Darian stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom, combing his hair to the back. He checked himself out, pleased with his looks, he waddled back to get his wristwatch that was in the drawer.
Lena walked into the bedroom at that moment, she admired her husband's well-tailored tuxedo suit, his shiny black shoes and the fitted pants he donned. He raised his head and his eyes met hers, she looked away but he already caught her doting on him.
"Don't just stay here and check me out, make your moves. Do you like me, of course, you do. You can't resist a man as handsome as I am." He said, smirking at her.
Lena scoffed, "I can resist you, I wasn't checking you out. I was just wondering why you haven't knotted your tie yet." She was glad she found something to cover up with.
"Do you want to help me with that?" He asked.
"Yes," Lena jumped at his request, she hurried towards him, standing in front of him. "Stay still and let me do that for you." She said, fastening the tie in between her fingers. She placed the tie around his neck, her fingers carefully grazing his skin. She felt a rush of hormones as their skin made contact, it wasn't new, but it felt different every time; different in a beautiful way that she liked. Crossing the ends of the tie, she coiled the ends and finally tightened it and fixed it. "Done," she said, taking her hands off him.
Darian grabbed her arms, pushing her closer to his chest. Lena looked up, she was caught off guard. "I have fixed your tie," she murmured, blinking her eyes as Darian looked into her eyes.
"I know," he bent to her level and gently placed his lips on hers, thoroughly nibbling on her lips. He pulled away before she could deepen the kiss.
Lena's expression was ruined with a scowl that caused Darian to chuckle.
"That's so selfish of you," she hissed, rolling her eyes at him.
"I thought you said you could resist me," he gave her that naughty smirk again.
"Whatever," she slapped his chest and walked out of him. "You are finally resuming back to the office."
"Yes, I have missed a lot." He walked over to the drawer, pulled it open and swallowed some of his antidepressant pills. Lena felt guilty as she looked at him. He stopped taking the pills before but it seemed he was back to it and she didn't like that. "And you, what do you plan to do now that you are no longer working at the casino?" He asked her.
"I told you I love to teach. I think I should just apply for a teaching job or something. I haven't thought about it." She folded her arms underneath her breasts.
"Let me know when you come up with something." He said and she nodded her head. "Good, I attended the meeting with the Antonio family." He fixed his wristwatch on his wrist and clasped it.
"Oh, you did?" she asked, mocking Darian.
"Yes, I did. They invited me to their family anniversary party and you are going with me, Lena." He stated. "The Antonio party is way different from the Dawson family party though." He said, bouncing his head.
"In what sense?" She queried him.
"You will find out when you get there, Lena. I will give you my card. I want you to shop for some nice dresses that you can wear, I want to go in there with the prettiest girl by my side."
Lena flushed at her husband's compliment, "You do know that I am pretty, don't you?" She asked teasingly.
Standing from the bed, she took slow gaits toward Darian who was staring at her and waiting for what she wanted to do to him as she approached him.
"You are pretty, I won't lie about that." He affirmed.
"I see," she halted her steps and turned back to sit on the bed. "I thought you were going to deny that." She winked at him. "You are handsome too and I can stare at your face all day." She chuckled.
"I know I am," he dropped his card on the stool and bent to place a kiss on her cheeks. "I will see you when I get back from work, be good and don't let those men chat you up on Instagram. If they do, tell them you are married to Darian Dawson, the boss of the Dawson family Mafia." He said in a stern voice that caused laughter to roll out of Lena's mouth.
She nodded her head hypocritically. Darian smiled at her, grabbed his suitcase, and walked out of the bedroom.
Lena didn't look away until he was out of her sight.
-
Lena was busy with her computer, she was searching for jobs online but there were none related to what she wanted.
A knock at the door distracted her, she knew it was Tina. Darian never knocked at the door before entering the room and Tina was the next person who had access to their bedroom.
Tina pulled the door open, she walked in and found Lena where she was sitting on the bed with her computer on her legs.
"Tina, aren't you going to college today?" She asked, wondering why she was still in the house that morning. "And did you sleep here?"
"Yes, ma'am. I have exams today and I decided to stay back to study and go to school from here. It's quicker to get a bus from here." She said, bowing her head as she talked to Lena.
"Good," Lena pressed the laptop down and dropped it on the side stool.
"You have two visitors downstairs," she apprised Lena. "Ma'am Talia and her daughter."
"Really?" Lena asked, surprised. What would Talia and Gaby be looking for her in her house, why did they want to see her? She thought as she rose to her feet and put on her slides. "Come on, let's go."
"Yes, ma'am." Tina walked toward the door and Lena trailed behind her.
Tina headed towards the lounge when they got to the hallway while Lena proceeded to the living room.
Her heart was palpitating as she descended the stairs, she subconsciously asked and answered different questions. She got to the living room and saw Gaby and Talia where they gently crouched down on the couch.
"Hello Talia," she mustered up a smile as soon as she got to them. "Gaby," she waved her hand to acknowledge her.
"Lena, how are you?" Talia asked her. Her countenance was gloomy like she was remorseful about something. Lena didn't like that.
"I have been good and you?" Lena responded. She wasn't comfortable with how Talia and Gaby's eyes were on her. "You didn't inform me of the visit, what's with the impromptu visit?" She queried, her eyes wandering around the living room, moving from mother to daughter.
"Don't you think we owe you an apology?" Talia smiled faintly, the kind of smile that was brief with no emotions.
"An apology?" She shook her head, "No, you don't."
"Yes, we do Lena." Gaby chirped in. "You were locked in that room for days and none of us showed up to check on you, Lena. Aren't you mad about that?" She asked.
Lena could vividly see the guilt on Gaby's face as she spoke to her.
"You were with Gaius in the hospital, I do understand that." She said.
Though she had expected one of them to at least check on her, but then, none of them did. She was hurt about that, but it was better to assume they were busy with Gaius and that was why they didn't show up. None of them owed her an apology.
"I know you didn't poison him," Talia said, sighing. "I know you didn't but my husband was on the verge of death. I couldn't leave his side, I had to stay with him and I was confused about the whole thing. I don't know if Darian told you anything but I am truly sorry about the things I said to him about you."
Lena had no idea what she was talking about, Darian didn't tell her anything about Talia.
"You are my favourite of all the women in the Dawson family and I hope that won't change."
Talia said. Lena smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I have no grudge against you, Talia." Lena smiled again.
"I believe you don't, but it's only right that I apologise to you."
"If you insist, Talia," Lena said.
"Our friendship just started when the whole thing happened, you probably don't want to be my friend because I neglected you and couldn't even stand up for you. I get that," Gaby smiled, melting Lena's heart.
Lena loved it whenever Gaby smiled. Her smile was one of the things she'd pay to see. She was flawlessly beautiful whenever she smiled brightly like she just did.
"Gaby, we are good." Lena returned her smile.
"Lena, I am glad that you are free and innocent of this crime, I was the happiest when you were released," Gaby said. "I don't know if our friendship would still stand, but I can bear whatever would happen after this."
"I am cool with you guys. You have no idea how happy I am to be out here. It was so terrible there, but I am out now and the culprit has been captured. So, it's fine. I forgive all ignorance. What would you like me to serve you?" She asked them. She was happy they apologized to her. It meant so much to her.
"Lena, we just wanted to make sure that things were cool between us. I will head back to the casino now, some women are coming in for interviews today. Gaby and I would be screening them, we have to resume early. I miss you working at the casino though." Talia got up, Gaby did too.
"Thanks for coming around," Lena hugged them, placing soft kisses on her cheeks.
"Be good," Talia said as she headed towards the door.
Lena flopped on the couch when they were gone. Their apologies were sincere from what she saw on their faces. She smiled as she thought of them.
She didn't have any grudge against Talia but she wasn't sure they could still have that cool and close relationship between them.
And for Gaby, she knew well that the friendship wouldn't work anymore, and she was glad she understood her.
Lena picked up her call when her phone didn't stop ringing, she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Where are you?" Lisa screeched.
"I am home," she responded.
"I am coming over here!" Lisa yelled, ending the call.
Lena chuckled. She was glad Lisa was coming over to the house, she had been alone in the house and needed someone's company to distract her.