“You never said what happened to your mother?” He hesitated for a second before shaking his head. “She died when I was eighteen... She got into a car with a drunk who wrapped them both around a tree”, his voice becoming sad, “she was never good at choosing men. They used her...starting with my father” Sara felt her heart reach out for the man she knew she loved with everything in her. “How did things go with your father?” her voice soft, as Darius paused for a few seconds.
“My father was dying when I appeared. His whole life he had overindulged...drink, drugs and women”, another sigh torn from him. “He had a daughter”, his mouth tightened once more, “Not a nice person...and very much like him...which meant that his fortune was not what it had been. He gave me a hundred thousand dollars if I agreed to legally change my name...suddenly he was glad to have a son...someone to carry on his name” Again he paused.
“I used the money to buy some land and built some luxury houses on it...made millions...and it went on from there” As he lapsed into silence she twirled her finger around his belly. “Well it is good that you and your father finally made up...and you met your sister” The harsh laugh made her eyes fly to his. “My father was a selfish man who had no interest in me, only in carrying on his family name...and believe me his daughter - my sister - is no different. When I made my first few million she lawyered up and demanded fifty percent of everything I had. My father backed her just before he died...signed an affidavit that what he gave me was a loan”
Sara groaned softly, “That is terrible...what happened?” He took a few seconds to answer, “Eventually I settled out of court with her...I gave her some millions in exchange for her signing over the company name to me...hence I took over the Garelli corporation name” A wide grin filled his face, “She really should have waited a couple of years...I seemed to have a knack for making money...but by then she had signed an ironclad contract and couldn’t touch a penny...plus she had pissed me off so much I was not about to be brotherly with her”
Sara laughed softly back, as she allowed herself to relax against this man. This arrogant, forceful, demanding, yet kind, intelligent, funny and caring man...this man she loved. “Thank you for telling me”, she whispered softly, this her last thought before sleep took her.
Waking, Darius frowned. Still dark, he was not sure what pulled him from his dreams, dreams full of a beautiful blonde. Turning he frowned not seeing her there, his hands pushing the covers from himself. Rubbing his eyes, still sleepy, he pulled on pyjama bottoms and padded softly into the other room, his lips curving as he found Sara. She lay on top of the bed the small boy slept in. His little hands lay on her stomach, hers wrapped around him, both asleep. From the door he admired her. Dressed in one of his t-shirts, she looked sexier than any other woman he had ever met, Sara not someone who ever needed to try. This maternal side of her was a surprise though, as was the way it filled him with warmth.
Frowning softly, he thought how she confused him. His belief that all women put their own needs before that of their children was being shaken, her reaction to her nephew making him frown. Sara loved the small boy, Darius knowing that it was not just a show to impress him, David’s reaction to her testament to this. He smiled, realising that the small boy must have woken, knowing that she rushed to comfort him. Yes Sara was confusing the hell out of him.
Moving forward he gently took a cover from the end of the bed, and tucked it around her, dropping a small kiss on her head as he had. The next morning Sara woke abruptly, David’s small face floating before her as he jumped up and down on the bed. “Morning Aunty Sara”, his happy cry made her yawn, stretching her arms as she groggily pushed herself up on the bed. Frowning, she wondered where she was, the memory of hearing David’s cry during the night slowly returning as she swung her legs off the side of the bed.
“Want some breakfast?” her sleepy voice asked, David giving a happy nod before he leapt to the ground taking off out of the room. “I’ll get Darius”, he yelled, disappearing out of the room before she had time to stop him. With a long sigh she followed him in a vain attempt to head him off before he woke the still sleeping man. However, by the time she reached their bedroom, David was already clambering on top of the bed, his voice high and excited. “Uncle Darius...Uncle Darius - Aunty Sara is making breakfast!”
Darius woke with a start, surprise on his face as David knelt before him, his small features staring intently at the handsome man. His eyes flew to Sara, as she hovered awkwardly at the small boy’s words, her face apologetic, as she heard her nephew call him ‘uncle’. Darius too seemed surprised before his mouth curved into a small smile. “It’s OK...I understand” Sara gave a relieved return grin, before she pulled the small boy into her arms. “OK...breakfast; Edith mentioned that she knows how to make Mickey Mouse pancakes”