The Heat Between Us

~ROMEO~

He watched the red haired woman smile at guests as she walked past them. So she thought she could handle him uh? He smiled and brush almost blue black locks of hair away from his forehead impatiently,cursing Kristien for the umpteenth time. If not for his wayward barber's attitude,he wouldn't have had to deal with his unruly hair right now. He stopped and smiled devishly as he wondered what his father would have to say when he finally sees him.

Sneering at the lack of security,he stretched to his full height of 6'3 and walked towards the back door of the house which he knew led into the main house.

He carefully walked in the shadows to avoid being seen which was proving to be an Herculean task considering the number of people milling around with flutes of champagne in their heavily jeweled hands. Trust the society to want to come take a look at the heir to the Claviford's wealth. Scoffing at the extravagance of it all,he stopped as he heard the red hair's voice again and smiled slightly.

Maybe coming back here wasn't a mistake after all.

He ducked when he got to the low entrance and walked down the hallway,which was fortunately empty, towards the study.....library where he knew his father would be. He contemplated knocking but decided against it and entered,slowly closing the door behind him and scanned the room for his father. He walked slowly down the huge room and nodded with approval when the books stocked in the shelves though it slightly irked him that he and his father seems to favour the same type of books. He stopped in his tracks when he saw him and raised a dark brow as Daniel Claviford stood up slowly trying to maintain a stoic expression but he saw beneath the facade and smiled internally. Was this how he wanted to play his game?

"I thought you were an assassin sent by my enemies, I was already saying my prayers,"Daniel commented dryly

"Trust me you'd be gone by now if that was the case" he replied in the same tone.

"How many people did you get to kill back in Russia?"

"Who's counting anyway?"

Chuckling,Daniel avoided his son's outstretched hand and pulled him to himself,hugging him fiercely.

"Welcome home son"

"How are you doing father?"

Finally releasing him but still maintaining the gaze....steel gray eyes to deep blue ones....he sat down and gestured towards the couch for his son to do the same.

"So so.....I'm not dead yet." And they both chuckled at that.

"What happened to your barber?" gesturing at the unruly locks of hair on his head.

Rogue smiled ruefully and brushed a hand across his hair again.

"Kristien couldn't bear the thought of giving me a haircut for the last time,he choose not to come."

"Then you could have brought him with you"

"He has a wife,five kids,aged parents and a good business in Russia" He shrugged. "That would have been too much to sacrifice for me"

Regarding the young man before him silently,Daniel saw his image.....what he used to look like twenty five years ago and smiled. He has an heir now, one who is obviously empathetic and has a good outlook towards life. He smiled absently at Rogue again and when raised a brow when he notice his intent stare on him.

So much like his mother Melissa who had been his college sweetheart before he travelled Abroad. They shared the same deep blue eyes, high cheeks and long lashes but he grinned satisfactorily,noticing that Rogue had his aristocratic nose and deep dark hair.

"Father?"

He blinked and set his gaze back on his eyes,"How's your mother?"

"She's good" Smiling fondly,Rogue tapped his fingers against his thigh and continued. "Last I heard of her,she was in some African country."

Smiling ruefully,Daniel sat up,he remembered the wandering spirit in Melissa Roquach and was amused that she was still gallivanting all over the world. During his college days,she wasn't much interested in her academics...saying they were too cumbersome and encroaching on her personal life. She dropped out of college during their first year and became a waitress. All the while talking about the great places she would love to visit and explore.

"Is she still with that English man?"

Wrinkling his nose in mock distaste, Rogue nodded and laughed, "Yeah, Lord Asher Rayleigh is determined to stay stuck with mother."

Both of them laughed again, "He's good people and worthy of her atleast."

"Let's not forget the fact that she has him wrapped around her little finger."

Daniel chuckled and looked at the golden watch on his left wrist. "It's almost time for the party."

Rising to his feet gracefully,Rogue remarked, "I hope the shing-ding won't take long. I'm almost dead on my feet."

"Don't worry,it would be fun.....lots of them want to see the new heir and judge if you're worthy of the responsibility."

"Well I hope they don't get too disappointed," he sneered.

Daniel got to his feet and laughed, "I steer you away from any talk of business, tonight is for merry and fun.....I want you to meet someone. She has been a great help to me."

The voice of the red hair rang in Rogue's mind again and he raised a brow as he watched his father blush faintly.

"Are you telling me something father....aren't you too old for that?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Daniel replied gruffly.

Raising his palms in mock surrender,Rogue gently back out of the room and watch his father advance towards him slowly with a little smile on his face.

"Alright,alright,case closed. Is my old room still available? I need to get some of my stuffs."

Nodding,Daniel replied,"I wonder why you didn't come in the Limo I sent to the airport."

Groaning,Rogue said,"Father, you and I know I detest all the paparazzi madness and that they would surely be waiting for me at the airport. I left Russia earlier than planned but my friend.... Phillip will be coming in the Limo."

He stretched lazily, "See you soon father." He whirled about and closed the door quietly behind him.

Shaking his head with fatherly pride,Daniel shook his head and smiled ruefully. Trust Rogue to always think the worse of him. He couldn't deny the fact that he missed his son and was delighted to see him after so many years. He made a mental note to call Melissa and was about stepping out of the study when Melody walked in. He smiled at her with pleasure and went back to sit down, motioning for her to do the same.

"Ah, Melody.....I see you are here already."

She gave him a little smile and sat down. "Sir,the Limo is back,but I don't think the occupant is your son. Atleast he doesn't look anything like you and we're having a hard time keeping the press at bay.....they think all these is a farce!"

"Ah,Melody." Daniel chuckled as he slipped his drink. Trust Rogue to always attract trouble wherever he goes.

"He's around......in his room."

Frowning with confusion, Melody asked,"But sir, he wasn't in the Limo, how then did he get here?"

"The other person must be his friend Phillip."

"So how did he get here....I mean your son?"

"Said he left Russia earlier than planned and took a cab here.....got in through the back door."

Shaking her head exasperatingly,Melody was both amused at his obvious efforts to stay anonymous but was also peeved he seemed to have slipped into the house despite her vigilance.

"I thought he wasn't coming, I was scared."

Daniel smiled,"Well,he's around now and he'll be attending the "shing-ding" as he called it. He's not too happy about been under the spotlight tonight."