by Marie Kelly
“Sorry, Business to deal with. I will be back before 3. I have organised for us to return to the island after that. All the facilities of the hotel are at your disposal, just pick up the phone and enjoy. Craig x”
Picking up the phone she had ordered breakfast adding another couple of surprise items to her order which she was informed would be no problem. Then slipping into the shower she had replayed their lovemaking of the previous evening feeling her heart beating faster remembering the look in his eyes, as gentle as they had been just before. Yes she thought unhappily to herself, just before he had dumped her with not even a word of what was coming, at least this time she knew when it would be all over. Looking through the wardrobe with its assortment of clothes she had decided upon a pair of white quarter length trousers with a light blue cotton halter top which showed of her smooth shoulders, as she clipped her hair away from her face with matching clips.
Kira had then made her phone call, enjoying the conversation on the other end. She always felt happier after those calls and with her spirits once more raised she finished the small breakfast containing fruit and tea before picking up the pass key, and flip pad and pens which had been sent up with the food and moved to the lift. She had then happily wandering around the large hotel admiring the sheer opulence of the building before returning to the foyer to seat herself in one of the large comfortable chairs which covered the area. Pulling the paper onto her lap she had began to sketch a small statue which stood above the magnificent entrance doors.
This was the scene which met Craig as he moved back into the cool entrance of the hotel. Wearing a dark suit, the jacket of which he carried casually thrown over his shoulder, a white shirt and blue tie, which had been pulled down hastily to release the top button of his shirt he had strode into the foyer stopping in surprise at seeing her there.
Her attention was on the paper before her a serious expression on her beautiful face as her hand moved across the paper. He had stepped forward stopping in front of her before she became aware of his presence
“Now haven’t we been her before” he said lazily a soft smile on his face
Kiras eyes flew up in surprise before looking at her watch which read 1.
“Craig…. I thought….I never expected you” she said her large eyes looking up at him her mind thinking how sexy he looked with his tie pulled down and the sleeves on his shirt rolled up to show those strong fore-arms capable of giving so much pleasure.
“Your note said 3” she continued in surprise
He smiled disarmingly at her
“Things went a whole lot better than expected” he drawled before reaching out a hand to help her up from her seat.
“It does mean that things will be happening real quickly” he added watching her face to see if she registered any interest. Kira however had just smiled sweetly.
“Good…how is Paul” she had asked rising to stand before him.
He had put his free arm around her shoulder walking slowly with her to the lift as her arm had wound its way around his waist.
“A lot better.” He said with sincerity before pressing the button to go up.
From a corner of the room a pair of eyes narrowed watching the pair move across the foyer, the man standing silently in the shadows had been too slow. About to approach her he had been surprised as Craig had entered the building. He had scowled cursing his bad luck.
On arrival to their suit the phone in the study had began ringing. Craig had quickly moved into the room answering it. She had watched as his expression had become incredulous his eyes darting to her coldly
As he rang off he moved over to Kira, a cold glint in his eyes
“So Kira what have you been doing all day” he asked her a steely note to his voice
“What’s wrong” she asked in surprise
“Answer the damn question” he bit at her
Kira jumped in shock moving back slightly at the drastic change in him
“I explored the hotel and then sketched” she answered in total confusion her voice a little shaky
“What’s this all about” she asked
“Did you talk with anyone” he asked his eyes boring into hers
She shook her head the surprise tinged with fear in her eyes evident.
“Talk to who” she whispered,
“Stay here” he had said curtly before he had moved away from her entering the study room slamming it shut as she made to move behind him. Kira had stood in the middle of the room in stunned shock. She couldn’t understand what had happened, feeling the tears stinging the back of her eyes she had moved to the balcony standing miserably looking over the wall her mind full of questions not seeing the view as the bustling city moved below her.
In the study Craig sat furious with himself. Placing a phone call he had watched the downloaded video seeing how Kira had meandered her way around the hotel before taking her seat where he had found her. Frowning, and running his hand over his temple, the video had only confirmed what she had told him, as he watched her sketch the time stamp showing that she had sat there for nearly an hour before he had appeared before her, but still the doubt sat strongly in his stomach. He then watched another set of videos in which a man had entered the building hovering in the shadows before seeming to look to be ready to approach the woman sitting in the foyer. He had recognised him immediately, his mouth tightening angrily.
After viewing both downloads he had sat back in his chair his hand covering his mouth as his eyes frowned. Craig was not sure what to think, Kira genuinely had looked shocked, but he remembered how she had deceived him before and he scowled at the memory. Paul was no fool and he had quickly found out about Kira and it had taken him a long while to persuade him that she was not a threat. With a sinking feeling he cursed the fact that she had once more taken him for a ride, angrier at the repercussions for his friend. Neither had met, but that didn’t mean that they hadn’t meant to, remembering how surprised she had been at his early return. He picked up the phone making quick arrangements before standing up he had left the study searching for her. He found her standing on the balcony her back to him as she leant against the railing.
“Time to go Kira” he said
He had seen her jump slightly in surprise, before she had softly said
“I think I would like to go back to Bill now Craig”
He closed his eyes slowly a determined look on his face
“No”
He watched as her head had fallen forward
“I see” she said hardly audible
He moved forward grabbing her arm to turn her to face him. She hadn’t struggled but looked down so that he couldn’t see into her large hurt eyes. However he could see the way her lips trembled and her eye lashes were clumped together where the tears had fallen down her cheeks.
“I’ll give you 10 minutes to pack whatever you want to bring with you” he said more gently
“Then we have to go”
“I’m ready now she said” her eyes finally meeting his with a coldness in them along with the hurt
“There is nothing in this room that I want to keep” she had said “in fact the sooner I get away from it the happier I will be” she finished before moving out of his grip to go stand by the lift. The undertones of her words were not lost on Craig who looked over the balcony with a thoughtful expression in his face.
CHAPTER SIX
The flight back was so different from the one they had taken the previous day. Craig had sat reading over papers nursing a large whisky while ignoring Kira who had stared miserably out of the window her unfocussed eyes not seeing the clouds which passed them.
As the chauffeured car had approached them, Kira had ignored his hand as he had moved to help her in, making him frown.
“How long do you intend keeping this up for” he asked beside her as the car moved off.
She turned from him ignoring his question, until his hand had gripped her chin forcing her head around to face him
“I asked you a question” he angrily spoke his eyes flashing down on her.
“And I damn well don’t want to answer” she had bit back just as angrily returning his look
To her annoyance his lips had twitched as a smile had appeared on his arrogant face, and at that moment Kira had wanted to hit him to wipe the superior look from him
“That’s better” he said softly before releasing her
“So what would you like to do for the rest of the day” he asked conversationally
She glared back at him
“Go have dinner with Bill” she threw back at him
Craig had laughed softly
“You don’t know when to let something go do you Kira” he had said as she scowled at him
“Why are you asking me” she spat back “It’s your holiday….I’m just the light relief…remember”
He had sighed impatiently
“This is pointless” he began before she cut in
“You made the rules, when you blackmailed me to come with you”
Craig sat back in his seat watching her rigid body as she once more turned away from him. His face was angry as her words washed over him.
“Fine have it your way” he spoke as silence fell between them.
Kira looking out of the window felt numb and cold. Her heart was broken in a thousand pieces and she just wanted to crawl into a corner and lay there for hours feeling the misery seeping into her body. She had dared to feel the way she once had about him and once again he had destroyed her. He had used her and then turned the dagger into her heart and yet again she didn’t know why. Kira held back the tears which wanted to spill down praying that she could survive the next few days finally realising how much contempt and hatred he had for her. Kira Black had been hurt many times in her young life, but never as badly as she had been by him, and the worst thing was that she still yearned for him to love her. With a self loathing twist of her lips she blamed herself completely.
As they pulled up outside the villa once more Kira didn’t even stop to take in the wonderful building but moved quickly into the hallway. Stopping there, not sure where next to go, she waited for him to follow her.
She watched as he stood by the car looking out at the gardens, frowning slightly lost in thought before with a small sigh he had moved into the house to join her
“Kira, how about we just forget about what happened this afternoon” he said looking into her eyes
Kira stared back at him in disbelief “there is something very wrong with you Craig” she replied coldly “You are like some kind of chameleon….one minute nice the next cruel and ….” She didn’t finish that sentence seeing the flash of anger in his eyes
“You would know all about cruel wouldn’t you” he said “You are a master of it aren’t you sweetheart” he said his fingers digging into her arms.
“Let go off me” she bit at him, suddenly just wanting to escape into that corner and curl up and let the tears flow
But Craig had other plans and pulling her roughly into his arms he had dropped his lips to hers.
Kira closed her eyes clenching her mouth shut tight. As much as his presence was causing every part of her body to jump with electric pulses of need she felt completely heart sick and held herself rigid in his arms.
Pushing her away from him he had glared down at her
“So its going to be like that is it” he snarled in a low voice
“Fine, we’ll pick this up later”.
Before he had moved past her to go into his study
“I’ve work to do so don’t disturb me Kira….you know the routine”
As the door slammed shut she moved back up stairs to their room, curling up on one of the large sofas which covered the balcony she stared out over the sea allowing the sounds and smells to wash over her until she felt calm enough to function.
Pulling off the clothes from that morning she had changed into more functional shorts and a tea shirt along with walking shoes. She suddenly had a great urge to walk, and looking from the balcony had decided to follow a path which seemed to hug the cliff. Grabbing one of the bottles of water which sat on the bedside cabinets she had left the room
Moving down the stairs silently she had slipped out of the door so as not to be heard by anybody in the house. She had moved past the pool to join the path allowing the warm sun to soak into her weary skin. For over an hour she had walked stopping often to admire the birds which sang within the trees of the lush greenery, sticking to the path as she was not sure if she left it if she would find her way back again. With a derisive laugh at herself she wondered if that would be a bad thing. However, a face caught at her mind and she knew that once that week was over she would have someone special to return to. Her heart lifted at the thought.
In his office Craig sat at the phone finishing the final call which had to be made. Sighing he suddenly felt very tired. Everything was moving along even faster than he had intended, helped no doubt by the many different partners all as determined as him to remove the threat to their communitee. After replacing the phone his mind went back to Kira. Never before had he felt her hold back from him, she had always melted in his arms and he didn’t like it. There was no pleasure in her when she stood like that and he sighed again. She had called him a chameleon, but he struggled to understand the two people she portrayed, one the innocent and the other the schemer. Frowning he stood up leaving the room. She was only there for a few more days and he knew that if nothing else he planned to enjoy her to the fullest.
Moving up to the bedroom he hadn’t found her there, only the clothes she had been wearing neatly folded on the bed With a scowl he looked out of the balcony at the pool failing to see her there either. Suddenly with a sinking feeling in his stomach he remembered her mobile phone. What if she was feeding information to… His eyes moved over to the bedside cabinet on which she kept the phone seeing it sitting there, a small feeling of relief coming over him.
As he moved over to it flipping it open he was surprise to see that she had not locked the phone and was able to check her last calls, all of which were to one number marked HOME. Surprised he checked the number confirming that it was the same number he had on file. Checking the received he found several from the same number to her, but none from any other number. Checking he could see that she had locked out all other numbers but that one. Cursing slightly he realised that he had not checked her home when setting up his blackmail trap. He had very quickly found Bill Thomson’s problem and concentrated on that, not checking further into her own situation. With a grim look he determined to fix that to find out just what she was hiding from him. Shutting the phone and replacing it on the table he moved back out to the balcony. Suddenly concerned as to where she was.
At that moment he spotted movement near the cliff pathway. He could just make out her small figure near the base of the cliff. With a curse he moved quickly out of the room running down the stairs. The stupid fool he thought to himself she should have checked with him before going anywhere on the island, what the hell did she think she was doing. Taking a short cut through the undergrowth he ran to catch her.
The path kept a good distance from the edge of the cliff itself, while still allowing her to enjoy the wild beauty of the craggy landscape. The wind from the water below was a relief from the humidity further inland, and she could smell the salt from the sea finding the numbness slowly seeping away from her as she soaked in the sounds, smells and sensations of the landscape itself.
When she was near the bottom of the cliff, about 20 feet up, she could see the beautiful beach, growing out from the jagged rocks, its golden softness tempting her. Suddenly she had an overpowering desire to sit at the edge of the water soaking her feet in the crystal clear waters, and with a small smile began making her way down.
Kira didn’t even see the tree root until her foot caught in it making her trip on the small path. Her hands frantically reached out for anything to grab onto with which to steady herself. However,
there was nothing and she felt herself falling over the edge. Grabbing the side she had stopped herself momentarily, but dangling by grass she could feel the vegetation giving way. With a scream she plunged from the rock face down to the jagged rocks below.
Craig heard the scream his heart sinking into his stomach as he called out her name. Breaking out of the undergrowth and finding himself on the path he moved quickly along scanning ahead and below to see where she was. As he rounded one of the bends he saw her lying beneath him. Calling her name he could see that she wasn’t moving as a cold vice grip clutched at him. Skipping the relative safety of the path and instead scrambling down from the rocks, more quickly than was safe, he was finally able to reach her. The sense of relief when he had felt her pulse and seen that she was still breathing was intense, but as he knelt over her with real fear in his eyes, for the first time in his life he had not known what to do. Pulling out his mobile he phoned Ben, before sitting beside her gently stroking her hair talking softly to her.
As Kiras eyes gently fluttered open she could feel the softness of the bed under her. Confused she looked around her wondering what had happened. The room was quiet but a light came from one of the bedside lamps closest to her, and moving her eyes to look at it she could see Craig sitting on one of the plush armchairs asleep. He was still wearing the suit he had been wearing from earlier less the jacket and tie, but now it looked dishevelled and dirty, his hair a mess. His head rested against the high wing backs, but there was not that peaceful look he normally showed in sleep, but a tortured tight look.
As the memories returned she groaned softly remembering falling towards the rocks below. She had thought she was about to die and she had been terrified for the fraction of a second she had taken to reach the ground before blissful blackness had taken her
“Craig” she whispered feeling her mouth dry
Her voice had brought him quickly round and he had leapt forward
“Kira…..Oh thank God” he said his voice pained and heavy
“I thought you were…..” he stopped himself looking deeply into her confused eyes