Eternally Seduced(103)

Saffi slowly returned to consciousness when she felt Staffan gently  lifting her up so he could zip himself back in. She curled in his lap  when he was done. She smiled at him sleepily. "Staffan, lo---"

The look of recoil on Staffan's face brought her back to consciousness  –  and reality.

She swallowed back the rest of what she had to say.

They wouldn't ever talk about it again.





Chapter Ten




Sapphire March-Aehrenthal checked in at the Aehrenthal Hotel, New York.

Foursquare: AehrenthalsGirl



New York hated her.

Staffan laughed at her grumbling revelation. Pulling her close to his  side, he murmured soothingly, "Of course they don't, koukla mou. You  just have to give them time to get used to you." They were walking  towards the newly built finance center around the corner, where  Staffan's meeting with the interested producers was going to be held.

Saffi loved how all the locals took it in stride that Staffan Aehrenthal  was walking next to them on the streets, looking  –  as always  –  like a  god with the most impeccable taste in clothes. Only Staffan could get  away with wearing a dark red blazer and matching pants and not look like  he wanted to be the next poster model for LBGT rights.

She stole a look at him, and Staffan immediately caught her doing it. He smirked. "Yes, I know. I'm too handsome for words."

Saffi didn't bother denying it, saying with a sigh, "You are."

"Hey … " He pulled her closer even as he tipped her chin up. "What's the matter?"

She shrugged. "Maybe I'm a little homesick."

His eyebrows shot up. "We just got here! And this is just NYC  –  you didn't get homesick when we were in Stockholm!"

She sighed again. "I don't know … maybe it's really just because I feel so  out of place here. Everyone's just too busy being busy, cynical,  calculating  –  I mean, where's the love?"

Staffan choked at Saffi's last words. "Where's the love?" he echoed. "You're really wondering about that?"

Saffi sighed. "Don't mind me. I think these are just the hormones  talking." She stopped right after, her sickened gaze immediately  searching Staffan's. Would he be mad if she accidentally said something  about her pregnancy or the baby?

Staffan was frowning. "That could probably be it. I've heard of women  going crazy and doing crazier shit when they're pregnant." As they  rounded the corner, his tone became serious as he said, "Look, I can't  be with you all the time today. You understand that, right?"

"Umm, yes?" She wondered where this was going.

Staffan opened the door for her as they went inside the building where  his meeting was scheduled. It was twenty stories tall, with a dozen  offices located on each floor. Most of the companies here had something  to do with the film industry, and Saffi's interest was immediately drawn  in by the different modes of dress the other guests were in.

Seeing her curious look, he told her, "They went to their auditions in  costume. It lets them stay in character and helps the casting crew to  visualize them."

Staffan was suddenly blocking her view. "What?" she asked.

"You're not listening to me, are you? New York isn't like your town in  Florida, okay? People who are friendly here don't always have good  intentions."

"But Staffan---"

He shook his head. "You stand out in this city, Saffi. One look at you  and every serial killer will come out of their hiding places to try to  take you. You've got prey and victim written all over you---"

"I do not!"

As they stepped inside the elevator, Staffan continued, "You can't keep smiling---"

Saffi scooted over as another guy joined them inside. He smiled. She smiled.

Staffan scowled. "Saffi!"

She jumped. "What?"

"I just fucking told you---" He glowered. "This is New York City," he  said slowly between clenched teeth. "You won't know who's out to mug or  stab you next---"

The passenger in the elevator shot Staffan an offended look. "Easy, man. Where's the love?"

Saffi grinned. "See? I told you---" Her words died at the furious look  Staffan dealt her with. The other guy tried to speak, but at Staffan's  look, he wisely shut up as well.

When they reached their floor, Staffan muttered, "Do you remember the  first night when the fangirls ganged up on you? Do you remember that,  Saffi? They would have torn you apart if the groupies hadn't helped you.  Well, here, that's going to happen. No one and no one is going to help  you so just fucking … stay put."

They had reached the reception office and he pushed her towards the  first seat they passed. "Stay put, don't make trouble  –  just play it  cool, okay?" He sounded like a worried father. He knew that, couldn't  help it  –  and couldn't understand what was happening to him.

But Saffi seemed to.

She reached up and he automatically bent down. She cupped his face and  kissed him softly. "Relax, Staffan. We're going to be okay."

Staffan closed his eyes.

Ah, fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck  –  Saffi was right. He was acting like this because it  was starting to dawn on him that Saffi's baby could really be his and it  meant he was responsible for the baby's safety, too.

His baby and Saffi's …

When he opened his eyes, his smile was rueful as he asked, "I'm acting like an ass, aren't I?"

"No, you're not," she said loyally.

He smirked. "You are too transparent, Mrs. Aehrenthal." The words came out of nowhere.

Saffi wanted to cry. "Mrs. Aehrenthal," she whispered. "I really like  the sound of that." She kissed him again, pulled back, and still holding  his face, she said softly with a smile "Lo---" Her eyes widened. And  then she said hastily, "Loudmouthed loach minnow. I, umm, think you're  going to be late." This time, Saffi couldn't meet his gaze.

He knew what she wanted to say, but he let it go. "I'm the boss,"  Staffan reminded her casually. "They don't have a say even if I'm hours  late."

She knew he knew what she had meant, but like him, she pretended it  didn't matter. Saffi said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes,  "Even so … it's you who hate being late. But don't worry  –  I'll keep that  un-rock star-like quality of yours a secret."

Silence.

Unable to leave it just like that, not after everything had been going  so well between them, Staffan heard himself offer, "How about you come  with me to the meeting? I think as my #1 fangirl you'll have something  precious to share."



****



Yep  –  it was official. New York still hated her.

Saffi could see it on every person's face inside the room. They didn't  want her there, period. And she wasn't even attending the meeting as  "H". She was just Sapphire March, now Mrs. Aehrenthal, and it didn't  matter.

She kept quiet for the most part, not wanting to antagonize them even  more. It was clear on all their faces that they were just waiting for  her to put her foot in her mouth. But then the talk moved on to  marketing and promotion, and Saffi sat up in her seat.

Staffan knew the moment Saffi started paying attention. He knew her well  enough to recognize the signs when she was ready to do battle. Her eyes  would shine like it did now  –  they weren't so much as stars as a  fighting glint that told him she would be her usual outspoken fangirl  self. Her shoulders were squared, as if she was ready to carry the whole  world on her shoulders if that was what it took for her fangirls to be  treated well.

He loved seeing her like this.

It reminded him of the Saffi he had fallen in love with  –  the Saffi who  still had an unbreakable hold on not just his fucking body, but  everything else. She owned him, heart, body, soul and all.

Saffi bit her lip hard. Everything the executives were saying made  business sense, but they were all so very cold-blooded. There should be a  personalized touch coming from Staffan, didn't they realize that? It  was the only way  –  the best way  –  for Staffan to show how much he cared  about his fans.

"So if that's all---"

"I have a suggestion." The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

Impatience greeted her, but out of respect to Staffan, one of the male executives grunted, "Sure, sweetie, speak."         

     



 

Staffan stiffened at the endearment, but Saffi quickly laid one soothing  hand on his leg, willing him to relax. "All those prizes are really  great, but I think you're forgetting something  –  these people aren't  going to watch Staffan's concert in 3D because they want to win a trip  to Hawaii. They can afford to pay for that trip themselves with the  amount of money it costs to buy a VIP ticket. And how much are you  willing to bet that it's the VIP tickets that would be the first to sell  out?"