Chapter forty
I opened the velvet box on my office desk and sent a photo to Deborah. It didn't take long for her to reply.
Deborah:
Nice, but don't you think she deserved a bigger diamond?
Thomas:
Helena is a discreet woman. She doesn't need to go around with a spotlight drawing more attention than her eyes.
Deborah:
But it will be Mrs. Lennox.
Thomas:
She's not you, Deby.
Deborah:
You're right.
Thomas:
I just hope she likes it.
Deborah:
I'm sure she's more concerned about her heart.
Thomas:
I thought I would never love another woman again.
Deborah:
I'm glad you took the chance.
Have you told the twins that you want to marry her?
Thomas:
I'll order first. Girls aren't good at keeping secrets.
I stopped messaging my sister when my secretary burst into my office. I left my cell phone on the table and squinted to face her.
“You should have knocked.”
“Excuse me, sir.”
“What's wrong?” I got straight to the point.
“There's a woman who wants to see you.”
“Have you made an appointment?”
“No.”
“Then I'd better ask her to come back another day.”
“I think you'll want to...” She didn't even have time to finish speaking; suddenly, red nails pulled open the door, and a second woman entered my office.
She was tall, with straight brown hair and green eyes. Seeing her in front of me was like staring at a ghost.
“Hi, Thomas...” The voice was exactly as I remembered it.
“Da-Daphne,” I stammered.
She should be dead...
“No, Diana.” She came closer, and I realized that there were very subtle differences, but more in manner than in specific appearance.
I knew that my late wife had a twin sister, which explained the daughters we had together, but the other had followed life in Europe and had never appeared in our lives, at least not until that moment.
“You can't do that.” He pointed to the engagement ring that was still open on the table.
“Was that it?” I was still confused by her presence.
“Marry someone else.”
“What? How could I not...” I blinked.
“My sister wouldn't like that. You can't put a stranger in her place.”
I closed the box and put it in my pocket so that the woman wouldn't stare at it.
“Unknown to whom? You're unknown to me.”
She pressed her lips together, irritated by my statement.
“How long have you been with her?”
“That's none of your business.”
“You can't do that to my sister. You should have loved her.”
“I loved her.”
“And he intends to marry someone else.”
“Yes.”
“You can't!”
“Who are you to say that? You never called your sister Diana. You never even answered her messages. For a long time, Daphne tried to contact you, but you didn't even bother to tell her if you were alive. Years after your sister's death, you have the nerve to show up here and demand anything from me? Be honest, what do you want?”
“I'm only thinking of the best for my nieces.”
“You don't even know them.”
“I came here to change that.”
“You won't see them.”
“You can't stop me.”
“Yes, I can! I'm their father, and you're an aunt who's never shown her face. No judge in their right mind would give you any rights. Believe me, I know many.”
“I thought he'd be more receptive to me.”
“Go away.” I indicated the door.
“You don't...”
“You can go on your own,” I interrupted, “or wait for security to accompany you. I advise you to choose the first alternative.”
She pursed her lips but didn't have the audacity to swear at me out loud.
I had no idea why my late wife's sister was there, but the only thing I knew for sure was that I wasn't going to let her near my daughters. Whatever that woman's intentions, it was my role to protect my twins.
When he realized that he couldn't convince me of anything, he puffed out his chest and left the room as if he had somehow won.
I picked up the phone on the table and dialed my secretary.
“Violet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell the gate that I don't want them to let Diana up without me being informed.”
“Sorry, as she's your wife's sister...”
“Just let me know.”
“No problem.”
I hung up the call and took the velvet box back out of my pocket.
I didn't know what she was doing there, but I wasn't going to let her ruin my happiness.