Temporary Bride

Chapter Twelve

Late in the afternoon, Mika heard a helicopter coming in. She went to the window and saw it skim in over the creek and move like a busy wasp towards the pad and, almost at once, Erika knocked on her door and strode in.

"Bret is here." She said coldly, her eyes on her jeans and bright colored top.

"I never heard Don take the helicopter to fetch him from the airport." Mika remarked, looking up from the book she had purposely picked up as she heard her wife striding towards her room.

"We've got more than one helicopter." The blonde answered matter of factly. "He's here anyways. Get ready."

"The sackcloth or the tiara?" Mika asked sweetly, and the blue eyes narrowed dangerously.

For one wild moment, Mika thought her wife would walk further in and slap her. But the blonde's mouth suddenly quirked and her gaze ran over her slender, defiant figure.

"OK, Miss Prim. You think you can handle Bret Sanford? Get to it! This I can't wait to see."

Erika proceeded to go out and did not wait for her. Mika suddenly felt less bold without the blue-eyed. She went to the mirror and looked seriously at her reflection. She was herself... a girl from a small town, from an ordinary job, who had lived an ordinary life until Erika Linder had moved into it. If Bret Sanford disliked her...then that is just too bad!

She went downstairs with nothing but grim determination on her face... not even a bit scared when she found him already in their house, sitting on the long settee in the living room, his eyes narrowed and cold as Erika's.

He stood slowly as the Filipina came into the room. To say that Mika was shocked would be an understatement. The grumpy old man that she expected to see was not there. He was tall, his hair was thick and white. He had the same brilliantly blue eyes like her wife and was really handsome. Power and wealth radiated from him. From his appearance alone, Mika knew that this man was a deadly enemy... or a great friend. There was no compromise in him.

Erika moved towards her at once, her arms coming around her.

"So, this is your wife?" His voice was powerful and his eyes held hers relentlessly.

"This is Mika Aereen." Erika agreed with a real bite to her voice... her hands tightening on her wife as she watched her grandfather's face with look of aggression.

"You think you are good enough for my granddaughter?" Bret Sanford asked coolly. Mika replied in an equally cool voice.

"Much better, Mr. Sanford! I don't tell lies. Erika pretended to be an accountant until after we are married... and somebody else had to tell me what I'd let myself in for. You'll understand, of course, that it has left me wary. I am not at all sure that you are who you say you are."

There was a moment of stunned silence... and then the eyes that watched her narrowed to points of blue light.

"So you did not marry her for money then? Perhaps an American dream?" He asked with just a fine edge of insult.

"No to both." Mika assured him with a faint smile. "I have an entirely different motive."

He just looked at her steadily, and Mika became aware that Erika's hand tightened on her to the point of real pain. You are wondering what am I going to say next huh. Bahala ka sa buhay mo. She suddenly saw a weapon of her own. How would Bret Sanford like it if his new granddaughter in law had an uncle in prison? Deceived or not, she was Erika's legal wife now. Whether he like or not, Mr. Bret Sanford had to accept that fact. She wondered how he would take the idea that all of this was just a game... a ploy on seeing a married woman. It brought a wry smile to her face despite of her nervousness. With a few words, she can floor them both. By the way, Mr. Sanford, Erika hired me to be her wife. She's mixed up with a married lady. She could just imagine the reaction form the both of them.

"And what are you laughing at, young lady?" Bret Sanford suddenly barked. "Did you realize that Erika, my only family, got herself married without any thought as to how I would take it? I wasn't even invited to the wedding of my only granddaughter!"

"I am so sorry that you are not at the wedding. But then, I had no relatives there either. We could get married again if you want." Mika said pleasantly, her smile growing at the utter astonishment of these two aggressive beings.

Bret looked at her as if she was a totally unexpected phenomenon... insolently mad, dangerously careless of her personal safety. His eyes moved to Erika with some sort of ferocious astonishment.

"I hope to God she is on your side, my child. " He grated. "You've married yourself a fire-cracker!"

It suddenly dawned on Mika that Erika was laughing quietly.

"So you think insolence is funny?" Bret Sanford snapped his sharp eyes on her granddaughter's face. "I hope you think she is all worth the trouble she is going to cause."

"She is above price," Erika said softly. "She will grow on you."

"Come here, girl, and let's have a look at you." The old man suddenly said. Erika moved with her, her hands still possessively on her wife. But all she got was a bark of annoyance.

"Let her walk by herself, for God's sake! She doesn't look as if she's got anything wrong with her legs. There is certainly nothing wrong with her tongue!"

Mika went forward alone as Erika very reluctantly let her go. She was not afraid of Bret Sanford... or anyone else. She was not going to step from one sort of fear in the Philippines to have another sort of fear in the US. She held a few cards of her own. Her brown eyes held the keen blue gaze of Erika's grandfather. She walked towards him until she was looking up into his face.

"She is a pretty little thing," he conceded... talking as if she was not there. "Potential of real beauty."

"She's got that already!" Erika cut in crisply.

"She certainly got an impudent tongue." Bret admitted. "Come her, girl!" He ordered gathering her into two amazingly strong arms. He kissed her cheek and then held her at arm's length, looking at her sternly. "I suppose we'll have to make the best of you as we've got you. I have only one rule... don't call me grandfather! " He ordered.

"I haven't!" Mika answered pertly. "I shall call you Mr. Sanford."

"Bret! If you know what is good for you." He growled.

"Not until we are friends. I can't pretend feeling I don't have." The Filipina said firmly.

He looked at her as if he was going to explode. But a slow smile of reluctant admiration spread across his fine face.

"Well you don't scare, do you? I might make something of you at that." He muttered quietly.

Not when he finds out that she is merely a hostage for her uncle, Mika thought grimly. Essie chose that moment to come in and beam at Bret.

"I will prepare all your favorites, Mr. Sanford."

Before her grandfather could reply, Erika laid down strict orders.

"We are eating at the club tonight, Essie." She said in a voice that even Bret dared not question. "I want Yeye to meet everyone." She added for Bret's benefit, as Essie made a grumpy retreat.

"That is what you call her--- Yeye?" The old man asked with deep interest.

"That is what her close friends in the Philippines called her. I call her that when she is very good." Erika answered sardonically, with a slanting look at Mika's mutinous face.

"That is what I will call her!" Bret said firmly. "I kind of like it. Yeye! It is easy on the tonge. Mind you, if she wasn't such a beauty..."

"Yeah! Yeah!" Erika agreed in her normally laconic way.

And then they both dismiss her with unspoken accord.

"Come to the study. I've got a few things to talk to you." Erika said.

Bret nodded politely but curtly to Mika, and Erika gave her a look that might well have been threatening. She did not care! She was quite finished with any sort of submission. She went to her room unhappy about her wife but is quite pleased with her own stand against Bret Sanford.

One bully was enough for anyone.