The Brooklyn Billionaire’s Jewels

Vanessa stepped out of the shower and into her plush, terry cloth slippers. She dipped her hand into a jar of coconut oil and then slathered it onto her still wet skin and through her hair. She then wrapped herself in Egyptian cotton robe and went back to her desk, grabbing a pot of coffee on the way.  The terrace door was open, and the sun poured through her apartment. It was a gorgeous day.  She set the coffee down next to the almond croissant she had set out. She frowned at the pot and then grabbed a mimosa instead.             

 

On her desk was a thick, manila folder. She looked down, studied it for a minute, and then opened it, deciding to look through it one more time.  The stack of documents spread out when she opened the folder, and she began to flip through them.  The first pages were photographs of a huge apartment in a high-rise on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. There were shots of the place as a whole and then also photos of each individual room.  The penthouse might have been a museum, decorated with ornate, carved wooden furniture, and a myriad of rare sculptures and paintings. The mark was also a collector. And he had impeccable taste.

The next pages were blueprints of the same building. They showed everything the photographs showed and then some; all the secret rooms and corridors that weren’t readily visible. Vanessa flipped to the next pages that contained pictures of a necklace.

She paused here.

 

It was a stunning piece. She got goosebumps every time she looked at it, even though she’d studied the photographs countless times. It was a bold, chunky necklace, glittering with green diamond as large as river rocks. The thing must have weighed five pounds, she thought. It was an antique, the only one of it’s kind in the whole world. It had belonged to some 17th-century French royalty. And it was utterly priceless.

One of her employer’s clients had been interested in the piece for a very long time and was willing to pay top dollar for its acquisition. Vanessa wasn’t too sure how exactly it got into the hands of this particular mark, but once the world knew he had it, he became instantly famous. This would be a big score for her. A huge score.

 

She went giddy when employer told her that he had chosen her for the job. She knew she needed to pull this one off and do it well. There would be a massive cut for her if she did.  And more work where this came from.  It wouldn’t be an easy job, however. This was a high-rise penthouse in the middle of a big party. There’d be lots of people around.  There’d be no other way for her to get in and no other reason for her to be in the building.

 

The necklace was believed to be hidden in the library, seemingly because no one would look there for it. It was said to be in a safe behind one of the large, floor-to-ceiling barrister bookcases.

 

Clever.

 

All Vanessa had to do was locate the safe, crack it, and then retrieve the necklace. Then she would quickly exit the party and deliver it to her employer.  She inspected the blueprints of the apartment and building, wondering if there was a more indirect way of accessing the room. There didn't seem to be any.  There would be no trickery involved in getting in. She had an invitation to the party. She could go right through the front door.

 

And it shouldn’t be difficult for her to disappear for awhile. There would be a lot of people there, all vying for the host’s attention.  She could be in and out without anyone ever noticing. She even had a date for a cover, her partner Henry. He’d be there to people from talking to her for too long. At some point, she’d excuse herself and go to the ladies room, get the necklace and make an exit.

 

She would have to work quickly, faster than she ever had. You can do this; she repeated to herself. She flipped to the next page.  There he was.  Aiden English. Vanessa stared at the photo for a minute, and then she smiled for the first time that day.

 

He was handsome.  No, he was beyond handsome. He was breathtaking. Disarmingly gorgeous. His head was a mass of dark curls. His piercing blue eyes peeked out from under long, dark lashes. His smile was dotted with dimples.  He looked young. A little too young to be a self-made billionaire in Vanessa’s opinion.  Aiden was a transplant. He grew up in Middle America somewhere and was new to New York.

 

Vanessa smirked. Aiden was about to find out just how inhospitable the Rotten Apple could be at times. She uncrossed her legs and crossed them again. Then she chided herself for getting aroused. Focus on the job, she said to herself. Before you need to get back into the shower.

 

*****

 

Aiden looked at the list in front of him for the umpteenth time. It didn’t seem to be getting any shorter, despite having checked quite a few things off.  These parties started out as an accident really. One night he held an impromptu gathering for his close friends. They had such a good time they made him promise to do it again. And he did. 

 

The next time. His friends brought friends. And their friends brought friends. And now his parties were the thing of legends. Easily the hottest ticket in the city

He sighed. When would it end? He was growing weary of these parties. Still, he went over things in his head one last time.

 

The liquor delivery had come. The hired bartenders, dressed identically as he had specified, had arrived and were beginning to set up. Security was in place. They had the guest list and were prepared to turn away the President of the United States himself if his name wasn’t on it. The catering order was also on its way. Things were falling into place and well before the deadlines.

 

So why do I feel nervous?

 

He still hadn’t figured out what to wear. He’d wear a suit, of course, but which? This is why you need a woman in your life, his mother’s voice echoed in his head.  Maybe his mother was right. If he did have someone right now, she could help him with these arrangements, help him pick out something to wear. And he wouldn’t have to pay her afterward.

 

He frowned. Who knew? Maybe he’d meet someone tonight. His friends were always trying to hook him up with some woman or other. He dated quite a bit actually. And he bedded even more than that. But he had yet to find a woman worth partnering with. He needed more than just pretty face and a pair of legs that would spread for him whenever he wanted. He wanted a woman with personality, with intelligence. A little mystery. A hint of danger.

 

His mother always said he expected too much. “Just find a nice enough girl and settle down already,” she would say.  Oh well. He would remain a bachelor forever before he settled.  Finally, Aiden picked out a pale gray, three-piece number. “Gray brings out your eyes,” his mother would always say. He handed the suit to his assistant to have pressed and readied. Then he picked out a tie and some cufflinks. With the preparations done, all he Aiden had to do was sit back and wait for the guests to arrive.

 

*****

 

Vanessa looked in the mirror one more time. She turned to inspect herself from all angles. She had to make sure she looked the part she was going to play tonight.  She smoothed her sleek, black cocktail dress and secured her dark, wavy hair in a bun high atop her head. Then she blotted her cherry red lipstick and spritzed on some perfume. Chanel No 5. Just then, her cell phone rang. She picked it up and looked at the screen.   It was her employer.

 

“Yeah,” she said.

 

“Are you clear on your instructions for tonight?”

 

“Yes,” he said with a sigh. It came out a little louder than she had planned and she could hear her employer’s annoyance over the phone.

 

“Repeat them to me,” he said curtly.

 

“I enter building on Henry’s arm. I am to let him hand over the invitations. My name is Camille Sumpter and his name is Charles. He’s my husband, and we’re traveling from France. We’ll mingle for a reasonable amount of time and then I’ll excuse myself to go powder my nose. That’s when I give the guard the slip and get into the library. I search for the safe, crack it, and retrieve the necklace. Then I’ll pretend to have fallen ill and we'll make a hasty exit.”

 

“Is that it?”

 

“Shall I send the host a fruit basket with my apologies?”

 

“Don’t be a smart-ass.”

 

Too late for that.

 

“If anything goes wrong, if anything seems amiss, you are to abort the mission. Is that understood?”

 

“But then you don’t get your precious necklace.”

 

“And you’ll be out of a job. So I strongly suggest you make sure nothing goes wrong.”

 

“It won’t.”

 

“Don’t be unfriendly, but don’t be too memorable either.”

 

Vanessa rolled her eyes. She couldn’t understand why she had to go through this drill again when she’d done it countless times. She was a pro. Even if she was the only one, who realized it.

 

What did she have to do to make this guy understand that?

 

She hoped when she finished this job; things would be different. She hoped to get a little more respect in the organization. Dismissing the thought for now, she grabbed her clutch and applied another layer of lipstick.

 

A car honked its horn outside her bedroom window. Vanessa smiled at herself in the mirror. It’s showtime.

 

*****

 

 

Vanessa hopped into the car next to Henry.

 

He smiled over at her. “Feeling good about this?”

 

“I’m always feeling good,” she replied?

 

Why did everyone doubt her?

 

They enjoy the rest of the drive in silence. It wasn’t too long before they pulled up in front of the high-rise. Henry gave the car to the valet, and Vanessa took tow steps toward the place. She had to crane her neck to see the very top, and even then she couldn’t be sure.

 

It was a long way down.  They stepped inside and got onto the elevator. A fumigates later, the arched the penthouse floor.

 

“Ready?” Henry looked at her, smiled, and held his arm out.

 

“Ready.” Vanessa hooked her arm through his, and they walked ahead to where a small crowd had gathered.

 

They waited patiently as the group in front of them was ushered inside and then they stepped to the front.

 

Vanessa smiled at the large man at the door. He didn’t return her smile. “Invitations?”

 

Henry pulled the invitations from his breast pocket and handed them to the man.

 

The man scanned the invites through some small machine and then looked briefly at their faces. “Charles and Camille Sumpter,” he said. “Welcome. The hostess will show you in.”

 

They were in. It was time for Vanessa to work her magic.

 

She looked over at Henry, who was straightening his tie. “We’re here.”

 

Henry let out a slow whistle when he finally took in the surroundings. Everything was perfectly manicured. Vanessa studied him. He looked uncomfortable. “Chin up,” she said. Then she smiled and led the way inside.

 

Once they were in, the scene was pretty much how Vanessa imagine it would be. Short men in penguin suits carrying sterling silver trays of tiny food on sticks. Endless glasses of champagne floating around. Older, plastic women on their husband’s arms while thinking of their pool boys. Everything one would expect from a high society event like this one.

 

Henry immediately grabbed a glass of champagne off of a floating tray and downed it. Vanessa turned to him with two glasses of champagne in her hands, just as one of the penguins had come around to take an empty glass from his.

 

“Never mind,” said Vanessa, raising her eyebrow. “I see you’ve had one already.”

 

Henry snatched the glass from her hand and downed it. “I could use another,” he said, wiping his mouth.

 

Vanessa giggled.

 

“Don’t laugh at me,” he said. “This is not my scene.”

 

She took him by the hand. “We won’t stay long,” she said. “We just need to make the rounds, show our faces, and then I’ll get to work. Try to relax.”

 

Henry followed Vanessa as she glided across the room. She stopped here and there to shake a hand and offer a big peck on the cheek. Henry was expected to be polite, say hello, and shake a hand or two. He tried this approach with one old bat in a green gown that was cut way too low to be appropriate for a woman her age. She refused to take his hand and insisted that he give her a kiss, cooing about how handsome he looked in his tuxedo. Henry hesitated, but she grabbed him and pulled him closer to her. And with no choice now, he reluctantly pecked her on her cheek and pulled away as quickly as possible.

 

“What are you smiling at?” he said to Vanessa, who just couldn’t seem to hide her amusement.

 

“I think she likes you. Want me to get her number for you?”

 

“Funny.”

 

“Let’s go stand somewhere else.”

 

“Near the back please.”

 

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, near the back.”

 

Vanessa stood, watching the crowd, sipping champagne, and waiting for the right moment to make her move. Aiden slowly made his way around the already crowded room. He surrounded by people and yet he was bored to tears. At least everyone in attendance seemed to be having a good time. He guessed that was a good thing. He took another sip of his scotch and the suck out onto one the balconies. He was over it and needed a moment alone. He stared out across the vast sea of city lights and pondered his next move. Maybe he’d go away and take a long vacation once this party business was done.

 

He turned back to look through the window. That was when he saw her. He didn’t know how he hadn’t noticed her before. Had she just arrived? She was standing in a small circle of people. They were all deep in conversation it seemed. But it didn’t look like she was paying attention.  She wore a long black dress with a slit up the front of her thigh. It hugged her in all the right places. Her hair was swept up, and her lips were painted a bold crimson. Her smooth brown skin glistened in the soft light. She quite literally took his breath away. She was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen.

 

But it wasn’t just that.

 

There was more. There was something interesting about her. The way she carried herself. The way she looked straight into eyes of whoever she was talking to. The way she held her frame. She was a confident woman, Aiden observed. Borderline haughty. Not easily cowed. He was immediately interested. He watched her for awhile, unable to take his eyes off her. Then he decided he needed to find out who she was. He stepped back inside and began to make his way over to where he’d seen her standing but she was no longer there.

 

He had lost her in the crowd. He then began asking around for her, but no one seemed to know who she was. And now that he thought about it, even he couldn’t readily recall where he knew her from.

 

Curious.

 

Aiden was about to tell himself to forget about it when he saw her out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting alone at the bar. He pushed through the crowd and then paused when he got close. Slowly he walked up behind her, inhaling her scent as he approached.

She must have felt his eyes because suddenly she spun looked straight at him. Her eyes flashed with something. Was it anger? Recognition?

 

He smiled, and she seemed to relax a little. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

 

She smiled a wry smile. “It’s an open bar,” she said. “ Clever, though.”

 

He laughed. “I was making a joke. Apparently it wasn’t a very good one.”

 

He sat down next to her. “And yes, I know the bar is open. This is my party.”

 

“Ah, the infamous Aiden English.”

 

“Am I?”

 

“You certainly are.”

 

“So we haven’t met then?”

 

She looked confused. “I’m sorry?”

 

“You didn’t seem to know who I was. And yet you’re at my party. So it’s safe to assume we haven’t met, no? I’m pretty sure I would have remembered.” His gaze traveled over her and settled on her lips.

 

“No, we haven’t.”

 

He held out his hand. “Then might I know your name?”

 

She smiled. “Camille.” She placed her hand in his.

 

He brought it to his lips and kissed her, pressing his lips to her fingers and keeping them there just a touch longer than he should have. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Camille,” he said.

 

Vanessa’s cheeks colored. Eyes were on them, and a crowd had started to gather at the bar. One man had obviously already had one too many, pushed his way through the crowd and bumped into Vanessa on his way past. She crashed softly into Aiden, who held his hand out to steady her.

 

“You OK?” he asked. “I’ll have him thrown out.”

 

His hand was on her elbow, and she could swear she felt a slight squeeze. He was looking into her eyes, and suddenly she felt very exposed.

 

“I'm all right,” she said breathlessly. “If you’ll excuse me. I have to run to the ladies room.”

 

Reluctantly, Aiden removed his hand from her arm, and it was as if he took all the warmth in the room with him. “Please see me before you go,” he whispered.  Vanessa could only manage a nod.

 

*****

 

Vanessa hurried toward the far corner of the room where the concentration of people was a little less. She felt the heat rising in her cheeks.  She was flustered, and she couldn’t believe she’d let that man get under her skin the way he had.  She decided she actually should duck into the restroom for a minute. Just to regain her bearings. She marched into the ladies room and into an empty stall and shut the door behind her.

 

She forced herself to take in a deep breath. Her heart was still racing, and she could feel a faint wetness beginning to trickle down her thigh.

 

She cursed Aiden English silently from behind the bathroom door.

 

Why had he approached her? Why had he asked her all those questions?

 

And why was he so damn sexy?

 

The way all the hairs on her body stood on end when he touched her. The way he looked at her. Like he wanted to do things to her that were unspeakable.

 

And if he had tired she was sure to let him.

 

Vanessa sighed. She was definitely off her game tonight.

 

She took a few more deep breaths. Henry would be wondering where she’d gotten off to.

 

It was about time to get this show on the road.

 

But now she was having second thoughts. She was shaken to her core and considered, if only for a few seconds, abandoning her assignment.

 

You’d be committing career suicide, Vanessa. And then what next? He whisks you off to Tahiti for a clandestine wedding? Stop being silly.

 

She was backed up. That’s what the problem was. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man. And even longer still since she actually enjoyed it.

 

Vanessa straightened her dress and exit the bathroom stall. She went to the faucet and ran some cool water onto a plush hand towel. She wrung the towel out and then pressed it to her forehead. Then she took a minute to fix her makeup.

 

You’re a professional; she said to herself. Act like one.

 

She exited the bathroom. Henry was nearby, looking worried, and she joined him.

 

“Hey,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you. You OK?”

 

“Yes,” she replied, grabbing his champagne glass from his hand and taking a sip from it.

 

“You ready to go?”

 

She nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “Cover me.”

 

And then she took off in the direction of the back corridor.
 

 

*****

 

Aiden checked his watch. The night was starting to drag, and he couldn’t find Camille anywhere. Where did she run off to? He shrugged. He should let it go, be a good host and attend to his guests. But there was something about her. He had to find her and talk to her some more, probe her just a little further. That would mean walking the entire length of the penthouse as she was likely all the way on the other side of it by now.

 

He started to make his way across and no sooner did he put one foot in front of the other he was approached by someone. And then it seemed as if someone else stopped him every thirty seconds or so.

 

Great party, they would say. So glad I finally got an invitation. Please make some time to talk to me before the night is over.

 

Aiden smiled and nodded politely, as he was expected to do. But he kept making his way for the other side of the penthouse. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Hans, the head of his security detail.

 

Hans pulled him to the side. “Excuse me, sir. If I may have a word.”

 

Aiden followed Hans to a nearby corner. “What is it?”

 

“We have a situation. One of my guys is reporting movement in an unauthorized area of the penthouse. He says the sensors are going off. He’s going to investigate it now. Just thought you should know.”

 

Aiden sighed. “Someone probably just got drunk and stumbled down that way, and now they’re lost.”

 

“Whoever it is seems to be moving around deliberately in that area.”

 

Something didn’t seem right about what the man was saying, yet Aiden was sure he was overreacting. “I’ll handle it,” he said finally

 

“Sir?”

 

“I said I’ll handle it. Call your men off.”

 

Hans nodded and Aiden took off toward the back of the penthouse. “Excuse me,” he said to an older woman who was just about to approach him and start a conversation. He pushed past her and took the back way around. The hallway was empty. No sign of anyone. He paused outside the door to his library. Then he opened it and took a step inside.

 

*****

 

Vanessa heard the door to the library creak open and immediately turned off her flashlight. She ducked between the last of the bookcases and the wall and flattened herself against it. She hadn’t wanted to risk turning on a light, even to put it on dimly.

 

Now she was very glad that she hadn’t.

 

Everything had gone well up until this point. She had found the safe with ease. It was behind an obvious panel in the wall. And then she had cracked it open in under three minutes, silently chiding Aiden English for not keeping a better eye on his precious jewels.

 

Then she had lingered, taken in by the sheer beauty of the piece. The photographs didn’t do it justice. She’d even taken a moment to put the necklace on. She wanted to feel it around her neck, even if it was just for a minute.

 

That minute would cost her dearly now.

 

Whoever it was who’d entered the room, she hoped he wouldn’t find anything amiss. The door to the safe was still wide open. She couldn’t risk closing it now.

 

Why hadn’t turned the light on?

 

She had barely heard the footsteps. He was moving lightly around the room in the darkness. Which meant he knew the place. And then she caught a whiff of his scent, manly, musky, with notes of sandalwood.

 

It was him.

 

Vanessa held her breath. She could still get away. She could slip out from behind the case and right out the door. He walked into the middle of the room and paused. This was her chance. Her only option was to wait there for him to leave ,or for him to eventually turn on the light and catch her. Vanessa slipped her pumps off, one by one. With her stockinged feet, she shuffled silently out from behind the case and toward the door.

 

Her hand was on the knob. She turned it. She knew she’d have to be quick. She opened the door a crack and was about to dart into the hallway. But then the door slammed shut in front of her. An arm blocked her exit, and the light flicked on.

 

She stood there facing the door, for what felt like forever. Then she turned to look at him.

 

He said nothing, just looked at her, ice blue eyes searching until the landed on the necklace. It was still around her neck.

 

She tried to read his face. He didn’t look angry. Amused maybe? Could that be right?

She tried to move, but she was trapped between his arms. He pressed them against the door on either side of her. Vanessa thought she might scream if he didn’t say anything, so she spoke.

 

“Listen,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and measured. “I’ll just take this off, and we can forget this ever happened. OK?”

 

Finally, Aiden spoke. “I don’t think so,” he whispered.

 

Then the lights flicked off again.

 

She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned slowly. But before she could take another step, she heard the door slam shut again. Vanessa gasped as she was grabbed, and pushed roughly up against the door in one deft motion. Before she could cry out, Aiden’s large, strong hand covered her mouth.

 

“Shhh,” he whispered in her ear, his other hand tugging her dress up around her waist. He leaned his body against hers, pressing her face against the wall, and her nipples stiffened at the contact. “I’m going to take my hand away from your mouth now,” he said. “I want you to be quiet OK? Nod if you understand.”

 

His voice was deep, and his words were slow and deliberate. Vanessa nodded. She had no other desire than to comply.

 

Slowly he slid his hand from her face, his fingers lingering a little longer to trace the outline of her lips. She took in a breath. His hands traveled slowly up the backs of her thighs to her buttocks, running the arch of the generous curves. The very next second his hand dipped down between her legs, shifting the crotch of her panties aside and probing her, first with one finger then with two.

 

She let out a soft moan and then remembered she was supposed to be quiet.

 

“Stealing jewels turn you on?” he asked. She began to answer but was cut short when he pushed her harder against the door. He caught her wrists in his hands and shifted them up. Then he pressed her palms into the door. One more push and she was sure she’d go right through it.

 

Vanessa heard a ripping sound and then gasped as the thin, wet fabric of her panties was yanked from between her legs. And before she could even protest or lament for her torn underwear, Aiden had a hand on each cheek and was thrusting himself into her. A violent shudder went through her body as he pulled out to the tip and thrust into her again. She sucked in a sharp breath and lifted onto her tiptoes.

 

He sunk his fingers possessively into her hips and slammed into her over and over in rapid succession. He began to go harder, and Vanessa couldn't help but scream.

 

Her screams were soon muffled, and Aiden brought his hand up to her mouth again. “Quiet,” he growled into her ear.

 

Vanessa nodded her head to let him know that she’d comply. Aiden removed his hand from her mouth and placed it firmly back on her hip. With his other hand, he pinned her wrists to the wall above her head. She was up on her tippy toes now, trying to lessen the impact of him ramming into her so she wouldn't scream.

 

He wasn't falling for that however and bore the weight of his upper body against her. She couldn't move; she could only stand there and take it.  A moan escaped her lips.

 

He was moving faster now, his climax near. On the very next stroke, she choked back a loud noise. She gasped loudly, and his hand went to her mouth again. “You wanna scream?” he said roughly. “OK scream then.”

 

And she did.

 

He was pumping wildly now, and she was sure they'd be discovered any second. A deep, low growl rumbled from behind her, and she felt his fingers grabbing at her all the tighter. “Fuck,” he exclaimed through clenched teeth. “Fucking..good..pussy,” he said each word punctuated by another thrust.

 

Vanessa’s own orgasm was in full effect, and her body shook uncontrollably. She'd have collapsed if Aiden weren't holding her up with his massive frame. She clenched down tight around him as she let out a muffled howl. And her clenching was the last thing he needed for his own orgasm.

 

Vanessa let out a deep sigh and then a cry as Aiden’s teeth sunk into her shoulder to muffle his own sounds. She whimpered, and he released her flesh from between his teeth. It would leave a mark; she was sure of it.

 

His breathing evened out, and he loosened his grip on her. He took a few steps backward and Vanessa followed suit.

 

“After you,” Aiden whispered, opening the door.

 

Vanessa turned to look at him. Her face burned as the realization of what just happened finally started to settle in.

 

He looked up at her and smiled. Then he turned to finish adjusting his clothes. She removed the necklace, put it down on the side table and slipped out of the door when his back as turned. She knew she should try to find Henry, but she couldn’t go back out to the party. Instead, she found a way out through the back of the building.

 

When she got out onto the street, she hailed a cab and rattled off her address. Once the cab had moved a safe distance from Aiden’s high-rise, she pulled out her cell phone and called Henry.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Get out of there now.”

 

“Where the hell are you?”

 

“I had to leave. He made me.”

 

Oh…he made me alright.

 

“What? Did you get it at least?”

 

“No. I didn’t get anything. Henry, listen. You have to leave right now. The jig is up.”

 

She hung up on him as the cabbie pulled up in front of her building. She swiped her card and then took one last look around to make sure she hadn’t been followed. Then she sped upstairs to her apartment and locked the door behind her. Vanessa exhaled and then took a few more deep breaths. She walked the length of her spacious SoHo apartment, though now it feel tiny compared to Aiden’s sprawling penthouse, and looked herself in her bathroom.

 

She turned on the shower and let the steam from the hot water fill the air. After a minute, she undressed and stepped in. She could still feel Aiden’s hand all over her, under her dress. She could still smell his cologne and feel his teeth sinking into her shoulder.

 

She grinned. She should be horrified. But the truth was she felt good. Damn good.

She hadn’t come that hard in her entire life.

 

A fair tradeoff for not snagging the necklace, she thought.

 

Then she frowned. She realized for she was in some deep trouble. She would have to go back to her employer empty handed. There was no way she could salvage this. No do-overs. There was no way she would be able to get within a mile of Aiden’s place after tonight. And if he were smart, he’d relocated the necklace by now.

 

If he were smart.

 

She wasn’t going to get another job like this for a long time, if ever. Vanessa turned off the water, threw on her robe and then sank down into her bed.

 

She lay there for the longest time, sleepless. She had half a mind to look Aiden up and call him, but she knew she shouldn’t. For all she knew, he was talking to the cops at this very moment. No. The best thing for her to do was to lay low for the next few days.

 

*****

 

“Do you want to go to the cops?” Hans asked Aiden during their debriefing meeting.

 

“No,” he said. “No cops.”

 

Hans raised an eyebrow at him.

 

“Well, she didn’t actually steal anything.”

 

Hans sighed. “So how would you like to proceed, sir?”

 

“Do some investigating,” Aiden replied. “Find her. Find out where she lives. Find out all you can about her. But most of all, keep it quiet.”

 

Hans nodded and disappeared. A few days later, he came back with a thick envelope. He handed it to Aiden who anxiously looked through it.

 

“Her name is Vanessa,” said Hans. “Vanessa Hart.”

 

So much for Camille.

 

“What’s she into?”

 

“High-end jewel thief. Super high end. Works for an international syndicate. Apparently she’s excellent at what she does.” He paused. “Well, until the other night of course."

 

The other night. Aiden’s mind had flash briefly to having her pinned against the wall in his library. He fought back a smile.

 

Hans continued. “She snuck into your party with the express intent of robbing you. She got her invitation under an assumed identity so I can only as,e that the man she was with was in on it as well.”

 

She was with a man? A brother maybe?

 

Aiden hadn’t noticed anyone with her. But then again he hadn’t really looked at anyone else once he saw her.

 

“Do you want me to handle her?” asked Hans, seeming a tad too eager.

 

Aiden stared down at her picture. Vanessa Hart huh?  “I’ll handle her myself,” he said.

 

Hans gave a quick nod and handed him a sheet of paper with an address and phone number scrawled on it.  Aiden took it and dismissed him without another word.

 

*****

 

After hearing nothing for a couple of days, Vanessa risked a small trip outside to go to the store. She had ducked her employers calls for a little while, but she had to face the music eventually. She was to report in person to his office that Monday. She hoisted the paper bag, filled to the brim with sweet snacks because she was emotionally eating, up into her arm as she reached for the key to her apartment door.

 

Once inside she set the bag on the table and was getting ready to head to the kitchen to put the items away when she caught a familiar scent.  She whipped around.

 

There, sitting quietly on her leather couch, was Aiden English. Vanessa dropped the bag of powdered donuts she had been holding. For a long time neither said anything. Vanessa wasn’t even sure if she was really looking at him or if it was just her guilty mind playing tricks on her.

 

He smiled his disarming smile. “Hello Vanessa,” he said.

 

She stammered in response. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

 

“I could have asked you the same thing.” He chuckled.

 

If this was supposed to be another one of his jokes, it wasn’t funny. Vanessa’s cheeks colored and she looked down at the floor.

 

“Oh, you don’t like that huh? Me just barging into your home uninvited?”

 

Vanessa didn’t answer.

 

“Makes you feel violated doesn’t it?”

 

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” she whispered, still not looking at him.

 

Aiden leaned back on the sofa and smiled.

 

“You’ve made your point,” she continued. “You here to have me arrested I assume.’

 

“No,” he said, a broad grin spreading across his face. “I’m here to ask you to have dinner with me.”

 

*****

 

Vanessa adjusted her dress one more time in the mirror. It was a little tighter than she was used to, but it was the nicest one she had. She reached for her lipstick and applied another coat. And then another small spritz of perfume for good measure. The butterflies in her stomach were on overdrive.

 

Why am I so nervous?

 

She shouldn’t even be doing this in the first place, she thought. She recalled the stern talk she had with herself the other day. He was right. She hadn’t expected to see him again. And she hadn’t expected her panties to moisten instantly when she did.

She had already agreed. So it would be rude to back out now, she told herself.

She grabbed her hand lotion from her purse. She noticed that her palms were starting to sweat.

 

Why? Why should I be afraid of him?

 

The door buzzed at 8 o‘clock on the dot.  Vanessa took a deep breath and then went down the stairs. A sleek, black Mercedes with tinted windows was parked out front. Beside it, a man was standing with his hands folded. She could only assume this was Aiden’s driver. She walked up to him, and he smiled and gave a slight nod of his head she I approached.

 

“Good evening madam,” he said with a deep, mature voice.

 

“Hello.”

 

He walked over to the passenger side door and opened it for her. Then he held her hand as she stepped inside.

 

When did this become my life?

 

They had driven for around thirty minutes before the car came to a stop. “This is your destination, madam,” said the driver. “Enjoy your dinner.”

 

He got out to help her out of the car and motioned to the front door of the building.   She walked in and went up one flight of stairs. There was a large door on the landing, and she assumed it was the one she needed to go through.

 

She hesitated. She still wasn’t sure she heard him correctly when he said ‘dinner.' She was still half expecting the cops to show up at her door instead of the car he’d promised to send. Vanessa took a breath and went through the door. She gasped, and immediately she started to think she was in the wrong place because it was empty.

 

It was a restaurant alright, but no one was there.

 

It was then that she saw Aiden, standing in the far corner of the room, and staring out of a large, floor to ceiling window. She watched him for a second, studied him. She smiled to herself and then walked over to him. The view of the city from the window was breathtaking.

 

He turned to her when she reached his side and let out a low whistle. “You look beautiful,” he said with a smile. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I trust the ride was good.”

 

“Yes, it was,” she replied, still a little overwhelmed by this whole scene. “Um, where is everybody?”

 

He turned to her and flashed that smile again, and her knees threatened to buckle. “It’s just us tonight,” he said.

 

“Just us? What does that mean?”

 

He threw his head back and laughed. “It means I bought the place out. My good friend here was good enough to accommodate my request. It means no interlopers. No interruptions. Just you. And me. Some good wine and a good meal.”

 

He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the middle of the room. “We can sit at any table you want,” he said.

 

Vanessa chose the table closest to the window, and they sat. She took in the ambiance. Low light, candles, fresh flowers. There was some music in the background, something instrumental.

 

“You like?” he asked.

 

“Yes,” she smiled. “This is a very nice place.”

 

He handed her a menu. “Would you like to choose the wine?”

 

She waved her hands. “No, no. Please, go ahead. I defer to you on such things.”

 

He smiled. She thought he liked the idea of her deferring to him.

 

He ordered a bottle, and the waiter nodded and shuffled off. He came back a minute later with the wine. He poured a little into Aiden’s glass. He picked it up, swirled it, sniffed it, and then nodded his head. Aiden then filled her glass, keeping his eyes on her the entire time.

 

She shifted in her chair.

 

“OK. So it is me,” he said.

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You tense up around me,” he continued. “I thought it might be other people, or large groups or maybe just where we were. But now we’re alone, and you’re still tense. So it must be me.”

 

Vanessa didn’t know how to answer this.

 

“Is it because of…”

 

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s not that. And I’m not tense. I just don’t think we have anything in common.”

 

He seemed amused by this because the corners of his mouth turned up into that sexy smile of his. “Try me.”

 

She took a sip of her wine. And then another.

 

“Well,” she started. “You’re probably from Harvard and all.”

 

He laughed at this and took a sip of his wine.

 

“Probably some frat boy too.”

 

He nodded. “Yes as a matter of fact, I did go to Harvard business school. And yes, I did pledge Beta Theta Pi in undergrad. So what? A man’s still got to eat right?”

 

She blushed. “Right.”

 

At that moment, the food arrived. “I ordered for us in advance,” he said.

 

The meal looked wonderful. A large braised short rib over a generous helping of creamy polenta with greens on the side. “Italian,” she said. “My favorite.”

 

“See?” he said with a smile. “We do have something in common.”

 

After dinner, he asked if she was planning on skipping dessert tonight. She agreed to split one with him, and he ordered something chocolaty.

 

“I love chocolate.”

 

“Another thing we have in common,” he said. He smiled wickedly and then she caught his true meaning and blushed.

 

“Careful," he said. You might start to think that a scrappy Brooklyn girl and an Ivy League frat boy may actually be compatible.”

 

He was making fun of her, but she didn’t mind. After dessert and a second bottle of wine, Vanessa was feeling friendly. A little too friendly. She didn’t want to end up back at his apartment again. Well she did, but she didn’t.

 

He must have sensed her anxiety because he said, “I’m not holding you hostage here. You can go home whenever you wish. Just say the word and I’ll have my driver bring the car around.”

 

She nodded. “Yes. Dinner was lovely. But it’s getting late, and I’m ready to go.”

 

He nodded. “Will you at least let me ride with you?”

 

It was his car so she didn’t think she could actually say no, but she agreed. When they got into the car, he doesn’t say anything. It’s his look, the way his eyes seem to see right through her. That’s what scares her so much. They pulled up in front of Vanessa’s building a short while later. She got out of the car, and he got out as well. He walked toward the front door.

 

“I had a nice time.”

 

“I’m glad.”

 

She turned to him. He was looking her dead in the eye. The heat in his gaze was threatening to melt her down to nothing right there on the sidewalk. Like a magnet, she leaned in toward him but then she caught herself and took a step back before he could get his arm around her. “Goodnight,” she whispered. Then she turned to walk away.

 

“One drink,” he said. “A nightcap. C’mon. The night is young.”

 

She didn’t need much more convincing than that. She turned back to him and smiled.”OK.”

 

Back at his apartment, one drink had turned into three. Vanessa checked her watch.

“I really should be going,” she said. Aiden had been the perfect gentleman up until this point. But Vanessa suspected that wouldn’t last too much longer. Especially if they continued drinking the way they were.  She got up to go, and he got up too.   It was his hand on her arm that stopped her. The way he gripped her wrist.

 

Firm.

 

Commanding.

 

She turned to face him.

 

“No,” he said. “Stay.”

 

Her eyes were locked on his, and she could not look away. The warmth from his hand traveled slowly up her arm like a flame would creep up the fuse on a stick of dynamite. She was about to blow. Aiden took a step closer, reached out with his other hand, and rested his thumb on her lower lip.

 

Then he leaned in.

 

I should step back, she thought.

 

But she was frozen in place, her feet glued to the floor. Too late to run. His lips fell onto hers. And she kissed back. His breath was warm on her cheek, and it lit the little hairs on her body on fire. His kiss was insistent, but his lips were soft. He grabbed her other arm and pulled her even closer to him. He pulled back slightly and softly flicked his tongue against her lips, teasing a small moan from her mouth. Then he stopped and looked at her, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

 

“I've been wanting to do that for quite some time,” he said.

 

Suddenly, though she didn’t know how, Vanessa found her feet. She tried to walk away but the next thing she knew, Aiden’s arms were tightly around her, her feet were off the floor, and she was being carried into his bedroom.

 

Her head was racing, and she couldn’t believe how quickly she’d lost control of this situation. What was happening? She needed to slow this down.

 

Wait.

 

She hardly got the word out because then his lips crashed into hers again. Her feet touched the floor again, but he didn’t let go. He pulled back and looked her in the eye, his intentions crystal clear.

 

He must have sensed her hesitation. “Do you want to go?” he asked.

 

The way he held her firmly in place with his gaze…the way he smiled…she knew she wasn’t going anywhere. They both did. In a second his hands were all over her, exploring all her soft curves. He searched her eyes for consent and could see she still wasn’t sure.

 

But then the way she looked at him in the next second…like she’d let him do whatever he wanted to her…that did it. He lifted her hands above her head to removed her dress in one sweeping motion.

 

Her breasts, full and perky and clad in sexy black lace bra grazed against his bare chest. Immediately, he put his arms up, cupping one in each hand. Squeezing. Kneading.

 

She threw her head back with a moan and then slipped one of her hands down the front of his slacks. He sucked her bottom lip between his and she relaxed against him again. Then they toppled over onto his bed. He pressed his full weight on her, and she spread her legs and started to grind slowly against him.

 

He licked his lips and kissed up her thighs and her stomach, inch by inch, very slowly.

She laced her fingers through his hair and tugged gently. When he looked up at her, she bit her bottom lip. He could tell she was enjoying this. He could tell she wanted it.

 

He made one more round of kisses around her lower belly and hip area. And then slowly he slid her panties off and kissed back up her inner thighs.

 

She lifted her hips slightly and inched them closer and closer to him, but he held his hand out to steady her. "Stay still," he said.

 

Vanessa let out an exasperated moan and lowered her hips back down to the bed. Aiden took the time to kiss all around her inner thighs, the top of her mound, her lower stomach.

 

Everywhere but.

 

She grabbed at the sheets, tugging them, and he could tell she was about to lose it.

Slowly and very gently, he offered her the very tip of his tongue. Her back arched immediately, and she let out a loud moan.

 

"You like that? You want more of it?"

 

She didn’t answer.

 

He stopped. "I asked you a question."

 

"Yes," she said, barely getting the word out.

 

Then he buried his head between her legs. She was delicious, like a cross between an avocado and a mango. Creamy. Sweet. She fought back a moan and pushed her hips against his face. Her thighs started to vibrate on each one of his cheeks.

 

He knew she was close. So, he sped up, flicking as fast as his tongue would go. She was full-on screaming now. Her whole body tensed up, and he knew she was about to come. The stream hit him in the next instant, flowing over his tongue and he lapped it all up like a thirsty dog.  He gave her a minute to let her catch a breath, to let her body still the quivering.

 

Then she looked up at him with unadulterated 'fuck me' eyes. And he knew he couldn't wait any longer. He grabbed her thighs and bent her legs back to her almost to her ears. Then he slid into her with one motion. Vanessa’s perfectly manicured nails sank into the flesh on his shoulders as she stretched to accommodate him. Aiden was up on her elbows now, pumping faster. As his thrusts got harder, Vanessa’s moans got louder. Her back was arching, her skin took on a beautiful flush, and he knew she was going to come again.

 

"I can feel you coming," he whispered.

 

Then her orgasm hit him in a wave. Her hands wrapped around his waist, pushing him deeper into her as she moved her hips up and against his. 

 

He collapsed on top of her and then rolled off, his arm still around her waist, while they both caught their breath. After a few minutes, she started to move but he reach out to her, tightened his grip on her. She nodded, understanding that he wanted her to stay the night with him. In the next minute, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

 

*****

It was the smell of fresh coffee brewing that woke her.

 

Vanessa stretched out in a bed that she realized in the next instant was not her own and for a second she panicked. Then she remembered, and smiled.

 

No going back now, Vanessa.

 

She got up and grabbed his shirt on the way out toward the smell of the coffee.

He was standing by the stove in just his underwear, and he turned and smiled when he heard her coming.

 

“Still here, I see,” he said with a wry grin.

 

“Touche.”

 

“I was half expecting to not find you here this morning.”

 

“Can’t run this time,” she replied. “ My legs don’t fully work yet.”

 

He slid a cup of coffee across the counter to her. Then he came around to give her a good morning kiss. “I hate to run,” he whispered. “But I have to be at work soon. You can stay here if you like.”

 

“No. That’s OK. I’ll leave with you. I’ve got to get ready for my meeting.”

 

He nodded and then disappeared into his room to get dressed. She followed suit and started the scavenger hunt for her own clothes.

 

He reappeared a little while later dressed in dark slacks and a crisp white shirt.  He seemed to be struggling with his tie, so she went over to help him. He smiled down at me and then bent his head for a kiss.

 

Then he grabbed her by the hand, and they headed for the door. “I’ll have my driver drop you home,” he said.

 

In the car, he sat close to her, resting his hand on her knee and then slowly sliding it inch by inch up her dress.

 

She stopped him when his thumb just touched the trim on her panties. “Behave,” she whispered.

 

“Why should I?”

 

“Because,” she said. “You’ll mess up your work clothes.”

 

“I have more at the office.”

 

They laughed at this. Him pawing at her in the backseat of a vehicle like a horny teenager.

 

A minute later, they pulled up in front of his office. “I can walk from here,” she said. She moved to get out of the car, but he caught her wrist.

 

“When can I see you again?”

 

She smiled. “You broke into my apartment remember? So I suppose the answer to that question is whenever you want.”

 

She gave him one last kiss and then got out of the car.

 

Once she was back inside her apartment, she permitted herself a small smile. And then she couldn’t stop smiling. Aiden English certainly knew how to show a lady a good time. But still, she couldn’t figure him. Why be so nice to her?

 

A knock on the door broke her out of her reverie. At first, Vanessa was scared. She hadn’t been expecting anyone. She wondered if this was all just an elaborate trick. If Aiden had taken her out, wined her, dined her, and then gotten her back into bed for one more screw before he had her thrown in the clink.

 

“Who is it?” she called warily.

 

“Fed Ex ma’am. Package for you.”

 

Vanessa frowned. She hadn’t ordered anything. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she hurried to the door. She signed for the box, and the pimply face courier smiled and disappeared back down the hallway. Vanessa opened the box. There was another black velvet box inside and on top of it was a note. t was written in a large, loopy hand. See you tonight?, the note said. Wear this.

 

Vanessa opened the box and gasped. It was the necklace. She grinned and bit her lip.

 

Oh, Aiden. You devil you.

 

******

THE END