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"What can I do to help?" asked Claire Jason had already walked over to the desk in the roo in nu on, and ill go from there"

Chapter Nineteen

Claire walked over to a chair in the seating area She was far enough away to give Jason soh to offer assistance if needed After several phone calls, Jason seee at Lynwood He put his hand over the phone and asked, "Claire, could you possibly look in e and see if you can locate the files on Lynwood?" Claire walked towards the bedrooe of the bed and pulled out a stack of folders looking for anything on Lynwood

She pulled out two folders and continued to thuht her eye Confused, Claire wondered why Jason would have a file on her in his briefcase Her curiosity getting the better of her, Claire opened the folder and stared at the contents in shock, unable to grasp what she was seeing She thuh copies of her loan application from Danvers as well as a copy of the check issued to her

A note was attached to the check copy, ‘Mr Danvers; per your instructions, I wanted to advise you that Claire Walters did apply for a loan of five thousand dollars today As per your directive, the loan was approved immediately, and the funds made available the next day Ms Walters inquired about repayment of the loan and I was able to convince her that her payments were deferred for six months due to a special promotion These funds were issued froe, Claire found an email from Pam at Partiez Plus Almost unable to process any further information, Claire made herself read the email

‘Dear Mr Danvers, It was a pleasure and so an employee I was never informed that Claire was under contract to Danvers and that the contract precluded outside employment of our specific specialty Claire is a valued ret that I’ll need to replace her I do, however, understand and commend your need to protect the employment and benefits of a key employee I will as you requested keep this matter confidential and will notify Claire of h for reco Partiez Plus to Mr and Mrs Smythe; their business will be invaluable Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance’

Claire was nu for another explanation for what she’d read Jason was behind the scenes of her life directing it like a play Her turn of good fortune was not actually fortune at all; it was Jason pulling the strings, taking over andher into someone whom he deemed acceptable The sense of betrayal on soAt the center was Jason Leslie the creditor of course owed her loyalty to Jason and even though ethically it rong, she probably felt as if she were doing Claire a favor

Pauilty as Jason She’d basically sold out to hi for her and what she thought was a friendship between the her employment with Jason It was obvious froer despite her assurance that she would have the opportunity to work future parties

What other problems had Jason decided to solve for her? Were her mother and Louise now on their way to live in Florida with his aunt Ella? Would she co in an aparthty Jason Danvers to sleep with Well, that was no longer so he would have to worry about She was finished with Jason and finished with Danvers Word had probably already spread there by now that she was Jason’s kept wo you? Did you find the file?" asked Jason fro her hands to shake as she gripped the file Claire stalked back in the sitting area and smacked the folder with her naave her a questioning look at the abrupt gesture He balanced the telephone on his shoulder as he opened the file, not noticing the nanized the exactat His speech stopped nation With a brief, "I’ll have to call you back," spoken in the cell phone, Jason disconnected the call and turned to face her

She waited for Jason to defend hi, but he continued to sit and study her, see "Well, surely you have so to say?" snapped Claire "You have plenty to say to everyone else concerning me so why not to me in person?"

"Claire, you’re upset, let’s leave this until you’re feeling rational enough to listen to reason"

The tone of his voice, as if he were hu a child, infuriated her further "I want you to explain what the hell you thought you were doing invadingover my life"

"If we must do this nohile I’m in the middle of a major problem, at least sit down so that we may discuss this like adults"

"Fine," snapped Claire, and perched on the edge of a wingback chair across the roo a deep breath, Jason stared at her and asked quietly, "What is it that you want e to an even higher level It was as if this whole conversation was a nuisance to him, and he couldn’t see what she could possibly be upset over

"Ok… Let’s go in order, how about explaining the loan from Danvers that apparently wasn’t a loan at all? Then we can work our way to otelse not in the folder? Do I have a new home now that I’m not aware of orquickly, Claire saw an answering anger start to burn in Jason’s blue eyes

"Listen, I don’t really have tiht now, and I never took you for such a draed I gave you help when you needed it and were too proud to ask I would have done the same for any employee, since when is it a crime to help someone?"

"You didn’t offer help; you made choices for me I don’t need handouts, and I’ ht this up in your office yet you ignored everything I said and decided you knew best Poor stupid Claire couldn’t possibly be able to think for herself, right?"

Jason ju down at her "Oh yes, I can see how great you were doing at handling your own proble a stripper for a rooirl’s proble forced to do that because of , et so a bunch of strangers on? Maybe you just like to play the blushing virgin during the day"

Claire flew out of the chair, and her hand landed hard against his cheek, the red imprint clearly visible "Go to hell, what I do or why I do it is none of your concern!" yelled Claire Harsh laughter erupted froainst his chest

"That’s where you’re wrong Claire; everything you do is of interest to me, if that makes me a bastard, then so be it"

His lips swooped down on hers, crushing the protests bubbling from her lips Claire tried to turn her head to escape his plundering lips, but his hands reached up and locked her in place His tonguebut deroan, Claire felt her body betraying her; her lips seemed to part of their own accord Jason took possession, his tongue stabbing inside to claim the victory