“Okay, guys, we’re out of here. Need to go celebrate,” Slade said, a leering grin on his face.
CHAPTER 41
Slade looked over at Darya. Every time he saw her she took his breath away. Was it possible this lovely woman was going to be his bride? What if her father said no?
“I have one request,” Darya said. We’ll land around 3:00 in the afternoon, New York time. I’ve never been on a carriage ride in Central Park. The Four Seasons is close by. Please indulge me.”
“Absolutely. Whatever you want. After I talk to your father, I’ll call Papa and tell him. You know who and what he is, but you’re going to like him.”
“That’s fine, but I need to tell you something. It’s a tradition in my family that the senior male member of the family must approve of the groom or there can be no marriage. If one gets married without his approval it’s very bad luck. I’m not superstitious, but I know of several instances where horrible things happened when a couple didn’t get permission from the bride’s father and got married anyway. I don’t want anything to happen to you and in your line of work, you’re probably living on borrowed time as it is.”
“Okay, my future is in your father’s hands,” he said. “I’m turning on the television. Stay where you are.”
Slade and Darya watched the evening news story about Maria’s trial on the big screen TV in Darya’s bedroom. Both of them had tears of happiness in their eyes. Slade pulled her close to him. “Darya, do you realize the part you played in Maria and Jordan’s life? Without you, none of this would have happened. Maria never would have been protected in jail, she never would have had Brian Meeks as her attorney, and you never would have had the chance to buy the formulas. When you think about it, what you’ve done is pretty incredible.”
“Thanks, Slade, but the funny thing is I just did what I thought was right, and remember, none of this would have happened had it not been for my aunt. That started everything,” she said, fingering the gold necklace around her neck with the tiny diamond encrusted angel on it. “To change the subject, looks to me like you’re feeling pretty good,” she said, glancing down at the sheet.
“Yeah. Seems like there’s a little action going on south of the equator. Come here, Angel, hate to waste it.”
“Slade, some things I’m never going to be able to change about you and perhaps that’s just as well.”
* * * * *
Slade and Darya were at the Santa Monica airport the next morning at 6:45. Darya greeted her pilot and co-pilot. “Good morning, Mike, James. Sorry to make you get up so early. You told me we’d be landing at Teterboro airport near New York City, so I had Mahsa make limo arrangements for us. I understand it’s only twelve miles from the city. You probably won’t see much of me during the trip there. I need to catch up on some paperwork. I’ve spent all week at the trial of a friend of mine and I’m way behind.”
Darya sat down at a small desk at the rear of the plane and started going through some files. Slade took off his jacket and stretched out on the luxurious oversized leather seat that converted into a bed. He pulled a blanket over himself and was asleep before the plane left California. Slade had made it very clear to Darya when she’d hired him that she could no longer travel commercially. She’d bought the big Gulfstream jet several years ago and never regretted it. It had become her second home.
It was an uneventful trip and several hours later the phone on her desk rang. “Yes, Mike.”
“We’ve just been cleared for landing. We’re right on schedule. You may want to put your work away and return to your seat. I’m starting our descent into Teterboro.”
“Thanks, Mike. I’ll wake Slade up.”
She stood up and walked over to Slade. “Slade, it’s time to get up. We’re starting our descent.”
He opened his eyes and stretched his arms up, pulling her close to him, and kissing her deeply. “Get used to it, Darya. Prefer this to an alarm clock. Jesus,” he said, releasing her. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so damn nervous. I’ll be glad when this is over.”
Mike landed the big jet with ease and they walked down the steps to the waiting limousine. “Central Park, please.” Even though it was only twelve miles from the airport, it took about forty-five minutes because of the heavy traffic.
Darya looked out the window. “I don’t care how many times I’ve been here, I always feel like a kid. There is no other city like New York. Whatever you want, New York City has it. I’m so excited about the carriage ride. I just wish Tavern on the Green was still open. I never ate there and I always heard it was magical with all the twinkling lights.”
The driver stopped at a sidewalk bordering the park. Darya looked at her watch. It was 3:45. “Pick us up in an hour. We need to go to The Four Seasons Hotel. Actually, make it 4:30. I don’t want to be late.”
Promptly at 4:30 the horse-drawn carriage pulled up next to the limousine. “Thanks, driver,” Slade said handing him a number of bills. “Keep the change. It was worth every penny.”
“So, Darya, what did you like best about the ride?”
“I liked the Pond and just meandering through the park. It still amazes me that a place like this exists inside a city of over eight million people. Thanks for indulging me. I’ve always wanted to do that, but it never seemed like it would be much fun if I did it by myself.”
“Angel, your wish is my command.”
A few minutes later they pulled up to the hotel. Darya turned to the limo driver and said, “Would you stay nearby? This won’t take long. What’s your cell phone number? I’ll call you when we’re ready to be picked up. We’ll be going back to the airport.”
It’s show time, thought Slade. I hope I don’t fuck it up.
“We’re meeting my parents at The Bar. They’re usually early so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already there. It’s just off the main lobby.”
Slade took a deep breath and followed her into The Bar. She waved to a distinguished-looking couple seated at a table near a large window at the back of the room. The last rays of the day filtered into the room, creating a hazy atmosphere.
When they reached the table, Darya’s father stood up. Darya reached up and kissed him, then leaned over the table and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Father, I want you to meet Slade Kelly. Slade this is my father, Jabar Rahimi, and my mother, Laila Rahimi.” Slade shook their hands and pulled a chair out for Darya.
“You both look wonderful. It’s so good to see you.”
“So do you, darling,” her mother said.
“Did you just land?” Jabar asked.
“No,” Slade said. “We took a carriage ride in Central Park. This was our first time and it was wonderful.”
“Good. Slade, Darya told us why you wanted to meet us.”
“May I get you something to drink?” asked the tall, leggy waitress.
“I’ll have a glass of chardonnay,” Darya said.
“And you sir?” the waitress asked, looking at Slade.
“I’d like a dirty martini with a blue cheese olive. I understand The Bar is known for them,” he said, smiling up at the waitress.
“It’s our most popular drink, by far.”
When the waitress left, Slade turned back to Darya’s father. “I love your daughter and I want to marry her. I hope you will give us your blessing.”
Jabar sighed deeply and began. “I know Darya would not fall in love with someone who was unworthy, but I must tell you a story. I have never told it to Darya. My brother…”
“Father, I never knew you had a brother. You’ve never mentioned him to me.”
“Please, let me finish. My brother came to the United States and settled in Chicago. He was Muslim and opened a meat market, preparing meat in the Muslim tradition, called Halal. In fact, the market was named the Halal Market. There is a large community of Muslims living in Chicago and his market became very successful. It was so successful that it caught the eye of the Mafia. Several members of the Mafia paid my brother a vi
sit suggesting that it might be a good idea if he paid them a large sum of money for what they called ‘protection.’ He refused. They came several times. Each time he refused. One day his body was found behind the meat market, the head had been severed from it and was never found.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I know nothing about that. I left Chicago when I was six years old.”
“Yes, I know, Slade. In fact I know pretty much everything about you. I have some resources that were kind enough to run a thorough check on you this morning. You have come a long way from the ghetto you grew up in and I commend you for that. I hope that you appreciate my situation. I cannot condone my daughter marrying a man who is the nephew of the leader of the Chicago Mafia and I think you understand why. When my brother’s body was brought back to Afghanistan I made a vow to honor his memory in whatever way I could. If I agreed to this marriage, I would be breaking that vow. I sense you’re a very good man. Please believe me when I tell you how sorrowful this makes us,” he said, looking at Laila. “I cannot bless this marriage.”
Slade sat in stunned silence.
“Father, you just said that you think Slade is a good man and that he has come a long way from the ghetto. You know I would not fall in love with a man who was not a good man. I want to marry him. Please give us your blessing.”
“Darya, this pains me more than anything I have ever had to do, but the answer is no. I am not able to give my blessing to this wedding. I love you more than anything, but I cannot break the vow I made many years ago.”
“Thank you for your honesty. If that’s your decision, I won’t make her choose one of us over the other. Darya, I think I’ll leave,” he said, standing up and taking money from his wallet. “Here’s for our drinks. It was nice to meet both of you.” He turned and walked out of the room.
“I’ll call you later. I need to be with Slade,” Darya said, running after him.
She caught up to Slade as he walked out the front door. He was breathing heavily and was red in the face. “Call the driver. I want to get the hell out of here.”
They were both quiet on the ride back to the airport. Darya began to cry softly. Slade looked over at her and realized this was the first time he had ever seen her cry. “Slade, I am so, so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“Darya, if it’s any consolation, I don’t know either. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. What the…Driver, turn up the radio.”
“Marsha Sinclair, the prosecuting attorney in the Maria Brooks murder trial was found dead at her home this morning. A preliminary report indicates she died of a drug overdose,” the voice on the radio said. “We will bring you more details as we receive them.” Darya and Slade looked at each other in shocked silence.
They got out of the limousine. She’d called Mike when they left the Four Seasons and the plane was fueled and ready to depart. In a few minutes they were in the air. Slade and Darya were both emotionally exhausted. They made their seats into beds and soon dozed off.
Three hours later Darya woke up and turned towards Slade. She gently stroked his cheek. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She rolled over on top of him, kissing him deeply. He put his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.
“Why Slade, I can sense a little action south of the border. Be a shame to waste it. I’ve never been a member of the Mile High club, but I’ve heard a lot about it. What do you say? Are you up for it?”
“Just because we can’t get married, doesn’t mean we can’t continue to enjoy each other and sweetheart, right now I’m going to enjoy you thoroughly,” he said as he began to undress her, freeing her breasts from her bra.
"Nice and slow Slade," she whispered in his ear. "We have all the time in the world."
They kissed deeply and passionately as they explored each other’s mouths. He hugged her tightly, running his hands over her silken body, enjoying her buttocks, so soft and so inviting. Her underwear was getting wetter and wetter with every breath she took.
He slowly began to kiss her erect nipples. A shudder of sexual pleasure ran down her spine. The kissing turned into licking as he deftly removed her panties. He slid his fingers between her lips, stroking her. She was hot and wet. Darya moaned in pleasure and knew she couldn't control herself much longer.
"Slade, please don't stop," Darya begged him, as he stroked her faster and harder until she came with such ferocity that his fingers were wet. He slid downward kissing her torso and thrust his face into her as she wrapped her thighs around his head. She came again and again.
"Slade," she said in a ragged voice, her whole body on fire "I want you in me…"
He entered her and forcefully took her. Waves of orgasms caused her vagina to convulse repeatedly. Slade had never experienced anything like this. It was as if his cock had a mind of its own. Spent, they held one another, bodies entwined, and panting softly. Making love at 30,000 feet in the air made it all that much better.
Darya realized she was now a member of the Mile High club, and a few more trips like this one would probably make her its president!
CHAPTER 42
Maria got into the Lexus and sighed. “Jordan, do you know what it’s like to see the mountains, the sky and you, and also be totally free. My God, I’m free!” she screamed, laughing and crying at the same time. “I thought I’d spend the rest of my life in prison. I didn’t want to live. I can’t believe I’m free.”
“Well, I thought we would begin a new life when you landed in California, but it was delayed a bit. Now we can, and Maria, during these past weeks, I’ve done a lot of thinking. I want the baby. We love each other and we’ll make a wonderful home for the baby. Is that okay with you?”
“Oh Jordan,” she said, gently squeezing his arm. “I’ve been so worried you wouldn’t want it. One other thing. I’m not going to take Freedom. I thought I would since Darya was able to make the pills, but I don’t think it would be good for the baby. Actually, I’m going to sell the formulas to Darya for a very modest price. I don’t need the money and I don’t want anything to do with them. They’ve caused enough problems in my life. That would be the ultimate start to a new life. What do you think?”
“Yes to everything. I’m glad you’re getting rid of Freedom. It’s got a lot of bad juju attached to it. With it gone, we really can make a fresh start. Plus, you’ve had so much on your mind these past few weeks, I didn’t want to overwhelm you with anything else, but I’ve been reinstated!”
“Oh, Jordan, that news makes this day just about perfect.”
They spotted the news vans and reporters as soon as Jordan turned onto the alley behind his house. “Maria, I guess you’re the news story of the day. You don’t need to say anything more than ‘no comment’ to them. I’ll shield you as best I can.”
Jordan and Maria got out of the car and were immediately surrounded by the media. It was nothing short of a feeding frenzy as microphones were thrust in their faces and the clicks of cameras and flashbulbs made speaking almost impossible. Television news vans lined the street.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there will be no statements from either of us. It’s been a rough couple of months for Mrs. Brooks and all she wants is to have some down time at home. As you know, the case against her was dismissed by Judge Adams. We have nothing to add to it. Thank you for respecting our privacy.”
Maria stood next to him and as she turned to walk up the sidewalk leading to the house, she noticed a man holding a little girl trying to make his way through the crowd. She stared at him, trying to recall where she’d seen him. Then she realized it was Pierre Yount, and the little girl he was holding was Noor.
“Look, Jordan. Pierre Yount’s here and Noor is with him.”
Jordan rushed over to where Pierre was standing and looked at Noor. He’d visited her several times at Mahsa’s home and the tie between them had only strengthened. She reached for Jordan and Pierre put her in his waiting arms.
“Pierre, it’s good to see you again. Thanks for bringing Noor here.”
“Thank you Pierre, and no, this is not an inconvenience. As a matter of fact I’m expecting a baby in a few months and I think that baby might just need a big sister.”
Jordan looked at Maria over the top of Noor’s small little head and mouthed the words, “Thank you.” The media overheard the conversation and asked Jordan and Maria if it was true. Were they really going to adopt this little girl and was Maria expecting a baby?
Maria answered for both of them with a resounding “Yes” as she opened the side gate to their home, letting Noor and Jordan go ahead of her. She turned back to the cameras, waved and said, “Sometimes you get lucky and find happiness. We’re three of the lucky ones.”
The picture of Maria waving to the cameras and her final words were the lead story on every news channel that evening. The next shot was of a grinning handsome detective holding a small girl from Afghanistan. The heartwarming story made its way worldwide across the internet, giving hope to everyone.
*****
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The Best Book on Money and Success That'll Take You to the Top
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 - A New Beginning
CHAPTER 2 - What Do You Want?
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