THE DEAL: Novel (30 page)

They had a very cheerful lunch, enjoying each other immensely. Carolina’s sons made many questions to their mother and to JP about their future and about the future of the babies. Toward the end of lunch JP rose his glass of fresh orange juice, surprising everyone with the news that was about to reveal:

"I want to thank you for your wonderful presence making my wife and your mother a very happy woman today.

I admit that our start was not the best, and I apologize for the stupid way I acted with your mother, but I want to and I intend to make her always the happiest woman for the rest of our lives.

The babies to be honest they come at the best time of my life, being able to give all the attention I desire because I just sold my business and I am ready to embrace and enjoy fatherhood 100%."

They clapped their hands with his speech and Carolina was surprised because he kept the company selling a secret from her. JP paused for a moment, took a sip of the juice and kept looking just to Carolina.

"I want to finish by saying that you are the woman I love and want for the rest of my life, and I will treat and protect your children as if they were mine. So I will do a fund to pay for their school and help them to settle a business and giving them a house to each one, when they finish studies"

Carolina’s sons began talking at all once, thanking and saying they didn’t need because they already had a fund on their behalf, their future was completely assured by her mother. JP looks confused and surprised at Carolina. Carolina was moved by JP’s attitude, she didn’t know what to say, but now was the right time for her to reveal the whole truth to JP. She gets up and gives him a kiss on the cheek, not yet felt comfortable to kiss him on the lips in front of the boys and got back to sit down.

"Love, I need to tell you something important, my sons already have a fund, I made one for each which they use to pay for college. In fact they will inherit my father's international empire of companies in several areas, rated previous year at around 800.000.000€"

JP was surprised, he thought Carolina had no personal fortune, she was a woman who lived so simply and realistically, rarely abused expensive labels, but walked always impeccably dressed. He thought it was because she didn’t have economic power to do so and after all she was the daughter of an international business tycoon.

Now he understood why she was never interested in his money, or never asked about it or for it.

But still, he found her so different from all the other wealthy women he had known who after half an hour talking to them they showed up with empty content not to mention the numerous plastic surgeries that were subject to look perfect, and only made them look ridiculous, and most of the times they looked like walking hangers displaying fortunes full of expensive jewellery. For him, Carolina showed a natural beauty that doesn’t need any improvement and she never flaunt wealth but knew how to be refined without displaying anything. She can do everything at home and she never had the need to do it. Worked as an ordinary mortal and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty if necessary to work, she was a genuine woman, sophisticated, intelligent, personable and very sexy.

"After all this time, you knew that I was wealthy but you never told me you were as well, why?! You are probably richer than I am?!"

"Well I have some money yes, 50% from the companies from my father are mine and I inherited my mother's part which I used for my sons fund and for emergencies, I bought the top floor apartment in London and have a house with garden and pool with sea view in Portugal for holiday, these are really the only assets I own. I like living in the reality on day-a-day, love working because it makes me valued and held as a woman and human being. I like knowing that I have money for emergencies and for my little extravagancies, sometimes I like to spend money in nice things too, I’m no different than all others. Another thing I love to do is travel whenever I feel like and when I travel, I like to do it in style and only 5stars and above, that’s the only time I like to feel stinky rich. But I never wanted to educate my children in a bubble but I want them to value and respect people and learn money’s worth”

Carolina tried to explain to him as honestly as she could. The eldest son Alex confirmed running to the mother’s support when he saw JP surprised.

"True, we can live comfortably forever, but our mother always educated us in order to appreciate the simple things in life and to have the feet on the ground.

Our mother is rich, yes, but she limits us in allowances, we need to study and work like any other person to have the right to earn things we want.

It is true that we will most likely end up working in the family business, we are privileged to study in the best universities of London but at least we have higher education because we strive for it, we have to be the best if we want to be on top."

Alex said looking at JP, as if he felt obliged to defend his mother. He continued:

"My mother could have offered me a car when I turned 18, but chose not to because she thought I had to work to deserve it, so I only will receive the car after I finish college, which fortunately is already this year."

Alex said smiling. The environment at the start of the conversation was a little tense, but quickly dissipated, continuing happily to talk in the living room, they saw a movie together. Carolina made sweet popcorn to eat while watching the movie. The boys ended up staying for dinner, leaving immediately afterwards to go out with friends. Carolina and JP went with the boys to the entrance door say goodbye thanking for the day to both, JP promised to repeat the enjoyable day soon.

When they went up to the bedroom Carolina was happy for the day but exhausted despite having done nothing special but to cook for the men in her life. She had the feeling that the conversation they had at the table during lunchtime was not over yet, and she was right, as soon JP caught her alone with him, he returned to talk about it:

"I don’t understand Carolina, why haven’t you told me that you were rich?"

"To be honest I never thought it was necessary, but I also don’t understand why you think it's important"

"You're right it’s not, I was just surprised that's all. You could tell me when I offered you money for the divorce and you never did."

"I could have told you, but I never did, at first because I didn’t want you to see me as another one of your little rich friends prancing filled with air in their head, it was bad enough for me to assimilate everything you were telling me all the time. But then when things started to change, I never felt the need to tell you either."

He approaches her, getting ahead, giving her a hug and kissing her.

"Come here my wealthy woman"

He said dropping a laugh, pushing her slowly looking into her eyes becoming suddenly serious, kissing her passionately, forcing her to lie down on the bed dressed. He lies down on top of her, feeling JP’s body on her, she trembles slightly, feeling his passionate kisses, his scent so characteristic that she wanted 24 hours a day, every day, she felt the happiest woman in world. She never thought they could ever understand each other, and now the reality was that they loved each other deeply, they were happy and were going to be parents within months. Now she just wanted to enjoy the happiness at most, she wants it for the rest of her life because she has never been in love with a man like she is for JP and thinking that he could never ever love her and now he can.

But when they got to know each other and when JP was forced to meet the real Carolina, he started to change slowly his mind, at start he couldn’t admit that he was starting to feel an intense attraction for her and slowly grew into love, because they kept spending time together. If they had continued switching messages, he would never start thinking and caring about Carolina, because he would never allow spending enough time with her to get to know her for real, he had so many women around  him that he was to blind to her.

But now the feeling was mutual, he loved Carolina intensely, found in her the woman he was seeking in his life, at the beginning he didn’t want to see, but now he loves her more every day if that could be possible. He had no doubt it was with her he wanted to spend the rest of his life. He could no longer see their lives without each other, he loved the taste of Carolina from the outset, but only became aware after having fallen in love with her and now he kisses her always with love and desire to feel in all its fullness, he has no doubt that she is his alone and no one else, it brings him peace at home and he loves to return home every day to be with and to embrace her.

They kissed for a long time, enjoying, increasing the will to love, he was always ready for her and she for him, but JP liked to prolong desire in a delicious agony for release with foreplays. With all time in the world JP’s undresses Carolina completely, forcing her to continue lay with her belly up to caress her belly lightly passing with his hand and kissing repeatedly.

"Hello babies, daddy is here, and daddy will spoil you like crazy" said to Carolina’s belly.

She bursts out laughing JP could sometimes be so amazing.

"Mummy hope she will not have problems with the babies education only because daddy want to spoil them to pieces"

"My dear, you already know I will spoil them, I'm sure you'll give them an excellent education as you did with your sons that are a real example, but I'll spoil them like crazy. And I want pampering yourself too"

He said cheerfully to her lying beside Carolina with his head resting in his palm, looking at her as he stroked her belly.

"Oh I'll have a lot of headaches with you"

Said Carolina sighing.

"I love you so much and you make me feel so happy"

JP drops a kiss on her forehead and one on the lips.

"You know what we could do now that you're still in early pregnancy? Travel the world for about three months"

Carolina looks at him with disapproval, but without being convincing enough.

"Only you to suggest something like that. We can travel, but we will not leave London for 3 whole months are we? We can go for about 2 weeks and return 1 week, and then we will go again. What do you think?"

"I think that’s an excellent idea as always Mrs Bennett. When do you have the next appointment with the doctor?"

"In about two weeks"

"Great, it gives me time to plan the trip during the next 2 weeks and travel later. But before we go on vacation I would like to give a wedding party, do you think you can have your family here in two weeks? Please think where would you like to go for a few weeks on holiday?"

"Well, my family is my father and my boys, I am not very close to the rest of my family, they never invited me to their weddings. But I have some friends who I would like to invite if you don’t mind, they are just 9 or 10 I don’t have many friends in London. Altogether I can remember of not more than 10 friends, my father and my two children. 13 people in all, it's simple."

He embraces her fondly staying for a while in silence. Then he says:

"I have some relatives who I would like to invite, and my half-brother. I have a few close friends and thousands social friends, but let's keep the party as small and intimate as possible, in maximum 50 people in total, what do you think?"

She turns to him, put her head in her palm, supporting the body with the arm, and in the same position as JP was already, facing him. She started caressing his body, passing through his soft hairy chest which she loves so much.

"I think that’s about perfect, love of my life"

"Thank you so much love of my life and thank you for never having given up on me, thank you for making me see the woman you are and thank you for making me see that you were the ideal woman for me"

She smiled at him a little embarrassed but genuinely happy that she had been chosen to the woman in JP’s life.

"Where would you like to go on holidays? We will have a second wedding, now that we want each other"

At the same time he looked at her eyes with those intense blue eyes that made her melt inside. As they spoke, they were caressing each other, though they needed to feel each other, they extended the desire with chatting and brief kisses. Carolina looks thoughtful to JP and then says slowly, measuring her words:

"Do you think it would be very odd if we returned to the island for a few days?!"

He took a moment to think about what he had just heard and finally said:

"I have a friend who has a very unique island and he usually rent’s it"

"Is it that friend of yours by any chance a billionaire?" She asks curious.

"Yes, it's Richard Bronson. Do you know him?"

"Only from the television, and I've seen his island online once it looks absolutely wonderful"

"Deal, we will spend the weekend there because I have other plans for us, but I will just say it to you when we get there, it'll be a surprise"

"I like your surprises"

Confess Carolina and in craving for pregnancy desire she chances the subject.

"Do you know what I crave right now?!"

"Hmmm we have a mom with desires?! What does my wonderful wife fancy?"

"Ice Cream, but is in the freezer downstairs"

She informs him without feeling strength enough to get it downstairs.