JENNIE

Surprising Lisa at her office seemed like a good idea but I wasn't willing to do it without some assistance. I enlisted Elaina's help first. I really liked her. She seemed honest and very straightforward which I respected in a person. She was also engaged to Neil. I found that out after I started sleeping over at Lisa's place. One morning when we hit the elevators to leave for work, I saw Elaina and Neil coming out of the apartment on the other wing, hand in hand. Lisa saw my surprise and told me they were getting married in the fall.

I was relieved Elaina didn't act jealous about her fiancé driving me around London. I think she was happy that Lisa had a girlfriend. I'd noticed that her employees really seemed to care about her. And I liked that too.

"Hi, Elaina, it's Jennie."

"Hello, Jennie. Why didn't you call through to her cell?" Smart girl, Elaina, always aware of logistics.

"I was thinking of surprising her with lunch. Can you check her schedule for me?"

I heard some flipping of pages and then she put me on hold. "She is in office today. Busy with conference calls and such but no appointments away on her schedule."

"Thanks, Elaina. I would just ask Frances but Lisa has her on speaker and she hears when I call so I can't do a surprise. Can I bring you all something from King's Delicatessen? I am just going to pick up sandwiches but I was thinking if you could get Frances to tell Lisa she was ordering then she won't know it's me being lunch lady today."

Elaina laughed and put me on hold again while she got food orders from everyone. "Frances told me to tell you she likes your style, Jennie. Keeping the boss on her toes is good for her."

"I think so too," I said, writing down the sandwich orders. "Thanks for your help and I should be there within the hour."

We hung up and I phoned the delicatessen to order the food, and then Neil for a ride. I cleared up my area and organized supplies while I waited. I was done here for the day and wouldn't be returning for nearly a week. Final exams were coming and I needed to study. My plan was to hole up at Lisa's place and hit the books while she worked, use her home gym and magnificent coffee maker, and basically go off the radar for a while. I needed the time and so did my grades.

I took a last look at Lady Percival and felt a burst of pride. She had come along nicely and the best part was I now knew the name of the book she held in her hands. Lisa had helped me solve the mystery when she'd brought me to work one morning and I'd invited her back here.

The book my mysterious lady held was in fact so special and so rare that the Mallerton Exhibition wanted her included in the show even though she was not even close to being fully conserved. They wanted to showcase her as an example of how ambiguous clues can be revealed with proper restoration and cleaning. The disclosure of what she held in her hand had also enhanced the provenance for the artist in general. Sir Tristan Mallerton was now enjoying a renaissance of renewed interest and exposure even though he'd been dead for a very long time.

My phone buzzed with a text from Neil. He'd arrived outside so I gathered my things and took off, waving to Rory as I checked out.

Neil helped me with the food and used a company credit card to pay for everything which got him a stern look from me.

"Well she thinks Frances ordered lunch and this is how she does it. If you pay she'll be a right prick about it when she finds out," Neil said.

"Has she always been so controlling, Neil?" I asked once we were back in the car and on our way. Neil and I had developed an easy rapport. We respected the others position and needs so the relationship worked.

"No." Neil shook his head. "L had a hard edge to her when she got out of the SF. But then war changes everybody who gets too close to it. L got as close as it gets and made it out alive. She's a walking miracle."

"I've seen her scars," I said.

"Did she tell you about what happened in Afghanistan?" Neil looked up at me in the rearview.

"No," I answered truthfully, realizing that the information coming from Neil would stop and I would be no closer to understanding Lisa's past than she would be about knowing mine.

Elaina helped us dole out the food to the proper parties and Frances ushered me into Lisa's inner sanctum with a smug look and shut the door. She was on the phone.

My gorgeous girl was busy with work but still held out her hand to me. I set the sandwiches on her desk and went to her. She snaked her arm around me and pulled me down onto her lap, and kept right on with her business call.

"Right, I know. But you tell those fools that Manoban represents the Royal Family and when Her Majesty shows up for the opening ceremonies to give her blessing there will not be one fucking exit left unattended. Period. No negotiation…"

Lisa continued with her call and I began unpacking her lunch. She moved her hand up to the back of my neck and rubbed. It felt divine with her touching me even though any idiot could see she was dreadfully busy.

I set out her food on a plate and then unwrapped mine. I bit into my chicken salad on wheat while she massaged my neck. A girl could seriously get used to this. Lisa was so affectionate and I loved the way she wanted to touch me all the time. My touchy-feely guy. I was nearly done with half of my sandwich before she ended her call.

Both hands reached and turned me, still on her lap. She gave me a very nice kiss and groaned. "Finally. It's like talking to a brick wall sometimes," she muttered. She smiled at me and looked at the plate. "You brought me lunch…and your delicious self."

I smiled back. "I did."

"Which should I devour first, the sandwich or you?" she wiggled her eyebrows at me, her hands starting to roam up the side of my sweater.

"I think you better devour your sandwich before you get another phone call," I told her.

Her phone rang.

She scowled and resigned herself to it. The second call was relatively quick though and she managed to start her roast beef on rye before the third one came through. She put that call on speaker so she could eat and converse at the same time. Not very elegant, but it worked.

I was content to sit with her and listen to her work business while she smoothed a hand up and down my back. Lisa made me feel glad I had stopped by even though this would be no social lunch for us. The timing was crazy for her and me. I can't imagine her job could be any more complicated than at the moment with the Olympics looming and London hosting the whole thing. She should have just sent me a note that said, 'I just bought your portrait and I'd really like to get to know you—sometime in mid August.'

She kept her phone on speaker and we managed a few quick kisses in between calls and bites, but soon it was hard to justify as a lunch hour any more.

"I should get going, Lisa." I kissed her and started to get up.

"No." She held me on her lap. "I don't want you to go yet. I like having you here with me. You soothe me, baby." She rested her head on top of mine. "You are my ray of light in a fog of ignorance and frustration."

"Really? You like that I came and complicated your day and forced food on you?" I fiddled with her tie clip and smoothed her tie. "You're so busy with your work and I'm interrupting."

"No you're not," she traced her lips along my throat. "It tells me that you care for me," she said quietly.

"I do, Lisa," I whispered back.

"So you'll stay for a while?"

How could I say no to her when she was so sweet with me? "All right, just an hour more. But then I have to really go. I need to stop by my flat and get some things. I have to study for exams and I want to get in a workout. You're not the only one around here that's busy." I tweaked her chin and made her grin at me.

"I want to get busy with you right here on my desk," she growled and lifted me up, plopping me ass first on her big, executive desk.

I squeaked as she pounced, pushing my legs apart so she could get in between with her hips. "Lisa! You're office! We can't!"

She reached under her desk and I heard the click of the door locking. "I want you so badly right now. I need you, Jennie. Please?"

She was all over me, hands gripping, pushing me back on the desk and thrusting hard at my center. I let her press me down and slide me to the edge, my body already softening and heating up for her. Her purposeful long fingers made their way to my panties and peeled those babies right down my legs, over my boots and dropped somewhere on the floor of her office. I'd found that Lisa was definitely an opportunist whenever I chose to wear a skirt.

"You're a crazy one," I murmured, not really caring anymore that we were about to fuck on her desk in the middle of her place of work.

"Crazy for you," she said, fingering my clit and getting me wet. I heard her belt jingle and then her zipper go down. And then she was sinking that delicious heat all the way in me, slow and deep.

She leaned over me and took my face in both hands. She kissed me hard, thrusting her tongue into my mouth as she liked to do. Lisa dominated during sex. She wanted her tongue and her fingers and her cock in me all at once. Like that way she could claim me more completely. I don't know why, it was just her way. And I loved it. Her way was honest and totally direct. I knew what I would get with Lisa and it always ended with an orgasm that left me trembling.

Lisa started moving and so did I. We were wild with it too. Totally abandoned and lustfully fucking on top of her desk when the phone rang. She'd left it on speaker. "Don't answer it," I gasped, nearly ready to climax.

"Hell, no," she grunted, pounding faster into me, her cock swelling to the bone hard density it got right before she came.

She slid her magic fingers over my clit and I broke apart, biting down on my lip to keep from crying out. Lisa was not far behind me. She covered my mouth with her to keep us both from shouting and pumped her orgasm inside me.

The unanswered call went to voice mail, but still on speaker.

"Lisa Manoban is not available. Please leave a message and I'll get back with you as soon as possible…"

The beep sounded and we panted at each other, our faces just inches apart. I smiled at her. She smoothed my hair so gently and kissed me like a lover would. I felt precious to her. She made me feel that way.

"You're an asshole, Manoban. I hired you to protect my daughter, not to fuck her! She's been through hell and the last thing she needs is another heartbreaking betrayal. The way she talks I think she's in love with you—"

Lisa fumbled with the phone to shut it down but it was too late. I heard my own father's voice on the phone. I knew…the truth about Lisa and me. I shoved at her, fighting to get her off.

"Jennie, no! Please let me explain—"

She looked white as a sheet and totally stone-cold terrified as she held me under her, our bodies still joined.

"Get off me. Get your cock out of me and let me go, you mother-fucking liar!"

She held me to her, eyes on me. "Baby…listen to me. I was going to tell you—I was ready to a long time ago, but I didn't want to bring up bad memories for you. I don't want to hurt you—"

"Get. Off. Me. Now."

"Please don't leave. Jennie, I—I—didn't mean to hurt you but I was protecting you from remembering. There's a threat out there to your safety…and then I met you…and I couldn't stop wanting you. I couldn't stay away from you." She tried to kiss me.

I turned my face away and closed my eyes. All the trust I had for this person was gone. In its place a terrible ache filled my heart. She knew about me. She knew what had happened to me. Probably had seen the video. And now there were people out to hurt me? Why? She was hired by my dad and all this time she knew and I didn't. How could she? How could she be the Lisa I'd fallen in love with and betray me like this?

"Waterloo." I turned back and stared.

"No…no…no," she chanted. "Please no, Jennie." She shook her head back and forth, her eyes devastated.

"Water-fucking-loo, Lisa. And if you don't get off me I will scream the walls down." I spoke clear and soft, my heart hardened and bleeding black blood. Manoban blood.

She moved out of me and helped me sit up. I hopped off her desk and lunged for my bag. She zipped up her pants and tried again. "Jennie, baby, I—I love you. I love you so much; I would do anything not to hurt you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry."

I tried to get out the door but it wouldn't budge. "Unlock it," I demanded.

"Did you hear me just now?"

I looked at her and nodded. "Open the door so I can leave," I spoke very evenly, surprised I was not a weeping wreck crumpled to the floor. I just needed to get out of here and to my flat. I had one purpose and it was to flee to safety.

She rubbed her head and looked down, and then moved to her desk and reached the button or whatever it was that held me in. I heard the click and I was out of there.

"Thank you for the delicious lunch, dear," Frances called as I bailed.

I waved at her but was unable to speak. I just walked out. I had my purse and no underwear, but I wasn't going back in there to find them. Just get me out of here and home…just get me out of here and home…just get me out—

Oh my god I was leaving Lisa. We were done. She'd lied to me and I couldn't trust her anymore. She said she loved me. Is that what lovers do? They lie?

I didn't speak to Elaina at reception either when I headed for the elevators. I pushed the call button and realized she was right behind me. Lisa had chased me down and still I didn't break.

"Jennie…baby, please don't leave me. God, I—I fucked up. I love you. Please—"

She put her hand on my shoulder and I flinched. "No you don't," was all I could manage.

"Yes I do!" she yelled, her voice getting angry. "You can leave me but I'll still be protecting you. I'll still be watching over you to make sure you're safe and that nobody can hurt you!"

"What about you hurting me?" I spat back at her. "And you're fired, Lisa. Don't ever contact me again." The elevator dinged and the doors opened. I stepped in and turned around to face her.

She rolled her head up and opened her mouth in a pleading gesture that told me she was hurting. Not as bad as I was but she looked ragged and desperate. "Jennie…don't do this," she begged as the doors started to close me in alone.

I heard a loud bang coupled with one very comprehensible f-bomb shouted as the car started to take me down. Down to the street where I would hail a cab to drive me home to my flat. Where I would fall apart as soon as I could get inside, and where I would crawl into my bed and curl up and try to forget her. Lisa Manoban. I was doomed to failure. I knew that. I would never be able to forget Lisa. Never.

THE END . . .