New Life

"You should get along better with my new husband, Moreau. But you must remember to behave yourself. Don't wear sexy clothes while Abi is home."

So early in the morning Barbara had said a series of words, which had not even crossed Moreau's mind. She found it odd to think that since when would Barbara care about how she dressed?

Never. Only after she had remarried. All the anticipation was there and the slightest hint of a cornered tone as if Moreau had been prepared, or perhaps Barbara had a hunch? Moreau would make sure that what happened that night. Would never happen again.

"Did you hear me, Moreau?"

Barbara's question again - the song filled the room, pushing Moreau back to the surface. She blinked, then glanced at her mother's stern face.

"I dress openly only when performing on stage or at important tournaments. Even then, it's still within polite and normal levels. The rest of the time, as you've always seen, my clothes are ordinary," Moreau snarled as she pulled the front of her sleeping pajamas up. It was enough to convince Barbara that the woman grunted, taking another bite of the last piece of toast.

It seemed that Barbara had something to do. The woman's busyness was striking. Even more so than the fact that one day ago was her wedding day.

"It's good that you know how to honor me."

Moreau's guess had been correct and now she watched in bewilderment as her mother tidied up the last vestiges of a perfect look. Fiery red lipstick was slowly applied until the Barbarian's lips smudged as a final addition.

"Before your new father wakes up, can you make him some tea?"

What a surprise. "Me?" Moreau asked, pointing to herself. "Why don't you?" she continued as her mother was about to walk away.

"I have an important meeting at the office."

It was a clichéd excuse.

"But you guys just got married. You're on leave, and you're busy with office matters?" Moreau also got up. Speaking a little louder after her mother's body had almost disappeared behind the partition.

"You little ones wouldn't know any better. Make some slightly burnt toast, too. Abi likes it."

The remnants of Barbara's voice echoed around the flashy building. Moreau exhaled a rough breath. Still not understanding what those two were getting married for, when they weren't having a good time. Moreau wanted Barbara and her new husband to simply go on a honeymoon trip, so that she could-at the very least-get some peace and forget about the accident she had been involved in....

"Your mother and I got married because of the company's cooperation, if that's what you're thinking."

Abihirt came in, instantly Moreau was shocked to the point of holding her breath to find her stepfather towering over her. Moreau swallowed hard realizing Abihirt was half-naked, showing off the firm muscles from his stomach to his arms as the man walked.

There was no telling when Abihirt had been there, but Moreau suspected that her stepfather had overheard half the conversation with Barbara. The hand deftly toasted two loaves of bread, then moved to the other side to simply brew some tea.

Moreau's eyes never left every step Abihirt took. She frowned as seh noticed something with a mysterious impression on the man's bronze skin. It was a tattoo near the back of his neck - the exact shape of a bird flapping its wings. When Abihirt walked back to the table, Moreau blinked immediately. She was unsure of what she had just seen. It could have just been some kind of malignant objectivity. Not an important thing to think about.

Making slightly burnt toast. It seemed Moreau was beginning to understand Barbara's statement. She was still observing everything Abihir was doing. The man pressed the button again as the toast revealed itself, setting to the desired doneness and color.

"Would you like some?"

A serious offer. Moreau shook her head vaguely. Instinctively choosing to focus on her own breakfast. As an ice dancer, she had to store up enough energy. There was training with her partner. They would be participating in a tournament in the coming months. Moreau wanted to win and she would try very hard.

"What good is getting married because of the company's cooperation?"

Unconsciously that was what came out of Moreau's lips. She immediately froze as Abihirt stared intently at her. Barbara had told her a few things about the man who had finally continued with breakfast. One thing Moreau didn't understand, if Abihirt was the owner of the largest telecommunications company in Madrid to the point of owning many businesses, why would the man be willing to marry her mother just because of a work agreement? Something that sounded absurd.

Love?

Sometimes even Moreau found Abihirt's attitude to be very cold towards her mother. But the man wouldn't say anything, other than finishing everything left on the dinner table. Or perhaps Moreau was wrong. She had only met Abihirt and been in the same room for just a few hours. As for Barbara, the woman might have known more.

The clinking sound of knives and forks pulled Moreau back to the surface. She glanced at Abihirt-a little fixated on the elegant way the man wiped his mouth with a dry cloth.

"Why don't you ask your mother why she accepted my proposal?"

The honorable man finished his breakfast and then spoke. Moreau began to get nervous when Abihirt brought Barbara into the conversation. She didn't feel the need to ask. It wasn't something important to find out anyway. Her question a moment ago was part of her unconscious. Moreau wouldn't have been so presumptuous if she had been able to control herself. Moreover, she saw love in Barbara's eyes. There was no doubt why the woman was willing to return to marriage.

"My mother likes you."

Irony. Moreau was reluctant to look into Abihirt's gray eyes when she said that. Perhaps the man was looking at her. She did not want to know if there was something impressive, but it was better this way. Moreau silently stole a glance as she realized Abihirt was ready to walk away from the dining room.