Читаем Pandora Driver: The Origin полностью

It was business as usual that day as two smartly dressed men in top hats exited the elevator. They were greeted with the bright smile of a platinum blonde receptionist. She was stunning. She took their names and announced their arrival to Carson via intercom. While they waited, the bank guests turned their charm on the lovely young lady.

The first man asked. "Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Jean Harlow?"

She acted shy at the attention and said, "Yes, I’ve heard that before, but thank you."

"Seriously, you could be her twin. It's uncanny. May I ask your name?”

"My name is Jewel.” She said, and gracefully extended her ring-less hand.

He took it and gently kissed it, all the while making eye contact with her. She giggled and said, "Oh my, how sophisticated."

She spoke with a slight southern accent, and everything she said sounded like flirting.

The second man commented under his breath. "Laying it on a little thick aren't you, brother?"

Not willing to be outdone by the second man, he said, "A celestial beauty like yours should be with the stars in Hollywood. You should be on the silver screen, not stuck behind a desk in old Carson's vault."

He chuckled.

She beamed at the compliment. "Well aren't you sweet? What a wonderful thing to say?”

He edged a little closer to her. "You know, with the right sponsor, you might be able to make that happen."

"Really? I've always thought I could be an actress." She said.

He nodded. "It’s something you should think about. Say, did I mention I have a home in California?"

Carson interrupted the discussion. "You’re always trying to take something that doesn't belong to you, aren't you, Moneybags?"

He laughed and greeted the men with a competitive handshake.

The first man shook Carson's hand and said. "She is a dead ringer for Jean Harlow."

Carson smiled and glanced at her. "Yes she is. Yes she is."

He turned back to his friends and added. "But she’s not a very good typist."

The three looked at each other then said in unison, "Who cares?"

As they laughed at their joke, Carson led them to his office. "Come along, gentlemen. Let's talk business."

His eyes met Jewel's. He smiled and gave her a confident wink. Jewel waved back with a bright smile. She looked expensive. She added an air of glamour to the decor. She was a prize and he wanted her. He would have shit himself if he knew she was really Betty.

Thanks to Alfonzo Beznik's makeup magic, Betty was able to infiltrate Carson's inner sanctum undetected, three weeks ago. She heard there was a high employee turnover rate on Carson's floor. There always seemed to be an opening. It took her three interviews in three different disguises to figure out what they were looking for. She didn't know that Carson had a thing for Jean Harlow at the time, but, then again, most men did.

She wasn't great at the job. To avoid suspicion she acted dumb, dressed to get attention and flirted with any man who was receptive. It worked on all the guys and they covered for her, but the other girls in the bank hated the character she portrayed. Carson was aware of the tension and was amused by it. He thrived on conflict. Carson wanted to get closer to Jewel, and Betty let him.

They often ate dinner together in the finest restaurants in the Citadel. She played the part of an innocent girl new to the big city. She acted shy and clung to every word Carson said. She got caught up in the role at times and was able to give the man she hated passionate kisses that said she never wanted to let him go. She claimed she had feelings for him, but she was very religious and saving herself for marriage. She said she was confused about her desires and turned to Carson for comfort. Betty knew precisely how to play him.

To him, she was irresistible. He wanted to corrupt this innocent southern belle. He wanted to crack her thighs open and beat her future husband to her virtue more than anything else in the world. What a prize she was, not too bright, but so damn beautiful, so delicate. He didn't want to press her too hard. He didn’t want to scare her away. Besides, he knew it would be an even greater victory if she lay before him of her own free will.

He said he would take care of her and tempted her with sparkling trinkets. He promised her financial stability. He swore to leave his wife, if Jewel would just say yes. Betty remembered enough about Carson not to tell him no. Instead she used words like; maybe, not yet, or I don't know what to do. Sometimes she'd just cry. He was drawn deeper into the challenge.

He had to have her, but he had to be patient with a girl like her. Even though it was killing him. He knew she would give in at some point, and then he would soil her, because he never lost.