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CHAPTER 42
Mark sighed. His hands slid off the edge of the bath to rest on her legs and he turned his head to face her. He realized that he hadn't really considered what she'd been through in the last few weeks and months, with Benjamin Moore, her mentor and friend dying. Then she'd been thrown in to look after him, and that must have been so stressful for her.
"You worried about today?" He asked gently."A little," She admitted, her gaze fixed on the wall. "It seems like saying goodbye to him, but I don't really want to. Does that make sense?""Absolutely," Mark said gently. "You know I'm here for you, right?"She nodded once, then sighed. "I miss him.""I bet you do.""This whole thing with you is confusing me too," She admitted quietly. "I thought you and I could have the same sort of relationship that Benjamin and I had, but it's different.""How different?""Well, we never did anythRelated chapters
The Island CHAPTER 43
Markwalked through to the bedroom, spotted an outfit that Francescahad picked out for him for the day and shook his head at the madness of what his life was becoming.It took him a few minutes to get changed, this time into a pair of black jeans, a faded t-shirt with a loose black shirt over the top, and a pair of sneakers. Smart, but informal and casual."Strange combination if there's guests arriving," He muttered, but shrugged and gathered up his phone and headed for the door.For the third time that day he lit a cigarette, although this time he was able to smoke it in relative peace and quiet. Markfelt good. Considering how badly the day had started with the argument with Jasmine, it had improved significantly when she'd slid in the bath with him and they'd... bonded, for want of a better word.He knew he was really smitten with her, knew his heart rate jumped a little every time she walked in the room, something he r
The Island CHAPTER 44
"There's nothing else on the schedule for today after that," Jasminesaid finally. "On the media side of things, our press office is getting hammered with requests, and there's been a list of people who have come forward to be interviewed by the media.""Anything about my past?" Myraasked cautiously."Not yet," Jasminereplied. "It's worthwhile mentioning that Diablo Cody used to be a dancer until she wrote Juno. If it breaks that you used to be a dancer, then with the cover story of being a writer you can probably expect calls from the studios asking you to write something for them. They're always looking for the next someone or other, in this case Diably Cody..""That'll be no comfort when the press are painting me as a slut," Myrasaid flatly."We've already got strategies prepared if that happens," Jasminereplied.Myradidn't look relieved, so Jasmineturned to Maddy."There's
The Island CHAPTER 45
The hours raced by, a constant hustle from job to job, place to place. Takiwas tidying his facial hair when Markhad a 'Eureka moment' about his speech and it took him forty minutes to re-write it when he got back, then scribble the bullets onto cards.Jasminewanted to see what he was going to say, but Markfelt confident that he'd struck the right note with it and told her she had to trust in him to stand on his own for this one. As he'd caved on the insistence of her having the day off, he knew she had to give him that one, unhappy as she was.Francescaappeared with a pocket watch that Markwas to wear in his waistcoat that belonged to BenjaminMoore, frowned at him and ordered him into a new shirt, so he got changed and then he was off to greet the first of their guests.The clatter of a helicopter announced the arrival of the first of their guests, and Mark, Myraand Maddywere waiting as the twin-r
The Island CHAPTER 46
The staff were the first to drift away, with nearly all of them working, and many of the guests followed. Maddyand Myragot up, but Markremained in his seat, wanting to stay and witness the burial, but his sisters reminded him they had lots of guests and that he couldn't stay there all day.On the walk back up to the house Markgot many compliments on his speech, of the courage it took to get up there, and of how it reminded them of BenjaminMoorehimself in the way it was delivered. The last part came as a surprise to Mark.The next half hour of mingling back at the house was a repeat of the same conversation. Really great speech, emotional, reminded me of him, but it passed quickly and it was time to walk many of the guests back to the boat or the helicopters that were waiting to take them back to the world.By the time they bade them farewell and got back to the house, Markwas feeling pretty drained and excuse
The Island CHAPTER 47
He paused as he heard a whistle and Myrafrowned, looking over the balcony. "I think someone's trying to get your attention, Mark."He stood up and looked down at the pool area, where Heidi was trying to stop a drunken Jasminefrom going for a swim."She's totally wasted," Myramuttered, shaking her head."Fucking hell," Marksaid, laughing as his assistant nearly fell over.Heidi waved again for Markto come and give her a hand, and he nodded."Better go help her," He said, stubbing out his cigarette."Have fun."Marknipped down the stairs then out to the pool where Heidi now had a hold of one of Jasmine's arms and was trying to hold her back, telling her, "It's not a good idea to go swimming when you're drunk, and never when you're wearing Prada, Jasmine.""Hey, Jasmine," Marksaid, stepping in front of her to divert her attention."Wooo!" She said
The Island CHAPTER 48
He turned his alarm off quickly and flicked on the bedside light. Jasminehad rolled over at some point in the night and was sprawled across the bed, the sheet twisted down around her hips.He looked at her lying there for a second, then reminded himself he wasn't a fucking creep and got out of bed. A quick wash in the bathroom woke him up and he entered the dressing room quietly, removing his top, stained with saliva where Jasminehad drooled on it as she slept. He slipped another one on, then gathered up his phone, pulled the sheet up over her and headed for the gym.Markwas feeling pretty pleased with himself for not giving in to temptation last night. At one point he'd woken up, spooned in behind her and as he moved he felt her pushing her ass back into him. It would have been all too easy for instinct to take over, and it had tempted him at the time, but he'd remembered the state she was in, and he didn't want that. If he was goin
The Island CHAPTER 49
Markput the bath on, surprised at how fast the water level rose, and he opened the cabinet that had jars after jar of different salts, powders and other things that he wasn't sure of. Rather than put in something that might make her feel sick, he just checked the water level and when it was deep enough, he shut off the tap and walked back into the bedroom.Jasminewas sitting up in bed now, her knees drawn up and the sheet tucked under her arms as she drunk from the second water bottle."Bath's ready.""Oh good," She muttered.Mark's eyes widened as she threw the sheet to one side and slid naked across the bed, then walked past him and got slowly into the bath."Bit casual with the nudity this morning, are we?" He joked."I don't care," She stated. "I'm sure you saw me naked last night, and I'm too rough to give a shit today."She dunked her head under the water, then swept her hair clear of her
The Island CHAPTER 50
Markleft and got dressed, opting for light blue jeans, an old faded t-shirt and timberland boots, Francescabe damned. He roughly towel-dried his hair and swept into place with his fingers, grabbed a pair of shades, his phone and cigarettes and headed outside.He found the actress sitting at a table overlooking the pool, looking elegant as she sipped at a coffee. Marksaid hello and took a seat."Sleep well?""Yes," She smiled. "It's so peaceful here.""Feel free to visit any time you like," Marktold her. "I've no idea if my sisters or I will be here, but there's plenty room if you need to get away for a few days.""I might take you up on that," She replied. Her eyes flicked down to the phone and cigarettes on the table. "Smoke if you want to, I don't mind."Marklit up. "So you wanted to see me?""Yeah. When you coming to LA?"He laughed, reminded of the conversation u
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