Chapter 4:

Andrea smiled at the young man before her half listening to what he was saying. She had been feeling as though someone was watching her and although it seemed rather silly standing in a room full of people there to see her she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Just as she was about to excuse herself to her office she heard her daughter cry out as if scared and in pain. Her eyes jumped over to her youngest daughter fighting a man with dark, curly hair his back to her; he had his hands tightly wrapped around Lexxi's arms shaking her slightly saying something to her.

Not stopping to think about where she was or what was going on around her Andrea ran across the room shoving people out of her path and yanked the man away from her daughter throwing him into a near wall. Picking her baby girl up into her arms and holding her tight to her chest she glared at the man, her eyes blazing with an inner rage she was fighting hard to control.

"Who the hell do you think you are putting your damn hands on my child?" she asked her voice a cold, deadly whisper that carried through the now silent room. She spotted her security guys moving swiftly through the crowd to reach her side, her body trembled with repressed anger and she took a few deep breaths. Calming slightly she cradled her daughter to her and kissed her head before handing her to Isabella who had made it over to her with Rory just moments before.

"Take my children to my office, keep them there. Stay with them until I come to you. Lexxi, baby look at Mommy." Andrea whispered turning her back on the man now being held by security waiting for her to give instructions. Lexxi looked up her eyes red and her face covered in tears. Andrea closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths before she looked at her daughter again feeling tears gather in her eyes. She kissed her forehead and the top of her hair fixing the few stray pieces that fell into her face. "Are you ok baby? Are you hurt?"

Lexxi hiccupped and shook her head slightly before speaking in a soft horsed voice, "My arms hurt Mommy. He scared me. He yelled bout Daddy and said he can't believe her. And he shaked me hard. I tried not to scream, I really did, but it hurted so much." More tears ran down her face and Andrea took her back and held her. Lexxi buried her face in her mother's neck her little body shaking badly from the sobs.

Isabella looked on as well as the people still in attendance. Still holding Lexxi, Andrea looked at her mother and nodded towards Rory who stood there pale and shaking, before closing her eyes tightly against the tears. Getting the silent plea Isabella picked Rory up and rushed from the room with her ignoring the whispers following her out.

Taking a few calming breaths Andrea opened her eyes and glared at the man now watching her from two of the security men's tight hold, "I'm going to say this once, and once only before I have you thrown out, if you EVER lay hands on my child again, I swear to all that is holy you will regret it until your dying day. I don't know who you are, I don't know why you are here, however I do know that no one and I mean NO ONE lays a hand on what is mine. Do you understand me? If I ever see you near me or my family again security will be the least of your concerns."

The man stared at her his mouth hanging open as though he couldn't believe what she was saying to him. He cleared his throat and spoke rapidly, "Andy, what do you mean you don't know me? It's me, Nate; we dated through all of college and up until you left for Paris. You are my best friend! How can you say that! I just wanted to know who she was. When did you have a kid? Two kids! Andy, what happened to you?"

Andrea shook her head frowning, "I don't know you, nor do I wish to know anyone who would treat an innocent child this way." Looking at the men holding him she nodded towards the back stairs, "See him out, and do not let him near the press," she returned a deadly gaze to the man named Nate, "If so much as a word of this ends up in the papers my lawyers will be all over you within the day. There is nothing I will not do to protect my children. If you know what is wise you will stay away from us. I never want to see you near us again. Is that clear?"

When the man finally nodded he was escorted out immediately after which a group of people formed a circle around her wanting to know if Lexxi was alright. Andrea gave a sad smile and knelt down standing her daughter up in front of her, "Baby, its ok. That man is gone and he's not coming back. Mommy won't let anything happen to you ok? I love you so much munchkin. I'm so sorry my little princess, Mommy is so sorry."

Lexxi looked at her through tear filled eyes and kissed her cheek, "I know mommy. It's not cause of you. He just a bad man. Don't cry mommy. Please don't cry." She wrapped her little arms around Andrea's neck and held on tight. Andy felt a hand on her back and looked up into a face of an African American woman who looked angry and confused. Standing up with Lexxi still wrapped around her neck Andy stepped back so the woman was no longer in her personal space, "May I help you with something Ms. ?"

The woman glared at her before speaking rather loudly, "Andy how could you? You should know Nate would never intentionally hurt you or your kid! He's hurt and confused." Before she could continue anymore Isabella appeared next to her and stepped between her and Andrea.

Sighing Andy walked through the crowd and took Lexxi to her office. Rory rushed over to her as soon as the door was opened and held onto her legs tightly her little face buried in Andy's stomach. "Shh baby its ok, its ok. Mommy's here baby. Lexxi is alright." She sat Lexxi down and kissed both of them before moving them to the sofa in her office. "You girls watch a movie with Aiden. Mommy has to get Nana so we can go, alright?" when both of her daughters nodded she kissed them each again and left her office, Aiden closing the door behind her.

15 minutes later Andrea was in the front boutique room with Lily, the African American woman and her friend, Doug who was a heavy set guy with kind eyes and an easy smile. Isabella was leaning against Aubrey's desk listening to the conversation waiting until she was needed.

"I'm sorry to upset you, but I don't remember either of you or your friend Nate. No matter what connection he may or may not have had with me it gives him no right to touch my child." Andrea was saying running her hand through her hair in a manner Isabella was all too familiar with. Sighing she stepped forward and wrapped a comforting arm about the young woman's waist.

"Listen, Lily and Doug, was it? Andy suffered memory loss, some things she still does not recall and this stress is not going to help her at all. If you would both calm down we can talk about this like rational adults or you can both leave now, however I will not have you further upsetting my daughter. My granddaughter was physically assaulted by a strange man in a place where she should have been safe, as you can imagine this is taking a toll on Andy and she doesn't need any additional issues." Isabella spoke in a calm authoritative voice and Andy was glad she was there. The day was taking its toll on her and she still had a building full of people wanting to talk with her.

Lily sighed and nodded before pacing the floor and coming to a rest before the two women again, "I'm sorry Andy, I didn't mean to cause anymore issues. We just, had a bit of a shock. You vanish; the woman you worked for was no help. She wouldn't tell us anything. Nate nearly went crazy trying to get to Paris to find you. It was like you didn't exist. We went to see your parents only they wouldn't listen to us. It was torture. And then we see your picture in the paper years later, only you have a new name and you're an Italian fashion designer! I mean what the hell happened to you? I remember a time when you laughed at the people so caught up in the fashion world the real world passed them by. Now you're one of them."

Andrea sighed and leaned against Isabella's side turning her face into the older woman's neck, "I can't do this anymore Momma. I just want to get my babies and leave. This day is going so wrong so fast." Isabella kissed her head and looked to Lily and Doug.

"Stop by my office before you leave, I'll give you our home address, you are to stop by tomorrow at noon, do not bring Nate with you and do not give him our address. If we find out you did, there will be a law suit. We'll discuss more then. Andrea cannot deal with anymore tonight. If you care at all about her as you say you do, you will take my advice." When they both nodded and headed down the hallway to rejoin the others in the dining hall Isabella turned Andrea in her arms and peered into her sad brown eyes. She sighed and kissed her forehead before walking her over to the desk and sitting her down in the chair.

Andrea smiled weakly before leaning her head against the wall and closing her eyes. She stayed like that until she heard her office door close behind Isabella and she sighed wearily.

"I am sorry to disturb you," a man's voice said causing her eyes to open and dart around the room before landing on a bald man with thin glasses in a black suit and tie, "I just… Six?" he continued staring at her as though he were looking at a ghost.

"Erm… my name is Andrea DeMarzio, which I am quite sure you know since you are at my showing, however I am unaware of whom you are or this 'Six' person." Andy stated cautiously her eyes watching the man closely.

She heard the clacking of what sounded to be 3 different pairs of heels moving towards the room and looked over to the doorway. Andrea gasped when the sound stopped and she took in the women who caused the initial distraction.