Sebastian - Dark Bonds (4 page)

“Will you be taking an active interest in your investment, Sebastian?” asks Ruth, hopefully, as she strokes the length of her pen.

“Most definitely, Ruth.  Protecting ones’ investments and working them hard, is the secret to success, don’t you think Elizabeth?”

The Board Room door opens and my secretary notifies Ruth of a phone call.  She leaves us alone, closing the door behind her.  I turn to Sebastian and see the supercilious leer he’s wearing.

“What the hell are you playing at?” I hiss.

“Why, Mrs. Dove.  I do believe you’re jealous.”

“You were flirting with my best friend!”  I’m furious now.

“Nonsense.  You delegated me to Ruth because you … how did you put it? … ‘don’t deal with minority shareholders’.  I’m merely complying with your directive.”

“You are insufferable, De Montfort.”

“Is that so?” He sits back on his chair, playing the end of his pen across his lips, challenging me with his stare.

“Insufferable and an ass.”

“Careful what you say, Elizabeth.  One more word and I will spank your tetchy ass over this very table.” His hand once again glides over the veneer.

Ruth re-enters the room, preventing me from firing back a suitably caustic retort to Sebastian.

“While you’re here, Sebastian, Beth has something she wants to talk to you about, don’t you Beth?” I raise an eyebrow, questioningly but she nods encouragingly.

“I do?”

“Yes, about taking time away from the business.   If you’ll both excuse me, I’ve a mountain of work to get through.  Sebastian, great to see you.”  She kisses Sebastian goodbye and leaves us alone.

“That’s right,” I confirm.  “We’ve been discussing the business, and agree that it’s a good time for me to take time away.”

Sebastian sits forward, listening keenly.

“Therefore,” I continue, “I will be taking a leave of absence of six months.  I’m going to get away and take some time to heal.”

“You’re going away?” There is an edge of panic in his voice.

“Yes that’s right.  To Penmorrow.  If you’ll have us?”

He beams at me as though he’s happy enough to burst, relief, replacing panic.

“What a marvelous idea, darling!” His eyes crinkle as he smiles warmly.  “You and Bella can stay as long as you both want.  It’ll be so therapeutic for you both.  Long walks, lazy baths and time to heal, as you say.”

“Thank you, Sebastian.  This means so much to me.  To us both.”  Reaching across the table, I squeeze his hand.

“We’ll take good care of you both,” he says quietly.

“We?”  I ask warily. 

“Scarlett and I.  She’s been moping around since the accident, worrying about you and wanting to come and visit you, but I told her to be patient and you would soon be here.”

Scarlett ‘caring’ is both heart warming and unnerving, and I can’t entirely rationalize my jealousy toward her.  I remind myself that she’s less important to Sebastian than I.  It also occurs to me that she’ll be put firmly in her place as a hired domestic when I’m at the house and, as much as I do kind of like the girl, I intend to let her know that anything that may have gone on between them both in the past is now over. 

“It will be good to see her but… I will want to look after the house and cook for you.  I need to make myself useful darling.  Perhaps Scarlett could take some time off while Bella and I are staying?” I suggest. 

He’s silent for a few seconds and when he replies it is with a firm and decisive voice.

“Nonsense.  It’s Scarlett’s home too.  Besides I have plans for you and they don’t involve you wearing rubber washing-up gloves, or slaving over the range… On second thoughts if you are only wearing rubber gloves and slaving over the range perhaps I may reconsider…”

He makes me laugh for the first time in weeks.  I really do love Sebastian’s smutty side and familiar tingles ripple through my body.

“Well then your Lordship, I will have to pack some rubber gloves.  Though I have to say, I would prefer to be bent over your kitchen table than the range!”

“Mmm, what a lovely thought,” he sighs.  “But I have far more interesting places in which to enjoy you, than in my kitchen Elizabeth.” 

Sebastian takes my door key and goes back to the house, leaving Ruth and I to finalize our plans enabling me to be absent from the business for some months. 

Our forecasts look positive, and cash flow is healthy thanks to Sebastian’s investment.  It’s entirely workable for me to leave the business in Ruth’s capable hands.  We diarize one day per week for a telephone meeting so that I can be updated with any difficulties or challenges at work, and we draft a memo to our staff team notifying them of the news that Ruth will be their only point of contact until further notice. 

I suddenly feel free.  It’s such a liberating feeling after years of toil and stress building our company and trouble-shooting.  For the first time in years, it feels as though I’m truly doing something for myself rather than for others.  I just need to convince Bella of the merits of going away with me to Cornwall.  She needs a break as much as I do, the pain of our loss is a black cloud, hanging over us daily.

On the way home from work, I stop at the shopping mall and treat myself to half a dozen expensive pieces of casual country clothing plus a very sexy set of lingerie which will be my treat for Sebastian.  I giggle to myself imagining the skimpy garments worn with rubber gloves while I wash up.

It feels good to get home and I realize, for the first time in months, I feel more positive.  Excited even.  I’m keen to talk with Bella about my plans immediately so I shrug off my coat, hang it on the hook by the front door and climb the stairs to Bella’s room. 

In my haste, I forget to knock and instead open her door and enter my daughter’s bedroom. “Don’t you ever knock?” she asks curtly.  Sebastian lies sprawled on Bella’s floor.

7

Leaning into a bean bag, Sebastian clutches the control for Joe’s Gamebox, cursing at a game on the TV screen.  He glances at me fleetingly as I enter.

“I’m beating your daughter’s ass on Zombie Killzone,” he tells me distractedly, concentration etched across his face.

“You went into Joe’s room?” I ask incredulously, the intrusion of that fact sinking in.

“Mum, don’t bust his balls,” Bella snaps. 

“I didn’t think … I’m sorry,” Sebastian apologizes, pausing his game, he’s crestfallen.

Bella glares angrily at me.  “You can’t keep his room like a fucking shrine, Mum!” she barks.

“Hey, watch your smart mouth young lady.  Don’t talk to your mother like that,” Sebastian cautions Bella.

“How dare you talk to me like that Bella!” my daughter blanches at my reprimand, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Nobody … nobody goes in my son’s room.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?”  Feeling myself losing control, I take deep breaths and try and rationalize my anger.  It’s grief, Beth.  Calm down, deep breaths.

“Mum, I’m sorry.  I miss him too…” We hug each other tightly, I smooth her hair and kiss her away her tears.

“Want to come and help me cook?” I ask her.

“What’s for dinner?” asks Bella, wiping her nose with her sleeve.

“Your favorite.  Pasta and meatballs,” I reply, and her face lights up.  I’m relieved that she seems to be regaining her appetite as she barely ate for the first two weeks after the accident and even now only picks at her food like a small bird.

Sebastian continues playing with the games console while Bella and I work together in the kitchen making meatballs.

Bella puts down the spatula she is using to mix the beef and turns to me.  “Sebatian asked if we’d go and stay for a while at Penmorrow.” 

I’m astounded.  Primarily I’m shocked that he would discuss our visit without checking with me first.  At such a sensitive time in Bella’s life, it’s my place to broach the subject with my daughter, not his.

“I’ve told him we’ll go mum.  Well, I’m going regardless of whether you are.”  My astonishment now rests like a leaden weight around my shoulders.  “I thought you’d be pleased…” she sulks.

              “I… I am darling.  I’m just a little surprised that Sebastian discussed this with you before I’ve had the chance to talk to you first, that’s all.   I’d like to go, I really would.  In fact that’s why I came in to your room – to talk to you about it.  I’ve taken time off work, as much time as we both need, and we can leave as soon as I’ve had a chance to talk to Nana.  Please don’t mention this to her, she’s been through enough.  We all have.  I’ll suggest she comes to stay in Cornwall for a weekend soon, ok?” 

“Sick” replies my daughter. 

In my day we would say ‘that’s nice,’ but teenagers today insist on saying ‘sick’.  It’s such a weird world we live in now I muse. 

“I suppose we’ll have to wait for me to finish my last exams?” asks Bella with a frown.  In my haste to speed ahead with our plans I’d overlooked the fact that Bella has five GCSE exams to sit in May.  She’s hardly revised and, quite honestly, I’ve not been of clear mind since the accident and therefore have not pushed her to study.  We agree to wait a further month so that Bella can finish her exams and therefore her secondary schooling.  The delay also gives me time to spend with my mother, which eases my conscience at leaving her. 

Bella’s clearly besotted with Sebastian.  Using this opportunity to talk to her about her feelings, seems a sensible approach to air my concerns.

“Bella, darling, I know you think you love Sebastian and that’s really wonderful.  He’s a kind and generous man but… please don’t see him as a replacement for Dad.  I just worry that you may see him as a father figure at a time when you’re very vulnerable.  It’s totally understandable that you’d feel that way.  I… I just don’t want you to expect too much of Sebastian ok?”  She looks genuinely affronted.  Her mouth is gaping and a mist of anger clouds her eyes.

“For fucks sake mother. I certainly don’t think of him as a new daddy.  Jeez mum!”

“Language!” I exclaim exasperatedly. 

Having had this conversation with Bella doesn’t reassure me that my daughter won’t end up getting hurt.

After dinner, Sebastian clears the plates while I languish in a hot bath.  Closing my eyes and enjoying the sting of the hot water on my skin, my worries begin to soak away and the pain of grief, deep inside me lessons just a fraction.

Sebastian makes love to me for hours, with a leisurely exploration of each other’s bodies, kissing and licking every inch of each other’s skin. 

As the first blush of sunrise lifts the shadows in the room, I wake to feel Sebastian’s leg draped over my hip as he spoons me.  Feeling hot, but reluctant to disturb him, I lay still – listening to his breathing, and feeling safe and loved in his strong arms and contented sleep envelopes me once more.

Hitting the mute button on my alarm, I kiss Sebastian’s bare shoulder and he stirs, pulling me down and kissing my neck.

“Mmm, good morning sexy,” he croaks sleepily.

“Hi sleepyhead,” I purr.

“It’s Saturday.  I have the whole weekend to use and abuse you, Mrs. Dove,” he promises.

“Delicious as that sounds, De Montfort, I have a hair appointment at ten.  I’m going to have to leave you and Bella for an hour, is that ok?” 

He plants a tender kiss on my nipple and I’m lost to him again.

My hair is styled differently.  My usual curls have been straightened to within an inch of their lives.  The new sleek look frames my face nicely.

“God.  You look amazing,” George my hairdresser coos.

“You’re a miracle worker, thank you.”

“Hope you’ve got a hot date tonight …sorry, Beth.  I didn’t think,” he apologizes, remembering when Ruth last dragged me in, reluctantly, for a blow dry before the funeral.

“It’s ok, George.  You know what?  I am going out tonight.  Why waste this do?” I say cheerfully, careful not to mention Sebastian, lest he thinks me callous dating after my husband’s death.

“Wow! You’re beautiful,” Sebastian admires my new look with that wicked glint in his dark eyes that does untold things to me.

“Wanna take me out on a date tonight?” I ask flirtatiously.

“Oh, I want to do a lot of things to you right now.”  He slaps my backside and pulls me into his arms.

The restaurant is buzzing.  Fortunately, we have a table booked, and we are shown to the only vacant table, at the back of the dimly lit French bistro.  Sebastian slips my black satin jacket from my shoulders and pushes the chair in behind me as I sit. 

He’s looking delectable in smart black tapered trousers and crisp white shirt, unbuttoned enough to show the dark matting of hair on his upper chest.  At my request, he’s unshaven so that I can enjoy the friction of his stubble on my pussy later.  Sebastian selected my dress for our date – a knee length, chocolate brown slip, overlaid with lace.  It clings to my curves and exaggerates my cleavage.

The waitress brings the menus and takes our drink order, her eyes drinking in Sebastian’s sexiness.  I cast her a poisonous scowl and she leaves us, swaying her hips seductively as she goes.  Nice try, sister.  He’s mine.