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: 21:14:18 06/22/08 Sun
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: port135.dialup.bfree.on.ca / 66.207.116.135
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 153
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods" on 18:45:27 04/19/08 Sat

Chapter 153

Maurice was shocked beyond words at this turn of events. He had known Michel for many years and had never seen the man this upset. He’d never heard anyone speak to his daughter or anyone else this way either.

“You’re no different from any other man Michel.” Claire continued disdainfully, stunned at his apparent rejection, but refusing to back down in front of everyone. “She’s ‘pretty’ and you’re attracted to her; but she’s not one of *us*. She’ll never fit in here. Sooner or later she’ll realize that too. Then she’ll run home to Toronto… if you don’t get bored with her first. I can’t imagine what either of you have in common… so sex must be the extent of it. When you realize that, you’ll come running back to me.”

“No.. to me.” Veronique said sharply as she glared at her ‘friend’.

“I doubt that.” Michael snorted; staring contemptuously at both women. “Claire… I’m not even going to dignify your comments with a reply. You always were a crude person and this just proves it. My wife loves me and I love her. I’m well aware of the difference between her and the two of you.”

“See?” Claire said scornfully. “You’re seeing the difference between her and us already.”

“I’ve always seen that Claire. My wife is a lady while you and Veronique are nothing but common tramps dressed in designer clothing.” Michael said bluntly.

The crowd gasped in horror and this comment, but strained to ‘hear’ more of this conversation.

“Why do you think I left Montreal?” Michael queried. “I couldn’t stomach any of you any longer.”

The crowd gasped again and breathlessly waited for the handsome billionaire to continue. The newspaper reporters feverously made notes, and the photographers ruthlessly captured shocked and scowling countenances to be scruntized later.

“Michel!” both women gasped in unison.

“How could you say that chérie?” Veronique demanded.

“I don’t believe it! How dare you say something like that to me!” Claire protested.

“How dare I tell the truth? Leaving here was the best thing I’ve ever done.” Michael growled.

“Michel… chérie… you’ll *must* reconsider.” Veronique replied stubbornly. “After all… you’re *French*….”

“Yes I’m French…so what? And I don’t *have* to do a damned thing Veronique! Neither of you give a damn about me… so don’t pretend otherwise. Both of you are nothing but money hungry bitches! Your so called ‘distinctiveness’ and ‘breeding’ is a farce!”

“Michel!” Maurice began firmly; finally rediscovering his ability to speak. “I’m sorry, but I don’t appreciate you speaking to my daughter that way!”

“Maurice,” Michael said quietly. “I don’t appreciate anything that’s happened here in the last few minutes. This is a party for my wife and your daughter and her *friend* are determined to spoil it. I’m sorry if this upsets you, but Veronique started this. I warned her not to approach me as if I were her lover, but she won’t listen.”

“But Michel..” a shocked Maurice interjected. “You must have misunderstood. She couldn’t have meant that.”

“Really Maurice?” Michael said as he dropped his voice lower so that only the man next to him could hear. “Then ask her why when we met the other day at La Trattoria that she suggested that we could resume our relationship. She knew then I was married; in fact, to quote her… “your wife doesn’t need to know”. It’s obvious by her behaviour tonight that she means to continue with this subject.”

“How long ago was this?” Maurice gasped.

“About a week ago now.” Michael retorted sharply. He was beyond livid by now. “Chuck, Chris and my new security man Willie were there. You can ask them if you don’t believe me… they heard every word.”

Maurice’s eyes widened in horror. “Veronique,” he said as he dragged his daughter to one side and whispered insistently in her ear, “did you proposition Michel the other day at lunch?”

“Papa… it’s not like that.” Veronique whined. “I just asked him to call me.”

“He told me what you said daughter. ‘His wife didn’t need to know?’ Mon Dieu! You don’t ask a married man to call you Veronique!” Maurice hissed. “It’s just not *done*!”

“But I want him Papa.” Veronique stubbornly protested with the pout that had always melted his heart when she was a child.

Veronique, however was no child and Maurice was not buying it. He’d been of the opinion for some time now that his daughter needed to grow up.

‘Does she think I’m that gullible?’ he thought in disgust. ‘Who is this person?’

“You can’t *have* him. He’s *married*.” Maurice ground out, incensed beyond words. “He’s right.. you know *nothing* about class! Michel’s my boss and you’re shaming me in front of him and everyone else here.”

“I also will not tolerate anyone insulting my wife.” Michael continued. “I’m sorry Maurice, but I warned her.. and I’m sure she told Claire about my warning too. I’m going to give them both twenty minutes to apologize. If they refuse, my security people are going to escort them out of here.”

Maurice nodded. ‘Michel’s being more than fair. This is embarrassing, but I totally understood his point of view. Veronique’s out of line, but I hope she’ll calm down and apologize. I can’t see it happening any time soon though. She’s never listened to reason before and right now, her *friend* here is leading her into further rudeness.’

Nikita may not have understood the heated French conversation swirling around her, but she could read Michael’s furious face and she noted the security guards closing in on the women in front of them. Both lovely women were glaring at her but she was reassured by Michael’s strong arm around her waist.

“Michael?” she whispered softly, interrupting the unintelligible conversation around her.

“Oui chérie?” Michael said quietly as he gazed at her adoringly.

“May I speak to you alone for a minute please my love?” she asked quietly.

“Of course.” Michael said with a slight nod of agreement.

This unexpected interruption and Michel’s complete turnabout in demeanour slightly stunned the society women before them.

“If you’ll excuse us for a minute?” Michael said politely in French. “While we’re gone, you two might want to think about how you’re going to word your apology to my wife.”

“You can’t be serious!” Claire protested again. “There’s not a chance in Hell that I’m going to apologize to this… this…”

“I think the term you’re searching for is *lady*”. Michael stated softly. “I know it’s a foreign one to you Claire, but you’d be wise to listen just the same. I will not back down on this.”

That said, he and Nikita retreated to the side of the room away from all their guests. Once there, Nikita looked into her husband’s eyes and got right to the point.

“I’m sorry Michael.” She said softly.

“For what?” a confused Michael replied.

“Those women… they’re both upset. I shouldn’t have said anything to Veronique. I’m not sure what’s happening here… but I feel like I started this.” Nikita replied contritely.

“That’s ridiculous.” Michael replied firmly. “You had every right to confront Veronique. She had no right to say what she did that day and all you did was make her realize that you knew the situation and that you trust me.”

“I do Michael. You know that.” Nikita replied with a soft smile.

Wordlessly, Michael squeezed Nikita’s hand.

“Who is that very upset redhead Michael?” Nikita asked.

“Claire Boulanger.” Michael said with a sigh. “I dated her at one time too.”

“I see. Neither of them like me, do they?” she asked sadly; returning the pressure on his hand.

“No, they don’t.” Michael said honestly. The sadness in her beloved blue eyes hit the very core of his being and he felt like a knife was being twisted in his gut. ‘How could anyone not like this lady?’ “But it’s not you Kita; it would have been anyone I’d married.”

“I understand that. Are you kicking them out?” she asked quietly.

“If they refuse to apologize, then yes, I am.” Michael replied just as softly.

“Apologize?” Nikita asked, confused.

“They not only don’t like you chérie… they’ve been insulting you.” Michael admitted reluctantly. “I won’t stand for it. They either apologize or I’m kicking them out.”

“Michael.. it’s okay. I can’t be insulted if I didn’t understand what they’ve been saying.” Nikita reasoned.

“I understood what they said Kita and so did everyone else within earshot. No.. they either apologize or they’re going to be seen to the door.” Michael said stubbornly. “You’re my wife… and I won’t tolerate this abuse from them or anyone else.”

“What if I asked you not to?” Nikita inquired curiously.

“Why would you want to do that chérie?” he asked in tender concern. “They want to upset you.”

“They can’t do that if I refuse to give them that power Michael.” Nikita argued. “Let me see if I can reason with them.”

“I’m sorry chérie, but I can’t do that.” Michael said quietly. “I’ve already made my views known, and I can’t back down now.”

‘I wish I could… but if I did I’d lose the respect of everyone here. It’s so hard to turn her down …. especially since I know she just wants to see if she can make peace with those two witches!’ Michael thought sadly.

“You’re right.” Nikita immediately nodded obediently in agreement. She saw his sadness instantly and knew she was the cause. ‘I still wish I hadn’t said anything… no matter what he says… I feel this is all my fault. I should have just let him handle things and not said anything to Veronique.’ “I’m sorry Michael. You do what you feel you must.”

“Thank you Kita.” Michael said, amazed and delighted at her compliance. Most women he’d known before would have harped at him to change his mind.
“I’m practicing for the baby, Michael.” Nikita said with a soft smile as she correctly interpreted his confusion. “We’ll have to present an united front with our little one, won’t we?”

“We will.” Michael said with a tender smile. “And you’re right. These women are acting like children, so I suppose we’ll have to treat them that way.”

“Michael!” a wide-eyed Nikita protested, “I never said that. All I meant is that I’m willing to follow your lead in this. After all, you know these people and I don’t.”

“I know what you meant Kita… and thank you.” Michael said softly.

“For what?” Nikita asked curiously.

“For understanding that I have to do what I said I’d do.” Michael replied. “It means a lot to me.”

“Michael,” Nikita said, puzzled by his response, “why wouldn’t I understand? You’re my husband and I love you. If I did anything else it would make you look bad, and I’d never want to do that.”

“That means a lot to me too, Kita.” Michael replied softly, while his eyes glowed with admiration for her understanding. “I’ll deal with these two and then we’ll get on with our evening.”

“Okay Michael.” Nikita replied. “I trust your judgment on this.”

Wordlessly Michael conveyed his gratitude for her support by gently squeezing her hand as he quietly led her back to the fuming tarts that awaited.

Their guests were still gathered where they’d left them, however neither Veronique nor Claire had calmed down very much. They interpreted the couple’s conference to mean that Nikita was swaying Michael’s opinion against them. Their arrogance refused to let them see that they’d already done that completely on their own.

Michael nodded at Willie, and he in turn nodded to the “bouncers” who’d tried reasoning with the society belles earlier.

Each woman shrieked when the men gently grasped their
elbow to steer them out of the room.

“She’s done this!” Veronique growled in Nikita’s direction.

“Wrong.” Michael’s soft voice interrupted.

Before he could say another word, a silent, but furious Claire swiftly pivoted towards Nikita and threw the remnants of her glass of Chateau Margaux all over the front of her beautiful raspberry coloured dress. There was a horrified gasp from the assemblage, and Nikita looked down, stunned to see that the costly red wine was causing an almost black stain to spread all over the front of her satin gown.

“Oh Michael! My beautiful dress! It’s ruined!” Nikita gasped, and then the tears sprang to her shocked aegean eyes. “I’m so sorry Michael… everything’s ruined!”

‘She’s sorry? She didn’t do anything!’ Michael thought as a thunderous wave of wrath roared through him. ‘How dare they! Veronique was just plain rude… but Claire? She has a lot to answer for!’

“Kita! It’s alright chérie!” Michael said softly trying to calm her and finally unable to, he watched helplessly as his wife fled the room in tears.

‘There!’ Claire thought in triumph. ‘I’ve done what I can, now the rest is up to Jurgen’s men! I hope he has fun with her because I doubt Michel will want her back when he’s finished!’

[ 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.