Chapter One
Sebastian Monroe was sitting behind his desk, reading mail that had come in through different messengers. There was a knock on the door. He looked up from his desk. "Come in".
The door opened to reveal Major Carter. Sebastian was intrigued. He had sent Major Carter on a long mission a couple of years back and had received little but no news from him since.
Sebastian rose from his chair and walked to meet Major Carter. "Major Carter, good to see you back. I take it that since you are back you have finally found what I've been looking for".
Major Carter smiled. "Yes General. It took a long time but we have found who you were looking for".
Sebastian nodded. For once, he felt he was one step ahead of Miles. "Fantastic news and a great job done Major. Where?"
"In New Jersey sir".
"I see. And now"?
"In your personal quarters Sir. We weren't sure what you wanted to do. I hope it was the right thing to do"?
Sebastian turned and headed back to his desk. "Yes, you did the right thing, thank you. Your hard work will of course be rewarded".
Sebastian closed his folder with the mail. "That will be all Major. Dismissed".
Major Carter nodded, turned heels and proceeded to leave Sebastian's office. Sebastian quickly followed and impatiently headed for his personal quarters.
He stood outside of his quarters for a few seconds before placing his hand on the doorknob. He opened the door and stepped into the room closing the door behind him silently.
He looked in amazement towards the window. "Hello Claire".
The woman standing looking out the window turned. She was of average height, long brown hair and beautiful almond shaped brown eyes. She was wearing a pair of jeans, brown boots and a red top. She looked simply amazing. She was older of course but still oh so charming as he had known her to be.
"Hello Bass".
He walked to her. "You look good Claire. I hope my men were good to you during the trip. My orders were clear, you were to remain unharmed and treated with respect".
"So generous of you Bass for this amazing treatment. How did you manage to find me"?
He reached her side. "It wasn't easy, it's been a few years since we've been looking for you. We presumed you died during the blackout, but somehow I knew you had survived. I never lost hope that you were alive".
Claire swallowed. If she was there, Bass had something on his mind and knowing the reputation he had as General of the Monroe Republic it was most probably not something good.
"We'll that's too bad. I was fine where I was Bass".
Sebastian placed his hand on her face and she shivered, not with pleasure but with fear, with anxiety. "I'm sure you were but you are of no use to me in New Jersey. You are far more valuable to me here. I need you Claire".
"Need me Bass? What the heck for? You are General Monroe of the Monroe Republic; you can have anything you want by simply snapping your fingers; women, alcohol, weapons. What could I possibly bring or offer you"?
Sebastian moved in even closer and placed his mouth near her ear. "You are going to bring me the one thing I can't get. Miles Matheson".
Claire immediately took a step back. A sheer look of panic shot through her eyes. She swallowed harshly. It took a few seconds before she could put a sentence together. "Oh.. you lost your shadow Bass? What you two had a fight and he left"?
"I'll tell you in due time the reason for his departure. Right now I've got to get his attention and bring him in".
She looked at Bass straight in the eyes. She knew him, knew him well and knew at that moment in time that she feared nothing from him, she was as he had said earlier, of too much value to him. "And what makes you believe that I will be able to bring Miles in to you".
She turned again to look at the window. Bass placed himself behind her and caressed her hair. "Oh Claire.. you really do underestimate yourself. Imagine what Miles would feel or do if he knew I had you here at my will and mercy. If I were him, I would rather die than to know or see this".
Claire's eyes were starting to burn. She could feel the tears make their way to the surface. "It's been 15 years Bass. Don't overestimate Miles".
Sebastian lowered his hands to the back of her neck and brushed it slowly. "Claire, it might have been 15 years, we may have thought you dead since and he may have had other women, but no man gets over someone like you, especially when you are his wife"!
Sebastian's left hand left her neck and traced down to her arm. He grabbed her hand and lifted it revealing a diamond engagement ring and a wedding band. "And from what I can see, you still consider yourself to be Mrs. Miles Matheson"!
She managed to escape his hold and pivoted trying to slap him. He had anticipated her reaction and grabbed both her hands and pinned her against the wall.
"You see Claire that is exactly what I love about you. That fire that you manage to keep burning inside. And I intend on taking advantage of that fire for my own personal benefit as often as I can".
Claire's entire body shook. "What are you talking about Bass"?
He looked at his watch. "Don't have time to explain, but in time you'll accept the fate I have reserved for you". He leaned in as he still pinned her against the wall and planted a kiss on her neck. He then let go of her and walked out the door carefully locking it behind him. As he stood behind the door, he smiled like he had never smiled in years. Everything was now going to work as he had planned. He would get Miles, kill him but most probably not before he let Miles see that he could possess Claire, the one he had always wanted. He would win on both fronts. He looked back at the door behind him and smiled again before walking back towards his office.