Island of Dragons (14 page)

Diesel protectively placed an arm around Miley’s waist as they walked down to the lobby. “Mrs. Tanner?” Howard, the doorman, asked. “I thought…”

Miley smiled over at Howard. “Sorry Howard, I changed my mind. He’s fine for now.”

“Okay ma’am, let me know if anything changes.” Howard glared at Diesel.

Diesel tipped his head in a nod to Howard but pulled Miley closer to again. “Is that where we’re going today?”

“Yep,” Miley grunted. It had been a mistake to get in a relationship with Toby so quickly. They had married the day after she graduated from college and it had been the biggest mistake ever. Not even a week in and she had caught Toby cheating and being that she was so blinded she hadn’t made him sign a pre-nuptial and now Toby was trying to take everything from her.

The divorce papers were issued and Morgan had helped Miley to get the apartment within a week of the incident but still even with the lawyers help they hadn’t settled everything.

To make matters worse, the home her parents had given them for their honeymoon was given to Miley’s sister.

“When were you planning on telling me?” Diesel asked, Miley looked up at him slightly embarrassed.

“I was hoping I did not need too, it slipped my mind. Toby ah… just...” Diesel sighed.

“He frustrates you,” Diesel stated.

Miley nodded. “Well at least I can propose when it’s all settled.” Diesel shrugged and then chuckled when Miley’s face flushed.

Shaking her head Miley began to wave for a taxi. “What are you doing?” Diesel asked.

“Hailing a taxi,” Miley’s eyebrows furrowed as Diesel pulled her hand down.

“Why don’t we take my car?” h
e asked casually.

“You have a car here?” Miley asked confusedly.

“I rented one. Did not know how long it would take to get you to come back with me…” Diesel said slowly.

“I’m not going back with you,” Miley frowned.

“We’ll talk about that later,” Diesel said as he gave the apartment’s concierge a ticket.

He was back quickly with a slick black sports car. “Wow,” Miley cooed. “I like it. Wait… You got the concierge to park a car for you
and you don’t even live here?” she questioned.

“Well… a large tip helps,” h
e shrugged and opening the door for Miley. Once she slid inside, Diesel closed the door and walked around to the other side. “Anyway… don’t you have a car?” Diesel asked as he slid into the driver’s side.

“Oh uh… long story,
” Miley laughed nervously. “Anyway… head to 7625 Main Street,” Miley stated.

Diesel could tell that was a sore subject. The ride to the address
, which Miley had provided, was silent, but not overly tense. Miley seemed to be continually thinking about something anxiously, while Diesel followed the directions of the navigation device the rental sales man had showed him how to use.

When they finally showed up at the tall stone building, Miley’s eyes stared nervously out the window, “crap…
,” she groaned.

“Are you alright?” Diesel asked as he reached for the door handle.

“Don’t!” Miley cried out. Diesel turned and raised an eyebrow at her and for a moment, it was silent. He was about to ask when Miley spoke again nervously, “He’s watching,” she whispered.

“I’ll make it good, love,” Diesel smiled.

“I owe you.” Miley tried desperately to crack a smile but it just wouldn’t come.

“I’ll get the door. Just follow my lead beautiful,” Diesel told her as he pushed the door open and climbed out.

The sports car’s door glided upward slowly making Toby watch on in search for Miley. Toby loved cars and it was hard for him to ignore the slick black Audi 9. It by far would be one of the cars he would buy if he had the choice but it wasn’t cheap.

He shook his head. Of
course, it would be a good lookin’ guy, in a casual yet designer outfit, which would be getting out not some hot chick. Tempted to look away, Toby continued to search for Miley.

He was considering asking her to forget the divorce, heck she was better off financially then most of the other girls he had met lately and he sure was interested in the money.

Though the time he spent with Miley’s sister, Rebecca, well that was good, but he could not convince her to marry him until he got rid of Miley. Besides he already had her hooked, he got her pregnant. It was more than he could do with Miley. The bitch wanted to be on birth control. She had told him they should strengthen their relationship first. Little did Miley know, two of Rebecca’s children were his spawn.

It was when the man walked around to the other side and opened the passenger door that Toby really took a second look. The woman slid out and Toby felt himself grow angry. The man pulled a beautiful looking Miley, which by the way was dressed to kill in a sexy tight black dress. Then he pulled her into his side and kissed her lips. They pulled away from each other and
continued toward the concierge.

After the slick black car pulled away, Toby watched as the man and Miley walked up toward the building. Toby sighed and backed away from the window. “Toby?” a whiny female voice asked.

“In hear Lola.” Toby smiled.

“Ah… your lawyer is waiting in the conference room. I guess Miley’s on her way up,” Lola smiled sweetly.

“Lola, I need your help today. Would you mind coming with me?” Toby asked.

“Oh!” Lola giggled. “I would love too.” Clapping happily, Lola bounced toward Toby grabbing his arm happily.

“Off,” Toby snapped pulling his arm away. Lola pouted but followed Toby anyway.

Diesel leaned into Miley’s side as the elevator door closed. “Hey,” he smiled softly.

“Hey,” Miley sighed hanging her head, tears threatened to spill but she could not exactly say why.

“Hanging in there?” Diesel asked.

“I guess,” Miley groaned. “I don’t want to be here.”

“Let me help,” Diesel said grabbing hold of Miley’s hand and turning her back to him before she could protest he began rubbing circles on the surface of her skin and then made his way up to her shoulders rubbing. “I promise everything’s going to be okay,” he said kissing Miley’s shoulder from behind her.

Miley’s body tensed and Diesel smiled into her skin, “don’t tense up.” His words were soft, as he smiled more when he felt Miley’s body respond to him. It was such a relief that Miley was respondent even though she resisted so much.

As the elevator
slowed, he whispered one last thing, “Follow my lead.” Miley simply nodded her head. Diesel lopped an arm around her waist and tugged her toward the now open door. The floor was quiet but together they walked over toward the receptionist desk.

“Mrs. Tanner,” the receptionist asked.

“Please don’t call me that. It’s Miley and after the divorce my name’s going to change,” she scowled.

“Oh really,” the receptionist sneered. Of
course, Toby had to meet at his office; people here knew him and respected the prick but not her obviously.

“Yes,” Diesel said coolly. “You could change it now… if you wanted.”

“Uhg,” the woman rolled her eyes at Miley but looked up googly-eyed at Diesel. “Who are you handsome?”

“Miley’s fiance
. It’s about time this …” Diesel began.

Miley tugged frantically on his arm and harshly whispered into Diesel’s ear as he leaned down to her. “You can’t say that!” she hissed. She wasn’t quite mad more like nervous.

“It’s okay, love. We shouldn’t need to hide it.” Diesel shrugged and smiled over to the receptionist. “It is about time this divorce is over with don’t you think?”

The receptionist nodded frantically. “Of course, I have been telling Toby that for months,” she crooned.

“Miley?” a voice asked from the elevator doorway causing Miley and Diesel to turn around, now ignoring the receptionist.

“Oh thank goodness.” Miley sighed. “Diesel, this is my lawyer, Mr. Ibsen.”

“Diesel McBride,” Diesel smiled holding out a hand to the lawyer.

“George Ibsen,” the lawyer smiled shaking Diesel’s hand. “Well
, are we ready Miley?”

“As I can ever be,” Miley let out a breath and let Diesel lead her behind George.

Diesel had to keep from laughing as Toby floundered before them. He was obviously not interested in the woman who he had brought with him and the divorce actually did not seem to be going his way. Even worse, Toby was glaring death at him and Diesel really did not care.

“I want the companies!” Toby shouted.

“Those were mine before I married you! I inherited them,” Miley huffed.

“But you work for the Siegel group you have the money. You don’t need the businesses,” Toby floundered again.

“I don’t care. I want my things, especially the things that were mine all along, Toby. We were only married for a few days!”

“A three weeks!” Toby complained.

‘That’s because you wouldn’t leave my house and I had to file the paperwork!” Miley sneered.

“Can we work this out by letting Toby have the apartment?” Toby’s lawyer offered.

“That’s my home!” Miley cried out. “He already got my parents to get rid of my house! I got the apartment after we were separated! Where would I live?” Miley huffed out in annoyance.

“This is getting us nowhere,
” George, Miley’s lawyer shook his head.

“Can I speak with Miley alone one moment?” Diesel asked.

Miley’s head turned quickly and she stared wide-eyed at Diesel. “Of course, we’ll give this a moment to cool off,” George nodded.

“Come with me love,” Diesel said holding out a hand to Miley.

Miley gripped Diesel’s hand and stood. Together they walked out of the room. As soon as the door closed, Diesel turned Miley to face him, pressing her against the wall. “Now… this is what I want to propose here…” Diesel began as he ran a hand along the side of Miley’s cheek.

Miley nodded ready to agree to anything that Diesel would say. “Give him the apartment.”

“What?” Miley squeaked. “That’s my home.”

“I know love. But you won’t need it for long if I get my way and then he’ll sign and all this would be over.
I promise I will never betray you.” Miley gasped clamping her hand over her mouth in shock.

“Diesel…” Miley murmured.

“You don’t have to say anything now,” Diesel smiled slightly. “But… I would like you to just let the idiot have the apartment. Move with me. You can stay in the guest house… if you would like,” Diesel begged.

Miley nodded simply. “Okay. I’ll give him the apartment.”

That was not the most desirable of answers to all of what Diesel had said but… it was a start.

Together they walked back into the conference room. Miley
could not help but hold a slight smile on her lips as she huffed out the words she spoke, “I should have made you sign a pre-nuptial.”

“But you
did not babe,” Toby chuckled before rolling his eyes. “I want the dog.”

“Go ahead keep the damn dog,
” Miley replied. “He can have the apartment as long as he signs,” Miley said.

“Wait… I don’t want it,
” Toby back tracked.

“Huh?” Miley’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Well, if you don’t want the dog then I don’t,” Toby snorted.

“
Mister Tanner is this all the meeting is about?” Toby’s lawyer snapped out the question and seemed quite angry by it. “Did you even hear she was offering the apartment?” his lawyer asked.

“I get the apartment?” Toby asked with a smile.

“Yeah, if you’ll just sign the papers,” George, Miley’s lawyer, smiled. “Now…”

“I don’t want the apartme
nt now,” Toby blurt out.

“
Mister Tanner, what are we doing here?” Toby’s lawyer barked.

“Well… s
he wasn’t supposed to bring him,” Toby argued pointing a finger toward Diesel angrily.

“Oh really,” Miley shook her head sighing. “This is so ridiculous.”

“I know dear. But, eventually he will be out of our life and we can move on with ours. I promise we’ll get married as soon as this is settled,” Diesel said softly leaning over and offering Miley a soft kiss on the cheek and a comforting small hug. He smiled ignoring Miley’s slightly stunned, but quickly covered up look.

“WHAT!” Toby screamed.

“Mister Tanner, please keep your voice down… your giving me a headache,” his lawyer complained. “I think this meeting is over. Mister Tanner, please just sign the document. It is the best offer you are going to receive. Let this poor girl get on with her life.”

Diesel and Miley, along with Miley’s lawyer, looked over at Toby’s lawyer in disbelief. They
could not believe he was trying to push Toby into signing but were very happy about it either way.

Toby let out an annoyed roar of anger before slamming his hand on the table “give me the damn paper,” he growled.

The lawyer passed the two copies with a small nod. “Thank you,” Miley let out softly. She would finally be free of the annoying man and horrible pained memories.

Miley squealed as Diesel squeezed her butt, they were walking out of the meeting with Toby and the lawyers. Diesel
could not help, but grind salt into the wound further for Toby.

“Hey,” Miley slapped Diesel’s arm playfully. They were playful as they made their way down the hall to the elevator. Toby, angrily following behind them.

“Come here,” Diesel puffed as he reached out and caught Miley as she tried to squirm away from him. His hands collapsed around her stomach and pulled her close kissing her cheek.

“Uhg, would you two just get a room,” Toby hissed.

“Love to. Thanks for the idea,” Diesel chuckled. Swiftly he reaching down and scooped Miley up into his arms tucking her in close. “Let’s go love… its playtime.”