16 comments/ 46344 views/ 20 favorites E & J By: E & J "It's the principle of the whole thing D." She sighed, "She's all like, 'Call me Ms. Baptiste' and 'I want your office' as if she's MY boss!" Evelyn fumed as she tried to keep her voice even. "But what if she can get us Garner? That new restaurant...it would be a BOON! Think about it sweetie," he said trying to reassure her, "She's obviously crazy but at least she's got connections. If we get Garner and do a good job with him, imagine what other gigs we'll get? Pretty soon you'll be able to move into a bigger place and everyone will have their own office right? She's just a little...eccentric is all." Evelyn sighed, feeling herself acquiesce. "I know it's just that..." "Listen," he said, "Let her think she's getting her way. An office is nothing if she can get us this big job. Besides, you're still the boss." But was she? Of course she was what was she thinking of? Sure it was little bit unorthodox for Jerusalem, no make that Miss Baptiste to demand her own office before she had done so much as 20 seconds of work but unorthodox or not it looked like this woman was going to land them one of the biggest contracts D&C had ever had. Evelyn figured Donnie was right an office was just an office, so why was she so damn angry? Jerusalem smiled to herself as she listened to the man on the phone, she was sure Evelyn was out there fuming. ***************** It was no secret that every designer in the city wanted to land a Garner project, Jerusalem had gone to trade school with his very spoiled eldest child. Jerusalem had come to school on a partial scholarship and worked her ass off for the rest of the money it hadn't been fun to dorm with a rich girl especially one who planned to live on her father's money for the rest of her life. Chloe Garner had been going to school for fashion design while Jerusalem completed the interior design program. At first Jerusalem had been ready to unleash a lifetime of inequalities and resentments on the girl but her contempt all but disappeared when she realized that she could use her roommate and others like her to make connections she might never make once she got out there in the rat race. What had started out as nothing more than a social climbing venture had actually produced some meaningful friendships and those the relationships that didn't pan out into actual friendships became at the very least plausible business contacts. Throughout her time at school Jerusalem had seemed to be the life of every party and appeared on every scene, she was a good student and dead serious about academics but she had a wild streak that made the other kids want to be around her. She was everything that they weren't supposed to be wild dark and rebellious. They didn't realize a lot of what they saw was an act. In her Freshman year she had walked into the studio in the middle of a private assembly being held for the intern selection. Design students from the fashion and interior design programs were required to intern before they graduated and the most prestigious firms and design houses had a private selection of students to pick from, students that had been handpicked by their professors for the honor, students with impeccable grades as well as a stunning portfolios. Jerusalem had the grades and she sure as hell had the portfolio what she didn't have was the extra year of schooling, the thing was that students weren't even allowed to put in their applications for the internship program until they were sophomores. She supposed it had something to do with new students not getting overwhelmed by the work load and such but Jerusalem knew she could handle it what's more she knew that she was qualified and saw no point in wasting a year that could be spent learning about the inner workings of what was to be her trade. She marched in and tossed her portfolio in front of them all. The dean of students was there and had become familiar with Jerusalem for her academic excellence as well as her somewhat marred reputation. The girl hadn't been in trouble, no not ever quite in trouble, but trouble lingered around her, or at least the dean thought so. When she walked in and tossed her work on the table the dean called her by name causing Jerusalem to whirl in the direction of the summons. The dean had meant to thwart the girl's plan but only served to call attention to her even more so. Every eye in the room was on her when the dean moved to pick up the leather bound portfolio that had landed and flipped open. Before he could lay a finger on it, a hand snapped out and grabbed his wrist. The hand was attached to the arm of a woman known only as Duchess. It was unclear if she was actually a Duchess or had been named Duchess by a mother with delusions of grandeur. Jerusalem knew who the woman was, hell everyone in the room and a good deal of the world outside the room knew who this woman was. She was one of the leading interior designers in the States and was actually a European import. Her real trade had been antiquing. She'd made a modest income on the antique shop she'd opened and would have lived and died, happily in her small village if fate hadn't reared its head. Her cousin, Phillip who happened to be very rich and equally as insufferable requested that she decorate his summer villa that he'd just had built. He was new money and very concerned about appearing as such so he had hired his cousin to fill his home with antiques. Duchess for her part had tried to explain that she dealt in antiques not interior design, not to mention the fact that all the antiques in her humble little shop wouldn't even fill the downstairs of the great hulking mansion he'd built. Phillip as usual didn't listen, and after he doubled the ridiculously high offer he'd already put on the table plus added a couple thousand pounds to the furniture allowance he'd given her she decided to give it a whirl. She was still unable to fill the house with quality antiques just because of the sheer size of the abode so instead she picked colors for wall paper and patterns that would complement the few really good pieces she used for each room. The rest of the space was filled with more modern furniture with smooth sleek lines and curves. The blend of old and new mixed with classic colors and muted tones worked famously. So well in fact, that when Phillip's jet setting friends came to visit his new summer "cottage" she received more than one phone call asking for her to decorate their homes. Phillip was proud as a new father since he could claim all the credit for discovering his very own cousin. Never mind that his aim had been to use her to make him self look more prestigious than he really was. Duchess had taken the money she made from Phillip and a few of his friends and opened up her very first interior design office , and the rest was as they said history. She had built an empire on word of mouth an empire that had been growing for the past fifteen years. This woman had her name on everything from sheets to candles and was forever expanding. There'd been talk of Duchess designing her very own furniture line but that could have been rumor, but with the Duchess you never knew. The dean of students removed his hand quickly from the woman's grasp. Duchess flipped through Jerusalem's portfolio without letting sound or expression betray her attitude, when she had finished looking at the last sketch the woman turned to the dean. "Thank God she showed, where the hell were you hiding her? Are you telling me I sat through 45 minutes of mediocrity when I could have decided in a moment if this girl had been here on time?" With that she shot a sharp look at Jerusalem as if to let her know lateness was not at all acceptable. The dean mumbled and the taller woman asked him to repeat himself. "I said the thing is she's not supposed to be here at all, she's only a freshman." The man looked like a little boy in trouble as he said this, he was just a finger snap from blushing like a school boy. The woman looked at Jerusalem cocking her head to the side as if contemplating her then she smiled, a wide sure smile. "Oh she'll do nicely." And just like that Jerusalem Baptiste landed the most sought after internship, plus she was only a freshman to boot. Her name was suddenly reverent and she was the stuff that legends were made of , from defying the dean to having the Duchess hand pick her to being the youngest intern in the history of the school. Her friends could hardly believe that she'd done it, but then again it was Jerusalem so you never could tell what she'd do. Whatever it was though you knew she'd do it well. Jerusalem wasn't all that surprised she'd known she was ready but she was shocked that her plan or lack there of had worked. She wanted to explain to her friends and those who marveled at her courage and such that it didn't take much to be courageous when you had nothing left to lose. And if there's one thing Jerusalem had a lot of it was nothing. Snapping out of her reverie Jerusalem said her goodbyes to the man on the other end of the line and stood. She'd set up an appointment with him for the following afternoon and she had no doubt that she...no they would land the job. As she walked to the door she almost smiled to herself but not quite. She wasn't sure why she wasn't happier exactly. She had the office and she'd made her point, she had connections but she didn't feel victorious when she walked out of the office and saw the easy camaraderie of Evelyn and Donnie, they were looking over some fabric samples and talking in hushed tones. She just felt sort of petty. She had been in their presence for less than an hour and she could tell if either of them had landed a deal they'd celebrate and congratulate each other not rub it in the other's face or make them feel bad about not having been the one to close the deal. She started to walk back into the office confused but Evelyn spotted her. "How'd it go?" her voice was tight and Jerusalem couldn't tell if it was from residual anger over the office or if it was the anticipation of the answer she was about to give. "We have a meeting tomorrow at 12:37" Evelyn raised an eyebrow "12:37?" Jerusalem shrugged. "He likes to set meetings at weird times. He's eccentric." "Psst that's fancy talk for crazy." Donnie piped in with a stage whisper. Evelyn laughed but Jerusalem just rolled her eyes. *** * * Evelyn had wanted to go to the meeting with Jerusalem but that was another thing Jerusalem had insisted on her doing things her way. Donnie and Evelyn waited at the office impatiently for Jerusalem to return. At around 4:00 p.m. she sauntered in as if she were a movie star, wearing big shades and a white pantsuit. Evelyn rolled her eyes and Donnie snickered. Jerusalem said nothing, she just went straight to "her" office. Evelyn gave Donnie an incredulous, "Do you believe her?" look. Then she marched right into the office behind Jerusalem. Jerusalem was sitting behind Evelyn's former desk with her feet up, legs crossed at the ankle. Her white heels pointed toward Evelyn as she asked, "Do you know how to knock?" Evelyn grimaced, "Uhh, the door was open?" "Oh." Is all Jerusalem said lifting her shades. "Well?" Evelyn said crossing her arms. "Well?" Jerusalem said pulling out a cigar from the purse that rested on the desk. Evelyn tried not to betray her anger. This woman was intolerable! And was she smoking a stinky cigar in her personal office...well, the office "formerly known as" hers? "What are you doing?" Evelyn couldn't help herself from asking. "Garner gave me some Cubans..." she said blowing smoke, "You promise not to tell the authorities right?" She said smiling at Evelyn. It was the first smile Evelyn could ever remember Jerusalem giving. Suddenly she forgot about the cigar smoke and remembered why she came into the office in the first place. "How'd it go with Garner?" "Great, we're going to Tahiti this weekend." Evelyn gave the woman a confused look, "You and Garner?" She looked up at Evelyn, blowing perfect smoke rings, "Of course not he's already there. We like you me Donnie. I hope you have your portfolio ready. Some presentation slides...possible proposals..." Evelyn's heart skipped a beat, "What?" "We're staying at his place there...I need to buy a swimsuit..." "What?" Evelyn said frantically, "This weekend? When?" "We are due there by Friday evening. We leave the following Sunday. I hope you don't have any plans next week. Anyway, he's arranged to have us flown there." "Jerusalem, we don't even have a whole week to plan our proposal...we haven't seen the place...we haven't..." "Blue prints, pictures are all in my briefcase." Jerusalem casually said. "So we have to start working now!" "I don't know...I'm pretty tired." Jerusalem put down her feet and sat up in the chair, "I'll leave everything with you and you and Donnie can start on it." "What?" Evelyn scoffed, "You can't be serious?" Jerusalem stood up to leave, "I'll see what you guys are working with in the morning, goodnight." And with that she left. Evelyn had to use every ounce of her will power to restrain herself from throwing the full weight of her body against the woman and proceeding to ring her damn neck. She couldn't believe this shit. Evelyn and Donnie worked until eleven o' clock, throwing ideas around and making sketches. Then they came in the next day bright and early to work on the project, but they had already found Jerusalem there pouring over blueprints and looking at the work they've done. "Well, well, well," Jerusalem said, "I guess when a proposal is due it's the norm to just come in whenever you want to." "It's eight a.m." Evelyn fumed. "You have no idea how long we were here last night." "Listen Miss Thang," Donnie said shrugging off his vintage leather jacket, "I've got bed head and a bad attitude, so please don't piss on me this morning." Evelyn noticed how Jerusalem seemed taken aback at first before smiling. "Well, I was just joking around Donnie, I've actually put on some coffee." Donnie? Evelyn thought to herself. Did she just call him Donnie? Donnie tried to shrug this off, "I'm sorry Ms. Baptiste, I just..." "I guess we should be getting to work. Right Ms. Masters?" Jerusalem said glancing at Evelyn. Evelyn smoothed back her hair and sighed. "This is going to be a long day." She was right it was a long day and by the end of it she had a pounding headache. It didn't help that Donnie and Jerusalem were now thick as thieves. She knew it was petty but she felt like demanding that Donnie not talk to Jerusalem. Why was it that Jerusalem made her feel alienated? She couldn't understand why the camaraderie or even basic comfort level wasn't there with Jerusalem. And to top things off Evelyn thought she must be absolutely exhausted because once or twice she caught herself leaning in a little closer to catch the other woman's scent or she'd find herself looking at the Jerusalem's fingers and wondering...wondering thoughts she wouldn't let her mind think. It was 11 o'clock when they began packing up to leave and all of them looked like they'd put in 12 hours plus, and they had barely breaking to eat the lunch. Well really only Donnie and Evelyn looked absolutely tired. Jerusalem's red pinstriped suit was a little rumpled looking but otherwise she looked fabulous. Evelyn felt like mussing the woman's hair and running off like a naughty school boy. Instead of acting like a child Evelyn shook off her feelings and locked up before they all left. The next few days flew by and there barely seemed to be enough hours to complete all the work and prepare for a trip half way around the world, but by Saturday evening the proposal was as ready as it would ever be and safely packed in a leather bound portfolio. Evelyn was in her bedroom finishing some last minute packing. She too was as ready as she'd ever be for this trip. She hadn't been quite sure what all to bring, she'd packed some summer business suits of course and a few conservative sundresses and a couple of pairs of nice sandals, she'd even purchased two new bathing suit and thrown in her standard black bikini as an old standby. It was insurance really because she was almost sure she'd never have the guts to actually wear the barely there red bikini she'd bought on the spur of the moment. Sure the swim suit looked great on her and that felt good especially since she was nearing her thirtieth birthday, actually it felt more like she were hurtling uncontrollably in the abyss of non youth, but still the cut of material left her virtually naked and she doubted she'd be able to wear it with confidence even if she was thousands of miles away from her ordinary life. With everything finally packed and the work all done she, showered and slipped into a brief lavender nightie before all but falling into her bed. Thankfully she found that both her mind and body were absolutely exhausted after the high stress and very busy week. She was able to sleep peacefully without her thoughts running over themselves in her head as they did when she was awake. Evelyn wasn't often confused and so the confusion she felt was a new and unwelcome annoyance. She wasn't that surprised that she was attracted to Jerusalem The older she got the more she realized that she'd always felt a certain emotional attraction to women, which was why she had almost no female friends. The attraction made her uncomfortable but it didn't really surprise her, what was shocking was the intense physical attraction that she felt. Evelyn had noticed women before, of course she'd written it off as surface admiration when she knew that it was more than that, but with Jerusalem it was impossible to excuse the feeling as anything but lust. The woman's presence actually excited Evie in a very real and very carnal way. That's what had her confused, the fact that she couldn't dismiss or shake the attraction. The past week had been hellish too because she'd be forced by constraints of time to work closely with the woman she'd very much have liked to avoid. Plus she couldn't even retreat to her own office to sulk about the situation. Donnie had noticed something was up but had stopped asking when she'd snapped at him to mind his damn business. Jerusalem as per her usual virtually ignored Evelyn which both annoyed and relieved her. As Evelyn drifted off to sleep, Jerusalem sat in her own apartment sipping a drink and thinking. She had packed days ago not that she'd had much to pack just a few brief swimsuits and a handful of scandalous sun dresses. She packed a couple of suits and such for good measure but doubted that she'd even have occasion to wear them. Jeff wouldn't care if they showed up in ripped jeans and tank tops so long as they were confident in their proposal could back it up with some good work. She knew their work was better than good so she wasn't riddled with nerves like Donnie and Evelyn, she also had known the man for years so despite his money and his influence she didn't feel the least bit intimidated. This was as much a social visit as a business venture any way, Chloe had insisted that her father fly them to the vacation home in Tahiti when she'd heard that Jerusalem was the one making the pitch. Jerusalem and Chloe were unlikely friends who probably wouldn't have known each other at all if they hadn't been thrown in the freshman dorms together. Freshman weren't allowed to have private rooms or apartments so they were stuck together. They hated each other at first in the way that girls usually hate each other, without much basis and a whole lot of petty venom. When they had gotten past being thrown together by circumstance they slowly became friends. Jerusalem stopped resenting all the things that were essentially Chloe's birthright. E & J The girl couldn't help that she'd been born the child of a millionaire and while some of her sensibilities confused Jerusalem they eventually forged a relationship, in the beginning Jerusalem had intended to use the girl for future connections but soon even that fell away and what was left was a real friend. She still couldn't quite understand the need for Chloe to streak her tiny dogs fur to match her own carefully placed golden bronze highlights nor could she understand why that same dog had to be carried around in a purse that had cost what most people paid for a months rent and utilities, but she did understand that things weren't always what they appeared. Chloe was vapid to be sure but she had a sense of compassion that was endearing instead of seeming condescending. She gave because she was a giver not because she felt obligated by some duty and for that reason alone their friendship had been able to endure. If Jerusalem was down for a cause Chloe was all about checking it out and donating and fund raising and whatever else she could do, plus she had some solid causes of her own. She wasn't one of those heiresses who adopted a doe eyed little brown orphans only to receive melancholy photos and letters of thanks for the few cents a day she was sending. She was the one who had initially introduced Jerusalem to a non profit group whose main focus was supporting orphans of the Gaza strip. She'd been so passionate about those babies born into a world of genocide and weaned on violence, she'd also told Jerusalem and anyone who would listen about an Organization that she was starting to help those with special needs specifically in third world countries where care and medical attention could not always be provided, but moreover she also wanted to provide some sort of charity organization that would help low income parents with their special needs child right here in the States. Jerusalem had thought it was just a bunch of talk as did a good number of their peers, they all had pretended to want to be charitable but when it came to starting up an organization that would literally take millions to even get off the ground no one was really interested. It had taken Chloe less than a year to get the grants and some government funding for the non profit group, her father and a few of his high rolling friends had kicked in some money and because she was who she was the whole launch got a whole lot of publicity with a lot of other rich young people stepping up to the plate once the lime light was properly shined on her dream. In addition to donating scads of money Garner had also used his architectural genius to renovate an old warehouse in Soho. The warehouse was to be used for an exclusive invitation only party that would act as a fundraiser for the organization which had been named Project Hope. After being used for the party and cleaned the building was then to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to Project Hope. There had been people brought in by her father's name business associates and those who hoped to one day be business associates, friends of the family and such came as well but the real talk or at least the talk that made it onto MTV news was about the young celebs who wanted to be in on it. Everyone from that blonde heiress who's famous for being famous to, pop singers that we never did fully believe were that innocent to begin with to real live rock and sports stars. It was unreal all the publicity she'd been able to raise and all the rich people who turned out to be seen, and even more admirable were the ones who donated quietly without needing to be recognized. Chloe was the only person Jerusalem knew who could throw a party that would be the talk of the town and raise millions. She held a similar fundraiser every year and every year interest grew and spread. Hell last year there'd been celebrities who had their people calling up only days before the event requesting an invite. Jerusalem had admired her friend on so many levels she could even express them all she had made it work, sure it had helped that she'd had plenty of money at her disposal but Chloe had worked her ass off for Project Hope and Jerusalem knew that more than anyone. Nowadays PH was expanding within the states in order to meet the needs of those with physical limitations or disorders. Previously the main focus had been on helping those with mental disabilities but now five years later they could expand and offer a helping hand to those who couldn't find assistance anywhere else. It didn't escape Jerusalem's notice that Chloe was insanely savvy when it came to business ventures and managing money hell at 24 the woman had built a multi million dollar nonprofit organization and launched a fabulous line of clothes shoes and handbags. The woman watched every cent that PH made and made damn sure all the funds were going to their allotted locations. She was also good at publicity which was something Jerusalem needed to talk to her about. Chloe had been in the public eye all her life so she knew how to work the camera and be just wild enough to garner attention without crossing the line into being trashy, she also knew what would make the cameras flash and how to use it to her advantage. She'd used the launch of PH as her springboard into the fashion industry and Jerusalem wasn't naive enough to think that her friend hadn't planned it as such. Six months after she'd graduated from school Chloe threw the fourth Ph fundraiser but this one had one hell of a cunning twist. She'd gotten in touch with some modeling agencies and as it turned out the agencies and the models alike were happy to volunteer to be part of a PH/Chloe Garner shindig. Hell they were practically falling all over themselves to donate their time and hopefully be snapped in a ton of photo ops. The highlight of the party was the fashion show that she put on with some of the top names in modeling wearing her own designs. There was no way in hell she'd have been able to get them to model in her very first show without paying them hordes and probably not even then for some of the models who would only work with name like Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, but perform at a PH event in her clothes? Yes they would definitely do that and because she wanted to make sure that everyone knew exactly what the deal was she'd made sure to leak the top secret fashion show to photographers who would catch every second of it on film. In the end the show and the party were a success and it became clear that Jeffery Garner wasn't the only powerhouse in the Garner Family. Jerusalem almost chuckled as she remembered the way Chloe had arranged her own debut with such success. What better place to unveil hot new styles than in front of a room of rich people and celebrities? Before the week was out Miss Chloe Garner and had at 10 appointments, now almost a year later she was really successful, she'd designed everything from urban wear to high end suits and everything in between and the she'd designed it all well. She had a flare for color shape and cut that could rival some of the best designers both old and new. They had grown comfortable discussing their careers and such but Jerusalem never did try and use her friendship with Chloe as a way to pitch a proposal to her father. She supposed she had some residual guilt about planning to use the woman who would become her best friend. She was reluctant about this trip although it had been Chloe who insisted that she fly to Tahiti. "Girl I can't come to Tahiti I just started a new job." "Oh yeah the one with that Masters chick right?" "Yeah that's the one." "I knew you'd get it J, that's fabulous." "I know I'm kind of glad to be working again. They paused neither of them spoke to fill the silence that suddenly seemed to hang heavily. Though neither one of them mentioned it they were both thinking about the Duchess. Jerusalem had worked with her for five years and then some if you included the 90 day internship that had started their relationship off and would have kept right on working for her if she hadn't jackknifed her body off of the balcony of her high rise penthouse. They had been friends from the start and Duchess had been like a mother and at the same time a sister one of the few people the girl would let behind her defenses. Jerusalem missed her terribly and though she hadn't dealt with it she had a lot of anger. She had felt so betrayed when she'd heard so terribly shocked and betrayed, then she'd been mad as hell. How could Duchess have left her? What was so terrible? And why couldn't she have asked Jerusalem for help? After the shock and loss of her friend and her employer Jerusalem was lost it barely even registered when she was called by Duchess' attorney and told her presence was requested at the reading of the will. She should have put two and two together but she couldn't imagine why her presence was needed. She was that numb to it all she couldn't believe it when she found out the Duchess had left her everything but the company. Well sort of she'd left instructions that Jerusalem was to own 20 percent of all Duchess' stock and moreover she would inherit all of the woman's assets as well as her money but she would not be allowed to run the business or even hold the controlling interest.. The Duchess had understood the girls need to create something of her own and so she hadn't wanted Jerusalem to put her dreams on hold to honor the memory of a dead woman. She said as much in a letter that arrived days after she'd jumped. The letter had been postmarked for two days before the woman had died and Jerusalem didn't get around to reading it for three months. She wasn't ignoring it, she just hadn't known it was there, day to day things like reading the mail and collecting the paper from the stoop weren't important to her anymore. It wasn't until the day after her electricity got cut off that she even bothered with the mail. She had been about to call up the electric company and give them a piece of her mind until she realized her account was at least 90 days past due. She had to laugh to herself at the irony. It was a bitter laugh, the Duchess had made her into a woman with millions of dollars plus ownership of 20% of the stock in a multi million dollar international business and Jerusalem couldn't even pay her light bill. Sitting down at the table Jerusalem paid some bills and when she came to the letter it nearly fell from her grasp, as she noticed the familiar curve of Duchess' script. When she read the letter she cried and crumpled it up in a fit of anger and pain then she un-crumpled it and folded it putting it back inside of the envelope, she still kept the envelope tucked in her top drawer even though almost a year had passed. The next few months she went through a weird kind of depression, she'd spend and splurge and party until she passed out and none of it made a damn bit of difference. When she woke up the Duchess was still gone and all the money and drugs in the world couldn't bring her back. Jerusalem had pretty much decided not to work at anything productive at least not as far as a career and she was usually too stoned out of her mind to care about the issues that had always spurred her on. Forgotten were the phrases like "When I have money I'm gonna..." or "If I had the money I would..." She did have the money and she wasn't doing shit with it. Some mornings she woke up not sure who she was with or even what country she was in. and she probably would have ended up overdosing or getting killed by some punk kid drug dealer but it had all stopped quite abruptly. She'd been smoking some laced marijuana and watching a small dark woman sniffing blow off of a glass topped table. For a moment Jerusalem's attention caught on the sharp edge of a straight razor that was still faintly tinged with white powder. She wasn't sure how long she watched that sharp dusty blade glittering in the light of the chandelier. She could have stared at it all night and been perfectly happy doing so but her attention was caught by a hand running up her thigh and under the skirt she was wearing. She turned looking into the eyes of a stranger, she felt a distant sort of outrage at his uninvited caress but spread her legs because of the more immediate need to be touched. Her body responded to the man's aggressive touch as he leaned in to kiss her on the lips. He tasted like champagne and something slightly bitter but she straddled him not really caring. He slid her panties down off of her hips as he reclined on a lounge. Soon, she slid her tight wet pussy onto his hard lean dick until it disappeared inside of her. She began to grind her hips on top of him. Hearing him moan turned her on instead of making her ashamed to be riding this stranger in a roomful of other strangers stoned out of her mind. She couldn't be further away from the girl she used to be or the life she used to know and that was exactly the point. It didn't take long for him to reach his climax, his dick dangerously spouting off his DNA inside of her. Lucky for Jerusalem she had just enough sense to take birth control pills. However, this wouldn't matter if she had gotten some sort of disease that night. Even though she couldn't keep track of how many people she fucked that night she managed to dodge this bullet, or actually multiple bullets. After the first man threw her off of him, she had lain there, her thighs open, her wet and used pussy exposed. Before she knew it there was another dick sliding inside of her. She felt it, but didn't object. In fact, it felt surprisingly good. She didn't come the first time she rode her first stranger, but she was ready now, especially after she felt another dick brush against her lips. Another stranger slipped his dick into her mouth, and she instantly moaned. This was so nasty. She felt like a dirty slut. Someone was pumping in and out of her pussy while another man was fucking her mouth. She felt as if she were in a lusty haze when the cloth of her shirt and fabric of her bra was ripped savagely from her body. She looked up, and managed to make out the silhouette of a woman's head even though her vision was partly blocked by the cock in her mouth. This woman was licking and sucking her brown breasts. She felt close to the edge feeling the woman savagely flicking at her nipples, referring them to hard "chocolate kisses". The woman chewed and sucked them as Jerusalem moaned loudly. Pretty soon whoever was fucking her in the pussy had pulled out, spouting his whitish thick jizz on her taut brown stomach. His dick was replaced with a woman's tongue. Jerusalem bucked instantly. Her clit was hard and on fire. She felt the woman fucking her core with her tongue and caressing her inner thighs while another woman was savagely nibbling her hard nipples. Jerusalem still sucked on the strange dick in her mouth with fervor. All of these people, who gathered around her like a moth to light were moaning and groaning uncontrollably. Their inhibitions and even common courtesy had been trumped by lusty instinct and animal yearning. The cock in her mouth had just exploded on her face, but soon this was replaced by the pussy of the same woman who had been abusing her breasts. The woman began to ride Jerusalem's face, rubbing her hard clit against her tongue. Jerusalem flicked her tongue hungrily against the woman's clit and wormed it deep inside of her. She felt so good with one woman eating her wet used pussy and another riding her face. Soon, Jerusalem's breath caught in her throat and she began to moan lowly and primitively. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she sucked on another woman's pussy, and her hips bucked into the woman servicing her as she climaxed over and over again. She didn't keep count of how much she came or made other people came but one thing was sure: Even though men and women both used her body, she was using them too. Sex was just another form of escape, another false pleasure that allowed her to forget the pain and emptiness in her heart. She woke up lying on a tiled floor with a pounding headache. The sun was shining through the windows making her wonder exactly what day it was. She squinted as she sat up. Money surrounded her. Why? It had been evening last she could recall but she wasn't even sure what evening. Suddenly the ache in her pussy and the aftertaste of sex and cum in her mouth made her realize that those people at the party who used her last night must've thought she was a filthy hooker. Though she figured this out it didn't explain why she dressed in clothes that weren't hers and left a house she didn't recognize. Other dazed and sleeping bodies stirred as she moved past them barefoot and quiet like a thief in the night. She walked outside and saw that she was definitely still in New York and a glance at some papers as she passed a newspaper stand told her it was a Thursday. She kept walking feeling as though her limbs were weighted while her head and extremities were floating. She passed two women talking on the street who shied away from her. She didn't realize that she looked like a crazy person. Her clothes kept her from seeming like a homeless person because despite their rumpled appearance they were clearly expensive but her lack of shoes and wild hair and unnaturally bright and darting eyes were unsettling. She kept walking heading toward her apartment automatically though she wasn't sure where her keys were or if she even still lived there for that matter. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been home. As she passed another set of women she heard a few words of their conversation and for a moment it felt like she had been slapped and then slapped again. "Evelyn Masters is decorating. "Who?" "You know that decorator they say she's good, like as good as the Duchess was or something." Then the women were gone and so was their conversation. Jerusalem made it back to her apartment in one piece still shell shocked from the snippet she'd heard. The doorman had to let her in and handed over her Keys that had been found still in dangling from her doorknob. Evelyn Masters...that name stayed in her head. Even when she passed out and woke up in the clothes she'd stolen from god only knows who this morning, or was that yesterday? She couldn't remember. She could never remember anymore. Standing up and hauling herself into the bathroom she'd been about to snort a line of blow to take the edge off until she looked up and caught sight of herself hovering over the countertop. Her eyes were overly bright and she was probably still lit from whatever had made her black out and wake up on some kitchen floor, the whites of her eyes were bloodshot and there were dark circle beneath them. Her hair was well kept and healthy since she'd been lounging around salons and day spas of late but even though it was cut and well cared for it still looked unkempt because she hadn't had a comb anywhere near it in days. She straightened up and kept looking. She undressed almost without thinking still looking at herself. She was thin, too thin, her hip bones were showing and if she'd wanted too she could have counted every one of her ribs. She was couldn't believe this was her body her face. She wasn't even 25 yet and she looked near forty, and not a graceful forty either. She put on the clothes she'd stripped off her mind clear for the first time in a long time. She put on shoes and left her apartment after packing a quick bag and locking the doors. She hailed a cab in front of her building and when she got in she gagged though she was pretty sure she hadn't eaten any food in at least four days. The back of the cab smelled of curry and greasy fried foods mixed with the scent of cheap incense and the sweat of hundreds of passengers. E & J "Were to lady?" Asked the driver in an almost impossible to understand accent. She looked at the license drivers were required to have on posted in the cab. The picture was of the man driving and the name next to it seemed filled with to many constants and no vowels. Oh well forget the polite niceties of names she thought almost smiling to herself. "Where to?" He barked again. She gave him the address and closed her eyes not wanting to watch the familiar trip. She was crying when he pulled up to Duchess' house and he even had asked if she was alright as she tossed more than enough money through the glass partition separating the front from the back. Jerusalem sighed shaking off the thoughts and replied to the question Chloe's silence had asked. Giving the same answer she'd given that night. "I'm fine." "If you say so." Her friend said sounding markedly unconvinced. "I say so." "Okay, now here's why you have to come to Tahiti..." Then she had launched into a long speech about her father's latest venture. Jerusalem was unconvinced and still hesitant. "mmmmm" she mumbled falling back on her non response, response. "I know what mmmm means" Chloe sighed. "But you have to come, please you're the best in the business the business just doesn't know it yet. Besides he asked me to have you call him any how, I was going to wait until we got back to the states but what the hell." "I don't know Clo...why can't it wait I mean I really did just start, hell I haven't even officially started yet." "Come on J...I'm havin a party and you know it won't be the same without you." Besides I'll tell daddy to let you bring your boss and stuff." Jerusalem laughed, "Spoken like a true heiress." "Please J come on it's Tahiti for God's sake...you act like I'm asking you to go to Arkansas or something." Jerusalem could picture her wrinkling her nose at the thought of being anywhere near Arkansas. "Fine but this better be one hell of a party" Chloe let out a whoop and Jerusalem could hear her jumping around on what was probably a bed. "Okay I'll have Daddy call you in the when it's morning there." The women said their goodbyes and just like that things were set into motion. Jerusalem knew she owed her friend one, she knew Chloe hated for her friends to try and gain access to her dad for business purposes by going through her. She'd been hurt many times over by people who weren't at all concerned about how upset she'd be to find that they only liked her for who she was and what she could get them. Which is exactly why Jerusalem would never have asked or even hinted even when Duchess had been hounding her to land them a Jeffery Garner project she had so much as eluded to the idea, and as a personal rule Chloe never suggested or encouraged business relationships with her father or his money. Jerusalem knew they had crossed the line where friends and family mingled and she was glad, not because it could possibly benefit from it but moreover because she felt as if she were a part of something real and stable. As she drifted off to sleep she wondered what kind of food they'd be serving on Mr. Garner's private jet. Across town Donnie cursing fate because he hadn't been given more notice about this trip. He'd had to double his skin care regimen and make an emergency appointment to gat a body wax, plus get his hair cut all while trying to work. Thank God Jerusalem had introduced him to a fabulous stylist and gotten him in for his body was when it looked like all hope was lost. He for one couldn't wait to get to Tahiti and lay on some beach for a week before he had to even think about the proposal they'd worked so hard on. The next morning found the Donnie and Evelyn waiting just inside the doors of the airport. Both of them bleary eyed and sleepy in the darkness of the early morning, the plane would leave at exactly four and it was three fifteen now. Jerusalem had just arrived with an ungodly amount of luggage and an attitude to boot. She breezed past the other two and through the sliding doors. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a matching denim jacket with her hair pulled back from her striking features. Evelyn felt shook her head too tired for much more. She had slept fitfully and knew she currently looked like hell she hoped to sleep at least part of the way on the private 12 hour flight. As it turned out once they boarded the plane she slept the entire way stirring occasionally When Donnie or Jerusalem would make excess noise. Donnie glanced at their sleeping boss. Jerusalem caught his stare and looked over at the sleeping woman as well. She'd been asleep for eight hours and some change and it didn't look like she was waking up any time soon. "She needs to rest" he said quietly, she also needs this trip she hasn't been on a vacation in years. "Hell the last time she took off of work was when her father's cousin died, and that was like a year ago or something." "mmmm" Jerusalem muttered still looking at Evelyn but not wanting to talk about her. She wasn't sure exactly why but something about the woman unsettled her. The attraction she'd felt had been instant but something held Jerusalem in check, it wasn't even the fact that Evelyn was probably straight, Jerusalem could work with that it was something else. Evelyn reminded her of someone and it was only as she looked at the woman's face relaxed in sleep that she realized why she was so unsettled. Her lips were a little fuller, and her features not quite as defined and her eyes were set further apart and were a mix of gray and muted green, instead of hazel but Evelyn looked very much like a darker fuller Duchess. Without realizing it she had spoken her friends name aloud. Donnie looked at her quizzically "How did you know her first name? Nobody has called her that in at least fifteen years?" "What?" Jerusalem was whispering now and still looking across at Evelyn. "Evie's name is actually Duchess Evelyn Masters but hardly anyone but her daddy calls her by her given name. Everyone calls her Evelyn. Duchess is a family name so there's one in every generation. Her father..." "Had a cousin named Duchess who died a year and a half ago..." Donnie paused when she cut him off. "Yeah..." A thought clicked in the back of Jerusalem's mind there had been one person absent and she remembered that the will had Said That Duchess would maintain ownership of the company. At the time she'd thought that her friend had meant the company but she knew now it had been a person. The reading of the will and transfer of the company had been private so it wasn't public knowledge but she'd just bet Evelyn told Donnie everything. "Oh my god..." Jerusalem paused "She's the new Duchess." * * * Evelyn opened her eyes, realizing she was on Garner's jet. She woke up to the sound of Jerusalem and Donnie's banter and laughter. They must've been pouring over the latest copy of Vogue. "You know you could work that dress J," Donnie said. Evelyn really woke up at this point. What happened to "Ms. Baptiste"? "Donnie, I bet YOU could work that better than I could..." Evelyn was confused, she didn't know Jerusalem had a lighter side to her. While she was being friendly and warm with Donnie she was treating her like she barely knew her. She rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. The two looked back at her. "Hey sleepy head!" Donnie smiled. "We're about to touch down." Jerusalem said nothing, just turned back around in her seat. Normally this was to be expected but Evelyn noticed the long and lingering look she gave her before turning around. It was a look of curiosity. She didn't feel either a negative or positive vibe from it. She wondered what that was about. They had left the States in darkness and arrived right outside of Bora Bora in darkness. It was around Nine thirty when they had arrived. They had safely touched down on Garner's estate; Jeffrey Garner had his own landing strip. Evelyn and Donnie were impressed but Jerusalem seemed unaffected. House servants met them and helped them with their luggage to the mansion, which for all its size still seemed quite quaint and humble, taking design cues from it's French Polynesian environment. A young woman wearing shades and carrying a small dog greeted them. "J!" She yelled. The two women ran towards each other and embraced, breaking out in a rapid fire spattering of chatter as they ignored Donnie and Evelyn and headed towards the house. What must've been Mr. Garner's house servant approached Donnie and Evelyn and introduced himself as Thau. He told them that he would show them to their quarters. Incidentally their "quarters" was a beautiful guesthouse near the beach. Donnie and Evelyn were left alone to settle in. Thau told them that someone would be come to them shortly to usher them to a late dinner, drinks and a casual meeting with Jeffrey Garner. "Dress comfortably, you've had a long flight and it's understandable that you're tired." Thau nodded and left. Evelyn wasn't tired at all. She'd been sleeping during nearly the whole flight. Plus she was still on New York time which was late afternoon. Donnie slumped on the couch. "Umm hmmm," she said arching an eyebrow as she narrowed her eyes at him, "If you hadn't been up the whole flight giggling with the ice princess maybe you wouldn't be tired..." "And what was up with you?" Donnie shot back, "Did you take some horse tranquilizers or something? You were knocked OUT!" he said snapping his fingers. She sighed, "Donnie, can you please stop being so gay..." "Can you please stop being so bitchy..." Evelyn shot him a look. "I'm sorry Evie," He said, "But you've been a real you know what lately." He said walking over to her as she sat down in a nearby chair. "I'm stressed out Donnie. I haven't slept in days preparing for this trip. This means everything to me. To us." "I know but relax," he said placing his hands on her shoulders, "Follow J's lead. She seems to think we have this in the bag." Evelyn shrugged his hands off of her shoulders, "'J's lead'"? She mocked, "You two are awfully chummy." "I can't figure it out either," Donnie said, "But she's actually a fun person. I guess it took me snapping at her to bring her down to earth." Evelyn thought about this. Maybe showing a little attitude would give her some leeway with the woman. She needed to be snapping at her instead of Donnie. She looked up at him, "Listen D, I'm really sorry for how I've been acting." "It's okay," He said giving her a quick hug. "We'd better shower and change..." Donnie ran off to the room he had claimed. The phone rang jolting Evelyn out of her own thoughts. She picked it up. "Hello?" She said meekly. "Ms. Masters, it's Ms. Baptiste. How's everything?" "Great. Thau got us settled." Evelyn's voice was tight. She detested Jerusalem's tone: Polite and professional, like some flight attendant. "Mr. Garner is having a little get together tonight near the pool. You guys should be ready in an hour." "Fine." Is all Evelyn could say. She wanted to curse Jerusalem out for leaving them like that to run off with Chloe Garner, who was rude herself by not even noticing them. But she couldn't. And she was sick of all of this "Ms. Masters, Ms. Baptiste" business...and she wanted her office back...and... She said nothing about any of these things. Before she knew it, Jerusalem had hung up. * * * Jerusalem's breath was almost taken away when she saw Evelyn. It had occurred to her just how much she looked like the Duchess. Her long brown wavy hair fell softly over her bare shoulders. She was wearing a white cotton dress that contrasted nicely with her cafe au lait complexion. Her lips were fuller, skin darker, hair longer and wavy, eyes green...and still with all of these minor differences, it was as if the Duchess had come back to life. Jerusalem felt a lump in her throat and then a fire in her chest. She hated being caught off guard like this. She felt vulnerable, and didn't like her feelings sneaking up on her by surprise. She hated thinking about what this all meant. All she knew is that her anger grew and grew. The Duchess had left her to fend for herself, and then by some cruel twist of fate had reemerged in Evelyn. The "new Duchess". Jerusalem scoffed, "Whatever," She turned around facing the barkeep and asked for a refill on her drink. She felt herself getting tipsier by the moment even though she knew it would be better to stay lucid. Garner's pool party was filled with a low chattering hum of conversation. Beautiful people, some celebrities, some simply influential, all rich, gathered and mingled together. Jerusalem watched Donnie and Evelyn nervously float on in limbo, not sure where to go or what to do. "If you understood where you came from, you stupid bitch, you'd realize that none of these people have anything on you." She still couldn't get over the fact that this woman, a weakling who let her walk all over her was related to the Duchess. She knew Evelyn had to be mixed, but she didn't know that the "lighter" side of her family was related to her late mentor and beloved mother figure. For some reason this pissed her off more. Jerusalem huffed as she reluctantly made her way over to her partners. "You've made it," Jerusalem said still holding her drink. "Were is Mr. Garner?" Evelyn asked. Jerusalem nodded over to an area where Chloe stood with her father. She could hear Evelyn gulp. Jerusalem rolled her eyes. She was losing her patience for this "earnest, hardworking, humble" act that Evelyn put on. She acted as if she hadn't come from money herself. Why was this deal so important to her? "Let's go," Jerusalem said as she led them over to Jeffrey Garner. To Evelyn's delight, she and Donnie got along with Jeffrey Garner famously. He was open, charismatic and witty. He forbade them from talking "business" that night, and was more like a friendly host of close and dear friends than a man about to ink any business contracts. They sat in a small lounge area with Chloe, Garner's lawyer, and Garner's latest "girl toy" a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model from the states. Evelyn had been drinking some and this loosened her up a bit. She didn't even notice the tension between her and Jerusalem. After awhile Jeffrey had ventured away from them to mingle with some guests and left the girls (and Donnie) to their own devices. "And you must go to the beach here and get some sun..." Alison the swimsuit model urged Evelyn. "I don't even know if she can handle the sun." It was the first thing Jerusalem had said in a long time. "I mean, Chloe is darker than her...so are you..." she said to Alison. Alison laughed, oblivious, "Oh I've just got a killer tan." Evelyn looked at Jerusalem strangely, but felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Donnie. He understood that Jerusalem was making some sort of stab at her. But why about her skin color? Evelyn tried to shrug it off, "Well, I must admit I don't get much sun. And I'm really not fond of humidity all that much." "Humidity is great for my hair," Jerusalem said, fluffing her hair which had changed into a chunky textured fro in the humid climate of Tahiti. "I LOVE your hair," Chloe said, "Always have...it can do things my hair can't." "I hope you don't mind me saying this," Alison said, "But I just think black women are beautiful." Jerusalem laughed wanting to roll her eyes. "Thanks for the compliment, on behalf of all of the black women here...me..." they laughed, "we thank you." They all giggled except Donnie and Evelyn. Donnie looked uncomfortable and Evelyn seemed pissed. "What do you mean you're the only..." Donnie cut Evelyn off, "Aren't you hungry? Let's go get something to eat," He got up and pulled Evelyn away from the women. "Donnie why did you..." "Now is not the time honey." She pulled her wrist out of his hand, "You get to say whatever you want and she let's you call her J, but I have to be quiet?" "Look, I'm not saying she's right, but why bring other people into this beef you two have?" "You're right..." Evelyn said, "This is between me and her, and we're going to settle it tonight." Donnie stared after his boss as she walked away, it had been a long time since he'd seen her this angry, he wondered what she had meant she'd said they would settle it tonight. He knew one thing if there was going to be some drama he wanted front row seats. Evelyn walked away from Donnie and headed for the bar she had been sorely tempted to slap him for standing up for that bitch, he was right to be sure, now was not the time or the place but she was still mad as hell and she needed and outlet for all the anger that seemed to be boiling just beneath the surface of her skin. She couldn't believe that little bitch. Was all of the animosity really because she was biracial? Or was Jerusalem just that ready to jump on any opportunity to somehow insult her? Evelyn didn't get it but she was sick of all this back biting and childishness. Still she knew she had to keep a level head, firing or throttling Jerusalem would surely upset Garner and as much as she wanted too she wasn't about to let her pride stand in the way of what was best for her business, and right now Jerusalem was a key part of all that. Still if that girl thought she could just mouth off and say whatever she damn well pleased she had another thing coming. Jerusalem watched Evelyn walk away and felt a mix of emotions that did nothing but confuse her all the more. Once she had realized who Evelyn was everything had seemed almost clear for a moment then came the murky confusion. Evelyn looked so much like her deceased friend that she was expecting the similarities to extend beyond looks but when they didn't Jerusalem felt angry and cheated, she'd still never fully come to terms with the way the Duchess had died nor had she counted on the crippling loss, and though she knew it wasn't fair Jerusalem recognized that she'd been projecting much of that anger onto Evelyn, even more so since she'd discovered who Evelyn really was. Underneath the anger though there was something else, an attraction...and that's what confused her. She'd never been physically attracted to Duchess or even had any thoughts of the woman beyond friendship but with Evelyn there was always that white hot spark of attraction and she barely even liked the woman or maybe she did. That confused her too she didn't dislike Evelyn really, but she didn't particularly like her either and the idea of befriending her was markedly unappealing. Perhaps if she hadn't been on her third long island iced tea Jerusalem would have realized that part of the reason that getting to know or like Evelyn seemed so appealing was because she knew that they would click. She wasn't sure how she knew, sometimes you just met people and knew right off that you'd be friends. Jerusalem was not at all interested in making any new friends, well to be exact she wasn't looking to make any new friends that were older and female. She had barely survived one loss no need to set herself up for another. She knew she shouldn't have made that comment but knowing hadn't stopped her, and not being a woman of regret she certainly wasn't going to start agonizing over a few tipsy words now. Evelyn had planned to stay away from her design associates for the duration of the evening, she hadn't decided just what to do about Jerusalem but for now she was content to put it aside at least until she could get the woman alone, now she was having quite a lot of fun mingling with the other two hundred people that weren't in her employ. She even flirted and danced with a few of the men who seemed to be vying like little boys for her attention. Evelyn knew she was a good looking woman but exactly how beautiful she was, was somewhat lost on her especially since for the past two years she'd been avoiding relationships like the plague and had therefore been ignoring or not noticing all the looks and glances she was forever getting. Topher had run her self-esteem nearly into the ground before bleeding her dry and sneaking off like a thief in the night, well in the afternoon anyway. He'd cleaned her out one day while she'd been at work. E & J She was still recovering from the way he'd left her, financially she wasn't hurting at all but emotionally she still wasn't quite past him leaving her like he had, even if he hadn't robbed her blind his departure would have been a crushing blow. They'd been engaged and she had been absolutely ready to spend the rest of her life with him, she'd loved him and thought he loved her too, hell they'd sent out the invitations. To know that he'd used her and hadn't loved her at all...that had been devastating and to have to cancel her own wedding that had been humiliating. She had thought she was over him and as far as loving him and letting him go she really was but the scars he'd left on her physce weren't healed, not yet. Because of that she didn't or perhaps couldn't see the same beauty that everyone else saw. She'd just finished dancing with a tall man with dark striking features when another man took her hand and asked her to dance. He was shorter than the man who'd just danced with her yet his presence seemed to fill up so much space. Evelyn wasn't sure who he was but she was certain he was both rich and powerful. It wasn't just his markedly expensive clothes and jewelry nor was it the fact that he was a guest at Garner's "little' party, there was just something about the way he carried himself. "Are you enjoying your stay on the island?" He asked, the man had a subtle and impossible to place accent that made his words seem almost melodic. "Yes of course, thank you." Evelyn said smiling a little wider. "It's so beautiful here." The man laughed easily and pulled her just a little closer, Evelyn was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable being held so intimately by this stranger. When he'd pulled her closer he'd angled his thigh between her legs. Just slightly but pushed with enough pressure for her to know he'd done it on purpose. She looked into his eyes slightly startled, she tried to step back a little and put space between them but his hand at the base of her back held her in place. "You're a very enchanting woman..." as he spoke he pulled her closer still, Evelyn didn't want to make a scene and it wasn't likely that this powerful stranger would throw her down and have his way with her in front of all these people but still she felt as if she were suffocating in his increasingly tighter embrace. His hands were moving down her back now and then cupping her ass, as she struggled. He was whispering in her ear or at least starting to when Jerusalem walked up and grabbed her arm literally dragging her from the man's lecherous embrace. "Could you stop fucking around? Garner wants to see you." She said loudly Evelyn snatched her arm away as they walked away from the man who seemed none too pleased to have Evelyn torn from his lascivious clutches. "Will you lower your voice and get your hands off of me? Are you drunk?" Evelyn asked as Jerusalem continued to drag her along. "Could you thank me for dragging you away, or maybe you liked the way he had his hands all over you." Jerusalem said stepping back and letting her go. She ran her eyes over the woman's form and when she met Evelyn's eyes she spoke again. "And no I'm not drunk." With that she turned and walked away heading away from both Evelyn and the party. Evelyn started to follow her but Donnie walked up and grabbed her arm. "Girl have you tried the food, oh my god it's to die for." Evelyn looked at him with an eyebrow arched. "Why is it that every time you see me talking to Jerusalem" she laughed, "I mean Miss Baptiste that you try and stuff me with food?" He shrugged his shoulders and looked like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Evelyn laughed and tugged his arm a little. "Come on then, let me try some of this damn food so you can stop trying to fatten me up." "Girl you know you don't need me to fatten you up." He said poking at her side and tickling her. She laughed out loud at his teasing, glad they'd fallen back into their old commaradrie. She had missed just joking around with him and not constantly stressing. Donnie was right the food was indeed delicious and she was enjoying is company immensely although she kept glancing around. She wouldn't admit it to herself but she was looking for Jerusalem. She didn't see the woman though, and after an hour of sampling food and just hanging out with Donnie Evelyn decided to head to the guest house to get some rest. It wasn't like she had an early morning to wake up for or anything but she was beginning to feel drained. Donnie offered to walk with her back to the house but she refused then wished she hadn't once she remembered the man who had grabbed her earlier. By the time she thought about it she was halfway there and it seemed foolish to circle back still she was nervous right up until the time that she reached the door of the house. Jerusalem had retired to the main house with the intention of sleep but after she'd showered and slipped between the sheets she felt restless. She didn't want to acknowledge the reason she had left the party and perhaps wouldn't have it the thought hadn't kept creeping into her mind as she lay in the cool dark climate controlled room. She hadn't liked seeing Evelyn with that bastards hands all over her, at first she'd just been annoyed and bothered but when the look on Evelyn's face told her that the advances were not welcome she'd felt enraged, not just upset honest to goodness white hot anger. That scared her because just then Jerusalem felt like she was fighting a losing battle, she wanted to not like this woman but even more she wanted her and the attraction was starting to intensify into a fierce need. Much later Evelyn still lay awake in her own bed in the guest house thinking of the way Jerusalem had looked at her when she'd dragged her away from that man. She had stared at Evelyn her eyes fiercely possessive. That look had made Evie lose her breath and it had been a long time since she'd been breathless. So now she knew or at least she thought she knew, her theory was that Jerusalem was definitely attracted to her and for whatever reason the woman had chosen to fight the sexual pull. Maybe that's why she'd been such a self righteous cunt all those times. She drifted off to sleep as the sun rose, smiling and thinking. She woke up to a voice saying, "Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!" It was Donnie hovering over her, apparently freshly showered and dressed. He was smiling as he pounced on her bed shaking the both of them. "What time is it?" Evelyn asked. "Close to eleven," responded Donnie, "Come on time to get up, we're having brunch with everyone." Evelyn rolled her eyes, she didn't feel like having to face Jerusalem again. Even though she thought she figured out why the woman acted as if she hated her so much, it was still an awkward situation. As Donnie pulled her up, she pulled back, "No." she whined. Donnie laughed, "What do you mean, 'no'? Get up. After we eat Garner is going to have us pampered at his own personal spa right here on the estate!" Donnie clapped. "Come on, I need a seaweed wrap Evie, you're not that damned tired." "I don't want to eat with *her*." Donnie groaned, "Would you please just LIG this thing with Jerusalem? Let It Go. I'm sure she doesn't hate you as much as you think." Evelyn smiled, "I think you're right." Donnie squinted his eyes, "What do you mean Evie?" She smiled and then shared her theory with him. Within a half an hour Evelyn was dressed in a breezy sun yellow sundress. Underneath she had worn that barely there red bikini that she once had second thoughts about wearing. However, after Donnie's little "pep talk", she felt way more confident in herself. If it was true that Jerusalem was sexually attracted to her, then she could use this to gain her footing back as not just her boss, but as someone to be respected. Donnie and she were surprised to see that no one else was at brunch yet. They were directed to an outside alcove that faced the ocean. The seating and surrounding furniture had an unpretentious rustic island theme. The "straw" and palm frond like seats she and Donnie sat in weren't itchy or uncomfortable at all, and the designer in her wondered who designed this furniture. The glass top table covered a material of the same nature. It was simple and brilliant. She mentioned this to Donnie who just rolled his eyes, "We're on vacaaaaatioooonnnn...hello?" "No we're not." "Well make pretend for now okay?" Thau arrived to tell them, "I'm afraid Mr. Garner will not be joining you. He had an emergency meeting in Moorea." "Well, will anyone else be coming?" Donnie asked. "Ms. Garner and Ms. Baptiste will not be joining you either I'm afraid. They've decided to go shopping." Evelyn's jaw dropped. Some hosts these people were, and Jerusalem was rude too. Who was she with Design & Conquer or the Garner family? "Your meal will be served in moment," Thau bowed gracefully and left. Almost immediately they were served their first course which existed of fare such as exotic fruit and flaky croissants. As they began to eat, they were served more food which consisted of French pastries such as croissant and crepes, as well as traditional island dishes which consisted of fish and seafood in sweet sauces and flavored rice and vegetables. She gave Donnie a look, "So rude of her! I mean she's supposed to be down with us right?" "I told you this was a vacation." Donnie said sipping his coconut milk based drink, "hmm tasty..." "I'm confused, is this a business trip or what?" "Oh, you're just mad that you can't show off your sexy dress to Jerusalem and test your 'theory'." Donnie smirked. Maybe he was right. After brunch Thau led them to the spa on the premises, where their muscles were kneaded in submission. After being pampered a very sleepy and relaxed Donnie decided to take a nap in the sun near the pool, while Evelyn headed for the sauna. She wanted to sweat all of her worries and troubles away and just have fun like Donnie had suggested she do. When she entered the steam-room she sat down leaned her head back and sighed in the steam. She could feel the humidity filling her lungs, entering her pores. Shutting her eyes she imagined the tension into the billowy vapor that surrounded her and began to feel quite relaxed. After several minutes of uninterrupted relaxing, the door to the room opened. Someone had entered. Her eyes snapped open and who she saw made her heart beat fast. Jerusalem didn't seem to notice Evelyn as she pulled off her towel and headed to the opposite side of the room. Evelyn gulped. Jerusalem was fully naked. Jerusalem had one of those "perfect" bodies. Curves in the right places, slim without being skinny. Her brown skin glistened and moistened almost immediately in the heat. Evelyn found herself calling Jerusalem's name. The woman's head snapped towards her and she seemed shocked but not at all embarrassed to find Evelyn there. Still the look of surprise on her face told Evie that she had thrown off Jerusalem's equilibrium some. She wasn't prepared for Evelyn in her polished and pretensions way. She was literally naked and vulnerable. And now it was time for Evelyn to show her who was boss. "Where the hell have you been all day?" Evelyn asked her in a tone Jerusalem hadn't heard or even expected from the woman she'd thought to be so meek. "I was...I went shopping with Chloe." "Don't you think that's a little rude?" "No." Jerusalem replied before turning away and heading to the opposite side of the sauna, Evie's tone was unsettling and she needed to put some space between them. She didn't trust this attraction and she wasn't sure she could hide it much longer. All she could seem to focus on was the fact that Evelyn wasn't wearing anything but an almost non existent red bikini. Evelyn stood before she even had a chance to think about what she was doing and closed the space the woman had put between them, She trailed her fingertips up along the smooth dark skin of Jerusalem's back. She hadn't even meant to touch the woman but somehow once she got within arms length she just couldn't help herself. "What are you running from?" the question was spoken so quietly Jerusalem almost didn't hear it, she couldn't say for sure if it was the words or the woman's touch that made her stop moving. "I'm not running" she said whipping around to face Evelyn. "Are you trying to convince me or you?" Evelyn asked searching the woman's dark eyes "I'm..." Before she could finish her reply Evelyn's lips were on hers and as much as Jerusalem's mind screamed for her to resist her body just wouldn't listen. When Evie pulled away she looked into Jerusalem's eyes again. She realized how hot the woman's skin felt against her own moist steaming skin and she realized exactly what she was about to do. Pressing her body into Jerusalem's she lowered them both onto one of the benches that lined three of the four walls, she gave a self satisfied chuckle at the satisfying smack of the woman's skin hitting the tiles. Evelyn was on top of Jerusalem skin to skin with their faces only inches apart. Jerusalem knew that she'd just lost a battle of some sort and while her first instinct was to rebel she repressed it curious to see exactly what would happen. She felt a sort of surrender as she parted her lips and licked them with the tip of her tongue. She didn't say a word be she nodded her head as if she were responding to a question. Then Evelyn's hands and lips were all over making her lose her breath and let out tiny moans. Evelyn kissed Jerusalem's mouth nibbling and biting the woman's lower lip. Her hands were all over that smooth dark skin trying to memorize each and every curve. Evie felt as if her skin were on fire every place Jerusalem's skin met her own. She couldn't get enough of the feel of the woman beneath her and as she moved her lips lower she found she couldn't get enough of the flavor of her either. She kissed the skin of her neck licking the woman's collar bones then moving lower to lick the gentle swell of her breasts. She sucked Jerusalem's nipples pulling each one gently into her mouth and swirling her tongue over the tips making the woman beneath her squirm and moan. Evie found her fingers traveling to the wet juncture between the woman's thighs feeling all those sweet soft secrets that had them both moaning. Needing to taste what she was feeling Evelyn lowered her head leaving little wet kissed every where her lips touched. When she was between the woman's thighs she bent her head to the neatly trimmed triangle of curls with a little hint telltale of pink showing revealing Jerusalem's heightening arousal. Evelyn spread the woman apart marveling at the soft lush wetness that was only inches away from her face. She closed the space brushing her tongue across the tip of Jerusalem's clit. She repeated the motion again ad again until the woman trembled. The she dipped lower and pressed her tongue into the woman's hot moist center, tasting her from the inside out. She stroked her tongue in and out swirling it around against Jerusalem's inner walls loving the slightly salty sweetness that seemed to flow so freely. Jerusalem was pressing grinding her hips into Evelyn's face, moaning panting and then finally begging as she ran her hands through the woman's thick curly hair. She wanted this so bad, she couldn't seem to catch her breath as she felt the tight coil of he climax unfurling in her body. She moaned low and deep calling Evelyn's name and pressing as close as she could to the woman. When she was spent she lay there sweating in the steam with Evelyn's head on her thigh and the woman's fingers stroking her sensitive folds gently. Evelyn was the first to speak and although Jerusalem couldn't see her face she knew the woman was smiling. "Maybe now you won't be so fucking uptight, you little bitch" Jerusalem frowned. What did Evelyn just call her? Her post-orgasmic bliss was replaced by the feeling of one's own wounded pride. She grabbed a fistful of Evelyn's hair and yanked her head up. Evelyn yelped surprised. "So I'm the uptight little bitch around here huh?" Jerusalem smiled as she sat up, still holding Evelyn's hair clutched between her slender brown fingers, "Well, I'll show you who's really uptight..." In one swift move Jerusalem had Evelyn lying flat on her stomach on the same bench she had been tasted on. Jerusalem threw her own body on top of Evelyn's suddenly. Evelyn made a sound as if the wind had been knocked out of her, but Jerusalem didn't care. She pulled her whole body into Evelyn' her breasts indenting her back, her mound grinding into her ass, hands gripping the undersides of the bench they were on. Evelyn felt as if she were being smashed flat by something large, flat, metal and heavy, when in actuality it was the slender hot sweaty mocha brown body of her employee pressing all of her weight onto the woman. With the humidity, steam and exertion she had spent dominating Jerusalem with her tongue along with the surprise of how the tables had quickly turned, Evelyn felt as if she couldn't breathe. She didn't like this at all. Jerusalem continued to press her into the tiled bench as she squirmed and moaned to break away. "I'm not kidding..." Evelyn whimpered, "I can't breathe let me go." "Stop moving and you'll be just fine." Jerusalem ordered. Evelyn gritted her teeth and became angrier, but she was surprised again at what she felt next. Jerusalem had reached beneath them and slid two fingers between the netherlips of her pussy. Soon she was deep inside of her warm moist core. Evelyn gasped. What was going on? Jerusalem moved on top of Evelyn, her hot sweaty body pressed against her boss' and finger fucked her deep, caressing her tight walls. Suddenly the suffocation that was a burden before became pleasurable. Jerusalem had complete and total control of the situation. Evelyn could scarcely move. She could feel Jerusalem's hard nipples in her back, her wet pussy rubbing against her ass. She moaned as Jerusalem's thrusts became deeper and more rapid. Evelyn couldn't help shuddering, she was close to the edge. "Whose is it bitch?" Jerusalem whispered in her ear. "Uhhh hhuhhh..." Evelyn's voice trembled. "Whose!" "Y-y-yours..." Evelyn gasped. And with that Jerusalem pulled her fingers out of Evelyn's pussy and began to grind her fingertips in hard deep massaging circles into the folds of her friend's clit. "Ahhhh!" Evelyn screamed. She couldn't believe this. "Cum hard you little high yellow bitch..." "Uggggh!" The sensation felt so good that there were tears in Evelyn's eyes. Suddenly her entire body shuddered beneath Jerusalem as her muscles clenched and unclenched over and over again. Evelyn couldn't help how loud she was as she climaxed. After Evelyn had finished, Jerusalem stood up on shaky legs, a smirk on her face. She gave a self-satisfied laugh as she exited the sauna. Evelyn, trying to gather her senses and catch her breath remained in the same position on her belly, haunted by that laugh. please don't forget to leave public comments and send feedback, also check out Browncuriousity's page, there's a link in my favorites section.