patient man, Carlotta, as you well know.”
Carlotta hastily placed the pendant and crystal ball back into her bag and rose to leave. “Then we are done, the two of us. You have the information you need.”
Vance rose from his chair, moving once again to the long row of windows and studied the busy city street below. “We are not quite done yet, Carlotta. You see I still have need of your services, so I have decided you will be staying with us.”
“We…what? We had a deal,” she sputtered.
He turned and faced her, enjoyment at her expense evident in dark eyes. “Marco,” he called out. The door opened immediately and Marco stepped into the room. “Ah, Carlotta, you should know me well enough by now,” he chided, “I never release anything I find of value and you are still quite valuable to me.”
“I hope you burn in hell,” she spat, her body tense with fury.
“Take her to her new lodgings. Once she is settled come see me, we have much to plan for.”
As Marco led a resistant Carlotta out of the room Vance smiled, soon he would have the Druid and with her, the next step in his plan to destroy Arthur Penner. Life was good.
* * * *
Juliet stared up at the elusive Arthur Penner and couldn’t help but feel like a star struck teenager. After Colin stormed out the door—giving her the most earth moving orgasm she had ever known—she wasted little time looking in the closet for something to wear. An array of colors filled her stunned vision, finding dresses from various designers and all of them her favorites. Pulling out a powder blue Christian Dior dress she relished the cool slide of silk caressing her fingers.
She found the matching low heeled pumps arranged neatly on the floor below and rummaged through the chest of drawers for a bra and panties. She’d barely managed to don the clothes and run a brush through her hair when a knock sounded sharply at the door. She gave her appearance one last look and had to admit the dress was perfection with its low scooped neck and tucked in waist which emphasized her curves. The dress fell to just below her ankles in a soft swish of material making her feel like some modern day fairy tale princess.
Another knock came, this time sounding a little more impatient. With one last brush stroke through her long hair she hurried to the door. Half expecting Colin on the other end, she felt the sharp stab of disappointment when she found herself looking at a pretty young woman, straight dark hair cut into a stylish bob that framed her oval face. Slate grey eyes watched her with a hint of curiosity. Juliet found herself liking the woman instinctively, giving her a hesitant smile.
“Well, well, I can see why Colin is so besotted with you.” She laughed the sound light and pleasant. “It’s nice to finally meet you Juliet. I’m Andrea Calder, but you can call me Andy. Most people around here do. Anyway, I’m here to take you to the dining room.” She waved Juliet to follow as she turned and moved down the hallway at a quick pace.
Juliet hurried to catch up to the talkative energetic woman, barely noticing her surroundings as she rushed through the long hallway with its myriad of doors. “I hardly think Col…I mean Mr. Hennessy is besotted with me or anyone,” she argued, remembering the look of distaste sweeping over his handsome features after he kissed her senseless. Hardly the behavior of someone who cared much less liked her.
Andrea shook her head, giving her an impish grin. “I have been around a long time and have gotten to know the men under this roof quite well. You can mark my words, Colin cares a great deal for you and I am glad of it. He’s been alone for far too long, not healthy if you ask me.”
Juliet’s stomach filled with butterflies at the woman’s statement, could she have read him wrong? Surely this woman was mistaken. Excitement at the prospect rose through her and she squashed it mercilessly. The man was arrogant, high handed and…and
Carlotta hastily placed the pendant and crystal ball back into her bag and rose to leave. “Then we are done, the two of us. You have the information you need.”
Vance rose from his chair, moving once again to the long row of windows and studied the busy city street below. “We are not quite done yet, Carlotta. You see I still have need of your services, so I have decided you will be staying with us.”
“We…what? We had a deal,” she sputtered.
He turned and faced her, enjoyment at her expense evident in dark eyes. “Marco,” he called out. The door opened immediately and Marco stepped into the room. “Ah, Carlotta, you should know me well enough by now,” he chided, “I never release anything I find of value and you are still quite valuable to me.”
“I hope you burn in hell,” she spat, her body tense with fury.
“Take her to her new lodgings. Once she is settled come see me, we have much to plan for.”
As Marco led a resistant Carlotta out of the room Vance smiled, soon he would have the Druid and with her, the next step in his plan to destroy Arthur Penner. Life was good.
* * * *
Juliet stared up at the elusive Arthur Penner and couldn’t help but feel like a star struck teenager. After Colin stormed out the door—giving her the most earth moving orgasm she had ever known—she wasted little time looking in the closet for something to wear. An array of colors filled her stunned vision, finding dresses from various designers and all of them her favorites. Pulling out a powder blue Christian Dior dress she relished the cool slide of silk caressing her fingers.
She found the matching low heeled pumps arranged neatly on the floor below and rummaged through the chest of drawers for a bra and panties. She’d barely managed to don the clothes and run a brush through her hair when a knock sounded sharply at the door. She gave her appearance one last look and had to admit the dress was perfection with its low scooped neck and tucked in waist which emphasized her curves. The dress fell to just below her ankles in a soft swish of material making her feel like some modern day fairy tale princess.
Another knock came, this time sounding a little more impatient. With one last brush stroke through her long hair she hurried to the door. Half expecting Colin on the other end, she felt the sharp stab of disappointment when she found herself looking at a pretty young woman, straight dark hair cut into a stylish bob that framed her oval face. Slate grey eyes watched her with a hint of curiosity. Juliet found herself liking the woman instinctively, giving her a hesitant smile.
“Well, well, I can see why Colin is so besotted with you.” She laughed the sound light and pleasant. “It’s nice to finally meet you Juliet. I’m Andrea Calder, but you can call me Andy. Most people around here do. Anyway, I’m here to take you to the dining room.” She waved Juliet to follow as she turned and moved down the hallway at a quick pace.
Juliet hurried to catch up to the talkative energetic woman, barely noticing her surroundings as she rushed through the long hallway with its myriad of doors. “I hardly think Col…I mean Mr. Hennessy is besotted with me or anyone,” she argued, remembering the look of distaste sweeping over his handsome features after he kissed her senseless. Hardly the behavior of someone who cared much less liked her.
Andrea shook her head, giving her an impish grin. “I have been around a long time and have gotten to know the men under this roof quite well. You can mark my words, Colin cares a great deal for you and I am glad of it. He’s been alone for far too long, not healthy if you ask me.”
Juliet’s stomach filled with butterflies at the woman’s statement, could she have read him wrong? Surely this woman was mistaken. Excitement at the prospect rose through her and she squashed it mercilessly. The man was arrogant, high handed and…and
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