More Nights With Kate (Jack Ryker) (17 page)

“I’m meeting with two smaller players today, and then I have
the big meeting with Fashionista on Friday when I’m back in New York.”

“Sounds good, keep up the good work.  Also, steer clear
of Jackie, she’s bad news,” Jack added, not able to resist.

“I wouldn’t worry, Dad.  You know my history with
models,” Brandon replied with a laugh.

“Yeah… I’m not too worried about you.  You’re
definitely wise beyond your years,” Jack replied with a glimmer of pride in his
eyes.

~~~

“Brandon meets Jackie on his first trip out to L.A. 
What are the odds of that?” Jack asked immediately after we hung up with
Brandon.

“Well, he did say that Deidra introduced them to each
other.”

“I know. I guess I’m just a little shocked at having such
bad luck.  You might want to check in with her and make sure she stays
cool.  I would hate to see her modeling career derail the way her mother’s
did,” Jack stated in a completely different tone than I had grown accustomed to
hearing.

“Don’t worry about her, Jack. I’ll take care of it.”

“Good.  I’m going to check in with Alan at the ad
agency and see how our media campaign is coming along.  Touch base with
Brenda when you get a chance and see how things are progressing in Allentown.”

“Alright, I was already planning on calling her this
afternoon.”

“Tell her that I’ll be sending over some information on 3D
printing technology next week.  I’ll have the supply chain figured out by
Monday; Tuesday at the latest,” he replied with a far off look in his eyes.

I couldn’t wait to see the unveiling of the plan that Jack
had been working on.  He never did fill me in on any details regarding 3D
printing, so I knew that it was still in the formulation stage. 
Whatever
he’s working on must be game changing, based on his level of intensity. 
It’s weird to think that he just sold off a $4 billion business in order to
ride off into the sunset.  Instead, now he’s working on some sort of plan
to take on some of those overseas manufacturers.  I have to admit that I’m
happy about the change of heart.  He was way too young to even think about
retirement.  He would’ve been bored after the first week and he knows it.

I sent Jackie a quick text just to see where her head was
at:

Me:  Hey, Jackie, I heard you met Brandon last night.

Jackie:  Ya…  He’s hot.  Where are you?

I knew that Jackie had a tendency to be jealous, so I took a
moment to craft a response.  I didn’t really want to tell her that we were
on his yacht, anchored just off the coast of Grand Bahama. 
There’s no
need to aggravate her.

Me:  I’m with Jack down in Freeport.  He’s having
stem cell treatments for his heart.

Jackie:  OMG, really?  Is he alright?  What’s
wrong with his heart?

Me:  Genetic problem.  He’s doing great. 
Just keep quiet about Paris so he doesn’t have another heart attack.

Within seconds my phone rang:

“Another heart attack?” Jackie practically screamed as I
answered.

“Yeah, he says it wasn’t a heart attack but he literally
coded during his first stem cell treatment.  They took him right into surgery
and installed a pacemaker,” I explained, being a little overly dramatic.

“Wow, that’s terrible.  Like I told Brandon, what
happens in Paris stays in Paris,” Jackie replied with a girlish giggle.

“Yeah Jackie, that’s the type of thing that you shouldn’t
say to Brandon or anyone else who knows Jack.”

“I know,” she said with a hint of remorse in her
voice.  “You tell Jack that he better cool it or you’ll be pushing him
around in a wheel chair by the time you’re 30.”

“I think I’ll do you a favor and pretend that I didn’t hear
that.”

She intended it to be half joke and half jab, but I chose
just to laugh it off.  If she thought, that Jack was getting old and in
poor health, she would be far less jealous.  At the time, it seemed like a
good way to throw the bloodhound off the scent, as my dad used to say. 
Dad…
the other thorn in my side. 
I saw that he had replied to my text
message saying:  Don’t blow me off Kate.  We need to talk. 

No, Dad, we really don’t.

~~~

Jack

I should’ve known that out of 3.8 million people, Jackie
would be the first one that Brandon would meet when I sent him to LA.  At
least Brandon isn’t a model chaser.  He most likely won’t get to know her
all that well.  If she says anything more about Paris, though… son of a
bitch!

Instead of wasting any more mental bandwidth on her, I went
to bring Captain Alexander up to speed on our communication systems. 
Anthony had lined up a tech guy from Miami to deliver some new cell
phones.  I got Anthony on the phone as well, so we would all be on the
same page.  I didn’t want any more mistakes.

“We need to be able to make secure calls from our cell
phones, even when we are at sea.  This satellite phone is global, but they
are obviously too easy to track,” I reiterated to both of them as we began our
discussion.

“Your phone was most likely compromised by the person who
set up the satellite connection,” Anthony confirmed.  “The new
communication system on your boat should provide totally secure coverage 95% of
the time.”

“I was told that I need to get one more piece of equipment
to do secure voice calls.  There wasn’t enough time to complete it when it
was docked in Puerto Rico,” I explained, having already spent $750,000 to
upgrade the entire GPS and communication system.

“Yeah, that’s the piece that Rolando is bringing with him,”
Anthony replied knowingly.  “By the end of the day, you’ll have broadband
internet access and secure cell phone calls.”

“And for when we are out of range, an encrypted military
grade satellite phone will cost a couple of grand?” I inquired.

“Yeah, I can get you a top of the line one for around
$2500.  Then you just need to keep that number private and only use it
when you’re off the grid,” Anthony explained.

“Alright, that sounds good.  So just get me one
satellite phone.  The rest of the time, we will use the phones that
Rolando is bringing with him,” I confirmed.  “I’ll have my current
satellite phone delivered to you on Friday.  You will be able to use it as
we begin to execute our game plan.”

“Why would you want them to be able to track me?” Anthony
asked sounding confused.

“No, you’ll just use it to draw them out or throw them
off-course.  We could send the phone on a side trip or leave it sitting at
the office in New York while we do our reconnaissance,” I explained. 
“They are under the assumption that I will be taking that phone everywhere I
go.”

“You’re right, that’s a good idea,” Anthony agreed.

“Captain Chuck and Tim are flying the Gulfstream back to
LaGuardia late Friday morning, so I’ll make sure my phone is
onboard.   They’ll deliver the phone to the office by late that
afternoon.  A few hours after they depart, we’ll head the ship
south.  I’ll have you send my new satellite phone via courier to Santo
Domingo, where I’ll pick it up when we arrive,” I instructed.

“I’ll have your phone ready to go by tomorrow evening,”
Anthony replied.  “I’m sure you won’t have any issues going forward.”

It’s hard to describe how it feels to know that you are
under surveillance, to know that someone is watching your every move.  I
see what they mean when they say that you don’t appreciate your freedom until
it’s gone.  There is no way that I’m going to let anyone impose on my
freedom.  I’ll take every measure possible to ensure that Kate and I can
roam this world freely.  Then I’ll be able to turn the tables on Sau-
Ming.  That greedy little bastard…

Thursday
– February 16, 2012 6:50am

Jack

I know that it’s crazy, but I want to get right back on
that elliptical and see if I can handle at least six cycles without any ill
effects.  I have always considered myself a person who worked out, but
I’ve never done anything quite like this.  I could feel the heat radiating
off my thighs when I woke up during the night.  This is going to be
amazing.  To think, I’ve always avoided cardio because I couldn’t stand
the thought of spending hours on those stupid machines.  I can’t believe
that I didn’t start doing something like this years ago.

“You aren’t going on another suicide mission are you?” Kate
asked, as she rolled over and saw me pulling on my sweatpants.

“No… I’m just going on the treadmill for a little
while.” 

“Nothing over four miles per hour,” she said, reverting to
that motherly tone.

“Yes, dear.  I’ll peak out at 3 ½, just to make sure
that I don’t end up with my head in the toilet,” I replied, leaving her with a
kiss on the forehead. 
I love how she giggles.

~~~

As I warmed up, I began to go over my mental
checklists.  The only thing on my agenda for the day was a ten o’clock
video conference with Anthony and the Ricci brothers
.  I’ll have to
start off by apologizing for sending Anthony after them.  As if I haven’t
already put them through enough pain.  I’ll make it up to them over the
coming years.

Next, my mind turned to the manufacturing process.  I
had done all of the preliminary research and had talked to a few of the key
manufacturers.  There were three cutting-edge companies to choose from and
the front-runner appeared to be a company based in Amsterdam.  It would
take a few face-to-face meetings in order to determine whether they were the
right fit.  All three were capable of building the machines that we
wanted, and had similar time lines, as well as prices.  The deciding
factor was going to be whom we felt most comfortable working with and that is
best done in person. 
I wish it was later so that I could give Brandon
a call.  I always get bored on the treadmill.

Kate

I’m going to have to start forcing him to stay up later, so
then he’ll sleep in until at least 8:00 am.  It’s hard for me to sleep
when I know that he’s working out.  I guess as long as I can hear him
plodding along on the treadmill, I can just lay here and relax.  He’ll
sneak by me on the way to the shower and that’s when I’ll get up and give him a
little morning surprise.  Between his plan for revenge, and setting up the
manufacturing platform, he has been getting more and more absorbed by the
business.  I need to make sure he has a little fun.

After snoozing for another half hour to the rhythmic beat of
Jack on the treadmill, I awakened the second that it ceased.  I threw off
the covers, rolled onto my stomach, and kept my eyes closed.  I stretched
out my legs knowing full well that my little shorts would provide him with an
advantageous view when he re-entered the room. 
I’m getting wet just
thinking about it…

“Now that’s a refreshing view,” Jack cooed, as he walked
toward the bed.  I didn’t make a sound in hopes that he would simply take
advantage of the situation. 

My skin tingled as he ran his fingertips along the back of
my leg, but I remained silent.  It was kind of a fantasy of mine to have
someone like Jack take advantage of me while I was sleeping.  Even though
I was wide-awake, it was still fun to pretend.  It would also be fun to
see how Jack would proceed if I didn’t open my eyes. 
I’m pretty sure
he’ll stop, not wanting to disturb me. 
Much to my surprise, I felt
his weight easing onto the bed. 
Now I’m completely turned on.
 
I could feel how drenched my pussy lips were as he coaxed my shorts to the side
and ran his warm fingers along the edges.

As subtle encouragement, I gave him a soft moan when I felt
his breath tickling my ass cheeks.  Once again, my body strained in
anticipation of the arrival of his hot, wet tongue. 
I love how sensual
he is in bed.  He moves in slowly but deliberately, which definitely peaks
the sexual tension
.  If Jack was surprised by the fact that I hadn’t
really responded up this point, he certainly didn’t let it show.  He pushed
my legs further apart as his tongue and lips began explore and taunt every
square inch of sensitive flesh between my legs. 

His fingers slipped inside of me and began to massage my
favorite spot, as his tongue traveled into areas that nearly made my legs
tremble. 
I’m not sure I’m comfortable with him doing that, but my god
it feels good.
I had to concentrate in order to maintain control.  I
wanted to see this through because I was fascinated as to how it would all play
out. 
Oh fuck Jack… that tongue is making it damn hard not to scream.
It’s so damn hot.

Just as I felt that I couldn’t possibly maintain my
composure, I felt his weight shift behind me. 
Oh, thank god. 
He
had sent me right to the very edge of losing control, but this pause gave me a
chance to recover.  I felt his weight transfer to his hands as he moved
between my legs.  There was the familiar pressure of his hard cock
strategically positioned right between my lips.  I sensed a slight
shifting of the bed as the tip of his dick penetrated me just slightly before
retreating. 
Please just do me, Jack!
  He leaned into me and
once again just barely penetrated the surface before another retreat.  At
that point, I knew that he was playing our favorite game.  He had known the
whole time that I was awake and was determined to break me. 
I’m not
going to make it easy. 

He slipped his hands under my top and began caressing my
back while continuing to tease me with his dick.  Even though I was trying
hard not to react to his touch, my body was reacting on its own.  His
gentle touch always sent shivers up my spine. 
He knows what that does
to me. 
I felt his weight shift again on the bed as his lips began to
kiss the back of my neck. 
I’ve got him now.

Jack

When I first started teasing Kate, I was intent upon getting
a reaction out of her.  After ten minutes, it became obvious that she was
equally determined not to acknowledge me.  Her body, however, told a
different story.  Her muscles flexed and her breathing quickened as I moved
my hands along her back and caressed her soft skin.  The soft sigh each
time I pressed my dick into her, and the slight gasp when I began to kiss the
back of her neck, were all that I needed from her. 
I can’t stand to
wait any longer.

As I slid in behind her to kiss her neck, my throbbing cock
finally penetrated past the point of teasing. 
There’s no turning back
now.
I felt her warm juices envelop my yearning shaft.  She continued
to do a remarkable job of controlling herself as I began to deliver long,
steady strokes at just the right angle.  I kissed the side of her neck
hungrily, as primal urges surged through my body. 
God I love this
woman!
     

Intense passion burned inside of me as I continued to
increase the intensity with each stroke.  My free hand gripped her hip
tightly, as I buried myself repeatedly in search of relieving the overwhelming
feelings inside of me.  Intense lust, combined with burning love, proved
to be a more potent combination than any drug one could possibly ingest. 
I
have never felt more alive.

As I approached my inevitable climax, I could feel Kate’s
body trembling beneath me.  She was having an intense experience all on
her own, the thought of which sent me over the edge.  I gripped her
shoulders and buried myself deep inside, as I felt a powerful release.  As
I lay there gasping for air, I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. 
That was the moment when I began to embrace the sound of my heartbeat, instead
of fearing it. 
Each time I work my heart to this extent, it becomes
stronger.  I’m going to give it many intense workouts in the months and
years ahead.  It’s going to get stronger every day.

I gave Kate a final kiss on the nape of her neck before
getting up to hit the shower.  I would’ve been perfectly content to hold
her in my arms and fall back asleep if I hadn’t had a conference call that
morning.  I felt another surge of lustful feelings as I pulled the covers
over her beautiful body and kissed the side of her cheek.

“I absolutely love you,” I whispered, which finally caused
the slightest smile to emerge on her face.  “You win for today.”

Kate

Yes, I’ve definitely won.  I love you too.
 
I thought about getting up as I heard him start the shower, but it felt so good
just to stay tucked under the covers enjoying the afterglow. 
That was
really fun.  I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did. 
I’m not sure
what made it so intriguing, but it took every ounce of strength I had to keep
from reacting to him.  I had always gotten a thrill out of testing my
limits when it came to endurance or sports.  I was glad that Jack had
embraced the concept of testing each other’s sexual limits. 
I’m glad
he’s feeling better.  He seems to be getting stronger every day.  We
are going to have so many good times together.

I must have drifted off because the next thing I heard was
Jack beginning the conference call with Anthony and the Ricci brothers. 
My
god, I was out cold.  Sex really is the best sleep inducer.
  I
grabbed my robe and latte before joining Jack in his office. 
Great…
it’s a video conference.
  I gave Jack a small wave and smile as I
snuck over to the far side of the room.  It was fun to sit and watch him
in action.  Whatever happened to him that day at the hospital had really
reignited him.  Now that his physical health was coming back, he was
apparently becoming his old self once again.

As an aspiring fashion designer, I had probably read every
article ever written about Jack.  The older articles were the best, as
they focused on a man who had almost singlehandedly transformed one of the
world’s most fragmented industries.  While some compared his management
style and charisma to that of Richard Branson, the way each of them approached
business was completely different.  While Richard started dozens of
companies across numerous industries, Jack remained completely focused on the
domination of one.  If it hadn’t been for the premature loss of Eva, his
competitors wouldn’t have stood a chance.  After her death, media reports
and interviews increasingly focused on a man who had lost his edge.  In
the past several weeks, however, I had witnessed the re-emergence of that man,
and it had truly been a privilege. 
I believe Jack’s best days still
lie ahead of him.

“Anything you would like to add?” Jack asked me as he began
to wrap up the video conference.

“No, I’m good,” I quickly replied not wanting to draw any
attention to myself. 

I honestly hadn’t been paying much attention to what they
were talking about.  All I knew is that Jack wanted them to find out who
had been harassing him the past weeks and put a stop to it.  If the
adversary turned out to be Sau-Ming,
whoever that is
, then he wanted to
turn the tables on him.  From what Jack had told me, Sau-Ming was the
owner of several large Asian sweatshops.  Jack had stopped referring clients
to him in the mid-90s, when it became obvious that he was using slave
labor. 
I can’t believe how many Asian women and children have been
abused by factory owners.
  Jack had apparently seen how big the
problem was on that fateful day in the hospital.

“I get that you’re hiring these guys for some kind of
mission, but what’s the master plan?  I don’t really get how this all ties
in with our company,” I asked after Jack cut the video feed.

“Long term, they will be doing reconnaissance to figure out
which factories are true sweatshops, and which retailers they are
serving.  Anthony will do the initial surveillance, and then we’ll send
the Ricci brothers in as potential outsourcing clients.  Their father had
a good name in the fashion industry and the boys have street smarts.  It’s
a perfect combination for what we want to do,” Jack explained with fire in his
eyes.

“So you’re going to try to steal their clients?”

“Let’s just say that I’m working on a manufacturing process
with enough efficiency that it will compete with those artificially low labor
costs,” Jack replied. 

His wheels were spinning as he began to pull up videos that
he had received from the machine manufacturers.  The process was called 3D
printing, and it was way more amazing than the name implied.  Basically, a
client would upload a digital design, and then load the machine with the raw
materials they wanted to use.  The machine would create whatever it was
that you programmed into it.  I watched a video where a machine literally
created a dress right out of thin air. 
It’s amazing…

“Right now, most 3D products are made from nylon or plastic,
but the company in Amsterdam is experimenting with multiple fabrics. 
They’ve already been able to make a silk dress and are experimenting with
cotton blends as well,” Jack said, as he pulled up additional demonstration
videos.

“That’s amazing.  So you’re telling me that I could
design a suit or dress, upload it, and a machine would create it using whatever
fabrics I chose?”

“Exactly.  A programmer digitizes your design and then
the machine can create it.  The machine could make a single copy of it or
continue to produce them as sales are made,” Jack explained.

“Real time manufacturing…. That’s very cool.” 
Everything I had learned at Fashion U had just gone out the window.  “If
we use 3D printing, we would just have to manage the raw materials and
manufacturing capacity,” I replied, wanting to impress Jack with my grasp of
the situation.