‘Is my wife okay?”

‘Yes Mr. Blakely,’ the head of the security detail assigned to protect Tessa answered.

‘They’re all okay?’ Brad prodded.

‘Yes sir,’ Brad could hear the man’s smile.  ‘There’s six of them and they are having a great time.’

Brad had instructed the security to book a table inside the restaurant, not that he did not trust his wife.  They could better protect her inside the restaurant.  Off course he knew his wife was faithful to him, but just incase somebody decided to get fresh with his wife, she would have protection.

‘I might add sir,’ the security laughed cheerfully. ‘Mrs. Blakely is certainly the livewire in the party.’

He knew that.  His wife was always the centre of attention wherever they went.

‘They are getting a lot of attention Mr. Blakely,’ the security interrupted Brad’s thoughts, but Mrs. Blakely’s attention is focused on her friends.'

‘That’s what you are there for,’ Brad instructed.  ‘Keep the attention away.’

‘There are two single ladies amongst the six sir and they seem to be sussing out the attention.’

‘Just make sure my wife stays protected.  Good night,’ Brad ended the call.

It was eleven P.M.  He had put Lyndon to bed three hours ago.  The blighter even got an extra hour, playing on daddy’s laptop.  Brad fearing Tessa would know of the deviation in her son’s bedtime routine, managed to coax their son to bed by eight.  He had a lot to wrap up before they departed to the regional branches in two days time.  Brad used the time to set things in motion.

      ‘You don’t need to get out Bentley,’ Keri informed him as the limo stopped outside her apartment.

‘Mr. Blakely instructed me to see you home,’ he got out and assisted her out.

‘I am home safe,’ she laughed.  She watched the limo depart, subsequent to Bentley softly conversing with the driver.

‘What are you doing?  How are you going to get home?’

‘I need a cup of coffee otherwise I’m going to have a hangover in the morning.’

‘You only had two glasses of sherry!  Besides I don’t have coffee.’

She did have coffee, unless she had already finished the three months supply amongst the other non perishable items he had stocked in her cupboards as per Mrs. Blakely’s instructions.

‘We’ll have some delivered,’ he smiled taking the keys from her and opening her front door.

‘Have coffee delivered? Are you mad?  It would be cold by the time it arrives,’ Keri dumped her handbag on the kitchen counter and glared at Bentley.

‘Okay, I’ll settle for brandy then,’ he made himself comfortable on her couch and flicked  through  the channels with the TV remote.

‘I’ll make the coffee,’ she grit her teeth.  Her eyes were a dark grey like storm clouds.

‘No sugar and ...’

‘I know how you take your coffee,’ she cut him off.

‘Are we watching comedy or horror?’ he asked innocently.

‘How are you getting home?’ she ignored his question.  He admired the way she flipped her shiny sandy brown hair away from her face.

‘You have two bedrooms,’ Bentley stood up and walked towards Keri.

‘You are not staying over,’ Keri murmured, unconsciously retreating further into the kitchen.

‘Don’t think you can keep your hands off me,’ he murmured, trapping her between himself and the table behind her.

‘I ... I ... umm,’ she licked her lower lip nervously.  ‘You can’t stay,’ she repeated.

‘Are you sure,’ he smiled flirtatiously.

‘I ---will ---make ---you coffee,’ she stammered.  ‘Then you must leave.’

‘Don’t bother,’ he pursed his lips.  ‘The limo is on its way back.  The driver is just gone to fuel up.’

‘Oh,’ she responded disappointedly.  So I should not put the kettle on?’  As she spoke, Bentley’s mobile rang.

‘That’s the limo,’ he smiled as he checked the call line identity.  ‘Good night Keri,’ he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

‘Er  ... good night,’ she watched him walk out and lock her door.  Keri lifted her fingers to the spot where he’d kissed her cheek.  She closed hers eyes. 

Why am I disappointed that he’s gone?

       ‘Darling you’re still awake?’  Tessa opened Brad’s office door softly.

‘Just finishing up one or two things before our trip,’ Brad stretched and rubbed his tired eyes.  It was almost one A.M.  He’d got the call from security about twenty minutes ago that they were all leaving the restaurant.  His wife must have been low flying to get home so quickly.

‘Enjoyed the evening?’ Brad smiled.

‘Yes thanks,’ Tessa smiled back, lowering herself onto Brad’s lap.  ‘It was lovely seeing the girls again.  We had a blast,’ Tessa grinned draping her arms around his neck.  ‘And I think two of my single girlfriends got lucky tonight.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yeah,’ she kissed him.

‘I’m glad you enjoyed your night out.’

‘My bodyguards were very close by,’ she murmured, trailing kisses on his neck.

‘You noticed.’

‘Hard not to when they were in my face tonight.’

‘I asked them to,’ Brad confessed.

‘Jealousy issues, Blakely?’ she undid his gown.

‘No.  Of course not.  It was just protection.’

‘Right,’ she murmured, bringing her lips back to his and kissing him.  Brad’s arms draped around her as he returned the kiss.

‘You done?’ she whispered.  ‘I’m going to take a quick shower.

‘Yep,’ he saved his work and shut it down.

The shower door opened and Brad stepped in.  ‘You’ve showered already!’  Tessa wiped away the water dripping down her face.

‘I want to shower with you,’ he took the soap and began lathering it over her chest.

Tessa smiled as her eyes locked with his.  She loved him so much.  She hoped when she was sixty, and when time altered her body, her husband would still adore her as he did now.  Sometimes she asked herself, how could she have been so blessed to have such an amazing man love her so unconditionally?

‘You look beautiful,’ he smiled proudly, as his palm traced over her stomach.  There was the tiniest bump visible.  Tessa closed her hand over his.

‘You are beautiful,’ she kissed his lips, ‘and we are going to have a beautiful baby. 

I hope it’s a girl.’

‘Yes,’ Brad agreed. ‘No matter what it is we will love our baby,’ he curved his arms around Tessa protectively.  He would love a little green eyed, dark haired Tessa, but he did not want to say anything.  He would accept and love their baby, whatever its sex was.

     'Morning momma,’ Lyndon ran to his mummy and hugged her.  ‘My daddy let me play on his laptop last night.’

‘Did he?’ Tessa looked up from her bowl of muesli.  She targeted an accusing eyebrow at her husband.  ‘So what time did you get to bed?’

‘Morning son.  Are you ready for school?’ Brad interrupted before Lyndon could answer.

‘After I brushed my teeth,’ Lyndon was pleased to inform his mummy.

 ‘Son, Stacy is waiting to take you to school,’ Brad hastily intervened.

Tessa looked up at her husband who was squirming about with his coffee cup in hand.  He avoided looking at her, hoping to use getting Lyndon into the car, as a deviation.

‘You enjoying school sweetheart?’ Tessa patted Lyndon’s head lovingly.

‘Yes momma.  I have three friends,’ he raised five fingers up.  ‘Tommy, Dylan and Ellie.’

‘That’s three,’ Tessa smiled, pushing two tiny fingers back.  ‘What do you play with Ellie?’

‘Football.  She pushes me down and steals the ball,’ Lyndon laughed.

‘But I thought ... '

‘Morning Mrs. Blakely,’ Stacy stepped into the breakfast room. 

‘Morning Stacy,’ Tessa smiled.  ‘I think Lyndon’s ready for you.’

‘Morning Stacy.  I finished my breakfast,’ Lyndon spoke enthusiastically.  Since he started school, it was a miracle, Tessa did not need to do battle any longer with Lyndon and his cereal.  These days he ate on his own.

‘Say goodbye to mummy and daddy,’ Stacy smiled.

‘Bye my daddy.  Bye momma,’ he picked up his backpack and rushed to the car.

‘Er ... I’ll see you at the office darling,’ Brad kissed her cheek and made a hasty departure.

‘Blakely,’ Tessa dabbed the napkin at the corner of her lips and stood up.

‘Yes,’ he hesitantly looked over his shoulder.

‘Wait up.  I’m coming with you.’

‘I thought you were going to visit Aunt Bertha,’ they exited the house together.

‘I’m going after lunch,’ Tessa replied.

‘You’re going to give me a dressing down?’ Brad vacillated.

‘Is there something I need to give you a dressing down about?’ Tessa asked innocently, her eyes holding Brad’s as he opened the passenger door for her.

‘No.  Nothing at all,’ he smiled, then kissed her on the lips.

‘Why don’t you come with me to Aunt Bertha,’ she murmured against his lips.  ‘I could push it back to around five P.M.’

‘Okay,’ Brad nodded.  ‘I‘ll reschedule my diary.'

‘Thank you,’ she draped her arms around his shoulders, hugging her husband. 

‘Can we get to work now?  I’m going to be late for my fist meeting.’

‘Yes, sorry,’ Tessa slipped in and allowed Brad to shut her door.

‘I bought us breakfast to go with coffee,’ Bentley smiled placing a brown paper bag on Keri’s desk.  He removed his jacket.  Keri gazed as the muscles flexed through his silk day shirt as he reached out to place it on the coat hanger.

‘I’ve already had coffee and toast at the apartment,’ Keri quickly peeked into the packet.  She found the largest blueberry muffins she’d ever seen.  She thought New York did things in a big way.  She closed her eyes, inhaling the sweet aroma of freshly baked blueberries.

‘Smells heavenly right,’ Bentley grinned.  He looked so much younger when he smiled, and so much cooler.  He had been so straight faced when she’d first met him.

‘I shouldn’t’ Keri groaned.  ‘I’ve already eaten.’

‘Go on,’ Bentley urged softly, close to her ear.  ‘Just a wee bite.’

‘Okay, I’ll make the coffee,’ she sighed.

      'Bentley!’ Brad raised his voice.  He stood at the door with his hands on his hips.  His eyes looked murderous.

‘Yes sir,’ Bentley quickly straightened.

‘You were supposed to set up a meeting with Orion’s Brook Connor for eight thirty this morning.  Connor claims he did not get a communiqué from you.’ 

Damn, I forgot to call Brook Connor. 
Bentley was red faced.

‘What the hell is going on?’ Brad barked.  He had wanted a report from Connor before he left for Australia.

Tessa came out of her office when she heard Brad’s thunderous voice.  Her husband never raised his voice.  What was going on?   Bentley was in her direct line of vision, looking mortified.

‘Bentley please come into Brad’s office?’ Tessa instructed. 
She pushed Brad into his office and shut the door after Bentley humiliatingly dragged himself inside.

Brad continued to glare at Bentley with that vicious look.

‘Brad there’s no need for your vitriolic outburst to be heard by every person on the executive floor,’ Tessa reprimanded her husband.

‘You think so?’  Brad walked threateningly towards Bentley. 

Tessa quickly stepped in front of Bentley. 

  ‘Perhaps he can tell me why he can’t carry out a simple instruction.’

‘It was an oversight,’ Tessa answered protectively.  ‘You know Bentley is quite competent.’

‘Let the weasel speak for himself,’ Brad snarled at Tessa.

‘Blakely, don’t you ever raise your voice at me,’ Tessa ordered  calmly, though her emerald eyes were glacial.  ‘What is so catastrophic?’ she hissed, trying to understand why her husband was going berserk.

How could he tell his wife that that excuse for a human; Connor had asked him about his “beautiful wife” and wanted to know if they were still married?

‘Mr. Blakely is correct,’ Bentley stepped out from behind Tessa.  ‘It is my fault.  I  ... forgot to make the appointment sir.  I apologize,’ Bentley expressed contritely.

‘You’re going ballistic because of a missed appointment?’ Tessa questioned incredulously.

No!  There’s a bastard out there who insinuates he want to get into your bed.

Brad ripped his jacket and tie off.  ‘I’m going to the gym,’ he directed a frosty look at Bentley slamming the door and escaping before his wife could interrogate him further.

Tessa and Bentley stared at each other in confusion.  Bentley was astonished.  In all the years he worked for Brad Blakely, he had never once raised his voice at him.

Tessa was speechless.  Four years she was married to the man and she had never once heard him raise his voice in that manner.  Something was not right.  There was more to it than just a missed appointment. 

What could have riled him so?  They had been happy when they'd walked into the office hand in hand.

Tessa walked to Brad’s desk and perused his diary.  Other than the meeting with Orion, he just had meetings with the various divisional heads within GR.  Then she spotted the writing pad next to Brad’s telephone.  There was nothing written there, but lot of angry doodling. 

Brook Connor had riled him.

Tessa looked up and saw Bentley had already left Brad's office.  Brad was de-stressing in the gym.  Should she go to him?  Would he talk to her or would he go ballistic all over again.  As Chairman, she supposed Brad was allowed to throw his toys out the cot, but damn it, he was her husband first.  He would have to give her an audience.

‘Keri, please shift my diary around by fifteen minutes.’  Tessa cast a cursory glance at Bentley.  He was pounding away on his keyboard.  There was a cup of cold coffee on his desk.  Something that looked like breakfast was covered with a paper napkin.

‘Bentley,’ Tessa whispered, placing her palm on his shoulder.  ‘Don’t worry about it.  Nobody is perfect.’

‘Thank you Mrs. Blakely.’

‘Have your breakfast,’ she smiled and walked to the gym.

Keri cautiously stepped to Bentley’s desk.  She threw out the cold coffee and made him a fresh cup.  She warmed the muffin in the microwave oven for a few seconds and took it to Bentley.

‘Bentley please have your breakfast,’ Keri murmured.

‘Thank you,’ he smiled, gratefully taking the coffee from her.  Bentley broke a piece of muffin and stuffed it into his mouth.  ‘You’ve had yours?’ he smiled.

‘I’ve had half of it,’ she laughed softly.  ‘Thank you.  It was delicious.’

‘Told you so,’ he grinned.

‘Can I help you with something?’ Keri volunteered.

‘Not much to do, when the boss is not here,’ he shrugged his shoulders.

‘Why did Mr. Blakely shout at you?’

‘I forgot to set up an appointment he requested for this morning.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Not your fault,’ he winked.  Although truth be told.  He had completely forgotten, because of his new found obsession with Keri.

      Tessa stepped into the gym and scanned the large room filled with exercising equipment.  She smiled, nodded and greeted the few colleagues who were exercising; using some of the equipment.  She found Brad in the far corner, repeatedly pounding away at a punching bag. 

Are you wishing that was Brook Connor’s face?  Tessa suppressed a smile.

She very carefully treaded closer to Brad.  His head was lowered.  Perspiration was dripping off his face.   He was pummelling the bag mercilessly.  His poor hands, it was a good thing he had gloves on.

‘Darling.’

He stopped when he heard her voice, but he did not look up.  Tessa picked up his towel and closed the distance between them.  She gently wiped down his face.  Brad continued to keep his face down.  She lifted his one hand and unlaced the glove.  She did the same with the other.  Tessa lifted Brad’s right palm with both her hands.  She angled her cheek into his palm.  Brad's shoulders lifted as he inhaled heavily.
  Her thumb caressed his hand lovingly.  She looked up into his face.  Her eyes searched his.

‘You want to take a shower?’ she whispered. 
He nodded still not looking at her.  Tessa walked with Brad to his private suite in the gym.  As soon as they were alone Brad pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

‘I love you,’ he murmured gruffly.

‘I love you too darling,’ her fingers cupped his face tenderly.

‘I’m sorry I yelled at you,’ he tendered huskily.

‘Apology accepted,’ she smiled.  Finally his eyes met hers and he smiled adoringly. 

‘Go on, go get showered,’ she murmured.

‘You don’t want to know why I was behaving like a wayward adolescent?’

‘Brook Connor said something to provoke you?’

Brad’s eyes widened.  Did he forget he was married to an attorney?  He lowered his head feeling disgusted that he foolishly allowed himself to be baited by Connor.

‘Hey handsome, you going to take that shower or what?’

‘It’s a long time since you called me that?’ he grinned, walking into his shower.

It was a long time since her husband needed his spirits lifted.  How could he be jealous when they lived together, slept together and worked together?  They did everything together and loved every moment of it.  It was only last night after a very long time that she went out alone, and then she had a troop of bodyguards in her face, obviously reporting to Brad on the hour.

‘Darling what colour is my tie in the office?’ Brad asked from inside the shower cubicle?

‘Pink.’

Brad came out wearing navy blue tailored trousers and an ivory coloured shirt, clinging to his muscular torso.

‘Yep the pink tie will do,’ she nodded with a smile.  Not that he needed her counsel in the wardrobe department.  He had immaculate taste.  Tessa linked her hand through Brad’s. 

‘You smell delicious,’ she kissed his neck, inhaling his fragrant scent.  'Do you know what I’m thinking about?’ Tessa laughed.

‘What?’

‘I’m wondering who this Ellie chick is who’s bullying my son.’

‘Don’t get involved,’ Brad instructed.

‘But ...’

‘Didn’t you get bullied in school?’

‘No.  I bullied Fabian,’ she laughed.

‘And he survived, didn’t he?’ Brad opened the door for Tessa.  ‘Besides you heard Lyndon this morning.  He just laughed it off.’

‘If my son comes home with bruises, Blakely ...’

‘World class players get bruises all the time,’ Brad laughed.  ‘Don’t make a sissy out of Lyndon.’

‘He’s my baby,’ she murmured, as they walked into their office again, their hands entwined.

‘When Lyndon complains, then we’ll address it.  Deal?’  Brad stopped in front of Keri and Bentley’s desks.

‘I guess,’ Tessa reluctantly accepted.

‘Bentley,’ Brad addressed him in a courteous tone.  ‘I apologize for yelling at you.’

Bentley stood up.  ‘That’s okay sir.  It was my fault.  I ...’

‘Bentley,’ Tessa spoke.  ‘Shut up and sit down.’

‘Yes Mrs. Blakely.’  They all laughed and the atmosphere was lighter and conducive to working again.

‘See you at lunch,’ Brad pressed a lingering kiss to Tessa’s lips.

  ‘Yes,’ she disengaged herself from Brad’s embrace and walked towards her office.  ‘Oh Brad, make sure you wrap up before five please.’ 
Brad nodded and headed to his office.

‘He apologized to you,’ Keri swung her chair towards Bentley.

‘Yeah,’ Bentley nodded.

‘But you stuffed up!’

Bentley glared at Keri.

‘I mean ... what I mean is ... you know what I mean,’ she sighed.

‘Mr. Blakely’s apology was not because of my “stuff up.”  Mr. Blakely never ever raises his voice.  That’s what he apologized for.’

‘Do you think Mrs. Blakely asked him