Sunset At Paradise Cove
Chapter 21
Author's Note: Hi everyone thanks for reading and following along with this story I am glad to see that you are enjoying it so far and I hope that you continue to comeback each week to follow along with where the plot goes. Thanks to all my readers for your continuous support and I hope you continue to send your reviews as they help inspire me. Also, I have had a little bit of a drain in me the past few weeks for fresh ideas and I am looking for some ideas for just a quick one shot if anyone has any suggestions. Please let me know. Thanks for reading and following along and please continue to send your reviews. Thanks Mars Light.
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor moon never did, never will Thank you!
Darien drove down the long driveway up to the plantation of his youth where he grew up spending much of his free time running through the fields never wanting to be stuck inside within the four walls.
He parked his car in the front cobblestone walkway that had been redone within the past few months, but it had been many months since he last stepped foot on the property, so who could tell.
He stepped out of his car shutting the door behind him and looked up to the third window to the right recognizing what was once his own and knew even with the time lapse, he still could find his way there blind folded.
He dropped his shoulders down not taking much pleasure on being back again and walked up to the entrance as the butler a middle aged man, who appeared to have many miles put on him by the appearance of his thinning hair and stout face as he walked over with a displeased look stating firmly "you cannot park your vehicle here sir"
Darien walked over to the newest butler, with a small smirk knowing they never lasted very long anyhow and patted him on the back replying condescendingly "come now Jeffrey, James, Jerry"
The butler looked to the laidback man in front of him with a displeased look as he corrected "Gerald sir"
Darien let out a small laugh by the man's obvious lack of personality as he gently patted him on the shoulder and then placed his keys in the butler's hand stating "well Gerald I am certain you can handle her; she doesn't bite at least not too hard"
Gerald looked to him, seeing the way he just appeared acting as though he owned the place and took no pleasure in his comment as he questioned back "were you expected for a visit sir"
Darien looked to the man in front of him who was getting bristled up in his company with a shake of his head knowing that he was expected to have made an appointment to enter his own home these days as he shook his head and walked forward commenting dryly "not this time, but don't get beside yourself. I am not looking to be spending a great deal of time here anyway, just looking to see the old man who lives here"
Gerald looked to him with a condescending shake of his head, hearing stories of the laidback youth, as he watched Darien walk into the grand estate with his head held high as though he owned the place while calling out "is anyone home"
Gerald marched forward to catch up with him, having no intention of letting the man disrupt daily business as he told him back sternly "this is not a good time to be making a social call"
Darien looked to him hearing the formal way he was being asked to leave the premises and replied back with a shake of his head telling him "nonsense I am family I don't need a formal invitation to visit my father, so tell me Gerry where is the old windbag hiding?"
Darien walked further inside the grand entrance of the estate and looked around at the many changes that took place inside since he was here last, making it look with each visit less and less like the home that he knew and remembered.
He walked towards the parlor where he knew his father preferred to sit out on the veranda in the mornings with his morning paper and cup of espresso, when the hairs on the back of his neck stood up hearing her voice coming up from behind him saying coldly "the old windbag as you call him is in his study working, like most hardworking men do"
Darien rolled his eyes back knowing it would be another one of these visits for sure and turned around to find Claudette standing behind him, his father's newest and most youngest wife yet as he looked to her with a fake grin, seeing she had put his father's money to her own personal use and had some work done recently on not just the house, but her breasts and buttocks as well. While he silently questioned himself on how she was able to hold herself up with the large frontal implants on such a small frame as he shook his head while playing nice telling her "you are looking well Claude"
Claudette walked over to him taking in his wrinkled appearance in her home, that he stood out of place in his tan Bermuda shorts and white t-shirt with large blue flowers covering it as she shook her head telling him "I wish I could say the same for you Darien, don't you own even one decent shirt or a pair of pants or do you prefer walking around looking like you just woke up from a park bench somewhere"
Darien let out a loud laugh hearing the way she judged him, seeing how he could make plenty of comments to some of the outfits that she was caught wearing, after observing first hand how she enjoyed walking around and flirting with the gardeners as he shook his head telling her "I'm sorry I didn't realize there was a certain dress code that I must follow, do I need to wear a suit and tie now and carry a briefcase to even walk in the door to see my own father"
Claudette looked back at him sharply, knowing unlike the others who entered here Darien had no problem speaking his mind to her as she replied back "no, but to actually see you show some interest in your father's business would be a welcome change, but I suppose it would take to much time away from all your other little hobbies to get a real job. Although just that you are here at all is rather amazing. Tell me have you forgotten your way here in all of these months, or get lost, did you?"
Darien looked to her with disdain knowing part of the reason he had not been visiting or invited lately was standing right in front of him as he shook his head stating sarcastically "oh what's the matter Claude? Why are you in such a sour mood? Did you max out on one of your credit cards again or are you just upset that my father is still alive and hasn't left everything to you in his will before he croaked yet, so until that happens you still have to play his dutiful wife, although I can see you are still finding plenty of ways to spend his money"
Claudette looked to him displeased with the way he would speak to her in such a manner, even though most of his words spoke the truth as she held her head up high telling him "I am his wife Darien. I live here and take care of him and our home. You on the other hand are only here for your own personal gain, he is your father only when it suits your needs, so tell me Darien what personal reason brings you here this time, besides the obvious asking for money or having your father bail you out of whatever jam you created for yourself this time"
Darien looked to her knowing the truth in her words too and would not be standing here right now if it was not for the whole baby situation, but he was not about to admit such a thing to her anytime soon and was about to object to her comment, when he heard his fathers raised voice from come from the top of the stairway telling them "that is enough of that you two"
Darien turned his head and looked over to see his father walking down the steps in a business suit as usual, who was a remarkable look alike of himself and gave him a clear vision of what he would look like in the next thirty years to come, only he had no intentions of wasting his life behind a desk as his father had chosen to do.
His father Philip a man in his growing years with possibly only a few more greying hairs than his own and some small wrinkles below his eyes, had aged remarkable well and did not miss a step in life, but especially not in business as he looked down at the unexpected visit of his only son Darien as he plastered on a smile knowing there was more than just a causal visit by his sons sudden appearance at his doorstep replying "well what do we have here?"
Claudette was just about to open her mouth to reply as Darien stepped up in front of her, as he did many times in his youth when he was trying to weasel his way out of a punishment telling his father with a small grin "we were just catching up on conversations from our last visit father"
Philip gave his son a knowing look as he crossed his arms in front of him stating "is that so" knowing full well like himself his boy had away with words and usually a special knack at talking himself out of difficult situations, unless they presented to be difficult to handle which was usually what would bring him to his doorstep as he looked to his son asking "come take a walk with me boy?"
Darien nodded his head knowing with his father requests were always asked as a question, but was really an order to be followed as he nodded his head and looked back to Claudette with a knowing smile telling her "always a pleasure" and watched as she turned her chin up to him then walked over to join his father with a shake of his hand telling him "hello again father"
His father greeted him warmly pulling his long-awaited son in closer for a slight hug and gave him a quick pat on the back telling him happily "Darien my boy always good to see you, your looking well"
Claudette looked on at what the average person would assume to be a happy father and son reunion with a shake of her head knowing it was actually otherwise as she spoke aloud stating with a humph "I will be in the abortorium, while you two catch up on your unexpected visit, please excuse me" and then walked off with her head held high.
Darien's father paid no heed to the abrupt exit of his wife knowing it would be a smoother visit without her there and having the two bickering back and forth constantly as he looked to his son questioning "so tell me what is this surprise visit for? Have you been enjoying your birthday present from your mother and I?"
Darien smiled at the thought of what his father considered a simple birthday gift or rather what it really is trying to buy his affection, which the Camaro parked outside did do a pretty good job of doing so as he told him back "yes father she handles perfectly thank you, but you know that Claudette is not my mother. She is practically my own age and I would prefer you not speak of her in that way"
His father looked to him displeased with a shake of his head, hearing a similar comment from his boy before telling him back "Darien she is your step mother and for my sake you must try to get along with her, just be in the same room with her for five minutes without arguing about something for once"
Darien shook his head knowing it had not happened yet in the eleven months since they married and she dug her nails into his father's wallet telling him back "Unfortunately father I think when it comes to me sitting down in the same room with Claudette and actually having a real conversation, it is unlikely to happen, just the idea of listening to the way women speak endlessly on fashion and the latest trends, well I would rather stick a red hot poker in my eye then do so"
His father looked to him with a shake of his head, knowing Darien had much to learn yet about pleasing a fine woman telling him back "come now my boy there is much more to a good woman than that, besides Claudette is a clever woman with a good head on her shoulders and she takes good care of me, not to mention that she has the body of an eighteen year old also"
Darien looked to his father not wanting to hear the many praises of his newest bride, knowing that it was always the same thing, but it never lasted and with a shake of his head he replied back "yeah well how many surgeries did it take to get her body looking that way, seems to me she takes after all the others, more worried about how she looks and the way others will see her"
His father looked to him with a shake of his head knowing well, that when it came to his son when he saw a fine woman it was like they all fit into one single mold as he shook his head telling him back "that is why you never married my boy, not all women are all you say they are, there are those that might surprise you"
Darien looked to his father knowing the real truth that every woman he met or spent time with were exactly of the same breeding, nothing different about any of them, each one as boring as the last as he scoffed at his father words and shook his head, knowing his father was a walking contradiction saying one thing about the praises of all women, but then watched as he also went through wives like he did old tee shirts asking him back "surprise me huh, so special are they all; so tell me than father what wife does she make this time, Claudette is wife number 4 or 5?"
His father shook his head knowing his son had a very different view on the world and the many gifts it held telling him back proudly "7 actually, but this time I mean to get it right, lucky number seven and all"
Darien looked to him knowing luck had nothing to do with it and this one wouldn't last like the six others before her had not lasted more than a few months to a year, two at the most. If his intuition proved to be correct which most times it was, then in his own father's words, Claudette was truly the one, she had maybe a few more months to go tops, before his father got tired of her like all the rest before her asking him doubtfully "how do you keep them all straight?"
His father looked to him with a small shake of his head knowing he had tried to raise his boy in his own image, but Darien had taken a sharp turn around for a more independent life style telling him regretfully "well since your mother may god rest her soul"
Darien looked back at him with a roll to his eyes while shaking of his head knowing how his father addressed the woman who gave birth to him, but that was about as much as he would put the title of mother to her telling him back "mother is not dead"
His father looked to him nodding his head in confirmation knowing there was no love loss between Darien and his mother replying back with a small chuckle "I know that, but a man can wish can't he"
Darien nodded his head in confirmation expecting such a comment from him, as they continued on with their stroll his father looked to him asking curiously "have you had any word from her lately, where is she off to cruising the Mediterranean this time?"
Darien did not bother looking to him as he took a deep breath in and shook his head knowing he had not had any word from his mother in over a year now, which was not uncommon for her as he stated back "last I heard she was somewhere in the south of France with her new boyfriend Pierre or something equally nauseating as that, but I did not actually come here to speak over mother, there is something I wish to speak to you about is there somewhere we could speak more privately"
Philip patted him on the back expecting as much that Darien would not just appear suddenly on his doorstep without a reason for doing so as he told him in a friendly tone "of course my boy come tell me what is on your mind"
Darien walked through the well-manicured gardens of the estate with his father following behind him as they walked along the acres of land his family owned while his father looked to him, seeing his son seemed lost in his own thoughts stating calmly "I am always very glad to see you my boy, but I do believe you said you did not just come here as a simple social call. Although I dare to think that for once you would actually come home to take up some sort of involvement in the family business, it is your legacy after all"
Darien rolled his eyes back knowing It was always the same old lecture when he was around his father that he had to grown-up day in and day out hearing about and had been groomed to start learning the ways of the family business before he could walk, which now left him with the only thing that he wanted for himself was to stay far away from it all as he shook his head telling him back "that is not why I came here to speak with you today"
His father shook his head knowing that when it came down to any real adult responsibilities his son was running away as fast as possible, preferring instead to spend his time surfing or playing at some cheap tiki luau telling him back regretfully "it never is, although one day I am certain you will see things differently"
Darien continued walking forward certain of one thing that he would not let himself get caught in that spiders web or any other regarding a job, marriage, or kids as he shook his head telling him back forcefully "that's the life you want father not me. I have things just the way I want them to be and that's the way I prefer they stay, which is what brings me here"
His father nodded his head hearing similar statements from his boy in the past and knew this was going to be another one of those times when he would have to open up his check book to keep what his boy preferred to have as his own way of doings things asking intrigued "then tell me what is on your mind?"
Darien let out a loud gulp after thinking of not much else yesterday and again this morning as he shook his head telling him back "I have a problem, it's actually kind of a big problem"
His father nodded his head not expecting anything less to bring his illusive son to his doorstep asking for help as he kept walking forward with his voice completely calm asking "so what kind of problem are we talking about here and how much money will it take to get rid of it?"
Darien stopped walking as he heard his father's usual way of fixing all the problems that come along by tossing money around as though it were nothing and looked to him with a shake of his head saying back "that's just the thing, I don't think any amount of money is going to fix this"
His father laughed hard at his boy's juvenile comment as he told him in a disciplinary style "that is where you are wrong my boy, the first thing you must learn in business is that there is nothing money cannot solve, so tell me what is this dilemma of yours?"
Darien looked to his father seeing that he actually believed his own words, but he did not feel the same confidence his father showed as he took a deep breath in and then told him "I got a girl knocked up"
His father stopped walking as he looked him straight in the eyes as though this, we're a day to day comment he was making on the weather, instead of what it actually is, that he is going to be someone's father as his own father looked to him asking clearly "are you sure it is yours? You know what I always tell you don't you"
Darien nodded his head expecting such a comment from his father telling him dryly "yes I know, but this time I don't think a paternity test will be needed"
His father gave him a strong look of disapproval about his boy's foolish notions and with a shake of his head he continued walking forward telling him "don't be a fool son always check the facts first"
Darien looked to him remembering full well how his father would handle situations that he got himself into in his youth, mostly to deal with fighting and his simplistic views on handling major problems, by blaming them on others as he shook his head telling him back "well this time the girl I knocked up was a virgin"
His father stopped walking hearing his words as he turned around and looked to him with a shake of his head asking surprised "what were you doing with a virgin?"
Darien looked to him hearing the surprise in his father's voice, which matched his own when he realized and silently wished he never set eyes on the girl as he shook his head replying back "making a huge mistake, but how do I correct it?"
His father patted him on the shoulder calmly, showing no real concern in his situation while telling him back simply "do not worry about it my boy, problems like these are easily corrected. We can make it as though the child just never existed"
Darien looked to him unsure of what his father expected to do, knowing before he would never have questioned it, but this time was different and he needed to know more about how his father planned to handle this situation as he questioned back "how would we do that?"
His father looked to him hearing the growing concern in his boys voice and with a small chuckle as though the answer should be obvious he continued walking forward telling him "really my boy you are smarter than that, the girl must not be that far along yet I assume and well we can make this problem disappear in just a few hours, throw some money at the girl for her silence, have her sign a few disclosure forms and it will all be over like it never even happened"
Darien stopped walking understanding of what his father had planned as he looked to him feeling a pit rising in his stomach while asking his father "you mean tell her to have an abortion?"
His father looked to him completely serious making his point and having no intention of letting this particular problem of his go much further replying back "of course if you want to get rid of this problem of yours for good, this is the only way, besides you will be doing this girl a favor, as you see it all girls only concern themselves with is fashion and the way they see themselves, well how do you think this girl will see herself when she is nine months pregnant and alone"
Darien thought about it for a moment and heard his father's words that this really is what is best for both of them to cut all ties and go their separate ways as he looked to his father asking concerned "have you done this before?"
His father looked to him as he patted him on the back assuredly telling him "me not personally no, but I am sure the girl can be persuaded with the right amount of provisions, just let me handle this alright"
Darien looked to him knowing exactly what provisions his father spoke of while shaking his head telling him "I don't know if this girl will so easily be persuaded with your provisions as you say" and then took a deep breath as he shook his head telling him "I also don't think she will go for your abortion idea as easily as you say"
His father looked to him as he began to laugh that anything would go against the plans he makes and with a shake of his head telling him back "don't worry about that my boy, there is much for you to learn still, you see money is everything, it is what controls the world, everyone can be persuaded by money, the only question is how much will it take for her to see things our way?"
Darien looked to him knowing in this case it was not as easy as his father put it into words and with a shake of his head he explained "she already comes from money father I doubt that is what she wants"
His father crossed his arms over his chest showing doubt in Darien's explanation asking "if she comes from money then what is she doing here bothering you? I am certain this girl as you say had her own reasons for coming to seek you out, but do not worry about this my boy. I will handle it properly just bring the girl here tomorrow and I will make sure this whole baby situation is put to rest"
Darien nodded his head unsure what that meant exactly, but knew from previous experiences with his father that it meant whatever problem he had would suddenly disappear and he would never hear or speak of anything about it again, which left a sinking feeling in his stomach as he asked him "and what am I supposed to do in the meantime?"
His father looked to him as he did when he was a young boy caught fighting in school telling him in the same disciplinary manner "just don't do anything this stupid again and I will clean up your mess for you as I always have" then turned around to walk back to the house, but then stopped telling him abruptly "and one more thing move your damn car off my walkway"
Darien watched as his father retreated towards the house with a loud sigh knowing he was making plans of his own to get rid of the whole baby situation as he shook his head and saluted telling him back "yes sir" knowing full well behind the careful smile and business suit, was the man that he knew.
The cold calculating business man his father really is, who when there was a problem that appeared in his way he found a way to push through it and walk over many others in the process, and silently wondered how much it would take to make this particular situation like it never happened at all, when his thoughts were distracted by Gerald who had come walking up to him with his head held up high holding his keys out in front of him stating coldly "your father has just informed me that you were just leaving sir"
Darien looked towards where his father had retreated back into the house as he nodded his head solemnly remembering why his visits were so infrequent and told him back "yeah I guess so" and then quickly grabbed the keys back from his hand and turned around to walk back down the walkway.