Six

Once inside the auction hall, the guests started to roam around checking out the paintings, Sophie found herself stuck with Sandra and Julian, her Julian who was ignoring her and wasn't a bit bother of Sandra's hand wrapped around his arm, she was never letting go. She knew they were dating secretly, but his actions right now is hurting and disappointing her.

Julian sometime would talk about Sandra, only when Sophie would force him into the topic because he never really likes to talk about the mother of his child but he assured her that there was no love between him and Sandra. They used to be a bad blood but they got over it for Faye. That's what he always say.

They stopped in front of a painting. It was painted by some Frenchman back in the 1900 and to put the least the painting was erotic.

“J'ai envie de toi desesperement. Fais-moi l'amour.” Julian read in a low voice, intending to say it to himself but Sandra giggled beside him. “I never thought dirty French can sound dirtier and hotter until you said them.”

“Sandra!” He hissed lowly at her, throwing Sophie a look. She look away. Shit.

But Sandra turned to Sophie. “Sophie, why don't you hang out with Julian and I, I'd li–”

“Sandra.” Julian turned to her and glared. “I'm sure Miss Torres has other friends here that she would like to hang with.”

Sandra looked crestfallen. “Oh, but I'd like to talk more to Sophie, I never met a very interesting character as she is. Catherine mentioned about Sophie's being the family's breadwinner...” She turned to Sophie and with a hopeful tone she said. “I think it's very inspiring and I'd like to hear more about you. I hope we can be friends.”

Sophie gasped. “Oh... certainly.” She smiled, very pleased that she got Sandra's attention.

Sandra beamed at her and Julian growled, glaring at Sandra and to Sophie. Why doesn't he like Sandra? If Sophie and Julian will get married this year, tonight is the perfect timing to be acquainted in his world and the people of his circle. If Sophie is going to be the Mrs. Fernandez she'd better befriend people like Catherine Hart and Sandra Parker. Especially Sandra Parker because she is Faye's mother.

Suddenly a woman approached Sandra and whispered something to her. Sandra nodded and looked at Sophie warily. “Will you excuse me and Julian, Sophie? I need to talk to him about something.”

He looked down at her through narrowed eyes, he's suspicious. Perfect fabricated innocence was written all over her face. Sandra was never innocent.

Sophie blinked. “Oh...”

Sandra quickly added. “You can sit with us once the auction started, Julian and I just have some family matters to discuss.”

Sophie smiled at her and then send Julian an uncertain smile, Julian's heart thudded at smiled at her, he watched as Sophie turn and left.

“Your taste in women.” Sandra shook her head. Her gazed search his face and for a moment they just stood there and continued staring at each other, the smile on her lips never leaving, her hold on his arm tightening when he didn't respond. “C'mon... this one won't be long.” She gave his arm an encouraging squeeze and then she let go of him and practically sashayed away.

She slowed down only to glance back at him with a smile then continued with her tracks heading towards one of the doors of the wide and crowded ball hall. Julian straightened and let out a breath and decided to follow her. He watched as her secretary waiting on the doorway handed her a folder just as the door opened to for her. Julian nodded and smiled at the other guests.

Damn Sandra stood out anywhere, no matter what the circumstances are. She knew she's beautiful and she make sure every living soul around her knows that, the damn men seriously got no qualms on letting her know they knew how enticing she was. The ladies did too, either they admire or envy her, it doesn't matter.

He followed her through the hallways. Her long black dress fitted her in just a wonderful way, she didn't show much skin but it wasn't also innocent dress, it was simple black tube dress that reached the floor, it flows and moved with her like it was born part of her skin, she walked on heels like she was born with them on her feet too. She wore a single jewelry; a beautiful piece of diamond necklace that he's sure was made only for her. Her hair was beautifully down and pooled on her right shoulder and her damn lips were sinfully red, delectable too.

She paused in front of another door she pushed it open. Shaking his head, Julian followed suit. When he closed the door and was turning to her, he stopped when she threw the folder at him hitting him on the chest, he just stared at her as the folder fell on the marbled floor, the papers scattered around them but he was able to hold onto one and anger surged deep in his chest. How the hell did she find out? It was about the plan of taking over her father's company.

“You seem to take a liking into looking down at me, Julian Fernandez.” Her voice laced with venom, she fuming. She marched toward him and his jaw tightened when she shoved him, hit back hit the door and she stood before him, all beautiful and provoking. “You think you can go away with this?” She gritted her teeth. “I told you many times, Julian. You should have known better.”

His blood soared as the very familiar of hate and frustration surged inside him, threatening to come out, it was clawing his inside wanting to get out and reach for her neck and throttle her till she's pink and blue.

“There are several people in this world that I find unbearably obnoxious, and you're all of them Sandra.” Her eyes widened as she suck a gasped. But he wasn't done. “You said my rift with your father is none of you business and you're right. Now I don't care how you found out about it but you want to hear it? I've been working on it for the past two years, my grandfather's last wish was to take the Parkers in our hands and I'll be damned if I can't do give it to him.” He glowered at her but she just kept her eyes narrowed, calculating and hateful. “I want to get Faye's custody because I know once you found about this... you could take her away from me. And you know about my opinion of your upbringing of Faye. No matter how you tried to show it... no matter how competent and self-confident you act...”

He shook his head and then softly said. “I can't be wrong. You're nothing but a beautiful woman with money and a cunning mind. But truthfully you're insecure and you strive to surpass your mother in all aspect. You're jealous of her just as thirsty you're for Sarah's affection. Sandra, a true self-confident and competent person is incapable of jealousy in everything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.”

Nothing. Nothing could have insulted her more than that and so she raised her hand to slap him, hard. His face turned by the impact, the sound almost pounding on his ears, his jaw clenched. He faced her just in time she raised her hand again ready to slap him. His nose flared and the vain in his neck pulsed as he caught her hand, she struggled glaring at him but he didn't let go.

“LET GO OF ME YOU, INSUFFERABLE BASTARD!”

Sandra yelped when he pushed her away roughly, blood pounding on his ears, he was so mad. Damn fucking mad. Her eyes widened when she staggered back a few steps away then trudged towards him but he marched to meet her halfway. She fumed. “YOU–”

She screamed when Julian grabbed her by the throat but didn't choke her. No. Just kissed her so deep and good she forgot whose air she was breathing. He slipped his tongue over the seam of her lips once, twice, and then she opened them for him. Eager, shameless and on fire she kissed him back. Warm, soft hands caressed it way towards his hair until they settled wrapped around his neck. Julian groaned low on his throat just the moment she moaned. He had his right hand wrapped around her tiny waist while the other caressing her throat, her collarbone and breast.

He teased her by taking her bottom lip between his and pulling it lightly. He sucked it into his mouth and slid his tongue over the smooth skin on the inside as he let it go.

“Oh...”

Sandra gave a soft moan and he awarded her with another lingering kiss. He tugged at her bottom lip again, this time using his teeth. Her fingers tightened around his neck, sliding up and into his hair. He changed the angle of his head and licked his way slowly into her mouth, swallowing her soft gasp when his tongue found hers. He stroked it once, and then used the tip of his tongue to explore her mouth. He slid his tongue out and tested her reaction. She moaned her dissent and he slipped it back in.

She was ready for him this time, touching him back almost possessively, demandingly. He advanced and retreated a few times, teasing her with an erotic display of what he wanted to do with her body until she groaned and cupped his face, he smiled on their kiss.

He moved his other hand down her leg and came follow his free hand, Sandra groaned when she heard the ripping of her gown. Damn him! But his wicked, hot mouth moved down to her throat, licking, sucking and nibbling the exposed skin along the way. She was on fire and so was he, his touch burned against her skin as his hand slide inside the ripped part of her gown and caressed her. As bold as she was, she hooked left leg up to the side of his waist, his hand holding her, caressing her soft skin.

“Oh God..." She arched her back, pushing her chest on his mouth more. “Yes, more...”

“God, you smell so fucking good.” Julian murmured.

“OH MY GOD! Miss Sandra?!”

They both frozen.

Another gasp. “MR. FERNANDEZ?!”

**********

“Oh Shawn can you not? You just arrived here and you act like a mother hen. Have some fun.”

“Where's Sophie Torres?”

Catherine shrugged. “I don't know."

“Just what the hell were you thinking doing this? Agreeing to this thing?!” He hissed low as he leaned hatefully at her. “You know Sandra hold grudges Catherine. She's like a hungry dog with a bone on her mouth. She will never let it go.”

Catherine beamed at him. “That's exactly what I want to see. I always knew Sandra Parker is up to no good. I'm just here for the drama. Julian and Sandra really hated each other.” She chuckled to herself and she turned just in time one of the managers of her production team came out of a room, looking scared, panicked and in a hurry with a piece of paper Catherine recognized as a cheque was clutch against his chest.

Then Sandra walked out from one of the room wearing Julian's coat followed by a fuming Julian who banged the door behind him. Was Sandra's dress ripped? Julian's hair was disheveled though and Catherine amd Shawn are both too far away to be innocent not to understand.

Shawn's eyes bugged out and Catherine laughed loud. Enough to gain attention. She shrugged. “I guess that's what I'll call extreme relationship development. Wow. I should host more parties.”