His Lioness (Alan Rickman FF) ENGLISH VERSION

Chapter 62

The two made out like a teenage couple. Lionel thought he had become years younger. Love made him feel lighter than ever, he didn't want to let go of his Sassy at all. But everything had an end at some point. Slowly they let go of each other and looked into each other's eyes again.

"Saskia, I meant what I said earlier. I would like to plant the roses together with you in the garden of the stud. Shall we do it right now, perhaps? We could go there now," Lionel suggested.

Sia's eyes fell on the beautiful roses and she said to that, "Gladly. But what's in that envelope?"

"Just look inside," he commented.

Saskia pulled out the envelope from the roses and opened it. When she saw the gift card with the huge amount, she rolled her eyes. "Lionel! You just can't leave it alone!" she exclaimed, looking at him angrily.

"You better get used to it!" he countered, grinning cheekily, "when you're with me, there's only the whole package!"

"But there's no need for that!" retorted Sia.

"The house still has plenty of room for roses or whatever you choose. I want you to feel at home there, too," he said now full of seriousness, looking at her, "I can't offer you a life in the country. But we could drive here occasionally on weekends. I know how much you like living in Wolferton. I hope you'll be my assistant again?"

Saskia pretended to think hard. "Hmmmm, I don't know Lionel. Can you even stand to be with me every day? Day and night I mean," she quickly corrected, grinning at him suggestively.

Lionel looked at her sternly and said, "Sassy, as if I could stand it without you. Who would make my life so hard, but at the same time sweeten it as much as you?" For him everything was settled, he stood up and held out his hand to Saskia so that she could stand up more easily. She accepted it gratefully.

Sia immediately snuggled back against his chest, there was some catching up to do. Lionel held her tightly and buried his nose in her curls. He had missed her closeness and her scent. He was glad he had followed his heart. Because if he hadn't, he'd almost certainly still be sitting grouchily in his office, wondering what on earth was going wrong in his life at the moment.

"Let's go," he said to her, letting go of her and picking up the roses.

Saskia followed him, she would quickly let her family know so they wouldn't worry if she came home later that evening.

While Lionel stowed the plants, she went inside the house to her relatives. "I'm going to the stud farm with Lionel, but I'll be home safely today," she said to them as she stepped into the kitchen. There still lay the pills she had taken during the night. As a precaution, she quickly took another one so that the illness would not break out.

Melly looked at her worriedly and said to her, "Please take care of yourself, after all, you don't want to be sick in bed. I'm glad you two are getting along again."

"I can hardly believe we are together. He confessed his love to me," Sia quickly told them, because she couldn't keep the news to herself anymore.

"That's great, I'm so happy for you!" exclaimed Melly excitedly, giving Sia a quick hug.

"I have to go see him now, or he might miss me," she concluded the short conversation and walked out of the house smiling.

Lionel was already standing at the passenger door, holding it open for Saskia. Full of anticipation, Sia got in and buckled her seat belt. As he sat down in the driver's seat, they looked at each other again and he gave her a quick kiss. "Let's go then!" he exclaimed euphorically, fastening his seatbelt as well and driving off.

The drive didn't take long before Lionel turned into the avenue that already belonged to the estate. To him, this estate was probably just a little thing, but to Saskia, it just meant everything. It seemed so unrealistic to her that she now owned a house in her relatives' neighborhood. Even though she didn't like the circumstances surrounding it at all. Because she didn't want to be a burden to anyone, and she certainly didn't want to be kept by an older, rich man!

Lionel drove the vintage car into the parking lot and immediately got out to help Sia out of the car. "What a gentleman," she teased him, giving him a little kiss on the cheek.

"For you, after all, always, my darling," he clarified. He took the roses from the car and put them outside so they could choose a nice place for them.

"First, though, I'd like you to meet the housekeeper, who's taking care of everything here at the moment and checking that the property is in order," Lionel suggested, taking her hand and walking with her to the front entrance.

When he had introduced her to the employee, they walked through the house and Lio showed her the entire premises full of joy. "I'm already looking forward to spending a few quiet and beautiful weekends here with you," he said to her, slightly taken, but trying not to let on.

"Before it gets too late, I'd really like to go out into the garden and find a nice place for the roses," he added, trying not to get too sentimental.

"Yes Lionel, I'm looking forward to it!" replied Saskia, pulling him across the utility kitchen out the back door and into the garden.

Saskia happily took the lead and retrieved the shovel and a few other things they might need from the shed next door. She had not at all thought of Lionel as wanting to get dirty. But he showed absolutely no shyness, digging a hole in the ground with the shovel after they had picked a suitable spot for the roses.

"Well I must say, if you want to, you can do some real work," she gave cheekily when she saw him so busy.

"Saskia you have to know one thing, I am a self-made millionaire! I know how to work, even if no one suspects it. It's good to have hidden qualities after all. So you can surprise someone every now and then! Deane and the stupid blonde, underestimated me as well and that was good. Imagine, he wanted to cheat me out of 12 million! That pathetic worm and that cheap woman. When he had insulted you then and you had made an announcement to him, I had already been fascinated by you! But that the whole thing would turn into love, I didn't expect that myself" Lionel confessed to his lioness, looking at her in love as he paused in his work.

"He tried to cheat you out of 12 million?!" cried Sassy, upset, "that pig! I hope you finally terminated him! Because he really wasn't a good employee!"

"Don't worry. I kicked him out the very evening of the party, along with his sidekick!", Lionel clarified the situation.

The two of them spent another nice afternoon in the garden, putting in the two rose bushes and talking about all sorts of things.