LOGINShare
Chapter 171: Triad, Part 14
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 172: Triad, Part 15
JamesMichael, who was turning to the house, swivels back, frowning a little.Charlotte, her throat working, says, "Um.… Beth was working as a maid in the hotel, cleaning the rooms...."Beth was a hotel cleaner?".... I think it was the one where you had the apartment. It was hot one day, and she used the shower in the Penthouse, where Richard was staying. He'd gone out, but he came back early and caught her in his shower, um, naked...."Oh, God.... I can see where this is going....Michael's face is beginning to crack....Charlotte continues, "Then.... er.... he tied her to the shower and um…"I'm gaping. Michael has his forehead in one hand, his shoulders shaking.He didn't....I double up. "I get it. No wonder he was so relaxed about you and me."You did the right thing, Jade.... Keeping that quiet for him........ But it's still fuckin' hilarious....She nods, but continues, "There's a bit more to it than that."More?"Really?"She pauses, I think ch
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 173: Triad, Part 16, Ten Years Ago
A fine day, bright sunshine, the buzz of the City:A gangly ginger-haired teenager skulks in the background, wandering from one place to another. Always on the move, never stopping anywhere long, she travels the City. Passing through the crowds, the buzz and the confusion, never part of it, she keeps walking, always walking.Arms folded, head and face down, her long red hair swishes with her movement. She's tall for her age, built like a beanstalk with no traces of a developing woman's figure. And thin, with no flesh to her arms and legs, her face is pale and has only a promise of beauty to come.In the backstreets, the lost and the lonely lie stretched out in sleeping bags or on cardboard. As she sees them she crosses the street to pass by on the other side of the road.She keeps walking.At last, streets and houses give way to green spaces. Fields stretch as far as the eye can see, cut off only by the mountains rearing up on the horizon.She halts, looking intimidated. Sh
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 174: Triad, Part 17
JamesMichael stamps into the room, shaking sleet off himself like a dog.He makes for the larder, rummaging around before he fishes out a can, waving it at me, brows raised."Mmm… yes. Thanks."He reaches for another, plonks it on the table beside me then flops down onto the chair at the other side. Flipping open the ring-pull, he sucks out half the can in one go, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Ah, that's good. One thing about living in primitive conditions. Old stone larders are a good way to keep beer."I open my own can and take a gulp. "Hard day?"He swipes a hand back through sweaty, grit-filled hair. "Mmm, yes. Long day too. And the short winter daylight isn't helping either. We're having to do a lot of the work on lights and cables." He nods down at the stack of files and papers next to me. You working late too?""I'm reading reports.""Reports? About what?""Blessingmoors. And wishing I could get my hands on the bastards that did this."His face clo
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 175: Alphas, Part 1
JamesMaking our way to the meeting room for her interview, I follow behind as Michael holds a pale-faced Charlotte's hand.Beth and Richard are already waiting. I knew Beth was going to be present to support Charlotte, but Richard also, billionaire owner of a large part of the City, has cleared his diary to be here too. I'm not sure what he thinks he can contribute, but his presence speaks volumes.How many student trainees receive that kind of accolade from their CEO…?.... and friend…Beth gives her a hug. Francis brings a tray of coffee and her favourite chocolate-chip biscuits, which Charlotte doesn't touch.When Charlotte doesn't take offered food, you know she's not feeling good....Her smile is small and forced. She's doing her best to be polite, but I think it takes every ounce of Michael's support to keep her going. Still, she said she wanted to do this and overall, I believe she has made the right choice.We don't have to wait long. It's just as well. No-one
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 176: Alphas, Part 2
RichardShe turns back to me, hard-eyed, but then relaxes a little."Alright, Mr Haswell. Since it's you…"That's something........ How angry with me is she?I turn to Corby. "I'd like you to leave, now. We'll rearrange the interview for another day, and with another officer."His face flushes, but he nods, returning to the conference room to gather his notes. Michael starts to speak but I press a finger to my lips, rolling my eyes at the door. He nods and then waits, standing ramrod straight, hands in pockets.His lips a flat line, Corby exits, and I watch through the internal window to be sure he's entered the elevator. Then I turn to Charlotte. "I promise you that I knew nothing about that."Corby gone, some of her tension is easing, her eyes softening. "I believe you, but you can't give the guarantee I'm looking for, can you?"Oh, crap…"No, I can't."Her voice is matter of fact. "As I said, they'll not get a word out of me right now. I don't know where the p
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 177: Alphas, Part 3, Nine Years Ago
KlempnerOutside, sitting in the car, key hovering over the ignition, "Of course not. I wish it was 'Of course not'."Bech's voice is neutral. "You want me to get rid of him, sir?"You'd love me to say yes, wouldn't you........ You can't stand the pasty-faced little perv either...."It's a tempting thought, isn't it? But no, I really don't have anyone to replace him right now."Bech frowns. "No one, sir? Baxter perhaps? He thinks for himself....""Yes, he does, but he's busy with what's going on in South America.... He's sending a fresh batch next week.""Sir, you have a lot of people to call on. Surely, someone....""Yes, Bech, I do, but they're scattered. I need someone here." Glancing at him side-long, "I'm guessing you're not volunteering for the job."He rubs the side of his nose. "Not my style, sir," he replies blandly."Didn't think so. So, we're stuck with Jenkins for now.""He knows the rules," he says. "He won't touch them, but.... that doesn't mean
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 178: Alphas, Part 4
RichardElizabeth rises in a lithe movement, turns the lock on the door and pulls the blinds down on the internal window. Then returning to me, she straddles my lap, hooking her arms behind my neck."What would you like, Master?".... What would I like?From everything offered...."I'd like to get inside my wife and hear her moan as I fuck her."Smiling at the eyes, "As my Master wishes."Standing again, she reaches for my belt, the smile working its way to her mouth as she finds my zipper tight against the pressure from within, wrestling with it for the few seconds it takes her to unbelt, unzip and release me.Spinning my chair through ninety, giving herself space to move, she stands back, raising her skirt from the hem, all the while holding my eye. Lifting slowly, she displays herself to me; her panties, a vee of white lace and satin against porcelain skin."Master?"Do I let her strip for me?.... Or do I do it myself?A dark and growing stain creeps up the
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 179: Alphas, Part 5
RichardWill lays knife and fork to one side, steepling his fingers. "Richard, I know you and I are old friends and that you're calling me on that now, but I also have to answer for my own actions. Allegations have been made regarding the man and I cannot simply ignore them.""What allegations?""I'm not at liberty to say."Very helpful...."So, ask Charlotte herself what you want to know. She'll tell you the right of it.""You really think she will?"Hmmm....I take a mouthful of the Cabernet, swishing it around to give myself time to think. "Let me put it this way. How far would you get with any prosecution on James if Charlotte refuses to co-operate?" Will purses his lips. "And as for the Blessingmoors business, which is where you do need her evidence, I don't believe there is any team of wild horses that will drag anything useful out of her so long as she thinks there is an attempt on your part to attack James.""You really think so?""I'm sure so....""He bou
Latest chapter
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
