Heart Of Stone

by Hayes, S. I.

  “I didn’t realise you changed your concept.” Donnella questioned. “When did that happen?”

  “Right around the time I met you.” He smirked, taking her by the hand. “Go on, you guys go and look. I’ve already seen it.”

  ***

  The patrons walked through a lighted maze of twinkling stars. From the walls to the floor the only overhead lights were those that reflected down upon the work. Casting it in the briefest of shadow as it was approached. Beside each photograph was the painting of the model. The first was of the African American soldier that had first caught Donnella’s attention. She remembered that night. When they first met. How awkward Matthew had been, how full of passion over his work, the nerve he had shown insulting her. Knowing full well who she was and what she could do to him if she had chosen. Next to the photo was the painting. The woman reimagined as a mighty warrior princess, her hair in tight high twists, gold rings wrapped up the length of her swan like neck, her prosthetic in the foreground launching her forward as she leapt toward the onlooker.

  Mary held Donnella’s hand giving it a squeeze. “I didn’t know he could do this.” She sniffed. “I’ve never seen his work up close.”

  “Neither have I.” Donnella confessed.

  They walked through the exhibit, finding that some of the women were not soldiers, some were women who kept homes, who had no homes, but worked to feed their children. Each piece had a plaque explaining her story. As they reached the centerpiece of the exhibit Donnella halted. Her eyes trailing up the length of her own legs, wrapped in purple silks. Her body twisted so that the small triangle of red curls was exposed, the scar from her surgery a bright contrast against her silvery skin, her breasts were thrust upward and her arms were tied above her head, face hidden in the shadow of brightly lit red curls. She held her breath as people looked on at the photograph. Nodding and whispering.

  Does it say my name? Why would he do this to me? Humiliate me…

  Mary came back to her and squeezed her hand again, bringing her back. “Go and see it… Ella. It’s beautiful.”

  She approached with apprehension. As Janet stepped aside, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. The piece hung alone in the center of the room, the lighting above split to either side of it, and she realized that the painting was on the back of the mounting. Without reading the plaque she looked to the painting. It showed her twisted, rolled over, so that her tattoo showed, the ribbon no longer wrapped around her instead she was covered by a tiger, but it possessed only a handful of stripes.

  Coming back around to the photograph she saw the plaque.

  There be tigers and there be dragons. Dragons fly above the chaos. They escape. They burn through everything in their path. They sail all alone. Hoarding and protecting in their selfish ways.

  The tiger is never alone. For she carries the weight of the world in stripes on her soul. Mourn for her, because she does not see them, as we do. To her they are scars along her face, her body and her heart. She longs to be free of them, but they are what make her powerful, unique. Every one etched in stone upon her heart. Join her and stand proud. Celebrate the first stripes of the bravest tiger I have ever known. Donnella Stone.

  Donnella wiped a tear from her cheek as a hand wrapped tenderly around her shoulder. She looked up, seeing Matthew looking down into her with a tender and loving smile. “I love you.” He whispered as she hugged him tightly, her legs giving. He raised her up, and carried her out of the maze kissing the tears on her cheeks.

  “You made me your focus…” She sniffed. “I… Thank you… It’s beautiful…”

  “You’re beautiful. And it’s the only one I don’t intend to sell.” He smiled. “In case you wondered.”

  She laughed smacking his arm as he put her down. “You’d better not.”

  Rupert Walsh interrupted. “Hello my darlings. Donnella, this is a huge hit. Everyone was so intrigued with the set up. And the fact that you posed? Oh my goodness! How beautiful and touching! Just, I’m… Speechless… Well… Almost. Anyway. They are tallying the numbers for the silent auction. We stand to make a hell of a lot tonight.” He grinned. Then turned to Matthew. “As promised two thirds of your proceeds will be dispersed to the charities you supplied me with at the beginning of this wonderful event. It’s nice to see someone giving back to the people. It’s going to make you famous. You know that. Absolutely famous.” He kissed Matthew and Donnella on the cheeks. “I’m going to see how much we’re up to. I’m just so… Thrilled! Are you coming?”

  “We can’t stay.” Donnella chirped. “We have a flight to catch. “Don’t we?”

  “Oh? Where are we off to? A romantic getaway?”

  “Something like that.” Matthew grinned as they walked away.

  ***

  “You gonna be okay with this? First times can be nerve wracking.” Matthew grinned as the house lights came up and the crowd started screaming.

  “Too late to back out now!” She called out as Angus Young appeared rolling out his famed guitar riffs and Brian Johnson’s unmistakably gritty vocals tore through the speakers. Welcoming everyone to Sydney, Australia with For those about to Rock, we Salute You!

  The audience was intoxicated by the music and Mathew was entranced, watching Donnella as she swayed and danced, her arms above her head, her hips swaying, her ass shaking in time with the drum beats. She was wild, free. Laughing and carrying on.

  “This is awesome!” She hung from his shoulders. “I want to do more things like this with you!” She hollered. Kissing his lips in quick successive pecks.

  “I think we can arrange that.” He lifted her up to ease her pull on his back.

  “Yeah?” She laughed. “I want to take you places you’ve never been. Europe, Japan. The Mediterranean.”

  “That sounds like a major commitment, Miss Stone. Are you sure you’d like to extend my contract that long?” He teased. “You know it ran out this week.”

  She smiled at him. “I have been known to give extensions for good behavior.”

  “And how long would you like to extend my contract?”

  She made him put her down, and she shoved her hands in her pockets. “I don’t know.” She looked to the ground as people bumped and danced around them. “How about the rest of your life?” Pulling her hand out of her pocket she produced a light blue velvet box. Opening it, to reveal a wedding set, for a man and a woman. “All you have to do is say yes.”

  His eyes opened wide as he stared down at the platinum setting with a row of diamonds along its rim. “Are you serious?” He called out to her, laughing as he fished into his own pocket. “I was going to wait until dinner.” He opened a black leather box. Inside was an antique emerald and diamond ring, set in sterling silver, sitting on a pillow of red satin, from her angle Donnella could read the inscription. ‘Be my lover for always…’ “It was my grandmother’s.” He smiled as she took it from him. “So is that a yes?”

  “You tell me.” She looked up at him. “I asked you first.”

  21

  “You got engaged?” Harold cooed, spying the ring on Donnella’s hand before she could even open her mouth to show him as she rushed in fifteen minutes late for her meeting with Gerald Mcloughlin.

  “Shh, I don’t want the whole office to know… Yet” She squealed, into her dolce bag. “How long have they been here? And thank you for keeping them occupied.”

  “Not a problem. Mcloughlin is actually a nice guy. Who would have thought it? And kind of funny. Been about ten minutes. They hit the same traffic you did, although I don’t think they spent their time in it quite the same way you did.” He twisted his fingers around. “You missed your zipper top there sweetie.”

  “Oh? Could you?”

  “I swear, you need a better Administrative Assistant. Who’s taking care of you?”

  “Just me right now. I haven’t had time to interview your replacement.” She whined pulling on her ridiculously high heels and straightening out her knee length pencil skirt. “Do I
look presentable? I mean… Oh I’m so nervous.”

  Harold sighed. “I’ll do both jobs, just until you get through this merger. Then I’ll interview my replacement. You need someone who can handle you. And not let you get away with murder.”

  She looked at him with a thankful smile and kissed his cheek. “You are the best. Now let’s go and get merged.”

  “Well when you put it like that, I just wanna go get my light sticks and silly putty.”

  “Silly putty?”

  “In case it gets silly.” Harold smiled following her out the door.

  ***

  “So then with these provisions it all looks to be in order.” Gerald Mcloughlin closed the large contract that sat before him. It had taken them almost five hours to go through the entirety of it, but now he felt confident that his company was passing into capable hands. The projects that Donnella Stone was attached to turned out to be so far executed that many could not be stopped without major loss, therefore the shareholders kept their promises and would continue to back her. Leaving her in the formidable position to keep her promises. Fifteen point five million dollars was his take away. To be dispersed among the shareholders and himself. All in all not a bad exchange for a company he never wanted in the first place.

  His Lawyers stood, smiling, shaking Donnella and Harold’s hands. They were going to see a piece of the pie as well. Donavan Kelly was gone. Having been arrested for that unsavory happening at the Surry Hotel. Gerald was sad to hear that the incident turned out to be of the sort that required the police. He stayed seated, watching Donnella as she walked the rest of the room out, then turned to him smiling.

  “Mister Mcloughlin. You have no idea what all of this means to The Stone Company. I promise you that your people will be well taken care of.” She reached for his hands and he hesitated seeing the engagement ring.

  Taking her by the hand he smiled widely. “Matthew asked you to marry him did he?”

  Harold held his breath, stepping back toward the door.

  Donnella drew in her breath. She didn’t know what to say to him. Of course he would know about their relationship. It was splashed salaciously all over the papers and the television screens. She just didn’t think he would actually comment on the subject being they never spoke. “Um, well… Yes. Sir, sorta. It was more of a mutual decision.”

  “Did he tell you that this was his grandmother’s ring?”

  “He did.” She gently pulled her hand away, fingering the gem.

  “That’s good.” He stood up. “That’s really good.” He smiled for the first time and Donnella finally saw Matthew in him. The twinkling around the eyes, the dimples in his cheeks. Happy this man was handsome, just like his son. “Well, our business is done. So if you’ll excuse me.” He began to walk away, then stopped at the door. “Tell my son, that he made a good choice in you. Perhaps, in time he might find it in his heart to forgive an old man for not making the same choices for love.”

  She nodded as he waked past Harold, patting him on the shoulder as he went through the doors.

  “What was that about?” Donnella asked not really talking to Harold.

  “You’d have to ask Matthew, I would think.”

  “When it comes to his father, I would rather not.”

  ***

  “A wedding is not an easy thing to plan.” Mary laughed into the phone. “Even with someone doing it for you. Ella you’ve got to calm down not everyone is going to be perfect all the time.”

  “Yeah but this is a disaster.” Donnella whined into the phone. “I told them Tiger and Oriental lilies and they sent all Calla lilies! Like for a funeral!”

  “Oh it will be fine, we’ll get it worked out!” Mary was still trying to stifle her laugh as she climbed out of the cab.

  “Don’t laugh. There are three hundred bouquets not to mention mine.” Donnella paid the driver as they hung up the phones and hugged tightly.

  “I didn’t think this day was going to come.”

  “You and me either.” Donnella teased. “We just needed to do it in a flash, before the dress didn’t fit anymore.” She put her hand to her stomach.

  “So much for the shot.” Mary teased.

  “I know. But it’s going to be good. This is going to be good. Oh, ma, you should see the dress.”

  “Well if we ever go upstairs I will. It’s getting hot we should get you into the cool air. It’s better for you. Who ever heard of an August wedding? Sure June, even September…” Mary complained shooing Donnella into The Tower.

  ***

  While Mary calmly called the florist to fix the flower situation Donnella spent her time floating around the Penthouse in a euphoric daze. She had been staying away from Matthew at night for more than two months. Wanting to be the blushing bride for him. It had been excruciating for them both but she knew it would be worth it. She wanted the white gown to mean something, she’d joked even though she was already carrying his child. They talked and saw each other every day, but no sex and always with an escort. They couldn’t be trusted as the one time they were left alone their clothes were in shambles. Here they were just three short days from the wedding and she ached for him, her body seemed electrified. Trying to calm her baser impulses she took to going through her father’s properties, her properties. She found the last box that had been delivered of photographs and files. She hadn’t even opened it. She knew her wealth had increased and that she had gained properties all over the world, but at the time she didn’t care. Now that she and Matthew were getting married she wondered about where her father had spent the last ten years of his life. She’d like to see some of the things he had done, she knew he couldn’t be there physically, but perhaps in spirit through pictures...

  ***

  Her eyes teared as she looked seeing him in tropical resorts waving out from the photos as though he knew she would one day see them. Him sipping coffee at a café in Venice. Taking in the Parthenon in Greece. Then her eyes skimmed across a bound leather book she assumed to be files. Opening it she stared down into a series of photographs that she didn’t at first understand. They were of a child. A little boy. Some an infant. Then a little older. None more than ten, but all the same child, with pale green eyes, dark hair and a little cupids bow of a mouth. In some he wore a red blazer and in others a woman she had never seen held him happily. She fell into a seated position on the floor, and Mary spotted her. Immediately hanging up the phone.

  “What’s wrong? Donnella?” She reached for her trying to remain calm. “Is it the baby? Do I need to call Matthew?”

  “He was trying to tell me.” Donnella scrambled to her feet. “He died trying to tell me!” She ran down the hallway her eyes searching for Cordell who was standing at his usual post near the door.

  “Who is she?” She slammed into him, grabbing him by his lapels, the photograph in her hands. “Who is she who is this woman that has my son?”

  Cordell grasped Donnella by the hands, gently easing them off of him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Miss Stone. But let’s assess the situation. Come back inside.”

  ***

  Matthew sat down, his arm around Donnella who kept staring at the photos in rapid succession. Leaving Cordell and Mary to go through the rest of the box and the papers within. She was stunned, couldn’t focus.

  “It’s what he was trying to tell me, before he died… I just wouldn’t listen. If I’d listened better. But why didn’t he tell me sooner?”

  “I’ve got something here.” Cordell spoke up breaking the mood in the room. “Here’s a letter of acceptance for an Alexander J. Stone to the Loretto School, in…” His eyes scanned the paper. “East Lothian, Scotland…”

  Donnella jumped up snatching the paper from his hands. “A boarding school?” Hope filled her voice. “Do you think?” She looked at Matthew and Mary with desperation in her eyes. “Could he still be there?”

  “It’s possible, sweetie.” Mary rubbed her back gently. “Why don’t you have a seat? We�
�ll go through this and find the info on this place and see. But you need to calm down and rest. Okay?”

  Donnella sighed heavily, “Yeah. I think I could use a bit of time.” She looked at Matthew with a smile. “A bath would do me wonders.”

  “But not too hot, can’t have you boil my kid there.” He jested, getting up. “C’mon. I’ll help you. That tub in there is a death trap.”

  ***

  Matthew ran the bath as Donnella sat on the floor by the toilet. “You know you do too much for me.” She smiled, her hand on her stomach, the nausea just subsiding. As soon as they had made it to the bathroom she had started to vomit. “I don’t know why they call it morning sickness when it come all hours of the fuckin’ day.” She got up going to the sink to brush her teeth.

  Matthew let out a short laugh. “Any regrets?”

  “Me? Now you ask me that? We’re about to get married, I’m knocked up and I’ve just found out my son may be attainable. Baby I’m about as happy as a clam can get. I just look like a hot mess.” She spit the toothpaste into the sink, rinsed her mouth and pulled her hair up into a messy bun, bits of it flying in all directions on top of her head.

  “You look gorgeous as always.” He kissed her lips, the minty aftertaste of toothpaste leaving a light burning on his tongue as it slipped into her opened mouth. His hands ran down her back firmly grabbing her by the ass. He pulled back with a laugh. “I think I’m gonna like you pregnant.” He squeezed, playfully. “There’s certainly a bit more junk in this trunk.”