Serenity's room in the above picture. Damn these rich kids *wink*

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Sophia looked at her daughter, sitting across from the table. She knows..  Sophia slumped back in her chair. Her face was blank, but her insides shook with shame. The whole time she was lying but her daughter knew the truth, what would she think of her now? She definitely was the worst mother ever.
''Baby..I didn't want to lie to you..'' She started ''But your father and I are going through a bad phase. Mommy and Daddy just wanted some free time. And yes he comes home every night, because he's angry with mommy. So it's okay, I guess. I promise we'll go back into the family we once were as soon as mommy and daddy get's along'' And she lied. She clearly knew she was never going back to that man, she was never going to let him in her life again. But he was her father , she can't take away a father's love from a daughter. She just couldn't.
A sudden phone ring brought her back to the reality and to her daughter. ''I'll be back'' with that she stood up and walked over to the kitchen, picking up the house phone. ''Hello?'' She answered.

''If it isn't my wife'' Some on the other line cackled. Suddenly her grip on the phone tightened. ''Richard'' She spat, keeping her voice low. She didn't want to serenity listen to her.

''Oh I know what your thinking. Why have I called'' Sophia scoffed. ''Well you see, you can keep me from talking to you, but not my daughter. So go tell her I want to talk to her''

''Your not going to talk to my  daughter. You don't deserve to be a father!''
''Oh no no no. You are wrong here, my dear'' He laughed ''I am a good father. Just a bad husband.'' He corrected her. Richard knew he was right and that would help him get on her nerves. He didn't hate Sophia, heck he loved that woman. But Amelia, what could he say, she as this tine teenager walked with her big boobs and big ass around the house clearly teasing him. he couldn't stop. But he would have this woman back in his life, hell he would do anything to have her back.

Sophia wanted to slam the phone on his head and burn his body. But she could wait, ''Serenity. Daddy want to talk, come here'' She yelled and then turned to the phone ''You better not tell her anything about you cheating me'' She warned him to which he just chuckled. Serenity came running into the kitchen, her white dress flowing. ''Daddy?'' She squeaked, the previous sour look on her face was replaced with utter happiness, Serenity smiled into the phone at something he said. Sophia stood there, her arms crossed over her chest. her whole concentration was on the phone, trying to form the questions according to Serenity's answer. After a good 20 minutes of talking Serenity finally hung up. ''Here..'' She handed the phone to her mother. ''I'm sorry mommy I lied. And I'll be a good girl from now on. I'll take care of you until daddy returns from his business trip.'' She merrily hops back into the drawing room. Sophia nodded, a small smile forming on her lips , he was a bad husband but a good father. It made her heart ache, she loved him, so much that somewhere in her heart she wanted to forgive him. wanted to take him back but her mind won't let her make a unpractical decision. This time her mind would win over the heart.
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''Jack and Jill went up the hill, to fetch a pail of water, Jack fell down, and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after''  Serenity sang as Alice and Sophia chuckled and cheered, ''Good job bub, is this your favorite rhyme?'' Alice asked and Serenity nodded. ''I even know the Pussy cat one'' She stated proudly and Alice looked at her in awe ''Can you sing the pussy one?''. Suddenly the door burst open and Josh walked in ''Which pussy are we talking about?'' He chuckled but suddenly froze when he saw Serenity . Both Sophia and Alice looked up at him bewildered, ''I mean the white one brown or black'' He said. ''I-I mean the ones with four legs a tail.. a-and whiskers.'' He breathed out, clearly his face red. He didn't know Serenity was here in the cabin. Being the famous 'Double minded pervert' he was known as in the office, he no longer cared of what he spoke .

Serenity nodded and then smiled ''It's like, Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I've been to London to look at the queen. Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you do there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair" Sophia smiled at her daughter, and Alice cheered, while Josh stood there trying everything in his will to not to laugh. Things a dirty mind can do to you..

''So Sophia are you coming to the club with us? It's my treat '' Josh asked her for the hundredth time. ''You know my answer Josh. I can't leave Serenity alone.''  She said as she scooped her daughter in her arms ''Oh come on! you can go. I'll take care of my bub'' Alice volunteered ''Plus my kid needs someone to play with. He get's bored with his granny.'' Alice was a single mother, after her husband left her, she did everything she could to support her family of four. Her parents and her son, who was the same age as Serenity. ''I promise I'll take good care of her and it' been forever since you've gone out'' She pushes the matter further. Alice was not only a colleague to Sophia, but she was a really good friend too. ''I don't know Alice'' Sophia shrugged. Yes, it's been a long time since she had fun but she couldn't help it and she didn't mind either. Her family always came first for her. ''Oh come on. You can leave her up to me. Hey bub? would you like to come meet Jose?'' Alice asked serenity to which she nodded happily. Jose was in the same school as her and in the same class. they were good friends and till this vacation  got over, she could actually use some company, it was better that to go home and sleep. ''It's final. She having a sleep over at my house'' Alice announced and serenity smiled, she loved aunt Alice ''Plus it's not the first time she'll be at my house for a night stay'' She playfully nudged Sophia. The last time Serenity was at Alice's was when Richard took her on a date. Sophia blushed and looked way from her friend ''Fine..'' She huffed ''But you would call immediately if she gives you any trouble  or if you need something''. Alice smiled at her broadly and nodded. ''Well with everything sorted let's get to work then!'' Sophia stood up with Serenity in her arms and walked out Cafeteria  to her cabin to finish off the rest of the work.

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''Yes Sir, it'll be another month'' Sophia was busy with a phone call to once of her client while serenity was sleeping on the couch. The couch wasn't small at all, it was big enough for even an adult to sleep on and Serenity was a child. It was one of a gift Andy gave to Serenity s that she could be comfortable here.
She kept the phone back on the table and turned her attention to the laptop when suddenly the office phone rang again ''Sophia Morin here, how can I help you?'' She answered in her professional voice. It had to be one of her clients or someone from the office calling her so she could go all 'hey! how are you buddy' on them. 
''Mrs Morin'' A deep husky voice replied from the other side ''In my office, now'' with that the line went dead. Sophia held onto the the receiver, her heart beat erratic. She wanted to create as much as distance from this man but he won't leave her alone. Slowly getting up from her chair she mae her way out of the cabin.

''Can I come in?'' She asked from the other side of the door after she had knocked. a deep voice answered ''Yes'' .
She walked over to his round table and stopped a few feet away from it. Today, unlike yesterday the room was lit. ''Have a seat'' He wasn't asking, he was telling her. So acting on her reflexes, she quickly sat down on the chair. She tried to contain the shiver that ran down her spine at the way he looked like her. She looked down at the table trying to avoid any kind of eye contact. But when a few minutes passed, she looked up at him, big mistake.
Her eyes landed on his steel blue eyes, as they shone like the thunderous sea , a contrast between his dark, short messy brown hair. Her fingers itched to to touch his fine jaw line , but she would probably cut her finger with that sharp jawline. Closing her eyes for a second, she tried to compose herself, oblivious of the way he was looking at her with his stormy eyes. His looks weren't the only thing that enchanted her, it was that damn alluring scent. She definitely need to know which cologne he used.

She looked at his features, and was quite intrigued with them too. His eyes, though distant, were dark, and his long eye lashes kissed his cheeks every time he blinked. His nose was perfectly symmetrical and his lips were full, and then she noticed, a smirk tugged at the corner.

Shit! She thought. He knows she was checking him out. To stop herself from drooling any longer, she finally managed to ask ''Why am I here?''
The smirk only widened, causing him to chuckle ''I thought you'd never ask'' He bend down, placing his arms over the table, his fingers intertwined , those long god like fingers.

Instead of replying she looked at him, the atmosphere around them was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.
''I'm here to talk about Serenity'' He finally replies. Sophia looks at him wide-eyed. Did he just say what she thought he said? ''What do you mean?'' She asked , barely audible.

''I'm here for my daughter.'' He states, like it was the most normal thing to say.

''Your  daughter?'' Her eyes darkened, she didn't care anymore about who the person who sat in front of her was. She was not going to let this pass. ''Last time I checked she was my daughter Mr Manhattan. '' She hissed her temper rising ''You made it clear you didn't want to do anything with her. You fucking prick! How dare you even think I'll let you near her?'' She stood up, trying to take in deep breaths. She needed to calm down before she lunged at him and hit him.

Conner sat there, not even flinching at her angry tone. He looked unfazed. ''Let me state it this way, Mrs Morin'' He tilted his head ''I'm not here to play games. She is my daughter. I don't care what you think of me'' He stood up as well, even with the table in between, he towered over her,'' How about a proposal?'' He asked, waiting for an answer from her.

''Mr. Manhattan''  She started, in a sickly sweet tone , ''Which part of my speech earlier did you not get?'' She asked him. ''I'm not going to let you anywhere near my daughter!'' She yelled. her patience was running thing. She needed to clam down but with this man here she couldn't !

Conner sighed, she was a rebel he knew, but now she was just irritating him. ''If that's what you want'' He started ''But don't forget, I and my friend Mr Moravia will be meeting with you very soon in the court. And let me tell you it would not be pretty, Serenity wouldn't like to know from those unknown people who her real father is now would she?'' He stopped , looking at her for a moment taking in her reaction. He knew as an individual Sophia was a strong woman, heck she was stronger than anyone he has ever met. But everyone has a weakness, hers being her daughter. And being the king in manipulation, he knew what he was going to do just to make her go down on her ego.

''Why are you doing this?'' Sophia finally asks, her voice soft. She couldn't let her daughter dragged away from her, and Mr Moravia was the strongest lawyer in this country. He hardly every lost a case and his fees was more than her annual salary. Plus if serenity ever came to know about Richard not being her real father, she would break down. She's a child for god sake!

''Want to hear the proposal now?'' He asked, ignoring her question. Sophia thought for a moment. What could he possible want? ''Fine'' She said but her voice held confidence. She was not going to do anything out of the way for him.

Conner smirked, ''Please have a seat Mrs Morin'' He smiled, sitting back in his chair, like nothing happened. Sophia glared at him before sitting back.

''Okay so here's the deal'' He starts, taking out a pie of paper from his desk , keeping it on the table but not showing it to her fully. ''As you know, I'm a man of great command, but It's not about me yet , it's about your husband, Richard Morin'' He stated, making Sophia go stiff.

''What do you mean?'' She asked

''I know what he did to you with that babysitter of yours. And no, no one knows except me and my little birdie who told me this'' He looked at her lips, and then straight back in her eyes ''I don't plan on telling anyone either. But just do one favor on me, let me into my daughter's life'' He states ''I know what I did was wrong and I regret it, I don't want to do anything with you, just my daughter'' he states ''And if you don't agree, be ready to lose her. I'm doing a favor to you here''.
Sophia sat there in silence. the things he was saying didn't make any sense to her. She wanted nothing to do with this man, but her knew too much, which was lethal to her. She could refuse, but then she knew he would do what he said and if she agreed, maybe just maybe would he do as she says.

''Fine. But I will always be there when you meet her and no matter what you'll not tell her the truth. also, you will not interfere in my personal matters'' She replied.
Conner chuckled, she was so naive. Doesn't she knew he can crush her whole world with a click of his finger? But it's not worth it, he thought of this as a favor , for what he had done to her.

''Deal.'' He said.

Little did they know, this pact would change their lives forever.

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