Hotel Orienno Haven
" Mayi I am sure Theodore really has the I- am- going -to -kidnap -you -and -do -highly- R rated- things expression but you don't need to be so scared hun. I am sure you can manage him" Daniel joked seeing Mayi's shocked look.
When no response came from her he sensed something wrong and traced her line of vision. Her eyes seemed to be glued to a man standing two steps behind Theodore. He appeared to be in his early fifties and looked quiet handsome for his age. He was smirking at Mayi.
" What is he doing here? " Mayi said finding her voice.
" Is he trouble?" Daniel asked catching her tone of voice which contained both fear and anger .
" More than trouble " Mayi replied anger replacing shock on her beautiful face "Excuse me , I need to find my brother"
Giving a hazy smile to Dan she walked away in search of her brother and also her sister. She saw Victoria and Jessica standing near the entrance to the buffet hall and sighed in relief. They were out of the man's line of sight and she needed to get them out of the party soon. She wondered when the man got back to town.
" Brandon " Mayi called out to her brother who was busy talking with a pretty brunette. He looked up with a smile which vanished at the sight of her face.
" Mayi what's wrong?" he asked
" Where you concealing the fact that Thomas Ashton is back?" Mayi shot straight to the point.
Brandon's split second hesitation confirmed her suspicion.
" How long have you known this? " Mayi asked closing hee eyes to control her temper.
" A while now but how did you find out?" Brandon asked frowning as to how the news got out.
"He is here" Mayi stated.
" WHAT?" Brandon's shout caught many of the guests attention
" Keep your voice down Brandon and think of a way to get Mom and Jess out of here" Mayi said taking her brother's hand and walking towards Victoria and Jessica.
" What about you and the party? Won't people" Brandon began
" I don't give a damn about this party but I can't leave it Brandon! I just don't want Mom and Jess meeting him Brandon. You know what Jess went through and you know what he told the last time we met. I am not having her hurt again. Tell Mom the truth and just get them out of here" Mayi said looking at her brother.
Brandon was still worried for his youngest sister. But he had to agree that she had a point. Jessica was more important right now.
" Be with Theodore" Brandon said to Mayi. Before she could protest he said " I know you can take care of yourself and you are grown up. But do this for us. If you are with him I will know you are safe"
" My my you kids are quiet grown up" a taunting voice made Mayi whip around. Brandon stepped a little ahead of her.
" What are you doing here Ashton?" Brandon voice sounded low and dangerous.
" Ah! The boy has grown into a man" Thomas Ashton levered.
" Brandon go! I will deal with him. He is my guest after all" Mayi gave him sneering smile.
Brandon was about to refuse when he saw Theo walking towards them. He decided that his sister was safe now.
" Call me soon Mayi. I am leaving with them." he said placing a kiss on his sister's cheek. Mayi nodded her eyes still fixed on Thomas Ashton 's steel grey ones.
" Sending away the precious Jessica are we? " Thomas asked his eyes glinting with malice.
Before Mayi could reply a hand encircled her waist. She looked up into the chiseled face of Theodore Sinclair.
" Is everything all right? " he asked in a pleasant tone while fixing his gaze on the man before him.The man was smiling but without emotion. His eyes were quiet blank.
" Off course it is Mr. Sinclair , I was just getting acquainted with your beautiful wife" Thomas Ashton said in a perfectly cordial voice.
" Off course " Mayi agreed her eyes hardening.
Theodore sensed the tension between them. He did not know what their history was but was sure from his wife's arctic gaze that she held the man before them at fault and wished him no good. He had been introduced to Thomas Ashton by his mother a while earlier. His mother's friends usually belonged to the cream of the society and Ashton was no different. Other than that and the fact that his cordiality was an act like many among the elite Theodore found nothing remarkable in the man.
" I should be going then the newly weds might want to be left alone" Thomas smiled at them. He gave a smile to both and a cold glare to Mayi before walking away.
" What was all that about? " Theo asked noticing the look.
" A chapter I thought closed has been opened once again" Mayi commented quietly confusing Theo though he knew better than to ask. Mayi was not one to share her problems with strangers and he was just a little better than stranger.
Stranger who kissed her he thought to himself. All of a sudden he was aware of his hand resting on her bare waist. He noticed the smoothness of the skin and sure enough his nerves came alive at the moment.
Great job Theodore Sinclair! , you are more hormonal than a pregnant woman he reprimanded himself.
At the moment Mayi came back to her surroundings. She gently moved away from Theo. Looking around she sighed " I wish the party would end. I really would like to get home."
For a moment Theo saw vulnerability in her alluring black eyes. It was a fleeting moment but one that nonetheless created a protective feeling in him. Hiranmayi Blair was strong but inside her was also a soft and perhaps a little fragile woman.
" We can leave if you want to." Theodore offered.
" Your mother would not approve and the guests might take offense. Anyway many of them are leaving. I guess the party won't be for long" Mayi replied with a smile.
" Aren't you hungry? I did not see you taking any refreshments" Theo observed.
" I guess I was too busy pretending to be Mrs. Theodore Sinclair" Mayi replied.
" Legally you are" Theo said " So don't take too much stress. Even if anyone goes snooping they will find everything in order. That this is a deal is between us , my sister and your family" Theo consoled her " You are doing pretty well Mayi. You have convinced most of the people here"
Mayi sighed and nodded
" Shall we have dinner then" she asked
" After you" Theo said waving his arm towards the buffet hall.
Theodore and Mayi were joined at their table by Mandy a little later. She appeared exhausted.
" What have you been doing? " Theo grinned mischievously at his sister
" Nothing along the lines of what you are thinking" Mandy narrowed her eyes.
" Well I was just thinking you were dancing" Theo's smile widened.
"Oh shut up bone head" Mandy shot at him before noticing Mayi's preoccupied look. She was playing with her food as well without eating much.
" Thinking of doing my brother are we?" Mandy said out loud.
" WHAT?! Mandy!!" Mayi jerked out of her reverie.
Mayi glared at her friend while she and Theodore laughed at her expense. It was very like her friend to make the most outrageous of comments but to do that in the presence of the said brother was to go overboard in her opinion.
" Seriously Amanda Sinclair there is a time and place for outrageous comments" Mayi said through pursed lips.
" Oh come on honey I was referring to your husband " Mandy continued teasing.
" Husband under a deal. Do I need to remind you both about that everytime?" Mayi snapped.
" Okay something is wrong" Mandy said her expression serious.
"I am not discussing it here" Mayi said firmly , glancing once at Theodore.
" Fine we will talk later?" Mandy asked
Mayi nodded returning her attention back to her plate. Moments ago she was feeling ravenous but as soon as she thought of Thomas Ashton and the danger he posed to her family her appetite died. Time had made them move past him and the scars of past but she still felt a shiver thinking of how her sister had suffered.
" I am not hungry anymore" Mayi announced dropping her fork.
" You haven't eaten more than a morsel. Are you feeling all right?" Theodore asked eyeing her with concern. Ever since the meeting with Thomas Ashton she had looked sick almost. What had the man done?
" Nothing like that I just don't feel like having main course anymore. I think I will go for the desserts" Mayi said standing up to go to the desserts section of buffet.
" I will join you girlfriend. Sweets are beckoning me" Mandy stood up.
" I thought super models loved their figures" Mayi smiled seeing through her.
" One day won't ruin this babe" Mandy said pointing at her svelte frame.
" You too go ahead then, I can see Daniel beckoning me" Theodore said. He knew that his sister wanted some alone time with Mayi. Probably she would be able to comfort Mayi though he wished he could.
" Don't get drunk or your wife might beat you up. My friend here has superb ninja skills" Mandy said winking.
Mayi rolled her eyes.
" Why would I beat him up? He is not coming" Mayi began and stopped abruptly as she remembered. Her eyes widened and she groaned.
" We are going to be at one home for the deal period" Theodore smiled smugly at her.
" Great! How did I forget that? " Mayi sighed " Well then don't get drunk because I can beat you up"
" Be a little more careful while threatening Mrs. Sinclair" Theodore smirked.
"Why you think I won't carry it out?" Mayi challenged him.
Theodore gazed at her for a while before boldly bending down to the level of her face and whispering in her ears
" I do think you can but there is no guarantee what I will do in return"
A/N
Mayi and Theo are more interesting than exams!
Enjoy.
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