Chapter 6: Don't mention her name again

"Where have you been Derek?" Lady Donovan asked the moment Derek stepped into her room.

"Hello mother." Derek walked up to her and kissed her cheek. Then he stood back and scrutinized her. "You look tired. Shouldn't you be asleep already? Where's Mabel?"

"Her son is ill, so I let her off early." Lady Donovan replied. "The poor maid has so much on her shoulders. Lord knows she needs a break."

"You can just let her go and get another maid instead." Derek suggested, walking to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water.

"Absolutely not." She snapped. "Mabel has been with us since you were a baby. She's family."

"Whatever you say." Derek shrugged and took a long drink from the water.

"Don't change the subject. Where have you been?"

Derek sighed and turned towards his mother. Despite being in her late sixties, she remained the most beautiful woman to him. Her cobalt blue eyes were as sharp as ever despite her age, and her dark hair had streaks of gray in them.

She was his entire world. She had worked all her life to raise him, after his father died just when he was two. Lady Donovan had done everything she could to make sure Derek had the best education. Which was why he swore to be the wealthiest someday so he could give his mother a better life.

He actually succeeded as he was now at the top of the list of the wealthiest billionaires in New York. Life was going well, except his mother was hell bent on finding a woman for him to marry.

"I took a drive around, after the meeting." He answered finally.

"Alone?" Lady Donovan questioned. "Derek I have told you numerous times, it's dangerous to be by yourself without security. You could get ambushed. Do you plan to give me a heart attack?"

"I wasn't ambushed." Derek said in his defense. "Besides, I just wanted to be alone. I'm a man mom, I can take care of myself."

"That's what your father said before he died."

Derek shut his mouth when he heard that. That was something she always said when she was worried about him. Apparently those were the exact words his father said, and the next day he was found dead.

He went back to the bed and sat beside her, before taking her hand in his.

"I'm sorry." He said with a warm smile. "I know you're just looking out for me. I promise, I won't stay out so late anymore, alone."

"That's what you always say." Lady Donovan grumbled.

Derek chuckled and leaned his head on her shoulder. "I mean it this time."

"I hope you do. So tell me, any new girl you've met lately?"

The first face that popped into Derek's mind was Camilla, and how furious she had been when he kissed her. He wondered how his mother would react if he told her he kissed a girl and got slapped in return.

"Mother I told you." He said, getting up. "When I find one, you will be the first to meet her."

"I don't know why you're taking so long." Lady Donovan complained. "You're going on thirty honey. I need grand babies."

Derek grinned and leaned against the door. "That could be arranged." He teased.

"Derek Anderson Donovan, you better not bring a baby out of wedlock into this home, you hear me?"

Derek laughed heartily. Whenever his mother used his full name, it meant she was extremely serious. But he loved teasing her so.

"I'm joking mother. But you must understand that I can't just bring any girl home. I need someone that would love me, and not my wealth."

Lady Donovan ceased her complaints when she heard him. She had to admit, he had a point. She just wanted to see her son properly settled before she passed away.

"Susan was such a nice girl though." She said out loud.

Derek fisted his hands as his anger returned. Why did everyone keep mentioning her name?

"I would appreciate it if we don't talk about her." He said in a hard voice.

"It doesn't change the fact that she was a nice girl." His mother argued. "I liked her."

"Susan left me for a richer man." Derek's voice had gone rigid, like it did whenever he talked about his ex fiancée. "She looked me in the eye and told me she could never settle for someone like me. She hurt me deeply, but I have learned to live with it. I have moved on. So please mother, don't mention her name ever again. I beg you."

Lady Donovan knew she had pushed past her limits so she let the matter go.

"Very well." She said, then changed the subject. "How did the meeting with Corporate go?"

"Not bad." Derek's reply was sharp and swift. "The business deal has been signed. They have a partnership with us now."

"Good." Lady Donovan nodded, then let out a tired yawn and dropped the book she had been reading.

Derek walked back to her bed and helped her take her reading glasses off, before tucking the warm sheets around her.

"I'm glad you're home honey." She mumbled, slowly dozing off.

Derek smiled and gently kissed her hair. "Goodnight mother." He said softly and quietly exited the room.

Back in his luxurious room, he took a shower and changed into a pair of dark pants. His dark hair lay in wet waves over his forehead and he brushed the wet tendrils back with his hand.

There was a large king sized bed in the middle of the room, covered in dark coloured blankets and sheets. The curtains were a similar colour and they were drawn over the windows.

He stepped into the large walk-in closet, the entire wall covered from side to side with mirrors, and put on a dark sleeveless shirt.

His mood was ruined totally and he walked to the mini bar in the corner of his room, where a half filled bottle of vodka waited. He grabbed the bottle and took one long drink, then walked to the window and stared outside.

Since Susan left him to be with a richer man, he had vowed never to fall in love again, because all women wanted was a man's riches. That had been his mentality, until he met Camilla.

He had never encountered a woman who threw his money back in his face. All the celebrities and bimbos that flocked after him always wanted a taste of his wealth, yet Camilla was different.

What was it about her that appealed to him so much? Why did he feel like meeting her again?