Fascinated by the child which he now knew without a shadow of a doubt was his, Fedor found himself squatting down next to Rebecca. Olivia observed him curiously with increasing unease. Rebecca looked up smilingly at Fedor. She handed her new toy to Fedor and mumbled something unintelligible to him. She smiled brightly, then promptly reclaimed her toy.

'What's your name?' Fedor gently prompted.

"Ecca" Rebecca looked up innocently at Fedor and smiled.

Olivia smiled spontaneously. She had wondered if Rebecca would understand Fedor's accented voice, clearly, she could.

Fedor looked up curiously at Olivia, he did not get the name. She was still standing at the door, observing the interaction between father and daughter with acute interest.

'Rebecca,' Olivia provided, meeting Fedor's eyes squarely. 'Rebecca Chadwick.' She dared him to question why his child did not carry his surname.

Fedor looked down, fascinated by his daughter. She brought out two teddy bears from a single shelved cabinet that housed more toys. Rebecca gave Fedor her new toy and she was smiling and talking to a bright orange, stuffed, stringy, mop looking, toy.

So she has given our baby her surname.

Fedor sat down, stretching his long legs in front of himself. His baby was gorgeous. She had her mother's porcelain skin. She had the most beautiful eyes...his eyes. Her curly hair was soft, shiny, beautiful, light brown...like his.

Fedor stilled, stopped breathing, as Rebecca innocently climbed atop his lap. His hands stilled on either side of Rebecca's waist.

'Onk,' Rebecca uttered, handing her toy to Fedor.

Fedor looked again curiously at Olivia.

'Zonk,' Olivia murmured softly. The doll's name is Zonk.'

Rebecca climbed off Fedor and returned to her toy cabinet. She proceeded to remove each toy one at a time. She was talking to each toy as she threw it onto the floor. Her interest in Fedor temporarily forgotten.

Fedor stood up, walked to the cabinet looking for a drink. 'Got anything stronger?' he questioned, seeing the red wine there. She shook her head. He poured himself a glass and swallowed it all in one gulp. She used to enjoy drinking Vodka with him, when they were together, but she stopped buying it, when they broke up. She had deliberately weaned herself of everything they used to enjoy together. Fedor's favourite take out meal used to be Papa John's pepperoni pizza. With great difficulty, she'd stopped eating that too, and her hips were the better for it.

'I apologize Olivia. I apologize for not believing you.'

'Your loss,' Olivia shrugged, indifferently.

Fedor poured himself another glass of wine. He stared at the glass, wishing it was scotch. He craved something strong. He cursed himself for being proud and stubborn. Olivia had been a virgin. He knew, he was the only man she had been with four years ago. Instead of believing her, he had been too proud and his ego bruised, when she'd dumped him. So he had foolishly disregarded her email telling him she was pregnant. He had known, she would not have taken another lover so quickly. Hell, it had taken him, almost six months, before he had bedded another woman, and that had only been an attempt to get rid of the demons of Olivia out of his system, but it had not worked. Four years later, she was still embedded in his system. Even though he had taken many women to bed in the last four years, each sexual encounter had just been a physical release, whereas making love with Olivia had been an art form. He shut his eyes, cursing himself once again for his stupidity.

Olivia walked to the kitchen to warm up some pasta for Rebecca. She did not know what to make of Fedor in her lounge. He was preoccupied, not talking to her. He could not take his eyes of Rebecca. He was studying Rebecca now, as she played and conversed uncomprehendingly with all her toys.

'Time for supper, Rebecca,' Olivia announced. 'You should leave,' she ordered Fedor, walking towards her daughter. Rebecca shook her head, declining supper.

Olivia smiled at her daughter's refusal of supper. 'There you go,' she murmured softly, feeding Rebecca a silicone fork, full of pasta into her mouth. Olivia had to follow Rebecca around the lounge, as she tried avoiding her mum and her supper. Olivia caught Rebecca and placed her on the sofa, so she could continue feeding her. Rebecca climbed atop her mum's lap, wrapping her tiny fingers around her mum's curly hair. Olivia wished Fedor would leave. She had instructed him to leave, but he had just stood there, mesmerized. She wanted him gone.

'Please finish your food, darling,' Olivia murmured.

Rebecca shook her head, slid of her mum and walked to where Fedor stood. She studied him curiously. Inhaling heavily, Fedor asked Olivia if he could carry Rebecca. Reluctantly, she nodded. Nervously, Fedor lifted Rebecca into his arms. She was so tiny, like a little kitten. Instinctively, his arms wrapped around her, as he held her to his chest. She smelt lovely, of baby power and shampoo.

'You are so beautiful,' he smiled at Rebecca, to which she immodestly, nodded in agreement. Fedor laughed. His eyes reached Olivia's, she stopped smiling. She unhurriedly walked the three steps to Fedor, to feed Rebecca the last of her supper. Rebecca wanted to share her pasta with Fedor. Olivia shook her head.

'He is not having your supper,' Olivia instructed assertively.

She walked back to the kitchen with the empty bowl and returned with a bottle of fruit juice for Rebecca, who held out both hands for her drink and slid down from Fedor's arms. Rebecca made herself comfortable, on her back, amongst her teddy bears and continued drinking from her bottle.

'Olivia, can we talk?'

'I want you to leave!' she repeated.

'I want to be a part of Rebecca's life.'

'No!'

'Why not?' He demanded.

'You had your chance. You made your choice!'

Fedor looked away. His eyes fell to Rebecca on the floor, looking so adorable. He wanted to envelop her in his arms and never let her go. He could not believe he had fathered this gorgeous, adorable, beautiful baby. What an idiot he had been! All those wasted years. He had missed so much. Her first smile. Her first step. Her first word. Her first tooth...she had quite a good set now.

'I'm so sorry, you had to endure it all on your own,' he offered contritely.

Who had assisted her, when she went into labour? Was Rebecca a healthy baby in the first two years? She looked healthy now. How did Olivia manage with a baby at night and working during the day?

'I managed,' Olivia lied.

She blanked out the memory of the many times, in the first six months, when she would put Rebecca to sleep and attempt to shower, and Rebecca would wake up and cry profusely. Olivia had to rush out, without finishing her shower, throw on her robe, lift her baby into her arms and pacify her till she fell asleep and Olivia would then go back to finishing her shower. There were many nights of deprived sleep, with Rebecca having a fever, or flu or when she started teething, and she'd have to brave it and go to work the next morning, because she had to pay the rent and a baby to feed and take care of.

'Olivia, I would like to make amends. I want to assist and co-parent with you.'

'No! Never! I shall not allow that.'

Olivia categorically refused. Fedor would not be there for the long run. She did not want Fedor entering Rebecca's life then suddenly disappearing, at a whim. She wanted her child to have stability and Fedor could not guarantee that. He would not stay indefinitely in Britain. He could not. His work took him all over the world. What good is an absent father? What value could that add to Rebecca's life? Her baby would suffer more emotionally and psychologically, with Fedor's intermittent appearances, than him not being there altogether.

'Our baby would develop into a healthy and well-balanced child if she had the benefit and stability of bonding with both her parents.' His toned was strained. 'It is important to her well being to have a paternal influence in her life,' he uttered with a calmness, he was far from feeling. Olivia only knew the control he was exerting, from the muscle that tweaked at his throat.

'You had this revelation then,' she responded calmly, 'when I emailed you and informed you I was pregnant?'

He shut his eyes, lifted his face towards the ceiling and inhaled heavily. Olivia noticed, Rebecca was rubbing her eyes. She walked to the door and opened it. 'Please leave. I need to bathe Rebecca. She is already falling asleep.'

He turned his head towards Rebecca. Saw she had discarded the bottle. Her one hand held the first toy she had offered him, the other was rubbing at her eye. He longed to take Rebecca in his arms again. He also wanted to bathe her and read her a bedtime story.

Damn. He shall be a part of his child's life.

Yes, he had committed a grave mistake in the beginning, but he was here now to make amends. He intended to be a permanent feature in his daughter's life.

'Olivia. I will fight you,' he vowed. His eyes were dark with barely controlled patience.

She didn't for one second doubt Fedor would not fight her, with all his billions. She only prayed her love and the quality of life she offered her baby would be good enough for her to retain custody of her child.

'Get out!' She hissed, 'and don't ever come back.'

There was a scowl on his face, as he allowed her a shallow victory tonight. Olivia shut the door and rushed to Rebecca. She was trembling, as she picked her baby up. Her entire body was knotted with anxiety. She cradled Rebecca against her neck and shoulder and hugged her baby. She filled up Rebecca's baby tub, undressed her and quickly sponged her down. Rebecca opened her eyes and splashed at the foam. She smiled at her mum, then cupped the soapy suds to put into her mouth.

'No darling. You must not put the soap into your mouth,' Olivia smiled. 'The soap is only to clean your body okay, not to go into your mouth.'

Rebecca nodded, then splashed foam onto her mum's face. Oliva laughed. 'I will shower, when you're asleep. Now let's get you changed and into bed. Rebecca lifted her arms to her mum. Olivia toweled her and put on a night dress for her, seeing she was always getting hot and clammy in bed. She had only read three pages of a book to Rebecca when she was deep in dreamland.

Olivia heard the distinct knock on her door and became annoyed that Fedor would be so disrespectful and return when she had distinctly informed him she needed to attend to Rebecca. Never mind, that she was done with Rebecca's night routine and that Rebecca was fast asleep, but Olivia was still annoyed as she yanked the door open and was surprised to see Sophie at the door, with an anxious and fearful look on her face. Olivia burst out laughing. Immediately Sophie relaxed and a tentative smile appeared on her face.

'Is he gone? He is very handsome. He is a keeper.'

'Yes. Yes and debatable,' Olivia sighed.

'Wow. I could cut the tension with a butter knife,' Sophie invited herself in, removed her slippers and tucked her feet under her as she made herself comfortable on the sofa.

'I have work tomorrow!' Olivia raised an eyebrow.

'You can't expect me to sleep after seeing that Greek god and besides I came to give you company. I know you not going to sleep anytime soon.'

Olivia laughed again. 'He is Russian, not Greek,' she inhaled, 'and I would have preferred to process his untimely return.'

'Russian? No. He's too sexy to be Russian. Russians are serious and unsmiling and scary looking.'

'I would say he was "serious...unsmiling...scary looking", when he knocked on the door,' Olivia grinned.

'Olivia. How could you let such a sexy, good looking man go? What was wrong with you?'

Olivia inhaled again and let out a deep breath. 'We wanted different things.

'He looks powerful and ___ commanding. Clearly, he did not know about Rebecca. What happened?'

Olivia shrugged. 'We were together for about eight months. He wanted to return to Russia. I did not want to go with. After he left, I found out I was pregnant,' she shrugged again. 'I did email him to let him know I was pregnant. I suspect he did not believe I was pregnant. I just decided to let sleeping dogs lie.'

'You poor thing. Being a single mum is tough. You are my superhero!'

Olivia laughed. 'You'd do the same Sophie. You would do this with your eyes closed. You are a natural with babies. I ___ had to learn the hard way,' she sighed, remembering the first six trying months.

'Rebecca is just adorable. She never cries.'

Olivia raised an eyebrow.

'Well except when she wants to sleep and gets crabby, then she will fuss___ just a little.' Sophie adjusted. 'You going to see Baby Daddy again?'

'Hard not to. He is the client.'

'Oh dear!'

'Would you like some wine? I think I could drink an entire bottle tonight.'

Sophie laughed. 'No thanks. I prefer a good night's sleep.'

'Suit yourself.' Olivia returned with the bottle and a glass. She took a huge gulp and relayed to Sophie, Fedor's demand.

'He doesn't just want access. He is insisting on co-parenting!'

'That can't be so bad,' Sophie ventured. 'Rebecca will love him.'

I still love the idiot!

'I don't know if I want him complicating Rebecca's life. He's a busy man. Travels a lot. I don't want my baby getting used to him, then he disappears for long periods and Rebecca gets all emotionally cranky!'

Sophie laughed. 'Hey life's not easy. In this day, both parents have to work in many a home. Times are tough. Children adjust.'

Olivia begged to differ. She was no psychologist, but her observations were, absent parents contributed to dysfunctional families. In her opinion, Rebecca was better off not knowing a father like Fedor who would prioritize his work and family, would be 'slotted' in, depending on his availability. But her conscience reminded her that Fedor had never neglected her. During her relationship with him, she had never felt underappreciated, or uncared for. Fedor had 'worked' on their relationship. She recalled, he used to bring her expensive flowers and would tell her they were not as beautiful as she was. He would buy her extravagant perfumes and would whisper to her that nothing was as delightful to him, as the scent of her body. He would surprise her with a call during the day, just to show his appreciation of how much he'd enjoyed their love-making the previous night, and how he could not wait to have her naked body in his arms again. She blushed now, just from the memory. Good thing, she was gulping from her glass, Sophie could not see her cheeks all aflame and her eyes very telling.

'I shan't keep you then.' Sophie stood up, seeing Olivia was pensive. 'I shall be here bright and early.'

'Thank you, Sophie,' Olivia stood up. 'I best put this wine away or else I will have a headache in the morning!' She knew she was not going to have much sleep and she knew she was going to wake up with a headache and it would not be because of the wine.

      The next morning, Olivia's nerves were in tatters as she approached the hotel. She had chosen to use the tube. She didn't trust herself behind the wheel. And it had been a refreshing walk from the station to the hotel. As usual, she was about half an hour early. She contemplated waiting at a coffee shop until she had a minute before the morning session started, still she ignored her chicken-hearted nerves and soldiered on into the hotel.

The conference room was all set up for the delegates. The computer and projector were on. Pens and writing pads were set out for each delegate. She tested all the headsets. Everything was good to go. She made herself a cup of tea, before heading up to her kiosk. She was about to turn around, when the hairs at the back of her neck stood up. Her spine tingled. She stood still.

'You feel my presence, as I feel yours,' he murmured from behind her.

Olivia placed her cup on the counter, too afraid she would spill her tea. Slowly she turned around, and was stunned to see Fedor looked like he had not been to bed. His eyes looked tired. He had a stubble. His hair was ruffled. He had a clean suit on, minus a tie. Her eyes fell to the little dark hairs protruding out his shirt. She clenched her fingers that ached to touch his muscular chest. He smelt divine, looked delectable. Her entire body hummed with need. Gosh how had she survived in the last four years? His hand reached out. His thumb caressed her cheek.

'Stay away from me Fedor,' she brushed his hand away. 'Or I will request a re-assignment,' she lied. She knew she could not walk away from this client. She knew her company was very dependent on the revenue that will be achieved from this account, so no matter the complexity of her relationship with Fedor, she just had to bite the bullet.

'Rebecca is so beautiful,' he smiled. 'She is a mini you.'

Olivia smiled. 'No. She's a mini you,' She responded unthinkingly, then looked away from Fedor.

He tilted her chin to him. 'I guess she's half you and half me,' he grinned.

She stepped back, creating some space between her and him. He stopped smiling.

'Let me take you and Rebecca to dinner tonight?'

'No.'

'Why?' He demanded

'Just stay away from us Fedor!'

'I want to be a part of your lives,' he gripped her arms tightly.

'Dobroye utro' ...Good morning.

Fedor did not bother to tun around. Olivia looked past his shoulder to see Luba glaring at them curiously.

             -end chapter 5-