Diana Scott - [Stonebridge 01]

by Hidden Treasure (retail) (epub)

  I'm not going to put up with anyone returning to impose his or her will on me. I think I’ll defend myself tooth and nail, I will scream, I will scratch and I will kick, but no one will violate either my physical body or my emotional body. The past is dead and pulverized.

  I'm not sure if it's that I'm changing or it's just that I hate so much hypocrisy. But what the hell! Marc and I studied together and he’s my age. Or is it that according to her the years only age me? Of course, Jane is going to be right and I will have to begin to distinguish between sincerity and envy. I try better to think of those arctic eyes that lift my spirits and I get to work.

  My fingers ache from so much typing when Mary knocks on my door after hours without appearing.

  “Mr. Bruce Ayers is here. Shall I have him come in?” She asked smiling.

  “Of course.”

  And now what's wrong? She has wanted to chew me out all day long for taking the sweet dream pie to my bed and now she is smiling from ear to ear. I swear I don’t understand her.

  I get up from the chair stretching my black skirt to mid-leg and my tight white blouse, so as to be presentable. It's something formal but I'm the director of one of the most important museums in the country. What other clothes will I use? Of course, with the heels I’m a knock out. I have six inches and the best brands. Heels and perfumes should never be missing in a woman's wardrobe, despite the sad tears in her bank account.

  Bruce enters the door smiling as always. He is my mentor and it shows.

  “Honey, we see each other at last.”

  “You haven’t left me any options.” I answer happily.

  Bruce squeezes me in his arms and the truth is that I like the feel of it. When you run out of parents, you always look for someone to replace them and Bruce Ayers is my replacement father.

  “Anne, I want to introduce you to Mr. Blackman. Reed Blackman.”

  “Anne,” he said in a low voice as he stretched out his hand and looked at me without blinking.

  What's going on? What a bad joke this is.

  “Reed Blackman? You're Reed... Blackman? The old treasure hunter, Blackman?”

  “It’s clear that old man is just an innocent lie to keep his identity a secret,” said Bruce.

  I sit in the armchair at my desk trying to relocate the ideas. I'm confused and I can’t react or think. My mind seeks a logical explanation that it doesn’t find, my body is frozen, and my head seems disoriented. My hands are immobile and a cold sweat runs through me completely.

  “A lie?” I look at him with narrowed eyes to the point of tears, “Are you a lie?”

  “Anne...”

  My mind is disturbed. The confusion doesn’t let me think. Why laugh at me in that way? What is the goal of so much evil?”

  “He approached me with the total intention to deceive me. Did he want to prove that the director of the Stonebridge Museum was such a stupid one? He got it.

  I close my eyes and try to control a pain that surges in my heart and emotional anger to which I can’t give free rein. Bruce must not know how stupid I am. He trusts my professionalism and my intelligence I will not be like an imbecile deceived by a gigolo liar and without any scruples. I won’t mount a scandal in my work place. It has been hard for me to prove my worth as a woman so as to lose it because of a lying bed partner.

  “A coffee?” I ask with apparent calm.

  “For me with milk.” Bruce answered smiling.

  “Mr. Blackman.”

  “Nothing. Anne, we must talk alone. Bruce, if you’ll allow us...”

  “Mr. Blackman, anything you have to say to me you can do it in front of Bruce. For my part if you’ll permit me, and since it seems I want to express to you that I disapprove of your presence in the museum. Your style seems tricky, mediocre and fake.”

  His icy gaze is disturbed by my words but his face as always, is unable to show any feeling. Perfect artist of deception! Reed Blackman, liar and insensitive.

  “Anne! It's not what you think,” Bruce spoke trying to convince me.

  “Is it worse?” Irony seizes me.

  “I'll be by your side.” He stated controlling and threatening as always.

  And shit, you fucking asshole. I get up in a rage and open the door so that I almost tear it off its hinges.

  “Mary! Bring us two coffees. Now!”

  “Yes,” she answered without moving.

  The very shameless hussy stays at the door and eats him with her eyes while laughing at my expense.

  “For today!” I bite my tongue so to not choke her right then and there. Damn you miserable bitch. She intends to hook up with him in front of me and gloat over my stupidity. She can go to hell!

  If anyone in the room had any doubts about her perfectly, rounded ass, Mary solved the mystery by turning provocatively, without any pretense, towards the door. I huffed annoyed but not because she was offering herself as meat in a meat market, but because all this show is for my man. The one that I believed was mine and now he breaks my illusions in small pieces. My heart is disoriented. The feeling is horrible. I'm upset, angry, sad and very disappointed. This should not be like this. Who are you really Reed Blackman?

  Last night you promised things that are buried in oblivion today. I had hopes from a man who took me to heaven and then shot me down with a direct shot to the heart. Was that necessary to hurt me like that? I look up and there I have him again with his glacial eyes fixed on me.

  “Anne, the pieces lost by the world are something that you better than anyone else know how that fascinate me,” Bruce spoke with sincerity.

  “I know,” Bruce doesn’t stop his explanations but he doesn’t hear me.

  There he is again. Stop looking at me like that! You are a damn liar.

  “You know Blackman for his exploits but he is much more than that.”

  “Good for him.”

  Bruce snorts tiredly but I don’t give a hoot to hear the magnificence of Don Perfecto.

  “As I see you are not very interested in his professional career, we’ll leave it for another time. The important things are my plans for the future and that it involves both of you.

  “I'm all ears.”

  “Blackman is the best in his field and a very necessary person for Stonebridge. He will lead the relic search department, direct the expeditions of different pieces internationally and collaborate so that many jewels are returned to their countries of origin.”

  “That idea is very expensive. Do we have the necessary funds?” I’ll make sure that they don’t hire him.

  “You know that I’m part of the group of investors for the search and conservation of relics, so don’t worry, I’ll provide the necessary funds. The museum will not see its funds compromised.”

  “You’ve thought of everything.” I grumble between my teeth.

  “The truth is that yes but I’d like to have your support.”

  “I have a lot of work and managing another department will be very complicated for me. I see it as impossible.”

  “You'll see,” Bruce scratches his neck, “the relic search area will function as a staff organism.”

  “I’m the general director and he should work for me!”

  “The correct word is with you,” there he was with a smiling gesture holding his chin. Damn asshole.

  “Blackman will report directly to the president.”

  I don’t think I can change the livid look on my face, too much is being asked of me. That and the devil’s own face in my office. Things get worse minute by minute.

  “Bruce! I am responsible for the funds and the correct functioning of Stonebridge. If you take away my responsibilities, why don’t you throw me out onto the street and everyone is happy!”

  “Anne, you don’t need to be like that. I'm not taking away your responsibilities. Quite the contrary you will have direct access to the expense account, and to the selection of relics. You will be an essential link. This project would not be viable without your collaboration.”
<
br />   “I don’t plan to report every move to an office worker! I need to move with freedom of actions. The search for relics is not a game,” shouts Reed annoyed.

  How nice, things turn around and you don’t like it anymore? Well, fuck you. Lying creep.

  “You won’t report to administration. We trust in your professionalism,” puffs Bruce exhausted.

  “Well...” he answered finally tense.

  “And then, why the hell do I have to have him in the museum!”

  “Anne, you won’t be Reed's boss, you’ll be his companion in the search for treasures.”

  “What?”

  “What!”

  His gaze falls as much as mine.

  Bruce has to be making fun of us, there is no other explanation. The most risky thing I have done in my life was to learn to ride a bike. Many times I have dreamed of wearing sand-colored clothes, wearing an explorer hat and Lara Croft pants, but from dreams to reality there is a long step, is there not?

  In other circumstances, she would even adore the challenge of going out into the world to live new experiences and rescue ancient relics, but with Reed that’s not viable. He takes my breath away and I would fall back into his arms at his first attempt, or my second plea.

  “I work alone. I have no companions. This was not the deal.”

  The agreement is that you would continue looking for relics but without bearing the pressures of governments or the shortage of money,” Bruce seems exhausted and somewhat angry. “Anne is the best in her field and her company is not debatable. You will work with her or there is no work.”

  It seems that he has you there. Now you’re silent? Take that!

  “Anne, with respect to Stonebridge, you can count on unique pieces in the world. I don’t need to explain to you how necessary these pieces are for the museum. That pile of very scientific but painfully profitable projects that you develop need large pools of money that you don’t have.”

  And that small kick is for me. Many companions would lose their jobs if it were not for this bottom-up investor money. Bruce is right.

  “You will work together or there will be no project. Anne, you are the best at recognizing pieces, and you Blackman, your career as a treasure hunter is incomparable.”

  My companions and their families deserve my sacrifice.

  “For my part I accept. I will support Blackman and his company. I always wanted to be Indiana Jones as a girl, I even bought myself a whip.”

  Bruce smiles relaxed but Reed continues with a long face. “Does it seem so bad for you to work with me?” In addition to being a liar, is he a macho bloody guy? Well look, it seems that revenge is served on a cold plate. Not too happy about that? Well, fuck you again.

  “Blackman?”

  He moves nervously. He is nervous. Does it really bother him so much to have me at his side at work?

  “I agree.”

  “Perfect. Perfect. Anne, I've asked you to prepare the office next to yours. Blackman will need it.”

  “I know. I met the decorator.”

  “Decorator?”

  “No one important. An insipid, insensitive man.”

  His face falls apart and I'm glad.

  “Anne, Blackman, if there are no more questions I’m leaving. I have a meeting and I need a break.” He exhales exhausted as he walks towards the door.

  “Ayers! Dolores comes with me it’s not negotiable.”

  Dolores? And who is she? He intends to bring one of his lovers here? Oh God, just what I needed. Self-esteem red with anger.

  “Of course. I have asked for a desk and everything necessary for her. She will be by your side from day one.”

  Reed agrees. Who is Dolores? Whoever she is, she’s important enough for him to refuse work if she doesn’t come? Surely she is his right hand for everything... and I mean everything. A brunette with long legs and with which you can bed when you feel like it. God, I'm exploding with jealousy, just what I needed.

  Mary comes in with the tray of drinks and the little smile on her lips. She knows I’ve been deceived and she is delighted. I don’t think I can handle it.

  “Thanks Mary, but I'm leaving.”

  Bruce says goodbye and goes out the door in a hurry but Reed stays in my office without the slightest sign of leaving. Mary is dawdling her time slowly waiting for him to leave but nothing. He seemed stuck to the floor.

  It’s clear that we need to talk. I have to face him but I have very little desire to face him. Why don’t we leave it like this? You've fooled me. You win.

  “Mr. Blackman, your office is in front of you.”

  “Beautiful Mary, can you allow me a few minutes alone with your boss?”

  He looks at her mischievously and the fool looks like her panties are about to come off. Damn creep.

  “Yes, I'll wait for you outside...”

  The very shameless hussy adjusts her neckline before leaving. She passes by my side enchanted with the false smile that Reed has just given her. I swear I’ll kill her.

  “Blackman, I have a lot of work to do.”

  “Stop! Forget about Blackman and please listen to me.”

  His gaze is cold and his face is tense with anger. He approaches my desk and I prefer to keep sitting because I don’t trust the stability of my legs. I'm upset but my sadness is greater.

  I feel like a fool tricked right in front of my nose. My pride doesn’t allow me to recognize that I want him so much, that his lies hurt more than it rationally should.”

  He walks up to me, stands behind my seat and extends his long arm over my shoulder as if he were going to touch me but he doesn’t. He doesn’t caress me but electricity is installed between us. Always present. We are two poles that attract and sparks fly just by approaching each other.

  “If you’ll allow me...” The deep voice sounds in my ear and I close my eyes intoxicated with his cologne.

  He presses a button and the mechanical curtains close covering the total windows.

  “What’s that? What have you done?”

  I jump from the seat and I find myself stuck fully with his body that is behind me and he strongly catches me in his arms.

  “I had them installed this weekend. Working by your side is a temptation difficult to bear. The curtains will offer us privacy when we need it.”

  “That won’t happen. Let go of me!”

  “I'm not holding you back.”

  Shit, it's true. It's me who doesn’t separate from him. Red self esteem of shame.

  “Anne...”

  “No! I refuse to talk to you with that intoxicating voice and that you try to make me forget all your lies.”

  “Intoxicating?”

  “Don’t smile. Liar! You fooled me. You sleep with me but you don’t give a shit to lie to me. I asked you, I warned you how important sincerity was to me, but you didn’t care.”

  “And I asked you for two opportunities and you promised it.” He dragged his fingers through his hair nervously.

  “Ugg” I pushed him back and turned around, “you laughed at me! You made me believe you were who you weren’t. Liar! Liar! Phony! Asshole!”

  “No!” His scream disconcerted me.

  The coldest and most calculating man of all has just lost his nerve. His hand moves nervously through his hair and his eyes blur in confusion. It's another Reed, one I don’t know, and how many Reeds are there?

  “I couldn’t,” he moves his hair for the umpteenth time with his hands. He looks upset. “You didn’t leave me another option and you know it!”

  “I? Just what I needed to hear, you’re a coward and I’m the guilty one? Now you’re just saying nonsense Mr. Blackman? Go away! I don’t want to see you again.”

  “Anne Foster, sit down, you're going to listen to me.”

  “I'm not going to sit down. I don’t plan on listening to you. You are going right now. You are not my owner. You don’t tell me what to do. But what...!”

  In less than a minute he grabs me by the legs, he lifts me
over his right shoulder and throws me on the sofa without any delicacy. My ass bounces on the leather and I'm speechless.

  “Oh!”

  His gaze is cold and cloudy. His fists close tight to his sides and I realize that I’m afraid. His muscles are strong, you can tell he trains and not exactly in a Zumba class.

  “I was dying to talk to you, to touch you... I had spent more than a week seeing you behind the glass and I was going crazy.”

  He is agitatedly talking. He tries to breathe slowly to recover his composure, you can tell he is not used to losing his nerves. He walks from one side to the other recovering control while I calm down hiding my terror in front of an angry man.

  “You're not the type of women I frequent.” I frown and he smiles with a small grimace.

  “You wanted sincerity and I offered it to you. You are beautiful and you unbalance my senses, but you don’t belong to the world of the women that I frequent. I approached your office totally convinced that I would fuck you on your desk and then forget you.”

  “And?” I sit on the couch intrigued and somewhat calmer.

  “Anne, you denied me from the first moment and it's not something that usually happens to me.”

  Now I hate him and I’m dying of jealousy again. Just thinking about all those women receiving his kisses and caresses makes me sick.

  “When you thought I was a simple painter you barely gave me any options so what would have happened if I had told you the truth?”

  I look at my knees remembering everything I had said about him.

  “You had some preconceived ideas and I had very little time to change them.”

  He sits next to me and I let him caress my face.

  “Baby, you know I'm telling you the truth. Knowing my last name would have kept you away from me forever and I wasn’t willing to lose you. I was dying to have your body.”

  “And in that, everything is summarized. Lying to sleep with a woman.”

  He looks at me without answering and that silence hurts me even more.

  “You've done it already. Go away.”

  The pain is too noticeable and I prefer to recover in solitude.

  “You ask for sincerity and you throw me away when I offer it. I can’t deny that, I wanted to get between your legs desperately. I thought you were a passing whim but when we spent the first night together you moved my world upside down again. Anne, with you nothing turns out as I planned. Sleeping with you only a couple of nights is not enough.” His hand raises my chin and the blue fire pierces my body.