Chapter Nine
Albert, Ash and Mickey sat in their designated 'office' within Eddie's bar, hands cupping their glasses. From their position, they could watch Emma and Rosalind converse at the bar, acting as if they have been friends for years, instead of the few days it had been in reality.
"They seem to be getting along well enough," Mickey commented.
"In a world full of men, the women must stay together…" Albert explained intelligently.
"It's a good thing – then we don't have to listen to all that poncy, girly crap." Ash grinned and sipped his scotch.
"Ladies," Mickey called and gestured towards the free seats. Grabbing their drinks from the counter, they slid into the plush seating; Rosalind beside her father, and Emma besides Albert.
"We have one more thing to do before we can celebrate." Mickey continued, "Remember, the 'prototype' still has to be delivered to Carnal and Change."
"Aw, I wouldn't worry about that," Ash spoke nonchalantly, shrugging, "We've already had a volunteer."
Emma suddenly straightened up, her eyebrows furrowed as she glanced around the empty bar. "Where's Sean?"
Mickey barked out a laugh of amusement, his eyes sparkling. "Ash Morgan, you did not…"
Ash smirked smugly. "Better him than me."
Rosalind dropped her head into her hands and groaned. "Oh boy…"
Albert chortled happily.
James Cern looked up in surprise when a heavy box dropped onto his desk from a height. When he caught sight of Harry Lister looming over him, he smirked dangerously and relaxed into his seat.
"Mr. Lister…I'm surprise to see you here…Is there anything I can help you with?" He questioned a fake smile on his face.
"Mr. Peters asked me to drop this off personally. It's the prototype." Sean answered shortly, his hands in his pockets.
Cern's face brightened. "Ah, thank you. I've been waiting for this." He pulled the box closer to him before pausing, "So how is Elizabeth?"
Sean tensed, his eyes narrowed. "I almost forgot. I came here for another reason." He leant on the desk and leaning forward, his eyes gleaming threateningly, "I came here to tell you to stay away from Elizabeth Peters."
Cern laughed darkly. "Oh please. Do you really think that would work on me?"
"I'm telling you this for your own safety," Sean chided frustrated, "You see, Lizzie told me what you did – trust me, the only reason why I'm not beating your face into your skull is because she doesn't want me to go back to prison…so I'm just going to give you some friendly advice: don't touch her. Don't look at her, don't speak to her – don't even think about her…"
Cern laughed again. "That's going to be difficult, don't you think? After all, she works for me."
Sean smirked knowingly. "Oh yeah – she quits."
"Uncork that for us, would you Eddie?" Sean grinned happily as he entered the bar. He appeared relaxed as he handed the champagne bottle over to the disgruntled bartender. Sharing a look, the five other members of the group carefully slid from their seats and slowly approached the smiling man.
"Sean…did anything happen?" Emma wondered.
"You didn't kill him, did you?" Rosalind added worriedly.
Sean laughed. "Of course not - I wanted to though, but no. I gave him the box, told him it was from Mr. Peters and that was all – oh, but don't bother showing up at the building tomorrow Rosie. Apparently, Cern felt he didn't need your services anymore." He smiled charmingly up at her from his sitting position, holding out a champagne glass which she took hesitantly.
"Okay…" she nodded reluctantly, settling into the stool beside him. She turned to Mickey and gave him a small smile. "Can we celebrate now then Uncle Mickey?"
Mickey gave an exaggerated sigh. "I guess I have no other choice but to let you…"
"Here, here," Ash agreed, accepting a glass from Eddie as they were passed around.
"I believe congratulations are in order," Albert grinned softly, raising his glass.
Smiling happily, the atmosphere exultant, they copied Albert, sipping at their drinks. It was exactly how Rosalind remembered her time here. The cheerfulness and the warmth that only happened when you were around family – and that was what they were: family; an unconventional one, yes, but definitely a family. It had been missed.
"£190,000…Is there always this feeling of satisfaction at the end of a con?" Rosalind wondered jokily, tilting back her head to smile brightly up at her father.
"Always," Emma nodded, "Makes it worth it in the end."
"That, and the fact that we get to watch an arsehole get exactly what he deserves." Sean piped in, grinning happily, as he imagined Cern's reaction when he opened that box.
"Wish we could see his face though," Ash commented offhandedly, "It would make everything taste sweeter, don't you think?"
"Completely," Rosalind agreed, grinning widely and clinked her glass with her father in appreciation. Her eyes darted from once smiling face to the other; glad to be a part of all this chaos, before her gaze rested on the young man beside her. Sean Kennedy, the most confusing and surprising man Rosalind had ever had the pleasure of meeting – she just didn't understand him at all. He acted flirty and charming with her, but every time something that could be considered remotely intimate happened between them, he would distance himself from her for a while before coming springing back. The most recent one had been during the main part of the con…
"A secluded corner, huh Sean?" Rosalind teased brightly, "Trying to take me somewhere hidden so you can have your way with me?"
Sean chuckled, smirking. "Yeah, you wish. A 'secluded corner' as you call it, might gives us a break from playing happy couples – not that I'm not enjoying the prospect of being your dashing, and slightly violent, bodyguard boyfriend…" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
She laughed behind her hand. "You always get what you want, don't you Sean? Nothing is ever a challenge for you – wave your arm and women come running."
"I wouldn't say it like that, but I like to think I have some kind of pull with women." Sean commented, "Why, jealous?"
"Why would I be jealous?" Rosalind retorted, raising an eyebrow teasingly, "How I see it is you could have any one in this room if you wanted to, yet you're stuck in the corner of our hotel room, with me. It seems I have you exactly were I want you."
"So…you want me then?" Sean questioned smugly.
Rosalind trailed her hands upward, sliding them over his broad shoulders and resting them at the bottom of his neck; where his hairline met his skin. She shuffled closer to him and tilted her head to the side thoughtfully; beginning to play with the thin strands she could reach. She hummed softly. "I believe the question is do you want me?"
He chuckled quietly, his gaze intense and unwavering. He dipped his head forward slightly, resting his forehead against hers and inhaled deeply. His breath caressed her bottom lip, which she bit at the feeling, watching him with wide eyes. For a moment, it was as if they had forgotten where they were and what they were doing – it was just coincidence that it happened to work out well when Cern looked over, during his business meeting.
The prototype was some form of PA, Cern assumed. It was curved to fit his hand comfortably and reminded him off the Blackberry he had once owned (before he threw it across the room in his anger). The buttons were small, big enough for dainty fingers and then again only the fingertips; the screen was sleek and clean – perfect for touch technology, as he heard George Barkley say.
He rolled it over in the palm of hand, getting used to the weight of it. Smirking slightly, he pressed down on one of the buttons, turning the machine on. The screen burst with white light for a moment before the Global Intec sign appeared. It stayed in place for a few moments before blinking away to reveal a start menu, with a bubble background. Too girly for his taste, but he assumed it could be changed. Steadily, he pressed one of the buttons.
"Arse…"
Cern paused, looking around his office in confusion. He could have sworn he heard something. Shaking his head, he returned to the device and pressed another button.
"Bastard…"
And again. He glanced around the office once more, his eyebrows furrowed feeling lost and this sinking sense of regret in the deepest pit of his stomach. His eyes returned to the device once more that seemed to be staring up at him innocently and mockingly. Eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, he continued to press buttons.
"Bitch…"
"Slut…"
"Man-whore…"
Shock washed over him like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over his head. His whole body tensed up, his eyes widened and his grip relaxed, unable to hold onto anything. The device fell from his hands and dropped to the floor, bouncing slightly on laminated flooring.
He couldn't believe.
He'd been conned.
