Chapter 19
Sapphire was reading a document sitting on her table when a junior officer came and saluted her.
"Good morning ma'am. I'm sorry I have bad news for you." Denovan spoke gravely.
Sapphire abruptly stopped her work and gave him her undivided attention.
"Good morning, Denovan. What is the news? Take a seat." She pointed to the chair across the table.
"Ma'am our informer Chloe was found shot dead on the bed after she went with Carl Campbell inside the room. I guess he found out she was part of NIA."
A series of profanities ran out of Sapphire under her breath. "Investigate on the matter." She commanded.
Denovan cut a sorrowful figure much to the surprise of Sapphire. "Ma'am we had already done the investigation and the only information we could find was she had been shot."
She had her doubts yesterday night itself when she saw blood marks on his shirt. "Carl had killed her but we do not have any evidence of it. His men are smart. They cleaned the area so perfectly that no living person in the world would believe, there happened a murder there just a an hour ago."
Denovan placed a few pictures of Chloe shot and dead from different directions. "Carl's men bribed the manager and took control of the CCTV footage too. The evidence is erased for six hours in all the cameras of the pub starting from Carl's entry to the club till his retreat."
"Damn it!" She should have done something yesterday night but she contemplated because she may be caught. Sapphire got up from her chair like a missile and slapped her hand on the file she was reading till moments ago.
Denovan jumped on his feet at her sudden outburst. "Ma'am we are trying our best. I'm sure we will soon find out something against the mafia leader." He stuttered.
*****
Claire had made the morning cup of coffee for Carl like usual. Thankfully she did not see any blood marks on his shirt after her first night in the house. Otherwise she would have had after thoughts to stay in the mansion with him. No matter she was a brave NIA officer, she cannot stay with a heartless murderer who breathed by killing people everyday.
It has been a week since she came to Carl's home and is working for him. Because the employee quarter had been vacant for a long time, there has been an intersection and the manager is getting the whole place cleaned and distempered.
Carl allowed her to use the mansion's guest bedroom until her quarters were repaired. Working for Carl was easier than The Ramones because she had to do nothing but to prepare coffee for him in the morning and sometimes in the evening if he comes back home early which seldom happened in the last week. She had got her name enrolled in day college instead of night. So that in the pretext of college she could go to do her job and concentrate on her target, Carl Campbell more.
He returns home late in the night and is too drunk to be assisted by his driver James. Claire wondered if he was simply an alcoholic or serving deep pain in his heart for someone. Because sometimes he talked too excited and animatedly to his driver and at times sniffled cries as if mourning the loss of someone.
Yes, she did the check on his personal life and it was repeatedly mentioned that he loved his wife very much. It was most probably about his wife Stephanie that he nourished the deep pain in his heart. She died in a mafia attack and he killed all the men of his enemy because he killed Stephanie. It is also the reason she is transferred here on duty to investigate the case.
Elena and Jennifer missed her very much. Elena often called her. She invited her for a weekend girl's night out yesterday. But Claire could not accept the offer because early in the morning she had to get up to make coffee for Carl.
She misses her dad too but could not dare to call him again. Her phone could be tracked and at work they are boss and employee.
In the meanwhile she started doing her investigation. She started examining all the walls of the house through a device which she secretly brought with her luggage. It states if the wall is simply a wall or has some hidden material inside like black money. And so far she did not find a single clue of hidden wealth anywhere in the house.
The head cook Jasper and the senior maid Jenna became her best friends in Carl's mansion.
She knocked on the door and in its routine way, there was no response. It was Saturday and a weekend. Probably he would not be going to work and that is why he was sleeping. Because for the last five days except the first day, he was dressed in his sportswear to have coffee after his morning walk.
Claire contemplated, maybe she would be disturbing him. But he was also the person who told her a week ago to bring the coffee to his bedroom if he did not go to the dining hall to have it.
Claire twisted the door knob and entered inside. She couldn't stop but gaze spell-shocked at ultimate manliness feasting her eyes.
He was naked from the top sleeping on his stomach and white blanket covering him from his waist. His hair was disheveled but sexy. It was the first time she was looking so closely at him. His features looked relaxed unlike the usual tension that he often wears on his face. Carl was extremely gorgeous, virile and striking even in his sleep.
Claire walked closer and she could smell his scent now. It was some kind of ocean and melon. The hairs on her body stood up and muscles knotted in her belly in some strange kind of sensation. Was she getting attracted to him?
This could be only an infatuation. She forced herself to recall, they were poles apart. A girl like her would not suit in his circle. She was just his employee, one among the millions of employees he has. The only purpose of her accepting his offer is to do her duty sincerely towards the nation. Once the assignment finishes she would request NIA to give her a far away posting away from the thoughts of Carl Campbell.
Few days on the other side of the world, distanced from him, the little attractions she possibly has for him will become history.
Claire placed the coffee mug on the bedside table and shook him while leaning over. He groaned turning around on the bed, suddenly encapsulated her in his arms and pulled her with him on the bed.
"Sir, please wake up, this is Claire." He growled once again in his sleep and searched for a comfortable position with her in his arms.
Claire's body was on fire by the advent of his touch. Her body was snuggled in his Herculean brawny embrace with her every curve in contact with his skin. The slight stubble on his cheeks and chin brought tingles on her skin when he cuddled with her deeper and stronger.
It was as if he was having an intense dream. While her body wanted to go moulded in his caress, her mind cautioned her to stay away. He would not have any feelings for her, may just use her and let go. It was obvious with every night a new woman's scent that he carried home.
A sudden abhorrence screeched in her cells about which she had no idea. He was only her assignment, not her boyfriend, fiancee or husband. Get a grip of yourself Sapphire….
She forcefully distanced herself, flattening her palms on his chest and Carl opened his eyes stunned, coming back to the real world.
For a few moments, he stared at her unblinking. His forest green orbs were hypnotizing, drawing her into their depths like a magnet.
"Please…let go." Claire insisted meekly and that was when he came out of the trance, from the flurry of thoughts he was in.
"I'm sorry." His voice was soft and husky as he abruptly got up from the cot and stood to one side giving her the space to come out of the bed.
Claire jumped on her feet feeling the uneasiness caused by the powerful aura he carried around him and ran out of the door as if she had been bitten by a snake.
******
Three days later….
"Good morning boss. I do not have much good news for you." Elliott stood before Carl with a file resting in his hands.
"What is it?" Carl asked intrigued.
"This lady officer doesn't like to accept defeat and she cannot be lured with money either. She is leaving no stone unturned to show us as criminals before law." Elliott tightened his lips in distaste.
Carl gave out a loud laughter pushing his head back. "I came to know many similar things about her. I'm fascinated and at the same time conspired by her advances to show me as a law breaker. So far there is no police officer or NIA employee who went against me and who cannot be lured by money. This woman is first of the kind. I am actually impressed by her."
His jovial nature suddenly died as he rubbed his stubbled cheek with thought. "We may not be able to corrupt her with our stack of notes but we can surely use the method for the senior officials of NIA. Use our power and influence in the department and get her transferred to some God forbidden place away from our hairs like a punishment posting. The sincere brat needs to be taught a lesson."
Carl did not see positivity in Eliott's features as expected. "Sir I do not think that is going to happen. The chief of NIA is her father."
Chapter 20
"What the fuck! How didn't you come to know about this earlier? It is the basic information. You could get it easily even by tallying both of their surnames?" There was an obvious irritation and displeasure in Carl by the work of Elliott.
"I am sorry sir. But their initials do not match. Sapphireuses her mom's maiden name. Initially I thought the chief was the second husband of Zelda, Sapphire's mom. But the DNA of the chief exactly matches with Sapphire's. I think the father and daughter duo did this deliberately so as to not get caught in a relationship under the surveillance of NIA. Nobody in the department knows about their secret."
Carl played with his brows out of curiosity. "And how did you come to know about it?"
Elliott was pleased to explain. A slight smile playing on his brims. "Sir when I was investigating Sapphire's file I found her father's picture much more familiar. That was when it struck me that the chief and her father are the same person."
Carl knotted his fingers and laid back on his chair, his complete attention towards Elliott. "And you think NIA is stupid. Her father's or the chief's name will not be there in her employee register?"
Elliott fumbled with his fingers hesitating to say his next words. "I beg to deny sir. It is shown in her details that her mom is a single parent."
Carl left a soft gasp. "Fucking family! So all her postings and work details are manipulated by the chief but in employee records they are only a senior and a junior officer working for NIA. Thus the officer cannot be transferred from here until the chief wishes, which he will surely not because he was the person to bring her here. The older brother is an Army officer. Damn, the whole family are sincere government servants."
"Yes sir!" Elliott replied firmly and Carl started to rub his eyes to lift the sudden tiredness settling in them. So far he had not tasted defeat in any of his endeavors. This lady was testing his patience. He cannot get her transferred nor kill her.
*****
With the days passing, Carl awaited to get back home. He stopped drinking and sleeping around.
The presence of someone in the home waiting for him lifted his spirits. It was his secret correspondence with the manager to delay the repairs in Claire's employee quarters as many days as possible.
Thus even after a month of her arrival, her quarter is not ready and she continues to occupy the guest bedroom in Carl's mansion.
Claire was slowly getting to relish the company of Carl. He started to come home early and sober as early as 7:00 in the evening, surprising her. He would take a shower and both of them would have dinner together.
Claire loved cooking and often made dinner on her own for both of them without the help of cooks. Though there was not much conversation going between them, it was a comfortable silence with little talks here and there.
Before going to bed Claire would prepare coffee for Carland place it on his study desk because he would stay awake till late in the night for work.
It was eight in the night and both of them had finished dinner. Claire was super happy because she took a break from work. The college she enrolled in offered a winter break for all its students. Claire wanted to watch the newly released Chinese drama her friend Elena was speaking so much about.
But she was only an employee in Carl's house. How could she tell him she wants to use the facilities of the house? It is already a lot of generosity on his part to allow her to stay in his house for more than a month.
She placed the coffee mug on his table, walked back and forth outside his room fidgeting with her fingers.
Carl knew something was bothering her or she wanted to ask him something but he projected nonchalance. He wanted to see how long she was going to hesitate or refuse to communicate with him. She had already suffered so long by her uncaring family. Carl wished happiness for Claire. He wanted her to stay at ease and enjoy life in his home.
But finally his patience died and he walked out of the study. Much to the puzzle of Claire he asked, "what is your problem? You can say it so that I can look for a solution."
Claire's throat went dry with his sudden nearness. There was not more than an inch of space between them. She gulped and wet her lips with the tip of her tongue and his eyes brushed down from her eyes to her full pink lips.
She wasn't expecting him to reach her and consider her requirements. Claire said the whole sentence in a single breath, closing her eyes. "I…can I watch TV for sometime?"
Carl chuckled lowly, placing his hands in his pant pockets. He was tall and thin, virile, exhibiting manliness in every damn position even when he was dressed casual in a cotton tee and sweats. No matter, girls fall flat for him and will give everything he wants. With the very origin of the thought there was an unknown enviousness emerging in her.
After coming to the mansion, Claire did a complete research on him on the net. He was a freaking billionaire who has more than a thousand companies across the world. He could feed two nations as big as the United States for a complete month. The Johnsons are leaders and manufacturers from a small pin to giant machinery.
"As long as you stay here, you can use the things in this house at your interest. You can go anywhere you want except that room which is closed on the first floor." His sentence concluded staidly as against a lively beginning.
"Thank you." Claire's eyes were tuned to the floor affected by his commanding aura.
His hand went to cup her cheek to tune her face to match his looks. She shivered with the touch. It felt like the warmth of his hand seeped through her cells bringing her into fire. All of a sudden she felt extremely hot, bothered with a strange feeling between her legs.
"Don't you know, when you talk to a person, you have to look at him and speak?" His voice was brittle, rough with overpowering masculinity and at the same time with interlacing gentleness.
Claire's lips parted gazing up at him in a stupor. His eyes crawled down to her open lips and then a soft groan came out.
"Fucking lord or lords…." He muttered under his breath, took a staggered breath and walked away from her without another word.
Claire narrowed her eyes - 'what was that for?' She took the remote sitting on the center table and switched on the TV. Very soon she was so involved in the Chinese drama that she did not notice a presence beside her.
"Want some popcorn?" He forwarded a huge mug to her and that was when Claire noticed he was sitting so close to her. Her cheeks flushed crimson red at their nearness. His fingers brushed hers in taking the remote from her hands and she stilled during the process, going suddenly conscious.
Carl was sitting so relaxed beside her relishing the series, making her all so inflamed and disconcerted. In her stillness she did not know when her eyes closed off and her head gradually landed on his shoulder.
What she did not know was, he was as much a mess as her. His hand went to her cheek brushing his knuckles gently over there. He bent his head and ran his lips on her forehead reaching her cheeks. Inhaling deeper, he took in her fragrance of Jasmine and Lilies which he was slowly getting used to appreciating.
The house smelled like her and something warm filled his heart as soon as he reached home everyday. Carlsmiled. He knew he was gradually falling for her, which he thought would never happen after Stephanie's demise.
Nobody could take Stephanie's position in his life but Claire was beautiful in her own way. She was honest, sensible, innocent and perfect in a special way. When she was practically living in his house with him, there was no need to ask permission from him to watch TV.
Carl gingerly lifted her bridal style in his arms and carried her to her room. He laid her on her bed and covered her in a duvet before putting away the few strands falling on her face.
It was then he heard his phone beep in his pant pockets. He quickly rushed out of the room to pick the call, careful not to wake her.
"Good Evening sir, I have some strange news for you." Elliott had a rasped breath and spoke a little hurriedly on the phone.
Chapter 21
"We started tracking Sapphire's phone and found its receiving signals were always from or around your mansion or from the NIA office."
For a few moments there were no words coming out of Carl. He felt like somebody had given him a huge blow.
Recollecting himself, his brain cells start functioning again. "Make a detailed investigation. It is quite understood, she is surveying us walking inside the premises. But who is allowing her inside is the question here. There is some bodyguard who earns from me but works for her by allowing her inside to closely follow my moves. Bring him out. Take the help of Luke and do this job on a war footing basis."
"Sure sir, have a great night." Elliott wished before Carldisconnected the call.
******
Three months later….
Sapphire's brother came home after a year. It was a celebration and family time. Christmas was arriving soon and Zelda was on a resolution to make it the best Christmas of their lives.
Sapphire couldn't take leave from work in the middle of the assignment. She was on the verge of exposing the billionaire mafia lord Carl Campbell. At the same time she couldn't stop herself from meeting her brother.
It was Friday and Sapphire could finally manage a leave for the day. The weekend was coming to her aid as an added advantage.
Nathan was three years older than Sapphire and joined the army more than a decade ago when he was hardly eighteen.
He was coming to New York for the first time after two years. There was a girl who was accompanying him with a slightly protruding belly.
In his many times of coming home, Nathan was a perfect bachelor and he never came home with a woman and that too with a pregnant woman.
Everybody had curious eyes on the blonde haired beauty who was giving the family a pleasant smile all the time.
After they had a shower and breakfast all of them sat in the sitting room with a cup of coffee. "I know what all of you are eager about." Nathan started, sipping his coffee and pulled the woman closer to him by laying his arm on her shoulder.
"She is Edith, my fiancee and the future mother of my kids." He ran his hand softly on her belly.
"Mom and dad, I want you to help me arrange a wedding for us at the church as soon as possible. We want to have our first child after we tie the knot." Sapphire cooed in ecstasy while Zelda and Stanley's jaws were hanging open.
Giving his parents the time to assimilate the news he just gave, Nathan continued. "Edith is an orphan. I met her first in a state library. She works as a librarian. We had a casual talk a couple of times and found we had similar tastes in various things. Before we knew we were in love with each other, Edith was pregnant with my child." Nathan shrugged.
"Big bro, I thought you were soon going to join The Saint Cathedral church as a father. But you turned out to be a family man." Sapphire hit Nathan's shoulder with hers playfully.
"That's great news." Zelda clapped, finally getting over the trance she was in. "This marks a celebration. Let me bake a cake for all of us."
"I am proud of you son, congratulations." Stanley gave a hug to Nathan.
"Welcome to the family of Sparks." He shook hands with Edith before he poured drinks for all of them except her.
After a couple of drinks Sapphire joined Zelda and Edith followed behind to the kitchen to assist her in baking the cake.
She called Jenna, the senior maid in Carl's home, and told her she had an emergency, her dad was admitted in the hospital and would be arriving back home the next day.
Carl came home at seven the usual time. That night he wanted to take Claire for dinner. It has been almost five months since she began to stay with him. Slowly he was getting accustomed to returning home to her crazy actions which weirdly excited him.
Sometimes her books and pencils were spread across the sitting room with not an inch of space to put his foot. At times he was welcomed with flour on her face and her expertise in culinary arts. Whatever she was, he was beginning to love all the shades of her.
Tonight at dinner he wanted to tell his feelings to her but much to his dismay, Jenna told him she wouldn't be present at home for the night.
Concern wafted in Carl like a thick fog. He immediately called her but the call was disconnected by her.
How could she dare to cut his call? The temper rising in his nerves eliminated all the justification and sanity in him.
The next morning Claire was back home. She did not notice the presence of Carl on the sofa waiting for her.
The previous night she did not have a proper sleep because she was constantly checking the pressure of her father. After Jose was steady on his health post surgery Claire came back home. Her eyes were closing because of lack of sleep. All she wanted to do was snuggle under the covers, in the comfort of her super soft bed and not get up until the next day.
She was about to reach her bedroom, when she heard his roaring voice. "Where were you the previous night? Did you have a nice time sleeping around?"
Bile rose to her throat. She could fly off the handle with the intonation heard in his tone. Claire had never seen Carl that much angry in her almost six months of stay with him. "I called you yesterday and you cut my call. Was the one night stand that sizzling?"
Tears pricked Claire's eyes. But she was not going to show her weakness to such an insensitive person who can rub allegations on her without a sense of thought.
"I had already called Jenna yesterday night that I had an emergency, my father was sick. Employees of any organization are entitled to at least one day leave every week. I have not taken one since the last five months." She modulated her voice as hard as nails.
Carl's irk was out of court. Claire was surprised that within a blink of her eye he was in front of her in transformation of a devil whose hairs had been ruffled.
Holding her hand he hissed in fury. "If we were still maintaining the relationship of employer and employee you wouldn't have been staying in my house for the last five months."
Claire tried to pull away her hand. He was clasping her so tight that she felt numbness because of lack of blood circulation.
Carl saw the wetness in her eyes. He understood his grip was causing her pain and instantly loosened his hold but firm enough that she couldn't escape.
"It was not my choice. Your pig headed manager could not get my two room employee quarters distempered for the last five months." She reverted her statement like stones upon him.
Carl released her feeling of the loss of words and she raced to her room to empty her tears.
Claire cried her eyes out on the pillow. Was she ready to bear all of this for a medal from the NIA? Was she ready to forego her self-respect for no fault of hers? She contemplated if she was ready for her next move. She called Elena and briefed her about everything that happened.
Elena was on the verge of blowing out the fuse. She gave her strong advice to teach the billionaire his place.
Sapphire is smart. She knows NIA will not take the hasty step to lose her even if she abandons this assignment because she had finished all her previous ones with cent percent success. Yet there was an inner turmoil she was fighting. This project was playing with her heart. Otherwise she doesn't have to get so much affected by some Tom, Dick or Harry's words.
Carl was playing with her heart. He has unknowingly occupied a place in her kernel and sooner or later she knows she has to leave this task to restore her own sanity. It was difficult but at least she will be able to maintain her self-esteem. She feels ashamed of herself for going so weak especially for a man who is nothing but a criminal and just a party in one of the thousand cases she handled in her career. He called her a slut with no second thought while he was the one who was sleeping around till a few months ago.
The words which urged to be released were finally directed to him.
"I resign from this job."
Chapter 22
Two hours later…Carl was sitting in the front room showered and dressed casually reading the newspaper in his hands.
He looked intimidating even when he was sitting relaxed. There exhibited power and dominance in his every action and mannerism.
He was dressed in blue jeans and light green tee leaning back on the sofa with his right leg resting on the knee of the other.
His hair was neatly gelled, combed back in its usual style to perfection.
Claire gulped heavily. Her heart was beating fast against the rib cage and its sound could be heard to her ears. How was he going to react to the words she was going to speak next?
Will he beat her, abuse her, house arrest her or simply ignore her? She had packed her bag, called Elena that she would be reaching her home shortly and was set with everything.
Fidgeting with her fingers she stood before him like a student before her teacher. "I resign from this job."
There was not an iota of movement from him. Did he already expect it to happen? The newspaper was covering his view from reaching her, making her unable to read the feelings featuring on his face and increasing her pensiveness even more.
She had to get this over as soon as possible to win her own sanity. "I said I would resign from this job." This time she spoke much more clearly and louder.
Carl brought down the newspaper from his hands. He was a businessman who gave off the air of being totally at peace with himself, though many of the times he was not. He presented a good poker face to the world. It’s probably why the family business was so damn successful. He was the master of letting no one know what happens inside his mind.
The English public school he attended, away from his family, had definitely helped him with that. He had learnt to create that neutral face that the rich instilled in their children from an early age, and his American/English accent always won over the American business world.
"Do you think I did not hear you earlier?"
He abruptly got up from the couch after folding the news daily and throwing it on the center table taking a huge calming breath.
He could smell her, although that was nothing new, he could always smell the Jasmine, Lily blossom she used. It was one of those smells he would love to come home to smell and remember for the rest of his life. Her unique smell would always take him back to the first time they had met in the center of the road with her holding a mewling injured puppy, though it was actually not the first time.
His balls tightened; before he turned to face the music from her he adjusted his pants smartly, not bringing her attention to his lower half.
His whole body screamed out to take her hand in his and try to comfort her, apologize. The same day after Claire reached home, he got a background check done on her and he repents for his action. Her father was sick and she spent the night at the hospital. But in his irresistible fury he called her names. He truly regrets it but so far an apology has not been a part of his life. Nevertheless he is trying hard to do it.
A minute later he returned back with a document and dropped it before her on the side table. "You signed the agreement. You cannot leave this job until another 19 months. The bond was for two years."
He said with zero display of emotions and came back to his previous position so that he could face her directly. She was an absolute vision. He noticed it every time he saw her. She was one of those women who grew better with every day. Everyone around her noticed. He felt she had no need to flaunt herself and the fact that she didn’t even notice how heads turned as she walked by made her more attractive. Unlike many of the women he had used for his sexual release she was a natural beauty. No false tits and involuntarily his eyes began to gawp at her full, ripe breasts. He lifted his eyes to her, hoping she hadn’t noticed.
Claire was out of clues on how such a thing could happen. "I did not sign any documents before joining this job." She screeched in annoyance but like before there was not a scintilla of movement from him.
She grabbed the document in her hands and read it. Her eyes bulged out of their sockets, seeing her signature but not signed by her.
"I did not sign these documents." She yelled cluelessly.
Carl knotted his eyebrows. "Did your signatures crawl and get pasted there?"
Claire was speechless. He did it all and was acting innocent. "I know you were the person to build those duplicate signatures of mine there." Her voice choked with welling tears in her eyes.
Carl snorted before he stood up with his hands in his pant pockets. A bored look flashed on his face as he gazed down at her. "You're right. But you cannot prove that to anyone."
"I am a mighty, unparalleled and undefeatable mafia leader. You can enter here at your own choice but going back is my decision and I'm not allowing you out." He gave way to zero discussion and walked to his study, locking the door behind him.
He is a deadly mafia leader. The words echoed in her head like a Satan's command. He killed someone and came home that day. And most importantly he is moving freely, escaping from the law and has the least bit of guilt in doing it.
A shiver ran down her spine. How stupid she was to blindly believe him and take his offer. After being such a defeatless NIA officer, it was the heck of her foolishness to work for him in his house. Her dad kept cautioning her. Her mother was completely disapproving of her new task but the hastiness to get another badge followed by a promotion made her take the most challenging assignment. She was now in an oasis of problems. What could she do now? She doubts if he would allow her out even after these nineteen months.
A sob broke out of Claire when she ran back to her room. She threw the luggage bag on the bed and collapsed on the pillow.
But was she going to accept defeat so easily? Weakness is not what Claire Knight alias SapphireTaylor is known for. The next morning she woke up rejuvenated.
Sapphire's phone began to blare on her work desk. "Good Morning sir!" She wished the chief.
"Good Morning Sapphire. How is work going on? When are we going to have the good news?" The chief asked enthusiastically.
"Sir, this mafia leader seems to be a tough nut to crack. He started tracking my mobile. But I'm a woman who likes to challenge the challenges. I have changed my mobile number. Now I have two contact numbers, one in the field and the other in the office. Living the character with him is challenging but at the same time it's fun, much different from my actual personality and thus I am enjoying it."
"That's great news. I always like the information you give. Have a good time at work." The phone cut off and the next second there was another call.
No sooner had Sapphire saw the name, she could not stop her smile. "Dad, you just called. You are disturbing me at work." Sapphire whined.
"That's the chief's call officer Sapphire Taylor and this is your dad speaking to you my princess. Could I get the new number that you bought to take care of Carl?"
"Dad…you are so insistent at times. If he tracks my new number and comes to know the game I am playing to trap him, you know the consequences. He can kil…"
"Stop it princess." Stanley didn't even want to hear the word from her. "I understand. I'm sorry. He is no way going to kill you. Because before he reaches you, he has to face me. And I will be the Lucifer to finish him before he can even think to wrong you."
*****
A month later….
Carl got a call when he was at work from his mother. Sejal's boyfriend, Philip Gregorio, had arrived home to meet her and the family.
Carl had urgent meetings lined up because the Campbells were unaware of Philip's trip to their home. But Elizabeth was in cheer. She told him on the phone that Philip wanted to surprise them all by his sudden trip. Nevertheless, the thing most of the people didn't know was, Carl did not like surprises.
Carl had to cancel all his meetings because Philip was leaving for Seattle by the evening flight. Even before meeting the man Carl did not like him. But he was Sejal's boyfriend and he had to keep his dislike for him concealed inside him and learn to adjust.
He had already summoned a background check upon the man. There was no negative feedback that he got but at the same time there was a lot of mystery in his life.
His birth records were not proper. His school records were available only after he attained seven years of age. What was his life before that? Nothing was found about it.
Somehow the personality of Philip did not create positive vibes in Carl. But he loved his little sister more than the world and for the sake of her wellbeing he had to bear with him.
"Hey bro, nice to meet you. Sejal had a lot of things to say about you. Finally I get to meet you." Carl spoke friendly, arranging a smile on his brims.
Elizabeth had cooked turkey as a mark of celebration. The men were busy at the bar while Sejal assisted Elizabeth to arrange the plates.
The smile on her features looked unmatched. Carl had never seen his sister so happy. It was all due to the arrival of Philips.
How could this man influence his sister so much? He was definitely not a Greek God that a girl could fall flatly about. Love is blind. It is the only conclusion that he could make. Carl tried to investigate his family or about his life many times during their conversations but Philip was smart, he handled the matter intelligently, supplying only minimum details.
Carl was not happy with the way things were turning out. But he could not tell his sister not to meet him because there was no convincing reason right yet that could stand against Philip. He only told his mother not to send her out with him alone until he gets the full details of this weird guy.
He returned home late at night after dinner. It had been a month since their grapple which was not actually even an argument. She wanted out of his home and he did not allow that. But since the day Claire had been aloof. He misses her.
It was not like they used to talk with each other like close friends but they used to dine together with little talks here and there and at other times there was a comfortable silence.
But since the fight Claire hardly dines with him. She finishes dinner before he returns home and is already gone to bed. There were many times he wanted to confront and nothing has changed between them. But somehow she felt unreachable to him.
Carl was least liking the way things are going between them. His legs often carried him to her room and his hands almost reached to knock at her doo
r, to tell her he was sorry to lose his temper on that day and he wanted things to go normal between them like before.
His eyes craved to see her and body yearned to touch her, feel her presence beside him.
Chapter 23
He quietly twisted the doorknob, but it was locked from inside.
Damn! She doesn't even trust him enough now. He brought the spare keys from his bedroom and gently twisted the doorknob not to wake her.
He walked inside the room and silently sat beside her sleeping form on the bed. Her innocence radiated on her face with the gentle moonlight passing from the window. She looked pristine and unsullied like the costliest pearl from the sea. Her soft brown hairs were spread on the bed sheet like an Angel dropped from the sky.
Carl pushed the hair falling on her face with his finger tips. "Talking to you is so easy when you are sleeping. Why doesn't it sound the same when you are awake? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have behaved with you like a jerk suspecting you when you actually went to look after your dad that night. I will make it up to you. Please give me a chance to correct myself." He bent down and kissed her forehead.
So he got it investigated? This man is anomalous in all possible options on earth. He got her background checked. There was no place she could avoid him in this house. If she stayed away it was because he let her do it.
Claire wasn't asleep but simply closing her eyes to avoid talking to him yet he was here to accept his mistake, tell her how much he cares for her. It was a novel sensation she hadn't ever come across in her life. She did not feel anything like this with Carl, her previous boyfriend but with Carl she felt protection in his shadow though he was a killer, a deadly mafia leader.
Hairs stood up on her body. Claire was surprised at his simple action. It was just a kiss on her forehead. Yet it was something very deep and strong. He missed her and the feeling brought butterflies in her belly.
He is a mafia leader but it was too late to brood over it. Her life can never be normal. Being fully aware that the path she was opting for was full of dangers and threats, Claire was irrevocably falling for Carl Campbell.
Her being was electrified with the caress of his lips on her skin. Claire was a virgin and had no serious relationships in past. But in actuality she had spent all her teenage years studying hard to become an NIA officer and she did not have time to pursue men. Tonight, after so many years when a man shelters her and expresses he cares, the feeling felt unfamiliar but at the same time special.
The next day was Sunday. But Carl got up early in the morning. He came to know from Jenna that Claire loves pancakes.
He made the strawberry syrup and flipped pancakes in the pan, accompanied with freshly made orange juice. Claire will not have any college since it is a holiday and he was going to take her to somewhere special.
By the time Jasper arrived at the cook house to make breakfast, the dining table was set. Jenna's eyes bulged out of sockets and mouth watered at the delicious aroma that filled the dining hall.
******
Carl knocked at the door of Claire. But there was no response. He waited for another half an hour but the door wouldn't open.
This was getting more difficult than he imagined. He released a sigh in desperation. Carl did not want any servants to disturb his private time with Claire. It was after a long time they would be having a reconsideration. He thus gave leave to all of them.
He carried a tray filled with breakfast through the stairs reaching her room and knocked at it again. But there was no response like before.
The night Claire couldn't sleep. Her thoughts were occupied by Carl, his kiss on her forehead. Did he really like her so much or was she just another girl for his one night stands?
She had never thought she would fall for a mafia leader who kills people like someone goes shopping.
Five minutes of surfing the internet there was one GB of information about him, the number of industries he owned, his parents, his sister but nothing about his wife or children.
He was twenty nine years old, married and widowed but not a single sentence about his wife other than he loved her so much. It was obvious he did not want people to know or talk about it. The house contained no pictures of the lady and he never spoke about her though she often saw glimpses of him missing her. It is probably a gray area of his past.
In every photo that occupied the net, he posed with a new girl. He was blatantly the world famous philanderer. Yet every woman would like to give him whatever he wants irrespective of being fully aware of his Casanova moves.
All the top most police officials and even the jury knew he was associated with the mafia but so far not a single proof which could prove him illegal. Were the law and judiciary of The United States so corrupt that they could not register a single case against him? Or his illegal deals are so perfectly sealed that no person could point a finger? She was curious and at the same time frightened of him. At times she wants to run away. But could she?
He informed her on his own a few hours ago, anybody who is willing can enter his place but going back is not in their hands. Now she is like a bird who got stuck in his cage.
Carl entered the key into the gap and twisted the knob. Claire was peacefully fast asleep on the bed covered in a duvet.
He breathed an air of relief. She was sleeping and thankfully not avoiding him.
"Claire, wake up baby. I want to take you out today." Claire slowly opened her eyes and stared at him blankly. This was the first time he was speaking to her so attached as though they had been together since ages.
His eyebrows danced at her in playfulness. "The breakfast. I think you will surely be hungry after you fully wake up." He pointed to the steaming food set on the side table.
The delicious aroma of freshly made pancakes made her taste buds water and her stomach started growling, not even allowing her a least bit of dignity before him.
Carl laughed hearing her belly ramble. "I guess your body doesn't want to cooperate with you though you wanted to carry this situation with grace."
He placed the tray in her lap after she settled comfortably on the bed. Claire forked the pancakes to her mouth and couldn't stop moaning. The taste was heavenly. She had never tasted such delicious pancakes ever in her life.
He was an excellent cook. If Carl was not an entrepreneur, he would have been a chef. Since childhood he has loved cooking with his mother. Whenever he had free time after studies he used to try making different dishes.
"Wow, they are so flavorsome." Her eyes blightened with delight.
"Did you make them?" The jaw of Claire hung open in surprise. Carl simply nodded, held her hand with the fork which contained a piece of pancake and directed it to his lips.
Claire slightly shivered with his unexpected touch. Carlmight not have noticed it and if he did he acted nonchalance to keep her comfortable.
The heat of his palm seeping through her skin made her cheeks red. "Get ready, put on something simple and comfortable. I will be taking you out today."
His voice was rough and husky shelling masculinity with every syllable that came out. Claire couldn't concentrate on what he said because his touch got her brain cells covered with fog.
However the only thing she could collect was he was telling her to dress and come out. He was taking her out for the first time after she had arrived to his house in these five months.
She wanted to jump and say thank you, kissing him on his cheeks. But, that would happen only in her dream. So she simply thanked him and walked into the washroom to take a quick shower.
Claire applied soap to her legs and brought the hand that he held a while ago before her eyes and smiled like a fool gazing at it. When did she become a love freak?
An hour of travel, they were at the foothills of a forest. Claire was frightened but probably he understood her inner turmoil. "Don't worry, you are safe. The animals do not roam here during the day."
Amid tall green trees, the land hardly got sunlight even in the middle of afternoon and it was cool like they were using an air conditioner. Claire peered around in awe. The place was lovely, like a paradise on earth.
She brought her hands closer and rubbed her upper arms. He seemed unconcerned, hardly noticing her presence but what she did not know was his eyes were always on her.
He took out his jacket and wrapped it around her. "Just a few more minutes. Afterwards, you will start feeling warm." He said and walked a little ahead of her.
And just like he said, a few minutes walking deeper into the forest they were greeted by a freshwater lake.
Claire's eyes are distilled with water embracing nature's beauty. Carl stopped walking, gazing down at the clean blue water of the pond.
His hands as usual ducked in his pant pockets as he asked her, "do you like the place?"
Claire looked around and called in an emotion. "This place is like heaven on earth."
Carl looked at her in a close lipped smile and nodded. "This is the place where I used to visit often with my parents when I was young." He quietly said, walked closer to the lake and took out his shirt.
"What are you doing?" She asked slightly worried contemplating his next move.
Carl was not a man with many words. He kept his silence and jumped into the waters.
Claire sat at the footbed of the pond, looking around and enjoying nature's hub while hearing the occasional and pleasant chirping of birds.
Carl took a swim in the lake and reached her. "Why don't you join me?" He gestured and then it struck him. She might be reluctant to go naked before him.
"You can use my shirt." He informed her. Claire walked to his shirt sitting on the trunk of a tree and Carl turned around to give her privacy.
"That shirt suits you much better than for me." He complimented when she was in the water with him. They swam together for more time enjoying each other's company. Carl's hands went to her cheeks and Clairestilled in his embrace, her lips slightly part and breaths started to turn heavy.
Carl's feelings replicated the same. It felt like the world stopped around them as he peeked into her icy blues. She swam out of the water and he was close behind. His fingers traced up to her elbow in a torturously slow manner and reached her belly, gradually tracing his fingers there.
Water droplets settled on her cream colored complexion as he stood behind her gingerly lifting up her shirt and pulling it out from her head. Claire pulsated in lasciviousness.
He turned her around and peered down at the rise and fall of her chest covered in cherry red lacy bra. "You're beautiful." He breathed softly, making her eyes turn dark with desire.
His hands reached her slim waist and Claire trembled with the vehemence of his caress.
Carl looked down at the curling of her toes. "Weren't you touched by any man earlier?"
Claire bit her lip restricting her eyes to the floor and mildly shook her head in shyness.
"Fucking lord of heavens!" He muttered staring towards the sky. His hands delicately reached up inch by inch in a painfully quiet passion almost to the swelling of her breasts but abruptly fell down.
"Why did you stop?" Claire almost screeched in disappointment."
We have a lot of time to do it, flower. What is the hurry?"
He took her blouse sitting beside the tree trunk and slid it on her.
Holding her hand, he led her a few steps towards the left side and there was a small wooden cottage welcoming them.
"Wow" Claire called awestruck staring at the compact and beautiful wooden house.
Carl chuckled low. "I own this place and often visit when I am in some
kind of stress. It relieves me instantly."
"Are you in stress now?" Claire asked him worriedly before she could even process her words in her mind.
He turned to her and shook in a soft smile. "I am happy and I came here to introduce you to my heaven."
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Table of Contents
×1
Chapter 1
2_3
Chapter 2–3
4_8
Chapter 4_8
9_13
Chapter 9_13
14_18
Chapter 14_18
19_23
Chapter 19_23
24_28
Chapter 24_28
29_33
Chapter 29_33
34_38
Chapter 34_38
39_43
Chapter 39_43
44_48
Chapter 44_48
49_53
Chapter 49_53
54_58
Chapter 54_58
59_63
Chapter 59_63
64_68
Chapter 64_68
69_73
Chapter 69_73
74_78
Chapter 74_78
79_83
Chapter 79_83
84_88
Chapter 84_88
89_93
Chapter 89_93
94_98
Chapter 94_98
99_103
Chapter 99_103
104_108
Chapter 104_108
109_113
Chapter 109_113
114_118
Chapter 114_118