Gillian had closed her eyes and the world of dreams invaded her mind.
"Hi."
Gillian turned around and locked eyes with a beautiful set of dark eyes. She felt the pull of Adele's eyes almost instantly. Her own eyes searched the face that she had spotted looking at her from the other side of the field minutes ago.
"Hi," Gillian said with a smile. "Do you like polo?" The dark haired woman asked seductively with a rather interesting accent.
"This is the first time I've come."
"Well, then you must see it properly. Come with me." Adele took her by the hand and began to walk away. Expecting no resistance she looked surprised as she felt a pull and stopped to stare at the woman who she had walked to the other side of the field to meet. Gillian looked back into her eyes for a moment before smiling.
"Okay," Gillian said signaling the status quo was broken as Gillian heard something inside her telling her to go.
Adele smiled back also frozen in time for some reason. "You won't regret it, I promise you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adele placed her sleeping daughter on the ornate antique bed. Such an extravagance Gillian had thought it was when they purchased it. But, their daughter only deserved the best Adele had argued and Gillian had relented.
Adele stood next to the bed and looked around the magical enchanted room with murals of bedtime story themes and fairy tales. All had been picked by both of them with such love. They had chosen every piece together. Had she been too demanding, not open enough? Was it so wrong to give them all that her money could buy? Could she have loved her anymore? Had she done too much? Perhaps she had not done enough. The questions continued to plague her since her heart refused to let go. She kissed her daughter on the forehead and opened an adjoining door and walked into her own rooms.
Gillian had wanted the baby close by when she was born. Adele had been surprised. It was not something she was used to but then Gillian had changed her whole life. She was more part of it all with Gillian in their lives. Being with Gillian she had become a part of a real union and their children had been a major part of that. No longer was she alone or even lonely. Even while being away she felt a connection with home that she had never ever experienced in her whole life before. Gillian had made her feel and want for the first time in her life and she had done it so slowly and effortlessly. How could she go back to that state of nothingness? The prospect of the coldness cut at her soul.
Adele stared at the bed that they had shared together and she knew that she would never be able to sleep in it again. Tears of anger and betrayal filled her eyes again. She started tearing the sheets off the bed and began braking all in her vicinity.
She finally just went down on her knees and wrapping her arms around herself she wept tears of such anguish that she thought her heart would finally truly die.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gillian smiled in her sleep as she slept for the first time in days. Even in her sleep her thoughts would not leave the person that had had such an impact on her life.
"This is incredible," Gillian said as she leaned over the box watching the Polo match.
"I'm glad that you are pleased, cara. Are you hungry?" She asked Gillian as she pointed to the silver covered dishes to the side with two servers standing behind them waiting to serve them.
"Should we be here?" Gillian asked as she walked up to Adele.
"I don't understand, cara?" Adele seemed confused by the question.
Gillian smiled. She was about to speak when two men and a woman dressed in elegant, dark expensive Italian designer suits walked into the room and approached them.
"Contessa, they are preparing for the presentation and your limousine is by the stands to take you to the airport," the woman said looking into her agenda.
Adele looked back at Gillian and spoke without breaking eye contact. "I won't be leaving early after all Clare. Notify the airport. Would you like to bestow the cup to the winner with me?" Adele asked Gillian who just stared dreamily in surprise.
"Who are you?" Gillian asked in giddy fascination.
"I'm not sure right this minute. Perhaps if I keep you wondering a little longer you will have dinner with me, yes?"
"I….I can't." Gillian said still not being able to break their connection. There was an undeniable attraction from the very first moment that she had noticed Adele from across the field.
"All of you go," she said to the three people. "I will meet you at the stands in ten minutes." She had dismissed them.
Gillian stared at Adele not able to understand any of it, and yet she could not control her fascination for the elegant dark hared woman that stood before her.
"I…want to spend some time with you," Adele said charmingly. "What must I do to make that happen?"
"I am with someone," Gillian said looking away quickly. Visions of Candice made her take a step back suddenly and turn away from Adele.
Adele walked up behind her and turned her around. "That will not do, cara. There can only be me," she said as her mouth came down covering the lips that were beckoning. Their first kiss had been the most eye opening experience in all of Gillian's life.
Gillian's arms came up and her hands were filled suddenly with the dark mane of the woman pressing so intimately against her. She felt herself falling into a void that she could not even hope to escape.
Adele's hands could not pull her close enough. Never had she experienced such raw passion for anyone in her life. This woman had already a hold on her that no one had ever been able to attain. She desperately realized at that moment that it would always be this way. Coming to that realization she pulled away quickly putting Gillian at arms length.
They both stared at one another in surprise and wonder. "I can't do this. I don't want to …." Gillian became distraught suddenly. "I've given my word to someone."
"Cara, this is unexpected to me as well…." Adele said as she took a step closer. "Dinner…have dinner with me." Adele said seriously. "I…want to get to know you."
Gillian walked away from her. "I better go."
"This is only begun, cara," Adele said as Gillian turned to her from the door.
"It cannot go anywhere from here," Gillian said averting her eyes.
"So you say," Adele said with a seductive smile as Gillian looked up and challenged her eyes.
"Yes, I say," Gillian said as she walked out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Adele walked into her library and took the call that she had been expecting from her overseas attorney.
"Giuseppe, que?"
"Contessa, leave the country. I have made discreet inquiries and all is in place for you to get full custody of your daughter. They will not be able to touch you from here. I can start making the arrangements immediately. I can assure you full custody of your daughter here. The United States will reciprocate with Italian law."
"No… Wait for my call." She hung up the phone and sat down. Adele closed her eyes.
Cutting all ties with Gillian was something she wasn't ready for yet. She ran her fingers through her hair feeling a weariness take hold inside her that she had never experienced in her life. What would this do to Gillian? And why should she care what it did to her or not?
At that moment the telephone rang again but this time it was her private number.
"Hello."
"Adele, I just got in. Can we talk now? I can be there in about an hour." Gillian's voice filled her whole being
"Yes, come," she said softly feeling every word cutting at her soul.
"No entourage?" Gillian said softly.
"No, just you and me," Adele said making an attempt to control the longing in her voice.
"Will you let me see her?" Gillian pleaded controlling her own emotions.
"Come," Adele said and hung up the telephone. She had to be strong she told herself over and over again. She had to be strong in front of Gillian.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What's this all about, Gillian?" Candice demanded standing in the middle of the room.
Gillian looked back at her in frustration. "I don't understand it…."
"Why does she keep doing this?" Candice spread her arms all around the room. Their apartment had been filled with every flower imaginable.
"Candice, I have told her that I am not interested," Gillian insisted.
"Well, maybe you haven't really been blunt enough!"
"Don't you dare insinuate anything. I have not encouraged her." Gillian was beginning to loose her temper in face of the accusation.
"I don't want you talking to her, do you understand?"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Stay away from her. I have asked around and she is trouble."
Gillian stared at her in disbelief. "You have asked around? I told you I would not see her. I can't control what she does but you should trust me."
Candice just stared at her and then walked out slamming the door behind her. Gillian ran her fingers through her hair in exasperation. At that moment the telephone rung and she walked over the coffee table and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello, cara mia. Do you like the flowers?" Adele asked softly. "Why are you doing this? I am with someone," Gillian said with apprehension. Everytime she thought of Adele her body was flooded with the emotions she experienced with that one single kiss. She shut her eyes hoping to be able to shut out the woman that produced those emotions in her.
"I can't stay away, cara…I have tried. Truly I have. I need to see you." Adele insisted.
"No, I can't."
"Why?" Adele asked softly.
"I have a partner. I can't." Gillian was feeling her resolve waver as she heard and felt Adele's pleading begin to take hold inside her.
"No entourage, cara, just you and me. I need to see if this was only a moment and nothing more. I cannot stop thinking about you. I think you are thinking about me as well, no?" Adele's melodic voice was like a magical chant that was melting all her defenses. "Come cara, show me that I mean nothing to you and I will just walk away."
"Adele, please…"
"No, I cannot lie to you. I know I won't be able to breathe until I take you in my arms again and allow my mouth to kiss yours. I am burning for you, cara mia. I have never wanted like this before." Adele's voice filled all her senses.
"Adele, I can't do this…," Gillian said in almost a plea.
"Come, just walk out of your door and I will be there. Come, cara." Adele coaxed and Gillian's eyes shut as she hung up the phone with the last piece of resistance she had inside her.
Adele put the phone down gently. She looked out the car window saying nothing. A few minutes later she instructed the chauffeur to drive away. Since the moment she had met Gillian her emotions had been put on overdrive. From that very first moment her eyes saw her she knew and as much as she tried she could not fight the ever-growing attraction.
'How could she not feel it?' Adele kept saying to herself over and over again. 'She's mine. I know that she is mine. How can she not want me! How can she not want me?' Adele's head asked herself over and over again. And this last thought perhaps was the hardest of all for her to understand. How could something that for the first time in her life felt so right be wrong. Gillian had to lover her. She just had to.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Will she see us?" Candice asked unable to contain the nervousness in her voice.
"She is waiting for me," Gillian said as she picked up her overnight bag.
"No! You are not going alone. I don't trust her." Candice grabbed Gillian by the arms and turned her to face her. "No!"
Gillian stared into her eyes for a moment without saying anything. "I'll be fine," Gillian then said gently as he caressed Candice's face.
"No! You are not going alone." Candice insisted. She was not taking a chance of them being alone ever again.
"Adele may be capable of a lot of things but she won't hurt me."
"You told me yourself that she is totally unpredictable. Did you think she was capable of abducting your daughter?"
"Catty is her daughter too." Gillian saw the hurt register immediately in Candice's eyes. "I'm sorry, but that is the truth."
"I know that, Gillian…I know that too well." Candice could not stop the pain from being evident in her voice. Catty should have been their daughter. Candice had told herself those many times for the past week. Every time she saw Gillian with the little girl, every word that Gillian said to her, every time she held her, kissed her, fed her, there was so much love in every look that she gave her child. And Catty herself was so special. It had been so hard for her to look at the child and not see Adele in her features. Even there Adele had had her mark. Catty had her mother's blue eyes but her beautiful dark hair was all Adele's. How could she have made even that happen.
Candice hated her. She hated the fact that Gillian would forever be marked by the woman that even now was able to rule their lives. Even Gillian's daughter would forever tie them together. Candice hated her for taking away the only woman she had ever loved and for that she would give her life for. Adele would never get another chance. Gillian was back in her life now and there is where she would stay until the end.
Gillian looked down for a moment, took a deep breath and faced the sullen woman in front of her.
"If you come it will be too much for her. She is too proud. If our separation becomes public it will be a feeding frenzy. I have to get to her before that." Gillian tried to explain.
"What do you mean?"
"Adele is news. She burned a lot of bridges making our relationship public. I don't think she truly realized the connotations in the beginning. It was treated as a scandal of incredible magnitude in Italy. The paparazzi followed us night and day." Gillian said as she ran in fingers through her hair wearily remembering. "Her cousin even challenged her position in the board and came close to winning. And through it all she remained firm…" Gillian trailed off sadly. "She will never forgive me."
"She stood firm." Candice had to give Adele credit for that. She remembered the times as well. She also remembered the embarrassment and her own humiliation.
"Through it all…her brother was the only one in her family that stood by her," Gillian said sadly remembering back on those days. "It was also hard on Carlo."
"Carlo?"
"Our…her son." Gillian answered sadly. "I'm doing the ring thing." Gillian looked at Candice for confirmation. "We will do this together. If it's New York than New York it shall be," Candice said trying to reassure her.
"I can't ask you to just pull up…"
"You aren't asking. I want to do this." Candice grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"I can't let you do that, Candice," Gillian insisted.
"This is what I want."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh my God…"Gillian said covering her mouth in shock as she was reading the newspaper.
"Non cara, give me that." Adele tried taking the newspaper away from her.
Adele had walked into the room and as soon she saw Gillian's face she knew.
"How long has this been going on? My God, Dell, my parents might read this!" Gillian said horrified.
"I'm sorry, cara…I wanted to protect you from this."
"Is this why we are suddenly taking this trip?" Gillian had been thrilled at Adele's suggestion the she, Gillian and Carlo take a few months and travel to get to know each other in different surroundings. Gillian had loved the opportunity to build some bridges with the moody young man.
Adele's silence answered her question. Gillian got up and paced the room.
"Cara…" Adele said softly.
Gillian suddenly stopped and turned to face her. "Is it true?"
"True? What?" Adele was evading and they both knew it.
"It is."
"Gillian…" Adele closed the distance between them and took Gillian in her arms.
"Oh my God, it's true! You could loose your birthright over me." Gillian began crying.
"Listen to me…" Adele held her at arms length, forcing Gillian to look into her eyes. "Nothing…I repeat nothing is more important to me than you and Carlo. I won't lose, Gillian. I won't!"
Gillian went back into her arms. "How could they say such horrible things."
"I'm sorry, cara," Adele said as she held the woman she loved. "I'm so sorry you had to find it all out this way. After tomorrow they won't have access to us at all."
"How could they do this? Our photograph's…what about Carlo?" She pulled away horrified.
"I just had him picked up early from school. He should be arriving any minute. We'll talk to him," Adele said reassuringly. "Unfortunately…." Adele's face saddened. "Carlo is used to the gossip and the tabloids…. but this is…"
"This is true, about us," Gillian said sadly as she caressed Adele's face softly. "All the rest, Dell, how could they print such lies?"
"You are the one good thing, Gillian…. The rest….it's all true, cara…" Adele turned her face away in shame. "All of it…. It's all-true. All they say that I've done in the past is true. All the affairs, all the questionable business deals, the drinking, the whoring… it's all true." Adele finished saying taking a few steps away from her.
Gillian stared at the woman in front of her for a moment in confusion. Then her love saw beyond what others saw and she beheld the shame and the pain that came with regret. Gillian put her arms around Adele and held her as the Contessa began to weep.
"It doesn't matter. It's not you…not anymore." Gillian whispered in her ear and tightened her embrace. "This is another life, Dell, another life."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The buzzer on her phone broke into her memories bringing her back to the reality of her present.
Adele covered her face for a moment then pressed the insistent button.
"Pronto."
"Contessa, Mrs. Visconti has just passed the front gate."
"Thank you, Michaeli."
Gillian was here. She stood up and looked out the window of her library that overlooked the front steps that led up to the house. Her eyes stared as a car pulled up. Her longing became instantly visible in her eyes as Gillian got out of the car and approached the house.
As if summoned by something greater than themselves Gillian's eyes went straight up to the window that Adele was staring out of and for an instant both stood frozen in a connection that would soon be severed forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adele stepped away from the window braking eye contact and as soon as she did her eyes closed in pain. She braced herself for the onslaught she knew was forthcoming. Control, she had to stay in control.
Gillian walked into the house that had been home for the last few years of her life. She looked around feeling detached from it. Was Catty upstairs or had Adele already taken her away somewhere? Gillian took a few steps towards the long staircase before she was halted by the sound of the library door being opened.
Adele stepped out and looked at her coldly. "Nothing for you upstairs…only the bedrooms. And that is no longer of interest to you." The venom in Adele's voice shook her very core.
Gillian seemed frozen, unable to move as she stared at the woman who's eyes were cold and unyielding.
"Come…" Adele said as she turned around and walked back into the room.
When Gillian walked into the library her eyes quickly found Adele with her back to her staring out the window.
"Close the door," Adele said without turning towards her.
Gillian took a few steps back and closed the door.
Adele suddenly faced her.
"Lock it."
Gillian stared at her for a moment. Adele was pushing her and she knew it. She wanted to see how far…Gillian had seen her do it many times she however had never been on the receiving end. Gillian then turned again and proceeded to lock the door.
"Now it's just you and me, cara mia…as it should always had been," Adele said under her breath. She saw Gillian's hand trembling and smiled with satisfaction.
Gillian raised her chin as she turned to face her.
"Dell…where is our baby?" Gillian asked simply as her eyes suddenly filled with tears. "Please, Dell…"
Adele said nothing as she continued to stare.
"When did you get tired of me?"
"What?"
"When?" Adele began to pace. "Was it two months ago? One month ago? Or two weeks ago when we made love before I had to travel?" Adele stared at her now as she stood facing her.
"Dell…" Gillian said softly. "Please…"
"When!" She yelled, as her hand slammed hard on the table closest to her.
Gillian jumped at the sound.
They both said nothing as one waited and the other felt her life ending.
"Dell…where is Catty?" Gillian asked softly. "Please let me see her."
"I won't let you take my daughter," Adele said sadly.
"I won't do that, I promise," Gillian said taking a step closer.
"You also promised to love me forever and always," Adele said as she looked deeply into her eyes. "Why? What did I do to make you stop loving me?" Tears ran down her face unchecked.
Gillian thought her heart would brake from the strain. "I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have Dell…please."
"You had me like no one ever has… I really believed you." Adele's faced showed disgust. "I believed it all…Carlo still loves you."
Gillian flinched.
"And now you want our child too."
"You can see her whenever you want," Gillian said quickly. "I won't ever take her away from you."
"Where will you live?" Adele asked as she walked over to behind her desk and sat down.
"I'll find an apartment here…"
"You can have the one the corporation holds on Park Avenue," Adele said as she sat back.
"I don't think…"
"I don't want my daughter far from me."
"Dell… I don't know if I'll be able to afford that…" Gillian trailed off.
"Afford?" Adele seemed confused.
"I have to see"
"You are still my wife…whether you like it or not. I will not be involved in yet another scandal." Adele said beginning to loose her patience.
"But Dell…"
"Sit down!"
Gillian sat down without saying another word. The strain of the day was beginning to take the toll on her.
"I will tell you what I can live with." Adele stated leaving no room for argument.
"I am willing to listen, Dell…I want to make this work."
"I bet you do." Adele smiled sardonically.
"You will live in the apartment on Park Avenue four days out of the week the other three here." Gillian was about to speak when Adele raised her hand to stop her. "I should say my daughter, you can choose to come with her or not, that is your choice."
Gillian remained quite so Adele continued.
"I will have money transferred to your checking account every week…"
"Dell, I don't want…"
"I am not finished." Adele seemed implacable. "You will join me on several public functions, that is not negotiable either. I have had enough ridicule to last me a lifetime," she added fuming. "And you will sign this." Adele put a document in front of her.
Gillian looked at the document then back up at Adele again.
"What is it?"
"Adoption paper," Adele said curtly. "You aptly reminded me how I have no legal rights in this country. You know I don't need this…but there is still a part of me that is human even after knowing you." Adele growled at her.
A sob suddenly escaped Gillian. She covered her mouth with her hand as her body began to shake.
"Sign!" Adele demanded.
Gillian looked up as tears ran down her face. "Dell you ask for more than I can give…I can't live here with you ,Dell…I can't."
Adele straightened up and the look that she gave Gillian was the coldest any human being could receive.
"Madam, you flatter yourself. My bed will never know a cold night."
"Dell…" "I will not put myself or Carlo through another scandal." Adele she could see would not budge.
Gillian just kept looking at her as her tears continued to fall.
"This is what I can live with." Adele offered her a pen.
"Then will you let me go, Dell?" Gillian asked softly.
Adele stood up suddenly and went around the desk that separated them. She took Gillian in her arms and kissed her roughly.
Gillian found the strength she didn't know she had as she pushed her away. "No!"
Adele stared at her without uttering a word.
"No." Gillian said again softer. She took a step back putting more distance between her and Adele.
"What are you willing to do?" Adele asked point blank.
"Anything but this," Gillian answered quickly.
"Are you so disgusted!" Adele demanded.
"Are you so desperate!" Gillian saw the pain the words caused visibly in Adele's face and again felt yet another wound in her own heart. She had to make Adele accept this. The best way was the most direct.
"Sign…" was all Adele said as she walked back around the desk and sat down without uttering another word.
Gillian picked up the pen and signed the document.
Adele took the document and put it in the drawer on the side of the desk. She then handed Gillian an envelope.
"The keys to the apartment and, a checkbook, and a schedule of the events I want you to attend with me. The dates that you will have Katerina and the days that she will be here with me; whether you wish to be here at those times it is up to you."
Gillian stared at the envelope.
"If you break our agreement I will take my daughter…take the envelope, Gillian." Adele threatened.
Gillian looked up and then took the envelope.
Adele took her first real breath for what seemed like a lifetime to her. Gillian would never know what this day had cost her. Adele pushed a button on her phone and within seconds the side door to the library opened. In walked the nanny with Catty by the hand.
"Mommy!" Catty squealed with glee as she filled Gillian's arms.
"My baby girl," Gillian said as she kissed her daughter's hair and held her close. "I've missed you so much baby."
"Mommy, mommy are you home?" Catty pulled away to look at her mother.
"Yes, honey, mommy is here." Gillian only said what the child needed to hear.
"Mama slept with me." Catty said proudly.
Gillian looked up towards Adele as she walked to stand towards the window again.
"Go Miss Taylor, Catty's mother is here now. If you are needed you will be called," Adele said coldly.
"Yes Contessa," the woman said as she quickly exited the room.
"I brought you something sweetie," Gillian said as she reached into her bag pulling out a small stuffed animal.
"Punzel!" The little girls hugged the stuffed dolphin tightly to her.
Adele smiled sadly as she eyes filled with tears. She felt already the loss of her child. Never did she imagine that she could endure the pain that she was feeling.
"I will tell cook to set another place for dinner." Adele suddenly stopped uncertain. She turned towards Gillian. "Will you be staying with us tonight?"
Gillian nodded and Adele left them alone.
Continued