Billionaire's Revenge(24)

Her comment, “Yes mummy”, only saw his lips twitch once more before he moved out of the room. Sara looked at the outfit he chose for her, a fresh soft blue summer dress. For a second she considered putting it back and choosing one herself; however with a deep sigh she knew that it would be a futile gesture and that she should choose her battles with the enigmatic man who held her family’s future in the palm of his hand.

As she entered the dining room, Darius stood beside the fireplace, his mobile phone in hand as he spoke softly in Italian. His eyes followed her as she made her way into the room, an approving look within them as he hung up. “You look beautiful...that dress was definitely the right choice” His words full of honesty, the fire that sprang into them sending a strange jolt of awareness through her along with the need to gain some control.

“Well, given your vast experience of women...who am I to argue?” She was not sure why she felt the need to respond with such acidity, however he only laughed back, her chin lifting mutinously. “Very true, Bella”, he chuckled ,“I always knew you were smart...takes some women a long time to realise that” She knew that he was baiting her, but his words angered her, Sara clamping her mouth closed so that she would not say anything she would later regret.

With another laugh he led her to the large dining room table, two places set together, the placing intimate. As he pulled her chair out for her to sit his head leant in. “Nothing to say Sara?” A tremor ripped through her as his hot breath fanned against her ear.

“What is the point of prodding a serpent?” she bit out before she could hold back the words, his small laugh this time sending a shiver through her as he moved to his chair. Almost immediately Edith Clark appeared, wheeling in a tray as she placed dishes before the two. Sara thanked the older woman, commenting on how delicious the chicken smelled, the housekeeper giving her a large grin.

Once more alone, she lifted her fork, her previous assertion of not being hungry disappearing as she bit into the first morsel, her eyes closing with pleasure. Darius gave a soft laugh as he poured blood red wine into her glass. “I do like a woman who enjoys her food”, he smiled, his nose wrinkling up in displeasure “If I have to sit beside another woman who thinks that a lettuce leaf qualifies as a meal...” A sigh escaped him as she laughed, “I think Angela tried that diet once...just made her moody” Darius gave her a playful look. “How could you tell?” Sara was unable to hold back the laugh as she nodded her head, her sister’s moods legendary when she was not getting her own way.

To her surprise she found herself enjoying the meal, Darius charming and funny, Sara reminded of the way he had been when they first knew each other. Both took their time, talking between courses as they enjoyed Edith Clark’s delicious homemade pie before ending the meal with coffee. When finished, he led her outside to a small covered area, the sky now black, covered in the tiny pinprick lights of the many stars, stars not visible in the city. The only sound to break the silence was the soft singing of the cicadas, and Sara found herself giving a content sigh, no doubt helped by the second glass of wine she was enjoying.

“It is very peaceful here” she mused softly as Darius nodded beside her. “I grew up in the Italian countryside...I like peaceful” Sara looked over at him in surprise. He had never been one to talk about his past; many of the girls in the office tried asking lots of personal questions to him, all of which he brushed off with an easy flirtatious comment.

“Is Italy beautiful?” she asked softly. He looked thoughtfully at her, his fingers running around the stem of his glass “Yes. Very beautiful, but when you were as poor as my mother and I ... not an easy life” Sara held his eyes, sensing that he was sharing something with her he was not comfortable talking about. She took a drink, needing to break the moment as she frowned softly. “Where is your mother?”, she asked softly, his lips tightening as he paused, Sara wishing that she had said nothing “I’m sorry...it is none of my business...it is just that I know nothing about you yet ...” Her voice trailed off as he leant forward slightly in his chair beside her. His eyes focused on the floor as he talked his tone emotionless.#p#分页标题#e#

“My mother died”, giving a half-smile as she made a small sound of sympathy, his voice growing harder. “Don’t be sorry Sara. She was never going to win any mother-of-the-year awards” Silently, Sara knew exactly what he meant, the memory of her mother’s plan to see her become pregnant sending a bolt of anger through her once more. “When I was fifteen my mother told me that she had left some food in the cupboard and that a friend of hers would come by to give me a job as a general labourer. Then, new boyfriend in hand she left. I never saw her alive again”