by Andrew Davis
"Tino! It is awesome!" William yelled back and gave the man who I now learnt to be Tino if that is his full name, a man hug. "Andy! Awesome bro!" Another man said.
"Luigi! Tops bro!" Anthony exclaimed and fist bumped him.
"Seb! How's the wife?" One man smirked.
"I should be asPotter you that, Lucca." Sebastian said patting the man on the back.
I looked around the room and honestly it was mostly filled by men in their twenties, I guess maybe the ladies are out...
"Daddy! Uncle Franklin!" The girls yelled and practically jumped on them. I gueas they must be happy the see people they know. "Hey girls!" Uncle Franklin greeted them.
"I see your'll have been out shopping..." Dad said more like interegating.
"Yeah we kinda borrowed your card but we put the money back." They said shyly.
"Good." Was all he said.
"Where's mum?" I asked.
"She and Lucinda went to cut grapes." Dad answered. "Okay-" I was cut off by someone calling me. "Helen!" It was Rosa who called me, I turned to face her and she had a bunch of people with her.
"I would like you to meet my sons and their wives, well you already know Franklin who is the oldest and Lucinda , this is Raphael and his wife Gianna, Ceasare his wife Aria, Phillip his wife Maria and their sons-" She paused and looked around the room until her eyes landed on something behind me and a frown made a way up to her face.
"Boys! How rude of you to be chatting away when we have guests!"She glared at the group of men in the corner of the room and amongst them were William,Anthony, Sebastian, Eric and Dylan. They held their down in shame and came towards and stood near the four men amd women who I know learnt as Raphael, Gianna, Ceasare, Aria, Phillip and Maria. "This is Fabian, Ricardo, Lorenzo and they are Raphael's sons." She looked at them with a cold look in her eyes and they nodded their heads. They all had dark blue eyes, brown hair and were probably about 6'0 to 6'2. I could see that they were well built as in muscles.
"Hello, Helen." They said in unison. It was weird seeing grown men afraid of a sweet old lady. "And this is Rinaldo, Lucca, Marizio and Dantè. They are Ceasare's sons." She looked at them and they said hello as well. They had blue-green eyes and dirty blonde hair and they were also well built. "And lastly this is Angelo, Luigi and Santino." They had blue-grey eyes and brown hair and they were also well built.
"Well that is almost everyone, the rest will be coming soon. So you can meet them later." She smiled at me and everyone went back to talPotter amongst themselves. I was walPotter back to my father and Uncle Franklin until someone called me.
"What?" I asked.
"Come here." He said gesturing for me to join them.
"No." I said and he pouted. I sighed and went over. Imagine how uncormfortable I felt around 15 men that were twice they size of me, I looked like a little girl in front of them. "Helen how are you?" Angelo asked.
"Good and you?" I politely replied.
"Well." Was all he said.
"I hear that you own Potter Industries. It's pretty amazing that you can handle the stress." Luigi stated with an amazed look. "You get used to it." I said and they just nodded.
"So they are 15 of you." I said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yep! At least 5-4 years difference between all of us." Rinaldo said popping the 'p'.
The rest of the afternoon went by with loads of talPotter and laughing. I learnt that Fabian, Rinaldo and Angelo were married. Fabian has two sons, Rinaldo has one sone and Angelo has one son. It was now 6:30 and we were waiting for Fabian, Rinaldo and Angelo's wives and kids. "Helen?!" A voice called and knew that voice but I haven't heard it in like 6-7 years. "Lacey?!" I exclaimed and she came running and hugged me. "OMG!!! I haven't seen you in like 7 years!" She said and we broke the hug. "Chirsty?!" Another voice called. "Oh god! Riley!" I said and I hugged her. "Oh My God, it's been like 6 years since I saw you!" Riley squealed. "Gosh! How is Selene?!" Lacey grinned. "Selene is fine, she is on vacation with her family in the Bahamas." I said. "Wait what are you doing here?" Riley asked looPotter at me. "I should be asPotter you the same question" I said looPotter at her. "Well seems like you know already know my cousins wives." William smirked with a raised eyebrow. "What?" I was confused. "Helen meet my wife Lacey." Fabian said putting an arm around Lacey's shoulders. "And my wife Riley." Rinaldo put an arm around Riley's waist. "Your'll are married?!" I said taPotter in the information. "We have alot of catching up to do." I said. "We sure do." Lacey grinned.
"Dinner is ready everybody!" Rosa yelled and everybody went to the dining table all the older people sat at one table and everyone who was in their twenties as well as my sisters sat another and the kids had their own tables.
There was a variety of classic italian food to choose from and they all looked delicious. As we ate, we were talPotter, laughing and joPotter. It was like a big happy family.
After eating everyone retired to their rooms to get a good nights rest.
Chapter 29: Confessions...
I woke up to the sound of my phone going off, I turned and grabbed my phone off the bedside table and saw that is was my alarm clock.
"Well now that I am awake, might as well go get ready." I said to myself and got up, walPotter to the ensuite bathroom.
I walked through the hallways and soon my face made contact with a hard wall. I stepped back and it was not a wall but someone's well defined chest.
"Can't you see where you walPotter?" The voice smirked.
"Well if you never stop in the middle of the way like that, then maybe I wouldn't have run into you." I glared at the man's crystal blue eyes.
"Maybe I wanted you to run into me..." He mumbled something but I didn't catch it. "Just move out of my way William." I tried to push past him but it was like trying to move a 20 ton hippo out of the way. "Move you big hippo!" I yelled at him.
"Did you just call me a hippo?" He asked cocPotter his head to the side, an amused look on his face.
"Noo...I called you a feather... Of course I called you a hippo because you so fat and heavy like one!" I stated sarcastically and he just scoffed. "Look here, this is all muscle, baby." He said showing his muscle. Egoistical much?
"I beg to differ." I said having a little fun with him.
"For that smart mouth of yours, I am not going to let you pass." He said, standing in front of me. I tried his left and then his right but he just mirrored my actioms blocPotter the way, I huffed and crossed my arms.
"Aww
"Shut up, you jackass." I scowled at him and he just let out a deep chuckle.
"There's that fiesty Helen, I first met." He smirked.
"Just let me past William!" I whined and the fucPotter devil just smirked at me.
"Fine, I will let you pass but only if you give me a hug for running into me." He said amused.
I was thinPotter maybe if I should hug him or not, but he doesn't look like he will let me go any time soon.
I nodded my head and he held open his arms and I hugged him. It was...actually nice...I felt safe and secure in his arms.
I pulled away and he smiled softly in my direction and I smiled back. He stepped aside and I walked in the direction of the stairs. She seemed hesitant at first but she then nodded and I held opened my arms to accept her hug. I have to admit it...it was such an anazing hug...Who would have thought that something so simple, could make you feel this amazing. It felt so right to have her in my arms, our bodies fit perfectly together and then...it hit me...
"
I got to the bottom of the stairs and walked into the living room where everybody seems to be gathered. "Nooo, that is my car!!" I heard a little voice whine.
"Noo it is mine!" Another yelled
"MOM!!" They said in unison and Lacey went to see the two boys fighting over a red toy car. They had dark blue eyes and messy brown hair, they reminded me of Fabian and I just remembered that Fabian and Lacey had two sons.
"Good morning Lacey." I greeted her.
"Good morning
Helen." She smiled and went back to the boys.
"So these are the kids I never knew about?" I smiled.
"Yep, meet Keaton and Kayden. Boys this one of my closest friends Chirsty but you will call her Aunt Helen." Lacey said in a motherly tone.
"Hey boys." I smiled at them.
"Hi Aunt Helen!" They smiled. Keaton seemed to have lost one of his teeth while Kayden had all his teeth.
"How old are your'll?" I asked them and they counted their fingers and showed a five and four. "So Keaton you are 5 and Kayden you are 4?" I asked and they both nodded causing their hair to fall out of place, I brushed back their hair.
"I thought your'll were 8 or 9." I played with them.
"No Aunt Helen we only 5 and 4." They giggled. I always loved children but I could never bring myself to see me having kids. "You sure?" I raised an eyebrow at them.
"Yes Aunt Helen!!" They giggled some more.
"Can I talk to Aunt Helen for a bit?" Lacey said and they boys nodded.
"But come back." They said.
"They really like you Helen. I am surprised since they don't normally like meeting new people but I can't believe it that they actually talPotter to you and playing with you. I have never seen them like this." Lacey said with so much love in her eyes for her boys.
"They are really sweet kids." I said.
"You will make a great mum one day Helen." She said looPotter at me. "One day." I smiled at her and she smiled back.
We went back to the boys and there two other boys along with Riley and a woman that I never seen before.
"Helen, I would like you to meet my son
"And this is Tasha, Angelo's wife and their son Aiden." Lacey introduced the woman who I learnt as Tasha who is Angelo's wife and their son. He had Tasha's eyes but he still looked like Angelo. It was so weird how they all looked like their fathers and hardly like their mothers, I wonder if they get daughters, if they would look like their mothers.
"It is a pleasure meeting you Tasha, I am Helen." I smiled at her and held out a hand for a handshake, but she choose to hug me instead and I gladly accepted her.
"No it is a pleasure for me to meet you Helen. Lacey and Riley talked about you and you seem as just as amazing as they described you!" She beamed.
"Thanks, you don't seem to bad yourself."I smiled.
We spent the rest of the day talPotter and laughing and playing with the kids. As promised the boys took the girls and I for a tour of where they make wine. "How is it Helen?" Anthony asked me. I was tasting a wine that was made from an old family secret. "It is amazing! I think this is the best wine I have ever tasted!"I beamed.
"Glad you like it." Sebastian said.
"It is unfair! How come we don't get to taste!" They girls whined.
"Well your'll can taste this,
"How can you give them alcohol to drink" I said through gritted teeth.
"Relax, it's not even alcohol, it's grape juice." He smirked. He said it so low so that the girls won't hear him. "So how is it?" Sebastian asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It tastes awesome!" They said gulping down the rest.
"More please!" They beamed and we laughed at them but they didn't seem to care. Eric poured them some more juice and they drank it like it was heaven they were tasting.
"Helen, I want to show you something." I said. "What is it?" She asked suspiously and I smiled in my mind thinPotter can this woman get any more better.
"It is not anything bad, just come." I said trying to assure her that it is not anything bad. She was hesitant at first but she soon agreed.
We walked out of the cellar and out to the vineyard. We walked for sometime without saying anything to each other, just enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
We reached a hill with a big oak tree that seemed like a big canopy. I guided her into the tree and we soon reached a clearing on the other side of the tree that was all to familiar. It was like going into the wardrobe and reaching Narnia on the otherside, except this was a tree and the view on the otherside was breathtaPotter, we had a clear view of the sunset which painted the sky in a beautiful red and orange colour.
"This is so beautiful..." I sighed. "I knew you would like it. Anthony, Sebastian, Eric, Dylan and I used to come here when we were little. Whenever we got into trouble we would come and they couldn't find us because we would be here" He said nonchantly.
It was quiet between us for a moment but it was a comfortable silence. I felt William's stare on me so I turned to face him and he had an unreadable expression on his face. He leaned in and I don't know what made me but I leaned in as well.
I don't know what came over me but I kissed William, it was just a peck but I felt so bad. "I am so sorry, I don't know what came over me." I said regretting coming out here with him. "No, Helen I am sorry."He said and before I could ask him what he meant, he kissed me!
It was not like any of the other kisses that we had. This one was so passionate and sweet that it made my knees weal. It was a slow and tantalising kiss. It was a like about 30 seconds before I came to my senses and broke the kiss.
"Helen, I need to tell you-" I cut him off.
"No William! I can't do this, I should have never came here with you." I felt like I wanted to cry but I didn't.
"Helen, Wait!" He yelled and before I could make a run for it, he grabbed my arm and held it tightly. "Listen to me!" He ordered and I swear I have never seen him like this. His expression was undereadable but his eyes begged me to listen to whatever he is going to say. I nodded my head for hin to continue. "When I first met you, it was in that elevator." He started and my mind went back to that day when I first met them. "I thought damn she is hot and the only thought that ran to my mind was to get you in my bed." He said and I the only thought that came to my mind is of that is still what he wants to do, is that why he kissed me all those times.
"But after Sebastian bumped into me and made me spill my coffee on you and I heard that beautiful voice of yours for the first time and that very smart mouth of yours. I knew that was not the only reason why I was drawn to you, but I ignored it." He continued, stopping my line of thoughts.
"I have never fucked a woman after I met you neither have I kissed another woman besides my mother, "Ever since I met you I knew I had feelings for you but I just ignored it. Those very feelings became to much for me to handle and that would be the first time I kissed you at that waterpark. Do you know how it felt to finally taste your lips...It was amazing." He said and I bit my lip.
"Then I kissed you again just outside your parents door. But then you kissed me back and it was the best kiss I ever had even though I was really pissed but it felt amazing." He said and I finally spoke up. "Why are you telling me this?!" I asked him getting a bit defensive but it came out as a yell. I prayed that he won't say what I think he will say.
"Because I am in love with you Helen! I am crazy about you!"
Chapter 30: Downhill...
I was stunned, shocked, confused. I was expriencing so many emotions at once I couldn't process what I was thinPotter or doing or even where I was at the moment!
" "I know I am not the best guy, I fucked up plenty of times, I have my own demons but please just give me chance." I think that was probably the first time I ever heard him say please like that but the fear I had was just too much. Right know I wasn't that big CEO chick running an empire, right now I felt like a little girl afraid...afraid of what will happen to her heart...afraid of that monster resurfacing.
She was killing me with her silence. I was getting angry and I didn't know why. I don't why these fucPotter asshole feelings can't just be bottled up and thrown into the ocean, so that I won't have to suffer like this.
"Helen, talk to me." I yelled at her a bit aggressively. She looked up at me and for the first time I saw fear in her eyes that she was trying so hard to hide. She was like a little girl scared of the big bad wolf eating her and right now... I felt like him... frightening her, traumatising her and maPotter her think I want to ea
t her, when all I want is to love her, protect her just have her close to me but she was just too scared to even look at me.
"I-I..." She stammered and I was surprised that she actually stammered. The Helen I first met never have stammered.
"I can't William...I can't, you can't...I am something more than what you think" She said as if warning me. "I am willing to take that risk." I said arrogantly and I knew she didn't like me not listening to her because she glared at me.
"I warned you William. You don't know me." She said darkly and I swear I saw something flash in her eyes and just like that it vanished.
"That is why I am willing to "No matter what you say Helen I won't and never will stop trying." I said a smirk. She never liked it when I smirked., she never realise it but she always had a look that told me she is irritated and wants to slap me so hard but she can't get to me and that only gave a boost to my feelings for her.
"I give up, but don't think I never warn you. Once she is out she nevers leaves without a fight." Helen stated darkly that thing flashing through her eyes and vanishing. She kinda scares me when she has that look, it feels like hell had frozen over whenever she has that look... that's when I realised how she earned respect and loyality in the business world, as well as her merciless reputation when it comes to negotiating, business deals and anything she finds a threat.
I wast getting angry and if I didn't leave now I was afraid I would lose my sanity and I would probably turn into a blood thirsty monster and I am not over exaggerating...
"I give up, but don't think I never warn you. Once she is out she never leaves without a fight." I stated darkly and left the same way I came being really pissed off. I reached the house and took the steps towards the porch and through the glass double doors into the house. I walked passed the living room where my sisters, Lacey, Riley, Tasha and the kids were. I realised that I was walPotter with more of a stomp because it caught the mens attention who were seated in the lounge area which had a clear view of the staircase which lead upstairs because of the open plan room.
"What's up Helen?" Sebastian asked as I felt my father's as well as the other 18 men in the room stares on me.