"Dmitri? Wake up, it's seven already," Trinity shook his shoulder lightly, the bright morning sun illuminating his face.
After they'd gotten to the hotel last night, which Trinity realised Dmitri was the owner of when the manager practically touched the floor with his nose bowing before him welcome, it was almost night.
Of course, their hotel room was as amazing as they came, the only problem being that it was a honeymoon suite. So naturally, it only had one bed.
But Dmitri being the gentleman that he was had taken the couch, despite Trinity's vehement protest.
Mostly because Trinity had been too excited to actually be in Hawaii, she'd woken up at six. She'd moved quietly so as to not wake up Dmitri who looked too peaceful while sleeping for her to wake him up and taken a quick shower in the larger than life bathroom. Then she'd spent some time tampering around with the thin
"Tri? Babe?" Dmitri tried waking her up.It was half an hour later that he had returned to where they'd laid there towels earlier, only to find that Trinity had fallen asleep on the towel itself.Samantha coming here had been a surprise. And as much as he'd wanted to run after Trinity to stop her, finding out exactly why Samantha was here had felt more important at that time, specially after Trinity had said what she had before storming away.So he'd asked her the same as soon as Trinity was gone. "Why are you really here, Sam? You told me when we last talked that you were scheduled to leave for Paris for another leg of your shoot. What are you doing here?"He could distinctly remember the conversation they'd had where he'd told her that they were going to Hawaii for a vacation. She'd said that it was a nice place to enjoy but she'd probably be in Paris at that time. But seeing as she wa
The next morning, Trinity waited and waited and waited some more for Dmitri to come back. He didn't.When it was nearly ten in the morning and Trinity was sure he wasn't going to show up, she got ready, determined to make the most of the day, although she was so lost in thought that she didn't pay heed to the commotion that was going on in the hotel's lobby as she passed by.She had absolutely no idea where to go and what to do. Deciding on having something to eat first at a small café she'd seen at a walking distance from their hotel, she stopped by it.Sighing to herself, she took a good look at the handwritten menu on the blackboard by the front desk of the tastefully decorated café with an oceanic theme."Anything I can help you with, beautiful?" A voice with a slightly Hispanic accent made her turn to the counter."Oh, hi. Actually, ye
Dmitri had definitely stayed true to his word. He'd accompanied her each day for the duration of their stay in Hawaii, planning everything meticulously starting from what activity they were going to do right down to the restaurant they were going to eat at.They'd done everything one possibly could do on a vacation to Hawaii and much more. They'd gone for an open door helicopter ride, snorkeling, cliff diving, night diving, paragliding, sunset dinner sail, mountain tubing- you name it and they'd probably done it, all in the span of a week.Only, they'd never spent the nights together.Each evening after dinner, almost as if by an unspoken agreement, he'd leave the room and then return each morning before Trinity woke up.No one talked about it. Trinity didn't ask what he did in his time away from her and Dmitri had extended her the same courtesy.
"Oh, honey, you didn't have to," Valéry smiled as Trinity handed her the black pearl pendant which she was told the place was famous for."And I've got chocolate covered macadamia nuts for the twins and a bottle of Hula O Maui for Stefan," Trinity said instead, taking the items out and placing them on the table as she did so.It was a weekday, the day just after the couple had returned from their trip. And Trinity had decided to meet up with everyone and hand over their gifts while Dmitri went back to work. That way she had the perfect excuse to see everyone. Since Valéry was one of the most important one and if she went to see her she'd also be able to see the twins and Stefan, she'd decided to come here first. Unfortunately for her though, she was only able to meet Valéry. The twins had gone to school while Stefan had gone to his office."That's so sweet of you, dear. What did you get for yourself though?" Valéry
"Took you long enough to get here. I take it I'm the last person you've come to see?" Casey tried to act offended as Trinity made her way into her former apartment but ended up giving her best friend a tight hug as soon as she was within arm's reach."I missed you too, Case," Trinity hugged her back just as tightly."Who said anything about missing you?" Came Casey's muffled reply, making Trinity chuckle."Okay, okay, no one missed anyone.""That's what I like to hear," Casey grinned, pulling back."Look at you, though, all tanned and stuff. Just how much time did you spend at the beach, huh?" Casey asked, a playful glint in her eyes as she took her best friend in.Trinity laughed. "Pretty much all of it? I did have twenty one years to make up for.""I knew it was the best place to take you to. Dmitri had actually want
"So, is that it?" Tyler asked, folding one leg over the other as he leaned back in his seat with a loud sigh."I think so," Trinity answered, going over the file once again just in case they'd missed something.Valéry had sent over her fully equipped planning committee to their penthouse first thing next morning as soon as she knew Dmitri had left for the day to plan for his upcoming party.Trinity had given all four of them a task each before sending them off. She herself had taken on the herculean task of finalising the guest list.Thanks to Tina and all the information about anyone and everyone important that she'd provided Trinity with before her first public appearance, she was able to draft a rough list. But she did need someone with an expert eye to go over it in case she'd missed someone.Since Tina and Valéry both had been busy with someth
"This is the last one on the list. I really hope this is the one or we're screwed," Trinity said as Tyler pulled up into the driveway of the last venue on the list of venues the planning committee had come up with for Trinity to go over and finalize on a venue.Sure, she could've just picked one out at random and be done with it, but she wanted everything to be as close to perfect as it could get. So she'd decided to go see them on her own.When she'd told Tyler that, he'd told her that he would come with her to keep her company and also help her decide on a place.The scene was set from the moment they turned into the driveway of Honeycomb Park. The magnificent mile long lime and beech avenue stood like a guard of honour gently guiding the pair to the graciously restored Palladian mansion.Enveloped within its own classical gardens and extensive parkland, the relaxed elegance of the quintessential
"What do you think about this one?" Casey asked, putting on a neon blue sparkly dress to her front and twirling around a little."If you're going for the hooker look, then sure.""Didn't know missing someone made you a fashion disaster too."Trinity pouted. "I'm not missing anyone.""Yeah, right. Then why, pray tell, are you here on a Friday night for a girls night out when you could've been sleeping or doing some wifely duties of your own?" Casey prompted, raising a brow at her best friend."Wifely duties? Really?" Trinity asked rhetorically."That's beside the point.""And the point is?""That you're missing Dmitri like crazy."Trinity huffed, throwing her hands up. "Fiiine. I am. There, I said it. You happy now?"Casey grinned. "Very. Now quit sulk
9 years later..."Nico! Come on, dinner is ready," Trinity called out to her son as she set the table.Dmitri had returned home in time for dinner as usual and was helping his wife set the table as they waited for their oldest child to join them so they could start dinner.When there was no response, Trinity turned to Nico's twin. "Nadia, go get your brother."Nadia, ever the obedient bright little girl, rushed off to do as her mother had asked of her."Mum, I'm hungry, can I eat now?" Maxim, their five year old asked, his lips pulled into an adorable little pout."In a minute, Max. Your brother will be here in a minute and then we'll all eat together. And what did I tell you about a family that eats together?""A family that eats together, stays together!" Max suddenly grinned, seemingly proud of himself for remembering what his mother
It was the third day when the police came to take Trinity's statement.She told them everything that had happened truthfully while Dmitri sat there right next to her, all the while holding her hand to show his support. She squeezed his fingers once she was done and the policemen left, promising to put the culprits behind the bars as soon as possible."Are you okay?" Dmitri asked her, pushing a strand of her hair away from her face as he rubbed soothing circles on the palm of her hand."I'm fine," Trinity whispered back. "I'm glad that that statement is out of the way. I hope they can catch those kidnappers soon.""They will, milaya. I'll make sure of it," Dmitri vowed, his expression grim."I just want this all to be over already," Trinity admitted softly.Dmitri stared down at her, his expression softening almost instantly. "Me
Screams echoed all around him but Dmitri couldn't decipher one voice from another, nor did he care to, as he jumped at Samantha on instinct so she couldn't fire the weapon anymore.She screamed as she fell and Dmitri wasted no time in snatching the gun from her and throwing it away.It took him a moment to realise that he'd jumped on top of a pregnant woman but the guilt vanished as quickly as it had come when he heard his wife's pained groan.He then quickly got up before running towards a bleeding Trinity, pressing his hands to the wound on her side to stop the bleeding. With his other hand he pulled out his phone and called 911."Hang on, tight, Milaya. I'll get you out of here," Dmitri said to her once he was done calling for the ambulance.The two kidnappers Samantha's had hired tried to make a run for it especially now that Samantha lay on the floor, sobbing hysterically with blood pooli
"You wanna go first, or should I?" The tattooed guy smirked at his companion, nodding his head at Trinity.His companion laughed, the scar running down the side of his face contracting, making him look almost maniacal. He probably was too if the way he stepped towards Trinity with an evil glint in his eyes was anything to go by.Tyler struggled harder against his reigns. "Don't you fucking dare touch her! I'll skin you alive if you touch a hair on her head!"Their kidnappers simply laughed at his useless attempts and baseless threats. Trinity, though, was oddly calm.She was waiting for either of them to open her bounds so she could grab the opportunity and try to get away from them. She planned on running upstairs and threatening Samantha so their kidnappers would let Tyler go. And then she'd call the police to come rescue them.It wasn't ex
Even though Trinity had expected the answer, she was still shocked."How? When?" She couldn't help but ask, thoroughly confused.Samantha chuckled. "That day at the club opening. I'd planned to drug you all and have my way with Dmitri. Unfortunately, I got too drunk along with you guys and it wasn't until I woke up that I realized it was Tyler I'd dragged into bed with me and not Dmitri. And it was his child I'd be carrying," her lips pulled into a thin line at the admission before pulling up into an all too evil smirk. "But nothing was going to stop me from getting what I wanted. So I decided to improvise. Pretended the child was Dmitri's and you fell for it right away."Trinity looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. And she was. She was finally seeing her for the two faced, conniving bitch that she was."Everything was going according to plan for you until I stepped
A piercing pain at the back of her head was the first thing Trinity registered as she came to, a groan leaving her lips almost involuntarily."Trinity? Trinity? Are you awake?" Came an urgent, frantic voice from somewhere close to her. In the back of her mind, Trinity knew who the voice belonged to, but in her half awake state, she couldn't quite put a finger on it.When Trinity didn't reply, the voice tried again, more urgent this time. "Trinity?! Are you alright? Wake up, please! Open your eyes! Talk to me!"Open my eyes? Trinity thought to herself. Opening her eyes seemed like the most difficult task she'd done in a while for her eyes felt heavier than lead, as if someone had glued them shut. She almost didn't want to try, but something at the back of her mind told her to listen to the urgent, nagging voice. So she did.She tried with all her might to peel her eyes open. She le
Trinity had been distracted with her jumbled up thoughts all the way back to their apartment.Casey, however, thought that Trinity looked so put out because of what she'd said to her in the parking lot. Which made her feel immensely guilty.So in an attempt to make things right, Casey began, "Tri? I was very rude and insensitive back there at the parking lot and-"Trinity cut her best friend off with a shake of her head, lightly patting Casey's injured leg which was lying in her lap as if telling her that it was okay. And it was. "No, Case. You were right about everything. And I needed to hear that. And I was thinking about what you said too. I think I should at least talk to Dmitri about it once," Trinity confessed."Really?!" Nigel, having obviously been listening in to their conversation exclaimed from the front seat, his lips pulling into a wide grin."Ah, fucking fi
Trinity wrapped an arm around Casey's back to support her as she pulled her best friend out of the car in the hospital's parking lot. Once Nigel had rounded the car and was standing next to Casey, supporting her, Trinity let go so she could lock the car."Ugh, stop mollycoddling me, you two. I can walk just fine on my own," Casey huffed, rolling her eyes.It was a few days after when Tyler had come to their apartment that Casey was due for a visit to the doctor to have a look at her still-in-a-cast leg. So here they were, in the hospital's parking lot, ready to go in."I hate to break it to you Case, but you can't. You can hardly put any weight on your leg, let alone walk," Nigel muttered, looking thoroughly amused as Casey huffed again, trying to balance her weight on her good leg.Suddenly, Casey pulled her shoulders back, looking awfully determined. And then she went ahead and put her weight on h
"Whoa, easy there," Dmitri muttered, holding onto the person he'd just crashed into on his way out of the office to his car."Oh, uh, hey," Samantha murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear almost shyly as she stepped back, her hand going to her slightly rounded stomach almost reflexively."Samantha?" Dmitri looked down at her, stepping back completely.Samantha gave him a small smile as she looked up at him, taking in his unshaven face and the bags under his eyes. Clearly, the split up hadn't been good for him."Yeah," Samantha muttered, nodding a little."Wow. You're pregnant," Dmitri observed. "Congratulations on that." He continued, trying to make conversation. He'd been so busy drowning himself in work ever since Trinity left that he'd hardly talked to anyone if it wasn't work related. So making conversation for the first time in so