Proserpina
She was feeling exhausted and the heaviness in her abdomen meant that her body was craving a few hours of rest, with feet up on a bed or something. But it was not to be now, she knew . Sighing, she acknowledged silently that she needed to help smoothen things out.
*
Once Ria was back and safely ensconced in the Delano mansion, the Boss had left to get on with his work. It was now almost dinner time.
Proserpina had been working too; taking calls from the far east, where the Buddhist Centres were now flourishing, gradually but firmly. She was proud of her achievement in a quiet way; doing something she enjoyed always made her feel good. The fluttering of her stomach made her smile. Her child obviously agreed with her.
Next on the list had been, of course, the task of updating her blog. There had been several queries on her food bags and responding to some took a long while. Luckily, her assistant, Thadana, was there to take care of most of the typing since she found it increasingly difficult to sit at the table, clacking away on the keys for too long.
And then came of course, preparations for dinner. But that was when she relaxed for she loved cooking. The Broccoli Chicken Casserole was easy to prepare and very satisfying; she had also prepared a meatloaf, since her kids loved it and Lucien invariably went for second and third helpings as well, swearing at her for making his favourite dish and making him overeat. Besides, there was the Hungarian chicken paprikash , another must-have for the boys and which was also Schwartz’ s favourite. Followed of course, by dessert; she had opted for a simple apple pie, an ice cream pie that her family swore was one of the best ever. With a crust of finely ground ginger cookie crumbs to add a delicious crunch, the caramel drizzled, maple apple cream pie was a hot favourite and regardless of the weather, it inevitably disappeared from the table within seconds.
Proserpina made it a point to see that her staff also got to have a large helping of every dish that was carried out to the main dining hall. With the Nord family over, it was tricky since the children and Maja were healthy eaters, thought Proserpina, dimpling. But nothing, as Beatrice declared, waving her ancient wooden spatula like a soldier brandishing a weapon, Nothing was Impossible for Proserpina Delano the old woman was fond of saying proudly.
She sighed, rolling her shoulders discreetly. Of course, Beatrice and Camille, along with the two women who had been with her for years now, took care of most of the heavy work but Proserpina enjoyed doing things her way, getting her hands in the flour, chopping vegetables, all of it.
*
Now she sank gratefully onto a leather armchair that her daughter had drawn up for her and she gently stroked Ria’s arm as she turned to look at Lucien Delanoquestioningly.
“Trouble?’ she queried with her eyes and his eyes flickered, just a momentary lowering of the heavy lids but she got the message. Sighing, she pulled her legs into the classic lotus pose although Lucien frowned at her in disapproval.
She dimpled at him and said,
‘Darling?’ as she turned to her daughter.
Ria’s lower lip stuck out mutinously as she spoke.
“Pappa says I should give up attending classes at the University this semester and return to University during the next semester. He wants me to take a break after fall, Mumma and I don’t want to!’
And then she wailed in frustration,
“But I don’t want to! Can’t you listen to me, Pappa, please, please, please!!! Please, Mumma, please make him understand, please!!!”
Proserpina sighed and looked at the impervious face of her husband. She knew that he had already made up his mind. He had also called the Dean and the Rector and had told them that his daughter was taking a break. No amount of pleading, of tantrums, nothing was going to work.
But she had to try.
Turning to him, her face soft and pleading, she began,
“Lucien…’
‘Shut the f*ck up, Woman,’ he roared and she flinched at the anger in his voice. He had had a long day too, she realised, and the anger was a result of the tensions and the weariness as well. It was not directed at her per se but it hurt a little.
‘I know that Dusak Rudenko is desperate to get his hands on my daughter.’ he snarled, bringing the flat of his hand down on the table forcefully, making her jump.
‘ So I will not brook any more arguments from you, daughter. And you do not need to even try, Woman. The decision is made.’
His eyes moved to his daughter, her face stormy and angry as he went on, coolly,
” You will go with my men tomorrow to the campus and clear out your lodgings.’
His gaze, cold and impervious, sliced to his daughter who seemed to shrink in the face of his wrath.
“And I have already informed the authorities.’ he added.
Ria was gripping her hands in fists, digging her nails into her hands, furious but aware that she had lost.
Proserpina sighed and bent her head.
“Now leave me with your mother. I need to speak to her,’ rasped the Don and his daughter rose, defiant but obedient. She stormed off , the door shutting extra quietly behind her, without a backward glance at her mother. Proserpina looked up to meet her husband’s cold gaze. She whetted her lips nervously.
“Lucien?’ she said softly, unsure of why he needed to talk to her now.
*
“Get the f*ck over here, Woman,’ he snarled, his hungry eyes undressing her, feasting on her large breasts and she stood up slowly.
‘I need to relax after a long day, wh*re.’ he growled, tipping his head back onto the head rest , eyes narrowed in desire.
The heat in his eyes was an indication of what he wanted, the sort of relaxation he had in mind and she felt the answering fire in her body.
As she moved to him, her hips gently swaying in the maddeningly enticing way that he loved, he groaned; it always made his c*ck rear up in anticipation, making him go crazy with her deliberate teasing.
“Take off your pretty dress, woman,’ he growled as she came to stand beside him, hands folded before her submissively, coquettishly.
Damn, but she was a saucy sl*t and he felt his hands itch to grab her and make her moan. She was teasing him, testing him. She dimpled.
“Why, Master?’ but her eyes were dancing with merriment. And then, laughing, she said, on a sigh,
“Lucien, it’s time for dinner.’
“Shut the f*ck up, you little horny little wh*re,’ he snarled, his erection prominent as he shifted, spreading his legs. He stroked his shaft through his trousers and saw her eyes widen as she watched the damp spot between his legs, the stain that revealed his extreme hunger.
He went on silkily, his gaze enraptured as she blushed slowly,
“‘Take off that dress sl*t or you will have to leave the room stark naked.’