| Subject: Chapter 9 |
Author:
Juli
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Date Posted: Monday, October 11, 04:11:49pm
In reply to:
Juli
's message, "Angelita" on Friday, May 21, 10:47:26pm
Chapter 9
Michael lay awake in the elegantly appointed bed in one of Wirth’s guest bedrooms, staring at the ceiling. He stood and pushed aside the curtains. The lights of New York City twinkled brightly as he looked out at them unseeingly. He knew that if he didn’t return to South America soon, the thaw that had begun on his soul would be complete.
He stared down at the relative dark of Central Park below them across Fifth Avenue. The trees were beginning to don their autumn colors. He was glad that Nikita would be able to experience autumn in New York and then the holiday season. Soon she would be comfortable with her father and she could begin her new life. Without him.
The thought brought a stab of pain to his heart, but Michael pushed it aside. He knew he could not entertain fantasies about where he stood in relation to Nikita. She was heiress to one of New York’s greatest fortunes. He knew that she viewed him only as a protector and friend.
Michael sighed and let the curtain drop back into place. He would leave immediately after his meeting with Wirth in the morning.
As Nikita stared out the window, she marveled at the huge park in the center of the immense city. It seemed so out of place to her, to see trees and lakes and grass in the middle of such incredibly tall buildings. She hoped that Michael would take her for a tour the next day. She didn’t want to wait even a second to begin exploring. Michael had told her that it was autumn season and that the trees would be changing their colors and losing their leaves. The weather was already becoming colder, something that Nikita was definitely not used to, and Michael had told her that soon it would snow. She could hardly wait to see it.
She had connected with her father that evening, and it surprised her how fast he had accepted her. She already felt like she knew him. She supposed it was from all of the stories her mother had told her. She imagined that it must be much harder for him since he didn’t even know she existed until two weeks ago. Now he suddenly had a daughter. What a shock it must have been.
Nikita let the sheer curtain drop back into place and wandered around her new room. It was even more luxurious than the hotel in Lima where she and Michael had stayed. It was HER room. She felt her toes dig into the deliciously thick carpet as she walked through the dressing room into the large closet. The clothes she and Michael had purchased were hanging in one small corner of the room that was larger than her “father’s” hut in Bolivia. Nikita stared at the clothes in wonderment – it had seemed like so much when they had bought them. Now, her wardrobe was dwarfed by the large empty closet. She thought it would take someone a lifetime to fill such a closet.
Returning to her bed, Nikita allowed the late hour to finally overcome her excitement, and she soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Michael rose early and declined a servant’s offer of breakfast. At precisely nine o’clock, he was pacing in Nick Wirth’s private study, awaiting an audience with the mogul. When the antique clock on the desk chimed 9:15, the door opened and Nikita’s father entered.
“Michael, I suppose you would like to wrap things up so you can get out of here, so I’ll be brief,” Nick said, setting formalities aside.
Michael nodded, taking a seat across the large desk.
“The money has been transferred to your account. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you found her,” Nick said, a touch of emotion coloring his voice.
“I’m glad I could help,” Michael said, meaning it more than he realized. “What will you do now?”
Nick leaned back in his chair and swiveled back and forth. “I’d like to keep it out of the papers for as long as possible,” he said. “We’ll have to hold a press conference before too long though. I would just like to protect her from the paparazzi for as long as I can.”
Michael nodded thoughtfully. “It will be more than just the press, sir,” he warned.
Nick’s eyes narrowed. “I know. She’s a beautiful woman and now an heiress,” he stated glumly.
“There will be many that will try to take advantage of her,” Michael told him with concern. “She is completely innocent to what they will want and try to get.”
Michael could see the muscle in Nick’s jaw ticking as he ground his teeth together thinking about the grim possibilities.
After a moment, however, the black cloud lifted and Nick glanced at his watch. He leaned forward in his chair and stood up, extending a hand to Michael.
“Well, I’m sure that you are anxious to get back to whatever you were doing before I interrupted with my little proposition,” Nick said, shaking Michael’s hand firmly.
“Of course,” Michael said
“Have my limo take you to the airport, or wherever you need to go,” Nick offered, heading for the study door.
Michael could sense that he had been dismissed.
“I’m off to breakfast with Nikita,” he called over his shoulder as he hurried down the hall.
Michael stood alone in the study for a few moments, realizing with a sick finality that it was over. He was free to go, to return to the jungle, to escape from the memories, to try and refreeze his heart. He sighed and headed for his room to collect his pack.
In the dining room, Nikita was plowing through her pancakes and eggs when her father walked in.
“Isn’t Michael coming?” she asked, pausing in her enjoyment of her breakfast to glance behind her father..
“Of course not,” Nick answered, sitting down and unfolding his napkin. “He’s on his way out.”
“What?!” Nikita cried, standing up so quickly that she knocked into the table, spilling some of her orange juice.
She hurried into the hall and saw Michael closing the door to his room. When he turned, he saw her standing there.
“I was just coming to say goodbye,” he said, seeing the stricken look on her face.
“You said you would stay a while,” she said quietly.
Michael walked up to her. “You’ll be fine,” he said, running a thumb across her forehead and over a delicately arched eyebrow.
“Please stay a little while longer, Michael,” she pleaded. “Please?”
Michael’s mind warred with his heart. He knew that he needed to get away from this woman, but at the same time, he couldn’t just leave her in a strange place with a man she had only met the day before.
He sighed and dropped his pack. Nikita’s smile split her face when she realized she had won.
“Good,” she said, taking his hand. “Now come and have some breakfast.”
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