by Marie Kelly
The relief that exuded from him had been palpable, Sara giving another grin, “Don’t worry Darius - I have no interest in bringing a child into the world unless it is within a loving relationship…not … this”, her final word before she slipped into the bathroom.
In the bedroom, Darius continued to dress, his brows knitted together. Her words had not given him the relief that he thought they would. He had no interest in children. His mother had been a bad parent and his father no better and Darius had no wish to test his own ability with parenthood. That she was telling the truth he had no doubt, surprised that he would trust Sara’s word, trust this woman who had taken such delight in enforcing a lie against him. He again felt anger towards her family. What parent would encourage a daughter to become pregnant just for financial gain, once more realising that there were many different ways of being a bad parent.
Reaching the door, Sara welcomed her mother and nephew, David’s small face full of relief to be away from his grandmother, Sara only able to imagine how bad the night had been for him. “Aunty Sara”, he cried as she lifted him, giving him a tickle as he laughed the boisterous laugh of a small child.
“Good God Sara. This place is amazing”, her mother gushed as she stared around at the elegant and tasteful décor. “The gardens alone…and that gate” Her daughter held down the groan as she took the bag from the other woman’s fingers.
“Yes…it is very nice. Now promise me mother that you or Angela will be here tomorrow for 1:00. I have an appointment at 2:00…and I cannot be late…promise me” Her mother patted her arm absently, “Of course…I said we would and we will” Sara’s eyes narrowed as she repeated her words, ensuring that her mother understood how important the time for collecting David was, her mother giving her an annoyed return look, repeating irritably, “I said we would be here…and we will…now have a good time you two”, her last words, as with a wave of her hand she was gone.
“OK champ”, she laughed, “How would you like to see a lady who makes the BEST cupcakes in the entire world?”, as the young boy in her arms nodded furiously, his lovely face breaking out into a huge smile as Sara moved to the kitchen where an excited Edith was waiting with more cupcakes than was healthy for a dozen small boys.
Darius entered his home, much earlier than most days having cancelled several meetings. He was not sure why he felt the need to be home, knowing that she would have her nephew taking up her time and energy. Moving around the first floor, there was no sign of them before he looked out of the window, a high happy squeal drawing him there. From his vantage point, he watched as Sara played in the garden with a small boy, a smile coming to his handsome features. She had been playing hide and seek, the child only partially hidden behind a bush, his red top making him particularly easy to see. Sara however, stood with her hands on her hips, Darius not able to hear what was being said, as she made a point of looking everywhere but where he hid.
She finally stood with her back to him close enough for the child to sneak up behind her, his small arms wrapped around her legs, Sara’s hands flying to her heart as though she had been surprised, the sound of the happy laughs of the boy reaching him. He laughed himself as she fell to the ground, the child pushing against her legs, before throwing himself onto her stomach, Sara catching him before he could hurt her. She then gave an evil laugh, the high pitched sound reaching him, the boy squealing even louder as he tried to get away, her arms wrapped around him as she started to tickle him.
Darius watched thoughtfully, his mind full of Sara Balfour. He understood women, he knew what they wanted, but she was confusing him. Her actions six years previous had been unforgivable, yet his perception of her as a cold using manipulator was becoming harder and harder to hold on to. Edith and the rest of the household had nothing but praise to heap on the woman, Darius telling himself that she was only charming them as she had the contractors in the past.
When he would take her in his arms at night it became even harder to think of her as cold, their lovemaking full of passion and heat. He had never been short of lovers, but never before had he met somebody who reacted to him as she did, nor if he was truthful, one who he reacted to so strongly. With a grimace he knew that despite the fact that they had not been together for even a week, Sara was getting too close. Perhaps it was time to cut her loose, as he threatened to do from the first time he laid out his plan.
Moving back upstairs he quickly changed into jeans and a t-shirt, already knowing that he would not be throwing her out that weekend. Outside, Sara gently kicked the blue ball that David produced from his toy bag, his small face serious as he ran forward, his small legs kicking the ball a distance before he caught up with it. Sara pretended not to be able to catch him as he moved ever closer to the two shirts which had been fashioned into makeshift goals, throwing his hands up as he kicked it between them. “Goal!!” his delighted cry made her laugh as she feigned tiredness.
“Darn…too good for me…I need to get my breath”, surprised as David became silent, his small body moving closer to her as he stared at something behind her. Turning, she gave a small gasp seeing Darius move towards them. Not dressed in the suit of that morning but jeans, his look directed at her before he smiled at the little boy, shyly and warily watching the stranger striding towards them. Straightening, she felt her pulse quicken, her heart beating wildly within her chest, as once more her body lurched to instant awareness of this man who was blackmailing her in such an immoral way. However, she could not deny that it had taken very little for her to become more than just a willing participant in their steamy nights of sex.
“Darius…I didn’t realise you would be so early”, she managed, wondering if they had been making too much noise, her mind wondering what else to do with David. “Got finished early”, he smiled as he came level with them, his eyes turned to David. “You must be David”, he smiled, the young boy nodding shyly back, as Darius placed his foot on the ball which the young boy had discarded, flicking it into the air he bounced it on his knee. David rushed forward, his eyes large, his mouth rounded as he admired Darius’ ability with the ball. “Wow”, he cried, Sara moving forward as she raised an eyebrow, impressed with his skill.
“David…this is Darius”, her tone playful, “I think maybe he is a bit of a soccer shark” Darius laughed back as he allowed the ball to roll to David, who tried to flick the ball the same way he had moments before. “In Europe, we call it football”, he declared, David’s head bobbing up and down “I know…I watch it on television. My mum lets me”, he declared seriously, Sara seeing as like her, Darius struggled to hold back a laugh.
“Well how about I take you and your aunty on”, he declared, David grinning from ear to ear at the gauntlet that had been thrown down. For the next hour, the three played, Darius allowing David to keep getting the ball, evilly laughing as he would pick up the child to steal it back from him, each and every time David giggling hysterically as Sara would step in and pretend to rescue him, often holding Darius around the waist as she would cry to him to score. As he ran forward, Darius would grab her and drop a kiss on her lips, his eyes full of laughter as the small boy would run back to them, delighted at his success.
Finally she scooped up the little boy, Darius chuckling as she tickled his stomach, the boy writhing uncontrollably within her arms. “OK…where should we have dinner?” her eyes dancing as he cried out the name of a well known fast food restaurant, Sara feigning surprise. “Really…that is my favourite too!” David jumping up and down with delight as Darius gave a grimace, his eyes laughing. “I am sure there is one around here somewhere…I will bring round the car” Sara surprised that he would be coming with them. “My mother left his car-seat by the door”, she mumbled, a strange pleasure filling her, one that she could not understand.
As they queued for food, Darius stared at the board, his features sombre as he leant down to Sara. “We are still eating later right?” she giggled as she nodded, her eyes full of humour, “Do what I do…order a coff
ee…he doesn’t notice, especially when he has his toy” He gave her a quick grin before they were served. As they sat in the uncomfortable plastic seats, the bright colours of the restaurant garish but fun, David made short work of his food, Darius shaking his head as the small boy moved to his second sachet of Ketchup. “Tell me he knows that isn’t a vegetable?” he joked with Sara who laughed back. “When you are four years old, ketchup is a food group all on its own”
Having finished the small helping of food, David begged to play in the bright play area, Sara finally giving in as she allowed him to move to the room with slides and pipes all connected like similar ones she had seen in a hamster’s cage. The two moved to a seat closer to the enclosed play area, Darius smiling, seeing the way Sara’s eyes never left the small child who was happily chatting to another little boy on the plush mats. Taking another sip of his coffee he groaned, her eyes flying to his as he laughed.
“Even the coffee is bad” She gave a small snort, “How can the coffee be bad…it is just coffee” Darius adopted a knowing, superior look. “Ah…that is where you are wrong young lady. To an Italian a good coffee should be like a good woman - hot and intense on the tongue”. Sara choked on her drink making him laugh again, her head shaking as she wiped away a tear she was laughing so hard, “I cannot believe you just said that” Darius wiggled his eyebrows wickedly making her laugh even harder. As his head turned to look at David, she stared at the man by her side. The day had been wonderful, not only because she was spending time with David, but because she was spending time with Darius too. She had expected him to be aloof with the small boy, but he was a natural with children, David already so comfortable with him.
“Thank you” Her soft voice saw his head turn, a curious expression on his face as his mouth curled softly, “For what?” Sara looking over at David. “For such a lovely day”, she replied gently, not seeing the way his eyes flicked over her.
It was nearly seven in the evening by the time they returned home, David chatting constantly as he and Darius talked about soccer, his eyes widening hearing the names of some of the soccer stars the Italian knew personally. When Darius offered to get him a signed football of one of the biggest stars in the world - even Sara had been impressed to know that the two were friends - David squirming excitedly in his chair. “That is so cool”, he cried. Sara gave a chuckle as she smiled over, “Name dropper”
By eight David had been bathed, Darius hearing the way he talked constantly surprised to find that he enjoyed being around the child. Sara put him into the room closest to theirs; reading him a story but only getting halfway through before his small eyes blinked shut, exhaustion finally overcoming him. She plugged in the baby monitor her mother had brought and moved downstairs to join Darius in the dining room. She had just sat as Edith moved into the room, her eyes bright. “So nice to have a child in the house”, she cried, her eyes dropping pointedly to Darius, he rolling his heavenward as Sara chuckled. As the housekeeper left, she shook her head. “Poor you…Edith is on a mission now” Darius gave her a mock pained look. “Yep you could be right…might need to get a dog to keep her quiet” Sara laughed harder as she nodded, “Yes…that would teach her”
The meal that night was full of laughter, both so relaxed from their day together. Darius again thought how smart and funny Sara was, realising that she was also incredibly playful as she teased him, he giving as good back, Sara also enjoying the meal.
That night in bed, he lay over her, his eyes taking in every detail of her beautiful features, as his finger stroked her cheek. “I had a good day today, Sara Balfour” His soft tone brought a gentle smile to her lips as more seriously she nodded, “I did too Darius Garelli”, before his mouth dropped to kiss her so softly. Their lovemaking that night had been different, softer, more…intimate. Both took their time, caressing and kissing the other before they once more brought the other to the same mind-blowing release as they always did.
Lying with him over her, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, their heads together as they fought to bring their breathing back to normal she had been so happy, so in love. Snapping her eyes open, she stiffened, disbelief filling her at the realisation of what she had just thought. She was in love…in love with Darius Garelli, biting her lip to hold down the groan of pain which rose within her throat. How could she be so stupid as to fall in love with a man out to destroy her?
“Are you OK?” The soft question made her start as Darius slid from her, his eyes so close to her own full of concern, Sara pulled a smile to her lips, “Y…yeah…I just thought I heard David” This answer seemed to appease him as he pulled her in tightly against himself, a small chuckle on his lips. “Oh, I have a feeling that we will hear him just fine when he wakes” Darius wrapped his arm around her shoulder, Sara leaning against his chest listening to the sound of his heart, enjoying the way his fingers trailed down her arm, her hand under her chin.
“David really likes you” Her words caught him by surprise, a smile rising to his lips. “He is a good kid”, the smile more devilish as he added, “Has his aunty wrapped around his fingers though” She chucked, nodding against his skin, a frown rising to her forehead. “You never talked about your father in the past…yet you come back with his name…did he not know about you when you were born?” She felt him stiffen slightly, suddenly wishing that she had said nothing. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to pry”
Beside her, Darius gave a long sigh, his body relaxing as he pulled her in to drop a kiss on her head, his voice emotionless. “My mother worked for Antonio Garelli as a maid. When she got pregnant, he had her kicked out. Gave her some money and told her that if she said a word to anybody then he would see her in prison” Sara gave a loud gasp, her eyes flying to his, the similarity of his position when she had been forced to fire him not lost on her. His mouth straightened in a hard line as he continued, “My mother was no angel. She preferred to spend her time with her boyfriends. The only person who gave a damn about me was my grandfather. He taught me how to build…he was old-school” She saw the fond smile which flitted across his features. “He died when I was fifteen and, well, you know the rest of the story about my mother”
Sara made a small sound of sympathy as he gave her head another kiss. “That’s terrible Darius”, as another sigh left him. “We were never close Sara. I started working with a company and later became a contractor myself…then moved to the states…which is when I started working for your family” She heard the tinge of anger on his tone, remaining silent as he talked. “Like I said…after you fired me, your father made sure that I was not able to get another contract. So I returned to Italy and decided that it was time that I met my father” Sara nodded softly.
“You never said what happened to your mother?” He hesitated for a second before shaking his head. “She died when I was eighteen… She got into a car with a drunk who wrapped them both around a tree”, his voice becoming sad, “she was never good at choosing men. They used her…starting with my father” Sara felt her heart reach out for the man she knew she loved with everything in her. “How did things go with your father?” her voice soft, as Darius paused for a few seconds.
“My father was dying when I appeared. His whole life he had overindulged…drink, drugs and women”, another sigh torn from him. “He had a daughter”, his mouth tightened once more, “Not a nice person…and very much like him…which meant that his fortune was not what it had been. He gave me a hundred thousand dollars if I agreed to legally change my name…suddenly he was glad to have a son…someone to carry on his name” Again he paused.
“I used the money to buy some land and built some luxury houses on it…made millions…and it went on from there” As he lapsed into silence she twirled her finger around his belly. “Well it is good that you and your father finally made up…and you met your sister” The harsh laugh made her eyes fly to his. “My father was a selfish man who had no interest in me, only in carrying on his family name…and believe me his daughter - my sister
- is no different. When I made my first few million she lawyered up and demanded fifty percent of everything I had. My father backed her just before he died…signed an affidavit that what he gave me was a loan”
Sara groaned softly, “That is terrible…what happened?” He took a few seconds to answer, “Eventually I settled out of court with her…I gave her some millions in exchange for her signing over the company name to me…hence I took over the Garelli corporation name” A wide grin filled his face, “She really should have waited a couple of years…I seemed to have a knack for making money…but by then she had signed an ironclad contract and couldn’t touch a penny…plus she had pissed me off so much I was not about to be brotherly with her”
Sara laughed softly back, as she allowed herself to relax against this man. This arrogant, forceful, demanding, yet kind, intelligent, funny and caring man…this man she loved. “Thank you for telling me”, she whispered softly, this her last thought before sleep took her.
Waking, Darius frowned. Still dark, he was not sure what pulled him from his dreams, dreams full of a beautiful blonde. Turning he frowned not seeing her there, his hands pushing the covers from himself. Rubbing his eyes, still sleepy, he pulled on pyjama bottoms and padded softly into the other room, his lips curving as he found Sara. She lay on top of the bed the small boy slept in. His little hands lay on her stomach, hers wrapped around him, both asleep. From the door he admired her. Dressed in one of his t-shirts, she looked sexier than any other woman he had ever met, Sara not someone who ever needed to try. This maternal side of her was a surprise though, as was the way it filled him with warmth.
