by Mary Nixon
"Yes. So what?" I asked.
"You could have gotten into an accident. Lyons please take care of yourself. Grief shouldn't weaken you like this."
"Not everyone's heart is as dead as yours Wayne. You kicked my sister out and then me. You then drove Rei to his own death by forcing him to marry that crazy Brianne! It's your damn fault you are alone. Don't pin it on anyone else."
I was getting fired up. My father just gazed at me.
"Get your shit together Lyons."
That is all he said as he left.
What great advice from a living father.
Bianca's POV
I was sited in a small cafe enjoying a cup of coffee and some pastries when a man walked up to me. He had stunning brown eyes and dark brown hair with shiny blonde strands
when it caught the light o the setting sun. His build was medium much like Tony's and he was tall like Tony too. He was in a black suit with a folder in his hand. Behind him were four men who appeared to be bodyguards and a woman.
I looked at him and his entourage feeling a little uneasy when he smiled exposing a perfect set of pearly whites.
"Pardon me, I don't mean to startle you but I must say you have stunningly beautiful eyes. They remind me of emeralds in the setting sun." He said in a soft voice that oozed of a French accent.
I smiled at the complement as he waved his hand and his staff dispersed to a different table. The bodyguards remained standing but in different positions in the cafe.
"Thank you." I told him.
"May I join you?" He asked.
I nodded and he sat down at my table. He ordered some coffee and pastries and in a moment, he was served.
"Pardon my rude behaviour. My name is Pierre Deveraux. May I get the honor of knowing your name my emerald princess?"
I was turning red at his invasive gaze.
"Bea Bianca." I told him.
"Sweet name." He said as he sipped his coffee.
"Are you visiting London?" I asked him.
"Oui... I am here on business. What about you emerald princess? Are you a resident here?"
"Yes I am."
Comfortable silence followed as he peered into my eyes. There was something dark in his eyes that he hid with his perfect devilish smile. He was enchanting.
"So tell me, what
is a beautiful woman like you doing all alone?" He asked me.
I was ditched by my boyfriend after he almost died trying to save me and his unborn sons from death.
Too heavy to tell when meeting someone for the first time.
"I am not alone. I'm with you." I told him making him laugh.
He reached out for my hand and I allowed him to hold it.
"You are sad my emerald princess. What aches your heart?"
I paused and looked away from him tears welling up in my eyes. A lot ached my heart... a lot.
I fought my tears and faced him managing a small smile.
"I am nursing a broken heart monsieur."
"Oui... I see. Who broke your heart?"
I felt uncomfortable about discussing my dramatic life with Tony. I withdrew my hand from his and he sighed. He stood up and walked over to where I was. He knelt beside me and took both my hands.
"The best medicine for a broken heart my emerald princess is to open it to newer possibilities. Locking it up only leaves room for nothing but more pain." He said in a low voice as he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
I smiled at him as he stood up and pulled me up.
He cupped my face and he leaned in kissing my cheek softly. It felt sinfully good. I had missed this intimate human contact.
"I will be
in town for a few more days. I would like to have your number so that I can see you till I leave. Is that okay?"
"Of course I would like that."
I handed him my phone and he put his number in as he handed me his and I put my number. Afterwards he kissed both my cheeks and smiled at me.
"Merci. I hope to put a smile on your face even if it is just for a few days. Have a pleasant evening Bea Bianca."
I bid him goodbye as I made my way to my Porsche. He drove off with an entourage of six vehicles. Something told me I knew him from somewhere but where?
I got home and browsed the net only to find out that Pierre Deveraux is a French Duke. I gasped at the tingly feeling that ran through me. I had just met royalty!
I smiled to myself and brewed some tea. I settled down with a good magazine. Afterwards I popped some sleeping pills and it was not long before I fell asleep.
James Lyons's POV
I was driving to a club when I thought about how cruel I had been to Bianca. Truth be said, even if I went back in time, I would probably put my life on the line for her all over again. I changed routes and drove to her place instead. It was midnight.
I called her number and it went straight to voicemail.
"Hey you've reached Bianca, please leave a message."
Her voice was soothing. She didn't know it but it was not the first time I parked my car outside her flat and just gazed at her window. Truth be said, it was the only way I felt close to her. The only way we didn't fight.
"Hey love, I miss you. I'm outside your flat. I'm
just going to stay here all night because this is the only way I can be close to you without us fighting. I love you."
I hang up and adjusted my seat for comfort. I spotted a half empty bottle of whiskey and I was tempted to drink but I found myself draining it outside my window.
My father was right.
I needed to get my shit together. I was going down hill.
My phone buzzed and I saw a text message from Bianca.
Bianca: Come on up, I promise we won't fight.
I hesitated but then I really wanted to see her. I wanted to be close to her.
Me: Okay. I promise to behave.
I was at her door in a matter of seconds and before I knocked she opened up. I stood there gazing at her. She looked just as beautiful as she usually did.
She stepped out of the way and allowed me in.
The flat was cramped in my opinion but she seemed not to mind.
"So, what brings you here?" She asked.
I turned to face her and I held her by the waist, pulling her to me gently. I looked into her eyes and got lost in them for a moment.
"I want to apologize for my appalling behavior in the elevator. I was upset but I should not have treated you so insolently."
She placed her hand on my chest.
"You had and still have every right to be mad at me. I deserve all your wrath Tony. I deserve it all."
Her calmness bothered me. She used to he so fiery and now she was just too calm. Had she grown up in the last two years? Was she a different person after she lost our sons?
I ran my hand through
her beautiful long blonde hair and I leaned in and kissed her lips gently, testing the waters to see if it was safe... she parted them open and I took advantage making up for lost time. She tasted so sweet... so good... so addictive.
I broke the kiss to look at her lustful eyes.
"I've missed you so much love."
"I've missed you too. I love you Tony." She whispered.
"I love you too."
I kissed her again and again and again until she was breathless and clinging to me for support.
"Let's talk love." I told her as I released her.
She led me to the couch and we sat facing each other.
"I want us to call a truce." I said.
"Okay." She agreed.
"I will no longer bring up Scott and Kenan in our conversations. I won't be blaming you anymore because we both played a part in the loss of our sons."
Tears welled up in her eyes and she cried bitterly. I pulled her into my arms as she sobbed. This was the closure we needed from the start... to console each other but what we did was fight and push each other away. I held her tightly my heart constricting in pain each t
ime she sobbed.
"Tony... I... I am so sorry. Please forgive me."
Forgiveness...
"That will take time love, I won't lie to you. But I promise I will try to leave the past where it belongs."
I rubbed circles on her back and she cooled down a little. I pulled away from her and wiped her tears away.
"After you left Monaco, I couldn't sleep. I was in so much pain. I started to rely on pills to get me to sleep. I started clubbing too much and drinking myself to sleep. It hurt so much love. I missed you so I started to date women with green eyes but they were hard to come across... I hoped that at least one of them will remind me of you but no one did."
"You are with a green eyed beauty aren't you?" She asked with a small smile.
"Hanna? I dumped her last night."
Her eyes glimmered with glee but she quickly hid it.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because she said something nasty about you. What she doesn't know is that I am the only one allowed to annoy you and make you cry. Anyone else who hurts you, I will break their bloody necks."
She giggled and I loved how beautiful she looked.
"But she was your girlfriend and I'm your ex. Why didn't you choose her over me?" She asked.
"Bianca, I would choose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and choose you." I said as I slipped my finger underneath her chin. "You know why?"
"Because you love me."
"More than my own life love... more than my own life."
=================
Chapter twenty one: she returns
James Lyons's POV
I couldn't believe my eyes... I was lost for words when I saw her. She was just as beautiful as I remembered. She ran towards me as soon as she saw me and jumped on me straddling me. She kissed my cheek tenderly and cupped my face into her slender hands.
"Oh Tony! You don't know how badly I missed you!" She exclaimed as I held her thighs tightly to keep her from falling.
"Me too... I missed you so much. You disappeared into thin air and now you just reappear the same way! Where have you been?"
She chuckled and kissed me all over my face.
She was just as excited as I was.
I glanced at my watch and realized I had an hour to get home... get dressed and attend the business gala. I wanted to ask Bianca to accompany me.
"We have to get going. I am running late for a business gala and I don't have a date."
"I can be your date." She offered. "But I need a dress, shoes, jewellery and a bottle of gin."
"Why?"
"Cheryl Bellingerre is back and I can't face all those people with a sober mind, trust me."
"Done." I assured her.
Bianca's POV
I was happy that Tony and I were at a good place. We had spent the night talking and catching up on lost time until we fell asleep in each other's arms. He had left in the morning after I heard a woman speaking to him over the phone.
He didn't tell me who she was and I didn't ask. I didn't have the right to ask.
Pierre had invited me to dinner and I was busy going through my endless racks of clothes to find a suitable gown.
I didn't want to look too sexy and get him riled up when I had nothing to offer and I didn't want to be dull since I was going to be in the arms of a duke. I needed to look regal but not too much that I seemed to be demanding he make me a duchess... just regal enough.
Finding the in between was hard and it ended when my door bell rang and a dark haired woman stood there with a smile on her face.
"Good evening Miss Buchanan. These are from His Royal Highness Duke Pierre Deveraux."
She stepped aside and so did I to allow three men to walk in. One had a long box, the other had two smaller ones and the last one had an equally long and thicker box.
"Please get ready by seven, he will be here in good time. Excusez moi."
She left as well as the men and I opened the first box. It was a stunning floor length gown. It was wine red with a deep sweetheart cut and a very low back cutting right above the curve of my bum. I sighed at how hot it looked. Pierre Deveraux had great taste. The next box had a pair of red Christian Louboutin seven inch heels. The other box had a breath taking ruby choker necklace. Last but not least was the killer black fur coat to shield me from the autumn wind.
I would kill with this outfit...
I touched on my make up first so that I wouldn't rush through. I went for extra long thick dark eyelashes and smoky eyes. I avoided any red on my face except for red lipstick. I slipped on the gown and it fit perfectly. Next I put on the heels and the fur coat. I grabbed a black clutch and checked myself over before I heard a knock on the door.
I
took in a deep breath and opened it to meet Pierre's mysteriously dark eyes. A grin grew on his face as he appraised me. He looked dashing in a black tux with a wine red bow tie.
"All you are missing is a crown my emerald princess... although today I shall call you my ruby princess." He said as he kissed my hand tenderly.
This man got me smiling with every word he uttered. I think I am starting to like him.
He led me out to the slick car. He helped me in before he got in as well. The ride was silent except when I started to spot camera crews and a red carpet. I saw handsome men in tuxedos and women in dashing couture gowns much like my own.
"Where are we really going Pierre?" I asked.
"Forgive me please, it's a business gala. We are just here for the sake of formality before we go for dinner. Is that okay?"
"What kind of business gala?" I asked feeling a little uneasy.
"The kind where business tycoons gather to receive awards."
Oh no! Tony!
He helped me out of the car and guided me through the flashing cameras as I tried to keep my head down.
"Look up my ruby. Show the world your beauty." He whispered into my ear grazing it slightly and making me a little jumpy.
I did so and some camera men started to call my name asking me to look their way. We posed for some photos until we reached the entrance.
"You look pale Bianca." He said in a more serious tone. "What's wrong?"
"My ex is here." I told him.
He frowned a little.
"James Lyons I presume?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
I asked.
"I looked you up. He is also receiving an award for the fastest growing business. He is a fascinating man I must say especially how ruthless he can be when it comes to business. I believe he learnt that from Jacobolas Bale."
"He is fascinating." I added as we stopped to check in.
My coat was taken and Pierre placed his hand on my exposed back making me suddenly tingly.
We were guided to our table by a waitress. It was among the front tables. I gazed at one of the name tags on our table and I spotted Jacobolas Bale.
I really felt uneasy about being around Jacob. I knew he hated me for hurting Tony.
He pulled out my seat and then he joined me. We shared small talk about the gala and he filled me in on all sorts of business men and how they rose to where they are.
"Take Jacobolas Bale for example, his father is half Greek and half American and his mother is Italian. His Greek grandfather signed over Bale Industries which is currently invested in construction and his Italian grandfather, the famous Giovanni De Lucca Berlotelli owns the biggest winery and vine yard I know of. He was set for life the minute he was born. He has an excellent business sense like both his grandfathers." The duke informed me as he sipped some red wine. "I believe this very tasty wine is from the Berlotelli Vineyard."
The wine was indeed delightful and very high quality. A bottle of it could probably feed a family for a month.
"You know so much about people." I said as he poured me some more wine.
"I
do. I am a business man and I need to know my competition."
I gazed at his
dark eyes and he smiled at me taking my hand into his.
"What about Tony? What do you know about him?"
"He is a self made billionaire and an oil baron. Lately he has been branching into real estate and travel. He is diverse much like Jacobolas Bale. I never imagined that he would rise from the ashes after his father cut him off. I believe he was Jacob's intern for a while before Jacob set him up with an oil well in Arabia. Those two think alike. Figure one of them out and you'll understand the other."
"What about Bruce St.Patrick?" I asked hoping to see how much he knows about the five billionaire friends.
"He is ex military. Navy Seal so i hear. He served several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq before he decided to go into business. He owns his own security firm where he supplies the best trained men to people like me. He is also into clearing and forwarding and owns several clubs in Miami and New York."
Bruce is ex military. No wonder he is always so serious and scary.
"What about Cole Michael Harrington?"
"Real estate, hotel industry and a banking. He has however been missing from the spot light. Seems he is flying under the radar. "
"Ferrer Montenegro?"
Pierre chuckled and sipped more of his wine.
"The doctor. He owns a series of private clinics and is an investor. That is all I know about his business life. He is however a party animal!"
We laughed a little as I continued looking out for James Lyons or even any of the other four friends but none had showed up yet.
"In order of wealth, how
would you rank them?"
"Analysts say that the richest among them is Cole Michael Harrington. Bale comes in second although he can top the list if he took on the Berlotelli winery and vineyard. Your darling ex is third and then Bruce and lastly the doctor. Why are you so curious about them?"
"Because they are an intriguing bunch."
"I agree." He said. "Care to stretch your feet a little so that we can meet new people?"
I nodded and we stood up. He introduced me to so many successful people from small business owners to tycoons. I was still looking out for Tony.
Wasn't he coming?
It was only when that thought escaped my mind when I saw him. He was looking like a god in that well fitting black tux with a silver waist band and a silver bow tie. The minute he walked in all heads turned his way. He looked perfect.