Sabrina arrived at the office shortly after noon the next day. She had awoken after a fitful night of tossing and turning, and decided it was a good day for a change. She did her hair in a long braid down her back the way she liked it, not the way Andre or Giovanni thought was best. She did her makeup with an unusual flair for detail, accenting her beautiful sapphire blue eyes with a thin grey line. Her slender figure was accentuated in a simple pencil skirt of basic black with a white button up blouse, black mule pumps and her favorite diamond pendent necklace and matching earrings, Creighton gave her when she turned sixteen. She looked stunning and ready to face the world as the events met her. This was her day to shine and she was determined to make sure she had the controlling reigns, not a man she mistakenly surrendered her control to. “Well, good afternoon,” Marie said with a shocked expression. “Where have you been?”“Nowhere,” she smiled. “I just decided to take the morning
“Is different bad?” Sabrina laughed.“No, different for you is good, but I can’t help wondering what happened. Who changed you?”“I did,” she said proudly. “I have decided to take charge of my life, starting right now. I’m tired of being bullied and pushed around. I’m tired of people telling me what I’m going to do, instead of asking me what I want. I’ve decided to stand up for myself and move forward, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”“I’m very proud of you,” Marie said. “I think having your past come back to greet you was a great idea. Maybe you can find some happiness in it for yourself.”“It wasn’t Giovanni, if that’s what you mean. It may have taken me some time to find my backbone, but I have it and I’m going to keep it this time.”“Good for you,” Marie said with a smile as she left the office to answer the phone. Sabrina stepped to the mirror and smiled, looking at the proud expression shining on her face.“Yes, it is,” she said to the reflection. “It is very good for
“What problems do we have?” he snapped. “The only thing wrong with our relationship is the way you’ve been acting lately. I certainly would like to know what you’ve been doing to create such a mood.”“Enough,” she said boldly. “I’m not dealing with any more of this right now. I don’t have time to discuss it. I’ll see you at seven at my place and we can talk then. Goodbye,” she said hanging up the phone and slipping it back into her purse.“Is everything alright?” Giovanni asked when she returned to the main room, unaware that her voice had echoed as loudly as it did, with no furnishing to help soundproof the office.“Fine,” she said with a frown.“Good, then let’s get some lunch. I’m starving.” Giovanni’s smile was what she needed to feel at ease again and she took his hand and walked out of the office. It had rained earlier that morning, leaving the air crisp and clean. The sun was warm, and she instantly felt better as they walked the few blocks to the sidewalk café where they had
Sabrina stopped by the market on her way home from work and purchased the items she needed for supper, along with a few healthy snacks to hold her over until she was able to do some real shopping. With the help of an online baking site, she planned a delicious dinner of grilled salmon fettuccini, spring salad, and white wine to wash it down. With a small smile, she realized she hadn’t had a single drink since her night on board The Tornado with Giovanni, and the truth was, she didn’t really miss it. She realized all on her own, after he mentioned it of course, that she was drinking more than she ever had. It was becoming a crutch for her as a means of escaping the frustration and arguments, and she was tired of relying on liquor to calm her down enough to face another day.Supper was nearly completed by the time the doorman rang to say Andre was there. She smiled happily as she opened the wine and finished the final touches to her dinner. Playing house was fun, but it was not somethi
The possibility of being pregnant with another man’s child, gave her the strength she needed to push away from her fiancée’s embrace. It was a movement that left them both gasping for air as he clung to the back of a chair for support.“We can’t,” she insisted, her breath escaping her lungs in short pants as she quickly adjusted her clothing.“I’m sorry,” he assured her with a tone that was more aggravated than disappointed. He adjusted the front of his pants over his erection, then looked up into her eyes with an expression that warned her, he was near his pressure point. “I know I promised, but you look so damn good, I couldn’t help it,” he said at last, hoping to soothe her from questioning his motives.“It was my fault,” she told him, sitting down in the chair before she fell over. “I should have stopped you.”“Maybe I’m not the only one who is suffering here,” he teased, taking up the seat across from her. “I think we need to get this wedding over with, as quickly as possible,
Andre reached out and gripped her upper arm hard, causing her to flinch in pain.“Please, Andre, you’re hurting me,” she whimpered.“You can’t have us both, Sabrina,” he argued, as if she hadn’t said anything, his grip tightening as he glared into her blue eyes. “I won’t share you. You’re my fiancée, and I will not let you go that easily. Just remember that, Sweetheart, while you’re playing games with this other guy.” Sabrina stumbled backward when he released his grip abruptly, forcing her to lean against the door frame. She watched as he started to walk away, then turned in the hallway to look at her. Anger shined in his eyes as he locked his gaze with hers again.“There are reasons the past is called past. It helps keep us from repeating our mistakes,” he said, then walked to the elevator and disappeared from sight.With a heavy sigh, she closed the door and locked it, wiping the tears away with her hand as she read the note Andre handed her, for herself. They were the same words
“The conference was so boring I fell asleep twice,” Irena said with a laugh as she and Sabrina sat in front of the fireplace, coffee in hand and a plate of pastries on the table in front of them.“So, that’s the only reason for you being here?” Sabrina asked with a suspicious grin.“Not really. Why?”“I just figured Sandra and Creighton would have sent you to see if I’d changed my mind about Andre.”“No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they try. Truth is, I haven’t spoken to anyone from home since Dad’s birthday. I’ve been too overwhelmed with school and work to call.”“What other reasons bring you to Paris?” Sabrina asked with a relieved smile. Irena was quiet for several long moments as she continued to snack on the pastry, then glanced up to the eyes that watched her with interest.“This is my last year of school,” she began softly. “Peter and I have been wanting to join a humanitarian group after we graduate. We’d be able to finish our residency while we travel around to impoveris
“That’s just it, I don’t know. I am so damn confused, Irena. I can’t sleep, I’m having a hard time concentrating, and I’m so damn frustrated I don’t know if I should cry, or scream.”“Then tell them both to back off until you make up your mind,” Irena suggested. “Take a few months to decide on your own. Get your shows over with, and once you can breathe again, then choose.”“There’s another potential problem,” Sabrina said, looking down at the éclair in front of her. “Giovanni and I spent the night together on Creighton’s yacht.”“Spent the night, or spent the night?” Irena asked.“We had the best, most incredible sex I can ever remember having. I was happy, and content, and Andre wasn’t even in my thoughts. I just went with my feelings and followed my desires for the first time in my life. The problem now is…” Sabrina’s voice trailed off as she looked up to her sister. She wanted to cry, but she didn’t feel sorrow for her actions, and that only added to the confusion.“I’m not on th