BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (25 page)

“No I think
I will sleep a little later, catch up on what I’ve missed, I leave in a few
days so I might even pack some of my things away, you know boring stuff.”
Babbling, I’m babbling. 

“That
sounds like a relaxing day, we usually have dinner around seven, I will come
for you a bit earlier if that’s okay,”

“Yes, I’d
like that”

Several
kisses later Carrie closed the door, putting the do not disturb sign on the
handle.  She leaned against the closed door and looked over at the very rumpled
bed.  She tried to smooth the sheets out of their tangle before lying on
the bed she tried not to think of the last twenty four hours and what a
whirlwind it had been.  Her brain tried to compartmentalise what had
happened.  The Cinderella make over, the dance and her hours of passion
with Nico.  There would be time enough later for recriminations but now
she was sleepy.  She could smell his cologne on the pillow.

Oh what had
she done?

Nico quickly sent an email to
Robin.  Although it was a little after 05.30am the time would be of no
difference to her as she was used to being on call working at Devanti
Group.  Subject field – Diamonds. 

“Robin, have an invoice sent for the
diamonds on loan, I will authorise payment for it from my personal account”

Conversation ebbed and flowed around the dinner
table with glasses chinking over the occasional laughter that carried over the
other diners.  Carrie felt the nerves that had almost crippled her earlier
slowly ease.  She took a sip of the wine, her hand holding onto the stem a
little longer than necessary.  When she woke that morning for a brief
moment she wondered if it had been some erotic dream those hours spent with
Nico but the aches of her body told their own tale.  It was a delicious
ache.  A naughty ache.  But after she lay in the bath tears slid down
her face.  Had she betrayed Rob by sharing her body with Nico?  She
didn’t feel like Rob’s widow anymore and that scared her.  She was
contemplating cancelling the dinner and that’s why the nerves were kicking
in.  Nico had texted her through the day keeping the conversation and tone
light.  She debated what to wear and was glad for the millionth time that
she had packed her favourite dress and shoes.  Her emergency back-up
outfit.  She would have worn her hair in a chignon or loose bun but there
on her neck the tiniest blemish were Nico’s teeth had grazed hers.  She
would have to warn him of how delicate her skin was.  That’s if there was
a repeat?  Did she want a repeat?  Oh hell. 

She wore her hair loose but not as full or glamorous
as the previous evening.  Nico arrived early and they walked along the
beach.  No Beau to accompany them this time.  Carrie held her shoes
in one hand and Nico’s hand in the other.  A walk to the house that should
have taken ten minutes had slipped to thirty.  Interrupted with sneaky
kisses that they both tried to contain before they got carried away. 

“You are impossible Mr Devanti, I need to make
myself presentable before we join your parents.”  The walked along passed
the private jetty to a security gate.  Nico entered the code and the gate
swung open.  She was aware that security cameras discreetly observed them
entering the property.  Nico showed her where she could freshen up and
clean her feet free from the sand.  When she stepped back out in the
garden Nico was waiting with Beau.  The dog jumped to see her and she
rubbed his ear.  “Hello boy, what a lovely surprise” she smiled at
Nico.  They walked back through the formal gardens and the swimming pool
towards the stairs at the rear of the house.  “I’ve got something to show
you first,”

“Is that the same as show me your etchings Mr
Devanti, I’m sure we are already late for dinner”

“I think you are very happy with my etchings but
alas no, I have something else to show you but I’m sure you will be equally if
not more pleased”

Along a corridor and again passing many doors Beau
at their side.  She would get lost, this place was a maze.  Opening a
door Carrie was met with the sight of her much loved Auntie Belle.  Belle
always looked immaculate not a hair out of place in her perfectly bobbed
brunette hair.  She had grown it again and it suited her petite
features.  They spoke weekly, skyped, emailed and texted but this was the
first time in almost six months that she had seen her Aunt face to face. 
Hugging her Aunt she looked at Nico and mouthed “Thank you”.  

“I will take this one back, say your goodbyes Beau,
give you two sometime to catch up”

Carrie had a final pat to Beau goodbye.

“Oh Belle, it’s so good to see you,”

“Carrie darling, you look so well and refreshed,
this place is a tonic for you or is it just the rather yummy Nico?”

“I love it here in the Cape and I eh like Nico a
lot, there you have your answers”

After catching up on all the latest Reynolds family
news Nico had returned.

“How do you want to play this out?  Do you want
to disclose you are family?”

“No I think we should take the reactions just as
they are,” Belle offered. 

“You can do this Carrie” she mentally coached herself
again for the thousandth time that night.  When she was first seated she
was overwhelmed with the noise of introductions and the many names that were
given.  But years as a corporate wife had schooled her and she had her own
code for remembering names. 

To her right, Richard Worth retired banker, smug,
arrogant and totally disinterred in her lowly status as only a guest. 
Eyes on everyones ass she remembered from the previous night.   Easy
to remember his name, Richard = Dick!

To her left, this was an easy one, Gino
Devanti.  Nico’s father and a charmer to boot. Very witty and Carrie was
enjoying his stories.

Next to Gino, socialite, gossip and family friend
for aeons, Chessy Mills.  Chessy had very white teeth = Smiles.

Next to Smiles, Nico’s brother Paolo, young and a
little immature.  She tried not to judge a book by its cover as he was
very different to Nico.  The spare to the Devanti empire after Nico being
the heir = Spare.

Next to Spare, at the head of the table and family
matriarch – Mama Devanti, Dorothea – Thea to family and friends or Dorothea
until you earned that right.  To Carrie the jury was out on that
one.  When introduced the previous evening she had called her Mrs
Devanti. 

Sitting directly opposite the table to Spare was Mr
Smiles or Chessy’s significant other but he was introduced as Chessy’s partner.

Next to Mr Smiles, a welcomed friendly face, her
Auntie Belle.  Fresh from LA that day.  Belle gave her a quick wink,
whilst looking completely absorbed in her conversation with Mr Smiles.

Next to Belle, Mrs D, the banker Richards’s
wife.  Already on her third glass of wine and Carrie couldn’t blame her
being married to ‘Dick’ she would be too.

Almost there.

Next to Mrs D, Nico and Paolo’s sister Chiara, the
spoilt but much adored baby of the family.  She was very pretty but wore a
petulant bored look on her face.  She had the same olive skin as Nico,
brown eyes and had perfectly arched eyebrows.  Carrie was impressed with
their perfection.  Long black glossy hair tumbled around her shoulders. 
She wore a bold black and white animal print dress which probably cost
thousands of dollars but it reminded Carrie of an outfit for Cruella De Ville
of 101 Dalmatians = Cruella.

Next to Cruella, Paolo’s girlfriend – Miss Spare as
she couldn’t remember this one’s name.

Finally, Nico, who had last night, treated her like
a modern day Cinderella.  Surprising her with the dress and the amazing
make over.  Not to mention the incredible night of passion that they had
shared.  She felt heat rise to her cheeks as the thought of his mouth on
hers.  Thinking back on the night the scenes replayed in her mind. 
Phew! Time for another drink of her wine.

“Oh maaaannnn!” she whispered under her breath.

“Don’t you think Carrie?” Nico interrupted her X-rated
train of thought.

“Sorry Nico, I was miles away” damn him, he knew
exactly where she was!

Their gaze locked and held.  There was
something about Nico that drew her like a moth to the flame.  She had
shared her pain with him, opened more than she could back home.  She was
finally healing.  She loved their walks along the beach before the day
began with Beau.  Her trip was coming to an end.  It would soon be
time to go home.

Their shared look of intimacy and heat was witnessed
by more than one at the table.

Belle watched as her niece blushed under the gaze of
Nico.  What a change in Carrie from the bruised and emotionally battered
young woman that she knew.  Yes, there was sadness in her eyes but it
invited you to learn more and to help her heal.  Not to avert your own
eyes at the raw pain.  Belle recognised the black Donna Karan wrap dress
and her sexy Christian Louboutin shoes.  She looked as though she was from
this world and not an outsider.

Dinner was almost over and Carrie found to her
surprize that she had enjoyed the evening.  Gino was charming and spoke of
his Mama who was currently on a cruise with friends, a sprightly 75 year old
and fiercely independent.  This Carrie knew from her talks with Nico but
she didn’t disclose this.

“She would have loved to meet a fellow Scot but
unfortunately she is not back in the Cape for another month”

“Your Mama sounds great fun.  Just like my Nana
Reynolds back home.  I love visiting her.  She is in a nursing home
now as she won’t live with anyone in our family.  Refuses all
requests.  She says she has a better social life with the other residents
and that living with family would curtail that.  Says we fuss too much
around her for her liking.”

“Oh Carrie, I would love for them to meet up –
sounds like they are independent  kindred spirits!”

Carrie laughed at that prospect.  Nico looked
at her and they shared a smile.

“Carrie, do you know my brother has another name for
you?” silence falls across the table.

“I have no idea what you are talking about Chiara”
she dismissed.

“Chiara!” Nico warned.

“Your code name … Why don’t you guess?  I can
give you a clue if you want”

Silence.

“Okay then if you won’t guess let me tell you. 
It’s Merry Widow!”

“What on earth?”  Carries stomach sank. 
She felt sick.

“Well that’s what the security team gave you as a
code name” she finished with a laugh.  “No-one gets close to the precious
Devanti enclave without a full background check.  You should be happy you
passed!  Not everyone does.”

“Enough Chiara, stop this at once,” Nico ordered.

Pain seared through her, a different pain than her
raw grief but the betrayal was having a devastating effect. 

“Merry Widow!  Is this true Nico?  Tell
me” she demanded.

“I can explain Carrie; it’s a standard protocol for
newcomers to the family to have a security check carried out.”

“Really? When were you going to tell me I
passed?  Did I get a gold star?”

“Carrie, I think you assets did that.  Not your
physical assets – enhanced ones I’m sure – passed you.  I’m sure my
brother can confirm that! Or maybe your bank balance did it?  Not a gold
digger then.  I’ve seen the report remember, plenty of zeros there!”

“Chiara, stop this nonsense at once you are
insulting a guest in our home.  Carrie I apologise on behalf of my
children for any upset they have caused you.”  Gino intercepted.

Carrie was shaking with anger and upset.  Fury
overriding the betrayal.

“Chiara, get me that report NOW” she demanded.

“Well I anticipated this would be your reaction” she
moved from her seat at the table, walked towards a small bureau and opened a
drawer.

“You planned this?”

“Yes Nico, remember this the next time you threaten
to stop my allowance and trust fund!”

Carrie held the cream folder.  Bold print typed
with two words – MERRY WIDOW

“You Bastard”

She opened the cover.  A few pictures unsecured
spilled out and Carrie gasped.  Her wedding photo to Rob.  Pictures
of her parents and sister from the wedding along with a copy of her passport
and driving licence.  All details to confirm her identity.  The newspaper
clippings detailing Rob’s accident along with the obituary.  The crash
photographs and the chaos surrounding it.  She pushed them painfully
aside.  Two typed pieces of paper listed all her personal
information.  Date of Birth, immediate family, job and even a copy of her
latest bank and credit card statements.  But the most damning part of all
the report was the cover note to Nico.  It was dated the day they
met. 

“As requested copy of background report
on your mystery woman, we thought the code name apt!”

That innocent day when she walked along the beach
and met a man she thought she could learn to open up to. 

He had known all of this information. 
Information that had taken her courage to tell him but that she told him freely
once he gained her trust. 

“You lowlife rotten Bastard.  You invaded my
privacy with this disgusting report, so let me introduce you to a new concept,
it is called trust!  I
trusted
you.  What did you think you
could learn about me on paper that I wouldn’t have told you?” This tirade she
completed with a slap of great magnitude across his handsome face.  Ouch
her hand stung.  Violence she abhorred but she had to retaliate physically
as well as verbally to expel the feelings building up. 

“Carrie, I’m sorry, you were never meant to see
this, and I didn’t mean to hurt you”

“Congratulation you just did” the rawness of her
delivery of the simplicity of her words conveyed her betrayal.

“I hope you all enjoyed the floor show,” she turned
to address the group and took a bow.  “Remind me to decline any future
invitations to dinner.  Oh and Chiara don’t think I’ve forgotten about
you”

“Little old me?” she pouted.

“Yes, little old you.  For the record, my tits
and teeth are all real, but it’s a shame about yours, better get back to the
surgeon or request a refund!  The next time you have a beef with your
brother about cutting off your funds go get a job and get off your lazy spoilt
ass.  It’s time for you to grow up.  I have a sister – oh that’s
right you know this from the file” she paused to take a gulp of wine. “My
sister is called Claire for those who haven’t read the file – Chiara is also
Italian for Claire.  But my sister has a heart so pure and light like the
true meaning of the name… and you are NOTHING like that.  You may share a
name but are nothing alike.  But to create a spectacle like this and
maliciously plan to cause me and your brother upset.  I pity you.  If
you are wise, you won’t attempt to cross me again you spoilt little
bitch.”  Still holding the goblet she tossed the remnants of her wine all
over the Cruella outfit.