Another Day In Paradise_A Steamy BWWM Romance

by Brandy Blake

  Imani had no idea where they were or what they were doing, but she stopped asking anyways because she’d usually get a quick explanation from Petra that she didn’t understand anyways. He was always doing different things, Imani realizing he basically was an investor at that point. They would get a ton of mail and packages for Stavros all the time, different brands giving samples of their products hoping that Stavros would us his money to invest in their dreams. He was clearly money-driven, and while it certainly helped the family at home, it also meant that he wasn’t around that much, always putting work before his family.

  It was the weekend, so she had all the time to spend with Darius. Petra offered to hire a nanny for the weekend to help take care of him, but Imani figured it would be a good opportunity for the two to bond anyways. Darius acted the best for Imani when no one else was around, knowing that she was the least likely to spoil him. She used tough love when necessary, but he was also an emotional boy, and he needed plenty of soft love too. He was sensitive and passionate, so Imani was sure to use positive reinforcement as often as possible, though she did still need to take away privileges when he was being too sassy on certain days. He had different kinds of mood swings, and Imani was getting better and better at keeping track of how his mood might be on different days.

  She was carrying his little sibling, so even if her and Stavros end up going their seperate ways, she’d still want Darius around to get to know his little sibling. It could potentially be the only one he’d ever had, and as an only child, Imani didn’t want to take that opportunity away from Darius. She had wanted a brother or sister so bad when she was little, but her father had no interest in starting another family after her mom, so she remained the only one. Their family was small, and she didn’t have many cousins she saw either, so Imani knew that it would be important for Darius to have the little baby in his life, even if his father and Imani didn’t end up together.

  Her child would also be partially Stavros’s, so being around to watch Darius helped her get a sense of what it would be like to raise his child. he certainly had a unique temper and needed to be talked to a specific way to make sure that she didn’t overstep when it came to punishment and rewards. Her child might end up not being like Stavros at all, but it could also be nothing like Imani. She was getting the chance to figure out what her little girl or boy might be like once they arrived.

  “What do you want for dinner?” Imani asked, realizing with Petra gone she’d have to take over the responsibilities of cooking.

  “Pizza!” Darius said excitedly. Petra didn’t make pizza often, and since Imani cooked a frozen one late at night, sneaking Darius a piece, he had been pizza crazy.

  Imani knew she had to get her act together and cook better, having to make some healthy meals for her unborn child, but she couldn’t help but hope that Petra would always be around to help take care of that.

  “What’s your favorite kind of pizza?” Darius asked Imani as she took the frozen pie out of the plastic wrapping.

  “I just love my cheese. As long as it’s got cheese, I can’t be too picky,” she told Darius.

  “Do you have pizza in where you lived?” Darius asked, referring to Imani’s home back in the states.

  “We have pizza on every corner. We have more pizza than you’d ever be able to eat in a lifetime. There’s some cities, like Chicago, that have pizza so big you can only eat a slice before you get full. Other places like to fold theirs up like a sandwich,” Imani said, Darius’s mouth opening wide at the thought. Petra mostly just cooked Darius healthy and homemade meals, traditionally Greek dishes. That was certainly good for him, but at the same time, he didn’t get to experience all the fun stuff like pizza and macaroni and cheese.

  “If you could make your own pizza, what would you put on it?” Imani asked as the pizza cooked in the oven.

  “Hmmmmmmmmmmm,” Darius said, jumping down from the counter he had been sitting on and running around the kitchen. Imani started laughing, Darius never failing to do something a little goofy and wild to make Imani laugh. “Pizza!”

  “Pizza? A pizza pizza?” Imani asked. Darius shook his head and started laughing wildly. He was clearly getting excited waiting for the pie to cook in the oven. “You know what, that actually sounds pretty good. I’d try it!”

  Darius laid flat on the kitchen floor in front of the oven as Imani approached him and started to tickle him. “No! I have to focus on the pizza!” Darius laughed. Imani stood back up, realizing her very pregnant belly made it way too tiring to get in tickle fights with Darius.

  After dinner, Imani popped on a movie while Darius fell asleep on the couch. Imani was exhausted even though she had only cooked something in the oven. Darius was getting a little past the age where he wanted to watch the same movie repeatedly, but he still had a few that he insisted on watching ever weekend night. Imani didn’t mind, as she knew once he closed his eyes he’d be zonked out for the night, her having the chance to channel surf and find something she hadn’t already watched hundreds of times.

  She was used to teaching classrooms full of children, but that was different than actually mothering one. She only had to see the kids a few times a day, teaching them things while they sat quietly, or doing crafts and playing games that Imani certainly enjoyed. She sent them off to the cafeteria and back home to their parents when it came time to feeding them. she certainly had no part in their bathing routines, and Imani never had to worry about putting one of her students to bed. Taking care of Darius was so much different than the job she had signed up for in the beginning. She originally came just agreeing to help teach him at home, potentially getting him back into school. at this point, she had basically become his mother, teaching him the things a mom should.

  Imani felt like a single mom, the kid in her stomach and on the couch next to her using all her energy. She had no idea what it felt like to not be tired. While she was in college, she had a cat she took care of. Imani remembered having to clean the litter box and keep the food bowl filled, tiring tasks that Imani hated doing. She thought at that time having a cat was a lot of work, but she had no idea what she was getting herself into with real kids. She was drained, too tired at the end of the day to do the things she used to enjoy.

  That was one thing she feared about becoming a mother. She didn’t want to ever feel like she lost herself, or that she didn’t have her independence and freedom after having kids.

  At the same time, seeing this little boy stuffed on the couch was rewarding. It felt good knowing that she was helping him grow and prosper, definitely responsible for the turnaround in his behavior. He just needed love and attention. Darius clearly learned at an early age that the only time he got attention was when he was being punished. That mentality caused him to act out without even realizing what he was doing. Once Imani started coming around and was able to help him get his act together, he had a complete behavioral turnaround, and Imani couldn’t be prouder.

  There was one thing that still worried Imani about Darius’s life. Stavros barely made appearances. She could count on her two hands how many times they sat down for a family dinner. They didn’t go anywhere together, and Stavros only kept Darius on the island. He would travel a lot, and although it was mostly for business, that didn’t mean he couldn’t schedule an extra day on his excursions to have some fun time to spend with his son. He had so much wealth and sources he could use to help his child travel, learn, and grow, but Darius still spent most of his time in the mansion, there always if he wasn’t at school. They would go swimming sometimes, but even that would be down at the beach off the side of the mansion, not too far away from where they already were.

  Darius talked about being with his father, and Stavros did make an effort to take his son out on days off, spending time just the two of them. Imani loved watching them play in the water, a sight she could see from one of the many balconies off the side of the Mykonos mansion. Stavros was so serious all the time, but when he was playing with his son, he kn
ew how to have a good time. He wasn’t afraid to let loose and get goofy, but only if he knew it was him and his son. Imani remembered the time that they took the pictures for the announcement, Stavros wanting to make sure that the entire family stayed as serious as possible.

  Once the official photographs were released, Imani was overwhelmed by the outpour of attention online, through text, and some people even calling her. how they got her number was beyond her, but she still had to change her number, not wanting to deal with all this extra fame. She also felt a bit sick, knowing that it was likely mostly just people that wanted to get close to her because she was with Stavros, never showing any interest in her life before the magazine. Her father, on the other hand, was doing pretty well with his daughter’s new-found fame. Many people would approach him, especially women, asking if he really was her father. It certainly helped him get some attention, and Imani was glad she could be a part of that.

  Imani couldn’t imagine life without her father. He taught her everything she knew and there was no way she’d be as strong of a person if he hadn’t told her that she was capable of just that. That’s why it was so hard for Imani to think about how Stavros wasn’t always there for his son, Imani thinking of how bad that would have been if her father was absent. At the same time, maybe if she had a mother growing up she would be a better person, but it’s not like there was a way to bring her or Arius’s mother back. Their fathers were all they had left, and Imani just hoped Stavros saw the importance in that as much as she did.

  It was also important for Darius to witness his father interacting with others. a child could learn a lot from seeing the way their father interacted. He was nice enough to the staff and the workers at restaurants when they went out, but he didn’t have any close or loving relationships other than his son. How might hat affect Darius as he grew older? The only friendships or romantic relationships he had perspectives on would likely be the ones that he saw on TV or in movies. That wasn’t the greatest perspective for a young boy to have, so Imani hoped that Stavros would open up with them more; Imani was scared that her current relationship with Stavros was going to have some negative effects on Darius.

  She looked down at Darius, sleeping peacefully, looking just like his father. He had snuggled up to Imani’s stomach, her having the perfect view of both her sleeping babies. She stroked Darius’s long thick hair back, his warm skin filling Imani with peace and serenity. She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture, never wanting to forget a moment so intimate. These little angels were so beautiful to her. Had she gone back in the beginning like she had planned after walking out of the mansion, she might not have ever made it in that moment. Imani would have likely had an abortion, or perhaps considered adoption if she ended up moving back to the states. She told herself that, but who really knew what she would do if she were in that exact situation. Still, Imani looked at the priceless image in front of her, completely at peace knowing that everything worked out right to get her right there, holding so much love all in her lap.

  Chapter10

  “Look at this picture of the two,” Petra told Stavros as they sat on the plane. They had just landed at the airport in Athens after returning from Stavros’s business trip. Darius looked like a doll cuddled up to Imani, both Petra and Stavros reminded of the time when he was just a little toddler. Petra had been there since before Darius was born, so being the grandmotherly figure, she was, she couldn’t help but get emotional when she saw cute pictures of Darius like that.

  Stavros realized that something about seeing the two together felt right. “Cute,” was all he said as he looked at the picture and turned his attention back to the hundreds of emails that were flooding his phone.

  Petra could tell when Stavros was feeling some sort of emotions. Being around him long enough, she could tell that when he saw Imani, or when they were together, there was certainly something there. Ever since Iliana died, Petra hoped he could find someone else to call his own. She never really thought Petra was the right one for him, seeing that there wasn’t too much love being shared between the couple. Iliana certainly loved Darius, her only child, but it was clear in other ways she appreciated the benefits of Stavros’s wealth much more than the actual love the two shared.

  He hired her when he was only 20, after he made his first few hundred thousand. He was on his way to millions before he even graduated college. That was a difficult task considering he didn’t have his parent’s money to fall back on. Stavros still needed someone to help cook and clean, while taking care of the place. Petra was working as the chef at a restaurant Stavros loved attending, and he joked that she should come work for him. She accepted that offer, hating her job. They two had been with each other ever since, Petra stepping in as a mother when Stavros needed help other than the professional kind. They weren’t that close, as in they didn’t have deep and meaningful conversations with each other. Petra was still good at knowing when something was making him upset, easily able to help diffuse situations and offer the help when he needed it.

  After Iliana died, Petra really had to help take care of the household. Petra never liked Iliana too much, the Greek actress treating Petra a bit like the staff rather than a member of the family. This was something that Petra certainly didn’t appreciate, but it was still incredibly hard to watch her pass. Of course, Stavros didn’t show too much emotion through the whole thing, internalizing a lot of what he would normally confront with family and loved ones. Petra never saw that deep connection between the two, but that didn’t mean Stavros lost a part of himself when the mother of his child as well as the woman he promised his eternity to was taken from this planet.

  Petra had seen plenty of women come and go, but she knew from the way that Stavros looked at Imani, something was there. Imani was clearly not that type of girl that was interested in the fame and fortune that many of the girls who popped into Stavros’s life were. He had some groupies, especially the visitors that came to Mykonos from different countries. Every young and wild girl that came to the island to party had the fantasy of meeting a Greek millionaire and make them fall in love, trapping Stavros down. Imani was different, and had only gotten in her situation by chance, not manipulation. Petra saw the good in her heart, a trait that Stavros easily saw as well.

  What Imani didn’t realize, too riddled with insecurities of her own, was that Stavros was actually falling deeply in love with her, the fear of his heart getting ripped open again keeping him from committing to her fully. He might not have even known that was why he was keeping his distance from Imani, but he was clear that there might be some feelings there. They were in a very strange and unconventional situation. It was unique, which made things extra complicated, but at the same time, Imani couldn’t help but love how crazy her life turned out. Stavros was also getting excited about meeting his next child as well. He never wanted to have kids, as he had chosen to live a fairly selfish lifestyle. He sought out the life and luxury of the other wealthy people around him. A different girl on his arm every night, a house filled with luxury items and staff that would do anything for him. There was still part of him missing, but Stavros just figured that it was more money. He never stopped working, always hoping that through his investments, projects, and endless properties, he’d find what was missing. Who knew if he’d ever realize that he already had everything he needed at home, sleeping soundly on the couch.

  Stavros was very intelligent, but he wasn’t very emotionally intelligent. He didn’t recognize his own feelings as easily as others, needing to internalize a lot as a kid. He never had someone he could call his best friend, but he did have plenty of acquaintances and partners, like Imani’s father had been. He still didn’t have that person he could stay up all night and talk to, most of the time passing out right after hooking up with a girl. He had never seen a therapist, though he could certainly afford it. Stavros saw his emotions as useless, not seeing a way to monetize on his feelings. This left him feeling empty, as if he learned to ignore the bad em
otions, he’d eventually learn to phase out the good ones as well. The times he was happiest were when he was with his son, the love of the child filling that empty spot when they were together.

  He didn’t have an example of a healthy relationship either, not having a set of parents around as an example of how a couple should treat each other. It was hard for Stavros to show love and affection. He had only told his wife that he loved her a few times, never even saying it to Petra even though he would certainly be lost without her if she were to die or leave. Giving gifts meant money, for all holidays and birthdays. He was always willing to give money, plenty of cash and high amounts that weren’t necessary. It seemed like grand gestures to most, but he had so much money that there weren’t many gifts he gave that really made that much of a difference. It wasn’t that he didn’t think of anyone but himself, he just didn’t know how to let others know that he loved them. Not many people went out of their way to make sure that Stavros was loved.

  Of course, it was easy to do with his own son. He loved him more than anything in the world. When it came to making a connection with someone, that was a bit more challenging. His wife was his longest relationship, and he never would have proposed had she not begged for an engagement in the months leading up to the proposal. They told each other vows written by someone else, and once she got pregnant, Stavros was around even less than he already was. he wasn’t very self-reflective either, spending a lot of time deep in his phone. It was certainly something that he could go his whole life without experiencing, had someone like Imani not come along first.