CHAPTER 12 Faceoff

"You have changed a lot Fox."

"No, I haven't changed."

"Yes you have. You don't party like you used to and more importantly, you rejected every single woman who tried to get in your pants. You never did that before. What happened to your 'bon vivant' reputation?"

"Nothing, I just found what I was looking for."

"Got to admit, that girl of yours is stunningly beautiful, but come on...don't tell me that you haven't been tempted at least once."

"No, I haven't. Teresa is special. She touches me like no one else, she makes my heart race, she sends chills down my spine every time she kisses me. She is my life."

"I don't think I'll ever go to Harmony."

"Why is that?"

"You went there and came back completely insane."

"It's not insanity, it's love and I've been in love with her since as long as I can remember. She is a part of me."

Fox was finishing his packing.

"You can stand to gain a lot if you went to Harmony. Teresa's best friend is very pretty."

"Not interested in settling down. I think I would get bored if I slept with just one woman or one woman at the time."

Fox laughed.

"You are such an idiot Dylan."

"At least I'm not acting like some teenager."

"Bye Dylan. Take good care and maybe if you behave yourself, you'll receive an invitation to my wedding to Teresa."

"What's the female population of Harmony?"

"Stop thinking about that Dylan." "Not a chance, Crane."

The two man hugged and Fox left Paris for good.

**********************************

"Stop pacing around the room, you're making me nervous."

"I haven't seen him in practically nine months, Whit. I've missed him so much!"

"I know, and I also know he missed you."

Teresa went to her desk and pulled out a box from it.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm just taking out my promise ring."

Whitney smiled.

"Are you going to Ethan's wedding tomorrow?"

"Yes, I was invited."

A knock was heard. Teresa slipped the ring on her finger quickly and left her room running. She opened the door and thought her heart was going to burst with joy.

"Nicholas, you're finally back."

He took her in his arms and held her for a few minutes, then they kissed. She was making a huge effort not to start crying.

"I missed you a lot, Teresa."

"So did I."

Whitney came to them. She hugged Fox.

"It's good to see you, Fox."

"Good to see you too, Whit."

"I'm going home, I'll catch you later. Good luck tonight."

"I think we will need it."

Whitney left and Teresa invited Fox inside the cottage. He sat down and pulled her on his lap and held her for a while.

"I thought this year would never be over. Are you ready for tonight?"

She looked at him and felt a shiver go through her body. He felt it too and pulled her closer to him.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"And Luis?"

"He didn't take the news very well. He was pretty angry."

"That bad, huh?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

"I should go to the mansion and let them know that I'm here. Not that they'll care."

They both got up and he kissed her before he left.

"Meet me in an hour at the mansion."

"Ok, be careful that Luis doesn't catch without me around."

"Yes, I'll avoid him like the plague."

She went back inside and decided to pick something to wear for tonight.

"It's too important for us to blow it."

She picked a black top and a black knee length skirt with a pair of sandals. She got dressed and fixed her hair. She left the cottage and headed to the main house. The door was opened to her by one of the maids who told her to wait for Fox in the living room. She stood near a window and waited for him. He was finally came down from his room.

"So, how do you want to do this?"

"We go in, tell them. Let them yell. I tell them that we are not changing our minds. Grandfather and Father threaten to disown me, and I tell them to go ahead."

"You would do this for me?"

"That and more."

She looked at and started laughing.

"What? Is it something I said?"

"No, something that Luis said. He is going to have to swallow his words."

"Should be fun!"

He took her hand and they walked to the library where Julian and Ivy were waiting for them. They both looked up when the door opened and they both saw Fox holding Teresa's hand.

"This better be good, Fox." He ignored his father's remark.

"Is Grandfather on the phone."

"Yes, I'm here. I hope you're not wasting my time."

"No, Grandfather. It's worth your time."

Ivy got up and stood at Julian's desk.

"Teresa and I are getting engaged."

A laugh was heard. Alistair was laughing at what he had just heard.

"Fox, you cannot be serious."

"But I am Father. I have never been this serious about anything in my life."

"No, Fox. You cannot marry her."

"Why not Mother. It's not because you've been miserable in this house that I have to be too."

"Don't speak to me like that."

"But it's the truth, Mother. I love her and she makes me happy."

"The answer is no, Foxworth. You will not be engaged to the Lopez- Fitzgerald girl nor marry her. You are a Crane for Christ sake."

"What does it matter who I marry. I'm tired of been a bargaining chip in your game of power. I found something amazing and I'm sure as hell not going to let you take it away from me. I will fight for Teresa and me."

"Fox, please reconsider this. You are putting your entire future in jeopardy. And for what? A crush?"

"Mother this is not a crush, this is the real thing. I am not putting anything in jeopardy. I graduated from business school, I can go and have a job tomorrow morning if I wanted to."

Ivy turned to Teresa who had been silent the entire time and looked at her with a cold stare.

"What about you Teresa, are you willing to let him go through with this?"

"I-I don't know what to say except that I love him. Do I want to see him suffer as a consequence of this? Of course not, but we made this decision last summer."

"What? Julian are sleeping? I told you to dissuade him from seeing her. What the hell is the matter with you. I think I will have to pass you up as primary heir to my fortune and go straight to Ethan. At least, he does what he is asked to do."

"No, Father, I wasn't sleeping. I can't have people on him 24/7."

"You had me followed?"

"Well, yes."

"This is unbelievable."

"I told you before, you are a Crane..."

"Maybe I don't want to be part of this family anymore."

He took Teresa's hand in his.

"This engagement will take place with or without your blessing. By the way, I will not be attending Ethan's wedding tomorrow either."

"He is your brother, Fox."

"Yes, my brother who is in love with another woman and whom you are forcing to marry someone he doesn't care for."

"We are not forcing anything, Foxworth."

"I'm not stupid, Grandfather. You are forcing him to marry that Hotchkiss gal."

"She comes from a very good family, Foxworth. You should think about that."

Fox had a sarcastic laugh.

"I couldn't care less about where she comes from."

"By the choice you've made, it's quiet obvious."

"I'm sorry Mr. Crane, but I come from a family of people who are hard worker. I'm not ashamed of that."

"And you shouldn't be dear. But you're not good enough for my grandson. A Crane with a Lopez-Fitzgerald will not happen in this lifetime."

Teresa let go of Fox's hand and left the library.

"I cannot believe you can be this cruel, Grandfather. She is a million times better than Gwen Hotchkiss."

"Perhaps, but she doesn't have the background Gwen has. Besides, have you ever met your future sister-in-law to judge her so harshly?"

"No, but you haven't met Teresa either to speak to her or of her the way you did."

He walked out of the library to go and find Teresa. She was sitting in front of the cottage. He took her in his arms.

"Trust in our love, always."

They wrapped their arms around each other and sat there until the sun showed the next morning.