The Dark Stranger: A Sharon Brown Erotic Romance (6 page)

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Mitchell.” Sharon said.

“Call me Sarah.” Sarah instructed her. “I don’t believe in formalities. Shall we start?”

“Sure.” Sharon said. They had an enjoyable breakfast when Sarah and Sharon conversed about her boutique, told her about her family and Sarah told her about her ideas for her books. Jake watched as the two women were conversing about the daily topics but his eyes were for Sharon only. She sparkled like diamond sitting there, talking animatedly with his mother completely at ease. Just then, Sharon looked at the clock on the opposite wall.

“I think I should leave, I’m getting late for work.” She stood up.

“I’ll drop you, Sharon. I’m leaving for my office anyway.” Jake said and stood up. As Sharon took her overnight clothes from the maid, Sarah turned to Jake.

“Liam wants to come over and meet up with us. I told him the hour of six would be fine with us, please be home at that time.” She said. A muscle throbbed in Jake’s cheek when heard the name but he didn’t comment. He started to leave but Sarah stopped his by placing her hand on his arm.

“Please, Jake. For my sake please.” She was literally begging him.

“Fine. I will be here.” Jake said and walked out of the foyer.

****
 

Gary stepped into Sharon’s office. It was two p.m. in the afternoon and he was carrying lunchboxes from a Chinese restaurant across the street. Sharon looked up from the designs she was viewing and smiled at him. Picking up her phone, she asked her sec
retary to send in an office boy to settle their lunch. Gary was staring at her closely.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking at the designs.

“Nothing. I’m just looking at you.” He said, with a smile.

“What for?”

“You have changed.”

“No, I haven’t. I’m still the same Sharon.”

“Maybe.” he said and sat quietly for the next five minutes. When she finished her work, their lunch was already set.

“Let's eat.” She said and stood up, moving over to the coffee table and chair that made a corner of her office for meetings.

“So, you President boy did what we couldn’t have done at such a short notice.” He said.

“Yeah, the show was superb.” Sharon said, taking a bite of chicken.

“Sharon, I’m your best friend since childhood. I should know everything, right?” Gary asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you love him?”

“Yes.” She said. The color drained from Gary’s face.

“What do you know about him? Has he ever discussed his family or business with you?” he asked, worried now. She shook her head.

“We never had the time to discuss all that. Our meetings have been quite short.”

“Then, there are some things that you need to know.” He said.

“What, Gary?” Sharon asked.

“Listen to me , Sharon. Last night, when you left the hotel there were people who knew Jake Michelson personally and what they said about him wasn’t quite right.”

“And that was?” Sharon asked, fully attentive now.

“He is an undisciplined rake. He plays very hard deals with his clients and many don’t like him. He is the illegitimate son of the famous banker, Liam Michelson, and his mother has never remarried because she had to raise him. He is a womanizer, Sharon, he sleeps around with models and Hollywood stars and then discards them like a piece of tissue paper. You have to be careful, Sharon.” Sharon’s mind reeled at the things Gary had told her.

“I don’t believe that bullshit, Gary.” She was in a denial.

“His grandfather is a very powerful man. The Mitchell’s own the Calgary newspaper so that is how they were able to keep the news out of the papers. He does business with his father but he hates him.”

“What was the name of his father, tell me again.” Sharon said.

“Liam Michelson.” Liam. Liam. Liam. Her head revolved as she recalled the morning’s conversation in her mind. LIAM wants to come OVER and MEET up with us. Jake’s expression. Everything was in place now. The puzzle was solved.

Before she could say anything, the phone on her desk rang.

“Sharon.” Gary stopped her. “Don’t tell him that you know everything.” She nodded and picked up the receiver.

“Hello.”

“Afternoon, Sharon.” It was Jake.

“Afternoon. How are you?” She said, her voice businesslike.

“I’m good. I was wondering if you were free in the evening. My mother would like your company, it’s a family dinner tonight.”

“Well, I need to check my schedule. Can you hold on for a second?” she said.

“sure.” While he waited, Sharon checked her calendar and then looked at Gary.

“Yes, all clear.” She said.

“Okay. I’ll pick you up at fifteen minutes to six.” He said.

“Perfect.” She said and replaced the phone on the cradle. She returned to the table and sat down.

“Whatever is his past, Gary, I trust him and he has never betrayed my trust. He saved my life, have you forgotten that? I won’t doubt him but I will wait for him to tell me everything. This topic is closed now.”

“Ok.” Gary gave her a sad smile.

****
 

Sharon stood in front of a full length mirror in her bedroom, wearing a pink spaghetti strapped dress with a scooped neckline and flowin
g skirt that reached her knees, silver bracelets clasped at her wrists and matching necklaces were at her throat. Her hair was bound atop her hair with silver and pink ropes while some of her ever-present curl fell down to her neck. She wore silver heels to complete her look. She smiled in the mirror as Caprice entered the room.

“How do I look?” Sharon asked her, pirouetting around her.

“Drop dead gorgeous.” Caprice beamed at her. “Jake will fall at your feet and confess his love like the knights in the Victorian era.”

The Victorian Era was a weakness of Caprice. She was a dreamer and wanted someday to find her knight in shining armor to sweep her off h
er feet and take her to his kingdom. And she believed that but Sharon was of a different opinion than her. Sharon would shake her head at Caprice and would tell her to be realistic as there was nothing such as a knight in shining armor but lately, Sharon’s life had also become a fairytale itself.

Before Caprice could say something else, there was a horn on the gate.

“There’s your Prince Charming, Sharon.” Caprice giggled. “Have fun with his mother.”

Sharon ran out the door, holding a matching clutch in the colors of pink and silver and looking as beautiful as ever with her slender features. She looked at Jake, who had gotten out of the car and was standing there, wearing a black tuxedo and looking as handsome as ever. She smiled at him and he returned her smile.

“Hi.” Sharon said, self-consciously looking here and there. Jake grabbed her and kissed her.

“Hello, Beautiful. You are looking ravishing today.” Sharon felt heated all over.

“Shall we go?” She asked, drawing apart from him.

“Sure.” He said and walked to the other side of the car to open the door for her. Sharon slid inside, he closed the door and walked towards his side of the car.
Such a gentleman, Sharon thought and smiled inwardly.

As he drove towards his house, Sharon noticed the occasional glances he threw in her direction
. She looked at him and asked:

“Something’s on your mind?”

“Not really.” He said. She nodded. Five minutes later, Jake looked at her again and smiled.

“Let’s go to the beach first, then we’ll go home.” He said.

“Alright.” Sharon said, confused at his behavior and trying to gauge what was wrong with him.

****
 

The weather was slightly windy and the tides in the sea were acting up. Sharon held her heels in her hand as she walked barefoot along the shore, Jake beside her. The calmness and peacefulness she felt here was something that she never felt anywhere else. Jake held her hand and like two lovers, enjoying a sunset stroll, they walked to the other side of the beach.

“Sharon, I want to tell you about me. About my past, everything. I don’t want to keep you in dark.” Jake said.

“I already know everything, Jake. Believe me, it doesn’t matter to me in the least.” She said, pressing his hands.

“Nothing, Sharon?” Jake asked, looking closely at her.

“Nothing.” She smiled assuring at her.

“I love you, Sharon.” Jake said, looking deeply into her eyes. That moment was magical for both of them. Sharon stood, gazing into Jason’s eyes, her heels forgotten and all that mattered just then was that they were two lovers, who had recognized their feelings for each other and were quite happy. Jake bent down his head, taking her lips into the smooth, hardened contours of his lips and kissed her with all the passion and feelings that he held for her. He had dated many movie stars, models and ambitious women but none had been able to make him feel like Sharon made him feel.

He felt loved.

Sharon opened her eyes when the kiss ended and looked at him.

“I love you, Jake. I don’t know when that happened but I love you.” She said and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, hugging him tightly.

“Will you marry me, Sharon Brown?” Jake asked, bending on one knee and holding her hand.

“Yes, Yes, YES!” Sharon almost screamed with excitement. Jake hugged her and picked her up in his arms. He slipped a diamond on her finger, a diamond as huge as her palm and that glittered just like her.

They reached his home, half an hour later and were shown into the drawing room, where all of his family was already present. Jake and Sharon sat on the settee adjacent to where his mother was sitting and when she looked at him, Jake winked at her. The look on Sarah’s face was of pure delight and she smiled invitingly at Sharon. Sarah introduced Sharon to the family just then, as Jake’s fiancé and as she said, Jake’s grandfather looked at her with contempt.

“What do you do, Miss Brown?” his grandmother asked.

“I am a dress designer, Ma’am. I had one of my fashion shows two days ago.” She told her.

“The show that made the front cover of the paper?” his grandmother asked.

“Exactly.” Sharon smiled warmly at her.

“Well then, you are an extremely talented young woman. Welcome to the family.” She smiled. When Liam came, the tension between the family grew more and Sharon noticed that Jake’s face was cold as stone. She held his hand, showing her support to him and he squeezed her fingers lightly.

Once the refreshments and small talks were over, Jake’s grandfather spoke.

“Why did you want this meeting, Mr. Michelson?” he asked Liam.

“It’s been twenty five years since Sarah and I went to college together. I was immature, irresponsible and selfish and had no idea what responsibility meant. I made mistakes that I want to correct now, I want to give Sarah a home where she can be happy and where she will be loved and I want to accept Jake as my own son, in front of the world.” Liam said.

“NO!” It was Jake who spoke this time. “I don’t want anything to do with you.  I have only one parent and that is my mother, Sarah. End of story.” He said, his voice cold. His  grandfather ignored his outburst and turned to Sarah.

“What do you say about this, Sarah? You have never adhered to my decisions and now this is you and your son’s life. You have to decide what is the best for both of you.”

“Father, twenty five years is enough time to forgive some
one for their mistakes. I hold no grudges against Liam whatsoever. I am ready to take him as my husband.” Sarah said. Jake gave her a look of pure hatred.

“Sharon, let’s go.” He
said, stood up and dragged her all the way outside.

“Jake, listen to me.” Sharon said as Sarah came outside, looking sad at both of them.

“Jake.” She called out to him.

“Go back inside, Mother. I have nothing to say.” He said.

“Darling, you are my son. Listen to me, please. There is nothing wrong for me to get married to your dad. After all, he is your father and he deserves this much.” Sarah said.

“He deserves nothing. He left you to rot on the streets and what would’ve happened if aunt Nancy hadn’t been there for you. I don’t trust the bastard, but still if you wish to go through this crazy notion then I cannot say anything. My best wishes to you.” And then he drove away.

****

It had been a week now and things should have come back to normal now but Jake’s temper was still upon boiling point. He wouldn’t listen to anyone talk sense into him, his grandmother, his mother or even Sharon. He did not anyone to say it aloud that Liam Michelson was not his father and his reasons were those that he hadn’t told anyone.

Liam Michelson was after his business empire.

Late that afternoon, he had returned after lunch with Sharon when he found him waiting at the reception of his office. He took his messages from the receptionist and then looked at him.