My husband

CHAPTER 4

       Dedicated to DeanaRobertson6

       It was on rare occasions that Edward Stone called his daughter, usually to remind her about one dinner or the other or an auction. Apparently, today was one of those but he hadn't told her of any outing, however, she could almost guess she knew the reason he was calling.

        The day was Friday and it was some minutes past three, she didn't have to go in to the office and so she was in bed treating herself to a bowl of strawberries and cream.

        "Hey dad" she answered chewing around a mouthful

        "Princess, how are you?"

      Rachael rolled her eyes.

         "Really dad?" She asked pausing, hoping he'd get to the point.

          He didn't.

         "I'm fine dad, why are you calling, you're supposed to be with Mr King?" She knew alright that he was with Mr King but she wanted him to get on with it. Edward had also not had to go to the office but he had left with an associate to discuss over some fancy breakfast somewhere.

          Edward laughed nervously and Rachael knew immediately that she had guessed right, she groaned sliding down her bed.

           "Dad....if this is about Nicholas...." She let her voice trail off since she didn't actually know what she wanted to say.

         "You've always liked him Rachael?" He asked cautiously.

          "Yeah dad but I...."

          "And you told me the date went well" he cut in

          "Well it wasn't actually..."

          "And you have his ring on your finger" this time his voice came firm, almost angry, almost accusing.

           Rachael snorted

           A ring he had all but thrown in her face?, well yeah. Raising her fingers, she glared at the beautiful ring.

          "Yeah dad, it's still on my finger" she replied sarcastically while she bit into a strawberry with much more force than needed

          "So what's the problem princess?" Edward asked impatiently

         "I don't understand dad" Rachael hissed fast becoming irritated herself

         "Nicholas called" he stated like that would explain everything, which it in fact did but still, Rachael feigned ignorance.

          "Oh he did?"

         " You won't go on another date with him" Rachael could hear the frustration in his voice.

          "He did not ask me on a date dad, he stated...commanded that we go for lunch, and I refused..."

          " You refused?"

          "Well yes, he didn't exactly act..."

          "Rachael, you have his picture on your wall" he said like she wasn't being reasonable, Rachael sighed, closing her eyes against the reminder

        "That was me being childish and that's not the point here"

         "You haven't picked his calls all week either"

      Rachael dropped the empty bowl of strawberries and stalked into the bathroom, running the tap and washing the stickiness from her fingers.

      Looking into the mirror, she eyed Nicholas's picture on the wall behind her, Nicholas had called twice a day, everyday since Monday and she ignored the call each time to the encouragement of Claire.

        She knew the time of the day he would most likely call, at lunch and an hour to 5 before she left work and she found herself expecting his call, her heart would beat excitedly when she saw his name flashing on her screen on when she heard her ringtone, followed by her scowling, turning the phone face down on her table and busying herself with something. She turned to rest on the counter and continued glaring at the picture.

         "Dad, Nicholas is not how I expected that he'd be with me"

         "What do you mean?" Sounding surprised and protective

        "I just.... He doesn't want me" she said her voice low

       "Well Mckay is one stubborn, arrogant young man Rachael" a pause "Of course he wants you, you're just going to have to be patient with him...." another pause "Give him time"

         I don't know dad, it's a happening too fast" she complained stepping towards the wall and running her fingers over his jaw, she wished she had been able to do that when they had gone on that awful date, she wished the date had gone better. It was her first time being unsure of how she felt about Nicholas McKay. He was her first crush, other guys she looked at appreciatively she had not once felt for what she felt for Nicholas, her dirty thoughts starred Nicholas, her fantasies, her daydreaming.... Everything.

        Right that moment, it occurred to her that what she felt for him might purely be lust or infatuation, she shrugged, for this long?, she doubted it. She ran her fingers over the pictures again before going to flop on her bed

        "You'd be fine Rachael, you're a beautiful, thriving young woman...just like your mother" Edward released a tired sigh "bless her, you're just like my Elizabeth" Rachael felt an overwhelming rush of sadness, it seemed only yesterday her mum was put in the ground "no man could resist such perfection" he finished his voice husky

        "Dad..."

        "I need this princess, I need the rest, I need to stop all the stressing, I'm not getting any younger.... I miss her so much" his voice cracked and Rachael pictured her him swiping at his eyes like he had done back then

          "It's alright dad" She said squeezing her eyes shut to fight the tears

          "Everyone would gain from this baby girl, you get Nicholas, he gets a wife, he gets Baywaters, I get to relax knowing the company is with someone who would build it with you and not ruin it and the merger?, you both would be successful beyond your imagination, more clients too and let's not forget I'd get to see my grandchildren before joining your mother..." He trailed off

            The thought of making babies with Nicholas thrilling her more that she would ever admit, she felt her face go hot imagining tangled limbs and sweaty bodies. The thoughts of having sex with Nicholas were quickly swept away when her brain processed that her father had mentioned dying

              She shook her head, her father was one cunning person, sighing weakly she said,

           "I know all these dad, and you're not going to die on me ever" a forced laugh "I'd try as much as I can.... But I'm not promising" she rushed to add shrugging. "I just don't want to make a mistake you know, I mean maybe I was wrong about how I feel"

           "You're not making a mistake" Edward said firmly, "Look princess, I have to go, King is still waiting, would you still be going to the bakery tomorrow?" He rushed on, not giving her a chance to talk

           "Yes, but dad, we haven't..."

           "Alright princess, I love you, bye" and with that he ended the call.

           Rachael dropped her phone and pounded her bed with her fist, taking out her frustration on the mattress, her father was going to get what he wanted yet again, but this time, it wasn't like she didn't want it too....

           Or did she?.