For the remaining part of the journey to his home, no one said a word. Each was lost in their world as they stared out of the window. Sylvia ran her life right from childhood down to the present day right in her head. Things were not really good but now when she thought everything was going to fall into place, the devil sent his most trusted agent to haunt her. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Xavier rubbing his rough chin while looking out of the window. She scoffed as she slid through the seat to make herself more comfortable. Slowly her eyelids began to close because of exhaustion. Also, the cold breeze which was cascading her skin didn't help matter. But as she was about to fully delve into the world of dream, the roaring engine ceased. With a grunt of disappointment, she sat up then began to rub her sleepy eyes. The driver stepped out then went around to open the door for Xavier. He climbed out then held out his hand towards Sylvia to help her out. Instead of t
AFTER he ended the call, the library was silent. Sylvia heard only low, soft snuffles that she realized were her own sobs.Her captor stood over her, and she felt his silent, considering gaze upon her. She tried to stifle her weeping but could not.All she could think about was that Xavier had been right. Arnold had betrayed her. Tricked her. He’d used her own idealistic nature, her belief in loyalty and love, against her.He’d never loved Sylvia at all. He’d only wanted her body. He was already married, and he’d been waiting…waiting for…“He’s waiting for his wife to die,” she whispered aloud.She felt Xavier touch her arm. “I know.”She looked up. His dark eyes were surprisingly gentle.“Come,” he said in a low voice. “You’ve had a rough day. I’ll take you to bed.”She was unable to resist as he took her hand in his larger one, lifting her to her feet. She trembled at his touch, barely feeling strong enough to hold the bodice of her wedding gown closed with her other hand. She pr
Sylvia woke up the next morning to find sunshine flooding her with white, almost blinding clarity.Fortunately, it refreshed her, washing away the dark nightmares that had troubled her all night.Yawning, she blinked sleepily.It was a dream, she thought.Thank heaven it was all a dream.She was back in her solitary bedroom at Trollshelm Castle, not Greece like it happened in her dream.Today was her wedding day, the day she had always dreamt of. The day she would pledge herself as Arnold’s wife for the rest of her life…Sylvia blinked suddenly as she sat up abruptly.Her blankets fell to her waist as she stared around her. Everything around her was strange.This was not her bedroom which eventually means she was not in Arnold’s mansion.She glanced down at the white silk bra and panties that she had slept in.A blush heated her cheeks as she remembered Xavier moving over her on the bed last night.She remembered how his body was so close to hers as he slowly undid her garters and pull
She decided to stop eating when he wouldn't stop peering at her.Placing the glass of orange juice on the tray and with a little smile playing at the corner of her lips, she began to twirl her hair around her fingers as she looked straight ahead, staring at nothing in particular.“Go on,” he said. “Don’t stop now. I want you to be nice and healthy when I trade you.” he coaxedHer smile faded at that instant.Trade?Yes, trade, she was certain he heard him clearly.Of course he wanted her healthy, so he could trade her like a horse.Fat and sassy, like a farm cow.Maybe he would even find a way to sell her by the pond.Biting her lip, she looked down at her tray.The food which had been appetizing moments ago now looked sour to her. She scrunched her nose in disgust as she analyzed the content of the tray.“How can you be so sure he will still trade me? Why are you so sure he would trade me for a woman who gives him millions of dollars?” she said in a small voice.“Arnold is married. He
Opening the screen door, she looked out at the view as she ate the rest of her breakfast.She devoured the fresh fruit, potatoes and buttery pastries with equal relish.After finishing a part of her breakfast, she felt light. This was the perfect meal after being starved for a while.Freedom coursed in waves against her skin, as the cool and refreshing soft sea breeze blew through the window.Setting down her coffee cup beside her empty plate, she wandered outside on the balcony and looked out at the blue Aegean.The air was warm and smelled of salt, flowers and freshly exotic scents from faraway lands.From her position she could get a full view of the ocean.She had never stayed on an island before and had never gotten to see an ocean at a close range but Xavier had made it possible.The water was blue, without any doubt, it had gotten its color from the blue of the sky.The water was as clear and clean as glistening glass, it was a beautiful sight to behold at that moment. The gent
From the instant Sylvia had come out on the balcony, Xavier had felt her presence like the first burst of sunlight at dawn.He had been there long before she showed up but she was too busy relishing nature to see him.She was one woman that drew attention wherever she went even without trying.He had pretended not to see her at first as he continued to pace about as he spoke into his cell phone.To get her attention, he began to speak loudly and it worked like magic.Pacing about and speaking was his habit whenever he was making deals over the phone that were worth hundreds of millions of dollars.But as he discussed business with his vice president of the Regulus Group in New York, Xavier had secretly watched Sylvia with hooded eyes.Her expression was in a shadow, but he could see her body.Her long, wavy blond hair hung damp down her shoulders, over a thin top that clung to her full breasts and tiny waist.A knee-length skirt revealed her impossibly long legs which were slender and
While Arnold ranted about his plans for Xavier if he discovered he had touched Sylvia, Xavier had busied himself with planning with his fingers while he listened.Tired from yelling too much, Arnold began to talk in a low cracking voice.Xavier gave a low, deliberate laugh at his cracking voice at the other end. It was funny how he sounded.“What happened to your vocal cord? You're sounding like a woman” Xavier chuckled“Shut your mouth and listen to me you son of a bitch” Arnold spat in anger before he resumed his rantings whole Xavier continued to make fun of him.If asked, Xavier wouldn't hesitate to disclose that he was having the fun of his life.Having had enough of Arnold's voice, he stopped laughing then cleared his throat.“Complete your divorce as soon as possible if you want to have your bride back. Also, return Laila to me as fast as you can before I forget my duties as host and entertain myself with your would-be bride. Before I enjoy Sylvia’s body in my bed, over and over
Xavier loved this other woman?This was too much for her to bear.Sylvia bit the bottom of her lips as she looked upwards towards his direction.She wanted to speak but the lump which had risen in her throat earlier had refused to return thereby shutting her words completely.Running her hand through her hair, she began to imagine how Laila looked.She felt the sudden urge to get to know this woman personally but she did know why.His stark words caused a tremble through Sylvia’s heart, a whisper of pain that she couldn’t understand.She swallowed hard before mustering pleasure to speak “And you think once she’s in your care, you can save her. You think you can wake her. Don’t you think it’s already too late?” she asked“Her husband who was supposed to be by her side has doomed her to die,” he said in a low voice. “I won’t allow that to happen. I will see to it that Laila lives and I will make sure that it happens. I will do anything to make sure that she wakes up from that coma.”Sylv
Sylvia hesitated outside the closed doors of the huge, flower-strewn library, frightened out of her mind.She could hear the rumble on the other side of door, the mutters and whispers. The wedding had been scheduled to start thirty minutes ago, and everyone was obviously starting to assume the worst.But there was no way around it. She had to get through it. With a deep breath, she pushed the doors open.The enormous two-story library had been modeled after an old English abbey with walls of gray stone. It was now festooned with white roses and candles, with hundreds of chairs set up to create an aisle down the middle.At the sight of the bride standing at the end of the aisle, musicians hastily began to play ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ on guitars and violins. Sylvia stopped the music with a chopping gesture across her neck.Silence fell. She could have heard a pin drop as three hundred pairs of eyes turned to her.She trembled, passing a hand over her eyes. Then she heard her baby
Xavier had to hurry. Every second he wasted with Sylvia was like a grain of sand falling through a fatal hourglass. He had to leave at once.And yet he couldn’t.Leaving her felt like a death. He took a deep, shuddering breath. ‘This isn’t over,’ he said hoarsely. ‘I’ll be back after I close the deal in Rio.’‘Of course.’ Sylvia’s shoulders straightened, even as her lower lip trembled. ‘I will never stop you from seeing Robby. I hope…I hope you’ll see him often. He needs his father.’Xavier heard the music start to play downstairs and thought of the guests surrounded by white roses and candlelight, waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin. He clenched his hands, feeling that same strange spinning, sinking feeling in the region of his chest.‘Remember,’ he said tersely, looking at her. ‘This was your choice. I wanted to marry you.’She swallowed as tears streamed unchecked down her pale cheeks. ‘I’ll never forget that.’No, he thought suddenly. It couldn’t end like this. Not like this!
Two weeks later, Sylvia stared at herself blankly in the mirror.An elegantly dressed bride in a long, white lace veil and satin sheath gown stared back at her. It still didn’t feel right. She picked up her neatly bundled bouquet of white roses and looked back in the mirror.It was the morning of her wedding. In less than an hour she would have everything she’d barely dared to dream of—she’d be Mrs. Xavier Regulus. Robby would have his father.So where was the joy? She should have been ecstatic with bliss and hope. So why, looking at herself in this beautiful dress, standing in a suite of this beautiful rented mansion outside her village, did she feel so…empty?Xavier had wanted to marry her immediately, in Rio, but he’d quickly given in to Sylvia’s begging when she’d asked to have their wedding in New Hampshire, so her family could attend.‘We can get married in New Hampshire, of course we can, if that’s your wish,’ he’d told her. ‘But after the ceremony, we must live in Rio. Do you
Sylvia woke up with a start to see the soft curl of a pink sunrise through the windows. She sat up in bed abruptly, the blanket falling from her naked chest. Had she heard her baby next door?She listened, and heard nothing except Xavier’s even, steady breathing beside her in the shadowy bedroom. Then she heard Robby’s voice again.‘Ma…ma…ma!’Quietly Sylvia rose from the bed and pulled a robe off the bathroom door hook. Leaving Xavier’s room, she went down the hall to her own, where she found her baby son sitting up in his crib. Whispering soft words of love, Sylvia took him in her arms. Holding him tenderly, she fed him, rocking him in the rocking chair. The baby, now yawning with a full belly, swiftly fell back to sleep.But Sylvia knew she would not.Putting him back in his crib, she went to the en-suite bathroom, closing the door silently behind her. She turned on the shower and dropped the robe to the floor. As the steam enveloped her body, she climbed into the marble shower. Sh
By the time they arrived back in Rio two hours later, one thought kept repeating in Xavier’s mind. One thought over and over.‘Here,’ he said to her, covering her shoulders with his tuxedo jacket as they entered the lobby of his building. She threw him a grateful glance. Her red designer gown now hung askew on her body, the zipper broken from when he’d ripped the dress off her earlier.As they passed the security guards, Xavier glanced at them out of the corner of his eye. His white shirt was rumpled, the cuffs hanging open, his tie crumpled in the pocket of his trousers. Sylvia was looking at him breathlessly, her eyes luminescent, her makeup hopelessly smudged and her lips full and bruised.He saw the security guards nudge each other with a smirk, and he knew he and Sylvia had fooled no one. There could be no doubt what they had been doing.Normally he wouldn’t care if people knew he’d taken a woman as his lover. But this was different. This was Sylvia. And one thought kept going th
Trembling, Sylvia folded her arms.‘Ah,’ Felipe Oliveira said, stroking his chin with satisfaction as he looked from her to Xavier with canny eyes. ‘Now I understand.’‘No!’ Adriana gasped. ‘It can’t be true!’Sylvia’s gaze rested anxiously on Xavier. His dark eyes were deep as the night sky. She saw him take a deep breath. Then slowly, very slowly, he came toward her. Never looking away from her face, he took her in his arms. Biting her lip in apprehension, Sylvia waited for his jaw to clench with fury and resentment. Waited for him to say something biting and cruel.Instead, he gently kissed her cheek, then turned to face Oliveira and Adriana.‘We weren’t going to tell anyone yet. But yes, Robby is my son. I wanted to wait until after our wedding to make it public. It seemed more proper.’‘Proper?’ Adriana sneered. ‘When have you ever cared about proper?’Xavier stiffened, glaring at her. ‘I have always cared about doing what is right,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I would never leave m
The Fantasia gala ball was the single most sought-after invitation of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval. Sylvia had read about it in celebrity gossip magazines in the United States. The glamorous event, held in a colonial palace on the Costa Verde south of Rio, attracted beautiful, rich and notorious guests from all around the world. And tonight, Sylvia would be one of them. Tonight, she would be Xavier Regulus’s beloved mistress. His pretend mistress, she corrected herself fiercely.The door of the black Rolls-Royce sedan opened, and she and Xavier stepped out onto the red carpet that led inside the palace, which had once been owned by the Brazilian royal family.Xavier looked brutally dashing in his black tuxedo. Sylvia felt his hungry gaze on her as he took her arm. She tried to ignore it, tried to smile for the benefit of the paparazzi flashing cameras around them, but her body shook beneath the palpable force of his desire.I want you, Sylvia. And I will have you.Liveried doormen in wig
With a gasp, Sylvia pulled back her hand and slapped his face.‘How dare you!’ she cried.The sound of the slap echoed in the bedroom. He stared at her incredulously, his hand on his cheek. Then his eyes narrowed. ‘Why are you pretending it’s not exactly what you want?’Sylvia sucked in her breath, feeling overwhelmed by need for what she could not—could not—allow herself to have. ‘Even if I want you, Xavier, I know you’re no good for me. It nearly killed me last year after our night together when you kicked me out of your life—’‘Kicked you out of my life?’ he demanded. ‘You’re the one who left!’‘You didn’t try to talk me out of it. You didn’t even ask me to stay!’‘I was trying to do what was best for you,’ he said. ‘I knew you wanted a husband, children. You needed a boss who didn’t demand your life and soul. You needed a man who could love you as I cannot. So I gave you up, when it was the last thing I wanted! And what did you do?’ He glowered. ‘You let yourself get pregnant by s
It's only an act. Only an act!But in spite of the constant repetition of those words, Sylvia’s heart still didn’t believe it as she looked up into Xavier’s dark eyes.‘Really,’ the other man drawled in accented English. His eyes traced over Sylvia. ‘She’s certainly beautiful. But this is all too convenient.’ He folded his arms over his belly. ‘You’ve fabricated this affair, so I’ll still sell you Açoazul.’Sylvia’s pulse hammered in her chest. Convinced that their plan had failed before it had half started, she pulled away from Xavier. But he held her tight in his powerful arms, even as he never looked away from the other man.‘Why would I do that?’ Xavier said coolly.The man looked at Adriana’s tall beauty, then back at Xavier with a scowl. ‘You know why.’‘You’d be a fool not to sell me Açoazul,’ Xavier said sharply. ‘No other competitor has offered you a fraction of the price. Théo St. Raphaël certainly won’t. Don’t lose a fortune based on some unfounded fear!’The older man stif