Lisa just could not sit still. Okay, maybe she had gone a little too far this time, but it was all Claire's fault. The bitch kept pushing her hand. She couldn't just sit still with the thought that Claire was alone with Axel in a foreign country. It had been too easy getting the strike force. She had found out that the workers down there had more than a few grievances against Lyn Corporation, and they were out for blood.All she needed to do was call a friend she had there, an underworld crime boss, and he had promised to take care of it. She had left Claire's description and photos with him, with clear instructions to only take her out. She knew there would be hell to pay if anything happened to Axel, or even Donald.The only problem she discovered too late, was that because Axel liked Claire, he would do anything to protect her, including using his body as a human shield. What was she going to do if he died for Claire? Her friend had assured her his men were very good, but she was st
Lisa knew the moment it was over for her, and that was when she got the call telling her they had changed cars and left everything behind."Listen to me, Mona Lisa.""No, you listen, señor! I put my life on the line to do this. I paid you more money than you have ever been paid. Only for your men to ruin this all for me! You just had to make me call her, so now, everyone knows it was I who sent you!"Lisa yelled for a long time. She needed to get the steam out, so her head would be clear enough for her to think. The crime boss knew it was better to just listen and not say a word. Choosing to help Lisa had automatically made Axel his enemy. He was not about to add her to the list of enemies, because he had experienced her evil firsthand.When she was done talking, he sighed. "Are you done?"She didn't say a word, and he didn't care."I knew we wouldn't get them on the road. Your friend and his assistant are good at getting away. But we can take the lady out of her bed this night."Lisa
Axel woke up a couple of hours later. Claire was sprawled on the bed, fully dressed. He vaguely remembered her pulling on his shirt before she fell asleep. In everything they had done, Claire had not let him enter her. What they had done was an experiment, Claire's way of discovering real pleasure for the first time. She would not let him show her there was more. She seemed too terrified to.Claire's father had hurt her deeply, he realized. It would take years for her to heal from the physical and emotional damages, and even more time for her to let him in. Sure, she pleasured him, but he wanted more. He wanted her heart, and everything that came with it. He pushed her arm slowly off his feet and rose. The house was silent, too silent.He padded down the stairs in only his shorts, silently creeping through until he reached the surveillance room. He glanced in and found Donald and Jubril hunched over the security feed, watching the situation outside with keen interest. Their men were s
Lisa was in a very bad mood. She yelled at everyone at the company and stomped out. She cursed the parking lot attendant for letting a car park next to hers, for no reason other than that the car was fat and ugly. Many people watched her throw a tantrum before entering the car and speeding away, narrowly missing the gate as she turned out of the building sharply.She had to park by a bridge and get out, so she wouldn't cause any accidents. She walked to the bridge and watched the water running beneath it peacefully flow down the current path. She wished she was like that slow moving river, because she knew she was done for. She could only hope to correct the mess she had made.However, considering it was Axel Lysander she had wronged severally, Lisa knew she didn't stand a chance. And he had given her one too many chances. There was no way he was going to forgive her for a direct plan to kill Claire. She remembered what happened when she had called Doyle a few minutes ago."Hello, Mon
Reality was beginning to set in for Claire. It had been a long day and night. The more she thought about the events of the day, the more embarassed she became. Shameless, Claire. You're so shameless. She hit her head on the wall severally and called herself names. She really, really needed to talk to Danielle.Claire turned off the shower and dried herself off. She slipped into her lingerie and opened the door of the bathroom slowly. It squeaked and she winced at her attempt to leave the bathroom silently. There was no need, because Axel was not in the room. The house was really quiet, and Claire shivered from the cold.Axel had laid out some clothes for her on the bed with a note.Come downstairs when you are done, Tigress.She smiled at her newfound nickname. The clothes were plain and a size bigger than hers, but they were warm and comfortable. She adjusted them until she was okay, then she slipped out the door and went downstairs. The men were awake, but no one was talking. Some w
Danielle yelled for an entire minute."Claire? Where have you been? Do you know how many times I called you? I've left hundreds of messages! I've been so worried. Do you actually realize how scared I was that something had actually happened to you? How could you suddenly go AWOL on me?"Claire waited until she was done ranting. It was only when Danielle paused long enough to take a breath while demanding a reasonable explanation did she speak."I've been busy."Claire didn't realize Danielle would take it the wrong way. She had to wait another whole minute for Danielle to calm down."You'd better have been busy trying not to get killed, or you have a lot of apologies to make!" Danielle ended on one breath."Actually, I was busy trying to avoid being killed and getting laid all at the same time." Claire muttered quietly.Danielle's breathing ceased. "Did I hear something about you getting laid?"Claire rolled her eyes. "I shouldn't be surprised your mind completely jumped over the part
Claire sighed and drew her knees up to her chest. She didn't know what to do. She was so afraid, and confused. Even if she let Axel have his way, and she desperately wanted to, what next? She was more of the commitment type of person, and she wasn't sure Axel felt the same way. Besides, it was so much easier here in Australia. Would things be the same back in New York? She didn't want to ask Danielle about it anymore. Her best friend would tell her to go for it, but she wanted a more objective point of view.Rising, she went downstairs to look for Jubril. He was standing outside the safe house and staring down the road, deep in thought."Jubril?" Claire opened the door and called.He turned and walked towards her. "You should stay inside, my lady."She shifted out of the way and let him shut the door."Please, call me Claire."He smiled at her. "Is there problem, Claire?""I was wondering if I could ask you something."Claire blushed at the look he was giving her. It was as though he
As soon as he explained to Jubril that he had nothing to do with her pain, Axel scrambled out of the car with as much grace as he could in the given circumstances."Donald!" He hollered.Donald gave him the evils. "I don't want to hear it."Axel laughed. "I had no intention of saying anything, except that I have to leave now. Don't forget to clear the First Class for our flight later tonight!""Did something happen?"Axel smirked. "Asks the guy who said he didn't want to hear it."Donald flipped him the bird and Axel only blew him a kiss and returned to the car. He tried calling Claire's number as he sped home, but it was unreachable. As soon as he reached the safe house, he stormed in and took the stairs two steps at a time. He paused for a second outside the bedroom door to breathe, then flung the door open.His heart melted when he saw her seated on the bed, looking like she was carrying the weight of the world. Axel softened his expression, because she looked ready to bolt."Tigre