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Song above... Will make more sense once you read...
Enjoy...
Carinas POV
Maya is sprawled across the bed when I enter the room two hours later. Her hair still feels damp when I hook my arm around the back of her neck. I left her and tuck her into her side of the bed. She never wakens when I do this. It's certainly not the first time. "Mmm, Carina. Don't eat all of it." She mumbles in her sleep. I have to stop myself from laughing out loud that she is talking in her sleep and about food. More so me stealing her food.
I then get a sense of delight when I notice that she is dreaming about me. I lie down beside her and bring her closer to me.
I dream of Maya.
She's smiling up at me from a light pink bed surrounded by sunlight. She has a bundle in her arms that she's cradling to her breast. She has a look of pure bliss. I sit beside her, holding her close as she leans against me. I kiss her head feeling the same bliss she is.
....
Today is my papas memorial service. He was not religious, so it is being held at what is now Deluca Corp. Everyone has been working like crazy to complete the transition. I'm relieved the change has gone smoothly overall. I dress in a black suit, black shirt and black tie. Maya's second alarm goes off just as I exit my closet. I look at her tired face. "Buongiorno Bella." I kiss her as soon as she sits up on the bed.
"Carina. I haven't brushed my teeth yet."
I shake my head. "Tesoro, I don't care." I kiss her again.
She suddenly pulls back and rushes to the bathroom. I hold her hair as she is throwing up in the toilet. "I told you those tacos were junk food."
She wipes her face and shoots daggers back at me "Food snob."
I laugh at her antics. "Are you alright now?"
She nods the reaches for her toothbrush. "I think that's a song. Well in English is it. I think."
I have no idea what she's talking about. "What is?"
She pauses cleaning her teeth to answer me. "Buongiorno Bella, is Good morning beautiful. I think it's a country song."
I'm taken back. "You know Italian?" I ask her.
"No. But I am picking up on a few things." She shrugs then goes back to clean her teeth. Then starts to work with her hair.
I check my phone. Sure enough, it is a country song. "I found it. Would you like to hear it?" She nods as she finishes her ponytail. I play the song. It's a slow song so I pull her into to me to dance.
........
Maya is at the back of the room where I can see her in her black pencil skirt and white button-down blouse. I decided this would be the best way for her to support me but keep her out of the news. She said she was willing to be by my side, but I'm a little nervous about it. Not because I don't want her to be beside me. It's just her safety is more important. All the shareholders are on stage to my right, while the remaining board members are to my left.
Blake has yet to arrive. I expect him to show up, it would look suspicious otherwise. I informed my guards to allow Blake and his daughter entrance.
There are several members of the media surrounding the entrance, but only those with employee ID and invited guests are allowed entry. I invited three news outlets in. The rest are gate crashers. It's a spectacle. With five minutes remaining before the services in walks Blake and his daughter. She walks up to me across the stage. "Honey, I knew you couldn't stay away." Her polished fingernails clench around my forearm.
I look at Maya, she's chatting with Mr Montgomery, although I can see her sneak glances in my directions. "Miss Cavanaugh, This is my papas memorial service. It's not a hook up. Kindly retract your claws."
Zara pushes her artificially enhanced chest against my arm. "Where's that wife of yours? I see she's not at your side. Let me be the one to comfort you through your time of need. Honey."
I almost have the urge to throw up at her words. I glance at Maya. She has a smirk on her face like she's trying to hold back her laughter. What a little minx. She takes out her phone, types something then looks at me. My phone buzzes. I turn away from Zara, who unfortunately continues to cling to me.
From Maya: You look like you are going to be sick. I bet she's talking dirty to you.
I look back to Maya and shake my head with a smirk. She winks at me. Of course she does. She knows she's right.
"Honey I'm here for you."
I pull away from Zara and guide her to her seat next to her father. "Mr Blake kindly take care to control your daughter. Her whoreish ways are on full display." I lean down to make sure he can really hear me. Blake glares at me but does not say a word.
One of the shareholders, Mr Thompson begins the service. He and my papa had a friendly work relationship. He goes over the details of my papas business life and achievements.
I am next to speak. I give a few anecdotes and talk about some personal memories. It's a simple eulogy but it's effective. I finish speaking. Shawn my papas long time butler is next to speak.
He understood my papas personality and everyday dealings the best. Mr Thompson returns to the microphone to introduce a slide show that begins to play behind us. It's a cheesy concept, one I actually despise but serves it's purpose for what I have planned.
All the entrances and exits are being guarded. I have the chief of police on standby, as well as my papas and my own attorney. Dean has already given files to these three people containing every detail of my papas death.
Now the best part is yet to come. The pictures shift to a short video clips of my papa. Finally, the piece de resistance. Clips of my papa and Blake in conflict at the poker game. Blakes next moves as he makes a call, a recording of Blake's end of the conversation including mention of a money wire transfer, a suspicious character tampering with my papas car and finally a call to Blake confirming completion.
Everyone in the audience is stunned into silence. Blake has already attempted to run while the clips were playing. He's now being dragged forward by Ryan and Dean. Zara is wailing and clinging to my arm. "Honey, How could you do this to me?" I tilt my head up.
Jesse and Jack immediately peel her away from me and drag her outside in front of the media. The Chief of police has placed Blake under arrest. He is now escorting him out behind his daughter so the media can get a good picture of him as well.
My guards are quickly and efficiently get control of the chaos that has erupted. Employees head to their designated workstations and begun their duties. The hall is cleaned out and emptied in matter of minutes.
What a day...
Well thats a bit of drama.
The song above Nathan Carter covered it but I have always loved his version. Good morning Beautiful.
Let me know if there are any mistakes in this chapter it was kinda rushed.
