by Grace Gervas
"Good!That'swhatIthought!"saidRyanwithabigsmile andkissedheronthelips,whichsherefusedtocooperate, beforedisappearingupstairstochange,andleftsomeminutes after.
Oncealone,Claireusedthevoidtofillupthedishwasher andstayedbesideit,sighing.Atthatmomentshehadn'tany ideaonwhatshewasdoingwithherlife.She'dbeenalways careful,sonovel,andfullofprinciplesthatnotinherwildest dreamhadsheeverthoughtofcovetingsomeoneelse'sman; yetthereshewas,dressedupinRyan'sshirtasifhewasher husbandorboyfriendattheveryleast.Shescratchedherhead thoughtfully,untilshegotanideaandwentforherphoneinthe livingroom.
"HiGena?Areyouhome?"Clairespokeaftergivingherbest friendacall.
Genareplied."Yes,I'vejustarrived.Why?Isthereany problem?yousoundedgy." Edgyisunderstatement,Clairethought."Noproblem!It's just,Iwaswonderingifyoucouldbringmesomeclothes;a casualdressmaybe?"
"Clothes?Why?"Genaasked;evidentlyitwasaweirdfavour toask,comingfromClaire."AlrightwhereshouldIbringyou?" shedecidedtoignorethedetails.
TherewasanotherdetailClairehadoverlooked;evenif Genahadmanagedtobringhertheclothes,therewasnoway shecouldgetthemsinceRyan'sapartmentwasencrypted. Damnhim!Clairecursedbeforeretractingthefavour."You knowwhat,nevermindGena.Thanksanyway!"
"Uh--okay"SaidGena."Butwhereareyou?Itdoesn'tseem thatyou'reatwork."
"Ohsweetie,I'msureyoudon'twanttoknowwhereIam." "Tryme!"Genasnappedinherexcitedtoneofvoice."Are youwithRyan?"shekeptdiggingandClairerespondedwithano. "Okay,thenwhereareyou?"
"AtRyan'spenthouse!"utteredClairefinally. "What?"Genaexplainedloudlythatherfriendhadtoput thephoneawayforasecond."Whatareyoudoingthere?Why areyousayingyou'renotwithhim?"sheaskedinsequeland Claireansweredthemall,vaguely."Youlittleslyqueen!Whatdid youdotomyClaire?Whereisshe?"
"Probablysleepingdeeplyintotheunknown.Ican't recognizemeanymore."Clairerepliedwhilepacingaround, nearthewindowwhereshecouldclearlyseethebeachfromup above.
"Hey,stopeatingyourselfalive!Youdidn'tkidnaptheguy, hecameafteryouwillingly,somightaswellenjoyhim!"Gena gaveherthepeptalkandbythetimetheyfinishedtalking, Claire'sphonewasboiling."Oh,beforeIforget,yourbrother calledmetoday;I'mhavingameetingwithhimtomorrowandI supposeyoudidtalktohim,right?"
Claireremembered."Yeah,Iforgottoletyouknow.Italked tohimthismorningand..."theychattedoverthatuntilhang up.
Backtothesolitude,shedecidedtogiveherselfahouse touronlytorealizehowbiggertheapartmentwasthanitlooked; asidefromthethreebedroomsupstairs,ithadaspaciousstudy, asmalllibraryfullofbusinessandrealestateinvestmentbooks, afullyequippedgymroomthat'sadjoinedwithanindoor swimmingpool.Oneortwootherroomswereclosed,hence Clairecouldn'tseetheinsides,butinshort,itreallydefined Ryan.Tiredofwaitinginvain,shedecidedtoturntheTVon,and lieddownonthesofa.
CHAPTER12
Ryanarrivedintheofficeandhistwoassociateshadbeenlong waitingforhim.Hetookaseatbehindhisdesk,andskimmed somedocumentsHarryhadhandedhim.
"Isee,thisisgoodenough."hesaidpointedly,regardingthe contractHarrywasworkingon."Andwhat'stheemergency?"he turnedtowardsDoris,whohadbeenwatchinghimsinceearlier, withaninexplicablelookwithoutaword.
Shesighedaudiblyandsaid,"I'mafraidClancyhasbeaten youup."
"What?"Ryanexclaimed;helookedterrified. "Wheredidyougo,andwithouttellinganyone?"Doris snappedangrily."I'vetriedtoreachyoubutitseemsyouwere toobusytoanswer!"
"TellmeaboutClancy,whathappened?"Ryanturnedto Harryforinformation,afterdecidingtheladywasbeing annoying.
"Well--"Harrystarted;butwhenDorisgotupallupset, headingforthedoor,hehadtostop.
Ryanbarkedaloud,"SitdownDoris!"
"Idon'tthinkyouneedmehere,sowhyshouldIstay?"she repliedcalmlyandreachingforthedoorhandler. "Isaidsitdown,DirectorMarcos!I'mtheCEOofthis company,don'teverforgetthat!"hesnappedandtheentire officewentcold.Doriswalkedback,reluctantly,hereyes brimmingwithtearsthatshesucceededtobury.
Harryproceeded."Well,seemslikeClancymadeabigger offer,andthey'resellinghimtheland."hepaused,staringat Ryanwhosefacewasexpressionless."IsnoopedaroundandI learnedthey'resealingthedealtomorrow,So?"
"Anditlookslikesomeoneisleakingourintelligencefrom theinside."Dorisjumpedin,oncehermoodgotintact.Ryan threwheraquickglancebeforeleaningbacktohisseat thoughtfully."Whatareyougoingtodo?"sheadded.
"Aboutthemole,I'mlettingyoudealwithitDoris."said Ryan,andshenodded."Clancy!Thatschemingsonofabitch; we'renotgoingtodoanything!"hesnapped,andsurprisedhis audience.
"Ryan!"BothDorisandHarryexclaimedinunison."I thoughtyouwantedthatlandbadly;youpromisedtheboard thatIt'sgoingtobeournextproject."theformercontrived.
"I'mnotdoingit!Period!"Ryanstressed,andnoneofthe otherscouldgethim."ButIwantyoutospreadthenewsthat we'repayingmorefortheland."
Dorissatstraight."Thatwayhe'llalsoraisehisbid?"she asked,andRyannoddedagreeably."Huh?Youwanthimtopay thannecessary?"
Harryjoinedin,"Andthenyoubackout?Butyou'llalsobe inthelosingend,don'tyouthink?" "I'lltakethat!"saidRyanwithconfidence."ButafterIteach himalesson;becausethetruthis,I'dlovetoseehisfacewhen hepaystwicetheoriginalpricejustsohecanscrewus!"
"Wait,youknewthiswasgoingtohappendidn'tyou?"Doris asked."Butthat'scrazyRyan,youneverletanyonescrewyou! Sothenwhy?"sheinsisted.
Ryansmiled."That'spreciselyit!Hethinksheknowsme, andI'llprovehimwrong!"hesaid."Well,ifthere'snothingelse, I'llgetgoing;I'llreviewthecontractathome."
"You'releaving?Whataboutdinner?Yousaidwe'dgoout tonight."Dorisasked,andHarryexcusedhimselfwithaknowing grin.
Ryangrippedthecontract,androseuphisfeet."Something cameupDoris,someothertimemaybe."hemovedoutofhis seat.
"What'sgoingonRyan?You'vebeenactingstrangelately!" shesaidwhileheadingout,Ryanbehindhim. "Nothingisgoingon,you'rejustbeingparanoid."saidhe. "Youshouldgohomeearlytoday,andrelaxabit,you'reworking toohard."hetoldherwhilegivinghershoulderaquickmassage, andsheonlylaughed.
"Firstyoulashatme,andnowyou'rebeingnice?Howlovely huh?"
"Workiswork,weshouldalwaysbeprofessionalatwork, don'tforgettheboundaryDirectorMarcos." "YesMr.President,"shesmiled,astheywalkedbyRyan's secretarypost."Oh,sohowmuchwillyouoffertobeatClancy?I betyou'llhavetopayafortunetogetthatland."shespoke aloud,enoughforthesecretarytohearandRyanlaughed. "What?Ialwaysfindhersuspicious!"sheaddedwhenthey finallygotaway.
"Couldbe!that'swhyIletyouhandleit."hereturned. "Aboutthismorning,didyouknowthatClaireworksfor Starlight?"Dorisaskedoutoftheblue.Ryanscowled,but showednohintofbeingsurprised."Iwassosurprisedtosee herbutitseemedlikeyouweren't."
"Ididknowsheworksthere,butIdidn'tknowshewould come!"Hereturned,anddughisfingersforhisphonebefore typinganumbertodial.
"Isthatso?WellI--"
"Ireallyneedtoleave,seeyoutomorrow!AndIexpect you'llfindthetraitorsoon." "OkayIwill,but--"shestartedandhewasalreadyleaving, makinghersighwithafrustratedlaugh"Whatisitthatyou're hidingRyan?"shethoughtoutloudly.
**** WHENClairefinallyopenedhereyes,fromthedeepnap,she apprehendedthatshewasstillatRyan'sandhewasnowhereto beseen.Itwasalreadydark,andtheannoyingcoldhittingher skinfrombeingunderdressed,wastheonlyreasonforher wakingup.Damnhim!Shecursedagain.Whenshereachedfor herphonebythecoffeetable,itwasoff;thebatteryhaddied, anditwasherfaultforleavingthatmorningwithonlyfew percentageleft.
Tiredofalltheimprisonedthing,Clairewalkedupstairsto Ryan'scastlebedroomandpracticallyruntoburyherselfunder thecoversofhisKing'ssizebed.Forsomeunfathomable reasons,shefoundherselfmorecomfortableandrelaxedinthat placethanatherownhouse;shewasneverkeenontaking afternoonnaps,butshedidthatday,andstillfeltdrowsythat sheendedupfallingintosleepagain,inhalingRyan'ssmellfrom thepillowsandtheentireroom.
Afeelingofbeingwatchedwaswhatmanagedtowake Claireyetagain,andshewasright;Ryanwasthere,he'dbeen therefortoolongmaybe,butthatwasn'tinquestionwhen cametoClaire'soutbursts.Shegotupabruptly,makinghimleap backreflexivelyfromherfurylook.
"What'sthemeaningofthisRyan?Yousaidyouwon'ttake longandlookwhattimeitis!What'swrongwithyoureally?AmI joketoyou?"shebarkedathisface;heonlysmirked,thenrun hislongfingersthroughhishairwithasigh."Nowtakemehome! Idon'twanttobeinthiscoldapartmentaminutelonger."she continuedblabberingwhilegettingoffofthebed,andonly stoppeduponnoticingsomethingunusual;Ryanwasawfully quiettheentiretime.Hewasonlywatchingandlisteningtoher whiningwithouttalkingback;hewasn'tmakinghismockingface either,
andnohintofamusementthathe'dalwaystookpleasure atwhenevershestartedbarking.Claireslowlyheldherhorses andsatnexttohim."Ryan,iseverythingokay?"shecalmly asked,worried.
Hefinallysmiled,butitwasn'treassuringenoughforClaire. "OhJesus!It'sniceseeingyoucalmforasecond."hesaid. "Come,"heinstructed,andforasecondtime,ifnotthefirst, Clairecompliedwithoutaword.Hepulledherforatight embracewhichclearlydefinedthathewastheoneinneed. Reluctantatthebeginning,Clairewrappedherarmsaroundhim, withmillionquestionsregardinghischangeofattitude.
"Um--what'sthematterRyan?Didsomethinghappenat work?"shepried,withanintentiontounderstandthesituation. Hervoicewassoftandcalm."Heytalktomeplease,I'mreally worried!"
"Youare?"Ryanreturned;hiscunninggleamwasbackinto hiseyes,andasmileplantedhisface.
"YesIam!"saidClaire. "Okay,I'lltellyouwhat'swrong."hesaidandtheybothgot comfortablyseatedonbed,withherestinghisheadontoher lap."It'saboutwork;JeezIdon'tusuallydiscussmyproblems withanyoneandhereIamreadytowhinelikeyou."he remarkedandshechuckled.
"I'llletyouwhinetoday,sotellmeeverythingandletitoff yourchest."shetoldhim.Herfingersweredigginghishairina soothingmanner. "Well,I'vebeenlookingintothislandinMontesbyfora whilenow,andjustasI'mabouttoclosethedealsomebastard gotaheadandofferedabiggeramount..."hecontinuedthe restofthestoryasdiscussedearlierintheoffice.Itwasevident thatthelossaffectedRyanmorethanhehadletonwhenhe talkedtoHarryandDorisbackthen;butatthatmoment,with Claire,heopenlyadmittedithimself.
"Gosh!Whatabastard!Isheyourcompetitor?"she snappedandRyanlaughedathertoneofvoice,asifshehad alreadymadeanenmitywithClancy."Soyoualreadyhave anotherprojectonmindforMontesby?"sheasked.
"Yeah,bynextyearMontesbywillbeapartofthe Government'sredevelopmentplan;startingwiththe constructionofsubwaythatlinksittoLisbayandthebridge fromNewland,whichwillpaceanaccessthroughthesea..." againhegotengrossedintodetails,andClairelovedlisteningto hisplansandvisionsofwhathewantedtodo.Hehadplanned tobuildmodernhouses,feweconomyapartmentsandone officebuilding.
"Butyou'realreadyintoaprojectrightnow.Howthehell willyoufinanceandmanageanotherone?"shewondered. "InthisindustryClaire,youcan'tletyourguardsdown;it's onewrongmoveandyou'reout,butitdoesn'tmeanyoushould keepitlowandcontented;Plus,I'mnottheonefinancingthe project!"
"Ohyeah?Andwhodoes?"
"Rulenumberone,don'tuseyourmoneyinrealestate!" SaidRyanandClairesmiled. "What'srulenumbertwo?"sheasked.
"Useonlyotherpeople'smoney!"hereplied.
"That'sthesamething!"sheremarked.
"That'sthewholepoint"saidRyan."Ifyousnoozeyoulose, noonewillsitaroundwaitingforyoutofinishyourprojectuntil theyselltheirlandtoyou!"heexplained.
"Okay,butyoucanalwaysfindareplacement,no?"Claire contrived."Montesbyishuge,withthegreatland,andsince there'llbeaninfluxofnewpeopleainnearfuture,it'sonly naturaltobuildmorehabitats."
"You'reright,butitwon'tbethesame;whenIsetmyeyes ontosomething,Ihardlychange!Solettingitgoit'salowblow tome."
"Myfatherusedtosaythatinanychallengeliesahidden opportunity."saidshe,"Andit'snotadefectbeingflexibleyou know,losingisapartofanygame!Andlikeyousaid,realestate islikegambling;butyou'renotaloser,you'rejustsocareful." sheaddedandhelookedupbemusedlyather."Heylisten,since peoplewillbemovingin,itmeansnotallofthemwillmoveto stay;someofthemwillonlyvisitandleave.AfterallMontesbyis amixturesofanhistoricaltownandatropicalparadiseatthe sameplace,doyouknowthatthere'sanamazingspotforscuba divingoverthere?"
Ryangotuptoclearlystareather."NoIhadnoidea!You seemtoknowalotmoreabouttheplacethanIdo." "Alittle;myparentslivedbythebeachasyou'veseenmy house,Sotheytoldmealotofstoriesabouttheplace.Ialso hadmygrandfatherwhoknowsitbettersinceheusedtobea fishermanandIevenknowfewspotsforeco-tourism.
"OkaymissChallenge,whereareyouheadingat?BecauseI knowthattwinkleinyoureyes,it'sexactlywhatIsawduring presentationtodayandit'sprettyauspiciousImustconfess." Ryansaidandmadeherlaughaloud."Goon,tellmealready!" hecried.
"Ohwell,mypointis,otherthanhousesandapartments,I thinkMontesbyneedsahotel;touristsandforeignersdocome mostofthetime,butguesswheretheystay;inoneboutique hotelwithlessthanahundredrooms,orinsomelocalinn's,or sometimesinfewboardinghouses;thebottomlineis,there'sa need,arealneedforgreataccommodation;aplacetheycancall homefarawayfromhome,andIknowit'speoplelikeyouwho canmakeithappen!"ShespitandRyantookineverydetailwith hisgazefixedconstantlyonher."Afancyhotel,withbestrooms, niceresortsanddiningexperience.Oh!Ilovedhotelssincelittle, sodon'tbealarmed!"shewarneduponreceivingraised eyebrowfromRyan.
"Soyouwantmetobuildahotel?"Ryanretorted. "Iwasonlysaying,okay?"ClairetookadefenseandRyan remainedsilent."Iknowhotelshasn'tbeenyourthingother thaninvestingonafew,butit'sgoodtobeagamechanger,I believe.ThatClancyorwhatever,wouldn'thaveguessedthisin amillionyearsthatyouwouldactuallytwisttheplot,and--"
"Ohthat'sgeniusbaby!"Ryansnapped,pullinghertohis sideinawe.
"Itis?"remarkedClaire,withaflutterofprideuponhearing hiscompliment. "Ofcourseitis,howcouldInotthinkaboutit?Agrand hotelinMontesby?IcanalreadypicturewhereItwillbe; somewherenearthesea..."hestarteddescribinghisvisions andClaireenjoyedthesightofhimathiselement;hewaslikea youngenthusiasticboy."FuckClaire,you'resosmart!Iknew fromthemomentIsawyouthatyou'refuckingsmartaside frombeingsexyandbeautiful!"
"Okay,thanksIguess?"sheutteredbetweenbeingflattered andalittleoffended;butshechosetheformer. Theeveningwasprocessingsmoothly;betweentalking, laughingandjokingwhileRyankeptlyingcomfortablyon Claire'slap,enjoyingherfingersintohishairandbeardattimes. ThatwasonlyuntilRyan'sphonebuzzedandClairelearnedit wasacallfromDoris;heexcusedhimselfandwalkedoutofthe bedroom,leavingherrightwhereshewas.Aboutfiveminutes laterRyanreturned,andfoundClairealreadyatherfeet.She hadalreadywornherskirtback,andtuckedRyan'sshirtintoit, soastoreduceit'slooseness.Withherfigure,andheight;she stilllookedgreatregardless,whenshefinallyrolledit'ssleeves up.
"Whatareyoudoing?"askedRyanwhileclosingthedoor behindhim,andsneakinghisphonebacktothepantspocketat thesametime.
Claireshoothimacoldglare."I'mdressingup,areyou blindorsomething?"
Ryanwalkedin."Iknowyou'redressingup,butwhy?"he snapped.
"SothatIcangohome!Thisisyourhouse,remember?"she returned,similarlyinmanners.
Ryansmirked."Herewegoagain!"heslowlymutteredto himself."Soyouwanttogo?rightnow?"headded. "Yes!Rightnow."sherepliedwithfistsonherwaistasifshe wasabouttoscratchhisface. Ryanstaredatherforagoodwhile;particularlyonher attirewhichcausedhimtostiflealaugh."Youaregoinglike that?"
"Iam.Ryanstopmessingwithme,becauseevenifI'llhave tobreakthedoor,orjumpthroughthewindow.I'mstillleaving thiscoldplaceofyours!"Sheyanked.
Helaughed."Youcould'vejustturnedontheheaterifit's cold!"andfromthatheearnedascowlwhichmadehimpace aroundforasecond,hishandsduginsideeitherpocketsofhis pants."Oh,thisisaboutthecallright?"heremindedandClaire creptasilence."Wellfine!Doasyouwish;ifyouwanttobreak thedoor,goaheadanddoitsinceI'mnotopeningitanyway, andifyouyouwannajumpthewindow,goodluckwiththat!I'd lovetoseeyoutry."Hewhisperedthelastsentencetoherear whilemovingtositonthecouchatthecorner;evidently,hewas grinningdiabolically.
"We'rereallydoingthisagain,huh?Whydoyouinsiston keepingmeherelikeaprisoner?Iwanttogohome,pleaselet megohomedamnit!"sheshouted.Seeingnopositiveresponse fromRyan,shegrabbedherpursetoheaddownstairsforher shoes."IwarnedyouRyan,I'mgoingtobreakthatfucking door!"sheaddedandreachedforthehandlerofthebedroom's, andtohersurprise,thedoordidn'tbudge;itwaslocked.She triedagainbutitstillwouldn'topen.Angrily,Claireturnedto Ryanwhoonlyshruggedfromwherehewassitting.
"OhClaire,"Ryanuttered.Hefollowedherandheldher chinup,forcinghertolookathim."youdon'tgetit,doyou?"he playfullylickedhislips."Youcan'tgetoutofhereunlessIsay so."
Shecockedherheadandlungedawayfromhim,leaving himsmiling."Doestamingmemakeyoufeelpowerfulor something?"sheaskedhim."IsthishowyoudealwithDorisand allotherwomenyoufuckaround!"
ThistimeRyanlaughedaloud."I'malreadypowerful enoughClaire,Idon'tneedtotameyoutoproveit!"hesaid, trailingherposition."AndIdon'tfuckaroundjustanyone!"
"OhIshouldbegratefulright?ThatthemightyRyanStevens hashisdickonme!"hersarcasmwashilarioustohisears. Helaughedyetagain;hestoodupcasuallyandlungedclose toher."Aren'tyougrateful?"heaskedinahuskyvoice,while tauntingClairebycirclinghismovementandhaltedbehindher. Shewasfullofrage,butthistimehadn'tanyinten
tionofgoing physicalwithhim;she'dhadalreadylearnedhisgame,that wheneversheresisted,Ryanwouldpushharder."AdmititClaire, youdon'twanttogoanywherebuthere?"hegrippedheracross thechestwithonearm,causinghertostayput.
"Iwon'tquestionyourdeliriumRyan,soyoucanthink whateveryouwant!"Claireanswered.Shewasstrivingnotto budge,againstthestrongmanwhohadherunderhisskin;he unleashedseveralfeelingsatonceinher.Shewasangry,then shewasnot.Shewantedtomove,thenherbodywouldn'tallow her.
Ryan'sfreehandtravelledbeneathhershortskirt;he playedwiththehemofitsfabricwhilerestinghisheadon Claire'sshouldertoslowlykissherearlobe.Shebitherlips hardlytoblockanytinglingsensationitarousedherbody.
"I'mnotbeingdelirious;Iknowyouwantme!"hebreathed thewordsslowly,justasthewayhishandsneakedalloverher thighs.
"Ryanplease,justletmeleavealready."shepleaded,and felthisindecentfingersfindingthemostsensitivepartofher femaleanatomy."Ooh!"shemoanedsubtlyandarchedherback, inresponsetohisfrontalassault.
"WhyClaire?Areyouscaredtogivein?Afraidyouwon'tbe abletoresist?" "OfcourseI'mnotscaredofanything!"Shebarked, betweenangerandpride."AndwhatmakesyouthinkIcan't resistyou?"
"You'retremblinginmyarmsClaire."Hesaidinawhisper. "AndIknowyou'resoturnedonrightnow!Itshowsrighthere betweenyourbeautifullegs."
"NoI'mnot!PleasestopthisthismadnessRyan!" "Stopit?Youbeggedmenottostopearlierthisafternoon, andyouweresodamnobedient!Whyareyouaskingmetostop rightnowhuh?Don'tyoulikeit?Iwantyoutobegmeformore Claire,I'llmakeyouaskformore!"Hecontinuedwithhisblow jobandshewaspantingheavily.
"I...Iwon't!"Sheutteredbetweenherbreath. "OhyouwillClaire!"Hesaidhoarselywhilekissingherneck, makinghersquirm. "Oh.My.God.PleaseRyandon't--"shebreathedandhe spedthepace;theeffectofhisfetishtorturewasgettingsevere andherbodywasgettingonfire.
Hesuddenlyreleasedhisfingers."Don'twhatClaire?Sayit! Don'twhat?"Hetiltedherfacefrombehindtoseehersaythe words.
"Don'tstop."shecried,andRyanonlyheldherfirmly, feelingherheavybreathing."PleaseRyan,you'vewonhuh?"she turnedaroundtofacehimintheeyes."Justdestroyme.Now!" sheorderedwhilepullinghershirtoverherhead.