Black Pearl (20 page)

Devyn sat in the exam room with a pacing Nikola. He looked like a lion protecting his lioness as they waited for the results of her tests. The side of her face was throbbing, and the beginning of a headache was starting to form, but she didn’t want to alarm Nikola. She could tell he was already on edge.

“I see you got my hint,” she tried to ease his tension.

Nikola walked over to her and placed his forehead on hers and massaged her shoulders.

“You called me Nik,” he smiled.

Devyn once told him she preferred to call him Nikola because it fully captured everything he was, strong, capable, and a leader. To her “Nik” didn’t fully embody all of who he was. He was her “Nikola.” When he heard her refer to him as Nik, he knew something was wrong.

“You returned early,” she looked up at him, questioningly. She knew he was supposed to be in New York at least another two days.

“I needed to see you. I couldn’t wait.” Devyn smiled gratefully, she was glad he couldn’t wait to see her.

“I was on my way over to your condo when…” Devyn’s voice trailed off just as the doctor knocked on the door and entered.

“How you feeling Devyn? Any pain?” Dr. Kozak asked Devyn.

“No, not much. I’m sure it’ll go away with a little bit of sleep and some ice,” she tried to downplay any pain she was in for Nikola’s sake. She was afraid of what he might do if he felt she was in real pain. She wasn’t thankfully. A few bruises weren’t that bad in comparison to what Marcus had actually planned to do. She shivered thinking of what could have happened.

“Good. That’s good. All your tests came back fine and I don’t want to prescribe anything for pain because of the baby, so–…”

“The what!?!” Devyn and Nikola said at the same time. Dr. Kozak looked taken aback by the disbelief she saw on both their faces.

“You didn’t know?” The doctor asked. Nikola looked towards Devyn and she shook her head.

“I had no idea.”

“Have you been feeling tired or run down lately?” Dr. Kozak asked.

“Well, yeah for the past week I’ve been going to bed at 8 o’clock almost every night, and I’ve been having cravings for foods I hardly eat….” She looked up at the doctor as realization sunk in.

She was pregnant with Nikola’s baby. She unconsciously rubbed her stomach, thinking that Marcus could have killed her and her baby.

The news shouldn’t have come as a surprise. They had stopped using protection months ago. It was the first time she’d never used protection with a sexual partner.

“How far along is she, Dr. Kozak?” Nikola asked. Devyn had a hard time gauging his reaction. He had that stony face he put on when he was thinking heavily or conducting business.

“Well, that’s difficult to say without an ultrasou–.”

“We want an ultrasound.” Nikola spoke without giving the doctor a chance to finish her sentence.

“Uh, I would–.”

“Tonight. Now.” Nikola insisted. Devyn grabbed his hand, and looked apologetically at the doctor. The doctor nodded.

“Sure thing, Mr. Collins. I will have to get someone from gynecology to come down.” Devyn would have told the doctor she’d just make an appointment with her own gynecologist, but she was as anxious as Nikola to find out how far along she was. When the doctor left, Nikola turned to Devyn.

His lips turned up into one of the most dazzling smiles she’d ever seen. He began talking fast.

“I was going to give you a few months to plan, but now that I know you’re pregnant with our baby, I’ll give you six weeks. I’m sure my mother will want to help plan, and we can even fly your sister and mother in to help plan–”

“Wait, Nikola slow down. Plan what? What are you referring to?” She asked confused and still in a state of shock from being attacked and learning she was pregnant in the same night.

“The wedding,” he said as if that was the only logical answer.

“What wedding?”

“Our wedding, of course. We can speak with mother tomorrow, and call your mom first thing in the morning–.” He was talking as he pieced everything together in his own head. Devyn could barely keep up.

“Nikola.” She grabbed his arm to halt his speech. “We don’t have to get married just because I’m pregnant. I mean we need to ta–.”

“Just because you’re pregnant? Is that what you think? That I’m marrying you only because you’re having my child?” He stepped back and dug a hand in the pocket of his jeans. He pulled out a ring box. Stepping closer he held the box for Devyn and slowly opened it. Devyn gasped. Her eyes glossed over with tears.

Inside the box was a beautiful rose gold ring, with two round cut diamonds that flanked either side of the ring. At the center between the two diamonds laid a shining Tahitian black pearl. It was perfect. The tears she’d been holding fell as Nikola removed the ring and placed it on her left ring finger.

“I went to New York for two reasons: one, to finish that damn deal; and two, to stop by the jeweler for a very special order. None of the other rings had the right feel, so I had this one especially made for you. I knew you were the one for me long before tonight. I know I can be controlling and I promise to work on it, but don’t expect me not to do everything in my power to protect you, every day for the rest of our lives. Marry me, my Black Pearl.”

Devyn looked up at him, speechless. He pressed a kiss to her lips, just as Dr. Kozak and another doctor entered the room. It was time to find out when they would be expecting their baby.

Six weeks later…

Nikola got his way, of course.

Damn near six weeks to the day, Devyn Williams became Mrs. Devyn Collins in a relatively small, but lavish ceremony on the edge of the city. They’d managed to keep the guest list to a few hundred people, though people from all around the world wanted to attend the wedding of Nikola Collins. As promised, Nikola flew in Devyn’s mother and sister to help plan the wedding in such a short period of time. Together, with the help of Iris and Mercedes they put together a stunning winter-wonderland themed wedding. When the newly married couple entered the reception, Devyn was overcome with emotion as she took in the darkly lit room, the beautiful decorations, and most important all the friends and family that were there to celebrate her and Nikola becoming one.

“You look ravishing, Mrs. Collins,” Nikola said against her lips as they began their first dance as husband and wife.

“Thank you, Mr. Collins. You look pretty good yourself,” she joked.

When their first dance ended, Nikola and Devyn walked around to their guests greeting each and thanking them for coming.

“Congratulations, doll. You are a sight for sore eyes,” Mistress Coco said in her usual exuberance. Devyn hugged the older woman.

“Thank you. I know you met my husband before,” Devyn said by way of introduction pointing at Nikola. He leaned down and placed a kiss on the older woman’s cheek.

“Yes, I have.”

“Oh, Diane, I’m so glad you didn’t try to sneak out of here before I caught you.” Devyn and Nikola turned to see Iris Collins, coming up from behind but she wasn’t looking at them. Her attention was focused on Mistress Coco.

“Iris you know I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world. Our Black Pearl got married.”

Devyn looked at Nikola confused. His look mirrored hers. Iris just referred to Mistress Coco as Diane. Devyn didn’t even know that was her first name. No one ever called her anything but Mistress Coco, and here these two women were chatting as if they were old friends. And they referred to her as
our
Black Pearl, as if Iris knew Devyn danced burlesque at Mistress Coco’s club.

“Do you two know each other?” Nikola asked looking between the two women. They smiled conspiratorially at one another.

Iris wrapped her arm around Mistress Coco’s. “Of course, Nicky. Diane and I go back years.” Devyn gasped and everyone turned to look at her.

“The picture on your desk,” she said to Mistress Coco, and turned her gaze on Iris. “That’s why the person next to Mistress Coco looked so familiar. It’s you.” Iris’ smile widened.

At Nikola’s confused expression Devyn explained. “Did you see the picture in Mistress Coco’s office when you came to see me?” He shook his head.

“I uh…was more focused on other things,” he winked at her and they all laughed.

Devyn playfully slapped his arm. “Anyway, the picture is of Mistress Coco in her performance days with another burlesque dancer…” She trailed off and looked at Iris. Devyn watched as Nikola’s face turned from confused to awareness to shock.

“Mama…”

“You didn’t think your father only married me for my cooking did you?” Iris asked and everyone laughed at the look of horror that appeared on Nikola’s face.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that Nicky. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She winked looking between him and Devyn. Devyn blushed and dipped her head.

“Don’t be shy dear. I’ve seen your performances. If this was forty years ago, you’d have given us a run for our money, right Diane?” Iris asked Mistress Coco. She nodded. 

“Young man, you didn’t think I just let anyone backstage to see any of my girls did you? Do you know how many requests I get from men trying to visit my performers, especially this one right here,” Nikola raised an eyebrow realizing his mother and Mistress Coco must have been in on this all along.

He knew his mother always liked Devyn but never suspected she played a hand in them getting together.

“I see the light bulb coming on. And before you ask, yes I suggested to Andre that Devyn work for you while he was away all those months ago.
Somebody
had to do something. At the rate you two were going, you would have never gotten together and I’d never get a grandchild. Now we have one on the way.” Devyn and Nikola were speechless at all Iris and Mistress Coco had just revealed to them.

A few seconds later, over their initial shock, they looked and smiled knowingly at one another. Iris and Mistress Coco weren’t the only ones with a secret.

“What is that look?” Iris asked, knowing she was being kept out of something.

Nikola kissed Devyn before smiling. “We’re just pleased you’re excited about your
grandbabies,” he said
placing emphasis on the last word.

Iris slapped a hand over her mouth. “Did you say grandbabies?” She squealed.

Devyn nodded. “Yup, we’re having twins,” Devyn confessed just as excitedly. She was approximately thirteen weeks pregnant with twin boys. Iris laughed and shed a couple of tears, embracing both of them, before Mistress Coco reached in to hug them both. Iris and Mistress Coco pulled Devyn away from Nikola to get all the details of her pregnancy. He made them promise to return her soon.

Nikola sipped his champagne as they walked away. He sighed and shook his head at what he’d just found out about his mother. Not only did she have a hand in his getting together with Devyn, but she was a burlesque dancer when she met his father. He and his father apparently had more in common than even he realized. He looked around the room at all his guests and smiled at the sight of Andre whispering something into the ear of a beautiful blond haired woman. Andre could rival Nikola when it came to women, but that was all over for Nikola. Only one woman held his attention now, and she was all he needed.

Nikola felt a hand clap the back of his shoulder and instinctively knew who it was.

“What’s up Dad?” Raul joked. Nikola smiled liking the idea of someone calling him dad soon.

“Did you get rid of that issue from earlier?” Nikola asked Raul.

Apparently, Cindy had somehow snuck her way into the reception, saying she was with a date. It turns out, she had come as the date of one of his actual guests, but Nikola was not having Cindy or any woman from his past at his wedding. He would not disrespect Devyn like that. Raul, whose company was handling security had Cindy escorted out of the reception hall.

“Of course.”

“I see you’re enjoying the company of Devyn’s maid of honor.” Even though his focus was on Devyn throughout the day, Nikola and Devyn had noticed the flirtation between Mercedes and Raul during the wedding rehearsal and tonight at the reception.

“She’s nice and not bad to look at,” Raul shrugged.

Nikola raised an eyebrow at the way Raul tried to downplay his attraction to Mercedes. Raul wasn’t usually shy or coy about his attraction to a woman. The fact that he was trying to downplay it to Nikola was telling.

“If you say so. I’m going to go get my wife. I’m ready to leave,” Nikola said, placing his champagne glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

“Yeah, well I would say don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, but you just got married and you’re about to be a father so… I’ll just say have a safe flight.”

Even though Nikola purchased a second home for the couple in Rio, he decided to take Devyn to the Greek island of Santorini for their honeymoon. He wanted to share his mother’s culture with her.

Nikola looked at his friend and followed the direction of his gaze and found Mercedes who was now talking and laughing with Devyn. Nikola clapped Raul on the shoulder and began walking towards his bride. His friend might be headed in the same direction sooner than he thought.