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Chapter 218: Hunters, Part 1
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Bab terkait
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 219: Hunters, Part 2, Seven Years Ago, The Farm
Horse and rider canter into the yard, assorted pairs of eyes watching their arrival.It's a fine sunny day and everyone has found work to do outside. Brett wearing faded overalls, touches up blistered paint on the sheds, giving her a wave as she passes. Old Jacob, busy clearing a blocked drain in the yard and wearing his usual stinking rags, follows her with his rheumy gaze. Tom, stripped to the waist to keep the muck off his shirt, helps. Well-muscled from hard physical work, he's a handsome sight. Some girl called Carol must have thought the same, judging by the tattooed rose carrying her name which curves from shoulder to chest.But handsome is as handsome does, and his good looks are spoiled by his slit-eyed scowl as, seeing Jenny, he turns away.Jenny's stance now is very different from the first time she mounted Maggie. Sitting straight, her spine is a smooth curve from shoulder to hip. Her thighs move rhythmically in a rise-and-fall with Maggie's movement, and her hair,
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 220: Hunters, Part 3, Seven Years Ago, The Farm
"I can't stop thinking about you, Jenny. I don't know anyone else like you. I want to be with you all of the time. Forever."Jenny's gaze is mesmerised. "Really all the time?""Yes, really. Jenny, why don't we get married? Then we can be together forever."She frowns. "But we're too young to get married.""That doesn't matter." Chad is all enthusiasm, his hands waving wildly as he speaks. "It's our last year at school. We could get married next year. Or the year after that. It'll be forever anyway won't it, once we do it? So, waiting a while doesn't matter. We can just.... agree.... that's what we're going to do."Chin trembling a little, her startling green gaze swimming, "You really want to marry me?""Yes, I do. Would you like to marry me?" He holds her at the shoulders. "Please say yes."She barely hesitates. "Oh, yes. Yes, I would."Chad breaks into a pumpkin smile. "Can I.... kiss you?" He moves a little closer. She blinks, stepping back. "Really," he says, "Just
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 221: Hunters, Part 4
RichardMichael curses and slams onto the accelerator, but it's not clear who will reach the women first. Spot-lit by beams from three directions Charlotte halts, hovers for a fraction of a second, then suddenly releases Elizabeth, shoving her in our direction, gesticulating and screeching instructions at her. My wife totters towards us but Charlotte dashes off to one side, vanishing into the darkness and one of the cars turns to follow."Shit!" spits James. "We can't follow both!" "Neither can they…" mutters Michael, his foot still hard on the gas as he helter-skelters towards Elizabeth. "Get ready to pull her in," he shouts back to me, but I'm already half hanging out of the back door, reaching for my Love. She can see me and in the harsh light of the head-lamps, her eyes are desperate, swollen, her face white and tear-streaked as, seeing me, arms outstretched, she screams my name.As we are all but on top of her, Michael jams on the brakes, in a tyre-shredding, teeth-
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 222: Hunters, Part 5
Richard"Where to?" asks the uniform driving us back to the City."My offices, thank you.""The offices?" murmurs Elizabeth from her place in my embrace."We'll stay in one of the guest apartments. I'll feel better knowing I have you close at hand and it means we have James and Michael close by too."All the drive back, I cradle her in my arms. She doesn't speak, simply resting her face against my chest. And desperate though I was to have my Elizabeth returned to me, I can't forget that I have left behind James and Michael, their Charlotte still lost.And I'm uneasy. Will they think I've abandoned them?Surely not.... not under these conditions....Elizabeth....Back in the apartment, at last with privacy to speak properly, I almost crush her as I hold her to me, and she bursts into tears again, her shoulders shaking as I rock her. "Oh, Master, I thought I was never going to see you again.""We didn't know how to find you. I was ready to tear the world apart, but
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 223: Hunters, Part 6
RichardElizabeth sips at the wine, then, "I'd not been there long when the door opened again and this time it was Charlotte." She twists around to look me in the face. "Master, I just wanted to cry when I saw who it was. They shoved her inside and locked the door behind her." Another sip of wine. "She didn't seem a bit surprised to see me....""No, she wouldn't. Her entire aim was to get to you. To get them to take her to you."She ducks her head, shrinking in on herself. "She really set herself up to save me?""Yes, she did. Against everything that anyone could do to stop her. Will Stanton suggested the idea, but Michael and James wouldn't hear of it. They said it was far too dangerous...."Do I tell her that I tried to stop Charlotte too?.... Later perhaps, when she's recovered....She digests this. "And those combs she gave me.... It was just an excuse to plant a tracker on me? So, you could find me?""It seems so. You can ask her yourself when we get her back."
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 224: Hunters, Part 7
RichardElizabeth shows no sign of resting or of trying to sleep. She's in no condition to be interviewed so I need to talk to Will, to tell him what she has told me. But I can't leave her alone like this.I sit by her, holding her hand, stroking the fingers, waiting for her eyes to close. As her lids droop, I hover for a couple of minutes then stand to make my call. Her eyes snap open, full of panic."Don't leave me. Please....""My Love, I'm not going anywhere. I just need to make a phone call."Her hands clutch at me, pulling me close. "Master, please..." There's pleading in her eyes. "I want you."Surely not…?"You want to make love? I thought.…""Please, Master. I want you inside me. They.... they made me feel dirty...." Her words have a desperate edge. Her eyes are clouded, imploring.My Love.... What have they done to you?Elizabeth has been abducted before, but it was only a matter of hours before I reclaimed her. This time they have had her for days....M
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 225: Hunters, Part 8, Seven Years Ago
As ever, Jenny is in the library.What is she looking at?As he watches, she slips a book from the shelves. 'Just Six Numbers.' Martin Rees.Mr Kalkowski nods a small satisfied nod. An interest in astronomy is almost bound to lead to an interest in cosmology.Still unaware of his presence, Jenny sits at the table with her book, humming a soft tune."Good morning Jenny. You're sounding very cheerful this morning."She startles and twists, for one moment the fear showing....What happened to her…?Then, recovering herself, she blushes pink, the colour rising from the scooped neckline of her summer dress, up and over her pale skin. "Oh, hello Mr Kalkowski."The teacher pauses, wondering if he has committed a faux pas. "Jenny, is something wrong?""Oh no, nothing wrong. It's just...." She sucks at her lips, her book forgotten. She rises from her seat, then perches herself against the table to face him. "We were keeping it a secret for now at least, but I want to tell yo
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 226: Hunters, Part 9, Seven Years Ago
"Levi, I'm not at all sure I'm comfortable with this. A bit of friendly sparring between her and Chad is one thing, but competitions? It's hardly a feminine activity."Mr Kalkowski snorts. "Not feminine? To be young and strong and healthy? And to achieve something for herself? Think how withdrawn she was when she first arrived Eleanor. This will be an achievement for Jenny. Something she can point to and say, 'I did that'."*****The old man stands over the class. "Who has not handed in the form signed by their parents to go on the school trip to the Boxing Competition? Several of the papers are missing."There is no reply. The old man sighs and works his way through the stack. "Jack, your form is not here. Do I take it you do not wish to attend the competition?"The brawny boy scowls. "Why would I want to go to a stupid competition to see a stupid girl boxing?""Stupid is as stupid does, Master Peterson. I had hoped you might like to go to support the honour of your school
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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
