From: BobJames@ArtCard.com
Subject: Donovan Glass Contracts
Crystal,
I need you to pick up the signed contracts from Reilly Donovan
on Friday. There is a Donovan Glass launch gala at the Waldorf. A limo will
pick you up at 6:30.
See you Monday.
Bob
The limousine pulled up in front of
the limestone front of the Waldorf Astoria. A really hot guy in a tux opened my
door for me. “Miss. Chandler I’m Patrick and I’ll be your escort to the gala
this evening.” He spoke with the most wonderful Irish brogue. I noticed the
crowd standing outside as I reached for his hand and wanted nothing more than
to go home. His hand warmed mine as I took a deep breath and let him help me
out of the car. He guided me through a lightning storm of camera flashes. Patrick held my hand in the crook of his arm
as he lead me down a white carpet with the Donovan Glass logo and name on it. He
did his best to shield me from the paparazzi and television cameras inside the
hotel entrance. My mind wandered to a
dark stone corridor as we followed the carpet. As quickly as I blinked I was in the corridor
I had thought of. The corridor was dark
unlike the soft yellow light of the Waldorf. Small groups of people stood on either side of
the corridor and curtsied or bowed as we passed. I looked over to my escort but
Patrick had been replaced by a taller stockier man wearing a red velvet robe
and jeweled crown on his soft red hair. I tripped as he looked down at me and I
was back in the hotel tripping over my own feet with Patrick helping me regain
my balance. The ballroom doors were in my sight and I prayed I would make it. I
don’t know what strange hallucination that was but I felt light headed and had
to fight to keep my eyes open. A regal gentleman wearing a red tuxedo jacket
with a glass sword belted around his waist announced me. My legs were uneasy as
I stepped past him. Patrick kissed my hand and left me at the top of a long
elaborate staircase. The Grand Ballroom more
elegant than anything I’ve seen before. I could see all three levels from this
vantage point. The bottom had rows of round tables, the balcony level where
people were mingling, and the third level looked like boxed seats at an opera
house.
Reilly Donovan stood in his private
balcony box watching the guests arrive, making a mental note of whom would be
the lucky lady he asked to warm his bed tonight. He noticed a shy duckling
among this pond of swans. This duckling had hair the color of highly polished
bronze and a body covered by an appropriate length and style cream gown that made
him wish he could see more. His eyes weren’t the only part of his body that was
interested in what she was hiding under her gown. He had an instantaneous
physical reaction to her. In all thirty-four years of Reilly’s life he had
never been aroused by a woman this unconsiusly beautiful. There wasn’t one
woman he had fucked that made him feel this level of desire. His mind wandered
to a childhood story he had heard about a young girl in Ireland that
disappeared in the eighteen-ninties and had become a glass sphere, by her
fiancé’s use of black magic, made by his great, great, great grandfather Luke.
To the best of Reilly’s knowledge the only truth to that is Luke had sketched
the sphere but never made it. It was like most Irish stories, a good tale.
Scott Donovan stood behind his only son
watching him. He had hoped moving to New York from Ireland would make Reilly
see it was time to settle down but that hadn’t happened. Scott knew Crystal the
minute he saw her. Scott knew the tale of the Donovan Sphere like the back of
his hand but it wasn’t until this very moment he believed it. The legend said
all Donovan man would fall to their knees for the red-headed descendant of the
tale. If the electricity Scott felt between them got any stronger the room was
going to catch fire. He put his hand on his son’s shoulder and said, “She is
prettier than and Irish sunrise.”
“Do you know who she is?” He asked.
“Nope, but I’m sure you won’t waste
any time finding out.”
I felt much better when I reached
the bottom of the stairs and the dizziness I felt from my daydream had passed.
A very elegant woman in a princess ball gown greeted everyone as they stepped
into the crowd. “Good evening. I’m Eileen Donovan and you are?” She said in a
soft Irish brogue.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m
Crystal Chandler from Art Card. Can you tell me where Mr. Donovan is? I’m here
to pick up the contracts.” I could see confusion cross Eileen’s face for a
moment then just as quickly she replaced her hostess face. “Let me show you
around.” She took me by the arm and led me into the sea of people. She tapped
the shoulder of a dark haired man standing in front of a group of men talking.
“Excuse me.” He turned around and I couldn’t believe I was a foot away from
Pierce Brosnan. “You look lovely as always Eileen. Where is that no good
bastard of a husband?” He said with a rye smile. She reached up and kissed both
his cheeks. “You’re just jelous. I would like you to meet Crystal Chandler. She
is here with Art Card.” He turned his attention to me. “I’ve never met a woman
so appropriately named. You shine like a fine gem.” He said as he kissed my
right cheek then my left. “Bond. James Bond.” What a fool I am I can’t believe
I said that out loud. “That’s me.” He said with a smile. I regrouped and said,
“It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Brosnan.” Eileen was now talking to Colin
Farrell. He also kissed both my cheeks but I had the better sense to just stick
with hi. Next to him stood Daniel Craig, he did the same.
As a native New Yorker I am aware
of the celebrities living in and around Manhattan. I just never thought that I
would meet most of them the day before my twenty-first birthday. Eileen is
amazing there has to be over a thousand people here and she knew them all. She
introduced me to celebrity royalty like; Woody Allen, Lizza Minelli, Mathew
Broderick, Hank Azaria (who did his Homer Simpson voice for me). On our way back
upstairs Eileen introduced me to the whole cast of the Harry Potter movies and
more famous cast mates of the Twilight movies. We ended up on the third floor
box level of the ballroom. Eileen escorted me to the last box upstairs, it was
quieter and more secluded then the others. Two men sat at a table. “Crystal
Chandler, this is my husband Scott Donovan and my son Reilly Donovan. Crystal
is here to pick up the Art Card contracts.” Scott looked at Reilly expectantly.
“I messengered them to your office yesterday.” He said in an Irish accent that
sent goose bumps down my spine like cold silk. He looked at me with his
powerful green eyes. I felt like he could see into my soul. I knew I was
staring but couldn’t make myself look away. He was right in front of me now.
Had I walked to him or did he come to me? “I’m Reilly Donovan, it’s a pleasure
to meet you Miss. Chandler.” He said as he extended his hand for me to shake. I
accepted his hand and I felt so much electricity I had to wonder if he had a
stun gun in his hand. My eyes looked down at our joined hands then back to his
eyes. I felt the warmth from his left hand curled behind my neck as I felt his
lips touch mine. What was going on? His lips were warm his skin was soft and he
tasted of liquor. Our hands were still grasped together as I wrapped my left
arm around his big shoulders for support. His left arm wrapped around my waist.
Our right hands came apart from my frantic need to be as close to him as
possible. I clung to his neck as he picked me up and held me against the wall.
Our lips never parted. Our tongues danced together. My body ached in a way I
had never felt before. I was raised a devout Catholic and believed in waiting
until I was married to have sex. I know that sounds old fashioned but until this
moment I’ve never felt the passion I thought you needed to make love to
someone.
Reilly had no control over himself.
His body moved toward her like a magnet to metal. Her blue eyes reminded him of
fine saphires and her innocent smile made his body harder than it has ever
been. When their hands met he couldn’t help himself he had to taster her. She
tasted of bubblegum and smelled of fresh baked cookies. He knew he had to let
her go because if he didn’t he was going to push her to the floor and have her
for himself.
I felt his fingertips just beneath
my breast and I knew I had to stop him. I was here on business not for love or
to lose my virginity. The passion and desire I felt for Reilly had me seriously
thinking about giving it to him. I knew when I felt his hand on my breast that
we needed to stop. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away.
Reilly knew cupping her breast was
wrong but he had no control over himself. She had intoxicated him. He felt like
he had been hit in the face with a bucket of cold water when she pushed him
away. He felt her legs straighten beneath her and he rested his forehead on
hers. She had her eyes closed and he could feel the deep rise and fall of her
chest. “I’m very sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me.” He managed
to cough out.
I wanted to chase after him when he
stepped away from me. How could he take away his warmth? My skin felt branded
by his strong body.
“I’m sorry your boss didn’t tell you I already
sent him the contracts.” Reilly said grasping for professionalism. “That’s
alright. This is a lovely event. I’m glad to be here. Crystal said as she stood
at the balcony next to him looking down at the crowd.
“Have you worked at Art Card long?
You can’t be much older than nineteen.” Reilly said from his seat.
I felt myself flush as I turned to
face him. “I graduated college two years early and I’ve paid my dues.” I said
with distain I hate being treated like a child just because I’m young. I
regrouped and continued, “If you must know I’ll be twenty-one tomorrow and I’ve
worked very hard to be where I am.”
Reilly knew the minute she said
that that he needed to back off. He had no place corrupting a child thirteen
years his junior. He needed to concentrate on finding a random starlet to join
him tonight not a girl with stars in her eyes. Those were the girls you showed
a good time but in the end always expected a big diamond ring. As far as he was
concerned that was a permanent noose around your neck. His father had destroyed
his mother’s life and he refused to do that to anyone. He was the Donovan heir
and that meant you were expected to make sacrifices. He refused to make another
person the sacrifice he had to make. Life was more fun when you didn’t have to
answer to anyone but yourself. He stood up and said, “Let’s join the others
downstairs.”
The private boxes were all empty as
we walked back downstairs. His hand rested on my lower back as we walked.
Reilly showed me to my table and he joined his parents at theirs. I had to stop
myself from hyperventilating when I sat down next to the hottest non-sparkling
vampire on TV. My celebrity table mates talked about their projects and funny
things that happened on set. I couldn’t keep my mind from reliving my kiss with
Reilly. I still couldn’t figure out how we ended up that close to each other.
My cheeks heated again as I thought of the warmth I felt flow through my body
as he kissed me. That wasn’t my first kiss but with the little experience I’ve
had it was the best one so far. Dinner was delicious but with my mind still on
that kiss I’ll never remember the fancy French name it had. I never saw a
server but my champagne flute was always full.
I saw Reilly get up from his table
and walk to the stage. I admired the way his tuxedo moved like water over his
overly athletic body. I looked down at my cream colored couture dress and
thought about all the curves I had that it was supposed to hide. “Excuse me I
would like to thank you all for coming tonight. When my father suggested we
open a DG in New York I was a bit hesitant. Now I can see what a good decision
it was. We at Donovan want to thank you for welcoming us to the business
community and to express our gratitude we have a little something for you. We
will be turning out two new exclusives at our new plant in White Plains. Would
you please stand if you had a black napkin tonight,” Half the room stood up.
“You will receive our new Diamond Jewelry box.” The wait staff brought out
silver trays with black gift bags on them. “If you had silver napkins please
stand. You will receive our new Crystal Teardrop trinket box.” The wait staff
appeared again with silver gift bags. “Just to let you know what is on the
horizon coming in June you will now be able to get a Donovan Glass Visa card.
The crowd clapped and cheered for getting the gifts and the new card.” Reilly
didn’t know what came over him but he found himself saying, “One more order of
business. There is a very special lady with us. Miss. Crystal Chandler and today
is her twenty-first birthday. Please join me in wishing her a happy birthday.”
At his insistence I stood up and a
thousand people sang to me. Before I could sit back down the hot vampire next
to me asked me to dance. You don’t say no when a Nordic god asks you to dance. My
dance partner was so graceful he even made me feel graceful. I danced with all
three James Bond actors, Harry Potter himself and a hip hop mogul. I danced
with so many stars I’ve seen in movies I felt like a star. I was glad to sit
for a few minutes alone. My feet hurt so
badly if I didn’t let them rest they would go home by themselves. I rested my
head in my hands for a brief moment. When I lifted my head to look around I was
in a ball room, just not the one I was supposed to be in. The walls were a dark
burgundy color with heavy dark wood crown molding at the ceiling. The ladies
and gentleman were dressed in poofey sleeved gowns and the men were in
waistcoats and cravats. I stood in the corner of the room and watched the guest’s
dance, when I noticed a young lady with the same shade of hair as mine. She
moved out of my sight. I accidentally bumped into an older gentleman who looked
appalled when I said excuse me to him. There was a tapping at my shoulder and
when I turned around to see who it was I was back in the Grand Ballroom again.
“May I have the honor of this dance
Miss. Chandler?” Reilly asked. My legs were so wobbly when I took his hand I
prayed he wouldn’t notice. He held me close as we danced to a romantic Eric
Clapton song. He was as tall as the sexy vampire I danced with earlier. Reilly
smelled like Irish Spring soap. We moved together like we have been dancing
together for years. My legs felt steadier then they had before but my head was
killing me and I couldn’t see straight. I didn’t feel comfortable resting my
head on Reilly’s shoulder but I had to close my eyes and that was the best
place to do it. Once they were closed I
felt my mind slip away like when you are falling asleep.
When I opened my eyes I was on a
dirt road with farm land on either side of me. I have no clue where I am, but
it feels familiar to me, like a dream you’ve had over and over. I walked down
the road to see if I could find anything I remembered. Finally I saw smoke
billowing from a chimney. If there was smoke hopefully there would be someone
who could tell me what is going on. The farmland changed to think forest lined
by a stone wall. I saw a man riding through the woods on a horse and I was
compelled to walk in that direction. I looked down at my dress when it got
caught in the brush and branches around me. I was no longer wearing my ball
gown, the dress I had on looked like something they would have worn in a Jane
Austen novel, with a full skirt and cinched in waist. For the first time I can
remember I felt regal. As I walked along the wall I could hear the subtle sound
of a woman crying. The farmhouse I was hoping to find was insight and the
crying was much louder. I walked through a break in the stone wall and fell
face down on the ground.
Reilly enjoyed the feeling of Crystal’s
head on his shoulder, but she wasn’t for him. They moved together for just a
few moments then she was limp in his arms. He looked down at her face, she
looked angelic with her eyes closed. Was she asleep? He shook her in his arms
trying to wake her up, but she was out. He picked her up and carried her to a
chase lounge in the corner of the room. Eileen made her way through the crowd
to see what was going on. “Is she ok Reilly?” Reilly looked at his mom, “I’m
not sure I think she fell asleep.” Eileen tried shaking Crystal’s shoulder to
wake her up, but she didn’t flinch. “Why don’t you take her home? I’ll get her belongings
and meet you in the lobby.”
Reilly regretted walking into the
lobby carrying her when he was blinded by the flashes of a few photographers
cameras. He deposited her in the limo waiting outside. He looked down at her
small clutch purse when he heard piano key sounds coming from it. It was too
tempting he had to see what her phone said. She had several text messages from
her mother and one from a girl names Maggie. Did u knock him back and climb on
top of him? ;-) He scrolled up to see what ‘Maggie’ was talking about. Crystal
had told her about their kiss and how she considered giving him her virginity.
That was a sign he needed to stay away
from her, but a sliver of his mind thought about what it would be like to be
her first. No, he couldn’t think about such things, so he distracted himself by
snooping through her phone. Her pictures were of outings with friends and
family, picnics, night clubs, and various candid photos of people at a
university. Her Facebook profile was more of the same. He couldn’t stop himself
from sending her a friend request from his personal profile and accepting on
her phone.
The driver pulled into the driveway
of a comfortable looking raised ranch style house with a splendid garden in
front. Reilly stood at the front door holding Crystal engulfed by her cookie
scent. Her bedroom was a perfect mix of her youth and status. Her bed was an
unmade kaleidoscope of neon colors but her desk area was pristine and had state
of the art equipment. He respected that because his office was the same. He removed her heels and unzipped her dress.
Her dress slid off her shoulders and revealed undergarments he would not have
imagined a young woman like her to wear. She had on a plain white bra and a
body suit that covered her abdomen and thighs. His cock grew stiff at the
thought of taking off the body suit and feeling her baby soft skin.
Crystal’s dad came in just as he
pulled the blanket up to cover her. “Thank you for bringing her home. I hope
you get home safely.” He said as he stood in her doorway motioning for him to
leave. Reilly met her dad’s territorial gaze that said, “She is my daughter and
you aren’t welcome to her.”
I tripped over my skirt three times
before I managed to stand up. It felt like a large branch or log, when I turned
around to see what it was I looked at a face that was like looking in a mirror.
Her cheeks were tear stained, this must be where the crying had come from, but
other than that we are the same. Blue eyes, high cheek bones (my favorite part
of my face), and the same red hair as myself and my grandmother. I tried to
talk to her but nothing came out, I could see her lips move but heard nothing.
The sinking feeling I had while Reilly held me was back and I couldn’t do
anything to stop myself from falling into it.
No comments:
Post a Comment