"I see you are a man of few words, no, Mr. Sullivan?"
At the sound of the female voice, Morgan turned away from the view of the large ground floor garden before him and found Samantha Manson admiring him with pure mischief in her unnaturally blue eyes. Though he was successful in containing his scornful sigh, he wasn't able to disguise the displeased grimace that twisted his face when he responded, coldly.
"In fact." Taking a sip from the glass of champagne he was holding, Morgan again moved his gaze away from the expression on his new partner's wife's face, pretending not to notice the clearly inviting tone there "Especially when I realize it's not worth saying nothing.".
“Oh, I understand perfectly what you mean." Her voice approached, to Morgan's chagrin, before the hand with long red painted nails reached his arm, initiating a soft caress "Parties with the purpose of doing business are always very boring. Especially when my husband is so focused on getting new members." she grumbled, but when she realized that he made no attempt to meet her eyes, Mrs. Manson advanced a few more steps, placing himself in front of him with a seductive smile "Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that Anthony got a man as important and competent as you to support him in business, but you have to imagine what is it like for a young woman like me to be alone in a huge mansion while my husband spends nights and more nights locked in the office taking care of paperwork..." with a smile, Samantha bit the side, running her nails along the length of her arm, up to shoulder height, before he could walk away "I was wondering if you wouldn't like to use his office from time to time... After all, now that you're partners, everything that's his is a little bit of yours too..."
“It's a beautiful fountain. Pulling his arm out of reach of her hand, Morgan commented coldly.
"What?" Mrs. Manson gasped in disbelief.
"The source." Morgan nodded towards the large fountain of gray stone that spouted water a few meters in front of them, just below a small balcony "It is an excellent work of sculpture. I think I'll take a closer look at it."
"Oh..." Samantha mumbled, seeming unable to contain a grimace at his indirect refusal, but soon a plastic smile, frozen in place like a puppet's, spread across her red-covered lips and she hurried on. in extending her hand towards his again "I'll accompany you, then. So we can talk more privately..."
"It is not necessary. As I've told you before, I see no need to talk, when clearly no good will come of certain conversations. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to reflect and realize that I'm right, alone in this huge mansion, while your husband and I are working on those tedious paperwork." Morgan nodded, suppressing the urge she was feeling to smirk at the startled, outraged face of Mrs. Manson "By the way, I think you should look for Anthony right now, or risk him getting a few more partners to keep him busy, among all those investors he's been talking to. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mrs. Manson..."
Not giving her the opportunity to let out even a single sigh, Morgan strode away, letting the cool night air wash away some of the smell of cigars and whiskey that seemed to have lingered after two long hours at this party. As much as he was in that environment for almost ten years, it seemed that those opulent scenes, full of fake smiles and millimetrically planned sentences, never got easier to bear. Like Samantha Manson, all those people were like ventriloquist's dummies, moving with grace and perfection while their true intentions hid between innuendo and the relentless pursuit of power and connections.
That was one of the reasons he was so good with numbers, spreadsheets and statistics: they were direct, true and incontrovertible. No matter how complicated they might be, they were what they were: there would never be anything lurking behind the data, ready to stab you in the back at the first opportunity. That's why he was so good at finding business opportunities where no one else could, just as his father had been before him. There was nothing too difficult about becoming a partner in a failing company, making it grow, and then selling your shares for three times the price you bought them. It was all about planning and logistics, after all. Something much easier and more practical to deal with than Anthony's greedy euphoria with their partnership and his wife's anything but discreet advances.
With luck, that would be one of the few times he would be forced to frequent the Manson house, until be able to completely disconnect from them.
Stopping, finally, in front of the bridge, Morgan breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that the distance had been enough to muffle the loud sound of music and conversations coming from inside the hall. With any luck, Anthony would be entertained enough by his feeble attempts to sell more shares in his company to the old big shots he had managed to round up and forget about his existence...
Her train of thought was interrupted by the muffled sound of quick footsteps on the porch above the fountain. Eyes wide, Morgan barely had time to turn her attention to the first floor before a tiny figure flew past her line of sight from the balcony. Confused, he was about to look at what was about to fall into the fountain when, with his heart frozen inside his chest, he watched a young woman appear from between the balcony curtains, not hesitating a single second before leaning on the railing of the railings that protected the edges of the balcony and throw his legs over them, jumping towards the fountain almost at the same time as the first figure that had thrown himself.
"Hang on!" He let out a choked scream, filled with pure terror, but he couldn't be fast enough to reach the girl before she hit the fountain square with a heavy, wet sound, spraying water everywhere, especially him. However, Morgan was barely aware that his suit was now completely soaked, concentrating only on reaching the young woman and helping her. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
At the sound of his anxious questions, the girl turned her head towards him, allowing Morgan to finally take in her appearance, lit only by the light of the full moon above them. She was young, no doubt, not more than eighteen. Her pale skin was covered in small dark freckles, especially on her cheekbones. Her eyes were large and brown, as clear and expressive as a doe's. The long dark hair, almost black, was plastered to her shoulders and parts of her face, completely soaked, as well as the shirt and pants she wore, which seemed to be made of cotton, judging by the way they were glued to her thin body.
Clearing her throat, Morgan looked away from the curves that were now highlighted by her wet pajamas and walked toward the fountain, dipping her feet in the water to get close enough to help her...
“Hang on!” the girl exclaimed, making him stop. "Your shoes…" she stammered, as a dark pink tinged her freckle-covered cheeks, looking embarrassed at the confused look he gave her. "They're going to get wet."
"Oh..." running his eyes over his own body, from his legs submerged in ankle-deep water to his sodden suit, he couldn't contain the laugh that escaped his throat.
"Oh, damn..." The girl cast a quick glance toward where her white shirt was plastered to her chest, before pulling her attention away from him again, but not before Morgan could see that her blush had intensified.
“This is not important.“ still with a smile on his face, Morgan moved even closer to her, touching her shoulder “Are you okay? Would you like me to call an ambulance?”
“ What? Why?” She raises an eyebrow, as if he's just asked something incomprehensible. “It's only the first floor.”
“ Only?” he repeated, disgusted and confused as to why that girl's disregard for her own well-being was bothering him so deeply. "I think the doctors will disagree with you." Why did you do it anyway?
“Well…” lips and brows furrowed, the girl looked away toward the moon, looking more embarrassed than ever, “I was trying to stop Waffles from jumping off the balcony again. The fracture in his leg is still not fully healed after the last time...”
“Wait…” he cut her off, more confused than he'd ever felt in his entire life. “Waffles?”
"Yeah..." Slowly, she removed the hands that until then had been clasped at her chest, extending them to him until she revealed a tiny white rabbit with orange spots, which was also completely soaked, although it looked safe and sound, aside from the white bandage wrapped around one of its front paws “ That's Waffles. The vet said he wouldn't be able to run very fast while he was injured, but today he decided to prove otherwise.”
“ I see ... “ he let out another breathless laugh, incredulous with the fact that that girl had not hesitated to jump after that bunny just to prevent him from getting hurt even more “ Well, now that I've met Waffles, I think that it's only fair that I introduce myself too, no?” Her smile grew even bigger, even though he didn't know exactly why; maybe it was the fact that there was something profoundly adorable about the set of those huge eyes and unexpected explanations “ My name is Morgan Sullivan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss...”
“Charlie.” She gave him a shy smile. “Charlie Foster… I mean… Manson.”
“Wait, Manson? You're...?”
"What was that noise?" the furious exclamation interrupted the conversation between the two, bringing their attention to where Anthony and Samantha were now approaching the fountain, being followed by the curious gazes of some guests, who were now crowded at the entrance of the hall where Morgan had left a few minutes ago “Charlotte! I should have known it was you! What a hell! Can't you go five minutes without doing shit...?” possessed, Anthony approached Charlie with bloodshot eyes, seeming oblivious to everything else.
And just the simple scene of him approaching the girl was enough to make Morgan even more angry.
'What do you think you're doing, acting like that, Anthony?” he snarled, putting himself between the man and Charlie, causing Manson to flinch immediately, startled to realize he was there, too. "Charlie could be hurt."
“Charlie?” Samantha repeated the nickname, disdain seeping into her tone “I don’t knew you two already knew each other.” the blue eyes of Mrs. Manson turned to Charlie, glaring at her.
However, to Morgan's surprise, the girl didn't seem to be intimidated at all. Instead, Charlie lifted his chin and glared at Samantha with equal contempt and haughtiness.
“We met today. He was offering me help, before you arrived to make a fuss. By the way..." Speaking only to Morgan now, Charlie held out his hand. "I think I'll take you up on your offer, Mr. Sullivan.”
"I am at your complete disposal, Ms. Manson…” Once again, Morgan found himself laughing heartily at the situation they both found themselves in, exchanging pleasantries as if they weren't completely drenched in the cold night air.
“Mr. Sullivan, I ask that you forgive my daughter's behavior..." Anthony hurried to stand beside her as Morgan put her hand around Charlie's and prepared to pull her up. “She having taken etiquette lessons her entire life, but never really learned how to act like a lady. But I promise I'll give her a proper punishment for getting him wet and making that ridiculous scene...”
“Oh, damn it!” at the sound of Charlie's wailing as she tried to balance on her right foot and immediately began to slide, Morgan suddenly found himself taking her in his arms, careful to hold her under the knees, well away from the wound. "Wha... What are you doing?" she stammered, now red up to her neck, staring at him in disbelief. “You're hurt. I cannot allow you to walk. “ he said that half-truth with ease, leaving out the fact that he had surprised even himself with that attitude “We need to get you to the doctor.” “Oh, it's not necessary. “ Samantha mocked, earning a cross look from Charlie “It's not the first or the last time that our little Charlotte got hurt doing something inappropriate. You know, Mr. Sullivan, she likes to live free and dirty, like the pet in her hands. I guarantee she will be fine...” "I'm glad you have such confidence in your daughter's immunity, Mrs. Manson. “ Morgan interrupted her, dry “ But I really think the most responsible thing would be to tak
“ Mr. Sullivan?” a surprised gasp sounded from across the room, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the floorboards; most likely a body, what affliction tightens his throat even more. “Are you okay?!” he asked once more, this time not being able to bother keeping his voice down as he tried to turn the doorknob, only to find it locked. "Are you hurt?" "No... I'm fine." Charlie murmured and it was with relief that he realized that the hoarseness in her voice seemed to come much more from the fact that she was more embarrassed than anything else “I'll open the door, just a second.” Surprised with himself, he found himself containing the seconds, literally, until she opened the door, to try to contain the urge to see her with his own eyes and check if she was really all right. Which was ridiculous, of course, since not only did her voice make it pretty clear that nothing serious had happened, but they'd only known each other for just under an hour. Which made that heigh
A SpongeBob pajamas, without a doubt, could not be considered a sexy outfit. Charlie had been trying to fool herself all week when she realized that she didn't have a single outfit that could make her look seductive, but now, looking at herself in the mirror in her baggy pants and long, long-sleeved blouse, she didn't. had to deny it. There was no way Morgan could stop seeing her as a child as long as she continued to dress like that. Huffing in frustration, she changed quickly, dropping her pajamas onto the crooked pile of wrinkled clothes on one of her bedroom chairs. With luck, maybe she'd be able to stop by a store to buy something that would make her feel a little better before Morgan visited that night. The end of puberty had been very favorable for her, although her best friend didn't seem to realize it. Sometimes it was hard to believe that she and Morgan had only known each other for 3 years instead of a lifetime. Since he was 17 years old, he was the one who made that hou
"Oh, Charlie..." her friend laughed, visibly touched "That's why the sun only seems to rise after you arrive. There is no one who is not infected by his enthusiasm. Just promise me you'll forget to pay our debts out of your grandfather's inheritance." Vivian insisted, serious "I know how much this money means to you. So you must use it for the most important thing of all: getting out of those two vipers' house and finally making a life for yourself." “This place is a big part of my life." Charlie waved around at the slightly grimy walls and the old but very clean instruments. "Believe me, if my grandfather were alive, he would agree with me." she opened a sad smile, to try to keep the tears from accumulating in her eyes "Nothing would make you happier than knowing that I found people who helped me to endure life with my father and who can help me to make difference." "Oh, sure... People..." Vivian repeated, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "I'm going to pretend not what's the first fa
"So how was work today?" He smiled as they got into the car, starting a conversation with the same question he'd asked her since she'd started her volunteer work at the institution, but which Charlie always felt was sincere, no matter how many times it was repeated. "Mirabel's puppies have been born! Of course I was a little sad that I couldn't be there to support her, but oh Morgan, they're so adorable! Damn it, I should have introduced them to you!" She huffed, angry with herself. "Everything is fine." he laughed, as he started the car "Tomorrow I can give you another ride and then I can be attacked by all those fur balls until I fall to the ground... Again." “It's been an amazing day, admit it." Charlie chuckled, remembering the occasion where Vivian took a day off to celebrate her wedding anniversary and Morgan had offered to replace her, making all the animals fall in love with him at first sight. Not that Charlie doesn't understand them. She knew well how she was. "And I als
When Morgan's mother, Isabella Sullivan, was still alive, she was proud to say that she was raising a gentleman. And until three years ago, before a pretty, reckless girl jumped into a fountain in front of him and turned his world upside down, Morgan didn't even have to put in the effort to put into practice the education his mother had given him. How disappointed would Isabella be if she could see him right now, unable to take her eyes off Charlie's ass as they walked out of the restaurant? Surely she would make a point of gouging his eyes out so he could never do something so indecent again. Which, perhaps, was a good thing. Just maybe, he really should do this to himself. Maybe that way the heavy cock between his legs would find a reason to calm down whenever Charlie was around. Clearing his throat to try to contain his indiscretion, he opened the door for her, trying to focus on anything other than her sweet scent, the mesmerizing sway of her hips, her full lips or the way the b
"That was close, wasn't it, little friend?" Morgan murmured softly, gazing tenderly into the kitten's wide gray eyes. "You gave me quite a scare, you know that?" with all calm and kindness, he extended his hand towards the cat, who flinched even more and hissed loudly, showing the teeth, although it was visibly trembling "No need to be afraid, I don't want to warn you. I just want to make sure you're not hurt." Patient, he waited the time necessary for the kitten to calm down and feel safe enough to, step by step, even still very cornered, get out from under the car and approach him. Moving slowly to disturb the animal further, as Charlie had taught him, he gently stroked the back of the cat's ears until it relaxed enough to allow itself to be picked up and examined. "You look fine..." Morgan muttered to himself, as he ran his fingers and eyes over the little guy's legs and belly. "But I'm not an expert, so I think it would be best to see a vet to be sure..." he couldn't help a chuck
Charlie wasn't good at being sexy. It was a sad reality, but if the first step to solving a problem was realizing it existed, then she had to admit it: she looked ridiculous in that outfit. With a sigh, Charlie flopped onto the bed, her breasts nearly bouncing out of the neckline of the shirt she was wearing when her back landed on the bed. The fabric was stretched to the limit across her chest and belly, almost to the point of being see-through, drawing attention to all the places she didn't want highlighted. Growing up with her grandfather, she learned to be confident and love every one of her curves and marks, no matter how many people might judge her because of them. But after three years of watching Samantha throw herself at Morgan and seeing the dozens of high-society fake friends she had doing their best to keep their bodies thinner than a sheet of paper, she could no longer look at herself without thinking. whether it was true that Morgan would never be attracted to a woman li
“Do you really think so, Morgan? “ she purred, playing with her cleavage already almost completely open “ I think you are so controlled… I bet you could resist me for years and years. So I think it would take more than just a dress... " Undoing the ties at the back of her back, she let the fabric slide to the floor, leaving her in just a pair of tiny panties before his smoldering gaze " I think I would need to be naked in front of you…” Closing the small distance between the two of them, she caressed his bare chest “I would need to touch you…” Charlie moved her lips over his teasingly “I would need to kiss you. ..But her words were interrupted when he pulled her into one more eager kiss, digging his fingers into the flesh of her ass without any qualms, making her gasp.“You're wrong, Charlie…” he growled against her lips, his green eyes almost completely black with desire “You just need to exist. But do not worry. You're about to find out exactly what I'm talking about...Before Char
"Something tells me so..." Wanting to tease him a little more, she rose on tiptoe to overcome the several inches of difference in height between the two of them, pretending to kiss him on the mouth, but deflecting to his side. cheek at the last second, pressing her lips there chastely like she used to when she was younger “But if I can make a special request, I want you to teach me how to make your family's special cupcakes! “ she asked moving away from him with the feeling of long duty when noticing the frustrated and longing expression on his face." Your wish is an order. “He grunted, moving to the area of the worktop where the ingredients were and motioning for her to stand beside it. “First, we have to mix the cocoa powder with the oil, eggs and sugar. “ he explained, picking up a new bowl to put everything in it.“Can I move? “ she offered, sticking her side to his, when she saw him reach a nearby fuê." At ease..." he took a step back instead of passing the bowl to her, indicat
“Be nice to Aunt Vivian, okay? Charlie asked his children, making sure their scarves were securely wrapped around their necks, before they got into their godmother's car.“Okay, Mom. “ Patrick immediately agreed, visibly excited to spend the entire night playing video games, as Vivian always allowed.“What do you and Dad need to do alone on your wedding anniversaries that you can't do with us? “Very unlike her brother, Poppy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest suspiciously.Narrowing his eyes a little in the direction of that stubborn little girl, Charlie snorted when he heard Vivian having a fit of laughter inside the car. She hated to admit it, but even though she was still 9 years old and the carbon image of her father physically, Poppy had inherited her entire personality, which most of the time was a source of pure pride for Charlie, when she saw her smart and smart little girl. determined in action... But at times like this, when she just wanted to have a moment alone with
In a very short time, the bathroom had already been taken over by Sawyer's furious growls and meows, who was trying at all costs to escape the water from the bathtub and the comb that Morgan ran along the length of his fur, throwing more and more fleas into the water at every turn. new pass.“ I really need to talk to Charlie about the stray dogs and cats that are roaming the complex... “ Morgan panted slightly, trying to keep the little beast in her hands under control “ If, even taking medicine every month, you managed to get infested like this way walking around, then those who live on the street must be in a serious situation..." Daddy? “ Poppy's scared voice interrupted him and he turned his head to see his children in the bathroom doorway, fearful “What are you doing with Sawyer?“It's okay, honey. “ He soothed her, moving a little to escape the slash Sawyer had nearly landed on his face, though there wasn't much he could do about his already torn arms. “What happened is, Sawye
" And now we put the frozen peanut butter inside the dough..." Morgan instructed his children, helping them to sink the peanut butter balls into the chocolate dough with their little fingers " And no sticking the licked finger of Get back in the dough, Poppy. “ he warned his daughter, without even looking in her direction “I'm watching you.Hearing her little girl's characteristic snort, the same one that made her sound even more like her mother. Stifling a laugh, he finished helping Patrick finish the cupcakes, moving in time to catch his sister in the air, at the same moment that she had just jumped onto the stool he had positioned below the counter, so that they could could cook together with him." Daddy! “ Poppy complained, struggling in his arms as hard as her tiny five year old body would allow. “I can get off the bench by myself!“But not without getting hurt. “ he stole a kiss on her cheek, making her huff again, before sitting her down in one of the chairs at the dining tabl
“ Samantha, for God's sake! “ Anthony growled under his breath, although everyone could hear him clearly “ Apologize at once or you will be thrown out of this house!"Charlotte…" she began, her expression contorted with rage as if she was straining to say those words "I'm sorry…" Whereby? Charlie raised an eyebrow in her direction, seeming to be enjoying the moment deeply.“For being rude, honey. “ Samantha opened a big forced smile “ I promise that this will never happen again, from now on.“ That's true, because I'll make sure you don't! “ Morgan swore, determined “ Now get out of here! I want to speak with Charlotte alone!“Mr. Sullivan, she's still my daughter... " Anthony looked like he wanted to protest, but his scared voice made that sentence absolutely pathetic.“The same daughter you were mistreating a moment ago! “ Morgan snarled, making him flinch immediately “Now get out!“Of course, Mr. Sullivan... " Samantha nodded, her blue eyes cold and angry " Why wouldn't we, as par
Morgan didn't know why he was there. Or rather, the truth was, he shouldn't be there. And that in every sense.There was a lot of work to be done and a lot of paperwork to be signed in his office, like every other day of the year... But still, perhaps for the first time in his life, he had found it difficult to concentrate. That's because the image of Charlotte Manson jumping into a fountain across from him the day before wouldn't leave his mind. The more rational side of him tried to argue that it was just because she was a poor young girl with clearly terrible parents that she couldn't stand up for herself and needed help. Therefore, as soon as he finished work, he could visit her in the most proper way possible, like any normal person would. But not.Instead, he had left the office early for the first time in years "maybe, again, for the first time in his life", just so he could see Charlie again and get rid of that nagging feeling that had been plaguing his chest all morning. Whic
All the books and scientific articles Morgan had read about babies during Charlie's pregnancy said that in order for her son to sleep well, it was important to create a calm and quiet environment at nap time. However, his wife wasn't very good at it.“You spend the whole day soiling your diaper and throwing up…” he heard her play inside the suite's bathroom, with the sounds of wet kisses filling the room “How can you smell so good?Hearing her daughter's contented cackle, Morgan couldn't help but smile, even though she knew all that fussing would make it take Poppy much longer to fall asleep. But, well, she was Charlie's daughter, so obviously she wasn't a simple bottle, a dark room and a little white noise that would magically dampen the infinite energy she had inside her.Hearing his son give a long yawn, Morgan turned his attention to Patrick who, after a relaxing bath and having changed into his pajamas, was clearly ready for bed, very different from his twin sister. Feeling his h
"Well...that depends..." he commented, shrugging." Like this? She raised an eyebrow, confused.“ It depends on whether you like it or not. “Morgan smiled, stroking her cheek." What? “ Charlie gasped, shocked “You mean...?“ Over the past few months, I've thought a lot about what you've told me about your dream of raising your own pets, beyond the shelter animals. But it would be a bit difficult to do that in an apartment. “ he said, making her eyes widen even more “ So I decided it would be a good idea to look for a new home for us: a spacious house where you can welcome as many animals as you want and make our family even bigger. “ Morgan approached her, biting her cheek to stop herself from laughing at her stunned expression. “And this was the house that I thought most fit what you had described to me. So what do you think? Should we look a little further or could this place become our new home? I particularly think Matilda would love to be able to run around without having so man