It's been a month since I am with Martha and her sons Tommy, Derik and Sam. All 3 of her sons hated me on sight as they figured I am the competition for Martha's affection. Following day Tommy took me to the company which he is working , where they hired me to load and unload stuff from trucks. I didn't tell them about my ivy league education or the posts I held last. Too many details can give them my identity and I don't want that.

Martha refuse to let go of me to another accommodation. So, I have the room on the basement. Though I have been insisting Martha to stop work as she cant cope due to her old age, she isn't happy to sit at home.

"I have worked all my life son. I can work a little longer. And these three can learn a thing or two from you" she said frowning at her sons.

"Mama, never trust a white man" Sam said making faces at me.

"And you stop being a racist. Steve here has done nothing but take care of me ever since he has come here, something you boys have failed to do all your lives"

I love this family. I wish I had a family as close as this. All 3 of the boys are close to each other and Martha. Though I am an outsider, they still treated me with love and respect. And for the second time in my life, I am experiencing unconditional love.

I been thinking of Talia lately. I should give a call to Sarah but I feel quite uncomfortable speaking to her after my behavior last time. I spoke to Jen couple of days ago about my case but that's all about it. May be I should go and visit her this weekend.

Martha nor the boys know anything about my family. They know what happened to me and I was in prison, but they don't know the connections. And fortunately they don't closely follow the news in this part of town.

"Steve, call for you" I heard Tommy screaming.

I have given his number to Jen to call me just in case if she needs to get in touch with me.

"Why do only women call you?" Tommy asked me.

"Because I am better looking than you" I told him and earned a murdering scowl from him while rest of his brothers laughed and teased him.

"Steve here" I said smiling to the phone.

"Steve, Sarah. We need to talk" and my smiling kind of turned to an awkward grimace.

"Sarah, I don't think that is a good idea" I told her skeptically. The attraction and tension between us is too strong. I know she feels it too. But no good will come out of it.

"Philip, Laila and Mrs. Henry de Bourbon came to see me. I need to see you. I am off at 7. You can come and see Talia, and wait for me in the lobby" she gave me the orders.

"Okay" and she hung up. And then only I remembered everyone in the room including Martha are staring at me.

"What?" I asked them.

"Who is Sarah?" Sam asked me.

"Non of your business" I told him but if I had ever thought there is something as privacy in this house, I should have been crazy. In this house, everyone knows everything about everyone, and that includes me.

I saw Martha giving me a I know it all smile. So I went to her and give her a hug.

"Do you like her?" Martha whispered so the others wouldn't hear her.

"She isn't for me Martha. Gils like that have no use for ex criminals like me" I told her honestly.

"You are a fine man Steve and any girl is lucky to have you" she said with her motherly love.

"You say that because you love me" I told her and I guess my voice was little high and Derik heard it.

"God, now you love him and next thing we know is, you will kick us out and put him in your last will and declare him your long lost son" he said complaining.

"Jealous. Aren't we?" I asked him , deliberately provoking him.

"Steve, shut up and help me with the dishes. Derik, you know I love you all. So go and watch TV" Martha gave her orders. And like puppies we obeyed her. I cant believe a time in my life I had been more happier than this.

**********************************************************

Steve came to see Talia around 5. I know it because I asked the security specifically inform me when he comes. I am off at 7. I had some work to do anyways. Talia's advance pregnancy is becoming a problem. She isn't fit enough to carry a child. I been petitioning it for sometime now. The gynecologist thing otherwise. But now that she is about 6 months in to her pregnancy, I couldn't do anything.

The police will do a DNA of the baby to match the father as Talia is not cooperative. She kind of freeze every time this subject come. I am hoping at least Steve can get her to speak, but as off last I know, he is unable to do so.

it was 7.10 when I finally got out of work, and Steve was sitting in the lobby for me. My heart beat is accelerating and I know this is crazy. He is nothing to me. Just someone I wish to help. It has nothing to do with the way I have dressed which is maroon long sleeve top with a black pant and matching headscarf. Make up carefully done. Well, this is how I am usually dressed. Isn't it?

Steve was wearing a dark blue shirt and a brown pant. And every woman pass by has her eyes on him. well, that doesn't bother me.

"Hello" I gave him my award wining smile.

"Hi" he said smiling back awkward. And suddenly I felt very uncomfortable.

"Please come with me. Let's talk over dinner. I am starving" I told him.

"I don't think it is a good idea Sarah. Why cant we talk here?" he asked me somewhat not sure and I felt thoroughly insulted.

"OKay, listen to me Mr. Amstrong. I haven't eaten in like 8 hours, I had a long shift for about 14 hours, and I am really really hungry. If you want to listen to what I have to say, come with me. Else, I am leaving" and I walked away quite pissed.

"My goodness Sarah, why is that tantrum? okay, okay, I am coming" he tag long.

I have this habit of keeping the radio on in the car all times. So soon after Steve sat next to me, and I started the car with the new found awkwardness, the damn radio was on in high HD and the damn song playing was "We found love in a hopeless place" by Rihana. I switched it off because this nonsense has to stop.

After a long pause, Steve broke the silence.

"Talia said someone couple of times broke in to her room and abused her. She doesn't know who it is"

"It doesn't matter Steve. Police will have a DNA and will try to match it with the DNA of Harry and Philip" I told him.

"I don't think it is Philip, because I have a feeling Talia is his daughter" he replied.

"Did you know that you were the son of Henry de Bourbon?"

"No. I thought I was Philips son as we have the same features"

"Are you angry about it?" I asked him again.

"I don't have the luxury of being angry Sarah. Until I was 7 I didn't know I had a father. After I was 7, I never had a mother. I don't know Henry for all that matters but he made sure somehow I am placed in that damned household. The only good thing in that house was Talia"

"What happened to your mother?"

"I don't know Sarah. I really don't know. If my memories with her were correct, I don't want to know where she is either" he said and I could feel the indifference but also the deep resentment and hurt in his voice.

"Did the De Bourbon family treated you well?"

"I was given everything. I went to an ivy league university after which I worked for the family company. I was even a director and got the same pay scale. They didn't make thing easy for me, but they I proved myself over and over again, and finally they accepted"

"So you had all the perks after all" that's my assessment.

"Nope" he said with a laugh. "I had to work 10 times harder and prove to them 10 times over and over again I am the right person before they could choose me. When others in the company start pressurizing them to accept me, they did. Sometimes Harry and Albert stole my work. I had to silently put up. Things weren't easy but it was family after all I thought"

"Is that why you didn't leave?"

"I couldn't leave Talia. I don't have guardianship of hers. No one will give it to me. They knew until Talia is with them, I will put up with any abuse. And I did" he said sadly.

"What are you doing these days?" I asked the thing that has been troubling me since I last saw him.

"I found work and living with a family. They are good people" he said reluctant to open the subject.

"What work did you find? You look absolutely handsome but you look a shade or two darker" I told him with a smile.

"I am loading on and off stuff from trucks" he said and I felt my heart constrict at what he said. I have read some articles of Steve and watched some videos where he was talking on different forums. Someone like that to do something like this should be difficult. Damn it, I have to control my feelings.

"I have the $500 you gave me" he returned to his pocket.

"Steve, please. It can wait for some more time. I am not in a hurry" I told him. $500 is my dinner bill and something I don't even care anymore. I have enough money with me. I am driving he latest Mercedes which has to be some indication as to my wealth. I have couple of properties in the most sought after areas in the city and living the life of a legend with what I have earned. Currently what I am paid is nothing compared to years of private practices I did from which I earned more money than I could spend it an entire life.

"No Sarah, I took it as a loan. And I know you will not need it but I have to have a little dignity as a man. So please" and he left the money on the car wallet. And I kept quite. The traffic was really bad and the journey is taking longer than I expected.

"What did they say?" he asked me finally.