SWNOVELS Chapter 24
Chapter 24
The crackling sound of crusted chicken shnitzels frying away in the pan became the back ground noise to the kitchen while I prepared a simple salad. I had three plates lined up atop of the counter ready to be plated once the food had been ready.
Hayley still wanted to eat outside despite Dante being a new addition to this evening and I wanted the opposite. I wanted him to leave. I did not want him around Hayley at all let alone him staying by for a meal.
I watched the both of them sit across the counter from each other as Hayley engaged in conversation with Dante, the man she did not have even the slightest clue was her father. Hayley was friendly in general but tonight was the first time I witnessed her behave so outgoing and welcoming to a complete stranger. It made me feel like I had not known my own daughter as much as I had thought I did.
“Do you go to school yet?” Dante asked her with far too much interest than I was
with.
Hayley shook her head confidently. “Nope.” She popped the P in the word. “Not yet. I have this little problem with my legs. I think that’s why I didn’t start school yet.” She explained maturely not. minding at all telling him about her legs.
Dante nodded and even though I turned at that time to get out some glasses, I kept a close ear on
them. It was a good thing that Hayley hadn’t insisted on goingth out me. I didn’t want
any unwanted information to sl*p out from Hayley innocently and I wouldn’t put it passed Dante to slyly interrogate her.
“I see. I’m surprised because you’re a very clever girl. He complimented her and she beamed at
him.
“It’s because I eat my veggies.” She responded and I smirked fl*pping over the shnitzel to reveal its golden browness.
“All of them?” Dante raised a skeptical brow at her.
Hayley shrunk a little bit. “Most of them. I don’t like Brussel sprouts or cauliflower. She scrunched. her nose up in disgust.
“Those are not my favourite veggies either.” Dante confessed to her and she seemed to appreciate that little tidbit
As much as he irritated me at present and how on guard I was with him in my house and around Hayley for the first time, I had to admit that he was good with her. It was like when he spoke to Hayley, he didn’t think of himself of the wealthy billionaire that was ruthless in his dealings but instead it was like he was just an ordinary man entertaining a kid.
It was freaky watching them side by side as they interacted. The more I saw them interact with each other, the more I realised just how alike they were. Dante didn’t seem to suspect anything or, if he had, he did not let it on.
I removed the shnitzel onto a wire rack lined with kitchen paper to drain for a few minutes whilst d plated the salad on one side of the plate. I heated up the light zesty drizzling sauce and had it
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Chapter 24
waiting to pour over after I plated the shnitzels.
“Dinner is ready.” I announced interrupting them.
“We
“We can go eat in the garden now?” Hayley asked eagerly and I nodded.
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Dante carried two plates in his hand while I brought the third along with the glasses and cutlery before we headed out to the back garden. We lay every thing out on to the table beneath the night sky. I cut Hayley’s chicken in to smaller pieces making it easier for her to stab with a fork and eat. Dante watched me the entire time as I did the small task but I ignored it despite feeling self conscious beneath his gaze.
“Is it only the 3 of us that’s going to be dining tonight?” Dante questioned and I knew that he was slyly asking about why Adam was not present this evening.
Hayley opened her mouth to speak but I spoke before her not wanting her to give anything away.
“It would seem so. Work makes you miss things some times.” I said in a calm tone as I cut in to my shnitzel.
Dante nodded but the corners of his eyes were creased. Damnit! This man just needed to eat and get out. I didn’t want him here in the first place.
His presence upset the balance that I felt like I created after a while of being so on edge. The air was different when he was around and I hated it. It felt charged, rejuvenating of memories best left forgotten.
“I see.” He forked food in to his mouth and chewed as I did the same.
There was silence for a while and all that sounded through the air were the noise of crickets and nightly insects along with the clattering of utensils against plates.
“Did you always stay here?” Hayley asked Dante out of the blue.
“I did. Although I did travel a bit. He always had this lightness about him when he responded to her and Hayley warmed up to that.
“I didn’t stay here always. Mama and I lived in Canada.” She explained to Dante who pretended to not have known this piece of information.
“And do you like it here?” He asked but waited for a response while Hayley chewed on some greens.
“I do. I didn’t see a lot of it but mama and I do go out on little adventures and I thought it was nice.” She spoke so clearly and like she was older than just four years old but it was some thing that I knew nanny Nancy worked on with her.
“Maybe I should take you around some time. There’s an aquarium, a place you can see how chocolate is made and even eat a lot of it. Hayley’s eyes widened in interest before he was even done speaking.
“Chocolate? I love chocolate.” She responded instantly and I shrugged inwardly.
Dante was crossing a line and he damn well knew it. As far as he knew, she was Adam’s child and he
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Chapter 24
had no place coming here and making his own plans with out consulting with me first.
“So do I.” He eyed me with that challenging look in his orbs knowing just how much this was infuriating me.”
Dinner was finished shortly and I stacked the plates and cleaned up while Hayley followed me around as I did so.
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Dante was still outside finishing the rest of his drink and I was happy to get some space away from him.
“Mama, can I go with your friend to see how chocolate is made?” Hayley asked as she handed me a fork to pack away in the dishwasher.
For a short while I didn’t say any thing but just pondered over how to respond to this request. It was never like her to ask for things and it felt horrible of me to crush her down for the rare occasion that she did but I wasn’t comfortable with Dante taking her out.
I didn’t want her getting attached to him only for him to flake on her the minute she thought that Dante was a male figure to look up to. With Pheobe still in his life, I didn’t want her any where near him. Who knew what she would do the minute she found out that Dante was taking my child out on little adventure.
“How about we go together? Just you and I. I’ve been wanting to go there too. She grimaced for a little bit but she didn’t outright express her displeasure.
Hayley clearly wanted to go with Dante and now that I kind of sneakily said no, she was not pleased
with it.
“We can do that but I feel like your friend loves chocolate as much as I do.” She tried to reason and I shut my eyes for a bit when my back turned away from her to shut the dishwasher door.
“I know but he is a busy man, i
try and ask him to come along but I don’t think he will.” Hayley already began walking away from me to ask Dante but I quickly stopped her.
“Not now, Sweety. Some other time. It’s late and we need to get you all showered and clean for bed time.” I said gently but she nodded without a fuss and headed down the hallway to the bathroom.
I followed her leaving Dante behind in hopes that he would conclude his drink and leave with out. me having to face him again. His presence in close proximity for such a long time set me off and I needed some space away from him. It didn’t help matters that my brain was still upset from the two encounters that he had k*ssed me, having him here pretending to be interested in my child like we were a family was not some thing I wanted to add to the mix.
After giving Hayley a bath and setting in her bed, I tucked her in securely like she liked. After the activities of today, she was exhausted and it was long before her eyes fluttered closed and she was sound asleep.
I ventured back to the kitchen just to lock the back door to find that there was no sign of Dante in the garden. Taking it as he had left, I locked the door.
“Very interesting kid you have there.” I jumped back, startled by the voice coming from the corner
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Chapter 24
of the kitchen that was some what a blind spot from where I had been standing.
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“I don’t believe I ever interacted with a child that I liked until now.” He said like that was supposed to be a compliment.
Dante abandoned his wine glass and instead drank it straight from the bottle as he rested his hip against the marble island.
“Hayley is an interesting kid,” I admitted, smiling weakly.
Dante was quite for a moment but his eyes danced with many things that I did not want to name.
“She bares very little resemblance to Adam.” He said carefully and my nostril twitched.
“I know. We were also baffled until we discovered that she inherited more of the genes on Adams. mother’s side.” I mumbled as I moved a few strands of hair away from my face.
He scoffed, tilting his head and looking at me like he was no fool. “Ahh, I see.” Was all he said.
“Shouldn’t you be heading back home? I can’t imagine Phoebe will be pleased to know where you’ve spent your evening. I moved to turn half the kitchen lights off hinting none too vaguely that it was time for him to leave.
Dante placed the bottle on to the counter then stood up straight. “Just as Adam won’t be pleased to know that I’ve dined here tonight.” I scoffed at that.
“On the contrary, Adam isn’t as controlling.” I taunted and saw his l*ps press in to a thin line. I left the kitchen and lead him to the front door where h
e’d come from.
And, to my surprise, Dante left without putting up a fight or responding with any sharp remark.
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