“Hey, Bro! I brought the painting I promised.” Raven was the first to react, acting as if he just didn’t kiss Christine.“Fuck! Chase is going to kill me,” Raven thought to himself.Christine froze. How long has he been standing there, watching them. She didn’t mean to kiss Raven back; it was a spontaneous reaction. It’s not like it meant anything. But Chase wouldn’t see it that way.Chase stalked towards them his face expressionless. “Did I interrupt something?” His eyes flitted to the painting of Christine. Raven captured her beautifully. The likeness was so striking it seemed as if she could just walk out of that canvas.“No, of course not.” Christine found her voice. She went to Chase and kissed him. His lips were cold.Chase looked at her flushed face and then at Raven who couldn’t look him in the eyes.“I kissed Christine.” Raven blurted out. He’d rather have Chase smash his face in than look at them the way he was now, as if they’d betrayed him. “Just a peck. It wasn’t her faul
“I would advise against it.” Alexander told Chase over the phone. Not that there was anything he could do to stop Chase from getting his hands on the footage if he was on a mission to do so. “Dad, I need to see it. It’s affecting my relationship with Christine.” He paused, “Please.” Alexander ruffled a hand through his hair. Does it ever stop? “Alright. I have it here.” “I’ll be right over.” Chase ended the call. For a long time, Alexander sat staring out at the window, watching the snow fall, swirling specks blown about by the ice wind. Just like us, Alexander thought, were all just specks being blown in all directions by an ill wind. He heard Erica and the twins come back, but he stayed in his office, not having the courage to face Erica and ask, no, beg her forgiveness for accusing her of seeing Justin Hunter. He should have known better. Erica wasn’t that kind of woman. After all these years he still felt inferior to Hunter. He, Alexander didn’t deserve a woman like Erica, but
To say it was a media circus would have been an understatement. Chase was beset with reporters from all sides as he stepped out of his car to get into the court building.“Mr. Ward, are you associating yourself with the Mafia now?” One reporter screamed at him.“How does it feel to be back in court after your time in jail, Mr. Ward?”Then there were the protesters waving placards and screaming protest slogans in support of the families that suffered at the hands of the crime boss.Chase muttered curses under his breath. So much for wanting to keep a low profile. He expected there to be some media presence, but this was outrageous. He ran up the steps of the court building, narrowly missed being hit in the face by a camera wielding television reporter.The security officers at the door ushered him through and kept the hounds at bay. He walked briskly down the broad corridor to where Carlucci’s bail hearing was to be held.***He spent the next two hours arguing Carlucci’s case before t
Paramedics were rushed forward to assist the wounded. Christine left the rest of the Ward family and stumbled right up to the tape barrier to get a better view. They could do nothing but wait as gurneys pushed past them. Waiting for a sign that Chase was still alive. To Christine it felt as if everything was sharper, sounds, colors, the smells, even her own breathing seemed harsher to her ears. But the people seemed to move in slow motion when she spotted him over the heads of the crowd. She wanted to scream out his name, but there was no sound coming through. Christine managed to hold up her hand. He turned his head and then he saw her, started making his way through the crowd. The first thing she noticed was the blood spatter on his face and all over his white shirt. But he was alive! And pushing through the crowd until… “Chrissie!” He was right there in front of her. “Sir, sir! You need to see a doctor.” A police officer tried to detain him, but he ignored the man. He only had
"Dad, I don't need another secretary. I am perfectly happy with Johnson." Chase Ward glared into his father's steely grey eyes, slightly leaning towards him. Eyes that were so similar to his own, yet Chase was nothing like him. Nothing. The latter seemed unconcerned by his son's attitude. Why was he meddling with my staff? Chase felt the muscle underneath his left eye twitch. It usually happened when he felt irritated. "Sit down Chase. You're wearing out my carpet." "I don't have time for this. I need to be in court in --" he checked his Rolex, "less than an hour." "Johnson is ready for retirement, Chase. He has a heart condition too and he told me the stress was getting to him." Alexander Ward skimmed over the papers on his desk. Chase sighed. He knew he's been working poor Mr. Johnson too hard, but never realized he had health issues. Johnson had never complained or mentioned anything to him. "I think Ms
Six months later. Chase thought how Christine surprised him every day. He could not fault her work. She was always on time. He admired her flawless typing and the way she kept up with his hectic schedule. So far. Only one thing bothered him. Ms. Morrison was as cold as the Arctic winds. She despised him. He found it amusing. The way she pursed those full lips in a thin line whenever she saw him ... Well, I suppose I do have something to do with that. I am not exactly warm and fuzzy towards her. In the past he's had too many women getting the wrong idea when he treated them friendly. Not to mention those that tried to use him to get promoted. And let's face it, she is damn hot. The only thing bothering him - no, pissing him off - is Mason Pritchard has his lecherous eye on her. Not again. Not this time. But I don't want to complicate my life with a simple physical attraction. I am attracted to her I can't deny it. But I can't act on it. Es
The drive to Christine's apartment occurred in silence. Mostly. Chase's stony face made Christine anxious. Usually she would be concerned with the speed they were moving at. She observed his slender fingers strangling the steering wheel. Is he angry at me? Is it because we couldn't finish the work? I've gone over almost over all of his personal documents and couldn't find a single discrepancy. Or is he angry because Mason saw us? Oh my word, the gossips are going to have a field day with this. "Mr. Ward?" she almost whispered. He just grunted in reply, his teeth locked together. "I'm really sorry about this. There really was no need for you to -" "Just shut up, Morrison." Christine looked away from him, balling her fists to stop herself from crying. How can he be kind the one moment and a bastard the next? She is not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he upset her. After a while he said: "Is this whe
Christine spent the rest of Friday and the weekend in a daze. She messaged her parents telling them she was fine. Then she turned off her phone. In case Chase decided to call. Her mind kept going back to the kiss before he left. What the hell was she supposed to make of it? She cried when he left, turning into mush on her kitchen floor. She hated him for humiliating her, except a part of her didn't want him to leave and continue with his assault on her lips. I am going mad. That must be it. This was not the same as when her professor propositioned her. Chase didn't ask anything from her. Professor Maloney offered to pay for her tuition if she slept with him. She was shocked initially, no - horrified actually. And then it turned to indignation and anger. Is that what men would want from her? Her brain did not matter in the least, they only saw her pretty face and body. She thought Chase was different. He never once made an advance. Until Thursday night. B