CHAPTER 31

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'Bentley! What's going on? What is the matter? Keri rushed to him.

'Look at this. Look at these newspapers?' He pointed to the morning papers in despair. 'Mr. Blakely is going to kill me and then he's going to fire me.'

Keri stared at the papers uncomprehendingly. She was not sure what the national disaster was. Okay there were rather expressive pictures of their bosses reflected there, but so what? As far as she was concerned Tessa von Biljoen had been a regular feature in every morning paper in New York. She and Tessa were quite used to that. Eyebrows were raised if she had not made it into the papers.

'I see Mr. and Mrs. Blakely's pictures there. What's the problem?'

'What's the problem? What's the problem!' He pulled at his hair as if it was not supposed to cover his head.
'Don't you understand, Mr. Blakely abhors pictures of himself plastered in the papers? He is even more insistent that is family not be photographed.'

'But why is it your problem? You are not even there right now.'

'The Blakely's security detail report directly to me,' Bentley poked at his chest. 'Mr. Blakely has only one rule regarding security. Keep him and his family out of the media!'

'But how can this be your fault? And Mr. Blakely is
a ... media man.'

Bentley sat down and dropped his head on his arm. 'I should have insisted on overseeing Mrs. Blakely's arrangements.'

Keri could barely hear his mumblings from under his arm. 'She insisted on planning every detail herself. She said she had everything under control, and ---,' he lifted his head up. 'GR is a respectable newspaper. We are not a trashy tabloid,' he hissed angrily.

'Sorry,' she mumbled.

'I have to call him,' Bentley stood up. 'I have to tender my resignation.'

'You are being irrational,' Keri gripped his arms. 'Wait until they return.'

Bentley shook his head. 'You do not know Mr. Blakely. He does not tolerate incompetence. He sets the highest standards, only because he himself operates at the highest standard.'

'But surely you are not to blame,' she tried consoling him. 'Like you said, you did not arrange the logistics.'

'Keri, I am his P.A.,' Bentley patiently drew out. 'I am supposed to pre-empt problems, challenges---potential threats. Do you want to read my ten page job description?'

'I'm sorry,' she murmured, draping her arms around Bentley.

'Bentley rested his forehead on her shoulder, inhaling deeply. She stayed silent, not wanting to anger Bentley further. His arms went around her and he hugged her tightly.

'Bentley---promise me you won't do anything until they return,' she whispered.

'You mean I should wait like a coward and see how the cards fall,' he dropped his hands, then slammed his palms on his chest and side pockets in search of his mobile. Keri eyed it on the dressing table and snatched it.

'You can wait---till tonight,' she insisted. 'You wanted to visit my mother,' she reminded him, silently berating herself for not having any other distraction. Keri was not too keen for Bentley to meet her mother just yet.

'So you don't want to do another safari, or take a boat out?' Tessa was playfully making a white paste all over Brad's face with the sun block.

'I want to have a lazy morning, right here,' he smiled.

They were lying at the resort poolside. Brad had made sure it was secure. Safe from any hopeful prying media lenses. He had forked out an exorbitant amount to protect their privacy. The resort owner's eyes had bulged like saucers when the security company had mentioned the amount, but without batting an eyelid Brad had handed over his credit card.
He had also apologised to the hotel manager for his angry outburst, has assured them that they will not accept a refund and had placed a thick wad of notes in an envelope as an added tip for the family, for their fabulous weekend holiday.

'I think you should take up art classes,' Brad murmured, draping his arm over his wife's sexy buttocks.

'What?' Tessa laughed.

'You seem to find it rather therapeutic,' he gazed into her eyes; referring to the pleasure she seemed to be having with the sun block.

'I miss my baby,' she whispered. 'Do you think we could leave a little earlier?'

She seemed to be in a subdued mood as they lay at the pool. Brad had suspected her mind was on Lyndon. She had twice texted her mom, enquiring about their son.

'We can leave any time you want to sweetheart.'

'I am sorry to cut our holiday short,' her fingers raked through his damp hair.

'If we left just after my private concert,' he smiled. 'I would have been a satisfied man.'

'I'll call the pilot then.' Tessa stood up and tied the multicoloured sarong around herself.

'I'll call him,' Brad rose languorously, pulling Tessa into his arms. 'We will still have time for lunch right?' The aromatic flavours of lamb being barbecued drifted into the air, whetting Brad's appetite.

'Yes,' she tangled her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. 'The pilot can arrive in an hour. That should give us enough time to shower, pack and enjoy lunch. I shall pack your luggage,' she bit on her lower lip. Brad grinned sheepishly.

'You won't ---expose my shortcomings, will you?'

'Never,' she laughed softly.

'I knew I married the right lady,' he murmured.

'You only married me because I was pregnant.'

'That's what I told you,' he hit back surreptitiously.

'Now he tells me,' she smiled provocatively, capturing Brad's lips in an erotic kiss. 'Let's go shower,' she breathed against his lips.

'Did you arrange for the helicopter to meet us here?' Tessa asked as they landed at JFK.

'My wife arranged this trip,' he grinned as he ushered Tessa out of their private jet. Lowering her eyes, she sighed softly. It would take close to another hour to clear the terminal and drive to Scarsdale with the limo. Clearly there was a thing or two she had to learn in terms of the logistics when they travelled internationally.

She could not wait to see Lyndon. She missed her baby terribly. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around his tiny body, inhale the fresh scent of baby shampoo in his hair, and kiss his chubby cheeks.

'This way,' Brad smiled, seeing his wife had withdrawn into her shell again.

Tessa looked up and saw the awaiting helicopter. She spontaneously flung her arms around Brad's neck. 'Oh thank you. I swear I will never interfere in Bentley's job again,' she murmured in Brad's ear. His wife was causing a few raised eyebrows in the large hangar assigned for private aircraft, but Brad decided appeasing his wife was of essence at the moment.

'Pleasure darling,' Brad slid his fingers through Tessa's bouncy hair. 'I'm sure Bentley will appreciate you handing him control over his responsibilities again.'

'Take me home please,' Tessa urged.

As the helicopter circled the helipad at Scarsdale, Tessa looked down, searching for her little boy. She found him waving excitedly.

Aww...my baby.
His hand was clutched in his grandpa's. Charlotte and Bertha were standing next to Lyndon. Tessa noted Bentley was amongst the welcoming party, although he looked troubled. She wondered where Keri was.

'Oh Brad hurry,' Tessa whispered. It was only when Brad's head pivoted her way did she realize she had spoken aloud. He had heard her on her speakerphone.
'Sorry darling, don't mind me,' she touched his arm, urging him to land the helicopter.
Brad neatly landed it inside the helipad circle. Tessa did not wait for the engine to cut off. She unbuckled the belt, hurriedly got the door opened, ducked her head under the rotor blades and rushed to Lyndon.

'Momma,' Lyndon rushed towards Tessa.

'Hello my baby,' Tessa fell to her knees. 'Oh I missed you so much,' she kissed him repeatedly as she hugged him against her chest.

'I missed you too momma,' he smiled. Tessa hugged him again, pressing her lips to his plumpy cheek.

'Can you see I've grown momma?' Lyndon flexed his muscles. 'I have been eating all my food.'

'Yes, I see,' Tessa put him a little away to admire him. He looked so handsome in his cap, T shirt and shorts. His tiny feet were clean and well scrubbed in brown sandals.

'Hi son.'

'My daddy, what did you bring me?' Lyndon demanded as he dived into his daddy's waiting arms.

'Oh, it was my birthday. I did not think to get you anything,' Brad lied.
Tessa smiled, she knew he had a bag of goodies for Lyndon.

'It's okay,' Lyndon answered with a disheartened voice. 'I have Charlie,' and as if on cue, Charlie barked, wagging his tail happily as if welcoming Brad and Tessa back.

'Hi mom, dad,' Tessa hugged her parents. 'Hi Aunt Bertha. Did you have a good time this weekend?'

'We did,' Aunt Bertha smiled. 'And you kids?' she asked warmly.

'Yes, we had a wonderful break,' Tessa smiled.

Tessa watched as Brad greeted her parents with a hug and then wrapped his arms lovingly around Bertha's shoulders.

'I have something for you in the helicopter Aunt Bertha.'

'Thank you Bradley,' she patted his cheeks lovingly.

'Bentley,' Brad smiled and extended his hand to his P.A.

'Good afternoon Mr. Blakely, Mrs. Blakely,' Bentley's voice was almost cracking. 'May I speak with you in Mr. von Biljoen's library sir, after you have refreshed yourself?'

'This won't take long,' Brad smiled at everybody else. 'Please give us five minutes,' Brad linked his hands through Tessa's, unwittingly including her as audience to Bentley's request. Bentley shut his eyes for a second as he headed towards the library. Clearly his boss did not need more than five minutes to fire him.

'Mummy will be with you just now baby,' Tessa promised. 'Oh and daddy did not forget about you. There is a bag for you in the helicopter and something for grandma and grandpa as well.'

'Yes,' Lyndon jumped up and down and sprinted to the helicopter.

Brad ushered his wife through Joseph's library and shut the door. Bentley looked from one to the other and swallowed nervously. As he lifted his hand to his inside pocket to retrieve an envelope, Tessa spoke.

'Bentley, I am sorry to interfere in your job function,' she pursed her lips apologetically.

'I beg your pardon,' Bentley stared from Tessa to his boss, who had his arms folded across his chest.
'No.  I accept full responsibility,' he swallowed again and handed the envelope to Brad.

'Sir it was a pleasure serving you,' his voice broke, he did not meet Brad's eyes, as the envelope went from his hands to Brad's. 'I deeply regret the fiasco in the Bahamas,' he murmured.

'You will make sure it never happens again,' Brad tore the envelope to shreds without reading it. 'Now get our jet packed and ready for our flight home,' Brad nodded.

Bentley's eyes widened. 'Yes sir.  Thank you sir,' in true military style, Bentley actually saluted.
Brad and Tessa laughed.

'You do an amazing job Bentley,' Tessa complimented him sincerely.

'Thank you Mrs. Blakely.'

'Where's Keri?'

'Outside,' he waved his hand vaguely.

She was actually waiting in a rented car, Bentley had hired, thinking he was to find his own way back to London.

'Tell her I said "hi,"' Tessa smiled.

'I will,' Bentley avoided Brad's eyes as he rushed out.

Brad looked in confusion from his wife to Bentley. What was the need to pass a message to Keri via Bentley? Why was his wife passing a message to Keri, if she was outside?

'You could greet Keri yourself,' Brad murmured curiously.

'I could,' Tessa murmured, but I don't think I will see her for a few hours.'

'But,' Brad pointed to the closed door. 'Bentley just said he would see Keri.'

'And the last thing they will be doing is discussing you or I,' Tessa grinned, draping her arms around Brad's neck.

'Why not?' He raised an eyebrow peculiarly.

'Men!' Tessa sighed exaggeratedly.

'I take it that expletive is targeted directly at me. Now what have I done?' Brad innocently questioned his wife.

'You've done nothing,' Tessa lowered her hands. 'Our P.A.'s are in a relationship.'

'What?' Brad exploded. 'I won't have it. It's going to affect their work.'

'Is our work affected?' Tessa questioned.

'What!'

'We're in a relationship. Does it affect our work?'

'No---that's different.'

'Leave them be, Brad. It was inevitable.'

"'Inevitable?" 'How do you know?'

'Things have been simmering between them for months. You shall not interfere,' Tessa sliced a finger into the air.'

'I don't want it affecting their productivity,' he demanded.

'Darling,' Tessa walked back to Brad. 'You off all people should know we, could do nothing to quench the attraction between us.'

'How do you know they have, what we have?' Brad questioned.

'I don't,' Tessa admitted, 'but let it run its course, don't interfere,' she pleaded.

'Fine,' he lowered his head. 'How did you know?'

'It was plain to see.'

'I didn't,' he looked awkward.

'Yeah you walk around with blinkers on,' she grinned.

'Not where you are concerned,' he refuted.

'True,' she breathed. Sometimes his hold over her was too damn possessive, but she won't take him on right now. 'I want to go to Lyndon,' she murmured. Brad nodded and opened the door so they could return to their son.

'He didn't accept my resignation,' Bentley beamed as he slid into the driver's seat of the rented vehicle. 'Mr. Blakely tore it up, without opening it,' Bentley met Keri's eyes.

'Tell me everything,' Keri hugged Bentley.

'Before I could utter a word, Mrs. Blakely apologized to me,' Bentley related.

'I told you she was amazing.'

'I know, I know, she is wonderful,' Bentley laughed happily.

'You better not have any designs on her,' Keri warned.

'What! No.  Never. I would never be that disrespectful to Mr. Blakely. Besides you know Mrs. Blakely is terribly in love with the boss, and ---I only have eyes for you,' he exclaimed passionately.

'Oh Bentley, you make me so happy,' she reached out and pulled his head down to engage in a searing kiss.

'This vehicle has to be returned,' Bentley drew away reluctantly.

'Are we going for a drive then?' Keri asked hopefully.

Bentley studied his wristwatch. 'I can probably give you an hour Keri,' Bentley offered. 'I must prepare for our departure.'

'Why don't we share the responsibilities, and then enjoy our last moments in New York together.'

After the debacle with Mrs. Blakely, he was not sure he was going to delegate his responsibilities ever again. Still he was mildly curious to know what Keri had on her mind. 'What would you like to do?' his eyes met hers.

'I just want to walk with you in Central Park and ... feed you cotton candy,' she giggled.

"'Cotton candy,"' he wrinkled his face distastefully.

'I will kiss you, after I feed it to you,' she teased naughtily. Bentley laughed and pulled her against his chest.

'I will hold you to it,' he cautioned.

'What do you want me to do?' Keri offered.

'Arrange that your gear and Stacy's is loaded in the utility vehicle. Call the chef on the jet if there's something special you want for dinner. I'll see to everything else.'

'But I want to help you,' Keri urged.

'I'll be done quicker, this way,' he hoped his endearing smile will be reward enough for Keri.

'How did you fit the ship inside the bottle, my daddy?' Lyndon loved the ship in the bottle most amongst the bag of toys his daddy bought him.

'I bought it that way tiger,' Brad cradled Lyndon in his arms. 'But it is rather an intricate job, first the mast, sails and hull are built separately,' Brad pointed to the various parts of the ship. 'Then they are raised with string and hinges and attached to the hull,' Brad explained.

'It is beautiful, I love it my daddy,' Lyndon hugged Brad. 'What did you get for Charlie?'

'A bedtime story book,' Brad grinned, as he walked out with Lyndon.

'Charlie does not read, silly daddy,' Lyndon bobbed up and down in Brad's hands. 'Can I test my ship in the lake?' Lyndon pointed to the water.

'We are leaving now son. When we get to our home, then we will test it there.'

'Where's my grandpa?' Lyndon demanded, sliding off Brad.

'Bye mummy,' Tessa hugged her mom. 'I love you.'

'Take care darling. We will come through when baby is born,' Charlotte smiled.

'Bye Tessa,' Joseph hugged her. 'Take care of yourself,' her father instructed.

'Yes daddy,' Tessa kissed her father's cheek.

'Say goodbye to grandpa sweetheart,' Tessa reached her hand out to Lyndon.

'I'm staying with my grandpa,' Lyndon declared, running to hide behind Joseph.

Brad's head swung to Tessa. He waited to see her reaction. He knew there was no way she would leave their child here, if he knew his wife at all. There was silence around them, as everybody's eyes fell on Tessa.

Tessa went cold. She felt a sharp spasm in her stomach. She inhaled calmly, trying to ignore the pain. She was not, absolutely not leaving her boy here. Tessa looked around, her eye scanning the courtyard for Charlie.
'You want to stay in New York with grandpa?' Tessa spoke quietly.

'Yes,' Lyndon answered defiantly clutching his ship in the bottle with one hand and holding tightly onto Joseph with the other hand.

Brad squared his shoulders. It seems he did not know his wife after all. His wife was sadly mistaken if she presumed he would agree with her. He would have to make the executive decision here. His son was returning with them to England and that was the end of the story.

'Okay goodbye Lyndon,' Tessa turned away, without even kissing her son goodbye. 'Charlie, let's go boy,' Tessa shut her eyes and hoped the dog would not pounce on her. It whimpered delightedly and obediently ran up to Tessa, licking her hand and criss crossing her path.

Brad---help! Good doggie. Don't ---touch me. Eww!

Brad breathed a sigh of relief, finally understanding his wife's strategy. He wanted to throw himself on the grass and howl with laughter at the sight of his poor wife, cringing and desperately trying to keep Charlie at bay. Brad rushed to his wife's side, instinctively reading her silent plea. He curved his arm around Tessa protectively.

'Heal boy!' Brad instructed the dog.

'What took you so long?' she demanded.

'You looked so adorable,' he smirked.

'Momma! Wait for me,' a little voice howled protestingly. 'Charlie is my dog. Charlie!'

'I forgot how smart my wife is,' Brad murmured, as they continued to walk ignoring Lyndon's shouts.

'Keep that hound away from me---please,' Tessa whispered.

'But he loves you so much,' Brad teased.

'Eww,' he licked my hand,' Tessa jerked her hand, as if to remove the trace of Charlie's slobbery tongue.

'Momma,' Lyndon threw himself on the grass and sobbed heartily. 'I love you momma. Wait for me,' he cried his heart out.

Unable to ignore her baby's heart wrenching cry any longer, reluctantly Tessa looked over her shoulder. Lyndon's face was red as a tomato. Tears were streaming down his face. His eyes were looking at her pleadingly.

'You changed your mind?' Tessa asked innocently. She went down on her knees, extending her arms to Lyndon.

'That's my Charlie,' Lyndon ran into his mother's arms and buried his face on her shoulder. 'I'm co---ming with ---you,' Lyndon sobbed.

'Don't cry. I love you,' Tessa soothed him. 'Let daddy carry

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