Stryker Read Free Page B

people I’d taken over from in the past
two years would appreciate knowing that that’s how I saw it. I like to buy
companies, revamp them and either sell them for a profit or run them myself
with a team that I had set up. Having a head for business gave me the
opportunity to have my fingers in many pies so apart from investing I bought
and sold. Businesses, homes, land, you name it if there was a price tag on it I
could turn a profit.
    “Really Samuel must you discuss business?”
    I smiled indulgently at his wife who scolded him from her
seat next to him. There was no one on either side of me and I wondered if my
tablemates were running late or a no show.
    “That’s quite alright Mrs. Marley, to answer your question
sir I did, now you see what I can do for your company.”
    “Listen young man that company has been around long before you
were born and I venture to say it will be long after you and I are gone…”
    “It’s dying sir, you know it and I know it.”
    He huffed at me and was gearing up I’m sure to blast me to
kingdom come, but his wife intervened once more. The others at the table were
busy with their own conversations and had missed the impending fireworks. I
heard her laugh and cringed I hadn’t heard that sound in two months, and
would’ve been happy to never have heard it again in my life. She was standing
across the room on the arm of some poor sod thank heavens. That meant she
wouldn’t make a scene when she realized I was here. I hate scenes, she’s
another reason I’d been avoiding public appearances truth be told. Not that I
was hiding from her heaven forbid, but I found confrontations trying and time
consuming. When something was over it was over.
    It seemed tonight was to be my unlucky night because no
sooner had the lights started to dim heralding the beginning of the show, than
none other then Sabrina was seated to my right with her date next to her on the
other side of her. She didn’t seem too surprised to see me and I wondered if
she’d had something to do with the seating arrangements. There was no time to
change and I wouldn’t have even if there were. Fuck her that would be the day
when I ran from a woman. If she’d meant to strike up a conversation she was
waylaid by the emcee announcing the start of the show.
      I turned my
attention to the stage and blocked all thoughts of the unwelcomed presence
beside me. As was to be expected the fashion was geared towards the women in
the crowd. I paid scant attention to the show, as there was nothing of interest
for me. Mom wasn’t into such things, though she had a closet full of designer
wear that I buy her whenever I’m away on one of my travels to Europe. Other
than her I had no one to shop for. The lingerie was first up, tastefully made
and presented of course. I don’t know too much about such things I like my
women naked. The dressing is nice to look at of course but I much prefer what’s
underneath. She was the third to come on stage, tall statuesque and a total
knockout. I have to admit to being blindsided. She had the kind of beauty
rarely seen anywhere except an airbrushed magazine. But this was no superficial
mannequin this was raw beauty in the flesh. My first thought was that I wanted
to kill every man in the room that had eyes on her and there were plenty. Old,
young, married single I was sure they were all gazing at the beauty who stood
so tall and proud as she stopped at the end of the stage before turning to make
her way back. I didn’t even see what she’d been wearing all I’d seen was her. I
sat through the rest of the show numb. As anyone would be who had just been
struck by a lightning bolt. When the light came up I released the breath I’d
been holding. It was then I caught the glare from the woman sitting next to me.
She knew, how could she not? She’d shared my bed for a few months not too long
ago. I’d venture to say she knew my look of hunger very well. But she’d never
been at the end of one