CHAPTER 7

THE FOLLOWING DAYS saw Leo and Tonya getting closer every day. Leo will come over to their hotel room to pick them or send a chauffeur to do it. Two days earlier both of them went shopping; it was as if they bought the whole toy store, including clothes. Claire insisted on sitting this one out, allowing the two to bond without her being in the way. Leo was not happy with her decision but finally agrees. Tonya could not stop talking about how cool her dad is, and how much fun she had. Claire practically have to force her to bed.

Since the kiss they shared in the garden Claire has tried as much as possible to avoid being alone with Leo, it confuses things if she allows herself to be ruled by her emotions. He did not pressure her about getting married again, maybe he has also finally see reason. Truthfully a part of her felt disappointed that he didn't seem to be interested in going ahead with the proposal again.

"Mum we will be late, hurry" Tonya pouted, from where she sat on the bed. Obviously getting bored with playing games on her newly acquired tablet, courtesy of her father. Leo has invited them for sightseeing; he wants to show them around Ijomo.

Claire sighs, turning away from the vanity mirror in front of her where she sat, smartly applying a touch of makeup. "Hey baby I think we should talk." Claire rise to join her on the bed, waiting for Tonya to give her attention.

"I'm listening mum" innocent eyes gazing at her.

"You realize we will be traveling back to the States soon right?"

"Sure mum I know" rolling her eyes heavenward like her mother is telling her what she doesn't already know.

"What I'm trying to say darling is that, I don't want you to get your hopes up" Claire said gently, running her hands through Tonya's curly hair.

"It’s okay mummy I know, and Dad has promised me that we will never be separated again" she declares with all the confidence a four year old could muster.

"He did?" Claire eyes widens. "What did your Dad told you exactly sweetie?"

"That we will be a real family"

"Oh"

"What's wrong mummy don't you want that?"

"Don't worry darling, Why don't you continue with your game while I finish dressing up and we can leave" going back to finish with her makeup. Claire was seething inside with fury. How dare he, how can he be raising their daughter's hopes up like that, practically telling her they will be married and be together, when she has not even come to a decision, that sleek bastard. Just when she was thinking he has forgotten about the whole marriage thing. He now went behind her back to use their daughter against her.

If he thinks she will just roll over, then he's got something else coming. She smoothens her hair back, tied up in a ponytail. Her hands shook as she insert the gold hoop earrings on. If not because Tonya may throw a tantrum she would have cancelled the outing altogether because she suddenly does not feel like going anywhere with that bastard. Just because he's a prince he thinks he can have his way.

Claire just finished sliding her feet into a blue sneakers, when the soft knock came, before she could respond Tonya dashed to the door jerking it open. Her squeal of delight tells Claire who the visitor is—Leo apparently.

"Young lady if you try that again, I'm going to smack you. You have to be careful who you open doors for” Claire declares, eyeing a petulant Tonya.

"It's alright Claire I'm sure she did that because she was expecting to see me" Leo replies gently, but the cutting look Claire directed at him made him to sigh, "your mom is right princess, don't do that again."

"I'm sorry mummy"

"Better, shall we go?" Claire ask as she cross the room to the bed, snagging her bag off the bed.

"Yes we shall" Leo mutters admiring how the blue jeans trouser she wore molded to her derriere the moment she turned to towards where her bag is, but what he didn't miss as well is how Curt she was with him. He thought they are getting along just fine in the past few days so he could not explain this sudden cold attitude. She can't be like this because of what just happened with their daughter right?

****

Claire had to admit that all the places Leo took them to are beautiful places with wonderful history; Ijomo is indeed a beautiful place. He took them to an art museum, where his family also happens to be one of the patrons, it no use disrupting their outing because of the fury she arbor inside towards Leo, they will talk it out, out of the hearing of their daughter. It was getting dark by the time Leo drop them back to the hotel. He carried sleepy exhausted Tonya with ease to their room, laying her on the bed filled with different stuffed animals and dolls.

She watch him cover her gently, before pressing a kiss on her forehead. Leo had told her that he has nephews and niece that he dotes on; it's obvious he loves kids. Leaving the bedside lamp on for her, he eased out of bed, careful not to wake Tonya.

"We need to talk." Claire mutters, leading him away from the bed.

"I figured" Leo replies, settling down into a couch across the bed area. He observe Claire, who refuse to take the second seat opposite him, standing with her hands folded. "Why don't you sit down as well, or is the conversation a short one? May be you are planning to say yes to my proposal?" He ask with a grin, causing Claire to glare at him. "Easy there tigress, if eyes can kill yours would have done that to me right now, but what did I do?"

"I don't appreciate you telling our daughter that we will be together as a family, practically telling her we are getting married!" She said, trying not to wake Tonya. "You can't always have your way, nor decide for me. I chose to come here and do the right thing by introducing your daughter to you—"

"Sit down and let's have this conversation like mature adults" cutting her off, his eyes challenges her to decline.

"Just so you know, I won't allow you to use our daughter to back me into a corner; I'm not one of your silly conquests." She propped her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"Alright then. So you will rather not marry me, but you will allow our daughter to continue to be bullied in school, being called a bastard?" Leo ask in a deceptively cool voice.

Claire's eyes widens in shock, "but-but she never told me someone called her a bastard?" She stutters.

"You know Tonya is a mature kid for her age, I'm sure she decided not to tell you because of how you might react. She revealed this to me while we were talking about her school. She was a bit reluctant to tell me but I eventually draw it out of her. So I promised her that she will never have to go through that experience again because I will make sure her friends and school mates knows she has a father, and a family. So forgive me if I offended you by putting our daughter first." He finished.

"I'm sorry." She mutters finally taking a seat. "How could she keep such thing from me, I know she's having some difficulty but I didn't Know they called her a bastard. Oh God" she run her hands through her hair.

"It's alright don't blame yourself." He stretched his hand, clasping her hand with his, "marry me Claire. Let's make it official" he whispers, "I know we don't love each other but let's do this for our daughter. We can make this work, what are you afraid of? If you can come all the way here in search of me because of our daughter, marrying me shouldn't be a big deal"

"But how can a marriage like ours work, I mean we live worlds apart”.

"I don't know what you mean by world apart, my being rich or from a royal family has nothing to do with us being together. Marry me"

"What about Love?"

"We have mutual respect for each other and I'm sure with time we can learn and grow to love each other"

"Well that might be enough for you but it's not for me. Marriage is a serious business and not to be taken lightly. I won't stop you in being in the life of our daughter; you are always welcome to see her anytime you want. I think the best thing for us is to get to know each other better and only then will I consider marrying you"

"Fine. I won't pressure you for now but we will revisit this matter." Leo reign in his frustration, it won't do to let her know that her stubbornness is getting to him. "I need to leave now, but I will send a car for the two of you tomorrow morning, to bring you to the palace, my brothers and their families are coming over. Get some rest." He pressed a kiss on her head, rising to his full height. "Take care and sweet dreams" closing the door behind him.

Claire released a quick breath the minute he left. "I'm sure I did the right thing" she mutters to herself. She discarded her clothes, and wipe off the little that remains of the makeup on her face, before putting on her night wear. She joined her daughter on the spacious bed, not in the mood to continue with the book she was reading. Her thoughts were all muddle up, as much as marrying him will be good for Tonya, what if he decided later that marriage is not his thing? Or things did not work between them, what then will happen to their daughter? It's better to save her from all those pain. Since she's had Tonya, Claire has been conscious of the type of men she dates around her daughter, though it has been few because she prefers to concentrate on her daughter so it's more like her dating life is not inexistence. Now from an almost none existing dating life to marriage? To a man she's not even sure if it's only sexual attraction they have, she's not ready for it.

Or maybe you are afraid you will come to love him and he won't.

Her inner thoughts kept her awake causing sleep to elude her.