Unbreakable Bonds of the Heart

Chapter 3

Angrily she crossed out the clause and signed away her heart. Smiling bravely she handed it back to the courier.

What would Briggs think when he saw what she had done? Shrugging she picked up her purse and keys and left the house. She needed some fresh air and somne retail therapy. New pair of shoes always makes her feel better.

Briggs frowned when he saw the crossed out clause, but shrugged it away. She was acting; soon she would be begging him for more. Signing the contract, he handed it to his lawyer have a copy sent to Naya "

He went back to work trying to ignore the vision of Naya in her t-shirt and shorts, but failed. Picking up the phone he dialed his sister, most likely

Tammy was with Naya taking care of wedding stuff. He could use a break from being a genius in the business world.

"Wow big brother you actually came!"Tammy exclaimed looking over Naya 's shoulder as they sat in the bakery.

Turning Naya stared at him before turning her attention back to the piece of cake in front of her.

Smiling atTammy , and waving at Michael, Briggs sat in the empty chair next to Naya . She was not happy to see him at all. He'd probably interrupted her bid for more money fromTammy and Michael.

"You're just in time to taste the marble cake with chocolate mousse frosting"Tammy beamed.

“Are you sure it's safe to have chocolate around you know who" Briggs said in a stage whisper behind Naya 's back

"Ha ha, I've learned to control myself around chocolate" Palona said smiling reluctantly. Secretly pleased that Briggs had remembered her fondness for anything chocolate.

“Is that why you were demolishing a bag of M&M's When I stopped by earlier?"Tammy laughed.

Luckily the baker came out with the cakes for them to taste preventing Naya from answering.

Besides she wasn't the only woman that loved chocolate.

This cake is a chocolate cake with vanilla and strawberry mousse" The baker said happily placing four small plates before them.

Standing back she smiled «Enjoy" Taking a biteTammy and Naya groaned. The cake was sinfully delicious, making you forget how many sit ups youll have to do. But it was so good, it was worth it.

"Wow!"Tammy laughed "That is definitely my favorite"

"Agreed" Michael added "Im happy you like it, Ms. Jones told me you favorite ice cream was Neapolitan, so I made a Neapolitan cake"

Tammy smiled widely at her brother "Wasn't that nice of Naya ?" "Yes it was" Briggs said sarcastically

Naya mentally shook her head.nHow could he want her to be his mistress when he didn't even trust her? And she knew no nmatter what she said or did he would always believe she was only after rich men.

But, in ten years she had only dated one man, which had turned out horribly. The only man she had fallen for thought she was a gold-digger and now wanted her to be his mistress.

The irony brought tears to her eyes Blinking them away she stood up "Thanks for inviting meTammy , but I must go and soothe the numerous troubles of Mrs. Harriman-Smyth" KissingTammy , she went to shake Michael's hand. But he stood up and pulled her into his arms and gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

When she blinked up at him he smiledTammy says you're the sister she never had, so that means you're my sister-in-law"

"Tm honored to have sucha nice big brother" Naya laughed and waved turning to leave "Naya I'll pick you up at severn, we're going to a friend's birthday party, black tie" Briggs piped in

Her face grew hot and could feelTammy and Michael staring at her.

She just nodded then turned and hurried away. She knewTammy would be calling her later to question her.

She just didn't know where to begin. She should tellTammy the real reason why she left and didn't come back.

Naya 's plan had always been to go visit her Aunt Celia inSydney, she had just never planned on staying ten years, but after her encounter with Briggs she had fled.

She had run as if the accusations he had made were true. Briggs couldn't have been any more wrong. She didn't care about money, she never had. All the gifts she had gotten from PeterJames , she had been reluctant to accept.

She wasn'tTammy 's friend because her family was filthy rich with a huge family mansion that sat on lord knows how many acres. She wasTammy 's friend because she liked and trustedTammy from the first moment they had met.

On her tenth birthday, her mother had had to work a little late. So Naya had taken the bus toJames headquarters. She had been nervous sitting there in the nice waiting room, but she had sat there in her new pink and white dress and didn't move.

Until a little blonde haired poked her head out of a door down the hall.

Seeing Naya she quickly ducked her head back inside, only to almost immediately poke her head back out.

Naya smiled and waved at the shy girl. Apparently that was the signal for she came down the hall smiling at Naya .

The girl smiled widely and stuck her hand out "Hi, my name isTammy James " Naya shook her hand Tm Naya Jones" Within minutes both were on the floor ofTammy 's father's office, chatting and coloring as if they had been friends forever.

After that day they had been inseparable. Naya was welcome at Stone Ridge, theJames 's home, and

Tammy had been a frequent visitor at Naya 's home, bodyguards and all.

Tammy was her best friend and Naya hoped her relationship with Briggs wouldn't affect it. If it came to picking one of them,Tammy will always win.

Coming out the bakery, Briggs watched Naya get into a taxi. Cursing softly he walked to his limo.

She can run for now but he'd have her in his reach tonight.

IfTammy hadn't asked him a hundred questions, he would have caught up with Naya . Instead his sister had thrown questions at him like she was the Spanish Inquisition.

He had no doubt that she would call Naya tonight and interrogate her too. He hadn't offered up any real answers forTammy , and right now she was in the bakery plotting how to force the truth out of him and Naya .

Looking at his watch as his car weaved through traffic, he frownednhe'd see Naya in five hours. Picking up the phone he set his plans in motion.

Naya kicked off her heels and flopped down onto her couch. She hadn't been mistaken when she said numerous problems of Mrs.

Harriman- Smyth. Naya swore the woman just made stuff up as she went along. Today it was the bakery, the church and the rings.

Rings that Naya had had no part in picking out.

"How can my son give his wife such a small ring?" the dragon had demanded as soon as Naya was shown into the opulent den.

"I was not aware that they had already found rings" Naya said politely

“Are you not Samnuel and Rebecca's wedding planner?" she had snapped

"Yes, but I can not tell them what to do. I am only here to make their special day as worry free as possible" again Naya had been polite After that it had been complaint after complaint and Naya had handled each with polite firmness.

She had never been questioned so much over every decision that was made. If she had been like some other planners had been like some other planners she knew, she would have canceled the contract and not looked back.

But she wasn't like them. She loved what she did she enjoyed giving happy couples a worry free wedding day where anything and everything tended to go wrong. Plus she liked Rebecca Westland, she was a sweet and meek woman, who would get ran over by her overbearing mother-in-law.

Naya had spent four hours with the dragon, going over every detail. And she still had to find something to wear to the party tonight. Groaning she hefted herself off the couch and into her room to take a much needed hot shower.

The doorbell rang, moaning she went to answer hoping it wasn't Mrs. Cready, her neighbor who talked nonstop.

Her mouth dropped when she saw Briggs's driver with a large pink box. "Good evening Ms., Mr.James thought you would like this" handing her the box he bowed and left.

Frowning she went into her bedroom and placed the box on her bed. Opening the box, she gasped. The gown was a beautiful color of green and left one shoulder bare. Inside was also a pair of shoes to match and a note Hope you like the dress, Briggs'

Frowning she placed the dress back in the box and went into her bathroom.Hopefully she could survive the party without jumping on Briggs.

Briggs was pleased he mTammy ged to make sensible conversation with Naya standing so near him. Every since he had picked her up, he had been turned on. Her thick black hair was twisted up elegantly leaving her graceful neck and one creamy shoulder exposed.

The dress fell to just above her knees. Her only jewelry was a diamond tennis bracelet and a pair of diamond drop earrings. He had been right about the dress size and now he regretted ever buying it for her.

Since she had walked into the party there had been a bevy of men around her making her laugh and rushing to get her drinks. While he had been forced to watch as he conducted business as always. Glancing at his watch, Briggs frowned it would be at least another two hours before they could leave.

Turning back to his companion he resumed the conversation as if he hadn't just been miles away under Naya 's dress.

Is this what Briggs always do? Naya thought as she smiled and pretended to listen to a young socialite talk on and on about nothing.

Listen to people try to take his money in one way or another, pay attention to the up and coming of New York society as they dragged on about nothing? That would explairn why he's always grim faced and protective of his Millions.

Naya smiled to herself and looked around for her errant date.

Seeing him standing by the bar, Naya excused herself from the Barbie doll and walked towards him, unnoticing the figure she made in a green silk goddess gown with her tan complexion and thick black hair.

Naya was still smiling when she came behind Briggs then froze in place. Briggs was holding a beautiful woman in his arms and smiling down at her as if she was a long lost wife.

"I have missed you so much Briggs, I haven't seen you since you left Milan" The sultry blonde gushed then gralbbed Briggs's head and kissed him.

Naya was so shocked that all she do was stand there with her mouth open.

"I see she's back after all" a voice whispered from behind Naya

“But I thought he came with the other one?" the airhead said loudly before being hushed by her friends.

Snapping her mouth closed Naya raised her head and spun around on her heels and glared at the women gathered behind her in a tight circle Thank you for having me" she said smiled then walked away pretending to not hear the whispers from behind her.

With her head held high Naya got her coat and left the hotel her tears barely held at bay. Once in a taxi home Naya let the tears fall silently, calling herself all kinds of fools for thinking she could do this. She could be Briggs' plaything without getting her heart involved. But how could she when the sight of him with another woman hurts so badly?

"Things will get better Sweetheart" the cabbie said as he blew on his horn as they were cut off.

"E-excuse me?" Naya wiped her eyes.

I don't claim to know everything, but I do know that love gets easier" he smiled at her in the rearview window

"If it was easy we would take our loved ones for granted"

Naya smiled sadly "Who said I was in love?"

The cabbie laughed “Im a New Yorker, sweetheart I've learned to pay attention. I picked you up at one of the swankiest New York hotels, your wearing diamonds and a killer dress"

Naya laughed "I could have been out with girl friends" New York cabbies always thought they knew everything, regardless of what they Say.

“Ahhhh, but here's how I know you are either a fan of men's cologne or you were hugging a man who's a fan of men's cologne, and you look as your world was turned upside down"

Naya was quiet as she smelled her coat and the cabbie was right, she did smell like Briggs. "What's your name?" Naya asked

"Tm John Carroll, pleased to meet you"

"Well John, I'm Naya and I'm not in love, it is-was- just infatuation"John scoffed "With a pretty lady like you? If my son wasn't married I'd be giving you his number right now"

Thanks I needed that" Naya laughed leaning forward and resting her arms on the back of the seat “How long have you been married?"

John smiled “Forty-nine years we make fifty next month"

Naya smiled and reached into her purse “Fiftieth wedding is a big deal, do you have something planned?"

"Yep, we are going out to dinnerthen a show on Broadway, if I can get tickets. Just like every year" John smiled widely

Hiding a smile Naya handed him her business card as they pulled up to her building "I would love to plan your anniversary party for you, Im sure your wife would still like youridea" Naya said hurriedly seeing John frown.

"I'm afraid we can't afford you but thank you for the offer" John went to hand her card no back

"No please I would do it for free all I need is you and your wife's ideas" Naya smiled I should tell you that I'm very persistent and stubborn and I already took down you name and license number" Naya smiled.

Well Ill ask the misses and see what she thinks" John agreed Thant's all I ask. Thank you for the little pep talk John I really needed it, goodnight" Naya smiled slightly as she wallked to the door. Tonight had been a tiring yo-yo. Up and down up and down.

Letting herself in, Naya kicked off her shoes and sighed in relief. Feeling drained and hurt Naya walked towards her bedroom undressing as she went.

The dress Briggs had picked out a beautifulbdress for her, but other then saying she looked “Nice" he hadn't spared her another glance during the whole party and the ride there.

"I wonder if he knows Im not there." Naya asked herself as she wiped off the little makeup she had worn and let her hair down.

"Probably too busy with Ms. Blonde" she snapped stomping back into her room "Oh well his loss" Naya yawned and took off her clothes. Where the hell was she? Briggs stormed through the dwindling crowd in search of Naya . It had taken him an hour to shake Amber off. Amber had become a thorn in his side since they had broken up in Milan three months ago.

She refused to believe it was over and he had moved on and found every chance to annoy the hell out of him.

"Looking for your date?" his friend Christos asked as he came up behind Briggs “She left while you were playing tongue-hockey with the model" he slapped Briggs on the back and smiled You are a dumb man to bring two Women to the same party"

"I did not bring Amber somehow she found out I was here and sought me out" Naya was not in the line for champagne If she was smart she would move on to the next victim" Briggs muttered turning and stalking towards the ladies room.

Close behind him Christos laughed "you have something Amber wants and she won't give up until either she has landed you or snagged a richer fish"

Briggs stopped and glared at him "Was there something you wanted?

Christos pretended to think ,tapping a finger against his chin “Let me see, was she brunette about this tall?" he held his hand below his shoulders "and had the longest pair of le-« "Yes that's her, Naya " Briggs said stretching his hands to prevent himself from punching Christos in the face.

That was Naya ? My how she has grown" Christos muttered staring into space. "Where is she?" Briggs snapped fed up with the games “I have no time to waste Christos"

Christos narrowed his grey eyes on Briggs and smiled “Ahhhh" he said I understand you and she are an item, which would explain why she was so upset when she saw you locking lips with Amber"

Briggs Swore No we are not an item now where is she?"

Christos' smile got wider “She left about an hour and a half ago*

"Dammit!" Briggs swore again ignoring Christos' knowing smile and turned to stalk out the hotel into the waiting night.

"May I offer a suggestion? Christos asked as he walked next to Briggs "I believe that this incident can not be pushed under the rug by jewelry or a trip to Cannes or where ever the hell you have homes"

Briggs stopped by a taxi and turned to Christos "Thank you for the advice, have a good night" and entered the taxi. Inhaling he sat forward “Did you have a lady in this cab earlier? Black hair, hazel eyes and a beautiful smile" Briggs asked the cabbie

"Yep John looked back at Briggs "Took her home poor sweetheart was so exhausted" Ahhhh young love! John mused as the man sat back in the seat and crossed his arms. How can they not tell that they were in love? It was plain to John, but then he had been married to the love of his life for almost fifty years.

Leaning back Briggs closed his eyes and sighed. Some how he had mTammy ged to Screw up without even trying. Well he would see her tomorrow definitely.Tammy had made sure to give him a list of all the important meetings and such he was expected to attend. Havinga mistress was going to be stressful.

Shutting out her lights, Naya punched the pillow before lying down. Every since she had gotten home the same thing flowed through her head How dare he?

Briggs asked her to attend the party as his date and what did he do? Spend the entire evening talking business and leaving her alone to handle the semi-rude questions thrown at her.

And the one time she had actually looked for him, the bastard was kissing another woman.

Blinking back the tears burning her eyes, Naya tooka deep breath and it to calm down.

You can do this, you have to! Mama needs you and has never asked you for anything.Tammy will not be upset, hopefully and she will deal with Briggs as a professional and pray her heart stays intact.

And no drinking around Briggs! She warned herself, the last time she had been less then sober she had threw her self at him and been hurt at the harsh words he threw at her. She still didn't know what made him think she

And no drinking around Briggs! She warned herself, the last time she had been less then sober she had threw her self at him and been hurt at the harsh words he threw at her. She still didn't know what made him think she wanted a rich man for a lap dog.

Who Would want a man that does any and everything you say?

Glancing at the clock Naya frowned she had to be up and dressed by eight in the morning. She andTammy had a breakfast date and knowingTammy , and after listening to her numerous messages left on Naya 's phone,Tammy would be here bright and early. Sometimes she didn't know who was bossierTammy or Briggs was her last thought before she drifted off to sleep.