Forever and Always

Chapter 6: Leave

It was now the day before his family's arrival, and she was trying on dresses, his family was very rich indeed, just as he. He expected her to be wearing the finest gown imported from Italy, no matter how much the cost.

And so, there she stood in that rather large dressing room in front of the large mirror in the fourth dress she had tried on, and he was waiting for her outside of said dressing room.

The dress was a silky champagne color, that hugged her perfectly, flowed down to the floor, and pooled a little at her feet. The top draped ever so slightly to revile a modest amount of cleavage, and the slit down the side went from her mid thigh, to the floor. She had to admit, it was rather exquisite, and most beautiful. However, she could not let him pay for a dress that costed more than her childhood home.

"Cara, are you going to show me?" Nicolas asked behind the door knocking.

"No. Because it's beautiful, And you will like it and buy it for me! I don't want you to! It's far too much to pay for a dress that I will only wear one night and not only for a good reason!" She spoke, sitting on a bench that had been placed in the dressing room.

"Oh don't be silly, I would love to buy you anything your heart desires, don't ever worry about the price, because cara, I have much more money than I know what to do with." He spoke with a laugh.

"Oh hush. But I'm still not showing you. Because one day sir, your money's going to run out!" She said, her eyes glued to the door.

"Oh stop being a silly child and open the door." he spoke.

"If you call me a child again I swear to you I-" she was cut off when the door opened and he stepped in.

"How did you get in? I locked the door!" She said, as she stood to yell at him in Italian.

His eyes trailed her body, like she was a creature he had never seen before, drinking in the essence of her beauty. He came closer, and she opened her mouth to speak, however he shushed her, placing a finger to her lips.

"You look dazzling, absolutely wonderful, and though you never may know that, I am here to show you." He spoke as he kissed her passionately, his hands gripping her hips and her arms coming up to rest upon his shoulders.

The next day his family would be arriving at a party he had thrown in their honor. He had bought Sophia the dress, and she was still quite angry at him for it. Nicolas and Sophia walked down the stairwell hand in hand to join the party.

"Are you still angry with me?" He questioned quietly, not looking at her, but instead to the crowed of people and waving, much like a king would often do to his subjects.

"Yes. I very much am." She spoke quietly, smiling down at the many people that had gathered in the home.

"Well don't be. You will soon come to realize that I do as I may, and I bought you the dress for a reason. I liked it, so I bought it for you. Simple." He spoke, as they reached the end of the stairs.

"Oh Nicolas, you look magnificent tonight." Spoke an older woman, possibly in her late sixties.

"Ah Mrs. Hamilton! What a pleasant surprise! I didn't know you were coming tonight!" Nicolas exclaimed, hugging the woman and kissing both of her rosy cheeks.

"Well if you spoke to your mother more often you would have known!" She spoke hitting his arm slightly. He laughed.

"Well, Mrs. Hamilton, this is my girlfriend, Sophia Drake. Sophia, this is my mothers longest friend, Mrs. Pamela Hamilton." Nicolas spoke. With that Mrs. Hamilton reached out and took Sophia's hand and shook it.

"How very nice to meet you, Miss. Drake. I do hope you are treating my sweet Nicolas well, you know, after the 'situation'." She spoke. She seemed to care for him, like a mother figure would. Sophia couldn't help but focus on 'the situation.' What ever did she mean? What situation?

"Oh well I suppose so." She spoke with a smile, deciding it was best to ignore the mystery situation all together.

"That is good. Be good to him. Now Nicolas, your mother and father are awaiting in the ball room. You better not keep them waiting." Mrs. Hamilton spoke with a warm smile.

"Alright Mrs. Hamilton, buona Sera! (Good evening)" He spoke before grasping Sophia's hand once more and leading her away.

Once they had reached the ball room Nicolas' parents were there awaiting his arrival.

"Oh Nicolas! How wonderful it is to see you!" His mother spoke, walking to him and hugging him tightly, causing him to let go of Sophia's hand.

"Mama! Hello." He spoke hugging her. Sophia had to say, Nicolas was a very talented actor, to face a woman who had neglected him for years and still open his arms to her and act as if she was the most perfect mother.

"Oh darling, I have missed you so- Oh why, who is this?" She spoke, finally noticing Sophia's presence as they pulled away from their hug.

"Ah Mama, this is my girlfriend. Sophia Drake." He spoke.

"Oh, I do believe I knew your father! He was an Irishman named Nathaniel Drake, correct?" She asked, Sophia was surprised to say the least that she had recognized her father.

"Yes, he is. How do you know him?" Sophia questioned.

"Well, back in 1983 my car had broken down on the corner of Broadway and your kind father had fixed it up for me, later on that evening my friend Darla had hosted a party and your father was there." She spoke.

"Oh yes! Aunt Darla! Oh, she was such a splendid woman, god rest her sweet soul." Sophia spoke in memory. Moments later his father had approached and they had all got acquainted once more.

"Sonny, Sophia is the daughter of Nathaniel Drake." Mrs. Knight spoke to her husband.

"That poor Irishman's daughter? She is poor! Haven't we raised you better son? You were supposed to marry a rich woman! Now the media is going to make a fool out of our family name! A poor woman! A poor woman! Haven't we raised you better!" His father spoke angrily. Sophia's mouth went agape and anger took over.

"Father! How dare you speak lies like that in my home! you have no right to say who I will or won't date! You will not judge this beautiful creature on whether she is rich or poor! And no father, you have not raised me better because you were not there! You are the ones who ruined me! I have not seen you in four years! Yet you wonder why! You were horrific parental figures! As a child you made me feel as though I was worthless and would never make exceptional decisions about my future! Well she is exceptional. She cares. As for our family name, let it be destoyed, let it smash it into the dirt! Because our name is nothing but that. Dirt. You are fake. You are worthless. That girl, there, is mine, And mine alone. You will not disrespect her the way you had done to me my entire life. So leave." Nicolas spoke in fury, the whole ballroom stopping and staring.

"Leave?!" Questioned his mother.

"Yes. Leave. Goodbye. Buona sera. (Good evening) Andatevene. (Leave). Just in case you do not understand the English language." Nicolas spoke coldly before leading Sophia away through the staring crowed.