The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
AFFLICTION
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
37 |
CHAPTER 37
As Starr pulled open the heavy door at Dorian’s she craned her neck to look up at the tall, blonde stranger who stood at her door. She had to smile at his perfect beauty which reminded her of one of her plastic dolls.
“Who are you?” she asked inquisitively.
“My name is Aaron Blackmoor. Is your mother at home?”
“Starr, honey...I told you I don’t want you answering the door...” said Blair, who came to a dead stop at the sight of this handsome stranger.
“Mrs. Manning, I’m Aaron Blackmoor. I thought, perhaps, we could talk,” he said, watching her carefully.
Blair’s eyes traveled along his statuesque frame, taking in his expensive shoes and clothing. She recognized the name immediately having heard talk around the Palace about Tea’s mysterious husband.
“Starr...why don’t you go upstairs and play...Mr. Blackmoor and I have grown-up things to discuss, okay?”
“NO! I DON’T WANT TO GO UPSTAIRS AND PLAY! I’M A GROWN-UP TOO!”
Blair escorted Aaron Blackmoor into the living room.
“Excuse me for one second...I’m afraid my daughter is a bit high-strung today,” she said as she went back into the foyer. “Starr...you go on upstairs right now...do you hear me! If you don’t I won’t let daddy take you to the movies tomorrow...do you hear me?”
“FINE!” she shouted petulantly as she stomped noisily up the stairs.
Blair walked over to the mirror and checked her hair and dress before entering the livingroom and closing the doors.
“So...your the illusive Aaron Blackmoor I’ve been hearing so much about! What could you and I possibly have to discuss,” Blair asked coyly.
Aaron stood in the center of the room with his hands in his pockets, observing her heavy eye make-up, her tight, short dress, her dyed, blond hair and commanding spiked heels. She was tall, slender and very angular...her green eyes were clear and icy. She was attractive but there was something singularly cold about her, a hardness of body and spirit that emanated from her being...the brutal marks of too many hard-fought battles were clearly visible in her. Her erratic stance and mannerisms told him that she had no true sense of self. Everything about her seemed artificial, contrived, even her shrill voice was struggling to be charming and sincere...but it rang false. It surprised him that Todd Manning would be involved with such a common creature...the antithesis of Tea in every way.
“Your lovely, Mrs. Manning...Blair...may I call you Blair?” he asked, appealing to her all too obvious vanity, feeling her tremendous ego expand.
Blair raised an eyebrow at this man’s audacity but felt flattered by his compliment. It had been a while since a man addressed her in that way and she liked it...she missed it...the power of her sexuality. A power that was lost on Todd who didn’t even look at her.
“What do you want?”
“You know who I am?” asked Aaron.
“Yes...you’re married to Tea Delgado. What does that have to do with me?”
“I’m sure you’re very much aware that my wife has left me and moved in with your husband.”
“What? That tramp! Your wife is nothing but a cheap home-wrecker. She’s always wanted my life...now she’s trying to steal it again! She’s seduced Todd...made him leave me. You know he’s asked me for a divorce...but I’ll never give him one...never!”
Her high, angry voice sent a shudder through Aaron, use to listening to Tea’s soft, seductive voice.
“A divorce is irrelevant if they’re living together isn’t it?”
“Well...what do you want? Do you want that tramp back...after she’s made a complete fool of you?”
“I love my wife. And yes...I do want her back. But in order for that to happen...I may require your services.”
Blair walked around the room and over to the bar.
“Martini?”
“Yes, please...I’d love one,” he said politely.
He watched her mix the vodka and vermouth expertly...obviously she knew how to drink. Her eyes looked a bit hollow and bloodshot...her lips turned slightly downward at the corners...deep lines around her mouth. This was not a happy woman...or a woman in love. But she seemed to want to hold on to Todd Manning...a woman who felt entitled...a woman who hated to lose...and that worked in his favor.
“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Manning,” he lied, looking around at that the ugly, overly decorous furniture, the plasticine , molded ceilings and polyresin, guilt decorations. It smelled of the nouveau riche...artificial, overdone and over-priced...nothing like the tasteful furnishings at Todd’s office or the penthouse. Again he was surprised that Todd lived here...perhaps he had read him wrong?
“Thank you...we like it,” she said, handing him a martini. “Please, sit down...make yourself at home. So tell me...how do you propose to keep that tramp away from my husband.”
Aaron took a sip of his martini thinking it had too much vermouth.
“Very good...first of all...Blair...I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from referring to my wife as a tramp. It seems your husband is as responsible if not more so. After all he has been pursuing her since she arrived...she’s confused...that’s all.”
“Confused? Oh, please....”said Blair, swallowing her drink. “Sex...that’s all it is.”
Aaron Blackmoor rose quickly.
“Sex! This isn’t about sex...it’s something much more powerful than that! They will never separate willingly and I think deep down you know that. Todd and Tea are in love...I have come to accept that. Tea is not in love with me and Todd is not in love with you. But...he’s still your husband...and she’s my wife...and I still want her! And I’m willing to do anything to have her! Are you prepared to do the same?”
Blair got up and walked over to the desk. The third set of divorce papers which Todd had delivered this morning were sitting there...mocking her.
“What makes you think Todd is...in love with her...and not with me?”
“I’ve seen them together...I’ve seen what’s between them. Two years of separation couldn’t keep him away from her. Two children with you couldn’t keep him away from Tea...and neither can you. And you know it.”
“So...if that’s the case...what the hell can we do? I mean it‘s hopeless, right?”
“There is a way...but it will take some nerve on your part...and a bit of patience to get Todd back. Blair...you’re a beautiful woman....and I can tell that your a woman who’s use to getting what she wants. The question is...how far are you willing to go to get it! What will you do to hold on to Todd Manning?”
Blair paced around a bit, weighing her options. Todd didn’t want her...he’d made that pretty clear...and if Jack was not his son, she had even less of a chance of getting him back! With his money, he could divorce her in a million ways. Her options were limited...and her time was running out. She turned to Aaron Blackmoor...a complete stranger that she had no reason to trust...but...her options were limited.
“I’ll do anything....whatever it takes,” she hissed.
to be continued...
2002 Copyright by Trog
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