More Than A Four Letter Word (7 page)

Hearing the distress in Clarissa's voice,
Alison immediately went into recovery mode. "Rissa slow down and
breathe. Are you at home? Do you want me to come over? Do I need to
bring garbage bags and a shovel? Talk to me sister!"

Clarissa composed herself, finding relief
that canceling her wedding is the right thing to do. "Really Ali! A
shovel?"

"I'm your friend Rissa; I'd willingly become
an accessory after the fact. I want to come prepared if you have a
body that needs burying. Besides, I keep a shovel in my car; I
never know when I might need it."

"Ali you're always there for me, better than
any sister could be."

"Well, better than your tramp sister anyway.
You sound better already. Its Sunday night we can go party if you
want. You know I'd dump Jonesy for my girl."

By now Clarissa is smiling, "My friend, you
always bring me back from the brink of insanity. Thanks for the
offer, but I have a job interview in five minutes and I just needed
to vent. I didn't want to take that negative energy inside with
me."

"Call me after your interview and let me know
if you want me to come over."

"Thanks Ali! Wish me luck."

"You don't need luck because you have
skills."

"Love you too Ali."

Clarissa checks her makeup one last time
before leaving her car. Julian said he would wait for her in the
lobby bar. She walks in an immediately notices him sitting near the
door, he looks up, and she feels the intensity of his gaze. He
stands up and approaches her, his eyes were dark and smoldering as
they quickly assess her body. "Julian, it's nice of you to see me
on such short notice."

"Not a problem, especially since I expected
to hear from you sooner."

Clarissa gave him a smirk, "You don't know me
as well as you think."

Julian grabs hold of her arm as an attentive
potential suitor. "I honestly would like to know you better. Maybe
one day you can thank me for intervening on your behalf by allowing
you to see your fiancé's true self."

Wow, Julian's sexuality is reaching out and
smothering her. Clarissa's mind is screaming for her to grab him.
"We both know you sent the photos for selfish reasons."

Julian couldn't help but be mesmerized by
Clarissa's manner. She's sexy, in charge; any other woman would be
trying to rip him to shreds. "What can I say; I'm a selfish man who
likes to get his way. This way, I do believe our table is
ready."

Julian stops touching her, but she could
still feel his body heat envelop her as she walks by his side. The
hostess greets them and shows them to their table. They were seated
near the window, giving them a perfect view of the lake. The white
linen on the tables and candles makes for a romantic setting. The
only thing missing were the violins playing in the background.

Clarissa has to keep telling
herself that tonight is all about business. Julian would tell her
about the job he's offering, and then they would part company.
Julian and Clarissa ordered the house salad; for dinner, she
ordered stuff shrimp and Florida snapper and Julian ordered conch
chowder and a steak
. Clarissa
listened attentively as Julian
engaged in small talk. “Before you tell me more about this new
position, tell me the real reason why you sent me the
photos.”

Julian could see the evidence of Clarissa's
nervousness. Good thing the napkin in her hand is made of cloth, or
she would have shredded it by now. “I want you, and that's all the
reason I need. You should be thanking me; Lawrence Tate isn't
marriage material.”

Clarissa is a little shocked by his answer.
“I know you think that sounds very romantic, but you just sound
arrogant to me.”

Julian leans over giving Clarissa his full
attention. “You confuse arrogance with confidence. I'm confident
that the photos of your fiancé in the throes of passion with other
women would make you drop him like a hot rock. If that makes me the
evil guy in your eyes, I'll have to see what I can do to change
your mind."

He undressed her with his eyes. His dark
almond shaped eyes were full of promise and heat. He hasn't touched
her, yet she feels the flutters in her stomach. Julian Ross is
systematically trying to seduce her. If she were looking for a good
one-night stand, Julian would be her man. For one second, she
wanted to invite him home and use him to relieve the stress from
her body. "I want to hear about the job you dangled in front of my
face on Friday."

"I have another reason for sending the photos
to you. You're one of the most talented engineers and creative
thinkers I've come across. In addition, you're a talented
hacker."

"Kudos to your investigator. Very few people
know of my stint as a hacker. Why would you need the skills of a
hacker, engineer, and graphic designer?"

Did I mention that you'd
need
TS/SCI
clearance from the DOD? I already submitted the documentation for
your clearance on the chance that you accept the
position."

It seems as if
the cat and mouse seduction games were over. Why would she need
TS/SCI, Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information? "You're
not creating war games videos as you led me to believe. You're
trying to find out what's wrong with real war games."

Just as, he
thought, Clarissa is exceptionally smart; it didn't take her long
to put the pieces together. He could see the interest and
excitement brimming in her eyes. "I see that I truly have your
attention now. My Ex-partner works for a government agency that's
starting a new security program. I agreed to allow him to set up
the pilot program in my company. You would be an investigator of
crimes against the government. What do you say Clarissa? I can
offer you a six figure salary, six weeks of vacation, medical and
dental, and a direct line to the DOD's master file."

Clarissa could
feel the tingles in her fingers. The DOD may give her a direct line
to the master file, but she's certain to have limited access. He's
too confident, his smirk turned into a fully fledged grin. "Sounds
interesting, but I don't think what you're offering will suit me."
Clarissa's glad to see his grin fade. She would die for a chance at
this job, and Julian knows just how much. "Thanks to you, my
financial portfolio is looking good. I can take off for a couple of
years and see the world if I choose to. I think I'll enjoy becoming
a lady of leisure."

Julian remained
calm; Clarissa is just trying to test his patience. "I know that
you're excited about coming to Chicago, no matter how you like to
pretend otherwise. You're not the lady of leisure type of woman.
You would be bored out of your skull before your first week is up.
Take a chance Clarissa come to Chicago with me and work on this
project. When it's over there will be another project to keep your
interest."

Clarissa
squinted her eyes in dislike; she wanted to throw the job offer
back in Julian's face. The truth of the matter is she's eager to
get started on the project. "How soon do you want me to
start?"

"How about a month? That gives you time to
make a smooth transition when my people take over the reins at
Lariat. It will also give you time to settle any other person
matters. My secretary search for suitable housing."

She sticks her hand out for him to shake. "A
month is more than enough time to settle my affairs."

Julian holds her hand for a moment longer
than needed. The arrival of the food is the only reason he releases
her hand. He nods at the waiter, but all of their conversation
ceases until the waiter leaves their table. "Do you want to talk
about this thing between us?"

Clarissa is beginning to enjoy herself. She
took a sip of wine before responding. "You may have been spot on
for my requirements for a job, but you have no idea what I need in
a man. You see I think you would set the sheets on fire and try to
scorch me too with your intense sexuality. I could never take a man
like you seriously because all you care about is the chase."

"You'd run from a man like me who could give
you the best sex of your life. Not two days ago you were intent on
marrying a man who could never satisfy you."

Clarissa begins to enjoy her food, especially
when she sees the stamp of annoyance on Julian's face. "Lawrence
didn't have the power to hurt me, but I thought he could have made
a good husband and father. I could control Lawrence and feel safe
that he could never touch my heart."

Julian snorts with impatience. "Oh yeah, how
did that work for you?"

"When I get to Chicago I expect a traditional
employer/employee relationship between us."

Julian is practically seething inside, did
she seriously think that she could deny the passion simmering
between them. "Oh honey you're playing with the big boys now. I
want you badly and I realize something else."

"What else did you come to realize?"

"You want me! I'm unlike any man you've ever
come across. You're right I'm arrogant, rich, and self confident.
If I crook my finger ten women come running, but you're lucky, only
you can extinguish the heat burning in me. I am a dangerous man,
but you have nothing to fear from me. When we become lovers I
promise not to rub your face in it by doing a victory dance. I see
the doubt on your face, but Clarissa I can make it impossible for
you to say no." Julian attacked his food with gusto there's nothing
better than an opponent worthy of his energy and time.

Clarissa chooses to ignore the attraction
between them. "Give it your best shot Julian, bigger men than you
have tried to break me and they didn't succeed."

Julian gives her a look of adoration. "I
don't want to break you Clarissa; I just want you to surrender.
You're a strong woman Clarissa, and I need a strong woman who can
handle the beast that resides in me."

***

Clarissa had a hard time getting up on Monday
morning; maybe she drank too much wine during her dinner with
Julian last night. After he had declared war on her, he seemed to
be in a better frame of mind. They talked about Chicago and his
family. His small family consists of his ten-year-old son, his aunt
and her husband. He didn't talk about his ex-wife, and she didn't
ask. For some reason, she didn't like the idea of him being with
another woman.

When dinner was over, Julian walked Clarissa
to her car. Before she could get in the car, he pressed her body
against the car letting her feel his arousal. He kissed her, and it
wasn't a quick peck on the lips. She could taste the wine on his
tongue as he made love to her mouth. When he released her, she had
trouble standing. He didn't say anything, but his face was brimming
with satisfaction.

She has spent too much time thinking about
Julian Ross. Clarissa stretches before getting out of bed, in the
bathroom, she makes the fatal mistake of looking in the mirror. She
doesn't look too bad for a woman who's been through hell the last
couple of days. She has a lot on her mind, and she doesn't know how
she's going to make it through the day. Especially if, thoughts of
Julian's heated kiss keeps weaseling its way into her mind.

She takes a long hot shower, washes her face
and brushes her teeth. "I'm not afraid of the big bad wolf!" She
chants those few words with absolute conviction. Clarissa decides
to wear the olive pantsuit, a present from her Aunt Helen. The suit
flatters her shape, giving her the confidence she needs for the day
ahead.

As she makes the drive to Lariat, her mind
wanders. She's doubts that she'd be a positive match for Roberta.
Clarissa just hopes that her mother, father, or Junior prove to be
a match. If not, Roberta’s chances for survival aren't good.
Clarissa has heard of stories about cancer patients who die because
they can’t find a donor. As much pain as Roberta caused her, she
loves her sister, and she wants her to live.

Clarissa knows that she’ll have to put this
situation between her sister and mother to rest. Now she
understands the circumstances of her birth she can move forward
without the past dragging her down. The most difficult thing she
has to do this morning is meeting with her staff and Rosscom's
incoming management team.

By the time Clarissa gets to work, the wheels
in her head were churning. She has a lot to do and remarkably
little time. Her condominium sold, so she has to decide what to do
with her furniture. The condominium is her first home after leaving
her parents’ house. She remembers how she lovingly shopped for
furniture, paintings, and even the dishes. The condominium and its
furnishings hold both good and unpleasant memories. She would take
a few select items with her, and she’d get rid of the rest.

“
Good morning. How did your
interview go last night?”

Clarissa didn’t hear Jonesy approach her.
“From the tone of your voice, I guess that Ali told you that I
accepted the position.”

“
Alison didn't say a whole
lot which leads me to believe that you and Julian Ross connected
last night. Did something else happen last night that I should know
about?” Jonesy said as he winked at her.

“
What is there to tell,
Julian offered me the job, and I accepted. Case closed. End of
story.”

“
If I didn’t know better,
I’d say that Julian's offering a lot more than a job.”

“
Well, he offered me the
job, and that’s the only thing he offered me.”

“
There’s no need to yell,
I’m standing right next to you. It’s surprising what a little
physical attraction to can do for one’s disposition, huh.” After
that parting shot, Jonesy went into his office.