IV

    A cold chill ran down his spine after taking a sip from his glass, the coppery liquid giving a burning sensation as it went down his throat into his stomach. His mind had been a jumbled mess and the drink had not been helping clear it. He didn't know what had been going on around him. After talking with his butler he had locked himself in his office, contemplating his next move. He thought that he should go and see Camden and ask for answers but he thought other wise. He didn't want to cause anymore damage, he thought that maybe talking to his brother in law, but that idea also would be an awful idea. He had been drowned himself in the brown liquid, thinking that it will help. He placed the glass down on his desk and just leaned back in his chair. He watched the condensation that had accumulated on the side of the glass slowly run down it. He saw one droplet slowly run down, he watched it run down, he watched it collect other droplets. He pictured his life as the droplet, he collects all these people in his life, but they somehow push him further and further away from the top, they drag him down. He sighs and rubs his face. What has his life come to? He met the most beautiful woman in the world, spent his every waking moment and dream filled nights thinking about her, he then marries her. But happiness always comes with a price, and the price he paid is losing the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He just wanted answers, he just wanted to know why this horrible thing happened to him, all he wanted was happiness. He leans his head back against his chair, what is going to do? A knock against the door brought him out of the entanglement inside his mind. He sighed and bid the person entrance. The door opened, she slithered her way into the room. He looked up and saw who entered and he gave another big sigh then covered his face with his hands.

    "Mother, what is it that you want? Can you not see that I am a busy man?"

    Natalia had an elegance of herself, she had been brought to this world as a princess and had to be treated as a queen. All her life she was placed high on a pedestal and no one could ever get her down from it. She sultered her way over to her son, her most favorite of all her children.

    "Is it such a crime that a mother come visit her son that she missed so much? Wow Nikolai, I thought I had raised you with better manners?"

    She could see in her son's eyes that he had been hurting. She knew he had been hurting for a while, since he had ended things with that commoner. He made the right decision and believing her about that vile woman. Her source had been right about the woman, she just wanted what was best for her son. Nikolai again sighs.

    "I am sorry mother, it is just that I am very stressed right now. I have been told something that has me so confused, I do not know what to do, who to believe or what to believe. But enough about me, why do I have the privilege of having your presence here today mother?"

Her son was in pain, she could see it, she just didn't want to make it worse so she decided to drop it and change the subject.

    "Beh figlio, io sono qui per dirvi che sto andando via per un paio di mesi. Tornero per la venuta di tua sorella di palla eta. (Well son, I am here to tell you that I am going away for a few months. I will be returning for your sister's coming of age ball.)"

    He nodded, he stood from his chair and walked over to his mother. She smiled when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.

    "Madre Va bene, al sicuro.(Okay mother, be safe.)"

    She kissed his cheek. She worried about her boy.

    "Piccolo, please tell me what is bothering you?"

    He sighs again. {a/n so much sighing!}

    Should he tell his mother what is wrong? If he did then he fears the worst will happen. He decides to tell her anyway. She will find out anyway.

    "Mother, today I found out that Camden had a child, a son. I saw him at her family's event. If you saw him, you could not say he was not mine."

    The look on his mother's face told him that in fact he would expect what he feared.

    "That boy... He is not yours. I told you, she had an affair and that is the child that came out of that infidelity. I will be calling our lawyers, we will fight for a paternity test. I do not believe that that boy is yours. If he is yours, I will do anything in my power to take him and keep him away from his adulterous mother. Mark my words Nikolai, she will rue the day she hurt my boy."

    With that she left the office, leaving him again to wallow in his self pity. He immediately grabbed the glass and served himself another glass.

    The following week passed by quickly, the days ran too fast for Camden. Today is the day that she finally sits down with Nikolai and his lawyers. She dreaded the day, she was scared she would lose her son, she could not have that happen, that is why Mr. Gabrielli is helping her. Gregori had picked Camden up a few hours ago, now they are waiting for Nikolai's lawyers to arrive. Nikolai had arrived earlier than he expected. He still had not seen the woman he still had feelings for. You can not just drop those feelings at the snap of your fingers. He saw a car pull up outside of the building, he gasped when he saw that his father walked out of the car while helping a little boy out. The door on the other side of the car opened and his breath got lodged in his throat. There she was, the woman that haunted his dreams since the moment he had laid his eyes on her. He decided to make an appearance as well, he opened his door of the car and exited. The little boy looked toward the man that started walking towards him. He hid his face behind his grandfather's leg. The look that the little boy had on his face made the decision for Nikolai so much easier to decide about the situation. Nikolai had made up his mind. With that thought, he looked up into her eyes with determination. He will do everything possible to win the woman back and the first thing he will be doing is not fight for the boy, but for her.