The Thrill Of It All II
Kiwi & Old Flames
Tiana woke up very early that morning and got herself ready for the meeting. Preparing breakfast wasn't a difficult task and as soon as she was done and out the door her mood was somewhat better. She never got to speak with Daniel and was sure to do it as soon as she got home.
She shook hands with the five men who were already waiting outside her husband's office.
Derek raised a disapproving brow. "You're late by ten minutes."
Tiana frowned. "The meeting isn't suppose to begin for another twenty minutes. Either one of us forgot to tell time or you just came here too early."
"Tiana is right, Derek," Franklin said, walkng toward the group.
"Well," Tiana began unlocking the door, opening it. "Since we're all here why don't we begin the meeting, gentlemen?" she walked into the room. More than ready for any curve ball the men were planning to throw at her.
()()()()
And as she hoped for, the meeting went very well...
"Thank you, Mrs. Montreuil," one of the men shook her hand.
Tiana smiled. "No problem. Now go enjoy the rest of your day."
"I will admit that I was skeptical of you taking over but I will also admit that you make a fine boss. Mr. Montreuil would be very proud with his wife's leadership and success."
Tiana was actually touched by the sincere compliment. Even if it did take the man a year to admit it. "Thank you!" she said.
The man nodded before leaving.
Derek waited impatiently as Franklin was next to speak with Tiana.
"I couldn't be more excited about the plans Tiana. There were doubts from I'm sure all of us but you proved your stance here! And its refreshing!"
Tiana could tell that he really meant what he was saying, but still didn't feel comfortable being around him after his attack.
He took the hint. "We'll see you next week, Tiana." he nodded at Derek. "Derek."
Tiana didn't bother saying anything to Derek as she collected her folders, placing them in her briefcase.
Derek smirked at the back of the woman before snaking his arms around her waist. "Don't I get a kiss, sweet kiwi?" he kissed her on the ear.
She pushed him off her. "What are you doing?"
"Kissing my fiancee?"
"I don't want your kisses! This is business," she reminded him.
"Oh don't be ridiculous Tiana! I am a man and—
"And I'm a woman? I've heard enough of that now you can leave! The meeting is over remember? Or did you also forget your sense of directions?" she raised an annoying brow.
Derek grabbed her arm, pulling her over to him. "You watch who you're speaking to?"
"And you watch who you're touching!" Tiana glared a him, pulling her arm away.
Derek then grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss. And as soon as his tongue entered her mouth he felt her teeth bite down onto it. "Ow!" he pushed her away. "Bitch!"
"I'll bite it out of you the next time you try!" Tiana warned.
He could taste the blood in his mouth but smiled regardless. "I look forward to having you anytime I please once you say 'I do', my sweet, no tarty kiwi."
As soon as he left Tiana wiped her mouth with the back of her hand while rushing out of the office and building herself.
()()()()
She was home within twenty minutes and about to call her son when the doorbell rang.
"Please don't let this be Derek," she dreaded. Since learning of his close calls with breaking in while out of town before she decided to change the locks in case her 'fiance' tried to make any surprise visits. But when she opened the door she sighed in relief.
"Daddy! What are you doing here!" she hugged him.
"Wantin' to see if my babycakes was alright, and take a break from your mama. She's got a cold and was in the mood for your chicken soup," James returned the hug. "How are you?"
"Not good. Just fired Dorothy."
"You fired Dorothy? What happened?"
"Stealing," was all she told her father.
James shook his head. "That's a shame. I actually like her."
Tiana shrugged her shoulders. "It is what it is. Let me prepare the chicken soup for mama. How sick is she?"
"A head cold!"
Tiana raised her brows. "Its been a while since she's been sick."
"The last time she had a cold was a week before your wedding to the devil." James joked.
"Wow..." Tiana felt sad as she remembered. "That long?" she began walking toward the kitchen with her father following when the phone rang. "I'll meet you in the kitchen daddy!" she ran over to answer the phone. "Hello?"
"This is Naveen."
Tiana hated herself for always feeling surprise whenever he called. Pending fight or not. "Is Daniel around?"
"He's taking a nap. But that's not why I called. I wanted to apologize for my outburst. It was uncalled for."
"Its all right. We only want the best for our son. Which is why I agree that he should live there."
"What made you change your mind?" he asked.
"Derek Conti," she said.
"What did he do? Ask you to marry him?" Naveen hated himself for over talking due to jealousy.
"How did you...Daniel," she realized. "Anyway, I have issues to take care of –
"Such as?" he interupted.
"Him blackmailing me about the paternity of Daniel," she finished.
"The paternity Daniel?" Naveen asked. "What is his threat?"
"He said that if I don't marry him then he will expose to the world that Daniel isn't Jacques' son. Not heir to his fortune."
"You're not going to marry him." Naveen said.
"Naveen—
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Naveen wasn't surprised. "Money is the reason why you're now there?"
"I made a promise to Jacques that I will protect his fortune. And legally its Daniel's she explained.
"I think that you should just give them Jacques' money and move on with your life!" he exclaimed.
Tiana could easily hear the frustration in his voice. "But my parents are here."
"Tiana, your parents are adults and can take care of themselves. As a matter of fact I don't see a reason for you to being there at all.
"The stock market crash really changed a lot of lives. Money talks Naveen. You know this!"
Naveen sighed. "I don't know what else to tell you. I would rather have you here with me...um, witth Daniel then you having to face money hungry sharks who will do everything they can to destroy your humanity," he said. "Come back to Maldonia for our son. You will never have to stress over those people again, Tiana."
"As tempting as that may sound I actually like my independence. Despite the heavy baggage I'm carrying."
"But don't you rather have someone there with you to help carry that baggage?" Naveen asked.
Tiana heard how sincere he was being to her and asked, "What do you mean?"
\"I really have to get going, but once Daniel is up I will have him call you." Naveen said regretfully. "Goodbye."
"Oh," Tiana said, disappointed. "Goodbye." and hung up the phone.
"Hey, babycakes! Are ya done talkin'?" James said from the kitchen.
"Yes!" Tiana completely forgotten about her father. "Here I come!"
()()()()
"It was nice seeing my babycakes again but I really hate to see you here in this place alone," James said with concern. "Please come back and stay with us."
Tiana rolled her eyes. "I've been married to Jacques Montreuil. I can even handle the klan if they chose to come here."
"Yeah, Jacques can make any woman and even man grow a backbone. In your case a shield." he hugged his only child.
"And I really don't want to hear mama talk about Derek as if he's a God. She did the same with Jacques."
"I know...but she's your mother," he stepped out of the door just as a beautiful silver Mercedes-Benz pulled up.
"Now who is this?" Tiana asked with a raised brow.
James stepped out to his car and saw a casually dressed man get out of his expensive car with a chauffeur holding the door. "Derek..."
The young man smirked, extending out his hand. "Jimmy!"
"James," the middle age man corrected, shaking his hand.
"I'm sure that your beautiful daughter shared the wonderful news!" he said with pride.
"That Tiana's chicken soup is delicious?" James asked in sarcasm. "I suppose that's considered wonderful news."
"So this is where my fiancee inherited her dark sense of humour!" Derek walked passed the older man to Tiana and kissed her on the cheek.
Tiana moved away from him with a glare in her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I was concern for your safety and wanted to take you out for dinner," he put a hand on his jacket pocket.
"This is a joke, right?" James asked.
Derek cleared his throat, annoyed by the other man. "As I was saying sweet kiwi—
"Sweet kiwi , Derek?" James interrupted.
Derek remained calm but looked at the man's way. "Do you mind?"
James got out of the car. "As a matter of fact—
"Daddy!" Tiana was relieved that her father was there for her, but had to keep in mind of his health. "You remember what the doctor said about your blood pressure," she reminded him. "And you really need to get home before the soup gets too cold for mama."
"Are you sure about being alone with this man?" James couldn't help but to not trust any friend of Jacques Montreuil.
"Yes, now hurry home! Love you!" she kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll call after I get your mother the soup," James went into his car and soon drove off.
"How sweet," Derek said with sarcasm. "My father and I never had much of a relationship."
Tiana rolled her eyes, closing the door. "So why are you really here?"
Derek walked out of the foyers and inhaled the arouma coming from the kitchen. "It smells delicious in here! What's for dinner?"
Tiana rolled her eyes.
"Come now sweet kiwi..." he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Tiana closed her eyes in disgust, stepping away from him.
"I won't forbid you from cooking..." he eyed the food stained dress she was wearing and wrinkled his nose. "You'd have to change into another dress though. The one you're wearing is filthy!"
Tiana sighed in annoyance.
"Well?" Derek asked, trying to remain patient.
"Go to hell," she walked towards the kitchen.
Derek followed while eying the furniture as he walked by. "You know when we marry you will have to move into my estate."
Tiana didn't bother saying anything as she used a ladle to pour the soup into the bowl.
Derek knew that she wouldn't respond so he waited in the dining room. When she arrived with his soup and bread he was surprised at how domestic she was despite being married to Jacques who would always have her do nothing but look beautiful for him.
"This looks delicious," he said before holding his hands together to pray.
Tiana was taken aback at the gesture and watched him pray. Jacques was always against prayer even during his final days.
"Mm..." came from Derek after tasting the soup and bread. "Did you make all of this yourself?"
"Yes," Tiana answered, watching him eat.
"This is the best meal I've ever had."
She rolled her eyes. "Sure." And left for the kitchen again.
"No really. This is amazing! My ex-wife hated cooking! And whenever she tried it went to hell!" He waved his hand away when she offered him wine. "I'm not really into drinking alcohol unless we're at galas with the social drunks."
She snorted, not believe him. "You drank like a fish with Jacques."
"Yes, with Jacques. I normally prefer non-alcoholic beverages." He picked up the glass of iced water Tiana also brought in. "You fooled me! This was amazing!"
"Thank you!" she set down a dish of cherry pie with icecream on the table before him.
"And I also get homemade pie and icecream" Derek said with humour in his tone.
Tiana decided to leave the diningroom for the livingroom with her son on her mind. She hope that she was making the right decision by marrying Derek. Her son's reputation meant so much to her and marriage seemed to be the only way for that fate to be sealed. And if Derek was this way over a simple soup and bread meal she figured that it may not be so bad being his wife. She was also beginning to see many differences between the men. But he could also be a good liar as her husband was when they were engaged.
"Sweet kiwi that was an amazing meal!" Derek complimented.
"Thank you," Tiana said, hating the nickname he have for her. "So I guess its time for you to be heading out?"
He nodded. "It is." And headed to the door.
Tiana was relieved to see him leaving and watched him turn her way after opening the door.
"I really enjoyed that meal. I look forward to eating real meals from you after the wedding," he then took her hand and kissed it. "It would be an honour if I come here for dinner tomorrow evening."
"You want me to cook for you?" she asked, surprised.
Derek smiled. "Yes, that is if you don't want to..."
"No, I'll cook for you...," Tiana hated the man but never missed an opportunity to cook for anyone who requested. "What do you prefer?"
"Surprise me," he smiled at her "Same time as today?"
"Yep," she answered, suddenly feeling tired.
He kissed her hand again. "Goodnight, Tiana."
She watched him get into his car and rode off.
After locking everything in the estate she went upstairs to bath. It was pure bliss to release the stress that was built up in her body from the day. And when she laid in bed she instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Not even the telephone ringing woke her up.
()()()()
"Why isn't mama answering the phone?" a disappointed Daniel wondered.
"She could be asleep," Naveen answered.
"I really miss her. I want to go back home!" he whined.
Naveen hated hearing his son depressed. "She will call you back. For now why don't we write her a letter?"
"Okay" Daniel remembered writing letters to his father and enjoying doing it with his mother.
"Hello Naveen."
Both Naveen and Daniel turned their heads to see a beautiful woman in a fitted lavender dress standing like a princess.
Naveen knew who the woman was and smiled at her. "Nyah, the princess of Akinikyi."
She smiled in return.
"Did you come with your brother?" he asked.
"Yes, and my father! They have a meeting with you later tonight," she answered and noticed Daniel. "Who is this beautiful boy?"
"Daniel, my son," he answered, proudly.
"Your son?" she asked, a little surprised. "Hmm. Very Lucky."
Daniel saw that the princess's hairstyle was in dreadlocks and asked, "How do you do that?"
Naveen laughed and picked him up. "Its time for his nap. I'll see you at dinner?"
She gave him an innocent but sensual glance and responded, "I look forward."
Daniel looked back at the woman before asking his father. "Do you like her?"
"What? Of course!" Naveen put his hand behind his neck. "She's a friend of mine."
"Will you two get married?" the young by asked with concern.
He raised a brow. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Because she gave you the same look that Uncle Derek gives to my mama," Daniel said knowingly.
Naveen gave him son an reassuring smile. "I won't be marrying anyone anytime soon, son. I promise."
Satisfied with the answer Daniel moved on to himself. "Can I use the bathroom please?"
"Sure," Naveen was just about the open his doors. "We'll use the one in my suite."
Nyah smiled to herself just as Dejen stepped beside her.
"Still in love with Naveen I see?" he teased.
"Yes, I am," she admitted, feeling her cheeks warm slightly. "I will get him back, brother. And this time no one will stop me."
()()()()