean? She is never ever any where with out you.¡± He said in bafflement cing the gift back on to the counter.

    I shrugged sheepishly which caused him to fix his gaze on me. ¡°That is a bit of along story. Why don¡¯t we sit to eat and I can fill you in <b>on </b>all that you have missed while you had been away.¡± I suggested and he hesitantly nodded.

    Adam popped open the bottle of wine while I fished out cutlery and two sses for us before we both were seated at the table. Our sses filled with wine and the aroma of food wafting through the air had me eager to dig in but Adam eyed me expectantly awaiting me to tell him exactly what it is that he had missed resulting in Hayley¡¯s absence.

    I spent the next forty five minutes telling Adam about every thing that happened since he had left after Dante¡¯s and Phoebe¡¯s engagement party. I told him about how the engagement had been called off for some reason, that the paternity test had never taken ce due to me leaving the country yet Dante still knew that Hayley was his daughter.

    ¡°I did hear something about their engagement breaking <b>off </b>but to

    be honest I don¡¯t think anyb*dy really knows the true reason behind it.¡± Adam said as he took a sip of his wine before forking some food into his mouth.

    ¡°it really is weird that such a thing had happened. I think I speak for everyone when I say that no one expected Phoebe to let go of Dante so easily. ¡°Adam made a sound of agreement as he nodded rapidly at the point that I made.

    Adams for covered in the air above his food. ¡°so is Dante behaving after the grand discovery that he had made? ¡°Adam questioned with a skeptical raised brow and all I could do was get out infrastrated sigh thinking about it.

    ¡°I do not even know where to begin when ites to that. ¡°I stabbed my chopsticks angry into the tangle of noodles. ¡°it goes without saying that neither one of his expected him to be

    amodating and easy going once he found out the truth about Haley. but the man is in next level. like I understand that he wants to make up for all thest time but he does it in such an overbearing and forceful way that I can¡¯t help but feel angry each time. ¡°I exined and even as I spoke about it I could feel the irritation build up all over again.

    ¡°that does sound like typical Dante for you. I¡¯m just surprised that he has held off involving thew into all of this. ¡°he said and I snorted resisting the urge to roll my eyes at that statement.

    ¡°he mean have not involved thew in it as yet but he certainly holds that over my head. it¡¯s almost like he is keeping that as his trump card. ¡°I could already imagine the number of times that he had used it to scare me.

    ¡°most importantly though how is Hailey taking all of this? I mean the child was led to believe that her father was virtually dead only to know be told that hey there¡¯s your father. ¡°Adam asked with so much of concern in his tone for Hailey in this whole mess.

    I lead back against my chair and let out a heavy breath. ¡®she is taking this far better than I thought she would. I guess it helped that she had taken a liking to Dante when she thought that he was just some random friend of mine. in fact before I I broke the news to her she had been already asked me about why don¡¯t they wasn¡¯t around as often. it¡¯s just that now that she knows that Dante is her father and would Dante knowing that Hailey is his own blood and flesh the both of them are annoyingly inseparable. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help the groan that escaped my l*ps.

    ¡°but on the bright side at least Haley now has her father. I guess it¡¯s a good thing that Dante is so interested in ying the role well. <b>as </b>much <b>as </b>I know the situation maybe irritating you with how overbearing Dante can be, I think maybe just focus on Hayley¡¯s well¨Cbeing. ¡°Adam suggested carefully ncing at me to make sure that I was not angry at him for saying such a thing.

    ¡°that¡¯s all that I¡¯m thinking about right now. seeing how happy Haley is around him is the only thing that keeping me from actively cutting him out. ¡°I said with the firm nod but Adam raised a questioning brow with me.

    ¡°well that and aside from the fact that he could literally file for custody.¡± he shrugged sheepishly and this time I actually did re at him.

    ¡°I just feel like now Hayley prefers to go out with Dante then hang out with me. it¡¯s the reason why she isn¡¯t even home right now. ¡°my voice had dull down significantly as I looked at the food in front of me and not at Adam.

    ¡°why don¡¯t you just go along with them? I think that way here you gets the sense of both her parents at once without having to choose one over the other. ¡°Adam suggested and I actually considered that possibility for a moment.

    it did make a lot of sense for Dante and I to take Hayley out together. that way she would get that sense of family that she has been questioning whilst I would also feel included but I didn¡¯t know how that idea would be received by Dante especially since he seem to selfishly want his daughter all to himself.

    ¡°but that also suggests that I would have to be around Dante and that¡¯s not something I¡¯m prepared for.¡± I shook my head to myself pushing the possibility away.

    ¡°you better get ustomed to him being around because by the look of it isn¡¯t going anywhere anytime soon. ¡°I don¡¯t pointing out the obvious and I grunted feeling like I wanted to pull every strand of my hair out.

    I opened my mouth to respond to him but my phone began buzzing on top of the table and I reached for it instinctively.

    ¡°Well speak of the devil and the devil calls. ¡°I said to Adam before I answered the call that wasing from Dante.

    ¡°hello? ¡°I said only to be met by silence for a moment.

    ¡°mama? I need you.¡± Hayley¡¯s flustered and pained voice rang through my ears triggering my motherly instinct. ¡°my legs¡­ She trailed off and I immediately pushed my chair back ready to go and find her.

    Tming to you, sweetheart. It¡¯s all going to be okay. Just give the phone back to your father so he can tell me where to find you.¡± I said gently to her.

    Adam had already pushed his own chair back and reached for his keys which he had left at the counter when he arrived here.

    |||

 Chapter 53

    <b>Chapter </b>53

    After Dante had told me where they had been, Adam and I had wasted no time in getting four of the house and rushing over to get Hayley. The entertainment square that they were <b>at </b><b>was </b><b>not </b><b>too </b>far away from my house, luckily. It had taken us less than ten minutes to get there.

    However, it had felt like the longest teninutes of my existence. This has never ever happened before. <b>I </b>was never away from he when he legs would trouble her and I could only imagine her sense of helplessness going through an episode when I was not around her to manage her and calm

    her <b>down</b><b>. </b>

    With each mile that Adams car had eaten up, my anxiety had grown but so did the relief knowing that I would be close to her at any moment now. Both emotions fought with each other like a relentlessly game of tug of war with neither one winning.

    ¡°This was exactly what I had feared, Adam. Hayley would go through this by herself with out any warning.¡± I rested my head against the ss and watched the street pass by.

    ¡°Did you say this to Dante?¡± He asked and I shook my head but realised that he was looking at the <b>road </b>ahead.

    ¡°No, I did not. I didn¡¯t think he would understand and all it would have lead to was another conflict between us,¡± I mumbled and heard Adam grunt something beneath his breath.

    ¡°We will get to her in no time. We¡¯re almost there.¡± Adam¡¯s said in a calm tone when I knew he wanted to say much more than just that but he was holding back until the situation was under control.

    A few minutester we had arrived and Adam quickly parked the car before we both got out and headed right in to the amusement square. I nearly ran through the crowd of people to get to the spot that Dante mentioned he had been at with Hayley. Near the elephant ride before the roasted peanuts stand.

    I found the elephant ride, caught sight of it as I rushed through the people then located the peanut stand and scanned the area between and that was when I had saw her<b>. </b>

    My Hayley sitting on the floor with her head hung low and tears running down her face. I watched <b>as </b>she tried to move her legs and failed which only made her cry in helplessness. Dante was crouched down beside her whispering some thing in her ear but she shook her head leaving Dante defeated. I was certain that he had been offering her some solution and she refused wanting to figure this out by herself.

    When she had spotted me as she looked up and blinked, a few more tears ran down her face. I rushed over to her ignoring the stares and whining of people around as I pushed through them. rushed over to her ignoring th

    ¡°Hayley.¡± I called out to her.

    ¡°Mama!¡± She cried in relief. ¡°M- My legs are not- I can¡¯t move them.¡± She sobbed breathlessly.

    I knew that reasoning with her in her current state of mind was not the answer so I settled on the floor next to her.

    ¡°Shhh, it¡¯s alright. First you need to calm down, baby.¡± I whispered to her gently moving her hair <b>away </b>from her damp, flushed checks.

    I slid my arm around her shoulders <b>and </b>she cuddled in to me still shaky from her sobs and overwhelmed at the ordeal.

    I held her as her sobs became small jerks before she settled and all that had been left were sniffles. I k*ssed her head a few times knowing <b>that </b>she needed to feel calm and safe before I could get her to cooperate with me.

    we

    ¡°This happened many times before, Hayley, and each time you were so strong and you pushed through it.¡± I said to her and felt her nod against my chest.

    ¡°This time is no different. You are still a strong girl even though you may need mama to help you right now, okay?¡± <b>I </b>felt her nod again but waited a little while longer before I could give her a list of options that she could choose from making her feel like she was still in some sort of control.

    I knew that her legs were going to be out for the rest of the night and they may even trouble tomorrow morning but at home she would have her wheelchair and she¡¯d be able to move herself around which she was usually okay with. It was just <b>that </b>right now she was entirely helpless.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to give you options and you can decide what it is that you want.¡± I said to her fully aware of Dante and Adam observing us carefully ready to step in and help should there be a need.

    ¡°Either Adam could carry you to the car, or I could give you a piggy back ride, or we could do what worked thest time with your father where you ced your foot on his shoes and you both walked together.¡± Iy out her three options for her and gave her a moment to decide.

    ¡°Can you

    hold me but instead of a piggy back ride, can I ce my foot on your shoe and walk together?¡± She asked in the smallest voice that made my heart shatter in to pieces.

    She wanted me to be the one to help her through time but she still wanted to feel like she was

    not entirely helpless. I guess her being carried or fully supported in any way was ufortable for

    her.

    ¡°Of course, whatever you¡¯refortable with.¡± I reassured her. ¡°If you want to sit here for a little longer then we can. Just let me know when you¡¯re ready, okay?¡± I felt a lot more calmer now knowing that she had decided on a method that suited her<b>. </b>

    ¡°Okay.¡± She said hiding her face in my head like she was embarassed to be going through this in front of Adam and Dante.

    ¡°You should get going. I will drive them home.¡± Dante said to Adam but he was not asking him but he was ordering him to leave.

    ¡°I brought Sophia here and I will take her back.¡± Adam responded adamantly not willing to take orders especially not from Dante.

    <b>any </b>

    I shut my eyes and continued petting Hayley¡¯s head gently to keep her calm. I didn¡¯t need her to get riled up again and I needed to keep myself calm as well.

    ¡°I am going to escort¡¯s them home myself. This is a family matter. Thanks for your help thus far

    Chapter <b>33 </b>

    but it won¡¯t be needed Dante <b>was </b>beginning to get upset and I could hear it in his voice.

    ¡°A family matter?¡± Adam scoffed like it was the funniest thing he heard. I shrugged inwardly before opening my eyes and quickly looking to Adam silently begging him to let it <b>go</b>.

    I needed to speak to Dante once Hayley got home and was out of ear shot. There were things he needed to know about Hayley and, for once, I could only hope that he would listen to me. We had to put our conflict aside and be adults especially for Hayley.

    ¡°Let it go, Adam.¡± I said gently not wanting to hurt him in any way. ¡°There are a few things <b>I </b>need to discuss with Adam so it would be better if he took us home. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble and I¡¯m always thankful that you¡¯re ready to help me.¡± I said sincerely and saw him nod curtly at me.

    ¡°It is never ever a trouble.¡± He said correcting me and I smiled at him.

    He looked to Hayley nestled at my side like he was making sure she was fine before he turned around and walked off.

    I caught Dante look smug at Adam¡¯s retreating back and I rolled my eyes. Men. They were such pig headed creatures sometimes.

    Focussing on what mattered the most to me at this present moment, I shifted slightly and took in a breath.

    ¡°Come. Hayley. It¡¯s time we head home.¡± I said in almost <b>a </b>whisper.

    The drive back home was silent and I guess the whole ordeal was rather draining for Hayley because a few minutes in the car and her head had grown heavy against my shoulder and her steady, rhythmic breathing indicated that she was asleep.

    Dante had not said <b>a </b>word except nce over at Hayley every few minutes. I rested my head against the seat and looked out of the window feeling a bit of a crashe over me.

    When we had reached the house, Dante cut the engine and by the time I undid my seat belt, he had already been opening my door and reaching for Hayley. He took her from me and I let him since I felt like I needed some air. I stepped out of the car and lead the way to the front door.

    As much as I wanted to give Hayley a shower before I could put her in bed, it was not worth waking her up and it was best to let her sleep after the day she¡¯s had.

    Dante took her to her room and I tucked her in once she was under the covers. Dante left ahead of me and I pulled the door slightly closed and turned the light off.

    ¡°You wanted to discuss some thing?¡± Dante said when he heard me approaching the living room.

    ¡°I do.¡± I confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s about Hayley and it¡¯s some thing that I wanted to bring up a few weeks ago now but I held back.¡± I exined and was surprised that he had not responded with something

    tarty.

    ¡°Hayley¡¯s condition is manageable for the most part but there are days where she needs to take it a little slower than others.¡± He crossed his arms over his broad chest making his shirt look a few sizes <b>too </b>small from the tension of his bicep.

    I blinked, refocusing my attention. ¡°It would also be better to carry a kids wheelchair for her along just in case. I find <b>that </b>she¡¯s perfectly find wheeling herself around. Hayley doesn¡¯t like to feel entirely helpless especially in front of you. Something I noticed the first time this happened when we were out.¡± Dante heard what I had said and looked at me a peculiar look in his eye.

    ¡°How did you manage with her all by yourself? Now you may <b>have </b>it under control but I can¡¯t image the beginning of it being easy. He pointed out eyeing me carefully.

    ¡°It was challenging at first but it got easier over time. physiotherapy has helped her alot and she did grow more determined as she grew up and could sort of understand.¡± I recalled how brave she was and how head strong she <b>was </b>on winning over this predicament.

    ¡°She is very witty. Something I think she got from you.¡± He said in a humoured tone.

    ¡°She can also be very stubborn. A quality I always said she got from you.¡® I blurted out and he chuckled.

    ¡°Of course all the bad is from my gics. Dante retorted but with a hint of mirth to take the bite away from it.

    ¡°I think so.¡± I said with a jerky mode of if my head.

    ¡°I was being sarcastic.¡± He said sounding offended.

    I smirked at him. ¡°I know.¡±

    A moment of silence fell between us and the air immediately grew tensed with awareness. Dante looked at me with intent and I looked at him with something I would much rather not name.

    I inhaled then snapped out of it. ¡°I think it¡¯s time you get going. it iste.¡±

    Dante didn¡¯t fight me and actually lead himself to the door before he left. The second he left the house, the air immediately became lighter <b>and </b>it felt like I could breath easier. Dante¡¯s presence was too over powering andmanding but with him no longer sharing the same air as me, I let myself copse on to the couch.

 Chapter 54

    The next week had gone by in a sh but it had been a rather good week.

    Work had been running smoothly but feedback had finally arrived about the analysis progress. A meeting date was set once again <b>and </b>was to be held in the following week to confirm the growth. percentage which determined a great deal for thepany.

    Dante naturally was already made known about this meeting before I had a say in it because <b>as </b>vital investor he gets to know about every meeting about the same tim

    I do<b>. </b>

    Things were shifting with him in a way that I never thought it would in such a sort span of time. Dante had be more considerate in regards to me when he made ns with Hayley. He¡¯d often ask Hayley to offer me to join or he would ask directly. A few times I actually went along with them. on their little escapades and other times I would decline to give them time alone.

    Dante was also more mindful of the structure of the activities that he nned for Hayley. If one day was more activity filled then the next was moreid back or if the morning <b>was </b>more energy consuming then the afternoon would be for rest. It had taken the strain of Hayley¡¯s legs and reduced the risk and likelihood of one of those episodes uring again.

    I could see why Hayley was so overjoyed to go out with Dante. On the few asions that I had. apanied them, I noticed how Dante gave his undivided attention when he was with Hayley. It was like she was the most important thing to him. No cell¨Cphone calls, no work talk, and no unpleasantness. He wasn¡¯t overly nice and fun filled. In fact, he did spend a great amount of time trying to teach her new things from the rules of chess to things about how things operated.

    Theirst endeavour included pajamas and a Disney princess movie which they watched at Dante¡¯s house and Hayley was very eager about it.

    It did not go unnoticed that Hayley enjoyed things more when it was the three of us that <b>were </b><b>a </b>part of things. I knew that she was still hung up on the whole us being together as a family and it was only natural for a child her age dealing with such a dynamic to want such things that were normal.

    I could tell that she could not understand why Dante and I were not together as a mom and dad ought to have been living under one roof, eating meals together regrly, having parents share a room. It was because she was unaware of theplications that had taken ce that caused Dante and I to divorce before she was born.

    But neither one of us dabbled in to that discussion again and it was a good thing that despite Hayley¡¯s obvious sentiments, she did not verbally bring it up again.

    ¡°What was the best vacation you¡¯ve ever been on?¡± Hayley¡¯s voice dragged me out my reverie as she coloured in the waterfall amidst the greenery.

    It was ate Friday afternoon and the sunset was truly something to behold so Hayley picked up some crayons and we both headed out to the garden so take it all in.

    ¡°When I was a little younger, I went to this resort a few hours from here. It was amazing. I felt like I <b>was </b>on some tropical ind.¡± It was <b>at </b>the same vacation that Dante had nearly drowned but I left that part out of the story not wanting to bring up the thought of Dante and I in the past that would

    09:28 <b>Thu</b>, 7 Mar

    trigger her many questions.

    ¡°It had thergest pools and a spa and even a private beach just for the people who stayed on the resort. I think that was thest vacation I had been to.¡± I realised that only after I spoke.

    Things had gotten tense in my life after that. Between Pheobe and Portia bullying the living hell out of me even harder and me walking out on them monthster. I didn¡¯t have the luxury or liberty to just go on a vacation after that.

    ¡°I saw a movie the other day where this family went on a vacation together in the summer. It looked like such fun but I have never been on vacation before.¡± Hayley said as she coloured in the rocks around the water fall.

    She didn¡¯t sound <b>sad </b>or like she was trying to guild trip me but she was genuinely just pointing out a fact that had ured to her.

    ¡°I think we should remedy that.¡± Said a voice that made both Hayley and I jump in our ce.

    I ced my hand over my chest to steady myself from the startle. Hayley cheered loudly when she spotted Dante and her face lit up as always when she entered a space.

    ¡°A little arrival warning would be appreciated.¡± I said breathlessly. <b>¡°</b>You nearly scared me out of my own skin.¡± I said dramatically and Hayley threw me a nk look calling me out.

    ¡°It never gets old.¡± Dante winked at me before pulling the wooden chair next to Hayley.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but hear you say how you¡¯ve never been on a vacation ever and I think it¡¯s time we remedy that I blinked a few times as I heard him.

    Hayley had already dropped her crayon and turned her full attention to him. I, on the other hand, crossed my arms over my chest waiting for him to acknowledge my disapproval for theck of consultation before deciding to take her on a vacation.

    Dante pulled open his zer jacket and retrieved a brochure from the pocket on the inside. ¡°A week at the white hotel in Santorini.¡± He pushed the brochure at Hayley to take a look at the ce and she eagerly opened the tri¨Cfolded paper and her eyes widened in amazement,

    ?

    <b>SEND </b>GIFT

    III

 Chapter 55

    Woah, these pictures look amazing. This ce looks¡­ Wow.¡± Hayley said in amazement as she moved the brochure closer to her face. ¡°I can swim a lot! I get to wear that new swim suit that I got Hayley already began nning this trip in her head.

    She was far too excited to think clearly at present and I let her be but my anxiety and fears were growing ten fold. All I could think about was her being away from me for a whole week. She <b>would </b>not be within driving or reachable distance to me and if, god forbid, she needed me in an emergency, what the hell was <b>I </b>going to do?!

    Dante did not think about that and this was one of the times he really needed to consult with me before making any sort of final ns. But but the look of it every thing was already finalized and set. This was him breaking the news to us.

    ¡°When do we leave?¡± Hayley¡¯s question snapped me out of my internal thoughts and I looked to Dante awaiting his response.

    ¡°Tomorrow morning just before 10 a.m. I¡¯ll pick you up a little bit before that. Make sure you¡¯re all ready and packed.¡± He said to Hayley not once even looking <b>at </b>me for any sort of go ahead or approval that this was all okay.

    ¡°A whole week? Isn¡¯t that a little too long?¡± I asked barely recognising my own unsettled voice.

    Dante looked at me with a frown like he couldn¡¯t understand my hesitation. ¡°Yes. A whole week. I don¡¯t see how that would be an issue. If we¡¯re going so far we might as well make a trip out of it. in fact, if any thing, it¡¯s quite a short trip.¡± He shrugged but didn¡¯t get a chance to say a word more because Hayley¡¯s squealed in her excitement before jumping of the bench.

    ¡°I am going to get my suitcase out right now and start packing.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for any one to say any thing before she hopped in to the house but I knew that I would have to repack her entire bag to make sure the necessary items were packed.

    This really is one of those times that you should have consulted with me before going ahead with it.¡± I said after Hayley had been well out of earshot.

    I didn¡¯t want her to see me as the less fun or party pooper parent fussing over some thing she was so looking forward to but it seemed like I had to be the logical, reasonable parents here for once and actually think clearly for both of them.

    Dante tilted his head to the side in confusion. ¡°And why is that?¡± He raised a hauty brow at me challenging me and my objection to this trip.

    I couldn¡¯t believe that he was even asking me why he should have consulted with me about this whole thing. Did he really not see why he should have discussed this with me first?

    ¡°Because Hayley can¡¯t just be out in some new ce when she is prone to being overwhelmed at any minute when her condition acts up. You should know by now that it isn¡¯t predictable and neither is she the easiest to console during those times. If she happens to need me during that week, I will not be able to reach her.¡± I felt my face and shoulders, tense up as Iy all my issues with this trip on the table.

    Dante pressed his l*ps in to a thin line. He blinked then rxed like he heard my concerns and they were not <b>valid</b><b>. </b>

    ¡°Oh. I know that. It <b>is </b>why you areing along with us. I would never book such a trip with out your knowledge let alone take her for a whole week when I know it would be ufortable.¡± He said gently yet with a bit of a bite to it for me thinking that he would do such a thing.

    ¡°Oh?<b>¡± </b>The single word escaped my l*ps.

    ¡°I thought it would be nice for us to go on a little trip. Hayley has been hinting at it every time <b>I </b>took her some where this week. She really wants to go out and it matters <b>to </b>her greatly that we go together. He exined and I was not surprised by Hayley.

    With her continuous questions about us being a proper family, it made sense that she would want us to do other family activities together.

    ¡°But I can¡¯t just up and leave for a whole week. I have meetings to attend and things to see to.¡± I remembered work and my own responsibilities.

    Dante threw me a sly look. ¡°Really? You¡¯ve left for nearly a whole month not even two weeks ago.¡± He said yfully but I still red at him. ¡°Besides, the meeting is only taking ce the following week. He reminded me but it was also a slight jab confirming that he knew about the meeting.

    I was quite for a few seconds trying to think this over¡­ trying to wrap my head around one week with Dante in the same living space with no <b>break </b>or getaway.

    Just agree to it. For Hayley.¡± He coaxed sincerely and I hated that I had actually been considering it.

    ¡°It will be a nice break and Hayley will get to experience a true holiday for the first time.¡± He said continuing his selling of this weekend away.

    ¡°I will think about it.¡± I said and saw him grin at me. ¡°What is the itinerary looking like?¡±

    Dante fished out his phone. ¡°I have a rough one drawn up. I¡¯ll email it to you and you can make amends to it if you¡¯d like.¡± He said surprising me with his open to change demeanor.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have a look over at it.¡± I said trying not to look too happy about this but I was a little excited myself.

    I was ready to redo thest vacation that I had been on with this one and I was all too happy about that.

    É«

 Chapter 56

    My rm red loudly echoing throughout my entire bedroom and shrieking closely to my ear. I jumped up, my heart nearly lurching from my chest at the intruding sound disturbing my slumber as 1 blindly hit the snooze button feeling <b>a </b>strong sense of deja vu wash over me like I had done that before.

    I rested my head against the pillow feeling myself seconds away from falling back asleep when the realisation had hit me. My eyes flew open staring and my hand reached for where Ist deposited my phone. I grabbed it from beside my pillow and my eyes nearly jumped out of it¡¯s socket when I <b>saw </b>the time.

    It was nearly 9.30 am. and Dante would be here in half an hour to get <b>us </b><b>so </b><b>we </b>could leave. Without wasting any more time, I jumped out of bed kicking my legs over the edge of the mattress and rushing out of my room to wake Hayley up.

    This wouldn¡¯t have happened if I had gone to bed earlierst night but between packing Hayley¡¯s bag then mine followed by a vanity bag and a medicine bag, the hours had sl*pped away from me before I even knew it.

    I crossed the hallway to push open Hayley¡¯s slightly ajar door to find that she was <b>not </b>in her bed as Ist left her. her bed sheets were <b>still </b>crumpled and unmade but there was just no sign of Hailey herself. I retraced my steps back out of the room and stood in the hallway waiting to listen if I could hear any sound from the bathroom.

    even if I did hear any sounding from the bathroom it would be really odd that Haley had note to wake me Up. if anyone was amped and truly excited for this getaway it <b>was </b>her. however doing that consisted of the bathroom was pin drop silent but the same could not be said for the sounding from downstairs.

    it was not by any means loud and disturbing clearly since it was not enough to have awoken me from my slumber but it was enough to catch my attention. it was more shuffling and nkering off cutlery and crockery than it was actual noise. I frowned finding it odd if Hayley had takenly upon herself to fix her own breakfast. she was still a child and even if she had taken herself to get a bowl of cereal I would still find it very weird since it was not like her at all.

    still in my pair of short and tank top I made my way down the stairs and forward the sound of the movement just as <b>I </b>heard hush whispers and a small giggle which I knew belonged to Haley, there was no way that she was speaking to herself let alone giggling all by herself so they were certainly someone with her.

    it definitely couldn¡¯t be Nancy since I had sent her a text message earlyst night to let you know not toe in for the rest of the week. I decided to end curiosity once <b>and </b>for all as I close to distance between the bottom of the staircase and the dining room.

    the closer I had gotten to the dining room, the strong smell of something choctey mixed with the dark aroma of coffee wafted through the air.

    I stood in the doorway of the dining room to find a small spread lead out on the eight seater dining table. I noticed a te of pain au Choct croissants<b>, </b>a bowl for cut up fruits, a pitcher of orange juice, and a small ceramic espresso cup. I was right. Hayley had not been alone at all.

    ???

    Dante had been seated at the head of the table with Hayley happily pulling apart the chocte croissant and shoving a ky piece into her mouth to his right, none of them had sensed my presence nor took notice of me until I had cleared my throat.

    Dante had been the first one to look up from his cup of espresso with Hayley following his gaze shortly after. I but back a small chuckle when I had noticed the chocte smear on the corner of Hayley¡¯s l*ps that stretched to the side of her cheek which she was totally unaware off but any traces of my humour had vanished in to nothingness when I shifted my gaze back to Dante.

    A wave of self consciousness washed over me <b>as </b>I felt his assessing eyes move of me from my face then slowly down to my n*eck before it dropped lower to my freely standing chest. His <b>gaze </b>paused. there and as if my b*dy was ever so aware of him, ever so responsive, my n*pples stood up in attention poking through the flimsy material of my tank top.

    I crossed my arms over my chest to shield them feeling my sensitive n*pples rub against my forearm temptingly. Dante¡¯s eyes darkened in a way that I was all too familiar with before he adjusted himself in his chair. I felt my inner S*xual self awaken in satisfaction for causing him some difort.

    ¡°Morning.¡± I greeted and immediately cringed at the roughness of my voiceced with sleep and desire.

    ¡°Good morning, mama.¡± Hayley greated me back as she still devoured herminated buttery pastry but paused then to take a sip of her orange juice. I found that to be an oddbination but hey, she was happy with it.

    I moved further in to the dining room and settled myself in to the chair next to Hayley. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up? I overslept.¡± I asked Hayley and she looked to Dante before she spoke.

    ¡°I was going to but then we decided to let you sleep in. We did do all of our packingst night <b>so </b>there is not much to do. I already took a shower.¡± She moved back in her seat <b>so </b>I could get a glimpse of her pink dress with a unicorn on the front.

    ¡°I see you have.¡± I said as I allowed myself to rx seeing as I just needed to shower and change up then we¡¯d be on our way.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t much need to rush. The jet leaves when we¡¯re ready. I just assumed that 10 would be <b>a </b>decent time.¡± Dante spoke over his cup before he took a sip. He then motioned to the spread on the table. ¡°Please, eat some thing.¡± He offered and I reached for the croissant and a ss of juice myself with a side of fruit.

    These pain au Choct were certainly bought from the most prestine and famous French bakery in the city. I knew it by look, that signature European buttery smell, and the taste of it had been just <b>as </b><b>I </b>remembered it. It <b>was </b><b>a </b>shame <b>that </b>I hadn¡¯t eaten these more often.

    I broke apart a piece of pastry and immediately the warm chocte oozed on to my finger so I popped the ky pastry in to my mouth before sticking my index finger between my l*ps to lick of the chocte but the chocte was thick and luscious so I go in for another lick to get it clean of my finger.

    It was only when I had retrieved my finger from my mouth that I realised that Dante had been watching my every move with more than just the look of an observer. There was nothing observing

    O

    about the way he was looking at me lick of chocte from my finger that was any thing but <b>scandalous</b>.

    I knew right then <b>and </b>there that <b>this </b><b>was </b>about to be one long, torturous, dangerous week ahead. and I couldn¡¯t tell if I was intrigued by that or opposed to it entirely but it did sent my heart racing and my inner self fighting between what I know and giving in to my whim and fancy.

    By the next half an hour, I had managed to shower and apply enough make up to look alive. I threw on a flowy yellow sun dress with a beige belt and a pair of strappy sandals before wheeling my bag out of the room and the house entirely. Dante had a chauffer drive us to the private airport that he apparently shared between himself and a handful of other wealthy people.

    There was never a moment of silence in the car let alone the first half of the flight. Hayley¡¯s excitement had been on an all time high and she expressed her fascination for every thing. So far, she was blown away with how different a private yet waspared to normal airlines. She chose her reclining leather seat next to arge window and wiggled until she wasfortable.

    Dante and I hadughed to ourselves observing her but we let her be to enjoy all of this. This entire trip had been for her after all. She might as well enjoy every second of it.

    ¡°The sky is so pretty! So blue.¡± Hayley said in wonderment as she looked out of the window once we were above the clouds.

    I always counted my blessings that she was never afraid of flying not even one bit. I couldn¡¯t imagine how dreadful it would have been had she reacted opposite.

    ¡°I thought that you would be afraid of flying.¡± Dante was amazed by this, too.

    Hayley turned away from the window to look at him. ¡°Why would I be scared of flying?¡± She questioned like she could not fathom there would be any thing to be afraid of.

    I suppose that that was because she had no idea of the rare atrocities that can ur with these big Sky cars.

    ¡°There are quite a few reasons. For one, the <b>aircraft </b>could-¡±

    I cleared my throat. ¡°No reason, sweety. It¡¯s just that some times we experience really bad turbulence. You know when the ne shakes some times. I exined to her before Dante could. illicit a new fear of hers.

    Dante picked up my drift and immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, turbulence. It doesn¡¯t happen all the time. Just depending on the weather but alot of people, even grown adults, are scared of it.¡± I rested back against my seat rxing again¡­

    Hayley thought about it for a short while before she shook her head. ¡°Nope, that doesn¡¯t scare me. When mama and I used to fly from Canada to America, there was this one time where the ne shook alot. It did make me uneasy but I was not scared.¡± She exined herself proudly and I caught <b>Dante </b>beam with pride.

    <b>If </b><b>I </b>ever imagine him with a child of his own, I would have always assumed that perhaps he¡¯d be more inclined and able to work with a son as opposed to a daughter but it was clearly not true. He was so naturally <b>good </b>with Hayley and always made her feel special.

    0

    The aircraft had quietened down when Hayley dosed of to sleep at some point, Dante pulled out. hisptop after informing me that if I needed anything, I should ring for air hostess, before he got

    to work.

    I decided to catch up on some good of sleep. Sleep of which I had missed this morning and would love to make up. As I closed my eyes awaiting my slumber to over take me, I was made aware of just how rxed I had felt in years. For the first time it felt like I was free for <b>a </b>week. No stress, no work. my child was with me, happy and healthy. There wasn¡¯t a thing that I could think of to worry about at the moment.

    When we hadnded, Dante immediately worked on carrying the sleeping Hayley out of the <b>aircraft </b>without disturbing her and I followed behind him as we descended the aircraft stairs and headed to the awaiting SUV in which our luggage had been packed in.

    It was the middle of the afternoon in Greece and the weather was absolutely perfect. The skies were airy and a blue with a gentle pleasant breeze that wafted around. The sun was warm but it was the type of warmth that made one want to tan in it and fall asleep.

    The SUV had driven us along the scenic route and I fully expected to be taken to a resort and we were but it had been a private one.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter <b>57 </b>

    ¡°This This is not a resort.¡± I pointed out the obvious <b>as </b>we stepped out of the SUV and our luggage was being wheeled down the wooden <b>pathway</b>.

    Hayley held my hand and looked around but she was still amazed. I was too but I was just a little confused.

    ¡°I know. Last minute change of ns. This is my own personal greecian escape.¡± Dante said like this. <b>was </b>nothing at all.

    Instead of being taken to a normal resort, we were on what I could only assume had been a private ind. It definitely looked like that. Arge, unfathomabley built 3 story house had stood on all its simplistic glory in the middle of the ind surrounded by a very hotel like set <b>up</b>.

    The house was a perfect mix between ss and walls and I could only imagine how beautifully one could catch the view from inside through thoserge ss panels. Since the ind was so secluded, I doubted that it mattered whether or not there would be ack of privacy.

    ¡°I love it.¡± Hayley had given her approval like she had taken time to think it over.

    Dante let out breathyugh. ¡°Wait until you see the inside.¡± He reached for her hand and motioned for me to follow him down the same wooden pathway out bags had went.

    As I followed his lead, I looked around the ind and saw a tennis court in the distance, a few jet skis bouncing on the water¡¯s edge where it had been docked and I made a mental note to get to it at some point during the week.

    Dante paused at therge oak door before pushing it open. ¡°Wee to Spiti Tis Irem¨ªas.¡± He announced and waited for Hayley to enter first since she was already leaping past him.

    ¡°What does that mean<b>?</b>¡± Hayley queried as we walked through the foyer.

    ¡°It means house of serenity.¡± He tranted it for her and she nodded once before looking around.

    The interior was so simple yet so outstanding from the light coloured blinds rolled up revealing therge window features that over looked the rippling movement of the water to the dark wooden flooring that contrasted perfectly.

    A fully fitted kitchen was situated to put left as we entered further boasting fancy equipment and neat marble counters that match therge ind that sat in the middle. A long wooden table able to seat eight was set up across the kitchen closest to the ss windows allowing for the perfect view whilst one ate. The other room that was situated on the ground floor was arger than life living

    <b>room</b><b>. </b>

    There was no bedrooms or any thing of that sort on this floor which meant that just these three functions were reserved for the first floor. It allowed the space to breath and not be over crowded.

    ¡°Where is my room?¡± Hayley asked eagerly since she hadn¡¯t spotted any rooms so far.

    Dante looked at her with a sparkle in his eyes. ¡°Oh, I have a room for you but you¡¯re going to have

    to climb up some stairs.¡± He prepared her and she was all too eager.

    ¡°I can race you up the stairs. She challenged and Dante raised an intrigued brow at her.

    ¡°I will win.¡± He said to her and she stuck her tongue out at him.

    ¡°I¡¯m faster than you.¡± She countered before darting her eyes up the wide stairs that had enough space for five people to walk at once.

    Hayley didn¡¯t break her eye contact with Dante until she was ready to cut him and she did. She swung around and began charging up the stairs causing my heart to leap in my chest.

    ¡°<b>That </b><b>is </b>not fair!¡± Dante called out behind her but charged right after her but he was purposely slow letting her stay on the lead until they reached thending so she could win.

    ¡°I beat you! I beat you.¡± I heard Hayley cheer as I did my steady ascend of the stairs meeting them on the second floor.

    ¡°We still have one more set of stairs to get to the bedrooms.¡± Dante told Hayley and she grimaced as she looked around the space.

    ¡°Then what is on this level?¡± She frowned.

    ¡°A game room, a gym, and a theatre.¡± Hayley and I looked at him stupendously.

    ¡°A home theatre?¡± Hayley queried making sure she heard correctly.

    Dante nodded. ¡°Yes. Like a cinema except it¡¯s morefortable and you don¡¯t have to wait in line for a ticket. He exined and Hayley was already beyond impressed.

    ¡°I definitely want to watch a movie in there. I¡¯ve never been to the movie theatre before.¡± She said. and that was true but only because Hayley didn¡¯t express any interest in going to one.

    ¡°We have all week to do whatever you want! He reassured her before looking up the next flight of stairs.

    ¡°For now, we race.¡± He said to her and the both of them began at the same time up the stairs but I saw Dante hop on the same step whilst Hayley sped in front of him.

    She made thending before him and she danced her victory yelling out how she was way faster than Dante. Dante yed the part of the sore loser perfectly just to appease her and I couldn¡¯t help but smile to myself at how happy Hayley was.

    ¡°My reward could be me getting shown to my room.¡± Hayley spoke in a more mature voice that surprised me but then she giggled.

    ¡°Of course, your wish is mymand.¡± Dante reached for her hand and lead her down to the left of the wing.

    There were more bedrooms in this ce than was necessary, I counted seven doors just on this wing alone and we had moved to the end of the hallway until we reached the secondst door on our right.

    |||

    O

    83%

    ¡°This is your room. He turned the handle and pushed open the door allowing Hayley in before we followed.

    Hayley¡¯s gasp sounded through the room and my eyes widened at howrge the room <b>was </b>for Hayley but she <b>was </b>taken with it. By the look of it, he had the entire room redecorated to fit the taste of an almost 5 year old.

    The style of the room deferred from the rest of tone of the interior around each <b>floor </b>and I was certain that Dante had done this just for Hayley. The entire room was a Disney princess. wondend holding features from different fairy tales and involving it to the features of the room

    to make it stand out.

    A book shelf was mounted to the far right of the room resembling very closely to the one in beauty and the beast. The bed that was situated in the middle of the room against the wall was housed by a four poster bed with gold fittings and drapings around it to look just like one you¡¯d find in the movies. A rug that was a replica of the one in ddin sat in front of the bed and a brocade encrusted oval mirror was fixed above a dresser. Let me not get started on the show case of trinkets and baubles like a miniature version of Cindere¡¯s shoe or the goldenmp or even the tiara of Repunzels. All the princess and movies Hayley was more than familiar with.

    ¡°This. Is. The. Most. Amazing. Room. Ever!¡± She said in absolute awe as she trying to take in all of it

    at once.

    I could see her get a bit over excited <b>as </b>she tried to process it all but she loved carefully around the room and looked at every thing she could see.

    ¡°I am very happy you like it, Hayley. I tried to get my team to do this on very short notice.¡± He said to her with a breath of relief.

    ¡°It is perfect.¡± She looked at him with so much of love in her eyes before wrapped her arms around his knees.

    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± Dante reached down for her and carried her up like she weigh nothing. ¡°You are my daughter and there is nothing that I wouldn¡¯t do for you.¡± He vowed with a smile on his face.

    In that moment, gone was the ruthless business man or careless ex- husband that I knew. Instead standing in this room was a just a father willing to do what ever it took to keep his child happy. A flicker of guilt cut at my insides for keeping Hayley away from all of this love and attention that Dante was showing on her.

    Sure, I had my reasons and whilst they seemed relevant and reasonable then, I couldn¡¯t help but feel like it shouldn¡¯t have gotten in the way of them. In my defence, I did not know what to expect from Dante especially since when I did try to tell him he cut me of and after that he <b>was </b>so taken with pheobe that I couldn¡¯t trust the truth getting out knowing what she had once attempted.

    My eyes had gotten blurry out of no where but I blinked them away just in time because Hayley called for me..

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this room perfect? I love it. I wish my room could be like this all the time.¡± She wiggled out of Dante¡¯s hold and ran over to me to tug at my fingers so I could follow her around the room.

    ¡°You do love your princesses.¡± I pat her head gently feeling the sea breeze already take to her hair a

    832

    little bit.

    After Hayley gushed over her sleeping arrangements for the next ten minutes, Dante had informed me <b>that </b>my room was to the left of Hayley¡¯s and I assumed that his was on the right. The bedroom right at the end of the hallway had to be the master bedroom and I was curious to know just how it <b>had </b>looked.

    Theyout and design of the rest of the house was magnificent and I could only imagine what the master bedroom would hold. However, I kept my thoughts to myself and moved to my designated room which, as expected, was toorge for just one person. It wasrge enough that I had my own lounge and TV set up with an en¨Csuite bathroom that held a huge bath tub and a just asrge shower. This ce was just so over the top especially since the scenery outside of it was so breath taking that one was conflicted of whether to remain in doors ornguish peacefully in the azure blueness of outside.

    The moment my b*dy had touched the soft duvet, I felt myself begin to crash. I¡¯m sure I could take a small time nap before it <b>was </b>even noticed that I had disappeared. I tucked my hands under my face and curled in to a ball and within minutes I was fast asleep.

    I couldn¡¯t tell how long I had been asleep for but all I knew was that I had dreamt some thing <b>far </b>too tantalizing to be mentioned. A glistening golden tanned bodied man emerging from the water with nothing on but a pair of ample shorts. His hair was wet, as were his muscr b*dy from the water dripping down his b*dy.

    I looked to his face and saw that it was none other than Dante smilingzily at me. He said something about joining him in the water but one thing had lead to another and I was butt n*ked with him on the sand while he ravaged me right there and then. I felt his l*ps against my n*eck, his hands on every part of my b*dy seering me where ever he dared to touch me. His thrusts grew harder and faster until I screamed his name as I came.

    ¡°Dante.¡± I whispered in my sleep breathily as I found my release that ripped through me so strongly that I jerked awake.

    ¡°Yes, Soph.¡± His voice was too real for me to have dreamt it and I knew that I was shocked awake from the sheer realness of my dream.

    COMMENT

 Chapter 58

    It was just lunch. A lunch that consisted off a Greek sd along with a bowl of marinated olives, feta, and olive oil. it had been arge side to the <b>main </b>course but the food was the least of my concern at the moment.

    Some thing waspletely wrong with me and I had no idea how to fix myself again. ever since that stupid illicit and explicit dream that I had the very afternoon we had arrived at this house I could not think straight especially when Dante was in my presence.

    that dream had set of something in me that I had no idea nor even the inkling of how to shut it back off. all I could think about had been the details of the dream and how unbelievably real it had felt. it was almost as if whatever I was dreaming was actually happening in some alternate universe.

    it certainly didn¡¯t help things that Dante happen to my walk into the room the very second that I had called out his name in my sleep. once I had myself awake and propt myself onto my elbows to get a clear view of him I saw his momentary confusion slowly vanish as he began to understand just exactly why I had said his name in such <b>a </b>way.

    It also didn¡¯t help matters that my n*pples were fully erect from the rush coursing through my b*dy which had immediately drawn Dante¡¯s attention, my cheeks had heated up in embarrassment even though it was all a dream but it was the fact that Dante was aware that he had been involved in the sensual activities that are taking ce in my subconscious.

    the only way that I had felt that I could recover with my dignity intact was to be rate the man for entering into my room without knocking but that n had proved to be useless when Dante exin to the tea had onlye to call me for lunch. not only did that make me look like a fool but it also painted me as the bad one for shouting the man when he had only called me to get some food in my system.

    I tried my best for the next few days to go about my day without making any unnecessary contact with Dante. that included making use of the gym or tackling the jet skis just as I had intended when I first got here. sometimes I was sessful in my quest to get away from him but other times I was not for example times where Haley insisted that I joined them on whatever activity they had nned out and I had no choice but to agree.

    as much as I had wanted to avoid Dante I also wanted to create memories with Haley. however the times that I did join them had only reminded me why I had avoided it. it would be the most instant idental brush of skin against Dante¡¯s from when he was handing me the tennis racket or when he would pass the bottle of water to me to take a sip and quench my thirst beneath the warm sun that hung above that would trigger my carnal desire in a way that it was never ever saw easily invoked before.

    I reminded myself that I had to stay strong and that I could not give in to Dante and the natural allure of his charm but with each passing day it was proving to be absolute and insane torture. especially after this morning when Haley and I had taken a walk upon the waters Edge while Dante had decided to go for a swim only for him to emerge from the water glistening and dripping wet just as I had recalled him being in my dream.

    It all had built up to this moment right here and right now unfolding in front of me. Dante had popped an olive in to his mouth and his tongue moved it about as his teeth bite through the flesh

    III

    83%Š^

    of it cleaning it off the seed before popping the seed between his l*ps and removing it. It was simple, it was innocent, it had no reason to make me shift in my seat ufortably.

    I wanted his tongue on me, his teeth sinking in to my skin, and his l*ps eagerly demanding of mine until I forgot all the reasons why I was holding myself back. The sun had caught his skin just enough to give him a golden tan that made him look many times more attractive. His let his stubble grow which gave him a serious, dark look. All things that did not help my cause.

    As if he had sensed my gaze on him, Dante looked up from his food fast enough that I had no change to look away and he had caught me. Worse yet, he had read my thoughts in my eyes like I was an open book leaving no secrets to my own self.

    His gaze had darkened instantly right before he popped another olive in to his mouth and this time, this time I was sure that he was now doing this on purpose. Dante knew the agony I was in since the first day we had gotten here and he was using it to torment me even further.

    I tore my gaze away from me feeling my cheeks heat up until I felt like I was going tobust. I fanned myself with my hand but it did little to aid the heat that swirled within me.

    ¡°It¡¯s rather hot today.¡± I reached for my ss of ice water and gulped it down.

    ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s not different than any of the other days that we were here.¡± Dante responded with a sly hint to his voice.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s alright, too.¡± Hayley chimed in before she absentmindedly nibbled on a piece of cucumber.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s just you who feels hot.¡± Dante spoke as he loaded a meaty biteful on to his fork. ¡°and bothered.¡± He added before cing the fork in to his mouth and slowly pulling it out cleanly.

    I groaned and looked at Hayley, ¡°I am fine. Maybe a little dehydrated.¡± I shrugged reaching to refill my ss.

    ¡°Would exin the thirst. He added smugly and I red at him hating that he was making the most out of my difort at my expense.

    Dante knew exactly what he was doing and all this time I thought that it was all me, that it was me who had been turning every innocent thing he did in to something worthy of triggering my lust and desire but I was wrong. He was an equal culprit to this crime.

    I red at him only to have met his piercing, daring gaze and I immediately looked away not able to withstand meeting his eyes with every thing going on within me at the moment.

    ¡°We should head out to see more of the city this afternoon. Take advantage of the weather and enjoy some cuiser on.¡± Dante suggested but I already knew that the man had made reservations and had it all nned out.

    ¡°I would love to look around.¡± Hayley agreed already thrilled about the ns. ¡°Do you think we can get nanny Nancy some thing like a little gift from here?¡± She asked me and I nodded.

    ¡°Sure. It would be a nice gesture.¡± Hayley was satisfied with my response and she went back to

    eating her food.

    ¡°How long has Nancy worked for you?¡± The question had me snapping my head to the direction it hade from just from the tone in which it had been asked..

    It sounded doubtful of my expertise and capabilities to seek out care for Hayley. It was judgement with a hint of ¡®i could have done it better.

    ¡°Every since Hayley was over a year old. Nancy came highly rmended by the agency and <b>she </b>has proven herself greatly.¡± I jutted my chin out defiantly making sure that he knew not to trample

    with me.

    ¡°Did you carry out any additional checks on her before hiring her?¡± There it was. The bite to my capability,

    ¡°I didn¡¯t need to. The agency provided every thing I needed to know including criminal records amongst other clearances.¡± I smiled tightly at him.

    ¡°I see.¡± Was his t response which caused me to scoff..

    ¡°Did you think that I would be so ipetent?¡± I questioned in a jovial tone not to tense out the situation for Hayley.

    ¡°No, I was only making sure. Another t response.

    ¡°You do not have to worry. Especially when ites to Hayley.¡± Hayley looked at me at the mention of her name and I smiled at her before making a funny face that made her giggle and

    show me one of her own.

    After we had eaten, it had taken up a few minutes to sl*p on shoes and apply some spf for Hayley and I before we left to roam the city. Dante had taken, off and ventured into many stores <b>situation </b>on the side of it. Hayley was quite the shopper which to a pebbled street where we had gotten surprised me and Dante never told her no for anything.

    She found souvenirs and paint sets that she could paint various scenery that would remind her of her visit here. Dante carried all of her shopping bags and it was evident that she had him wrapped around her finger.

    ¡°Ooh, I feel like we¡¯d find some thing for Nancy here. Hayley said her famous like which she used before entering each store only for her toe out with things got herself.

    ¡®I think we need to get some thing for Nancy soon before we run out of shops to check in.¡± I threw Hayley a look that silently said I knew what she was doing but she smiled sheepishly.

    The store we entered was a quaint and held mostly kitchen souvenirs but also locally made bava that was packaged in the most adorable gifting box and a good ribbon ced on the side.

    ¡°What is this, mama? Hayley pointed at some thing on the shelf and I looked to see that it was a hand painted lemon juicer.

    ¡°That¡¯s a juicer. You can squeeze orange juice or even lemon juice with it.¡± I reached for it to get a closer look.

    83%•þ

    ¡°I think if he took this along with a box of those bavas back for Nancy, she would be happy.¡± I suggested and Hayley agreed.

    With Nancy taken care of, Hayley couldn¡¯t use her line before entering the next store and she had to admit that she wanted to <b>go </b>in for herself. Dante and I chuckled since we knew this all along.

    However, when the next store had been a jewelry one, Hayley wasn¡¯t too interest and walked past but I had wanted to check it out.

    ¡°Hold up, Hayley.¡± Dante stopped her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to check this store out?¡± He asked and Hayley scrunched her nose expressing her disinterest.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just want to go to the one after.¡± We looked to where she had pointed and it had been a brightly coloured store that caught her attention.

    ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯m going to explore this one.¡± I said to Dante and Hayley but Dante hesitated looking like he wanted to see the jewelry himself but he agreed and walked ahead with Hayley.

    I pressed the button on the side of the gate before it vibrated open and I entered the air- conditioned store that shines brightly with the twinkle of diamonds shing as the light had hit it at the perfect angle.

    ¡°Wee, Ma¡¯am. How can I help you?¡± A young dark haireddy smiled at me professionally eager to assist.

    ¡°I¡¯m just going to look around.¡± I said gently and she nodded giving me the space to do so.

    I looked around each ss guarded case and saw pieces that were stunning and ones that I would have actually loved to own but none of it had me hooked like the white gold and diamond tennis bracelet that had caught my attention. It was dainty diamonds set precisely in ce against the white gold and caught the light perfectly glistening as it twinkled.

    However, the price of it had been too steep when I had queried it and I couldn¡¯t justify spending that much on a bracelet regardless of how stunning it had been. I left the store feeling a little sad about it but not enough to let it affect my mood.

    I found Dante and Hayley at the next store at which point Hayley expressed that she was tired and we decided to head back to where the car had parked.

 Chapter 59

    Chapter <b>59 </b>

    ¡°It¡¯s so hot. Why is he taking so long?¡± Hayleyined as she crashed her back against the seat

    of the car.

    It had been about ten minutes since Dante had seen us to the car then <b>said </b>he needed to use the ?bathroom and that he would be back at any moment. He was gone for a little too long by <b>now </b>since the bathrooms were not very far from where we had parked but who knew what new food could do to ones stomach.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that he will be back any moment now.¡± I assured her but turned to crane my n*eck to see if I could spot any sign of Dante returning.

    ¡°I want water.¡± Hayley whined and I sighed also beginning to feel the heat.

    ¡°We will be <b>back </b>at the house in <b>a </b>few minutes.¡± I said to her as I checked again for Dante.

    I let out thergest sigh of relief when I spotted him closer to the car than I was prepared for. His <b>hair </b>blew in the breeze and I noticed then just how casual he was dressed. A pair of beige shorts that ended just above his knee, a golfer that was tucked in, and a belt that held it together at the waist was such a different look to what he usually wore. His signature suit was not worn at all and I itched to know if he had even packed one for the trip at all.

    ¡°There he is.¡± I said to Hayley still looking at Dante when I noticed a leggy blonde wearing a candy red dress that was scandalously low as were her n*eckline.

    She saw Dante, looked him up and down before she walked over to him then faked a trip and crashed right in to his arm. Instinctively, Dante caught her by her arms right before she could fall to the floor but in that split second, her heaving chest brushed against the front of his shirt before he steadied her.

    I felt my nostrils re and a sudden heat rose in my face. My hands balled up in to fists in myp as I watched the woman reach out and grasp Dante¡¯s bicep. Her manicured fingers toyed with a tendril of over her shoulder and she faked an apology just to engage Dante in conversation.

    He waved a hand to dismiss her apology but she still hadn¡¯t let go of his bicep. I grit my teeth and with out thinking I pushed the door open.

    ¡°Dante.¡± I waved him over with a wide sinile causing both Dante and the woman to turn in my direction<b>. </b>

    The woman looked at me with irritation etched in to her face and I didn¡¯t want to look at Dante¡¯s face right now.

    Hayley popped her head up through the door. ¡°We¡¯re waiting for you. I need water. She said and I saw the woman grimace drawing the conclusion that Hayley was Dante¡¯s daughter.

    She immediately backed away and tried to smile but failed. instead her face looked like it was malfunctioning before she swung around and walked away.

    I shut the door before Dante could make another move and I did my seat belt. Oh, my god. I couldn¡¯t believe that I acted out of jealousy and my mind reacted so irrationally.

    III

    Dante got in to the car and brought the engine roaring to life. Thankfully he hadn¡¯t said a word and I looked at myp in utter embarassment at what I had just done.

    ¡°What took your so long?¡± Hayley shuffled trying to get the vent to hit her so she could cool down.

    ¡°There was a line at the bathroom.¡± He said to her as I looked up but only to find his gaze <b>re </b>at me through the rear view mirror.

    Damn it. Dante had a knowing look on his face before he looked away and drove us back to the house, I tried not to <b>say </b>any thing and just wanted to disappear in to my room when we got back.

    However, when we had arrived Hayley leaped in to the house to get some water and I tried to hastily chase after her before Dante called me.

    I shut my eyes and scrunched my face with my back still turned away from him. I let out a breath then exhaled as I rposed myself and turned around to face him.

    ¡°Yes?¡± The way out of this was to feign innocence. That was the only way that I was going to escape this embarassment and Dante.

    ¡°I know what you did back there.¡± He said with a smug look on his face. ¡°In all the time that I had known you, I never thought of you as the jealous type.¡± He crossed his arms over his broad shoulders causing his golfer to strain and n*eck where his tanned, taut skin was visible..

    I swallowed at the sight like some deranged, deprived, and wild woman but I couldn¡¯t let him or his presence or that woodsy, citrus smell of his cologne mess with my head.

    ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about. Hayley was ufortable with the heat so I waved you over.¡± I shrugged with a frown but he had taken two steps closer to me.

    ¡°Oh, admit it, Soph. You were jealous.¡± He said again and cringed at how true it was.

    But still trying to keep whatever was left of my self respect, I shook my head in the negative.

    ¡°I am not. I never was. Your love life doesn¡¯t interest me at all.¡± I blurted out and he scoffed.

    ¡°Perhaps but as much as you deny it, a man knows a jealous woman when he sees one.¡± He said with finality in his words and I tried not to let my temper sl*p. it would only prove his point.

    ¡°I am not jealous!¡± I said, my voice raising an octavepletely failing to stay calm.

    He took another step forward leaving no space between us now and I gasped as my b*dy tensed in attention. Every part of my skin prickled at the mere and sudden closeness of him and my face fell.

    ¡°I know that look in your eyes. It¡¯s been there since the day we got here. Since the afternoon where you had a rather racy dream that had you scream out my name. <b>It¡¯s </b>a look that I am all too familiar with and all I can say is that my bedroom door and bed is open to you whenever you so decide but until youe to me, I will not make any advances in your direction. His words sent my core clenching as his breath tickled the skin of my jaw and chin.

    I was frozen to the spot by his proximity, the heat radiating of his b*dy and seeping in through, my skin, and just how close his l*ps had hovered over mine.

    ¡°Do you understand me?¡± His eyes bore in to mine like he was searching every corner of my mind.

    All I could offer him <b>was </b><b>one </b>very shaky nod. He grinned at me baring all his teeth before he walked past me and headed in to the house. I waited to hear his footsteps fade before I gulped in lung fulls of air.

    It would have been easier if I were still under the assumption that Dante no longer wanted <b>me </b><b>and </b>even thinking of exploring his bedroom with him would prove to be a one sided affair but I could no longer use that as my anchor to keep me rooted. He basically opened the barriers and left the ball in my court and at my feet.

    I knew that I couldn¡¯t crumble so easily. the day was strenuous and tiring given the heat and maybe a nice cool drink andy down will help calm my mind. also a break from constantly being in Dante¡¯s presence would help my inner turmoil.

    when I had into the house I tried to be as quiet as possible not wanting to draw a new attention to my presence. I headed towards the stairs that would take me to the second floor but then I had caught sight of Haley¡¯s blue pants from the corner of my eye. I move to the living room where Haley had beenpletely passed out with a ss of water resting on the coffee table.

    I guess the afternoon had really been a tiring one for her too even though she had a lot of fun. I couldn¡¯t leave her to sleep here especially since there was no sign off Dante so I quickly picked up try to be as gentle as possible before heading upstairs.

    as I had reached thending on the second floor I heard to movementing from the game room where they had also been a bar situated and assume that was where Dante had been. without wasting any more time I made it to the third story and headed straight for Hayley¡¯s room. after I tucked her in, I looked to the space beside her and decided toy by her.

    I wasn¡¯t intending to fall asleep but at some point during the silence of the house and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, I had fallen asleep with out having realised it.

    When I had woken up hourster, every thing was dark. I felt the night stand for a switch and pressed it and themp lit up the room. Hayley was still sound asleep beside me and I let be seeing as it was already ratherte and she night as well sleep through the night. ?????

    I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes with the back of my hand before getting out of the bed and heading down to the kitchen. I was feeling unexinably thirsty and I guess the heat from being outside earlier really did get to me more than I had thought.

    The house was still silent and I could only <b>think </b>that Dante had gone to sleep leaving me move around the house freely and without the fear of running in to him with his Hayley to keep things neutral¡­

    I pulled open the fridge and poured myself some cold water before munching on some toasted nuts that had been left on the counter. The chef that visited throughout the day cooked one main. meal for us and left snacks prepared forte night picking.

    ¡°You¡¯re still awake, i jumped back startled at the intrusion.

    ¡°dammit!¡± I swore as I ced a hand over my racing chest. ¡°Do not sneak on me like that.¡±

    111

    0

    Dante stood at the end of the kitchen leaning his <b>hip </b>against the counter top. He was still dressed in his day clothes and I noticed just how much more tanned he had gotten making him look like some sun k*ssed Adonis.

    ¡°I did not sneak up on you. I was right here all along. He confessed and I threw him a look of disbelief.

    Surely i couldn¡¯t have missed him if he really had been or had Ipletely blocked out his presence in my slightly groggy <b>state</b>?

    ¡°You could have made your presence known earlier, you know.¡± I said sarcastically and he grunted before moving behind the counter where I had been standing with my ss in hand.

    ¡°Well, you know now.¡± He said in a t tone. ¡°Anyways,¡± He fished some thing out of his pocket. before cing the revealed rectangr velvet box on to the counter between us.

    ¡°What is that?¡± I asked him looking between the box and him.

    ¡°A gift. He said and I raised a brow at him.

    Did he really think it appropriate to ask me to choose jewellery for his manydy persuits?

    ¡°A little toote to ask my opinion since you¡¯ve already picked it. I¡¯m sure the person you¡¯ve purchased it for would love it.¡± I said sarcastically and he chuckled.

    ¡°No, it is for you.¡± He said still humoured but I looked at him nkly.

    ¡°For me?¡± I asked in surprise since I was not expecting

    this at all.

    ¡°Yes.¡± He confirmed and motioned for me to take the box.

    I reached for it hesitantly and my eyes widened when I saw what it had been.

 Chapter 60

    <b>Chapter </b>60

    I was absolutely stunned. I might be dreaming. Surely, it must be that I was sleep walking perhaps. Perhaps <b>this </b>was just some lucid, hallucinating dream that people had. It felt like the only believable exnation.

    How on earth did he know?

    My fingers felt the velvet of the box brush against it as I held the box in my hand. My eyes were entirely fixated on it and I couldn¡¯t think of any thing else except the contents of the box in my hand.

    It sparkled beneath the lighting in the kitchen sending a kaleidoscope of shapes and colours bouncing of the ceiling as the light caught each precise cut of the string of diamonds set against the white gold band.

    It was the very same tennis bracelet that I had fallen in love with at the jewellery store earlier today. My eyes widened once I snapped out of my surprise and I immediately brushed my fingers over the diamonds like I wanted to make sure it was actually real and not some holographic image that was some how in my hold.

    My finger felt ever prong, ever smoothened polished cravice of the diamonds cut, and the coolness of the metal. It was more beautiful now than it had even looked in the store and that was when I recalled the price tag.

    ¡°Dante, this is- I can¡¯t, it is too much.¡± I shook my head closing the box but I didn¡¯t put it back on the counter yet..

    Dante shrugged like this was nothing. Like he hadn¡¯t just dropped arge sum of money to buy me the exact bracelet that had caught my eye.

    ¡°It¡¯s a gift, Soph. He called me by that nickname with no much of familiarity. You can¡¯t refuse a gift.¡± He threw me a disapproving look but I still shook my head.

    ¡°I can. This is too much and there isn¡¯t a reason for me to be gifted this.¡± I fought against him and he inhaled deeply like he was trying to keep his calm.

    ¡°Why must every thing be a struggle with you?¡± He ran a hand through his hair as his question hung in the air. ¡°I do not need a reason to buy the mother of my child a gift. Consider it a very dyed push present.¡± Dante spoke gently looking at me with this rxed softness in his eyes.

    ¡°Dante, but- I began to protest again.

    ¡°Please, Soph, it¡¯s just a gift. Stop making such a fuss over it.¡± He said sounding exhausted and I couldn¡¯t tell if it was from the day or from me.

    ¡°Fine. I ept it as a push present. I reasoned feeling less guilty for taking it as opposed to if he had bought it for me without reason.

    Sure, it was stillvish but maybe in his head he was repaying me in some way for giving him a child and not for <b>any </b>other reason.

    O

    <b>Chapter </b>60

    His shoulders rxed and the corners of his l*ps lifted. ¡°See, that wasn¡¯t so hard. He said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes at him.

    ¡°But what made you choose this bracelet?¡± <b>I </b>asked curios to know how he had managed to choose the same one I wanted. Was it truly a freaky coincidence?

    Dante smirked and I instantly knew that it was no coincidence. ¡°Just a strong guess.¡± He replied vaguely and <b>I </b>knew that there was more to it but he was not going to fess up.

    ¡°Thank you for this. I really love it. I brushed my thumb against the box still in my hand feeling <b>a </b>small smile over take my l*ps that I could not control.

    He opened his mouth to speak but a spec of dust or something hadnded in my eyes just as I blinked. I winced as it brushed against my pupil each time I moved my eye. I left it closed and was about to instinctively rub it but Dante was already standing right in front of me. His one hand cupped my fave gentle and his other moved to hold my eye open. He did a quick inspection before he inhaled then blew in to my eye flushing out what ever foreign object that had gotten in.

    I blinked then moved my eye feeling nothing there any more but my eye teared and Dante¡¯s thumb was quick to wipe it away.

    His concerned eyes were now entirely engrossed with mine and I felt myself slowly begin to get lost in his deep, yearning gaze until I was frozen in time with him. It might have been seconds or minutes or decades that we could have stood there like that.

    For a moment it felt like the old Dante stood in front of me. The Dante that I had married long ago. The Dante that I had a good life with. The Dante who didn¡¯t chase after Pheobe.

    The Dante that stood in front of me was the one that I had shared many things with. The one who had been a part of my every day. The one who would care for me in a heart beat. It was why it had taken so long to move on because of how much we had shared.

    ¡°Dante.¡± His name was a heavy whisper.

    ¡°Yes?¡± His l*ps moved to utter the single word and I could almost feel it brush against mine at how close he had been.

    ¡°Kiss me.¡± I begged breathless. I needed to k*ss him in that moment for no other reason but it felt right.

    He didn¡¯t hesitate at all and obliged my wish. His l*ps met mine in the soften most sweetest k*ss we had ever shared. It was patient. It was consuming. It was satisfying..

    He k*ssed me once then twice then again but the third time his l*ps did not break away from mine. I k*ssed him just as gently as he had k*ssed me and felt him smile against my l*ps,

    I felt my cheeks heat up and I looked at him through myshes with a smile if my own toying about my l*ps. I was all too consumed by this moment and how giddy it had made me feel. Suddenly, I was not a mature woman but some teenager having her first k*ss for the first time. That was how it had felt from that mming of my heart against my chest to the nerves and shyness.

    I couldn¡¯t understand why this had felt so different to every other k*ss that we had shared before.

    O

    There was nothing expectant about it. It felt sweet and gentle and lov-

    No. No.

    I cleared my throat and took moved away from him just enough to create some distance between out bodies. Dante didn¡¯t stop me and continued looking at me like I was the air that breathed. It was so¡­ new. He never looked at me that way iebhad my giddiness lead me to believe otherwise in its hazy <b>state</b>?

    ¡°It iste. I should get to bed. My voice was small and sounded foreign to even my own ears.

    Dante saw me withdraw and a crease formed between his brows. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just wake up?¡± He asked with a skeptically raised brow.

    I nodded then opened my mouth to make an excuse to leave but he spoke before me.

    ¡°Come, join me for a friendly drink.¡± His offer was much less an offer as it has been amand.

    I could use a drink about now. It would help put me to sleep and ease my mind but I had to be sure not to have too much to drink around Dante.

    Dante had popped open a bottle and carried out two sses before leading me over to the front porch. The nights air was fresh and the ind amply lit to still allow us the liberty of admiring the scenery.

    I settled in to one of the cushion lined seats and Dante did the same in one next to mine. He handed me a ss before he poured the bubbly liquid in to it before he helped himself to a ss.

    It was quiet between us for a long while. We both just sat there sipping slowly on our drinks, admiring the view, and the sound of the many crickets in the greenery surrounding us. Despite thefort that settled over us, my mind still lingered on that k*ss that transpired inside.

    It was just a k*ss. An innocent maybe even a thank you k*ss but I couldn¡¯t let it sl*p in to nothingness because it felt like it was more. My inner self battled with what I felt and what I had known until I knew I needed more wine to numb out these thoughts.

    ¡°Did you enjoy this week away?¡± Dante¡¯s question disturbed the silence but it had also caught me off¨Cguard.

    ¡°Yes, I did. Dare I say not as much as Hayley though. I said lightly and Dante chuckled heartily.

    I sensed a sense of pride in hisughter knowing that he had given Hayley a week vacation that she would never forget any time soon. I could only prepare myself to hear about her speak of this week when we returned back home.

    ¡°She is an amazing little girl.¡± He said with so much of tenderness in his tone. ¡°You know I never spared much thought to being a father or having a family but in the rare instances that I did have the thought, I always saw myself with a son.¡± He nced at me and I narrowed my eyes at him but I knew he had more to say.

    ¡°Before you blow my head off, let me finish.¡± He warned with a small chuckle. ¡°I thought it would be easier to raise a boy being one myself. You know, all the rough and tumble activites to sporty fun

    but, having said that. Hayley is far better <b>than </b>any son I could imagine having. She is smart and witty and utterly entertaining.¡± He concluded with a big ol¡® proud, living smile on his face.

    ¡°My only regret is not having known her sooner.¡± He said in a right tone I looked away from him and down at the ss in my head.

    <b>¡°</b>I know but I had to do what I thought was best for her especially with Pheobe around you.¡± I said speaking freely since there was no reason for me to not expose her to Dante.

    His eyes tightened at the mention of Pheobe and I felt like he had known more than he lead me to believe<b>. </b>

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter any more. All that does is that I have Hayley and she has a father figure in her life. I¡¯m very pleased that she likes me.¡± Dante admitted giving of the impression that he had once feared that Hayley would not like him at all.

    ¡°Oh, please. I have never seen her so quickly attach to someone before.¡± I said but Dante pursed his l*ps.

    ¡°Really? Not even Adam?¡± He said the name like it was poison rolling of his tongue.

    I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head. ¡°She does like Adam alot but she doesn¡¯t feel like fatherly connection with him. Adam never tried to full that role with her because he knew better. Hayley and him are just as much of friends and him and I are. With you, I think Hayley sees the fatherly figure that she always felt the absence of.¡± I shrugged and Dante nodded slowly as he took a swig of his drink.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m not satisfied to hear that.¡± The hautiness in his voice made me re at him before I grinned <b>shaking </b>my head at him.

    ¡°Although you can¡¯t quite link your friendship with Adam to his and Hayley¡¯s. I mean the man did. propose to marry you in a restaurant full of people.¡± I groaned and ran a hand over my face,

    ¡°Yes but we cleared the air about <b>that</b>. Besides, it isn¡¯t any of your business.¡± I said seriously but Dante¡¯s eyes

    darkened.

    ¡°Of course, it is.¡± He responded stubbornly. ¡°You are the mother of my child. What ever you do is

    business.¡± He said with authority in his words.

    my

    ¡°I disagree. I¡¯m your ex- wife. Whatever I do in my personal life is none of your concern.¡± I said firmly but he chuckled and drained the contents of his ss..

    Annoyed at him, I woke up from my seat and headed in to the house.

    <b>??? </b>

    O

    0

    COMMENT

 Chapter 61

    It has been thest day of our vacation and Dante was determined to make the most out of it. This morning, a light breakfast was had before the three of us headed out to the beach along with an ample basket of snacks packed courteously by the chef.

    Hayley was all smiles and talkative the entire drive to the beach seeing as Dante had bought her a whole bag of beach toys that she was eager to make use of. We entertained he rmaj questions all through out the drive there and once we had found a spot at the beach, Dante had taken her in to the water.

    They swam for nearly an hour with Dante teaching her swim and even taking a little deeper in to the wavey water on his back. I watched them closely, my motherly instinct not willing to look away from Hayley for even a second. It was probably the first time for her swimming at such a pace. The handful of time I had taken her to the beach before, she mainly yed in the sand and at the water¡¯s edge. This was the first time she had been experiencing the ocean immensely and, by the look of it, she was having the time of her life.

    She trusted Dante and that was easy to see by the way she let him show her different strokes and tricks in the water. a few moments before they had emerged from the water, they just hung out at the calmer side of the water and spoke to each other.

    Dante was surprisingly good with her and he was also an amazing swimming. Not some thing that I was surprised about at all. His b*dy had cut through the deep blue ocean like an expert and when he had emerged from the water, he¡¯d run his hands through his hair to get it away from his face but droplets with still slide down over his face making a slow trail down his defined n*eck and even more muscr torso before it met with the sea of water beneath.

    I, on the other hand, had chosen to enjoy the sun and watch from the shore as I tanned up before returning back to routine and the hustle and bustle of daily life. The view wasn¡¯t bad either but it did make unthinkable, heated thoughts cloud my mind but I was alright with that. They were my thoughts. It wasn¡¯t like Dante could read them but a part of me also suspected that he was giving me a show especially when he had emerged from the water.

    His hair was swooped back, the sun had shined at a perfect angle hitting his b*dy in such a way that it entuated ever contour of his b*dy. It was a good thing that I had worn a pair of sun sses so he wouldn¡¯t be able to catch me watch him in all of his seductive glory.

    ¡°Mama, can I have some thing to eat please?¡± Hayley asked once they had gotten closer and I dug in to the pic basket and handed her a sandwich which she took.

    Dante and her spent some time drying off before Hayley had dug in to her toy bag and experimented with then all on the sand telling me how much of fun she had had in the water.

    ¡°I am going to build a sand castle.¡± She announced right before she packed sand in to the bucket.

    Dante nced at me before reached for a bottle of water from the basket. ¡°The water is great. You should have joined.¡± He said and I removed my sun sses and ced it over my head..

    Dreame

    |||

    PREE

    <

    11:31 Fri, 8 Mar R Bu¡¤

    The tide looked good but I wasn¡¯t much in the mood to swim today. I enjoyed the sun.¡± I said gently.

    His eyes did a sweep of my b*dy that only had a two piece on with the lower half covered by a

    wrap.

    ¡°I see the sun has caught your skin nicely. Heplimented me and something with in my subconscious felt satisfied.

    85%

    ¡°I might as well make the most of it before we head back.¡± A sense of dread settled in my stomach the moment I had said that.

    I only realised then just how much of a good time I was having and how this was the most rxing week of my life in a long long time. Had it not been for Dante, I wouldn¡¯t have ever taken a break let alone considered it.

    ¡°Yeah, you should rest up before the big meeting.¡± Dante reminded me with a small grin and I raised a brow at him.

    I knew about the meeting. I hadn¡¯t forgot about it at all in since the date was issued for it to be held. We both know what he had meant for each other should one of us lose but Dante¡¯s smug confidence had set me of a little but making me doubt the oure.

    ¡°I¡¯m well rested and the meeting isn¡¯t a worry. I am quite confident in my skills and my team.¡± I said holding my chin high and my shoulders squared.

    ¡°Of course. He said closing the topic before one of our mood had soured over it.

    A few minutes of silence past and a breeze blew by. The sky was beginning to lose its brightness as the morning dipped tote afternoon.

    A thought had ured to me about the ident that Dante and I had been in when I realised that we hadn¡¯t made any discovery about it yet. It definitely wasn¡¯t a coincidence and I had been meaning to ask Dante about it but it had sl*pped my mind.

    ¡°Hey, Dante.¡± He looked away from the crashing waves and to me.

    ¡°Yes?¡± He looked at me seriously.

    ¡°Has there been any discovery about that incident that happened?¡± I tried to be as vague as possible since Hayley was right there between us.

    Dante frowned looking at me for further boration. I darted my eyes to Hayley. ¡°You know, the one with the ck SUV that ured a few months ago when you were taking me home.¡± I kept my tone light as I reminded him of exactly which incident I was speaking about but Hayley was. engrossed in her sand castle.

    Understanding dawned upon him and his face had grown serious almost angry at remembering. I knew from just that look on his face that he had known some thing that I was yet to discover.

    Dreame

    2-85%

    Dante¡¯s jaw clenched tightly enough that I saw some thing, like a tendon, click from the pressure before he rxed it. He ran a hand roughly through his hair and when he spoke again, his voice was entirely different. More grave and taut than it had been before I asked my question.

    ¡°There has been a huge discovery which I was meaning to inform you about but I didn¡¯t get that chance. I should have told you sooner but I didn¡¯t want to rm you especially since it¡¯s mostly taken care of¡± My brows raised in intrigue wanting to know what he had found out about the

    ident.

    As far as I knew, it definitely was not a coincidence or merely an ¡®ident. Whatever that had been, it was intentional. That SUV had rammed in to us enough for us to had plummeted in to the valley leaving us for the unthinkable to happen.

    Dante was hesitant for a few moments before he sighed like he was just going to get this over with. ¡°That SUV that you speak of was driven by a man named Demitri Toretelli. He rented it then totalled it and didn¡¯t return it back.¡± He said with a bitterness and anger coursed in to his words.

    That name never ring a bell and I don¡¯t think I have heard it before. Why would some one I had no idea of would want to attack me? unless it was an attack on Dante and I was just caught in the middle.

    ¡°Demetri Toretelli? I don¡¯t believe I know who that is let alone heard that name before. Is he some business partner of yours?¡± I admitted crossing my legs and wrapping my arms over my chest to diminish the coldness from the breeze.

    Dante shook his head immediately looking offended that I¡¯d assume Demetri was in any way associated with him.

    ¡°No, definitely not affiliated with me in any way. The man is a criminal who had just been released from prison not too long before the ident.¡± Dante paused to take a breath before he looked at me with a careful look in his eyes. ¡°He is a rather close and personal friend of Phoebe¡¯s. She was the one who orchestrated the entire thing through Demetri¡± He exined and I gasped in utter shock. Of course, Pheobe was linked to all of it.

    I knew that Pheobe was bitter, cu nning, and a bi ch but I would have never expected her to stoop to such a lowly level in which Dante and I could have lost out lives but then I scoffed thinking about how she was heartless enough to try and harm Hayley while she was still forming in my belly.

    ¡°You see, this is why I kept certain things away from you. For this very reason and I¡¯m d that I did. I looked at Hayley then referring to her. The woman knows no bounds or limit. She just acts. out on her impulses as she wishes with out thinking.¡± I was furious by hearing this and my blood boiled thinking about how terrible she was.

    Dante didn¡¯t agree with my reason to keep secrets from him but he went on. ¡°Anyways, as for Demitri, he is on the run again but I have men working hard to track him down. It won¡¯t be long before they trace him.¡± He said wistfully but I looked away from Dante and at the crashing waves.

    I wondered then if that was the reason that Dante had broken of the engagement. After finding out that she was responsible for the ident, Dante probably wanted nothing to do with her and broke

    Dreame

    11:31 Fri, 8 Mar RG.

    Chapter fil

    it all off but why did he even propose to her in the first ce. No, Sophia, that is none of my

    business.

    ¡°What is in it for him? Why is he serving as her Hench man? If he is newly released from prison, shouldn¡¯t he want to keep himself out of it?¡± I still looked at the waves and noticed that the sky had grown darker than before.

    ¡°Maybe she promised to split some money with him that she nned on getting from who knows where. It doesn¡¯t matter any more. I haven¡¯t heard a peep from Pheobe in weeks.¡± He sounded ufortable now and when I looked at him he did not meet my eye but I let it go.

    It still didn¡¯t make sense why this Demetri was willing to get imprisoned for Pheobe despite how close their friendship was. I mean no matter how close they could be, why would he risk so so much for her?

    The sky had grown darker than before and the light breeze that once existed had turned in to more of a distruptive wind. It was then that we decided to leave the beach and head back to the ind but not before Dante took many pictures of Hayley¡¯s sand castle.

    É«

 Chapter 62

    It was back to reality and routine once again.

    It had taken two full days of sleeping in and going in to workter to some how try and recover from the jetg. Not to mention the readjustment of sleeping schedule due to the time difference but ir had past before I knew it.

    The office had ran smoothly in my absence seeing as the department¡¯s were doing their final checks before the big meeting and I couldn¡¯t wait to attend it. The meeting was precisely less than 24 hours

    away.

    In less than 24 hours, we would know who had won the bet on agreement and either Dante or myself would walk away a victor and one the loser. I didn¡¯t want to think too much of who would be who though I like to remain positive and asume the best possible oute for myself.

    The week we had spent together should not change any thing. I didn¡¯t think it did for Dante but I wasn¡¯t sure. However, I felt like I needed to know what he had been thinking. We had gotten on surprisingly well in the week that past¡­ a little too well, in fact, but I was not going toin.

    What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas. Right?

    It was inevitable. A small part of me knew this the minute he gave me heated look when I licked chocte of my fingers before we had even left. I knew from then that the inevitable would happen. whether I tried to fight it or not.

    And it did.

    I didn¡¯t regret it at all but it did leave a few questions unanswered like was that a one time thing? or did this change anything? or was there any meaning to this?

    I remembered thest time I looked too deep in to rolling in the sheets with Dante and it had only gotten me hurt because I expected more¡­ no, no, he lead me to believe that there was more.

    Thest night that we had shared in Greece held no promise of any thing neither did it hold any deception. We were just two people who had been over taken by the moment and gave in with out sparing it too much of thought. All I could think about was how I couldn¡¯t hold it off any longer and if I was going to scratch this itch then I might as well do it while we were still away so when we got back it would be like a new start and easier to pretend that nothing had transpired between us.

    ¡°Earth to Sophia.¡± Adam waved his hand in front of me and I snapped out of my reverie and returned my attention to the present.

    The present being our usual cafe spot just down the block from my office where we decided to meet and catch up since we had not for a week.

    ¡°Sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts. I shook my head like the thoughts would just leave me alone.

    ¡°I can see that. Still jetgged?¡± He questioned leaning back in his seat causing the buttons of hist

    Dreame

    |||

    KILLED

    Fri, 8 Mar RBW

    white shirt to grow taut.

    ¡°Not at all. The jetg eased up a day ago.¡± I exined defensively and Adam raised a curious brow

    at me.

    ¡°So, how was your week long get away?¡± The inquisitive note in his question was loud and clear.

    I wasn¡¯t going to tell him any thing that he didn¡¯t need to know. Adam would possibly berate the and admonish me for being so careless again and it was just a tid bit that he did not need to know about.

    I chewed on a bread stick before inhaling. ¡°It was surprisingly nice. Hayley had an absolute st which I¡¯m sure you¡¯d hear all about when you see her.¡± I said hopefully leading him away from Dante and I.

    ¡°I am sure she did but how did you find it?¡± He looked at me with a focussed, pinned look.

    I shrugged. ¡°I found it very rxing. At first I was worrying about butting heads with Dante alot but he was just focused on Hayley and I was mostly doing my own thing. It was a vacation that I didn¡¯t know I needed.¡± I said truthfully and he nodded pressing his l*ps in to a thing line before taking a sip of his coffee.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to say the least. I thought the man would get on yourst nerve.¡± He said and my head immediately went to the fact that he did managed to get on a lot of my nerves but just the right ones but I kept thatment to myself.

    ¡°Truth be told, I was expecting that too but it was all smooth sailing.¡± I said with a neutral smile.

    Adam let out a breath. ¡°A break before the meeting. When is it?¡± He queried even though he had no intention of joining in. Adam hated meetings in general and would not be caught dead at one that he didn¡¯t absolutely need to be at

    ¡°Tomorrow at 10 in the morning.¡± I told him and his brows raised at the time.

    ¡°Sooner than I thought.¡± He said in surprise. ¡°best to g get the suspense out earlier rather thanter.¡± He shrugged.

    ¡°I know and I do not want to think about it at the moment.¡± I closed the topic and Adam respected. that.

    About a half an hourter, Adam had taken care of the bill and we left the cafe. He dropped me of at the office while he headed back to attend a meeting of his own.

    I marched in to my office with the attention of taking care of whatever work I had for the day before I could leave the building and head home to Hayley. After spending a week with Dante and I, I noticed that she was still adjusting to being left without either one of us. She was eager to see Nancy and give her the souvenirs she had gotten her but aside from that she was taking some time adjusting back to routine.

    Dreame

    8 MBT R

    I had just settled behind my work desk when Lucy let herself in to my office with a scandalous look on her face, her eyes aze with mischief, and her phone in her hand.

    *Sophia, you have got to see this. This has just been published.¡± She moved closer then handed her phone over to me to check whatever it had been that she discovered.

    I took the phone from her and m eyes read over the bold ck headline and my mouth ran dry.

    I couldn¡¯t believe what the words that I had read that made up the headline at one of New York¡¯s number one tabloids. My heart mmed against my chest and my throat felt like it was closing up.

    Dante Crawford¡¯s Ex- Fiance Confirms Pregnancy! Read the headline that had me feeling like I was going to throw up what ever I had eaten.

    Pheobe is pregnant with Dante¡¯s child!

    ¡°What the hell. I said in disbelief trying to control my reaction and not truly express how I felt seeing as Lucy was sitting right across from me with her eyes watching me like a hawk.

    ¡°I know! This man is walking scandal. No one knows why they saperated but what if this makes them reunite for their child?¡± Lucy mused and I shuddered at the thought.

    ¡°I wonder.¡± I responded dryly.

    ¡°I think they will but then again she isn¡¯t the nicest of person. I think Mr Crawford has realised this and may never get back with her.¡± She spoke her mindpletely aloof to my shock.

    ¡°Why do you follow his gossip so much?¡± I asked Lucy handing back her phone to her and maintaining myposure despite how I felt on the inside.

    Lucy took her phone and tucked it in to her pocket. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you do not.¡± She raised a sardonic brow at me. ¡°He is a major investor to thepany. If any one should be on your radar, it should be him.¡± She said with a shrug but then saw herself out of my office.

    The minute she shut the door behind her, I slumped against my office chair. I ran my hands over my face like it was going to run away the nightmare that this was proving to be.

    Pheobe just didn¡¯t seem to be able to go away for good! She was like a gue that didn¡¯t disappear and there was no cure for. After knowing just how dangerous she is and all that she had attempted on my life, I couldn¡¯t help but feel terrified for my own safety, for Hayley¡¯s safety, if this woman is back in Dante¡¯s life.

    Now that Dante knew and formed such a bond with Hayley, Pheobe was not going to like it neither was Dante going to stay away from Hayley.

    Aside from the fear, I

    was also immensely furious with Dante. This couldn¡¯t keep happening! Why on earth did Pheobe manage to creep her way back to relevance after Dante and I had been. intimate. It was like she had some sort of sensor that alerted her when it felt like Dante and I were kind of finding a bnce between us.

    Dreame

    Fri, 8 Mar RBU

    A part of me wondered if Dante knew about this first or was he also finding out of Pheobe¡¯s pregnancy from the tabloid. If he had found out sooner then he did not let it be known but it was too close in time for him to have found out this morning and it to have hit the tabloids in the afternoon.

    But if I calcted correctly, Pheobe would have been finding out about her pregnancy recently which means that Dante and her were still very much happy and intimate even when he had been chasing after me.

    Ugh! Da mmit.

    I pushed back my chair and it slide back hitting the wall behind me but I didn¡¯t care. I stormed out my office and told Lucy to cancel the rest of my day. I couldn¡¯t think of spending another moment here.

    Çú

    Dreame

 Chapter 63

    The ticking of the clock echoed loudly through the board room. The entire room had grown still and silent and not a pin drop could be heard aside from the ticking of the clock. The relevant department members had already been seated in their respective ces nearly ten minutes ago but the meeting could notmence. Not yet anyways.

    With every passing tick on that clock which lead to seconds which then bled to minutes passing by, I had grown more annoyed. Every relevant person who needed to be here had been all except one person and for that one individual, the meeting was on hold.

    Dante should have been here by now. It wasn¡¯t like he was not aware of the meeting being held today along with the time. He was either not going to show up at all or he had been runningte. Which ever of the two options it had been, it was unprofessional to leave us uninformed.

    I cleared my throat to get every ones attention. ¡°We shouldmence with the meeting. The minutes of it would be forwarded to those missing. I suggested and was met with silence along with doubtful shared nces.

    It wasn¡¯t like we hadn¡¯t waited a decent amount of time before I had made such a suggestion but every one around the table looked at me like I had suggested the most forbidden course of action.

    ¡°Are you certain? It wouldn¡¯t be proper to begin with out thepany¡¯s vital investor present.¡± One of the two members who would be leading us through today¡¯s meeting spoke.

    4 pinned her with a stare which usually was not like me to be so short with people in the office. ¡°I understand but we have allocated enough time for anyteers and now we are simply wasting every ones time.¡± I nced at the clock and noticed that it was now fifteen minutes that had psed since the meeting was set to begin.

    She swallowed hard enough that I saw her throat tense up before she looked at her colleague for some indication of what to do. He nodded at her giving her the go-ahead and she made her way go the projector screen and clicked the remote in her hand to disy the first page of this progress

    report.

    She was just about to address every one when the board room door was pushed open rather loudly. Every head in that room including mine had turned in the direction of the door to watch Dante. storm in with such a hauty air to him like he was notte at all.

    The dark material of his ck suit hugged his b*dy snug as he moved to hest empty seat reserved for him. He looked around the room before his gaze paused at me but I kept my

    expression neutral not wanting to show how affected I had been by his newly involved scandal. I

    was sure that every one in this office building had read about the news by now but no one would dare say a word to him.

    ¡°My apologies for showing update. There had been an unforeseen circumstance that I had to deal with.¡± He apologized more to me than the rest of room but I looked away from him.

    Dreame

    ¡°Please, begin.¡± 1 ignored Dante and said to thedy waiting to lead us through this meeting.

    The meeting hadmenced atst and my heart rate was all over the ce. My palms were mmy from the nerves and after a while I had began gripping the edge of my leather upholstered

    seat.

    I needed the growth percentage to be in my favor. I needed it now more than ever! I couldn¡¯t imagine what a p in the face losing would be at this point.

    The final verdict was approaching and I straightened my shoulders preparing myself for what ever it was going to be.

    ¡°After much analysis and rechecking the stats and figures, the finally verdict is that the percentages of growth remain the same from thest time. There has been no percentage change but that is not to say that there has been no progress. Thepany has managed a 10 perfect increase thus far and we are certain that if we continue with the same enthusiasm and drive, we would be seeing great results by the next six month mark.¡± Sh it. That sounded great in theory that there was expected future growth but that did not bode well for me currently.

    Hell to the fl*ppin no. This could not be happening right now!

    I had not managed to reach the 15 percent that the bet was set on. The bet that I so proudly agreed to raising the stakes in fact only to fall face p. It was thest straw of humiliation that I could have thought to incur for myself when it hade to Dable. It was a good thing that no one here aside. from Dante and I knew what this actually meant because none of them knew about the bet.

    I managed by some miracle to sit still in my seat until the meeting had concluded properly and people began leaving one by one. I could not believe that I had not been sessful at achieving the 15 perfect grown in the past few months that I had taken over. Sure things were slow at first with the changes but I assumed that it would be so attainable.

    Without sparing anither second, I let the board room followed by the entire building itself. I knew what came after this and I was not ready to deal with it right now.

    Dante was going to want to buy out thepany and take it over as agreed upon in the verbal bet that we both had made. I didn¡¯t know what to do! There was no way out of this.

    As I stormed to out of the building and to the parking lot, I hastily rushed to my car to get away from here. I got to the door and fished out my keys from my coat but just as my thumb hovered over the button to unlock it, a strong arm wrapped around my chest tightly until I felt like it was crushing my chest.

    I opened my mouth to scream for help but a cotton like material was pressed over my mouth and nose and I nearly gagged from the smell of it but it didn¡¯t take me too long to realise that that smell was chloroform but it was toote because my b*dy grew limp as my eyes rolled back in their sockets and that was when every thing turned ck.

    I couldn¡¯t tell how long it had been that I had been out cold. I had no idea whether it was minutester, hours, or perhaps even possibly days. I tried to open my eyes carefully in hopes that maybe I

    Dreame

    KIILIL

    could gauge my surroundings and get some idea of where I was but when may eyelids refused to open against the cloth tied around them, I knew that I had been blindholded.

    my head has still been muzzy from whatever it had been that I had inhaled forcefully and I knew my sensors were not as sharp as the ought to be. having said that it was not rocket science for me to understand that I was in a moving vehicle that had been taken on a very Rocky and off-road kind of

    route.

    ¡°are vo

    you at the meeting ce? I am nearly there. ¡°the most blood chilling voice spoke and as I waited for another voice to respond to him that did not sound loud enough in the car I figured that the driver had been on the phone speaking to someone else.

    yes she is still knocked out since we nabbed her so there has been no signs of difficulty yet not that she would be much of a fight even if she does attempt to escape.¡± the man said in a mocking almost macho tone.

    ¡°no her child was not with her when I grabbed her but I suppose that¡¯s better, thest thing we need is some whiny child to add to this.¡± my entire b*dy had ran cold.

    Hayley!

    it is not that I hadpletely forgotten about her but my head was so cloudy and my thoughts was so unclear that I hadn¡¯t had the capacity to think of Hayley. I could only hope that Nancy would give Dante a call since she never ever left the house until I was home with Hayley.

    my only hope now had been that whoever was behind this was not after Hayley as well but judging by the sound of it she was not part of whatever n this was.

    ¡°if we y our cards right we will get exactly what we want, now please send me a pin location so I can meet you at the spot¡± the man had spoken impatiently but that only got him an earful which I could hear but very muf fled.

    I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry but it feels like I¡¯ve been driving for a heck of a long time.¡± This gruff, rough sounding man was scared of someone above. What the hell kind of s hit was I in?!

    the vehicle shudded and wobbled as it went on whatever kind of rugged road we had been driving on. had I not been bound and properly secured, there was no doubt that I would have been flying

    all over.

    I may have just jinxed it by thinking that because the entire vehicle jumped up like it had tried to drive over a boulder. my head hit the roof of the vehicle and I winced loudly from the pain. it was only after the sound had escaped me did I realize what a grave mistake I had justmitted.

    ¡°Sh it, I think she is waking up. I got to go. I¡¯ll meet you soon. The man said rapidly as he hung up.

    My entire b*dy grew stiff as I froze not knowing what to expect. It didn¡¯t help that I couldn¡¯t see a thing and all I had to rely on was my hearing. The car slowed down but not enough for it to be halted but just enough so that the man could reach over and cover my nostrils would a cloth that smelled stronger than thest one that was used on me.

    Dreame

    §Ó §Þ§Ñ§Ô

    ¡°You almost had me fooled. Heughed to himself but the sound did nothing to ease my b*dy before I cked out all over again.

 Chapter 64

    COMMENT

    Dusty, dark and cold.

    That was exactly where ever I was right now

    felt like.

    It¡¯s been a while now that I was conscious but I

    kept my eyes closed just in case I was being observed. It was best for whoever my captors were to assume me to still be unconscious.

    I had not even an inkling of a clue of where I had been taken neither did I know where I was being held let alone for what reason. One moment I was walking to my car and the next I was trapped in his knows where.

    I wiggled my wrists but winced at the tension in them. My hands were bound over my head with thick cold metal that wrapped around my wrist. My legs were also tied together beneath me. My arms were cramping up and it was surely going to hurt like hell once I was released. It was weird that I was not bound to a chair or something but it only indicated just how dedicated my kidnappers were to ensuring that I was in difort at all times.

    I was still drowsy and what ever the hell they had

    made me inhale but whatever they knocked me out with was super potent but I tried to grasp some. clear headedness and use my senses to their full potential.

    It was deadly quiet aside for the sound of the wind from outside but that was all that I could hear. I couldn¡¯t tell if there was any one in the same space as me but I doubted it. It was impossible for things to be so still had there been another individual in here. The smell of damp wood mixed with. the scent of metal filled my nostrils and I couldn¡¯t figure out what either smell belonged to.

    I couldn¡¯t understand for the life of me what was going on right now but I was terrified. All I could hope is that I could be left to walk out of here sooner than I expected but that was just being too optimistic. No one was going to go to such lengths just to release me without any reason.

    Some thing told me that I knew exactly who had been behind this whole things. After all, I did not have any enemies save for Pheobe and the timing of it all was perfect, calcted, and well- orchestrated.

    Some thing akin to a door opening sent a shiver of fear down my spine snapping me violently from my own-thoughts. I heard the sound of heavy footed boots weigh heavy against the creaking wooden floor.

    I pretended to still be unconscious even allowing my b*dy to appear liquid andnky like I was still under the effects of the substance that I was forced to inhale.

    ¡°Give it up already. The chloroform wore off hours ago.¡± The gruff voice that I did not recognise at

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    Dreame

    11:31 Fri, 8 Mar R G V ¡¤

    all called me out oozing with warning and impatience.

    I still continued to stay still and not move an inch trying to dy the inevitable. I was terrified for the first time in my da mn life.

    ¡°You could either wake up by choice or by force. The decision is entirely up to you. The man informed me and some thing told me that he had wished that I had chosen thetter of the two options.

    Feeling like it was safer to just give up the gig and open my eyes, I slowly fluttered them open but it had take more effort than I thought it would. I looked around the room trying to adjust my eyes to being open again while also taking in the ce I was being held in.

    It was dingy, to say that least. The wooden flooring had been loosely ced pallette wood and the entire space was like a make shift cabin thag resembled a shed on the inside. There was only a single window right in front of me but it was shattered but it did let me see a little of the sky. outside letting me know that it was nearly night.

    ¡°Ahh, that¡¯s sad. Would have been a lot of fun if you¡¯d have continued to pretend unconsciousness.¡± My eyes snapped up to therge, burly man that stepped in to my line of vision taking up all the space in my view.

    I gasped at how the man looked. He was not sore on the eyes but he just had this rough and daring look on his face like he would not even think twice about putting a bullet in to my head.

    Suddenly, it dawned on me like puzzle pieces fitting together. The ent on this man, the cu nning daringess, and just the out right vibe that this man has done some crazy things in his life that I would much rather not be aware of

    This was Demetri Toretelli. The man who tried not too long ago to end my life. Pheobe¡¯s right hand man and supposed Hench men. It could only be him.

    ¡°What do you want with me? I have no idea who are and I didn¡¯t do anything¡± My voice was raspy and my throat scraped together like sand paper from how parched I was.

    The man ignored my question. ¡°So, now that you are awake, let me exin to you how this is going from go down.¡± He rolled up his sleeves as he spoke to me and for some reason that had intimidated me.

    ¡°Do not have all the fun without me, Demetri. A feminine voice that I hade to know all too well during my life came from the open door which was shut the minute she sauntered in wearing ¨C an outfit I recalled her wearing before.

    I bit back a scoff. She really must be feeling the bit of not being under Dante¡¯s luxurious care any more but this dress was a more flowy one but it did cling tightly to her mid section where her rather swollen belly was.

    My eyes widened recalling the tabloid headline of her carrying Dante¡¯s child but what was she doing here?

    Dreame

    K ILL||_J

    3.84%

    Was she not concerned at all for her well being? The route here was not very safe either but this was Pheobe. Who the hell knew what went on in her sick little head.

    ¡°Pheobe?¡± Her name sl*pped out of my mouth with all its unpleasantness.

    She red at me for saying her name as if she did not want me to even look at her. Pheobe moved closer until she stood right next to Demetri who was nearly double her height and three times her broadness.

    ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± She asked rhetorically. ¡°Why, you shouldn¡¯t be. if any thing to should have seen thising from a mile away¡± Sheughed maliciously.

    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised but just confused that this is the way you chose to meet again.¡± I shouldn¡¯t be hauty. My life was probably at her feet right now.

    ¡°Do you really think that you could have meddled in my n by snat ching Dante away from me and I would not do a thing about it?¡± Pheobe smiled the entire time she spoke but it was not a smile that you returned but one that you saw and knew that the person¡¯s intention was any thing but pure.

    ¡°I- I don¡¯t have any idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I nced at her stomach. ¡°If anything

    or after I the news this morning I assumed you two were perfectly happy and reunited. It was a half life because I knew that they were not perfectly happy from what Lucy had kept me in on.

    I saw

    ¡°I do not want to be perfectly happy with Dante. All I want, all that I have always been after, had been his money!¡± Her voice had risen an octave like the mention of any thing romantic between Dante and her was infuriating.

    Her wanting his money was no secret but I¡¯d always assumed that she had enjoyed the luxury as a benefit not as her main motive. I knew she didn¡¯t love Dante in the way it ought to have been but I didn¡¯t think she hated him eith

    ¡°And you did have his money. All of it at your disposal for what ever you wished to do or buy.¡± I pointed our but her eyes  nted angrily at what I had said.

    ¡°I wanted more. so much more if his wealth and I was going to have it until you returned to the country. My n was going great. Get Dante to marry me then divorce him shortly after and take half of what he owned.¡± She scoffed bitterly at her missed opportunity. ¡°That would have set me and my love.¡± She paused to looked at Demetri. more than enough money to live our lives together.¡± Her entire expression had softened when she looked at Demetri and thisrge, dangerous man looked at her also with so much of affection.

    It all made sense now. It added up why he was so willing to risk his freedom for Pheobe because he loved her¡­ blindly it would appear.

    ¡°All of it went down the drain because of you. I tried my best to make Dante forget you over the years but it took one look at you for him to be chasing you like I didn¡¯t exist.¡± She spat out hatefully. ¡°Now I have a baby on the way and no idea how- Her voice shook but she took in a deep breath and rposed herself.

    ?

    Dreame

    11:32 Fri, 8 Mar RG

    ¡°Dante will provide for his child.¡± I stated and her eyes snapped to me.

    ¡°You would know since he¡¯s doing such a great job for your child. What¡¯s her name? Ahh, Hayley.¡± My l*ps curled at her mentioning Hayley. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I hadn¡¯t ended when I thought I did. Poor child has to live her entire with that disability.¡± I yanked on the restraints only for it to painfully bit in to my skin.

    If I could I would have scratched her eyes out for what she had just said. It was disgusting that as a soon to be mother herself she was still so insensitive.

    ¡°Except this child isn¡¯t Dante¡¯s and he knows it.¡± She said unashamedly and I gasped.

    Dante knew all along. He knew it at the beach when I asked why Demetri was doing so much for Pheobe. He knew the truth about their rtionship yet he didn¡¯t disclose it to me fully.

    ¡°Then why release it to the tabloids?¡± I asked in confusion of why she had done such a thing.

    She grimaced before clicking her tongue at me. ¡°You are slower than I thought. She insulted but I let it slide. ¡°Because I¡¯m desperate to extort money from him from which ever way I can. He will pay to have this news get cleared out and now that we have you here, he would give perhaps more than I could have ever received in alimony to have you safely returned.¡± She exined and I wanted tough at her stu pidity but I saw the daring, cu nning look in her eyes.

    Pheobe was willing to stop at nothing if it meant that she would get some cash in her hands. Even it meant using me as bait.

    ¡°So what? You just make a call and you think Dante will give in to your demands because you have me locked up some where?¡± I asked with redicule high in my voice.

    Pheobeughed loud enough that it stung my cars but just as fast as herughter began, it had died down just as fast and there was silence in her room.

    ¡°You¡¯re not too far off.¡± She said but just as she said that Demetri moved to the old creaky cab to the left of the room to fetch a leather vanity holder.

    ¡°Except we have decided on more skillful methods.¡± Just as she said that, Demetri ripped open the Velcro that held the ck leather bag closed. The bag rolled open to reveal sterilised, steel tools that looked like it could be used to hack at an entire bulls carcass to break it down.

    Fear undoubtedly coursed through me and bled through my eyes because Pheobe grinned at me feeling satisfied that she had managed to get the desired reaction from me.

    ¡°Pheobe, please¡­ D- Don¡¯t do this. Let me speak to Dante and I¡¯ll get you what ever amount of money you want. You don¡¯t need to do this! You don¡¯t need to resort to such measures. Just let me go, please. I began yanking on the metal cuffs that held my arms suspended to the roof and felt it cut my through my skin.

    But cries for mercy fell on deaf ears until they grew annoyed by it.

    Dreame

    84%

    ¡°Oh, shut it!¡± She snapped. ¡°We will give you a break until the morning. It¡¯ste anyways and it¡¯s best for you to get a good look at these instruments and decide for yourself how each would feel cutting through your skin.¡± With that the both of them were out of the shed locking the door behind them properly leaving me to look at the many torture instruments thaty on the table right beside me.

 Chapter 65

    Chapter <b>65 </b>

    Morning had arrived faster than I had hoped it would. I watched in agony through the broken. window as the sun sky had turned from its bleak darkness to a bright morning with each minute the sun had risen. It was like torture itself and never in my life did I ever dread theing of a new day so much.

    Æ·

    But I did not have the power to deter the sun from rising just like how I couldn¡¯t control Demetri¡¯s appearance two hourster. He was dressed in all ck and he wore gloves today unlike yesterday. He hadn¡¯t said a word to me when he arrived and I liked it that way but I did watch in horror as he set up a tripod and a camera to record whatever it is that he was about to do.

    Demetri began this harsh ordeal that felt it was going on for an eternity. I didn¡¯t know how long it had went on for but however long it was, it felt never ending because it <b>was</b>.

    I shivered in terror when I spotted him move towards the open leather casing disying nmaby sharp and pointy items.

    ¡®Please Plea-¡± I cried in a futile attempt to beg

    him to stop but the anger shed across his face

    and I was silenced. He threw the de set on <b>the </b>

    floor beside me and shot me a deadly re.

    ¡°No amount of your begging will save you so shut it.¡± His voice was thunderous and while it may have silenced my begging, it didn¡¯t stop my sobbs.

    I flinched and tried to kick at him when he inched

    closer and reached for my zip that held the

    material of my dress on but my leg just found

    against it bounds and didn¡¯t even reach anywhere.

    close to him. My clothes was stripped away from my b*dy and I was left in nothing but my

    underwear.

    My hands instinctively fought to cover myself but

    failed and he didn¡¯t seem to care about my n*ked state. He bent down closer to the tools he had on the floor <b>and </b>my breath caught. Everything

    in me urged me to scream but it was useless

    I was bound and part of some crappy

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    Dreame

    PAP-

    32 F, B

    greedy plot.

    A medium sized de with a Matt finish rounded

    handle was yanked from the set. I saw the de glisten as the light from outside caught it. Demetri was not wasting any time neither was he giving me the mercy of time to prepare.

    It wasn¡¯t even a second before it was pressed against the skin of my leg enough to break it before he dragged it down. I screamed as the

    excruciating pain shot through my entire leg. I shut my eyes to help it take away the attention from the burn that was settling in but it didn¡¯t help.

    All I could hear aside from my screaming and crying was the mercilessughced and driven.

    by revenge as he repeated the same action on my

    left leg. Again, I screamed, shutting my eyes and

    tensing from the torture but it only hurt more.

    The de was flung across the room before a de bigger de was taken from beneath my feet. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly not wanting to witness the de break through my skin. His hand. curled around my jaw and squeeze and I knew they were going to leave marks.

    ¡®Do not shut your f**king eyes! I want you to witness everything.¡± He screamed in my face and my eyes flew open<b>. </b>

    He muttered some thing under his breath before raising the bigger de and using it against my left thigh.. two times making sure to create slits below each other.

    Again, I screamed until my throat felt like it was on fire but it wasn¡¯t helping. I could feel the blood from my wounds running down my legs, hear

    the noise the droplets made when they hit the floor, see the small pool of blood gathering under my suspended b*dy. It wasn¡¯t long before he did the same on the other thigh. But it was almost as if he was writing something or at least it had felt <b>that </b>way since the de seemed to glide

    across in curves and swirls.

    Demetri stepped back, inspecting his work before nodding to himself and picking a smaller handled de. His attention moved to my upper arms and it was worse. The pain seemed to be a hundred times more. I could feel my entire b*dy be numb and grow limp. I was like a corpse that still had a heartbeat. It was almost as if it was

    submitting to it. To the torture because I knew that there was no way of me escaping it.

    Demetri didn¡¯t attempt to mare my stomach but I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d spare that part but I guess they wanted me brutally battered and not entirely dead.

    <b>2/5 </b>

    Dreame

    Demetri had taken a small break leaving me and my wounds bare. It stung and hurt all over and

    every thing was silent just like myself. I had run

    out of the energy to scream.. to beg. A part of

    a huge part, was tempted to just close my eyes

    and ept the darkness but I couldn¡¯t. Even

    though doing that would put me out of this

    situation and the amount of blood loss was

    definitely dangerous at this I couldn¡¯t.

    point.

    Thinking of Hayley was the only thing keeping

    me,

    me going, keeping me from willingly sl*pping into the darkness that loomed so closely over me. I couldn¡¯t imagine her trying to deal with my loss. She was only a child who discovered her father but that didn¡¯t mean that she had to lose a mother because of it.

    I could only hope that Dante had gotten to Hayley by now and she was not alone and scared. I <b>also </b>hoped that Dante some how knew <b>that </b>some thing was terribly wrong. I didn¡¯t know how long they had nned to keep me here or just what their actual n was. But I did know that if things had ran their course as per Pheobe¡¯s wishes, it was going to be a terrible route.

    The door was pushed open abruptly causing it to m against the wall loudly. I jerked in shock at the sound catching me off guard and <b>the </b>movement felt like all the cuts on my b*dy had been stretched leading to a burning sensation and, once again, my b*dy was on fire.

    ¡°Rest time is over, princess. Demetri muttered in his gruff voice but this <b>time </b>he was not alone like before.

    Behind hisrge figure was Pheobe who joined him now dressed in a ck dress <b>and </b><b>and </b>sandals. She grimaced at the sight of me but that was it. No sign of any sympathy neither did she seem pained to witness such a scene before. It was like she was totally desensitized and used to this kind of things.

    She scrunched her nose at the smell of blood. ¡®Good job. Demetri.¡± She praised him like he was some kind of watch dog or servant as opposed to someone she loved.

    Phoebe walked close inspecting my state before she straightened her posture and nced to

    Demetri

    ¡°I think we need to up the ante just a bit and not for long. I need an additional cl*p before we send this off to Dante <b>and </b>make a ransom call.¡± Pheobe suggested as she studied me like I was some ruin

    in a museum.

    I caught Demetri throw her a look that said he didn¡¯t think anymore was needed but he didn¡¯t

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    Dreame

    verbally state it.

    ¡°Have you seen the footage from earlier?¡± Demetri asked in a tone that not so critically told her that it was enough.

    Pheobe purses her l*ps. ¡°I have but I like to make the most out of situations.¡± She grinned like a pig.

    Demetri sighed but covered it up with a cough. ¡°I think it¡¯s enough for now. Send the footage of and make a ransom call. If Dante is unmoved then we pick up the heat.¡± Demetri said to Pheobe who had still been eyeing me far too closely.

    I saw her debate internally with herself about what she wanted to do about this before she sighed and gave in to Demetris suggestion.

    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll try your way.¡± Pheobe settled then fished out the same phone that had been used pinned to the tripod earlier.

    I just hung there like a carcass <b>in </b>a chilled with no say to any thing. My arms were utterly numb after the many hours that I had been held like this and I wondered if they would even work once they were undone.

    ¡°We have <b>to </b>feed her, Pheobe. Look at her.¡± Demetri said in a low voice as he moved closer to Pheobe. ¡°She will die from hunger and weakness before Dante even responds to us.

    Pheobe shook her head like she didn¡¯t think I deserved food but then let out a loud grunt and stomped her food against the creeky floor.

    ¡°Ugh, fine. I suppose you¡¯re right. Get her some food. Pheobe agreed and it was only at the mention of it did <b>I </b>realise just how famished I had been.

    My b*dy had been thriving of adrenaline and pain to think about nourishment. All I thought about was water for my parched throat and food hadn¡¯t even been on my mind.

    Pheobe had pulled up a chair and glued herself to it whilst Demetri disappeared to get me some thing to eat, I presumed. There was some thing about Demetri that differed greatly to Pheobe. Aside from their physical attributes, Demetri was capable of some level of empathy. Pheobe might not even be able to understand what empathy actually is, but Demetri still possessed some sense of a moralpass.

    I bit back a scoff as Pheobe trapped me in <b>a </b>stare. She didn¡¯t intimidate me one bit. Not any more<b>. </b>As I watched her re bitterly at me from across this mirky, dingy shed, I hade to understand just how weak she actually was. She had nothing aside from her snarkyments and venomous res and with out Demetri or Dante, she was a lost sheep. Dante was her trump card for money and Demetri was her lover who also doubles as a yes man to do her every bidding with out questioning her judgement.

    ¡°I could never understand why Dante was so head over heels in love with you.¡± Pheobe tilted her head to the side like she was trying to find the answers within my crusty, dried bloody wounds.

    <b>||| </b>

    Dreame

    ¡°It can¡¯t be looks because who are we kidding when ites to me.¡± She flexed her shoulder dwelling in her conceit. ¡°Maybe personality?¡± She squinted her eyes then shook her head. ¡°Nah, can¡¯t be. It¡¯s just impossible to think of some thing¡± She mocked as if he being stripped down to my under wear and sliced like an animal <b>was </b>not humiliating enough.

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have been much to value since he threw you out at the first chance that he got! looked her up and down simr to the way she looked at me seconds <b>ago</b>. ¡°But I think it was because Dante realised how scheming and deceitful you had been from the beginning.¡± I spat at her and the words did nothing to her. If anything it was like she had been fueling herself by listening to

    that.

    ¡°It took him far too long to piece the puzzle together.¡± She said in a pitiful tone. ¡°I expected more from him in that regard but I guess it would have worked out perfectly if he hadn¡¯t figured things out at all.¡± I was pretty sure she was speaking to herself now because she hadpletely sl*pped in to her own bubble.

    For a moment, I was beginning to believe that she was insane.

    She cackled and I caught my breath watching her. ¡°We would have all the money. All the richess. I wouldn¡¯t need to beg at the feet of a man ever again. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± She asked but to no one in particr just herself in the corner of the shed.

    I watched her in utter shock and suddenly her actions and personality began to make sense. How had no one witness this glitch of hers. Perhaps Demetri had known hence the reason he was so patient with her.

    The door creaked open and Demetri returned with a brown bag and a bottle of water in his hand. He followed my gaze to Phoebe conversing to herself in the corner and he immediately rushed over to her.

    Demetri¡¯s hand had found her shoulders and he began to shake her roughly until she snapped out of whatever trance she had been trapped in. I realised right there and then that I was dealing with lunatic all along.

    Dreame

 Chapter 66

    Chapter <b>66 </b>

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    Some thing was terribly, horribly wrong.

    I had known this from the minute that meeting hade to an end. Sophia was not the easiest of woman to persuade and after all the progress that I had thought we¡¯d made over the week away, I really hoped the two of us could move forward and explore us but many many things had the way of that cancelling out efforts and sending me to the pits again starting back right where I had been.

    gotten in

    Between Pheobe trying to put out <b>ss </b>news to the tabloids and the verdict passed by the meeting, I knew that Sophia was furious with me and, as always, she would not wait back for me to exin things to her.

    Once the meeting hade to a conclusion, I rushed after her trying to dodge the other colleagues <b>that </b>tried to greet me. Nothing mattered to me more than getting to Sophia and clearing out the air before she made this even more bigger of a deal than it was in actuality.

    I had made it to out of the board room and there had been no sign of her. Naturally, I assumed that she <b>had </b>headed to her office and I rushed over only go find her office empty and her assistant looking rather confused at my presence in an empty office.

    After asking around, a red head mentioned seeing her leaving the building on their way up and I immediately rushed down to the loby and stormed out of the revolving doors which I hated. I made it to her car but found it odd that she had chosen to walk to where ever she decided to go to.

    I walked all the way to the cafe down the road where I knew Adam and her frequented but there was no trace of her there either. Running out of <b>ced </b>to find her, I called her office again to ask the ever eager Lucy if Sophia <b>had </b>returned to which she informed me that Sophia had left for the day because her bag had been taken.

    Defeated, I walked back to the parking lot with the intention of driving to her house but some thing <b>didn¡¯t </b>bloody add up. How the fuck could she have headed back home when her car was still very <b>much </b>where I hadst seen it parked in the spot that had been reserved for her vehicle.

    I fished out my phone from my zer pocket to call her up but then let it be knowing that she was never going to answer in her state of mind. She never ever <b>took </b>my calls when she was furious with

    <ol>

    <li>me. </li>

    </ol>

    Where the hell could she have been?!

    I gave up and a stormed over to my car. My anger bubble beneath the surface and I itched to

    pound my fist in to some thing just to let out my frustration. I headed home with the intention of fixing myself a strong drink then taking an icy cold shower to relieve myself from being in her presence for more <b>than </b>five minutes without being able to touch her.

    At some point between trying to cool down my own temper and pouring drink after drink, I had

    TA

    TI

    Dreame

    given it a rest and dropped my cup on the cab. I was never one to be outright drunk and I could hold my alcohol pretty impressively and I also knew not to drink excessively.

    I groaned not being able to help myself and reached for my phone. With out letting any of my own thoughts talk me out of it, I dialled Sophia¡¯s number and waited for it to ring. When it did no such thing and went to voice mail instead, I began to get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

    I was on the verge of trying again assuming it might just be awork issue when my phone rang in the palm of my hand. I stared at the unfamiliar number before answering the iing call.

    ¡°Hello? Is this Mr Crawford?¡± The feminine voice spoke from the other end.

    ¡°Yes. Speaking.¡± I said with a crease forming between my brows.

    ¡°This is Nancy, your daughter¡¯s nanny. She introduced herself before going on. ¡°I would like to know if you have heard from Miss Sophia? She hasn¡¯t returned home yet and she is <b>never </bte.¡± Nancy sounded worried and I could hear Hayley in the back ground mumbling some thing but she sounded scared.

    Sophia hadn¡¯t returned back home yet. This did not sound good. She may be angry at me but she would never ever be so careless towards Hayley.

    ¡°I need to get going but I can¡¯t leave unless Hayley is with another trusted adult.¡± She exined. responsibly holding more concern for Hayley than any thing else.

    I immediately rose from my study and reached for my keys. ¡°I¡¯ll be over in a few minutes, Nancy. thank you for letting me know about <b>this</b>. Please stay with Hayley until I get there.¡± I hung up then rushed out of the study and the house entirely before I made it to the car.

    I tried

    my best to stick to the speed limit and be a safe driver but fuck it, I needed to get to Hayley and make sense of what was going on and figure out where Sophia was at this time of the night.

    As I drove down the paved drive way to Sophia¡¯s inherited home, I noticed that her car was still not home and she hadn¡¯t magically appeared as I had hoped she would by the time I had gotten here. I didn¡¯t want to ept that some thing had happened to her just yet but it was really beginning to look like that.

    Nancy had let <b>me </b><b>in </b>through the front door which I was pleased to see had been locked before I had gotten here. Hayley had been curled up on the couch looking far too distraught than a child her age ought to have been.

    Nancy petting her head slowly

    ing tofort her but when Hayley heard me approach the living room, she immediately ran over to me.

    ¡°Mama isn¡¯t home yet. She didn¡¯te home today. She is always home when the big hand on the clock hits 12 and the <b>small </b>hand points are 5.¡± Hayley¡¯s voice w

    tensed andden with fear and I knew that I would have to calm her down and get her to bed first before I could do any thing else.

    I looked to Nancy who had rose to her feet as well all ready to leave for the night. ¡°Thank you do

    |||

    Dreame

    11:32 Fri, 8 Mar <b>R </b>G W

    much for staying longer and informing me about this. I apologize for the inconvenience, nancy.¡± She nodded curtly at me but her eyes were just as worried as his Hayley¡¯s had been.

    ¡°It is no trouble at all, Mr Crawford, Hayley is like my own and I would never be careless to leave her by herself because it falls out of my working hours.¡± She said gently before leaving. I felt like she wanted to tell me more but she held back because of Hayley,

    After Nancy had left, Hayley clung to my legs and I reached down to pick her up. She was

    embling and scared at the fact that her mother didn¡¯te home. I was petrified myself and held of thinking about all the things that could go wrong.

    I had to focus on Hayley first. It was important <b>that </b>she was calm and settled before I even made any further phone calls. I rubbed her back as she tightly wrapped her arms around my n*eck.

    ¡°Where is mama?¡± Hayley asked me the question that I wished to God I had the answer to

    What was I even going to tell her? I could say that I didn¡¯t know or that I¡¯m going to look for her because that would only cause further anxiety to her. Even though my gur told me that something <b>was </b>definitely wrong because Sophia would never ever do such a thing especially if it meant being careless to Hayley. In the times that I had observed her with Hayley, one thing was evident and that was that Sophia put Hayley above all else and as her highest priority. Nothing else mattered to Sophia as much as Hayley did.

    ¡°It will be okay, Hayley. She¡¯ll be back home soon.¡± I kept my voice low as my own thoughts raced through my mind.

    It felt rather ironic that the very same day Pheobe leaked her fake news. Sophia just goes missing less than twenty four hourster. What made it even <b>more </b>freaky was that her car had still been parked in the work parking lot.

    ¡°But where is she?¡± She asked the dreadful question once again and I had to think of some white

    lie.

    after all

    I think she went over to Adam¡¯s. They are friend and I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be back before we know it.¡± Her head lifted of my shoulder so that she could look at me with reluctant eyes.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Adame over here? He alwayses her when they want to catch up.¡± She asked innocently recalling her observations.

    ¡°Err, because I <b>wanted </b>to spend some time with you this evening.¡± I said with a broad smile and saw her begin to rx. ¡°Have you eaten dinner yet?¡± I asked her and she shook her head causing her soft hair to bob around.

    ¡°Would you like some pasta?¡± She immediately nodded with eagerness and I carried her to the kitchen and set her on to the counter.

    After a full hour, Hayley had been fed, showered and ready for bed but I stayed with her until she was fully asleep before I headed out to the foyer to make a few urgent calls.

    <b>3/4 </b>

    |||

    Dreame

    11:32 Fri, 8 Mar RB.

    84%

    I had Frederick hack in to Sophia¡¯spany cameras to see if there was any footage <b>of </b>her leaving the building and getting to the parking lot. Aside from that, I had him try to track her phones location but that was proving to be futile. Another indication that some thing was indeed very

    wrong.

    I paced the length of the hallway not finding it with in me to even sit until I had received some sort of feedback from Frederick. He would take long and asked me for just ten minutes but it felt like the most longest ten minutes of my existence.

    When my phone buzzed again, I pressed the green button and moved away from Hayley¡¯s bedroom door to not disturb her.

    ¡°Tell me you have found some thing solid, Fred.¡± I nearly begged once I put the phone to my ear.

    ¡°Oh, I found some thing alright but it doesn¡¯t look good at all.¡± <b>F***</b>. When Frederick said stuff like this it meant prepare for the worst. ¡°She left the building shortly after that meeting mentioned had. ended. The footage shows her leaving the building and making it to her car but a man got to her before she could unlock it.¡± He informed me but I could sense that he had more to tell me.

    ¡°He drugged her up and carried her a few rows back where a white van had been waiting.¡± Dammit! This was worse than I thought I didn¡¯t <b>think </b>she would have been kidnapped.

    ¡°Did you try and get any identification of the man?¡± I asked impatiently, my hands running through my hair far too ughly as I pulled trying to ease the sudden headache that unleashed upon me.

    ¡°His had half a mask on but he looks very much like our friend Demetri.¡± I grit my teeth together. ¡°but you know I¡¯d never leave on assumption so I tried to run the tes and found it registered to a rental then hacked the system to find the records and I was right. Demetri has got Sophia. I don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve taken her but I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s not any where pleasant.¡± He warned and I was too consumed by the rage that had over taken me.

    Demetri was not operating alone. I was willing to wager all that I was worth that it was Pheobe who had been behind all of this. If they so much as harmed a single hair on Sophia, I would rain hell on both of them until they wished they had never ever walked this earth.

    ¡°Try again to find out even the direction in which that van was headed.¡± I said to Frederick before hanging up.

    É«

 Chapter 67

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    ¡°Mr. Crawford.¡± I grumbled at being called and turned my face away from the direction the voice had beening from but groaned when I felt a pain in my n*eck.

    ¡°M- Mr Crawford.¡± Again that voice had called me and I muttered some thing that I even I couldn¡¯t <b>care </b>to make out

    Again, the voice said my name but this time it had been apanied by a shake of my shoulder that was impatient and none too gentle.

    I jerked awake and instantly got hit right in the eyes by the damn sun striking me through the open curtains. Cupping my n*eck with my <b>palm</b>, I <b>sat </b>up straight and tried to make sense of where the hell I had been.

    I couldn¡¯t recall how and when I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living but some point between trying to figure out this mess, I might have dozed off.

    ¡°Good morning, Mr Crawford. I brought you some coffee.¡± Nancy said politely but I had felt like she had addressed me formally far too many times in the span of a minute.

    Nancy rested the small tray that held a coffee mug and a few sugar cookies on to the table in front of me before straightening her posture and turning to leave.

    ¡°Thank you, Nancy, you really didn¡¯t have to.¡± I grumbled but she smiled and left the room.

    I turned my head from side to side trying to case the tension in my n*eck before reaching for the coffee and taking a sip of the hot, ck liquid. It was good and just what I needed since some thing alcoholic would be questionable at this part of the morning.

    As I reached for a cookie, I wondered what Sophia would say to me eating in her living room but the thought of Sophia had me drop the cookie back on to the saucer.

    F***. I needed to get going.

    I walked with the coffee mug over to the kitchen <b>and </b>tried to drink as much of it as possible. Hayley had been waiting patiently for breakfast as Nancy prepared it for her trying to speak to her as if nothing were amiss when we both knew otherwise.

    ¡°Has mama left you. kitchen.

    message of when she¡¯ll be home?¡± She asked Nancy just as I entered the

    I saw Nancy freeze over the toast she had been buterring. ¡°No, but I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll hear from her soon. Hayley sighed in frustration but when she saw me her eyes lit up in the way they always did.

    ¡°Did you speak to mama? Is sheing home soon?¡± Her round eyes looked up at me with so much of hope that my response would defer from Nancy¡¯s.

    LAL

    Dreame

    |||

    ____

    I deposited my cup on to the counter before cing a single k*ss on her head. ¡°She left me a message.¡± I said vaguely hoping it would be enough to ease her little mind.

    She pursed her l*ps and I could literally see her thinking. ¡°Well, what did she say?¡± She pressed and I sighed.

    ¡°She will be back before you know it.¡± I ruffled her <b>hair </b>and she squealed moving her head away from my reach.

    ¡°I will see youter, little one. If you need any thing just tell Nancy to give me a call.¡± I looked at Nancy letting her know that I was dead serious about that.

    As much as I did not want to leave her <b>and </b>escape I kind of felt like I had to before she began. asking me a sequence of questions that I did not have any of the answers to.

    I headed back to my ce to take a shower and get some clean clothes on while I waited to hear back from Frederick. It was nearly noon by the time I <b>had </b>lost patience and called up Frederick only for him to say that couldn¡¯t find any lead on where that damn van had been headed to.

    He sounded exhausted so I believed him when he said that he stayed up all night trying to find me some thing but to no avail. With each passing second I was beginning to lose my mind. I despised being so helpless. It felt nearly blinding that I had not a clue or sense of direction.

    It was just before I was heading over to the parking lot of Sophia¡¯s work building in hopes of finding some clue that would give any ideas of how to track her down when my phone buzzed on my breast pocket.

    I was hoping it would be a message from Frederick but as I fished out my phone and brought the screen to life, I was surprised to see a text message from a number that I had not seen let alonemunicated with before.

    I opened the text and attached had been a rather lengthy video. For a fraction of a second, I considered not even watching it since I had more pressing things at present to worry about but another text came through which read ¡®If you want her alive, you have to proceed carefully!

    My thumb pressed y on the video and what I saw nearly had me wanting to rip every one in to

    shreds.

    A stripped down Sophia suspended with metal bondage0

    her head. She begged for mercy, she looked terrified but I couldn¡¯t understand of what until I saw it. A de had been pressed to her skin right before it dragged across illiciting a shrieking scream of pain from Sophia but the bastard didn¡¯t stop. He went in a created more cuts on her.

    I did not want to watch the rest of that video but I forced myself to. I needed to see it, to recall it when the time hade for me to deal with this fucked myself. I was ready to end them with my bare hands. The fury that boiled within me like an inferno was one that I never ever thought myself capable of.

    I was willing to do whatever it took if it meant that it would lead me to Demetri and Pheobe so I

    Dreame

    84%%

    could make sure they suffered for what they had done. I would take revenge for every scar on Sophia¡¯s b*dy and every plea of mercy that was denied.

    It wasn¡¯t rocket science to figure out what these two had wanted in return for Sophia but they had gone too f**king far. Pheobe was a lunatic for even orchestrating such an act but she knew well how to take things too far. <b>And </b>she did.

    The video <b>had </be to an end and my phone began to ring immediately after. I stared at the the number that had been different to the one that had sent me a text before cing it to my ear.

    ¡°$150 Million. All in cash. You have until 5 p.m. to make arrangements. A location pin will be sent to you closer to the time. You either show up with the money or the mother of your child gets it.¡± The ent thick voice grated over the phone before it had cut

    Of course, this was all for money <b>and </b>nothing else. Pheobe needed it as did Demetri especially with a child on the way. Her father¡¯s recent <b>bad </b>hand at the gambling scene <b>had </b>seen him lose even the little <b>that </b>he <b>had </b>to sustain his family, Pheobe¡¯s grand mastern to marry then divorce me shortly after had failed and this the only way for her to extort money from me<b>. </b>

    It was no difficult feit to make the arrangements for the money, in fact, it could be done in the next <b>half </b>an hour. There was no time to be wasted especially with what I had in mind.

    I brought the engine of the car roaring <b>to </b>life before I sped off <b>back </b>to the house. There were a few necessary calls <b>I </b>needed to make. One to arrange for the money and another to a good friend of mine that I hadn¡¯t contacted in a while.

    Since Demetri and Pheobe <b>had </b>made such extensive ns of their own. I saw it only fitting that I made ns of my own. It <b>was </b>going to be a treat which was well <b>over </b>due. It was exactly what <b>I </b>should have done the first time when I had learnt the truth about those two.

    It was a half <b>an </b>hour before 5 pm and I had just one more call to make and that was to Nancy. I needed her to stay with Hayley until I got back. It was a quick phone call. After exining that the

    situation was dire and she would hated, she agreed happily to stay <b>back </b>with Hayley until

    I had returned.

    With every thing all set and in <b>ce</b>, all I had to do was wait until an address was sent to me and then it was show time.

    I tapped my foot impatiently against the <b>paving </b>and when my phone buzzed, I snapped it up to take a look and there it was an address leading me a good distance away from the city. I <b>made </b>one more call before getting on my way driving a lot faster than was necessary. Once I had gotten <b>away </b>from the city and the roads were not nearly as busy, I sped up.

    The images of Sophia shed across my mind like a slideshow and my hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. I would make sure that they both paid for what they did gravely. I wouldn¡¯t rest until I saw those two rotting for life in jail for what they had <b>done </b>to Pheobe.

    That, too, was even mild of a punishmentpared to what they had had deserved.

    111

    Dreame

    84%

    I tried to imagine my life going forward with out Sophia and the thought alone did not sit right with me at all. It had done some thing to my inner self that I refused to confront. Trying to think of her not being around to challenge me, to oppose me at every turn, to toy with me, was just hell on earth.

    I didn¡¯t know when it was that I had fallen for her but I knew that it was some time during the period that we had been married. I just didn¡¯t acknowledge it back then and, when Pheobe had arrived, I felt like I had owed her so much for saving my life when of course that was a lie.

    It had been Sophia all along. It had been my own stupidity that had me paying for it gravely. If only I hadn¡¯t taken Pheobe back to eagerly when she had shown up at my office that dreadful morning. I should have listened to Sophia and not made such a hasty decision.

    It was unlike me to be so rash but I faulted it down to rarely ever being wrong about any decision I had made but man, was this such a p in the face. It will always be the one decision that I would regret for the rest of my existence.

    I knew now I that I loved her. I had known it for a while now <b>and </b>I vowed to take care of her once this ordeal was put to rest and she was back in her rightful ce. I already had a ring purchased and kept in my safe. Arger one than the one she <b>had </b>worn, a ring free from bad memories and ready to be work for a new beginning where we could live out life together with Hayley.

    That was the thought I had chosen to focus on for the rest of the long drive to the off road location. It was the only hope that kept me sane at this very moment. I stretched out that thought to include more children between Sophia and I. It was rediculous, really, that I was fantasizing about such things with Sophia but I was never ever so close to losing her in such a way before.

    Perhaps it was an over correction being done by my own conscience. To deal with hee absence, my <b>brain </b>was creating an even longersting storyline with her to cope. What ever it had been, I was not opposed to it.

    I was going to save her and she was going to be mine once again and for the rest as we both shall live.

 Chapter 68

    <b>Chapter </b><b>68 </b>

    So, a random call had been made<b>. </b>

    At least that was what I had gathered after straining my ears the hardest that I had ever tried to to get to listen in on what Pheobe and Demetri were speaking about in hushed tones just behind the door way.

    The shed wasn¡¯trge by any means and it didn¡¯t make sense why they would discuss some thing that they wanted to be kept confidential right here in the first <b>ce </b>but I was notining

    about that.

    As far as I knew, Dante had received some contact about a ransom amount and he was awaiting further rification on where to meet to make the exchange.

    They nced in my direction briefly and I quickly looked away like I had not been trying to listen to what they had been speaking about. It was a good thing that I was no longer bound by my wrists over my head. That hade off yesterday when Demetri had brought me some thing to cat

    When the cuffs were removed, I nearly fell to the floor from how out of uch with my b*dy I had be. My arms falling to my sides caused a burning sensation as the blood squeezed their way back in to my flesh. It burned and tingled and had this excruciating heated feeling that spread slowly until my finger tips. It made me want to writh in utter pain.

    It didn¡¯t help that I couldn¡¯t use my legs just yet. Not only did it hurt the woulds on my b*dy since

    every

    small movement felt like what ever of it <b>had </b>been healed had been ripped open again. I could smell almost smell it and I prayed that it was not getting infected.

    They didn¡¯t trust me enough even though I couldn¡¯t move by myself but I was far more pleased. with these newer confining arrangement. I was given a chair to which my legs where chained to and my hands were strained behind my back.

    Despite having all the time and range of movement to inspected my wounds, I refrained from doing so. I was too terrified to take <b>a </b>look at what my b*dy had be let alone if any of it had been deteriorating.

    ¡°We have <b>to </b>get a doctor in here.¡± My ears strained at the mention of a doctor. ¡°Before we do the exchange, we should fix her up. That one cut on her leg isn¡¯t looking too good.¡± Demetri mumbled in a hushed tone but I could still hear him clearly.

    I think the angle of the chair in line with them send their words <b>as </b>crisp and clear <b>straight </b>to my direction.

    ¡°She is a captive, Demetri. Pheobe said his name like poison from her tongue. ¡°She is not the one to have sympathy for. It is her own doing that she is in this mess to begin with.¡± Pheobe immediately dismissed his suggestion..

    ¡°Yes, she is but do you really want Dante to see her first hand in such a state and face his wrath? The man is more connected than we are. He could destroy us.¡± He warned Pheobe sounding irritated

    <b>1/4 </b>

    Dreame

    himself at her stubbornness.

    Pheobe¡¯s shoes tapped against the floor and grew louder as headed in my direction. She paused a foot away from me and I looked up at her to find her casting an assessing look over her boyfriends handy work.

    Her eye stopped at one specific wound on my leg and I guessed that had been the one that was beginning to look a little funky. I felt it against my flesh since it burned a lot more than any of the other cuts on my b*dy.

    She scrunched her nose in disgust from the stenching of of me. I hadn¡¯t showered in days and the wounds didn¡¯t help the odour at all.

    ¡°She really does look mangled.¡± Pheobe said to Demetri across the room while her hand rested

    ther swollen bell

    ¡°But no, a doctor¡¯s is showing kindness that she does not deserve. We are not here to nurture and heal. Our aim was to inflict and we have seeded. All that¡¯s left is for us to cash in our efforts and be done with Dante and her.¡± Demetri muttered some <b>thing </b>under his breath and saw just how it rubbed Pheobe the wrong way.

    Her eyes

    had turned sharp so fast that the change had me blinking to keep up. Her face was nearly red with fury and not just a slight flush like it had been seconds ago.

    ¡°He thinks I¡¯m stupid. He thinks I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing. I¡¯ll show him! He can¡¯t out smart me!¡± For the second time, I witness Pheobepletely sl*p away from reality.

    Her eyes zed over and her hands did jerky movements like she was ready to yank her hair off. It was clear that Pheobe was no longer in the room with us even though her b*dy physically had

    been.

    She was insane or suffering from some mental disorders that made her lose it every so often<b>. </b>It would exin so much.

    I darted my gaze to Demetri as Pheobe had still been spazzing out to herself. Demetri shot me a re like he was offended at the fact that I had observed so much. I looked away before I could bring myself any more trouble.

    ¡°I¡¯m stupid. No, No! I¡¯m not. I am a mastermind. Every one else is stupid.¡± She continued looking absolutely deranged <b>and </b>out of touch with reality.

    Demetri moved to yank her a few steps away from me before his hands gripped her shoulders simr to thest time before he shook her firmly, <b>a </b>little rough this time.

    ¡°Pheobel Pheobel Snap out of it. This is not you. Your mind is ying tricks on you. He kept saying that same thing over and over again as he held her hands away from yanking at her hair and tugging at her own skin.

    I wondered if Dante had ever noticed these irregrities in her behaviour in the time that he had.

    <b>2/5 </b>

    Dreame

    been with her it was this some thing that had been newly developed. Surely Dante wouldn¡¯t have been able to miss some thing so¡­ unmissable.

    As much as I <b>knew </b>that Dante could potentially being to my rescue, I didn¡¯t want to think about him too much right now. Over the few days that I <b>had </b>been kept captive and rough handled. I couldn¡¯t help myself but pin all of this on Dante himself. I¡¯ve spent several attempts trying to diffuse the thought but the more I entertained it, it just made sense.

    For four years I had lived peacefully with out Dante. My life had been drama free and I was happy. There was no Pheobe in my life, no constantly looking over my shoulder, <b>and </b>none of this bull <b>shit </b>going on to make my life miserable.

    Ever since I had returned <b>and </b>Dante had crossed my path, my life had been nothing but constant difficulty, drama, <b>and </b>seeing me at the hands of two merciless individuals who could kill me if they so wished. Neither Demetri nor Pheobe would have even thought of using me as a pawn or attacking me if they didn¡¯t <b>want </b>to get to Dante.

    Pheobe had been a decision that he had made. A choice that he had chosen leaving me all alone when I needed him the most. This entire mess was because of him and what he once assumed he

    had wanted. If he had not taken Pheobe back when she had returned then none of this would have happened. Pheobe would have learnt sooner that she <b>had </b>no hold on Dante and left but now she had be too invested <b>to </b>back down from her n.

    At every turn in Dante¡¯s life, I <b>had </b>been the sacrificialmb, the coteral damage and nothing more. I was never ced first in his life and I didn¡¯t think he had any intention of ever doing such a thing.

    At what point did I wash my hands from him and say enough? Has my self respect not taken enough of a beating for me to finally <b>call </b>it quits and have no hope of change.

    My eyes stung from all the realisations that hit all at once but at the same time a wall had been erected around my heart against Dante. I couldn¡¯t trust him any more with out fearing for my own life after what all of this <b>was </b>settled.

    Things could go either way at present. There was no telling just how this would all end. I didn¡¯t know if I would make it out as simply as every one involved currently expected it to be. Every thing hung in the bnce and this was all because of Dante.

    Nothing could change my mind about that.

    When all of this was done and dusted, I would take Hayley and start anew some where else. It had worked wonderfully well <b>before</b>.

    The sound of rattling, like <b>candy </b>in a jar being shook snapped my out of my thoughts. I looked to the corner of the shed where Demetri had been handing Sophia arge pill and a bottle of water.

    ¡°You need to remember to take your meds on time. You know <b>what </b>happened when you don¡¯t.¡± Demetri tried to remain calm but his words held a bite to them but Pheobe had missed it in her

    current <b>state </b>of mind.

    Dreame

    Fri, 8 Mar RBU.

    84%

    Demetri was still trying to case her out of the episode that she was having. I tried to recall in the times I had been at close quarters with Pheobe if she had disyed any weird behaviour but I couldn¡¯t think of any. Aside from her horrible attitude and cunning nature, I couldn¡¯t think of any thing out of ce. I wondered also if her parents knew about this. Even if they did, they would have kept it entirely under wrap to prevent losing face from high society.

    In the time that I shared the same home as her, Portia had made sure to keep us apart and sheltered Pheobe from being exposed <b>to </b>me. Sure, at the time, I had thought it was because Portia didn¡¯t want her around me but now I was considering the possibility that I was being sheltered from seeing Pheobe having an episode.

    ¡°You

    ¡°You are pregnant. You can¡¯t be so car-¡± Demetri had caught himself from finishing that sentence when he saw Pheobe act up again.

    ¡°Drink. He pressed the bottle to her l*ps to halt any words that came out of her mouth admonishing him.

    I felt a trickle in my throat and coughed but that had caused Pheobe to snap her gaze at me like I has offended her in the worst way possible.

    She threw the bottle on to the floor sending a wave of water gushing across the floor. Her small frame had risen from the ledge she had been sitting on and she sauntered over to me faster than I expected.

    I wasn¡¯t expecting the p that came from her neither was I prepared for me. It was so uncalled for but apparently she didn¡¯t think so.

    ¡°Do

    you think my suffering is amusing?! huh? Do you <b>think </b>that you are better than me?¡± She screamed right in my face.

    I could have sworn that had she not been pregnant<b>, </b>I would have found some way to push her until she fell down just to get her away from me. I was growing tired of her bullying and irrational behaviour and I didn¡¯t care what the fuck she was dealing with any more.

    ¡°No, I do not. I coughed which is natural response to dust. It isn¡¯t my fault that your ego is so tiny that you think it has some thing to do with you and your unfortunate circumstances.¡± I looked her right in her face and muttered thought tightly clenched teeth.

    Her eyes were set aze and her pupils were smaller than I¡¯d ever seen them yet her eyes were unnaturally wide making the whites of her eyes look far too ample.

    ¡°Cut <b>it </b>out, Pheobe.¡± Demetri pulled her away from me just as she was about to hit me again. ¡°You are over reacting. Get out of here and go get some rest. We can¡¯t have you causing a scene at the time of the exchange. Demetri warned her and it was probably the first time I had heard him take such a time with her.

    Pheobe shrugged him off before swinging around to face Demetri. ¡°You would like that wouldn¡¯t you. So you could run away would all of that money.¡± She spat out at him and his nostril red.

    Dreame

    11:33 Fri, 8 Mar RBU.

    <b>Chapter </b>68

    ¡°You don¡¯t mean that, pheobe.¡± He warned her again.

    ¡°I will not leave. I will be here to take that money!¡± She said firmly and Demetri held his hand up in surrender.

    ¡°Okay, okay, but just sit down and wait for your meds to kick in.¡± He reasoned with her and she actually allowed him to lead her away from me outside where she could get some air.

    With both of them out of the shed, it felt easier to breath despite the stinging on my cheek which was leading to a migraine.

    Dreame

 Chapter 69

    COMMENT

    2 Days Later¡­

    ¡°I will be backter torrow morning to dress your wounds and to check up in that one that needs a little bit more care. Dr. Hannigan said as he closed up his suitcase and prepared to leave.

    <b>¡°</b>Just make sure you take those antibiotics and pain relief drugs with meals.¡± He reminded me with a smile before leaving.

    Oh, it had felt good to be home after every thing. I couldn¡¯t do much yet until my cuts were healed and the suture had been removed which I

    arrived to dress my wounds, had been bos hoping would be soon. The night Dr. Hannigan had

    a relief and a pain.

    He had to clean the wounds before moving any further and had been concerned about all of them especially that one that I knew hurt more. When he applied the clear liquid to clean them out I shricked <b>from </b>the pain. Had it not been for the towel that Nancy had left for me to bite on, I would have surely cracked a window.

    My wounds were then stitched followed by gauze to catch any oozing. Dr Hannigan was kind enough to attend to me at home when he had learnt of the severity of my situation before he agreed to take <b>a </b>look.

    ¡°Mama, do you want to have some breakfast now?¡± Hayley asked gently beside me.

    She never left my side since I had returned except for when I was initially being examined. She was both relieved and slightly upset with me but I tried to exin to her that I had gotten in to some trouble but that I was safe now.

    ¡°Only if you share breakfast with me! It had already be a routine of ours. At each meal time, she would join me with a te of her own and while we usually never ate in the room, I guess this time was an exception to the rule.

    She nodded eagerly then rushed out the room to tell the chef that <b>we </b>were ready for breakfast. A tray with eggs, roast, bacon, and a bowl of fruit had been arranged on a tray and ced over a wooden table that sat over my legs so I could eat without any pressure on my legs.

    ¡°I like eating breakfast with you.¡± Hayley <b>said </b>as she but in to some roast of her own.

    ¡°I like it, too. Although I like that you nap with me during the day alot. With all the meds that I had been taking, I had been falling asleep shortly after meals and Hayley would either fall asleep with me or bring some colouring of activity for her to quietly keep her entertained while I slept.

    She didn¡¯t disturb me and was ever so mindful of me. As much as I tried to have her calm and <b>not </b>stressed out, she rarely listened and insisted on serving as a junior nurse at my service. I found it cute and it had only made me realise what an amazing kid she was.

    ¡°We could y a board game when you wake up from your napter. She suggested and I agreed because there really wasn¡¯t much else that we could do.

    Dreame

    |||

    11:33 Fri, 8 Mar RB.

    84%

    After just two days ofplete bed rest, I was bored out <b>of </b>my mind but thankful to be alive. It was all so insanely traumatizing that my mind had began to block every thing out bit by bit especially how the ordeal or the exchange had gone down..

    Hayley and I had eaten and chatted at our leisure and she hasn¡¯t mentioned Dante once. Not that I was mad about that but I knew that it was only a matter of time before I had recovered and she would be asking about Dante again. I wasn¡¯t stupid to think that I could erase him from her life but there had to be some rules.

    ¡°Maybe you should get some air today with Nancy.¡± I suggested to her lightly. ¡°Check on the rose bushes for me. I coaxed her in to agreeing.

    She loved the gardens and even the roses and if it tempted her to walk around and gsf some air out side then so be it.

    Obviously she shook her head. ¡°No. Not until I know you¡¯re all better.¡± She insisted <b>and </b>I smiled at her look of determination.

    ¡°I will be fine. In fact, after I take my meds, I will be sound asleep. I pointed out and she pursed her l*ps considering for a moment before her eyes lit up like she had an idea but she simmered down before I could question it

    ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea then. I¡¯ll go with Nancyter when you fall asleep. She agreed and I eyed her suspiciously at how quickly she had changed her mind.

    After taking my meds, the sleep had began to drag me down under and that was when the entire ordeal shed before my eyes. It was like a horror movie that I couldn¡¯t switch off and, worse of all, I felt it all and relived it over and over again but the meds were strong enough to keep me temporarily sedated trapping me within the nightmare.

    I watched it all unfold all over again. I saw Demetri drag me out of the shed still bedressed with my wounds on disy with Pheobe right beside <b>him</b>. I saw a tall figure in the distance as I was dragged closed to it until I figured out that it had been Dante here to collect me.

    He held arge duffle bag in his hand and as we had gotten closer to him stoping just a foot away from him, he looked nearly unrecognisable. The tant fury on his face made him look like a whole different person.

    Pheobe began counting and once she got to three, I was flung across the invisible trading line and Dante threw the bag of money across at the same time and soon after was when <b>all </b>hell had broken loose.

    There wasn¡¯t even much time for Dante to try and steady me and I had barely managed to get to my feet with his support. My back that had been faced to my captors had turned so that now I could see them. They both ruffled wildly in the bag of money and that was when I thought that it would all be done and dusted.

    Pheobe <b>had </b>gotten what she had always wanted and I was free if their torment and assaults..

    Dreame

    |||

    11:33 Fri, 8 Mar RGW.

    But I had been terribly wrong.

    1 watched it all unfold in slow motion. Pheobe reaching behind Demetri to retrieve a gun which she aimed right at me. I froze and my heart beat out of my chest, pounding in my cars. I stared right down the barrel of the pistol not knowing what to do next.

    It is going to be fine. Do not be afraid.¡¯ Dante whispered beside me sounding far more at ease. I found it odd that he was soid back when a gun was literally pointed in my direction and <b>could </b>very well turn to his with just a small adjustment.

    I heard Dante warning Pheobe, urging her to think before she did any thing rash but he didn¡¯t know how deranged of a woman she was. The power, the control that Pheobe held right now only served to fuel her madness. Her slightly red eyes were fixed on me like she had locked me in as her

    target.

    Her finger moved against the trigger and I shut my eyes preparing for the blow of the bullet. Dante had seen it too because it grabbed my shoulders and shoved me out of the way just as the deafening sound of the pistol echoed through the vast expansive space.

    I didn¡¯t feel any thing but then I heard a second gun shot that came from an entirely different direction. My eyes flew open to find Pheobe crumpled to the d*rty ground.

    Demetri let out an earth shattering howl before he kneeled beside her limp b*dy and began shaking her begging her to wake up. It was surprising to see such arge, physically strong man crumble to his knees.

    Pheobe hadn¡¯t responded to him and my eyes were fixed on her refusing to look away. She was dead. There <b>was </b>no questioning that

    When I actually looked away and at Dante his face was expressionless but he was not the one that had fired the shot. It seemingly hade from nowhere.

    The sight of her still, unmoving b*dy covered in blood in the middle of her saturn dress had been imprinted in my mind.

    My dream faded in to nothingness but out of no where, Pheobe appeared with her blood shot eyes ready to pounce on me..

    My b*dy jerked away from the shock and a small scream escaped me. I sat upright, my face drenched in sweat and my chest heaving rapidly trying to catch my breath.

    I removed the covers from my b*dy to cool down as I wiped away the sweat from my face. I blinked several times trying to push away the images that reminded me of a reality that I would prefer to forget.

    But that was the thing about reality. No matter how hard one tried to suppress it, it only came back harder to haunt us.

    It

    was only two days since the incident and I didn¡¯t expect it all to just vanish from my mind but I

    III

    Dreame

    also hadn¡¯t expected it all to manifest as nightmares.

    My hand searched for my phone which I found beneath one of the pillows. I used it as a distracted and also to check for any emails that Lucy may have sent to me that needed my attention.

    There were a few notifications and emails from work but it had mostly been briefings about meetings that I had missed. I didn¡¯t mention to Lucy what had ured but I did say that I was not well and would be out for a week or longer.

    After reading through the briefings, I saw missed calls today as well but I was not caught off guard by that at all. Dante and I hadn¡¯t spoken much the entire drive back to the city. I was quite and <b>still </b>reeling <b>in </b>from what I had been through and witnessed. Dante didn¡¯t speak much aside from asking if I was okay and arranging for the doctor toe home immediately when we had got back.

    me

    I hadn¡¯t contacted him since then and I didn¡¯t have any intention of ever doing so. It was only a matter of time before Dante showed up here for Hayley and he would surely try to approach like nothing was wrong.

    I heard the rushed foot steps against the floor approaching the room and I quickly pulled the covers over me to hide the bandages since Hayley had many questions when she saw them.

    ¡°Mama, you¡¯re awake!¡± She eximed as she hopped in to her room with her hands behind her back. ¡°I have a surprise for you.¡±

    Hayley rounded the bed excitedly and her eyes shined with eagerness.

    ¡°What is it?¡± I looked at her expectantly trying to think of what she could possibly have behind her back.

    ¡°So, I went with Nancy to check on the roses and it was all so pretty that¡­¡± She paused and pulled. her hands out from behind her back. ¡°I had to cut you a few.¡± She handed the brightest bloomed red roses to me that had foil wrapped around the stems to keep it together.

    ¡°Aww, these are lovely, Hayley.¡± I looked at her before taking a big sniff of the roses and it smelled fragrant.

    ¡°It¡¯s a smaller bunch then the ones daddy sent for you.¡± She said in a small voice. ¡°and less fancy.¡±

    I reached out and move a few dark strands of her hair away from her face. ¡°These mean more to me than anything, sweety. Thank you.¡± She grinned immediately.

    ¡°When is daddying over anyways? I miss him a lot. Okay, so she transitioned from avoiding addressing Dante entirely to now referring to him as her dad.

    ¡°I¡¯m right here and I have been missing you, too, Hayley.¡± Dante¡¯s voice filled the room from the door way.

    Hayley ran over to him and he picked her up before twirling her around then cing her back. down on to the floor. Dante looked over to me and so much shed through his eyes all at once

    ???

    Dreame

    O

    that it had me feel dizzy trying to keep up.

    I reminded myself to stay strong and all the reasons why he is and should just remain the father of my child and nothing more.

 Chapter 70

    Chapter <b>70 </b>

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    Some thing was different about Sophia.

    I sensed it the night I had drove her back to the city and settled her in to her home <b>again</b>. There was definitely some shift in her demeanor. Obviously, that night, with every thing that had gone on, I didn¡¯t think too much about it. What had been witnessed had not been an easy sight to digest let alone the addition of <b>what </b>Sophia had to endure for the days that she was held captive.

    Pheobe was dead and even though that had not been a part of the n, it turned out to be necessary. I knew that they would try some thing and it was exactly why I had back up. If they attempted any thing, matters would be sought the way it had been seen fit and that was exactly what had happened.

    As for Demetri, the man would nevere to see the light of freedom for as long as he lived. I made certain of that and there would be no change to his sentence.

    All of this I chalked as the reason that Sophia was so distant and closed off and I let it be. However, when she began ignoring my calls, I had grown a little suspicious that perhaps there was more to her mood that met the eye.

    Of course, that assumption was confirmed when I showed up at her home and saw her face immediately turn from bright and happy as she spoke to Hayley to disappointment at my sudden

    presence.

    I thought we had moved past all of this, that we had made some solid progress in moving forward not only when it came to Hayley but with us. Thest night that we shared in Greece meant some thing. I saw it in her eyes. She felt exactly <b>what </b>I <b>had </b>felt yet, now as I <b>looked </b>at her in bed, it was hard to imagine those emotions in her eyes <b>again</b>.

    Every thing about her screamed cold and unapproachable but it was only that way for me. Adam had shown up at some point during the evening and Sophia interacted with him just fine. It had irritated me beyond belief because I felt like the third person in her catch up session just lurking about like an angry warden.

    I couldn¡¯t stomach to see her behave so friendly with Adam yet so aloof with me. I wanted to leave. and head to some other part of the house but I couldn¡¯t. Some thing in me refused to leave them alone. Their rtionship never failed to eat at me especially right at this moment.

    Hayley served as <b>a </b>good distraction as she exined all the flowers that they kept in the garden which she had inspected herself, I tried to lend her an ear and I seeded until Sophia¡¯s melodiousughter reached my ears at some thing Adam had said and I felt my jaw clench painfully.

    Just once I would like to knock the air out of Adam. It would not be a challenge by any means and I could easily take him but that would only give Sophia another reason to hold on to her displeasure

    with me.

    15

    Dreame

    111

    11:33 Fri, 8 Mar RBU.

    Was I jealous? F*** yes!

    C

    I couldn¡¯t think straight at the moment. Every ounce of my being wanted to storm across the room and <b>drag </b>Adam out by his cor like a dog that wasn¡¯t allowed inside.

    ¡°When you recover, we should go out. My treat.¡± Adam offered and Sophia nodded like she was actually eager about it.

    ¡°Oh, please, it is always your treat but I would like that. I¡¯m pretty bored being on bed rest even though it has only been two days.¡± Sheined to Adam who nodded pitifully.

    Adam already knew what had happened. I could tell by theck of curiosity he held from the time he had arrived. He showed up fully informed and in care mode for Sophia. How many time did she had to reject him for him to leave her alone?!

    When the time arrived for him to leave, I couldn¡¯t have been happier. I resisted the urge to kick him out myself but once he left, it still did very little to change my mood.

    I thought that now was the chance for me to speak to Sophia and try and figure out what was going on but the doctor showed up to dress her wounds andmented on how it was healing well before he <b>had </b>left. I had taken Hayley out of the room when Dr Hannigan had been present. She didn¡¯t need to see the damage on her mother. It wouldn¡¯t bring any good to her.

    Hayley hopped back in to the room <b>and </b>I followed her once I¡¯d seen the doctor out.

    ¡°Mama, do you <b>want </b>to have dinner with us in the dining room?¡± Hayley offered innocently but it was probably not possible so soon.

    Sophia smiled at Hayley still going in <b>as </b>if I had not been present at all. ¡°I really wouldn¡¯t mind that that I can¡¯t exactly walk properly until I¡¯m fully healed. She tried to exin gently but Hayley¡¯s look if determination was strong.

    ¡°What if daddy carried you to the dining room? would that work?¡± Sophia looked mortified by the idea of that and shook her head.

    I wouldn¡¯t be toofortable with that.¡± She dismissed the suggestion like I hadn¡¯t touched her

    before.

    I watched her every move from the door way. She was conscious of me, I knew that much. I could see <b>it </b>in her expressions and the way she made sure not to venture her gaze further than the bed even by mistake. She felt my gaze on her and it made her nervous but she never crumbled beneath

    <ol>

    <li>it. </li>

    </ol>

    ¡°Your wheel chair will help her, Hayley.¡± My voice was to thick with a mix of things that <b>it </b>sounded unfamiliar to my own ears. ¡°I can help her on and we can wheel her to the dining room. Hayley was on board with that <b>idea</b>, obviously, but Sophia pursed her l*ps skeptically.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t we forgetting the stairs going down to the dining room?¡± <b>I </b>caught her condescending note in her words <b>and </b>grit my teeth. ¡°It is fine. I¡¯m happy here for now and you¡¯re more than wee to

    Dreame

    <b>82 </b>

    eat by me like we have been these past two days. Her invitation extended to Hayley and Hayley only.

    I saw Hayley look at <b>me </b>conflicted since she wanted to cat with both of us at once but it was not proving possible tonight.

    After insisting that I was not hungry and it would be fine if Hayley ate with Sophia in her room, she agreed. I helped her carry the tes of food to the <b>room </b>that the cook had prepared. They had eaten and I stayed close to the window overlooking therge estate trying not to snap.

    After they had eaten Hayley grew tired and I saw her to the bathroom to brush her teeth then to her room to get changed in to pajamas. She asked me to tuck her in to her bed and read her <b>a </b>story which I happily did.

    I realised some thing about spending time with Hayley. It didn¡¯t matter what was going on in my life or what stressors I would be facing but the minute I was with her and she looked at me with the more adoring orbs possible like I put the stars in the sky just by being present and with her, there was nothing that felt unfixable.

    She had fallen asleep before I made it to the end of the fairy tale about the frog Prince and I carefully saw myself out of her room, closing the door behind me.

    I moved down the hall way with intent. With Hayley asleep now, I could finally confront <b>her </b>about why she was so cold towards me.

    When I entered her room again, her eyes widened slightly just looking at me like she had forgotten entirely that I was even around. I stopped at the foot of her bed crossing my arms over my chest.

    ¡®I- I thought you had left by now. She muttered tightly and it sent me jaw clenching once again.

    ¡°I will leave but not now.¡± She heard the firmness in my words and her l*ps pressed In together to form a thin line.

    ¡°It iste.¡± She persisted. ¡°Won¡¯t it be-¡±

    My head snapped up to re at her. ¡°I get it, Sophia, you want me to leave.¡± I snapped at her but then inhaled heavily trying to calm myself down.

    ¡°You have not said any thing to me in conversation since what happened. You don¡¯t want to look at me, you barely even take note of me when I¡¯m around. What is it? What is it that I have done that¡¯s so horrible?¡± She blinked like she had been caught of guard by my outburst.

    ¡°Was I not supposed to have saved you and left you to the wolves?¡± I questioned when she did not. show any sign of speaking but her nostrils had red and the streak of anger that I knew all too well appeared in her orbs.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have had to be saved had it not been for you, Dante.¡± She spat out and I felt a frown form on my forehead. ¡°Had it not been for you and the decisions you have made, I would have never been a victim to such a horrible thing.¡± Her voice had risen an octave as she stared at me with

    Dreame

    T

    K LAL

    11:33 Fri, 8 Mar RG.

    daggers in her eyes.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked in shock.

    ¦°

    She nodded. ¡°You heard me. In all the time that I have known you, chased after you, I was alwave made to be the fool at the end of it and you had no problem at all making me coteral damage to your mistakes. If any thing, you always found a way to pin it on me.¡± Sophia zed feeding in to her fury.

    ¡°You had no issue using me in marriage to save yourself when Pheobe walked out on you. It was I who <b>had </b>been moremitted to you and where did that see me? Divorced and pregnant with no support.¡± She threw that in my face and a low, warning growl escaped my l*ps.

    But she did not back down. ¡°Then what about recent times. You promised me that you had nothing to do with her just to get me in bed only for you to announce an engagement with her dayster making me look like a fool all over again. Getting kidnapped was the eye opener I needed.¡± She paused to take in a deep breath before continuing her rant.

    ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for you and your over drawn out rtionship with Pheobe, I would have never been her victim. I never was until it was you they wanted. As always, who was used a pawn once <b>again</b>?¡± She asked rhetorically. ¡°Me! It is always me who bares the brunt and consequences for your actions and mistakes and I can no longer do it. Not when it hade so close to costing me my life. She yelled, her petite shoulders shaking from her outugh.

    I stared at her, stunned and speechless at how she perceived things. It frightened me that she was so sharp tongued but what terrified me the most was the look of absolute disdain and done that she was with me.

    ¡°Pheobe is no longer in the picture. Soph. Why let that be an issue with us go-¡±

    ¡°Us?¡± She mocked. ¡°There is no ¡®us¡®, Dante. There never was. It was always me by myself and you leading me on when it was convenient for <b>you</b>. I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t <b>entertain </b><b>that </b>spiral any longer. I know that we have shared some things recently together but I <b>think </b>that is where our story stops. I have been an idiot before to let you make me your fool but <b>I¡¯d </b>be damned if I allowed it <b>again</b>.¡± She said with finality in her words and <b>shiny</b>, zed eyes.

    <b>may </b>

    Her words felt like a dagger had been plunged in to my chest, kicked in, then twisted causing immense pain. Only she could hurt me this way because only she <b>had </b>such control over my emotions but she was done with me.

    I saw it in her eyes, in the firmly set jaw of hers, and I knew that no amount of convincing her was going to change her mind.

    But she was utterly wrong if she thought that <b>even </b>for a split second that I was going to let her she wanted some space, fine, so be it, but I was going to win her back even if I had to die trying.

    <ol>

    <li>go. If </li>

    </ol>

    I was blinded before to what I wanted but now I knew it with utmost certainty. I messed up. I knew it and I wasn¡¯t going to deny it but I was going to win her back the way she had always deserved.

    from the start.

    Dreame

 Chapter 71

    It had taken a week and a half for me to be fully functional again. After nearly two whole weeks of being in bed with minimal movement and feeling helpless, I was finally back on my feet and ready to restore the sen of normalcy in my life again.

    My wounds had heeled nicely and my sutures were removed with a very satisfied grunt from Dr Hannigan. It no longer hurt when I moved and all that was left of them for the most part had been the scars. Scars which I could only wish would fade over time but they did not bug me too much.

    When the first day of the new week had arrived, I was more than ready and prepared to get ready and head back to work. There certainly would be a lot for me to catch up on and I had enough rest in me to be able to absorb it all in.

    I had a shower before drying off and throwing on a pair of skinny ck jeans. I tucked a white flowy blouse in to the hem before adding a thin belt to the waist. I <b>ran </b>a brush through my hair to undo the tangles that had formed from sleep and the shower before curling it to form gentle waves. I didn¡¯t need too much make up except for some concealer under my eyes to hide the redness but it was easily fixable. I added a neutral l*p tint before applying some perfume to my wrist and n*eck.

    I searched through my jewellery collection for a simple silver n*e when I caught sight of the velvet bracelet box that had been the newest addition to my collection. I stared at it for a few moments before reaching for it and popping open the lid. The diamonds glittered and sparkled just as they had when I had first seen them.

    For a moment I entertained the idea of sl*pping it on and wearing it. It hadn¡¯t been worn before and it was so beautiful but I resisted my temptations and ced the lid back over the box and returning to where it once sat. I ought to auction it off or sell it or give it away since that chapter of my life was closed now.

    Dante rarely dropped by since that night I had spoken my mind to him and I was thankful that he had finally backed off. He did show up a few times but that was to s

    Hayley and most of the time they were downstairs instead of in my bedroom.

    Even though I had made up mind, my b*dy still rose to attention when he was in the vicinity but I guess that was some thing that would eventually die down over the course of being away from him and focussing on better things. I was no longer in the loop of deciding whether or not I wanted. some thing with him.

    <b>I </b>shook my head and snapped out of my dwelling thoughts before sl*pping in a pair of heels <b>and </b>head downstairs. It was still rather early for Hayley to be up yet but I did pop in to her room to give her a k*ss before I left.

    After a long <b>time </b>of forming a routine together and spending most of the day with each other, I could only assume that today was going to be a small time adjustment for Hayley but I knew that <b>she </b>was strong enough to cope and adapt.

    When I had reached the office, Lucy was more than relieved and ecstatic to see me. The minute I

    Dreame

    |||

    <

    11:33 Fri, 8 Mar R BU

    had walked through those elevator doors, her face split in to a smile.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back! It feels like cons.¡± Lucy dramatically uttered.

    82%

    ¡°I take it you missed me.¡± I grinned at her and she nodded immediately sending her hair moving around her face.

    ¡°Duh, isn¡¯t that obvious already. I couldn¡¯t help but feel that some thing was missing around here.¡± She ttered me as she gathered some files in her hand which I knew were for me to take a look at.

    ¡°I missed you, too, and if I coulde to the office I would have. Believe me,ying in bed and sleeping away is only fun for the first two days before it became a minor form of torture.¡± I joked and Lucy looked like she disagreed with me here but she didn¡¯t say it.

    ¡°I¡¯m just happy you¡¯re back. Did you have the flu?¡± She questioned curiously. ¡°After you <b>took </b>that week off then disappeared after the meeting, I really thought some thing horrible happened to you.¡± She was all concern now as she spoke with a frown forming between her perfectly shaped brows.

    ¡°Some thing like that. I said vaguely not wanting to even hint about the ordeal that I had gone through. ¡°But the important thing is that I am back. I diffused the topic and darted my attention to the files.

    ¡°Those for me?¡± I asked and she nodded.

    ¡°Yes. Let me leave it on your desk. She offered but I reached out for them.

    ¡°That will be fine, I <b>can </b>take them. I carried the stack of files and it had been heavier than I had thought they would be but I being away for so long meant piles of work left for me to see to.

    I had been reading through the one at the top as I walked to my office when Lucy spoke again causing me to stop in my tracks.

    ¡°You did get the email I sent you about Mr Crawford¡¯s proposal?¡± Her question <b>had </b>me frown now.

    I turned back around to look at her. ¡°Mr Crawford¡¯s proposal for what?¡± I asked in confusion.

    ¡°For thepany.¡± She said like that was going to be enough information for me to know what it was all about.

    ¡°I have no idea what you are speaking about, Lucy¡± I muttered feeling a bubble of anger rise within

    me anyways.

    Lucy looked surprised but then went on to exin. ¡°An email arrived on Friday addressed to you. but arrived at my inbox. I sent it to you without opening it but the subject line said some thing about business proposal <b>and </b>I thought you¡¯d know about it by now?¡± She shrugged chalking it down to bring nothing but an investor email and I could only hope that she was right.

    ¡°I actually have not even an inkling about it. It¡¯s news to me.¡± I didn¡¯t wait for her to respond as I rushed in to my office to check out this email for myself.

    Dreame

    |||

    11:34 Fri, B Mar RG

    1 set the files down on to the desk before rounding the table and opening up my email. I scrolled down not caring too much at the moment about the other emails that had been sitting there in my inbox and went straight to any that were received on Friday.

    I found it and opened it before roughly scanning my eyes over the lengthy email. With each paragraph that my eyes <b>had </b>moved across, I felt then widen <b>and </b>my l*ps sorted in utter disbelief at what Dante was proposing.

    His entire email was a detailed document about taking over mypany as per the bet on agreement between us. Since I had not managed to produce the percentage agreed upon, making his move and taking full advantage of it.

    he was

    He proposed that the transfer of ownership should be done as soon as possible and even suggested that the matter be concluded before the end of the month.

    I couldn¡¯t understand what the need was for him to strike when I was out of work. He didn¡¯t even wait for me to recover fully before he went and and nned this whole email out

    Was he so butt hurt by my decision and unwillingness to bend to his will that this was how he saw. to take it out and get revenge? It sounded small even for Dante but I was not surprise just disappointed.

    Thispany was all I had! It was all I owned now and it was a <b>profitable </b>one. The statistics even. suggested so. If it hadn¡¯t been, Dante wouldn¡¯t even have set his eye on it. He knows what thispany is capable of and he wants it from me before it begins to hit the good phase but I will not

    allow it!

    ¡°Is every thing okay? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost¡± Lucy¡¯s voice cut through the air but I still stared at the monitor.

    ¡°The man is insane. I muttered under my breath but she had caught it. ¡°He wants to take over thepany.¡± The rediculousness was audible in my words.

    ¡°What?!¡± Her voice raised <b>an </b>octave. ¡°Why on earth does he believe he has even the closest right to suggest such a thing? We are not in financial trouble for him to suggest <b>such </b>a thing¡± She stated. logically as she tried to figure out what prompted this.

    ¡°He isn¡¯t suggesting any thing. Lucy. He is demanding it.¡± I said tightly and saw her confusion grow

    stronger.

    ¡°On what footing does <b>he </b>stand to make far fetched demands?¡± She leaned her hip against the edge. of my desk before looking at me expectantly.

    I shrugged sheepishly and she raised a skeptical brow at me. ¡°Well, the business may have been used in a bet- one agreement.¡± <b>Her </b>eyes widened the size of saucers the second the sentence left my l*ps.

    ¡°You what?! Oh, my god. This is terrible.¡± She began pacing the length of my office with a hand pressed against her forehead.

    ???

    Dreame

    ¡°No, don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m not going to give thepany up, especially not to him.¡± I ground out but Lucy was still in a panic.

    <i>er </i>analysis

    ¡°This is all about the progress meetings, isn¡¯t it? That was why you demanded another: because you knew what it meant if the percentage didn¡¯t change. She connected the dots faster than I thought she would and I felt like a total andplete idiot.

    ¡°Maybe.¡± I said in a small voice not wanting to admit it proudly. ¡°The man is so infuriating especially when I just took ownership of thepany. He got on my nerves at every turn and I was too angry to think straight before I agreed to his bet.¡± Oh, dear god, I was in a mess.

    Adam warned me about this, urged me to think again before I agreed to Dante and his stupid bet but I had been so sick and tired of Dante¡¯s constant undermining of my abilities that I just went for

    <ol>

    <li>it. </li>

    </ol>

    ¡°A merger, I could understand because that would make sense without changing too much, but a whole take over.¡± She shook her head. That is insane. It will do more harm than good. It¡¯ll raise concerns as to why the business is being <b>sold </b>so soon after it was just acquired. People, investors, will begin to grow <b>skeptical </b>and pull out of thepany. Lucy spoke to herself more than she was speaking to me.

    ¡°Not if a sessful business man like Dante <b>was </b>behind the ropes. To every one else it¡¯lle across as thergest investor just chose to buy it and that way it¡¯ll indicate that thepany is doing well for an investor to actually fully take it over.¡± As I exined that I realised just how well thought through Dante had nned this all out from the day he challenged me in my office.

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± She questioned seriously.

    I was quict for a few moments but I realised that there was only one thing that I could do and that was fight for thepany and try to persuade him against wanting it.

    ¡°The only thing there is to do. Deny him what he so ims with so much of entitlement.¡± I said. through clenched teeth.

    I was not going to go down with out a fight. Dante had taken too much from me from the very day I had married him and even when my life had hung in the bnce, it seemed like it was still

    insufficient for him.

    Dreame

 Chapter 72

    Informal meetings were rarely ever my preference. I always preferred meetings pertaining to business to be held in a board room under proper and professional settings and protocols being followed. Especially first meetings which felt like it required a more legit opening to the set the rest of the pace of the rtion.

    But the meeting schedules in a hours time from now was any thing but proper. I didn¡¯t even know about it until I had shown up at the office and Lucy had been reading my agenda for the day when 1 had discovered about this meeting. At first when she had mentioned the meeting being held out of offic I had assumed that it was going to be a virtual one which was not new to thepany at all. It was quitemon and efficient but I soon learnt that was not what she was speaking about

    ¡°Since when do I do meetings out of the office?¡± I questioned Lucy wondering how this one had been managed to be set up like <b>so</b>.

    Lucy toyed with a ruffle on her sky blue blouse tucked in to a grey pencil skirt. She averted my gaze and kept scanning the agenda.

    ¡°Since this man would not take no for an answer. I raised a brow at her

    response.

    ¡°Since when do we give in to bully¡¯s?¡± I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at her.

    ¡°Since hees with great potential.¡± My raised brow became a frown.

    I leaned back in my chair. ¡°And who is he?¡±

    ¡°Scott Vanderbilt. That name rang a bell instantly. Thepany, and you, have sparked his interest when he discovered that <b>his </b>old friend had died and his assets handed down to you. He has interest in investing.¡± <b>She </b>exined but I was still shocked by it all.

    Scott Vanderbilt was the stic manufacturing tycoon. He was super wealthy and was unimaginably sought after. His ownpany was well known for being built from the pits up and now he danced amongst the elite and parades his status for all to witness. Naturally, as most wealthy men, came a promiscuous reputation and his way with woman was no secret.

    I had never met him before but he had made headlines in the business world and tabloids that it was nearly impossible for him to be missed. He even made the cover of the GQ magazine where they photographed his tall, <b>Adonis </b>built b*dy all oiled up and flexed for female viewing pleasure.

    ¡°Scott Vanderbilt.¡± His name rolled of my tongue with possibility. ¡°This could be interesting.¡± I tapped my fingers against my chin considering all the ways him being an investor¡¯s could benefit thepany.

    ¡°He is yummy to look at and I feel it incumbent upon me to warn you that he is known to be quite the charmer.¡± Lucy eyed me suggestively and I scoffed.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in being charmed. All I care about is him being a part of thepany. It would be a great boost for us. I exined but I knew that Lucy was well aware of the benefit. She wouldn¡¯t

    Dreame

    INTAIN. J

    11:34 Fri, 8 Mar <b>R </b>

    have afforded him an informal meeting had it been just for his looks.

    ¡°Just be careful with him. He has a way with women.¡± She warned again and I rolled my eyes.

    ¡°I am aware of the expertise he possess with women. The tabloids never fail to report it.¡± I said in a bored tone.

    <b>afa </b><b>live </b>

    Lucy shrugged then told me about the location that the meeting would be held which was at <b>star </b>sea food restaurant located on the rocks near the marina.

    ¡°Fancy. Certainly likes to unt his wealth.¡± Imented in observation.

    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t if they were than rich. She chuckled before telling me that I had half an hour before I should leave.

    The marina was a good twenty minutes drive from the office and I would rather be carly then show upte. First impressions were alwayssting ones especially to a potential investor.

    Lucy wished me luck as I sl*pped on my zer and ced my bag in the crook of my arm before heading out of the office. As I walked to my car, I instinctively just looked around recalling the time I had been nabbed by Demetri but once I had gotten in and locked the doors, I was fine.

    I drove to the marina and was thankful that there was no traffic on the road making the driver actually enjoyable. The bright blue sky and gentle breeze made the perfect weather to be having lunch at the marina and for sea food.

    I found a parking spot just outside the restaurant Lucy had given the name of. A quick time check showed that I was ten minutes early which I was okay about. I turned the air conditioning on just cooled down before doing a quick make up touch up before I would head in.

    1

    I couldn¡¯t screw this up. I supposed it <b>was </b>a plus on my side that the man was <b>a </b>friend of my uncle¡¯s and it sounded like he was ready to invest anyways from what Lucy had told me and this meeting was just some thing to seal the deal for Scott Vanderbilt.

    If he <b>was </b>on board mypany the Dante wouldn¡¯t have such a huge hold on it and maybe, just maybe, I would be able to find a way out of this mess that I had been in. Scott <b>may </b>not be as powerful as Dante but he was just as influential and shrewd. I could use some one like that.

    I cut the engine then stepped out of my car and the warm sun hit my skin before I walked through the restaurant door that had been held open for me. The smell of lemon and ice greeted me as I entered and the man that I was here to see could be spotted from a mile away.

    Scott Vanderbilt upied thergest table at the far end of the restaurant closest to the scenic view over looking the marina. It seemed like there was some unspoken rule about no one else upying any table near the one that he had seated at since the rest of the upants were on the other side. or used the middle row of tables.

    He had air about him that was unmissable. His striking good looks andrge figure sat proudly as he swirled his drink in his ss, took a sniff of it, then a sip. I would have expected him to be

    Dreame

    11:34 Fri, 8 Mar RGU

    dressed in a formal suit and most business men in his league would have worn but I was wrong.

    -G

    Scott wore a ck golfer and shy Tag Heuger watch on his wrist. A pair <i>of </i>Ray Ban shades were on the table at his side and I spotted a sliver of a tattoo peaking out on his shoulder which his sleeve barely managed to cover.

    I took on a breath topose myself as I sauntered over to the table. My heels clinking against the

    widened floor got his attention and he looked up to find me almost across him. His dark grey eyes slightly when he saw me and never in my life did I feel so thoroughly scrutinized.

    Scott Vanderbilt was <b>a </b>womanizer. It was evident from the way his eyes had ran over my entire length and despite wearing fairly formal work clothes which covered quite a bit, I felt like I had worn minimal clothes and needed anotheryer. He straightened his shoulders deciding that 1 deserved his attention but I couldn¡¯t give <b>a </b><b>shit</b>.

    I was here for business and my businesses benefit and nothing more.

    ¡°Mr. Vanderbilt.¡± I said his name formally, tightly, warning him from the get go.

    Scott eyed me with an intrigued look as he rose from his seat making a great show of it like I were <b>some </b>peasant and he was gracing me by offering such a ¡®grand¡® gesture.

    He reached a hand out for me to shake. ¡°Please, call me Scott,¡± He said in a husky tone as I shook his hand but he had taken me by surprise and brought the back of my hand up to his l*ps to graze my knuckles with a k*ss.

    ¡°It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Sophia.¡± He addressed <b>me </b>by my first name shattering my attempt and slyly denying my tone of formality.

    I weaved my hand out of his hold abd smiled tightly at him. ¡°The pleasure is all mine.¡±

    Scott shed me with a charming smile disying his perfect set of sparkling white teeth. His face was defined and well carved and even some thing as small as a smile had caused his taut skin to pull tightly over his defined jaw and cheek bones. He certainly was handsome, there was no denying that but he was also very transparent.

    ¡°Take a seat.¡± He motioned to the chair closest to me and I did.

    Scott flicked both his fingers in the air and a waitress approached us almost instantly like she had appeared out of thin air.

    ¡°A ss of wine for the lovelydy. The words barely even left his l*ps before she reached for the bottle in the bucket of ice and filled my ss half way to the top.

    I thanked the waitress who darted her eyes to Scott wanting his approval and he had winked at her which caused to smile. I pretended as if I hadn¡¯t noticed that.

    We ced our orders before she left and, again, she darted her gaze for some sort of attention from Scott but he didn¡¯t afford her any this time. I found it astounding that she had fallen for his

    Dreame

    <

    Fri, 8 Mar R

    charms so soon.

    After the waitress was a good distance away from us, I looked to Scott again. ¡°So, I hear that you would like to sit on the panel of mypany.¡± I kick started the conversation not wanting to waste any more time with small talk and meaningless conversation.

    Scott nodded but his smirked like he knew every single thought of mine and I found it entirely unnerving.

    ¡°You have heard correctly. I rarely ever seek out to be an investor inpany¡¯s unless it sparks a great deal of my interest.¡± He spoke eloquently now but that under tone of gruffness had still been there.

    ¡°<b>And </b>what about mypany has sparked yours?¡± I questioned tilting my head ever so slightly to the side..

    ¡°Many things.¡± His response was vague <b>and </b>I clenched my jaw before rxing it.

    ¡°Such as?¡± I probed.

    ¡°Firstly, it being thepany of my deceased best friend.¡± He said but I didn¡¯t fully buy it.

    I raised a brow at him. ¡°Why have you not approached him before when he was alive and still holding on to the reigns?¡±

    Scott seemed very impressed by my question. ¡°Because the man refused to let me join in. Of course, at that time, thepany was not in the best footing and he considered my interest purely out of pity.¡± He reached for his ss and took a gulp of his drink.

    ¡°And was it?¡± I took a sip of my own drink feeling I needed it to deal with this man.

    He grinned before setting his ss back down. ¡°To an extent, yes, but I also knew that thepany. held great potential if it were run properly.¡± He stated with a shrug like it was an obvious fact.

    ¡°You being in power <b>has </b>made such a difference in such a short period of time.¡± Ahh, so he has been keeping an eye on thepany¡¯s news.

    ¡°Is that why you suddenly want to invest?¡® I needed to know his intentions before I let him sit as one of the board members.

    ¡°That, amongst other things. Another vague response.

    ¡°such as?¡± He chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at him not knowing what was so funny.

    ¡°As a business man, I shall keep my secrets but know that intentions are good. I <b>see </b><b>it </b><b>as </b>repaying an old friend <b>and </b>nothing more. Yourpany has caught my attention and it would be an honour for me to invest in what he built.¡± I wouldn¡¯t have pinned Scott to be a sentimental kind of man but he sounded genuine enough that I couldn¡¯t doubt him,

    He inhaled audibly like he was losing the heavy time his voice had taken. ¡°In any case, I don¡¯t see

    Dreame

    why you¡¯re so concerned. Having me be a part of yourpany would prove beneficial on your

    side. He eyed me slyly knowing exactly what he brought to thepany and fl*pping the script on

    Inc.

    15/5

    Dreame

    0

 Chapter 73

    A weekter, the news had officially broken out that the infamous Scott Vanderbilt had joined thepany and would now sit amongst the esteemed fellow investors and panel.

    The new had first been delivered to the board of directors themselves before thepany released an official statement to the business world. No one seemed to be opposed to it at all and all Pheard about it had been good things all ranging from how the benefits this would bring thepany to how amazing I had been at securing such a prolific man.

    Even within thepany, the employees were all pleased by this and it made me feel good about this decision. I did have my doubts but from my findings, Scott never messed around in business and <b>had </b>built a reputation for being skilled, sharp, and very decisive.

    Lucy herself was more than ecstatic by the news but that was because she knew the true benefit having Scott as part of thepany brought to us giving the situation with Dante.

    As you could imagine, the only person that didn¡¯t express their joy by this move was Dante. He was not entirely happy about it or at all, to say the least <b>but </b>I had taken that <b>as </b>a rather good sign.

    It meant that Dante knew his position now. He knew <b>that </b>Scott was on an equal footing with him and he now had a challenge, a worthy opponent, no longer making him the most prized investor of thepany. Don¡¯t get me wrong, Dante was still vital to thepany but he wouldn¡¯t be able to make demands and call the shots as easily as he once <b>did</b><b>. </b>

    Scott would invest just as generously in to thepany as Dante rendering Dante¡¯s position less mourous and awe¨Cworthy.

    Dante hadn¡¯t shown much of himself to me ever since that night when I lost my cool with <b>him</b>. He seemed to have given up easily which only made me feel like I had made the correct choice. If he could so easily switch it all off then was it even real in the first ce?

    I gave my head a small shake not wanting to go down that line of thought again. I brought my attention back to the email I had been sending off consisting of the final documents over to Scott¡¯s assistant when there was a knock on my office door.

    ¡°Come in.¡± I called out and the door opened and Adam walked in all dressed in a pair of dark jeans and formal shirt tucked nearly in to the hem.

    ¡°Not your usual apparel.¡± I noted before pressing the send tab on the email before I looked back at Adam.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of a zer in this heat.¡± He made a face of disgust like the addedyer gave him

    the ick.

    It had been a fairly warm day today so I could understand <b>his </b>sentiment. Even Lucy passed on coffee this morning because of the heat.

    ¡°What brings you here?¡± I asked Adam lightly.

    Dreame

    Fri<b>, </b><b>8 </b>Mar RBU

    982%

    Adam pulled up a chair and settled in to it. ¡°I thought to congratte you first hand about your newest victory.¡± He said with a <b>grin </b>and I beamed at him basking in the praise.

    ¡°Why, thank you.¡± I said pressing my l*ps together to look prideful before I let it go. ¡°I didn¡¯t do much, if I¡¯m being honest. Vanderbilt was willing to invest all by himself.¡± I admitted to Adam who didn¡¯t seem surprised by that information at all.

    ¡°What ever the reason is, it doesn¡¯t matter. This is huge! The business world is losing their shit over this new alliance and the added publicity doesn¡¯t hurt one bit.¡± He sounded more proud about this than I had been

    ¡°I was skeptical at first but this proved to be a good move.¡± Another knock sounded on the door before Lucy let herself in with a can of cool drink which she set in front of Adam before she left..

    Adam popped open the can before taking arge gulp of it then groaning in satisfaction.

    ¡°How has the otherpany members taken it?¡± He asked, crossing his ankle over his knee as he got a little morefortable.

    I pursed my l*ps before sighing. ¡°Well, majority of them are rather pleased, however, a small minority isn¡¯t too thrilled.¡± I said vaguely but Adam was too quick.

    ¡®Let me guess, the minority being Dante Crawford?¡± He asked with a grunt.

    ¡°Bingo!¡±

    Adamughed lightly. ¡°That man is so transparent.¡± He shook <b>his </b>head.

    Scott Vanderbilt threatens Dante¡¯s standing in thepany so I see why he is not the most excited. by it.¡± I shrugged with a wave of my hand dismissing it.

    Adam scoffed. ¡°Scott threatens more than just his business standing, Sophia.¡± He mocked eyeing me like I was supposed to catch his drift but when my confused look didn¡¯t fade he cleared his throat.

    ¡®Scout Vanderbilt has a reputation with women. <b>That </b>is something I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard about. He has never hurt a women but he is known for his sess rate of bedding as many as he can get his hands on.¡± I scrunched my nose at that <b>notion</b>.

    I was surprised he hadn¡¯t caught some thing if this was what he reputation renowned him for. It seemed like every person who knew the man knew that he had this way with thedies.

    ¡°Dante obviously knows that this and I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s driving him insane.¡± I rolled my eyes at that and snorted at how rediculous it sounded.

    ¡°Oh, please. Dante doesn¡¯t <b>give </b>a shit. I made it clear to him that there is nothing between us more. Adam scoffed at that.

    s <b>any </b>

    ¡°Just because you say it doesn¡¯t make it true. Even if you¡¯re right and Dante does not care, it doesn¡¯t mean that he would be at ease knowing that you were any where near the likes of Scoff Vanderbilt.¡± Adam was dead serious and I couldn¡¯t tell if he was advocating for Dante or not,

    2/

    Dreame

    11:34 Fri, 8 Mar RE

    ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t give a damn about what Dante thinks of how he feels. After being the butt of his every bad decision, I¡¯ve slowly lost any hope of any thing from him. I just-¡± I paused to take in a break to calm myself down. ¡°I just want to go forward with out thinking about what Dante wants or how he feels about some thing. I ranted and <b>Adam </b>nodded slowly looking taken aback by my out burst.

    ¡°Okay, okay. He held <b>his </b>hand up in surrender and just like that the topic was closed.

    Adam had left shortly after with his can of cool drink in his hand and I decided to call it a days It waste into he afternoon any ways and I had seen to whatever work I <b>had </b>to take car of.

    I stopped at the bakery on my way home and picked up a few pastries and donuts for Hayley and I <b>to </b>dig in to together plus it felt like I should celebrate with a little treat.

    When I had gotten home, I carefully carried the pink and white striped boxes in to the house and set them on the kitchen table.

    ¡°Hayley. I¡¯m home.¡± I called out as I moved through the house.

    Hayley came bouncing in through the sliding doors from outside. Her breathing <b>was </b>unsteady but she paused trying to catch it.

    ¡°What on earth are you and Nancy-¡± My almost question cut off when Dante appeared through the sliding doors and there was no sign of Nancy.

    ¡°Dad and I were ying tag. We are going out to dinnerter. My belly wants a burger and French fries. She informed me of this <b>n </b>as she followed me back to the kitchen.

    I poured a ss of water for her which she took with both hands before drinking it to quench her

    thirst.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I hope you have fun. I brought some pastries and donuts if you want to share them.¡± I offered her since she probably wouldn¡¯t be going out to dinner right now. It was still <b>too </b>early.

    Her eyes lit up, obviously, before darting to the boxes but as she moved to peak inside, Dante stopped her.

    ¡°Wash your hands first. You were looking for worms in the soil. He reminded her and I shook my head to myself at Hayley and the new things she finds interest in each day.

    She moved to the sink and used the little stepoing stool I kept for her in the kitchen. As I opened out the baked goods, I felt Dante¡¯s gaze on me watching my every move.

    I looked up and he didn¡¯t look away but I had been trapped by his heavy gaze for a moment and couldn¡¯t look away.

    ¡°Would you like to join us for dinner? Hayley would like that, I¡¯m <b>sure</b>.¡± He offered gently.

    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted from today so I think I¡¯ll pass <b>tonight</b>.¡± I declined and looked back at the powdered. sugar dusted pastries.

    Dreame

    11:34 Fri, 8 Mar RB.

    ¡°Chasing after womanizers must be exhausting. I heard him mutter beneath his breath. My head snapped up to look at him and I was ready to retaliate but Hayley appeared between us.

    I let out a slow breath through my l*ps reminding myself not to let him get to me. I focussed on helping Hayley to a donut after she got herself up on to the chair. She offered Dante one and he refused but she insisted until he reached for a pastry himself.

    For a moment I began to consider that maybe Adam was right in what he had said earlier.

    Dreame

 Chapter 74

    After snacking on some pastries, I thought Hayley and Dante would dy a little bit before heading out to dinner seeing <b>as </b>they wouldn¡¯t have been hungry already but I guess Dante didn¡¯t want to be in the same space as me. After I wiped down the crumbs from the marble counter, Dante had already helped Hayley with her shoes and a jacket before I could even leave the kitchen.

    It was a fast move on his side and I was a little unprepared for it but I wasn¡¯t about to make a fuss about it. Hayley gave me a hug and a k*ss before she left through the doors with Dante and I didn¡¯t quite feel to call it a day just yet. Since I had left the office a little earlier than usual this afternoon, it was still bright outside.

    I reached for my phone as I headed out side to enjoy the breeze andpose the email I had in mind. It was part ofpany tradition to hold an intimate introductory event for newly stakeholders. The reason for this was to get every one ustomed to each other and create a sense. of familiarity between fellow investors and myself and allowing a sense of involvement to senior contributors.

    the email had taken me a full hour topose but it had been a rather extensive and inclusive email containing all that we need to be taken care of. I thought it better that the sooner the introductory event took ce the better it would be since it would allow everyone to move forward. Ipiled a list of all the guest that should be invited along with the dates set for this uing Friday evening. I picked a venue that was still pretty Central to the city but not nearly asrge enough then was necessary.

    as I concluded <b>this </b>email I realized just how much work would have to be done from booking a caterer to taking care of the decor to other small intricate details that could not go on unattended. despite the small worry that came with hosting such an event I also felt a sense of excitement <b>as </b>I once again realized <b>what </b>a boost this was celebrating.

    as <b>a </b>rounded off the email then send it to Lucy so that she could begin taking care of a few things I wanted if Dante would even show up, it was¡¯evident that he did not particrly like Scott. Vanderbilt and even if Adam had been correct in assuming that part of the reason was because Dante was ufortable with Scott around me I still couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he would be petty enough i to show up. After all the entire event would be in honor of Scott himself and though that may not be clearly stated outright it was still the sole reason for it.

    Perhaps he would surprise everyone and actually show up. Dante has been thepany¡¯s most vital investor for a good few years. not to mention that he also had a reputation to maintain to the public where it came to his business rtionships and they couldn¡¯t imagine that he would risk bad publicity over his male ego.

    in any case I was sure that invites for the event would be sent out by tomorrow and Dante was sure to express his approval orck thereof before that I shrugged, reminding myself that I didn¡¯t care what he did over the he showed up or didn¡¯t. all I was worried about was the image of mypany and thest impression that I want to give off was that thepany overlooked it¡¯s old investors once new and more attractive ones joined.

    Dreame

    |||

    <

    11:34 Fri, 8 Mar R BW.

    :82%

    by the time I had decided to wake up and head back into the house the sun had already dipped far beyond the horizon then I could see and the sky had grew darker.

    I pulled out a few ingredients from the fridge to make myself a sandwich with every intention of devouring it while I watched whatever si would tickle my fancy to serve as background noise. however just as I was heading towards the living room there was a knock on my door. I found and ced my sand which down onto the coffee table before ncing at the clock. it was still fairly early for Dante and Hayley to return back from dinner but I headed towards the front door to see who it was anyways.

    I was surprised to see a uniform dressed delivery boy holding thergest arrangement of lilies and white roses all organized with the perfect bnce of greenery, the wicker basket that it had been necessed into was even more prettier.

    ¡°Good even, ma¡¯am. I have a delivery for you. The young man, who was definitely no older than twenty¨Cthree handed the basket to me which I had taken with a smile despite my utter confusion.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± I said before he handed a delivery form for me to sign which I did as I tried to carry the heavy arrangement in one hand and sign with the other.

    I shut the door and carried the basket <b>of </b>fragrant, bloomed lilies mixed with the soft scent of the white roses to the side table against the wall of the foyer. I let out a huff as 1 stood back to properly inspect it when I saw the little envelope in the middle.

    I reached for it and opened it before sliding the card out that read:

    These reminded me of you..

    ¨C Yours truly,

    <ol>

    <li><b> </b>Vanderbilt.¡® </li>

    </ol>

    I stared at the card before leaving it next to the basket it had arrive in as I tried to snap small time shock I was in<b>. </b>

    out if the

    Was this one of his moves that he used in women he intended on inticing? I asked myself but then snorted at how big headed that sounded. I considered it a nice notion and one that was purely facilitating good work rtions for the future.

    I didn¡¯t <b>think </b><b>much </b>of it and headed back to eat my sandwich in

    peace.

    The si that I had been watching became a lull in the background until I had fallen asleep on the couch. It wasn¡¯t a deep sleep but one where I was still able to be conscious of my surroundings so when I heard knocks on the front door grow more adamant, I jerked awake before sleepily getting to my feet and finding my way to open the door.

    At this time, it could only have been Dante and Hayley returning back from dinner<b>. </b><b>I </b>unlocked door and Hayley wrapped her hands around my legs in a quick hug before stepping back then shifting a little to <b>the </b>side to allow Dante to enter. I didn¡¯t think he wouldn¡¯te in and thought

    275

    Dreame

    O

    34 Fri, 8 Mar R BU

    82%1

    he¡¯d just drop her off and be on his way but he surprised me when he came in and shut the door <b>behind </b>him.

    ¡°How was your dinner?¡± I asked Hayley, running my hands through her soft hair.

    She beamed and I could already tell that she had a good time. She rarely ever had a bad time when she went out with Dante.

    ¡°It was fun. We went to the arcade before we ate. I love bowling, mama. I think it¡¯s my new favourite game. She expressed herself for her new found interest confidently.

    ¡°You were so good at it. I couldn¡¯t catch up to your score.¡± Dante praised her and I knew that he had lost for her benefit. ¡°She hit all pins down a few times.¡± He said to me, his gaze touching mine ever so briefly before we both looked away.

    My l*ps sorted to tell Hayley how good this was when she inhaled sharp enough to hurt my cars. I winced <b>and </b>saw Dante do the same but we both recovered as we looked at her but some <b>thing </b>else had caught her attention.

    ¡°These were not here before we left.¡± I followed <b>her </b>gaze to white <b>and </b>green arrangement of flowers. ¡°They look beautiful Hayley moved closer to them to inspect it and even stood on her tip toes to get a sniff of the bloomed lilies.

    ¡°I- They got here just after you left.¡± I said to her <b>and </b>saw Dante clench his jaw from theer of

    my eye<b>. </b>

    ¡°Who sent them?¡± She inquired inquisitively as she brushed her fingers gingerly against a petal.

    ¡°A new work friend. It¡¯s like a little gift for us beginning to work together.¡± I exined to Hayley carefully but Dante had already been eyeing the <b>card </b><b>that </b><b>was </b>set atop of the side table next to the basket holding in all the flowers.

    The writing was my no means small and could easily be read from a few steps away and he did read it. I saw his eyes move across the inscripted words against the <b>small </b>card <b>and </b>his nostrils red.

    ¡°<b>That¡¯s </b><b>nice</b>. Can I take a rose? I was to try and dry it between my books.¡± She asked as she toyed with the stem of the one that she liked.

    ¡°Of course.¡± I said to her but my voice <b>had </be out all weird and tensed.

    Hayley wiggled the rose out gently then proceed to head down the <b>hall </b>way with it to find a book, I assumed.

    A few moments of silence had fallen over us and the air was beginning to grow ufortable and tensed until it had be unbearable.

    I cleared my throat cutting through the thick silence. ¡°Would you like some thing to drink or are you heading out soon?¡± I queried trying to distract him from the flowers but he was looking at it like it was a bomb disguised as an innocent gift.

    Dreame

    11:35 Fri, 8 Mar RB.

    °×:82%

    ¡°Not a very business appropriate card for a work rted gift.¡± His words were like sharp knives escaping his l*ps.

    I waved my hand in dismissal. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really.

    <b>¡°</b>You think so but perhaps you¡¯re not <b>aware </b>of Scott Vanderbilt <b>and </b>his notoriety. His eyes were ming balls of fury when he looked at me. He spoke to me as if I was stupid and unaware of the way of men when he forgot that I had dealt with the likes of him.

    ¡°I am not naive, Dante, neither am I a child that needs a warning. I know exactly the type of man that he is.¡± I asserted<b>, </b>squaring my shoulders and not allowing myself to be talked down to

    ¡°Ah, so you know exactly what he is.¡± He tilted his head to the side but his expression was bitter. ¡°Is Scott Vanderbilt more than just a business rted issue, then? I¡¯m sure thepany¡¯s stakeholders. would frown upon such a thing¡± He berated me and I nearlyughed at his double standard.

    ¡°The stakeholders were never a concern when you were involved.¡± I reminded him mockingly and his face tightened. ¡°And secondly, whatever it is that I do in my personal life is none of your concern.¡± I reinstated the fact which he seemed to have forgotten,

    ¡°Be that as it may but you are the mother of my child. The men you frolick about with <b>will </b>impact her.¡± I rolled my eyes at how rediculous that notion was.

    ¡°Oh, now you¡¯re concerned about Hayley when ites to people we¡¯re seeing. <b>It </b>didn¡¯t seem to trouble you at all when-¡± I was about to mention Pheobe but the thought of her limp, very dead b*dy shed in my mind and I shook my head to get the image out.

    I exhaled slowly. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that you do not have a say in what ever happens he it between Scott and I or any other man.¡± I warned him even though there was nothing between Vanderbilt and I and there never ever would be. I

    I <b>was </b>not gullible enough to even believe a word Scoff said out of a boardroom. He was a charmer and what ever he tried, even these flowers that arrived tonight, was probably a trick that he had used several times to weave interest for himself in to the heart and mind and his newest target.

    Dante didn¡¯t say any thing and silence had befallen us once again. Aside from the sound of our heaving<b>, </b>angry breaths, it was silent. Dante and I stood there just ring at each other for as long as we could but slowly I began to see the emotion in his eyes change from fury to helpless remorse and pain.

    But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

    ¡°What reason do you have to be so indifferent to me out of now where? I know you went through some thing traumatic and I tried my best to rescue you. I thought after that we¡¯d-¡± He paused, hist eyes searching mine before he shook his head.

    His voice was thick and rough/and it grated <b>against </b>me until I felt a small bit of guilt bite at me.

    ¡°Rescue me from the situation I <b>was </b>in because of you in the first ce, Dante.¡± I whispered trying

    Dreame

    III

    8 Mar R

    <b>not </b>to think about it all again.

    ::82%:

    His eyes tightened before locking with mine and he looked helpless like he didn¡¯t know what to do

    or <b>say</b>.

    ¡°In every turn and point of life, every difficult or humiliating situation I¡¯ve ever been in has been because of you and I was too blinded by my emotions that I kept putting myself at your feet only to get shown why I shouldn¡¯t any more.¡± I swallowed the pained lump that had formed in my throat out of no where.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t true. None of it was intentional. I didn¡¯t mean to-¡±

    ¡°Hurt me? Make me an option and never the choice? Throw me out of your life just to seek me out when you realised you messed up? What is it?¡± My own pain with all of it hade to the surface and in that moment we were just two regretful individuals fighting for different things.

    I was fighting for my future and Dante was fighting for what had sl*pped right through his fingers.

    Dreame

 Chapter 75

    Chapter <i>75 </i>

    The next few days had flown by in a blink of an eye.

    Between juggling work along with the checking up on the ns and how they were going for the uing event and trying to maintain <b>and </b>set the tone of professionalism with Scout Vanderbilt, I really didn¡¯t know where all the time had gone to so much so that it hadpletely sl*pped my mind to find something to wear for the evening.

    Scott Vanderbilts reputation was pretty well¨Cknown, however I don¡¯t think anyb*dy actually knew just how well the man had been aware of <b>himself </b>along with the tactics that he used <b>to </b>either impress or get under a woman¡¯s skin.

    the man would refuse at every chance to meet formally at the office building despite how much Lucy would reason with him he would find a way to set up a meeting outside the bonds of what made up the office building, even for the smallest issues such as signing documents or discussing <b>the </b>particrs <b>and </b>how things worked with him now joining the team he refused to have it done formally.

    it didn¡¯t have any sort of desired effect on me. if anything it had only served to irritate me. Our very first meeting had been held at the marina, the second one he had insisted that it take ce at one of his many hotel bars, with the most recent one that I was yet to attend being at the local cafe just down <b>the </b>street. if it were left to him, he would have <i>us </i>served lunch in a private room at his penthouse but I refused and insisted on the cafe close to work.

    Scott, as much as he were rich and handsome, he was also very persistent with a one track mindset when he set his attention on some thing he wanted. I didn¡¯t like to acknowledge it too much and I tried my best to remain as stoic and formal with him as I could manage. Perhaps it would take some time and he would eventually give up when he realised <b>that </b>he was wasting his time.

    The more I dealt with the man, the clearer things became. I knew now why Adam had said what he did and it all added up as to why Dante was so opposed to him. It was because they knew just how tactful <b>and </b>plotting Scott could be. I assumed men knew more about each other than what even the media could extort

    fortunately for me at this point in my life there had only been two things that matter to me most. the first being Hayley and the second being thispany. I would never fall into Scott¡¯s traps especially since I knew just how fast news about him spread. if he was so much a spotted with any woman in an unlikely and unfavorable situation that suggested anything other than propriety, it became the talk of the entire city spreading like wildfire would no means of clean up except for time where he would find another woman to cause a scandal with.

    is Scott so much as assumed that I was going to be that woman then he was entirely wrong about me. I just needed to survive this event and then I would hardly see him let alone here from <b>him </b>once the formality had been concluded, even if he did drop by to check¨Cin on things I could easily hand him over to Lucy or <b>one </b>of the <b>other </b>executives of the <bpany </b>to show him around and answer his questions.

    Dreame

    11:35 Fri, 8 Mar RBU.

    +

    @ 82%

    Until <b>then</b>, I nced at my watch before looking at the cafe door, I had to deal with the man for the next half an hour at least.

    Scott Vanderbilt entered the quaint cafe <b>and </b>looked every bit as our of ce as one would imagine. <b>It </b>was like looking at a bull in a fine china store. Every head turned to attention at his presence <b>and </b>he watched like some prized possession, a Greek god, a spectacle, as he strided over in a three piece <b>suit </b>which had been a first in times I had interacted with him.

    It went without saying that he wore it to perfection. It defined his b*dy like <b>a </b>second skin yet was still a good enough fit that it didn¡¯t look ufortable or tight. His hair was styled back like he was some mafia lord and as he spotted me at the table, his l*ps spread in to a smug grin whilst <b>his </b><b>eyes </b>raked over my <b>face </b>and n*eck, and even though my n*eckline <b>was </b>not by any means low, it now felt like it. It was a good thing that the rest of me was hidden by the table.

    ¡°Nice to see you as always, Sophia. My <b>name¡¯s </b>rolled of his tongue like velvet against steel.

    ¡°It is good to see you, too, Mr Vanderbilt. I emphasized the formality of his name and the corners. of his eyes tightened but I saw the fire grow as it fueled his need for the chase.

    ¡°Please, take a seat. We have much to discuss with very little time. I warned him hoping he¡¯d not waste my time but when he chuckled lightly I knew that he might already have.

    ¡°There is nothing to discuss. I <b>had </b>your assistant send me the particrs via email. Mywyers have read it and I have already signed the documents. He paused <b>to </b>nce as <b>his </b>expensive watch. ¡°It should be getting sent back to your office right about now.¡± He dropped his wrist to hisp and I gritted my teeth together.

    I tried to remain calm and not let my irritation show on my face. As much as he was overbearing, he was still a very vital, beneficial individual for mypany. I didn¡¯t owe him any thing but I could ruin all of it if I was an ass.

    I managed a stiff smile. ¡°I see. That is rather efficient of you.¡± The tightness in my voice was inevitable. ¡°Then why are we here? I¡¯m sure you have much to do, as do I. I felt my face tightened and he saw it, too.

    ¡°To enjoy brunch together. I¡¯m sure you can afford me that, at least.¡± He said with a smile that might have worked on the sea full of women before me but did nothing for me.

    ¡°Of course, I just do not like to be deceived or double yed.¡± I made <b>that </b>clear and he nodded.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t that deep, Sophia.¡± He brushed it off before looking for a waiter. He found one then. motioned with his hand for the young man toe our way.

    ¡°Good day, Sir-¡°The sandy blonde waiter looked to me in acknowledgement. ¡°Ma¡¯am. What can I get for you today?¡± He reached for a small writing pad and <b>a </b>pencil tucked in to his apron.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have <b>a </b>smoked salmon eggs Benedict, a ss of orange, and an espresso. Scott said with out even looking at the menu.

    Dreame

    FACE

    11:35 Fri, 8 Mar <b>2 </b>

    ¡°Excellent choice.¡± The waiter said before looking at me patiently. ¡°And for you?¡±

    ¡°A bastrami on rye with a sd <b>and </b><b>a </b>cappino.¡± I thanked the waiter before handing him the menu and he left.

    I itched to look at my watch but it would be rude considering we just got here minutes ago. Scott wasn¡¯t over bearing and perhaps if I were open to his passes then he may have not been all that bad

    but I was not.

    ¡°You know, your uncle and I went way back. I owe a lot to the man.¡± Scott began to speak and my attention shifted back to him.

    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how. There is a good age difference between the two of you.¡± I pointed out curios about how they had formed any rtionship considering <b>that </b>fact.

    Scott smiled but not like he always did to impress me but it was a secret one, one that held a lot of fondness. An emotion sh expression I never thought I¡¯d see on such a man.

    1

    ¡°Let¡¯s just <b>say </b>

    <b>that </b>I was a broke kid just out of college with no idea of which way to head in life until your uncle took me under his wing and guided me. He <b>was </b>a surprisingly good mentor. Ahh, that made a lot more sense.

    I had always thought that they were friends and I couldn¡¯t imagine how given the generational gap. but this made perfect sense. I didn¡¯t think my uncle had <b>that </b>quality in him. We were close and he was always good to me <b>but </b>I didn¡¯t think it extended beyond his family to such an extent.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he <b>want </b>you to invest in thepany when he was alive?¡± I asked since I wondered why anyone would ever deny a good investor.

    Scott chuckled and shook his head. ¡°He thought that I was investing out of pity. When he <b>had </b>grown older, he wasn¡¯t too involved in thepany as you may know. It was why the business dipped <b>a </b>little. He thought I just wanted to drop money in hispany out of pity when that wasn¡¯t the case <b>at </b>all.¡± He exined with a shrug.

    ¡°That is surprising but I¡¯m d you have fond memories of my uncle.¡± I said with a small smile.

    I opened my mouth to say some thing but <b>the </b>door to the cafe had opened catching my attention. I looked away but then it had registered in my head who exactly had walked through the door and my head snapped back again.

    Dante looked the image of danger and death as he walked through the sea of <b>tables </b>with his destination being our table. His eyes were so dark with anger that they looked ck even in the distance. His jaw was firmly set causing it to appear more defined, more daunting

    What the hell was he even doing here?

    ¡°So. Sophia, when can we-¡±

    ¡°Well, well, I didn¡¯t know that I¡¯d be excluded from business rted meetings. Dante¡¯s voice cut

    Dreame

    11:35 Fri. 8 Mar RBU.

    82

    through what ever it was that Scott was going to say. His tone was hard and sarcastic on the word ¡®meeting since this was any thing but.

    ¡°Dante Crawford.¡± Scott said his <b>name </b>with recognition with a hint of hostility. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you here.¡± He looked around <b>the </b>cafe like this was the most unnatural ce for Dante to be

    <b>seen </b>in.

    Dante¡¯s eyes tightened. ¡°I could say that same for you, Vanderbilt. This isn¡¯t really your scene. Not

    <i>lly </i>club like andcking in strippers.¡± I gasped in horror at his words and whilst Scott¡¯s eyes lost

    its dazzle, he still chuckled it off as nothing.

    ¡°That was the old Scott. Those kind of scenes do not interest me any more.¡± His as if I hadn¡¯t known his reputation at all.

    gaze darted to <b>me </b>

    lly made

    ¡°What are <b>you </b>doing here?¡± <b>I </b>asked Dante who threw me a piercing look that me shrug inwardly <b>a </b>little bit.

    The memo for this little meeting might have gotten lost some where through my emails but it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m here now. What did I miss?¡± Dante reached for a chair from the empty table next to ours before he settled down in it inviting himself to brunch.

    ¡°Nothing much. I was just telling Sophia about how I knew her uncle. Scott replied in a very light. friendly tone not letting Dante¡¯s snide remarks get to him at all.

    ¡°<b>Ahh</b><b>, </b>yes, you were the old man¡¯s charity case back then.¡± Dante said mockingly and Scott¡¯s face fell but he quickly rposed himself.

    ¡°Dante!¡± I said in horror but he ignored me.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sophia. He is right and I¡¯m not ashamed of it. I was, in fact, a charity case to your uncle. There¡¯s no harm in admitting that¡± He said with a wave of his hand and I felt horrible for Scott.

    As much as he had his ways <b>that </b>I could easily disagree with, it didn¡¯t mean that he deserved to be mocked and rediculed for some thing out of his control.

    If Dante¡¯s motive was to make him look bad, he failed terribly at that.

    Scott exhaled just as the waiter brought over our food and set it in front of us. He nced at his watch the did a very fake inhale of air through his teeth.

    ¡°I better get going. There <b>is </b>some thing I needed to take care of that sl*pped my mind. His tone was dull and I immediately began to feel worse than before.

    Scott reached in to his pocket then ced enough money on the table to cover brunch here for a week before he left the cafe. The waiter looked confused and took Scott¡¯s te back and I no longer felt like eating either.

    When both Scott and the waiter left leaving me to deal with Dante and I was damn well going to put him in his ce..

    Dreame

    82

    ¡°What

    you did was so uncalled for not to mention absolutely rude! What business did you have butting in here?¡± My voice rose and octave and I didn¡¯t care who heard.

    Dante tsked at me arrogantly. ¡°He deserved it. The man will use this whole thing as a mean to plot and n his way to more than just yourpany.¡± His words squeezed out through his tightly clenched teeth.

    I stared at him utter disbelief. I couldn¡¯t believe Dante had stooped to such a low level. ¡°I am more than capable and able to take care of things with out your belittling ways and remarks. What you did was horrendous!¡± I still couldn¡¯t get over it.

    ¡°So he has already managed to get under your skin. You defend him so passionately.¡± He acussed. and my anger grew tenfold.

    ¡°You are disgusting, Dante. I can¡¯t believe I once thought you were the man I wanted to be with.¡± I blurted out and saw his entire face fall.

    ¡°And yet you are still the only woman I can see myself with.¡± He muttered in a pained voice before he pushed his chair back, threw me onest heavy look, then stormed out of the cafe.

    I buried my head in my hands and silently screamed in frustration. Not only did I feel terrible for Scott but now I felt like such an ass for saying what I did. Whether Dante deserved it or not was an entirely different question.

    É«

    |||

 Chapter 76

    Every thing was in ce for tonight¡¯s introductory event.

    The

    guess list had been finalized with majority of those invited confirming their attendance. It came <b>as </b>no surprise that everyone had shown eagerness to attend. the news itself had been to talk for days and I could only imagine that everyone was more than intrigued and thrilled to wee Scott to the circle.

    it was mostly due to the fact that Scott had really invested in local businesses and he¡¯s aimed target was usually foreign and more establishedpanies. naturally that did makes sense especially for a good businessman. everyone knew that it was better too invest in a booming business then one that was just getting back to it.

    that had been <b>the </b>very reason that had everyone¡¯s tongues wagging about the news. who could fault them? I could still recall how surprised I was when Lucy had told me about <b>this</b>.

    I had stopped by at the venue earlier and was <b>quite </b>pleased with how everything had turned out. the decor was far beyond what I had been expecting and I <b>was </b>quite pleased with how it had turned. out. The colour scheme that I settled on had been a matte ck and royal blue. The two colours. contrasted perfectly well <b>and </b>added a little edge to the over all look.

    The round tables had been ced spaciously in an orderly manner when ck table covers were ced over. tes and cutlery were all set and blue napkins were tucked neatly beneath each te. It was all perfect and ready with an hour to spare before the even began.

    I rushed back home to get myself ready as the host to the event I couldn¡¯t bete by any means and not even fasterlyte would do. all of thepanies investors amongst the board of directors and important figures would be in attendance and everything has to be perfect.

    after hopping into the steamy shower I had scrubbed every part of my b*dy and leather up with shampoo for it by <b>conditioner </b><b>and </b>then a quick hair treatment which I had rinsed of before getting out of the shower. I wrapped a bath towel around my b*dy and swooped my hair up in to a smaller one to dry a little bit.

    The sparkling beaded ck dress that I had picked out for tonight was beautiful. It was not dramatic by any means. The length of it was just above my knee but the fit had been perfect. I dried

    my b*dy and threw on matching underwear before I sl*pped the dress on and zipped it up thanks to the zipper fitted on the side of the dress rather than the back.

    off

    The dress had fit me like <b>a </b>second skin and hugged my b*dy perfectly. The n*eckline was square one which showed a little bit of cleavage but also gave the illusion of a bit more fuller chest but it was nothing inappropriate just a dress well fitted.

    I dried my hair thoroughly before going in with a curler and pinning it tightly to set in ce whilst I did my make up. I did a warm smokey eye and went with a brownish red l*p shade and just the perfect amount of bronzer over my make up to give my bone structure some added definition.

    Dreame

    PAPP

    11:35 Fri, 8 Mar RBM

    I had fifteen minutes before I had to leave and I quickly finished my hair, loosening the curls. before sliding on a pair of stilettos. A few spritz of perfume and one final approving look and I was ready to leave.

    My arrival was right on time. It was just before eight meaning that guests would begin arriving any minute now and once they did, they would be weed and ushered <b>in </b>to the awaiting room.

    ¡°I just took a look at the ball room. It looks amazing<b>. </b>I gasped at being caught off guard before turning slightly to find Adam heading my way from the ball room.

    ¡°What are you doing here so early?¡± I asked recovering my surprise.

    Adam had already been dress in a fine looking tuxedo for tonight. ¡°I was here way before you. I thought you could use some help in case anything went wrong at thest minute. He said and I immediately knocked my knucled against the wooden panel of the window where we stood.

    Adam chuckled but I was not amused. ¡°Why would any thing go wrong at thest minute?¡® I asked skeptically and he sighed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I was just being safe in case you forgot to take care of some thing. He exined and I wanted to mess with him a little.

    ¡°And why would I have forgotten to take care of some thing?¡± I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at him with a sharp re.

    ¡°Oh, dear god, Sophia. Forget I even said a word.¡± He held his hand up surrender and Iughed.

    ¡°I know, I know. I was only messing with you.¡± I saw him rx and grin at me.

    Adam walked around with me as we did a final check and stopped by to check in with the catering. The guests begin to arrive and I headed to the ball room awaiting the crowd to flock through.

    Half an hourter, every one on the list has arrived. From the oldest investor to our newest addition, all began flocking through to open doors of the ball room after posing for pictures outside. It was not in my n for paparazzi to show up but they did and no one seemed to mind so I let it be. If any thing it would serve as amazing news headlines for tomorrow all adding to the good publicity.

    ¡°Sophia, how lovely to see you again.¡± I turned to see Mr. Lumley suited up with a woman half hist age on his arm.

    I smiled brightly at him. ¡°The pleasure is always mine, Mr Lumley. I¡¯m so pleased that you could make it here tonight. Lumley was <b>one </b>of thepany¡¯s oldest investors joining in when my uncle still had things on a good footing-

    The man sprouted a few more dozen white hairs and his once full dark head of hair was now mostly made up of silver strands. Despite the effects of inevitable aging, the man was still incredibly well kept making the woman on his arm exinable. Well, that and money, of course.

    Dreame

    35 Fri, 8 Mar R Bu

    ¡°I must admit I <b>had </b>great fear for Deluxe Inc. ever since your uncle had gotten sick but I can easily say that you are doing an incredible job. I¡¯ve seen the progress report and you¡¯ve achieved so much in such a short amount of time.¡± He praised <b>me </b>and I blushed but simultaneously beamed with pride.

    ¡°Thank you. That really means a lot.¡± I said and he nced over where every one had been crowding at surrounding Scott. ¡°I¡¯m sure that was what had convinced him to join as well. Yourpany is making good talks in the realm of business and reaching the right ears.¡± He winked at me before grinning proudly at me and leading the woman in his arm further in for he ball room.

    I scanned the room and watched every one mingle for a bit. This was amazing. I couldn¡¯t help but feel the fuzziness of pride as I looked at the crowd that gathered just for tonight and it was the hit of realisation that I needed to know that I had been doing some thing right and I couldn¡¯t let it all sl*p through my fingers andnd in Dante¡¯s hands.

    As I looked around, my searching eyes locked with a pair of familiar ones and I recognised it instantly. My breath caught for a moment as I noticed Dante had been looking at me for who knew how long. He was at the far end of the ball room with a ss of amber coloured liquid in his grasp and I reminded myself to get a ss of it myself. I would need the booze if I were to survive. tonight with Dante and Scott in the same room for a few hours.

    The distance between Dante and I had been scattered with people moving around but I caught Dante¡¯s attention scan over the dress that I had been wearing like he was peeling it of and away from my skin with his eyes. His gaze darkened even as his hold tightened around the ss as he continued to drag his eyes lower ove my bare legs but it was when he looked at the heels did I see his jaw clench before he rxed it. He downed the contents of his ss in one swift move.

    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s the host.¡± I heard Scott speak from my right hand side and saw Dante grow annoyed when he saw Scott approach me.

    I tore my gaze away from Dante and rposed myself before looking at Scott. Scott really took the event being in his honour to its full meaning. He wore a very expensive Italian made suit that one could easily tell had been tailor made by the way it had fitted him. His hair was freshly cut and styled and his jaw cleanly shaven, looking every bit the

    <b>part</b>.

    ¡°You look stunning¡± Heplimented me as he had taken a full inspection of me and I began to get annoyed. I was not a spectacle to be eyed as I had been and Scott had certainly taken his time but the man couldn¡¯t seem to get past my cleavage.

    I cleared my throat, trapping his gaze with mine so it didn¡¯t wander. ¡°You clean up well enough. yourself.¡± I said lightly. ¡°The investors are very pleased that you are joining their ranks.¡± I informed him but he shrugged like he was very aware of this.

    ¡°I know most of the people in this room so that makes things a lot easier. A few of them I have running business ventures with but it helps that it¡¯s all in good rtions.¡± He said but I saw him look over to where I knew Dante had been and his l*ps pressed in to a thin line. ¡°Well, with most people.¡± He added under his breath.

    I reached out to touch his arm but all I felt was rippling, hard muscle but I tried to think past what

    375

    Dreame

    FN<b>, </b>8 Mar RGL

    my hand felt beneath the smooth texture of the material.

    82%

    ¡°Scott, I must apologize for what happened the other day in the cafe. Don¡¯t mind Dante. He is still adapting to you as a newpetitive addition. I still felt terrible about the way Dante had behaved and I didn¡¯t get a chance to address it properly until now.

    Scott¡¯s brushed it off as he always did and forced a tight smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be cleaning up his mess, Sophia. Either way, he doesn¡¯t intimidate me even if he likes to think <b>that </b>he does. Scott offered me his arm and I took it as he lead around the room.

    ¡°I know but I just wanted to apologize for what happened.¡± I could hear the guilt in my own voice even though it wasn¡¯t my crime that I was apologizing for.

    Scott threw me a perculiar nce and I knew he was about to say some thing that I wasn¡¯t going to like.

    ¡°Have you grown soft towards me already?¡± He teased but I rolled my eyes at him.

    ¡°Hell hasn¡¯t frozen over yet. I retorted yfully right before we were swooped up in to conversation by guests who wanted to engage with Scott and wee him.

    <b>At </b>some point, we all had been seated and food had been served. I chose the seat next to Adam and away from Dante and Scott but both of them had been seated at saperate tables on adjacent sides. It was best that they be kept saperate especially since who knew what Dante¡¯s mood and motive was this evening.

    Amidst the eating and lull of chatter that filled the room as every one seemed to be having a good time, Mr. Lumley rose from his seat with his ss in hand and a knife in the other. He tapped the knife against the side of his ss to gain everyone¡¯s attention and the room fell to silence.

    ¡°This evening has been spectacr. A room filled with talented, sessful, and like¨Cminded people. What could be more lovely? Furthermore, I would like to thank our host, the beautiful Sophia, for gathering us here tonight.¡± I raised my ss to him as people cheered in agreement.

    Lumley wasn¡¯t done yet because he scanned the room until he found Scott. ¡°We all wee you warmly to the team and we look forward to working together.¡± He looked around the room now. ¡°Enjoy the rest of your evening.¡± Lumley concluded his toast before taking his seat again as a round of apuse filled through the room.

    ¡°Lumley is the life of the party tonight.¡± Adam leaned in to <b>say </b>to me and I knew exactly what he meant. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s the booze or thedy on his arm that lifted his spirits so highly. I bit back augh and covered it with a small cough aware of the other guests seated around the table.

    ¡°A little bit of both.¡± I said in amusement. Lumley was naturallyid back but tonight was a little more than usual and I thought that I had been the only one to have noticed his energy tonight.

    Dreame

 Chapter 77

    The night hade to a slow close with every guests raving about what a good night they have all had. It helped that the food was delicious and all the people present in the room got a long with one another, save for two men in the room.

    As great that it had been that people were having a

    good time it also made leaving a little bit slower than I had anticipated. I knew the open bar and the fact that it was the weekend contributed to the reluctant departure of guests.

    I wanted nothing more than to get home to Hayley and sl*p of these heels and get in tofy pajamas before I could have the deepest sleep ever had. The entire week had weighed heavy on me between the arrangements and managing people¡¯s tempers. With the event actually being an almost ticked box, I could feel the exhaustion creep in and settle heavily in my bones.

    The small talk had been talked right out of me by now and I just wanted every one to go

    home so <b>I </b>could leave. As the host of the event, I doubt that it would be any where near appropriate if I had left before every one else did.

    I sat at the bar and looked at my half drunk ss as I tried my best to stay awake and not fallpletely face t against the counter.

    <b>The </b>chair next to me moved and I half looked up to find Adam settling himself in looking a little

    work out himself.

    ¡°<b>Came </b>to indulge in a drink?¡± <b>I </b>asked, hearing the tiredness dampen my voice.

    Adam shook his head. ¡°God, no. I have had my fair share for this evening. He looked around at the crowd before he shifted his attention back to me.

    ¡°I knew you threw good parties, this one was pretty nice but is it really that good that people seem in no rush go leave?¡± A small frown marred the gal between his brows.

    I stiffled a yawned. ¡°Okay, so it isn¡¯t only me who had the thought.¡± I grunted. ¡°I think the open bar has some thing to do with it.¡± I suggested and his eyes widened before he nodded slowly.

    ¡°Yes, I actually think that¡¯s the reason these pompous rich people aren¡¯t leaving.¡± He said in a distasteful tone and I scoffed.

    ¡°Last time I checked, you¡¯re a part of the rich list that you speak of with such great dislike.¡± I reminded <b>him </b>but he grimaced at me.

    ¡°I know, I know but look at you, you¡¯re practically falling asleep. You should get going and get <b>some </b>rest.¡± Adam said in a slight admonishing tone but my shoulders slumped.

    ¡°I wish I <b>could </b>but it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to go home while every one was still around.¡± I darted my eyes to the crowd once more.

    ¡°Who cares? Do they give <b>a </b>shit that they¡¯re over staying?¡± He made a good point.

    Dreame

    11:35 Fri, 8 Mar RG

    ¡°Fair enough but-¡±

    ¡°No, no more buts. You are going home<b>. </b>I will be. follow you to make sure <b>you </b>get there safely.¡± He said firmly with no room for negotiation.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, <b>Adam</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>I protested but he shook his <b>head</b>.

    ib

    ¡°End of discussion. Let me just fetch my coat.¡± He said before standing up and disappearing fb to

    the crowd.

    <b>I </b>swung about on the chair <b>for </b>a bit before also getting up and back on my feet only to realise how much fbeyy had ached from the heels. It was afy <b>pair </b>but that didn¡¯t mean it was totally painless after hours of wear.

    ¡°Leaving so <b>soon</b>?¡® I looked up to find Scott standing in front of me blocking my way,

    He didn¡¯t looked at all tired and neither part of him, not even a strand of hair, <b>had </b>been out of ce even after hours of being here.

    ¡°I have to at some point.¡± I said with a small chuckle looking around the room.

    Scott smirked like he found it amusing and his <b>eyes </b>were fixed on my face. Ah, he was turning on <b>his </b>charm on me and it was a good thing that I hadn¡¯t indulged myself too much in drinks because I may

    have not been able to withstand the way he was looking at me but I was sober so his little act wasn¡¯t going to cut it tonight<b>. </b>

    ¡°Thank you for tonight. I feel so honoured to be joining yourpany and this was such a nice way to embark <b>on </b>your journey together,¡± Scoff still smirked and his hand had reached for my arm before his hands slid down then slowly <b>until </b>it wrapped around my wrists.

    ¡°I look forward to this professional path of ours. Gaining you as an investor is a huge deal.¡± I said while trying to wiggle my wrist out of his hold,

    ¡°You¡¯re all about being profession. He pointed out with a narrowing of his eyes.

    eyes. ¡°Do you ever j

    just get tempted to let loose and see where it leads you?¡± He moved closer and the front of his chest nearly brushed against mine just I managed to let my hands out of his hold. They were by no means forceful but just there.

    ¡°Not at all. I much rather prefer making conscious decisions than rash, unprocessed ones. I looked at him seriously wanting to end this chase of his once and for all.

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame because you and I could have a lot of fun.¡± He winked at me before his gaze shifted suggestively down to my chest.

    ¡°A shame it shall remain, then. ¡®said with a tight smile.

    Scott, realising that he was not going to score any tonight, stepped back. He looked disappointed but not bitter or angry as he buttoned his zer.

    ¡°It is gettingte. I was heading out any ways but I came to see you before I left. I could see you

    Dreame

    ??

    O

    11:35 Fri, 8 Mar RB.

    home if you¡¯d like. It¡¯s a littlete. He offered sounding genuine and not at all suggestive but I

    declined.

    ¡°Thanks for the offer <b>but </b>I¡¯ll be alright.¡± I said sping my hands in front of me.

    Scott pressed his l*ps in to a thin line before he turned around and cut through the crowd <b>and </b>made his way to the door before she disappeared. I looked around the room for Adam but my view became filled <b>with </b>the image of Dante¡¯s furious face. When my eyes met his across the room, the anger slowly turned to a tortured pain that I couldn¡¯t understand but he concealed it just as fast <b>as </b>he showed it.

    ¡°You ready to go?¡± <b>Adam </b>asked from my side and I looked at him but quickly darted my eyes back to Dante only to find that he had been gone.

    I looked around the ball room but there was no sign of him at all. I inhaled deeply reminding myself not to care before heading out with Adam

    The nights air <b>was </b>cold and nothing like the warmth it held when I had been outside hours ago. The air licked at my skin causing <b>goose </b>flesh and a shiver ran through me but I focused on my car which was not too far away.

    ¡°I will meet you at the exit then-¡± Adam stopped mid- sentence and frowned as he strained his ears, turning his head away from me.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I moved a little closer to him feeling on edge at his sudden change of demeanor.

    But that was <b>when </b>I heard it. A strong voice in a distance followed by another. It was definitely two men conversing but in rather rigid, hard tones. They weren¡¯t fighting but it wasn¡¯t a friendly conversation either. There seemed to have been some <b>back </b>and forth going on and the echo made it a little bit of a challenge to figure out who the voices belonged to..

    Adam moved between the cars closer to where the voices could be heard and followed him until Adam stopped suddenly and I almost crashed right in to his back.

    I peered over his arm right before the sound of a thunderous grunt echoed and I looked just in time to catch Danteunching a punch squarely in to Scotts jaw. I gasped as I watched Scott stumble backwards a little bit but he soon regained his footing and chuckled throatily as he cupped his nose..

    ¡°You fucker.¡± Scott swore. ¡°Beat me up all you want but that still isn¡¯t going to get you what you want.¡± He taunted Dante who has been breathing so rapidly that white <b>smoke </b>escaped through his red <b>nostrils</b>.

    ¡°Stay away. We both know your intentions are nothing but filth.¡± Dante gritted out and I couldn¡¯t understand what they were bickering over.

    I knew Dante didn¡¯t like Scott and after the way he had behaved at brunch in the cafe, I highly doubted that Scott held him in any sort of favoured regard but their conversation or rather argument was making no sense to me as a bystander.

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    11:36 Fri, 8 Mar RB.

    811

    ¡°How ironic since yours were never any thing but convenience.¡± Scott reached in to his pocket for a stark white handkerchief only to bring it to his nose and ruin it with the bloody stains that dripped.

    Danteunched a fist at Scott again but Adam quickly ced himself between the two of them to keep them apart.

    ¡°Easy.¡± Adam said steadily.

    ¡°Get out of the way, Huxley. I don¡¯t need you to fight my battles.¡± Scott grunted out but Adam scoffed.

    ¡°You sure about that? Because it doesn¡¯t look like you¡¯re doing a good job defending yourself. He snapped at Scott who was more concerned about his injured face.

    ¡°What on earth is going on here?!¡± My voice cut through the strong male ones that were flying through the air.

    I was angry with the both of them. Dante for being an absolute grump <b>and </b>Scott for spurring him on like a child.

    ¡°You two are having a full clown fight right outside the ce that holds mypany¡¯s every investor. Have you guys lost your minds?! If any of this gets seen, it would be covering the papers for all the wrong reasons.¡± I yelled at both of them.

    ¡°You.¡± I red at Dante once I moved closer. ¡°You¡¯re a vital part of thepany and you-¡± I turned to Scott. ¡°You are the newest addition. Do you know how awful this could end up?! What the hell are the both of you going on about anyways?¡± I stared between the two of them and Adam began to slowly remove himself from the distance that once existed between them.

    None of them showed even the slightest indication of answering my question. They chose to grunt, re, and mutter insults to each other beneath their breaths instead.

    ¡°All I¡¯m going to say is that he is a coward. A selfish one at that.¡± Scott gritted and Danteunched. another punch at him before any one could even anticipate it.

    ¡°Dante!¡± My voice fell on deaf ears as he grabbed Scott by the cor.

    ¡°Stay within your limits. You¡¯re over stepping and I¡¯m not going to warn you again.¡± Dante spoke right in his face.

    Scott looked at me, dropping his handkerchief from his nose. ¡°He thinks that he has total control. over your life, Sophia. He wants to choose who you can <b>and </b>can¡¯t interact with. Scott said to me and it all immediately made sense.

    Dante was willing to cause a scene right here because he couldn¡¯t control his own jealousy and make with the fact that I was no longer his toy to entertain him when he was bored.

    I didn¡¯t respond to that. Not here and especially not in front of Scott himself. The man would love nothing more than to see me berate Dante right now and I was not going to do that.

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    36 Fri, 8 Mar <b>R </b>

    ¡°Go home. Both of you. Just get home and away from here, away from me, and away from <b>each </b>other.¡± I spat out before swinging around <b>and </b>storming over to where my car had been.

    As if this night couldn¡¯t have gotten any more exhausting.

    Çú

 Chapter 78

    A week had gone by and there was no sign not even a peep from Dante. It was like he had just fell of the face of the earth, initially, I thought that he had finally chosen to leave me alone and he was consciously staying away from me but when Hayley mentioned that he hadn¡¯t stopped by to see her in days I began to think other wise.

    He could have easily gone on a business trip and that would have been entirely normal but it was rather odd of him to have you and disappeared. I tried not to care reminding myself several times. that he was none of my concern but a small part of me was itching with curiosity.

    Despite the need to know his whereabouts, I enjoyed the peace for a little bit and Dante being gone didn¡¯t mean at all that Scott Vanderbilt had rested. His determination was impable and even after having recieved a bloodied nose and bruised chin, he walked through the office wearing his bruises like an armor as he offered to take me out to lunch.

    I declined, obviously, and he left but when I found myself at the cafe grabbing a quick bite <b>and </b>Scott had been there himself fetching his own food, I had no excuse any more to not share a table with him. I didn¡¯t believe it to be a coincidence at all that he was at the cafe.

    Scott¡¯s own business head quarters were on the other side of the city. The more popr and elite side, if you will. He had quite possibly never ever eaten from this cafe before that brunch meeting and I refused to believe that it had be his new favourite spot to take lunch at

    He was too calcted. Too persistent. Too determined. And he had too much of time on his hands. One would think being a business man would require him to be busier and upied with moremendable persuits but at his wealth level, money made itself.

    I dragged myself out of my own thoughts as I ced a pair of gold hoop earrings through my lobes. It was still a little early and I had some toaster waffles and fruit already precutst night so I could enjoy a breakfast with Hayley. She had been missing Dante immensely even thought she tried not to show it too much but I saw the way her face would light up expectantly when Nancy would knock on the door and she would think that it was Dante even though he never ever dropped by so early in the morning.

    I pretended like I didn¡¯t notice and I tried to be with her a lot more so she didn¡¯t feel his absence too much.

    ¡°You said there were toaster waffles. I was dreaming all night about it. There was some drool.¡± Hayley bounced in to my room in her pajamas and it made me realise why I tried to save exciting things for thest minute only because she became too eager and invested, as any child would

    ¡°And I keep my promises.¡± I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug and sighed at how much I

    loved her<b>. </b>

    ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s go.¡± She began tugging on my hand until we were both out of the room and walking down the stairs together until we reached the kitchen.

    L

    11:36. Fri, 8 Mar

    ¡°I¡¯ll get the tes out.¡± She announced as she moved to the cab <b>that </b>held the tes.

    ¡°Thank you. These babies won¡¯t take too long in the toaster.¡± I informed her since she was so excited. about it.

    I popped the waffles in to the toaster and moved to the fridge to get the bowl of berries and fruit and, of course, the syrup from the cupboard.

    It must have been less <b>than </b>five minutes before Hayley and I had been seat at the kitchen ind, knife and fork in half, and out waffles piled high with fruit and drenched in syrup.

    ¡°Mmmm, this is so so Sooo good, mama. Hayley said with her mouth full and I didn¡¯t me her. this was actually really delicious

    ¡°It really is. We should do this more often.¡± I suggested and that carned me a big nod from her in approval.

    We ate as we chatted <b>and </b>she filled me in on her week with Nancy so far and how they were beginning to move on to more educational persuits instead of just <b>colouring </b>all day.

    ¡°Do you miss colouring though?¡± I popped a lone blueberry in my mouth.

    ¡°Not really. I get to colour after we finish a lesson but I like learning. I feel <b>smart</b>. Like you.¡± She smiled widely at me and I couldn¡¯t help but beam at her words.

    ¡°You are smart, darling.¡± I reached over and tucked her hair behind her car.

    ¡°Dad told me the same thing, I miss him. I haven¡¯t seen him all week. Do you know where he is?¡± And bam. There it was.

    I thought about what to say to her and how to handle this situation. Saying I didn¡¯t know would leave her wondering and I didn¡¯t want her to be uneasy.

    ¡°I- Actually, I think he went away for some business. He should be back any day now.¡± I said gently but she just stared at her syrup streaked te.

    ¡°But he didn¡¯t even say good¨Cbye before he left.¡± Her voice was small and it hurt every part of me to hear sound so delicate and disappointed.

    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t drop by before I get home then we will video call him and you can speak to him. How about that?¡± Her slumped shoulders instantly perked up and she shed me all of her teeth as she grinned.

    ¡°Yes! That would be awesome. Oh, I can¡¯t wait for you to get home now.¡± She said and I mentally face palmed realising that I had done it again. I had made her excited about some thing before hand but I guess it was okay if it kept her away from feeling sad.

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 Chapter 79

    07:25 Sat, 9 Mar u

    97%

    Red. Hot. Rage.

    I paced the length of not just my office but even the boundary that marked Lucy¡¯s desk several times in the past half an hour. Sitting down only made me fidget and pacing seemed to be the only effective way and releasing some emotion as it kept filling up.

    ¡°Who the hell does he even think he is trying tomand my employees and take over mypany?¡± I muttered to myself in fury.

    Dante was determined and that alone had been making me feel on edge more than I have ever been before. Nothing about his demeanor earlier told me that he was just being difficult. The Dante I saw this morning in the boardroom was one that was back at ying his twisted games with no

    mercy.

    ¡°He just disappeared for almost a week and then hees back with so much of male ego and arrogance!¡± Lucy, who hadn¡¯t minded me at all and turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to my current state, gasped.

    I paused for the first time since I began pacing and looked at her. Lucy had her face dug in to her phone as her eye balls moved from side to side as she read or inspected what ever the hell had been shocking enough that it had caused her to gasp.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked in a sharp voice.

    Lucy didn¡¯t care at all but she did look up at me from her phone. She held the screen closer to her so I couldn¡¯t take a peak and she looked at me carefully.

    ¡°I think the reason Mr Crawford disappeared has been revealed.¡± She said with a small smirk and I

    knew that smirk all too well.

    It was her signature smirk when she came across any gossip or had some thing scandalous to share. I¡¯ve seen that look previously and countless times before in her obsession with the elite and rich men that looked like S*x on legs.

    ¡°And that would be?¡± I prompted impatiently hating the suspense.

    She turned her phone to me, holding it in my face in one swift move. I focussed my eyes as I tried to figure out what I was looking at until it had hit me. It was a picture of Dante leaving some fancy looking building with a very pretty woman by his side. There had been two images and the second one showed him dining at a Michelin star restaurant with the very same woman.

    ¡°No one knows who she is but the article suggests that it¡¯s hisstest female conquest.¡± Lucy provided me further context and an emotion I hated to feel welled up in me at such an exhrated pace, that I felt a little sick.

    Who was that woman that he disappeared nearly a week for? Was he with her all these days? Why was she so pretty? Did Dante finally give up and move on? Is that the reason he had been so harsh this morning and back with such a vengeance?

    It had to be the reason for him to have pulled such a move this morning. He no longer cared about

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    what I thought of him and he was now taking advantage of that freedom.

    ¡°This is terrible.¡± I whispered to myself but Lucy heard me.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. He deserves someone better than his ex- fiance.¡± Lucy mentioned with distaste and I tried not to think of who she had been refering to since thest image I have of her in my mind was far from being a pleasant one.

    I shot Lucy a sharp re and she grimaced before taking her phone back and settling in to her chair behind her desk again.

    My jaw clenched tightly as the ugly emotion surfaced in the base of my stomach. It wasn¡¯t like I wanted to be jealous but it was more like I couldn¡¯t help myself from feeling such a thing. It was only natural, wasn¡¯t it?

    I was the one who said I didn¡¯t want him any more. I had decided it and managed to stay firm on it but I didn¡¯t imagine seeing him actually moving on with someone would have such an effect on

    me.

    I realised then that perhaps I didn¡¯t want to let go of Dante entirely but it was more so that I had wanted him to fight for me, that I wanted him to prove himself worthy of me after such a long time of making me feel otherwise.

    But it was good. Maybe this was what needed to happen for me to get over him entirely. If he could move on then so could I, right? It wouldn¡¯t be too hard to do since his new rtionship was proof of a dead end to any thing that might have been again between us.

    I shook these thoughts and any rted to how I felt out of my head and looked to Lucy. She had still been obsessing over this new fling of Dante¡¯s and I caught her research the woman¡¯s entire lineage.

    ¡°Lucy, please forward an email to every department not to attend or call any meetings unless I am made aware of said meeting, approved of said meeting, and have issued the notice of any uing meetings.¡± Lucy nodded but still scrolled through her article about the woman that Dante had been parading with.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get to it.¡± She said with her nose almost in the screen of her phone.

    ¡°Lucy, now.¡± I said sternly and she immediately dropped her phone to the desk and worked on it.

    With her handling that, I sauntered back over to my office to try and get thepanieswyer on the line and try and see what are my options moving forward. I needed to know what I had

    gotten myself in to and more importantly if I could get myself out of it with out making aplete fool of myself.

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    COMMENT

 Chapter 80

    ¡°Mr. Vanderbilt called. He would like to have lunch with you this afternoon.¡± I looked up from the monitor and at Lucy.

    ¡°Nope. I¡¯m not avable.¡± I told her knowing that that would not be enough for Scott to listen and he was probably going to pester her again.

    Lucy groaned and leaned against the door frame. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just go to lunch with this man? He is hot. He is unfathomably wealthy. Most importantly, he wants you!¡± Lucy had sl*pped out of her employee role and was now full on behaving like my best friend.

    I wasn¡¯t annoyed or mad about it since, truth me told, she was probably the closest thing I had to a female friend that I could trust.

    ¡°He wants every thing that can walk, Lucy.¡± I threw her a wink and she gasped but chuckled shortly after.

    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is you could have some fun of your own with him if you just loosened up a bit.¡± She suggested with a grin but I shook my head.

    ¡°And have my image be known as the woman who sleeps with her investors. Not thanks.¡± I dismissed it entirely.

    ¡°Jeez, no one said anything about sleeping with the man.¡± She turned that in me and I shrugged inwardly.

    ¡°Yeah, because the man just wants to be my friend and go get manicures together.¡± She scoffed at my sarcasm but then left to convey my refusal to Scott.

    I tapped away at the keyboard but was only at it for a few minutes before Lucy came back. ¡°Mr Vanderbilt called again. He is having drinks on his yacht this weekend with a few friends and asks that you join.¡± Hmm, that was a new excuse

    but oh well.

    ¡°Again, I won¡¯t be avable. I have a child to take care of and I can¡¯t leave her alone.¡± If Scott wasn¡¯t aware that I was a single mother then he was about to be made aware of that fact in moments and maybe, just maybe, that was what he needed to leave me alone.

    Lucy sighed but kept her thoughts to herself before she left again. I sent of the

    Dreame

    O

    15:19 Mon, 11 Mar Fa

    document that I had been reading through to the relevant department for approval before Lucy knocked on my door for the umpteenth time.

    ¡°Mr Vanderbilt says it¡¯s fine. Bring the kid along with you.¡± She said looking at me like the ball was back in my court.

    I grunted and, for the first time, actually gave it some thought. I know Hayley. would love to be on a yacht and experience that for the first time and if I could take her along, surely Scott with behave himself considering my child would be present. Besides, he did mention a few friends would be joining him so we wouldn¡¯t be alone.

    ¡°Okay, tell him I will think about it and let him know.¡± I hoped that that would have been enough to get him of my back about it.

    Lucy rolled her eyes but left anyways to convey the message and she hadn¡¯t returned since allowing me to rx and take a quick peak at what my agenda was for the rest of the day. Aside from a meeting the ended before lunch, there wasn¡¯t much else for me to do and I considered calling it early today and spending some time with Hayley.

    In the past few days, Dante had visited her frequently and he did bring Jessica along with him one more time. Hayley was loving Jessica and couldn¡¯t stop talking about her. Jessica had shown her how to make an origami swan and Hayley was

    wasall

    impressed. It was all she had spoke about when I got home and I couldn¡¯t do any thing but listen to her gush about the woman her father was involved in.

    I couldn¡¯t tell if at almost five, she knew what the rtionship between Dante and Jessica was exactly and I didn¡¯t want to ask to be honest. The less I knew the better it would be for me.

    Jessicaing in to the picture made me want to be reckless and actually dally with Scott just to get on Dante¡¯s nerves but I was better than that. I wasn¡¯t going to lead any one on, least of all a womanizer like Scott, just to prove a point.

    I left the office immediately after my meeting and informed Lucy that I wouldn¡¯t be returning for the rest of the day. As much as I wanted to head home and be with Hayley as soon as possible/ I also wanted to be alone for a while. Away from work, away from Scott¡¯s badgering, free from any thoughts that involved Dante.

    I found myself driving to the fancy bakery that Dante had once picked up baked goods from. It was empty around this time of day since their rush hour was mainly

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    around four in the afternoon with every one trying to buy some thing on their way back from work.

    I ordered a pain au Choct and arge coffee and drove of to the marina were I watched the water and enjoyed my beverage and treat beneath the bright azure sky. The pain au Choct was sublime and every bite was heavenly. It was like biting in to a chocte filled pillowy goodness and I loved it.

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    The next morning was a whirlwind of mess ups. Between rescheduling a major meeting that had some how got mixed up on the agenda and trying to get every thing in order before the next meeting that we had. By 11 a.m. I could finally take a breath as things were a little more under control. I headed to my office fully intending on taking a few minutes to rx but once I had reached my office and pushed open the oak coloured door, I immediately knew that rxation was not on the table any more.

    A tall, broad back greeted me as the man that I knew all too well looked out of the floor length window of my office. When he heard me enter, he turned around revealing his cleanly sha ven face and cu nning eyes and I knew that this was not about to be a civil interaction.

    Dreame

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    The weekend, more specifically Saturday, had approached faster than I had anticipated. Naturally, Hayley was already over the moon about what today meant and I found her at my bedside at a time that was too early for a Saturday all bright eyes and bushy tailed.

    I opened the covers and invited her in hoping she would call back asleep for a few more hours at least just so I could some extra sleep in but it was impossible. I could feel her stare at me and every time I dozed back of to sleep, Hayley would promptly proceed to ask me a question ranging from yachts to how they operate to what was she going to wear today.

    She was excited, to say the least, and I was thrilled about it but I just wanted a little bit of sleep for the weekend. Eventually, I had given up trying to catch any sleep and allowed myself to be dragged by her down to the kitchen so we could get some breakfast.

    Coffee and a small bite was a must for me when I had just woken up and Hayley, being as observant as ever, picked up on that and knew that getting me to the kitchen meant that the day couldmence and soon we would be all ready to

    go.

    ¡°I want some cereal. The chocte one that¡¯s crunchy.¡± She opted for that and I happily ced a bowl, spoon, and the milk along with the cereal for her to eat.

    I was in no mood to whip up pancakes or any thing of that sort this morning. As for me, I made a cup of coffee and enjoyed it with a cranberry and dark chocte biscotti.

    ¡°Do you

    think that there would be other kids there?¡± Hayley asked as she mixed her cereal about.

    I paused with my cup in my hands. I didn¡¯t think so and the chances of such a thing was rare unless the friends Scott had been inviting had children of their own that they asked to bring along which was something I also doubted.

    ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about that. I didn¡¯t want to go at all because I like spending weekends with you but then Scott, the man who owns the yacht, said that I should bring you along too.¡± I exined to her while she ced a spoonful in to her mouth and shrugged her small shoulders.

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    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I just want to be on a yacht. I haven¡¯t ever been on one.¡± Her eagerness to rectify that out wayed her disappointment of having not yet experienced it.

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    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯d enjoy yourself and imm be right by you.¡± I reassured her and she nodded.

    Scott¡¯s yacht was leaving the docks at 11 a.m. The weather was pleasant for such an outing and activity which I confirmed by taking a peak through the kitchen windows. All I could see were light blue skies and airy white clouds.

    I tried to drag the morning as much as possible to get Hayley to slow down since it was only 9 a.m but the time we had gotten done with breakfast. For the second time that morning I had given up and just proceeded to give in.

    Hayley showered then changed herself in to an all in one denim onesie. I spent time braiding her hair to make a band across the front of her head before I cl*pped it in to ce and she was all too happy with how it had turned out. She picked out her sandals and a cap to help her against the sun which she didn¡¯t wear just yet insisting it would cover her pretty hair.

    She had calmed down a lot after being ready and whilst she was still excited, it had slowed down a little bit and enough for to watch some t.v while I had gotten ready myself. It was already after 10 a.m and it felt like the time had just flown by before I could even realise it.

    I didn¡¯t go with anything too fancy but I did pull out a yellow sun dress with a halter n*eck strap. It was a decent length stoping at the middle point if my knees and it had a more flowy bottom half after the fitting waist line. Paired with a wedge heel shoe and a beige straw hat, it would look fitting given the outing. I applied a generous amount of sunscreen before doing my face up in a light look.

    It was roughly a fifteen minute drive from here to the docks and we left the house with enough time to spare. I unlocked my car and was about to get in to it when a sleek shiny ck car drove down the driveway and parked just behind my own

    car.

    I didn¡¯t recognise the middle aged man driving but his uniform indicated that he was a chauffer but I wasn¡¯t about to stick to that assumption until I knew for sure.

    The man for out of the car then approached me. ¡°Good day, miss. Mr. Vanderbilt sent me to pick you and your daughter up.¡± He informed me with a jovial smile on

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    his face.

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    That was nice of Scott even though it wasn¡¯t necessary at all but I was not going to ruin the morning by declining the gesture.

    ¡°Give me a moment.¡± I said to him and he nodded curtly before returning to the side of the car he had driven.

    I undid Hayley¡¯s seat belt and told her about the change in n and she was even more excited as if she hasn¡¯t been chauffer driven her whole life by either myself or Dante.

    ¡°Why are youughing? Are youughing at me?¡± She question the smallest chuckle that had escaped me.

    I shook my head immediately. ¡°No, no. I just love that you get so excited about new things.¡± I reassured her as we approached the back of the car which the chauffer held open for her to get

    in.

    ¡°What is your name?¡± Hayley paused before going in to the car and looked at the man asking him the question even I had forgotten to ask.

    ¡°Patrick and what is your name, youngdy?¡± Patrick asked with a smile that pushed his full cheeks up causing his eyes to crease at their corners.

    ¡°I¡¯m Hayley. It¡¯s nice to meet you and thank you foring to pick us up.¡± She spoke so clearly and confidently that I felt proud of her.

    ¡°You are very wee, Hayley.¡± He said as he motioned for her to get in. ¡°A yacht awaits your little presence.¡± He added and Hayley hopped in.

    When Scott said that he was inviting a few ¡®friends¡¯ I should have enquired as who exactly he had been refering to in order to have saved myself the shock that I had encountered when I set foot on to therge, very expensive yacht.

    There has been a couple of individual on the yacht that I had heard about or vaguely knew of but have never met that were present but they were rather friendly and easy to converse with like Haden Grey and his wife, Melinda. Both sessful individuals and a power couple but very down to earth and approachable people. Even the men present were obviously business associates who were also friends of Scotts and that made sense why there were invited but one man¡¯s presence in particr made zero sense.

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    The second we stepped on the yacht and met with the rest of the problem already on board sipping on their champagne and engaging in chatted, Hayley spotted Dante in the small gathering and immediately called out to him.

    ¡°Dad!¡± She waved at him letting got of my hand and immediately rushing over to him.

    Dante, dressed in a pair of casual khaki shorts and a white t-shirt, crouched down to catch the leaping Hayley. He picked her up and his face was pure happiness at seeing her.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He asked her as he hugged her before letting her move back in his hold.

    ¡°I came here with mama. Her friend invited us.¡± She exined briefly but I didn¡¯t give too much attention to listening in on their conversation from where I stood.

    My attention was fixed on the woman next to Dante. Tall, beautiful, and almost model looking. From the pictures, I was certain that that had been Jessica. The blonde hair glistening beneath the sun and her eyes sparkled in the brightness. She work a lime green sun dress that show cased her legs that went on for days perfectly. She looked like she had stepped out of a magazine with her oversized sses on herbed back hair.

    Again, that pang of jealousy burned through me seeing her beside Dante. Hayley had noticed her too and her face lit up in recognition.

    ¡°Jessica! You¡¯re here too.¡± Hayley said illiciting a small chuckle from every one around as they observed her.

    Some of the people looked shocked to discover that Dante Crawford had a child but it was even bigger of a shocked when they realised that I was her mother. Up until then, I didn¡¯t think that many people had been aware of this fact.

    Scott had been the first person to approach me appearing from some where I hadn¡¯t noticed before and lead me further in and away from the edge of the yacht. He handed me a ss of champagne and I had taken it.

    ¡°You made it.¡± He said but then looked around me. ¡°Where is the kid you asked to bring along?¡± He asked and I opened my mouth to respond to him when people beganughing at some thing Hayley had said causing Scott to look away and to the rest of the crowd when he spotted her in Dante¡¯s arms.

    476

    ¡°I guess we found her. She looks like you but very little.¡± I watched as Scott saw the striking resemnce between Hayley and Dante and his eyes widened slightly in realisation.

    ¡°Oh. Oh! No way.¡± He whisper yelled as he turned to look back in my direction.

    I shrugged sheepishly taking a gulp of champagne. ¡°Yep. That is Hayley.¡±

    ¡°You and Crawford had a kid. I didn¡¯t see thating but it exins a lot.¡± Scott said with a twitch of his l*ps.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I raised

    mean?¡± I raised a brow at him.

    ¡°It exins why he was so against me joining yourpany. The man feels threatened with me potentially targetting the mother of his child.¡± He said and I rolled my eyes at that.

    Dante couldn¡¯t care less and if he did it was because he was being cruel about it and wanted nothing more than to control my life and make it miserable.

    He had Jessica to prove it now.

    ¡°I doubt that.¡± I pursed my l*ps before asking the burning question. ¡°What is Dante doing here anyways? I wouldn¡¯t consider the both of your to be the best of friends.¡± I pointed out and he nodded.

    ¡°That is true but Jessica and I go way back and she insisted on bringing him so here are.¡± He said tightly and I sensed that he didn¡¯t like Dante too much. Not that I had been too surprised about that.

    I looked around the yacht as it moved through the dark blue waters and saw Dante look murderously in my direction as he stared between the small space between Scott and I. I bit back a scoff and his double standard and noticed then that Hayley was now with Jessica. She showed Hayley the scenery and pointed her to look at things of interest causing my blood to boil.

    What was his point of forging this rtionship between Jessica and Hayley? Did he think that I would just step down and watch him encourage a rtionship with his new arm candy? Don¡¯t get me wrong, I liked that Hayley was meeting new people but what I didn¡¯t like was that it felt like Dante was using Jessica as some thing to rub my face in.

    ¡°We should head to the upper deck. I¡¯m famished.¡± Scoff announced and one by

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    one we made our way up to the upper deck.

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    The upper deck was an entire different story. It boasted a long dining table that seated all of usfortably. I would have thought that Scott would have had light snack food avable for people to snack on as they enjoyed the open air and soaked up the sun but, my goodness, was I wrong.

    Instead, he had a five course meal prepared for us and even went to the extent of curating a saperate menu for Hayley to be more suitable for her palette and age. No one seemed to mind that Hayley was seated at out table but it was not difficult to notice the burning question dancing in every ones eyes.

    Ten people had been seated at this table and all of them besides Dante and I held the same curios nce each time Dante, Hayley, or I had said a word. Hayley¡¯s table manners were good and she didn¡¯t cause any difficulty but Dante did try and engage her in conversation many times asking about her food or how she was finding this outing so far. He would move to speak to Jessica or any of the other men present at the table before he would check in on Hayley again.

    It was unfortunate enough that Dante and Jessica had been seated across from Hayley and I. It made looking at Dante inevitable let alone listening in to their conversations. They were civil and not disying public affection that made any one ufortable and I was thankful for that but some thing about them didn¡¯t add up as a couple.

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    At some point during eating and conversing, I began to rx a little bit. The attention around Hayley being the result of Dante and I being involved at one point had soon died down amongst the table making it easier to just be present.

    Hayden and Melinda were great conversationalist and shared many things from their travels and experiences that we all eargerly listened to with either Dante or Scott adding to it from their travels.

    The Grey¡¯s were clearly very big on touring the world and it¡¯s corners and it was evidently some thing that they both enjoyed doing together as a couple.

    ¡°Melinda loved to travel before we had even met.¡± Hayden chuckled but his face softened as he recalled some thing. ¡°in fact, I believe we actually met when both of us had been coincidentally touring Indonesia.¡± Hayden looked at his wife lovingly and with so much of amazement.

    ¡°I hate to sound corny here, Scott, because I know you hate it but I really thing it was fate that I met Hayden. I mean what were the odds?¡± Melinda had a giddy smile about her, one that you would never thing to see on a woman of her stature but I guess when a woman was loved properly, these pure emotions just spilled

    over.

    Scott made a sound of utter distraught like he was choking on the affection shared between them and Melindaughed.

    ¡°You know what Scott, go shove it.¡± She said jokingly and Scott grinned at her. ¡°Some day a woman is going toe along and sweep you of your Italian leather covered feet and then I¡¯ll be the oneughing at you.¡± Melinda said but Scott looked terrified like that had been the worst fate he could face.

    ¡°Please, not every ones aim is to settle down and be bound by the endless issues that arise after one is tied down.¡± Scott¡¯s cold tone was a clear indication that the man truly held no care for the institute of marriage.

    I mean, to each their own I suppose but he was so firm and adamant in his refusal but I had to agree with Belinda. Scott probably hasn¡¯t met his Miss Right just yet and when he does, he will eat dirt.

    ¡°I agree with Belinda, Scott. As much as you try to run away and look at settling down like it¡¯s the gue, you¡¯ll eat your words one day.¡± I looked at him and he threw me a look of betrayal.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready to eat my words right now if you¡¯re the one we¡¯re talking about.¡± He

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    wiggled his brows at me with a wide smile and the entire table, including me, groaned at his words.

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    Dante, who I had momentarily forgotten about, stared daggers at Scott before he looked at me usingly. As if he wasn¡¯t the one sitting with his date right across from me. What was he even using me of? Ugh, I couldn¡¯t care less.

    T

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re Sophia¡¯s type.¡± Jessica spoke for the first time since this discussion began.

    Jessica looked at me assessingly and I realised a sardonic brow at her questioning how exactly she to know or taste in men at all when she had just

    ad

    my type

    met me.

    ¡°And what exactly do you mean ¡± Scott look a sip of his drink as he looked at Jessica challenging her to choose her words carefully.

    Jessica parted her l*ps to respond but Dante took it upon himself to respond for her but also to get his own opinion across.

    ¡°It is clear what she implies by that. You¡¯re not the most stable kind of man in terms of what you prefer. No respectable woman would consider you her type solely on the basis of reputation.¡± Dante said each word with as much contempt and bitterness as he could muster.

    Scott red at him and the lightness of a once jovial conversation had been dampened entirely. The air had grown thick and it was clear to all seated around the table that there had been a lingering discontent between these two men.

    ¡°Be nice.¡± Jessica mummered to Dante in warning but he didn¡¯t heed her at all.

    ¡°What? I can¡¯t say the-¡± Dante began c ockily but Scott cut him of.

    ¡°And you are better than me?¡± Scott asked, letting his anger show for the first time with Dante and hisments. ¡°I can¡¯t recall thest time you had given a woman stability and all that you im I can¡¯t offer. At least there is no delusion in my preferences and ways unlike that of yours. You think you can offer a woman better but you cannot.¡± Scott shot right back and Dante.

    This was getting very ufortable and it was a good thing that Hayley had been away from the table and at the small table to the side of the deck where there had been art supplies brought in for her to keep her upied.

    Melinda and Hayden exchanged ufortable nces whilst Jessica looked at me for a brief moment before cing a hand on Dante¡¯s bicep to calm him down. He

    didn¡¯t shake her hold of and that had infuriated me.

    ¡°This topic needs toe to a close. We are all having a good time and it shouldn¡¯t be ruined by both of yourbined egos.¡± Hayden attempted to cool things down. ¡°I do not think this yacht is mighty enough to bare the weight of such a thing.¡± He added lightly but Dante and Scott were locked in a staring battle.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Scott said tightly before being the bigger person by breaking the silent battle of stares.

    The tension had taken a while to calm down as we indulged in a bright and citrus tart but Scott gradually began conversing with me again. Hayden and Melinda formed their own bubble with the others present on their half of the table.

    Jessica looked bored and it didn¡¯t help that Dante was still brooding and upset. Scott picked up on that and included her on the conversation leaving Dante to

    back as he headed over to

    excuse himself from the table. I watched his resation leaving Dante to

    Scott excused himself as well but had taken himself to the railing to overlook the deep blue waters that this yacht had been keeping afloat on. It had left me for the first time alone with Jessica. Gosh, this was going to be awkward.

    I had so many questions that I would never ask. For one, did she know about the history between Dante and I? Did she dislike me? Did Dante make me the bad one in his story?

    Jessica nced at me ufortably but I saw her exhale like she was saying ¡®What the hell¡¯ before leaning forward.

    ¡°I have been meaning to ask you this but I never got a chance until now.¡± She spoke freely and the change in energy caught me off guard but I weed it.

    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± I urged her on and her eyes scanned the top of my dress.

    ¡°Where did you get your dress from? I hope you don¡¯t mind but I absolutely love it.¡± She whispered and I found my l*ps spread in to a smile involuntarily.

    ¡°Oh, thank you. It¡¯s actually from a boutique on Leonard¡¯s.¡± I informed her and her eyes immediately widened in recognition.

    ¡°Ahh, Jacqueline¡¯s Boutique. I love her designs! Costs a pretty penny but so worth it.¡± For a moment it felt like I was having the lightest conversation with Lucy and not my ex-husband¡¯s new arm candy.

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    As we spoke, I learnt that Jessica was awyer who loved what she did. She was smart, friendly, and so easily likable and I hated it but not in a bad way. It made me understand why Hayley had taken so easily to her because she was just nice over all.

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    When it had been time for us to depart and the yacht had docked back to the point that it had started, we exited carefully and I was certain to keep Hayley at my side until we were on steady ground.

    ¡°Patrick is out for the day. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Scott offered just as I began to look around for a ride home.

    Melinda and Hayden had bid us farewell as did the others but Dante and Jessica were still around.

    Hayley yanked on my hand gently. ¡°Mama, I want daddy to take us home.¡± Hayley whispered but it was still loud enough that it reached Dante¡¯s ears.

    ¡°Maybe some other time, Hayley, but right now we don¡¯t have much of a choice.¡± I said back to her gently.

    ¡°But daddy-¡±

    ¡°Of course, I can take you home.¡± Dante interrupted like it was not even a question.

    I looked at Scott apologetically but he didn¡¯t seem to mind and waved it off understanding the adamant tendencies of a child.

    ¡°I can drop Jessica off, then. I have a few things to discuss with her anyways.¡± Scott said in a businesslike tone and Jessica nodded already walking to his side like she didn¡¯t mind at all that Dante would be driving Hayley and I back to the house.

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    Maybe it was how close Dante had been standing to me, or the way his eyes. burned through mime like he could read every thought that had ever crossed my mind, or maybe it was the smell of his cologne that charged my nerves and brought back the reaction and thrill I had to him once before. Maybe it was because it had been weeks before we were ever in such close proximity with each other that caused a shift in the air.

    It could have been the sum of all of these things alling together, knitting itself in one big ball of deprivation and realisation.

    I didn¡¯t want to be attracted to Dante after everything that had happened between us and for a long while I might have convinced myself that there was no longer any thing there but I was questioning every thing in this moment. The way Dante had been looking down at me was nothing but the opposite of what I had expected. My own reaction to him felt like a rug had been yanked out from beneath my feet.

    ¡°Who exactly do you think Jessica is to me, Sophia?¡± My name rolled of his tongue like velvet over a metal sword.

    Smooth with a sharpness to it.

    I swallowed unable to look away from him since he had my gaze trapped with his

    own eyes.

    ¡°I- Well, I-¡± I stuttered but then took in a breath. ¡°The tabloids were clear about your rtionship. Jessica and you are dating, to put it simply.¡± I said to him and scoffed, his eyes alight with amusement and the corner of l*ps lifted to disy a satisfied half smile.

    ¡°You should know better than to believe the tabloids by now.¡± He leaned forward, his nose brushing against the tip of mine and a shiver ran down my spine at the contact, despite how brief it had been.

    ¡°Then who is Jessica?¡± I asked as firmly as I could with his b*dy nearly almost brushing against every inch of mine.

    ¡°Jessica is my cousin. She moved to the states recently in hopes of expanding her practice.¡± He exined and I was about to start feeling like aplete fool but I caught myself,

    There had been plenty a times where I¡¯d allowed myself to be gullible and foolish with Dante. From believing what ever he had to say and only go be proved the

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    fool.

    t

    That was enough to snap me out of the trance he had me in and I took a step away from him but my back had his the cold, hard door of the bathroom.

    He saw the look of doubt stered over my face and his l*ps thinned before he sighed. He ran a hand through his hair before dragging it over his face roughly.

    ¡°Forgive me. I forgot that nothing I say ever gets taken seriously by you.¡± He snapped and while his eyes were pained, his tone was cl*pped.

    ¡°Dante, I-¡±

    He held a hand to stop me from continuing. ¡°No. Forget I even said any thing about anything.¡± He gritted before stepping back.

    ¡°Do you me me? All the times I had believed you blindly in the past had onlye back to bite me. Am I that horrible for trying to look out for myself?¡± My voice had began growing tighter and high pitched.

    Dante shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re not but did you ever consider that none of it was intentional? His question hung in the air for a moment.

    I could very well give him the benefit of the doubt in this moment but why would I do that? Dante may stand in front of me and im that he was misunderstood, and perhaps he was, but his move to take mypany had been deliberate and calcted to attack and hurt me.

    ¡°I did. Many times but then you came after thepany and I could no longer find it within me to make excuses for you!¡± My voice rose an octave and Dante looked at me in utter disbelief.

    ¡°You are utterly maddening! That agreement was as epted by you and it had been by me.¡± He frowned and his l*ps twitched. ¡°Where is that evening from?!¡± He looked at me in bafflement.

    ¡°It ising from the part of me that knows just how hard you¡¯re working to take the only thing I have in my life from me.¡± I snapped at him for not getting it. ¡°Sure, we made this agreement but it was done out of spite on your part and with the full knowledge that I wouldn¡¯t have been able to achieve those figures in such a short time. You set me up on purpose!¡± I really wished that I had not seen the look of guilt on his face.

    But it was clear as day.

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    Dante had set me up.

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    ¡°It was the only way I knew how to get to you, Sophia. You were shutting me out, heck, you still are. Unless I fight with you, I have no other contact or ess to you. When you returned back catching me off guard and after all those years, I realised in a heart beat just how much I had missed your presence, just how much I had truly missed you. Nothing felt right since you left and I didn¡¯t think too much of it until I saw you again and that¡¯s when I realised what it was.¡± His tone had lowered and had been a gentle, soft carress but it was gone in a second.

    His eyes shed aze. ¡°But you had no intention of letting me in and I didn¡¯t know how else to interact with you but to challenge you.¡± He concluded looking away from me and at the door.

    I heard every word he said. It all had vibrated through me and

    rang in my head over and over again but I couldn¡¯t ept this. Not now. Now after every thing that happened in that time. I knew how I had felt then about the way he had treated me and depsite his heart melting confession, I couldn¡¯t find it in me to just be putty in his hands all over again.

    ¡°Dante, I- I can¡¯t do this. Not right now.¡± I let out a slow breath. ¡°It is all too much to take in and reconsider.¡± I swallowed the lump that had formed at the back of my throat.

    He didn¡¯t say a word after that. He simply nodded with his face aplete mask concealing what ever had been going through his mind at present. Dante strided to the exit my room and I heard his footsteps fade until the front door mmed shut and he was gone.

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    ¡°That concludes thest of the documents. I will have it signed and filed away for HR.¡± Lucy handed me thest page that needed my signature for the paperwork regarding the two employees Hesponsible for yesterday¡¯s mess up.

    It was definitely a negligent act done continuously and it was only fitting that an official warning be issued before anything else can take ce. It didn¡¯t help their cases that the department head had already verbally warned them before about simr errors before this mess up ured.

    Lucy gathered the papers and thenpiled them in to two saperate folders to be

    sent to HR.

    ¡°I RSVP¡¯D first thing this morning for the Croxley House Fundraiser. It is a shame. that they didn¡¯t allow a plus one.¡± She said batting her eyeshes at me and pouring her nude coloured lips.

    ¡°The worst shame indeed.¡± I concured with amusement.

    Lucy loved every thing high fashion and consisting of the elite members of society. I knew her well enough by now to know she had already probably known. every name of ever eligible, wealthy, and handsome bachelor that was going to be in attendance and every woman worthy of causing a scandal.

    ¡°I would rock that event. Maybe not in actual fund raising, per se, but definitely with style. Just imagine it, me in a fancy floor length dress designed by some famous designed whose name I couldn¡¯t even pronounce. My hair would be pull up in one of those fancy chignons and I¡¯d keep my make up smokey and alluring for the many unfathomably handsome men that would undoubtedly be present.¡± She looked dazed and like she was no longer in the room with me but had fast. forwarded to the event already and saw herself being the centre of the glits and mour.

    ¡°Sorry to burst your bubble there Cindere but your desk phone is ringing.¡± She snapped out of it with a small jerk then rushed to attend to it.

    p.m.

    Once she was out of my office, I nced at my watch and saw that it was nearly 3

    I did a quick check to my agenda for the day and was pleased to discover that I was clear for the day. Meetings had been taken care of, the issue of yesterday had. been dealt with, and I could easily head out to pick out a dress for the event.

    ¡°That was Hannah from H.R checking in on these documents.¡± Lucy entered my office with a huff and her hands were free of any folders that she held earlier.

    111

    Mon, 18 Mar

    10:51

    8 67%

    Lucy saw me prepare to head out and she raised a brow at me. ¡°Heading out so soon?¡± She asked a little disappointed.

    I nodded. ¡°I need to go pick out a dress for the Croxley House Fundraiser.¡± I informed her and I instantly sw forgiveness on her wide smile.

    ¡°Oh, yes! That is very important. Pick out something dramatic.¡± She suggested. ¡°You do not want to be under dressed.¡± She warned and I didn¡¯t realise when I had hired her as a stylist but I found it adorable.

    ¡°Some thing dramatic for what?¡± Lucy and I snapped up at the sound of the masculine rough voice sounding from the door way.

    ¡°Mr Crawford, I was not expecting you.¡± Lucy switched back to her professional side but Dante¡¯s attention was fixed on me.

    ¡°I prefer to hold the element of surprise.¡± She responded to Lucy, tearing his eyes. away from me to offer her a small smile.

    I slid my bag over my forearm and rested the strap on the crook of my arm. Dante followed my every movement like a hawk.

    ¡°I came here to speak to Sophia but I might be out of luck.¡± Dante said looking at me once again.

    There was some thing different about his eyes or was it the way he fixed them on me. His looked at me from head to toe and suddenly the pencil skirt and blouse I had worn today felt like it was too little clothing.

    ¡°It is why it¡¯s preferable to call before hand.¡± I said to him with narrowed eyes and Lucy nodded in agreement.

    Dante shot her a look and she immediately excused herself from the office and scurried away from Dante.

    ¡°I would have called if I was certain that you¡¯d attend to it but I¡¯m not.¡± He called me out not so subtly for the countless of times that I had let his calls go to voicemail.

    ¡°What ever business you have to deal would would have to wait until tomorrow or you could brief my assistant on it and I¡¯ll get back to you.¡± I said curtly and his lips. pressed together in disapproval of my tone and demeanor.

    ¡°Where are you heading out to?¡± He pried as he stepped further in to my office and only stopped when he had reached the front of my desk right where I had been

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar UG

    standing.

    ¡°If you must know, I need a dress for the fundraiser.¡± I informed him keeping my chin high and defiant.

    0

    ¡°The Croxley House Fundraiser?¡± He rified with a doubtful look in his eye and I grit my teeth.

    He was just doing it to annoy me, I was sure of ifbut it still got on my nerves. Dante was trying to imply that he was surprised that I had made the cut.

    ¡°Which other fundraiser is there?¡± I questioned him sarcastically and saw him. smirk to himself.

    ¡°Are youughing at me?¡± I red at him through narrowed eyes.

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Dante responded too quickly but tried to cover it up with a cough. ¡°I must say that I am impressed that you¡¯ve scored an invite.¡± Was that apliment?

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯d be in attendance.¡± It was such a obvious thing. Wealthy men with deep, deep pockets were the target of their guestlist and Dante was just that.

    ¡°As a matter of fact, yes.¡± I saw him move closer to me and I couldn¡¯t tell if it was just an unconscious move or whether it has been intentional.

    The smell of his cologne tickled my nose and I made a huge mistake of inhaling deeply. The citrus, woodsy note mixed with a hint of spice was as familiar to me as day. I cleared my throat, snapping out of his mind control before I could get sucked in to it.

    ¡°I need to get going. Boutiques don¡¯t stay open toote.¡± I side stepped him and headed straight for the door but I only made it two steps away before Dante spoke again.

    ¡°Allow me to apany you, Sophia.¡± Dante¡¯s velvety smooth voice asked and pleaded at the same time.

    For a moment, I thought that I had heard him incorrectly but when I heard his footsteps close in on me as he met me in the middle of my office, I knew that I didn¡¯t.

    ¡°You want toe shopping with me?¡± I raised a sardonic brow at him wondering what the catch was or if there had been a game afoot..

    Dante seemed shocked with himself and shrugged. ¡°It looks like I do.¡± He

    |||

    10:51

    Mon, 18 Mar

    E

    confirmed.

    Shopping with Dante was some thing I had never ever done before and I didn¡¯t know how I felt about him assessing me in different dresses. It just felt like I would be putting in clothes for him look at and possibly offer his judgement.

    But then a thought ured to me that would make the experience less stressful and intense and more neutral.

    ¡°Fine.¡± I said with a huff. ¡°But we should pick up Hayley first to apany us.¡± I suggested firmly and Dante was more than pleased to oblige.

    ¡°Of course.¡± He bit back a smirk but I caught it before he could hide it and knew that he was aware of exactly why I insisted getting Hayley.

    on

    We drove in two saperate cars back to my house where I parked my car. I got in to the house with Dante following a little too closely behind me. I greeted Nancy and told her that she was free to leave early today.

    ¡°Dad!¡± Hayley eximed as she rounded the corner and spotted Dante standing just outside the living room.

    ¡°Come here, little one.¡± Dante crouched down to catch the already leaping Hayley

    in his arms.

    It was so fascinating to watch just how his entire demeanor changed around Hayley. The ruthless business man and co cky pain in the a ss that I knew he could be was no longer part of him any more. He was his true self with Hayley and it was almost like she brought out a softer side in him then I bet even he knew he possessed.

    ¡°Put on some shoes, Hayley.¡± I moved closer to then and tip toed to give her a quick kiss on her cheek.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± She asked but wiggled until Dante had put her down and back on to her feet.

    150

    ¡°I need a dress for this party I¡¯m invited to.¡± I said to her and she pursed her lips. before batting her eyeshes at Dante.

    ¡°Can we go for ice cream after that?¡± She stuck her lower lip out in a pout and I watched in disbelief.

    Hayley never ever did that to get what she wanted but it seemed like she was tugging on Dante¡¯s soft spot for her to get a treat.

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar LG.

    67%Òô

    45

    Dante, either unaware of this trick or just letting her get away with it, immediately nodded without sparing it a second thought.

    ¡°Of course, we can.¡± Dante agreed in an instant and she immediately rush off to put on her shoes.

    I waited until she was out if earshot before I turned around to face Dante. He had been standing much closer than what I had expected catching me by surprise. I took a moment to adjust to his proximity before gently take a step back.

    ¡°You do know that she has you wrapped around her finger and she¡¯s using it to her full advantage.¡± I couldn¡¯t hide my amusement at all and Dante shrugged like he was not a stranger to this news.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t as slick as she thinks she is but it¡¯s all harmless in my opinion.¡± He said, waving his hand through the air.

    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that it¡¯s only a matter of time before she bats those eyeshes and asks you for a pony.¡± He scoffed at that as I moved to leave my car keys on the coffee table.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy her whichever horse sheys her eyes on. Heck, I¡¯d buy her an entire ranch if she wanted.¡± His tone was serious and I paused to look at him in disbelief.

    ¡°Dante, you can¡¯t be serious.¡± I waited for him to relieve me of this fear of Hayley being a spoiler child.

    ¡°But I am. I don¡¯t see why she should be deprived of what ever she wants.¡± He crossed his arms over his broad shoulders and leaned his shoulder against the wall.

    ¡°Maybe because we risk her being spoilt if we give in to her.¡± I reasoned and Dante tsked my concern away.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing then that she has you to keep her grounded.¡± He said with a flex of his brow and I sighed letting it go.

    Any further addition to this discussion was cut with Hayley¡¯s approaching footsteps. She stood between Dante and I then looked at us one at a time.

    ¡°I¡¯m all ready to go.¡± She announced and we headed back out of the house and in

    to Dante¡¯s car.

    Dante had driven us back to the city and straight to the boutique that I had mentioned that I wanted to stop at only to find that it had been closed due to

    O

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar

    unforeseen circumstances.

    I groaned but then decided to make a stop by myself tomorrow. Hayley felt bad but then quickly got over it because she thought it meant that it was time for ice.

    0

    cream.

    Dante drove to what I was assuming was the ice cream ce until we took a route that definitely wasn¡¯t in the direction of it. I frowned them looked away from the window at at Dante who merely kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked craning my neck to take in the surroundings better.

    ¡°Just trust me.¡± He said with a small smile refusing to give any thing up until minutester it was revealed.

    Dante pulled up to another boutique but this was one of those stupendously fancy ones. It was impossible for it not be a known spot with how popr is was but poprity also meant that it was rediculously expensive.

    I didn¡¯t make a fuss about it and I was genuinely intrigued about the store and their designs so this wasn¡¯t too bad. Even if I walked out of here with nothing, I would have still gotten the satisfaction of seeing the store for myself.

    Dante held Hayley¡¯s hand and talked her through not touching any of the dresses and how we were here to find me a dress but Hayley was too excited by all the sparkly, over the top dresses on the disy in front of the ss window.

    The door was held open for us by the doorman in uniform and I was greeted by a short hair brte.

    ¡°Wee to Romano¡¯s. How can i help you?¡± She asked with a professional smile

    on her face.

    ¡°I am looking for a dress.¡± I stated and she immediately began asking me about what styles I was in to as she motioned for us to follow her.

    I told her roughly what I was looking for, the nature of the event, and my style preference and she already had this sparkle in her eyes that told me she had a few dresses that fitted my description.

    ¡°I am Kelly, by the way.¡± She introduced herself. ¡°You can head to that dressing room and I will bring in a few pieces for you to try on.¡± Kelly said to me before. looking at Dante and Hayley.

    ¡°You can take a seat here.¡± Kelly said to Dante and he obliged with Hayley by his

    ´¨

    H O

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar

    side.

    I waited patiently behind the curtains but it wasn¡¯t a long wait because Kelly brought in like three dresses to try all in different colours yet all equally stunning and breath taking.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see mama in a fancy dress. She always looks pretty in them.¡± I could. hear Hayley speak from the other side of the curtain as I shrugged of my clothes and prepared to try these dresses on one by one.

    ¡°She does.¡± I heard Dante agree with her and even thought I could see him nor could he see me, a small bubble of heat rose to my cheeks in a blush.

    No, no. Focus on the dresses, I told myself as I unzipped the turquoise and nude coloured floor length dress.

 Chapter 85

    This ce might be expensive but they knew what they were doing. Each dress had its own little detail that made it unique be it the design, the difference in style, or even the beading or delicate pleating, it just felt luxurious.

    The silhouette of each dress was made to hug every curve and inch of body to perfection and once that zipper was pulled up, I felt like I was ready to take of to a fairytale ball.

    I tried the first dress on and the turquoise was adding such a nice glow to my skin and made my eyes pop. The beaded bodice added a nice sparkle to the flowy. Saturn lower half and the long piece of material that hung from my shoulder and dragged along the floor added some drama. It was nice but I still didn¡¯t think it was necessary to wear something this over the top and met g worthy.

    ¡°Did you try on a dress yet?¡± Hayley asked impatiently from behind the curtain and I pondered over whether or not I should even show it to her.

    ¡°I did but I don¡¯t know how I feel about this one.¡± I said pulling back the curtains. for her to step in to therge changing room but Hayley took it upon herself to pull back the entire curtain.

    ¡°I think it looks nice.¡± Hayley tilted her head to the side slightly still looking at it.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s a little too fussy.¡± I hated that I looked to Dante for some sort of opinion here but I did.

    Dante had analysed the dress I had on for a short while and the look on his face was a mix between ¡®this looked good¡¯ and ¡®something isn¡¯t right about it. I

    ¡°Not bad for a first dress but I think you can do way better.¡± As he said that, his eyes. sunk down my body and heat red in his orbs but I pulled the curtain closed just in time before he could look back at me again.

    I slipped out of the dress and ced it back on to the hanger making sure not to rip it step on anything. I reached for the next dress which a soft, rosy, blush pink. shade. I undid the zipper on the side and shimmied it on before zipping it up and I already liked this one alot.

    This one was so beautiful just light and flowy and not like I was trying too hard to grab attention. The top half of the dress was a delicate stitching of fabric pulled in a Criss Cross pattern all across the waist line sinching in before it lead to the lower half with held a slit on the right side revealing my leg up until my thigh and most

    O

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar WG.

    the skirt like lower half was mostly in the back for some length but it wasn¡¯t wedding style dragging on the floor. The intricate string of crystal beading that entuated my waist was such a winner.

    67%

    ¡°Okay, here¡¯s the next one.¡± Illed open the curtain and the look on Hayley¡¯s face. was all that I needed to see.

    Her mouth hung open and she looked at the dress in awe. ¡°Woah, this is beautiful.¡± She said in a wonder struck whisper.

    ¡°I love it, too.¡± I said doing a quick turn for her to see it all. ¡°I think with the right pair of heels, it would look perfect.

    I could already imagine how good my leg would look once it had the added height and elegance if a good pair of heels.

    ¡°If you want a man¡¯s opinion, I can tell you that that is one killer looking dress you have on. Dante¡¯s voice was nearly unrecognisable for a second. Thick, taut, and rough.

    I shed my eyes at him and saw him fixate his attention on me. His orbs were filled with amazement and it felt like he had been staring at me with such an intense look like he could see right through the delicate chiffon of the dress. My skin heated up beneath his heavy gaze and it felt like I had been rooted to the carpetted floor.

    ¡°I think you¡¯ve found your dress.¡± Kelly, who Ipletely forgot about, said from the side of the dressing room.

    ¡°I think so, too.¡± I tore my eyes away from Dante ending the spell he had me under. ¡°I will take this one.¡±

    I moved back to the dressing room and slipped out of the dress and put my clothes back on and adjusting to feeling ordinary again. Kelly had taken the dress. from me to have it packed and I followed her to the little marble check out counter she stood behind.

    Dante and Hayley had been speaking about what Ice cream they were going to eat close to the exit doors as they waited for me. I fished in to my bag for my card to

    pay

    for the dress and I knew that I should have asked before I decided on purchasing it. I could afford it but I also knew that the amount was going to sting in itsparison to a dress that I could have gotten from any other boutique but it didn¡¯t matter.

    Kelly ced the lid on the box that the dress was in and ced it over the counter.

    O

    Mon, 18 Mar

    I handed my card over to her to pay and a crease formed between her arched brows.

    ¡°It is already paid for. Your husband has seen to it.¡± Kelly said and I did a double

    0

    take.

    ¡°What?¡±

    67%

    ¦°

    Kelly grimaced and panicked at her wronglybelling Dante as my husband. ¡°I apologize. I just assumed that he was- I¡¯m sorry but the man you arrived with has paid for the dress.¡± She said again.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thank you.¡± I said to her then looked to find Dante but he had already. left the store with Hayley.

    I was definitely going to pay him back for this. Whatever the cost of it had been, I had to pay him back for it.

    I didn¡¯t know what the cost of the dress had been exactly since the store didn¡¯t add the prices to any of their dresses. Can you imagine walking in to such a well known, high end store only to query about the price. It was a tactic of the stores as well. Encouraging one to try on a dress that could be too out of price range but it would be toote by then since one would have already fallen for the dress.

    ¡°I will pay you for the dress.¡± My firm tone cut through Hayley¡¯s and Dante¡¯s conversation about the formation of clouds.

    Dante didn¡¯t say any thing for a short while before he inhaled. ¡°That really isn¡¯t necessary, Sophia.¡± He refused and I saw iting.

    Dante was too proud to ever have me pay him back. It was also an issue when we had been married. He never ever let me pay for a single thing.

    ¡°But it is. That boutique is known for being rediculous in its pricing and, besides, you drove me there. That is a nice gesture by itself.¡± I countered but Dante wasn¡¯t too pleased by that.

    His hold on the wheel had tightened enough for the leather to squeal beneath his grip. ¡°The money is nothing. You know this by now. Take it as a congrattory gift for reaching the ranks of being worthy of the Croxley¡¯s attention.¡± He said tightly, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

    ¡°You could send flowers like any normal person wanting to send a congrattory message.¡± I suggested with mirth but Dante was any thing but amused.

    O

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar

    ¦°

    ¡°I¡¯ll send that, too.¡± He said and I groaned in disbelief at how impossible he could be some times.

    ¡°No, that isn¡¯t what I-¡±

    0

    ¡°Then take the dress as a gift and don¡¯t fuss about it. It suits you well.¡± He

    complimented me and I felt my cheeks heat up like I was some teenager and he were my first ever crush.

    I let it rest when i realised that I was going to get no where with trying to convince. Dante to let me pay for the dress.

    ¡°It¡¯s a gift from daddy. It¡¯s a pretty dress. I don¡¯t pay him for the things he buys me.¡± Hayley decided just then to chirp in to the conversation from the back seat.

    I forgot how observant she had been and it always crept up as a reminder when I was least expecting it.

    ¡°Yes. See, Hayley knows how it works.¡± Dante sided with Hayley, of course.

    ¡°The difference is that you are her father.¡± I pointed out in a hushed whisper not wanting Hayley to hear and prompt any new difficult conversations.

    Dante threw me a nk look. ¡°And you are the mother of my child.¡± He uttered with such possessiveness. ¡°Both are deserving of the best.¡± He added before looking back on the road ahead.

    There had been some thing different about him these past few days and even though I didn¡¯t want to look in to it or pay too much attention to it, it was bing impossible to turn a blind eye to.

    However, Dante was turning soft. I saw it the evening he drove me home after getting of of Scott¡¯s yacht. The second time had been when he had offered to take me shopping and bought me this dress, and the third being how his over all countenance had been devoid of sharpness ofte.

    It had always been the Dante that I wanted to see, the Dante that I had dreamed but I couldn¡¯t allow myself to be whisked of so easily. I needed much more than a few moments of niceness and, until then, I wasn¡¯t going to hold a verdict neither was my stance on things going to change.

    The car pulled up in front of the ice cream parlour and Hayley caught sight of the giant ice cream with sparkly lights blinking as Dante parked the car.

    ¡°Finally! My stomach feels for ice cream so bad.¡± She said dramatically like she

    §Þ§à§Ý, 18 §Þ§Ñ

    would faint without it.

    I caught Dante grin to himself in amusement. ¡°I swear she gets it from you.¡± He said before cutting the engine and I feigned a look of offension.

    ¡°What? No way. It¡¯s definitely from you.¡± I argued but Dante half smirked.

    ¡°who from the two of us are more dramatic?¡± He asked with a raised brow and I shot him a re.

    ¡°You, certainly.¡± I responded in a matter of fact tone just as he cut the engine.

    67%

    ¡°What ever helps you sleep at night.¡± His eyes danced with mirth before he got out of the car saving himself further argument and made his way to Hayley¡¯s side to help her out.

    I got out of the car myself and we headed through the open doors of the parlour all the while listening to Hayley¡¯s excitement for ice cream and how she wanted a scoop of chocte and another of mint Choc chip in one cup just so she could experiment with the vour.

    After finding a table in the not too busy space, a waitress came to us and took our order. Dante was in the mood for a mocha and dark chocte ripple while I went with the humble vani bean.

    ¡°And for the little one?¡± The friendly, perky waitress asked as she smiled broadly at Hayley before looking back at Dante expectantly.

    ¡°I want one scoop of mint chip with another scoop of chocte.¡± Hayley ordered. for herself catching the waitress of guard while Dante and I tried to hide our

    amusement.

    ¡°Please.¡± Hayley added like she had almost forgot.

    ¡°Of course. My go d, what is your name?¡± She crouched down a little.

    ¡°I¡¯m Hayley. What is your name?¡± Hayley spoke clearly and I could sense Dante¡¯s pride radiate of him.

    *I¡¯m Conny. You like ice cream, hey?¡± Conny asked her and she nodded rapidly.

    ¡°I love it. It¡¯s my favourite treat.¡± She said to Conny who was absolutely smitten.

    Conny rose back to her full length. ¡°Let me not have you waiting too long for your treat then.¡± She said to Hayley before rushing away.

    O

    67%

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar

    With Hayley getting her ice cream and eating it all after her patient wait, we left the ice cream parlour after Hayley waved goodbye to Conny and promise toe. back soon. I could nearly count on the next time she uses Conny as an excuse to get ice cream again.

    0

    The thick hedges and s parse trees looked familiar and I knew that we were approaching the house. Dante steered the car down the paved drive way and parked in front of the house. I stepped out and helped Hayley out of her seat before walking to the front door.

    I was not expecting Dante to follow us in but he did. After unlocking the door and switching on a few lights, Hayley kicked out her shoes in the foyer.

    ¡°I am going to fetch my new colour pencils and draw a picture of a bunny.¡± Hayley announced but I stopped her.

    ¡°No, sweety, it iste. You still need to shower and brush your teeth.¡± I reminded her before she could run of to her room.

    She slumped her shoulders but listened anyways. ¡°Alright, but can I colour after I shower?¡± She asked and I agreed knowing that she was going to go right to bed after her shower.

    Hayley was tired. I could see it by the heaviness in her eyes and the way she already yawned like three times since we walked in to the house.

    ¡°Yes but not for too long.¡± I told her but that was enough to get her of to the bathroom but not before she asked Dante to help her.

    Obviously, the father daughter duo was inseparable and Dante followed her to the bathroom already shrugging his zer of and rolling up his sleeves. I didn¡¯t any female had ever had Dante so wrapped around their finger as Hayley had him and I didn¡¯t think that either of them could imagine a life with out the other.

 Chapter 86

    The evening for the Croey fundraiser had approached too fast but I was okay with that. The thrill and hype that had built up over the days was tremendous and it felt like such a great event to be a part of. The official guestlist for the event had been released to the press and Lucy was more than overjoyed to share it with me. I didn¡¯t mind it at all since it had provided me with an idea of just how grand this was going to be but also prepared me for the people that I was going to rub elbows with.

    Hayley was with me throughout the time that I had readied myself and even. pushed back dinner untilter since she wanted to be a part of me getting ready. She loved watching apply my make up and even liked to fiddle with my jewelry when I rolled out the case of it.

    I was already ninty percent done with my make up all in check, my hair styled just the way I had envisioned it with medium curls all set in ce. I kept my hair down. with half behind my left shoulder and someing over the right side of my face framing it. I slipped on the dress and it was even more gorgeous then when I had. tried it on at the boutique.

    ¡°When I grow up, I¡¯m going to wear all your dresses mama.¡± Hayley vowed as she looked at me in awe and I loved it.

    Her approval might seem so small to her but to me it had meant the absolute world. I loved that she had been my biggest cheerleader when I needed it and that she looked up to me even if it was just for fashion and these little moments.

    ¡°I will keep all of it for you.¡± I tapped her nose with my finger and she scrunched her nose but didn¡¯t pull away from me.

    I sat on to the cu shioned ottoman in front of the vanity mirror and slid on a pair of silver heels that were so well with the crystal detailing. The neck line was shy. enough and I didn¡¯t think that I would need a ne for this dress but I did need some thing for my wrists.

    I pulled out the velvet lined Perspex box where I kept my jewelry all neatly organised and ced it on the vanity table. As expected, Hayley leaped on to the chair and began investigating like she hadn¡¯t already seen every thing on there.

    ¡°So many sparkly things. Shemented as she picked up one of the rings and slid it on to her finger but it had just wobbled downwards on her thin finger.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a bracelet.¡± I told her and she immediately began to look at the

    10:51 Mon, 18 Mar

    bracelets that I had.

    H

    Her eyes caught on something and I knew that because she made a sound of glee. ¡°Oooh, ooh, this one mama.¡± She reached for therge sparkly tennis bracelet and handed it over to me.

    The second I had taken it from her I realised that it had been the bracelet that Dante had gifted to me when we had went on that week long getaway to Greece. I hadn¡¯t worn it before and a few weeks ago, I had no intention of ever wearing it.

    ¡°Put it on. It¡¯s so pretty.¡± Hayley urged as she, too, sat on my vanity table with her legs dangling of the edges.

    ¡°I will try it on but I don¡¯t know about it for sure, sweety.¡± I wrapped it around my wrist and secured the sp before taking a look at it in the mirror.

    Dam mit. It had paired so beautifully with the dress. The diamonds had went well with the crystals on the dressplimenting each other and I hated to admit just how well it had worked together.

    ¡°It looks perfect. It¡¯s so shiny.¡± Hayley voiced her approval and I didn¡¯t have the heart to take it of.

    ¡°If you love it so much, I¡¯ll wear it. I think it looks great, too.¡± I grinned at her and I could see the sheer look of charged energy in her eyes from being surrounded by such girly things.

    ¡°Earrings, mama. You don¡¯t have any on.¡± Hayley pointed out and I thought that a simple stud would be all that I needed.

    I looked through the organiser but none of them had caught my eye. After having tried a few of them on, it just looked full inparison to every thing else not to mention the bracelet pretty much out shined any other piece of jewelry I could possibly thing to have worn.

    I heard a knock on my bedroom door and I frowned at Hayley as we both shared a look of surprised and confusion.

    ¡°Can Ie in?¡± Dante?

    ¡°Dad!¡± Hayley jumped down from the vanity table and on to the chair giving me small heart attack as she crossed the room to hug Dante.

    ¡°Slow down there, little one.¡± Dante lifted her in his arms and began spinning her around before he stopped.

    O

    Mon, 18 Mar

    ¡°How did you get on here! She asked Dante which was exactly what I had been. wondering about.

    67%

    ¡°Nancy let me in.¡± He said with a nonchnt shrug. ¡°Nancy also tells me that you didn¡¯t eat dinner yet.¡± Dante looked at her with a look of disapproval.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to eat. I wanted to see mama get ready.¡± She informed Dante but that had brought the attention to me.

    Dante looked at me from where he stood in the door way of my dressing room. I watched his mouth hang open for a few seconds before he closed it but his eyes raked all over me. He looked like the air had been knocked out of him and I resisted the urge to revel in the triumph that I had felt. Not that it was intended but it was appreciated.

    Dante looked breath taking himself in all ck tuxedo that he wore like a second skin. On him, a well tailored look to a woman was what lingerie had been to the appeal of a man. His hair was nearly style to the back giving a clear view of his cleanly sh aven face which showed of the sharpness of his jaw and the aristocratic shaped nose.

    ¡°Woah.¡± He said to himself but I heard it.

    ¡°You cleaned up pretty nice yourself.¡± Iplimented him back but he wasn¡¯t phased because he had still been taking it all in. All of me in.

    ¡°Daddy does look nice.¡± Hayley chimed in before taking a big, loud sniff of her father. ¡°And he smells good too.¡± She said causing me to chuckle but just a little

    bit.

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    COMMENT

 Chapter 87

    The drive to the Hamilton Hotel had felt like we were doing double the distance. The air in the confined space of Dante¡¯s sports car had been thick, tensed, and unexinably charged and had grown so with each passing moment.

    The both of us had tried to keep conversation light and flowing and I chose to stay to my own space afraid that if I had indulged a little too much than I would be beyond saving. Thest thing I wanted was to enter the Fundraiser with weak knees.

    I should have taken my own da mn car maybe 1 then I could have been saved from being subject to the torment of his maddening, sensual allure or, at the very least, resuced from it.

    It did not help that his rich, musky cologne hadi nfiltrated the charged air, causing my insides to clench but I had to pretend otherwise. I had disyed my desire far too freely as opposed toh im and if he thought that he was the only one who could torment the other then he had another thinging his way.

    I wasn¡¯t about to give in to Dante. Not in the least. He would have to grovel before I so much of even let my control slip but that didn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t have some fun of my own.

    When I spotted the familiar hotel standing tall in the sky where the Croxley fundraiser was to be held this evening, I could no longer contain the surge of relief that coursed through me and I let out a breath. I just needed to get out of the car and in to the open air surrounded by more people then perhaps it would be easier to breath and think straight.

    Dante had brought the car to a slow pace from its steady speed before it hade to aplete halt on the red carpet that had been rolled out in front of the papar az zi filled entrance. Dante let the engine run when both of our doors had been held open for us within seconds of the car stopping. He tossed the key at the valet who had caught it effortlessly and disyed his great excited to get behind the wheel of such a beast of a car even if it had just been from the entrance to the parking which couldn¡¯t be too far away from here.

    With the car out of the way, Dante had waited for me to move to his side and confirm to the pap araz zi, and by tomorrow all of New York, that I had arrived with him. The paps had lost their minds and the shes of multiple cameras went off

    immediately from the troops of reporters and tabloids that had filled their designated spots of to the side of the carpet.

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    Tue, 19 Mar

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    It definitely made one feel like a well enough after celebrity or A- Lister and it was an all new experience for me. The reporters yelled at once for our attention all wanted us to focus on them to get the perfect picture.

    Dante looked at me with mischief in his eyes right before his strong arm slipped around my waist pulling me closer to his side. I forced a smile not wanting to lose my cool in front of the camera¡¯s that had been snapping away at us madly.

    As if to provoke me and stir up gossip for the rest of month, Dante leaned in closer until his lips were inches away from my ear.

    ¡°How is that the mere smell of you had the front of pants feeling like I chose the wrong size.¡± He whispered loudly enough for me to hear but soft enough that it drowned in the buzzing of the reporters.

    Before I knew it, his lips were immediately gone leaving my blood racing and myself shocked at how unexpected his words had been. I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d say such a thing to me let alone right now while we were under such close observation.

    He tightened his grip around my waist causing my shoulders to square up instinctively. What the hell was he trying to do? Start a scandal? Dante set a neutral smile over his lips and posed for the camera like I didn¡¯t know what he was up to while I maintained myposure.

    ¡°Behave. I don¡¯t want to be subjected to the wild headlines that will surely resurfacee tomorrow morning.¡± I smiled for the camera¡¯s but muttered tightly to him.

    Dante shifted to look down at me. ¡°I haven¡¯t caused a stir in quite a while. I might as well take this opportunity especially with you.¡± He winked at me and there had been more shes because, to them, we were this new spectable attending such a prestigious event together.

    ¡°You mean take the opportunity and chance to mess with my thoughts.¡± | rephrased for him as he ushered me away from the reporters and in the direction of the hotels entrance which had been overwhelmingly busy with outrageously dressed women and designer suit d men all ready and eager to splurge in the name of charity and show of their generosity to their subordinates.

    ¡®My word, Sophia¡± My name rolled of his tongue smoothly despite his feigned offension. ¡°You wound me by your assumption.¡± Dante said dramatically as he looked away from me to nod in acknowledgement at the men that looked in his direction.

    Dante and I had followed the line of people all making their way to the banquet hall of the magnificent hotel. There had been a general buzz in the air that was

    |||

    DE 48 Ter

    impossible to miss. It was like attending a high end regency ball only less modest.

    Do you have a clue of their cause for this year? One of the woman had voiced the question that had been sitting on every ones lips this evening

    Dante and I shared an amused look knowing that we had discussed it on our way here. ¡°We should take bets on what it¡¯s going to be.¡± I suggested and saw him look pleased with the idea

    Ìï

    CORONERT

 Chapter 88

    With the first two segments of the auctioning to a close, I was feeling rather victorious after having gone head to head with a few people in the room for the marvelous emerald ne that was show cased. It twi nkled delicately beneath the lights and even from half way across the room. I could spot the details of it.

    It definitely costed me a pretty penny but it was once in a while sort of impulsive, adrenaline kicking sort of thing.

    When it had been announced that the third part of the fundraisers agenda was going to be revealedter on, I much like every one else, hade to assume that perhaps it involved unusual trinkets or subjects that would be brought up. I was expecting things like destination holiday tickets, or one of kind experiences, or even insightful tours. But that had not been the case.

    In fact, it had been entirely far from that and was more berserk than I could imagine. The MC announced that a select few women would be chosen and, once their name had been called, they should maintain an open mind while heading

    back stage:

    Initially, I thought that they had wanted these chosen women to serve as a carrier for smaller items to be brought on to he stage and be auctioned with the intention of enticing the interest of the wealthy men provoking them to bid on the visual interest more then for the actual item.

    Well, If I was being honest, I was not too far off in my guess. However, there was no experience nor tickets nor fancy stays to be auctioned of. No, No. It was the woman themselves. What other way to get the lustful man to cough out some extra cash then by offering them the tantalizing women attending tonight.

    As much as I was rather unsettled by this, I wasn¡¯t entirely upset. It was just shocking that such a prestigious even would resort to such means. Nevertheless I overlooked it and reminded myself that it was for a very good cause and went on

    with it.

    I gathered with the other women behind the curtains that concealed us from the seated crowd and we stood in line but I kept trying to switch ces with people behind me so I could go after them thus dying my appearance but I gave up when I started getting stern, disapproval res.

    Due to myck of sess, I was now second in line with Kylie right in front of me. There had already been four women who had went out on stage and raised abined total of $350k between them.

    III

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    ??????

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    ¡°This is exhrating. I can¡¯t wait to go out there.¡± Kylie squealed and I but back augh.

    pas

    Where as every one nervous, she was far from that. She threw me a look then proceeded to peak through a slivered opening of the curtain.

    ¡°Oh, I hope Harrison bids on me and takes down any others who are delusional enough to stand a chance.¡± Kylie moved up ahead as the woman before her went on stage.

    That was how the system of the auction had been so far. Each man was eager to have a dance and dinner with thedies they had bargained for and some of them were willing to drop copious amounts of money if it mean they got a chance with the woman that appealed to them.

    It was totally expected by now that two men would bargain for the same female which worked because it mean that the price went up and up until one of the two back out. Men were egotistical creatures and neither one of them wanted to face defeat until it was toote.

    Each time a bought of nervousness courses through me, I reminded myself that this was for a good cause. Kylie had made her appearance on stage leaving me next in line. There had been some back and forth between two men that I didn¡¯t quite make out from their voices but judging by the satisfied look on her face when the gravel hit the nk, I assumed that she was bargained for by Harrison.

    Once Kylie had left the stage, the MC looked at me expectantly waiting for me toe out on to stage and reveal myself to the hungry men of the room. I inhale deeply and focussed on not falling bit that I was uncoordinated or anything but I felt like a cattle being hoisted on the market for sale.

    It¡¯s for a good cause. It¡¯s for a good cause. I changed that over and over again before reminding myself of how good I looked this evening.

    My dress had entuated my body perfectly from the delicate neckline showcasing my chest to the way it hugged my gentle curves and sna tched in my waist. The sooner I got on that stage the better it would be for me.

    Presenting herself on stage now, we have the ravishing Sophia Miller.¡± I stepped in to the spot light and on to he stage just as I heard a hush of whispers crawl through the room.

    With each step I took to the middle of the stage, my left leg revealed itself from the slit of dress showing all of it before it disappeared until I look another step.

    11:25 Wed, 20 Mar SS

    66%

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to say any more, gentlemen.¡± The MC said in a suggestive tone while every pair of eyes had been fixed on me.

    820

    I scanned the room and my eyes locked with Scott who wore this look of burning determination on his face. The man was clearly undressing me with his eyes already.

    It was no surprise

    It did his haat he would be so shameless given his reputation with women.

    It didn¡¯t help that Scott had taken my looking at him in apletely different way because his lips parted before his tongue delving out to trace his lower lip.

    I moved my eyes few seats away from Scott where I was certain I¡¯d find Dante except he was was not looking at me. Dante had been staring murderously at Scott like he was ready to put a bullet right between his eyes.

    Çú

    O

    COMMENT

 Chapter 89

    As expected, the news headlines that followed for the next week were absolutely insane. It canie as no surprise to me that the media and tabloids would make such a fuss over every thing that happened during the weekend that had passed but the gravity of which it has been gaining attention had be entirely overwhelming.

    From the images of Dante and I arriving together and standing too close to each other than was necessary to the talk and gossip that leaked out from the room and reached the ears of reporters, it was all just going out of hand.

    The tabloids published with great pride the ount of what had taken ce within the walls of that banqueting hall. From the details that were provided, it was evident that the guest of the event had been the ones to talk about how Dante and Scott had both gone head to head only for Dante to emerge victorious.

    As if the grand story of the fundraiser wasn¡¯t enough, people had began specting that I was Dante¡¯s new arm candy and people were more invested in this than I had expected them to be. Of course, it was public information that Dante and I had history and I could only assume that it was for that sole reason that people were so nosey to know more and the fact that Dante and I had made a public appearance together had sent flight to many, many assumptions and spections.

    During the first week, when the tabloids ran wild and news had been flying about, my n of action had been to not give it too much of attention in hopes that it would die down by the next weekend. It had to at some point, right?

    Wrong.

    It had only got worse from there. Papara zzi began showing up outside the office building and not to mention at my home demanding any sort of information and causing utter chaos and obstruction to my daily life. The public had questions and

    questions involved thepany. My personal life was none of their business no matter how hard they had tried to make it otherwise.

    that was all good and well, normal even, but only when..

    From getting in to the office building to driving on to the paved driveway of my property, I was faced with shing cameras and mics shoved in my direction as countless reporters shouted their burning questions at me. Had it not been for security ushering me through the mob of people, I would have never made it in to the office building for a week.

    It wasn¡¯t just me who had been subject to this harras sment but Dante had faced

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    51%%%

    some issues too. The paps and reporters tailed him as well and, by the look of it, they had been doing so on hopes that they would some how catch us sneaking around and meeting up in some ce away from our usual residence and ces of work.

    It was utter insanity. I had begged Dante not toe over even to see Hayley just until all of this settled down. Dante was adamant and insisted that he didn¡¯t give two shi ts about the vultures but I pleaded with him and he, very begrudgingly, agreed.

    Hayley had been growing ratty without seeing Dante for nearly two full weeks and I tried my best to exin to her what the situation was and she did understand but at the end of the day she was also just a child that had missed her father.

    When a few more days had past by and the spections were growing crazier by the day instead of dying down, I felt like I needed to do something.

    I peered out of the window from my office and looked down at the front of the building. Lo and behold, the pap ara zzi were all there waiting for me to make my exit of the building so they could bombard me again.

    ¡°Those guys are still out there, huh?¡± Lucy guessed from the door way of and I jumped slightly at being startled.

    my office

    ¡°They refuse to leave me alone, Lucy! It is bing utterly insane and frustrating. Do they not have a life of their own?¡± I sounded like a woman who had finally reached her wits end.

    Lucy moved to stand next to me taking a look at the crawling number of papz present below. ¡°Technically, doing this sort of thing is their life.¡± She pointed out in amusement but I didn¡¯t share her humour right now.

    ¡°They have began bugging the employees. Following them out of work and to the cafe or just catching us as we left the building to pry out what ever sort of information they can get their hands on.¡± My eyes widened at hearing that and anger with these people began to bubble.

    my

    ¡°Yesterday they tried to ask me what I know about Mr Crawford and your rtionship. I didn¡¯t respond, naturally, and ran in through the office doors before they could block my way. Then I heard from the others at lunch that they were also being offered things to spill secrets.¡± She added in a hushed whisper.

    The nerve of these people.

    ¡°As if the spections they have unleashed to the public were not crazy enough,

    8.51%

    this just crosses the line.¡± Lucy nodded but pursed her lips before tilting her head to the side.

    ¡°I read an article that insisted you are carrying the love child of Mr Crawford and that is why Pheobe had taken to suicide.¡± I grit my teeth at every thing that was said

    on her sentence.

    I held a hand up to stop her from saying any more. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to hear about what nonesense has been spread.¡± i sighed and rested my shoulder against the window.

    ¡°This has been going on for far too long now. I need them to leave me alone so that I could go about my daily life normally.¡± I gritted my teeth in frustration and Lucy made a sound of agreement.

    ¡°Oh, definitely, but there is only one way to actually clean up this entire mess.¡± Lucy said and I raised a brow at her wanting to know if she has a solution to this.

    Lucy inhaled deeply preparing herself to exin this to me. ¡°Give them what they want.¡± She said simply when it wasn¡¯t that simple at all.

    É«

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    COMMENT

 Chapter 90

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± I raised a quizzical brow at her.

    I was beyond ready to hear her offer a solution to this terrible situation if it mean that it would get these leeches of of me and out of my life.

    Lucy nced again below at the vultures just as they tried to corner Herriet from H.R but she had made a narrow escape.

    ¡°Give them an exnation or, at the very least, answer their questions. That is all they want. Some sort of information to calm their racing minds and, besides, once you officially speak about this then no rumours would be entertained as ferverently as they are being received now. People of sense would conclude that you¡¯ve spoken out about it and that would be it.¡± She exined and I thought about it for a moment.

    It isn¡¯t like I could avoid them forever. I mean I have tried that for the past two weeks and nothing. If anything, it had only served to make the situation worse because these people were not about to back down until they got what they wanted.

    ¡°I guess you have a point.¡± I said heavily dreading going down there and dealing with the outrageous misconceptions that I would have to clean up.

    Lucy winked at me before straightening her posture. ¡°Of course, I do.¡± She said proudly before leaving my office and probably the building itself.

    Most of the employees had left by now and it was why the reporters had been flocking at the front door for thest half an hour to try and bother them.

    I inhaled deeply before striding out of my office mustering every ounce of courage that I could to go down there and deal with the paps. I knew I had to be careful in regards to what I said because even the smallest slip up could bring about another smallest slip up could bring about another disaster. I couldn¡¯t help but imagine what Dante¡¯s opinion on all of this had been.

    The second that stormed out through the front doors, the crowd of reporters began surrounding me before they even knew that it had been me. It was just proof of how they were willing to proof of how they were willing to trap just any one in hopes of getting some sort of

    H

    dirt. When they had seen it was me, the person the were actually after, they began

    to send their cameras shing wildly and I blinked several times as it hurt my

    eyes.

    I held my hand up to stop them. ¡°Please, stop it. I am here to answer your questions.¡± I shielded my face and the cameras came to a halt. ¡°But only if you all

    III

    <

    act in a civil manner.¡± I warned.

    They had settled down and the shes stopped. When I felt like it was safe to lower my hand from my eyes and was met with many recorders right in front of me and cameras still held in position just not shing away¡­ yet.

    ¡°Is it true that you are Dante Crawford are in a rtionship?¡± A red head who looked like a hippie asked boldly.

    I sighed then looked right at her. ¡°No, that is not true at all. He and I are subordinates. We have a professional rtionship for a while now and that¡¯s about it.¡± I said firmly but added a smile at the end when I was done speaking.

    ¡°What about Scott Vanderbilt? He was seen leaving the Croxley House Fundraiser looking defeated and whispers say it is because of you.¡± A pot bellied man shoved a mic in my face and I had to swallow my irritation before responding.

    ¡°I do not know what had caused the early departure of Mr. Vanderbilt that evening but as the newest investor to Luxe Inc. I can assure you all that there is no tension whatsoever.¡± I had enough time to take in a breath before another question was thrown my way.

    ¡°Do you think Mr Crawford and you could potentially develop a rtionship outside of business? Many believe that that has already ured.¡± An olive tanned woman in the brightest sweater I had ever seen spoke in the most entitled way possible and while I didn¡¯t particrly like any one here, I really didn¡¯t like her.

    ¡°Noment. If people already believe in assumptions then me saying otherwise wouldn¡¯t make any difference.¡± I said in a snarky tone. The reporter¡¯s nostril twitched and I knew she didn¡¯t like me but I didn¡¯t care either.

    I didn¡¯t care oth

    ¡°You and Mr Crawford were previously married for a few years.¡± A reporter at the back announced rather too loudly for my liking. ¡°Was the Croxley House. Fundraiser a step in the direction of reconciliation now that Pheobe isn¡¯t around?¡±

    The audacity of these people. Had the no care for people¡¯s personal life that they felt so entitled and free to question about every and any sort of information their hearts so wished to ask.

    ¡°That is a stu pid question.¡± I said bluntly letting them all know that outrageous questions will not be responded to.

    I might have answered a total of 5 additional questions and I drew the line when it was venturing too close to Dante and Pheobe. My temper was growing short and knew that it was time for me to cut it before I snapped at them and their entitled

    questions. That would only lead to furtherplications and I didn¡¯t want that. At the end of it, the reporters were happy to leave me be giving me the freedom to be

    on my way.

    I just hoped that this was thest of the craziness tost and that I wouldn¡¯t find a bunch of other reporters camping on mywn when I returned home.

    By the next morning, video footage and headlines about the small interview that I had given had already been printed and aired. Da mn, they worked faster than I had thought they would.

    Çú

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    COMMENT

 Chapter 91

    <b>10:48 </b>Sat<b>, </b><b>23 </b><b>Mar </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>91 </b>

    ¡°Sophia! <b>Wait </b>a moment!¡±

    ¡°Miss Miller<b>, </b><b>what </b>do you have to <b>say </b>about the recent headlines<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Is it </b>true that you are carrying Dante Crawford¡¯s love child?¡±

    ¡°Sophia! Sophia! How <b>has </b>the past few weeks affected yourpany?¡±

    ¡°Did Scott Vanderbilt choose to be an investor for other reasons<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    These questions were thrown at me as <b>I </b>kept my head down, my face utterly nk, and my jaw firmly set <b>as </b>I rushed through the pestering mob and in to the office building where security had taken care of the rest.

    I had known better now than to ever have grace for these individuals let alone pause and given them the time of day. It was a huge mistake trying to speak to them before and it had onlynded me in to far more greater of a problem than <b>I </b>had ever imagined.

    Instead of being appreciative of my kindness and share the truth that I had spoken, their papers had twisted every word I had said. Trying to speak to them did not have any where close to the desired effect that Lucy had suggested it would.

    THE

    I made my way over to the elevator and jabbed the metal button a little too hard then was necessary but I didn¡¯t care. I was far too irritated with walking in and out of here with those low life¡¯s being nothing more than a shameless disturbance.

    When I stepped out of the elevator I saw Lucy shrink in her seat behind her desk and I shot her a hard look.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the disaster your little suggestion has caused.¡± I said to her and she shrugged sheepishly.

    ¡°Sophia, I am so sorry. I didn¡¯t know it would turn out like this. I thought speaking to them would help clear the air and end the rumours but these idiots are

    cunning.¡± Lucy¡¯s own anger with the situation made itself known.

    I sighed and waved it away. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It isn¡¯t like you knew the reality of these people.¡± I spat out in disgust.

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    ¡°I definitely didn¡¯t but it <b>exins </b>why Mr Crawford has chosen <b>not </b><b>to </b><b>say </b><b>so </b>much <b>as </b><b>a </b>word to them.¡± She <b>said </b>and the mention of Dante made me realise just how weird it had felt not seeing him <b>so </b>so many days.

    Dante <b>was </b>ying it safe and his n of action was to ignore the paparazzi until they grew bored and moved on with their lives<b>. </b>It <b>was </b>difficult to imagine such a thing at present considering how persistent they were proving to be by now.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>suppose so.¡± My response had been dry since I was distracted by the raised voices outside of the building <b>as </b>security tried to shoo the paps away.

    At this rate, I might as well stay at home until they leave me alone. Huh, I don¡¯t know why I hadn¡¯t thought about that before. Hayley was in such a mood because Dante had been away and I was not about to exin to her what exactly was going on because it was all tooplicated for a child to be a part of.

    ¡°Anyways, what¡¯s the agenda looking like today?¡± I asked as <b>I </b>shrugged of my bag from my arm.

    ¡°Several investors and BOD are asking for a meeting. This new stir doesn¡¯t bode well for thepany¡¯s image and they all seem to share the exact same concern.¡± Lucy exined and I grit my teeth together.

    Shit.

    geted by s

    some

    I should have known they would point with these crazy headlines basically making its rounds every where.

    ¡°Did you schedule a meeting already?¡± I hope she didn¡¯t because I was no where near being ready to exin to the subordinates the details of what was going on right now.

    Lucy shook her head. ¡°No, not yet. I knew better than to schedule this specific one before consulting with you.¡± She said in a matter of fact tone and nodded curtly at her conveying my approval.

    With that, I headed in to my office and, after discarding my bag and coat, plopped down behind my desk and logged into myputer. I checked my emails and there were several with the bulk of them being from investors. Some of them enquired about what the hell had been going on but using more professional vocabry whilst others insisted on a meeting to be held as soon as possible.

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    <b>< </b>

    A

    Ugh! This was going to be one tough clean up but it had to be done but in order for me to do this <b>I </b>would need to <b>speak </b>to Dante and Scott to make sure <b>that </b>we were all three on the same page and out stories matched. If the three of <b>us </b>speak the truth<b>, </b>which is that none of these rumours are true and are just that <b>se </b>usations, then it would all be as <b>easy </b><b>as </b><b>cake </b>to fix.

    On the flip side, if some one like Scott decided to take revenge for humiliation now then it would prove to be a bit more challenging than we can imagine.

    I hadn¡¯t seen let alone spoken to Scott since the event and he had been awfully quiet but the paparazzi had not been bothering him at all which hade as <b>a </b>surprise but good for him. However, I could only assume that he didn¡¯t want to be dragged majorly in all of this any more than he already had been.

    With a deep inhale, I cracked my knuckles thenposed a new email to Scott exining the situation and subtly asking for his cooperation with out being too direct. I sent the email of and could only hope for his shared assistance because he, too, could be a bit trying at times.

    I don¡¯t think five minutes had past after I had sent that email before my phone had began to ring. After reaching for the buzzing phone, I noticed Scott¡¯s number sh across the screen and I instantly answered and pressed the phone to my ear.

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    The night had approached fast and after settling Hayley down and getting her to eat and painting with her out in the balcony as the sun went down, she was in a little bit of a better mood.

    After putting on her favourite animation and making her some popped corn, she was happily watching away in the living room while I took the chance to get ready. Nancy was going toe back just before I left to be with Hayley and by then Hayley would probably go to sleep but I couldn¡¯t leave her alone. As much as I felt terrible mim guilt for leaving Hayley when she was so uneasy, I reassured myself that she wouldn¡¯t even know that I was gone because she would be asleep before I could even step out of the house.

    I didn¡¯t wear any thing fancy at all since I wasn¡¯t dressing to impress neither did I want any one to get the wrong idea especially Scott.

    So, the all ck skirt and high neckline ck blouse was a decent option. The skirt was long and stopped just above my knee and it was flowy just bit business wear. The sleeves of the blouse had been long but the material of it was thin making it perfect for a warm night. I didn¡¯t do much make up aside from concealer and a neutral shade lip tint. I went with a pair of strappy sandals and not heels for tonight and I was ready to go.

    It was half an hour before Scott said he would fetch me but there was a knock on the front door which caused me to frown but then I realised that it could very likely be Nancy even though it had been too early for her to show up but Nancy was too punctual sometimes. Not that I minded it all.

    I sauntered to the front door and pulled it open. ¡°It is a little early-¡± My words that had been intended for Nancy had caught at the back of my throat when I was greeted with the sight of a very disheveled Dante standing at my door.

    His face spotted a but of a shadow, his hair was all over the ce like he had ran his hands through them trying to pull half of it out of its roots. He had no zer on and the crisp white shirt that would ideally be beneath it had the two buttons popped open at the top revealing a slight sign of his chest hair and his sleeves had been rolled up to his elbows.

    ¡°Dante, what are you doing here?¡± I moved aside for him to step in still trying to recover from his sudden and unannounced arrival.

    Dante stepped in to the house oozing his familiar scent as he moved past me. ¡°Are you not happy to see me?¡± His words held a bite and I flinched knowing that he

    L

    was in a foul mood.

    ¡°No, no. It isn¡¯t that but you have been keeping your distance and ying it safe since the fundraiser with all the chaos that had broken through. Youing here tonight just caught me off guard, I guess.¡± I exined to him as we now both just stood there on the foyer.

    I couldn¡¯t tell if it was just me but some thing felt off with Dante. He was bothered by some thing which caused his mood to be like this and it radiated through the air immediately causing a sense of uneasiness through it.

    ¡°I see but I¡¯m only here because of Hayley and nothing else.¡± Dante rified almost like he didn¡¯t want me to assume that hee here for me. I ignored the slight sting from his words and pretended like it didn¡¯t bug me at all.

    ¡°Good because she has been missing you.¡± I was sure that he was aware of this by

    now.

    Dante nodded and a grunt escaped him before he assessed me from head to toe. His jaw tightened and his eyes hardened until they had be unreasonable.

    ¡°You¡¯re dressed up.¡± He nced at his wristwatch. ¡°At this hour, too. Are you going some where?¡± Some thing was definitely up with Dante and his using tone was proof of that.

    I hated being questioned especially when he was sounding so entitled like I owed it to him to tell him of my every move. Nevertheless, I swallowed the bubble of irritation and decided to be civil here.

    ¡°Yes, actually. I am having dinner with Scott. It¡¯s just for business plus he wanted to apologize and I thought it the perfect opportunity to try and-¡±

    Dante¡¯s jaw tightened before it rxed. ¡°Just for business, huh? Then why not have it within the proper bounds at your office¡¯s board room just as business dealings should be seen to.¡± He snapped, each of his words escaping him through tightly gritted teeth.

    ¡°And risk those leeches snap Scott entering the building? I think not.¡± He snorted at my reasoning and I felt my nose re at his attitude.

    ¡°He is an investment. It is not unusual for an investor to frequently visit thepany he is a part of but what is rather suspicious is that none of your so called business meetings with Scott where never held at yourpany.¡± Dante pointed out like he was suggesting some thing I would much rather not admit he was.

    III

    O

    It was true that bay meetings held with Scott from the start had been held at different restaurants but that was only because Scott had requested it that way and nothing else. I didn¡¯t agree with it either at all but I also knew that my intentions were not otherwise.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t professional and I am not defending that at all but, either way, like I always said i do not owe you an exnation especially when you are being unreasonably entitled.¡± I crossed my arms over my chest and stuck my chin our defiantly.

    It was silly of me to have assumed the moment that I opened that door and saw him standing here that he hade to see me, that the days apart had troubled him as much as it did me, that he had missed me but, as always, I was wrong when it came to him. After the fundraiser, I thought things would be a little different between us but I guess it meant nothing to him at all. Dante came here with no other intention but to quarrel with me over his beef with Scott.

    ¡°You are unbelievable. After knowing what Scott-¡±

    ¡°Daddy?¡± Hayley¡¯s small, curios voice sounded from behind us cutting Dante of.

    We turned to look at her as she blinked a few times like she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. ¡°Daddy!¡± She eximed happily before running up to Dante as fast as she could.

    Dante caught her as she leaped at him and pulled her up in to a tight hug. I watched in fascination, as always, as his entire demeanor changed the minute she was his arms. Dante hugged her tightly and kissed the side of her head many many times.

    ¡°Ah, Hayley, I missed you terribly.¡± He said with so much emotion that it had made ¡°Ah, Hayley, I missed you terribly.¡± He said with his voice sound rough.

    Hayley had been hugging him just as securely with no sign of letting go just yet. ¡°I missed you, too. So, so much. I was asking Nancy to bring me to you but she said that she couldn¡¯t because you were busy.¡± Hayley¡¯s words were mu ffled against Dante shoulder and I was now just a third person standing there but I didn¡¯t mind

    it.

    Despite my own anger, I was more than relieved that Hayley had seen Dante even after all these days. It was evident that his absence was having not the best effect on her and maybe now she wouldn¡¯t be so upset.

    With them having a moment, I let them be and returned to my room to get my purse and I was just in time, too, because Scott had arrived right on time. Thankfully, he had note to the door and I had left leaving Dante and Hayley

    <

    in the living room where she has dragged him to and began interrogating him about hisck of presence for the past two weeks.

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    It was the beginning of week three and I had had it up to here with these d amn reporters. Not only were they bing tiring and a bit boring in the sense of move the hell on by now but after what they had donest night, I had lost my absolute cool with them.

    Scott and I had been followed by some under cover papara zzi who sneakily took out pictures of us dining together but, as always, taken it entirely out of context. I was beyond seething when I had woken up the following morning and saw the news greet me like smack in the face.

    Was every single dam n thing that I did from here on going to be taken out of context and used as the subject to create scandal based purely out of falsehood?

    It didn¡¯t help that Scott had been determined to create physical contact be it holding my hand over the table or to the departing kiss he ces on my cheek when he dropped me of. Both times had caught me entirely off guard and I pulled away immediately but da mmit.

    I watched from my office as they flocked the entrance in an evenrger number than I could recall. My blood began to boil and I knew that I had to take drastic action to get these leeches away once and for all.

    Company security was not enough to deter them and I needed more than that so I made a few calls to the securitypany and requested back up. All I had to do was wait for them to show

    up and scare all of them away.

    My foot tapped against the floor making a sound each time the soul of my shoe had hit the ground. Employees had beganing through and I watched as my ownpany members tensed up as they were swarmed by the reporters but scurried away to get in to the building.

    One reporter in particr stood out to me. I saw her chestnut coloured hair and that familiar pixie cut and knew that that had been the reporter responsible for capturingst night¡¯s images with out

    context.

    I checked my watch. It would be a matter of minutes before the security back up gets here and I wanted to speak to this reporter who went by the name of Taylor Jenkins. She had proudly stered her name beneath the article she published and it took less than 2 Google searched to find images and information on her.

    From what I gathered, she was just some young college student looking to make some extra cash from selling gossip which was some thing she did exceedingly well. Not that I admired her but it was worth pointing out.

    I rode the elevator down to the lobby then hopped out the second it opened up. Employees greeted. me as they walked past and I offered them a curt nod because my entire attention had been focussed on confronting the little sh it who had published the lies.

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    ¡°Ma¡¯am I do not advise that you go out there.¡± The security guard at the front entrance warned but I ignored him and pushed through the revolving doors until I was exposed to the brutal shing of camera¡¯s and swarmed with questions.

    I didn¡¯t dare say a word to them when I knew just how greatly that had costed me thest time I tried to engage with these scu mbags. As if right on time, an SUV pulled up sorting the securitypany¡¯s logo on the side. The SUV hade to a halt and immediatelyrge, muscr men dressed in ck emerged and began dispersing them.

    They had all forgotten about me in an instant but my eye was fixed on Taylor Jenkins. I watched as a sh of fear washed over her when she saw the security teame at them but she had also seen me stare at her which caused her to step away but I shook my head at her and motioned for her toe forward.

    Taylor had taken a few steps closer until she was only an arms length away from me but I saw her hesitate and turn around preparing her own escape. I didn¡¯t waste any time and closed the distance managing to catch the back of the leather jacket she had thrown over her small frame.

    She fought against my grasp but I kept the material balled tightly in my hold but Taylor acted fast and undid the zipper causing the jacket toe off before she began running. However, she didn¡¯t get too far before one of the security guards saw me try to get her and caught her before she could

    get away.

    The man was four times her size and she didn¡¯t stand a chance escaping from him. ¡°Let me go! I will sue!¡± She threatened the security then red at me as she was brought closer.

    The rest of the cohorts had still been scurrying of with the security hot on their heels but I didn¡¯t care too much about that.

    ¡°Not if you¡¯re prepared to be sued for defamation amongst other things.¡± I narrowed my eyes at her and saw the blood drain from her heart shaped face.

    She was fiesty and determined to free herself despite the man who had captured her obvious strength.

    ¡°Let me go!¡¯ She gritted out.

    ¡°Oh, give it up, Taylor. You¡¯re not escaping until he lets you free and he won¡¯t do that until I tell him to.¡± I warned her finding myself smug in the position I held over her at present.

    ¡°What do you want from me?!¡± She yelled and I could tell that she was scared. Good.

    ¡°I want to know why you printed those pictures out of context and how did you know where I was going to be?¡± I wasted no time and got straight to the point.

    Taylor shook her head and swallowed audibly but she didn¡¯t reply let alone showed any inclination

    to.

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    ¡°Were you stalking me?¡± I asked, raising a challenging brow at her. ¡°Is that it? You stalked me and Mr. Vanderbilt because you needed extra pocket money?¡± She scoffed when I said that and I narrowed my eyes at her.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t stalk you. I was offered a hefty amount to take your picturesst night and publish them. The location to where you were going to be had already been given to me.¡± She snapped, baring her teeth. ¡°So, if you think that you can get me in to any trouble, think again. Scott Vanderbilt himself had disclosed the both your whereabouts and I just followed instructions from there. If you want to fight with any one, it¡¯s Vanderbilt. Not me. I just did what I felt I needed to for myself.¡± I heard what she had said, each and every word of hers registered in my brain but I was in utter disbelief.

    ¡°You could be lying.¡± I said to her but only because I was hoping she had been.

    Taylor shook her head sending her hair flying in the security¡¯s face. ¡°I have the bank receipt to show it.¡± She said confidently with not a stitch of fear in her tone or expression and I knew that she wasn¡¯t lying.

    Scott set me up. The ba star d wanted a scandal involving him and I since the limelight had been focused on Dante and I. My go d, the man was far more petty than I could I have ever imagined him

    to be.

    I motioned for the security to let Taylor go and he did. ¡°If any one attempts some thing like this in the future against me, tell me first. Whatever their written offer is, I¡¯ll pay you more. Just stop spreading rumours about people.¡± I warned her in disgust before she walked of

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    ¡®The subscriber you have dialled is unavable at present. Please try againter.¡¯

    Ugh! That had got to be the ninth time that I had heard the automated message ring in my ears after trying to contact Dante. He hadn¡¯t been taking any of my calls and I couldn¡¯t understand why. I knew that he was upset the night that I had left with Scott but surely he couldn¡¯t have been made about it for so long.

    I needed to tell him what I had discovered about Scott and see if he had any idea about it. Not only did Taylor rat him out for having us followed and staging those pictures for her to snap and cook up in to a grand story the following morning, I had also discovered why my uncle never actually wanted him to join thepany.

    Maybe Dante didn¡¯t know any thing about this. After all, if he did; he would have told me before hand and now left me in the dark about it especially considering that he was not particrly thrilled about Scott joining thepany at all.

    After knowing Scott¡¯s true motives, I couldn¡¯t think of any better decisions then to have him removed from the

    company as an investor but I needed to seek advice of if I could even do such a thing. I didn¡¯t see why I wouldn¡¯t. I owned thepany and Scott¡¯s intention was not at all pure and it never had been from the beginning.

    I paced the length of not only office but half way past Lucy¡¯s desk and back several times. The reporters had not

    shown after the security caused a scury and I was relieved over that, to say the least.

    O since this mornin

    ¡°Oh, my go d. you have got to stop pacing. It is giving me a headache.¡± Lucy threw her hands up dramatically from behind the desk. ¡°What are you eve

    pacing for?¡± She asked in a clipped tone.

    ¡°You know all about it already. I don¡¯t know

    what to do. Scott turned to be a viin when I least expected it and

    to think that I agreed to go with the man to dinner so that I could ask him for his support and aid to clear this out

    with the rest of stakeholders.¡± My irritation began to simmer every time I had thought about it.

    I ran a hand through my hair feeling overwhelmed and a little lost. ¡°I should have dug a little deeper when he approached me initially. It always didn¡¯t make sense why my uncle never epted him as an investor but it does now.¡± It still annoyed me that I had not figured it out or hade to know about it sooner.

    Lucy didn¡¯t look up from the papers on her desk and paid me half her attention. ¡°I also didn¡¯t think to snoop around him further myself. I knew about his superficial face but not his true self when it came to thepany.¡± She mumbled tapping a pencil against the edge of her eye brow.

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    ¡°How would you have found out? Scott Vanderbilt was not seen as any thing but a light at the end of the tunnel that we so needed when we really didn¡¯t. Little did I know that he wanted to undermine thepany just so he could sn atch it from me when it had fallen to the ground.¡± I grit my teeth thinking of how conniving and sly he had been.

    It was such a blessing that I had not been easily whisked away and infatuated with him based on his charm and fake persona that he had used to try and break past my borders and trick me. The entire situation could have been worse had I actually engaged in any sort of casual rtions with him and never had I ever been more thankful to have been so stuck in my ways before.

    Lucy wheeled her chair back like she was moving away from the folders on her desk to give me her undivided attention.

    ¡°But now you know about it all. The next question is what are you going to do about him? He can¡¯t stay in thepany when he has ill intentions for it. He can¡¯t be trusted at all.¡± She said what I had already knew.

    ¡°That is a given. There is no way in hell I was going to let him be a part of thispany knowing his unmasked face. I just needed to speak to Dante. He would know what to do.¡± I said more to myself than Lucy but the I shook my head. ¡°except the man isn¡¯t taking any of my dam n calls.¡± I nearly yelled and Lucy winced.

    ¡°He must be busy, Sophia. I can¡¯t imagine Dante Crawford sotiing around waiting at this phone for your call.¡± She said sarcastically and I threw her a warning re but she brushed it aside.

    ¡°You need to calm the heck down. The paparaz zi are no longer in sight. Go get some thing to eat and I will arrange a meeting with legal and you can discuss it with them when you get back. If Mr. Crawford happens to call, I will let you know.¡± Lucy ordered me around and I was not against her firm suggestion.

    An hourter, I had my stomach full with well needed nourishment. My mood was calmer and I was able to think a bit more clearer which was good seeing as I walked in to my office with two head of legal seated in my office awaiting my arrival.

    I couldn¡¯t tell how long had passed but after speaking to the both of them it had be abundantly clear that they had some clue about my uncle¡¯s dislike for Scott¡¯s joining thepany or having him any where near it.

    The information never failed to stun me. Each time I had heard it all I could think about what just how Scott had yed the card of the helpless start up who was guided by my uncle who he had the highest regard and respect for but he left out the most important part being that he had openly challenged my uncle to steal the business right from beneath his nose and, by the look of it, he almost had been sessful in his n until I hade about and thepany was transfered to me.

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    Scotf probably had no clue that I knew exactly what he had been up to all this time and I couldn¡¯t wait for him to be served with the notice that he was being expelled as a stakeholder for proof of defamation and ill intention. He wouldn¡¯t take it lightly, I could guarantee that much neither would he own up to it. Not initially at least.

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    At precisely three p.m. my car drove down the quiet road across town. Not only had it been a side of the area l rarely ever visited but I guess today was an exception. It would probably be the first andst time that I do to be honest and I was only with that.

    The towering building made entirely out of ss and stood proud and tall like a looming figure over the rest of its surrounding architectured counterparts was exactly that reason I had been here. Well, more the person who

    owned it.

    I found a parking spot close by to the entrance of the building and wasted no time in cutting the engine and getting out of the car but not forgetting therge yellow envelope that I had brought along with me and which had been the entire reason that I was here to begin with.

    Scott was not expecting me at all and I would much rather prefer it that way. He had not the slightest of idea that I had found out his true motive, intentions, and face, and I would not have it any other way. The more oblivious his had been to my knowledge the greater he would crash when I dropped a major bomb on him ruining his every n that he ever had in mind to ruin me and thepany.

    The all ck look I had going on was really a perfect one for this asion. With the envelope in my hand and determination set firmly on my mind, I headed up to the front doors where a door man held open the door for meer.

    I didn¡¯t bother to make a stop at the receptionists desk and announce my presence, instead I went right to the esctor and I took a lucky guess that Scott was on the highest floor where he would have most likely set up his personal office and boardroom.

    The man appeared to be too fragile on his ego and manhood to allow any one to even try and be above him let alone his employees divisions. I scoffed finding myself humoured at how pathetic Scott really was. I should have known my uncle would have had a greater cause to refuse him and not just put of sentiment and all that bull shit

    Scott had fed me.

    The elevator pinged open snapping me out and away from my thoughts. I stepped out my with my left heeled foot before the right and stalked confidently to the end of therge floor until I stopped at an oak door with a

    que proudly printed with Scott¡¯s name then stating that he had been the CEO of thepany.

    I tapped my fingers against the door lightly three times before my hand reached for the handle and twisted until it unlocked. The door opened and I stood there revealing myself and also causing Scott to turn away from the ss window he had been looking out of.

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    Hmmm, maybe he was prepared for my arrival, I thought wryly.

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    His eyes widened slightly at the sight of me. ¡°Sophia? What are you doing here?¡± He asked and it was clear as day that he was very thrown off by mying here.

    I stered a fake smile on my face before stepping further in to his office and shutting the door behind me.

    ¡°Can¡¯t I stop by to speak to a good friend?¡± I asked tightly and saw him eye me assessingly like he could sense some thing was of but despite that, Scott still maintained his usual neutral, jolly demeanor.

    ¡°Of course, of course. Take a seat, please. I¡¯ll have some refreshments brought up for you.¡± He immediately began to scurry but I shook my head.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary at all, Scott.¡± I said right before mming the yellow envelope on to his desk.

    The motion sent a whoosh of air blowing against a few papers on his desk but it had also grasped his attention.

    My expression was no longer friendly and light but truly expressing of my inner fury and temper. Scott had seen it too when he nced from the envelope on his desk to me and that was when he had risen to his full height.

    ¡°What is this?¡± He asked in thick tone as he reached for it.

    ¡°Open it and find out for yourself.¡± I spat out and he all but tore the end of the envelope of before he had coaxed the bounded papers out.

    He removed the first page aside then proceeded to scan through the first page with a deep frown between his brows but that frown disappeared when he had made sense of what exactly what happening.

    ¡°What the-¡± He muttered before throwing the papers across the desk. It slid then stopped right at the edge just shy of falling of the desk entirely.

    Scott lifted his eyes to re at me murderously. His eyes weds pitch ck, his jaw stiff and taut, and his hands balling in to fists on either side of him.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me, Sophia. You have no reason to. I am your friend, your ally. I always have been. This is

    baseless and absolutely absurd!¡± He bellowed causing me to wince but not because I was scared of him but the

    increased octave of his tone hurt my ears.

    ¡°Oh, but I can.¡± I sauntered over the the ss wall that over looked the street and much of the city. ¡°You see, a

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    thief of ten days is bound to be caught one day and, sadly for you, your day has arrived¡± I taunted but Scott being himself still had the nerve to pretend like he didn¡¯t know what I was saying

    ¡°What are you talking about, Sophia? I do not understand where this ising from.¡± He actually scoffed looking at me like I had lost my mind.

    ¡°Then allow me to enlighten you.¡± I took in a deep breath getting the hint of detergent and polish. ¡°There was more to the reason that my uncle didn¡¯t want you to join thepany while he had been alive, isn¡¯t it?¡± I paused, narrowing my eyes at him and waiting for him to respond or react, whichever came first.

    When he didn¡¯t I decided to get this on with and concluded once and for all.

    ¡°That story you fed me was a lie. You had ns of your own for thepany and it was why my uncle refused to let you any where close to it. You were the one responsible for the horrible state of had been in when he had been sick. You assumed he had no family or children of his own to pass thepany on to and that was when you would swoop on and snatch it at the lowest possible cost.¡± With each word that left my mouth, I watched his face grow harder and bitter until he had dropped the actpletely and epted his role as the viin.

    ¡°When I came in to thepany, you saw it as the perfect chance to try again and I didn¡¯t know better and allowed you approval but not any more.¡± I reminded him, ncing at the papers he nearly threw of his desk in his fit of anger.

    Scott¡¯s jaw clenched tightly before his balled up fists mmed against the desk with such violent force that it

    had sent the contents of his desk bobbing up then back down from the force.

    ¡°Yes! Damn it! I did all those things but it was only because I wanted hispany. I had great ns for it but your uncle was too stubborn to listen to it and he shut it down at every turn. It was painful watching make some decisions and of he had just listened to me I would have soared thepany to far higher ranks than he ever

    could.¡± Scott utter each word with intent and so much of anger. No

    I realised in the moment just how greedy Scott had been. He had unimaginable wealth of his own and yet he was still after apany that got away from him solely for the reason that he couldn¡¯t have a say in it.

    My gosh, if ever there was a child stuck in the body of a man throwing a tantrum for not getting his every whim

    and desire satisfied.

    ¡°Well, now you are no longer a part of mypany in any way whatsoever.¡± I announced proudly.

    It was shocking to think that at one point I was willing to do any thing to get Scott Vanderbilt as part of the

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    company and here I was proudly renouncing his seat at thepany entirely feeling more relief than remorse.

    ¡°You will regret this, Sophia.¡± He warned me with a dangerous gleam shing across his ck eyes.

    Iughed lightly not being able to take him seriously as I made my way for the door now. ¡°But I won¡¯t and I do warn you about trying any thing against me or mypany from here on out. That girl, Taylor, that you paid a lot of money to to set me up, I know what else you did to her.¡± I saw his nostril twitch at the mention of her name and the indication to the crime he hadmited against her.

    ¡°Not only Taylor but a bunch of other underage women that you had taken advantage off and shoved money at them to shut them up. Now, imagine if the evidence of this mysteriously got out just how ruined you would be.¡± He was still furious but I could sense his fear for the first time since I had known the man and I revelled in it.

    It felt empowering to know that I had out this man in his ce before he could have gotten too far with his agenda.

    Scott didn¡¯t say another word and I didn¡¯t think he was capable of it because he was too stunned to speak.

    ¡°Anyways, I hope we never cross paths again and that you keep my warning in mind.¡± With that, I left his office shutting the door behind me loudly before I sauntered out that floor and the building entirely.

    The next thing on my to-do list was to find Dante and tell him all about what the hell had happened in the time that he refused to take my calls.

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    Many crazy things have taken ce today and I was beyond exhausted of the day entirely but meeting Jessica and the quaint Chinese restaurant was not how I expected to bring my day to a close.

    Jessica now stood in front of me on the side walk with the lighting from the restaurant and the street light illuminating the area enough for us to see each other.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I asked after a short pause.

    Jessica had been dressed in the most formal attire that I had ever seen her in. Well, I¡¯ve only seen her once in

    person and the rest of the times that I did see her had been in inte articles. Nevertheless, all of those times she had been dressed up in some thing low cut or a little on the shorter, more fitted side and not even close to the pin striped pants she had matched with a dark blouse and a zer thrown over her shoulders.

    ¡°I know it isn¡¯t my ce at all but I really need to say it.¡± I felt my brows furrow together on a frown with no clue

    as to what she was talking about.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Go on.¡± I urged wanting to kill the suspense before it killed me.

    Jessica hesitated for a little bit before she inhaled and found the courage she was looking for. When she found it,

    she looked at me with determination in her eyes that narrowed in on me.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what exactly caused the fall out between Dante and you but I do hope that it is mendable.¡± Oh. I was certainly not expecting that to be the topic of conversation.

    ¡°What ever do you mean?¡± I asked, my confusion disying itself.

    She cleared her throat while she searched for some other, perhaps least offensive, way to say what ever it is that

    had been on her mind.

    ¡°Look, I know things got bitter between him and you for a while with Pheobe pitching back up in his life and messing every thing up but I see how he regrets it with every ounce of his being.¡± There was so much of pain in her tone like she had witnessed Dante¡¯s suffering herself and found it unbearable.

    ¡°He does?¡± Was all I could manage to say. Not only was bumping in to her here such a surprise but this conversation was just as out of sorts.

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    Jessica nodded. ¡°Terribly. I¡¯m not here to advocate for him and defend his wrongs but if there is even a small chance that the both of you could sit down and let bygones be bygones, maybe you¡¯ll find more than you can imagine.¡± Her eyes looked like she knew so much more but her pursed lips indicated that she couldn¡¯t say too much with out betraying the confiding that had been done in trust.

    ¡°It would be lovely for little Hayley to have her parents under one roof living happily together.¡± She added tenderly and it was easy to tell that she had grown fond of Hayley on the few encounters they had shared.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how true the recent gossip in the tabloids are but I do know better than to believe every thing! read in the media and it is why I didn¡¯t buy the story about you and Scott one bit from the second I saw it.¡± Jessica¡¯s defined jaw ticked before her eyes met mine with a seriousness to them. ¡°But I can¡¯t say the same for

    Dante. The man has convinced himself of many rediculous theories and oues which I am quite sure isn¡¯t the least bit true.¡± She didn¡¯t borate on them and I itched to know what had been going on in Dante¡¯s head.

    I knew that he was not pleased when I left the other night to have that dinner with Scott and I also knew that he had been avoiding me ever since. Naturally I thought it was because of the headlines that emerged the morning

    after and not because he had convinced himself of alternates that were far from the truth itself.

    ¡°I-I have been trying to contact him for thest two days now but he does not take or return any of my calls.¡± I

    informed her and she nodded like she had already knew about that.

    ??????

    ¡°And that is because he thinks that you have made your choice and he is entirely out of the picture. I can¡¯t really tell you at what point during your on and off rtionship did he fall in love with you but he did and he is just too full of himself, too prideful, to be up front and say it.¡± Jessica¡¯s eyes softened but they were still sincere making sure that I had believed what she had said and knew that she was speaking the truth.

    It wasn¡¯t that I had written Dante off entirely but I wanted him to grovel and beg and realise what a mistake he

    had made and, judo what Jessica had said, it sounded like he did.

    However, I needed more than just his cousins word for it and I needed to see it all for myself. I spent years loving Dante like a mad woman and with out sense and clear logic but now it was different. I saw him for who he was and not the person I made him up to be in my head.

    ¡°Just find him and clear this all out.¡± She said looking at her watch like she needed to leave now.

    ¡°I will. Thank you, Jessica, for telling me this.¡± I said to her with a small smile.

    ¡°I am only trying to help.¡± He adjusted her food packet in her hand. ¡°Please give my love to Hayley and tell her that I will visit her very soon.¡± She said before turned around and walking to her car that had been parked a few

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    11:21

    For the rest of the day, all I could think about had been was Jessica had told me. Her words rang in my head several times as I tried to decide what my course of action was to be.

    Dante and I had history, there was no denying that regardless of how hard I tried or wanted to. Having said that, there was also a lot to consider. For one, I had been the one falling at his feet for years because I had be so blinded by my own love and infatuation for him but that hadnded me in the most darkest times of my life.

    Sure, he says he realised his mistake and I truly, whole heartedly believe that, but I did that mean that I should let the past go entirely. I suppose I had to if I wanted to resolve things once and for all with Dante.

    When it hade to my feelings for him, I knew where I stood. There had been a period of time after the traumatizing incident of Pheobe¡¯s death that I insisted to the point of wanting to convince myself that I didn¡¯t feel any thing for Dante but after the night at the fundraiser where I saw his possessive side and just how being in hispany had made me feel, I knew that the opposite was true.

    I did love Dante, still. I yearned for him desperately and so much so that I couldn¡¯t think of being with another man and it was entirely the reason why I hadn¡¯t sought out any other male for my sexual desires orpanionship beside Dante.

    On some subconscious level, I was waiting for him to close the gap and he did try to many times. Of course, now he had a whole distorted perception and idea of what it had been that I truly wanted. Heck, had it not been for Jessica I would have thought that Dante just didn¡¯t want any thing to do with me any more and not that it had been that deep.

    I gave up trying to call him hours ago because it was a futile effort. Dante didn¡¯t want to take my calls neither did he have any n on returning them either. It didn¡¯t help matters that the officialpany newsletter was only to be released this uing Monday where it would be announced that Scott was no longer on the board which means Dante wouldn¡¯t know about it until then and still stick to his delusions that I was upied with Scott.

    I knew he stopped by when I wasn¡¯t home when I was not there during the day only because Hayley would narrate to me in great detail about all they did together and he seemed to be in a good mood from her retelling of the day they shared but I doubted that Dante was going to be upright around Hayley. I mean I saw the man go from mad topletely the opposite when he saw his daughter first hand.

    My phone buzzed and I immediately snat ched it from the desk to check if it had been Dante but it was just some random mobile usage notification.

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    Oh, this was rediculous.

    I pushed the chair back in the cafe that I had been rotting away for the past hour or so. I grabbed my things and left the cafe with every intention of driving over to Dante¡¯s house and having a conversation that he couldn¡¯t escape from.

    With every mile that drove me closer to his house, I thought of many things ranging from how this could all possibly go which was really any side of the spectrum. It could either go smoother than I thought where we spoke as two mature adults wanting to find a resolution or it could go the opposite where we both ended up yelling at each other and getting no where whatsoever.

    I scoffed thinking how thetter of the two possibilities seemed more likely to ur but I tried not to let that get to me or deter me any way.

    The familiar shrubbery and tall trees neatly lining the side of the road indicated that I had been ensuring Dante¡¯s house and soon enough I was driving down the paved driveway and parking off in front of the architectural masterpiece that I once lived in.

    I rang the door bell and waited for several minutes but I knew that he was home by his car parked right in front of mine just below the stairs that lead to the front door. After ringing the bell for what was probably the tenth time, I heard movement behind the door before it was oeon revealing a middle aged woman that I had met before. She wore a uniform and a courteous smile despite the look of question on her face.

    ¡°Hello there. Can I help you?¡± She asked without moving out of the door way.

    ¡°Hi, I am here to see Mr. Crawford.¡± I informed her straining my neck to see if I could catch a glimpse of him in the background somewhere.

    ¡°And who might you be?¡± I could tell that she was new to the household and just wanted to be clear before letting me in so I didn¡¯t mind the questioning despite my impatience.

    ¡°I am Sophia. Sophia Miller.¡± I told her and she immediately stepped aside from the door way.

    ¡°Sure,e in.¡± She said moving out of the door way and allowing me space to enter the house. ¡°I¡¯m Martha.¡± She introduced herself.

    ¡°I¡¯m guess you¡¯re new here.¡± I pointed out and she nodded.

    ¡°I am. I only started a week ago as the new housekeeper.¡± She spoke eloquently and it was evident that she had

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    a lot of experience in this role.

    :..

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    ¡°Well, it is nice to meet you, Martha.¡± I said with a smile before looking around for Dante.

    ¡°Mr. Crawford is up in his study.¡± She told me saving me the ha ssle of hunting him down in hisrge house.

    I walked up the stairs taking them two at a time in my hastiness until I stood in front of therge hard wood door with my heart pounding against my chest.

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 Chapter 98

    <b>Chapter </b><b>98 </b>

    My hand hesitated before reaching for the handle but I grasped it firmly, feelin cold metal press against the

    skin of my palm, before I turned it simultaneously taking in a breath. The second that I had pushed open that door, Dante¡¯s head had snapped up to look at who ever it had been that dared to interrupt him in such a harsh

    manner.

    His face was unreadable even as he took all of me in from the top of my head to the tip

    of the shoes that I had been wearing. His eyes assessed me at his leisure and I couldn¡¯t fathom what had possibly been going through his mind.

    I saw him blink a few times trying to figure out if he had been imagining what he was seeing or if I was actually standing in the door way of his study. There had been a voiceing from the monitor on front of him and, by the sound of how stern and proper that person had been speaking, I knew that Dante was currently in a meeting of some sort.

    Shit. I shouldn¡¯t have just barged on here in such an uncooth manner. Dante read the regret on my face and parted his lips just as I took a step back. His eyes shifted from me to the monitor.

    ¡°I need to leave. We will continue this meetingter.¡± Dante said abruptly before pressing a single button that

    sent the monitor silent.

    I found my legs and began moving further in to his office which only caused Dante to clench his jaw before he rose from his leather arm chair. He shrugged of his zer with out so much as removing his gaze from my face before popping open the buttons on his cor then rolling his sleeves up to his elbows.

    ks study table between us. I was very familiar with this

    My legs moved until I stood right in front of him with only

    table but I tried not to him about the way it had felt against my bare body and focussed on my

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Dante said each word clearly pausing between them.

    ask at hand.

    He was not the most pleased to see me but that came as no surprise to me whatsoever. After all, he did have <b>many </b>wrong assumptions and notions that he believed it so he was bound to be a bear until he was willing to give <b>me </b><b>a </b>hearing.

    <b>¡°</b>Can¡¯t I stop by to see you?¡± I asked but he did not appreciate my nonchnce neither was he in the mood for it. I <b>let </b>out a sigh but <b>didn¡¯t </b>allow my shoulders to slump. ¡°You have not been taking any of my calls, Dante. I tried getting a hold of you multiple times and nothing.¡± I jogged his memory and by the look on his face he had been

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    purposely dodging my calls but I already knew that.

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    Dante leaned forward nting the palms of his hands t against the gloss finish of the wooden desk top. He looked at me right in the eyes with such a sharp re that it might as well has pinned me to the spot.

    ¡°Take a hint.¡± Was his cold, nearly harsh response.

    ¡°For your sake, I am going to ignore that.¡± I needed to remain calm because at least one of us had to and it was definitely not going to be Dante right now.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be off some where with Scott Vanderbilt while he promises you sweet nothings and you fall for it despite your ims of professionalism?¡± His words exited his mouth with the intent tosh at me and lick at the doors of my fury.

    Dante¡¯s eyes shed with anger and jealousy as he watched me with a hard look in his orbs that would have send any one else crumbling to the floor.

    ¡°If you would have taken my calls then you would have known otherwise.¡± I couldn¡¯t help the snarky way that hade out but Dante scoffed mockingly.

    ¡°So I could waste my time and hear you im self righteousness? I would rather not.¡± He lips pressed together to form a thin line and he raised a brow at me.

    I should have known that this was going to be one hell of a hard conversation to have because Dante could be so hard headed and annoying at times and if he decided that he was not cooperating then that was the end of that.

    ¡°Scott Vanderbilt is out of the picture!¡± I nearly yelled at him so it got through his thick skull. ¡°For goodness sake, the man was never ever in the picture to begin with.¡± Dante let out a breath through his lips before he grunted and look away like he didn¡¯t believe a word I said.

    <b>¡°</b>I can¡¯t believe I cancelled my meeting to listen to more of your lies.¡± I grit my teeth together quickly beginning to reach my wit¡¯s end with him and just shy from exploding.

    <b>¡°</b><b>The official </b>statement is yet to be released but Scott is no longer a part of mypany and neither is he associated with it moving forward. I handed him the supporting documents yesterday.¡± I had to keep my voice an octave higher so that he would listen to me and that my words would register in his head cutting through his <b>anger</b>.

    Dante was speechless <b>for </b><b>a </b>few long moments. His eyes were withdrawn and his lips parted slightly like he

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    couldn¡¯t believe what I was telling him.

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    ¡°But that is not why I am here for, Dante.¡± I said in a softer tone which had him meet my gaze again.

    I saw the question in them, the confusion, and also a hint of satisfaction. Dante rounded his desk until he leaned

    his hip against the end of the counter top. He crossed his muscr arms over the broad expanse of his chest

    before looking at me with a pinned stare.

    ¡°Then what are you here for exactly?¡± He almost interrogated me and I knew that he was trying to unnerve me

    with his closeness.

    ¡°I am here to clear the air between us once and for all but that is only some thing that¡¯s possible if you agree to

    cooperate otherwise I am merely wasting both of out time showing up here.¡± I met his gaze as fiercely as I could not allowing him to bully me in to a corner.

    If what Jessica had said was true then Dante would be able to look past his male ego and work with me here.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think the air was contaminated to begin with.¡± The man was incorrigible!

    ¡°Contradictory since you were avoiding me and my calls for days now. I can¡¯t imagine you just do that to people for no reason.¡± I shot back raising a challenging brow at him.

    ¡°I am not her to argue with you and I am quotey frankly tired of this back of forth. I¡¯m only here because I bumped into Jessicast night and she might have told me a few things that I would like to believe can lead us some where we both want to be but I can¡¯t be the only one willing

    to do the hard work.¡± In that moment, I realised just how opposite and contradictory this had been onparison to what I wanted, to how I had seen it actually taking ce.

    Dante was supposed to be the one gaining my fabour. He was supposed to be the one to grovel, to chase after me, to want to fix this and yet here I was standing in front of him whilst he behaved like a stubborn child refusing <b>to </b>meet in the middle.

    <b>¡°</b>I <b>can¡¯t </b><b>do </b>this any more. I can¡¯t always be the one that¡¯s trying to fix things.¡± I took a step away from him and then another<b>. </b>

    I saw a wave of panic wash over him which had causing his shoulders to tense up but Dante said nothing at all.

    ¡°I came here <b>to </b>make it clear that Scott and I never had anything going on between us. He tried to lure me in to a scandal and that is all there is <b>to </b><b>it</b>. I don¡¯t know if that makes any difference and if it doesn¡¯t then so be it. I give

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    up with any possibility of there ever being an ¡®us¡® again.¡± I swung around and headed for the door but stopped just as I reached it.

    turning back

    ¡°On the other hand, if it does then you know where to find me but be warned, Dante. There is only so much you can toy with me before I actually do said fuck it and once I reach that point then there might be no regardless of <i>how </i>many shiny things you buy me as an apology.¡± I muttered before sparing him onest look and darting through the open door.

 Chapter 99

    <b>Chapter </b><b>99 </b>

    Dante¡¯s POV.

    And so it was true.

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    Scott Vanderbilt was officially out of deluxe enterprises and no longer had any thing to do with Sophia¡¯spany. The newsletter was issued and released early this morning but it didn¡¯t state in great detail the reasons to which he had been removed but it gave a general idea pinning the paparazzi issue on him which also conveniently removed the problem about the stakeholders demanding rity about what had been going on.

    =

    There was definitely more to the story which I woulde to find out eventually. It was nearly impossible for me to not be smug about learning of Scott¡¯s removal. The bastard was finally out of every ones hair and maybe now there would be peace and order with things.

    I believed Sophia when she had told me about it but I wasn¡¯t sure about there not being any thing between Scott

    and here until I saw the newsletter. She would have never removed Scott had she had any entanglement withd

    him aside from business especially since he was such a valuable figure for herpany¡¯s image after me.

    I ran a hand through my hair not caring that I ruined it on the process but I knew exactly what my way forward was going to be. Too much time had been wasted and Sophia and I were rarely ever on the same page. It was like when one of us were eager to fix things between us, the other would hold the opposite attitude leaving us right off where we had began in the first ce.

    For once, we were on the same page.

    Sophia wanted to end this war once and for all and so did I. My temper had gotten the better of me when she showed up in my study yesterday but it had simmered down and after thinking with a clear mind, I didn¡¯t have any intention of letting her go ever again.

    Sophia was the mother of my child. The woman that I had married to save myself when her step sister jilted me <b>and </b>she was nothing but good to me the entire time we had been married. I was just such a massive ass for not seeing it before. But I knew better now. I knew that she is, with

    spend ut a doubt, the woman that I wanted to the rest of my life with. Together with Hayley, we would be aplete family and nothing enticed me more than such an idea<b>. </b>

    <b>I </b>punched in the code to my safe then scanned my thumb print before it unlocked. The velvet box nestling a three Stone diamond ring and an even thicker diamond encrusted band sat in the middle of the contents. It

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    would greet me each morning, taunting me of my failure and misfortune of losing the one woman I truly ever loved in the most pure sense of the word.

    However, today was different. Today when I saw that velvet box, it had rejuvenated me beyond exnation. I was eager to do this all over again with Sophia but for the right reasons and with a far greater appreciation for her. It was even a miracle that I was being awarded another chance at this and I fully intended on taking the

    utmost advantage of it all.

    Tonight would be perfect to do it all. To apologize, to proim my love for Sophia that felt like it was beginning

    to boil within me until it was ready to explode. It had to be special and I was going to see to it that it was.

    I fished my phone out of my pocket then made a few calls arranging a private dinner overseeing the docks

    beneath the moonlight. A violinist and florist would both serve well to add ambiance. Thetter would transform the grassy greenery with countless rose petals and pretty things. It all had to be perfect.

    As I drove to my office building, a thought ured to me and immediately made the necessary call to the boutique I had taken Sophia to previously and organised an outfit for her to wear which I chose from the selection of dresses they had sent through to me. A matching bouquet and a card would be nice touch once it reached herter today.

    With each passing moment, I was starting to look forward to the evening more and more. Every thing wasing together nicely and I was burning with excitement to see Sophiater tonight. She had no idea what she was in for and I wanted to maintain that element of surprise.

    The dress along with the flowers had been sent to her house where she would see it once she had gotten home along with the card that informed her to be ready and a time that I would pick her up.

    When the only meeting that I had shown up to the office for hade to a close, I didn¡¯t waste any time before leaving and heading out of the board room. I checked my wrist watch and saw that it was nearly 5 p.m which meant that Sophia was either leaving her work ce of she had reached her home by now.

    I took the chance to leave as well and headed home to prepare myself for this evening. Every thing had be perfect and I believed that it would be but that was until my phone buzzed merely minutes before I could get <b>back </b><b>to </b>the house<b>. </b>

    The call hade from a number that I had not recognised at all and, usually, I wouldn¡¯t ept such a call, but for some reason I answered this one and it felt like the rug had been pulled from beneath my feet sending a sick feeling in <b>the </b>pits of my abdomen.

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    ¡°Hello, am I speaking to Mr. Crawford?¡± The strong male voice spoke in a tensed tone that I did not like in the

    slightest.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Was all I said wanting him to get to it faster.

    ¡°Mr. Crawford, you¡¯re speaking to Simon Lehman. I¡¯m calling you from the city hospital. I¡¯m afraid to inform you that Miss Miller has met with an ident. You were listed as her first emergency contact.¡± I didn¡¯t car about what

    ever else he had said over the phone because my brain went in to a semi¨Cshock.

    A billion thoughts raced through my head all at once shutting it down in a painfully numbing way as the worst of

    the worst oues had crossed my mind.

    ¡°Is she okay?¡± I barked over the phone.

    ¡°She is still being examined. It is too early to say.¡± The man said in the most unhelpful way possible and I hung up before I lost my temper with him.

    I made a quick detour and rushed over to the hospital doing double the speed limit without any care or thought but getting to Sophia.

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