The Legacy
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This was the first story I wrote and posted on the OF.
For those who didn't read it... I hope you'll like it!

Oh yes... The guys are not Divo's in this one

Thanks Ingrid, for the cover!



THE LEGACY



BIRGIT

Chapter 1

Urs Bühler looked at his watch. She was late. His fingers drummed impatiently on his desk. He had tried to reach her for weeks and yesterday she finally got in touch with his assistant. And now he was waiting for her but he already knew this wasn't going to be easy.


Vicky walked into the lawyer's firm. She smiled when she saw the time. Did he really expect her to drop everything for him? Some nerve he had! For weeks he was on her answering machine. But she made him wait. The messages became more urgent every day and finally she gave in to her curiosity. Today she would finally know what was going on.
She introduced herself to the secretary who brought her to his office. She knocked and opened the door to let Vicky in.


Vicky walked in and the man got up from behind his desk.
"Miss Harper? I'm Urs Bühler. It's nice to finally meet you."
For the first time she saw the man whose voice dominated her answering machine. The suit he was wearing looked like it was handmade and it would surely be very expensive. She let her gaze wander over his face and his body. He had dark brown hair, strong cheekbones and powerful lips. She had no doubt he could impress his clients and the people in court. His cold hazel eyes made it hard not to look at him. This man could easily be described with her less favourite words. Smooth, well-educated and arrogant. She had to admit there where other words too. Fascinating, handsome, and attractive self-confident. She knew she would be lost if he would use his charm.


The man was still talking. With great difficulty she paid attention to what he said.
"Look, Mr. Bühler. You called. I came. What is so important I had to take time off?"
"Would you like a coffee?" he asked.
"No, thanks. What do you want?" she snapped.
He pointed to a chair. "Take a seat please."
Vicky shook her head.
Urs sighed, sat down and took some papers. "Last month, Victoria Clarke died."

For a moment Vicky didn't know what to say. She hadn't seen the women she was named after since she was a child. And she didn't know she died.
"Give my condolences to her family." she said.
"You are her family."
"Mr. Bühler, last time I saw my great-aunt I was a child. I haven't heard from her since, so I don't see her as my family." In the meantime she looked at her watch. She could be back in her office by lunch if she left now.
"Mrs. Clarke considered you as her family. You're in her will." He took the papers and slipped them towards her.
"Is that what this is about?" Her cynical laughter echoed through the room. "If you would have left me that message, you could have saved us both a lot of time." She slipped the papers back to him. "I'm not interested in anything that woman has for me."
"Don't make any decisions just yet, Miss Harper."
"Oh, come on!" She couldn't hold back the words she swallowed before. "That woman treated my father as some kind of garbage. She loved to hurt people. I don't want anything from her."


Vicky took her purse, turned around and walked towards the door. His footsteps followed her quickly.
"Miss Harper." His hand hit the door and held it shut. She stayed there with her hand still on the handle, refusing to turn around.
"The legacy exists of one million dollar and a house." He was so close that her shoulder hit him when she turned around. His presence made her hart beat faster. She was in between dislike and attraction.
"Don't insult me. Not everybody is for sale."

With his eyes half closed, he stared at her. "You know, you are very beautiful when you are angry."
She turned her head away, convinced he would kiss her if she wouldn't. For a moment they both stood there, not moving. When she heard him breath out, she realised she held her breath. He moved his hand from the door. The moment passed and she dared to look at him again.
"Don't get any ideas, Mr. fancy lawyer. I am not for sale." She yanked the door open and slammed it behind her. The sound of the slamming door was the best sound she heard all day. She would have been happy if she hadn't heard his last words.
"Everybody is for sale, Miss Harper. Especially women."

Chapter 2

Urs sat blankly behind his desk. What a woman! He knew it wasn't going to be easy, but he didn't expect her to be that difficult! When he closed his eyes, he saw her vision. She was tall and slim, had short dark hair and such beautiful eyes. They were some kind of greenish brown and with every emotion they seemed to change colour. He was fascinated by that woman. That's when he made a decision. He was not giving up! She was going to except the legacy!


That night Vicky drove to her father's house. She was so tired! All the day long, Urs Bühler had been on her mind. During a meeting she even compared her male colleagues to him. And during lunch she kept thinking about their conversation.

'Stop it!' she said to herself. She wasn't interested in anything he had to say. Nevertheless she realised that Urs was the first man in a long time who did something to her. He wasn't her type, but his arrogance and especially his body, face and beautiful eyes made her long for romance. She shook her head. 'Don't think about him as Urs! You don't address your enemies by their first name!'

She walked through the hallway of her father's house and stopped to look at her mother's picture. She hardly remembered her. Vicky was only six when her mother died in a car crash. "Hi Mummy!" she said and kissed the picture.

She greeted her father when she walked into the kitchen."Hi kiddo! How was your day?"
"Terrible!" she said and lowered herself in a chair. "Did you know aunt Victoria died?"
Her father closed his eyes for a second. "Yes, I knew."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He hesitated. "Last time you saw her, you were just a child. I didn't think you wanted to know. But who told you?"
"Aunt Victoria's lawyer."
"What?" Her father looked confused and surprised at the same time.
Vicky sighed. "I'm in her will." She told him the whole story.
"Maybe you should take a look at the house."
"Dad! I don't want a thing from her. She means nothing to me! After everything she did to you..."
Her father caressed her cheek. "Kiddo..."

And that's when the phone rang."Can you get it?" he asked.
Vicky picked up the phone, still miles away. Suddenly she heard a familiar voice. "Excuse me? Who is this?"
"Urs Bühler, Miss Harper. I just wanted to let you know..."
"How did you get this number?"
He reacted impatiently. "Your aunt gave it to me, years ago."
"Great-aunt." she corrected him. "And it would have been nice if she had used the number herself to give my father a call. Besides... Why isn't he in the will? Why me?"

Urs was silent for a moment. "Maybe she thought it was too late to make it up to him. And you were named after her. So you have a connection." His voice had softened when he spoke the last words, but Vicky refused to let him get to her.

"How do you know? Do you interrogate all your clients about their intentions? Aren't you supposed to be a witness on certain things? Or do you insult your clients as an extra?"

"Your aunt was more than a client to me. If you could join me for coffee and dessert after dinner, you can ask me all the suspicious questions you want." He was teasing her and she was glad he couldn't see her. "Admit it, Miss Harper, you are smiling a little."

She almost started to laugh. But then she shook her head, angry ay herself for giving in so easy. "I don't think..."

He immediately interrupted her. "I'll be at Luciano's at 9h. You know where it is?"
"Although their tiramisu is the best, I don't want to wait an hour for a table."
"You don't have to wait. I know the owner."
"Of course!" Everybody had to book at least a month in advance, but he knew the owner. "Don't wait for me to order, Mr. Bühler."
"Think about it during dinner."

Without saying another word, she hung up. He was really unbelievable! She took the phone again and dialled a number. 'Let's see if he gets it now.'

After dinner Vicky said goodbye to her father. "Promise me you'll think about it."
"I will, Dad."

She got in her car and drove home. It was tempting to drive past Luciano's and see if he was there. But she didn't. It was bad enough she couldn't get him out of her mind.


Urs was waiting at Luciano's. He didn't really think she would show up, but there was always hope. He drank his coffee and suddenly the waiter appeared and put a plate of tiramisu in front of him. "I didn't order this."
The waiter smiled and gave him a note.

"Enjoy the tiramisu, Mr. Bühler. As you can see, I don't need the money. I can even buy you dessert. For the last time, I'm not for sale! Vicky Harper"

Urs smiled to himself. She was really unbelievable. But he was not giving up! Two could play that game!

Chapter 3

It was 7h in the morning when Vicky ran out of her house. She had an early meeting and was already late. She almost ran into the man from the express services. She quickly signed for the envelope and threw it into her car. The snow made the roads very slippery so she needed to keep focused. When she parked in front of the office, she could finally take a look at the envelope. "I don't believe it!" she said out loud when she saw his name.

Vicky ran to the meeting room and while she was waiting to get started, she opened the envelope. Inside she found some papers. Attached to it was a handwritten note.

"A representative of my office will be at the address you'll find on the back of this note. You can visite your aunt's house between 6h and 8h tonight. I hope you didn't get intimidated by former misunderstandings.
Urs Bühler
PS: The tiramisu was indeed the best. Thank you for the treat."


That night Vicky was still furious. Intimidated... Her day had been an absolute disaster and it hadn't helped that she couldn't keep her mind to it. How could you concentrate if you were always thinking about strangling a lawyer?

She parked her car near the address from the note. She took her purse, locked the car and walked towards the house. A bit further she saw the outlines of a man that leaned against a fence. She immediately knew who it was.

Vicky almost slipped on a spot of ice in front of the fence. He stretched out his hand to keep her up, but she shook it off. Threatening she looked at him. "What the hell are you doing here, Bühler?"
"A very good evening to you too, Miss Harper."
"There is nothing good to it." she snapped. "What are you doing here?"
His voice was irritating sweet. "My note said..."
"Your note said there would be a representative of your office here. Not you!" Irritated she pushed his shoulder. Within seconds she realised that was a bad move because she lost her balance again.

The next moment Urs pulled her against him, one hand around her waist, the other under her elbow. She felt the heat through his coat and it made her dizzy. She realised she had to get out of his embrace. Neither of them moved. His gaze wandered over her face and rested on her lips. It was like he caressed her and Vicky smiled. She began to imagine the kiss as his voice brought her back to reality.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come."
"What?" She blushed when she pulled out of his embrace. Ashamed she realised she had been dreaming like a teenager, waiting for that first kiss.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come." he repeated patiently. "Based on our first meeting..."
"Based on..." She inhaled the cold air and the fog in her head disappeared. "So, you lied. And you even suggested I didn't have the courage to turn up."
"I hoped that would do the trick to get you here. Even if it is only to insult me. But seeing I am a representative of my office, it wasn't a total lie."
She raised an eyebrow. "Is intimidation included in your wage or did you charge my aunt separately for that?"
"I did what I had to do."

Vicky felt the anger rage through her. But at the same time she was attracted to him. What the hell was she doing here? She didn't need this and she certainly didn't want this. "You did what you had to do." she repeated slowly. "Of course. I forgot. You don't care about norms and politeness. You are a lawyer." She wanted to continue but she realised she was only extending their meeting. So she turned around and walked away.

Chapter 4

"Vicky, please."
His voice was quiet and calm and called out for her like a friend would do. Or a relative or... a lover. Hesitating she stopped but didn't turn around.
"Take a look at the house. Please." His words got to her. "Let's go inside, where it is warm. I'll explain a few things and you won't make any nasty comments about my profession."

When she started to laugh, it surprised them both. Vicky bit her lip. She was getting colder by the minute and she was shaking. When Urs put a step forward, she saw his pale face. How long had he been waiting for her, out there in the cold? Deliberately she had waited until the last moment to show up. She wanted to feel independent but now it felt so childish.

"Vicky." He put his gloved hand under her chin and made her look at him. His thumb caressed her chin, went up her cheek and put a curl of hair behind her ear. "Vicky, you're not really mad at me."

Irritated she waved at the fence. "Ok, Bühler. But stop your psycho-analysis. If I want a shrink, I'll take one who doesn't know all the tricks to sue me in court." She put up her hands to prevent him to say anything. "I'm sorry."
"Ok." He took a key and unlocked the fence. "Come on in."

She walked the path to the front door. At least that's what she thought. There was a huge hedge at the street side so there was barely any light. She could see the outlines of the house a high roof and other mystery forms but no details. "Do you have a flashlight, Bühler?"

"Damn! If the power is down again..." Urs walked pass her. "Wait a second. I'll be right back."
Vicky hopped on her feet and crossed her arms to get warm. After 5 minutes she decided not to wait there. It would be better to wait in a dark hallway than in this cold.

Suddenly the lights flashed on. She protected her eyes with her hands for the bright light.
When she slowly dropped her hands, her mouth felt open. It was a castle! With towers and huge chandeliers behind the high windows. The hedge seemed to surround her like in a magic forest. When a wolf came running to her, she knew she was hallucinating. This couldn't be!

Chapter 5

The next moment she realised it was all real. She landed on her back in a pile of snow. The wolf's paws where on her stomach and she could feel this warm breath when he sniffled her neck. She opened her mouth to scream and grumbled when he started to lick her face. He drooled all over her, from her chin to her brow. "Yikes!" She turned her head to avoid another lick. "Go away, you idiot!"

"Max! Come here!"
The dog gave her a last wet kiss, jumped off her and trotted away. Vicky sat up, swept away the snow and wished she could kill the man who was walking towards her just by looking at him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise he was out here."
She looked at Urs' face. If he dared to laugh...

The dog was hopping around them. "Max, sit. Sit, Max!" At long last, Urs impatiently pushed the dogs' behind in the snow and Vicky started to laugh. She got up and straightened her clothes. "I never knew my aunt liked dogs."
"Actually... He's mine."

Before she could ask him what his dog was doing there, he made a sound like a stifled laugh. "If you think this is funny, Bühler..." she warned him.
"Not at all." he said with a chocked voice. "But you are soaking wet." He brought his hand up to her hair.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped. By moving her head, the snow that was on it started to glide and fell on her face. Urs laughed hysterical.

"Stay away from me, Bühler." she hissed when he stood in front of her.
"I just want to help you." Carefully he removed the snow from her hair. His fingers ran over her brow to her cheeks and her mouth. Her breathing became irregular. She saw the look in his eyes and knew he had heard it. "You won't get hurt if you would call me by my first name, Vicky."
"I might." she mumbled. The intensity of his fingers on her skin, made her shiver. She put up her hands to push him away but their fingers got entangled.
"Your hands are cold." He carefully rubbed her fingers before he brought them up to his mouth to blow them warm. He smiled when he saw her shiver.

'This has to stop!' Vicky thought. "It's because of your crazy dog that I'm soaking wet and freezing to death, Bühler!" She pulled her hands free and put them into her pockets. "Is it too much to ask to go in or do you want me to get pneumonia?"
He sighed. "Ok, let's go."

He pulled one of her arms through his and guarded her towards the house. Vicky considered protesting but decided that she didnt have to look where she was going now. She looked up to the house again. It really was a fairytale.

It was large but especially very high. It had two floors and the towers real towers with round walls and a cone roof were even higher. There were windows everywhere. It looked like there where more windows than walls, and she could see a warm light shining through. When they got closer she could see that there was a lot of work to do. It needed paint and the stairs to the porch were in a bad state.

"Apparently great-aunt Victoria didn't care about her house either."
"She was 92 when she died, Vicky. I don't think painting was on top of her list." Urs kept looking straight in front of him, but his voice sounded a bit offended.
"I'm a little nervous."
"I know." He gently squeezed her hand and looked at her. His eyes took her breath away. But then he let go of her and opened the door.

Chapter 6

"Come on in. I'll get you some dry clothes." He opened the front door and ran up the stairs.
"I'm not staying long enough to change." she yelled, but he didn't react.

Oh well... Now that she was here, she could just as well take a look around. She had no idea where to start. There was a spacious hallway with a staircase in the middle of it. There were at least 10 doors on each side of the hall. She slowly started walking. The sound of her boots was softened by a Persian carpet. The walls were decorated with paintings, photos, dried flowers and even an old violin. Vicky stopped in front of the portrait of a lady with dark hair and a soft smile. She could see the family resemblance, although she had no idea how old the painting was. When she took a closer look, she could see the date. 1899. This was probably her great-grandmother.

"Her name was Susannah."
She could hardly hold back a cry of terror. She put her hand on her chest and took a deep breath. "Don't do that! You could kill someone!"
"I'm sorry." Urs said, although he didn't sound like he was sorry. He looked at the portrait. "I don't know who she is, but Victoria watched the painting a lot. She told me her name was Susannah."

"I think she is my great-grandmother." Vicky felt a sharp pain in her heart and she started to breathe faster. She shook her head and pushed back the tears. "Is there a bathroom around here?"
"2 doors down the left. Take these." Urs gave her some clothes and without thinking she took them.

She walked into the bathroom, put the clothes on the green marble and turned on the hot water. She held her hands under the water who felt like ice. When she looked in the mirror she could she her teeth chatter. A couple of minutes later she already felt better. She was still wearing her soaked jeans, but with the old Yale university sweater and dry socks, she felt much better. 'Yale?'

Vicky followed her nose and found Urs in the kitchen. He had taken off his coat, his jacket and his tie and was making tea, wearing grey pants and a deep blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up. She knew it wouldnt be a good idea to go in there. That man was dangerous. Vicky stayed in the doorway. "So, great-aunt Victoria went to YaleUniversity?"

He jumped in surprise and Vicky had to fight back a smile. He quickly pulled himself together and looked at her. He squeezed his eyes and she knew he noticed her soaked jeans. "I don't think so. The sweater is mine. The pants didn't fit?"
"I don't know. I don't like wandering through empty houses with men I don't know, wearing their pants. But tell me, what are your dog and your clothes doing here?"
"I'm staying here for a while. What do you want in your tea?"
"I don't know. I never drink tea. You staying here, is it part of a lawyer-client relationship?"
"Of course not. Do you ever read anything?" He put a little honey and milk in the teacups. "Let's go to the library. I'll light the fire. While you get warmed up, I'll tell you what was in the papers I send you."

Vicky hadnt looked at the papers because she didn't want to take the legacy. She realised now that you always had to be prepared if you were meeting Urs Bühler. It was bad enough she was a total idiot when she was with him. And now she didn't even know what he was talking about.

Chapter 7

The library was a large room that didnt only contain books and an open fire, but there were also small cabinets. Vicky could see butterflies, minerals and other curiosities in it. She immediately fell in love with the room.

"Make yourself comfortable." Urs put the tea on a table next to a leather chair and kneeled in front of the fireplace. Vicky took the plaid that laid in the chair and wrapped it around her. She sat down and watched Urs' back. She saw his broad shoulders and his muscles tensed when he lightened the fire. She couldnt keep her eyes off him, although she knew she shouldnt look at him. Suddenly he turned around and met her eyes. He smiled and she blushed.

"Not too hot?" he asked when he sat down beside her.
"Not at all."
"Good. Let's get started than." He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees. "Did you read anything of the papers I send you?"
"The papers you send me at 7h in the morning? I had non stop meetings today. I didn't have the time to read anything."
"Of course." His tone was offensive. "What do you do anyway?"
"I'm a PA in an advertising company."
'Gotcha!' she tought.

'That's a surprise.' Urs tought. He wouldn't have been surprised if she would have said she worked in a nightclub. Victoria Clarke told him about his niece, Vicky's mother, who ran away from home when she was 18 with a jazz musician who played in obscure clubs.
An advertising company... So, she must be clever. She probably went to college and had a lot of experience. Otherwise she wouldn't be a PA on her age. Things certainly changed now. He didn't know exactly why, but it certainly changed a lot.

"Please don't get mad when I say that I didn't expect that."
"You mean like I didn't expect you to live in my great-aunts house?" she said with a sincere smile. She felt pleasantly warm and didn't have the energy to fight anymore.
Max came into the library and lay down in front of the fire.
"Yes, something like that." Urs smiled at her and for the first time she smiled back. When they kept looking at each other, she felt butterflies in her stomach.

"You'e gonna explain that. Right?"
He laughed. "Don't worry. It's just temporary until my apartment is ready. I'm reorganising it. I knew Victoria my whole life. My family has always been her family's lawyers. When she heard I wanted to go to a hotel, she invited me to stay here."
"Really?"
"I swear. Ask my mother. I hate hotels."
"Me too." she mumbled. The fire warmed her and the flames were almost hypnotising. "But tell me what's in the papers?"
"Ok. You must know that the last version of your aunts will, was written last year. You are the only family she had left so..."
Urs' voice had something reassuring. She closed her eyes while she listened to him. It had been a long and tiring day.

When she woke up, it was silent. She didnt hear the fire crack and thought about opening her eyes, but it would cost her so much energy. Someone was caressing her hair. She slowly opened her eyes. Urs was kneeling in front of her. One of his arms rested on the back of her chair and his fingers played with her hair. His other hand was on her knee.

"You are so beautiful when you are asleep." His voice was soft and low. And he smiled. He came closer and caressed her lips with his. When she opened her mouth out of surprise, he immediately captured it with his mouth. His tongue caressed her lips.

"What..." She tried to say something in between kisses.
"You're beautiful when you're asleep." he mumbled. He parted her lips with his tongue. Vicky groaned. Her body was well aware of the man that was kissing her. A man that she didn't really like but whose touch brought her to heaven. She tried to think how she got into this situation.

He softly bit her lip. Her hands went around his neck and under his collar.
She couldn't think. She tried harder.
His hand caressed her leg.
He said something about the will.
His fingers went under her sweater and caressed her naked skin.
It was something about the house and money. Something about living here for a year.
His mouth kissed her neck.

Suddenly she remembered. Furious she pushed him away and jumped up. It was just one question but she needed the answer right now.
"Did you say I had to be married?"

Chapter 8

"I must have been crazy when I agreed to stay." Vicky said.
They were having dinner in the large dining room. Urs on one side of the huge dining room table, Vicky on the other.
"Just look outside. It's as bad as the snowstorm of '76. Even if you could dig out your car, you wouldn't be able to drive in that weather."

Threatening she looked at him. They already fought about letting her sleep for 3 hours in front of the fireplace. He didn't know how to defend himself. He didn't know why he did it. He felt attracted to that sarcastic, short-tempered woman. He just wanted to let her sleep for a couple of minutes. But she looked so beautiful and sweet. He just kept staring at her.

"Was she crazy?"
Urs woke up out of his daydream. "Sorry?"
"Aunt Victoria. Was she crazy? Why the hell does she want me to get married?"
"Maybe she wanted that..." He hesitated. "That someone takes care of you."
"I don't need a husband to take care of me." Offended she took her plate and walked to the kitchen. "I can take care of myself."

Vicky started to wash up. She heard Urs' footsteps in the hall. She felt him standing behind her. Too close. When she looked into the window she saw his reflection. "You want something, Bühler?" She was well aware of his closeness and tried to end it by being abrupt.
His hands glided down her arms and his fingers entangled with hers in the water. He pulled up her hands. "Let me finish this."

She was imprisoned between his arms, the sink and his muscled body that pressed against her back. When she shivered she knew he felt it.
"Don't be ridiculous. You did the cooking, so I'll wash up."
"Vicky." He turned her around. "I'm sorry you have to stay here tonight. But you are my guest and guests don't wash up." When he smiled, she felt her heart jump. Why were his eyes so pretty?

"Besides, I know you can't wait to look around." He gently pushed her towards the door.
She looked at him. "You know, I like you better when you're being nasty."
"I know. Now go on. I'll find you when Im done."
She stuck out her tongue behind his back.
"That's not very mature."
She forgot he could see her in the window so she quickly walked out.

Vicky stood in the hall and looked around. She didn't know where to start. Suddenly she saw the double doors at the back of the hallway. When she walked in, she felt like a Jane Austen character. It was a music room. The walls were moss green and covered with framed music-scores. In front of the windows was a black pianoforte. A harp stood in the middle of the room, next to a set of chairs. In the back stood a clavicembelo.

She was drawn to a black and white picture of a young woman. The woman was wearing a long black skirt with a white blouse and played the violin. Vicky wondered if it was the violin she saw in the hall. Could it be her great-aunt?

Chapter 9

"My grandfather saw her play once." Urs was standing in the doorway.
Vicky kept staring at the picture. "Aunt Victoria?" She didn't recognise her.
"Yes. She played with the Chicago Symphonic Orchestra. He said she looked radiant on stage. He couldn't keep his eyes of her."
"Why did she stop playing?" She looked at him.
Urs shrugged. "I don't know. My grandfather said that he and my grandmother invited her regularly in their box at the concert hall. But she always declined. Every time. She never went to another concert after she stopped playing."
"Strange."
"Sad."

For a moment they both stood there, silently. Eventually Vicky walked to the piano. "Do you play?" she asked him.
He smiled. "When I was a child, I took lessons for about 10 years. So I guess I can."
"Twin brother and sister, separated at birth." she said solemnly. "I didn't play that long, but I had lessons for a very long time too. And now I can only play the Pink Panthers Theme."
"Isn't that just 4 chords?" he teased.
"Shut up!" she laughed. "What do you play?"
"Except for the March of the Fleas?" He sat himself down on the piano stool, stared at the keys for a minute and started to play a ragtime melody with one hand. After half a minute he stopped. When she applauded, he bowed and chuckled. "The entertainer. Scott Joplin. First page, only the right hand."
"Congratulations. You beat me!"

Vicky sighed. "My father played the saxophone." She didn't know why she felt the need to tell him this here. In this house. The house where her father hadn't been welcome. She stared at her hands. "When I was six, my mother and I saw him play in a jazz club." She had tears in her eyes when she thought of it. "He was amazing. His music was stimulating and calm at the same time."

"I'm jealous."
She looked at Urs. He leaned against the piano, his hands in his pockets. It was like he was really interested in what she had to say. She surprised herself by being so spontaneous. "She never let him put foot in this house. Not once. You would think they had a connection because of their music." She felt the tears burning again. Quickly she dried them before turning to Urs.

"Can you show me the rest of the house?" She acted like the intimate moment never took place. That seemed to happen a lot. Neither of them said anything about that kiss. And if she was honest, it was so much more than just a kiss.

Chapter 10

When she walked to the door, Urs stopped her by taking her by the elbow. He turned her around.
"Stop it, Vicky." He put his hands on her shoulders. "I know what you are doing, what you are thinking. It's like I'm in your head. You really think I don't notice you're trying to push me away when you realise that you're talking to me like a normal human being?"

She pulled away and walked out of the room. "Stay out of my head please." she said looking over her shoulder.

Urs follwed her. "I don't know why your aunt gave up her music. But whatever the reason was, she never played again. Even here, in her own house, the music room was locked." He sighed. "Maybe she was scared of your father. For what he meant to your mother."

He was way out of line. He shouldn't defend her aunt!
"And maybe it just wasn't decent." She looked straight at him. "Her niece got pregnant from a guy who had to work for a living. A musician who played in clubs, not in concert halls. In stead of having a fancy society wedding, they had a short ceremony at the town hall. And in stead of bragging about it to her wealthy friends, she pretended there never was a wedding. Like my parents didn't exist."

His eyes caught fire. "You probably find it hard to believe but to your aunt was, what you called decency, very important. She grew up in another world and believed she knew what was right and wrong."

"Stop apologising!" Vicky said irritated. "You know what my parents taught me, Bühler? That nothing is more important than love. And who you love. That it is the only important thing in life."

Before he could say anything, she raised her hands in a surrendering way. "Look, Bühler..." She was silent and shrugged, not knowing what to say. Eventually she said the first thing she thought of. "I don't want to fight with you."

After he looked blankly at her for a moment, he roared with laughter. The next moment, she laughed with him. "I know, it seems to be the other way around." she admitted.

Ok, he was a bit reserved and very expensive dressed, but he had a sense of humour. "Look, it's past midnight and I have to get up at six. I suggest you give me a short tour through the house that's never gonna be mine, and that we end after that."
"Sure." he said and walked up the stairs.

Chapter 11

On the first floor were 6 rooms. 2 bedrooms with their own bathroom, and 2 suites at opposite ends of the hallway. The suites each contained a large bedroom, a bathroom and another room. It was an office in one suite and a studio in the other.
"I don't know who the artist was, but it's a nice room." Urs said. "Lot's of light."

While she stood in the middle of the room, she knew she wanted the house. She thought about her cosy, but small apartment. But this house could never be hers. "It's nice." she said indifferent. "The charity aunt Victoria choose, will be very happy with it."

"Don't decide just yet, Vicky."
She knew he looked at her. When she turned to him she knew he could see the sadness in her eyes. "It's not a matter of deciding. You know that." she said honestly. "This is about me not being married. And I don't see myself getting married soon either."

It was like he was trying to find the right words. "You got some time to accomplish your aunt's demand."
"A year." She sat down on the bed and shook her head. "I don't see it happen. But it's no disaster. Two days ago I didn't know about the house. It's not like I'm loosing something. It was never mine in the first place."
She thought it was time to change the subject. "Which one is your room?"

"The suite with the office."
A moment ago she had looked around the corner of that bedroom. Now she regretted it, because she had a vision of Urs' naked body between the dark blue sheets.

"Ok, I'll take this one." She stood up and extended her hand. "Thank you for the hospitality. See you in the morning."

The twinkle in his eyes kept remembering her of the dark blue sheets. He shook her hand and walked towards the door. He turned and looked at her. The look he gave her, made her fall back on the bed.

"I may be sleeping on the other end of the hall, Vicky, but there are no locks on the doors."
The last thing she saw was he winking at her before shutting the door.

She opened her mouth, but immediately closed it again. It was not a good idea to try and have the last word now. Besides, she was going to sleep in a house with a man who already kissed her once that night and made her forget about everything. Challenging him to try again, wouldn't be smart. Still, part of her wanted to.

Vicky took a shower, slid between the sheets and turned out the lights. She listened to the noises from the old house and tried to sleep.

Chapter 12

Half an hour later Vicky gave it up and turned on the lights again. She took the documents Urs gave her and hoped she would fall asleep while reading them. Or at least made her forget about the fact that there were only two doors between her and a sleeping Urs Bühler with an amazing body.

If it was sleep she wanted, she made the wrong choice by reading the will of her great-aunt. The details made her furious.

'This is ridiculous.' she thought an hour later. She threw the sheets of paper through the room. At first she said to herself, she only read the will out of curiosity. But at 2h in the morning she was willing to admit she hoped to find a way to get out of those demands. A way to keep the house. Because she wanted it. She longed for it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact they didn't have money when she was a child.

By the time she was 11, she organised the households' money. She filled in the bank transcripts and left them on the kitchen table. When her father came home late from work, he just had to sign them. Every month they had to struggle to pay the rent.

When her friends in high school fantasised about winning the lottery, she always said she wanted to buy a house. So that nobody could take it away from her.
And now her dream could come true. But she had to decline it.

A way out... She should have known better. A lawyer like Bühler wouldn't make a document that wasn't a hundred percent waterproof. She knew he only did his job and that he didnt know who she was back than, but she still blamed him.
What kind of lawyer would let his client write something so ridiculous like this?

At 5h, she counted all the flowers on the wallpaper and decided to get up. She got dressed and silently went downstairs. Vicky took a piece of paper, wrote something on it and put it on a table near the front door.

The next moment, she heard gasping and the creaking of floor planks. "Jeezes, Max!" she whispered frightened when the dog pushed his cold nose to her hand. "I thought you were a burglar."

After she scratched the dog behind his ears, she softly left the house. She paddled through the snow and refused to turn around to take another look at the house.
It was a dream house, meant for a dream life. But not her life. Anyway, it was time to go to work.

Chapter 13

Urs stood in front of the window and saw Vicky leave. She was making her way through the snow. At least she didnt had to dig out her car anymore. He did it for her about an hour ago.
He had known that she wouldn't ask him to help her. By now he knew she would rather bite her hand off than reach it out to ask for help.

He walked down the stairs and went to the kitchen. He was awake, so he might as well make some coffee. Suddenly he saw something white. It was a note. That was something he didnt expect to find!

"You can't always get what you want. Didn't The Rolling Stones sing that? You're a wonderful host, Bühler. Tell the people of the good cause that I wish them well with the house.
Vicky."

He blinked his eyes and noticed he crumpled the note in his hand. Suddenly he felt the desire to go back in time and talk to Victoria Clarke about the doubts he had back than. But he never told her.
Ok, she was driving him crazy with her stubbornness, her insults and her provocations, but there was one thing he knew for sure. Vicky Harper deserved this house. But she had to banish her ghosts at first.

Urs sighed and went to the kitchen. By the time he put on the coffee, he had his mobile in his hand. He decided 4h in the morning was a little too early for a phone call, so he sat down and looked into some papers he had to get through.

When the clock reached 7h, he dialled a number.
"I hope I didn't wake you up, Mr Harper. But I wanted to introduce myself to you as soon as possible and talk some things through that are important to the both of us. My name is Urs Bühler and I'm going to marry your daughter Vicky."

Chapter 14

That her family didn't take the news well, was an understatement! And that was before she discovered what kind of announcement that disgusting, pig-headed lawyer made to her father.

"I'm not marrying your friend Spike!" she yelled at her nephew Sebastien while throwing a pillow at him.
"Wait a second! I didn't mean really getting married. You think I'm crazy? More like a common-sense marriage."
"Saying you're crazy is an understatement!" his sister Faith said. "Didn't you listen? Vicky has to live with her husband in the house for a year. You want her to go and live there with Spike?"
Her husband Carlos chuckled "That would be quite an experience!"

"A man who is covered with tattoos has got a certain... something." her oldest niece Deborah said.
"True. Something that says he's completely crazy! You stay out of this, miss I-love-my-boyfriends-superman-tattoo! No offense David!" Vicky said.
"None taken." David Miller smiled. What a crazy family he got into!

Seb was still blabbing. "If you would offer him some money, he'd sleep in the garage for a year. No problem!"
The girls laughed about his remark, but Vicky stayed serious. "I'm not marrying Spike so that he can pay back the money you loaned him!" When Seb tried to protest, she put up her hand. "I hate to fraud. I'm not getting married. No discussion about it!"

Everybody started protesting. Why did her family had to make such a drama about this?
"That's not what I heard." her father said, standing in the doorway. "We eat in ten minutes." He turned around and walked back to the kitchen.

"What did you hear than?" Vicky yelled after him. The doorbell rang. "And who's at the door? Dad?"
"I'll get it!" Faith said. In the living room they could hear her talk. "Hello. Who are you?"
"Your guest."
"Come on in."

Vicky recognised the voice. She got up and walked to the door. "What the hell are you doing here, Bühler?"
Before he could answer her, she called her father. Suddenly she felt like a teenager. She completely lost her head.

Her father walked calmly to the door and extended his hand to the man who was standing in the doorway. "Welcome to our house, Mr Bühler. Faith, close the door. Can I take your coat?"
"What?" Vicky yelled.
"Call me Urs, Mr Harper." the traitor said. He gave his coat to Faith who hung it up. "Thanks for inviting me to come to dinner."
"I like having a lot of people around me. Especially family. And please, call me John. Would you like some wine?"

It was like Vicky was frozen to the spot. She stayed in the hall, while Urs followed her father. They were talking like they knew eachother for years. Her nephew and nieces threw a glance at her, shrugged and quickly followed the stranger. They were determined to find out who he was.

Vicky stayed all alone in the hall, waiting until the world stopped turning. What the hell was happening? The whole family around one table?
When she walked into the dining room, she was fired with questions. She ignored everybody and went straight to Urs. She grasped his arm and pulled him off his chair. Without caring about the other's protests, she pulled him with her to the hall.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
Casual he leaned against the wall. "Your father and I thought it was a good idea to get to know your family." he said like it was no big deal.
"And when did you decide this?"
"When I called him this morning."
"Why did you call him?"
His eyes sparkled. "I know it's a little old fashioned, but as a man I think you should ask the parents permission when you're marrying their daughter."
"Are you completely out of your mind? Did you tell my father we are getting married?"
"Calm down, Vicky."
She would have loved to punch him in the face and get rid of that self-satisfied look.

"Idiot!" She stamped her feet. "Who do you think you are? My lifesaver?"
Vicky gasped for air. She scared herself with her lack of self control, but she couldn't tame her anger.
"It's a simple solution for a difficult problem."
He wasn't cooperating at all.
"Victoria Harper." her father said stern behind her. "Urs Bühler is our guest. We don't yell at our guests. And the others would like to start eating."

Vicky nodded. She smiled innocently and made a gesture he had to go first. When she was safely behind him, she let go of her enthusiasm. "We'll take about this, you arrogant troublemaker."
Urs turned around, took her elbows and pulled her against him before she could react. Forcefully he kissed her perplexed mouth. "We sure will, you stubborn witch."