The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(214)

Dima nodded and thought about his own family. Polar opposite to Tyra's. Back in the days when he'd lived in a one bedroom apartment in Moscow, his drunken father had beaten him black and blue for the slightest misdemeanor. His mother had tried to protect him, but when she had, he had thumped her so hard, she'd had no choice but to cower away. What his father had forgotten was that little boys have good memories, and when they grow up they become strong. The look on the old bastard’s face when Dima had throttled him still amused him.

''When I left home, they were gutted.'' Tyra continued. ''Of course, I was twenty-two, and it was time. They realized that, but I could see how upset they were. What I couldn't understand was that they didn't come and visit me in my new home. I went to them most weekends, but they didn't come to me. I don't know why.''

''Maybe they were afraid?''

''Why?''

''Because they didn't want to let go of their child. The child they so loved and cherished. Perhaps seeing you as a young adult, not needing them anymore was too much.'' He noticed how the look on her face had changed. Exploring her feelings seemed to have lifted a cloud, albeit a tiny one. ''They tried for twenty years to have you. Sure it would have been hard to let go, no matter how old you were.''

He was right, and she'd never seen it. How could she have been so lacking in understanding, she thought? ''Yes I guess that's it. That makes what happened all the harder to bear. I was being selfish. Have you got another tissue?''

''Sure, here.''

“One weekend, I decided I wouldn't go to them. I decided to make a stand and insist they come to me. I called them and started to moan at them.'' A tear managed to escape the tissue and trickle down her cheek. ''If I remember correctly I told them they were unfeeling, and not interested in me. I asked them why they hadn't been to see me, and I told them to get in their car and come otherwise I wouldn't go home anymore.''

''A moment of weakness,' he said.

''A moment of madness. I don't know why. Suddenly I was lonely and afraid in the big city, and I needed them. It was pure selfishness. Anyhow, that morning it was foggy. So very foggy,'' she shook her head. ''I knew dad hated driving in fog, and although he told me it was too foggy, I simply didn't listen. I just kept on moaning.''

Dima already knew the rest of the story and thought she'd told him enough. ''It's okay I get the picture, you don't need to go on.''

But Tyra wanted to go on. She wanted to finish. She wanted to confront herself. ''Dad and mom, put on their Sunday best clothes, filled the car with food, including three pots of my favorite honey, and set off, in fifty-meter visibility.'' I don't know if I can go on now, she thought. She took a glass from the table and tried to pour herself some water. When he saw her hand trembling, Dima took over.

''Dad didn't drive too often. He only worked down the road, and he walked. Mom went on the bus. I don't even know why they had a car. Dad didn't see the slow moving truck until it was too late.'' She stopped and let out an sight. '' He ran into the back of it, bounced off it and lost control. They found them at the bottom of a ravine. The car was burned out.''

Dima just stared at her. Even for him, a man who had dispatched his own father, it was a horrendous story. ''Tyra, I......'' She looked at him and saw he was grieving for her.

''Thank you. Thank you for listening to me.'' A perfect stranger and he'd listened to her not because he was curious, but she was convinced because he wanted to help. ''How do I look,'' she asked.

''Your mascara has run a bit.''

''Okay, give me a minute and I'll be back.'' She hurried to the rest room to repair the damage.

Three security camera's here, he noted. Six in the main store. In need to get her to take me into the strong room, he told himself.

''That's better,'' she said when she reappeared. ''What about the jewelry?'' she asked.

''I'll take it, it's perfect.'' he said, noting how refreshed she now looked.

''Don't you want to see anything else, you never know, you might change your mind.''

''No, if I may say so, you have chosen the perfect gift, right from the start. Can you get them wrapped for me?''

''Sure, that's the least problem. Do you have a sure means of getting them home? We offer a .......''

''No it's okay. People don't tend to steal from me.'' Tyra noticed a flash of brutality in his voice.

''Talking of security, you must have a lot here if they trust you with the Hope Diamond.''

''Yes I suppose we do. It's not really my department, although I guess one day I'll have to learn about it.''

''Seeing as I spent so much here today, how about you show me where the Hope Diamond will be displayed. I'd love to have a preview.''

''It's just a blank room with a lot of cameras, it's really not that exciting.''

''Of course,'' he said. Don't push it, you've got her in the palm of your hand, he thought. ''Well maybe I'll buy a ticket and come and see it when it's here. Listen, Tyra, I have enjoyed our chat. You are a fantastic lady. Would you care to go on a date with me?''