Bella's Choice (38 page)

“Then, I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, sir. It’s been a long time since Pauline,
three years to be exact.”

“Is it that long already?”

Aldrich confirmed it with a simple nod of the head; fixated on the pool, not wanting to miss any movement. Mr. Copeland was still talking, but more to himself, for Aldrich didn’t hear him so absorbed was he with Anabella. She had made him whole again. He felt alive and part of something bigger than himself. To think he’d almost lost her… the mere thought left him paralyzed for a few seconds, and he had to take a few deep breaths to calm his thoughts.

He still couldn’t believe Chaney’s delusional arrogance, and that she’d honestly thought he’d been interested in her. She had been willing to kill for him. He shook his head in disbelief. How could she have thought he’d returned her feelings, and that Anabella was simply an obstacle that had to be removed? He remembered her pleading with him, which turned into anger, when he hadn’t collaborated her story with the police.

Protectively, he watched the young woman in the pool, hidden in the watery waves as she moved with ease, a woman who had became his life. Every fiber within him was ready to be available whenever she needed him. The past week had been difficult without her, so much so, he’d barely concentrated on work and had been reprimanded by the senior partner when he went to his office one night. His lack of focus had almost cost them a case. He had had no choice but to draw himself out of the slump he was in after that. The demanding case needed his undivided attention, and the client deserved a good defense.

When he’d called Anabella during the week, he heard her longing for him. He’d had to restrain himself from getting in his car and coming to join her, forcing himself to concentrate harder, finishing the court case quickly in order to be here. He was glad he’d come when he did, because if he hadn’t, he’d surely have lost her. Aldrich wouldn’t have been able to live with it, yet again. It’s true what he’d told her; he wanted her close so that he could protect her from any evil, which all but seemed to follow her around these past few months.

“There’s a dance tonight, will you be coming?” Mr. Copeland asked with interest, drawing his attention once again to the present. “While her friends were here, she didn’t join the dance. I think she missed you too much, but maybe tonight you can bring her?”

“
No, not tonight.” And he winked conspiratorially to him.

With this, Anabella reached for the side of the pool and hung onto the edge, ending her practice for the day. She barely looked out of breath, her eyes sparkling with the adrenaline that coursed through her veins as she looked at him. She removed the goggles and then waved unabashedly at him. With one smooth motion, she was out of the pool. She sat on the edge and removed the cap from her hair, which tumbled down onto her shoulders.

Aldrich would never get tired of that dark avalanche cascading down her shoulders. He excused himself from his visitor and walked toward her, offering a hand, which she gladly accepted. He lifted her up and into him, laughing as he wrapped his arms around her, drenching himself in the process.

“Come here, gorgeous,” he said proudly, “you are an excellent swimmer. Perfection in motion.”

She grinned at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her smile mesmerizing him once again.

He’d never get tired of watching her smile. “How do you feel?”

“Excellent!” she beamed, not sounding tired at all. “But I am hungry.” She laughed at his silly expression and gave him a hug.

He barely noticed the wetness, the heat of the day already warming them. The swim had done her a world of good, he observed, and last night’s incident hadn’t left its mark on her. She was one tough woman, one who’d had to endure a great deal the last few months, and he knew he’d have to keep a watchful eye on her. She was good at hiding her true feelings. “Then we need to fill your tummy up,” he concluded, pulling her away from the pool toward the house.

“Bye, Mr. Copeland,” they said in unison, walking away hand in hand.

Back at the house they
baked eggs, grilled bacon, and made toast. Anabella was already on her third glass of orange juice, drenching the thirst that normally followed after practice. She’d changed from her swimming costume to a red bikini top and white shorts, leaving nothing to the imagination as she paraded in front of him on bare feet. Long legs graced the kitchen when she darted around, which made Aldrich struggle to keep his focus on what they were doing. Her enticing body distracted him and he smiled knowingly. She was a picture of youthfulness and health. Everything about her captivated him.

“Aldi… what about my parents?”

It took him a moment to understand the question she was asking before he replied with a raised brow. “What about them?” He looked up from the tomato he was about to cut into slices.

“I am under age. We will need their permission.”

He tapped against his briefcase, still in the same chair he’d left it on yesterday and smiled arrogantly. “It’s covered. I have the permission documents, already signed.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“You’re perfect,” she sighed as she gave him a warm kiss, making him chuckle when he continued with the tomato.

“But, how did you managed to get it?” Anabella wanted to know once they finished with breakfast.

He hesitated to tell her, the appalling event still fresh in his mind.

Thursday at 1pm, Aldrich stopped at the address he received from
Roy. Luxurious cars were parked in front of the house. It was situated in an upper, middle-class neighborhood with a well-cared-for garden, the overall image speaking of money and class. Anabella never talked about her parents or their home life, and because she avoided the conversation he’d never asked.

The place looked impressive from the outside. It was large and stretched out over the huge grounds; painted in dark mocha colo
rs with enormous vases in front. The fountain obscured the front door so that you couldn’t see it at first. He walked up to massive, wooden doors that presented visitors with two bronze lion heads with rings sticking out of their mouths―which he presumed were the knockers―and taking one in his hand, knocked. A few minutes passed. In fact, Aldrich thought they hadn’t heard him and was about to knock again when the door opened.

“Hello,” he greeted the casually dressed man, “I’m here to speak to Jason Anthony
.”

“One moment please, sir,” the man said gruffly. His disheveled hair and uneven button-up shirt told Aldrich he’d been disturbed. He disappeared around the corner but returned a few minutes later. Brusquely, he said, “Mr. Anthony will see you now. Follow me, please.”

A large, tiled foyer greeted him, gleaming in the sun, and a big bronze chandelier hung from the roof, filling the space decoratively. Directly beneath it, a large, wooden round table sat proudly with a massive flower arrangement dead center. An impressive staircase wrapped in a thick, red carpet led the way upstairs.

From there, they entered the next room; voices filtered through. Aldrich took a few steps inside and stopped. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight before him. A semi-naked, elderly couple stood there, disheveled and unashamedly wrapped around naked bodies. The man, the one who had answered the door, spoke to them loud enough so that he’d be heard. More people were present in the room, but Aldrich chose not to focus on them.

“This is the gentleman who’s asked to see you.”

The couple dragged themselves from the arms holding them and curiously looked toward him; both admiring his tall frame with interest, an interest that left him cold, especially evident in the older man’s eyes. Aldrich shivered in disgust, averting his eyes to the woman.

Arrogantly, she walked to him, teasing him with a soft smile on her swollen lips, her hips swaying provocatively. He had no idea where to look because of her state of undress. Naked breasts that had clearly seen a knife peeked from the unbuttoned, lacey shirt, making him uncomfortable. Her annoyance was palpable when she didn’t receive the attention she was used to. With every step she took, her mouth became a bitter sneer, and the eyes lifeless and unwavering as she stared at him. The closer she got, his surety grew that this had to be Anabella’s mother. She was just an older version, arrogantly beautiful but with no traces of the innocence, or sweetness that was part of Anabella. The similarities were too much to be ignored, though, and having to see her in this state was inappropriate.

His future mother-in-law wasn’t leaving him with a good impression, and he had to fight the urge to keep his emotions under control. He wanted to lean forward and button her up, but that would be wrong on so many levels. Especially with all eyes now riveted on him, he felt like a caged animal, ready to be devoured in lust.

When Anabella had told him what took place in her house, he couldn’t imagine it, but here, right in front of him, eight people were in a sexual position stimulating each other. He had no idea where to look and kept his gaze trained on the woman’s eyes now standing right in front of him.

“My name is Sandra. In connection with what are you here for?” Her irritation apparent as she talked in a hushed tone.

He quickly stated his business without offering his hand in a normal greeting. “Hello. My name is Aldrich Hagin, and I’m here to acquire your permission for Anabella’s hand in marriage.” Disgust dripped from every pore as he watched his sweetheart’s mother, her face contorted in an ugly grin.

“Hmph, that high and mighty thing? She is so uptight she can give a man nothing. She is dull and unimaginative.”

By this time, shock had replaced anger. Aldrich’s blood was boiling. How dare she speak about his Bella in this manner? What kind of mother was she? He mentally reprimanded himself. He knew exactly what kind she was; he’d seen the evidence on Bella. His hand clenched.

His attention was then drawn to the elderly man when he said to the blond with very large breasts, “Wait, Candy, I will be right back.” He patted her on the breast, and unashamed of his own nakedness came closer, his attention on Aldrich.

“So you want to get our permission to marry our daughter,” he snickered, “that’s a laugh.”

“Yes, sir.” Aldrich forced himself to only say those two words. He had to restrain himself in order to be civil to them. “I’ve brought the paperwork for you to sign.”

“So… did you knock her up?”

“No, sir. I
love Anabella.”

“Well, well. You heard the wife―she’s very uptight. Has never wanted to learn anything from us. How she’ll perform in bed, I can only marvel at. The things we’d have taught her...” he trailed off, sighing heavily, as if he was ridding himse
lf of a huge weight. “Only my money was good enough for her.” He looked back toward the blond, lust written all over his features. Suddenly bored with the conversation, he finally said, “Oh, well. Where’s the paperwork?”

The blond was calling him, curling a lock of blond hair around her finger as she provocatively swayed her body in his direction. “I am cold, lover!”

“I’ll be right there, Candy. Gary, keep her busy!” he commanded playfully, and the man who’d opened the door moved forward and crushed his lips to hers, his hands caressing her more than ample breasts while she moaned and pulled at his buttons.

Aldrich swallowed hard, because the result was playing havoc with his own body. He was no saint, he knew that, and watching and hearing everything around him, while containing a stiff posture, was hard on him. Breathing alone was difficult; sexual scents hung heavy in the air. But, years of learning how to maintain control in court allowed him to hand over the paperwork with a steady hand.

“Here it is, sir.” He knew he had to get out of there as soon as possible, so handed Mr. Anthony a pen to sign and forced his gaze on the papers, although his hands formed a barrier in front of his crotch due to the visual stimulation, which had caused his body to respond.

Mr. Anthony signed and turned around without a second glance in his direction. His total lack of concern as to the whereabouts of his only daughter troubled Aldrich greatly. She had now been gone from the house for a week, and he hadn’t bothered to ask after her. H
e had shown absolutely no interest whatsoever.

The blond was obviously more appealing, Aldrich and the paperwork already forgotten. The couple’s carelessness left him cold, but he could now understand Anabella’s refusal to set foot in this place. He stuffed the papers into his jacket pocket, excused himself to the older woman who’d already moved on, and as quickly as his feet could carry him walked out of the house. He opened and closed the door behind him with a deliberate action, shutting out the things he’d seen.