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Chapter 102: Suitors, Part 11
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 103: Suitors, Part 12
JamesBack in Haswell's office, he welcomes me warmly. Across his desk are scattered the concept sketches I left with him. He doesn't bother with any preamble."James, I like what you've done here, very much.""I'm pleased to hear it. I did wonder if I'd gone over the top.""No, not at all. If it's possible to do this," he jabs a finger down on the drawings, "then I want it included in the City Renovation Project...."He pauses. "The thing is.... so far as I can see, there's almost a life's work for someone to put all this into place."He pauses again, apparently intent on placing his coffee cup exactly centred in its saucer. Then he fixes me with his gaze. "James, I didn't want to say anything yesterday. I needed to speak with some of the shareholders, but can I tempt you? To stay with me, my company…? I know you were thinking of going to Valencia and trying for the work there, but I could really use you here."Wow! Can you tempt me....?Can you…Haswell continues, h
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 104: Suitors, Part 13
JamesShe's swallowing hard, struggling to speak and she won't look up."He said that.... you think you are too old for me… that you will never marry me. He said that he loves me. He offered me the ring and asked that I think about it.".... At least the two versions of events agree…"That's better."She's sniffing........ Calm her down....I gentle my voice. "Charlotte, look at me. Charlotte…" .... You must understand this, Jade....Her eyes are still downcast, so I cup her chin with my hand and force her to face me. "Listen to me. Michael is correct. I will not marry you, however I may feel about you ....".... the gloss in her eyes increases....".... And I am too old for you. You are a young woman. You will still be a young woman when I am an old man."She shakes her head, everything about her screaming denial. "I don't care about that, Master.""No, perhaps not now, but you will in a few years' time. Michael is much closer to your own age. And besides,
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 105: Suitors, Part 14
JamesHe nods towards the door. "You realise she's probably fixing her make-up right now. Trying to look her best?"I follow his drift. "You think we should give her something to look her best for?""Oh, I think so...."He casts around the room. "Here?""Upstairs I think. Let's give her some romance.""Good idea...." He cuts off his words as Charlotte reappears at the door."Um, sorry, just a bit over-whelmed there.…" And she stops, looking between us. Neither of us bothers to hide what we are thinking........ and you know you're about to have your brains pinned to the bedhead don't you...."I think," I say, "that a celebration is in order.…" And gently, I steer her back to the door. At the bottom of the stairs, we each take one of her hands and lead her up.In the bedroom, I want to allow Michael a few moments to call his own. Gesturing him to her, I retire into the background.He looks entranced. Standing in front of her he holds her left hand, staring at the r
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 106: Penitents, Part 1
MichaelI wake to find Charlotte's face pushed against my chest. Her breathing wheezes a little from having her nose pressed hard into my flesh. It's not the world's romantic sound, but I couldn't care less.Her red hair is a tumble of copper over her pale skin. Her green eyes… well, they are closed now and a part of me longs for them to open........ but another part revels in the moment, knowing that she has given herself to me…..... to us....One hand rests under her cheek, supporting her head against the pillow. The other lies outside the blankets and rests on my hips in an almost-embrace. And on that hand are displayed the two rings of twisted gold, lying so closely together that, to the unknowing eye, they would appear as one. One is of strands of white and yellow gold. One of red and yellow…I gave her the white and gold. And after, James gave her the red and gold. She accepted both, slipping them on to her ring finger, to sit together as a matched pair, a symbol
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 107: Penitents, Part 2
MichaelCharlotte and I wait together in the reception. "They're still in the meeting," says the secretary. "But do take a seat. Help yourselves to refreshments." She waves us across to a waiting area, with coffee machine, biscuits and a heap of glossy magazines.I pour two coffees, then taking a seat, I drink mine, flipping through a magazine. Charlotte wanders off, examining something at the other side of the room.James and a stranger, Haswell I presume, are visible in the next office through a large internal window.The stranger glances up at us, then double-takes back to Charlotte. His eyes widen before, seeing me watching, he looks away. James glances up and, seeing us, taps his watch then holds up five fingers.Charlotte is paying rapt attention to some kind of model in a case. She circles the display, chewing on her lower lip, her expression strange, almost predatory."Is this the big project they're working on?" she asks the receptionist."Yes, that's right. A
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 108: Penitents, Part 3
MichaelJames' eyes narrow in a way that I've not seen before, but which clearly spells trouble....Oh, shit....Charlotte's gaze flicks to his and then breaks away. She releases Haswell's hand as though it might bite her, looking to me. I give her a long glance and then I look away.The whole thing happens in under a second, but....His voice curt, "Shall we go?" says James. "I'm all done here today." He spins and exits.I nod politely to Haswell, then, "Thanks for the coffee, Francis, was it?"She smiles. "You're welcome."Charlotte and I trail behind in James' wake.Out of earshot of others, I murmur, "Never thought I'd see that…""What?" Her voice is low and.... .... Does she realise yet that she's got trouble coming…?"James showing jealousy over you. Didn't think he had it in him."She wrinkles her nose. At any other time, it would look charming, but now my stomach clenches........ Fuck… It's me too.... "Jealous? Why would he be jealous?" she asks
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 109: Penitents, Part 4
Michael"Please, Master, stop. Red, Master. Red."James lashes again....Fuck! She's already safe-worded........ and she jerks against her restraints, trying to escape the burn of the flogger as it bites.... "Red, Master! Red. Please."His hand raises once more to deliver another strike. "That's enough," I say. "She's given you her safety words. That's what they're for. Now stop."Unheeding, James brings the lash across her again. Charlotte shrieks, writhing and weeping.What the fuck's he playing at…?.... But finally, he throws the flogger to one side and spins her round to face him.And the expression on his face....I always knew that James had some dark edges, but this.... This is new....His expression is a bewildering array of emotions: jealousy, loss, anger, fear....Fear…?And he's out of control....But at least he's put the flogger down....Just for a moment, he seems more normal, stroking Charlotte's face as he stares down into her eyes, th
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 110: Penitents, Part 5
MichaelCharlotte stirs, rubbing her neck and grumbling under her breath. Eyes still closed, she groans and straightens up, then blinking open, she startles before........ What's that expression?.... It's not pleasure at seeing us...."Sleep well?" I ask, not troubling to hide my irritation.She's still kneading at her stiff neck. "No, not really. What are you two doing here?""What are we doing here?" says James. "What are you doing here? You scared the hell out of us this morning. Where d'you think you're going?""Home. Well, back to college anyway.""Like this? Walking?""Only to the station." She drips sarcasm. "They have trains there, you know.""For God's sake," he snaps. "Get in the car. We can talk back at the house."She huffs. "No, we can't. I'm done with talking.""Charlotte," hisses James. "I'm telling you. Get in the car, and we'll talk about last night, back at the house, where we have some privacy." Her face blanks, but there's steel in her e
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 293: Family, Part 21
JamesMichael takes a moment before speaking, then, ".... All through your life, you've had everything thrust upon you. Even meeting James and me, you chose to enter the auction, but you did that out of necessity. I'd like to know what you want. Now that you are free to choose for yourself, what is it that you want?"And he falls silent, watching her, and waiting as she looks around at everything about us....And I wonder what she sees. With everything that life has thrown at her, the horrors of her childhood, the terrors of her adulthood, and now to be here, in this lovely place, with the home she always yearned for.And is that enough for her?She gestures around, hands trying to encompass it all. "What more could I want? We're all here, at last, together. I have you both. I have what I want."Yes!Result!Michael's eyes shift to mine....Definitely....She sees us, knows what is going on, and leans in to Michael as he kisses her. "I think I'm going to ask you to
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 292: Family, Part 20, Three Years Ago
Charlotte sits in the office facing Mr Chambers. He's middle-aged and pleasant enough, and clearly doing his best to make her feel at ease. Nonetheless, her embarrassment is excruciating and she can't look him in the face."Can I get you a cup of tea, Miss Conners? Or coffee perhaps?"Her throat tight. "No, thank you."If she tried to drink right now, she would bring it right back up again."Very well. I understand you would like to enter our auction for the sale of...." He picks up a sheet and reads.... 'The services of 'Charlotte' for the period of one week, those services to include anything required of her by her purchaser and also to include the sale of her virginity.' Is that correct?"She squeezes the word out. "Yes."He places the document on the table. "I should explain Miss Conners, that whilst you might find it easier to have a female representative to work with right now, here at the auction house we feel that a girl who cannot go through this interview with a m
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 291: Family, Part 19
RichardAt one of these interminable 'drinks dos' I am expected to attend, I do my best to put on a polite face. But I'm having trouble.I have the mayor on one side, "Since the plans were made public for the new City-Scape layout the share value has soared, Richard...."And my head of corporate law on the other. "There are still some legal obstacles to overcome...." argues Lazenby.I am unsympathetic. "That's what I pay you for."What I pay you a lot for........ So, stop whining and do your job.Listening to the mayor droning on, I nod politely, trying to appear interested but, in fact, my attention is half on the gathering at the other side of the room.As Charlotte and Elizabeth are chatting by the bar. Michael arrives, strolling across the lounge with that easy half-smile that is his habitual expression. Charlotte spots him and moves aside to make room for him."Hi, Michael." Elizabeth's eyes are bright as she looks up at him.He returns the smile. "Hi, Beth. L
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 290: Family, Part 18
Richard"But you've been running 'Life and Fitness' in the City for years.… and turning a healthy profit, surely?""Yes, but you know how it is since two thousand and seven. All the banks have tightened up the rules."Bloody bastards at the banks....Pretty perfect for me though....How to approach this…??James said he has a problem accepting help........ Carefully...."Ummm.…Take this the right way, but I'd be happy to help."Glass in hand, Michael freezes, knuckles. His voice is barely polite. "Thanks, Richard, but I'm not a charity."James' meets my eyes again with a 'Told you' look. He laughs softly. "Now, who's suffering from stiff-necked pride?" Michael gives him a look that should have dissolved him on the spot, but James simply gives him a mild look, sucking at his teeth as he tries to extract a bit of peanut.I follow Michael's lead, keeping my own tone cool. "It wasn't a charitable offer, Michael. I'm a businessman. It was a proposal."He flush
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 289: Family, Part 19
JamesAs we leave, Richard murmurs, "Keep your face straight.""You might have warned me....""What? That you were my ace-in-a-hole?" Despite his advice, Richard's mouth is twitching. "Not a chance. It worked out so much better that you were surprised when he finally realised who you are."I glance over my shoulder to see that we are safely out of range, then stop and turn to face him. "Richard, who am I? I'm an architect. A good architect granted, but...."He lays a hand on my shoulder. "You, my friend, are the architect who will have changed the face of the City. Not many can make that claim. Your immortality is going to be standing as evidence around us for generations to come."It's an interesting thought."I never expected to be famous."He rocks a hand back and forth. "Perhaps not with the Common Man, but I looked through those Get-Well cards at the hospital. Did you?""Er, no.""You should. I asked Michael to keep them for when you left the hospital; for when
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 288: Family, Part 18
JamesMy mobile rings: Richard."James, I was having a word with Charlotte earlier. She's a little upset that the university is kicking up a fuss over the way her course options are moving around. The training periods, academic time and so on. It was all supposed to be arranged, but apparently, they're giving her a hard time over it.""Yes, I thought something like this might crop up. Did you have something in mind?""Absolutely. I know where this is coming from. The Chancellor, Wilmore, is fine, but the Bursar is an interfering busybody with an inflated sense of self-worth, who pokes his nose into every aspect of university life, whether it belongs there or not. If he didn't have tenure he'd have been out years ago.""So…?""First, I like you to have a word with Charlotte...."*****The crook of my thumb and forefinger under her chin, I force her face to mine, "Charlotte, is it that you want to attend the university? Or that, in a couple of years' time, you simply want
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 287: Family, Part 17
James"So how did it go?"Michael prises the cap off a beer bottle on the edge of the table then gulps down from the neck before wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "It was.... surreal."I'm up and about and able to walk now, at the level of using the bathroom without the intervention of a nurse. Nonetheless, Michael's return is an excuse for me to climb back into bed, take the weight from my aching leg and draw a surreptitious sigh, which he pretends not to notice.And I'm happy enough to be here. Back in the beach house, the environment is soothing and convinces me to sleep more than I could have done in the renovation/building site which is our mountain home, even were we able to return there.I prop myself up against the pillows and Michael reaches around, rearranging them for me. When I'm settled comfortably, "Go on. I'm listening.""Cutting a long story short, Klempner admitted to murdering Charlotte's father, seemed to have some kind of crisis over her looking
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 286: Family, Part 16, The Present
KlempnerJennifer's face....The loathing there when he says that....The idea that she might be anything to do with me........You're Conners' daughter........ Not mine…Blondie's still speaking… "And your final revenge on her was to steal the child, to force her to grow up into slavery herself.... To fit your idea of...."I claimed you........ Mine........ My due........ My redress....Blondie is still talking.... "And when you found she'd grown up to look like her mother, you became obsessed with it again, determined to have the daughter forced into a life that the mother had already told you repelled her...."And I remember the disgust in her eyes....My beautiful Mitch........ Looking at me like shit on a shoe...."Is she alive? Charlotte's mother?" Blondie asks.I can't stomach looking at him. "I've no idea. The police gave her a new identity, hid her from me. I couldn't find her, and I've not seen her for over twenty years. But if she's not s
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 285: Family, Part 15, The Present
KlempnerHer face twists...."You still don't want to believe me? She was very good at her job. Good enough that, at first, we didn't realise she was a professional. We thought she was just being.... friendly. And I'll admit, when I set eyes on her, I thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen...."..... Mitch's daughter....Blondie's knuckles on her shoulder whiten. ".... So did Frank. We took a room for the night and.... well, you know the script from there. You've had two guys together often enough I'm sure...."Her face sets. "So, what then?""She was fun to be with. Not just a good fuck, but actually good company. We both liked her. And she seemed to like us.... Really like us I mean, rather than just pretend to because that's part of the job description. In the morning, we took her number, and later, we called her back. It went from there. We'd meet up with her a couple of nights a week. It became regular. And then.…"Blondie breaks in, his voice low. "A
