Diana’s voice had risen by one octave an indication of her agitation. Jackson was pleased but somewhat surprised that it had been so easy to get a reaction from her. “No thought necessary, Diana. Only days ago you attempted to kill my son’s wife. The very next day you saw fit to drag a young woman whom I hold in high esteem through a media circus. If regaining a position in my life was your final goal, your actions were ill advised.”
“My dear, Jackson, if I had wanted Aviva dead, she would be dead.”
Jackson took note that her voice was back to its normal tone. She was once again in control of what little emotions she possessed.
Jackson’s mind was made up. “What I am about to say, I have never said to another living soul. I make mention of this only because I want you to remember my words. Thank you for my sons. They have been my blessing.”
Diana preened at his words but remained silent. Jackson could imagine the thoughts going through her head. That she hated, her children was obvious in her treatment of them. It had begun when she had discarded one infant for no other reason than he cried too much. About that child’s existence she had remained completely quiet, never giving a thought to if he lived or died.
“As you can imagine, this whole situation is difficult for me. Because you gave birth to my children, I will accommodate you. However, there are a few stipulations attached to the final outcome of our relationship.” He took care to keep his voice at a modulated tone. It was important to him that Diana agree to all of his requests. Before long he saw that he had her full attention.
“What are they?”
“I want those reporters gone.”
“Done.”
“I want you to call off your henchmen. From this day forward the women in my family are sacrosanct, they will not be harmed.”
“Done.”
“The men in my family are inviolable.”
“Done.”
Jackson inclined his head. Gaining her consent had been much easier than he had expected, especially where his sons were concerned. He was the patriarch of the family and it, therefore, fell to him to protect all of his children and the women they loved. That his protection was necessary because of their mother would forever be the greatest sadness of his life.
“I’m sure you are aware that I have a whole arsenal at my disposal,” Diana paused, waiting for his response.
His body remained entirely motionless. The only thing that moved were his eyes as they followed her every movement. As though in slow motion, he watched as she removed the butt of the cigarette from its holder and stubbed it out. Then she rose from her seat and approached him. Every muscle in his body tensed at her approach, but he didn’t show his reaction.
Sitting beside him, Diana ran a slim finger along his cheek, her gaze locked onto his lips. With every fiber of his body, Jackson wanted to brush her hand away and put as much distance as he could between them.
“Now, this is what I want,” Diana intoned. “Those boys are much too old to be living with their daddy. I want them, and their women gone. Don’t worry darling, I’m not asking you to commit filicide. I just don’t want to see them... ever!”
For the first time, Diana showed a modicum of emotion. He had asked the question before but had never received a definitive answer. That she was broken and twisted was a given, but the level of hate she directed towards her children was unfathomable to him. “Why do you hate them so much?”
Diana laughed at the question. She then pulled away from him, sat back and crossed her shapely legs. Looking deeply into her eyes, Jackson braced himself to hear the harrowing story that had produced the monster that now sat beside him.
“I guess you’re waiting to hear how I was abused as a child, and how my experiences shaped me. I’m sure you need to piece every little thing together and then tie it up with a nice bow.
Sorry, darling, the truth is I had doting parents. As an only child, I was their pride and joy. The only problem as far as I was concerned, they couldn’t give me what I wanted, no money you see.
My father died when I was five. My mother mourned him. Oh, how she mourned him. So much so that it sickened me! All those tears, all that talking about how much my daddy loved me, and how no matter what, we would keep his memory alive.”
When she finally stopped speaking, Jackson was stunned at the disdain in which she held her parents. He could tell she expected him to pass comment, but he didn’t. He just waited for her to continue.
“Lucky for me I was intelligent, but more to the point I’m beautiful. I got what I wanted, when I wanted it.
When I left for college, I left my mother behind. She’s dead now, and I can’t say I really care. Do you know that you met my mother?” Diana asked, breaking off.
Jackson was baffled as he searched his memory for having met someone he could associate as Diana’s mother.