Chapter 7: We’ve done everything
1072 Words
“Mr. Sterling—” The guard protested.
"Was I not clear?" He said, stooping into the car.
“Actually…It doesn't have to be...” She squeaked, suddenly guilty over the whole thing.
"Are you always so kind to those who hurt you?”
Alessa buttoned her lips.
The car drove up the gravel drive to the villa. Alessa got out and followed him inside to a spacious living room with a glass wall at the far end and a cream leather couch. Minimalist bookshelves and a desk in the other corner with a globe nearby.
“What’s up?” Brian asked casually, walking to the wine shelf.
He poured himself a glass of wine and was now sitting on the sofa with a stern face, like he was about to discipline her. The sunlight shone through the window behind him, somehow amplifying his charismatic and elegant demeanor. Like a sexy Jesus, she thought. Alessa laughed inwardly, swatted the idea down, and sat down in the armchair opposite him.
Alessa wrung her hands and squirmed in the armchair. I’m mad, she thought. Asking for help from the guy that r***d you. Yep, you’re stark raving mad. But then, what choice did she have? This man was a major business partner with her fiancé, Jose, she knew. Surely, Jose would have to leave her peacefully if this man vouched for her?
Oh, f**k it all.
She plucked up the courage and asked: “I…I want you to help me get rid of Jose.”
He choked back some wine. “Help?” Her directness surprised him. He thought her more meek.
“Why should I help you?” He said, regaining his composure and leaning against the armrest.
“Help me leave him, and you’ve got a deal—if you were serious, that is.”
She was out of options, he knew. And what’s worse, she knew he knew, and was at his mercy because of it. After all, as the gate guard had kindly pointed out before, women throw themselves at his feet all the time. So why would he choose her?
Suddenly she wasn’t so sure about this.
Brian drummed his fingers on the armrest and Alessa felt her heart beating in rhythm. Like she was a grizzled gladiator in the belly of the Colosseum and he, Caesar, up in its hights, and could at any moment give her freedom or death, with a single gesture.
An eternity passed.
Then, finally, he stood up and looked down at her, hands in his pockets. “Deal.”
She released a breath she didn’t know she was holding and dropped her shoulders. That simple word had let her nervous heart flutter back into place, thump-thump-thump. Then she thought of something and asked: “Mr. Sterling. One thing. I don’t know your name or your number yet. Your first name, I mean, and I only learned your surname from the guard outside.”
“Ex-guard.”
“Yes. Anyway. How can I contact you?”
“You have a good memory?”
She nodded.
He said out his cell number, “Remember it.”
She dialed it and his phone rang. “That’s my number.”
He nodded.
“So, how are you going to help me?” She said, standing up beside him and looking out the window to the sea. “Jose’s insisting we marry in weeks, not months.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you marry Jose, even if I have to h****k your wedding.” She couldn’t explain it but despite everything, she felt somehow safe around this man. So when he said this she felt a surge of affection for this man that she had never felt for Jose, and when he pulled her close, Alessa blushed scarlet, feeling the warmth of his body against her. Firm. Solid. Reassuring. And she flung her arms around him and buried her head in his chest and breathed deep.
Suddenly, he was on top of her. His hands were everywhere. She felt her blouse buttons undone and her dress being lifted up. The man's hand was running up her inner thigh, burning hot now, and touching the fabric of her underwear. His other hand was cupping her breast, pulling at her n****e. His tongue was in her mouth, dragging hers into an erotic dance.
His heat, smell, and strong body made her dizzy.
“Don’t-“ She protested.
His large palm lifted the thin fabric of her panties. He then slid his fingers into her entrance.
“What are you doing... Please – Stop!” She screamed, landing a hard slap across his face. “I can't – leave me alone!” she stammered.
Brian rubbed his cheek and took a step back. “From what I recall, we’ve done much, much worse thing than…” he gestured. “This.”
She flushed and stepped back, arms covering her chest.
“You want my help calling off the marriage, save the family business? Well, this is the first step.”
“No, this is the last step.” She said, scolding him. “I’m leaving now and we won’t be doing any more of this until Jose is out of my life.”
As Alessa went to leave, Brian called after her: “Wait a minute.”
“What is it now?” She said, getting irritated.
“Have you ever been to Chicago?”
“What? No, of course not. Why?”
“Really?” He leaned over, his eyes fixed on her. Probing.
She sighed. “Growing up, I’d only been to several states next to California, and none of them were Chicago.”
She felt his gaze dissipate until he became his usual cool, collected, and charming self. “Good. In that case, I’ll see you soon.” Taking it as her cue to leave, she left through the door, down the hill, and into the dimming twilight.
Moments later Garwood strode in with the housemaid, Judy. “Sir, I saw Ms. Schultz when I came in. Did she come to see you?”
Brian nodded: “Have you got it?”
Garwood handed over a sheaf of paper: “The Schultzs are native to LA and Amanda Schultz specifically was born here and hasn’t roamed far since.”
The girl never went to Chicago, he thought. Then she's certainly not the one he’s been looking for...
- Writer
