When they left the restaurant they spent the night drinking wine and eating cheesecake while they burnt the divorce papers outside by the mahogany tree, allowing the ashes to float across the countryside.
That first night back at their home, Marcus made a call to his friend Trenton Parks at Emperor Music, a competitor of Pacific Sun and asked him to express an interest in Natasha’s contract and to say that she was not happy at Pacific Sun and was considering relaunching her career at Emperor Music. Trenton was glad to help because he was not only a huge fan of Marcus’ books but he himself had been married to the same woman for thirty three years and he believed that the love between a man and his wife should be protected. He was also willing to sign Natasha to Emperor Music if Pacific Sun did not agree to her terms of staying married and renegotiating how they would market her music.
As far as Marcus was concerned her video to “Fire Heart” would be the first and last time she would have to parade herself like that or else he could see himself getting into a lot of fights with her producers, directors and the leering male models she would have to work with.
Mr. Calderon himself called and he was infuriated with Natasha at first for trying to pull what he called a reckless stunt and threatened her with losing all her money from the projects she’d worked on. Natasha did not even budge and told him that he could keep it and she would try her luck at Emperor Music if that was what he wanted. She told him boldly that she was sure to make ten times more than what she was set to earn on ‘Brave’ and her two singles combined on the albums that she would make throughout her career. That got his attention as he considered the long-term losses versus the short-term gains. He agreed to meet with her and her legal representatives when she returned to renegotiate the details. It was a moment of happiness for both of them to know that she could still pursue her dream and complete her current album.
“Do you want a cup of coffee Natasha?”
“No, I was naughty yesterday when I drank that mocha already. I should be drinking teas to preserve my vocals. I don’t want to sound as though I am croaking at the upcoming concert,” she laughed. “Do you think you can slip away just for one day to be there? It’s my first concert opening!”
“Hmm, I don’t know, is that something you really want?” he hedged mysteriously.
“How could you ask me that? If you knew how much I wanted you to be there when I was on Ellen you would not ask me that. I wanted to be able to look out at the audience knowing that you were there. It felt like something was missing. I finally had my big moment but it still felt empty, you know.”
“So Sheldon was right!”
“Sheldon? What does he have to do with any of this?”
“He called me when he saw you on TV that day. He was convinced after watching the interview that our marriage still had a real chance of working.”
“Why am I not surprised, he always tends to notice too much and then some. I guess that is why he is paid the big bucks to be head of security?” she said smiling. What did you think, could you tell I wanted you still?”
“I wasn’t sure until I saw you do two things. But I am not sure I want to tell you my secrets. I will tell you this though, one was surprising to me and the other is my personal secret weapon of observation about you,” he replied with a wink.
“I bet I know how to make you talk. I seem to have discovered a secret spot or two of my own yesterday alone. Don’t you remember?” asked Natasha with a wink of her own advancing toward him slowly.
“You drive a hard bargain lady, but you are assuming that I would somehow refuse to allow you to use your new found secret weapons. Bring it on!” he challenged.
“Arrrgh! I should have known better. You really are insatiable!”
“When it comes to you, I have no apologies about that fact.”
“Okay back to my question, can I count on you being there in a few days. I know you still have business to wrap up and you have to meet with your publishers as well but I really need you to come.”
“Natasha, I would not miss it for anything.”
***
The audience packing out the Madison Square Garden for the concert was massive. The tickets had been sold out days ago. Two well-known artists from the Pacific Sun label were a part of the first half of the program and that made this concert one fans did not want to miss.
Marcus, with a bouquet of red roses in hand, stood backstage watching Natasha totally own the stage, dressed in stilettos and a white jumpsuit covered in sparkling jewels. Whenever the lights captured her she shone just like the star she had truly become. Her meteoric rise to popularity was testament not just to her exquisite beauty and her obvious talent but that she chose to believe she could do it, at all costs. They had finally put the past behind them and he could not be more proud of her. She had just sung her first songs “Fire Heart” and “Jewels” and now she was speaking to the audience.
“How are you doing tonight?” she asked the roaring crowd standing in that sexy, confident pose with her legs slightly spread apart. The cheers and whistles sounded as though it would literally lift the roof off the stadium.
“Just before I do my final song ‘Brave’, there is something I need to say. I want to dedicate this song to you my fans. You guys have been so awesome getting the word out there about me! I would not be here if it weren’t for your support and your love! When I wrote this song, this reality was still only a dream, but it is here now because of all of you. But there is someone else who I need to thank; someone who has loved me even when I was at my worst, even when I pushed him away, he did not give up on me, he never let me forget who I really was. He forgave me when I didn’t deserve it and today he is the brightness of my life. Marcus I love you, you are the brave one, and I want the world to know it and I dedicate this song to you! Marcus are you here?” she asked.
Marcus stood in shock backstage. Natasha had just told the whole concert hall that she loved him. The audience had gone quiet and a buzz filled the auditorium as the spotlight panned the backstage entrances and the audience to see if he was somewhere in the crowd.
“You are not just going to leave her standing there, are you?” asked the stage director looking at Marcus with his bushy eyebrows raised.
“No, no I’m not, I am just surprised that’s all, I didn’t expect her to do that,” replied Marcus.
Onstage Natasha was turning around in circles searching for him. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves at the thought of walking out in front of thousands of people, he focused only on Natasha and realized this was her way of telling him now that she was letting him fully into her life, no more hiding, no more pretending.
Marcus emerged from behind the curtain and when Natasha saw him, she began to jump up and down on the spot and announced through her microphone. There he is, my husband Marcus Nicholls.
The crowd erupted with shouts and applause and flashbulbs were going off all around the auditorium. When he finally reached her side, he gave her the flowers and kissed her briefly on the lips.
“Isn’t he amazing?” she asked and the crowd agreed and continued to whistle and applaud their approval.
As the first bars of the song began to play, that unusual combination of strings and drums, she continued to hold his hand, and mouthed the words, “I love you” to him. Behind her the dancer’s had already assembled and began to execute their routine.
The stage crew backstage began to motion to him that he could leave the stage at that point and he gave Natasha’s hand a final squeeze before returning backstage.
Natasha was so happy that Marcus made it. Up till that point she wasn’t sure that he was able to get in for the surprise she had planned. He must have come directly from the airport in order to make it in time.
Filled with newfound energy to really make this one count she sang with all of her heart and by the time she was finished, the entire stadium was giving her a standing ovation. She stood for a moment and accepted the applause before running offstage to find Mar
cus. She did not have to go far because he stood there right in the wings of the stage.
“Nat, that was unbelievable!” he said hugging her tightly and still in awe of how every cell in his body buzzed in response to the song but more so to the love he felt for her. He had never really paid attention to the words before because the last time he heard it Sheldon had called him on the phone. But now, hearing the lyrics, he realized that all along Natasha had poured her heart into this song and he was touched that she dedicated it to him tonight.
“Come let’s go into my dressing room,” she advised quickly.
Once inside, she locked the door so that they could have privacy.
“I’m so glad you made it, I love you!” she said encircling his neck with her arms.
“Nat, I am so lost for words right now and that is difficult for a writer to admit,” said Marcus.
“Did you like the song?”
“I loved it, every single note and word, and I love you,”
Hugging him tightly, Natasha savoured the feeling of completeness that she had wanted all along. She now felt that she could do anything and to go as far as she dared, once Marcus was there.
THE END
Note to the Reader
Thank you for reading Forgotten Love, Book 1 in the Derrien Island Trilogy of novels. I had a great time writing this one!
This book carried many themes that are important for married couples but I will let you extract which ones were most important to you.
However, there is just one thing! It is a point of view that affects all of us, whether married or unmarried and that is to recognize that the other person is really you. If you can see others and love others like you love yourself a lot of the short-sightedness, and coldness that creeps into relationships would not even have a chance to take root.
Even though Marcus and Natasha loved each other they had their own selfish interests linked to many other “stories” that surrounded their lives. Maybe it’s time to look at what influences our relationships and the way we feel about that special someone. When the truth comes to the surface, remember love is a choice.
I would love to meet you online so feel free to link up with me socially on my
Author Page on Facebook
Simmone Thorpe @MarriageSpice on Twitter
About the Author
Simmone Thorpe is a hopeless romantic who melts like butter at the very idea of love, desire and passion, and can often be found curled up with a bowl of popcorn watching the latest romantic comedy. In fact, after watching the movie Titanic she was so moved by the passion of the love story that she cried for over twenty minutes in the cinema much to her chagrin.
Throughout her teenage years and adult life her favourite pastime has always been reading romance novels and thus she is quite enamoured with the typical romance story and the happily ever after fairy tale wedding. Having experienced her own ‘fairy tale ending’ she has come to realize that where the typical romance novels end, is for many people where passion and love end as well due to a number of reasons.
After watching the demise of many marriages and the rapid rise of divorce she is now redefining marriage, passion and romance with her Marriage Spice Collection. It is her hope that every reader will see past the romantic wedding and experience the real joys of marriage with a bit of added fantasy and excitement of course!
She resides on the tropical island of Barbados with her husband and daughter.
If you have enjoyed this book, please recommend it to a friend and leave an online review for future readers. Thank you. To participate in our online book club hangouts and to receive updates on book launches and discounts, please consider joining my mailing list.
Other Books in the Series
Have you read the Introductory Novella to this series?
Finally Love by Simmone Thorpe
CAN A LOVE TESTED TO THE LIMIT TRULY SURVIVE?
Ramon Belham is planning the perfect seduction for his wife for their seventh wedding anniversary and all of his plans are falling into place. Every sensuous detail he’s envisioned is precisely designed to recapture the heart of the woman who stole his heart nine years ago.
Courtney Belham loves her husband, but trusting him with her whole heart is another matter altogether. Haunted by a past filled with painful secrets and her own husband’s recent betrayal with another woman, she was ready for a divorce.
Fighting through the pain and finding healing has come at a great cost and now Courtney wants to open her heart to Ramon fully and frankly he's done waiting for her to try! This is a man on a mission who will stop at nothing this time, until his beautiful wife surrenders her heart, mind and soul.
Book 2: Hidden Love by Simmone Thorpe will take your breath away as Darius Brogan puts aside his pride to recapture the heart of his ex-wife Candasee.
BEHIND EVERY HEART OF STONE IS A HEART THAT IS AFRAID TO LOVE...
Darius Brogan is a handsome, rich, wildly successful, highly admired hotel chain owner. He’s a billionaire who seems to have it all, and is on the guest list for every high society event, with the pick of any companion that he chooses. But, he would leave it all behind just for a chance to take back every callous word he said to his ex-wife Candasee and regain her trust and their marriage. Now, two years after their divorce he can no longer hide the truth from her any more -that letting her go, and trying to live without her was the biggest mistake of his life.
Losing Darius meant walking away from the first close-knit family Candasee ever had and away from the man who once inspired her to reach for the stars. Moving back to the land of her birth she started a new life, desperately trying to forget the one she left behind. This former attorney-at-law and now a dance instructor has found the career she always wanted and the approval of a man who loves her, but when her job forces her to return to Derrien Island for one week to host an arts and media intensive on the island, everything she’s built looks shaky in the light of what both she and Darius were both hiding in their hearts.
Book 3: Lost In Love:The Pact It’s Sheldon’s turn to fall in love and he has a secret about his new wife that could cost him his job, his freedom and the respect of his peers. He’s sworn to protect her but who is protecting him?
SOMETIMES A PROMISE IS MEANT TO BE BROKEN IF IT MEANS YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL...
Stay tuned!
Table of Contents
Summary
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Note to the Reader
About the Author
Other Books In the Series
Forgotten Love (Derrien Island Trilogy) Page 22
