Independence & Consequences by M J Marlow (top 10 novels .txt) 📖

with Morgan. He was smiling when the door opened and his father walked in. Winston stopped short as the sight. He hadn’t seen a smile on his son’s face in a very long time and had begun to regret leaving the business to his son at such a young age. “Obviously your luncheon went well,” Winston smiled as he saw Jeff acknowledge his presence. He saw the look on Jeff’s face and knew it was time to change the subject. He turned and looked around his old office as he drank it. “You know you could make changes in here, if you wanted to.” “It’s fine the way it is, Father,” Jeff answered. He leaned back in his chair and waited. His father hadn’t come here to chat. “Why did you really come see me, Father?” “You went to see Ricardo Alvarez,” his father finally spoke out the reason for his visit. “How did that go?” “He asked me to tell you that he misses your chess games,” Jeff told his father, wondering what that meant. He had never seen his father play chess in his life. He saw his father’s expression and knew only the truth would do. “He was also very interested to hear what I knew about the investigation into Isabel’s disappearance,” Jeff told him honestly. He had no reason to lie; his father knew the history. “I shudder to think what her life would have been like if Alvarez had gotten his hooks into her.” “Despite the fact that he is a shark in the business world,” Winston said as he poured another drink, “Ricardo would treat any child of his like a princess.” He downed the drink and looked at the stunned expression on his son’s face. “Yes, I realize that he had to kidnap Cassandra in order to create that child, but he did love her.” “But she was going to marry you, Father,” Jeff argued, remembering how he had looked forward to having the woman as his new mother. “Didn’t she love you?” “She accepted me,” Winston told him. “I always had the distinct impression that she was marrying me to get away from her brother’s bullying. I mistook the joy of being her protector for something more.” He looked at his watch. “It’s time for the board meeting, son. Are you ready?” “As ready as ever,” Jeff replied. He got up and accompanied his father to the elevators. As he passed Alison’s desk, she held out the folder of documents he needed for the meeting. He smiled at her efficiency and moved into the elevator with his father. Alison watched them go, regretting for a moment the fact that she had a loving husband and four children waiting for her every night at home. Only for a moment, however; remembering how it had been Winston Tolliver who had introduced her to her Brian in the first place. * Isabel woke up and frowned a moment as she did not recognize the room she was in. She was in a hotel room? Where had she been taken? Why had she been taken? She heard water running and guessed it to be Liza, using the shower. She got out of bed and looked around, and realized she was on a ship, as she looked out the window and saw only water beyond. Where was she being taken? Liza came out of the shower, drying her hair with a thick towel. “You should get ready, child,” Liza told her as she continued to move. “We’re eating at the Captain’s table this evening.” She saw Isabel’s hesitation and frowned. “Don’t be angry with me, Isabel. I had to get you alone for a while.” “Did you at least tell Uncle Gordon about this?” Isabel asked as she went towards the bathroom for a shower. She saw Liza’s expression and was shocked. “He’s going to think you kidnapped me, Liza!” “I did kidnap you, Isabel,” Liza said unapologetically. “Now hurry, we can’t keep our host waiting.” Isabel knew that she had no choice. She was on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Even if she got out of the cabin, where would she go? She took her shower and got dressed, wondering at the gowns inside the closet. Half of them were in her size. The invitation may have been last minute, but it was obvious that it had been planned for some time. “You look wonderful, darling,” Liza told her as she came out of the closet. “You look like Cassandra did on prom night.” “I wish I could have had a prom night,” Isabel sighed. She looked at herself in the simple sapphire blue one shouldered gown and had to admit she looked nice. “Maybe when we get home, I can start having a normal life.” “We’ll see to it, Isabel,” Liza nodded firmly. She tried to embrace Isabel, but the girl moved away from her. Liza could see that the girl was angry with her. It would take some time for Isabel to forgive her for what she had done. “If you’re ready then,” Liza said as she got them both shawls, “we will go.” Isabel nodded and they left the stateroom. Two men, obviously guards, fell in behind them as they made their way to the Captain’s table. The Captain, an older man with flame red hair and deep green eyes rose to his feet and bowed over each of their hands gallantly. He saw them seated on either side of his chair. He had noticed them and the man who hovered around them and decided he was going to do everything he could to keep the women safe. That was why Sebastian Guerrero was given a seat at the other end of the table. “You are both looking very beautiful tonight,” he told them both. “I am undone.” “You are a nice man,” Liza said to him and he feigned being wounded. She leaned forward. “I’m a married woman, Captain,” she smiled up at him. “Your attentions do my old heart good.” “Then rest assured, Dr. Stoner,” Captain MacGregor smiled, “I will see to it that you receive a lot of attention. Purely for medical reasons.” He raised his glass and rose to his feet. “A toast!” Everyone rose with him, glasses ready. He nodded to the two women beside him. “To the most beautiful women aboard.” “That was a bit over the top, wasn’t it, Captain?” Isabel blushed as they sat down. She saw Sebastian scowling at the man. “He is not a nice man.” “All the more reason for me to see that he stays away from you, Ms. Chambers,” Captain MacGregor smiled at her. God, she was so beautiful, he thought. He got control of his wayward thoughts by reminding himself that he was old enough to be her grandfather, and spent the rest of the evening regaling Isabel and Liza with stories of past cruises. They were both quite amused. “And that,” he finished his last story with a wide grin, “is how we saved the vessel.” He looked up as a shadow crossed his plate. “Yes, Senor Guerrero?” “Isabel has promised me a dance,” Sebastian said as he pulled the girl’s chair out for her. He held his hand out to her and she couldn’t refuse him. “I will bring her back to your stateroom later, Dr. Stoner.” Liza watched the man take the girl away, frowning darkly. She got up to follow and the men who were their escort came towards her. MacGregor came to the rescue. He moved to pull her chair out for her and held his arm to her. She took it gratefully. She was not surprised when he took her to the lounge where Sebastian and Isabel were dancing. MacGregor took her into his arms and they joined the couples. Sebastian caught sight of them and frowned. Was he never to be allowed a moment alone with the girl? He could see the mother’s hand in most of the interruptions and excuses, but now the Captain had been involved. What had they told the man? “You are endangering that man by encouraging his protection,” he whispered into Isabel’s ear. He felt her stiffen. “Tell Liza she is to keep him away from me, or I will have to hurt him.” He looked down into her eyes and knew she understood him. “We are going to my stateroom now.” He took her hand and led her out of the lounge. He nodded to his men as they passed. “Keep Dr. Stoner here for a few minutes.” He pulled Isabel along until they were in his stateroom. She watched as he locked the connecting door between their staterooms and turned to look at her. “We are finally alone.” “There is no need for us to be alone,” Isabel said as she went to the door to leave. He grabbed her arm and she dug her nails into it. She was pleased when the man let her go with a cry of pain. “You will not touch me again!” “I will do whatever pleases me, girl,” Sebastian snarled. He grabbed her faster than she could react to and pinned her arms to her sides so she could not hurt him again. “And it pleases me to do this!” He kissed her and Isabel was stunned by the brutality of the act. She struggled to free herself from his hold, but he was too strong for her. When he released her, she slapped him across the face. “You are a little hell-cat, aren’t you?” “I don’t want you touching me,” Isabel snapped at him. The kiss had left her terrified at the thought of what he might do next. He came towards her again and she backed away from him, shaking her head. “Please,” she whimpered as he pinned her against the wall and leaned in to kiss her again, “you’re frightening me.” “Pobrecita,” Sebastian laughed down at her. “You are a beautiful creature, Isabel,” he said as he ran his fingers along her lips. “You should know a man’s touch.” “No!” Isabel cried as his hand moved to cup her breast. “Let me go!” “You are in no position to tell me what to do, Isabel,” Sebastian reminded her. He smiled at her darkly as his hand moved up to push the strap of her gown off of her shoulder. “If it pleases me to take you,” he continued as he lowered the gown until it fell from her body and pooled at her feet, “then it shall be done.” He realized that he had a virgin in his grasp, as he saw the terror and confusion in her eyes. “You are right,” he sighed and stepped away from her. “I brought you here to speak of the file.” “Why is everyone so interested in it?” Isabel asked as she put her dress back on and took the chair he indicated. “You know what was in this file,” Sebastian asked as he brought a chair over and set it down in front of the one she occupied, “that is apparent. You will tell me.” When she hesitated, he cupped her chin in his hand, running his thumb over her lips. “We can always return to our earlier ‘discussion,’ nina.” He smiled as Isabel shook her head. “Then tell me what I wish to know.” “There was only one sheet in the file,” Isabel told him, hoping that this was not going to cause harm to the agent. “It was a list of dates and locations. Nothing more.” “You will write this list for me,” Sebastian nodded. He brought her over to the desk and put a sheet of paper and pen in front of her. He laid his hand on her shoulder and felt her shudder. “I have been told you can do this, child. You have a photographic memory and total recall.” Isabel gasped. There was only one person who could have