CHAPTER 8
SATURDAY MORNING: REED HOUSE
"Daddy" Sophia grins running to the front door.
Michael picks up the girl kissing her cheek, "Hey sweetie. I miss you."
"Miss you too Daddy." Sophia hugs him.
Lauren joins them in the foyer with a backpack, "Michael"
"Lauren" Vaughn nods in greeting as Olivia joins them, "Hello Olivia."
"Michael." Olivia smiles
"Here." Lauren hands Vaughn the backpack.
"So where are you guys going to do?" Olivia inquires politely.
"I thought we'd go to the zoo today. What do you think Soph?"
Sophia nods excitedly. "Yeah!"
"All right then that's what we'll do. Not sure what we'll do tomorrow." Vaughn laughs at the girl's excitement. "I'll bring her back three tomorrow?"
Lauren nods stepping up to Sophia she kisses the girl's cheek, "I'll see you tomorrow OK?"
"OK." Sophia nods
"Have fun with Daddy." Lauren looks at Michael, "Don't let her eat too much junk food."
Vaughn nods
"Bye Mama. Bye Grandma."
"Bye Sophia. Have fun." Olivia and Lauren watch as Michael walks to the car in the driveway with Sophia on his hip. "Lauren" Olivia begins as the door closes
"Don't Mother." Lauren says quickly.
"What?"
"I'm not staying in a marriage just because you think I should. We're unhappy and Sophia will suffer if we stay together."
"Does this have something to do with him?" Olivia asks curiously.
Lauren stiffens "No. It is entirely about what is good for us... and mostly Sophia. I can't stay in an unhappy marriage Mother. I want someone who loves me... and only me. I tried Mother... I did what I could to keep my marriage going, but it couldn't last. I know you and father love Michael but this has nothing to do with you two... it has to do with us."
"Lauren"
"Deal with it Mother... I'm getting a divorce whether or not you approve."
"Lauren I just want you happy."
"Divorce doesn't make a person happy but it needs to be done. I'm not doing this for you Mother... I'm doing this for Sophia, myself... and even Michael. We aren't happy together. We haven't been for a while... we just never really took the time to realize it." Lauren walks up the stairs to her room.
EARLY AFTERNOON: COTTAGE
Lauren sighs "She's driving me bloody insane."
"Who?"
"My Mother."
"Still not liking the fact you're divorcing him?"
"No. Never been a divorce in my family... annulments yes but divorce no."
"Who had the annulment?"
"One of my cousins. She married behind her parents back when she was 17... they forced the annulment. Not really sure about the whole story... no one discusses it." Lauren sighs "Father is taking it well but Mother... she makes it seem like I'm doing this to hurt her." Lauren reaches for her tea only to have Sark hand it to her. "She thinks its all about you." She admits taking a sip of her tea.
"Well you do love me." Sark points out.
Lauren smiles "Yes I do but this isn't all about you."
"I know." Sark presses his lips to her hair. "It has to do with you and Sophia being happy."
"I know Soph's going to miss Michael and he'll miss her but its for the best. I can't live with him anymore."
"Don't have to convince me."
"Did you know before Sydney he was seeing a woman named Alice and dumped Alice for Sydney?"
"Yes."
"Go figure." Lauren sighs "How do you always know these things?"
Sark shrugs "Know your enemies... that's what Irina taught me."
"I hope Sophia's having fun."
"I'm sure she is." Sark assures
Lauren turns her head and smiles, "I missed you."
"I missed you as well." Sark kisses her.
LATE EVENING
"All right sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow. Now go to bed for Daddy. I love you too." Lauren hangs up and starts back to the bedroom where Sark is waiting on the floor before the fireplace. She stops remembering something and picks up the bag on the kitchen table before heading back to the room.
Sark looks up to see Lauren walk into the room with a bag in hand, "What's that?" He asks curiously.
Lauren joins him on the floor "Something I thought you'd like to see." She removes a photo album and opens it to the first picture taken of Sophia just after she was cleaned up. "That was one long day."
"I know."
"Where were you?" Lauren asks curiously.
"Ireland. I knew I had to be as far away from you as possible when she was born."
"Why?"
"I needed to keep myself from you." Sark shrugs "Spent most of the day drinking." 'And praying nothing would happen to either of you.' "I had someone in the hospital the day she was born."
"I figured you would." Lauren rests her head on his shoulder. "I knew she was yours the moment I found out I was pregnant."
"How?"
"I could feel it." Lauren shrugs "Its hard to explain. When I saw her smile I knew." Lauren looks at the picture, "They say newborns don't smile but she did. It was a hard day. I had to go without drugs so I knew what I was doing because I wanted you so bad."
"Didn't want to slip up."
Lauren nods her eyes on the pictures as he looks through them telling him stories behind the pictures, telling him about Sophia's firsts.
LATER
Lauren sits on the counter wearing Sark's shirt as he makes dinner, "So why did you end up changing your name to Lazarey?"
Sark shrugs "Haven't had a legal last name since I was a boy. I thought it was time to fully accept who I am."
"Why don't you blame Sydney for what happened?"
"I did at first." Sark admits "But after I saw the evidence I knew it wasn't her fault. She had no control or very little over what they had her do. Despite everything Sydney and I have done to each other over the years I do know one thing about her"
"What's that?"
"She wouldn't willingly hurt someone just because we were related. She thinks its a low thing to do." Sark shrugs as he takes a sip of his wine. "Besides if I had gone for revenge then it wouldn't have stopped until everyone either of us even remotely cared about was dead. I don't want that anymore." He steps between her legs
"What do you want?" Lauren asks curiously as she strokes his cheek with the back of her fingers.
"A chance at a normal life; to still be alive if there's even a slight chance Sophia will ever know the truth. If I was dead and she found out the truth then she would never hear the full story about why I made my choices in life. All she'll hear is the CIA and NSC version."
"I don't even know why you chose this life." Lauren remarks
"I don't know if you're ready for it."
"I am... I want to know. I want to know why you left behind the sweet little boy you must have been. I want to know why you hide that part of you."
Sark searches her eyes then shakes his head, "No sweetheart you aren't ready to know how Julian became Sark." He kisses her forehead, "But I will tell you one day." He promises
Lauren nods then smiles "So Julian Alexander Lazarey what secrets are you willing to part with now?"
Sark smirks "I have many secrets."
"Then we're going to play Truth and you have to answer my questions."
"Ask away and I shall tell you no lies." Sark quips "But you have to answer mine."
"OK" Lauren shrugs "who was the first girl you ever had a crush on and how old were you?"
"That's a long time ago." Sark muses thoughtfully as he stirs the sauce. "If I'm remembering correctly I was six and her name was Rachel." Sark smiles faintly, "Who was your first crush?"
"His name was Graden Williamson the Third. I had a huge crush on him from the time I was five and he was 8 until I was ten. First kiss?"
"I believe her name was, Rachel in the coat room of our class when we were six. You?"
"Graden's brother Tobin in their backyard."
"Lauren" Sark shakes his head
"It was a dare when I was nine OK." Lauren takes a sip of her wine. "They were both cute so" she shrugs "Oh come on I kissed the brother of the guy I had a crush on... you probably slept with sisters."
Sark grins "Oh yes Ada and Alia."
"Hey, no drooling over ex lovers." Lauren huffs
"They were twins."
"Typical guy." Lauren shakes her head.
"All right something you wish you hadn't done as a teenager."
"Hmm" Lauren tilts her head "I slept with my lit professor in college."
"Lauren" Sark says aghast
"What?"
"I didn't know you had it in you." Sark smirks
Lauren shrugs "It was a stupid thing to do and I wasn't exactly sober." She leans back on her hands, "You?"
Sark leans against the counter, "I didn't know until years later but when I was eighteen one of my lovers, not Alison, became pregnant."
"Yours?"
Sark nods
"Did she have the baby?" Lauren asks after a moment of stunned silence.
"She said she did but then again she never was the most... truthful person. I found out about nine years ago and we didn't speak for three years after that."
"Would Irina know?"
"Probably but I doubt she'd tell me."
"How many other kids do you have out there?" Lauren demands
"That would be the only one."
"Are you sure?"
Sark nods, "After you told me you were pregnant I checked on all my former lovers. Some had children but they weren't mine."
"Are you sure?"
"They were either too old or too young to be mine." Sark assures
"Are you counting one night stands as well?"
"The ones whose names I know yes." Sark steps up to her and cups her cheek, "If there is by any remote chance I have another child somewhere its not going to change anything all right?"
Lauren nods "But what if some lady shows up one day with a kid or some teenager or adult shows up saying you are their father?"
"If that does happen I will deal with it then. I seriously doubt that will happen Lauren." He brushes her hair back then rests his forehead against hers.
Lauren kisses him lightly.
LATE THAT NIGHT
Sark props his head up on his hand as he absently draws on Lauren's stomach, "Can I ask you something?"
"What's stopping you?"
"Why didn't you and Vaughn have a child?" He asks curiously.
Lauren winces "We tried but about two years ago I had a miscarriage." she shrugs "it hurt too much. No one not even my parents or his mother knew about the miscarriage."
"I'm sorry sweetheart." Sark says softly.
"There was no physical reason behind the miscarriage." She looks away
"What is it?"
"Do you know what's strange?"
"What?"
Lauren looks at him tears filling her eyes as she makes her admittance out loud for the very first time. "The miscarriage was hard but the abortion... it was ten times worse." She sighs "What kind of mother am I" she whispers closing her eyes
Sark frowns, "You are a great mother Lauren." He wipes at her tears with his thumb, "Look at me." When Lauren opens her eyes he continues "You are Lauren. What makes you think you aren't?"
Lauren wipes at her tears, "I just... I know this sounds terrible but when I was pregnant the last time I didn't have the same intense connection I felt with our babies. I loved it, how could I not, it was part of me but I didn't have the same feelings I had with our babies."
"It doesn't make you a bad mother." Sark assures "If you didn't love any of your babies mine or not then I would be worried but you did love them... just differently."
"I just"
"It is like my relationship with Irina versus Sydney's relationship with Irina. I've known Irina pretty much my whole life and she has always treated me like family... granted it is a twisted relationship. As long as I've known about Sydney I've always known Irina loved her. I know that despite all the times Irina had tried to kill or injure Sydney she still loves her. All the times Irina has betrayed me it was to protect Sydney or Jack yet she has at many times done things to protect me as well." Sark brushes his thumb across Lauren's cheek, "I've always known that in her own way, completely different from Sydney, that Irina loves me like my own mother did. Parents always love their children in different ways."
"If Michael ever finds out the truth about Sophia" Lauren bites her lip.
"You can't just change how you feel about someone just because you found out something. If he ever does find out, just stick to the story that it was a one night stand."
"He'll ask if you knew I was pregnant."
"We'll figure out what to tell him if it is needed. I will take the blame for you not telling him."
"And now? How would we explain us now?"
"We'll deal with that when needed. Don't worry Lauren." Sark kisses her forehead.
"I love you Julian." Lauren whispers as she kisses him lightly.
NEXT AFTERNOON: REED HOUSE
"Mama" Sophia runs to the porch.
Lauren scoops Sophia up into a hug "Oh I missed you."
Sophia grins "I miss you Mama." She hugs her Mama tight.
"Did you have fun?" Lauren asks Sophia.
Sophia nods "We played at the park."
"Good." Lauren looks at Michael as he joins them on the porch, "What time is your flight?"
"At 6."
Lauren nods "How's work?"
"Fine. You?"
"Good. I like it. It'll give me more time with Sophia since I won't have to travel too far to see Sloane or Sark."
"I don't want Sophia around either of them." Vaughn says quickly.
"I know."
"Just keep a close eye on Sark all right? I still don't trust the guy."
"He's doing fine. He is obeying all the set rules."
"This is Sark we are talking, Lauren. He'll do what he has to do to get what he wants."
'You don't know anything about him.' "I don't want to argue about him. I know his record Michael."
"But you don't know him!"
'I know everything I need to know. He loves his little girl more than life itself.' Lauren hugs Sophia tighter. "Ever think he might change Michael?"
"He'll never change." Vaughn says bitterly.
Lauren winces at the bitterness in Michael's voice, 'He might surprise you.'
"I better go." Michael sighs "All right Sophia I'll see you as soon as possible OK?"
"OK Daddy." Sophia holds her arms out to him. "Love you Daddy."
Lauren watches as Sophia hugs Michael, 'She loves him so much.'
"I love you too baby." Michael looks at Sophia, "Be good for Mama and your grandparents OK?"
Sophia nods solemnly as she goes back to her Mama. "Bye Daddy." She waves sadly as she watches him head to his car.
Lauren remains still knowing how important it is to Sophia to say goodbye to her Daddy. Once the car is out of sight she picks up the backpack. "So what did you and Daddy do?"
"Zoo. Saw the animals."
"Anything you liked in particular?" Lauren asks as they enter the house.
"The monkeys."
"Oh yes you are a monkey girl." Lauren tickles the girl getting her to laugh. "I'm glad you had fun. I know you've missed Daddy."
Sophia nods sadly. "Miss Daddy."
Lauren kisses her temple "It's going to be OK."
"Daddy miss Sophia too."
"I know he does."
"Want to go home." Sophia sniffles
"Oh Sophia." Lauren sits on the couch holding Sophia close, "This is going to be home now."
Sophia burrows close crying.
"It's going to be OK sweetie." Lauren whispers stroking her back, "We'll be fine." She closes her eyes, 'I promise. We'll be fine.'
CHAPTER 9
2 MONTHS LATER: REED HOUSE
Lauren opens the envelope from her lawyer's office in LA and sighs reading the papers, 'My divorce is finalized.'
"Mama" Sophia calls
Lauren refolds the papers, "I'm coming sweetie." Lauren returns to the living room where Sophia is sitting at the kitchen table coloring. "How's it coming?" She asks
"Fine. What's that?" Sophia asks seeing the envelope in her Mama's hand.
"Nothing you need to worry about." Lauren assures "I like your picture." She changes the subject.
"Thank you."
Lauren kisses Sophia's head, "What would you like for dinner?"
"Macaroni."
"We had that last night. How about... meatloaf?"
"OK." Sophia shrugs
Lauren starts to the refrigerator when her cell phone rings. She picks it up, "Reed." She greets as she opens the refrigerator.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Same thing I do every night." Lauren answers
"Miss me?"
"Yes but mostly play with Sophia."
"Oh yes, how is my adorable little girl?"
"She is happily coloring." Lauren answers "I got the papers today."
"So your divorce is final?" Sark asks
"Mmm"
"Don't sound happy about it." Sark states
"I am but I'm not. I mean it was four almost five years of my life. Three of hers."
"A lot of memories for both of you."
"Mmm" Lauren nods "What are you doing tonight?"
"Well since you are busy I'm not sure."
"Sorry but I promised her we'd play. I've been gone for three days."
"I know. How is Sloane?"
"Still a"
"Hey don't swear around my daughter." Sark says with mock anger.
"Very funny." Lauren laughs "No he's the same as always."
"So now that your divorce is final when are you going out with me on an actual date?"
"Soon, I promise."
"Good." Sark nods
"So were you good while I was gone?"
"Unfortunately I've been so good I'm bored. I need something to do. I have never been so bloody bored in my life."
Lauren laughs "Considering what you've been doing for most of your life it doesn't surprise me your bored." She grabs the eggs out of the refrigerator.
"So what are you doing now?"
"Making dinner."
"What's for dinner?"
"Meatloaf. Soph wanted Macaroni again."
"I like macaroni." Sophia pipes up
"I know you like macaroni but we can't have it every night." Lauren laughs
"Mama, who you talking too?" Sophia asks curiously.
'Your Daddy.' She thinks before answering, "A friend. Finish up with your drawing." Lauren turns back to making dinner. "Can you behave for the next few days?" She asks teasingly.
"If I must, though I will miss you."
"Same." Lauren sighs
"Yes but I haven't seen you in a week."
"You'll live. We've gone months, hell years without seeing each other."
"Yes but its not the same now and you know it."
Lauren frowns when she hears a familiar click, "Your smoking again." She accuses
"What about it? It's not like I smoke all the time."
"Great you go from a job that could kill you at any time to a disgusting habit that can kill you years from now."
"I'm not a full time smoker Lauren... haven't been in years."
"It's a bloody disgusting habit."
"I go through maybe a pack a month."
"Still" Lauren sighs "I better go. Call me later?"
"Sure. I love you."
"Same." Lauren hangs up 'God I love him.' "All right Soph what else should we have with the meatloaf? Baked or mashed potatoes?"
"Mashed."
"All right. Do you want a salad or tomatoes, zucchini and cheese?"
"Tomatoes"
"All right."
LATER THAT NIGHT
"Oh, Julian." Lauren whispers resting her head against the door.
"Bloody hell" Sark rests his head against her shoulder shuddering.
"Door locked?" Lauren asks hoarsely.
"Mmm" Sark reaches behind her locking the door "it is now"
"Good. Really don't need Sophia walking in on us." Lauren tangles her fingers in his hair pulling his head up, "God I love you." She presses her lips to his. "God I missed you."
"Same." Sark growls
"Bed." She bites his lower lip.
WHILE LATER
"I love this" Lauren nuzzles Sark's neck, "Us together."
"Same." Sark presses his lips to her hair. "I don't know how much longer I can last without you Lauren."
"I know." Lauren strokes his cheek. "We're getting to the point where everyone who is relevant is trusting that you won't betray them."
"I promised you I wouldn't."
"I know but for us to be together and not have trouble we need to be careful." She looks at him, "Soon"
"Good." Sark pulls her head down kissing her passionately.
DAWN
Lauren watches from the doorway as Sark gently kisses Sophia's forehead as the girl sleeps. 'He loves her so much.' As he joins her in the doorway Lauren strokes his cheek, "I promise you'll see her more often."
Sark nods
"You better go." Lauren says sadly. She walks with him to the back door knowing he can disappear faster through the alley then he can through the front door.
"I love you."
Lauren smiles "I love you." She watches as he disappears into the alley then closes the door returning to her bedroom.
MONTH LATER: SARK'S PLACE
Lauren sighs as she finds Sark swimming laps in the indoor pool, "Sark I told you I'd be here at 2." She says annoyed.
Sark swims to the edge of the pool and looks at Lauren a smirk appearing. "Care to join me?"
Lauren crouches "Come on Sark... we have to get this meeting done. They want the information by five. And I have to pick Sophia up by seven."
Sark rests his arms on the edge of the pool, "Join me."
"Don't have time for this Sark. Get out of the pool."
"When are you going to go out with me?"
"If you continue to act like an ass then I might never." Lauren threatens
"Fine." Sark pulls himself out of the pool and grabs a towel drying off, "What do you need today?" He asks
'God I want to kiss him.' Lauren shakes her head then sits at the table, "Information on this man." She slides the folder towards him their fingers brushing sending a shiver down her spine. "He's been linked to some terrorist acts but there isn't much known about him." She looks him over swallowing heavily.
"I've seen him around. His name is Rousard. He never had any alliance with anyone but those who paid him." Sark sits at the table. "We never worked together. Why?"
"They just want to find out more about him."
"If you can find Irina she might know more. I don't think she knows him personally but she might know things I don't."
"What do you know?"
"He's done some big jobs but usually sticks with small ones. Recon and such." Sark shrugs "There's not much I can tell you."
Lauren sighs "All right." She rolls her shoulders
"Anything else?"
"No." Lauren stands moving around to his side she closes the file gasping lightly when she feels his fingers caress her inner knee. She glares at Sark, "Working here."
Sark smirks "Why can't we work and play?"
"Because I said so." She shivers at his light touch. "Come on."
"Fine." Sark scowls dropping his hand, "You're no fun." He grumbles
"Don't be so childish." Lauren sighs stepping away. "I have to get going. I have to return this to the office then pick up Sophia." She picks up the files. "Behave."
"I'm always good." Sark leans back in his chair with a smirk.
Lauren rolls her eyes, "Sure Sark." She walks away.
'I'm going to get her to go out with me soon.' Sark muses his eyes on Lauren's ass as she walks out of the room.
THAT NIGHT: REED HOUSE
Lauren smiles at the sight of Sophia curled up in bed fast asleep sucking on her thumb. She leans down kissing Sophia's cheek, "I love you my sweet baby." She says softly before walking out of the room pulling the door closed behind her. As she starts to clean up the dinner dishes her phone rings. "Reed" she greets
"Are you still mad at me?"
Lauren smiles "Never was."
"What are you doing?"
"The dishes. And you?"
"I am staring at some paperwork." Sark sighs "Trying to figure out how to get you to go out with me."
"Sark"
"Its been a month Lauren. Go to dinner with me tomorrow night."
Lauren tilts her head and sighs, "You won't give up will you?"
"No... I'm known for my stubbornness."
Lauren laughs "That you are."
"You know you want too."
"I do... really."
"Come on"
"I'll see if Mother can watch Sophia tomorrow."
"Good. See I knew I'd wear you down." Sark says pleased.
Lauren laughs "You are persistent."
"I know."
"Do you ever take no for an answer?"
"No."
Lauren shakes her head, "And I wondered where she gets that annoying habit of not accepting no as an answer."
"Smart girl."
"That she is." Lauren smiles "But still she needs to take no for an answer."
"Not in her genes." Sark muses "So how is she?"
"Asleep. You know something"
"What?"
Lauren laughs, "You are a pain."
"Yet you adore me."
"God help me I do." Lauren groans
NEXT NIGHT: REED HOUSE
"Thanks Mother." Lauren kisses Sophia's head as the girl sits at the table. "Be good." She kisses Sophia's head.
"Where are you going?"
"I have someone to see."
"Who is he?" Olivia inquires
"Just business Mother." Lauren lies "I don't know when I'll be back."
"Why don't we keep Sophia for the night?" Olivia suggests "I can take her to daycare tomorrow."
"Yeah" Sophia says excitedly.
"All right." Lauren relents "Be good."
Sophia grins "Love you Mama"
"I love you too." Lauren kisses Sophia's head. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"OK."
"Thanks Mom." Lauren hugs her Mom then hurries out of the house.
LATER: RESTAURANT
"I told you I would get you to go out with me." Sark smirks as he takes a sip of his wine in the secluded restaurant.
"And just how did you get away from them?" Lauren asks
"Ahh can't give away my secrets." Sark leans back in his chair. "How's Sophia?"
"She's the same as always." Lauren smiles fondly at the thought of her baby. "She's showing more of your personality every day."
"I seriously doubt that." Sark says dryly.
"She already has your ability to get her way." Lauren remarks
"Hey I resent that. I don't always get my way."
"Oh please you've been getting your way for years." Lauren takes a sip of her wine. "Go figure she'd get that from you."
"She is my girl." Sark points out.
Lauren smiles, "That she is."
MIDNIGHT: COTTAGE
"Oh come on you did not." Lauren laughs
"I did." Sark strokes her leg as they sit on the couch. "I bloody pissed off the Headmaster."
"Hate to say it but you pulling pranks... hard to imagine."
"I pulled a lot of them when I was a boy. I was always in trouble. You never pulled pranks?"
"God, no. My parents would have had a heart attack. Mother still guilt trips me for things I did as a child. Father... I think he would have loved it if I had pulled pranks though." Lauren shrugs "I wanted to rebel but"
"Couldn't do it."
"I think to Mother the fact I do what I do is a rebellion. She wanted me to be something more... respectable."
"Respectable like what?"
"Teacher, lawyer... something like that. Though I think she would prefer I'd just be a socialite mother who stays home with the kids."
"Your mother worked for years." Sark points out
"Yes but I ended up in boarding schools because of it. I believe Mother is having guilt issues over how I was raised."
"What do you want to do?"
"Mostly I want to be Mom." Lauren shrugs taking a sip of her wine. "It's weird though"
"What?"
"It used to be I never thought about having kids." Lauren admits "Now I can't imagine life without Sophia. She's the best part of my life."
Sark reaches out stroking her cheek, "Mine as well." He tangles his fingers in her hair pulling her in for a kiss.
"I know." Lauren whispers against his lips.
LATER
"So regretting you went out on an actual date with me?" Sark asks with a grin.
"No." Lauren smiles "Why would I regret it? You always find ways to amuse me." She kisses him lightly. "I'm just not looking forward to the reaction Michael will have if he finds out. Or the bosses. Once they know they'll probably have someone replace me as your handler."
"Not if I tell them not too."
"Julian"
"No... I want you to stay my handler. If they replace you I won't tell them anything."
Lauren sits up "They could revoke your pardon."
"I don't care." Sark says stubbornly. "Besides us sleeping together or seeing each other... wasn't in the pardon agreement. It just says I have to do what they say. They never said I couldn't see you or sleep with you." He sits up, "Or love you." He rests his forehead against hers. "Besides you know when I'm keeping something from you... you have something no other handler would have."
"What's that?"
"An adorable little girl I would do anything for."
"I know."
"We'll deal with that when need be. We'll just keep the fact we're sleeping together secret. We should be able to pull off the working dinner or lunch issue from time to time." Sark muses
Lauren laughs "Always looking for a loophole."
"Of course."
"You are a strange man Julian Alexander Lazarey."
"But you love me anyway." Sark murmurs
"That I do."