It's time for me to return to NY after my one-week escapade to Bora Bora.

Mike says that everything is done, my office has been renovated the way I've wanted, and my mansion as well. Besides, there is an important reception in the coming weekend, one to which it's mandatory to attend.

Start-uppers financed with rich people's money are being celebrated and I'm one of those financiers (well, not me directly, but Downhill Inc. is). So, I'm supposed to attend, that's what Mike says.

We took the jet back to NY and I buried my nose in the company's documents all the way back home, updating myself with the current situation.

It doesn't look bad at all. I'm making more money than my father ever has done, and I know this is thanks to Lucas. It pisses me off.

"I want Tate out of Downhill Inc. by tomorrow. Bring the papers to me to sigh first thing in the morning," I suddenly say to Mike, breaking the silence that is too heavy, anyway.

I'm nervous to go back to the same city where Lucas is, and I don't have any intention of seeing him, so I must stay away from the places where he can be.

But this damn reception I'm supposed to attend is the very place where we can bump into each other, and I'm not ready to face him.

The moment I've seen the divorce papers signed, I've known he just wants to break every connection with me, and I'm going to make sure I'm fully respecting that.

I mean, I'm the cause of all of his troubles, first I'm the daughter of a mafia man, and that alone has threatened his life.

Then I've asked for the divorce, although I know Lucas will never agree to it.

I've lost our child and even though I've been sure he'll not care, it has been exactly the opposite. And then I've run away with another man, leaving him stuck on a hospital bed in a coma with nobody knowing if he'll wake up or not and I've never stayed to find out. And there is also Salvatore, adamant to have me for I don't even know what reason.

So, what is there for him to come back to? We're divorced and done deal. Maybe he already has someone else, maybe he has moved on.

I'm not ready to meet him, that much I know. And I don't know if I'm ever going to be ready.

"This has been the plan from the very beginning, Rebecca," Mike says in a highly annoying tone and I snap my head to him, having not liked his tone, neither his straight face, with no emotions.

"What do you mean, Mike?" I ask in a surprisingly calm voice, tilting my head towards the right shoulder.

"Tate was going to get out the moment you are back and take over. He never wanted the business, he just managed it. The board was a bunch of thieves, and I couldn't handle them. I didn't have the power. Your mother was out of reach, and I had to do something. So, I accepted his offer."

"His offer..." I whisper, taken aback by the things Mike is telling me.

But why? How did he know I would be back? And what if I wasn't planning to come back? Ever?

My breath becomes heavy, and I feel dizzy, the air around being sucked out together with the air in my lungs leaving a void behind and all sorts of questions popping in my mind.

I try to keep control of my panting breathing and closing my eyes I'm counting voiceless, hoping that by the time I reach ten I'll manage to get back to regular breathing.

No, I'm not angry with Lucas having built up a plot and being so damn sure I'll be back. It's not anger, it's anxiety, it's joy, happiness. It's a fire bursting inside of me just like the first time I've met Lucas.

"Rebecca, are you okay?" I hear Mike asking me and I want to reply, but I'm too busy to rebalance my heartbeat.

When it feels safe enough to speak again without my voice cracking or betraying the whirlpool of emotions stirring me up, I make sure that Mike understands that what I've said is a decision I've taken already and there is no going back. I want it done today before tomorrow. Why? It's my next move and I want to see his.

"The papers, Mike. Tomorrow morning," and with that, I leave the chair and the papers and walk into the small room that the jet has.

It feels suffocating around Mike with all this information he keeps bringing out about Lucas and the plans he has, things I haven't know about, and everybody has felt it right to keep it from me while all I know is that he has signed. He has agreed with the divorce.

I stayed in for the rest of the flight.

I've taken some pills to help me sleep and all I remember from the rest of the trip is a flight attendant coming in to bring me food that I refuse, mainly because I can't keep my eyes open, and then Mike, who comes in to tell me we're landing.

Then Lucas, crouching next to the bed, arms rested on the edge and chin pinned on the back of his hands, watching me with those icy, beautiful blue eyes and shining smile telling 'It's time, baby girl. We're home now. Come on.'

And then he vanishes, making me escape a whimper of sadness because it hurts like thousands of thorns trusted in my chest, and my heart splits in two while my breath hitches, air lacking around me.

I sit up on the bed, snapping out from whatever the hell that is and I find myself sweated and panting.

"Rebecca, get ready. We're here," Mike says, peeking his head in.

I stand up before more memories invade my mind and walk to the small bathroom of the room. I need to refresh before getting down.

"When is the reception?" I ask Mike while we are in the car on the way to my parents' mansion, which is now... mine, hopefully totally changed, fresh and void of any memory of my father.

"Tomorrow evening. I should take you there at 7 pm," Mike replies, keeping his eyes on the road.

"As my date?" I smile bitterly.

"As your driver, Rebecca. I have never been very fond of these gatherings. Besides, I can keep you safe if I'm outside the event and watch around you without distractions."

"Yeah ..." I say, moving my eyes back on the window, glaring outside. "I need a hairdresser, a stylist, and a gown tomorrow at 2 pm."

"Do you want Beth to get you a dress?"

"Beth, Meth, whoever I couldn't care less. I just need a gown and I need to look presentable, right?" I reply.

"Rebecca, you're going to run your father's company. You'll need connections and these kinds of receptions will be many and the perfect place to connect with other business owners. And trust me, that's the place where the deals are signed and not in offices."

"I know, Mike, I know," I say, mocking him with my eyes still glaring outside but then I feel a soft touch on the back of my left hand which is resting on my thigh.

It's Mike's hand squeezing mine lightly, making me move my eyes to him. He looks at me for a few moments before shifting his eyes back on the road while his other hand is gripping the steering wheel, so tight that it almost becomes white.

What the fuck is wrong with men? I don't need complications, I don't need any of them right now. I want to be left hell alone!

And as if these thoughts are not mine, I act exactly the opposite, leaning towards Mike and planting a kiss on his cheek. I know he's doing his best in supporting me and guiding me, and here I'm, bitching him and being a spoiled brat.

I've always found him a handsome man. He's tall with broad shoulders and brawny arms.

His dark skin is perfectly dressing his toned body and offering the perfect contrast with his amber eyes shadowed by some thick eyelashes and arched eyebrows. I've never seen him smiling, besides the times when we're together.

When he's all serious, his fleshy lips gather in a tensed squeeze, but when he smiles his white teeth are shining, brightening his face.

He used to be my driver while I was in high school. I remember my friends drooling every time they see him.

When I was a kid, he was my favorite man, my protector, my wall to shield me from bad, my cushion to sleep when I was sad after my brother would beat me.

In the back of my mind, he has always been my savior, being always confident he'll protect me no matter what. Much like he's doing now.

Growing up into what people used to say was a shy, dull teenager, Mike became forever glued to me as if he never had another job to do but faithfully watch me. At some point, I even believed he was in love with me. Strangely, I still believe that.

But when Lucas came into my life Mike had been forgotten, and now, seeing him how determined he's to help me get back to what is mine, I'm wondering what he must have felt like back then.

He lifts my hand to his lips to place a kiss and I lean my head on his right shoulder.

"Thank you, Mike," I whisper, and I feel kisses peppered on the crown of my head.

"Anytime, Rebecca. I'll always be there," he says, and his right arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling me closer.

"I know, Mike," I tell him while he shakes his head in disapproval.

"I failed you, Rebecca, and I'm so sorry. I should have never let you out of my sight. I was just... I thought Lucas knew what he was doing and then things got so shitty, and I didn't know how to reach you anymore. Lucas was in a coma. Your mother... she was not in this world. It took me a while to find you, too long, actually," he speaks, and I let him do it, although I don't agree with a lot of what he says.

I fell in love with Lucas, and that was not his fault.

I had a shitty father, and it was not his fault.

I had an abusive brother, and it was not his fault.

I chose to be with Lucas, and it was not his fault.

"It's not your fault, Mike. It's nobody's fault," I tell him, hoping he'll feel better.

"You know Lucas is going to be there, right?" he tells me bluntly.

"I know. I just hope I won't have to face him."

We keep quiet for the rest of the trip and in no more than twenty minutes Mike pulls the car in front of my mansion, but I haven't moved yet, my head still on his shoulder, staying there, in perfect silence as he kills the engine of the car.

That silence and the powerful arm of Mike around me give me some sort of peace, and I want a bit more of that peace.

I don't want to get inside the house yet. I don't enjoy living in my old house. So many terrible memories are there, but for the moment that's where I have to live.

Mike doesn't rush me, and he doesn't move either. He just sits there, holding me and giving me time. He knows I need it.

The craziest thought takes me over and without giving it too much time, so it won't disappear, I stand up and sit on his lap, my legs on each side of his hips. I feel him inhaling a sharp breath and his amber eyes stare into mine in awe, but I ignore and lean my head for a kiss.

I move my lips over his thick, fleshy ones and tug his lower one, asking him to allow me in and when they are parted, I push my tongue inside, earning a growl from the pit of his chest while his hands move up on the cheeks of my butt, squeezing.

"Fuck, Rebecca," he whispers in my mouth, and he pushes himself stronger on it, grabbing the back of my neck with one of his huge hands and rubbing my skin with the other one.

I moan when my lungs empty of air and he pulls away, holding my head between his hands and staring at me with lust shining in his darker eyes and eyebrows knitted in a straight line.

I smile shyly, lacking words. I have no idea why I've done that. Maybe it's my way of finding out if someone else, besides Lucas, can fit into my life, my mind.

"I always wanted to do that when I was in high school. I even had a bet with my friends in school about it," I say a stupid excuse.

He smiles and pushes back some of my hair, taking in my face as if he wants to imprint it in his brain.

"I have always wanted to do more, Rebecca," he says in a deep, husky voice that I've never heard before and the lust in his eyes turns me on, causing a drenched mess in my panties.

"So, what are you waiting for?" I challenge him and he growls deep but doesn't move, just stares at me so intensely that I can almost see his mind struggling for a decision.

"Fuck it!" he hisses and pushes the door open.

He throws his long legs out pressing my mouth on his in a hungry kiss, bending me so I won't hit my head while he stands up in the glory of his height, keeping me wrapped around him and walking fast to the door, never breaking our kiss.

Thousands of tickles cross my body and heat spreads all over me, forming a hot pool of desire between my thighs.

He presses the security code at the door while I keep kissing his jaw, going down to his neck.

He walks into the house, molding his lips on mine and pushing the door closed with a leg.

He throws me on the sofa of the living room before removing his shoes, necktie, jacked and shirt, displaying a solid torso for my lustful eyes, muscles moving under his stretched skin while he moves towards me, kneeling between my legs and grabbing them strongly, pulling me towards his hardened shaft.

He captures my lips with his hungry ones, invading my mouth in search of my tongue, which I don't even try to hide and just give it, dancing with his.

"This is going to happen just this one time, Rebecca," he says, breaking the kiss and I moan disappointed.

"Just fuck me, Mike," I order him, keeping my eyes closed and wondering where the hell that request has come from.

I hear him puffing and he grabs my arms, pulling me up while he stands up as well.

"You don't get to tell me what to do, Rebecca. You'll do as I say and you might get what you want," he says coldly.

I frown at him confused but I get little time to think about it as he turns me around and pushes me to stand in front of him while he sits on the sofa, spreading the length of his legs in front and leaning his head on the backrest.

"Strip,"he says.

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