《Masters & Lovers Box Set One》 Chapter Two - James - Planning Chapter Two - James - nning Richard joins me in the kitchen, peering over my work surface and hob, where onions and mince sizzle with the spices. ¡°What are we having?¡± ¡°Chilli con Carne.¡± ¡°Sounds good. Want some help?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I enjoy cooking.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll rephrase that. Do you mind if I join you? It¡¯s getting a little heated in there.¡± ¡°Join me by all means.¡± I nod across to the bottle. ¡°Help yourself to a drink. Problem?¡± Richard examines thebel, Hmmms, then pours himself a ss of wine. ¡°Um, not a problem exactly. But I think when Michael epted my investment in his spa hotel, he thought I¡¯d be a sleeping partner.¡± ¡°And¡­?¡± ¡°If you recall, I had the investment made in Elizabeth¡¯s name, and she definitely wants to have an input.¡± I pause from chopping chillies as the humour creeps over me. Of course, he¡¯s used to running everything himself¡­. When I invested in Michael¡¯s business, I was a silent partner¡­. But Beth wants to be involved¡­. I chuckle, rubbing at the side of my nose, then immediately regret it¡­. Ahhh¡­ Shit! Chillies¡­. Quickly I wash hands, then pour a little oil on a paper towel. Eyes watering, I dab at my face, trying to rub away the chilli oil as Richard watches in silent amusement. Then, ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want any help?¡± ¡°Yes, sure. I¡¯m all but done.¡± Tipping beans and chillies into the pan with the meat and onions, I glug in tomato puree and the rest of the wine, then p the lid on tight. ¡°That¡¯ll be ready in a couple of hours.¡± I grin. ¡°Let¡¯s see how Michael¡¯s bearing up under the strain, shall we?¡± ***** Michael¡¯s eyes are zing. Doubt in his voice, sitting over a table-top of rosters and timetables, ¡°We¡¯ve never done anything like that before, Beth.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s a reason for not doing it now?¡± The normally cid Beth sounds almost strident. So, she¡¯s a sub, is she? Michael turns for support. ¡°What do you think, Charlotte?¡± The support isn¡¯t forting. ¡°Sounds like a great idea to me.¡± Charlotte¡¯s eyes sparkle. ¡°The boxing I used to do gives you a really good workout. And at the end of it, you know a bit about how to look after yourself.¡± ¡°But¡­ Self-defence?¡± Michael rakes through his hair. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like the kind of thing your friends would want to do, Beth.¡± Beth shrugs, unimpressed. ¡°You might be surprised. Most women would like to be able to at least have a shot at protecting themselves. But somehow, it¡¯s not always seen as something they should work at.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Outrage surges over Michael¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s our job,¡± he protests. ¡°That¡¯s what men are here for. To protect the women they care about.¡± ¡°And if you¡¯re not around?¡± Beth¡¯s look is pointed. ¡°At the risk of stating the obvious, it was a woman who got me out of troublest time.¡± She rolls eyes to Charlotte. Michael holds up outspread hands. ¡°Okay, you win. Self-defence sses go on the roster. But I¡¯ll have to find some extra staff first. I¡¯ve no one trained in anything like that¡­.¡± Next to me, Richard stirs. ¡°Why not use Charlotte?¡± His face is suspiciously straight. ¡°You¡¯d be willing to help, Charlotte, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Michael gives him a hard stare, but our mermaid returns one of her jade-eyed smiles. ¡°Of course I would. What are we talking about? A couple of hours a week to get it off the ground? And take it from there?¡± ¡°Sounds about right,¡± agrees Beth. ¡°That¡¯s settled then.¡± She turns back to Michael. ¡°So, if we fit it in here in the morning¡­.¡± With one long, immactely painted nail, she taps at a spot on the timetables. ¡°¡­That would leave theter parts of the day for the clientele to lunch first, then have sauna and spa, massage and all the rest of it. And we¡¯d get them in for the whole day instead of just half a day. All else being equal, that should bring in twice the money.¡± Michael chews a lip, nodding slowly. ¡°You¡¯ve thought this through, I can see.¡± Richard ps a hand on his shoulder. ¡°You might remember that Elizabeth¡¯s original role in my company was as a trainee in Business Studies.¡± Not just a pretty face¡­. Memo to self: never underestimate a woman just because she¡¯s attractive. ***** Chapter 1: Part One ‘Her Master’s Wedding’ Chapter 1: Part One ¡®Her Master¡¯s Wedding¡¯ A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR ¡®Masters and Lovers¡¯ is the continuing story of Charlotte, her Master, James, and her Lover, Michael. The story is a long one and is still on-going. I''ll admit, it started in a small way with ''Buying the Virgin''. It was originally intended to be a series of short stories of auction erotica fun and frolics, made up of five short stories, the whole story taking ce over just a week. However, Charlotte, James and Michael were a hit with my readers and I received a LOT of requests for ''more please''. The story grew... And grew... So, if you have not met Charlotte, James and Michael before and would like to start with the beginning of the story, here is where to start. You can read how the tale begins, as told from Charlotte, ¡®The Virgin¡¯s¡¯ point of view, in ''Buying the Virgin''. the simple little tale that outgrew its original objectives. Alternatively, you can start the story as told by ¡®The Boys'', James and Michael, in ''Mastering the Virgin''. This is a more detailed story where you learn a lot more about not just Charlotte, but James and Michael too. You get a lot more background and, of course, lots more sizzle and steam. I should also say, that while there is of course, a lot of ovep between these two versions of the story, they are by no means identical. Each contains insights and information that is not present in the other. After these two series, the tale continues in ''Masters and Lovers''. On the other hand, if you are happy to start here, then I have tried hard to make the story manageable for the new reader starting at this point. Whatever you decide, I do hope you enjoy the read. Happy Reading ? Simone Chapter One - James ¨C The Dream Pain¡­. Blinding, shrieking, unholy agony¡­. Screaming¡­. My Jade-Eyes screaming¡­. Blood¡­. Pain¡­. Screaming. My Jade, weeping¡­. With a gasp, I rear up, blinking into darkness. A nightmare¡­. Just a nightmare¡­. Beside me in the bed, my me-haired mermaid, safe and sound, sleeps peacefully. Beyond her: Michael, his chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. Everything is fine. Everything is perfectly normal. But I¡¯m drenched in sweat, my heart hammers behind my ribs and my breathing snatches. The wound in my thigh throbs a slow, heated beat. And for the first time, the memory surfaces, how I took the wound. Corby, his gun trained on Charlotte. Michael, flinging himself bodily at the gunman in a desperate bid to prevent the shot. And looking for refuge, finding none, I seize her, shielding her with my body¡­. Pain¡­. Shrieking unbearable agony¡­. ¡­.. And a fall into darkness¡­. Christ! I check the time; it¡¯s hours after midnight; gettingte enough almost to be early. I have no desire to sleep, to risk being dragged back into that nightmare. Coffee¡­. Swinging out of bed, I snag a robe and pad downstairs to the kitchen. The renovations are all but complete now and the house is cosy andfortable. A couple of weeks ago we moved out of the annex we first upied, but I still haven¡¯t grown used to the feeling of ¡®home¡¯ here. Home¡­. I understand why Charlotte so yearned for a home of her own. Dispossessed for most of her life, with nothing to call her own, this has been Michael¡¯s gift to her, the most precious thing he knew how to give to her. He has put heart and body and soul into it¡­. ¡­. Not to mention a thumping great mortgage¡­. ¡­. Which he can barely afford¡­. But for myself too, it has be home. Divorced so many years ago now, from a marriage which I never understood at the time was so unsessful. Only when I met my Jade-Eyes, did I truly understand what it meant to be bonded with another. And I would do anything for her¡­. Anything¡­. In the kitchen, the homely activities of grinding beans, putting the coffeemaker on the hob, calm me¡­. ¡­. calm me enough that I begin to think clearly about the memory that has just re-emerged. Everyone¡­ Michael¡­ Richard¡­ Beth¡­ has told me how I was injured, that I ced myself in the path of the bullet intended for Charlotte, but it felt like a story or a news report; something that happened to a stranger. A tale from the tv or social media perhaps. This feels visceral¡­ Real¡­. And my stomach clenches at the memory of that searing moment before I lost consciousness. I squeeze my eyes tight closed, trying to exorcise the thought. Then the aroma of the coffee invades my nostrils and reality returns. I take a couple ofrge gulps of the brew I deliberately made abrasively strong, then, mug in hand, I head outside, inhaling sweet steam as I walk. The night is an iced hush; early Spring, with the air cold enough to steal my breath into curling clouds, and with the kiss of frost on the ground. But a golden wedge of moon casts over theke far below, and the water is full of stars. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. And slowly, my heart and breathing slow, and I grow still inside. ***** Chapter 58 Part Three The Sin of the Parent Chapter 58 Part Three The Sin of the Parent The Sin of the Parent Richard Michael appears at the door of the conference room, wandering into my office, musing over some document he holds. ¡°Who was Edward Haswell?¡± James and I exchange startled nces. ¡°Edward Haswell?¡± I say. ¡°He was my father. Why would you ask?¡± ¡°Because ording to this¡­.¡± He holds up the document¡­. ¡°¡­. forty years or so back, Beth''s Uncle Albert was in business with one Edward Haswell.¡± I stand without the intervention of my brain, all but snatching the yellowed paper from his hand. ¡°Let me see that.¡± A smile ys around his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s news to you I take it?¡± ¡°Good God, yes. I¡¯d no idea there was any link between Elizabeth¡¯s family and mine.¡± I flip through the pages, speed-reading as I go. Francis and James are also both standing. Francis, in deference perhaps to her position as my PA, is trying not to seem too intrigued. James, with no such qualms, is simply leaning in, trying to look over my shoulder. ¡°It is the same Edward Haswell, I suppose?¡± he asks. ¡°Yes,¡± I reply. ¡°Just from what I can see here, this is a reference to my father¡¯spany¡­.¡± I flick back to the cover page which crackles with age. ¡°What date¡­.?¡± My mind spins¡­. ¡°At this date, I was fifteen or sixteen at the time.¡± I pace the room, dredging for the memory. ¡°I must have met him surely?¡± I¡¯m muttering to myself, but everyone is listening. ¡°Really?¡± says James. ¡°Can you remember him?¡± I¡¯m shaking my head, as though the movement will dislodge the memory. ¡°No¡­. But I was effectively apprenticed to my father by then. He made sure I met all his business contacts. I must have met him.¡± Then to Michael, ¡°Is there any more like this?¡± He jerks his head back to the conference room. ¡°Sure. There''s a crate-load of it, in one of those wooden boxes Beth brought back. It all looks like business records.¡± ¡°May I see that? Would you mind?¡± asks James, gesturing at the document in my hand. ¡°Of course, yes¡­. No, better, Francis, can you make three¡­. No five¡­. copies of this and whatever elsees out of that crate that seems relevant. We¡¯d better allow for the originals being ready to fall into dust¡­. How much is there of it, Michael?¡± ¡°As I said, a crate-load.¡± ¡°Francis?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right on it, Richard.¡± She prises the aged document from my fingers. ¡°If there¡¯s so much information, I¡¯ll get one of the office girls toe in¡­.¡± ¡°Um¡­.¡± Michael hesitates. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Might I suggest that if you are going to use staff for this, you choose carefully who does the work. Remember where we started this conversation.¡± Gloom settles as I remember the original point of our meeting; the Triad learning that we have a spy in the camp; someone passing information to Klempner. I vacite between the need to deal with that and the desire to follow up on this fascinating new development. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± says James. ¡°We should be careful, but perhaps we should mention this to the obvious person?¡± Charlotte nods, sucking in a smile. ? Elizabeth¡­. Rolling my eyes at Charlotte, I stab at my phone. My wife answers almost immediately. ¡°Master?¡± ¡°Elizabeth, I¡¯d like you toe to my office. We have some interesting news for you.¡± ¡°We?¡± ¡°Juste. Now please. You¡¯ll see.¡± Francis returns with duplicates still warm from the copier, handing them around, then ncing at me, the question in her eyes¡­. ¡°Of course, Francis.¡± ¡­. before reading a copy herself. James pushes spectacles to his nose, reading the file, flipping to the cover sheet first. ¡°As you say, this more than forty years ago, but these are Albert¡¯s own files. Would the equivalent documents from your father''spany still exist? Get the story from both sides?¡± A very good question¡­. This is moving so fast¡­. ¡°I have no idea. Francis...?¡± She scratches at her forehead. ¡°It''s way before my time here. I doubt whether we have anyone in the company, other than you, that would have had their hands on this. The ountants andwyers from that time have doubtless long retired. I haven¡¯t a clue if anything of that age is still around.¡± She chews at a fingernail. ¡°If it is, it will be....¡± Then she pauses, ¡°¡­. Would have been in the archives in the basement in the old offices.¡± Which were burned to the ground in the Christmas attack¡­. ¡°So, they would be ashes now?¡± She holds up her palms. ¡°I simply don¡¯t know. We did rescue some records from the basement levels¡­. I''ll see what I can find out.¡± ¡°Thank you. And Francis?¡± ¡°Yes, Richard?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do I have anything pressing in my diary for today?¡± ¡°You have a telephone appointment with Chancellor Wilmore at two pm.¡± ¡°He can wait. He''s asking for money. Re-schedule it for another day. Anyone else?¡± ¡°The City Women¡¯s Historical Buildings and Preservation Society¡­.¡± If my eyes rolled further, I¡¯d be looking backwards. ¡°I think you can postpone them as well then. I have plenty to keep me busy here. And Francis¡­.¡± ¡°Coffee¡­. Sir?¡± She¡¯sughing as she says it. ¡°How well you know me. Yes, coffee. I need to think.¡± And she grins. ¡°James? Michael? Charlotte?¡± Charlotte waves an expansive gesture. ¡°I say, bring it on¡­.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move into the conference room shall we.¡± The coffee arrives five minutester. As she puts down the tray, Francis says, ¡°I¡¯ll put that list of possible security risks together and annotate it with my thoughts. If I make several copies, it gives you something to ¡®red-pen¡¯ rather than starting from scratch.¡± ¡°Thank you, Francis. That¡¯s perfect.¡± James shes brows at me. ¡°The perfect PA.¡± ¡°Absolutely. Always delivers what I need rather than what I necessarily ask for.¡± Michael is emptying the contents of the crate onto the table. Charlotte reads her copy of the file. ¡°So, what is this exactly?¡± she says. ¡°It¡¯s the Heads of Terms document on an agreement to be made between Elizabeth¡¯s uncle and my father.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same as a contract, then?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s the starting point for discussions which might lead to a contract.¡± I pace the room, as though walking might dislodge the memory. ¡°So why don''t I remember him? It was a huge project and my father always kept me involved. In fact he did keep me involved.¡± ¡°What was this project exactly?¡± asks Michael. ¡°Construction of some kind presumably?¡± ¡°It was the first City renovation project. It started in the area centred around what eventually became the Imperial hotel and spread out from there.¡± Why can¡¯t I remember him? Why? ***** The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!