Strange Bedfellows
~ ch. 15, continued ~
Stefan
did not bother to disguise the tiny smile of triumph that curved his lips.
He had stepped away from Dara and Nikolas to begin putting things into
motion for their ‘unplanned’ wedding ceremony.
There was no danger of the beautiful young attorney witnessing his moment
of triumph.
“I have set things into
motion,” Stefan announced, stepping back into view. He found Dara seated alone on the wrought iron bench.
“Where is Nikolas?”
“He had an errand to run,”
Dara said. “He promised to be
back in twenty minutes.” She gave
Stefan a frankly assessing look. “That
should be long enough for whatever judge that you have on call to make it here
to Wyndemere.” Dara paused.
“Unless, of course, he is already here waiting.”
Stefan was thrown by the young
attorney’s perceptiveness. He had
underestimated Dara badly, a fact that should have concerned him far more than
it did. Stefan showed Dara the
respect of an honest answer. “Someone
is en route as we speak.”
“Hmm…And the marriage
license?”
“In the safe in my study,”
Stefan provided. He had made use of
his considerable contacts to obtain a marriage license only days after deciding
to approach Dara with his business proposal. “It is quite valid.”
Dara’s lack of response to
his reply intrigued Stefan. “You
are remarkably accepting of this situation,” he probed.
“As well as your hand in
arranging it?” she retorted wryly. “I
suppose that I am.”
The young beauty spoke without
surprise about Stefan manipulating her into agreeing to marriage.
For the second time in only moments, Stefan was thrown off guard by the
uncomfortable realization that his control of the situation – and Dara – was
not as complete as he’d assumed. If
Dara had not been as guileless about his plans as Stefan had believed, then just
which of them was the puppet and which the puppet master?
Despite his reluctance to
inquire, Stefan’s need to understand Dara’s current attitude took
precedence. “I have made no
secret of my reason for such sacrifice on my part,” he said. “Why have you agreed to this? Surely it is not merely my promise to provide the evidence
required to destroy Michael Corinthos and his empire!”
Dara gave Stefan a half-smile
that was a deliberate imitation of the one he’d used on her.
“Let’s just say,” she cryptically replied, enjoying his discomfort,
“that I have my reasons.”
