“I don’t normally give into demands, but maybe this time there’s a way for us both to get what we want. The lucrative contract I was set to sign will no longer be an issue after I make this phone call. I’m not going to do it with a text message. I get the feeling they might be having cold feet. They want to legitimize themselves, but I don’t see my business faring well from this partnership.” He let everything that was being said stew for a while.
He called to nullify the contract. There were some angry words, but nothing that couldn’t be ironed out over a few drinks.
“I heard what he was saying to you and how you could sit there and take that abuse is beyond me. You never raised your voice or gave into the temptation of screaming in retaliation. I’ve heard about your mood swings, but maybe having me in your life is a good influence.” She was giving herself too much credit, but she saw the smirk of approval coming her way.
“I was going to say the same thing about you. Words are sometimes not enough to convey what somebody is trying to say. I promise you from the bottom of my heart that what we have is more than a passing fancy. I could never see myself getting bored of you and trading you in for a younger model.” Everything was starting to fall into place naturally.
“It’s a touchy subject and I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. I’m not just saying this because I need your help with Nicholas. He’s dangerous and there’s no telling what he will do when he learns how I have changed my ways. I suggest a public meeting where we can talk about this without interruption.” She didn’t expect the meeting to go well and getting him there under false pretenses was going to cause some dissension.
“You don’t have to tell me you’ve had a tough life. It’s written across your face. I can’t even begin to understand what you’ve gone through. I have no reference. My life was privileged. I’ve tried to give a little of my worth to causes dear to my heart. We could probably learn a few things from each other.” He wasn’t angry, but he felt like there was still more for them to uncover about each other. They had time, but only if Nicholas was no longer a part of the equation.
“I look back at what I have gone through and I’m curious to know how I have survived. The one thing which has become a saving grace is that I didn’t have children. I can’t even take care of myself let alone someone depending on me unconditionally.” Her biological clock was ticking like a time bomb. She never thought of it often, but the sound of the pitter patter of little feet did make her smile.
“I’m no stranger to doing things I regret in the heat of the moment. It could be a business deal that sours or someone I have taken to bed without thinking about the perception of others. There was a time when I looked into a woman’s eyes and saw nothing but a vacant shell looking back. Those days are gone.” He could hear the sound of his own voice. It made him understand how this woman had found a way into his heart.
“I do feel it’s necessary to tell you that the property you have been interested in has never been for sale. I found out they were on an extended vacation in Europe and I used that to my advantage. Growing a conscience wasn’t what I was intending. I’ve always been a nomad, never staying in one place for too long and for good reason. I have a checkered past and there’s no telling when someone feeling slighted will come calling.” She’d never felt more at ease about telling the truth than she did in front of Eric.
“I had a feeling, but I guess I was just deluding myself into thinking it was possible to be that lucky. If I had been looking at things more clearly, I would have seen how hard you were working not to look too eager. I only have myself to blame.” He wanted to tell her to leave and never return, but the words didn’t make it out of his mouth.
“I’m the one at fault and I take full responsibility for bringing this to your doorstep. If you want to be mad at anybody, then turn your attention towards me. Nicholas has the gambling monkey on his back and I thought that he had control of it. I was wrong on so many levels.” There was no point in leaving anything up to his imagination. It was a relief to tell him the gory details and she left nothing to chance.
“Nicholas sounds like a force to be reckoned with, but he hasn’t met anyone like me. I will gladly shell out enough money to make him leave you alone. It’s a matter of finding that sweet spot where he doesn’t feel like he has been cheated. You might be able to shed some light on a particular number.” He waited and found her silence to be deafening.
“I would suggest going in with a lower number than expected, but that could only end with him feeling like he is left with no other choice. Violence is the only answer you will receive for misjudging him.” She saw his hand extend and she was hesitant for only a moment.
They finally looked at each other and the truth was ugly, but at least the rose colored glasses had come off.
“You’re going to have to be the mediator. How exactly would you like to handle this? I’m a little out of my depth, but business negotiations can be utilized in many factors in my life.” He saw the wheels turning in her head.
“The meeting you request might not be the answer. It would be best for me to bring him what he doesn’t think I’m going to be able to get my hands on. I can cut ties with him and we can wash our hands of this ugliness once and for all.” Everything had taken a left turn veering off course and dangerously close to becoming a disaster.
“You expect me to trust you with a sizable amount of money after everything you have revealed to me? A part of me knows you’re telling me the truth, but another part fears this is just another way to save face. I’m going to take you at your word. It might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” The merger was no longer on his shoulders and he could turn his full attention to what he was blind to when he first met Claire.
“It might feel that way, but I can assure you my motives are pure of heart. I’ve never had a man who I was willing to fight for. I’m a little out of my element, but I’m doing my best with what I have.” Their fingers were entwined and she held on for as long as she could before pulling out of the trap of her own making.
“I’m giving you a blank check as a sign of good faith. I can only hope you will come back into my arms. I know a lot has changed, but the one thing that will never change is the way I feel about you. Claire, a woman like you cannot be found anywhere else. I don’t want to lose the one thing that has become more important to me than money.” He scribbled his John Hancock and handed her something that was either going to prove her fealty or leave him with skid marks on his psyche.
“I swear this won’t be the last you see of me. I will have to lie low to give him the impression there’s nothing to worry about. I don’t know how long that’s going to take. I hope that you can be patient with me and I know I’m asking a lot. I’ve never been this vulnerable. I can give you a million reasons to wake up by my side in the morning, but I can’t give you one to make you trust me.” She saw the hesitation in his eyes, but could also see the love shining through like a beacon for others to emulate.
She exited stage left, leaving his office and finding the staff a little too curious for their own good. One look and she confirmed that many of them were already thinking with a dirty mind. She was thrust into his world and wasn’t expecting to drown in those glaring eyes of disapproval.
Chapter Fourteen
“You were very cryptic on the phone and I ponder the reason why you would want to meet here.” Nicholas was still trying to cleanse the blood on his hands. Getting close and eliminating the threat wasn’t easy.
“I’ve never failed in the past and let this be a lesson to never doubt me again. I promised you more money than you know what to do with and I’ve delivered. This one wasn’t easy and I had to play things carefully. This money comes with it a condition. We need to liquefy this contract between us and go our separate ways.” She could’ve easily made out the check and then cash it with her half of the fortune squirreled away for a rainy day.
Nicholas knew she was lying, b
ut was curious to see how she was going to dig herself out of the hole. Kirk had been very talkative, but it took hours to convince him with necessary torture. Taking his little finger and blinding him wasn’t enough to loosen his lips.
Nicholas was quite shocked, but soon realized Kirk’s Achilles’ heel was easier when he thought about it. Threatening to slice Derek’s throat with a knife was the only way to get to the truth of the matter.
The investigation had led to having Claire’s identity come into question. Once he had the information, he used the knife like that of an accomplished surgeon which brought an end to Derek’s short life. The struggle to break free of his bonds was comical until he heard the chair begin to break under the muscular frame of Kirk.
He was going to leave him with the death of his protégé to keep him up at nights. The torture of seeing his protégé lying dead at his feet with the blood pooling at his ankles would be too much for any man to withstand for very long. There was no chance of survival and his anger made it necessary to put one between Kirk’s eyes. He left knowing there was still one bit of business to finish before leaving town.
“I don’t know where you’re at, but you really do need to give me your undivided attention. This is the biggest payday we have ever had. Pretending to fall in love with him wasn’t a hardship, but it leaves us vulnerable for him to come after us with all the resources at his disposal. We know how to disappear, but we can’t do that together.” The briefcase was overflowing and $25,000,000 in cold hard cash was waiting for him to lay his peepers on.
“I was thinking how this life isn’t for everyone. We are uniquely qualified better than most to know what it takes to survive in this world. I’m guessing your half is already in an undisclosed bank account somewhere where I can’t find it. It cuts me to the wick that you don’t trust me.” Nicholas wasn’t foolish and she would’ve done herself a disservice by carrying her half of the bounty into a meeting like this.
“I’ve never been one to take chances with anything. You know that better than anyone. Have you really forgotten how easy it is for me to make them believe that I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve? I have them wrapped around my little finger from the moment I bat my eyelashes at them. Take the money and leave while you still can. I found out by going through his phone that an investigation has been conducted on his behalf with some unsavory characters you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.” She was giving him the proper incentive to walk away without getting into hot water.
“I’ve already taken care of that investigation. I don’t know much about cleaning up after making a mess. I did take the precaution of leaving your fingerprints at the scene of the crime. You weren’t going to leave, but now you have no choice. Nobody is going to ruin what is going to make me fat and happy on a tropical beach.”
“I’m afraid to ask, but what exactly have you done which is making me feel nauseous to my stomach?” Claire found his cocksure attitude to be vexing.
“You’ve always said that I was never one to get my hands dirty and, for the most part, you were right. I don’t know when to stop when I get too close to the fire. I’m bound to get burned, but I’m not the only one standing in the blaze. Killing has always been easy for me. I always liked the way I feel when I’m conducting business in that manner.” He wallowed in the depravity of watching Kirk and Derek dying at his hand.
“I never signed up to kill anyone. You have stepped over a line that you can not come back from. Taking me with you was a selfish act of a petty man. Get out of my sight and I never want to see you again.” She thought it was possible to stay and put down roots, but Nicholas had taken her paradise out of her hands. It was time to show him this girl had teeth and knew how to use them.
“I’m perfectly fine with dissolving our relationship and I’ve grown tired of trying to get into your pants. It was easy at the beginning, but then you became more selective with who you took to bed. Send me a postcard from wherever you land and maybe I will return the favor. I wouldn’t count on it. I might be too busy rolling around on a bed covered with cash and beautiful women.” He got up and found himself surrounded by a SWAT team. They were wearing riot gear and brandishing weapons that could turn him into ribbons.
“Killing has never been easy…leaving your fingerprints at the scene… I don’t know when to stop…” She was playing the tape recorded on her phone. It was more than enough ammunition to bury him in behind 6-feet of concrete with bars to take away his freedom.
“I will get out and there will be no place for you to hide from me. You fucking bitch and I mean that with all the venom spewing from my mouth.” He was hauled away and he turned with one last thing to say.
He found she was no longer sitting in the same spot. The evidence was hard to ignore and would become the nail in his coffin in the courtroom.
***
They were sitting in his car a few hours later. She had to turn over the evidence to get the deal of a lifetime.
“I’ve been in touch with the prosecutor and your testimony is more than enough. They don’t need you to be there in person. I talked to them and made it quite clear your testimony was contingent on you getting a pass. They couldn’t speak for other states, but your record has been expunged and there will be no charges levied against you.” It was decided at the last minute to change the plans to focus on getting him to incriminate himself on tape. It was only after Eric found out about Kirk and Derek that he had to adjust the plan.
“He has friends in low places and I recognize the need for vengeance in his eyes. I would suggest they throw him in a deep dark hole without communication with the rest of the world. They won’t want to accommodate any such request from me. My name has been on the police’s lips for quite some time and slipping through their grasp for a bigger fish won’t sit well with them.” She was in the back seat with the driver upfront navigating the streets.
“I would love to tell you that I can leave everything behind, but I can’t do that. I can promise to keep you safe, but it’s not something I have very much control over. You have a choice to make and I will accept whatever you decide.” He waited and there was definitely a battle going on inside her.
“I’m not going anywhere and he will have to take you out of my cold dead hands. Come to think of it, I could use some comfort and what better way is there than grabbing onto something hard to ignore.” She released him from the confines of his pants and was stroking up and down with her eyes on the prize the entire time.
“I’ve decided to come full circle and I offered a deal considerably over market value for what has become an obsession. The money I gave you has been earmarked for this property which you have dangled in front of me from the moment we met.” He was having a hard time concentrating on what he was saying.
Her hand was slippery with his juices. They were moving up over the head where it was the most sensitive.
“I see that you’re a man of considerable means and I never want to lose my independence. I can be quite stubborn at times, but I can also compromise when it means something. I sometimes feel like I’m breathing underwater. I’m glad that you are there to breathe new life into my body.” She was definitely bringing him to a slow boil with the head quite plump and showing signs of his arousal.
“I was hoping a woman like you would come into my life. I would have enjoyed it more without the drama, but I will take what I can get.” He was moving with the motion of her hands and using the momentum to keep him right on the verge of going off.
“I’ve never seen you as a Casanova and the feelings you project are genuine. There’s a real tenderness in your eyes and it took a lot for you to understand where I was coming from.”
The car came to a halt and she unclenched her fist from around his prominent organ. Laughing like a schoolgirl, she ran from his pursuit while looking over her shoulders to see that his cock was still dangling from outside his fly.
“There’s no escaping and there’s nowhere to run.” He could feel th
e cool breeze of the ocean and followed a trail of her clothes with her naked body on display from behind.
She was waiting for him around the corner and then jumped on his back using the momentum and her weight to bring him down into the sand. Getting him on his back wasn’t hard, which definitely couldn’t be said for another part of his overactive libido.
“I’m naked and I kind of find it erotic to have you still in your clothes. I’m going to leave quite the stain on your pants. You know how I get when I’m cumming with the intensity to make me see stars.” She was rubbing the head of his cock against the smoothness of her inner thighs.
The shaft was sliding back and forth with enough friction to cause her body to react in the most profound way.
The wetness of her sex and the heat of her discharge along his driving spike were making it difficult to stay in a prone position. He lifted her precariously into the air with her knees bent and then lowered her onto the heated column of his love.
He knew every curve on her body like the back of his hand. There was no hurry and taking it slow was going to drive them both around the bend.
“I don’t need any help twisting you into a pretzel. I’m willing to lie here at your mercy, but you’re going to have to give me a sign that is what you want.” Their limbs were tangled around one another.
Her hands had paint brushed over his body, paying particular attention to his hardened nipples.
“Eric, when are you going to learn that women are usually the one in power in a relationship? It doesn’t have to be a bad thing when you have a woman like me ready to jump your bones at a moment’s notice. I don’t believe that anybody feels the way that I do about you. I might be biased, but the fire in my heart is never going to go out.” His cock had entered into the furnace of her nubile, young body. The juices were coating his inches all the way down to the balls.
“I have a lot to learn and a good teacher.” His teacher was lying over top of him, grinding in a circle and enjoying the flavor of his mouth blinding her to her past.
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