The few times they had been together physically left her feeling like something was crawling over her skin. His words degraded her and, at the time, she thought she deserved him. There was something missing and she didn’t even realize it until she met Eric.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight. Claire, we might be strangers, but it feels like we were destined to meet. I’m not just saying that and I mean every word from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “I can be the wind in your sails. I can help you accomplish your goals with no strings attached. Where do you see yourself in five years? I want to give you the fighting chance for success, but I need a starting point.” He could tell no one had asked her what she really wanted to do with her life.
“I’m going to have to give it some thought. I hope that you don’t take this the wrong way, but I am curious about what you would do without the money. Your life was pretty much mapped out for you from the moment you were born. If you had the chance to do it all over again what would be the dream?” She wasn’t expecting an honest answer, but she could hope there was something more between them than an animalistic release of endorphins.
“You’re the first person to ever ask me that,” he said. “I guess I’ve always been fascinated with art. I have my own personal collection which I would love to share with you. My father said I was wasting my time and I was inclined to believe him. I have a creative flair never fanned into a flame.” He had never divulged this information to anyone.
“I have to say, a man of your charisma could probably live in two different worlds. Those hands sizzled along my flesh and I can easily see the artist underneath the businessman,” she said. “I feel privileged to be able to lift the veil to what you desire the most. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Others may laugh at your passion, but I’m not like anyone you know.” She would have loved to be his muse standing like Godiva with her long hair fanning over her breasts.
“I’ve never had a life-like model before and maybe I can convince you to be my first.” There was just something about her. He wanted to uncover what was underneath the charming smile on canvas. He felt a vulnerability and a damaged soul screaming to come out.
“I could be convinced after an expensive dinner to pose for you. We all have secrets, some darker than others. I’ve said too much. We’ve been having such a lovely time that I almost ruined it. Forgive me and it will never happen again.” She was falling into the trap, which she had claimed to be immune to.
“I’ve seen you at your best and I’m not afraid to see you at your worst. Everybody hides who they really are until they are comfortable with the person they are spending time with. I can be hard to deal with,” Eric said. “Don’t give me that smirk. You can ask any of my staff and they will regale you with some tirades, which left them shaking in their boots.” His temper had flared several times and he was taking steps to curb his need for violent outbursts.
“Trust me, you have not seen me at my worst and you don’t want to. I can be very territorial and I protect my heart by any means necessary,” Claire said. “I don’t want to believe that you can hurt me, but I have seen others fall victim to know it’s possible. I can’t stop myself from… loving you. Saying it takes this huge weight off of my shoulders and I can only hope that I’m not making a mistake.”
“Love is the strongest emotion of all and is quite fragile in the wrong hands. Sometimes it’s worth the risk to have your heart broken,” he said. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but you seem to see me better than anyone. If I were to break this down, I would become slightly suspicious by how easily we get along.” Pulling back the curtain was something he was avoiding.
“I do find myself at a crossroads in my career. I make my living batting my eyelashes and whispering seductive things into the ears of buyers. My only concern is how fast I can relieve them of their pocketbooks,” she said. “I paint a pretty picture, using flowery words meant to entice them into buying something beyond their means. A simple life in a shack on a beach would be a nice way to slow down. I can think of someone I would want to take with me and I’m looking right at him.” Love could cut her down to size and she was well aware of the pitfalls of showing more than intended.
“The only person that can make us happy is ourselves. It might sound like a fortune cookie, but you have to wake up and respect the person looking back at you in the mirror. I’ve forgotten how easy it is to lose sight of what is important. It should never be about the money.” The paintbrush was calling his name and there was something natural about losing himself in the moment.
“Talking to you has given me insight into myself. It’s not good enough to have a hefty bank account. There needs to be something else to go along with enjoying the finer things in life. I’ve lost sight of what makes me truly happy. I have you to either curse or thank for showing me what I have been missing.” She was standing at the door trying to leave. Turning and leaping back into his arms caught him off guard.
“I know that I’m irresistible, but this is ridiculous. We’ll see each other tonight and I promise not to stand you up. Having dinner with you is something I’m looking forward to.” He lowered her to her feet and lifted her chin long enough for them to share a soft kiss with promises of more to come.
“We have to stop this or we’re never going to leave this room. I know I started this, but I’m going to be the one to finish it.” Without thinking about it, she flung open the door and ran down the hall without looking back. It was the only way she could leave, a lone tear streaking down her cheek without his knowledge.
He went out into the hallway to see the elevator door close. There was a moment of dread like he was never going to see her again. It pained him to think this was the last time they were ever going to share a moment of sweet bliss.
He was lost in her smile and the way that her body molded around him. There was no better feeling than seeing the look of euphoria on her face. There were other lovers in the past, but he could barely remember their faces. Something about Claire was burned into his mind and was permanently imprinted on his body. He never had an interest in marring his body with a tattoo, but her scent was branded on his skin.
The meeting was set and he was curious to know the reason for the urgency of his investigator to see him in person. It would’ve been simpler to inform him over the phone. He stated emphatically that walls sometimes have ears. There was a moment he thought about canceling. He knew the truth was something he was going to have to face sooner than later.
Chapter Eleven
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news. This is what you paid me for. I hope you won’t kill the messenger. I’ve done my due diligence on Claire Owens and she doesn’t exist before 2015.” Kirk Bethune was known to get the job done with a reputation for not gouging his clients. He dabbled in everything, including dusting off his investigative prowess.
“I’m a big boy and I can take the truth no matter how disturbing it might be.” Eric was beside himself and there was this nervous energy in the air.
“That’s just it and it’s not what I have found, but what I haven’t found. She has no birth certificate on record and no license in her name. I took the liberty of asking for assistance on this one. I have a few friends from my days in the government’s service that might be able to shed some light on her true identity. As far as I can tell, she’s lying and there’s always a bad reason for that.” He had on his favorite black leather jacket from High School, which was a little bit too small for his frame. His hair was thinning and he was well aware of how his youth passed him by.
“I didn’t ask you to go to outside sources. I thought you understood this was a matter of discretion. The more people that know, the better chance I’m not going to get the answers I’m looking for. I hope the person you have asked for help is above reproach.” Eric didn’t like the sound of what he was hearing. The one thing he could never live with was somebody betraying him. It was his personal pet peeve.
“I as
ked you to come to my office because I felt it was important we speak in private. I don’t like to meet publicly. This way I can prevent any unwanted visitors from overhearing. I trust the man I gave this information to with my life and I don’t say that lightly. He’s going to need some time to send her through the proper channels. I’m going to have to ask you to be patient. I know that’s not one of your strong suits.” Kirk had done business with Eric before and knew the money was too hard to pass up.
“I don’t know how long I can wait, and if this is some kind of scam then I’m going to need this information. I won’t confront her with what I know. There’s still the possibility of there being a logical explanation.” Eric looked at Kirk and knew from his expression this was not his personal belief.
“I’ve always been straightforward with you and that’s not going to stop now. This woman is bad news and I would cut ties with her as soon as possible. I’m trailing her to see where she goes. I have one of my associates in the field working this angle as we speak. I’m not doing this primarily for the money. I consider us friends.” The work he had done for him in the past was delicate and had to be handled with kid gloves.
“I appreciate everything you’re doing, but it doesn’t instill confidence within me. I started this and there’s no way that I can stop until I finish it. I’ve gotten personally involved with her and I don’t think I have to paint you a picture.” Eric wasn’t afraid to tell Kirk of his extracurricular activities. They had known each other for years and spent time on the squash court once a week.
“You don’t have to explain anything to me. I’ve been married three times and each one was more disastrous than the other. It’s as old as time when a man feels his heart skip a beat when the woman he claims to love walks into a room.” Kirk knew that Eric’s relationship with his wife was nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
“Of all the people in my life, you’re the only one that I have ever trusted with my deepest and darkest secrets. I can count on my fingers how many friends I have which would be there when my money ran dry. You are at the top of that list.” Eric handed him an envelope full of cash under the table.
“This retainer isn’t for me and I would do this pro bono, but I have employees depending on getting paid. I’m already working with you on this merger to make sure their dirty laundry doesn’t ruin what you’re trying to do. I have all of your employees hacked. I’m watching for any kind of discrepancy in their bank accounts to give you a heads up when somebody is living beyond their means.” Kirk had a few interesting bites, but nothing that couldn’t be explained away.
“I know I’m asking a lot, but this needs to take priority. It hits home when I realize I might be my own worst enemy.” Eric was standing and couldn’t bear to sit down when his life was summarily unraveling before his eyes.
“Don’t worry. I will get to the bottom of this in time. I’ll even go so far as to put a fire underneath my guy. This money will help to push him into action. I will personally watch this woman like a hawk. We don’t even know if Claire is her real first name. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that the likelihood is pretty good. A scam artist worth their salt will want to use their first name for a sense of familiarity.” He had seen these cases before and very rarely did they refute what he already knew in his heart.
Kirk’s office was sparse with only one filing cabinet and a worn desk scattered with papers. There was a computer, but the monitor was old school with a bulky presence. He was still trying to get used to the Internet. It was a vast smorgasbord of information which he was inclined to utilize on behalf of his clients.
“With all the money I’ve given you over the years, you would think you would have enough to have heat in this place. I don’t mind telling you that I’m freezing my ass off. I have thought about investing, but I know you would never agree to take on a silent partner. It’s not in your vocabulary to give up control.” He could almost see his breath in front of his face.
“This office is located inside a meat shop in a back room. I don’t pay utilities and I rarely ever see the inside of the office unless absolutely necessary.” Kirk ran his finger along the desk trailing dust in his wake.
“There’s always a method to your madness and might I venture to ask the reason why you have decided on this venue.” He was asking a poignant question and one he was hard-pressed to understand.
“I have a large Sicilian family and they own these facilities. I don’t normally require them, but they are there for added muscle when things get too hot to handle. It’s a safety net. It doesn’t hurt to be surrounded by family.” Kirk had not shaved in a few days and could already feel the itch from his beard becoming more than he wanted to endure.
“I’ve taken up more than enough of your time and I know you have better things to do than hold my hand. You have my reluctant permission to dig deeper. I get the feeling you would have probably done it anyway without any encouragement from me.” Eric felt a little dirty slumming in this area of town, but the results of Kirk’s work spoke for itself.
“I know you’re not one to take advice, but be very careful with this woman. It’s been my experience those who scam can be the most dangerous of them all. They insinuate themselves into your life and then they leave you picking up the pieces after they are done ruining everything you’ve built.” Kirk got up on his feet as a sign of solidarity with his hand touching Eric’s shoulder to give him the necessary support to soldier on.
“Having you in my corner makes me feel that I’m not alone. I’ve always believed money solves everything, but maybe I have been deluding myself.” Eric could still see her face and the body that had become something of a guilty obsession. The one stumbling block was the reason why she hadn’t finalized the deal. It seemed out of character.
“We’ve been through a lot and you were there for two of my divorces. I don’t need to tell you what kind of shape I was in. Finding the answers at the bottom of a bottle was not a good idea. I don’t know where I would be without you. I owe you a debt of honor I’m not sure I can ever repay.” Kirk escorted him to the door which was a fire exit made of pure metal with the bar across the front of it to alert him to unwanted visitors.
The door swung open on an alley where there was this one tough kid standing in the shadows. He nodded his head and then whistled with his hands behind his back on his way out onto the street.
“I’m always surprised when I come out of here to see my car still intact. I know you always have my best interest at heart. Without your influence, my Jaguar would be chopped up into little pieces and shipped overseas.” He was still a little nervous to be on the wrong side of the tracks.
“I feel that you are my little brother and I have no choice but to look after you. I definitely couldn’t live in the circles of wealth and fame. These are my people. They respect me and they know that I’m usually fair but strict.” Derek had been stationed to keep those with eyes on his Jaguar from getting their hands on it. Kirk saw the potential and knew that Derek was on the rise in his employment.
The kid was like a chameleon and could blend into his surroundings no matter what the circumstance. Kirk depended on him to use his vast network of hackers to be his eyes and ears on the street.
“I always thought it was the other way around. It really doesn’t matter and we might be brothers from other mothers, but we’re still family.” Eric had this bad taste in his mouth and couldn’t shake the feeling that what he felt for Claire wasn’t the truth.
“Keep your chin up and your head on a swivel. Don’t get complacent and always change your routine from the normal. This too shall pass, but it might feel like a kidney stone after everything is said and done.” They may have lived vastly different lives, but Kirk understood their bond was deeper than blood.
“I didn’t save your life to have you indebted to me,” Eric said. “I did it because it was the right thing to do. I still wear the scar like a badge of honor. Nobody really knows what they are capable of unt
il they are put into a position to find out.” Eric rubbed his forearm where the blade had left a permanent scar on his bicep.
“Don’t sell yourself short. It was a matter of life and death. You came through in the pinch. Taking on those five guys was like witnessing a wild animal. I don’t mind saying that I was impressed. You certainly live up to the saying never judge a book by its cover.” Kirk stood at the vigil watching his surroundings never pretending he didn’t have a bull’s eye on his forehead.
There was always someone gunning for his position and would capitalize if the moment materialized.
The expensive foreign vehicle turned the corner with Derek tipping his hat to give him the all clear sign.
Derek looked down at his phone and saw a message from Kirk. It was time to get down to business and to further his education in what it took to be more than what people would see. He was educated and felt more at home with the dregs of society than he did with his own family.
Surveillance on Claire was 24 hours a day, seven days a week with everything recorded for further evaluation.
They didn’t know Nicholas had seen them at the hotel. He was on the roof peering through a pair of binoculars with his eyes squarely on Kirk. There was something about him that made Nicholas feel that they had overstayed their welcome. He wasn’t sure how he was going to inform Claire about this latest turn of events. The hunter had become the prey. Accidents happened all the time…he had to find the right way to make this problem disappear.
Chapter Twelve
“Mr. Jamison, you have a visitor and I have requested that she remain in the waiting area. I know you have your hands full with a conference call overseas. I can easily tell her to come back at a later date.” Eric heard the dulcet tones of his executive assistant.
Stroked by my Dad's Best FriendA Billionaire Secret Baby Romance Page 34
