I couldn’t keep it together any longer. I hugged him and hid my face in his chest, tears streaming down my face. It felt good to finally let go, to finally relax. Crying helped. It’d been so long since I had broken down like that.
I had to be strong.
For Declan.
And before him, for Mom.
“It’ll be fine,” he said, putting my arms around me and stroking my hair. “Don’t worry, Sydney, I’ve got you.”
I cried for a few minutes, until my throat was dry and tears would no longer come. I was embarrassed at first, but he was so good, so caring, that I forgot all about it and just let myself be vulnerable.
When I finally caught my breath and wiped my eyes, I said, “Thank you. I needed that, apparently more than I realized.”
He nodded once. “Tell me, what’s going on? I’ll do whatever I can to make you not want to cry like that again Sydney, just let me help.”
I was silent for a long moment, deciding whether or not I could make this last small leap of faith in him. I had only known him a day.
But I had to tell him the truth. It helped that we were on an island, I realized. Owen had said there was no one around in a mile radius, so nobody was watching. No one would know my secrets.
No one but Owen.
After a few more minutes of doubt, I said, “It’s my brother, Declan.”
“Is he alright?”
“No.” I tried to force on a smile, and couldn’t. It pained me to speak about it, as if suddenly Declan’s illness was becoming more real than it was.
Owen was motionless, frowning, waiting patiently for me to speak, before asking any more questions.
I took my time.
“It’s cancer, of all things. Kind of cliché, I know, but…” I shrugged. The tears were clouding my vision again. “I don’t know what to do. I shouldn’t be here. I thought… I thought I was doing this for him. I thought I was on a mission for my brother! But it just feels like I’m doing this for myself. Like I’m taking a vacation from him. I’m being so ridiculous.”
“No, no, you’re not.” He was dead serious, as if the news hit him just as hard as it had hit me when I first heard it. “I think you are very brave, and selfless. It takes balls to do what you did, Sydney. If I knew from the start, I wouldn’t have made you come here. I’m sorry.” He kissed her.
“Don’t be,” I said. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Neither have you.” I looked out the windows, at the beach in the distance, thinking. He said, “Do you want to go back to Chicago?”
“No. That’s the problem.”
“I see. I have another idea, and I’m not sure how you will take it, so… Either way. I really enjoyed our time together. I know it was short, but I feel really good when I’m with you, and I don’t just mean the sex.”
“Although that doesn’t hurt, does it?” For the first time, I could smile.
“Hell no it doesn’t. So, what would you say if I offered you to stay here with me for a while longer?”
The idea excited me, which is why it hurt so much to refuse. I was speechless for a moment, then said, “I’d love to, Owen, really, but I can’t. I have work, and I can’t afford to miss any more days. I have to take care of Declan!”
“I’ll take care of everything. I’ll call your work right now and handle it. And don’t worry about Declan. Just stay here, and I’ll take care of it. I have friends at the Mayo Clinic. And let me worry about the bills. It’s not a big deal.”
“What do you get in exchange?”
Chapter 14
Owen
“Thirty days, all the sex I want. No strings attached. You stay, I pay for everything. You never have to worry about your brother’s treatments again.”
I held Sydney’s hands in mine, waiting for her reply.
I knew this whole proposition was insane, but maybe the island was good for us.
For both of us.
I could run from the DA and she could get a break from taking care of her sick brother.
Fucking cancer, why couldn’t they just find a cure for it already?
Whenever I did get back to the States I was going to knock some heads at some pharmaceutical companies. Young kids didn’t need that shit in their lives.
Finally, after minutes of contemplating it, she said, “I want you to promise me. If you are serious about this, Owen, you have to promise. This is not a joke. This is my family.”
“I promise you. I will take care of it. Will you stay with me for a little longer?”
She nodded and fell into my arms again.
Thank God for money.
“Now, let’s eat some pancakes and then I’ll make a few calls and get this all taken care of.”
She smiled at me. “I thought you’d never ask.”
+++
“How do you feel about boats?” I asked, munching on what was left of our breakfast a couple days later. We were sitting outside on the veranda enjoying the weather.
“You have a boat? What am I saying, of course you have a boat! I haven’t been on one for years, but I’m totally game.”
“I have three boats, actually.” Business had been good. “And how do you feel about hiking?”
“Not right after this ginormous breakfast, but I love it! I grew up outside Springfield, and we used to go camping every other weekend with our parents.”
“They’re not with you anymore?” I asked on a hunch.
She looked up at me, but she didn’t look angry about the question. “No, not for some time. What gave it away?”
“You had that look on your face when you mentioned them. I used to see the same expression in the mirror when my folks passed away.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Accident when I was fifteen. You?”
“Mom was cancer. Dad just kind of bailed after that. I don’t think he could look at us kids. He’s around, but not actually there, ya know?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure what that felt like.
“So boats,” I added awkwardly, trying to move the conversation forward.
“Yes tell me all about your boats!”
+++
In the afternoon, we got dressed and set out for our little hiking trip. I sent a maid out to buy some clothes for Sydney. Yoga pants looked good on her.
Hell everything did.
The port was on the other side of the island, in a small artificial gulf. I knew the shortest route, naturally, but decided to take a longer one, to show Sydney some views. She absolutely loved it.
“I always wanted to get out more, you know?” Sydney said during a water break.
“What stopped you?”
“Work. Money. Responsibility,” she said, and I was thinking she really needed to add: My brother.
“None of those things can hold you back here.”
She smiled. “Let’s keep moving.”
We walked for another half an hour before the trail finally ended at a finely paved road. From there, it was a short walk to the docks. I pointed at the boats under the cover and said, “We could take the small one, but it’s a little boring. I think the bigger one is more fun.”
She pretended to be surprised, “I thought you had three boats?”
“Goliath II is parked in LA. Although it’s technically a yacht…”
“I get it Owen, you’re rich, geez!”
She laughed and I chased her down the dock.
I fired up the engine, while Sydney went to take a look around the boat – I had brought some wine and food for the ride.
A few minutes later she met me up on the deck, as the boat began making its way out of the gulf.
I grabbed her by the waist.
“These pants are hot as fuck.”
She rolled her eyes while I cupped her ass in my hands. “Wait, who’s driving the boat?”
I smiled. “This thing is smarter than me. With autopilot, it doesn’t need a captain. It means I can pay attention to other t
hings.”
“Other things?”
“Yes, like your fine ass in these pants. And the way your boobs are spilling out of that sports bra.”
“Oh well then that changes everything.”
She kissed my lips, my chin, and then down to my neck. She smelled nice, of salt water and sweat, and I began unbuttoning my shirt. The wind blew her hair, and I brushed it aside. She pulled off her sports bra and my hand cupped her breast, with her left nipple between my fingers. I was kissing her chest now, she was shivering with anticipation. I teased her, going slowly, feeling her body. She was a goddess; something to be adored. And fucked. All night long. My cock hardened at the sight of her breasts hanging free. They were perfect.
I had undone my pants, which fell around my ankles to the deck, and slowly pulled down my boxers, letting my cock free. She leaned down and kissed around it, cupping my balls in one hand and grabbing onto my ass with the other. I held onto one of the ropes that stretched over my head. She was looking up at me, smiling, still teasing.
Finally, she took the head of my shaft into her mouth, sucking slowly, her tongue swirling around the tip and along its length. She looked up at me, her eyes clear and full of mischief.
I didn’t want to come just yet so I pulled my cock out of her mouth and laid her back on the boat. I pulled those delicious yoga pants off of her to find that she was more devious than I had realized.
“No panties?”
“Didn’t think I would need them,” she countered.
“Fuck no, you don’t.”
I spread her legs and kissed the insides of her thighs before dragging a finger along her opening.
She was wet already and ready for me.
Good girl.
I went down on her, kissing and licking, as she shivered in the sun. The ocean breeze sent goosebumps up and down her body, making both her nipples perk up. I kissed her thighs, while my fingers played with her clit.
“Fuck, I want you.”
I turned her over and pushed my dick between her soft folds. My fingers latched onto her clit as I pounded into her sweet pussy.
I threw back my head and closed my eyes, moaning and pounding into her soft wet pussy. I knew she liked it fast and hard. I listened to her screams as I plunged deeper inside of her. I slowed down and sucked on her neck, my cock moving inside of her, hitting all the right buttons.
She spread my arms, her hands flat on the deck, as if she was using her whole body to hold on to it. I felt my seed coming, so I paused, and then thrusted several times, hard, until she let out a short scream. My arms went around her neck, and I pulled her up to me as she came, her body twitching against me. Her pussy walls sucking every drop of seed from me.
She was breathing hard, coming off of her orgasm.
“I’m glad you didn’t wear underwear,” I whispered against her skin. “From now on, the less clothes the better.”
Chapter 15
Sydney
We continued to cruise, occasionally stopping by a cove to swim and cool off. I didn’t need a bathing suit, no one was around besides Owen. After a while I went below deck to take a nap. He could handle the boat on his own, it wasn’t like I was doing anything anyway. I wrapped a towel around myself and drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, Owen hadn’t joined me. I was surprised. I could hear him talking, and he sounded annoyed. I snuck out of bed and tiptoed out of the room. The main cabin was cool, but Owen wasn’t in there either. As I neared the small kitchen counter, I heard his voice outside, talking on the phone. The wind carried his voice, so I couldn’t make out the words, but it sounded like it was business related.
I smiled, of course he was working. This was business to him, all of it. But it was still feeling so real to me.
Was there really something that deep between us? I couldn’t say just yet, but it was undeniable that the connection was there. We felt good around each other, we could talk for hours or be comfortably silent, and the sex was mind-blowing! I could imagine myself by his side, spending time on the island or going around town to fancy restaurants and meetings…
This was a nice break from reality, even if that’s all it was. I poured myself a drink, wrapping the towel tighter around my body. I began my way back to bed, when I unintentionally eavesdropped on Owen’s conversation. The wind must have changed, because I could make out whole sentences now as if he was in the room with me. I stuck to the wall, out of view. I wasn’t suspicious, just a little curious and bored, so I listened.
“Yes, and we’ve spoken about this at least three times! You don’t seem to understand, I’m not showing up for that meeting. I have a little something that excludes me from having to go. Nobody is hiding Baxter, but you're stirring up panic does not help.”
I frowned and took a sip from my glass. Was there trouble, after all?
“I know exactly what they want. The same thing everyone wants, especially from me. They want my money, and I’m not giving it to them!” There was a pause, during which he sighed. “Ah, fuck. I knew it. That idiot. Of course, he was. Let me think.”
He could’ve been talking about anyone, but something told me it was his ex-business partner.
“Yes, I made the decision, but that deal is on the company. The IRS can dig wherever they want, so let them, otherwise we’ll look guilty. And anyway, we’ll bury them under paperwork until next century.”
The IRS!
Were Owen’s problems much more serious than he had told me?
Shit.
He said, “Look, if they find that Lawson is laundering money, that’s on him. His schemes were shit five years ago, and they probably still are now. What we have on our side is plausible deniability. This isn’t a tax write-off, nor are we hiding this money. What we need to worry about is the DA sniffing around where he shouldn’t be. When all that went down, I didn’t know anything, you didn’t know anything, and those assholes can prove nothing. If they want to look at our taxes, we have nothing to hide!”
The IRS, tax write-offs, money laundering… Just what exactly was Owen’s business? Was his company just a cover for criminal affairs, the way that shabby bar was a front for Chicago Buyer’s Club? Had Owen really changed, or had he just moved past his former colleagues?
I took another sip from the glass and tried to hear some more, before jumping to conclusions.
He said, “Yes, okay, it was my fault. I might have jumped into their trap, but I’m not the only one in it. No, nobody is going to prison! Look through the papers once again, it’s all in there. All the IRS is going to see in there is an unwise business decision. So, we’ll lose a couple of million, so what? Take it from my salary. Relax, I’m telling you!”
As convincing as he tried to sound, I heard doubt in his voice. He didn’t believe a word coming out of his own mouth, which meant the trouble was real and big.
I drank the last of my wine, splashed the glass, and put it into a cupboard, fixing it in place. I tiptoed back into the bedroom, trying to convince myself I had heard nothing.
But once I was alone, lying in that bed, it began to weigh on me. Had I made a colossal mistake?
Chapter 16
Owen
I swiped off the call and almost threw the cell phone overboard. Fuck. Why was everyone so sheepish when it came to dealing with real problems? My people were afraid, and when people are afraid, they make mistakes. I didn’t want that. Couldn’t afford it. Everything was at stake, and I needed the company to be strong.
I also knew that the only way to ensure that would be to go back to Chicago to face the music. I wasn’t afraid. I could dance circles around the IRS, and if that didn’t help, I could simply pay them off. Wouldn’t be the first time for either. In the last ten years, I had discovered that everyone who had looked into our business had a family. A teenager getting ready for college, a pregnant wife, an elder parent in need of a hospital… I knew all the tricks in the book.
The truth was – I was tired. I had everything I had ever dr
eamt of. All the money in the world, which had only brought more problems. More bases to cover, more backs to scratch, more people to pay off. I was done. I wanted to go downstairs and lie down next to the woman who had made me happy in just a few days. She was the real thing, none of this other bullshit.
I knew what I had to do. It was the only thing that would take this weight off my shoulders, and I needed to do it as soon as possible. If there was ever any hope for us, I would have to come clean to Sydney.
But first, I raised the anchor and set the computer to take us back home. The day was still warm, but there was no sun, and it would quickly get cold out on the water. I put my phone away and went downstairs.
When I walked into the main cabin, Sydney was sitting up in the bed.
“We need to talk,” she said.
Chapter 17
Sydney
I had to know what was going on.
“Yeah we do,” he admitted. “What did you hear?”
“Enough.”
He didn’t respond so I pressed further, what was he really doing in the club that night?
I learned that Owen had known one of the investors of the club for over ten years, and wasn’t especially proud of that period of his life. Apparently, Lawson was bad news.
“Then why did you give him so much money?”
“For what?”
“For me.”
“It’s good for business. He might be an asshole, but judging by the clientele I saw the other night, the club makes money hand-over-fist. What I did, was for you.”
“That’s a lie. What you paid for me was a power play. What were you trying to prove?”
I didn’t want him to treat me like some dumb blonde, I knew something deeper was going on.
He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “I need to just be here with you right now, okay? We both have our shit. It happens.”
I sat up straighter, “Owen what’s going on? Why did we come here?”
Scandal Page 17
