SUBTLE PLEASURE, Just say yes!

Chapter 7

Pamir Carppo vs. Cambilly Spencer

The cooperation or coincidence

Subtle Pleasure, just say yes!

Pamir Carppo POV

Pamir gazed out of his office window, which was quite ornate. Despite giving the impression of gazing off into the distance, his thoughts were elsewhere as he rested one shoulder against the large glass pane and folded his arm.

It was ridiculous, in his opinion, that this pitiful looking, little woman thought she could escape him. He wanted to laugh at the way she ran off and he allowed it.

At that thought, he grinned, and those were very rare occasions when he did.

She ought to be grateful that he made the extra effort to save her from her awful existence. Pamir was convinced he was doing her a favor after reading the file he had compiled about her.

Who among reasonable people would not want to get away from such a man and at breakneck speed decline such an offer?

Who does Cambilly Spencer think she was fooling considering all the transgressions of that man. What hold does a man like that have on her.

Who does she think she is to disobey his orders.

"A man deep in his thoughts," Evangeline said, hitting her cane on the hardwood carpeted floor to get Pamir's attention while staring at him with the very dark eyes with tiny specks of gold she shared with his late mother Pamela; Who was assassinated in a hail of bullets on his nineteenth birthday. Following that devoted day, destiny had ruthlessly torn away any kind thought away from Pamir.

Shaking his head, Pamir turned to face his grandmother. "What are you doing here?" He asked as he leaned off the wall and approached her.

He kissed her cheek and guided her to the lounge area. "Tell me," Evangeline said.

"There is nothing worth saying" he said casually, taking the seat opposite her and looking at her directly in the eyes as he sit back.

"What brought you here, and where is Paris?" he inquired curiously.

"I will do the talking," she replied, not answering his question. Pamir despised it when she did that; she was a fireball, and he would never mess with her.

"I do, however, have a few words for you," Evangeline said and despite her advanced age of seventy, she exuded youth. They used to make jokes about her being immortal since she never appeared to age even though all these years had passed and he was now a man.

Evangerline would give him an earful at her discretion, and Pamir had no choice but to hear it.

"Cooperation has been my life, and since your mother died seven years ago and is no longer able to run Sparkle, the other families are calling for a head to be appointed. I need to name a new head because I can no longer resist their advances. Given that you have not visited Paris in the past two days, I am aware that you have a lot on your plate," Evangerline said.

"It was not my choice, but I will take her tonight," Pamir replied.

"I am aware that it was not," Evangerline said.

"So, what exactly is this about?" Pamir inquired, knowing full well that Sparkle is controlled by the family at the head of the table, and since his family holds the seat, his betrothed must take the crown.

"Fiona is out of the picture so..." Evangerline said, and Pamir's hand tightened around the arm of the couch.

Pamir would never admit to being hurt out loud, but deep down he knew he was. Being shamed by the woman he adored was one thing but being pitied was another.

"I do not want to hear of her," Pamir balled his fingers into a fist as his mind wandered to Fiona.

"I'm an old woman and I can hardly keep up with Paris, she needs a companion and you need a wife." Evangerline said.

"What makes you think so?" Pamir inquired.

"I'm not asking Pamir, it is what needs to get done," Evangerline remarked.

"Daddy! daddy!" Tim was in tow when Paris bounded through the door. She leaped into Pamir arms and he hugged her tight.

"I have missed you, my beautiful girl," he smiled and kissed her cheek.

"And I have missed you too daddy," Paris stared up at him with the grey eyes she shared with Fiona, the only woman he thought he would share forever with. But fate had other plans yet again when Fiona dropped Paris at his door step with a letter stating why she could not do this life with him and he was left yet again to brutally face reality that happily ever after does not exist. Not only that it does not exist it was not for him as he was left to cancel their wedding two weeks to their date and Paris was left without a mother a month after her birth.

Paris pulled on his collar, breaking the spell that his traumatic past had woven over his life, "Daddy, you did not call last night," she scold.

"Sorry baby girl, I wanted to surprise you today," Pamir tried to work his way out of this one, but his five-year-old was far wiser than her years, and he knew it as he patted her wavy dark brown hair, the only thing she inherited from him.

"More shenanigans," Paris scrunched her face up at him and he could not help laughing along with his grandmother and Tim.

"Not tonight baby girl," he shook his head and glee danced in her face. After Fiona had left, his life had permanently changed, before and after she left his long time house keeper and nanny had help him raise his little girl. A month ago she had to move to Rock county to be closer to her family. They needed her and even though it broke his heart to let her go, there was nothing he could do to keep her after decades of service to his family.

All Pamir wanted was more than just a housekeeper and someone to spend time with Paris. For a long time, his grandmother supported him; however, with Mrs. Power in the picture, he did not require assistance; now that she was gone, he required a full-time caregiver. And that is where Cambilly comes in; he requires a partner.

Who knew that when he looked into Jared and discovered he had a wife, the bastard's request for an extension of time would turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Pamir needed collateral, and he knew it would be a mistake not to meet the woman.

She threw her arms around his neck and squealed with delight. She knew her father gave the best surprises, and being on the receiving end of one, especially when he went away for a few days, was a treat.

He chuckled and ruffled her hair. He walked around the sofa, ready to put this whole conversation behind him. "Absolutely," he replied to Paris.

"We need to finish this conversation," Evangeline said, Pamir nodded and Paris looked between them. Evangerline was not going to end it there.

"Scarlet had blueberry ice cream placed in the lunch room for you," Pamir knelt in front of Paris and kissed her forehead "Tim will take you and I have to talk to grandma for a few minutes."

"Talk about what?" she asked face aglow with courosity.

"I will tell you all about it on our way home," he said kissing her forehead again.

"Okay, daddy," Paris bobbed her head quickly and kissed his cheek. "I love you!"

"I love you more princess," he said to her before dashing out of the room. "Last one there is rotton egg," Paris laughed running down the corridor.

"You do not play fair," Tim called after her rushing out the room.

Pamir sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his legs. He looked up at his grandmother he knew her all too well and he knew the conversation she was about to continue. He never thought it would have come to this; his life was perfect sure he did not believe in happily ever after but the long term agreement he made up his mind for had all ripped from him. To make matters worse Mrs Powers was no longer with them and the very vague notion of finding a partner had to be resurrected.

Everything was perfect. It was all fun and games until it wasnt. Three months ago Mrs Powers with a defeated sigh gave in her regsignation. It broke Paris heart more- more so to watch her leave but Pamir had to let her go.

And here he was thinking of becoming the partner of a woman he had met once, a woman whose existence he would never have known about if not for her husband's sly ways.

"You understand what I'm saying," Evangeline said and Pamir nodded. "I am no spring chicken boy; Paris deserves someone who can keep up with her."

"I am aware," Pamir replied.

Evangeline patted his shoulder, "Good... you will have by the end of the month."

Pamir sat quietly for a moment, contemplating.

"I have a meeting at four. I will see my baby after school," she said as she walked out the door.

Pamir watched her leave as an anxious-looking Tim walked in, closing the door behind him.

"This is a terrible show that you can not possibly continue," Tim said as he stood face to face with Pamir.

"Why should I stop?" Pamir's questioned appared a little too casual for a man who had drafted divorce papers.

"Look, it is not too late to end this s**t show," Tim said, rising his hand.

"Why should I do that? She is perfect for the job." Pamir said.

"Your father would not like this. As you are aware, he thoroughly screens every woman in the family," Tim remarked.

"That is why she is the perfect candidate for the job," Pamir said.

Tim inhaled sharply, "this isn't right Pamir."

"Think about it, she cannot be used as a bargaining chip in their play for power, she does not belong to the cooperation," Pamir said.

"She does not belong in our world, she is a waitress for heaven's sake," Tim rasped.

"She is young, a good worker and a good fit for Paris, I'm sure you agree," Pamir said.

"I will help out with Paris," Tim said frustrated throwing his hands up noting he was getting nowhere with Pamir.

"How? What time? You have got a lot of work ahead of you and not much time for yourself," Pamir retorted.

"You know that this is not how things usually work. There is a system, it was inscribed in blood long before you and I were born," Tim ranted. "Beside, she is innocent," he added.

"I love the smell of innocence," Pamir exclaimed as he inhaled deeply.

"You understand the importance of alliance in cooperation," Tim said sourly.

Pamir muttered, "I guess it is time for some radical transformation," as he walked around his desk to get his coat. "You are my right hand man and I need you on my side because this is happening regardless," Pamir said.

Pamir walked out of his office ready to surprise his daughter.