Chapter 2

"Miss Phoebe my dear…are you awake?" Fredrick asked as he tapped on the door.

Phoebe opened her sleepy eyes and sat up suddenly. She looked around her room and her stomach dropped in excitement again when she realized last night wasn't a dream.

"Yes, Fredrick?" Phoebe said with excitement in her voice. She saw it was eleven o'clock am.

"You have slept through breakfast now too. Are you going to come out today?" Fredrick asked sarcastically.

"Yes, I guess I was really tired?" She said trying not to laugh.

"Mr. Patric asked if you would join him this afternoon at the lounge for brunch?" Fredrick said through the door.

Phoebe felt like someone punched her in the stomach and a nauseating fear flushed through her body. She was afraid of what Patric would do if he found out. He was manipulative and unpredictable.

"Tell him I will meet him there" Phoebe said trying to disguise the frustration in her voice.

Phoebe knew that Patric had power over her . He always told her she belonged to him and no other. It was meaningful lust, and it made her feel weak and empty. But he had a way of making her see things his way. Phoebe would try to resist him but he would end up getting her in the end. She had to end it once and for all, and free herself so she could be with Cole. "A woman's best tool is to be an actress" she thought to herself as she remembered the one of many sayings her mother told her.

********

Mr. Patric sat in the lobby of the hotel and waited for Phoebe. There were windows that looked out over the estate. He was looking out of the windows watching an old man trim the roses. Cole walked up to his father and started picking up the rose clippings. Patric got an evil smile and sank back into his seat.

"I thought I recognized you?" He said quietly aloud to himself looking at Cole.

"What are you mumbling about?" Phoebe asked nervously smiling at him. She didn't see Cole but Cole saw her.

Mr. Patric looked up beside him and she was in a loose flowing strapless dress and she had a scarf around her neck. Her hair was curled and pulled up on her head. She was stunning.

"Why Miss Phoebe, you know how to make a man tremble inside don't you?" He said in his sly French accent.

"I know what you like yes." Phoebe said calmly but wanting to scream inside.

"Come, our table is waiting" he said as he stood up and put his hand on her lower back.

********

"Cole? Where are you going?" Abe asked as he saw Cole start to walk to the windows on the other side of the restaurant.

"I thought I saw someone , I'll be back" Cole said and walked around to the next set of windows.

********

"Patric, there is something we need to talk about" She said as cool as she could sitting in the chair he pulled out for her.

He sat in the chair across from her. The table for two was small and he leaned over and slowly pulled her scarf off. It slowly slid off her neck draping along her breasts. She shuttered and tried to hide the fact that he was turning her on.

"Please Patric, I…." She stopped when she felt his warm hand touch her knee and slide up her leg.

It took her breath and she closed her eyes. She was terrified and all she could think of was hurting Cole. She wanted to run, but he had her under his spell and Phoebe was trapped.

"The smell of you darlin' makes my body hurt" He whispered to her across the table.

He was trying to distract her and it was working.

"Patric, no, we can't do this anymore" Phoebe pleaded trying to clear her head reaching for the glass of champagne that was already poured on the table.

"Phoebe, your beauty tortures me." He said as he trailed his finger along her breast line.

Phoebe closed her eyes again and her chest started to catch as he trailed small circles on her chest.

"Do you want me to stop Phoebe?" He whispered as he leaned in to brush his lips on hers.

"Yes" Phoebe paused. "No" She finally whispered with her eyes still closed.

She opened her eyes and guzzled down the champagne looking over her glass. She looked out the window and meet eyes with Cole. Her heart sank when she saw that he was watching her. He was standing there with his fists clenched and rage and pain in his eyes. When he saw them in the window it felt as if someone had ran a knife straight through his heart. He couldn't breath and he felt like he was choking.

Patric looked behind him and saw Cole. Patric gave him an evil smile and watched with satisfaction. Cole felt like he was being strangled. He was dizzy with rage and pain in his heart. He shook his head and walked away. Phoebe stood at the table with tears in her eyes.

"No, Cole!" she said and started to go after him but Patric grabbed her arm.

"Let him go. It's too late Phoebe, he doesn't want you now." He said standing from the table and putting his arm around her.

"No, I have to go to him" She pleaded trying to release herself from his grip.

"You belong to me Phoebe, no one else wants you like I do" He said in her ear and tightening his grip on her arm.

Phoebe stopped struggling and stood in his arms as the tears started to run down her face.

"Lets go darlin', I need you with me" He said putting his arm around her and leading her away.

*********

"Who was it?" Abe asked watching Cole coming back from the other side of the restaurant .

"It was no one!" Cole shouted angrily and grabbed a shovel and began violently digging a hole in the ground.

"What is the matter son?" Abe asked frowning in confusion at Cole's behavior.

"Nothing!" Cole shouted angrily and then thregh down the shovel and stormed off.

Cole felt so embarrassed and betrayed. Phoebe had made a fool out of him. He wanted to rip the head off the man that sat with her. He tried to hate Phoebe with everything he had but all he wanted was for her to come to him and tell him everything would be ok.

He reached the vineyard and stopped to catch his breath. He remembered they were supposed to meet there. He ran to the gazebo and sat on the bench with his head down. He looked at the picture that Phoebe painted of him and his father. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked up to the canvas. He looked at it and remembered when he first walked up to the gazebo and saw Phoebe painting. He shut his eyes and felt his heart race. She was so beautiful and he wanted her so badly.

He opened his eyes and looked down at her brushes and rags on the table. There was a lighter on the table for heating the paint chalk. He grabbed the lighter and rag. He lit the rag and threw it on the painting. He turned and walked away. The painting melted and the canvas slowly burned away. The fire simmered and went out when there was no more to burn.

******

Phoebe laid in the bed with Patric beside her in his room. He was smoking a cigar and running his fingers through her hair. Phoebe laid there motionless. She was suppose to make love to Cole not Patric. She had destroyed Cole's love for her and she felt empty inside and she felt like she was drowning.

"I am flying to Venice tomorrow and I wanted you to come along. I have a gentlemen who would like you to view your paintings." Patric said as he got up and walked to the window.

Phoebe looked at his naked body in the window. He was a very handsome man and he was everything a woman could want. But not Phoebe, she only could think of Cole's face in the window. Their swim at the lake, and his body against hers and his strong hands all over her body.

"Phoebe?" Patric said breaking her thoughts.

"I will need to talk to my mother first" she finally said.

"I already have darlin', she is all for it" He said putting out his cigar and crawling back into bed with her.

"I am sure of that!" Phoebe snapped, ignoring Patric's kisses on her shoulder.

"So? Will you go with me?" He asked watching her as she got up to dress.

"Why not? I have no reason to stay here?" She said sadly zipping the back of her dress.

"Great! We will leave at six o'clock sharp, and I will pick you up at the house" He said smiling at her as she looked at him.

"Great! I will be ready" she said solemnly opening the door.

"Phoebe?" Patric said as she started out.

Phoebe looked back at his naked body stretched out over the bed.

"That was amazing as always darlin'" He said smiling with his grin of satisfaction.

Phoebe just turned and walked out ashamed of what she had become. She never wanted to be like this. Weak and vulnerable. She felt like she was dead inside and now her only hope for rescue was gone. Cole would never trust her again. She hated the hold that Patric had on her, but she was no longer strong enough to break it. She walked past the house and through the vineyard. Maybe Cole was waiting for her and he would hold her in his arms and tell her everything was ok. Then they could run off together and get out of this place. This nightmare that held her here. Cole's face haunted her as she walked up to the gazebo.

She walked inside and saw the burned painting. She started to cry and she knew now he truly hated her. She curled up on the bench and began to sob. The tears came so fast and they burned her face. He stomach was sick and she hurt inside.

"I just needed to get out of here!" She sobbed.

********

"What is troubling you son?" Abe asked as they laid in their bunks.

"It's nothing" Cole said with a heavy sigh.

They laid there in silence for a moment. The crickets were chirping and the sound of night was very loud all of the sudden.

"I was not born yesterday son, you have woman written all over you" Abe said sarcastically.

Cole sighed again and looked out of the window. The stars were bright and so was the moon. The light from the moon shown down through the window like a beam. Cole was thinking of their midnight swim. He thought he could still smell Phoebe's hair and feel her soft shin against his body.

"It is nothing that matters anymore" Cole finally said lacing his fingers behind his head.

"Well son, you are old enough to make your own decisions, but I will tell you one thing, what you do today, affects what happens tomorrow. You will make mistakes through your life and you will pay for them too." Abe said looking over across the room at Cole.

"I don't know what to do?" Cole said looking back at his dad.

"That is what you have to figure out for yourself…Good night son" Abe said and turned over to sleep.

Cole laid there and looked out the window again. He wanted to go to Phoebe and hold her again. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her and he wanted the pain he felt in his heart to be gone. The pain would only leave if he had Phoebe.

"I think I will go to her tomorrow in the morning?" Cole said confidently, feeling a new sense of hope.

Abe just smiled without saying anything. He was proud of his son and he had come a long way since they lost his mother. Abe tried his best to raise Cole, the best that he could and instill the importance of life in him. He taught him to put others first and to be honest and appreciate life. To take each day as it comes, "because you never know when it is your last" Abe would always tell Cole.

*********

That morning, Phoebe threw a swim suit in the open suit case on her bed. She looked around her room one last time giving it a final inspection.

"Miss Phoebe, are you ready?" Fredrick said through her door.

"Yes, I am" She said solemnly.

He opened the door and Fredrick gathered her bags on her bed. She grabbed her sunglasses on the dresser and headed downstairs. Phoebe was in a black career suit with high heals and a short tight mini skirt and a sun hat that tied under her chin. Her hair was in a bun behind her head.

"My paintings Freddie?" Phoebe asked sophisticatedly as she slipped her glasses on.

"They are in the car with Mr. Patric Miss Phoebe" He said hurrying along down the stairs behind her.

Phoebe was just about to walk out the open front door when her mother stopped her.

"Phoebe, do you have everything?"

"I think so, I don't know when I'll be back, but you can reach us at the Hotel Danieli." Phoebe said hugging her mother.

Dallas looked at Phoebe and smiled.

"You look so grown up baby" she said holding Phoebe's hands.

"Have a wonderful time sweetheart and enjoy yourself, you deserve it!" Dallas said kissing Phoebe on the cheek.

**********

Cole was walking up to Phoebe's window when he heard a car running in the front of the house and voices.

He walked around the house and he saw a man standing outside of the car with dark glasses on and a top hat with a cane. He felt himself shake with anger inside when he recognized the man from the restaurant the day before.

Then he saw Phoebe walk out of the house and to the man. Cole felt panic and jealousy flush through him. The man kissed Phoebe on the cheek and he moved aside for her to get in. He put his hand on her lower back as she entered the car. Then he climbed in behind her and the car drove off.

Cole stood there and he didn't know what to do. He felt jealous and outraged but also confused and hurt. What was she doing to him? Where was she going? What was she up to? Phoebe seemed so sincere down at the lake and he thought he felt her love.

Cole kept having flashes of Phoebe and the man as he walked away from the house. He could see the man touching her at the table in the restaurant and then Phoebe closing her eyes with pleasure. Then he could imagine them in bed together and Phoebe moaning and laughing. Then he saw the way the man touched her at the car. It was a lover's touch. Cole walked back to the bunk room filled with haunting thoughts and images.

********

In the car Mr. Patric kissed Phoebe on her neck.

"You smell delicious" he whispered on her neck, "I am glad you are with me."

Phoebe just smiled at him. She thought of Cole and the images ran through her mind. His face was so hurt and she could picture him burning the painting in the gazebo. She was so ashamed of herself and what Cole saw. Her heart began to harden and she remembered her mother saying that love is an infection. A disease that only gets worse. Phoebe decided not to let it spread. She closed her heart and turned to Mr. Patric.

"I am glad too" Phoebe said and opened her mouth to kiss him.

*********

Cole was quiet the next morning. He didn't sleep all night and he had no peace. He helped his father get supplies in town and then he worked in the vineyard the rest of the day. He didn't know where Phoebe was and it tormented him. Each day was the same and as the week passed, it got harder and harder to handle. For the first three days and nights he never slept. It was one big long day to him that never ended. Finally one day his father found Cole in the gazebo.

"What is troubling you son? I have never seen you this way, not even when your mother died?" His father said approaching him.

Cole had not shaved and he was scruffy and ragged looking. The lack of sleep and torment was taking a toll on him.

"She is gone father" he said coldly looking straight ahead.

"Son, she was never here, she was a fantasy that wasn't supposed to be for you. It has been weeks boy…move on!" He said sitting by Cole.

"I want her back" Cole snapped hoarsely.

"She is the devil son, and you must get her out of your head!" Abe scolded looking at Cole intensely.

Abe saw something in Cole's hand and he stood up in front of him to get a better look. It was a gun that rested loosely in Cole's hand.

"You have to get a grip son!" Abe almost shouted in a scared voice.

Cole just looked sadly out over the vineyard with tears in his eyes.

"What are you going to do son? Abe said in a shaky voice worried what Cole might do to himself.

"I am going to kill her" Cole said in a cold and solemn voice as he stood up and put the gun behind him in his belt.

"Cole, this is crazy, give me the gun son!" Abe shouted as Cole left him there standing in the gazebo.

"This is my fight dad, you stay out of it!" Cole said as he marched to the house.

******

It had been three weeks since Phoebe left home. She had met with painters and artists and she was getting good exposure for her work. Patric was with her every step of the way, and he set up meetings and luncheons for Phoebe. He was her manager in the day and her lover at night. Phoebe's paintings were selling like wild fire and everything she painted turned to gold. But something was missing. Phoebe's heart was empty.

One night at a fancy café, Phoebe and Patric were having dinner by candlelight.

"Well, are you pleased at the sales and the market for your work?" Patric asked enthused.

"Yes, Patric, and I have you to thank for it!" She said softly and sipped her wine.

"Don't you think it is time you called me by my first name darlin'?" He said kissing her hand softly.

"I will call you what ever you want me to call you lover" She said seductively.

He smiled at her as she sipped her last drink of wine. Phoebe felt her head start to spin as she looked at the bottom of the glass. There was a large diamond ring at the bottom. She looked at him and she smiled sheepishly. She was at a loss for words and she turned the color of sheep wool.

"Well, see how it fits love" He said smiling at her.

Phoebe dipped in her glass and pulled it out. She just stared at the rock for a while.

"It is suppose to go on your finger" He said as he took the ring and put it in his mouth.

He reached for Phoebe's shaking hand and slipped her finger in his mouth too. When he pulled it out, the ring was on her finger and sparkling in the fire light.

"Johnny, I…It is beautiful!" Phoebe said trying to be happy.

"I don't want an answer tonight, I want you to be certain. I want you to tell me at the end of our trip" He said smiling at her.

"Johnny…." Phoebe said as she got tears in her eyes.

"There, that is more like it darlin' I like it when you say my name" He said kissing her lips gently.

"Please excuse me, I will be back" Phoebe said getting up and heading for the ladies room.

Phoebe bolted through the door and looked at herself panting in the mirror. She had held her composure for as long as she could. She franticly reached for the facet and turned the cold water on. She splashed her face franticly over and over. She felt herself begin to cry. She walked over to the wall and leaned against it to steady her balance. She slid down the wall to the floor and sobbed. Everything was moving so fast and she was not ready for all these changes.

*******

Dallas was in her satin robe in her chair. Her leg was crossed over the other one and the robe flattered her curves.

"Where is she?" a rough voice asked behind her.

Dallas turned her chair around and her robe fell back along her leg. She had a look of desire on her face as she saw it was Cole.

"Well, good morning love?" She slyly said.

Cole swallowed hard and he looked at her long silky legs. He softened his frown.

"I said where is she?" He said more calm this time.

Dallas just smiled and stood up. Her curvy body and her full breasts moved loosely through the robe as she walked over to the window.

"She is gone boy" she said as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"Where did she go?" Cole asked raising his voice.

"Did you not hear me? I said she is gone! She is with Mr. Patric and she is happy there!" She shouted marching up to him.

"Did you really think you could make her happy? The gardener's son? Who do you think you are?" She whispered in his face close to his lips.

She started to touch his lips with her finger. Cole just stared down at her. She took his hand and put it on her neck. Cole was still angry but he followed her lead. She untied her robe and opened it. She only had on a pair of lace panties and nothing else. The whole time Cole did not take his eyes away from hers.

"You can stop scowling at me now" She said as she reached down in his pants.

Cole grabbed her hand roughly and pinned it behind her back and clenched his teeth. He paused for a long time before he said anything. He just angrily stared down at her. He wanted to kill her, but something deep down wanted to take her up on her offer. He wanted to get back at Phoebe, and this would be the way to do it.

"You're not my type!" He growled with his teeth still clenched. He was only inches away from her face.

Dallas's smile turned into a hateful glare and she reached up with her free hand and slapped him across the face. Cole, glared at her and then threw her on the floor and stormed out.

Dallas laid there appalled and insulted. She had never been turned down before and she was humiliated.

*******

Phoebe walked out on the balcony of their hotel. She breathed in the fresh morning air and looked around. A little boy and a little girl caught her attention playing there in the court yard. The little girl was beautiful and she had long dark curls and big brown eyes. She reminded Phoebe of herself when she was young. The little boy was just as adorable. He had curly black hair and brown eyes as well. They were playing "hide and seek". Phoebe smiled and watched on.

The little girl fell and scraped her knee and began to cry. The boy consoled her and then kissed her knee and wiped her tears. He helped her up and led her over to the flowers and picked one for her. The girl smiled shyly and kissed the boy on the cheek.

Phoebe watched this and she covered her mouth and began to cry. Phoebe wished things were that easy. If she could just kiss Cole's hurt away and everything would be sweet again.

"Morning sunshine!" Johnny replied in his French accent standing at the double French doors behind her.

"Oh, morning, I was just getting some air" Phoebe said quickly wiping her face.

He walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist pressing himself up against her. She could feel he was aroused through his robe. She closed her eyes and he turned her around to face him. He opened her robe and laid her on the soft futon. He always knew how to touch her to make her wild. Phoebe started to breath hard and he climbed on top of her and made love to her on the balcony.

Later that afternoon Johnny and Phoebe were having lunch at a small French deli. She looked at the canal and saw a loving couple float by in a canal boat. She smiled at their intimacy. She sipped her coffee and looked at Johnny. He was staring at her with his sly grin.

"What?" she asked smiling back at him.

"I was just thinking about what your mother will say about our engagement" He said leaning back in his chair.

Phoebe smiled and looked around the crowd again.

"She'll probably say…." Phoebe stopped and she stared at a couple and a little girl. It was the same little girl she saw at the hotel.

"Darlin', you are white as a ghost?" He said confused at what she was looking so intensely at.

"I know them" She said quietly as she swallowed hard.

"Ok, who?" he asked trying to see through the crowd.

"I mean I know him…he's…my father" She said quietly, feeling like she was punched in the stomach.

"Your father? I thought he was in the states?" He said looking at the couple.

"Yeah that is what my mother told me?" Phoebe said coldly.

"Well, maybe we should…." He stopped when he realized Phoebe had already stood up and started walking towards them.

She walked up to their table and stared down at her father.

"Can I help…" Her father paused when he realized it was Phoebe.

"Hi daddy" Phoebe said softly as her voice cracked.

Will slowly stood up and looked at his beautiful grown up daughter.

"Phoebe….You are all grown up?" He said with tears in his eyes.

Phoebe smiled as tears came to her eyes too. They just stood there staring at each other for a moment. He had aged some and Phoebe noticed everything about him. He had small wrinkles by his big brown eyes. And gray streaks through the sides of his hair.

Her father saw Phoebe's lip start to quiver and he reached out to her and held her in his arms. Phoebe buried her face in his shoulder and she couldn't help her silent sobs. She remembered his smell and his comforting arms.

"Daddy?" the little girl said tugging on his jacket.

Will looked at Phoebe and wiped her tears. Then he looked at the little girl.

"I want you to meet someone baby" He said to the little girl.

He picked her up and held her in his arms the way he would hold Phoebe.

"This is someone very special to me sweet heart" He told the little girl as he looked back at Phoebe.