Buying the Virgin
Chapter 92: The Girl Who Was Hunted - Chapter Eight
CHARLOTTE
“Er… How Richard and Beth met. Er…. Beth…”
Richard holds up his hands. “Spare my blushes. Wait until I’m not around before you tell him. Elizabeth and I need to be going anyway. Do meet up with her and her friends in the City next week, Charlotte. Get yourself a change of air.”
We see him out to his car, where Ross is sitting, eyes closed in the driver’s seat, listening to music. Michael and Beth join us after a minute or two, Beth looking as fresh and beautiful as a newly picked daisy. As they drive away, we wave them off.
My Master swivels to me, eyes crinkling. “Spill the beans, Charlotte.” Michael frowns in puzzlement.
“Um.… Beth was working as a maid in the hotel, cleaning the rooms. I think it was the one where you had the apartment. It was hot one day, and she used the shower in the Penthouse, where Richard was staying. He’d gone out, but he came back early and caught her in his shower, um, naked…. then…. er…. he tied her to the shower and um…”
My Master creases up with laughter. “I get it. No wonder he was so relaxed about you and me.”
“There’s a bit more to it than that.”
“Really?”
“Er…. He offered her a contract, and she accepted. She was um… at his beck and call, if you know what I mean, and in return, he funded her through college and trained her up.”
My Master sobers up. “You’re kidding? So, when he knew that I’d bought you….”
“Yes, he was comfortable with it once he knew that I went into it willingly. Because he did essentially the same thing with Beth.”
Michael is shaking his head, arms folded, a broad grin on his face. “I definitely think you should cultivate your friendship with Beth.”
*****
“Charlotte, can we talk about something?” My Master’s face is serious. Michael is here too, and I can see by his unhappy expression, that he knows what my Master wants to discuss.
“Is something wrong, Master?” My heart sinks. “Have I done something to upset you?”
“Oh, no. No.” he says hastily. “No, nothing like that. But…. we wanted you to have a couple of days here, relaxing before we mentioned this to you.” He swipes a hand through his hair. “Um, why don’t you sit down.”
He waves me to where Michael is patting the seat of the chair next to him. As I sit, he takes my hand, holding it tightly.
Beginning to feel really anxious, “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s about that home you were in as a child, Blessingmoors ….”
My throat tightens, and I stare at the ground.
still have the inquiry open from the original events there. They are trying to collect evidence on some of the original gang-members that ran the operation, but who
my hand, is all but squeezing the blood out
Breathe……
“Okay, so….?”
interview you; ask you some questions about events there, have you look over old photographs to see if you
you asking me this? Instead
course, he asked me. Everyone thought it would be better coming to you this way, rather than your getting a phone call out of the blue from
Breathe……
asking
“Yes.”
Breathe……
happens if I identify someone?
comes to it, and they have enough evidence, they’ll ask
do it….?” His beautiful blue eyes are soft with concern. “……Stop the same
that’s the clincher,
I’ll do it,”
I thought you
help, I’m in. Now…. Um…. ‘S’cuse me.”
*****
me to attend a police station. and yes, I
nondescript sandy hair, stands
Do sit down. I’m Officer Corby. I’ve
“It’s Charlotte. Not
about that.” He pencils a couple of words into the
for the look of the man, Corby. He has an officious,
interview. I do understand
to help
course, yes. Now, about Mr James
What???
discussion for you, but we have the records from
got to do with anything?” I demand. “I thought I was here to talk about what happened
the topics we would like to discuss with you. But also, we would like to discuss Mr Alexanders’ involvement with the auctioning
not willing to discuss that. It’s private business, between the two of
the case to you, Ms Conners, but the investigation into that auction house, and
you trying to pin
listed as the buyer of a young woman…you… for purposes
I didn’t agree to. He