The Memoirs of Cordelia Chan

The rest of the weekend passed uneventfully, as did most of Monday and Tuesday. I was half way through class Tuesday evening when Huo-Jin turned up. Brent and Jena had been attacked on their way home. It appeared Brent was the target and Jena had only been injured when she had tried to help Brent. He was in a bad way. He'd several broken ribs, his right arm had been broken in two places and both legs had been broken. The attack had all the hallmarks of a professional beating, as they took nothing of value, and Jena had only been knocked out. He asked me if I knew if they had any enemies or if I knew anyone who might bear them a grudge. I lied and told him I knew of nobody, but I'd already guessed who was likely to be responsible.
It took a lot of mental effort to finish class without betraying my emotions, but it did have one positive affect, by the time classed finished my anger was focused and channeled and usable. I hailed a cab and headed for Marcus's.
The doorman was surprised to see me, and managed to bar my way for about 3 seconds. By the time the lift doors closed he'd managed to pick himself up and dust himself down. The penthouse loby was empty. I rang the bell. By the time Langdon had the door half open I was already inside. "Where is he Langdon?"
"Mr Trent has guests Miss Cordelia he is not to be disturbed."
Langdon had moved to stand in front of the library doors which told me exactly where Marcus was. "Out of the way Langdon. I've no wish to hurt you but will if I must."
He didn't move. "Please Langdon. I really don't want to have to hurt you."
He looked at me, then stepped aside. I stalked past him and threw the doors open. Marcus was surprised and obviously not pleased to see me. I picked up a vase off the table nearest the door and hurled it into the open drinks cabinet. The vase and a number of bottles and glasses exploded. "I take an exceedingly dim view of having my friends beaten up. If you don't want this place taken apart you'd better start apologizing."
I picked up another vase. The guest in the chair on the opposite side of the room decide to reach into his jacket. He didn't make it before the vase exploded on his arm. I took a statuette off a shelf. "Anybody else going to do anything stupid?" Marcus spoke "Cordelia, calm down what's this all about?"
The top of the drinks cabinet exploded sending glass raining on to the floor below. I looked for another missile. "Alright, alright. Don't destroy anything else."
I'd been slowly moving down the room. As I drew level with the guy in the chair on the left he leapt at me. I dropped, and using my feet as a lever hurled him across the room. Strike one table, vase, ashtray, and guest. Marcus knew better and sat where he was. "You'd better start making phone calls. They're in Mercy Hospital. I want them moved to private rooms. I want their medical bills paid and I want the best orthopedic surgeon to treat Brent. You'd better pray that he can walk and ride again."
I turned round to see two cops coming through the door guns drawn. "Freeze. Don't do anything stupid. You're coming with us."
"That's alright officers. There's nothing for you to do here. Just a little misunderstanding. You should go."
Marcus had stood up and was walking towards them. " I'm sorry sir. We can't do that. She's coming with us. "
The guest in the chair moved having recovered from the impact of the vase, although he was holding his right arm. " Marcus, what's going on here? "
" Just get your men to leave and I'll explain. "
He stood up. "You two know who I am?"
They hesitated, looked at one another, and then one said "Yes sir."
"Good. Then there's nothing for you here. It was just an argument that got out of hand. No one got hurt and there was nothing for you to do when you got here. Okay?"
"You sure sir?"
"Yes. Now beat it."
They holstered their guns and turned to leave. The heap in the corner groaned and sat up. He was bleeding from a head wound. "Before you go you'd better take Frank down to Mercy and get him treated. Write it up as job for the Commissioner. No details okay?"
They nodded and moved to help Frank. He couldn't stand on his right leg. They picked him up and left. "This better be good Marcus. And your not going anywhere Miss Chan. Now take a seat where I can see you. "
I remembered now that I'd been introduced to him and his wife at the Halloween ball. Marcus started to explain. After my performance at the Purple Dragon he'd left in a rage. It'd taken a little doing but he'd arranged to have Brent beaten up for groping me. He hadn't expected my reaction.
The Commissioner looked at Marcus. "You're in serious trouble. I'm not sure we can keep this quiet. When Frank recovers I'll get him to see if the DA's office will drop any prosecution if the attackers are caught. Marcus, you're going to have to convince him to leave Miss Chan alone. Miss Chan you're going to have to convince your friends not to pursue this matter."
"That might take some doing. They're going to want compensation and so am I. I'm now without a mechanic for the next six months!"
"Marcus moved to the desk in the corner, unlocked it, withdrew a cheque book and wrote two cheques. He gave them both to me. One was for $25,000 payable to me, the other had no name and was for $200,000. " Will that cover it? Can you forgive me Cordelia?"
"I'll think about it.". I turned to the Commissioner "Can I go now?"
"Yes. I'll find you if I need to."
"Goodbye Marcus, Commissioner "

I left Marcus's and headed for the hospital. Jena and Marcus were in the process of being moved to a private room so I was forced to wait to see them. Jena was being kept in overnight for observation, but Brent would be in for several days. They wanted to know why they'd suddenly been moved. I told them what had happened. Jena wanted to sue, but I managed to persuade her it was not a good idea, and eventually she accepted the $200,000 cheque. I told her to take the rest of the week off but she wouldn't. I told her that their salary would be paid as normal for six months, so Brent could go back when he was ready. We'd have to find another mechanic in the meantime. She said she'd sort something out.

The following night I returned from college to find a delivery boy waiting outside my apartment. I signed the chit and he gave me the bouquet of 36 red roses. The card said "Forgive me.". The following night he was there again, except this time the card said "Phone me." I signed the chit, took the bouquet, went inside and put the card in the bin. When I got home Monday night, there was a small parcel as well as the now daily bouquet. The parcel contained a pair of jade earrings. On Tuesday I had another pair of earrings, pearl this time, and a visit from Jena. I gave her the bouquet as I was running out of space. "Somebody's groveling big time. " she said. " Not enough " I replied.
On Wednesday the box got bigger and I got a jade necklace and a pair of diamond earrings. Thursday I got a pearl necklace, sapphire earrings and a sapphire dress ring. Friday I got a dress, shoes, underwear, purse, and jacket. Saturday I got what I was after, Marcus turned up in person. "What do I have to do to get you to talk to me " he asked. "You're doing it" I replied.
"Look I did a really stupid thing, I can see that now. Can you forgive me?"
"Maybe."
He moved towards me and I backed away. "Please Cordelia. I'm really sorry."
"It's not me you need to apologize to is it?"
"No. I guess not. Can I have their address?"
I wrote it down and handed it to him. I didn't resist when he took hold of me and kissed me." Forgive me?"
"Yes."
His kissing and hand movements became a little more intense. I broke free of his grip. "Sorry Marcus. I'm not in the mood."
He looked at me. "Do I have to explain that as well?"
He went red. "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"
"Why?"
"I was going to ask you to come up to Aspen. I've a ski cottage there."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to see my mother in New York. "
"The weekend after?"
"Training. And the week after than I've got my Dan grading."
"I take it we're finished then?"
I moved close to him again, and put his arms around my waist. "No. I'm just busy from now till Christmas. Also I've never skied and don't have anything to wear."
"That can be remedied if you can find some time for me to take you shopping."
He'd moved his hand around between us and undid my jeans. "You're going to be disappointed."
"Maybe. That depends on how inventive we are."

The rose deliveries continued throughout the following week. Jena dropped by Wednesday night to say they'd had a visit from Marcus and that he was picking up the bill for their move to their new apartment. Thursday night I found out that Ryan was staying on campus for Thanksgiving. It took more arm twisting than I would have thought to get him to come and spend Thanksgiving with me in New York. If we'd been at my mothers apartment things would have been difficult but when Gulong picked us up from the airport and drove towards Statten Island, I guessed we must be going to his place.
The house was about the same size as Marcus's penthouse, only on two stories instead of one, and not nearly as lavishly or well furnished, although I could see traces of my mother's handiwork. When I explained that bringing Ryan was a last minute decision, Gulong put him in the bedroom next to mine.
I was going to learn quite a lot about Ryan that weekend. He was quiet and subdued on the Friday night and went to bed early. As we were clearing away my mother asked if I was sleeping with him. I said no but told her what Charles had said to me about him. She asked if I was going to do anything about it and I said I hadn't made up my mind yet.
My first surprise came the following morning. He'd failed to lock the door of the bathroom and I'd walked in on him in the shower, leaving him extremely embarrassed in view of what I caught him doing. I retired to my room and waited until I heard him return to his before returning to take my shower.
He was even more subdued at breakfast, so much so that my mother asked if he was okay. I knew if I didn't clear the air between us the weekend would be a disaster. I asked my mother whether there had been any sign of my father. She said no but it'd been a while since she last went over there. I said I'd take Ryan and go take a look. Gulong asked him if he had a license. When he said he did he threw him a set of car keys "Bring it back in one piece."
Ryan said thanks and we set off. Other than me giving him directions we barely said a word on the journey. Rather than go directly to my fathers I'd elected to go to the park about a mile away and walk, approaching the house from the rear. When I tried to take his arm as we walked he shrugged me off. I asked him what was wrong but he said "Nothing" and lapsed back into silence. I'd have to try another tack.
The house appeared deserted, and in the early stages of decay. The outside door into the kitchen was broken, and anything easily transportable of value had been taken. In one bedroom there was a large four poster bed, still made, and a fire grate. I asked Ryan to go get some wood from the pile outside, found some kindling and matches and lit a fire in the grate. When he came back with the wood I told him to add some of it to the fire and put the rest of it by the side of it. As he put the wood down I locked the door. "Ryan you and I need to talk."
"We've nothing to talk about."
"I disagree."
He sat there watching me in silence. "Have it your way then."
I started to undress. As I undid my jeans he told me to stop. "Not until you start talking."
I stepped out of the jeans and pulled my t-shirt over my head. "Stop. Please Stop."
He'd started crying. I removed my bra. He was sobbing almost uncontrollably now. I moved towards him, and he backed away. "I can't. I can't. Its dirty. Stop it. Go away. Please."
I backed him up against the bed, and removed his sweater. It's alright I said and pushed him backwards. He didn't resist as I undressed him. "Give me your hands."
Reluctantly he complied. I put them on me and started moving them about. When he was moving them of his own accord I said "now remove my pants."
I had to tell him again before he did it. I knelt on the bed above him. " Now put your hand between my legs " He didn't move. I took his hand and forced it against his resistance to go where I wanted it. It was exceedingly difficult to manipulate his fingers to do what I wanted and eventually I had to turn around to get his fingers where I wanted them. The rest of his body was at least responding naturally and I bent down and helped it along a bit. I could tell he was responding too quickly now. I removed his fingers, turned round, and inserted him. His climax happened really quickly. I cursed myself, I'd wanted him to experience more than that.
"Are you okay."
"Yes."
"Sex, isn't anything to be frightened of. You need to find yourself a nice girl and find out for yourself.
"But I've got you."
"No Ryan. You just imagine you have. I did that because I didn't want this weekend spoilt and because it was the only way to end this delusion of yours. What I do with my body is my concern as is who I do it with."
He looked at me. "Can we do it again?"
"No. Because I'd spoil it for you. Do you understand?
"Not really. Can I ask you something?"
"Why if you fancy Charles do you persist in seeing Marcus Trent"
"What makes you think I fancy Charles?"
"Because of the way you just blushed when I mentioned his name and the way you look at him."
"He doesn't know does he?"
"No but Alexis suspects. Don't worry I wont let on."
"Thank you." I said and kissed him.
We dressed and returned to the car. He was much more talkative now, we discussed his life, my life, and my sex life as we made our way back to Gulongs. Gulong was out when we returned and my mother offered to make tea. When I said I'd help Ryan wanted to join us in the kitchen. I told him there were a few other things he needed to learn as well and shooed him in the direction of the living room.
"So you made a decision then."
"Yes."
"I take it you're not going to tell me."
"It was his first time okay and he needed a lot of persuasion to get that far."
"I see. So we won't be needing earplugs this weekend."
"Mother!"
She laughed, and I couldn't help but do the same.