Protecting Her

by Jaymes, Holly

  “Don’t worry, Ivan, she understands, and in fact, she was excited about it. You underestimate Cora. She is very mature for her age. All she needed to hear was the truth, and tomorrow, everything can return to normal again, just you and her,” she said and slipped out of my arms to walk towards Mr. Heffner, who had taken a seat on one of the chairs. She sat down next to him. I watched her cross her long legs. She said something to him that made him laugh, and she was laughing too.

  I didn’t want things to return to normal. This was perfect. It was what I had always wanted, but didn’t know. Siena was charming everyone in the room, in the same way, that she had charmed me the previous night. She was confident and smart and seemed like a woman who had a lot to say, and everyone hung from her every word.

  This was the side to Siena that I always knew was hiding underneath the surface when we were in school. How had I always recognized it? She was quiet and shy in high school, but there was something special about her. There was something about her that made me want to protect her even though she didn't need protection at all. All I knew was that I didn’t want her to be just another quick fuck behind the bleachers after the game. She was girlfriend material, and I wasn’t ready for a girlfriend. Now I knew that she was wife material.

  I was falling in love with her all over again, and this time it was more than just about how beautiful she was, or how green her eyes were, or how smooth and buttery soft her skin was. It was also because of how good she was with Cora, and how I could put all my trust in her and she could bail me out of a tight situation with ease and poise.

  I knew I was lucky to have met her again, and as I watched her talking to the men, I smiled.

  “That wife of yours is something else, Ivan,” Mr. Brown had found his way beside me, and we were both standing a few feet away from the group and watching Siena talk and laugh.

  I nodded my head and took a large sip of my drink. All I could think about is what I wouldn’t have given for it to be real, for her to be my wife. But I knew nothing about her present life now, other than that she was a writer. She was on vacation here, and in a few days, she was going to return to her life, and I would be left here with nothing more than the memory of this night.

  Chapter 14

  Siena

  I knew I was falling in love with Ivan all over again.

  He was charming, intelligent and handsome, a brilliant young man who these investors could put their trust and money into. He was wearing a fashionable charcoal grey tailored suit, with a white shirt and a silver tie which made his blue eyes sparkle. His shoulders were broad and muscular, and every time he smiled those boyish dimples appeared slightly through his facial hair.

  Nobody was immune to Ivan’s good looks or charm. It wasn’t just me who was falling under his self-confident spell. I could see the investors cracking with every word he said.

  Ivan had the numbers ready for them. Every question they asked, he had a figure prepared to give. He knew profit margins, losses, costs, and analysis. It was evident to everyone that Ivan had spent a lot of time researching and planning this pitch.

  From the little that I had gathered about Robert, there was clearly a world of a difference between father and son. And whatever these investors had heard about Robert Lockner, was squashed by how competent Ivan was.

  I wasn’t even sure if I was any help. Ivan was the one doing all the impressing. I was just a catalyst in the corner, keeping the investors entertained whenever there was a lull in the conversation.

  “It’ll be a big task though, won’t it? To get this place up to scratch in a month for ski season?” one of them asked. Ivan threw one of his dimpled smiles at the man and nodded his head.

  “Yes, which is why I need the funds right away. I’ve spoken to the contractors and builders, with a little effort and some overtime, we can have it done in three weeks or less,” Ivan replied. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him encouragingly even though I felt like I wanted to run away.

  I wanted to run away because I knew I was falling for him. I knew that if I spent any more time staring at him, I would be too weak to write that article I was going to write. He had no idea that I was on the job here, or that I had ulterior motives for being so nice and being close to him. I didn’t even want to imagine how it would affect his business, or his investment prospects once the article came out.

  I looked away from him and concentrated on drinking my third martini instead. I liked him, and at the same time, I wanted to propel my career. I also was hopeful that maybe I could earn another promotion and possible that would include a pay hike. Ivan had nothing more to give me other than great sex, right? He had made that very clear the previous night.

  I knew that the next day I would have to leave. I didn’t want to spend one more day here at the resort with him. That would only put me in a position to be seduced by him all over again. I didn’t want to lose focus. By now I had achieved what I wanted to achieve. I had gathered enough material to write an explosive article about the Lockner family business, and it was time that I made a run for it before Ivan caught on to what was really going on.

  “Well, what I’d like to say, Ivan, is that we are all very impressed by your plans,” Mr. Brown’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to find him extending his hand towards Ivan.

  Ivan nodded his head and shook Mr. Brown’s hand.

  “Yes, I agree, Ivan. If there is anybody who can restore Salthill Peak to its former glory, it’s going to be you,” Mr. Heffner added, and he shook Ivan’s hand as well.

  I could feel the happiness and pride bubbling inside me, as though it was actually my husband receiving all this praise. I licked my lips and tried to stifle a smile, as Ivan threw me an accomplished look.

  “And we should probably put our money where our mouth is,” another one said as he shook Ivan’s hand too. I was nearly holding my breath now. Despite my ulterior motive and the fact that what I was about to write about him could change everything that was happening here tonight, I still wanted it to be a success. I wanted to see Ivan enjoying his moment in the sun.

  “Yes, Ivan, we would like to set up a formal meeting at our offices in New York for next week so that we can talk numbers,” Mr. Brown continued as Ivan smiled at him and nodded some more. If he was bursting with excitement on the inside, like I was, he wasn’t showing it. He was good at keeping his calm.

  “I’ll have my offices call yours, and we can make the arrangement,” Ivan said and thrust his hand into the pocket of his pants.

  “Well,” Mr. Brown said and clapped his hands together.

  “Mrs. Lockner, it was a pleasure being entertained by your company tonight, but I’m afraid we should call it a night. We have an early morning flight to catch tomorrow,” Mr. Heffner. He walked over to me, and we shook hands as well.

  I shook hands with all of the investors, bubbling inside with excitement because I wanted to screech and hug Ivan. The night was a success. He had a serious meeting and serious prospects with the investors next week, which meant that he was going to get the investment!

  Ivan and I both saw them out to the front door, from where the receptionist of the resort was going to show them to their cabin which Ivan had specially arranged for them.

  We waved at them as they walked down the snowy path from the house. Then Ivan shut the door and turned to me. At last, we were alone again, and my heart was thudding in my chest.

  * * *

  “Hey, you were great tonight,” Ivan’s voice was soft and deep as he reached for my hand. I could feel myself choking up as I looked into his eyes. I could feel my fingertips trembling, and my eyelids getting heavy. Ivan was like a drug to me, and I couldn't get enough.

  “Thank you, but you were the real star of the evening,” I said and felt him squeeze my hand gently. He was bringing it up to his lips slowly. I watched his eyes as he grazed his lips against my fingers.

  I didn’t want his grateful affections. I didn’t want him to think that he needed
to reward me for what I had done for him tonight. I was still feeling guilty about the fact that I had an ulterior motive for what I had done. I wanted to get close to him and his family so I could write an article about them.

  “None of this would have been possible if I didn’t also have the support of my family, and that was what you gave me. Did you see the way those guys were drooling over you? Each one of them wished that they were in my shoes!” he said. Those dimples appeared again on his cheeks, and I felt like I was going to fall to the floor. My limbs started to feel like jelly. I was beginning to lose my resolve.

  “I’m glad to have been of service,” I said with a forced smile and Ivan leaned towards me, knocking his forehead gently with mine. My breath was caught in my throat as we peered into each other’s eyes. Every fantasy I had about Ivan as a teenager was coming back to me right now. I felt like I could have died and I would have died happy right then. The moment we were sharing was so tender and beautiful.

  “Thank you, Siena. You might just have saved my family and me from a bitter downfall. I will make sure that I explain it to Cora someday when she’s grown up enough to understand. She should know who was responsible for the life she is about to have,” Ivan continued, and I couldn’t say a word. Ivan had always appeared to be the bad boy, the too cool, too hot guy that was out of my reach. That's is why I was so surprised at how grateful he was towards me. I had never pictured him in that light.

  Then he pressed his lips to mine unexpectedly. His tongue slipped into my mouth. His hands traveled down my back, to my waist and then they lingered on my ass before he squeezed tightly, making me jump. I pressed myself to him, feeling my breasts squashed against his rock-solid chest.

  Ivan held me by my ass while he kissed me deeply. This was a less hungry kiss, a gentle more thankful kiss and I could feel myself sinking into it. I moaned, imagining him slipping my dress off my shoulders and pinning me to the front door of the cabin and making love to me.

  I pulled away from him because I remembered what I was here to do.

  Ivan looked confused. His eyes under those heavy eyelids were burning up with desire. I had to do everything I could, to not throw myself at him again.

  “What’s the matter, Siena?” he asked. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as if I could wipe every trace of Ivan away like that!

  “I have to leave tomorrow morning. I’m going,” I said, refusing to meet his eyes. Ivan reached for me again, allowing his fingers to linger on the straps of my dress.

  “What are you talking about? You booked your cabin here for a week. We could still have another five days to get to know each other again,” he said and stroked the skin on my shoulders. I stepped away from him with a jerk. The more he touched me, the more difficult it was for me to push him away.

  I couldn’t allow myself to sleep with him again. If I did, I knew I wouldn’t be able to write the article. I had my one last shot to get away from him and forget that I had any feelings left for him.

  “No, I have to get back. I have work to do,” I said, and Ivan extended his hands and gripped my arms tightly.

  “Siena!” he barked, grabbing my attention so that I had no choice but to meet his eyes. “What’s going on? I thought we had a good night. I thought this was going well!” he growled and I could see the confusion in his eyes.

  “How is this going well, Ivan? I had a crush on you as a teenager, you asked me to Prom and then abandoned me. Now, twelve years later, I pretended to be your wife so you could make money, and we slept together last night!” I was screeching now, losing control of myself and Ivan’s hands dropped from my arms. He stepped away from me in shock.

  “It is all going to be over in five days anyway, Ivan, so might as well be done with it tomorrow, so that we can both just move on with our lives,” I hissed and then turning on my heels, I marched away from him, up the stairs and ran into the guest room.

  He had watched me go. His eyes had scorched my body with their intensity. While I sat alone in the dark guest room, I still felt like he was watching me. I remembered his hands being all over me, and I wished I could go back to kissing him again.

  Chapter 15

  Ivan

  I tossed in my bed, unable to put my mind at ease. This was supposed to be an exciting night. I was supposed to sleep well tonight. I had a meeting with the investors the next day, and I was going to be able to get the resort back on track for the ski season. I wasn’t going to have to sell the business or move Cora to a small apartment.

  But none of those things seemed to be a priority anymore, because Siena was leaving the next morning. I spent the entire night hoping that we could be together again. I fought against my desire for her, trying to entertain my guests with the hopes that after they were gone, I could pull her into my arms and carry her to bed. This time, my bed.

  I wanted her again. I was grateful to her for what she had done, but I felt like my body needed her. Once wasn’t enough, twice wasn’t going to be enough either. I wanted her in my bed every night. I felt like we could maybe make up for all our lost time and try and give a new relationship a shot.

  But she had shot me down. I thought that she wanted me too, the same way I wanted her. When she was coming the previous night, she had looked into my eyes like she was feeling everything I was feeling, but apparently, I was wrong.

  She hadn’t done this because she cared for me. She did it because she pitied me and because she wanted to help out an old acquaintance. Sex was a one-night thing for her, and now I was beginning to feel like she didn’t want anything to do with me. It's like she had no idea how I was feeling.

  When she pushed me away tonight, I thought I saw anger in her eyes. It was as if she didn’t want me to touch her, and like she was better off without me. The only possible reason why she wanted to leave the next morning could be because she wanted to end this as quickly as possible.

  I sat up in bed, realizing that I was covered in sweat now. How could I have been so foolish to think that Siena and I might have another shot at this? But, I guess I deserved what I was getting. I had treated her poorly when we were in school, and now she was paying me back what I was due.

  Despite knowing that there was nothing I could do now to make her stay, I was wrecked. I got out of bed and left my room to go down to the study where I switched on my computer. I was desperate to know more about her. I was desperate to find out everything I could about Siena Jenkins if she was going to be the first woman who was going to break my heart.

  * * *

  For someone who had scoffed at the fact that she was a writer, she sure had a popular enough internet presence. It hadn’t taken me long to find out about her, and what her true profession was.

  I stared at the computer screen, with my eyes welded to the words I was reading. She had underplayed her writing capabilities. Siena wasn’t just some unknown writer who was struggling to make a living, she was the sub-editor of a travel magazine that I had heard of and owned several copies of.

  She had been working there for the past four years. Before that, she had worked as an investigative journalist at a newspaper. She was a journalist, not a writer and now I was beginning to realize that she had knowingly lied to me.

  It wasn’t just an innocent white lie, Siena had purposefully created the illusion that she was a nobody when she held a powerful position in the journalistic industry.

  I scrolled the pages and pages of information about her. There were some online articles that she had written and edited that were available, and I read those. Then I read them all over again.

  She was an aggressive journalist. She covered politics and conducted explosive sting operations as a reporter for the newspaper she used to work for. She had experience and had made a name for herself as a serious journalist. Then she retired from that beat and had taken up a more laid-back role as a sub-editor for this travel magazine. I read some of those articles too. They were about less serious matters, but they were also important. From what
I could tell, her opinion about a business could make or break a company. She had a lot of influence.

  I had already spent close to two hours in the study now, reading and re-reading everything I could find on Siena. My mind was blank, like a sponge just absorbing all this information. I wasn’t able to think straight, and I couldn't wrap my brain around why she had underplayed herself. Was she ashamed of her job? There was nothing to be ashamed of! She was a self-made success story. I was surprised that she hadn’t told me what she really did for a living.

  I thought about that scene again, in front of the fireplace in her cabin the previous night. I distinctly remembered her using the word ‘struggling.’ She had painted a picture of herself as being a struggling writer, why? Why hadn’t she just told me the truth?

  I jumped out of the chair behind my desk and walked up to the mini bar in the corner of the room. It was four in the morning, but I didn’t care. I poured myself a stiff shot of whiskey and gulped it down my throat and poured myself another one. This was quickly beginning to feel like it was the longest night of my life.

  * * *

  She was investigating my family and my business. I figured that out finally.

  I swirled my fourth whiskey in the glass as I paced around the study, thinking about how much of a fool I had been.

  It made complete sense to me now. I had mistreated her twelve years ago, and now this was the perfect payback for Siena.

  As the sub-editor for a travel magazine, with ski season approaching, it didn’t take a genius to guess that they were going to write about ski resorts in their next issue. It was clear to me now that Siena knew that my family owned Salthill Peaks.

  I ran a hand over my face and took another gulp of my drink.