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Danny wasn't exactly sure how long he stayed sitting in the chair with his pants around his ankles staring at the door. He should have gone after her, but he was still in shock at the boldness she had displayed in seducing him.
This was twice now that she had come to him after he had told her not to. She didn't know about his attempt to contact her at the lighthouse and until he saw Carmen safely behind bars or in hell, and Michelle was out of danger, it had to be this way.
As much as he loved her and wanted to be with her, the fact remained that she was in danger. He had thought he had all he needed to ensure they would get to be together but that had changed almost as quickly as it had come about. Carmen's threats put an end to all his plans.
He had sat in this chair ever since she had left as mysteriously as she had arrived. He tried to formulate a plan that would allow them to be together as well as keeping her safe. Only one thing came to mind and he was willing to do it. He had to find a way to be with Michelle. Nothing else mattered in his life without her. Not the company that he had recently found out his father had left him nor the house. He was going to talk to Carmen when she got out on bail today, which he was sure she would manage to find a way to do. He would offer her a trade. He would tell her about all of the secrets he had been made aware of recently and inform her that he knew about the will leaving it all to him.
He would offer them both for Michelle's safety. She would greedily take it and then he and Michelle would get the hell out of Springfield for good. Maybe they really would go to California with Federico this time.
He felt a pang of hurt when he remembered how he had shouted to her earlier that night that he had never gone to California. Her face has turned white and she had run away from him. She had had a similar look on her face earlier in this very room when he had told her he didn't love her but she didn't falter. She had continued her steps towards him all the while mesmerizing him with seduction never taking her eyes off of him the entire time.
His heart swelled with love at the recollection of the chance she had taken coming to him the way that she had.
He stood up and removed his pants and shoes and went to take a shower. He was reluctant to wash off her scent, recalling the sweet way she had made love to him. His body reacted to the memory. He wanted her again. Not just with his body but with his very soul.
He washed his body being careful not to linger too much on the area that was still stiff with need for Michelle. That only reminded him of what they had just shared and made him want more but she was gone now. He prayed he would be able to sleep tonight with this ache in his belly. He forced his thoughts off his need before he did something he hadn't done since he was in his teens.
He brought his thoughts to the deal he was going to offer Carmen today. It was a deal she couldn't refuse, he thought smiling at his Godfather analogy he had just used. Fitting, he thought, how very fitting.
He would sign over everything he had just found out was rightfully his. It didn't matter to him anymore. Michelle was all that mattered. He would get her assurance of Michelle's safety in writing this time so she would be sure to honor it. Carmen was definately a monster as a human being but she honored business contracts and deals. He laughed at the irony of that.
He dried off and went into the bed. He had to get up in less than four hours. He needed to be fresh for this day. He was going to bury his beloved grandmother and give up everything he had ever thought he wanted for the woman he loved.
Surprisingly sleep came instantaneosly. He awoke to the sounds of the house in the midst of an uproar. What the hell was going on? It sounded like Carmen was home. How had she gotten out so early? He didnt have a chance to get all of the papers together to put the deal in front of her. Damn. This was not good.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Michelle twisted her hair up into a demure looking bun and placed her silver hair comb in place. The pearls were added next. Then the dress. She slipped into the dress and then put on her black shoes. She double checked herself in the full legnth mirror in her bedroom. She looked alright. She wanted to look better than alright. Her new found confidence that she had found last night was wavering fast. Her boldness had shocked her but she was not going to give up now. She was going to the funeral today and she was going to march herself up to him and sit down next to him on the front row. She just hoped she didn't throw up while she was doing it.
She was very nervous. She had made an invitation for him to come to her and so far he hadn't. Granted it had only been hours but she had hoped to find him on her doorstep this morning. She had made her feelings clear and now the ball was in his court. She would stop chasing him after the funeral. He was going to have to come to her.
She went down and had some breakfast and started counting the hours until she would see Danny again. Rick and Abby joined her for breakfast and soon Rick left to go to the hospital. Michelle was glad to have some time with Abby alone. They gabbed a bit about the fund raiser the night before and Abby gently broached the subject of how Michelle was feeling after the previous night.
"I feel wonderful Abby" Michelle said wondering if she should confide in Abby her brazen act of seduction. She decided to enjoy her secret for awhile longer.
"I am so glad sweetie" Abby said. " I was so worried about you and especially after Rick made Danny leave and there was this big scene....." she said but Michelle couldn't hear any more words after Danny had been there.
"Danny was here?" she said. "When???"
"Last night after you left. He came over here and he and Rick had a big fight with Rick threatening to call the police. It was awful Michelle. Danny was looking for you but Rick didnt know where you had gone" she said.
"I went to the lighthouse" she said distantly absorbing the new information Abby had just divulged. Danny had looked for her last night after she left him at his house. He had screamed at her that he had never gone to California and then she had run, but he had come to find her. Where had he gone then?
"Excuse me Abby, I need to make a phone call" she said and went to the phone and Abby smiled her herself knowing full well who she was going to call.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Where was Danny? Why was he still upstairs when she had just been released from the horrid dungeon called Springfield jail. The facilities were atrocious and she had had to spend over 15 hours in that hell hole.
Ben had finally managed to find the loophole that he was paid entirely too much to find. It had taken him long enough but he had been forgiven once she had stepped into her house and found that Danny was indeed home again. He was under her roof where he belonged. Now if she could just get Pilar to come home everything would be perfect. She planned on playing the grieving daughter in law to the hilt today and the sympathy would be pouring in and she could use it to her advantage. Her children never stood a chance when she played the grieving card.
She summoned Ben into the study. She instructed him to make sure that the papers that had been filed against her got misplaced if he knew what she meant. He nodded his head in understanding and went about performing his assignment.
She poured herself a cup of coffee from the silver service on the coffee table. That sludge that they had called coffee in the jail had been revolting. She needed the special blended Columbian beans that she had been accustomed to. She began sipping her special brew when she saw Danny enter the study.
He didn't look happy to see her but she hadn't really expected him to. "Good Morning Daniel. I trust you slept well" she said stiffling the urge to remind him where his mother had spent the night.
"I slept fine thanks" he said not taking her bait. She wanted his sympathy and she damn well wasn't going to get it.
" Good, I thought we would all ride to the funeral together. Jimmy is gone to get the car now but we have time for a cup of coffee if you like" she said and offered him a porcelain coffee cup that had been in the Santos family for generations.
" I don't have time. I am going to take my own car, thanks" he said and took the cup from her hands. He poured himself a cup and then went to the other side of the room to look at a folder with some work in it. Anything to prolong the conversation that was imminant.
Berating himself for being such a fool, he just launched into the heart of the matter. "Listen" he said. "We gotta talk" and put the coffee cup down and went to the desk where she was sitting.
"What would you like to talk about Daniel? Oh, it is so good to have you back in the house again. Soon your sister will be back home and we will be a family again. I will finally be surrounded by my children again" she announced like the cat who ate the canary.
"What was that you said? Children?" he said sarcastically. "Don't you mean child?"
"Daniel, I am not following you, I want both you and Pilar home with me. I want both of my children here with me" she began to explain when he interupted her again.
"Well dont you think that is gonna be kind of hard to have both of your children here when only one of us is your child" he said and her face froze in place.
"That's right Carmen" he spit out the name as if it were the vilest poison. "I know the truth. All of it. I know you are really not my mother".