The closer they got to the pier the more nervous Mark got. It didn't matter that he'd met both Maddy and Myra before. If anything, that made it worse. He didn't know if Myra would recognize him at all, or if she did, would she have him chalked up as one of a thousand perverted losers who'd paid to see her naked. Worse, he might be remembered as that creep who jizzed in his pants.
As for Maddy, Mark knew that she'd remember him. That night they'd spent together was burned in his memory, and he knew how she felt about it at the time too. They'd made love in the dark, then again when they woke in the morning, not a word exchanged. They'd showered together, then lay holding each other until they couldn't avoid getting up. Even then, he'd accompanied her all the way to the airport, shared a really tender goodbye kiss with her, and then kicked himself for months that he hadn't got her contact details, or just up and moved to New York to find her.WhaMarkfollowed her downstairs and around the side of the pool, turning left to head into one of the business suites where he could see Mister Yousefsitting behind a desk. On the other side of it sat three large leather chesterfield armchairs, Maddyin the one on the left, Myraon the right.He took a deep breath, feeling the tension of what was to come. He knew inside that room he would find out what his future would be like, what his responsibilities were and what BenjaminMoore, the man who had gave him up for adoption would have to say to him and his sisters."Good luck, Mark," Jasminesaid quietly. "I'll see you when you get out."He entered the room and closed the door.----------"It's a lot to take in," Jasminesaid gently.Markwas sat on his balcony, chain-smoking and watching a spectacular sunset that he just couldn't appreciate. The afternoon had been too draining.
There was a knock at the door and Markstood up as Jasmineentered."Sorry to interrupt. Dinner's going to be served in ten minutes. Thought I'd better let you know.""Cheers, Jasmine," Marknodded."I better make a move," Maddysaid, getting up. "Cheers for the chat, Mark.""Anytime."Jasminewaited until Maddywas inside her own suite before she spoke. "How did it go?"Markshrugged. "Okay, I guess. What's happening with the whole....""Discrete investigation?" Jasmineasked quietly.Marknodded. "I told Maddyyou know.""How did she react?""Angry at first, but she's had a lot to deal with. She told me about one of her friends though. She's got a kid that's got health problems. Can we help her with that?""I already know about it," Jasminesaid quietly. "As I said, we move quick and quiet when we need to."
Dinner wasn't as fantastic as Markexpected when it came to the food. Due to Jayden's interference Markhad his own menu with his options dramatically reduced. He'd been looking forward to some more of the lobster or those delicious prawns from lunch, but ended up with a grilled tuna steak and poached egg on a bed of quinoa, a substance a lot like couscous, but delicately spiced. It was delicious, but when he saw everyone else tucking into steak, lobster, mussels, spicy noodles, and a dazzling array of vegetables he definitely felt restricted.Eight of them sat around a table in the dining area next to the bar. Markwas joined by his sisters, Jasmine, Heidi and Garius, and Henryand Mister Yousefcompleted the party. What started off as a fairly subdued group quickly opened up as each of them told funny stories about themselves, knowing that Mark, Myraand Maddydidn't really know any of them.Marktold them of how he'd been so h
"That was pretty impressive, you know," He heard from behind him, recognising Jasmine's voice.Markshrugged as he lit another cigarette. "I deal with a lot of information at work, so I'm pretty good at taking stuff in. Plus, we spent hours on this today.""You missed one," She said gently, taking a seat beside him. To his surprise she leaned over and picked up his cigarettes and lit one for herself, then grinned. "I've had a couple of drinks.""What did I miss?" Markasked, not really caring if she smoked or not. Who was he to say anything, given he was chain-smoking like an addict on death row."The Business Consultants you work for?" She said, making it a question."Of course. With offices in the US, UK, Canada and Australia," He finished."Seriously, that's really impressive, remembering all that."Markexhaled a long, smooth breath. "I spoke to Myra. Told her I was at the club in Myrtle
Sleep eluded him though.He fidgetted, rolled over, couldn't get comfortable and couldn't quite drift off, so he got up again, grabbed a pair of shorts and a hooded jersey from the dressing room and went outside again."Psst. Mark."It took him a moment to trace the source of the loud whisper, but he saw Maddywalking round the balcony from her suite to his. "How you doing?""Can't sleep," He told her, taking a seat."Me neither. I think that's been forty hours now or something," She replied."Jesus, Maddy. You should be in your bed.""It's not happening though. I just can't drift off.""Yeah, I know what you mean. I just got back up myself."She looked at him for a minute, her head tilted to one side. "Come with me, Mark." She turned and began to walk around the balcony, her white trackpants and vest top making her easily visible in the dark. "Come on."Markgot up and followed her round the balcony and
"Morning, Mark."He felt the gentle hand rubbing his shoulder, and recognised Jasmine's voice. He opened his eyes, seeing a hint of brightness in the room from the bedside lamp.Jasminewas sat on the side of the bed, wearing an oversized football shirt, her hair hanging loose, grinning at him."It's six o'clock already?" He mumbled."Quarter to," She replied. "Time to get out of bed, Mark. Rise and shine, although I think you've got the rise part taken care of." Her eyes flicked down the bed at the same instant that Markrealized he had an erection, and was lying on his back, tenting the sheet just as she had predicted twentyfour hours ago."Oh, shit. Sorry," He muttered, sitting upright and making sure the sheet covered him.Jasminechuckled, a wicked noise that made him grin a little sheepishly. "Told you.""Yeah, you did," He replied and his eyes narrowed. "Is that my football shirt
Despite his aching arms and shoulders, the hot water invigorated him and the thought of Jasminebeing in here, naked and soapy only a few minutes before had him hard, so Markrubbed one out, his eyes closed as he remembered that glimpse of her body.Despite having extensive practice when it came to jerking off, and lots of inspiration, it wasn't the most spectacular orgasm Markhad in his life, but it served to ease the tension in him so he finished washing himself, stepped out the shower, grabbed a towel and roughly dried himself off."I'm out here," Jasminecalled from the bedroom, so Markmade sure his towel was secure around his waist then walked out to join her. She was already dressed but had a towel still wrapped around her hair."Here's your clothes for the morning," She said, waving to a pair of jeans, a v-necked top and a jacket, "And here's your workout clothes for lunchtime," She added, indicating a pair of shorts
When they returned, Jasminewas waiting for them, and as Garius had covered the computer manufacturing operation, their software development companies and the mobile telecomms part of their organisation, Jasminestarted on the 'Hollywood' side of things.She began laying out information for them on the Production company, the Talent agency and the music and magazine companies, a slightly more glamorous side of their business. She spoke about some of the stars they represented, household names in some cases, and briefly went into what shows and productions they had shares in that were run or managed by other companies, drawing both Maddyand a reluctant Myrainto the conversation by asking them if they'd seen this movie or show, or heard music by a particular artist.Markwas a little amused at how skillfully she'd drawn them into the briefing, making it more of a conversation than a straight delivery of information, and before he knew it she wa
True to her suggestions, Myraknocked, waited for a few seconds and then slowly opened the door to see a flushed Maddystraightening her clothing and looking a little flushed. Markand Myraexchanged a knowing look, and then suggested the three of them go back upstairs. Maddydidn't say much, but followed them up the stairs, with both Markand Myranoticing her obvious reluctance."I'm off to my room to get changed," Maddysaid as soon as they closed the hatch. Markand Myramanaged to keep a straight face until she was out of sight, but the second she was gone they broke into broad grins."Who knew both my sisters were raging perverts," Markmuttered, earning a punch on the arm from Myra."From the guy who's fucked both of us and is banging his secretary too."Markgrinned. "I like to keep busy."Their last afternoon on the Island passed very quickly, between the vario
"So what did she say?""She got a fright, so I told her to sit down and we talked for a bit. Then she told me that she'd made a bet with some friends that she would have sex with you, and she had to follow through with it. Well, I didn' t know if you'd hooked up with Jasmine, so I tell her that she can't and that she should just tell her friends that she did.""So Sarah turned up and you stopped her coming in?" Markasked."Yeah. Bear in mind that at this point, you're the only person I've ever met before, I know you're my brother, but I'm all horny and attracted to you, right? I'm tired and I'm not exactly thinking straight, plus this slut has just shown up and I'm feeling jealous. Pretty much an emotional mess, right?""Okay. So what happened with Sarah?""She wouldn't leave, even tried to get back into the suite, so I gave her two choices. She could be fired if she kept trying to get inside, or she could leave and I'd te
"Fuck my life," Markmurmured."What?" Jasminemuttered."Nothing. Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you," He said softly, slipping in behind her.She pulled his arm around her, nestling her body into him. "It's okay. Can't you sleep?""No, went down to the bunker."Jasminerolled onto her back, propping her legs over his and turned to look at him, all sleepy and cute. "What did you find?""You don't want to know," Marksaid unhappily.She watched him carefully for a moment, then said softly, "Was it footage of me?"Markshook his head. "No, not exactly, just, em.... there was footage stored of me and you. All week long."She looked away and took a deep breath. "Did you delete it?""Not yet, but I will later.""You have to. Promise me, Mark, please?" She said, her expression intense."I will. I promise. There's just something I have to
It was eerie walking down the stairs completely on his own, and he felt a little trepidation as he punched in the code and held his hand against the palm-scanner. He stepped back as the door opened and entered the silent bunker, his eyes automatically going to the spot where Henryhad lay.He took a deep breath and headed for the control room, sliding into a seat before the console, seeing Jasminesleeping on one of the large screens in front of him. He smiled, seeing how natural and relaxed she seemed while asleep.Markturned to look at the wall to his left, a large map of the Island about eight feet across with numbered pins stuck in it showing the location of each camera. It took him a minute, but he counted one hundred and thirty eight."Holy fuck that's a lot of cameras."It took him another ten minutes to find the guide on how to use the system, and his eyes widened more than once at how it was set up. Each camera fed back to a serve
As the staff were all wandering out the door, chatting over the revelations they'd just been hit with, Marklooked at Mister Yousef. "You kept that brief.""I'm a big fan of letting people do the work they're employed to do," The old man smiled. "You nearly gave me a heart-attack when you stepped forward there. Nicely done."Markshrugged. "No biggie. So can we head back to the house now?""The boat got away?"Marknodded. "No problems.""Good. I'll see you at lunch," George replied, turning to leave. "Brian, let's go.""Work calls," The Security chief said, nodding at Markon his way past."Brian," Marksaid, grabbing his hand. "Thanks for this. All of it.""No problem, sir, and if you don't mind me saying, Henrywas a bastard. I'm glad he's... off the Island."It was two hours and forty minutes later when Connor finally appeared. A nervous Markgree
"Let's do it," Connor said. "I'll take the feet, you take the upper body and I'll go in front. Take your time, alright."Marknodded and moved to the corpse, wrapped into a neat cylinder with the rugs and trash bags. On Connors signal they lifted the body and Markgrunted as they carried it up the steps and into the bar.It felt really bizarre to be carrying a wrapped up body in broad daylight through a place he'd come to love, but with short steps, Connor and Markmade their way through the main house, took the right onto the path past the kitchens, and then a few minutes later onto the beach.Captain Wales was waiting for them with the gangplank ready and engines running, his crew sent to the clubhouse like everyone else.They carried Henry'sbody along the pier, feeling exposed in the open, but Connor kept feeding Markadvice to keep him calm and all too soon they were placing the body out of sight in the lounge of the catamara
They lay there for another ten minutes until Myracalled through to let them know Mister Yousefhad returned with Brian Kane in tow, along with a yawning Captain Wales. Markand Jasminequickly dried and dressed, then went out to meet them in the lounge of Mark's suite, with the doors securely closed. To their surprise, Brian greeted them with warm handshakes, admitting a moment later that he suspected for a long time that there was something off about Henry, and that when Mister Youseftold him what had happened, he wasn't really that surprised.Mister Yousefthen briefed them on Brian's suggestion on how to deal with the situation. It seemed very simple, so much so that Markkept looking for holes in it.Over the next couple of hours, Henry's body was to be wrapped in the bloodstained rugs, taped up and secured in trash bags and brought to the top of the hidden staircase. At seven o'clock in the morning, Brian and his team would gat
"So does that mean I can get a shower now?" Markasked, knowing Myrahad washed him clean but still convincedhe had the old mans blood on him."As soon as you've sorted out the access protocols," George nodded."What about him?" Connor asked, jerking his thumb at the corpse on the far side of the room."We'll deal with that after we've spoken to Mister Kane." At that the old man nodded and stood up. "And no alcohol for the time being please.""Okay," Marksaid. "Connor?"The Scotsman nodded and led them to the Control room. Markwas still a little unsteady on his feet, but with Jasmineholding his hand, he was able to cross the room with little difficulty.The control room was astonishing to each of them, as they saw the images on the array of monitors, with one of the large screens showing a picture of Mark's room from above his bed, another showing footage from a camera in the corner o
"Hello?" They heard Connor call, and by some unspoken signal, both Maddyand Myrarolled out the bed, leaving Markunder the covers. Maddysat down on the bed and Myrawalked towards the door."In here," She said.Connor appeared in the doorway with a bundle of clothes in his arms and handed them to Myra."Give us a minute. We've just cleaned him up, and we'll get him dressed."The Scotsman nodded and turned away, closing the door behind him."Right, you," Maddysaid firmly, hauling back the covers. Myratossed a pair of dark blue jeans to Maddyand dropped a hooded jersey and sneakers on the foot of the bed. She came around to the other side of it."Sorry about this," Marksaid softly, now feeling a little embarassed at his nudity."Shut up, Mark," Myrasaid briskly as she helped Maddymaneuvre the trousers round his feet. Markhad to roll onto hi