Karma 26

CHRISTIAN THORNE POV

Eight years ago

I twist on my chair bored out of my mind with the speaker and the outrageous ceremony, it is a charity event aimed at women empowerment. I would gorge my eyes just to be anywhere but here. Where is the kettle with the genie when you need it?

I feel a stare burning through my skull and swivel my head to find Oliver Cooper glaring at me. When our eyes lock he smirks at me. I make a subtle middle finger at him. With him he is seated with his sister, Cara Cooper and her husband, Quinn Nickel. She turns just to find him giving me a middle finger and scowls at him while pulling his ears like a small child. He obeys her and concentrates on what is being said. It is funny how he is afraid of his sister.

After the speech I spot my Oliver, across the room, chatting up some beautiful woman. I can’t help but roll my eyes.

I make my way over to him, and as soon as he spots me, he flashes that insufferable grin of his. “Christian,!” he says, clapping me on the back. “I didn’t think they let riff-raff like you into these events.”

“Look at you, all dressed up like a penguin.” I teases, gesturing at his black tuxedo.

He rolls his eyes, “Better than looking like a clown. I see your tie still clashes with your shirt.”

I chuckles. “I like to keep things interesting unlike you.” I say giving his companion a sly look. “Is this man bothering you?” I ask her.

She smiles and shakes her head. She is pretty, has almond-shaped eyes, framed by thick, dark lashes that make them seem even larger. Her full lips are painted with a soft shade of pink, and seem to be constantly curved upwards in a subtle smile.

She has a confident poise that i can tell she is a woman of means and gets what she wants.

“I am Cassandra,” Her voice is soft as she extends her hand at me.

I take it and it lingers longer than i intend it to. Oliver barely notices.

The MC calls Cassandra’s name she smiles at us as she walks to the stage to talk.

“You think you are going to outbid me on that Mustang?” Oliver asks and i give him a smug look.

Other than its pristine paintwork, i don’t really like it but i just want to defeat Oliver for the joy of it.

Cassandra begin to talk, she captures everyone’s attention including me, she speaks of her life and tentatively listen as she says how she is a victim of sexual violence that resulted to her daughter. It is sad just listening to her narrate the ordeal and i am glad when she says the perpetrator was arrested.

Present day

“Where have you seen him?” I ask, studying the man who stands staring at the other side, seemingly oblivious to our presence.

“Here at Achilles and some café with Cassandra,” she responds, her voice trembling slightly.

I shake my head, trying to process the flood of thoughts that overwhelm me. “Let’s get in,” I suggest, leading her towards my private access that leads to my office.

As we make our way through the hidden corridor, I can feel her eyes on me, sensing my reluctance to talk about what we just witnessed. I know she’s quick to read my moods, and I’m grateful for her understanding.

Finally, we step inside my office, and I can see the surprise etched on her face. “Wow!” she exclaims, taking in the spacious room with its floor-to-ceiling windows and sleek, modern furniture. “Is this an office or just an entire apartment?”

I shrug, unable to fully comprehend her amazement. This is simply my workspace, the place where I conduct my business and make important decisions.

“How are you feeling now?” I ask her.

“This may be my worst day in my life,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “But like many others, it shall pass.”

I nod in understanding.

She walks to my desk and picks up a globe. She closes her eyes and spins it, the opens her eyes when it stops moving. She seems pleased with the outcome as she studies the spot where her finger landed.

“What are you doing?” I ask, intrigued by her actions.

“Can you imagine being rich enough and just spinning the globe and where it stops it is your next destination.” She replies with a glint in her eye.

I can imagine because there is no part of this earth i haven’t been to.

“Where did it stop?” I ask, eager to hear her answer.

“Between Oman and the Arabian sea.” She says.

“Is it a place you would love to visit?” i ask her. She seems to me like the person that has an adventurous spirit.

She lifts her head and stares at me for a moment, “I guess.” She says unsure.

My attention is suddenly diverted by the sound of my phone ringing. I quickly check the caller ID and see that it’s Cassandra. A wicked idea forms in my mind, and I decide to use this opportunity to my advantage.

Without wasting any time, I make my way towards Katerina, who is standing on the other side of the room. “It’s Cassandra,” I tell her, excitement rising in my chest.

Katerina’s eyes light up with curiosity as she takes a step closer to me. “What do you want me to do?” she asks, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“What she’s paying you to do,” I state bluntly.

Without a word, Katerina takes a step closer and picks up my phone. I watch her intently as she presses the answer button, her eyes never leaving mine. But before I can even say a word, her lips find mine and she moans softly in my arms. I’m not sure if this is all part of her seduction game, or if she genuinely wants me. Either way, I can’t resist her.

I feel her hard breasts pressing against me and I forget that my wife is on the other end of the line. I try to lift Katerina onto my desk, but she stops me by picking up the phone. And that’s when I hear the sound of my wife’s voice on the other end, her voice thick with tears.

“Why?” she asks, her voice laced with pain and betrayal. I know she’s heard everything that’s been going on between Katerina and me.

“I can explain,” I say, pretending to desperately trying to salvage the situation.

But before I can say anything else, my wife hangs up the phone, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I know she must have heard everything that Katerina and I were doing, but I also know that she’s a good actor. After all, she’s the one who hired Katerina to seduce me in the first place. I wonder what her ultimate endgame is.

Chapter 33 is now available at inkitt. 

Username: Ivybrown179