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Chapter 228: Hunters, Part 11
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 229: Hunters, Part 12
RichardJames is intent, scrolling through something on his laptop.Then I realise that, in fact, it's Charlotte's laptop."What are you looking at?"A smile tugs at his mouth. "Her browsing history."Really?I cock a brow.... "You don't think that's a bit like spying on her?"He sniffs. "With everything that's happened, I think we can assume that if she didn't want me to see it, Charlotte would have deleted the information. She would have known it was one of the first things I'd look at.""And of course, you are her Dom.…"His voice is dry. "Am I? I'm glad you think so.…"Time to change the subject...."What's in the history?"He sits back, fingers steepled. "She has been teaching herself to hack."I suppress the urge to laugh.Why am I not surprised?At least she's consistent...."Hack? Hack what?""The surveillance system for this building for a start."Hmmm...."That's a lot to learn very quickly isn't it?""In case you hadn't got it yet, Cha
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 230: Hunters, Part 13
RichardJames rubs an ear. "I can imagine how that looks to an outsider but.... It was just supposed to be a bit of fun. She was willing, and very well paid for it. And as it happened, she was doing it because, as you said, she wanted just what your Beth wanted, a shot at taking her own life forward....""Is that how Michael saw it?"James stalls and I think he's not going to reply but then, "Michael wanted nothing to do with it to begin with. I persuaded him to get involved because...."Not just a bit of fun then...."Because?"".... because, as he pointed out, with the way my tastes run, a young girl needed someone to look out for her. Michael was Charlotte's insurance against my possible misjudgement.... Of taking things too far with her...."Jesus........ What did it cost him to admit that…? "It obviously worked. But it was still only for a week?""It didn't even take that long. We both fell for her and I.... I just tried to find a way of keeping her. At the e
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 231: Hunters, Part 14
James"Shhh.... It's alright. You're safe now. And so's Beth."And as he spots me there, standing in the doorway, he eye-points down her body. She's a mass of cuts, bruises and welts.Jeez....Where the muck has washed clear of her, her pale skin is marked in livid purple and blue. Older injuries fade through black, red and yellow in places. An angry gash on one thigh is seeping pink fluid into the shower stream and in a couple of places, the flesh is swollen and red.Whoever did this to you...."I'll get a medic here," I say, dashing back for my phone and leaving Michael comforting the weeping Charlotte.My call is answered almost immediately. "James!" exclaims Francis' happy voice. "Congratulations. We're all so....""Francis, can you get a doctor here and quickly, please. And can you request a woman."Her voice snaps to 'business mode'. "Of course, James. If you hold the line for one moment...." Her voice turns remote. "Surgery? Is Doctor Lisowski down there? Yes,
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 232: Hunters, Part 15, Seven Years Ago
"What would you like to do when you grow up Jenny?"She grins. "Oh, that's easy, Mr Kalkowski. I want to be like you, a teacher."The old man smiles, perching himself against the edge of his desk. Arms folded, he looks down at his disciple. "To be a teacher is an honourable calling, none more so. But something tells me your life is going to be more interesting than that. Is there not something else that appeals to you?"She shrugs. "Like what?""Like anything. The world is your oyster and you have not, thus far, seen very much of it.""You can tell me about it. And I can read your books.""I can tell you many things Jenny, and I am happy to do so. But I cannot live your life for you. You should go out into the world, see what is to be seen. Learn more...."She stares at him. "Leave here? But you're my teacher....""I have my limitations. Already you ask questions which I cannot answer, but I know that there are others who can. And of course, some questions no-one can ye
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 233: Hunters, Part 16
JamesShoving a couple of coins into the slot, I pocket my goods and return to find her sitting up, hugging her knees. The bed is large and her face unusually pale even for her. She looks lost, childlike, and not for the first time I reflect on the age difference between us.Pulling the packet from my pocket, I wave it quickly by her for reassurance before placing it on the bedside table. "There are vending machines in the public bathrooms downstairs," I explain.She nods, but I see the movement of her throat as she swallows. Cupping her cheek in my hand, "You are alright?"She raises a wan smile. "Yes, Master. I'm alright, just very tired. You don't have to keep asking."I pull the sheets back. Without meaning to, my gaze slides over her body, bruised and battered. Her skin, usually so pale and perfect is blotchy with brutal hues and half-healed welts. My gorge rising, I look away."Actually, I do. You might try to brush off what's happened to you, but no-one gets into tha
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 234: Hunters, Part 17
RichardMy phone buzzes."Hello, James. How is she now?""Much better. A good sleep has worked wonders. Would you and Beth like to come up when it's convenient. She wants to talk to all of us together.""We'll be there in a few minutes."I sit with Elizabeth, who keeps her fingers laced with mine. James is relaxed, a smile playing around his eyes as he sits by Charlotte.Michael is otherwise. For a man who is normally warm and easy, he seems distant, almost disconnected. On the several previous occasions when I have seen him with Charlotte in similar situations, he has been, as James phrased it, her anchor. Now he barely looks at her and there's a set to his jaw that I've not seen before.Beth notices it too, eye-pointing me across to Michael. I quell her with a warning glance and a squeeze on her fingers.Charlotte sits by James, but her glance repeatedly skitters across to her blond fiancé, who doesn't return it.Better do my bit in support...."Charlotte, um, I k
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 235: Hunters, Part 18
Richard"So, this phone call to Klempner…" I begin.Charlotte punctuates her words with hands spread. "It could only have been from someone in the police, or someone getting the information from the police. Who else would know? It an unpleasant thought. Will Stanton is my friend of years. "Who indeed?" I mutter.Charlotte continues, "And I heard him giving orders to have this building watched. That's why I didn't want any of you coming out for me, and why I came in the way I did."Michael's face hardens again....He thinks she made the wrong decision?Or his pride is damaged that she took that decision herself…?.... instead of asking for help?What's wrong with the man?He's got a woman in a million....A warrior....And James is her Dom?James interrupts my thoughts before I can ponder the implications of that. "What happened after you and Beth split?" he asks. "We picked up Beth almost immediately, but there was no sign of you."I think the wine is worki
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 236: Hunters, Part 19, Seven Years Ago
She screws up her face, feeling a little queasy. "Noooo... Let it go. Please."The old man nods. "I agree. When one has captured the beast with line and fly, it seems fairer does it not? The battle between man and beast. Yes, no? But this feels like a kind of betrayal. An abuse of trust." He stoops, releasing the fish back into the water, where with a casual flick of the tail, it resumes its vigil in the current."Think of the story it could tell, Jenny, to its fellows, of its strange trip above the world of water, only to return."She laughs. "Fish don't tell stories.""Everything tells a story, Jennifer." He stands again, slowly, placing his feet carefully as he returns to his seat on the grassy hummock. "You should not dismiss something because it appears ordinary. Instead, ask yourself what it can say to you...."Her brows puckers. ".... I see you do not believe me." He casts around at the pebbled shoreline, then stooping, picks up a stone. "This for example," he says, of
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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
