'Good morning Mr. Blakely. Ms Titov is already waiting in your office.'

'Good morning Bentley. Why is she there? You should have placed her in the waiting lounge. Is that not what the waiting lounge was designed for? Brad glared at his P.A.

'Sorry sir. She declined to wait, claiming you were late.' He was fifteen minutes late, but it was more important to him to pacify his wife before his meeting with Darya.

'She said she would start drafting the terms of reference for the sale of the Russian Business Daily.

Brad opened the door to his office and knew he would not find Darya hard at work on the draft proposal. She was in front of his desk, staring at the photograph in her hand of Brad and Tessa. She did not even pretend to be caught red handed or show any embarrassment.

'Good morning Darya,' Brad walked towards her to retrieve his photo.

'Good morning Bradley Blakely,' she serenaded in her very rich Russian accent. She dropped the photo frame face down onto the table.

'My P.A. tells me you were rather enthusiastic to start working on our draft agreement,' Brad picked up the photo frame and placed it back in its rightful position. His wife's beautiful, loving eyes gazed at him adoringly. He caught his breath. She still had the ability to make him do that.

'I was enthusiastic.' Darya let her right index finger run down his silk shirted chest. It delighted her so much, her three other fingers joined the index finger moving up his shirt rather erotically. 'But I could not start without you Bradley Blakely,' she breathed against his cheek.

'Let's get started them,' Brad deftly removed her fingers from his body.

'Ah, a man that likes to take the lead huh Bradley Blakely,' she pressed against him. 'You should allow the lady to take the lead sometimes. You might find you would enjoy it,' her lips came close to his.

Oh my wife has perfected the art, Brad shifted away, creating some distance between them. 'Let's have a look at the draft proposal,' Brad pulled out a chair for Darya.

'Thank you Bradley,' she gracefully slid into the seat. She was a striking woman no doubt, and rather too confident. Today she was adorned in a rather expensive lime green tailored trousers suit, with a very feminine fully buttoned light brown blouse. Darya Titov did not need to show a leg or cleavage, her beauty spoke for itself. The ice princess lacked any charisma, but she oozed beauty and confidence. She was also trained to be clinical and detached. Brad had no doubt she would be a more than satisfactory lover to any man in bed, yet she left him cold.

'As you know we have a major number of blue chip clients Bradley,' she passed him a portfolio of the Russian Business Daily.

'Are those client contracts of RBD attached here?' Brad inquired.

'Of course,' her eyes dueled with his.

'You will be most impressed with our assets,' her eyes suggestively undressed him.

'That remains to be seen,' Brad countered. He studied the file, pretending not to have caught her innuendo.

'Oh I'm quite prepared to show you. Just say when,' she invited.

'I'm going to send an audit team to inspect the infrastructure at RBD,' Brad's eyes held hers. 'I will not accept the capital values stipulated on paper without verification.'

Darya's eyes looked away disappointedly when Brad refused to participate in the seductive mind games she was intent on playing.

'What price are your principals proposing per share?' Brad asked when she remained quiet. He knew she was not conceding defeat. She was merely re-strategizing. She was shrewd and ruthless. He would not let his guard down.

'They're not,' she smiled. The smile was as charming as that of a rattlesnake. 'I'm here this morning to hear what you propose to put down as an offer.'

'I can't commit a figure until my Legal Division gives me the go ahead, you know that.'

'Ah, the inimitable Mrs. Tessa Blakely,' Darya ridiculed, 'where is the Global Reporter's Head of Legal Affairs? I thought she would be present in this morning's meeting.'

Even though she was expecting Tessa to join him, she had still been snooping around in his office and touching his personal effects.

'After you and I iron out the terms of reference, Tessa will peruse the contract from a legal perspective. She does not necessarily sit in, during the negotiation phase. Though she is by no means excluded,' Brad quickly added.

'Mmm,' Darya responded, whatever that was meant to convey.

'Do yourself a favour Darya, do not underestimate my wife,' Brad cautioned.

'Bring her on Bradley Blakely,' her Russian accent was rather pronounced. 'I have held my own with the most vicious sharks and reptiles. I can take on one Tessa Blakely,' she countered. Brad knew Darya intended to run circles around Tessa. He knew she would show no mercy towards his wife and it had nothing to do with business.

'Can you have a final document ready by close of business today?' Brad inquired.

'I will email you a classified proposal by midday. May I remind you to note the sensitivity of our negotiations at this early stage. I do not want a panic situation starting back home.'

'You have nothing to fear,' Brad assured her. 'Nobody is privy to our engagements,' he stood up.

'I'm pleased to hear that,' she smiled. 'It is not fear I feel in your presence Bradley Blakely,' Darya sauntered towards Brad. Her palm slid up his arm.

'You are dealing at the highest level of GR,' Brad's strong hands pried her hand off his body. 'If there are any leaks Darya, it would not come from me. So you be careful what you whisper to your bed partners,' he warned as he opened the door for her.

'We meet again on Tuesday with your legal counsel?' Darya asked.

'Yes, fourteen hundred hours,' Brad agreed.

'Good morning Bradley Blakely,' she purred and departed from his office.

'Bentley,' Brad spoke into the speaker phone.

'Yes sir.'

'Schedule a follow up meeting with RBD for Tuesday at fourteen hundred hours. Ensure the entire legal team is sitting in on that meeting,' Brad instructed.

'Good morning Mrs. Blakely. Did you have a lovely weekend?' Bentley smiled politely.

'Oh it was so wonderful to see Fabian and his family again. I had a terrific weekend and you?'

'Oh my weekend was good too,' he smiled.

'No girlfriend yet Bentley,' Tessa smiled.

'There have been ten or twenty of them hounding me. Decisions, decisions,' he grinned, handing Tessa a file.

'You work too hard,' she complained. 'You should tell your boss the weekend is yours,' Tessa took the file Bentley handed to her.

'With operations in four continents, business hours are debatable,' he laughed.

'Bentley is this a joke!' Tessa raised her eyebrows at Bentley.

'I beg your pardon Mrs. Blakely?'

'This document is in Russian text. Is Darya Titov trying to display a sense of humour I know she does not possess?'

'Excuse me, Mrs. Blakely?'

'Postpone tomorrow's meeting till further notice Bentley.'

'But Mr. Blakely---.'

'Does not know Russian, as far as I know,' she interrupted him.

'Wanted to seal this deal by tomorrow,' Bentley completed.

'He won't be signing anything in Russian text Bentley. I want this document translated first and not by a Russian,' Tessa instructed.

Bentley's eyes were as large as a saucer. 'You want the Russian text translated, but not by a Russian?'

'Yes Bentley.' Tessa spoke patiently. 'We're negotiating with Russians to buy out a Russian newspaper. We do not want Russians with a subjective interest doing translations for us now do we?'

'Yes---no we don't,' he shook his head. 'I can do a Google Translate for you,' he offered.

Tessa looked mortified. 'We are talking about billions of dollars Bentley. People's livelihoods. This impacts on the mass media in four continents. Postpone the meeting,' she repeated. 'I'm calling in a favour from Oxford University.'

'Excuse me?'

Tessa rolled her eyes, 'come into my office.'

Tessa scrolled down her mobile, found the number she was looking for and hit the call button. 'Sit,' she instructed Bentley, pointing to the chair.

'Ramsay Daly, good morning.'

'Ramsay, how are you doing?' Tessa smiled happily. Most often she had to talk to his answering service. There was a long pause, too long before she heard a response.

Tessa activated the loud speaker on her mobile.'Tessa von Biljoen? Good heavens! Tessa is that you?'

'Well the surname's changed,' she laughed, but I can explain if you will have lunch with me,' she looked at her watch and cringed. It was nine in the morning and she inviting him to eat lunch.

'Are you asking me on a date? Something I could not get right for two whole years.'

'Ramsay, say yes you will have lunch with me,' she instructed.

'Yes---um-yes, yes,' he laughed.

Tessa mentioned the time and the restaurant.

'I have to dress up for lunch,' he groaned.

If she was still single she would have said, dress up for me, but she refrained.

'You're always in a suit,' you'll do,' she laughed.

'Shall I pick you up?' Ramsay offered.

'I'll meet you there. How much time do you have?'

'All the time you need. The university is on a week's holiday.'

'Wonderful. Cancel any plans you have for the afternoon. Till later then,' Tessa smiled, cutting the call. Bentley shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He swallowed nervously, cleared his throat and adjusted his perfectly knotted tie.

'Bentley, can you book lunch for two for me for twelve pm?'

'W---what about Mr. Blakely?'

'What about him?' Tessa stifled her desire to grin. She looked at Bentley with seeming innocence.

'I---I think Mr. Blakely should accompany you to lunch with this Ramsay person.'

Do you say that to your boss when he's hobnobbing with Darya Titov?

'His name is Ramsay Daly. He ---was a lecturer when I was at Harvard, then he accepted a post at Oxford. So, I am going to lunch with him.'

Bentley read between the lines, suspicious that this Ramsay person fancied his boss's wife. He was not pleased at all for her to have lunch with the bloke.

'Why can't you take Mr. Blakely with you?' Bentley squeaked.

'Bentley!' Tessa raised her voice.

'Yes, Mrs. Blakely,' he stood up immediately.

'Go and make the booking. The sooner I get my own P.A. ---. Oh and clear my diary for the afternoon.'

Bentley stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned around.

'Out!'

'Yes ma'am,' he mumbled and shut her door.

Tessa threw her head back and laughed the minute Bentley shut her door. He was adorable the way he looked after his boss's interest.

Thirty seconds later her door opened and Tessa was not surprised. In walked her husband, very calmly she noted.

Traitor! That accusation was leveled at Bentley, although she'd always known without a doubt, where Bentley's loyalties would lie. She could hardly fault the guy. She would expect the same allegiance from her own P.A.

Brad did not say a word but every lethal step he took towards her desk, smacked of controlled annoyance. Tessa's eyes remained fixed on her husband as his measured steps closed the distance between them. Brad lifted Tessa to her feet. He occupied her chair and pulled her onto his lap. She watched in a daze as his head dipped, his lips pressed against the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. She closed her eyes. A soft sigh escaped her lips. His lips shifted to her mouth, captured hers. Tessa's arm curled around his neck. Her intercom buzzed.

Her left hand stretched out, found the answer button, 'yes Bentley,' Tessa's right finger traced over Brad's lip. Her tongue followed, then her teeth nibbled teasingly over his chin.

'Darya Titov for Mr. Blakely on line one.' Tessa stopped for only a second. She then pulled Brad's head against her neck.
'Take a message,' Tessa cut Bentley off. Her mouth found his lips again, she indulged in a slow lingering kiss, before Brad gently pulled away.

'I understand you have instructed Bentley to postpone tomorrow's meeting with Darya,' Brad's eyes held hers.

'Was she looking for you for that reason?' Tessa challenged.

'I told Bentley to go ahead, as you instructed. You care to inform me why?'

'Is this what your seduction is all about?' Tessa demanded. She stood up and put some distance between her and Brad.

"'My seduction!" Do I need to schedule when I want to embrace my wife?' he leaned back in her chair.

You would not be embracing me if I did not postpone your meeting with Darya Titov.

'No, you don't,' her eyes shifted away from him. She turned away so she was not in the direct firing line of his angry eyes.

'Why are you purposefully stalling the negotiations Tessa!'

She swung around and glared at him angrily. She opened the proposal and slammed it in front of Brad.
'Guide me Blakely,' she hissed. 'Just point to two clauses you consider non negotiable,' she challenged.

Brad dragged his eyes away from Tessa and looked down at the file. He flicked through the pages hurriedly and when he got to page five, he swore silently, and hauled out his mobile.

I should have guessed you'd pull a stunt like this Darya.

'Bradley Blakely good morning,' Darya purred in a seductive voice.

'Good morning Darya,' Brad politely greeted.

'How can I be of service to you Bradley Blakely?' her voice was laced with sexy undertones. Brad was relieved Tessa was far enough not to overhear.

'Can you explain to me why the proposal is in Russian text Darya?' Brad demanded.

'But it is my prerogative to use my language of preference. Surely you cannot hold that against me Bradley Blakely?'

'Every meeting we've held was conducted in English Darya,' Brad hissed. 'You have not once requested an interpreter, and you have an excellent command of English!' his voice rose an octave.

'I am afraid Bradley Blakely my principals do not want any interpretations ---lost in translation, hence the desire to have the legal contract in our own mother tongue. You will appreciate the ramifications thereof,' he could feel that cold smile of hers cutting across her face.

'I guess you now know the reasons for the postponement. My P.A. will be in touch with you,' he cut the call and stood up. Brad looked across at Tessa. She was leaning against a cabinet at the far end of her office. Her arms were crossed across her chest. One sexy ankle was crossed over the other. Brad walked across to stand in front of his wife. His fingers reached out and tangled into her silky brunette hair.

'I'm sorry,' his eyes met hers squarely. His palm cupped her face. Her hands remained folded across her chest.

'Tessa!'

'What?' she whispered.

'Wrap your arms around me,' he demanded.

Her eyebrows shot up at his audacity, but she complied anyway, draping her arms around his waist. Her hands snaked up across his shoulder blades. For good measure she pressed a kiss against his mouth.

'Am I forgiven?'

'Yes.'

'I love you,' he murmured hoarsely.

'Do you now?' she bit on her lower lip. Her arms moved from around his waist to circle his neck.

'Yes I love my very sexy, adorable and insightful wife.'

'Keep going,' she fought to stifle the threatening grin.

'Well I---,' they were interrupted by a knock and Bentley's presence. He looked to Tessa's desk then looked around frantically and found his boss and his wife embracing in the far corner of her office. Brad and Tessa's eyes silently communicated the need to lock their doors for future reference.

'Oh, I beg your pardon---.' Relief seemed to wash over Bentley's face.

'Did you think I strangled your boss and threw him out the window?'

Bentley squirmed uncomfortably. He knew she was making reference to her university professor friend. 'Sir you have an urgent call from the Australia office.'

Tessa removed her arms from around Brad and walked to her table. She packed the RBD file into her briefcase, switched of her laptop and slid that into her briefcase as well.

'Do not tell me I need to make a trip to Australia, Bentley.'

Instead of answering, he handed his boss a slip of paper with a rather long note.

'Sir, Ms. Titov wishes to have lunch with you tomorrow.'

Tessa stopped packing her briefcase, 'what the hell for?' She raised her voice angrily.

'Thank you Bentley,' Brad dismissed his P.A. and waited for the fireworks.

'She's supposed to wait for GR to translate her proposal. Why the hell is she attempting to win your favour?'

'It's a common business practice Tessa. We take clients out in London, Sydney Hong Kong and New York whenever we do visits.'

'You are not her client,' Tessa ranted.

'I had dinner on more than three occasions with Joseph, when I attempted to buy him out.'

'I'm sure your motive was not to get into Joseph's bed.'

He could not offer a suitable response, or dispute Darya's ulterior motive, still indulging in lunch was a common business practice. Tessa slipped her briefcase onto her shoulder. 'I do not see the need for you to have lunch with Darya,' Tessa stated.

'Is that my wife's perspective or is it GR's legal counsel?'

'She poses no threat to GR,' Tessa walked to her office door. 'I will see you at home,' Tessa slammed her door on her way out. She still had more than an hour to go before her meeting with Ramsay, but she needed to get out of the office, before she strangled her husband. Tessa sat at a coffee shop and opened Brad's proposal on her laptop. She made notes on Darya's document that she knew were not negotiable from GR's perspective before she could meet Ramsay.

'Tessa, my word you look fabulous,' Ramsay extended his hand. He still looked boyishly handsome, she noted. Though he still wore those unsightly wrinkled suits, she could not understand his aversion to dry cleaning. Tessa could not for a second imagine Brad leaving home the way Ramsay looked right now. He was good looking, with his blonde hair falling over his face, but he did not pay much attention to his attire or his physical appearance.

'Good afternoon Ramsay,' Tessa laughed softly. 'Oh give me a hug.'

'You have not aged a day,' he laughed. 'I last saw you when, five years ago? Oh where are my manners? Take a seat,' he held the chair out for her.

'Thank you,' Tessa smiled. She looked around at the restaurant, it was busy with lunch time clients. A pianist was playing the most dreary music.

'So what brings you to London?' he smiled.

'I've been here for three years,' she wrinkled her nose. 'I married an Englishman.'
The smile disappeared from his face. His eyes flew to her left ring finger. Tessa allowed him some time to digest that bit of information. She watched the waiters scurrying about. She wished somebody would come take their drinks order.

'So why did you not call me?' he demanded.

'Ramsay,' she sighed. 'You were hitting on me every day in my final year at Harvard,' she fiddled with the menu. 'If I called you, what would you have thought?'

'So our meeting today is not a social one?' he smiled sadly.

'No, its business, ___ sorry.'

'I see.'

Where is a waiter when you need one? If Brad was here the maître d would be falling all over him.

'Why does it take so long to get a waiter here?' Tessa looked around.

Ramsay clicked his fingers, and a waiter came running.

'Thank you,' she laughed softly. 'A glass of white wine please.'

'The same for me,' Ramsay nodded.

'So how can I help you then,' he took her fingers into his hand.

Tessa removed her hands from his. 'Umm---I need a document translated.'

Ramsay grinned when she removed her hands, 'can I see it?'

'Before I let you see it. I need you to agree to a confidentiality agreement.'

'Ah ever the attorney,' he laughed. 'I followed your cases in New York. You made headlines internationally when you took down the Russian government. I was so proud of you,' he smiled.

'Thank you.'

'I knew you had it in you,' he reached for her hands again. 'Not just beauty, but brains as well.'

'Ramsay,' she removed her hands again. 'I am very happily married. I also have a three year old son,' she admitted proudly.

'Wow, you should be twenty eight now right?'
Tessa nodded.
'You don't look a day over twenty one,' he laughed.

Tessa smiled. He was not going to stop with the compliments. 'So, can we get down to business?'

'Okay, you want me to sign a confidentiality agreement, before I can look at the document.'

'Yes,' she removed a legal document from her briefcase and handed it to him.

Ramsay was very familiar with confidentially agreements. Tessa handed him a business card. 'You can name your price and invoice me directly,' Tessa smiled. Ramsay signed two copies of the document. Tessa countersigned, retained one copy and handed one to Ramsay. She then handed him Darya's proposal to peruse. She sipped on her wine as Ramsay perused the document.

'So who is this that my wife is meeting?'

'Mrs. Blakely said he was a European languages lecturer at Oxford. She said he lectured at Harvard when she was reading there.'

'But my wife did not study languages at Harvard.'

Bentley did not respond to that comment.

'Well, who the hell is this man? Do you have any information on him?'

Bentley handed a file to Brad. The guy had impressive credentials. Ramsay Daly spoke Russian, German and French fluently. He was the Faculty Head of European Languages at Oxford. He consulted extensively for the UK Department of Trade, in negotiations with France, Germany and Russia. Brad studied the photograph of Ramsay Daly. He looked young, in his late thirties. He had long unruly blonde hair, and a face that could get any woman into bed.

'Where are they having lunch?'

Bentley handed Brad a sheet of paper with the restaurant address on it.

'This is a proposed bid to sell a newspaper in Russia?' Ramsay commented.

'Try to keep your voice down please. Negotiations are at a sensitive stage.'

'So all you want is for me to translate this.'

'Yes. Word. for. word.' Tessa emphasized. 'When can I have it back?'

'Lucky for you the university is on holiday. I can return it in seventy two hours at the latest,' he smiled.

'Any chance I can get it sooner. The Russians are impatient to close the deal.'

'From what I know you are not intimidated by the Russians,' he laughed.

'Shut up,' she smiled.

'They are at table six, Mr. Blakely,' Tessa heard the comment drifting to her ears.

I don't believe this. I'm going to strangle Bentley!

'I will escort you there Mr. Blakely,' the maître d offered.

Tessa cringed silently. Where the hell was the bloody maître d when she waited so long for a drink?

'There you go Mr. Blakely.' Furniture was hurriedly shifted. A chair appeared opposite Ramsay's. Cutlery and a glass were laid out for King Blakely. Brad observed the RBD proposal in front of Ramsay. In front of Tessa stood a signed confidentiality agreement.

'Darling my meeting finished earlier than I anticipated,' Brad kissed Tessa on the lips.

Did it now? Was that your imaginary meeting?

'Glad you thought to join us,' Tessa schooled him with an icy glare, which Ramsay did not see as he was gazing, admiringly at Brad.

'Ramsay, meet my husband Brad Blakely. Brad this is Ramsay Daly. Ramsay is a lecturer at Oxford. He is a linguist, fluent in German, French and Russian.'

'Pleasure to meet you Mr. Blakely, I know of you. Europe's youngest billionaire media mogul. You took New York by storm and cracked into the Southern Hemisphere in Australia as well.'

'You can call me Brad,' Brad smiled elaborately, but Tessa was not fooled. He was dissecting Ramsay with a fine tooth comb. 'So, how soon can we have that translated? Time is of the essence.'

'Yes, Tessa has informed me your opposing negotiators are in a hurry.'

Brad looked at Tessa. He had not thought that she would relay the Russians' need to expedite matters. Brad, in a show of possessiveness put his arm around Tessa's shoulder and kissed her cheek. He wanted to make sure that Ramsay Daly kept away from his wife.

'I've told Tessa, you can have the translated document in seventy two hours,' he reaffirmed.

'That's excellent,' Brad looked to the maître d who came scurrying. 'Can I have a bottle of your finest champagne?'

Tessa wondered if she was needed there any longer. Brad had just taken over.

'So I believe you have a three year old?' Ramsay directed at Brad, who again looked at his wife.

'Yes, he's a mommy's boy. Gets away with murder when I'm not around,' Brad laced his fingers through Tessa's.

'He does not,' she used her free hand to punch his arm.

'Doesn't that sound like a defensive manoeuvre?' Brad cajoled.

'Looks like it to me,' Ramsay grinned.

'Traitor,' Tessa laughed.

'Have we ordered yet darling?' Brad gazed into Tessa eyes and met her fiery glare.

'Not yet,' Ramsay answered for her, unaware of the exchange between husband and wife.

The following morning when Brad walked into Tessa's office, she ignored him. She'd given him the cold shoulder all yesterday afternoon as well, for crashing her lunch meeting with Ramsay. She knew he only came there to check out Ramsey.

Surprisingly Brad and Ramsey had got along like a house on fire. They had only left the restaurant well after five pm, after the men had consumed three bottles of champagne. Brad has summoned his limo, even though Tessa was perfectly sober. Two other drivers returned their respective cars to their home. Ramsay had wisely come by cab. Tessa skipped dinner after their extended lunch with Ramsay. She spent the evening with Lyndon, and after putting him to bed, she herself went to bed.

'Tessa, I'd like you to join me to lunch with Darya.'

I don't want you to go to lunch with her!

'I have plans,' she lied.

'Cancel them,' he demanded.

Tessa stood up, she walked up to Brad. 'Why don't you cancel your plans?' she countered.

'You are being foolish,' he murmured.

'Really Brad? I beg to differ. Now please leave my office.'

He knew when his wife adopted her non negotiable position. 'I will see you when I return from lunch,' he reached out to kiss her lips and had to settle for her cheek, for she turned her lips away. Brad pinned her to him, his palms cupped her cheeks, 'I love you,' he murmured, and this time, she could not hide her lips.

Bentley where is my wife?' Brad barked into his mobile, as he paced about in his library.

'Sir she left the office at five pm.'

Brad looked at his watch. It was six fifteen. He arrived home ten minutes ago. He thought she would be with Lyndon in the family room, she was not there. The very first thing she did every afternoon when they got home was go in search of Lyndon. He had gone up to their bedroom she was not there either. He'd called her mobile, she was not answering.

'What is in her diary Bentley? Did she mention an appointment out of the office?' Brad jerked at his tie that seemed to be strangling him.

'No, Mr. Blakely. Should I call the tracking company?'

'Her car is in the driveway Bentley,' Brad growled, raking his fingers repeatedly through his hair. 'She could have used a taxi.'
A man had better not have picked her up. I will tear his bloody limbs apart.
Brad had a vision of the mesmerized blonde Ramsey, smiling stupidly at his wife.

'Sir she said she was going home.'

Brad and Tessa normally rode home together, unless Brad was busy, she would drive herself and he would follow with the limo or another vehicle. He knew he was in trouble when he found out his wife had left the building. She normally came to kiss him goodbye, or if he was busy in a meeting, she would leave him a note. She had done neither this afternoon.

'She did not have any appointments scheduled,' Bentley interrupted Brad's thoughts. 'She was actually in a very good mood Mr. Blakely,' Brad could tell Bentley was smiling. 'She still teased me about finding me a wife as she walked out sir.'

You will never know when my wife is in a bad mood Bentley. She never displays it outwardly.

'My daddy, my daddy, take me to momma,' Lyndon threw his arms around his daddy's legs.

'I'll get back to you later Bentley,' Brad cut the call.

'Hey my tiger, good evening,' Brad hauled his son into his arms. 'How is my boy?' Brad smiled.

'Fine thanks my daddy, now take me to momma please.'

'You know where mummy is?'

'Yes silly daddy. She is in the pool,' Lyndon giggled.

'Are you sure son?' Brad strode with his son towards the heated pool in the lower level of their home.

'Momma came home. She gave me my bath and read me a new story about Mr. Woody. He is a good man my daddy. Mr. Woody is saving the forest, so we don't kill the trees. We must save the trees my daddy because they give me ot---ox. I can't remember my daddy,' Lyndon placed his palms on his daddy's cheeks.

'They give you oxygen, so you can breathe,' Brad used his head to tickle his son's tummy.

'Yes, my clever daddy,' Lyndon giggled. 'You were not there when momma read it. How do you know?'

'So how do you know mummy is at the pool?' Brad was more curious.

'She asked Stacy to look after me. She said she wanted to swim before you come home.'

'Did you tell Stacy you were coming to my library?' Brad smiled taking out his mobile.

'No,' Lyndon murmured softly.

'Stacy good evening. I have Lyndon with me. We're going downstairs to the pool.'

'Oh thank you sir. He ran so fast into your office, when he heard your voice. I did not want to interrupt you.'

'That's okay Stacy. Enjoy the rest of your evening,' Brad smiled, and cut the call.

'Momma, momma.'

Brad followed Lyndon's eyes and saw his wife's lithe figure cutting through the water. Her head was dipped low, as her slender frame speedily sliced through the water as if she was competing in an Olympic championship.

'Mummy can't hear you tiger,' Brad kissed the top of his son's head. 'She can't hear under water, when the water is splashing so noisily.'

'Momma!' Lyndon shouted loudly, when Tessa came up for air and leaned over the edge at the deep end on the opposite side. Her head swung sharply over her shoulder when she heard Lyndon's voice. Tessa's eyes narrowed when she saw her husband standing there handsomely still dressed in his suit and tie. She wondered why his hair looked so unruly. Perhaps Darya Titov had been on a voyage of discovery.

'Hello darling, you okay?' Tessa smiled as she waved to Lyndon, ignoring Brad.

'Good evening. Yes I'm fine thank you.'

I was talking to my son!

Tessa easily hopped out of the pool and draped a towel around her mid drift.

'I'm here too momma.'

'Yes I see you my angel. Did you run away from Stacy again?'

Lyndon chose not to answer his mummy, instead, he lowered his head guiltily.

'I've called Stacy and let her know that I have Lyndon,' Brad tried again to engage in a conversation with his wife. She ignored him, instead busied herself, squeezing the water out of her hair, before she wrapped a smaller towel around her hair.

'I'm going to have a quick shower then I'll meet you for dinner,' Tessa spoke to nobody in particular as she tried to escape, but she had to bypass Brad unfortunately. Fortunately for him, he used the knowledge to advantage that his wife would not brush him off in front of their son.

'I thought you'd wait for me darling,' Brad freed one arm and pinned her to him. He held her to him tightly as he indulged in a leisurely kiss. She allowed the kiss, but refused to participate. Her lips cold from her swim, remained tightly shut, like her heart was towards him. He grinned inwardly. There was a scent of chlorine about her, but her lips tasted sweet, and appealing.

Everything was appealing about his adorable wife. She should know that she was the only one that held his heart. She should know that she was the only woman in the world that appealed to him, but for some reason his wife still harboured an insecurity that she would not confess to. He continued to hold her to him, forcing her to make a response to his comment.

'I was done for the day,' she murmured avoiding his eyes, instead she trained her eyes on his tie knot that was now unusually hanging skew. Her fingers itched to straighten it.

'Excuse me. I need to shower,' she.     removed herself from his hold.
            -end chapter three-