Chapter Six
Darien
“Willow,” I said, interrupting them. “You two need to get home and rest. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Daddy, that mean lady hurt Willow!” Dahlia, cried.
“What do you mean? Dahlia?” I asked.
Dahlia pursed her lips, she didn’t want to say it. So I looked up at Willow who rubbed her forehead and sighed.
“Willow, did she harm you?”
“Well, she had a tazer with a good shock on it. Maybe a slap or two, nothing serious—”
“Nothing serious?” I echoed. “What do you mean nothing serious?! You could’ve pressed charges.”
“Well, I didn’t know who she was, and she was trying to take Dahlia away from me. I knew you would’ve said if her mother was coming. Everything was just so suspicious. Was that your ex?”
“Unfortunately yes. I don’t know how I ever was tricked. Here, let me take you guys home.”
I patted Willow’s back and wanted to rest my hand on her shoulder. But since I was at work, I had to drop my arm back to my side.
Dahlia clung to both of us as we made our way to the elevator.
Dahlia knew to push the down button and mashed it a few times, hoping it’d make the elevator arrive faster.
“So, how was it?” I asked Willow.
“How was what?”
“Driving in a Lamborghini?”
She began to blush, a rosy hue blossoming on her face. “Oh, that! Sorry about that.”
I lowered my eyes. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”
“It’s a six figure car and I could’ve easily hurt it.”
“I have insurance. The best kind. Plus, I bet you enjoyed yourself.”
“Too busy panicking to enjoy myself too much.”
“But of course.”
The elevator arrived, ringing to signal its arrival. Dahlia ran to where the elevator light shined and waited up against the golden reflective doors. It opened, and she hopped in.
“After you,” I said, making sure Willow was inside.
We were lowered down into the garage area and I saw that Willow had parked my navy blue Lamborghini next to my car.
Good idea.
“Daddy! It’s the Lammy!” Dahlia said, running over to the Lambo.
“It rides very smooth,” Willow commented.
“Indeed. A good car. Limited edition model too.”
My phone rang in my pocket. The caller ID said it was coming from my building.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Mr. Thrilling, the Mizamotos have arrived early for their two thirty meeting with you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Hart.”
I hung up and sighed. “Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Let me call you a cab. I have a meeting to attend.”
Willow chuckled. “We can’t just leave the Lamborghini sitting here. Let me drive Dahlia back, we’ll be okay. This time I’ll have a bat waiting for Morgan if she shows up,” Willow teased, swinging her hands as if she were hitting a home run.
“Okay, you two have fun.” I dug into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and stashed some cash into her hands.
“This is for all the trouble you went through. Thank you.”
Willow smiled at the cash after holding it in her hand, unsure whether to take it or not.
“No, thank you.” She turned and waved to Dahlia. “Come on, we’re gonna ride in the Lamborghini, Dahlia!” she sung out.
“No speeding,” I reminded.
“You’re a worry wort, you know that?”
Willow put Dahlia in the car and was gone in the blink of an eye,
Now I could concentrate my anger. It was still boiling inside me that Morgan thought she could walk onto my land and rip my child away from me. That heartless woman.
When I returned to my office, I gathered the folders and papers for today’s meeting.
My mind was supposed to be on business, I had a multi-billion dollar company to run. Success didn’t stay unless it had a damn good reason to.
But Morgan, what she did was unforgiveable. Everything she did was unforgiveable. My fists rested on my table, balled and trembling.
In a fit of rage I swiped things from my desk. The phone, a keyboard and a few other things clattered to the floor.
Now that Morgan saw her, she probably thought this would be the time to throw a good fit.
She wanted her money, she wanted control over me. If Willow hadn’t been there, what would she have done to Dahlia?
There was knocking at my door. I shook my head and regained my composure.
When I opened the door, it was my secretary, Ms. Hart.
“Sir, are you okay? I tried to call, but your phone didn’t go through.”
“It’s okay, I’ll be out in just a second.”
I closed the door and went to get the folders that were still miraculously on my table.
There it was again, the faint trail of Willow’s floral perfume. Wonderful taste.
Allowing my mind to rest on her for a moment brought me a brief moment of tranquility. She looked after Dahlia the way a real mother would.
I walked past my secretary and she lifted her hand to get my attention. “Ah, Mr. Thrilling. I’m so sorry. The Mizamotos just called in again. They had to cancel. They said an emergency came up and they will be calling to get in touch and reschedule.”
Glancing at the clock, I still had plenty of time. I knew I didn’t keep them waiting.
“Okay, thank you Ms. Hart.”
Inside my office, the remnants of my anger still surfaced the air. I straightened up my desk and sat down, taking out my phone to make sure Willow and Dahlia were okay.
The phone rang a few times, but she picked up.
“Willow?”
“Hey, Dahlia’s holding the phone for me. We’re almost home. Something wrong?”
“No, just checking in on you two.”
“We’re fine. Thanks.”
“Hi, daddy!” Dahlia added in. I could see her smile in the back of my head.
“Hello, princess. Well, don’t let me take your time. Be careful on the road.”
“I will. See you later.”
I hung up and turned on my computer. Talking to Willow gave me motivation. A motivation to keep going, because getting stuck on Morgan’s antics wasn’t going to get me anywhere.
No where positive.
“Dean, what’s wrong?” I leaned back in my seat and stared out the window of my office. Willows scent lingered by my nose and a small amount of relaxation hit me.
Dean, my lawyer harrumphed on the phone and took a loud swig of his drink.
“Morgan, her lawyer just called. That fucking bastard. I don’t like him. I bet you she’s sleeping with him,” he roused, his voice raspy with irritation.
“Get to the point, Dean. What’s happening?” My patience was wearing thin. I didn’t hear much from him unless it was about Morgan.
“Her lawyer called over. Morgan’s heated about something. She wants to pursue full custody. I knew this crazy woman was going to do something before the divorce was final. Two years and now she decides to try to act like a mother,” he snarled. My gaze shifted from the sky, down to the buildings and the streets below. My office had floor to ceiling windows, it wasn’t for the faint of heart or those afraid of heights.
Heights took my stress away. If anything, I needed to be sitting on a ledge right now.
“She never was a mother. Dahlia is nothing but a credit card to her. My strings that she can pull to make me dance to her demands.” I got up and walked to the window, shoving one of my hands in my pocket.
The roads were so busy below. People who lived easy lives, people who were going through hell.
And even way up here, hell managed to find me.
“Well, we’ll handle this. She’s not getting away with this. You’re a good damn father. And that’s something I rarely see out here nowadays. Leave it to me.”
My grip around the phone tightened. “I want a restraining order.” If Morgan wanted to be crazy, she’d pay the fucking price for it.
“I’m already on it.”
“She attacked my nanny,” I growled, biting my lower lip.
“Nanny? Oh god, Darien. You should’ve told me you hired a nanny. That must be why she’s so pissed. Not that it’s any of her damn business.”
“It isn’t. But she thinks anything other than Dahlia and my work is a threat to her monthly meal ticket.” I walked back to my chair and swiveled back around to my computer. I had money to make and a family to protect.
“Huh. She’s not even hiding it. Well, let me do my black magic. I’ll call you with some progress. Enjoy your day, and make sure you up your security around the house,” he suggested.
I tapped the pen to my lips. I did need a better gate and a few extra cameras.
“Will do. Enjoy your day, Dean,” I said, hanging up the phone.
If Morgan was ballsy enough to go up to my home and take Dahlia, then taze Willow, she’ll be crazy enough to do something else riskier.
“Willow? Dahlia?” I called out, looking for my two favorite people in my life. “Willow, Dahlia?” I called out again. I ran out to the back of my house where I saw them rolling around in the grass in different clothes. Dahlia was wearing something I didn’t even recognize. I jogged down the stairs, smiling at them having so much fun.
The light that danced off of Willow’s face as she played with Dahlia was ethereal. I could put a ring on that. Quickly.
Willow lifted her head up from rolling around in the grass.
“Hey, Darien, how was work?!” She got up and strode over to me. Dahlia took notice and was soon close behind.
“Good, what’re you two doing?” I asked, folding my arms and smiling down at them..
“Willow took me to the mall,” Dahlia exclaimed, twirling in the new dress she got. “Dad! It was so cool. We got jewelry and hair stuff. She even bought me these cute dresses and clothes. When I go to school, all the girls are going to be so jealous.”
“Looks like you two had fun. But I thought I said to come straight home.”
Willow frowned and threw her hands on her hips. “Come on, after what happened, we needed a little letting loose.”
Dahlia was on Willow’s side. “Plus, I got to meet Willow’s brother Ronald. He’s asleep right now, but Willow said he was going to wake up soon so I can talk to him!”
Willow’s face dimmed. If her care of Dahlia was anything to go by, then I knew she deeply loved and worried about him.
I remember she told me about his medical bills. If only she would tell me more.
“Willow, I’d like to talk to you.” I began to walk back to the house. Willow followed.
Dahlia ran up around me and stood in the way of the door. “Daddy! She’s not in trouble, is she?”
“No, darling. Why don’t you go into the game room, we’ll come to get you in a few minutes?” I patted her head, and she smiled.
“Okay. Be nice to Willow.”
“Well, yes my bossy princess.”
We walked into the living room and I waited until I heard Dahlia close the door to her game room. Willow took a seat on the couch and sat her hands on her lap. “So, what’s up?”
“Willow, about earlier—”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent Morgan from—”
“Not another word. None of that was your fault and you know it.” It was impossible for Willow to be the shit starter that Morgan was. I was truly hurt that she felt like she failed in any way whatsoever.
“But—”
“Willow… Please. I wanted to show you my thanks.” I took out a slim small box from my back pocket that could fit in the palm of my hand and handed it to Willow.
“Huh?” She looked at it without taking it. “I can’t. I’m sorry. You’ve done so much and I… I don’t want to put anyone in jeopardy.” She began to wring her hands.
“Willow, why can’t you let me spoil you?” The desperation in my voice was apparent. I wasn’t used to letting people see me in want for something. That usually meant it was hard to get, and things were never hard for me to get.
Willow on the other hand. She wasn’t a thing. She was perfection. The mother figure to Dahlia I wished a thousand fucking times Morgan would be.
She leaned her head to the side and held her arms.
“I have to go.” She stood up. “The hospital needs to talk to me about some things. I don’t want to take your Lamborghini again, so I’ll just walk—”
“No. Please take it. That car means nothing in comparison to your safety. But if you like, you can also take my car.”
She stood unsure of what to do. For a minute I thought she was going to run and not come back. But she knew where she belonged. With me.
By my side.
Under me.
“You’re a really wonderful man, Darien. Dahlia is so damn lucky to have you.”
I grabbed her, she was taking this kiss either way or one.
Our lips crashed together in a starving kiss. My hands got lost in her hair.
Breaking our kiss, Willow rubbed my chest, patted it, then ran off.
“I’ll be back later, promise!”