Fighting Destiny (17 page)

“Well, when you take a girl out several times to be your date at your social events, even she begins to hope a little, don’t you think?”

Solange raised her eyes to his before looking out at the view once again. She would make some lucky man really happy someday but it wouldn’t be him.

“I’ll
take the blame for this Solange! I guess we weren’t on the same page at all. I haven’t been able to forget Candasee and I want a second chance with her. If I’ve led you to believe otherwise and if I’ve hurt you, I’m truly sorry. I do respect you as a business woman and I do consider you to be a friend, but that is all we can be,” he said with a note of finality.

“I get it! You want back your ex-wife and you can’t have me wandering around here messing things up for you.”

It didn’t sound as terrible when he’d said it moments earlier but at least she’d gotten the message.

Solange looked at her watch and it was four fifteen. Candasee was still a no show. She racked her brain to think of what else she could do to prolong the meeting.

“Well seeing that you will be unavailable indefinitely, what about a “
see you later
” hug? she suggested.

What could it hurt?
Darius thought, as he hugged Solange. He didn’t expect that as he leaned in that she would hold his face between her hands and kiss him again on the lips.
Was that a moan
? He pushed her away from him gently.

“Solange, I just told you that I don’t feel that way about you. You can’t do that again!”

He never saw that he had a visitor.

Nathan waited in the lobby until he saw Solange leaving. She was walking with her head held high and he wondered if everything happened according to plan.  He walked after her and touched her on the shoulder. She whirled around at him and although she looked dignified and controlled, her eyes were blazing with fury and it was obvious that she was struggling to hold it together. Obviously the visit did not go well.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into doing this! I am so embarrassed right now!” she fumed.

“Solange, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want your pity or your apologies Nathan. I just got my ass handed to me in there just now and how this all turns out now depends on you holding up your end
of our bargain.”

“So did she see you guys together?”

“She arrived at the perfect time to see him holding me and me kissing him. Of course, if she’d waited a few more seconds she would also have seen him rushing me out the door,” she huffed.

“Solange,
I’m sorry and I owe you big time. I won’t forget this. I just needed a little advantage with Candasee. Darius will come around and realize what an awesome catch you are, I’m sure of it.”

“Right, I’
m supposed to wait in the wings indefinitely to be his second choice? I do have a little more self-respect than that.”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that!”

“You didn’t have to say it for it to be true. Look, if I were you I would start spending less time wondering how to break their connection and work on letting her know you love her because I’ve never seen Darius so determined about anything before. He’s coming for Candasee and he doesn’t care who will be in his way.”

She was dead serious and he could hear it in her tone and see it clearly in her eyes. In that moment
, he had the sinking feeling that he’d already lost Candasee. Solange was right, the more he focused on keeping Candasee and Darius separate the more the situation seemed to favour their getting close to each other again and the more his head hurt with the tension of trying.

Candasee
had already chosen him, she said she loved him last night and she accepted his marriage proposal twice. What was he so worried about?
Did it matter that every time something good happened in his life, something came along to mess it up?
Even that thought deepened the throbbing in his temples.

Solange left and he decided to take a walk along the beach to clear his head before going upstairs. Twice now Solange had gone the extra mile to save him in a matter of a few days but what did he offer her, absolutely nothing
. Not even a distant hope that the man she loved would turn to her when this was all over. He had no guarantees. He’d used her faith and goodwill in their friendship selfishly and now she was the one hurting. What kind of person was he really on the inside?

Spying an empty
deck chair near the pool area he sank down onto it and closed his eyes. He rubbed his temples willing for some kind of release. Instead of trying to separate them he should be showing her why she and he were right for each other. The last nine months they’d spent a lot of time laughing together and enjoying each other, but she was still holding back. He always knew that something wouldn’t let her open up all the way to him, and now he knew what it was. She didn’t want to have her heart broken by a man again. Well he wouldn’t be the one to do that to her ever.

The delegate’s were now milling about the property and many of them took to the pool area and to the beach to swim and to relax before the auditions later. Everyone seemed to be smiling and having a good time. Everyone except him and it was his own fault. He needed a serious change in attitude. So what if Darius wanted Candasee back, she was still his and he wasn’t about to let her go without a fight. If Darius Brogan thought he would simply step aside he was truly mistaken. That man had hurt Candasee so much that she didn’t want to come within miles of this place and he’d promised to protect her. It was time that he did just that!

Nathan stood and walked
quickly back into the lobby and rode the elevators to the seventh floor and as he got to the door and swiped the passkey. As he was about to enter the room he saw a lady clad in a pink pants suit emerging from the second elevator and she was walking toward him. He was about to close the door when she stopped in front of his room looking at the room number as though she found what she was looking for.

Nathan pulled open the door again and asked, “Can I help you?”

“Hi yes, I’m looking for Candasee!” she said. Her voice was filled with warmth and her eyes shone with alertness that told him she didn’t miss much.

“Uh, I can go in and see if she is awake, and come back and let you know
. She said she was taking a nap earlier,” replied Nathan deciding to check with Candasee before allowing the woman inside.

Marianne observed the gentleman entering Candasee’s room and realized that she was standing with Nathan
, her daughter-in-law’s new fiancé. He was a handsome man, she thought with a smile to herself, Candasee really had her hands full and Darius would have a challenge too, she mused silently.

“Wait, listen that is
n’t a problem, if she is asleep I don’t want to disturb her. I want her to give me a call though. You can tell her Marianne stopped by! She knows who I am and give her this card so that she can call me. It’s important!”

Nathan took the card and watched as the stylish woman returned to the elevators.

He looked at the card and read the name, ‘Marianne Brogan’ and fought the wry laugh which rose to his lips. Things just kept getting better and better around here, thought Nathan reminding himself of his commitment not ten minutes ago to fight fair! He’d obviously just met Darius’mother. Closing the door behind him he stepped inside the cool interior of the room and walked to the bedroom where Candasee was indeed lying on the bed asleep.

She had a gruelling morning conducting the dance sessions and she really gave it her all.
Sitting on the edge of the bed near her feet he put the card on the comforter beside him and picked up her feet and placed them on his lap and began to rub them gently, kneading the muscles at the bottom of her feet and her toes.  Her chest rose and fell gently as she slept and she looked so peaceful that he didn’t want to disturb her so he put her feet back on the bed and moved over to the balcony area to open the door and stepped outside into the cool air.

Was she upset at finding Solange with Darius? Judging from what Solange had said she had looked in and left immediately.

“Nathan is that you?” asked Candasee groggily.

Nathan turned to see Candasee stretching luxuriantly as she woke up. He leaned his body onto the doorframe as he watched seeming perfection unfold before his eyes! This was a
view he didn’t want any other man to have but him! She was wearing a white midriff length top and a pair of knit shorts in a flattering shade of aquamarine which revealed her long slim legs.

“Yes love, I just came upstairs, I hope
I didn’t wake you!” he replied walking over to the bed and sitting beside her.

“What time is it? Is it time for the auditions?” she asked still
feeling a little disoriented.

“No we still have two hours before those begin!” he replied while his mind
immediately conjured up an image of what he wished they could do to pass the time!

“Oh good! I wanted to talk to you about something!” she said sitting up and swinging her legs to the floor.

“What is it? Did you manage to deliver the envelope?”

“In a matter of speaking,” she said looking visibly uncomfortable. I left it
on his secretary’s desk.

“I guess that’s fine! Didn’t you see him?” Nathan pressed.

“He was uh, occupied so I just left it where he would find it. I’m sure that his secretary will make sure he receives it in time.”

“Okay
, so what did you want to talk to me about?”

She had to be honest with Nathan. This was no way to begin a marriage with anyone.

“Nathan, I know you love me but I don’t think I deserve it!” said Candasee honestly regarding the deep intensity that filled Nathan’s entire expression.

“Why not?” he demanded.

She took a deep breath before she began. “Please hear me out, okay. I am so sorry but this morning Darius and I kissed on the beach.”

“What?” Nathan exclaimed leaping to his feet.
His gut twisted painfully at the image that conjured in his mind. No wonder she was so distant this morning after her swim.

“I’m sorry for hurting you like this but the longer I stay at this hotel I am realizing that I have a lot of unresolved feelings about Darius. We never really closed the issue of our marriage,” Candasee admitted sadly. “How
can I say in one breath that I want to marry you but still behave like that? I owe you an apology Nathan. I’m sorry and I am begging you to forgive me. I can’t live a lie with you.”

“So, are you breaking off our engagement?”

“No, don’t you see, I want us to work more than ever before but I knew it wouldn’t if I am hiding skeletons in my closet. A marriage is built on trust and communication as well as love and passion. I don’t want us to have secrets that could destroy our relationship later. I’m asking for your forgiveness Nathan.”

“All it took was two days for you to cheat on me Candasee,” Nathan croaked in disbelief.

“Nathan, I didn’t mean for it to happen. Darius and I have a longer history and that got in the way but I swear that I am putting that behind me. I want to be all in with you!”

“
Candasee I’ve always been all in where you and I are concerned. Do you have any idea how much hearing this is killing me?”

Candasee stood and crossed the room to where Nathan stood facing away from her.

“I’m not afraid anymore. I just want this relationship between you and me to work Nathan.”

“Am I just supposed to accept that and feel at ease for the next few days we are here?”

“No, and I know I’ve made things difficult for you these past few days but all of that is going to change from now on. I’m going to put the past behind me once and for all,” she promised.

This victory would have been sweeter if he knew she came to this decision on her own, thought Nathan
bitterly. She was obviously still holding out hope that she and Darius could still be together and only came to this decision after seeing him and Solange together. Knowing that made her profession sound empty and forced, especially knowing the lengths he went to manipulate her to say it. This would be their line in the sand. She was done and so was he. He would forgive her this time.

He turned to her and said and he took a step toward her,
“Candasee, I’m not Darius, and I’m not going to hurt you! There isn’t anyone else I want to share my life with at this point. You aren’t going to have to share me with anyone or anything else. All I see, feel and want is you! I am offering you now, not a past pipe dream. You don’t need to feel that you have to run away from me to protect your heart,” he said stroking her temple with his thumb as he tangled his fingers into her hair.

“I know
that, you’ve always been good to me. You deserve my faithfulness,” Candasee replied sensing her pulse beginning to race as she focused on Nathan’s full lips as they hovered mere centimetres above her own. She swallowed as his gaze held hers and it seemed for a long moment that he was searching out the truth imprinted on her soul. She’d chosen to let him see her conflict, but also to let him know her choice.