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The Tessarae Inn |
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Poseidon Rising CHAPTER 17 Blair waved the papers under Vincent’s nose then screamed, “What the hell are these? What are you trying to do to me?” He studied her body then let his gaze drift from her chest slowly up to her eyes. “How did you find me, Blair?” He winked at her. “I don’t usually let students know where I live.” He was not the least bit funny. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him but he just spread his legs, crossed his arms over his chest and smiled at her. “You like?” She glanced at his bare chest and at the silk pajama bottoms and wanted to tear his chest hairs out one at a time. “Shut up,” she said as she brushed past him and walked into his living room. He closed the door and then followed her. “Try to keep your hormones under control, Blair. It’s too late for that but it’s nice to know that you want me.” She turned around slowly and faced him. “You used me. How could you do that?” “Used is such an ugly word. I offered you my services. You accepted.” He raked his hand through his hair then looked at her. “It’s not my fault that you didn’t read the fine print.” “I am not going to let this happen.” “Frankly, I don’t see how you have much choice.” He smiled and shrugged. “I’m your white knight here riding in on one of those big ass Clydesdales to save you.” “Oh, shut up. I’m going to snatch that stupid smile off your face and beat you to death with it, you lying piece of trash.” “A little early for so many clichés in one sentence, isn’t it?” “I put my heart and soul into that company. You know that.” “And I appreciate it. It’s part of what makes it such an attractive package. Don’t worry you will be handsomely compensated for your efforts.” He moved close to her and lowered his voice into a soft murmur. “I’ll always take good care of you.” She studied him for a minute. The smile was gone and he was looking at her with naked intensity. Maybe he really did have a soft spot for her. She pounced. “Don’t do this, Vincent,” she said softly. He stared at her for a moment longer then shook his head. “I’m sorry but this is what I do.” Damn you then! “You’ll never have another moment of peace. I will make your life …” “Well, good, girlfriend, because I don’t like him all stale and static. Make him work up a sweat for it, Blair. Don’t give it away.” Blair’s mouth dropped open and she spun around toward the voice. Amanda strolled into the living room dressed in a robe that was so short it barely reached her thighs. Her hair was tousled and untamed and, although her cheeks glowed a peach color, it was not the result of makeup. She shook her hair and pulled her robe a little tighter, which only emphasized her body even more. “A little early for a visit, though, isn’t it, Blair?” “What are you doing here?” Vincent chuckled then moved into her line of vision. “She’s doing me just fine.” Blair tried to slice Vincent into tiny pieces with visual daggers but he just smirked. She stepped back and shifted her gaze to Amanda. “Why are you doing this? I thought you were marrying Todd.” Amanda moved a few steps closer. “Bigamy is illegal.” She stretched out her right hand so that her ring finger was prominent. “And I already got a man.” The diamond was at least five carats and sparkled as if it was in the sun even in the dim light of the living room. “You’re engaged to him?” “No, Sweetie. I’m not engaged to him. I’m mar-rie-d-d-d to him.” The ground seemed to shift slightly. What the hell was going on? “When did this happen?” Amanda looked at the wall clock. “Sixty-seven hours ago and counting.” Blair quickly did a rough calculation. Two days and half days ago. “You married him Sunday after you left my house.” “Jumped on a private jet and whisked off to Vegas. It was so romantic. We got married in a hot air balloon as we floated over that red, hot desert. It was so symbolic Jewelsy almost did me right in the balloon in front of the magistrate.” A thousand thoughts seemed to hit her at once but only one came out of her mouth. “Does Todd know?” Amanda waved her hand and then laughed in short bursts of sound. “Here’s the thing. He ordered me to pretend to want to marry my sweet Jewelsy but he didn’t know I was already only one limo ride and an Elvis impersonator away from being Mrs. Vincent Maurice Jewel for real.” “You stabbed Todd in the back. For what? A higher bid?” Amanda sat on the arm of the sofa and crossed her legs. “Lets get real here, Blair. You appreciate the value of a dollar better than most people. With Jewelsy I have money and something Todd could never give me, love. And you know why he can’t love me don’t you? It’s because of you. So don’t act all aggrieved and shocked here.” He didn’t deserve this. “Todd has been good to you.” “I’ve been better to him. I suspect you know about that kind of inequity, too. And remember I saved his butt before I knew he had a dime.” Amanda flicked something off of her robe. “And I’ve covered his butt more than once in all those stupid schemes involving you, too. Ask me, I went above and beyond the call of duty.” Had she been completely wrong about Amanda all this time? “You and Todd were just working a scheme on me? For what? The children?” “Until I got a better offer. He even had me coming on to you so if things did work out with you he could claim I was gay.” Vincent began to laugh in a loud roar. “That husband of yours, Blair, is a real piece of work but he’s strictly bush league shit. One day maybe he can play with the big dogs.” “Ooooooh, woof, woof,” said Amanda then delicately touched her upper lip with her tongue and threw her head back as she stared at Vincent. He made a growling sound. Amanda purred in response. Blair felt like she was going to be sick. She wanted to strangle both of them. “I will fight this, Vincent.” He dragged his gaze away from Amanda and focused on Blair. “I know that you will but you will lose. And even if you did win that would be many dollars and much time down the road. The company would be worthless by then.” Amanda leaned forward so the top of her robe gapped open slightly. “Be nice, Jewelsy. Isn’t there something you can do for poor widdle Blair?” He grinned and let his gaze wander over Amanda’s body. “Maybe I can be persuaded to come up with a wee accommodation.” Amanda clapped her hands lightly. “Like what, big dog?” He turned his head slowly toward Blair. “Your company is ripe for the picking and thanks to all your insider information setting up the takeover was pretty damn easy.” Blair felt her cheeks warm. While she was distracted debating the Todd issue, she had let a thieving, backstabbing, Aussie alligator into the goldfish pond. He raised one eyebrow and let his eyelids ease downward. “But don’t weep, sweet Blair, I do have a deal for you.” Blair waited. She did not want to give him the satisfaction of asking, what. “I want the Sun.” Like hell! Bastard. He had lied to her. “No. Can’t have it,” she said with ice cubes punctuating each word. “Todd will not sell it.” Amanda threw her head back and made a howling sound like a wolf. Vincent grinned at Amanda then turned back to Blair. “He certainly won’t sell it because I want him to,” he said as he leaned in close to her, “but would he sell it to save you?”
Chapter 18 Poseidon Rising FAN FICTION
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