"...it starts with a thought..."

"Nicko, are you still a resident of planet earth? What devil has gotten into you? No matter what you think we did to you we are still family. Call me."

The voice message from nonno made me laugh. I should not be getting a kick out of it but sometimes I have a strange sense of humor. I understand his concern. I left a lot of bad blood back in Florence. He knows this but he always wants me to go back. Being raised by two separate families, left me torn. Nonno complains that I chose my Greek side of the family and neglected the Italian side. Maybe it's true and it's for good reason too.

I came across a picture of my wife at the bottom of the drawer as I put away my phone. Margaux Aria Deveraux; my soon to be ex-wife is a beauty. There's no denying that. However, her beauty is the dark kind. She doesn't have any light in her eyes like Keira does. I don't find it strange that I was attracted to Margaux. I like bad girls. If Katerina Romanov, Naila Bellingerre and Coleen Harrington are anything to go by, then yes. I like bad girls. It is strange for me to feel attracted to Keira. She's a good girl. She's nothing like the others.

When Margaux and I are not fighting viciously we are not speaking to each other. There's no greater silence than when we decide to pretend the other one does not exist. But I won't lie, her silence is my favorite sound.

Our confrontations tend to get physical when she throws anything she can at me and I have no choice but to confine her from inflicting harm. It's not that I am not tempted to hit her back, I am. It takes a lot of restraint not to. I was raised by women. I know better than to hit back.

What we had for the past four years was a whirlwind romance that made us elope after I screwed up and got her pregnant. She hates me for it and sometimes I see how she glares at our daughter as though she blames her too. She is a vain selfish woman hell bent to gain her own comfort over everyone else. I liked her at first probably because I was too blind to see her for who she truly is but now, the mask has peeled off and I regret ever marrying her. The only thing that resulted from us that I don't regret is Madeline.

I love my daughter and I hope she doesn't inherit her mother's ill personality. It's not that I'm any better with my laundry list of personality flaws, but I'm the lesser of two evils.

My mind gladly moved on to a more positive note. I have met a woman with a charming personality. My desire to see her has caused me to set up a meeting. I don't like meetings. Most of the time my assistant takes care of things. I can easily send my PA to get my jacket but I want an excuse to see her just to bask in her beauty and get lost in her eyes. I find her presence arresting and calming all together.

I am treading dangerously but I am curious about her.

When she walked into my office I noticed she looks sad. I don't know why but it pains me to see her like this. I dropped everything I am doing to stand up.

She has my jacket draped neatly over her arm. "Good morning Mr. Bale." A fleeting smile showed and vanished just as fast.

She is very easy on the eyes. Her eyes are seductive and the interesting part is she isn't even trying to seduce me. If anything I am the one with the wild dirty thoughts.

"I'm glad you could make it." I spoke meeting her at the spot she seems to remain glued on. I want to kiss her cheek but I think I will shake her hand instead which is awkward. "Let me take this." She handed me my jacket. "What will you drink?"

"Water."

"Tea." I countered. "At least have some tea with pastries." I led her to the couch.

I organized everything. I called my personal assistant and had her set everything up on the coffee table in front of us.

I observed the young woman. She is perhaps in her early twenties while I am in my late twenties; a year shy of 30. I consider that a good age difference. She seems tired and sad. There is no positivity emanating from her like the last time. But she still tries to smile at me. "Thank you." She said after receiving her tea. "Is there something you need Mr. Bale?"

You... I need you cara mia. I need you in my arms, my bed, my life... I need you.

"Now that you're taking Keith's part, I think it's important that I loop you in on all the meetings." I snapped out of my daze promptly.

I am not sure why she has such a hold on me but I am sure I am dancing to her tune. She is tearing down my walls without asking and I am letting her. I am even helping her out when my natural inclination is not to be a hero.

"That sounds okay."

"You could answer your phone when I call you." Even if it's just an excuse to hear her voice, I will call.

"I'm having a little phone problem." She showed me a damaged phone with a cracked screen. "I dropped it. Clumsy me!" She laughed slightly and rolled her beautiful eyes.

It looks like it was crashed, not dropped.

"I can get you a new one. It's important you are brought up to speed with everything. I need this project to be done by summer next year."

"Mr. Bale-"

"No objections allowed. You should also know we will be travelling quite a bit. Keith had signed up for other projects east coast."

I don't need her in Miami. That project is almost done. This is just an excuse to be alone with her.

"Oh!" She grew pale. "Uh... Travel? With you? You and I? Just us?"

"Yes." I smiled at her cute rambling. I am not bringing my assistant along. "Just us two... With other people in the background, sometimes... but yeah."

Yes, other people belong in the background unseen and unheard. The spotlight is meant for her... just her.

"Oh... Uh..." Keira looked away setting her tea cup down. She hasn't even touched the pastries. Is she one of those gluten free fanatics? Is she watching her weight?

"Is something wrong? Did anything happen to make you so sad today?" I reached out and placed my hand on her thigh. She isn't resisting. This is a good sign. I hate the denim that separates my hand from her skin. Why couldn't she wear a dress? She quickly stood up as though my touch burned her. I retracted my hand folding it into a fist. Total setback!

"No. Nothing happened." She isn't looking at me anymore but she sounds defensive.

Something happened.

She made her way to the floor to ceiling window. Joining her by the window I tried to follow her eyes to see what she is looking at but it is literally everything. Her eyes are shifty and nervous like they were the first time we met. "Is it okay if we omit the travelling bit? Can you do that alone?"

"No." I answered. "It is important to meet with your clients cara mia. You can't flake out like Keith did. It makes you look untrustworthy. How do they trust someone they've never met?"

"I'm not flaking out Mr. Bale. It's just that... I'm busy." She sounds firm about it.

"With what?" I questioned a little aggressively than I would have liked.

Maybe I don't like her tone, or her plan to reject me.

"I..."

"Keira, look at me." I demanded fiercely.

There is so much truth in what the eyes portray even if the lips lie.

I gave her a few seconds before she did. My heart stilled at the tormented beauty of her sapphires. There is pain frozen beneath the sapphire gems. "I'm busy. I have another commitment that won't allow me to travel with you."

"Which commitment?" I pried raising her head when she attempted to look away. This girl is so shy it troubles me. A little shyness is okay, cute even but not when she denies me a chance to look into her lovely eyes. I gripped her jaw to keep her gaze fixed on me. "Tell me."

"Mr. Bale, thank you for tea. Thank you for the jacket. Thank you for helping my family." She is full of gratitude. "But I think it's important that you know I'm married."

It hit me hard.

It hit me so hard I stepped back and ceased contact. I felt like I had fallen out of the clouds I have been floating on into harsh reality. She's married. "What?"

"I'm a married woman. My husband is a very jealous man and if he remotely suspects that-"

"This is not an affair." I was quick and stern to save myself from further embarrassment but isn't that where it was heading? Wasn't I looking for something intimate?

"I don't mean it like that." She looked confused. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that sir. I'm sorry."

I am suddenly 'sir' and unless she says it while I am ravishing her, it is uncalled for at this moment. I feel stupid for putting myself out there for her. If anything I stepped further back keeping some distance between us. "Arrange your affairs Miss Ballard and show up when you're needed. Your marriage isn't part of this business deal but you are. Capisce?"

I am upset!

Married? To who? Which bastard beat me to it?

Dio!

Does she still think I'm nice? Am I being kind to her? Why do I care? I've never been any of those things and it shouldn't matter!

"Yes sir." She answered. "Excuse me sir."

"Miss Ballard." I could see her reflection from the window. "Mrs... How should I address you?"

"Mrs. Burke."

Keira Burke? No. It sounds off. Keira Bale. Yes. I like that very much.

She was on her way out. She stopped but did not turn. I can see her reflection on the window. We aren't looking at each other anymore but we are both frozen. My damn heart is out of rhythm, beating like it intends to burst out of my chest.

"Keira." I refuse to assign Mrs to her. She can just be Keira. I will not acknowledge her marriage.

"Yes Mr. Bale?"

"We are going to Miami in two weeks, you have to come." I demanded. "If you don't come, this deal is over."

I am still hell bent to have her come with me. I clenched my jaw when seconds went by and she still didn't answer. She has a little obstinacy in her, just a little feistiness I want to crash. Perhaps a good spanking would teach her to answer promptly when I ask a question.

"I'll think about it but I can't promise anything."

What the fuck?

That is not the answer I am looking for. I clenched my jaw folding my hand into a fist. "Are you coming or not?" I turned to stare at her. "Decide now. Are you in or out?"

My mother says I am a demanding man. She says I can be forceful just like my dad. She says I like it when things to go my way. It's true especially in this case where she is trying to deny me the chance to know her. She has no right to deprive me.

She held up her long jet black hair only to release it sighing in frustration. It tumbled down past her waist. I folded my fist wishing to nestle it. She looked at me with those torrid sapphires that spell so much conflict. "Mr. Bale I just told you I can't travel. My husband won't let me."

"And I'm telling you that it's either you're in or out." I fear to approach her lest I kiss her like a mad man. I will stay at a safe distance. "Do not waste my time."

My tone is harsh and I hate to use it on her but something is controlling me and pushing me to become this man just because I have found out she's not single. Jealousy maybe or just a need to dominate the docile girl. But it is jealousy and embarrassment that she raed me like an open book.

A measure of frustration is still evident on her end. A severe conflict plagues her. If she doesn't say what I want to hear in the next few seconds, heaven help her.

"I'm in."

I concealed my excitement behind an expressionless face.

What do I need her to be in for? Business or an affair? Maybe both.

"Good girl."

I turned my back to her and watched her leave from the reflection on the window. A wicked smile came over me. Marianna Balotelli is right. I like getting my way.