"...affairs don't start in the bedroom

they start with conversations..."

Keira's POV

Running errands for my mother is one of the few ways I try to help with now that she is not well. I have everything crossed out of my list except for the boxes next to me that are to be hand delivered to Mrs Harrington. The Word is hand delivered. She emphasized that I must. I know she's up to know good. She's completely team Cole. I'm certain Mrs Harrington is pushing that agenda hard! My father is team Nick. Why wouldn't he be when he has cleared our debt? Jason is gambling his heart away!

Since I did not find Mrs Harrington in her in her office, I decided to drive to her home. The little detour to the Hamptons has proven to be a great way to relax. It is nothing but luxury from one house to the next. According to my GPS, the Harrington Estate is at the end of the close. When I stopped in front of the tall iron gates with the Harrington crest boldly branded at the front, I got out of my mom's car. I pressed a button and a man immediately spoke to me. "Good morning miss. How can I help you?"

I realized there is a camera above me. "I am here to see Mrs Harrington."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh..." I suffered from a moment of confusion. Who schedules appointments to visit each other at home? Southern culture wouldn't agree. "No."

"Then I'm sorry but I can't let you in." I wondered what to say next but he beat me to it. "What is your name?"

"Keira Ballard." I have never used my husband's name unless he is near me.

"In that case you can enter. You have an appointment with Mr Harrington."

I frowned at the camera. It dawned on me that this is my mother's way of making Cole and I happen. I laughed for a while. I laughed so hard. I'm sure the ones behind the camera are sure I'm mad. " Thank you."

I got into my car and drove for about three minutes before the mansion came into view. It is like looking at a palace. I have seen big houses but this... I'm blown away by the grandeur of the house. I stopped the car in front of a man in a black suit. I lowered my window to speak to him. "Miss Ballard I presume?"

"Yes. I have an appointment with Mr Harrington."

"Yes you do. I am the valet. I will park the car for you."

Valet? This is another level of rich. They have a valet to park their cars? I remember when I was learning to drive stick -it was my father's old truck- he made sure I learned how to park a car. He used to tell me I will not be one of those women who can't park a car.

I got out of the car and took the boxes with me. "Thank you."

"Miss Ballard, allow me." An older man took the boxes from my hands. I can get used to this treatment of people volunteering to help me! He looked me over. I regret my choice in clothing. The worn out jeans and sandals were the wrong way to go."I am Jackson, the butler. Pardon me for staring but you are not the usual pedigree we get around here." He noted. "Follow me."

I followed him into the black and white grand foyer with gold accents. My eyes became glued to the ceiling. The mural of floating angels left me gawking.

"I know. I always look up too." Cole spoke. I realized he is right beside me. I wish I could hide my feet when he looked down. I have four different nail polishes on my toes.

"I couldn't decide on a color." I blushed.

"Red looks perfect next to your pale skin." He told me. "Welcome to my not so humble abode. If I knew you were coming, I would have asked you to meet me at my penthouse. It's much more... intimate in a sense that it is smaller and not too much." He laughed at himself. "My mom ambushed me at the last minute. I would have dressed up, I apologize."

"For the shorts and tee? Don't." I laughed. "You look cute."

I covered my mouth. I didn't plan to compliment him but he blushed a little. "Thank you. I was just packing up for London. I am leaving tonight. Will I have the honour of having you join me?"

"I haven't packed." I laughed. "More importantly this is so uh... sudden?"

"I knew you would say no. Just now when I asked, not that I was thinking about it or anything... I'm rambling. I'm sorry. I think it will be great if you come along. As friends. Have you been to London?"

"I remember being rained on." I laughed.

There is something warm and endearing about Cole Michael that makes me want to smile or laugh without him doing anything.

"The dreaded rain. Tell you what." He took my hands. I felt the softness of his palms. Nick's hands are not this soft. There is some hardness in them. I think his hands are softer than mine. "I know it's sudden and random but it's only for a day and then you can come back. We could have lunch at the Harrington Hotel. I swear you will love it!"

An ordinary man will take a woman to the city for a date. These billionaires take a woman to a whole other country!

"I'll check my schedule and let you know before..."

"I'm leaving at 7pm."

"Before 7pm." I agreed. "I'll let you know."

"I appreciate it."

I pointed to the door. "I should get going. You have a great home and it was really nice seeing you Cole."

When I turned I bumped into a man with really blue eyes! His eyes lit up as he caught me by the sides of my arms. "Hello beautiful. Where did you come from?"

"I'm... visiting. Yes I'm visiting Cole."

He stepped back to look me over with a curious gaze moving between his sil not son and I. "Well... you're not his usual pedigree." He gestured over my appearance. "But the face is just right. Pardon my crude manners. My name is Francis Harrington. I'm the old man who fathered that boring bloke over there."

He has a slight English accent. He's handsome too.

"My name is Keira Ballard." I shook his hand.

"Pleasure. You have the most innocent eyes I have ever seen! Are you wearing contacts or is that your eye color?"

"No contacts." I smiled at him. My hand is still in his warm soft hands. I don't think the Harringtons know what manual labor is. I grew up in a farm. Dad made us work.

"Interesting. Do come around more often dear. You're such a treat!" He left us. "Cole ."

"Dad." He acknowledged him.

Cole and I laughed after he was gone. "That was awkward." I chuckled.

"He has approved the wedding." Cole stopped smiling. "He's fussy about who I date. I mean I always thought it would be my mother who meddles in my affairs, not him."

"He's your father and he's only worried about you."

"So you say. Please, come to London. It will mean the world to me."

*

"Are you serious?" Lorraine followed me around the house. "You went to Miami and look what happened to you!"

"He hasn't been home since my father gave him the check for the money we owe. He doesn't call and he won't be back until he is broke. So why should I sit here and a great guy just invited me to London?"

"I don't like Cole Michael." She protested.

"But you don't know him!"

"I don't need to! He's a public figure! I can look him up online! I don't like people without flaws! Nick is full of flaws! That one I can accept, not fully but better than Cole Michael."

Is it just me or does she sound like she knows them?

"Still, I'm going to London for a day. I'll be back tomorrow. In case he comes back, you have my back, right?"

"Right." She hugged me. "Be careful Kei."

"Why?"

She pulled away to hold my face. "Because I think Nick has laid claim to you. If he finds out you are with another man, a man he thinks of as a friend, won't he lose his shit?"

"I feel nothing but warm friendship towards Cole. Nothing will happen." I assured her. With Nick, things will happen.

When I last saw him we kissed like starving animals. His hands were eager to get filled by every part of me. I felt heat that I have never felt from getting kissed. I almost got an orgasm from getting kissed! I only stopped him because my lips were about ready to fall off!

"I'm not gifted to see the future but this won't be pretty. Pick one or none but don't play both sides."

Margaux's POV

"You're flaking out." A man stopped beside me outside the clothing store.

I stared at his reflection on the glass. I can't see his face but I know his voice. He works for Romano Mancini. His name is Russo.

"I'm not flaking out."

"Nicko turned Mancini down. Now he needs to punish Nicko. As promised, we won't touch your daughter."

"Then who will you use? Because that narcissistic bastard doesn't love anyone but Maddie."

"Are you suggesting there are green lights to your daughter?"

I glared at him. "Russo, touch her and I'll gorge your eyes out with a spoon."

He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. I wanted to move away out of fear. Dealing with the Mafia is dangerous but when you owe something it has to be paid. They don't let debt go. Unfortunately for me, they didn't want monetary compensation. They embedded me in Nick's life. Four years down the line, I'm still with him.

He gave me photographs of Nick and a woman I have never seen before. I don't love Nick but it doesn't mean I will tolerate him hanging around other women.

"What is this?" I asked.

"He seems to like her."

"You concluded this from one date?" I asked.

"No. They were together in Miami for nine days. The tenth day was in Cuba. Keep looking at the photos. The chemistry is real."

I kept looking at the photos. He never looks at me like this. "Who is she?"

"She's the way in. Find out who she is. Mancini wants to use her to get to him. Report on how deeply he is involved with her."

"I can tell you one thing. Nick has never cheated on me till now. I burned the woman's face with a cigarette. "She's important. You don't need reports to tell you that he feels something for her."

I out the pictures back in my bag. It's time for me to go home and play house with dear Nickolas. If he thinks I'll make this divorce easy he has another thing coming.