CHAPTER 1

The rich, golden daylight slipped between the heavy curtains into the big bedroom ... Rose Hamilton stirred under the covers purring like a cat , totally unwilling to leave her king-sized bed. When she finally opened her eyelids, she glanced at the clock next to her... 8.30 a.m.

So deep had she been sleeping, that she didn't even feel the fleeting kiss Dan had given her before leaving for his office.

Rose lay there with her eyes closed, relishing the warmth of her heavy quilt and smiling at the upcoming event of the day. The party! No... That was not one of the common parties she used to hold for the high society of Athens ,being the wife of a company owner... That was more personal.. A party for the family and only...For her sister, Judy, who had finished with her studies in England and was finally returning to Greece.

Judy was Rose's beloved step sister. Judy's birth, 23 years ago, had filled their house with joy and hopefulness and brought back the smile on their father's face after two years of mourning.

Rose had lost her mother from heart attack at the age of 7. Little Rose had found her one morning laying in her bed...Eyes closed, unmoving..with such a peaceful expression on her pretty face... she was still warm , unlike most dead people, with a faint smile curving her lips.. like she was dreaming of something wonderful...

Since that day and for the following two years, Rose's father, Thomas, fell day after day deeper into depression. He wasn't able to work or sleep properly or even talk much as he used to. At last, two years after his wife's death , Thomas started flirting with one of his employees, Helena.

32-year – old Helena, besides being a very attractive and charming woman, was also a dynamic, ingenius person who invented every way possible to revive Thomas and restore his love for life .

Indeed, since their very first days of dating, Rose had noticed a positive change in her father's attitude. He was not so gloomy and silent any more and he even burst out laughing again while they were playing together in the big garden of the house. Apart from that, Rose had peeped out at him while he was grooming himself with great care, as he used to when her mother was alive.

Rose was not aware of the trigger for such a change but she was not also a kid whose curiosity could easily be reassured. Thomas knew that perfectly well. Thus, one evening he came back from work evidently cheerful and his daughter started bombarding him with questions once more, he took the decision to finally talk to her.

Thomas sat in a comfortable armchair next to the fireplace in the spacious living room and took little Rose gently on his lap. After some seconds of hesitation, he took a deep breath and started talking to her as calmly as he could;

" My dear Rose... I think it is high time I talked to you about some issues that ...hmm..." he seemed like trying to find the appropriate words " will soon affect you too."

" Affect me?" The girl stared at him with her eyes wide-opened, tense with anticipation to hear more.

" Yes, darling...You and me, our family.. As you know darling, your mother's death has been a heavy burden I can't bear any more.. I cherished her as the most valuable jewel of my life, we lived happily and lovingly, she made me a father...And I am so grateful about that darling.. .." His voice broke with emotion at these words and his eyes got moist. " You know I mourned deeply for her loss , you know my heart sank at her absence more and more every day...But I can't stand it any more my dear Rose... It is beyond my potential..." He ceased his talk for some seconds to regain his self control and prepare the most important part of his confession. Rose was taking in every single word with growing curiosity for the highlight of his monologue. She instinctively knew it was going to be something of great significance.

" Rose..." Thomas continued with a steady voice now " You are old enough to know the truth..There is a woman in my life, a woman who helped me to partly overcome all that grief.."

" A woman? Rose shrieked rather surprised than appalled " What woman? Do I know her?"

" Ohh, please darling! No more questions... Thomas said exhaustedly rolling his eyes. " Let me talk and all your questions will be fully answered, ok?" Rose obeyed and he continued " I met that woman at the office.. She is one of my employees, her name is Ηelena..." Rose listened with growing interest ".. She is a very kind, loveable woman who has been supporting me for the last few months.. We hang out together, we talk, she consoles me, makes me feel that I can and I should go on with my life..."

Rose felt a rush of disappointment at those words... " Wasn't I adequate to help you feel happy again? I am your daughter!" She said with evident complaint pointing out the last word.

" Of course you are, my baby... You'll always be... But I also need a partner, a wife... and you also need a mother, my dear.."

" I do have a mother! Rose snapped at him. "Her name is Celine and she is in the heavens" she yelled with a trembling voice.

" Ok, ok my darling... you have a mother indeed...I...I didn't mean. .. You rather misunderstood... I meant that you need a woman to take care of you."

" I have Rita, she is enough!" Rose answered decisively. Rita had been her devoted governess since Rose's birth.

" Would you like us to continue our discussion a little later baby? You are a little shocked now. I will get the staff to prepare us dinner."

" No, dad ... I am not hungry... I just want you to tell me more about that.."

Rose recalled her young self saying those words with perfect clarity. She remembered her small revolution against her father's will to remarry. For at least two weeks, Rose refused to eat or sleep and she even locked herself up in her bedroom despite her father's pleadings and reassurances that Helena would never take her place or Celine's place in his heart.

Rose remembered with a wistful smile the first time she met Helena. It was shortly before Summer holidays. Her father had just returned home from work;

" Rose sweetheart! Where are you, darling?" He called from the hall.

" Little Rose is playing in the garden with her dolls, Sir." Rita responded politely from the opening of the kitchen door while stirring cacao blend in a deep bowl. " Would you like me to summon her?" she continued staring with obvious curiosity the tall, beautiful woman escorting Thomas.

" No, Rita, it's ok. We are going to surprise her a little."

In the meanwhile, Rose was sitting on the grass of the big garden whispering fantastic dialogues among her dolls . So carried away was she by her games, that she didn't notice the tall woman who had come very close and was standing next to her.

A voice she was hearing for the first time distracted her from her play; " Good evening little miss! I had heard that you are a very beautiful girl but now I have to admit that you are even prettier than I had imagined. I am Helena. Nice to meet you!" the woman gave her a broad smile extending her hand for shaking.

Rose raised her deep blue eyes to behold the woman talking and for some seconds she was absolutely startled by the stunningly gorgeous figure who was addressing her. Her first impression was that that woman was a glorious actress like those she used to watch with her father at the cinema. Yet, this one was absolutely real.

First of all, she was very tall and slim wearing a tight long black dress with two rips on each side of its lower part which revealed her elegant high- heels. Her face was perfect like a doll's, with its spotless complexion, the wide, bright black eyes and the full red lips which revealed her pearl-like teeth once she smiled. Her hair was black, thick and charmingly wavy reaching her lower back.

" Rose , my dear, won't you greet your new friend?" Her father's voice brought her back to reality. She hadn't even realized that her father was also next to the woman talking.

" Sure, Umm... I'm sorry miss" ,Rose said timidly, shaking hands with her new acquaintance. "I am Rose, nice to meet you too. You are very beautiful , miss" she added hastily lowering her eyes with shyness . Her last words provoked loud laughter by her father and Helena.

As the time flew by, Rose took more and more to Helena. Actually, Helena worked hard to gain Rose's love and trust without though trying to replace her mother. She just tried to be best friends with her. And she achieved it.

Especially when baby Judy came to their lives, the bond between them became even stronger. Helena's affection had always been equally shared between the two girls who grew up lovingly.

Rose recollected with a smile, how protective she had grown towards little Judy throughout the years. An incident that had taken place fifteen years ago brought a thin smile on her face.

A cold night at the end of November, Helena was preparing a little surprise party for Thomas' birthday at their mansion. A few guests were invited as Helena wanted it to be very personal with Thomas' most beloved friends.

Everything had been prepared with infinite care ; The long table in the dining room was laid with a white tablecloth and silver china. Fresh roses decorated its vases and soft music was filling the air. Thick logs were burning on the hearth giving out a pleasant warmth to the room. The few guests were chatting in small groups enjoying their champagne.

A few minutes before Thomas' arrival, Helena brought the freshly baked chocolate cake out of the oven and placed it on the table. She examined it carefully and gave an approving smile. The girls, impatient to taste it , were expecting orders from their mother.

" Well, that is far better than I hoped.." Helen exclaimed in pride. "So girls, your dad is about to arrive at any minute. I want one of you to take the platter with the cake to the living room once he comes.. The lights will be off and just the light from the candles will...oh!... The candles..God, I forgot..." She opened the drawer, took out a candle in the shape of a question mark and dipped it into the soft cake.

" Let me take it, please!" Little Judy pleaded. Rose wanted to carry it too but she found it hard to say no to her little sister's begging puppy eyes. No sooner had Helena lit the candle than Thomas' car pulled over in the driveway." Here he is! Rose! Turn off the lights!" Helena whispered " And you, Judy! Here my dear, take the platter and be very careful. I'll turn off the lights at the hall and tell our guests to get ready to surprise daddy." Helena did as she said. Then, a key turned in the lock and Thomas entered the hall. He found it weird that the house was so dark and silent. A second before he turned on a light, Judy emerged from the darkness holding the platter with the huge cake whose little candle was lightening her smiling face.

Thomas had just started to realize what was going on when Judy bumped into a coffee table and at the same time the lights went on. All the guests cheered "surprise" but the word faded quickly as everybody noticed little Judy crying over the birthday cake which lay upside down on the floor next to her , having splashed its cream on the white sofa.

Helena was the first to react. She apologized to her guests and grabbed Judy from her arm leading her to the kitchen. Curious Rose followed them. When they closed the kitchen door behind them, Helena exploded; "I told you to be careful! didn't I? Was it so difficult to just stay away from furniture in the dark? You spoiled the surprise! I ... I don't want to shout at you darling but..."

" Stop!" Rose's voice made whining Judy and Helena turn to face her. " Don't punish her. It's not her fault! I should have taken the platter instead but I decided to give it to Judy. She is innocent, don't punish her mum, please don't."

All those memories danced in Rose's mind like a film in fast forward. She was glad she had formed such a healthy, loving relationship with her step sister till their adulthood.

She took another glance at the clock on her bedside table; 8.45. Time to get up. With a decisive move she pushed her covers aside and got out of bed heading to the bathroom...

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