A Woman's Empire

XXXVI

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

"Be in bed by ten Stella!" Camilla called out as Stella pranced around the kitchen while Audrielle tried to cook dinner.

"Yes mamma!" Stella giggled and sent a big grin to Audrielle.

"Love yous!" Camilla shouted as she left the house, heading off to her friends house for some drinks. Audrielle was so grateful that Camilla offered a place for Audrielle to stay so she decided that every Friday night, Camilla could do whatever she pleases and Audrielle would babysit Stella. Stella loved the idea and begged her mom to let the idea go ahead.

"Now would you like juice or- oh what's this?" Audrielle asked Stella and suddenly Stella stopped dancing when Audrielle caught her attention.

"Chocolate milk!" Stella squealed, rushing into the kitchen and grabbing two glasses. Audrielle grinned and poured two small glasses of the tasty liquid.

"Careful, don't spill them." Audrielle warned lightly, watching Stella cautiously carry the two glasses to the table. A few minutes later and dinner was done. Audrielle wasn't as good as Camilla was at cooking but she knew how to whip up one or two things in the kitchen. Tonight Stella had requested to have cheese burgers and Audrielle was more than happy to make them.

They ate their dinner while they joked and gossiped about many things and Stella scoffed down her chocolate milk, asking Audrielle if she could have another glass. At first she was hesitant, knowing that Stella shouldn't be having too much sugar but Stella was cunning and was the pro at puppy dog eyes.

Audrielle huffed in defeat and fetched the little girl another glass of milk. After all, it was a Friday night and Stella had been good lately.

"You're the best, Elle." She thanked Audrielle and the two resumed eating dinner. While they ate their dinner, Audrielle couldn't help but stare at Stella. Her locks of dark brown hair framed her face and her cheeks were tinted pink from laughter. Her eyes were the color of her hair. Chocolate. Nothing like her older brothers who were a piercing dark green. Stella was the cutest little bean and had a crazy imagination, something Audrielle wished she had when she was younger.

Something deep inside of Audrielle made her want kids. She wanted to have a little girl who was bubbly and kind.

But you're not ready to have kids yet. Especially with him.

Audrielle knew that her subconscious was right. She wasn't ready to have children with Leo but another important question was if Leo was capable of being the loving and caring father that Audrielle hoped he'd be. Audrielle and Stella finished their dinner and Stella went to have a bath while Audrielle quickly cleaned the kitchen before making her way upstairs to check on Stella.

After she had finished, Stella begged Audrielle to put on a movie and when Stella said she wanted to watch a Barbie movie, Audrielle couldn't say no so Stella grabbed one from her collection and ran downstairs into the living room, eager to get the movie started.

Before Audrielle could press play, the phone in the kitchen rang and Audrielle quickly went to answer it.

"Hello?" Audrielle answered and the line was quiet for a few seconds. The seconds suddenly seemed to be too long and Audrielle couldn't hear anyone on the other end. Then her worst thoughts hit her like a truck.

This couldn't be him right? He can't have found her already...

A large lump formed in Audrielle's throat and tears started to well up in her eyes when someone on the other end squealed.

"Oh sorry Audrielle! It's me, Camilla! Just making sure that you and Stella are okay!" Audrielle let out a huge sigh of relief and smiled.

"Yeah everything's good, we were just about to start a movie." Audrielle reassured Camilla.

"Oh that's a good idea! Look, I'm not sure what time I'll be home, Fiona's pulled out a bottle of champagne so it might be late. You can go to bed whenever because I have a key hidden so if I'm not so drunk, I should be able to get in!" Camilla laughed and Audrielle chuckled. It was good to hear that Camilla was having fun.

"Haha, I'll make sure Stella's in bed before ten, you have fun. There's no need to worry about us."

"Right, I should probably go now, Stella's probably wondering what's keeping you. Have fun!"

"You too Camilla." Audrielle replied before hanging up and walking back into the living room. Stella sat on the sofa, a fluffy, pink blanket engulfing her small body as she patiently waited for Audrielle to return.

Audrielle pressed play on the movie and the two girls snuggled while it played. Halfway through, Audrielle paused it so she could make some popcorn and apple slices as a snack. Soon, the movie finished and Audrielle looked down to see a sleeping Stella lying in her lap. Audrielle smiled and gently moved so she could take Stella to bed.

With Stella still sound asleep in her arms, she walked into Stella's pink room, careful to not trip over any dolls on the way. She laid Stella in her bed, bringing the blankets up to her neck before grabbing the pink teddy bear and placing it next to her. She turned on Stella's ballerina night light that barely lit the room. Before Audrielle left the tired girl to sleep, she whispered "sweet dreams" and then quietly closed the bedroom door behind her.

The clock in the hallway said that it was quarter to ten at night. Deciding on a shower, Audrielle made her way to the bathroom with a clean towel in her hands. She ran the water for a second, letting it heat up before diving under, inviting the hot water to sooth her tensed muscles.

When she was finished in the shower, Audrielle wrapped the towel around her body, making her way to the bedroom where her pajamas were. When she had arrived in Italy, Stella immediately demanded that the two should buy matching princess pajamas and so the next day, when Camilla arrived home from work, she gave Audrielle the pajamas that were the exact same as Stella's.

Smiling to herself, Audrielle quickly changed into them before drying off her damp hair with the towel. Just as she was about to leave the room and head downstairs to wait for Camilla to arrive home, she saw the book she was currently reading sitting next to her bed. Picking it up and taking it with her, Audrielle went into the living room.

With the tv quietly going in the background, Audrielle sat on the sofa, her legs under a fluffy throw blanket and her book in one hand and a small glass of wine in another. Suddenly, when Audrielle went to flip the page to start the next chapter, the doorbell rang.

Jumping out from her seat, Adrielle went to open the door for a probably drunk Camilla. "Hey! You're back earl-" Audrielle gasped at the person standing in front of her. She tried to slam the door, her heart beating a thousand miles per hour but the intruder was quick to put their foot in the door.

Audrielle whimpered, standing away from the door as they let themself in. Pressing her back against the wall, praying that it would consume her so she could disappear, she shook in complete fear when the person closed in on her.

Audrielle closed her eyes, pressing the side of her face against the wall when she felt a hand wrap around her throat and the other one seductively caress her bare thigh. The intruder leaned forward, it's hot breath fanning against her cheek and their lips ever so lightly brushing over her ear lobe.

"Don't you ever try and run away from me again, principessa."

(Translation: princess)