~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ We were home, and Janet did her duty with dinner. Late, but under the circumstances, she did an excellent job. She also slipped away when she was no longer needed. Perfect. Jake and Josy didn’t stay long either. Though I’d made it clear, I didn’t want her pushed too hard. She’s healing from being poisoned and now having a man wave a knife at her. Her face’s expression during dinner music was priceless. I wish I’d taken a picture. It’s what she needed. The change that came over her. I could see it and feel it. I had my Bella Bell back. This time, I’m not pushing her into anything. I almost watched as she’s taken from me. That won’t happen again. When she first mentioned her security to me, and I thought she was a nobody. I’d laughed at her, because I believed she wanted bodyguards to pretend she was someone special. Impress her friends and others. I told her she had a driver for that.I found bruises on her
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Morning brought some ease, as I had thought. My guess is that it would take time for my world to become perfect. We talked, and I had to have Maria admit that things between us were different. They were closer to what she wanted. However, we fell into a deep sleep in time. We weren’t arguing anymore.The breakfast room became the morning jump off area for Jake and me. I found him pouring coffees and laying files out. “Morning David. I’ve got everything here for the morning. We assumed working from home was the best route for today until we knew what unexpected events would affect everyone’s calendars. Did we anticipate incorrect?” David smiled and handed me a cup of coffee before directing me to a seat. Josy and Maria weren’t here yet. So, it’s the two of us talking to each other and having breakfast. It’s something I’d grown to like since we moved in here. “No. I want to stay near Maria. Jake, how should w
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ David left the bedroom, and it didn’t take Josy over fifteen minutes to appear in it. “Hey are you awake? How are you feeling? What the hell girl? You need to tell me everything.” Josy poked her head into the bedroom. She knew Maria was alone when David passed her in the corridor where she’d been waiting. “Me? How about you? Jake whisked you off so fast I don’t think you had a chance for your feet to touch the ground. Geez. He grabbed dinner, you, and gone. Time for a confession. What are you up to?” Maria sat up in bed and pelted Josy with several questions. With eyes alight and a smile, she searched for something to wear. “Oh, uh, well, you see. Remember how I told you he was taking lessons from David?” Josy moved like she was a bug caught under a pin. I gave her a raised eyebrow with a half-smile. “Please tell me you’re mistaken.” I said to Josy. I looked at her and dared her to inform me I was mistaken.
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ When we entered the breakfast room. David and Jake stopped talking. They didn’t want us to hear what they were talking about. I don’t know what they were planning. So, that had my curiosity up. We didn’t want to interrupt breakfast, so we declined. Yesterday, David clarified that today is a day off. On slow days, we do very little. “Okay, I still want to swim this morning. “I have a question,” Josy said. She was finishing her breakfast and sitting back in her chair. I knew she was going to war and didn’t want to discuss the Belgrave Family Home with David afterward. “Hey, Josy, let’s hold off. For now. You know I want to speak to David on that matter first.” I tried to catch up eating to everyone else. David’s eyebrow rose as he put down the file he’d finished reviewing. We’d discussed each one as he found details of interest as we ate. It made breakfast go very well. We reviewed the files and devoured the food. So far, w
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Maria and Josy swam in the large swimming pool. On the table’s other side, Jake sat in a sheltered spot. They took their time and worked preparing for my meetings while watching them relaxing and enjoying the water. Our conversation this morning lingers in my mind. It bothered me how I missed her intelligence for so long, even though I must have enjoyed and benefited from her intelligence in several ways. Now, without holding back her thoughts, I can perceive her mind and its direction. It’s as a beautiful process. It’s as beautiful to fall as it’s watching her. Can’t believe my luck in finding a woman like her. I can’t express how lucky I am to find a woman who grasps my needs, both in personal and professional aspects. My family can’t understand the luck we’ve had when we welcomed her into our midst. Any of my family who criticized her or judged her showed their failure and short-sightedness.
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Josy, what’s this?” I asked. I found several boxes set out in a neat stack in the main entrance. “Do you know anything about them?” I poked at the boxes as I searched for the different shipping labels. “No, sorry. I didn’t accept them, and I have nothing on my list for today for delivery. Maybe they are a delivery for David or Jake?” Josy poked at her pockets until she found her phone and searched for a delivery notice for today. She became more confused the longer she scrolled through her phone. “No, my name is on their labels, and I don’t remember ordering anything.” I didn’t remember buying anything from these companies. “Josy, did I have you buy anything from Gucci, Lyme-Lym, wait what do they sell? I’ve never heard of them.” “Searching. Okay, it’s a new designer who creates clothing in a near zero footprint. They can’t keep their clothing in stock.” Josy showed me her phone with an article on the desi
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ David appeared an hour later when his last meeting ended. “You didn’t open any of packages Maria?” He asked when he entered the living room. “You waited for me?” “Hello to you to. I hope your meetings went well.” “My time wasn’t wasted thank heavens. You didn’t move the packages at all?” “David, why didn’t you inform me about these packages? I can’t fathom any reason for a gift today. It didn’t seem right to move packages I was concerned about. I guess that’s the best way to explain it. I didn’t want to move them and confuse some order you had. Consider saving them to give as gifts later.” I said to him. I spoke while looking into my drink. Josy cleared her throat to make me aware I should look up at David. That’s when noticed David had an odd look on his face. He glanced at the packages behind him in the entrance, then at me. “I sent you to Paris and New York for shopping before this. You’ve
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ It took days for Jake and me to arrange everything. Then we waited for everything to be delivered. I thought of making all the presents wedding and honeymoon themed. Jake agreed with me. Our relationship had always lacked the romance and sweetness. This excellent start could change our relationship’s course. I jumped to commit this and then questioned my decision the entire time as I waited for the deliveries to arrive. But I thought I’d catch them and organize other parts once I had the gifts in my possession. That didn’t happen, though. Most of the items arrived early while a meeting tied me and Jake up. Maria and Josy found them. She received all the packages.Maria’s question about these things being for someone else hurt me. Or had I addressed the items to the wrong person? I plan to keep them and give them to her later. That sounded so disgusting and abhorrent to me. I thought she joked with me, but she hadn’t laugh
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~SEVEN MONTHS LATER I had a month, maybe six weeks, until I would give birth to a baby boy. The Hargrove family members were beside themselves, keeping David and me happy because of the baby. The baby impressed them when they learned of it. But their traditional attitudes found satisfaction when they learned our baby was a boy. I would be faultless in their eyes. The collaboration project wasn’t a collaboration as it started. Now, it spanned three divisions of Hargrove Tech. We would use it as a headquarters for all three divisions where we could share research and resources between divisions. With the ground broken and construction started, we were working with the division as they were right now. I’ve settled my business in preparation to hand it over for a time to Josy. So, I could give birth without worrying about the business. Then I could spend my time settling my baby into life at home, bonding with him, healing, an
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~ “Maria, welcome home. You arrived at the perfect time. I can’t believe I’m saying this. Jake has bought out Chris Skylar’s company! What is the world coming to?” Josy came rushing forward to meet us. “Oh, hi. I hope your honeymoon’s good, and you better have some pictures or video. No, I don’t mean naughty stuff either. Did you bring back any souvenirs?” “If you mean a baby? Yes, we did.” I smiled and waited for that to hit through Josy’s rambling. “No, I don’t mean a baby. I mean a new purse for me. Wait. You’re pregnant?!” Josy squealed. “David, you couldn’t keep it wrapped long enough to do a little tourist type thing?” “Josy. Honeymoon. I did what normal men do. I got busy.” David said with a smile on his face as Jake clapped him on his back as he congratulated us. “Let’s get you all home. I guess I can’t say two anymore. Now, can I?” Jake asked with a humorous half smile. He let the sec
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~ David was true to his word, and we did land in London, England. Not some other London. He’d teased me most of the way there in the most affection ways. But he wouldn’t touch me on the plane. When I asked him why? David said, “You were Maria Bell then. But now you’re Maria Hargrove. I expect others to respect you, and I must lead by example, don’t I? Isn’t that what all leaders are supposed to do?” He said this in a light tone, but I heard how serious he felt about it. There’s no way I could prepare myself for his words. It’s like a man uttering that he loved you without warning. Or proposing marriage. If David didn’t now have a track record of doing things like this, I would panic. “David, you would’ve not have that long ago. I’ve not changed. It’s you that’s changed and I appreciate it. No, I love it and you all the better for it. Just don’t let it slide back.” “I don’t won’t. But tonight, I want us to forget about the
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Maria didn’t waste time and that kept everything going with a smooth grace I found enjoyable. Other than my uncle’s outburst, it went well in my perspective. Maria’s smile hadn’t left her face all day, and I loved seeing it. Now, with dinner is over, speeches are over, cake cut, marriage documents signed, and first dances done. I’m more than ready to leave. We should head to the airport. I’m not thrilled to maneuver through the airport.I knew my private plane was ready this morning. We’d processed our documentation and flight plan days ago. Jake and Josy stored our luggage on the plane for us this morning. The wedding planner would take care of the clothing we used today and return it to our home. She’d have Maria’s wedding gown cleaned and packed into protective archivist clothing packaging. “Are you ready David?” Maria said from behind me. I turned around when I heard her question behind me. There she was, standing beh
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ The wedding ceremony was over. We’d exchanged rings, signed documents before witnesses, and all that. David was all smiles. It’s unexpected, but there it’s. His arm didn’t leave my back. He was true to his promise, and he didn’t leave my side. He gave me attention, as a person and as an object. David’s uncle glared at me after I told the wedding planner it’s fine to go on to the next stage. Which was removing everyone from the church and moving them to the reception hall for dinner and reception. I thought everything was fine. Everyone’s happy. “Are you insane, woman? It’s far too early. The hotel preparations won’t be finished for your guests, and everyone who arrives there will find themselves turned away. How embarrassing. Are you looking to embarrass your guests? How uncouth? David, I can’t believe you think she’s Belgrave. See her,” David’s uncle loudly exclaimed, stomping towards us. His cane banging hard on the har
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ Some may say spending the night before the wedding together is bad luck. But David didn’t want to leave me alone. He didn’t want to leave my side. His words were something about not trusting people and their double standards. David promised me that he’d stay beside me as long as he could, and he’d determined to do that. Along with the flood of attention he’d been including presents and surprises for me. It wasn’t the first time; he’d given me so many presents. But it’s the first time that the presents and attention were personalized. The personalization all had a theme though. They all faced the future and things she’d need to use in her life with him as his wife. Not just as a piece of jewelry along side his cufflinks. But his partner at work, social events, and at play. From a platinum fountain pen with her name engraved with her name and crystal encrusted, to a tennis dress that matched an outfit for him so they could
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “I’ve finished everything with the wedding planner and now we must wait for the day. Are you sure you are happy with everything David? Is there nothing you’d like to change?” Maria asked as she settled into bed beside me with a tired smile. She and Josy had spent weeks selecting the wedding planner. They spent an additional three months working with the wedding planner to complete all the details. Now she lay beside me. She was nervous since our wedding was three days away. I returned her smile. We took care of our business today and planned so we could have the time we wanted for our wedding and honeymoon. I think I felt just as tired as Maria. “Maria. You’ve done excellent work with the wedding planner, and I’ve no issues with what you’ve done and planned. I’ve focused on ensuring our businesses and future ventures wouldn’t cause any issues for Jake and Josy while we’re away during our honeymoon.” “Remind me why we’re g
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “Ah, there you are, Maria. Thank you for informing me first, instead of sharing it with everyone. Enemies seeking control make everything worse. Once Maria entered, I mentioned this to avoid asking why she was late. She seemed so eager to announce it. Maria paused. She was on the verge of speaking. She frowned at me, and I read it as confusion. “Maria. Are you alright? Is something wrong? Anything happen on your way here? “I’m confused because I don’t know how you feel about it. How do you feel about my explanation? Do you hate it? Should I bear the consequences alone?” I sighed in relief when Maria said this. She wasn’t holding back, and that meant we could deal with whatever happened. “Hell, no, Maria. I’ve said nothing like that. Your explanation’s perfect, but I want you to add a few things.” I said to Maria and directed her to sit beside on the sofa beside me. A smile settled onto my face as she sat do
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I considered it insane, but it’s brilliant to spread the word that we required a creative wedding planner and welcomed ideas. Here we sat reviewing countless submissions, page by page, video after video. “Maria, these people went all out, even throwing a baby shower and revealing the gender, just in case you’re getting married and expecting a child. No pressure there and no assumptions. Ew.” Josy said after closing another presentation package with a look of disgust and tossed it into the rejection pile. She discovered several people like this, assuming and attempting to sugarcoat the situation. But it all appeared as judgmental in the end. “It’s okay. We told no one if I’m pregnant. Thought It’s not a crazy leap to assume why a man as rich as David is marrying his sugar baby in such a rush. Many people share this thought. Hell, I’m not sure how many know I’m the Belgrave heir.” That had me pondering whether I should rew