by Eva Luxe
“Darien?” I held my hands together, choosing my words carefully. “Is Ariel okay?”
He had his chin nestled on his hands and elbows on the table. “Yes, she’s bringing her here. I’m sorry she hurt you.”
He closed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows.
He slammed his desk with his fist and I jumped back.
I needed to calm him down. Quick.
“You know. I hope you don’t get angry, but I had to take your Lamborghini to get here…” Wow, when I thought about it, that only seemed like it’d make him angrier. I mean, it was a six figure car, and the newest model too.
“Really?”
He lifted his gaze back to me, calming down.
“Yeah, well, my cell phone wasn’t charged. The phones weren’t working, and I wasn’t going to sit by and watch some crazy bitch—I mean, woman─take Ariel away. Ariel said she didn’t want to go with her. She even said she wasn’t her mommy.”
I hung my head down. Ariel needed a mommy, a good one.
“Thank you for putting up a fight. You didn’t have to—”
I gawped at him incredulously. “Yes I did!”
The phone rang and Darien picked it up.
“Hello? Yes, I’ll be right out.” He hung up and flashed me one of his sexy grins again.
“How’s the car? Still there?” he teased.
“Yes, I know how to drive low cars. My brother Sam had one.”
A pain struck my chest, and it was hard to breathe for a moment.
That car of Sam’s… the car that was now sitting in a junkyard, scrambled to pieces from the accident.
“Willow, are you okay?” Darien asked, placing his warm large hands on my shoulders.
He stroked the side of my face and I sighed.
I wanted to cry. But now wasn’t the time to show weakness.
“I’m fine.”
When he left the office, I sniffled and reached over to Darien’s desk phone. Another payment was due soon, and since my family didn’t update me on his condition, I had to do it myself.
I dialed the hospital and waited.
The nurse got on and told me he was okay, but that he had a small complication that was fixed.
I had a heart attack, but they told me that he was stable now. It was just a reaction to some medicine they gave him.
Sigh.
The door opened from behind me and Ariel ran over to me.
“Willow!” she exclaimed.
I turned around and hugged her. “I’m sorry,” she cried. “That bad lady hurt you.”
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “It would take more than a crazy lady with a taser to take me down if my Ariel needed me!”
Chapter 14 – Darien
“Willow,” I said, interrupting them. “You two need to get home and rest. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Daddy, Mommy hurt Willow!” Ariel, cried.
I glanced over at Willow, who shrugged.
“Well, like I said, she had a taser with a good shock on it. Maybe a slap or two, nothing serious—”
“Nothing serious?” I echoed. “What do you mean nothing serious? You should press charges.”
“Well, I didn’t know who she was, and she was trying to take Ariel away from me. I knew you would’ve told me if her mother was coming. Everything was just so suspicious. Was that your ex?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I don’t know how I ever was tricked. Here, let me take you guys home.”
I patted Willow’s back and wanted to rest my hand on her shoulder. But since I was at work, I had to drop my arm back to my side.
Ariel clung to both of us as we made our way to the elevator.
Ariel knew to push the down button and mashed it a few times, hoping it’d make the elevator arrive faster.
“So, how was it?” I asked Willow.
“How was what?”
“Driving in a Lamborghini?”
She began to blush, a rosy hue blossoming on her face. “Oh, that! Sorry about that.”
I grinned. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”
“It’s a six figure car and I could’ve hurt it.”
“I have insurance. Plus, I bet you enjoyed yourself.”
“Too busy panicking to enjoy myself too much.”
“But of course.”
The elevator arrived, ringing to signal its arrival. Ariel ran to where the elevator light shined and waited up against the golden reflective doors. It opened, and she hopped in.
“After you,” I said, making sure Willow was inside.
We were lowered down into the garage area and I saw that Willow had parked my navy blue Lamborghini next to my car.
Good idea.
“Daddy! It’s the Lammy!” Ariel said, running over to the Lambo.
“It rides very smooth,” Willow commented.
“Indeed. A good car. Limited edition model too.”
My phone rang in my pocket. The caller ID said it was coming from my building.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Mr. Thrilling, the Mizamotos just called to say they will be arriving early for their two thirty meeting with you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Hart.”
I hung up and sighed. “Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Let me call you a cab. I have a meeting to attend.”
Willow chuckled. “We can’t just leave the Lamborghini sitting here. Let me drive Ariel back, we’ll be okay. This time I’ll have a bat waiting for Morgan if she shows up.” She swung her hands as if she were hitting a home run. She had a pretty good swing, too.
“I never intended for you to be a body guard as well,” I said. “I might have to give you a raise. Okay, you two have fun.” I dug into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and held out a couple hundreds.
“This is for all the trouble you went through. Thank you.”
Willow smiled. “No, thank you. But─” She plucked the money out of my hand, grinning “─I will stop and get a new booster seat before we go home. I assume it’s okay if she stays home from school today?” I nodded and she turned and waved to Ariel. “Come on, we’re gonna ride in the Lamborghini I’m driving, Ariel!”
“No speeding,” I reminded her.
“You’re a worry wort, you know that?”
Willow put Ariel in the car and was gone in the blink of an eye,
Now I could concentrate on my anger. It was still boiling inside me that Morgan thought she could walk onto my land and rip my child away from me.
When I returned to my office, I gathered the folders and papers for today’s meeting.
My mind was supposed to be on business, I had a billion dollar company to run. Success didn’t stay unless it had a damn good reason to.
But Morgan, what she did was unforgiveable. Everything she did was unforgiveable. My fists rested on my table, balled and trembling.
In a fit of rage I swiped all the things from my desk. The phone, a keyboard and a few other things clattered to the floor.
She wanted her money, she wanted control over me. If Willow hadn’t been there, what would she have done to Ariel?
There was knocking at my door. I shook my head and regained my composure.
When I opened the door, it was my secretary, Ms. Hart.
“Sir, are you okay? I tried to call, but your phone didn’t go through.”
“It’s okay, I’ll be out in just a second.”
I closed the door and went to get the folders that were still miraculously on my table.
There it was again, the faint trail of Willow’s floral perfume. Allowing my mind to rest on her for a moment brought me a brief moment of tranquility. She looked after Ariel the way a real mother would.
I walked past my secretary and she lifted her hand to get my attention. “Ah, Mr. Thrilling. I’m so sorry. The Mizamotos just called in again. They had to cancel. They said an emergency came up and they will be calling to get in touch and reschedule.”
“
Okay, thank you Ms. Hart.”
Inside my office, the remnants of my anger still lingered in the air. I straightened up my desk and sat down, taking out my phone to make sure Willow and Ariel were okay.
The phone rang a few times, but she picked up.
“Willow?”
“Hey, Ariel’s holding the phone for me. We’re almost home. Something wrong?”
“No, just checking in on you two.”
“We’re fine. Thanks.”
“Hi, Daddy!” Ariel added in. I could see her smile in my mind.
“Hello, princess. Well, don’t let me take your time. Be careful on the road.”
“I will. See you later.”
I hung up and turned on my computer. Talking to Willow gave me motivation. A motivation to keep going, because getting stuck on Morgan’s antics wasn’t going to get me anywhere.
Nowhere positive, anyway. The phone rang, and I picked it up.
“Jerry, what’s wrong?” I leaned back in my seat and stared out the window of my office.
Jerry, my lawyer, harrumphed on the phone and took a loud swig of his drink.
“Morgan’s lawyer just called. That fucking bastard. I don’t like him. I bet she’s sleeping with him.”
“Get to the point, Jerry. What’s happening?”
“Her lawyer called over. Morgan’s heated about something. She wants to pursue full custody. I knew this crazy woman was going to do something before the divorce was final. Two years and now she decides to try to act like a mother.”
My gaze shifted from the sky, down to the buildings and the streets below. My office had floor to ceiling windows, it wasn’t for the faint of heart or those afraid of heights.
Heights took my stress away. If anything, I needed to be sitting on a ledge right now.
“She never was a mother. Ariel is nothing but a credit card to her. My strings that she can pull to make me dance to her demands. Anyway, I know all this, I got served this weekend. I told you that.” I got up and walked to the window, shoving one of my hands in my pocket.
The roads were so busy below. People who lived easy lives, people who were going through hell.
And even way up here, hell managed to find me.
“Well, we’ll handle this. She’s not getting away with this. You’re a good damn father. And that’s something I rarely see out here nowadays. Leave it to me.”
My grip around the phone tightened. “I want a restraining order.” If Morgan wanted to be crazy, she’d pay the fucking price for it.
“I’m already on it.”
“She attacked my nanny,” I growled.
“Nanny? God, Darien. You should’ve told me you hired a nanny. I bet she’s a hot little number too, nice and young? And you’re probably sleeping with her too, huh? That must be why she’s so pissed. Not that it’s any of her damn business.”
“It isn’t. And I’m not.” I was relieved to be able to say that. “But she thinks anything other than Ariel and my work is a threat to her monthly meal ticket.”
I walked back to my chair and swiveled back around to my computer. I had money to make and a family to protect.
“Huh. She’s not even hiding it. Well, let me do my black magic. See if you can get the nanny to press charges, okay? And make sure you up your security around the house.”
I tapped the pen to my lips. I did need a better gate and a few extra cameras.
“Will do.” I said, I hung up the phone.
If Morgan was ballsy enough to go up to my home and take Ariel, then tase Willow, she’d be crazy enough to do something even riskier.
Chapter 15 – Darien
“Willow? Ariel?” I called out, looking for my two favorite people in my life. “Willow, Ariel?” I called out again.
I ran out to the back of my house where I saw them rolling around in the grass in different clothes. Ariel was wearing something I didn’t even recognize. I jogged down the stairs, smiling at them having so much fun.
The light that danced off of Willow’s face as she played with Ariel was ethereal. I could put a ring on that. Quickly.
Willow lifted her head up from rolling around in the grass.
“Hey, Darien, how was work?!” She got up and strode over to me. Ariel took notice and was soon close behind.
“Good,” I said. I felt a little ridiculous in my jacket and tie, so I took the jacket off and started rolling up the sleeves. Willow’s eyes flicked to my arms, but immediately returned to my face. “What’re you two up to?”
“Willow took me to the mall,” Ariel exclaimed, twirling in the new dress she got. “Dad! It was so cool. We got jewelry and hair stuff. She even bought me these cute dresses and clothes. When I go to school, all the girls are going to be so jealous.”
“Looks like you two had fun. But I thought I said to come straight home.”
Willow frowned and threw her hands on her hips. “Come on, after what happened, we needed a little letting loose.”
Ariel was on Willow’s side. “Plus, I got to meet Willow’s brother Sam. He’s asleep right now, but Willow said he was going to wake up soon so I can talk to him!”
Willow’s face dimmed. If her care of Ariel was anything to go by, then I knew she deeply loved and worried about him.
I remember she told me about his medical bills. If only she would tell me more.
“Willow, I’d like to talk to you.” I began to walk back to the house. Willow followed.
Ariel ran up around me and stood in the way of the door. “Daddy! She’s not in trouble, is she?”
“No, darling. Why don’t you go into the game room, we’ll come to get you in a few minutes?” I patted her head, and she smiled.
“Okay. Be nice to Willow.”
“Yes, my bossy princess!”
We walked into the living room and I waited until I heard Ariel close the door to her game room. Willow took a seat on the couch and sat her hands on her lap. “So, what’s up?”
“Willow, about earlier—”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent Morgan from—”
“Not another word. None of that was your fault and you know it.” It was impossible for Willow to be the shit starter that Morgan was. I was truly hurt that she felt like she failed in any way whatsoever.
“But—”
“Willow… please. I wanted to show you my thanks.” I took out a slim small box from my back pocket that could fit in the palm of my hand and handed it to Willow.
“Huh?” She looked at it without taking it. “I can’t. I’m sorry. You’ve done so much and I… I don’t want to put anyone in jeopardy.”
“Willow, why can’t you let me spoil you?” The desperation in my voice was apparent. I wasn’t used to letting people see me in want for something. That usually meant it was hard to get, and things were never hard for me to get.
Willow, on the other hand. She wasn’t a thing. She was perfection. The mother figure to Ariel I wished a thousand fucking times Morgan would be.
She leaned her head to the side and held her arms.
“I have to go.” She stood up. “The hospital needs to talk to me about some things. Are you sure it’s okay to take the Audi? I can just get a cab─”
“No. Please take it. That car means nothing in comparison to your safety.”
“I hate to leave Ariel,” she mused. “She didn’t seem to be traumatized by the stuff this morning, but…”
She shifted back and forth on her feet. For a minute I was afraid she’d run and not come back. But she knew where she belonged. With me.
By my side.
Under me.
“You’re a really wonderful man, Darien. Ariel is so damn lucky to have you.”
I grabbed her, and our lips crashed together in a starving kiss. I reached into her hair and tangled my hands in their golden depths.
Breaking our kiss, Willow rubbed my chest, patted it, then ran off.
“I’ll be back later, promise!”
Chapter 16 – Willow
/> Another night down. I was better on the pole now, and my dance moves were more advanced. Now I was doing flips and twerking upside down. Not that I liked it, but it was paying about half the bills. The other half came from him.
The thought of him heated my cheeks up and made me quiver.
Darien Thrilling. He was thrilling, all right.
I pulled into his driveway, admiring the glittering lights that framed the way to his garage.
I counted my lucky stars that the car was so quiet.
I turned off the car, holding my breath and hoping it wouldn’t let out a loud grunt. But why would it? Cars this expensive didn’t do that.
After that part was over, I rested my head on the steering wheel and closed my eyes.
“Why does this have to be so difficult? Why did you have to pick me?” I whispered to myself.
I pulled myself together and carefully crept out of the car. It was well past one o’clock, and judging from last time, Darien didn’t like when I got home late.
Not that he was my dad or anything. But he worried over me. And ever since he touched me like that, the way he made me forget how to breathe… I just couldn’t stop thinking about how good he could be in bed.
How good it would be to be his.
But first things first─ and my first priority was Sam. And right now, I needed to make sure Darien wasn’t waiting in the main corridor for me, ready to lecture me. I was way too tired for that.
When I cracked the front door open, I eyeballed the inside and saw that all the lights were off. All I saw were faint glows from lights upstairs.
Slipping in and closing the door, darkness enveloped me. With every step I took, I made sure that I didn’t hit something.
Just as I was getting closer to the stairs, I moved faster.
I was gonna get away with— shit! The edge of a rug snagged my foot and I landed face first on the ground with a huge thud.
“Fuck! Great, just great,” I whined to myself, struggling to get up. My legs were tangled with each other and the breath in my lungs was knocked out of me.
“Willow.”