Johnny waited for what seemed to be forever for Isabella to return but she didn't. He started to worry. He got up and went into the back room. "Isabella, where are you?" he called and saw her turn around. "Johnny," she looked surprised to see him as he approached her. He pulled her close to his body and embraced her as he whispered in her ear, "What's wrong? Why did you come back here? What do you think you know that would make you run from me?"
Isabella stopped him, "No, no that is not, Johnny, I wasn't running from you." She felt horrible; she could see the hurt in his eyes. I just didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry." Johnny brought his hand to her cheek and softly caressed it, "you never need to be sorry for anything you say Izzy, I want you to always be comfortable telling me anything." Isabella smiled. Johnny shook his head as he smiled too and leaned in to press his lips gently against hers. Isabella felt a tingling sensation run though her body. "Johnny, she whispered. He broke the kiss and looked at her with a smile. Johnny's curiosity was getting to him. He asked, "Can you tell me what you think you know so we can talk about this?"
Isabella looked him in the eyes and told him the truth, "Well… I just heard that your family is apart of the mob. I overheard a couple of guys talking about it, about you."
Johnny raised his brow and asked her "Did you catch these men's names? Do you know what they were saying?"
Isabella continued as her eyes still locked onto Johnny, "I heard their names when they were talking. One was Sonny and the other was Jason."
Johnny responded, "Oh, okay," Isabella's was surprised and all that came out of her month was her repeating Johnny's words, "Oh, okay. Is that it?" she asked, surprised that Johnny didn't have a different reaction.
Johnny looked at Isabella as she looked at him with a confused look. He didn't understand her reaction just like she didn't understand his.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Johnny asked Isabella. "I just thought… maybe you would have more of a reaction" Isabella answered, "I don't know… I thought you would be concerned that two men were talking about you in a bar." she finished.
"Well…it doesn't really surprise me that Sonny and Jason were talking about me," Johnny told her, "You know that we're in the same business. I guess my only concern is the place they decided to talk about it. This is a public place and people could listen in. Do you remember what they said?"
"They were just talking about your family and how you don't really seem to fit in with them, that you are unlike your sister and father, who seem to be power hungry." Isabella continued as she looked deeply into his chocolate eyes, "Sonny said that you seem saner then your father and that you are level-headed, unlike your sister. Jason said you are just too intense for your family and don't fit with their world." she added.
"Interesting, Jason calling me too intense." He chuckled.
"Yes, he did." Isabella said "Are you surprised?"
"A little, Jason doesn't seem like the type to characterize someone as too intense. He doesn't seem to have any type of emotion, so I guess I am surprised a little."
Despite not feeling the same way about Jason, Isabella smiled a little before answering, "You seem to not like Jason very much?"
"It's not that, I just have never seen him express any kind of emotion, he seems more robotic to me… stiff…just not too friendly. I have no problem with him," Johnny said.
"Hmm, that's nice to know. I was just wondering if you two were friends, enemies or what," Isabella said, "He seems to be a nice guy, but it looks like he has his own circle of friends."
Johnny pulled her close to him again. "Nice guy huh." Johnny questioned her but had a twinkle in his eye, almost as if he was a little jealous, "Izzy, are you friends with Jason Morgan?" Isabella smiled and responded, "No, I am not friends but he comes in the bar and he is always nice to me." "How nice?" Johnny asked pulling her even closer. Isabella smiled as she reached out and ran her hand along his cheek through his hair as she responded, "Well, not as nice as you." Johnny gave her a big smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist "I can be a lot nicer too." He then brought his lips to hers and kissed her. The kiss was passionate and Isabella found herself consumed by her emotions. She loved his taste and the way his tongue explored her mouth. Isabella moved her hands to his chest, he was so strong and she loved the way he felt, the way he smelled. His scent seemed to be a high end cologne that seemed to suit him perfectly. Johnny moved his hands under her shirt and touched the bare skin on her back. She could feel her heart pounding. His rough, strong hands felt hot to her body.
Suddenly, she heard, "Izzy? Where are you? I need another drink." She broke from the kiss and yelled back, "I'll be right there." She laughed as he looked at Johnny. "You are giving being nice a whole new name." He smiled and asked, "Promise me you'll meet me later?" I'd like that," she responded.
Johnny found a piece of paper and wrote down some information and passed it to Isabella. "This has my address and the number circled is the keypad password to get into my apartment. Use it to let yourself in if I get held up. You can make yourself at home," he flashed her with his flirty smile. Isabella took the paper and smiled, "I'll meet you there," she then pressed her lips to his and kissed him softly. She went to leave and looked back at him with a smile, "Don't be late." Johnny groaned and smiled back.
Ric watched as his father walked further into the room. He could see the anger in his eyes and it was focused directly at him and Claudia. Ric wasn't sure if he had ever seen so much anger from his father before tonight.
Claudia could tell that Trevor's anger was focused more on Ric then with her, so she decided to move behind the desk giving her some distance.
"Ritchie, tell me what is that you two are doing?" Trevor asked his son looking him in the eyes, "It seems to me you were about to kiss this viper here?" he added pointing at Claudia who started to say something, but Ric raised his hand to stop her.
"We were just… uh… getting to know each other," Ric answered with a smile on his face and a quick bite of his bottom lip, "Last time I checked, I am a grown man. I do as I please, with whom I please. I certainly know what I am doing. I also don't appreciate you calling Claudia a viper" he added turning to look at Claudia. When they locked eyes he gave her a wink as they shared a devious smile.
"Ric's right, he certainly is a grown man" Claudia couldn't help but gaze and take in the full site of the man in front of her. She snapped herself out of it, "We were talking about the waterfront piers, but we decided to well… get to know each other better."
"I see… you two decided to get to know each other after…," Trevor said pausing. He let out a small laugh before continuing, "You two are talking about the piers. I specifically told viper here not to talk with you about that. Wonder, just wonderful. Something is going on and I want to know what it is" Trevor pointed at the two as he glared and shook his head.
"All your life I tried to keep you away from this world, from this family and most definitely from her. She's no good Ritchie. How did you two meet and how long have you been seeing each other?" Trevor practically spit out the words to his son.
"Your son and I just met each other tonight. We have never seen each other before tonight. You are mistaken, Trevors," Claudia said reassuring Trevor that it was the first time that Ric and her have met, "He came here looking for you. I wanted to talk about the piers, that's it."
"Why would my son come looking for me here? Huh? Why?" Trevor asked as he moved closer to the duo, "You lie all the time, so I think you played my son. Did you force yourself upon him because you think he wants you?"
"Oh come on now," Claudia said rolling her eyes, "I did not have him come here and I did not play anything. He came on his own looking for you. Ric is the one who came to me," she added with annoyance and anger in her voice.
Ric decided to remain silent as the two fought. How typical of his father, thinking so low of him and not giving him even an ounce of credit on having a brain. With all he had accomplished his father still had no faith in him. What he didn't understand was why his father cared that he knew Claudia.
Ric shook his head when Trevor asked him, "Ritchie, don't lie, tell me the truth, did you really came here on your own to look for me or did this viper play you like a fool?"
"Of course I came here own my own, to look for you. I thought this would be a good place to find you since you spend most of your time as their family attorney," Ric answered, "Claudia brought up the piers. I need you to be very clear on this, what I do or do not do with Claudia is none of your business. You stay out of it." Ric told his father as he walked closer to Claudia. They were standing shoulder to shoulder as they both looked at Trevor.
Claudia smiled as she was impressed; Ric was standing up to his father.
"Now, if you will excuse us we would like to continue and possibly come to an agreement on the piers," Claudia smiled as she spoke.
"I've come to a decision. I have decided to give the piers to the Zaccharas and to work for them as their attorney." Ric added turning to look at Claudia who gave him a smile.
What happened next stunned both Ric and Claudia when Trevor's hand flew up and smacked his son's cheek causing his head to turn to the side, sending pain all through Ric's head.
Ric felt the sting on his face as it felt like it was on fire. The sting actually made his eyes water. Ric placed his hand on where his father had hit him and turned to look at the man who raised him.
Trevor saw more hatred in his son's eyes then he has ever seen before come from the boy he raised with his mother's eyes. The hatred that he saw in his son's eyes made him back away from the couple standing in front of him.
To his own surprise, Trevor found himself being completely shocked by his action toward his son. He couldn't believe that he had actually raised his hand at his son and slapped him out of anger. Something he had never done before.
Claudia watched as Trevor backed away from her and his son. She knew that he had gone too far and regretted his actions. She wondered what drove him to do such a thing to his own son. Was it the piers or was it the fact that he thought Ric was with her. Did he hate her that much? She shook her head as she knew her answer.
"You shameful bastard," Ric whispered as he found his voice, "What the hell were you thinking? Don't you ever, ever touch me again! All of this for what, over some piers that are mine?"
He couldn't show his son that he actually felt bad for hitting him, so to try to hide his shock Trevor answered, "I was trying to knock some sense into my idiot son. I wanted him to see he is being played for a fool and about to make the biggest mistake of his life."
"You're the one who made the mistake when you slapped your son," Claudia said looking Trevor is his eyes with hatred that she knew he saw before, "I was going too let you stay on as our second lawyer, but now you lost that opportunity and are no longer work for us."
"You stay out of this you little twit!" Trevor yelled turning to look Claudia in the eyes. The last thing he needed was for her to throw in her two cents on how he just treated his son.
"This is my house and I most certainly have a say in what happens. I was here, I saw the whole thing. There is no whitewashing your actions Trevs. You're done. "
She grabbed Ric's chin and made turn his face around, so she could see the damage left by his father. Claudia touched the area around the red mark that she could tell was tender as he stiffened as she touched him.
"Look, what happens between Richie and me is our business. We, me and him, are family. It has nothing to do with you, so stay out of it Claudia." Trevor yelled back at her.
Rich touched Claudia's hand and gently moved it from his cheek. "Oh, family, that's rich, coming from you. You have disrespected me my whole life and now, now you have crossed the line. You may be my father, but I don't have to put up this and I certainly will not allow you to talk to Claudia like that ever again. I suggest you leave while you still have a job and before I do something I regret." Ric glared at his father.
Trevor laughed at his son and responded, "You have no power in this family. You can't fire me and neither can your girly here. She has no power at all. There is no way for the two of you to get rid of me."
Claudia smiled at Trevor's confidence, "I could kill you to get rid of you. That would be the easy way to get you away from my family."
"You would never kill me little girl. You are not tough enough to kill me." Trevor said.
"Do you want to bet?" Claudia told him as she turned to walk to the desk to pull out a gun.
Realizing what she was going to do, Ric grabbed her arm to stop her from reaching the desk where the gun was.
"There will be no killing my father tonight," he said looking her in the eyes, she pouted, but came to stand next to him instead, "We still need him alive… for now. His knowledge of how to run the family business may come in handy for us."
He kissed Claudia on the cheek when he saw the sadness in her eyes. Claudia felt his soft lips touch her cheek as she felt her eyes close with thoughts of where else she wanted his lips to touch her. Trevor's voice brought her back to reality.
"What makes you think that I would tell you anything about how to run this family organization?" Trevor demanded of his son.
Trevor was disgusted by the show of affection he saw his son showing to Claudia. Claudia, a woman that was no good for his son and would certainly damage what career his son didn't manage to ruin himself.
"Why wouldn't you?" Ric asked his father, "You will have some minor power still. You will get a front row seat to see us fail like you hope we do. As an extra bonus you also get to watch me and Claudia go down for going up against Jason and Sonny, you know because we have no experience."
Trevor laughed before answering, "Oh, you would love for me to stay, try to get the best of me, ordering me around, huh, well let me tell you this… I will not be apart of it, but I will still be involved."
"How will you possibly still be involved with the family business if we are kicking you out of it?" Claudia asked.
"I have my ways… trust me I will have a front row seat to see the two of you fail miserably and this whole organization go down in flames." Trevor told them.
Ric and Trevor shared at each other in the eyes. Trevor smiled at Ric and turned to walk out the door.
Ric watched as his father left the room. He shook his head as he saw Trevor turn around the corner and heard the door shut.
"Come here," Claudia said to Ric, as she grabbed his hand and started to pull him toward the desk, "Does it hurt?" Claudia said as she sat on the desk.
Ric stood in front of her, between her legs, as Claudia touched his jaw and brought her lips to give his hot kisses down his neck. "No, it …" Ric was trying to remember her question.
She smelled the faint smell of his cologne. She liked it and wondered what else she would like about him. She was glad she would get the chance to find out as she looked at her new family attorney.
Ric looked at Claudia, she was very beautiful. He had made a promise to never mix business with pleasure again but as he stood before her he had no regrets on his decision and was excited that he would get to know her better. All of her he thought…his memory flashed back to another girl that had captured him. He was just a teenager but what he felt was real. His heart never seemed to recover the day she disappeared from his life and he wasn't sure it ever would.
Little did he know that the teenager that had left him a long time ago was now sitting in front of him. Their heads touching as they both felt the connection to the other.
Claudia on the other hand remembered him, but she just couldn't bring herself to tell Ric where they shared the connection. She wondered if he still thought about her. What they shared at such a young age was amazing and had given her hope. She remembered falling madly in love with him upon sight. He said he loved her more than life itself. Could love that strong stay alive after all of this time? It hurt her not to tell him, but when she found out he lived in the town she was in, she promised herself that she wouldn't tell him who she was.
Just as Ric was about to kiss Claudia again, his cell phone rang, stopping him from continue his ready assault of her lips yet again. Ric looked at the phone and sighed. He knew who it was without answering and knew that he had to leave.
"I have to go. This phone call is important and I can't put it off but I need to go back to my office," Ric said as he kissed Claudia's forehead, "I'll be back later, alright? I'll see you then."
Ric start to turn to leave, Claudia grabbed his tie and grabbed the back of his neck.
"You better come back soon." she said as she pushed his head toward her and kissed him hard on the lips.
Claudia almost fell back on the desk when Ric lost his balance a little and went forward into her hold on him. They continued to kiss as both tried to maintain their balance.
Ric regretfully pulled away from Claudia's lips as Claudia let go of his neck. He kissed her hand and turned to leave.
Claudia watched as he walked out of the room and smiled a shyly as she heard the door shut behind him.
Claudia got up from the desk just as a little boy ran into the room, from the opposite direction that Ric had gone, with his nanny right behind him. When she saw him, her eyes brightened and she knelt down with her arms open as he ran to her.
"Mommy!" the little boy yelled as he hugged his mother.