Son of Sin (Book 3 of the Forbidden Series)

12

After arriving in New York, things had changed. Damien had become more pleasant, reverting to his charming, playful self that he had been before leaving for Vegas. He had seemed to come to accept their unexpected marriage in stride. He had offered Eve the option of keeping her room if she so chose to since they had only known each other for a brief time regardless of the situation they now found themselves in. Eve had accepted his offer but often found herself in Damien’s bed before the end of the night.

As hard as she tried to take things slow and get to know the man she was tied to, Eve found herself lost to the madness his closeness created. She could not control herself when Damien was near, and now that they were joined in God’s eyes there was no reason to deny herself the bliss he offered. She could not have been happier.

School had begun and Eve was excited to attend. She had been dropped off in a town car and changed into her dancer’s tights for the first class. She stood with the rest of the students and stretched before the start of the class. She noticed that some of the students were whispering and looking at her. Eve looked around and realized a lot of the students were whispering about her. The teacher came in and ordered everyone to line up and show her what had gotten them accepted to the school.

Eve moved to line up when a leggy blonde bumped her rudely. “Real dancers up front.” She hissed shoving Eve out of line.

“I am a real dancer.” Eve snarled pushing her way back in line.

“Getting here on your back doesn’t make you a real dancer.” The redhead behind her said pushing her back out of line. “Go to the back. We don’t have rich hubbies to buy our way in.”

Eve gave up and moved to the back of the line scowling at the two girls in the front. “Don’t pay attention to them; they’re just envious. I bet you can dance circles around them.” A thin black woman in front of her said, offering Eve her hand in friendship. Her hair was buzzed short, but she was pretty, tall but really thin. “My name is Hannah.”

Eve shook her hand. “Eve Cas-Sanchez.” She corrected herself at the last moment. It would take time to get used to the unexpected changes in her life.

“So, it is true. I wasn’t sure. The others were positive you were the one, but I didn’t know. You married Damien Sanchez. How did that happen?” Hannah asked with a big smile.

“Um, quickly.” Was all Eve could say honestly. “It’s been an interesting experience.” She admitted.

“How do you handle his travel? I mean that work schedule must be murder.”

“Well, he hasn’t worked the entire time I’ve known him. I suppose he’s wealthy enough to set his schedule.” They turned their attention to the girls demonstrating their talents. It was intimidating. There were a lot of really good dancers. Eve was starting to have second thoughts about her abilities. She assured herself that she had been accepted under her merit and therefore she was as equally good as any of these girls no matter what they said.

Hannah’s turn came and went and then Eve’s time to shine had come. She took her first pose and began with perfect form, but the nasty blonde had extended her foot somewhat pushing her dancer’s bag slightly out onto the floor tripping Eve. Eve stumbled quickly regaining her footing. She tried to salvage her routine, but the damage had been done. She looked over her shoulder to see the disapproving frown on the teacher’s face as she jotted down notes.

Eve lined up again mortified that she had stumbled even if it had not been her fault. Stumbling was a career ender to dancers in Kurtwood, and her career had not even begun yet. The teacher went over some moves they would be learning for a big production they would be performing in January. Casting would be held next week. Eve did her best to keep up with the class feeling tired from her late nights with Damien.

At the end of the class, she picked up her towel and wiped the sweat from her neck and forehead. She should have practiced more over the summer; she penalized herself silently. She bent over to pick up her bag and heard the blonde and redhead giggle as they walked past. “Better go throw-up Eve you look a little podgy, you’ll never fit on stage.” The redhead mocked and the two strolled off together.

Eve threw her towel in her bag furious at her terrible first day. Everywhere she went she was the whipping girl. Why did life have it out for her? “Don’t listen to them,” Hannah said tossing her bag over her shoulder. “They haven’t eaten in a year that’s why they are so bitchy.” Eve laughed. “Want to get some lunch?”

“Yeah, a big greasy burger,” Eve replied with a smile.

***

Damien walked into the penthouse around eight that night. He heard the music blaring and figured Eve was dancing around the room as she so often did. He tossed his keys on the small table and took off his coat. He had been at his father’s studio all day taking care of some business for the family and Blake had been calling for days now insisting on a session claiming he was having a fit of inspiration and it would be a shame to waste it. The guys would be flying in tomorrow, and then he would be insanely busy for god knows how long.

Damien walked into the living room to find Eve and some strange woman dancing about attempting to do a synchronized retinue. Eve bumped a lamp in the limited space and caught it before it hit the floor swearing with frustration. Damien laughed to hear that pretty mouth say such an ugly word, and he instantly had the ladies’ attention. Eve’s guest squealed at the sight of him jumping up and down clapping her hands for a good minute before she regained her composure and apologized. “Damien, this is Hannah from school.” Eve introduced them. “Hannah, this is Damien.”

“I’m a huge fan,” Hannah admitted.

“I can tell,” Damien smirked. “Eve, the guys are flying in tomorrow, and I start back to work. Blake insists he has the next platinum album burning a hole in his brain and wants to get it out so this could take a while.” He said walking through the house to the kitchen to pour himself a drink. Eve and Hannah following him as he spoke. “So, I will be at the studios for a bit. You got Kat’s number if you need anything. I’m sure Rolland will be happy to do the shopping if you need.” He said lifting his glass to his lips and drinking it down then refilling it. “There is petty cash in the drawer, and charge cards for you should you want to go out.” He drank the glass down again and poured another then headed for the stairs. “After the studio’s we’ll be going to Malibu.”

“Wait,” Eve called after him, overwhelmed by the change of pace in their lifestyle. “What do you mean we?”

Damien stood on the stairs wondering if he had stuttered. “We… plural, as in them and me, resulting in a… we.” He said taking another step.

“But Damien what about me?” Eve asked her expression confused.

He stopped on the steps once more and looked down at her. “What about you? You can come if you want I don’t care.” He said coldly.

Eve looked as if she had just been slapped in the face, but Damien held his ground. He had been far too nice with the girl she was getting too comfortable, and he feared she would not be leaving. “You know I can’t leave I just started school. I have to stay.” She told him.

“Not my problem.” Damien sighed continuing up the stairs.

Eve followed him up leaving Hannah downstairs. “Damien, why don’t you stay here with me? We could-”

“No,” he cut her off, “I hate New York in the winter time, it’s cold. I like to winter in Malibu it’s why I have a beach house. I’m going to Malibu and if you want you can stay here.” He said going to his room and shutting his door. This would be easier if she didn’t follow him.

He had no such luck Eve burst through his door and slammed it behind her. “Why are you so cold?” She snapped

“I'm not anything, but you are rude leaving your new friend alone downstairs.”

“I have had enough attitudes today; I don’t need it from you too.” Eve barked.

“What do you mean?” Damien asked trying to hide his concern.

Eve sat down on his bed and took a deep breath. “The other dancers were mean. They said I had just gotten there because of you and that I wasn’t a real dancer. Then I was trying to do my retinue, and that stupid bimbo tripped me. Which was a terrible way to start the year? I’m falling all over myself, and now there are these production tryouts, and the dancers said I was fat. I can’t get the steps right. Now you want-”

“Wait what bimbos are calling you fat?”

“Never mind that’s not the point.” She frowned waving her hands. “Why are you trying to leave me behind?”

“I have to work,” Damien said sitting down beside her. “Who tripped you?”

“I don’t know I think her name is Bambi or Buffy or something flaky like that. Some blonde bimbo that thinks she’s all that. They say I’m not a real dancer that you bought my way in.” She pouted.

“We both know that’s not true.” Damien tried to console her.

“It doesn’t matter what I know, it’s what they all think, and nothing I can do can change that. They’re not going to accept me. I feel like I’m wasting my time.”

“You’re just going to let them push you around? Come on, push back. You are a Sanchez now, and you have to live up to the name.” Damien declared standing up tall and staring down at her his chin trusted out defiantly. “We are the best at everything we do. No one pushes us around. There is nothing we can’t have, and we always get what we want. When we decide we want something nobody stands in our way because heaven help them if they try we destroy them.” He explained taking her hand and standing Eve up. Placing his fingers on her chin, he tilted her face upward, so she portrayed an air of poise and strength. “So, to hell with them. You are a good dancer, and you know it. So, take what you want and crush those foolish enough to try to stop you.”

Eve smiled at him, and he was happy to see she was feeling better about things. He disliked the idea that she was receiving trouble because of him, and he would see that it was put to a stop. Eve’s eyes widened as she remembered their guest. “Oh dear, I forgot about Hannah.” She flew out of the room leaving Damien alone. He was grateful for the solitude. He needed time alone to get some perspective. Thank God he would be in the studio tomorrow. That reminded him he needed to make a phone call tonight.

***

Eve had rejoined Hannah downstairs apologizing for Damien’s rude behaviour. She was not sure what had gotten into him. “I guess it’s true what they say about him,” Hannah said with a shrug. “The magazines all said he was a self-centred ass.”

Eve felt the need to come to her husband’s defence. “That’s not true… entirely.” She couldn’t say it wasn’t either. “Damien is… complicated.”

“Which is to say you can’t figure him out.” Hannah chuckled sitting on the couch.

“Is it that obvious?” Eve sat down beside her tucking her legs beneath her bottom. “It’s just that one minute he can’t stand me and he is just the biggest juvenile jerk you can ever imagine. Then the next minute we are all over each other, and it is so incredibly hot and passionate it’s insanity. Then he’s cold and almost cruel. I don’t understand him.” She confessed then it struck her that she had never gotten an answer out of Damien as to why he was leaving her alone in New York. Nor had she managed to change his mind about Malibu. He had managed to distract her completely.

Drumming was coming from upstairs now and Eve knew that Damien was practicing. Hannah stayed for a few more hours, but Damien never came back down. When she left, Eve went up to bed. Deciding to say good-night to Damien she turned the knob to his door, but it would not budge. He had locked her out. Feeling rejected and insulted Eve returned to her room and locked her door. She didn’t know what had gotten into Damien, but two could play his game.

That night she had found it rather hard to get to sleep without Damien by her side. It had only been a few weeks, but she had become accustomed to the feeling of his hard body behind her. The warmth he offered. What would she do when he left her?

***

Eve stretched her legs after lunch; class was about to reconvene. She was exhausted from her poor sleep the night before. She got even less sleep without Damien, and the other dancers were still giving her a hard time. Nicky and Beret had been relentless in their torment of her and Eve were ready to pop them one if it wouldn’t have resulted in her being tossed out of school. Instead, she bit her tongue and stood clenching her fist alongside Hannah.

Nicky and Beret were giggling at her at that very moment and Eve were ready to give up and go home when a middle-aged man in a power suit and briefcase walked in. He was escorted by the Dean of the school who pointed out Beret and Nicky.

Hannah looked at Eve questioningly and Eve shrugged, she had no clue what was going on. The man reached into his briefcase and removed two blue documents. “I am James Drake from Frank, Drake, and Rockford attorneys at law. I am the legal representative of Mr. Damien Sanchez.” He introduced himself handing each woman one of the documents he held. “You have been served with a letter of intent.”

“Intent?” Nicky asked confused by the document. She pushed her red hair back behind her shoulders and looked at Beret. “Intent of what?”

“Intent to sue.” Mr. Drake clarified. “It has been brought to Mr. Sanchez’s attention that you have been harassing his wife. He is very displeased. He intends to file charges and file suit against you both.”

“For a little teasing? Can he do that?” Beret asked her voice cracking with stress.

“I assure you, my associates and I are very expensive and very good at what we do. If he so wished I could have you convicted for the death of JFK; but Mr. Sanchez is a reasonable man, if the harassment ceases he will forgive the suit. However, should he so much as suspect that you are giving his wife trouble, my associates and I will be seeing you both in court. To clarify, if it should come to that, you will not only be unable to afford tuition to this charming little school, but your great-grandchildren will owe Mr. Sanchez money. Do we have an understanding?” He asked. Both women nodded, and he held out a sheet and a pen. “Very well please sign here.” They signed his paper, and he placed it in his briefcase. Locking it, he shook their hands and nodded goodbye. “Have a nice day.” With that, he and the Dean left.

Eve couldn’t contain the satisfied smirk on her face. Damien had once again come to her defence. She should be furious at him for making a spectacle, but the looks on Nicky and Beret’s faces were so priceless it was well worth it. Hannah giggled and leaned into Eve’s ear. “You husband rocks.” She commented.

“I told you he wasn’t all bad.” She whispered back. Eve smiled smugly at Nicky and Beret who were now giving her dirty looks. Eve and Hannah waved and giggled at them just like they had so often done to her. “I do believe the tables have turned.”