He had to pull himself together

"Johnathan." Alexandre greeted Johnathan Baring with a dark, low voice, but kept pressing Lily closer against his side. She was holding the sleeping toddler in her arms. Her gaze was still heavy from sleep. But even she had noticed the drastic change in mood. As if a frosty wind was blowing through the airport lobby. Which was impossible. Curious, she let her gaze flit between the two men. They smiled friendly, but their eyes flashed dangerously.

"Alexandre. How have you been these past few months? Had a good time?" Johnathan Baring sounded very calm without turning his ice-blue eyes away from Lily. "Would you introduce me to the lady, Alexandre?" He casually switched to his mother tongue.

Alexandre did the same. Had Lily not known that her husband was born and raised in the French-speaking Grand Duchy of Bourgogne, she would have thought Alexandre was a native Briton.

"My wife, Lillian, and our son Adrien." He emphasized each word individually, but 'wife' and 'son' he let melt on his tongue for a especially long time. Although the words hardly seemed to discourage Baring, in fact those were just another obstacle which added even more charm to the thrill.

Alexandre had to pull himself together to prevent himself from throwing Lily over his shoulder knocking his chest and shouting out loud ''MINE'' like some primitive caveman. He knew exactly what Baring looked like when he saw something he liked. Unfortunately, Lily fitted exactly into this man's prey scheme and this annoyed Alexandre since Baring knew no moral boundaries. Not even with his friends. He just banged anything that wasn't on the tree at three. He was one of the infamous casanovas of London upper class society, from whom men had to hide their young wives and mothers kept their innocent debutantes safe. He was not even considered to be a respectable match among the unmarried ladies. Because everyone knew that the young billionaire did not lose his heart to his conquests. All he left behind was a sea of broken hearts.

"Lillian, that's Johnathan Baring, one of my fellow students from my Oxford days."

Baring reached for Lily's hand, his thin lips hovering just a touch over her alabaster skin as he implied a kiss. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Alexandre almost pushed the vanilla blond head of Johnathan aside. Keeping his fist buried in his trouser pocket. He had to pull himself together.

"The pleasure is all mine." Alexandre observed the tender blush on his wife's cheeks, he was boiling with anger.

Actually Alexandre had always liked the charming way of Baring. He could understand why the british ladies were at that man's feet. He had a touch of the cool english gentleman, educated and well mannered. But appearances could be misleading. In reality, there were not a single drop of decency or nobility in Baring's aristocratic body.

As the group of businessmen left the airport. Johnathan Baring flattered Lily with exaggerated compliments, although they had barely exchanged a word with each other and met for the first time. His behavior caused her a hard time, even though her cheeks were burning. She did not know how to stop it without offending him. After all, he was an important business partner of Alexandre. She looked up shyly at Alexandre. Instantly, her eyes fell into Alexandre's gaze. In his gaze was this intense darkness. Groaning, he bent down, stealing a kiss harshly from her lips. With a bright red tomato face she tried to push him away. She could feel countless pairs of eyes stinging at her. The face of Lily became even a shade darker due embarrassment. But Alexandre's grip was firm. Lily swallowed hard, knowing there was no escape when she looked into his eyes. She seemed trapped, trembling helplessly before the dangerous predator. He drew her closer before he lifted his head with a satisfied grin on his lips.

The newly arrived group was welcomed with a small champagne reception in one of the large glass buildings of the Baringbank's London branch. Before Alexandre turned his attention to daily business, he arranged for Lily and Adrien to be brought to the Ritz.

✿

Lily was silent as she followed the concierge to the presidential suite Alexandre had booked. It was almost a spacious apartment with 2 bedrooms in noble wood and white tones, opulent and almost baroque furnished. In addition to the study, there was also a library with a large selection of international literature, a large dressing room where the luggage of the de Valois family was already stored in the closets.

The concierge showed Lily the large marble bathrooms with separate rain shower and giant bathtub, explained the entertainment systems and room equipment, as well as the service and access to the Club Lounge. There, the family could enjoy a variety of special dishes and refreshments.

But since Adrien was still exhausted after the stressful journey, Lily decided to retire to her room with the little one.

The bodyguards she brought with her and Adrien's two nannies were given separate rooms one floor below, but always on standby in case they needed their services. However, two of Alexandre's bodyguards were always waiting in front of the entrance door of the suite.

Lily only briefly stepped to the huge window and looked out onto the idyllic Green Park and decided to take the boy for a walk in the park after Adrien had rested. She did not really know what to do with her time in London. It had been a few years since she had been in the city. She remembered that some of her grandmother's relatives lived here. She'd better should pay them a visit, as a matter of courtesy, maybe for an afternoon tea. The evenings were already exhausted as Alexandre would take her to balls and soirées of London society. But for the next five days she could do as she pleased. She decided to show Adrien a bit of the city. London was one of her favorite cities, she liked the charm of the city, the way how old mixed with new. There were many museums, the famous sights, the small alleys and racy streets, the colorful markets. She would show him all.

Tired, Lily sat on the bed next to the slumbering toddler. They would have a lot of fun, but first they had to recharge their batteries. She tucked him and herself in before picking up a book about raising children and reading it silently beside the sleeping boy.