BRANDYSomeone started shouting.“Brandy, Brandy”.And the chant was taken up across the bar.The single spotlight turned on and an expectant hush fell over the crowd.A woman in a white silk gown stepped into the spotlight.She was tall and everything about her exuded grace and elegance.Even without saying a word, she owned the stage.Brian watched her step up to the microphone, and his heart skipped a beat.Samantha was beautiful and he loved his wife.But this woman had a different type of beauty.Samantha was pretty and polished like a model.This woman's beauty was ethereal. “No wonder he listens every week and doesn't bother her”, Brian thought.“He's probably scared of angering the heavens by hitting on an Angel”.As the music started playing, Brian glanced around the bar.Directly across from the stage, there was a mezzanine level that contained a room with a small window in it.He could see somebody in the room, but he couldn't see who it was.It could quite possibly be Duke.Brian
REJECTED“How can I repay you? Name your price”.Brian searched her face, which was curiously devoid of expression as he sipped his wine.“This is a trap”, he thought.Whatever I ask for is either going to be too little or too much”.“You needn't repay me”, he said. “There's nothing that I currently need”.He said, as he dropped his empty wine glass back on the tray.“This glass of 1994 Bartolino is thanks enough.Besides, you saved yourself. Even if I hadn't warned you, you would have been fine”.The guests looked from Brandy to Brian, confused that he would decline a reward.Brian, however, was watching the subtle changes in Brandy's face as she processed his deliberate words.”I know that many customers here have had indecent thoughts about me”, Brandy thought.“I expected this man to be at least a little bit shy around me, but he's not”.When a beautiful woman offers a reward, most men would ask for a date or at least money. What kind of man turns down any reward?And then there's the w
BRUISED“I don't wanna hear it”.She started to pick up any object within reach and throw it toward Brian. The pillows on the bed, the books on the nightstand and even the alarm clock were all fair game.Brian knew he was in the wrong. He didn't even try to duck. He just let the objects hit him.The pillows did no damage, but he knew that the book spine and the metal alarm clock would leave bruises. Samantha's hand found the lamp. She hoisted it and hurled it across the room.It struck Brian and then hit the wall with the crash, bursting the light bulb and scattering pieces of glass across the floor.Brenda had never been a sound sleeper, and the sound of the lamp crashing against the wall woke her in the next bedroom.She jumped out of bed and hurried out of her room.She knocked on the door of Samantha and Brian's room.“Samantha, honey, what's going on in there?” She called. “Is Brian causing problems? Open the door”.She worried as she waited for a reply.“Ohh dear this could be ba
THE MEETING“Going to work is kind of boring”.“Why can't you take your work more seriously?” Samantha snapped angrily when she heard his words.She knew that the work of a security guard was usually pretty easy and came with less stress.They rarely had any safety problems.At most, the security team kept an eye on those coming and going from the building and helped to give directions.It was an easy job.But anything could happen, and he had to learn to take it seriously.She knew he didn't have much experience working in security, but Jeffery had offered the position to him so that he had a real job. It was Brian's chance to prove himself.“Are you keeping an eye on me?” He asks.He knew she wanted him to succeed, but he had to ensure that she trusted him so that she would leave him alone and he could get his real work done.She followed him down the stairs. “Even if you're a security guard, you still need to work hard”. She studied him, appraisingly.“Look, I have a meeting today.Com
BEATEN “Ohh, Mr. Seymour, Brian said as he came between them, smiling as he reached out his hand to the other man.Your reputation precedes you”. He stared at him in surprise, wondering where this man had come from. Brian took the other man's hand and shook it violently, and the fat on his body rippled like water. Gritting his teeth, he mumbled something indistinctly.Seeing Brian's interference, Samantha quickly hissed. Brian, stop it.She turned to Clyde to offer an apology, but Brian let go of the other man's hand before she could.As he did so, he pushed the other man away. Clyde stumbled back, tripped over a chair and landed on his rump. He watched a murmured, wincing as he rubbed at his backside. His glasses had fallen off, and he grew up around the floor to find them, even as he groaned in pain. “I'll deal with you when we get home”, Samantha said through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at her husband. Brian had offended Clyde Seymour the moment he entered the room and
GOOD LESSONHe shook his head. “They wouldn't know what to bring me but You do”.Just as she was about to retort, Clyde interrupted her.“Hey look, if it makes your guard feel better, I can wait”.He glanced at Brian and studied him, appraisingly. “It's not easy to be a security guard. They have to protect their bosses at all times. I understand he's just doing his job”.Clyde hoped his words would make her hurry up. He hated wasting time.If she made her guard feel better about things and willingly joined him in the room, he could do with her as he pleased. The guard would be outside and there would be nothing he could do for her.“Well, if you say so, Mr. Seymour”.Samantha stepped back and scooted around Brian, heading for the hallway. “I'll be right back," she said as she passed Brian, she murmured threateningly. “I'll deal with you when we get back home”.Then she disappeared down the hall.Clyde and Brian stared at each other in silence. “Why don't you have a seat while we wait?”
THE LETTERThe weight of the matter is that if the deal Samantha has made with him falls apart, she'll take it personally, Jeffery said, concerned.I don't know if she would recover from that. Brian knew that with Samantha's strong personality, she would only become braver the more they fought.But he didn't want Samantha to have to deal with the aftermath if Clyde did try anything. “She'll be OK”, Brian said.“She has me watching out for her”. “That wife of yours doesn't know how lucky she is”, Jeffery said, sighing wistfully.He felt bad for Brian. No matter what he did to shield Samantha from those who would harm her, she would never know it, much less know how to respond.In the following days, Brian busied himself with Sea Cloud Technology matters.On one hand, he had to let Nick believe that Sea Cloud was nibbling away at Saka tosh Tech.On the other hand, he had to turn Sea Cloud into his strategic weapon. The work kept him busy and stressed. He didn't know how Jordan and Liam h
BRANDY “But aren't you curious as to why she wants to meet?” Jeffery asked. “I mean, the photo alone is concerning.Plus, why was it sent to me?” Jeffery glanced across the room at the other two men, observing their conversation carefully.He turned back to Brian and added. “You don't have to let anything happen.Your faithful to your wife, but you need to settle the matter, especially about the photo”. “Do you want me to spy on Brandy for a while?” Jordan asked. “I really wouldn't mind”.He winked at Brian. Brian kicked out at Jordan playfully, as he said “get out of here”.Then the four of them laughed together.Later that night, after the city's lights appeared in the streets became lively, Brian reluctantly headed to the meeting with Brandy. Room 611 looks no different from any other rooms from the outside, but Brian had asked around and learned that it was a themed room. He stood at the door for several moments before knocking.When no one answered, he swiped the card and