*CONTEST*

I'm in need of a name for my book and I need your help. I'll be
taking suggestions of names for my upcoming book currently titled
Reunited(i'm cringing w/you about the name). I needed to go to
contract so I picked something real quick. I'll change the book name,
but I need your help. I'll be accepting name entry's today for my
yahoo members, next week for the public. I'll narrow the selection
down to 5 titles. The five individuals picked will have the title's
they've suggest posted for the group to vote on, July 2. The polls
will close July 5. The winner will receive a Mary Kay for Him basket,
and other goodies worth at least $80.
So, tell your friends, bring your man, and enter to win.
Good luck and happy reading.

Blurb:

After Leslie finds out that a sexual predator her daughter had met
online was stalking her Kira(her daughter), Leslie decides to enlist
the help of the only man who can help protect her daughter: Antoine
Mardrice, her daughter's father.

Antoine is rich, handsome and single. His life was uncomplicated
until his mortal enemy strutted into his office needing his help
protecting a child she claims is his. Now his seemly uncomplicated
life is very complicated, thanks again to Leslie.

Lies broke them up, but will the need to keep their child safe be the
push Leslie and Antoine need to bring them back together?


CHAPTER ONE

Antoine sat the phone back on its cradle and cursed; another damned
rejection from Nina. He didn't know why he was so determined to get
her, since it was apparent that her only interest in him was his
merchandise, and nothing else. From what he'd heard, and witnessed
for himself, her boss Adrian Constantine was the only person she was
interested in. Damn shame.
He buzzed his secretary. "Daisy, can you give me Nina James' number.
Not the one at Constantine Inc. I need her personal cell-phone
number."
"It'll take me a minute; however, you have a Ms. Jackson here to see
you."
"Who?" He asked annoyed. He knew in his gut that the person that
Daisy was going to name was the woman who was responsible for his
mistrust in women. Actually, that she-devil didn't deserve the title
woman; `Bitch' was a better description of her.
"I don't know of a Ms. Jackson. At any rate, I am busy. Tell her to
make an appointment, preferably with someone else; a junior salesman
maybe." He stated in short, clipped words, clearly annoyed by the
interruption.
Daisy looked at the woman and what had to be her daughter, and her
boss' and decided to make a judgement call.
"Antoine, I think you better make time for this one. Clear whatever
you have scheduled, and see Ms. Jackson immediately. As a matter of
fact, I'm sending her in right now."
"Daisy! I said that I don't have time for…." He was cut off with a
loud buzzing sound.
"Right through that door Ma'am. Wait here with me, Sweetheart." Daisy
said to the young lady accompanying the woman. She knew that whatever
information her boss was about to receive was going to be a shock to
him and this young lady didn't need to be witness to it.
"Thank you." Her mother said and went into the office, closing the
door behind her.


* * * * *

Antoine hadn't had time to respond to Daisy before the object of his
nightmares walked into his office. The she-devil was even more
enticing at thirty-three than she had been at age seventeen. He had
often dreamt of the day that he'd meet up with her again—preferable
at a function where he was donating money to someone less fortunate,
and she was the recipient. He would then make her squirm for the
money that she needed, while he smiled at her misfortune. Shame, she
didn't look destitute. In his fantasy she was fat with about six kids
surrounding her and one hanging from her sagging breast.
How far from accurate was he. The object of his hate was about five
foot six inches of curves. Her sheer cream top was open in the front
exposing creamy golden skin and full breasts that were firm and
supple enough to entice without the aid of a bra. A thick black belt
held the garment closed, while long beaded necklaces hung loosely
around her chest area, keeping her from exposing too much skin. She
wore green knee high baggy cargo pants that clung to her narrow hips,
leaving a space between the hem of her shirt and the top portion of
her pants, to expose a small waist, and a tone, flat abdomen. Looking
further down her body, he took note of long slim legs, which seemed
to go on forever. She wore green beaded high-heeled open toed sandals
that laced up to her muscular calves, making her ankle look delicate
and alluring. Even her toe were sexy, she wore an American manicure
with the tips painted black with diamond studs on them. He knew that
when he made love to her again, he would pay special detail to her
feet. Shaking his head, he looked up into her big golden brown eyes.
"Now I have to say, I am completely surprised by your visit. What do
you want?" He asked, looking her up and down, not even extending the
courtesy of asking her to take a seat, or even standing to welcome
her in. He just sat back comfortably in his desk and assessed her
openly.
"I need your help." She was saying, however he was watching her full
luscious lips move instead of concentrating on what the mouth was
saying.
He shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable at the direction in
which his thoughts were taking him. Lust. This bitch was walking
lust, and he, being a red-blooded male, was not immune to her charms.
"Are you listening to me?" Leslie asked, her eyes bore into his and
her voice rose in volume.
She was standing with one leg out and her hands on her hips. She
sure looked irked, but he didn't give a damn. She had her nerve,
coming into his office, looking like a golden goddess, asking him for
a favor, when he was certain she was the devil in the flesh.
"No, I wasn't listening to you. I was wondering why you've decided to
dye your hair blonde, after stating that black women shouldn't wear
such a hideous color. But I guess that was one of your lies too?"
"I'm not here about my hair color, Antoine. I need your help, and at
this point, I'd do anything to get it, even endure your insults.
However, I'll ask that you save them until you've heard my dilemma."
He noticed how she shifted the weight of her legs, and the balling up
of her fists at her sides as she stood there.
He thought she looked ready for battle, and in a sense he guessed
that she was.
"As much as I am enjoying this here moment…" Antoine stood up and
moved past her toward the door, "I have to stop you before you
humiliate yourself any further. It would take an act of God to get me
to help you. Actually, I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire;
much less grant you a favor. Now get out, I have more pressing issues
to attend to." He opened the door, signaling for her to leave. She
moved towards the door and closed it, standing face to face with him.
"I'm not going anywhere. You will hear me out and you will help me."
She looked right into his eyes challenging him. "And for the record,
I wouldn't ask you to piss on me for any reason, much less if I were
on fire. You've pissed on me enough during our relationship. Now, I
have a problem. A sexual predator my daughter met online is stalking
her."
Rolling his eyes, he tried to open the door, but her foot blocked
it. "Although I am sorry to hear this, I still refuse to help you.
How about seeking out the help of the police, or better yet, the
girl's father, if you know who he is. Now move." He attempted to open
the door again.
"I've tried the legal system, but he's too powerful to beat by
myself; and I am asking her father for help… You." Leslie looked him
dead in the eye as she dropped her proverbial bomb.
Tugging her away from the door in anger, he opened it and shoved her
out of the door.
"Get the hell out of my office and don't come back…" His word trailed
off when he saw the young woman near his secretary. She had long
brown hair, "good hair" his mother would have called it, a wave of
curls cascading past her shoulders. Her skin complexion was her
mother's, light skinned, with a honey yellow hew to it. But it was
her large green gaze that signified that she was his daughter.
Although brighter than his own hazel gaze, she had eyes just like his
mother, brother and sister. Then he remembered again, just like his
brother's eyes. She looked just like his family members.
"Daisy, get my brother in here pronto." He grabbed Leslie by the arm
back inside his office and closed the door.
"So what's your game plan?" He asked accusingly. "You know that my
brother is married with children, so you pin this child on me? Jesus,
Leslie, how old is she?" He held is head down and closed his eyes,
shutting out the loud roaring going on in his head, willing the anger
that was threatening to explode to calm down. He heard his brother in
the lobby talking in that high-pitched voice he got whenever he was
nervous. He must have seen the girl.
Antoine opened the door. "Get your ass in here. Norman." His brother,
ready to lie, started to explain. "I have no idea…" His words trailed
off, relief in his face when he saw Leslie. "Thank you, Jesus." He
prayed, constructing an air cross with his fingers. "Leslie. How are
you doing? You are looking good, girl. That's your daughter in the
lobby?" He asked, sighing heavily.
"I take it you've seen the girl in the lobby." Antoine said as
agitation dripped from his every word.
"Yeah, she looks just like our family bro. It's no denying that one."
Norman gave him a sympathetic smile.
"So what are you going to tell your wife?"
"That she's an aunt. I can't imagine her being upset by the prospect
of you fathering a child. I know you've always promised to leave the
company to the boys in case you didn't have any children of your own,
but you don't have to worry about the twin's future, they're set."
"No you idiot, you're the father of the girl out there! You and
Leslie have a child. What will you tell your wife about that child?"
Antoine gritted his teeth as he said the words.
A sickening look came over Norman's face and he took an aggressive
stance. "Did she tell you that?" He accused, looking from Antoine and
back to Leslie.
"No I –" He didn't let her finish her statement.
"Because I never had sex with her!"
"What do you mean you've `never had sex with her? You swore to me on
your honor that you and she had sex together, and you begged me to
forgive you." Antoine's fists clenched, he was ready for a fight. He
wanted to wake up from this nightmare that was threatening to steal
his sanity every second he was in it.
"I lied when I said that I slept with Leslie, and so did Eric and
David. We thought that we could split you two up by telling you that
we all had sex with her in order to get you to go to college in State
rather than follow her to San Diego. We couldn't risk you leaving.
I'm sorry for all of the trouble our lie caused." Norman looked at
his brother and then at Leslie.
"Get the fuck out. I'll deal with you later." Antoine gave his
brother an icy stair.
"I'm truly—" Norman started.
"Out!" Antoine yelled. He slumped down in his chair wishing he had
something strong to drink.
"I really don't know what to say." He started.
"I'm not expecting you to say anything except you'll help me keep my
daughter safe. Please." She came over to sit down in the chair front
of his desk.
"I'll need a DNA to confirm that she is mine, without question,
however, in light of the current information, I'll help you."
"Thank you." Leslie closed her eyes in relief.
"Now I need to know what happened, but before I do that, I want to
meet my daughter." He buzzed Daisy's desk.
"Daisy, send in…" He paused mid sentence realizing that he didn't
know his daughter's name. `What's her name?'" He whispered to Leslie.
"Kira." She supplied, he raised an eyebrow and repeated the
name. "Kira."
Letting go of the button, Antoine held his breath as the statuesque
beauty regally walked into his office. He stood up and walked over to
the nervous teen. He embraced her, relishing in the warmth of her
hugs. It dawned on him at that moment. He had a daughter.
* * * * *
Leslie watched as father and daughter hugged for the first time.
Because of everything that she had gone through after Antoine's
desertion, she dreaded this day happening. However, if she was honest
with herself, she'd admit that maybe it wasn't a good idea keeping
Kira from him. For the past few years, Kira has asked excessively
about her father. Leslie tried to appease her curiosity with all of
the information that she could about Antoine, without being bitter.
She explained to Kira that her father was a nice man who was kind
enough to donate the sperm it took to make a baby, and that to
intrude on his life saying "Hi dad, I'm home" was unfair to him.
Leslie hadn't realized how much her daughter had missed having a
father. A few months ago, Kira started conversation on the Internet.
Leslie thought that it was harmless until it started becoming a real
problem. Kira started missing gymnastics classes, and cheerleading
practices. She started living in her room, always on the computer, so
one day while Kira was at school, she logged onto her computer and
found some disturbing correspondence between Kira and some pervert
logging on as silver_fox057. Leslie was alarmed by his login, so she
started to investigate. The idiot posted a picture of a young man,
however after reading all of the correspondence between the man and
her daughter, she was able to extract some clues as to the man's
identity. She was horrified at her discovery.
This Logan Hudson guy gained her email address through a common
website page popular to teens and young adults now a days. There, he
began to chat with her, using the information that Kira had made
public. She was appalled at how vulnerable her daughter had made
herself right on the Internet. The conversations started out innocent
enough. Questions about home and school. Then it progressed to
boyfriends and school activities. And ultimately it ended with
the "perv" asking for sex and pics. She was shocked at how this
stranger was able to tap into her daughter's needs and exploit them
to his convince. She never realized that by denying Kira an
opportunity to know her father, it was opening a door for predators
to come in. Hell, Kira probably would have been better off with any
strong male role model rather than none at all. It was definitely a
big mistake to have kept her from her father, she was sure of that.
She was afraid that by allowing a man into her home it would open up
an opportunity for Kira to be violated, the way she had once been
violated.
Leslie was so deep in her thoughts, she hadn't realized that
her daughter had come to sit down by her, and Antoine was back at his
desk barking orders to his secretary.
"Daisy. Reschedule everything I have for next week. Let my brother
know that he has the helm today." He then hung up the phone.
"Now tell me exactly what is going on with my daughter, and I want to
know everything."
* * * *
"It all started about six months ago. I was interested in a
boy from my school. Since I'm not allowed to date" Kira rolled her
eyes at her mother, who gave her a stern look back, she continued her
story. " I started chatting online with this boy from my school.
Everything was going fine until he wanted to take the relationship
past the `let's meet at lunch, and let's talk on the computer' phase.
I knew that Mom would be virtually impossible to fool when it came
down to sneaking out and cutting school, and since I go to a strict
Christian School where boy/girl fraternization is a big `no no'; he
broke it off with me. I started to feel really depressed when I
received an email from his father telling me what a jerk Avery had
been for breaking up with me." She paused for a minute and closed her
eyes as the tears fell down her pretty oval face. "It started out
innocently enough. He was very friendly. I was even considering
introducing him to Mom. He told me that it wasn't a good idea and
that he wasn't over his late wife and that no one would find an ugly
old man like himself attractive. I asked him to send me a picture of
himself and he did. He wasn't bad looking and I told him so. He
confided in me that I was a breath of fresh air, and that I seemed
really mature for my age and that's probably why Avery couldn't
handle a woman like myself." Kira started to break down crying again,
and both Leslie and Antoine went over and hugged her.
"Look, this is upsetting her, and it's pretty graphic. Antoine get me
a piece of paper and a pencil, I'll give you access to her email
account." He did, and for the next hour and a half he read the
graphic emails and looked at graphic photos.
"So let me get this straight." Antoine said in a murderous
tone. "After you reported this pervert to the authorities, he was
sentenced to four months in jail. He gets out and begins to stalk
her! His son assaults her and gets sentenced to counseling!" The rage
was building up further and Antoine struggled to keep a lid on his
anger. "So he begins to stalk her, taking pictures of her in her bed
room, at the pool, and at cheerleading practice, threatening to post
it on the Internet!"
"Yes."
"And the police says what about this?"
"Logan Hudson is the son of a prominent retired attorney in our city.
After his arrest and release, he was able to disappear, except he
manages to get in contact with Kira and he's near because he's taking
recent photos. I've taken out a restraining order against him, but
nothing seems to deter him. He believes that Kira is his `soul mate'
and he'll stop at nothing to get to her, and that includes seeing me
dead."
There was a brief silence over the room.
"Is there a chance that you've been followed by him?"
"No, I don't think so. I've been using cash, and I drove down here
from California. I'm sure that he doesn't know we've gone yet. Why?"
"I want to talk with you alone. I'm sure Kira is hungry, so I'm going
to send her out with Daisy; I need to make sure she's not in any
danger. This building has a restaurant on the bottom floor." Antoine
stood up and buzzed Daisy again. She agreed to take Kira to the
restaurant to grab a bite to eat. What he needed to talk to Leslie
alone.


"How far are you willing to go to protect our daughter?"
Antoine asked Leslie as he closed the door behind Kira. He walked
over to her with panther like movement, leaning in close to her face.
"I am willing to do anything to keep my daughter safe. Getting in
contact with you should be a testament of how far I am willing to go
to ensuring her safety." Leslie was still feeling salty after all
these years of feeling betrayed by him, and she wanted him to feel
her anger, or so he reasoned.
"Good, because I plan on making you my wife, and having you move in
with me."