Joe hovers by the Maitre'd stand looking over his shoulder for his father. He spots him seated at the far end of the restaurant away from the bulk of patrons and moves hastily to the table to greet him.
"Bonjour Pappa!" He says kissing both of his cheeks.
"Bonjour, bon de vous voir fils." Maurice says then resumes the seat across from him and continues their conversation in french limiting the amount of people that could over hear.
"I took the liberty of ordering for both of us." Maurice says as the first course is set before them. Maurice waits until the waiter departs before continuing.
"How did it go with Monsieur's whore?" Maurice asks bitterness tinge his voice. Joe smiles and nods.
"Just as you had expected the child she's carrying is the monsieur's." He says with a sly grin. Maurice stares back at him brow raised in surprise.
"I didn't witness any explosions this afternoon what did you do?" Joe's chuckles softly.
"Actually I didn't have to do anything other than what Monsieur had instructed leaving us both out of the eye of suspicion and Monsieur extremely pleased. At this moment they both have exactly what they want. She has her husband and Monsieur has the truth." He laughs again. Maurice laughs with him as he raises his glass in salute.
"Now all we have to do is sit back and wait for St. Jacques to make his move." Joe smiles as he clicks his glass against his father's.
"And you can be sure it won't be long, then we will make ours." Joe says making them both laugh.
Devereaux stares down at the tests and smiles to himself. He had Cassandra exactly where he wanted her. She just didn't know it. Right now she was basking in the fact that she'd pulled off her plan and none were the wiser. She was probably gloating that there was nothing he or Oliver Sherrigan could do at the moment and now thought she'd bought herself a few more months of safety. What she'd actually bought were mere weeks! He laughs aloud.
If he knew Cassandra and he did, sometimes better than she knew herself. She was going to use this little victory to the hilt! She'd play frail and dependent to woo Rego into her web. She'd pull out all the stops to make him feel like the proud expectant husband, father and protector. In fact right now he'd bet the two were looking for a little place of their own. Ha! Nothing too small knowing Cassandra but she'd want to get him as far away from Oliver as possible right now so she could work her magic.
He on the other hand, he was going to sit back watch and wait. He'd let them grow closer and closer before sneaking into their little garden of eden and destroying it piece by piece. All her fawning and platitudes should be quite entertaining to watch. There were a couple of events coming up Cassandra was sure to want to be seen at and he was more sure she'd want to rub it in his face that Rego was the father and he'd let that happen too. He wanted her to be good and confident about her position and future with Sherrigan. He let her build that foundation as shaky as it was before coming in with his bulldozer of truth crushing it. He had enough time since the Xangtong bid didn't come up for a few weeks.
That's when he would spring his trap! He'd have her dancing to his tune and it would be delicious! Just imagining her face when he showed her the real results of her DNA test filled him with unimaginable glee. She'd do anything he asked to keep the fact he was the father of the child she carried not Rego Sherrigan. Anything! She'd get him what he wanted from Sherrigan and anything else he asked of her. Just imagining the humiliation she'd feel in addition to what he could and would inflict on her was literally arousing he thought reaching for the zipper of his pants. He'd have her on her knees both figuratively and literally. He smiled into the darkness as his hand reached beneath soft wool of his trousers. He lays his head back against the cushion of the chair allowing his fantasy to take over and his moans of pleasure fill the room.
Cassandra startles awake a sense of foreboding coming over her. She sits up and looks around the bedroom peering closely into the shadows for Devereaux. She could still feel his hands on her the sour smell of wine filling her nostrils. His cold breath fanning the nape of her neck his fingers pinching her breast as he whispered to her.
"You can run Pet but you'll never escape me. The truth will always snare you." The words kept rolling over and over in her mind she couldn't let them go. Maybe it was the unfamiliarity of the room that made her feel haunted or the fact that Rego had left her alone in it after they had bolted from Oliver's house. Or the fact the the truth did haunt her and Devereaux learning it scared her to death. If she could help it he wouldn't!
She just had to make sure Rego was on her side and stayed on her side. That was and wasn't going to be easy. He had groused and raved the entire way to the Inn up the elevator and into the room. Then as soon as they were in the room he'd ranted at her! All she'd done was suggest if they were going to be here a while they would need bigger accommodations and then he'd flown into another twenty minute hissy fit and stormed from the rooms leaving her alone and honestly feeling a bit vulnerable. Right now she needed Rego to come back she was hungry and still a little tired and she really didn't like being here alone.
She lifts the covers from her head then laughs at herself when she realizes she'd actually had hidden under the covers as she throws them aside and sit up. She was being ridiculous. Devereaux wasn't going to find out. Joe would be the last person to tell him. He hated Devereaux as much as she did and knew first hand how dangerous he was he wouldn't betray her. No, for now she was safe so what she needed to do was make plans.
She quickly went to the phone and ordered a late dinner for them then darted into the bathroom washed her face and applied fresh makeup when that was completed she slipped into one of her new maternity dresses that made her look and feel ultra feminine as well as making look as vulnerable as she secretly felt. Next she pulled her Pad from her purse and opened a few browsers with baby clothes and furnishings and another to available homes in the area. Then left it open on the coffee table where he would be sure to see it. She walked quickly to the knock at the door and opened it for the waitstaff to set up the table and leave. She looked around quickly and smiled satisfied with the mood she'd set then sat down to wait for Rego to arrive only moments before he came back to their rooms.
"What's all this?" He asks looking around surprised. He set the box in his arms down on the table then his computer next to it. He glances down at the page on the open tablet and smiles. Cassandra smiles back at him and points to the table.
"I figured since you never had dinner you might be just a little hungry." She says as he walks towards her surprised by her act of kindness especially since he'd walked out on her hours ago. He'd expected her to be asleep when he got back.
"Thank you very much I'm starved." He says not sure exactly what she was up to but relieved he wouldn't have to face another battle. He was weary from the trials of the day and all he really wanted was a shower. Cassandra looks up at him noting his weary expression she would be the contrite and obedient wife right now.
"Here, why don't you sit down." She says patting the back of the chair then walking to the coffee table and retrieving the tablet then handing it to him. "I was looking at rental homes in the area and bookmarked a couple so you could see them and I promise they are all reasonable," She adds quickly when she see's the scowl come across his face. "and in nice neighborhoods a couple were near the park where I could walk the baby in the afternoons." She says wistfully. "Then I looked at baby furnishing. There are so many cute things!"
She says as she picks up a plate and serves it for him then places it in front of him leaning close enough so his hand would brushed her burgeoning belly at the same moment the child stirred within her giving them both a start.
"Oh my lord! Did you feel that?" Rego looks up at her his eyes wide with joy and surprise into a face that almost mirrored his own. Cassandra lays her hand on her stomach next to Rego's as another movement of her child brings an odd wave a joy over her and peels of laughter from the two of them. The sensation shocked and surprised her bringing along with another feeling she hadn't felt before for anyone unconditional love. It overwhelmed her making her feel both protective and fierce. No matter what she'd always make sure her child never suffered and would always have the very best of everything no matter what she had to do to get it.
"That's our child in there." Rego says in awe as he lays his ear against her belly."
"Yes darling" She murmured wrapping her arms around him.
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