Payback Time Baby
Sabel Simmons
Copyright © 2014 Sabel Simmons
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10: 1499583397
ISBN-13: 978-1499583397
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
MORE BOOKS BY SABEL SIMMONS
Cayman Desires
Love me if you Dare
The Tycoon and His Honey Pot
The Wildcat that tamed the Tycoon
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter One
“Well, son, you surely made your mark! I am so proud of you. When you left the SEALS six years ago and elected to open this Security Company rather than join me at Wade Attorneys Incorporate, I was highly upset and positive you were making a mistake.”
Tristan waved his father’s praise away and buzzed his secretary to get the project team together for a meeting. He turned to his father and smiled grimly. It was always a large point of discontent between them; the fact that he was a qualified and registered attorney, but preferred not to practice when he left the SEALS.
Tristan Wade was a hardened ex SEAL who started his own highly sought after Security Company. After seven years in the Navy, he decided he had enough of putting his life and that of his team in danger for Government missions. He sought fulfillment, the SEALS couldn’t give it to him anymore. He was a hard man, had little time for niceties in life and he took what he wanted, when he wanted it, even woman. That was if he had any interest to. He learned early on that love was fickle and promised himself never to trust another, open his heart or give love again. He was a public figure as his company and his services were highly sought after. They built and designed security systems and protocols for Corporate Companies, the White House, Government and protected royalties, presidents, movie stars, singers, authors, you name it; they sought him out, at top dollar.
His father’s eyebrow rose. “You seem surprised? I am man enough to admit I was wrong and I mean it. There is no one prouder than I am today of what you have achieved over such a short period of time.”
A shadow passed over the steel grey eyes and John Wade sighed. He wondered more and more if he hadn’t made a colossal mistake all those years ago. His voice was soft and the concern clearly visible in his tone.
“You still think of her, don’t you?”
Tristan’s eyes turned silver and cold as the upcoming winter, he swung away to stand in front of the window and stared down at the lush park far below.
“Only to remind myself how fickle women are,” he hissed, his voice hoarse and thick, either to belie the passionate statement or to augment attestation to his declaration.
The arrival of the project team prevented any further exploration of his son’s true feelings and John left soon thereafter.
Tristan turned to the six people gathered around the oval conference table on the one side of his office and he sauntered over, a broad smile on his face.
“Well team, guess what time of the year it is?”
Six suggestions bombarded him immediately and his heart warned at the eagerness and constant energy exuded by this team. No project was too big or daunting for them and they pulled the rabbit out of the hat every single time. He held up his hands, laughing at some of the silly suggestions they threw at him.
‘I am surprised that I have to inform you of this every year! You should know by now we would be awarded this contract again. It is the Walt Disney Charity ball in three months’ time in Los Angeles.”
He lifted his brows questioningly at them and they all stared at him with blank looks on their faces. He frowned and glared at Walt, the Project leader. He started laughing at Tristan’s expression and his eyes turned blacker.
“You better start talking, Walt. My patience is rapidly diminishing!”
Shirley, the base controller on these projects chuckled and linking her computer to the massive TV screen on the wall, smiled prudently at him.
“You better tell him, Walt, before he fires the lot of us!” Walt turned to Tristan, still chuckling.
“Of course we already knew we would get the contract again, but it has always been your pet project, so we didn’t want to spoil your announcement.”
His frown darkened his face for a split second longer and then his face relaxed in a smile.
“I guess you are right. I also guess you already have a project plan for me?”
“Jip … Shirley?”
Shirley opened the presentation they prepared and for the next hour he was entranced by their efficiency. Almost every aspect of the project had been planned and catered for and he felt the pride swell in his heart.
“There are only a few minor details we need to set the final aspects of the project in place, before we can set all the timelines and resources we might need. Firstly, the venue, how many guests are expected and which celebrities need additional security,” said Walt as he finished the presentation.
“As always, the usual movie stars, singers, politicians, this year though, the American President will be attending so we need to collude with his security detail as well. There is one singer who has not been to the prior two events and they expect a rowdy crowd outside to see her arrive, which we also need to plan for.”
“Who?”
Everyone sat forward. They loved this part of the job, rubbing shoulders with all the famous celebs on a number of their projects, especially if they were lucky enough to meet some of them.
“Purple Pearl.”
His body tightened just mentioning her name and cursed under his breath. Lord knew why just mentioning the masked singers’ name caused his body to react with a painful arousal, as it did every damn time she appeared on television in a music video or a live show.
“What! OMG this is going to be a big one! She never performs on any public shows. She has not even accepted any of her awards personally over the past three years, and she got at least three or four every year. I have to be there! Please, Boss. You have to put me on the floor!”
“Me too!”
“And me!”
Tristan shook his head. “You sound like a bunch of groupies! Get hold of yourselves and get on with the job. I want a feedback meeting scheduled every Monday morning, Shirley and Walt; I want to attend the meeting with the President’s Security detail.”
They shuffled out of his office one after the other, mumbling and he grinned when he overheard some of the mumbles.
“Clearly he has no idea who she is.”
“Wonder if he has ever seen a music video of her?”
“Imagine meeting her face to face … those purple eyes of hers. I would die for them!”
He snorted and couldn’t prevent the cynical remark, “Which are nothing other than colored contact lenses. You do know that of course?”
They speared a glance at him, clearly annoyed with him, Boss or not.
“No matter, it still grabs you … you’re just a spoil sport, Boss. I hope she snubs you when you meet her!”
He burst out laughin
g and his confidence spoke for itself when he said, “Hardly Shirley, I’m pretty hard to miss … or to be snubbed at …”
Adonis as he was, he was hard to miss. He was big, all over, big hands, big feet and big, well-formed muscles without appearing bulky. He was close to six feet three; bore his bulk confidently and with ease. His skin was naturally dark and always seemed suntanned. His hair was near black and worn slightly longer nowadays. It was combed to fall negligently back and curled slightly in his neck. His dark looks complimented his steely grey eyes circled with naturally thick and long eyelashes, straight black eyebrows and a strong, square jaw with a wide thin lipped mouth. It was a face and a body that turned faces and drew stares wherever he went.
Tristan stood motionlessly at his usual pondering spot in front of the window in his office, staring with empty eyes out towards the black night. The thousands of flickering lights broke the bleakness of the night. His father’s question brought back memories he tried to forget for four years.
Starting a new business from the ground up, was hard work, especially in an Industry wrought with corruption as well as a highly competitive market in New York. He was already thirty at the time and the company started slow, when he met her two months in the second year of his business. She took his breath away; he lost his heart for the first time in his life and believed she felt the same way. They were happy and he put a ring on her finger eight months later, setting their wedding date for four months after that.
Two weeks after that she disappeared. What angered him the most was how she did it. She did not face or speak to him herself; no, she took the cowards way out and informed him by way of a typed letter. Claiming she needed more out of life than turning over coins for a dream, built on his Navy muscles that were taking too long to get there.
He smirked. Her parents were of course upper class, old money; however they never spoilt their children. They had to work hard to gain their respect and never got anything for free. Which was why her letter didn’t make sense; money never meant anything to her.
Tristan’s family also had money, but he wanted none of it and used his own resources to get where he was, and it was substantial in their own right. He made top dollar as the Head Commander of the elite SEALS team and whilst in the Navy, he had no use for it, he also had his inheritance from his grandfather that he refused to touch … so if he wanted to, he wouldn’t have had to turn pennies when he started, but he wanted to do it right, and he did. Today, even without his inheritance, he could buy out the Seagers family many times over.
She turned him into a cold man, taught him to hate. For the past four years he was ruthless in pursuing his dream, to build his company to be the most sought after, to show her he was more than Navy muscle. He achieved it within two years after the day she left.
Fat good it did him when she disappeared off the face of the earth; he would know - he searched for her for four years, to force her to look into his eyes and tell him why she left. He would never believe it was because he chose to use money sparingly; she knew his family and he had wealth and to this day, he still believed it must have been another man. He was still searching – one day, he would find her and she would pay.
Chapter Two
He stood at the main entrance just outside the swivel doors, watching the good people of Las Vegas gathering on the other side of the barriers. They were set up to keep them away from the celebrities, politicians and of course the American President.
Dressed in a black tux with a black shirt and a silver tie, he was ruggedly handsome and drew eyes to him from the moment he took a lazy stance there. He kept a vigil watch for anything suspicious and listened to the constant reports sounding in his earpiece. He was tuned in to his whole team, so it was on a soft setting and he only increased it when there were any issues that concerned him.
He watched the celebrity arrivals and greeted and chatted with many whom recognized him. The warning came that the President arrived and the team responsible for the additional security walked up and spread out, to offer their muscle to that of the President’s detail. The President was greeted with the usual respect and exuberance and he greeted Tristan warmly when he reached him.
“We were very impressed with the security detail enhancements you assisted us with at the White House, Tristan. I would like to have a further chat to you soon. There are some Governmental issues we need to secure better.”
Tristan was surprised when he was approached a year ago by the White House for the job, not about the job, but that the President attended the meeting as well as progress meetings in between. He turned out to be quite hands on and won Tristan’s respect even more.
Tristan personally walked them inside and was soon back at the outside entrance, shaking his head at all the glamour and pretense.
He was not one to be impressed by all the glam and glitter even though he had many friends in the entertainment industry, having done work for them and ended up being friends. One of his best friends were one of the top actors in the world, Shane North and the other a congressmen, Damien Ratcliff. They were school buddies and joined the Navy SEALS together after Varsity.
“Our Purple lady is next guys. Perk up, from the buzz in the crowd, it is why they are here. Expect some jumpers.”
He grimaced and was still slightly annoyed. Purple Pearl was the only one of all the entertainers that did not arrive for the dress rehearsal. With the result that they never got to give them the run down on the dos and don’ts.
The Security team took up additional cover around the vehicle and on either side of the red carpet when a black four by four limousine pulled up and three men and two women got out. The crowd went crazy when they recognized the band and some of the young girls standing at the barriers screamed hysterically, their hands reaching towards the vehicle. One or two tried to get past the guards, eager for the final occupant to alight.
He heard Purple Pearl being shouted and stiffened in anticipation. He was not a music expert, but enjoyed rock, pop and even some classical music. Purple Pearl shot to fame three years ago. Some called her the alluring and elusive pearl. No one knew anything about her, apart from the music she made. He held his breath - she was also the only female he has ever had a hard-on for, by only watching her alluring and sexy moves on television. The only female apart from … her … to hold such a sexual attraction to him.
She got out of the limousine and there was a collective gasp from the people standing close, then screams and cries that followed her all the way up the carpet. As they neared his spot the two women in front of her walked on ahead and his erection slammed against his pants. He stiffened and his silver gaze slowly stroked down her body. Not dressed in her usual performance get-up, she was molded in a tight fitting, dark purple dress that hugged every curve. It caressed her frame all the way from her beautiful and bountiful breasts over her tight stomach, curved hips and down her long legs that ended in a pair of silver high heeled sandals. Her toes were painted purple and his breath froze as she took another step. He watched the most beautifully shaped, lean leg step forward, the slit opening and revealing it from thigh to heel.
She faltered and his eyes shot up and caught hers in his. Her purple eyes flared when they met his. She seemed to be frozen on the spot, her whole body as tight as a wire. Her long black hair, with the single purple highlighted streak, was loose and curled around her breasts. He often wondered if it was also a wig. She sometimes had purple hair with black highlights.
One of the men clasped her arm and they walked on. Her eyes remained glued to his until she went past him and were forced to release him. He felt bereft and … confused. Seriously frustrated as his arousal now throbbed strongly against his pants. It has been … good God four years since he has been with a woman … since her! The one time he got close he was as drunk as a skunk, soon after she left, but even the liquor could not push him that far. Casual sex was not for him. Since then, he was too busy and never met anyone he had any real desire to get invo
lved with.
The event was a huge success with no problems or security concerns, yet Tristan and his team did not relax their vigil. He stood by Damien and Shane, ribbing each other laughing at one of Shane’s dry jokes when his eyes caught hers across the distance. She didn’t look away and he felt the now familiar tightening in his pants.
Shane ribbed him and he swung his elbow at him, but he laughingly jumped out of the way. His eyes searched hers again, but her attention has turned to the man by her side. From that point forward his eyes caught and held hers often, surprised at her boldness to return his stares, especially in light of her vehement protection of her privacy.
Purple Pearl took the stage and she sang her first hit that took her to the top. Her voice singed into his soul, and he was captivated. When she sang the words, ‘I have known heartache and pain. I don’t know if I could do it again,’ her eyes caught and held his and he felt as if he was the one responsible for her pain. A frown marred his forehead and his eyes were trained on her and caught his breath when she sang to him again, I want to know what love is, I know you can show me, and damned if he didn’t want to do just that.
Two hours later he went to the second floor, looking for one of his guards that had something to report when she came around a corner ahead of him, walking in his direction. Both froze and stood staring at each other. She still wore her mask. He stalked closer slowly. She glanced briefly to the door on her left. When he was a few steps away from her, she reached out her hand, opened the door and retreated inside, her eyes still holding his captive.
He followed her in and noticed it was the janitor’s office in passing. He slammed the door shut behind him and before he could search for a light in the suddenly pitch black room; his arms were filled by woman.
A woman that caressed her hands over his chest, stroked his muscled planes to close around his neck and her fingers curled tightly in his hair. She drew herself closer and lifted on her toes to reach his lips. Her warm breath caressed his lips before her tongue stroked slowly and feather soft over the outline. His arms hauled her tight against him and his mouth opened over hers, his tongue surging deep. She moaned and answered every rough and hard demand of his tongue, his mouth and his hands on her body.
Payback Time, Baby Page 1
