VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, [10] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 10:28:47 12/02/07 Sun
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: port144.dialup.bfree.on.ca / 66.207.116.144
Subject: Re: Northern Woods, chapter 129
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods, chapter 128" on 16:33:24 11/04/07 Sun

Chapter 129

Ten minutes later, Maria and Chris stood outside the door to Michael’s penthouse.

“Ready?” Chris inquired as he straightened his tie and prepared to knock on his boss’ door.

“Yes, I think so.” Maria answered.

Minutes later, the door opened to reveal a casually attired Michel Samuelle, who smiled slightly and silently waved them inside.

“Right on time, I see Chris.” He said with a small grin. “Adam and Nikita are in the salon. They’re almost finished a story she’s reading to him.”

Maria smiled slightly, but didn’t say anything.

‘So…’ she thought cynically. ‘The new wife and the son have “bonded”. I wonder how real it is.’

“We’re not intruding?” Chris asked quietly.

“Of course not.” Michael replied. “They knew you were coming.”

They continued their course inside the penthouse and Maria could hear a soft voice speaking while a child giggled in reply.

“Chérie?” Michael called out. “Our visitors have arrived.”

The voice murmured softly once again and the giggling ceased.

By this time, the two new arrivals had reached the salon and Maria’s gaze took in the child she remembered snuggled up to the loveliest blonde she’d ever seen. The woman in front of her kissed the top of the child’s head and gracefully stood up to greet her company.

The blonde was artlessly dressed in blue jeans and a pale pink turtleneck sweater on which a gold crucifix rested. Her waist length gleaming platinum blonde hair was softly swept over her right shoulder and she was shoeless. Her beautiful features were devoid of any makeup and her ice blue eyes held intelligence and another quality that Maria found hard to decipher until the blonde glanced at her husband.

‘Love.’ Maria decided. ‘She adores him!’

Before she’d met her, Maria had decided the girl who’d married Monsieur Samuelle was ‘lucky’. That had, of course, been based on his looks and on the fact that she knew he was wealthy.

Maria also felt she was a good judge of character, and she had known immediately upon meeting Michael that he was a good man. She wouldn’t be here otherwise. The money was tempting, but what had really appealed to her standards was the frankness he had projected. He had honestly been concerned with his family’s welfare and had approached her as a professional who would be able to help him. He also hadn’t tried to charm her like most men did, so she knew he was secure in himself and his love for his wife.

Now she saw that it was he who was the lucky one. There was something about this lady that touched her heart. Maria knew deep inside her that if she got the chance to know her that they’d be friends, and she wondered if that would happen.

Adam remained on the divan, grasping the child’s book in one hand while clutching a large fluffy panda bear with the other.

Maria smiled slightly as she took in the sight.

“Nikita” Michael began softly; addressing the blonde, “this is Chris Davenport, chief of security at Samtech Industries.”

Maria watched silently as the lovely blonde smiled politely and offered Monsieur Davenport her hand to shake while looking at him squarely in the eyes.

“Hello Mr. Davenport. I’m pleased to meet you.” she murmured shyly.

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Madame Samuelle.” Chris replied formally as he stared at the exquisite features of the gorgeous woman his boss had married.

Nikita Samuelle was not what he’d expected by a long shot, Chris decided, as he noted the shy adoring glances the lovely blonde directed towards her husband.

As he’d told Constable Viscano earlier, the security video had been grainy, so it hadn’t been possible to get a good look at the young blonde via that medium. Based on what Elena Samuelle had been like, Chris had come here today thinking to meet some dolled up bimbo who had mesmerized his boss and his friend.

Instead, he was pleased to discover a natural beauty who embodied all the positive things he saw as feminine. Nikita Samuelle’s lovely face was devoid of any artful additions and her honest-looking blue eyes looked levelly into his. She was dressed simply and that fact impressed Chris even more.

‘She’s apparently not the type to put on airs and try to impress others with her clothing.’ Chris thought in approval. ‘That bitch Elena was like that! Thank God Monsieur Samuelle found this lady!’

“Michael said you’d be in charge of the security for the party.” Nikita said quietly. “He also tells me you used to be a soldier.”

“That’s true, Madame Samuelle.” Chris admitted. “I was an officer in Israel with our peacekeepers there for several years. Don’t worry about the security at your party, I’ll make sure you’re protected.”

“I’m sure you will.” Nikita replied quietly as she looked at her husband lovingly. “Michael has complete confidence in you. That’s all that I need to know.”

‘They love each other… it’s obvious!’ Chris thought with a pleased smile as he glanced at Michel and nodded his head in pure male understanding of the adoring look on his employer’s face. ‘If I had a beauty like this of my own, I’d feel the same!’

In all the time he’d known him, Chris had found his boss to be extremely reserved. That didn’t seem to be the case now, and Chris was delighted to note that his boss seemed happy. ‘The man deserves this.’ Chris thought. ‘He’s always giving to local charities and making others happy… but until now, I don’t think he’s been happy himself.’

Chris snorted softly as he considered the reasons. ‘That bitch he used to be married to made his life a living hell. It’s so good to see how happy he seems now.’

Chris had always respected his boss, but he’d never been able to stomach his snooty East Indian wife or understand what he’d seen in her. Her unbearable contemptuous and condescending attitude had always unsettled him and it was obvious to him that his boss’ money had been her major focus. The woman had never been polite to him either and he’d been relieved when they’d divorced.

When he’d first heard that his boss had remarried, Chris had hoped that the good man he worked for had finally found a wife who loved and respected him. Now as he gazed at the couple before him, he was delighted to see that they plainly adored each other.

“And this” Michael said, continuing his introductions, “is Constable Maria Viscano. Constable Viscano is the officer who escorted Adam to Madeleine’s office.”

The blonde’s pleased expression deepened as she smiled warmly at Maria and grasped both her hands firmly. “I’m very pleased to meet you Constable Viscano. Thank you so much for everything you did for Adam that day.”

“It was nothing, Madame.” Maria replied modestly; warming to the blonde immediately. “I was just doing my job.”

“No,” Nikita replied emphatically. “You did more than that. Adam has told me all about his police lady friend. You made quite an positive impression on him.”

“What do you mean?” Maria asked curiously. In her mind, what she had done for Adam was what she would have done for any child.

“You stayed with him after you promised him you would. You protected him and made him feel safe.” Nikita replied quietly so that Adam wouldn’t hear. “His mother abandoned him and told him that neither she nor his father loved him.”

“I had no idea she’d said that to him.” Maria whispered in horror. “What a terrible thing to say to a child!”

“Yes, it was. Don’t you see though? When you took him to Madeleine, you gave him some hope.” Nikita reasoned.

“How?” Maria said, trying to understand.

“You told him you were his friend. He hasn’t had many of those. More importantly, however, you kept your word to him… right from letting him play with the siren to protecting him until you were sure who Madeleine was.” Nikita said sincerely. “I will always be grateful to you for that.”

“I don’t understand.” Maria replied. “How did that give him hope?”

“Hope… trust. They’re all very much the same.” Nikita explained quietly. “He put his trust in you because at the time, he didn’t have a choice. You didn’t let him down.”

“How was that important to him?”| Maria asked again, feeling somewhat confused. “I would have done the same for any child.”

“Yes, I believe you would.” Nikita said with a smile. “It was important. When people are cruel to you, it’s very important when you finally find some kindness. It gives you hope that maybe there are other kind people out there.”

Maria tilted her head considering the words she’d just heard. This Nikita sounded like she was speaking from experience. But who would have mistreated this lovely woman?

“You’re wondering who, aren’t you?” Nikita asked with a small, tired smile as her intelligent blue eyes connected with Maria’s dark ones.

“I am.” Maria confessed quietly.

“My mother for one.” Nikita admitted softly. “I know what I’m talking about.”

“I’m sorry.” Maria responded soberly. And she was. She’d come from a large, happy extended family and it bothered her every time she heard a story like this. ‘No child should be unloved,’ she thought fiercely. Sadly, she knew that her history was the anomaly, not Adam’s or Nikita’s.

Michael listened to the women speak and nodded at Nikita’s insight. Adam had not been give much reason to trust anyone in his short life and he knew he was partly to blame for that. This officer had started a healing process for Adam and had no doubt her simple dedication to what she saw as her duty had helped ease his fears. The fact that she had stayed with him until she was sure that Adam was in safe hands and the fact that she had treated him so lovingly meant a great deal to him. Now if they could convince her to become his bodyguard after the party, then he would have one less fear.

Chris too had listened to the women’s whispered conversation and had been impressed with Madame Samuelle’s logic. This lady seemed to have a large and loving heart as well as a comely appearance and he smiled to see how off kilter her argument had left the Constable. That told him a lot about her as well. The fact that she’d treated Adam so kindly and thought her behaviour wasn’t notable said that her character was probably much the same. He shook his head as he remembered the young man who had dumped her recently and wondered if the fool knew what he had lost.

‘Well,’ he thought hopefully, ‘maybe I can benefit from Laurent’s mistake. How could he dump such a beautiful lady?’

Turning then, Nikita beckoned Adam from the divan with a sweet smile.

“Adam sweetie,” Nikita coaxed, “come here and meet some friends.”

Maria watched in fascination as the shy little boy she remembered smiled endearingly, then ran to the blonde and hid behind her.

‘He loves her.’ Maria thought with a slight smile. ‘Children do not know how to fake affection.’

Chris was impressed as well. ‘I can certainly understand Adam falling for this lady… especially compared to his mother. That witch could never have inspired a smile like that.’ Thoughts of Elena made him shudder and he forced himself to push the past aside while focusing on the charming scene in front of him.

“Adam” Michael said gently, joining the conversation once more, “This is Monsieur Davenport. He works for Daddy.”

“Bonjour.” Adam whispered as he peeked from behind Nikita.

Chris grinned and crouched down to Adam’s level.
“Bonjour Adam. Comment ça va aujourd'hui ? ”

“Je vais bien, merci.” Adam replied.

“Adam…” Michael said with a grin, “English please. Mommy doesn’t understand French.”

‘Mommy?’ Davenport thought in surprise.

Maria’s brow rose in surprise as well. ‘She’s become “Mommy” already?’

“Sorry Monsieur Samuelle.” Chris said apologetically as he stood once more. “My fault.”

“Don’t worry about it Chris, you couldn’t know.” Michael replied and then he turned to grin at Nikita.

“Chris asked Adam how he was today and Adam said he was fine thank you.”

Nikita grinned as well. “You can’t blame him, Michael. It is his first language. I’ll just have to catch up.”

Michael nodded and then continued, “Adam, you remember Constable Viscano, don’t you? She’s the nice police lady who took you to Madeleine.”

Adam shook his head and continued to cling to Nikita’s leg.

“Adam” Nikita said with a smile as she turned slightly and crouched down to his eye level, “you told me all about your friend… the nice police lady. Don’t you remember? ”

Adam shook his head again.

“Adam, you remember me, don’t you?” Maria said softly as she too crouched down to look Adam in the eye. “Remember? You played with the police siren in my car and you sat on my lap in Madeleine’s office.”

Adam nodded this time, and Maria smiled at him and held out her hand while Nikita stood once more and slipped her arm around Michael’s waist. The two watched Adam to see what he’d do.

Tentatively, Adam put his hand in hers and Maria smiled slightly before she continued. “Remember? I told you to be a good boy for Madeleine and that I hoped I’d see you again.”

Adam nodded silently.

“Adam, would you like it if Constable Viscano came here one night and stayed with you?” Michael asked softly.

“Why Daddy?” Adam replied.

“Your Mommy and I have to attend a very important grownup party next week, and I wanted you to stay with your friend here so that you wouldn’t be sad.” Michael explained simply. “Would that be okay with you?”

“Will you be back Daddy?” Adam asked, nodding.

Nikita bit her lip and tried not to cry while Michael broke from her embrace to bend over and pick up his son, cuddling him lovingly.

Maria stood then and watched the affection between father and son while noting the tears gathering in the blonde’s crystal blue eyes.

“Of course I will, mon fils.” He replied in a husky voice. “I promise you that your Mommy and I will be here the morning after the party. Constable Viscano will stay here with you and put you to bed. When you wake up, we’ll both be here.”

Adam nodded solemnly while gazing into his father’s eyes. Then he squirmed and reached toward Nikita. With a slight smile, she gently took him out of his father’s arms and cuddled him tightly.

‘I promise you too, Adam.’ Chris thought as he felt tears rising in his own eyes. Briefly he wondered how this lady had cracked his normally iron façade and he blinked frantically so that he wouldn’t embarrass himself. ‘What did that witch do to this kid? No matter. Nothing is going to happen to either his Daddy or his “Mommy”! Not on my watch!’
~~~~~~~~~

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Forum timezone: GMT-5
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.