Sara groaned softly. If her mother had to cancel an engagement then the only one who would suffer would be David, her mother not good with children at the best of times and liable to blame the only person at hand if her plans were ruined. She was not happy at the thought of that happening. “I can’t make any promises mother...but I will ask Darius” The happiness which filled her mother’s voice made her quickly add, “But only if he is OK with it...I will phone you back if there is any problem, but I really cannot make any promises...I expect he will say no” Her mother gave her a small chuckle, “Oh Sara...looking the way you did the other day...I am sure you can get him to do anything you want” Hanging up she looked at the phone, her head shaking softly. Just how deluded was her mother?
Soon after she received a text from Darius informing her that he was eating out with a client and that she should eat without him, Sara swore softly under her breath. She had hoped to approach the subject over dinner, however that was now impossible. At ten she finally heard the door open, rushing to it as he gave her a large smile. He looked tired she noted. While for most of the rest of the workforce Friday night heralded a two day break, she somehow doubted that he took time off, slight stubble appearing on his strong chin, Sara surprised that she wanted to feel if it would tickle against her own cheek.
“Can I get you a drink?” she offered softly, seeing the surprise which rose to his eyes. “Thanks...maybe later...I have some work to get done...I just need an hour” Nodding in understanding, she returned to the living room, picking up her book, one eye fixed on the clock. As the time reached 11:15 she stood, pacing nervously before taking a deep breath and leaving the living room.
Sara moved into the study, Darius looking up in surprise at her entrance. “Hey”, he greeted her, his eyes carefully following her every move as she stepped closer. “Something you need?” She stopped before the desk, shifting uneasily from foot to foot, feeling her stomach tighten with apprehension. “I was wondering if you would mind my nephew David coming over tomorrow...and staying over”, her words tripping over themselves in her rush to get them out. “He is four and a great kid...and he will be no trouble”
Darius scowled, looking briefly back down to the papers he was reading before giving an irritated sigh. “No. I have no desire for a child to be running around here. I have a lot of work to do Sara, and when I get finished I want you to myself, not having to share you with some needy child” Sara felt her stomach drop as she swallowed down the disappointment. She had not expected any other answer if she was truthful with herself, but part of her had hoped, missing David so much.
Darius gave a deep sigh, waiting for the tantrum which he found most women seemed to fall back on when they did not get their own way. When all remained silent he finally looked up, seeing as she watched him with her head cocked to one side. “Was there anything else?” his voice clipped as she gave a small frown. “Why are you working so late?” The question caught him by surprise, as he leant back before giving another weary sigh. “Your brother-in-law left your family business in one hell of a mess, and seeing as I do not want the whole world knowing about it, I am trying to unravel it myself”
Sighing again, he tapped the mountain of paperwork. “It doesn’t help that I can’t work out which accounts are real and which are dummies he set up” Before him Sara nodded, her expression serious. “Maybe I can help. I knew most of the customers and suppliers...maybe I can help you eliminate at least some of them” Darius watched her carefully looking for some ulterior motive in her features before giving a half-smile and nod, “That would certainly help”
Moving around the desk, Sara saw the way he moved his head in a circle, recognising the signs of a sore neck, the need to relax painful muscles. Without a thought as to what she was doing she placed her hands on his shoulders, gently starting to massage them, feeling the way he stiffened with surprise. “Relax”, she grinned, “I actually did a course in this...and your neck is in knots”
Wordlessly, he allowed her to continue, surprised at how effectively her fingers worked out the tension within his neck. Before long his whole body relaxed, enjoying the way she kneaded his neck, the pain disappearing as she ran her fingers along the length of his shoulders and the back of his neck to his head. When she finished he could feel the difference, Sara stepping back with a small smile. “Does that feel better?” her soft question raising a small content sigh from him, she giving a chuckle as she made to move away. “Still got it”, she laughed, surprised as his hand stalled her, his fingers entwining in hers as he twirled his chair so that she now stood between his open legs.