The Innocent (3 page)

“No,” Kaiser said with a wave of his hand.  He sat back down.  “You're not going to bring that up again, are you?”

“I think Price is capable of killing anyone who gets in his way.”

“And what do you want from me?  More protection?  A bodyguard?”

“No.  I want you to give me more information about Price.  I want to know where he’s from, how he made his fortune, who he knows.”

“Price is a hard-working and shrewd young man; as shrewd as they come.  Unlike you, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.  In fact he was lucky if he had a spoon at all.”

“It’s heartwarming to see how you admire him, father.”  Sebastian put added emphasis on the word father.  While in more amiable situations he was given to call him Dad, more often than not, tension had him leaning toward the more formal term.

“I’m sorry if my admiration and affection for Price disturbs you, Bash, but it’s not something that’s going to change.  I’ve known Price for many years.  I knew his father back in Germany.  We may not have been the closest of friends, but I knew him well enough to know I admired his drive and determination.  He was a strong-minded and authoritative man.  Unfortunately Price lost him at a young age, but not before his father had a chance to impart a strong work ethic, discipline and persistence. That boy built his company out of nothing; literally nothing, and I know he had a lot of lean years.  So many times he could have given up, but… well, look at him today. He reminds me so much of what I was like when I was his age.”

Sebastian kept his cool as his heart sank.  Price was certainly playing for big stakes. Not only did he have Serena tied to his bed, but he had Kaiser Sorensen tied around his little finger.

“Not to throw gas on the fire, but since you insist on having more information about Price, we closed the deal earlier this morning.” Kaiser smiled cheerfully as he made the announcement.  He gathered the documents on his desk and made a neat pile.  “Contract is all ready to go.  Price called this morning and the merger is on.  I dare say he sounded rather happy about the whole thing.”

Way to rub it in, Father, Sebastian thought.  “Well, between the fact that he has my girl and he’s in cahoots with my father, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be happy.”

“I’m sorry to hear you see it that way, son.  Look, it’s not my fault if Price is lying in bed with your girl every night.”

Had it been any other man than his father, he might have struck him. The image of Serena in Price’s bed, in his arms, pressed to his body… Sebastian closed his eyes and remembered the fleeting moment he’d held her in his arms. He felt the softness of her lips against his…  He missed everything about her; her exquisite body, her sharp tongue and her quick wit.  He longed to wake up at her side.

She was his love and his protégé, and she belonged with him. So what if she was his sub. It was time she left.

“Doesn’t his ruthlessness mean anything to you?  That he could attempt to kill your own son?”

“You're being paranoid and over-dramatic, and I do wish you’d stop with this nonsense.  Let this poor girl go and be happy with Price. Find yourself another fine young lady to bang if you must… I’m sure you have plenty to choose from.”

“I don’t want…”

“And in the meantime, marry Willow Brookes and make another problem go away.  Your mother’s driving me mad with her constant chatter about your marital status.  She’d be happy to finally see you settle down.  I’d be happy, and Willow would be happy, too.  You could bang her in a proper marital bed, and if she proves to be a cold fish, well, I’m sure you can figure the rest out.”

“I’m touched by your marital advice, Father.  Any other words of wisdom?”

“Willow is a beautiful girl, Bash, but not only is she beautiful, but she comes from a wealthy and influential family.  Only good can come of your union; good for everyone.”

“Forgive me if I don’t fall in line and marry a girl for your convenience.  It’s bad enough when a girl marries a guy for his money, but for a guy to marry a girl for hers… even worse.”

“The way things are going, you may not have a choice.”

“You planning on forcing me, Father?”

Kaiser opened a drawer and pulled out a small white envelope. “I take it you haven’t seen one of these yet.”

Sebastian grabbed the envelope and frowned.  “What is it?”  He pulled out the small, neatly folded parchment.

Mrs. and Mr. Kenneth Brookes

request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter

Willow Brookes

 To

 Sebastian Sorensen

 son of Mrs. and Mr. Kaiser Sorensen.

The ceremony will be held on the

 eleventh of August this year at three o’clock

at the Holy Trinity Church

“What the hell is this?” Sebastian fumed.

“I told you that Willow was a determined girl.”

“Is this just a sample or did she really have these printed up?”

“Two hundred were printed and sent out to our respective families and closest friends.”

“This is a joke.  I barely like Willow, never mind love her.”

“Believe me, son, love is highly overrated and has little to do with the success of a marriage.  Besides, I don’t really see what you're complaining about.  Willow isn’t all that bad.  She’s a very beautiful girl with a knock out body.   If I were you I’d sweep her up before she changes her mind about you and accepts a proposal from one of her many, wealthy suitors.”

“If any of them are crazy enough to want her, let him have her.”  Sebastian snorted as he crumpled the invitation in his fist.  “And I bet Mom is involved in this, too.”

“While I’m sure your mother did all she could to help her, Willow is responsible for this.  Don’t underestimate her, Bash.  She’s determined to get you.  I think you should be flattered.”

“The hell I should be,” Sebastian fumed.  He reopened the invitation and stared at it.

“She’ll do whatever it takes, Sebastian, so you may as well give in now.”

It was unfathomable, but there it was in elegant black letters against the expensive creamy white parchment.  She’d even set the date and found the church.

Sebastian’s heart started pounding in his ears faster and faster as the truth dawned on them.

Flashes of the past weeks ran through his mind.  Someone had taken that photo of him with Serena at the fundraiser and that someone had to have gotten close to them.  And the food poisoning.  Willow had sat right next to him, close enough to tamper with his food.

With a groan, he closed his eyes and remembered the photo of Willow he’d found on the windshield of his rental car in Seattle.  His father was right; Price had nothing to do with the break-in and the food poisoning. 

It was Willow Brookes… but why?

Chapter 4

As he got into his Roadster and started the engine, Sebastian berated himself for not having thought of it sooner.  He’d been so blinded by Serena’s relationship with Price that he’d not allowed for any other possible suspect than Price.

Willow.  He remembered her as a young girl; always pretty, always well dressed, always perfect, at least it was the image she portrayed to the world.  Early on, Sebastian had seen the other side, the wild and wanton side.

As he drove he could hear her smooth, saucy voice, and see her bright smile, a smile that so artfully hid the fiendishly deviant thoughts she really had behind her beautiful, blue eyes.

The wide streets that led to Newport Coast were all too familiar to him.  Many holidays had been spent at the Brookes’ palatial mansion on Linda Isle. When he’d come home from boarding school, his family would often spend the weekend with the Brookes, boating, swimming and dining.  It’d been a fun and carefree time.

At the gate he called his name into the intercom and was quickly given access to the impressive property.  In front of the door to the underground garage capable of housing up to eight cars, Sebastian parked amid a fleet of expensive cars, ranging from a sporty Jaguar to a classic Corvette to a mammoth of a Hummer.

Sebastian pressed the doorbell and immediately entered.  In the large, formidable foyer he was greeted by a housekeeper.  “Hello, Mrs. Ortiz. I’m here to see Willow.”

“She’s laying out by the pool.”

Sebastian pressed a tight grin at the reproach in the older woman’s words.  “Mind if I find my way?”

“You're like family, Mr. Sorensen.” She smiled as she waved him toward the patio.  “Go.  Go.”

The mansion hadn’t changed much since he’d first come as a boy.  A dramatic staircase led to the upper level, and hand painted murals captivated even the most cynical eye.  As a boy he’d stared in fascination at the artistry.  Every room had high, coffered ceilings, rich oak flooring and a multitude of high end art pieces, imported chandeliers and exclusive furniture; all reminders of the great wealth the Brookes were so proud of.

As Sebastian pushed opened the French doors that led to the inner courtyard, he stopped and stared at Willow a moment before averting his gaze.  Had this not been a surprise visit, he would have accused her of deliberately setting out to entice him.

The image of her nude body was blazed into the lids of his closed eyes.  She lay on her belly on a teak lounging chair as the sun kissed every inch of her oil sleeked skin.  Her smooth legs were as golden as her perfectly bronzed and well-rounded buttocks.  Propped up on her elbows, her gaze was intently set on the magazine in her hands, while she puffed lazily on a cigarette. Small droplets of perspiration collected in the small of her back, and her long blond hair was pulled up into a casual bun.

He coughed.  “Willow.”

Startled, she sat up and turned to him, her voluminous breasts bouncing from the sudden jolt of movement.  “Bash,” she cried as she let her magazine fall to the chair and snubbed out her cigarette.  “How delightful to see you.”  Completely at ease with her nudity, she got up and made no attempt to cover herself as she sauntered up to him.  He was amazed at the duplicity of her personality. When in polite company, she presented herself so prim and proper, a true high society mademoiselle. Yet she had the ability to be just as raunchy as a cheap street walker.

“I’m sorry to interrupt.  Perhaps I should’ve called, but it was urgent.”

“Not at all.  I’m happy to see you.”  She put her hand to his shoulder and leaned in for a quick kiss.  With a naughty gleam in her eyes, she invited him to follow her gaze as she looked down at her exposed breasts, her nipples erect with excitement.  “As you can tell, I was thinking of you.”  She met his gaze with smoldering heat that had her innocent blue eyes ablaze with lust and desire.  “You bring out the naughtiest and most delicious thoughts, Sebastian. I guess these days I’m feeling nostalgic for those summers we spent together, remember?”

“That was a long time ago.”

“I agree.  It was too long ago.  I think it’s about time we create new memories.”  She slipped a long tapered finger between two buttons of his shirt and tickled his chest.  “Remember how great we were together, Bash?”

“Willow, you have to stop this nonsense.  Whatever happened between us happened when we were young.  We’re grown up now and things have changed.  We’ve changed.  Stop living in the past and let’s move on.”

“Why should we move on when what we had was so great?  Don’t you see, Bash?  We were destined to be together.”  She took a step closer and pressed her bare breasts to his chest as she wrapped her hand around the nape of his neck and raked her perfectly manicured fingernails through his hair.  “Do you remember the first time I fucked you, Bash?”

“Willow…”

“I was fifteen and I had such a crush on you.  You were only a year older than me, but I saw you as such a mature and sophisticated young man.  Even in your proper and somewhat dorky school uniform, you turned me on. You were so handsome, so sexy, yet there was something naïve and pure about you. It added to your appeal. You were so shy, you didn’t even look down at my breasts that time I accidentally exposed myself.”

He snickered at the memory.  He’d always known her ‘accident’ had been deliberate.

“I knew you were innocent,” she purred.  “And I wanted to be the first to initiate you.  I wanted to show you what you were missing while you wasted all that time playing piano.” 

Sebastian swallowed as he remembered that long ago afternoon.  “It was a mistake.  I’ve moved on.  It’s time you do the same.”

“You say that now, but we both know how you enjoyed every kinky little thing I showed you; how I touched you, licked you, hit you.”

“Do you really want me to put it bluntly, Willow?  Do you really want me to tell you how I feel about you?”

She batted her lashes at him.

“You were a good fuck and we might have had a good time, once upon a time, but now I want a woman I can love, a woman I can respect.  You're not that woman, Willow, and all the manipulation in the world isn’t going to change that.  I know about the photos you took of me and Serena at the fundraiser, and I don’t know what you were trying to prove when you put a picture of yourself on the windshield of my car in Seattle, but I didn’t appreciate it.  And the fact that you would ransack my apartment doesn’t exactly endear you to me… not at all.”

Stunned, she pulled back and glared at him.  “What are you talking about?”

“You went through my apartment.  What were you looking for?”

“Why in the world would I ransack your apartment, Bash?  For crying out loud, if I wanted to go through your place, I’d just arrange a little visit, with your mother if need be.”  She sniffed indignantly.  “I can’t believe you’d think I’d do such a thing.  Besides, as much as I’m looking forward to marrying you, our respective mothers want it even more.  They’ve both said how it’s the perfect union… perfect.  I’m just a pawn as much as you are.”  She pouted innocently.

“Right.  You, a pawn.”

“Okay, I might be a willing pawn, but all the same…”

“Are you saying my mother is behind all this?”