More Than A Four Letter Word (3 page)

"I've never been good at apologizing, so I
don't."

Clarissa couldn't stop the quirk of her lips.
Julian is so full of himself. "So I see."

"How old were you when you started Lariat
Games?”

Clarissa followed his lead. It's a lot less
intimidating than thinking about sucking his thumb and other parts
of him. “I was twenty-two, almost twenty-three. I graduated from
college when I was twenty. I worked for a company that stole my
ideas and discredited me at every turn. Therefore, I decided to
establish my own business, back then I was eager to get into the
video games market. My dad provided my startup capital, and I
jumped into it with two feet.”

Julian admires her tenacity, her new job as
an analyst cannot fulfill her. "Did selling Lariat Games make you
feel like a failure?”

“
No, I don't feel like a
failure, I'm just ready to move on. My concerns regarding my staff
have been put to rest."

"I'm working on a new pilot project that
needs the talents of an architect and graphic designer with your
insight. I have an agreement with the Department of Defense and
other government agencies that would make your head spin."

Clarissa is curious about Julian's
involvement with the DOD. "War games!"

Julian has her attention, but he wonders if
the bait is enough. "Of a sort, if you come to work for me, you
would have cart blanche as the project manager. I guarantee that
you don't have to worry about overhead, payroll taxes, and all the
other pesky things an owner of a company has to deal with. You'd
practically be your own boss, working hours of your choosing."

"Wait a minute did you invite me to lunch to
offer me a job with your company in Chicago?"

"Why not? I hate to see talent go to
waste."

Clarissa could feel her brows furrow as she
gave him a stern look. "I'm marrying Lawrence in a few weeks. Why
would you even bring this position to my attention? You must have
known I would refuse."

"Julian pulls his business card from his
wallet and hands it to her. "I'm just giving you an alternative, in
case your plans don't work out. My employees tell me that I'm an
exceedingly pleasant employer. My personal numbers are on the card
should you find yourself facing a crossroads."

Clarissa put the card in her purse; Julian is
a perplexing man. "I really don't understand you Julian." He gives
her a devastatingly wicked smile that made her stomach feel all
jittery.

"Don't worry Clarissa; I've never been one to
rub salt in my opponent's wounds. The job is yours no questions;
just don't make me wait too long."

Julian finishes his lunch as if he has no a
concerns in the world. Why is he so confident that her marriage to
Lawrence is a mistake? She finishes her lunch, and Julian calls for
the check. The ride back to Lariat Games is silent. Only as she's
getting out of the car did she speak. "Thanks for lunch Julian, may
I also say that it's been interesting meeting you today."

Julian brushes his hand gently across her
face. "If things in your new life don't work out, I want you to
promise to call me. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for in
Chicago."

Clarissa quickly leaves the car, she can feel
his eye on her, but she refuses to look back. Julian Ross is a
dangerous man; lucky for her that she never plans to see him
again.

***

By the time Clarissa makes it back to her
desk, it's a little after one o'clock. She spies a large manila
envelope on her desk. She wondered what's inside; it couldn't be
the contract with Rosscom. Aaron Melcher and Daniel Hall are highly
effective, but they didn't have enough time to make all the changes
to the contract.

Clarissa sits down and opens the envelope,
and several photographs with Lawrence having sex with different
women spill out all over her desk. One photo in particular grabs
her attention; the woman in the photo is her sister Roberta. She
looks at the photos with a clinical eye, Lawrence should have given
her that attention in the bedroom. Chances are they would have been
married years ago. Her distraction with the photos keeps her from
hearing Jonesy enter her office.

"Hey boss lady, sorry for the interruption,
but I hear that a celebration is in order."

Clarissa fumbles with the photos jamming them
back into the envelope. Marcus Jones a.k.a Jonesy is her best
friend Alison's fiancé and her creative arts director. She has to
play this off, or he would notice that something is wrong. With all
the turmoil running through her head, she even manages to give
Jonesy a smile. "Everything is great!"

Jonesy isn't a fool something is obviously
bothering Clarissa, but he decides to play along. "I'm thinking
that Ali and I should take you and Lawrence out to celebrate
tonight. What do you say?"

Clarissa taps the manila envelope against her
desk. "Give me a rain check on that Jonesy. I have a truly
memorable celebration in store for Lawrence tonight. If you excuse
me, I need to go home to prepare for tonight."

Jonesy pulls his cell phone out of his pocket
and calls Alison at work only to hear her voicemail. "Hey baby,
something's wrong with Clarissa, you better give her a call."
Jonesy watches Clarissa's retreating back. She's on a mission, and
he's glad he isn't her victim.

***

As soon as Julian reaches his suite at the
hotel, he throws his jacket on the sofa, loosens his tie, and toes
off his shoes. He makes himself a drink, sits down in a chair, and
replays the events of the day. He only wishes that Clarissa was
with him right now begging him to take her. She should have the
evidence of her fiancé's infidelities by now. How long would it
take her to come to him? A couple of days or perhaps a week. He
wants her abilities for his latest project, but the idea of
Clarissa becoming just his employee is unsatisfactory. He wants her
working for his company and shaking her ass in his bed.

Clarissa isn't like any other woman of his
acquaintance. She doesn't need him to help her career or supplement
her bank balance. She's her own woman, and the only reason she's
coming to his bed is because she wants to be there. His immediate
attraction to Clarissa is surprising and annoying. One thing is
certain this attraction between them is mutual.

Clarissa is clearly a lady. His baits of
sexual innuendos and taunts about her upcoming nuptials didn't get
a rise out of her. She's a refreshing new toy who plays her cards
close to her chest. He would stay in Orlando for a few days before
heading back to Chicago. He has a feeling that Clarissa is going to
contact him soon.

***

Clarissa drives to her condominium with
purpose. She's been trying to call Lawrence upon seeing the photos
of him in compromising positions with several women including her
sister. She should be furious, but all she feels is an overwhelming
sense of betrayal.

How did she miss the signs of Lawrence's
infidelities? How long has he been cheating on her? Between
negotiations with Rosscom and her last minute wedding arrangements,
she hasn’t seen much of Lawrence. They speak to each other often
over the phone, but instead of getting closer, the drift between
them has become wider.

Clarissa pulls into her parking space outside
her condominium and walks into the building. She pays little
attention to her surroundings; her focus remains on the task ahead.
She's going to give Lawrence his walking papers and cancel her
wedding. She could handle almost anything but a cheater. She
refuses to enter into a marriage with a man who can't keep his dick
in his pants. Clarissa gets off the elevator and quickly makes her
way to the door of her condominium.

Lawrence gets off from work soon; she didn't
have a lot of time to collect his belongings. She would make a
clean break and refuse to listen to his pathetic excuses. She has
to think long and hard on how to handle her sister. The next time
she sees Roberta, she's going to slap the taste out of her
mouth.

The first order of business is to clear out
Lawrence's personal items from her home. Clarissa turns down the
hall leading to her bedroom when she hears moaning and grunting
coming from her bedroom. What in the hell was going on? She just
knows that Lawrence didn't bring one of his tricks to her bed.
Clarissa runs down the hall and slams the bedroom door open. Her
feet were stuck to the floor as she stands there watching her
sister grinding her pelvis against her fiancé.

Roberta sees Clarissa first. She kisses
Lawrence again before addressing Clarissa. "What's wrong sister, is
this a surprise?"

Lawrence jumps off the bed and reaches for
his pants; his face is bright red with guilt. "Clarissa this isn't'
what you think..."

All of her hate and wrath comes to head as
she sees her sister licking her lips with satisfaction. A man who
loves her would never disrespect her in this manner. She didn't
plan this scene, but the result would be the same. She's going to
clean house tonight, and she would start with her cheating fiancé
and her slut sister. "Please tell me what I'm supposed to think
when I find my fiancé in bed with my slutty sister." Clarissa
reaches for anything she could find to throw at them.

For the first time in her life, Roberta takes
Clarissa seriously. She jumps out of the bed when a jar of body
butter connects with her forehead. Roberta grabs her clothes,
shoes, and purse before taking a quick exit from the bedroom.

Lawrence grabs Clarissa from behind holding
her by the arms. He struggles to keep her from running after
Roberta. "Calm down!"

"Get your hands off me and get the hell out.
Why? Why? My plans were to give up everything for you so we could
make a new life in Atlanta.

Lawrence has to think of something and fast,
he didn't expect Clarissa home for at least another three hours.
“Baby just let me explain!”

Clarissa twists out of Lawrence’s arms. “Out
of all the women in the world you could screw, why her?"

Lawrence quickly puts on his shirt, sticks
his feet in his shoes, and tries to pacify Clarissa at the same
time. "It didn't mean anything, just a little fling before the
wedding. Baby you know how much I love you. Roberta is just an easy
lay. Are you going to let that slut ruin all of our plans?"

She slaps Lawrence's perfectly tan face,
leaving an impression of her fingers. His good looks and turquoise
eyes couldn’t get him out of this one. "How dare you stand there
and try to explain your reasons for screwing my sister in my bed?
You’re caught! I caught you in bed with my sister. I cannot let you
insult my intelligence by pretending it didn’t happen. The wedding
is off!"

Lawrence has never seen Clarissa this angry.
In fact, the whole scene is turning him on. They have a strong
relationship. He's certain he can convince Clarissa to forgive him,
and the wedding will take place on schedule. "Give me a call after
you cool off and then we can talk about our wedding in a rational
manner." Lawrence grabs the rest of his clothes, slamming the door
behind him.

The first thing she did is call her best
friend Alison. "Ali I just caught Lawrence fucking Roberta in my
bed."

"Where is that no good bastard?"

"Who cares? I'm calling off the wedding,
there's no way I can marry someone like that."

"I know honey; we can talk about it when I
get there. I'm on my way now, Rissa. Do you want me to bring you
anything?"

"I need a stiff drink Ali?"

"I'll stop on the way and pick something
up."

Clarissa looks at her bed in disgust; no way
is she ever going to sleep in it again. She goes into the kitchen
for trash bags and brings them back into her bedroom. She pulls all
the bedding off her bed and puts it in the garbage bags. Clarissa
didn't stop there; she gathers Lawrence's clothes and puts them in
garbage bags too.

She has three bags ready when she hears the
doorbell. She opens the door to see Alison carrying two sacks.
Clarissa takes one of the bags and carries it into the kitchen.
Inside the sack were four bottles of liquor and a six-pack of Coke.
She's remains silent as she watches Alison empty the other bag,
which contains the final ingredient of Long Island Ice Tea and the
makings for nachos.

"Ali you're a godsend, there is nobody in my
family I could call who can truly understand how hurt I am."

Ali hugs Clarissa and steers her out of the
kitchen. "How far did you get with removing Lawrence's stuff?"

Clarissa laughs and cries at the same time.
She sits down at the dining room table and lets the floodgates of
her emotions loose. "Why did he do this to me Ali? I'm a good
person."

Alison sighs before sitting down. She's been
childhood friends with Clarissa, and she has been a witness to more
than one of Roberta's vicious attacks on Clarissa. Roberta is a
rotten, evil heffa who needs a serious beat down. At the behest of
her parents and aunt, Clarissa always has to be the bigger person
and mends the riff until the next time Roberta wants whatever
Clarissa has. "Rissa I know nothing I can do to relieve your pain.
I'm going to whip up some nachos and drinks, and we're going to sit
back, relax, and forget about Lawrence and Roberta."

Clarissa wipes the tears from her face; she's
never going to cry over a man again. "He should have been the one,
the one I would marry and have children with. How could I have been
so foolish?"

"Rissa you didn't do anything wrong, Lawrence
and Roberta are at fault."

"She isn't the only woman in Lawrence's
life." Clarissa gets out of the chair, retrieves the manila
envelope from the coffee table and hands it to Alison. "I've been
riding a cloud with pleasure from the negotiations with Rosscom.
When I get back from lunch, these photos are on my desk waiting for
me."