This work of adult fiction, loosely based on characters portrayed by Russell Crowe, includes adult language and experiences; you have been warned. No copyright infringement on the original work is intended.

Copyright Reagan Kavanagh 2005.

Monday, 25 July 2005

MAXIMUS

I could hear Terry and Dino’s voices in Terry’s office on my arrival Monday morning. Dino’s was sharp – I surmised his anger had yet to dissipate - while Terry’s was low and reasonable; he was negotiating. I went to my office, removed the tape I had made of my questions and Cassandra’s responses last evening, copied it to a CD and put that into my briefcase, then strode down the hall to Terry’s office with the cassette in hand. I stood at the door until he acknowledged my presence.

“Max. Come in, mate. Dino and I were just rehashing our little chat with Reagan yesterday …as well as another issue relevant to that.” My response was curt.

“So I surmise. Perhaps this will put an end to your questions and the issue in general.” I placed the tape in the centre of his desk and turned back toward the door. “I suggest you listen carefully, then check your sources for verification of her responses. I am confident that they will confirm all that she has said.” Dino turned to look at me, something between fear and anger in his eyes; while I had seen the latter on his face a number of times, this was the first on which I had noted the former. He would be wise to heed his fears. I nodded at him before returning to my own office and closing the door. I had work to do and no wish to be disturbed.

Several hours later – shortly before the noon - there was a knock on the door.

“Enter.” The door opened and my partners stood there. I was pleased to note a distinctly uncomfortable look on their faces. “I surmise you have listened to the interrogation and have checked your sources.” Terry nodded and they entered, sitting across the desk from me. I sat back in my chair. I had learnt as a centurion to recognize when I held the power in any situation, and today, the power was clearly mine. Terry spoke first.

“Max, we were a bit hard on Reagan yesterday – Dino in particular – and I was a bit strident with you.” I inclined my head, neither acknowledging nor disputing his observations. “We’ve checked our sources and realise that we misjudged her. From all that we can determine, she appears to be precisely what she represents herself to be. I’ll contact her today and apologise for any discomfort we caused her.” Dino spoke next, clearly uncomfortable and considering his words carefully.

“I was pretty tough on her, Max. I figured that if I could rattle her enough, she’d come clean if she was lying to you …to us. Last night I realized that was not the best tactic but it’s done. Like Terry, I’ll try and make amends to her so that the three of us can get on with the job and you two can get on with your lives. I won’t raise any further objections to her.” He paused for a moment before resuming. “Buddy, I apologize for putting both of you through what I did. I was just trying to protect the company, the three of us as individuals and the rest of the guys.”

I stood and they rose with me, Dino holding his hand across the desk in an effort to cement our understanding of the situation and move on from that point. I looked at his hand before looking directly into his face and then Terry’s.

“Your apologies are accepted on my part; Reagan may speak for herself. However, where “we” go as partners from this point is no longer my concern.” Terry’s brows shot up; he and Dino looked at each other in surprise. Terry spoke first.

“Max, I know you’re angry, but ….” I cut him off.

“Permit me to make myself clear. Neither my personal nor professional affairs are any longer your concern.” I gave them a moment to allow my intent to register before playing my final card.

“Reagan’s house will be appraised this week, as will my loft; both will be placed on the market as soon as that is done. We will be leaving the area for an unknown location on the first of August. Effective the 31^st of this month, you may buy out my share of the partnership. I am resigning from Thorne, Espan, and O’Reilly.”

TERRY

Jesus-fucking-Christ! I knew Max could strike like a cut snake when he was angry, but I’d had no clue that he’d take it this far. Resign! Fuck! I looked at Dino and he was as astonished as I was at this little turn of events. I had to try and talk Max round but had no idea whether or not that was possible. My experience with Max was that once he’d set his head to something, he was immoveable. Remember that look he gave Commodus on refusing to take his hand? That was pretty much the look Dino and I were getting just now. He had also not taken Dino's hand. Well, there was nothing that we could do at the moment, other than to leave his office before we antagonized him further. His words were low as I followed Dino to the door.

“Close the door, if you would. I have personal matters that require my attention.” Dino leant against the wall and looked at me after I’d closed the door.

“Jesus, Terry. Is he that fucking angry at us or is something else going on?” I shook my head; for once in my life, I had no fucking clue.

“I’ve no idea, but I do know we’d best figure it out – fast – and talk him round. At this stage, we can’t make a go of the firm without his skills and we sure as hell can’t afford to buy him out any time soon …and he damned well knows it.” That’s when it hit me …Max did know that the firm was cash poor. He was running a bluff, but to what end? Was he that pissed about our concerns regarding Reagan? Or was he that pissed that we’d clearly not trusted his judgment of her to be accurate? It could only be one of those two and – quite possibly - it was both. In truth, it didn’t matter which of the two it was or even if it was both. What mattered was that if Dino and I intended salvaging Thorne, Espan, and O’Reilly, we had some serious fence mending to do to get back to that good neighbors bit.

Monday, 25 July 2005, 1822 hours

MAXIMUS

She was waiting for me when I turned into the drive Monday night. I find in her the comfort and acceptance I never thought to experience again. She is – by turns - all women. At one moment, she is stoic in her forbearance, at the next a pragmatic, logical to the point of infuriating those who do not know her as I do. She can be almost childlike in her innocence at one point, then amaze me with her ability to cut to the heart of a matter, like a surgeon with his knife. She can be casual at home with me and with Diana, then icily formal, as the situation requires. She can be the consummate lady or play the harlot, knowing instinctively which woman I need and want her to be in the instant. She amazes me with her versatility, with her ability to read and understand my moods, my desires, my needs as a man. She is all I will ever want, need or desire, embodied in a form that takes my breath away. I do not know what other men consider perfection but, for me, Cassandra is perfection.

On this night, her concern as to the events of my day was plain on her face. Her usually smooth forehead was knit; the tiniest furrow apparent between her brows. She fusses that her tendency to draw her brows together in the manner that creates that small line will leave her with what all women appear to dread …a wrinkle in her otherwise flawless skin. In truth, that one little line appears to be her only vanity. Her concern over this perceived flaw leads me to believe that her former husband was somewhat critical of her physical appearance, possibly not realising the true value of his woman beyond her physical appearance. If that is the case, he was a fool. Her voice was soft when she spoke.

“How was your day? Have you come to an understanding with Terry and Dino?” I smiled at her as I removed my coat and slipped my arm round her waist as we walked to the bedroom where I removed my suit and shirt, pulling on jeans and what she calls a “t-shirt” before answering.

“I think it went well enough. They were surprised when we spoke after they had listened to the tape and, having checked with their sources, assured themselves of your truth. I do not think they anticipated my response to their apologies.” She looked at me, raising her eyebrow as she spoke.

“And your response was?”

“Let us make a drink, then we will sit and I will tell you of today’s events.” It is unlike me to dissemble but in this instance, I was unsure of what her reaction would be and – as is common with men – sought to postpone what I suspected might be an unpleasant interlude. We mixed our drinks and sat on the couch; she turned on the television and we watched the evening news, though I have no idea what was said. I doubt she does. When the news was over, she put her glass on the coffee table and turned to me.

“So …are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to torture you to find out what happened today?” Clearly, her patience was at an end. I turned to her, placing my glass beside hers and taking her hands in my own before speaking. She looked down at their joining, rubbing one thumb over my hand and stopped, raising first one hand and then the second closer and into the light as she looked at them. Her eyes returned to mine before she spoke.

“What happened to your hands, Maximus? They’re bruised …as if you’d been in a fight.” It is not my wont to evade her questions but this night I did. She would learn the truth soon enough and I did not wish the balance of today’s events to distress her more than she was at this moment.

“I spent part of the noon hour at the gym. My trainer felt I had an unusually good workout on the punching bag.”

“I thought you wore gloves when you boxed.”

“Usually I do. Today, I wished to feel the sting of my flesh on the leather of the bag.” She said nothing more but I knew she would return to the subject at a later time. “Now, let me tell you of my day.” She nodded and sank back into her chair, waiting for me to speak.

“I told them that the appraisers would be in next week in preparation for placing your house and my loft on the market. I said that on the first of August, you and I would leave Dallas for an undisclosed location. I said that effective the 31^st of this month, they could buy out my share of the firm, as my resignation from Thorne, Espan, and O’Reilly would be effective on that day.” I watched her closely, wondering what her reaction would be. She smiled and tilted her head, as if giving consideration to her response before voicing it.

“I see. And what was their response?”

“They were surprised, to say the least. They did not anticipate such a reaction on my part.” She looked down at her hands before speaking.

“I had a call from Terry Thorne today and one from Dean O’Reilly.” I expected that.

“And what did they have to say?”

“Profuse apologies for impugning my character, followed by requests that I entreat you to change your mind.” Ah …she knew.

“Why did you wait for me to tell you?”

“I wanted to hear it from you.” I nodded slowly, still attempting to judge her reaction.

“And now that you have?”

“Maximus, I think you would be an outstanding poker player. That’s the best bluff I’ve ever heard.” It was immediately apparent that if I thought I could surprise her, I was in error.

“You think I did not mean it?” She laughed, that low, soft sound that I find so delightful.

“I think you’re capable of scaring hell out of them, to the point that they will beg you to reconsider, and will think long and hard before they put another woman through the same sort of grilling I experienced. You have them where you want them, Maximus …what you do now will either make or break TEO.” Am I truly so transparent to this woman? That was a superfluous question, as it is clear that I am. She looked at me for a moment before asking the question. “What will you do?”

“I will – as you have indicated – permit them to talk me out of leaving the firm. I have no wish to leave but, if I thought for a moment that they would do to another woman what they have to you, I would have no hesitation in walking away and bankrupting them. In that instance, they would deserve it. I understand their motives but their methods were flawed. There are ways to obtain information that do not entail alienating or debasing the person supplying that information. Terry understands that …his treatment of you was considerate. Dino has much to learn with regard to dealing with women.” She actually laughed at my last observation.

“Dino would never believe that he has anything to learn about women …he thinks he’s the smoothest operator since Casanova.” Casanova? Who was that? A man in my beloved’s past or some fictional character? I felt sure the internet would answer the question if he were fictional; if he was someone in Cassandra’s past, she had not spoken of him until now and neither Terry nor Dino had mentioned him. In light of that, I felt reasonably sure he was fictional but it would behoove me to learn of him; the knowledge might prove useful in the future. She was watching me and spoke again.

“So, you will allow them to convince you to reconsider your resignation. Why do you think they will do that?” That was the easy question.

“They cannot afford to buy me out unless they dissolve the bulk of our holdings. Eighty-five percent of the firm’s assets are in commodities selected to provide an ongoing source of income. The remaining 15% is committed to the day-to-day running of the firm. We are investment rich and cash poor. Even should they truly wish to be done with me – and I do not think that to be the case – they cannot afford to do so. In today’s vernacular, I believe it safe to say that I have them by the short hairs.” Her laughter was balm to my soul.

Tuesday, 26 July 2005,1640 Hours

REAGAN

Maximus was early arriving home on Tuesday and while he seemed a bit preoccupied, he also was in a significantly better mood than he’d been in the preceding night. He’d been in a good mood when we woke this morning and had spent so much time assuring that I knew just how good his “mood” was, that he’d almost been late leaving for work. I wasn’t due back at school until the end of August and after Maximus left, I’d gone back to bed, lying there and remembering how his ever smoldering eroticism has burst into full flame minutes before the alarm had gone off that morning. In fact, when the alarm had gone off, the clock was jerked from the table, the cord ripped from the wall, and the clock bounced off the far wall of the bedroom …and all that was accomplished with two quick motions of his powerful left arm as he had balanced above me on his right.

I love Maximus in early-morning, sexual predator mode. For some reason, when I’m in that space of time between waking and sleeping and he begins making love to me, I seem to experience the more erotic moments of my life. For Maximus, making love is – for lack of a better descriptor - a process. He’s not the sort of man who just hops on board, shoves into you, and pumps away mindlessly until he’s achieved his release. His level of finesse has always surprised me because, in truth, I doubt many men from his time honestly cared much about their partner’s gratification. The fact that he had – and does – speaks volumes about him as a man. Not to put too fine a point on the matter, Maximus is a helpless – and hopeless – romantic, and I love that about him.

I had been in that nether world, that place between sleeping and a waking reality when everything has a dreamlike quality and you think you’re still asleep. Something was tugging me toward wakefulness and I didn’t want to go there. I was in the midst of the most erotic dream I’d ever had and, dammit, I wanted to follow this one to completion. In its eroticism, the dream was highly sexual, involved Maximus (who else?) and was just too good to let go without a struggle. Although heading toward wakefulness, I was still deeply enough into my REM state that I couldn’t move …not that I wanted to. Oh no, I had no desire whatsoever to move. All I wanted was to stay there and revel in the exquisite sexual abandon that had me in its thrall.

I was dreaming that Maximus was making love to me with his lips, his tongue. I could feel his strong hands as they moved down my body, could feel him lift me and slip a pillow under my hips before looking at me covetously. I felt those hands move my legs apart and his fingers spread my folds open to his view. The gentle smile that I knew was on his lips moved through me like a warm tide, carrying me with it as his head bent to my pubis. I felt the heat of his breath, cool against the moisture of my most intimate flesh, then felt his seeking tongue touch me, seeking, soothing me even as it aroused. His lips closed over my clitoris, tongue flicking gently before settling in to suckle like a babe at its mother’s breast. I wanted to move, to let him know the effect he was having on me but couldn’t, so I relaxed back into the dream and let the sensuality take control of me.

He suckled more quickly then, bringing me almost to orgasm, then slowed, licked me gently and began again. In my dream, Maximus continued his efforts almost as if toying with me, trying to see how long he could keep me on the brink then pull me back once more from the precipice. He seemed to sense when I could stand no more and slowed his efforts before again setting to work in earnest, sucking again, varying the intensity but never to the point that would have allowed me to slip away from the rapidly approaching pinnacle of desire. Suddenly, I was there, shaking with a powerful orgasm and then – at last - I could move. My hands went instinctively to his head, fingers curling into his hair, holding him even closer as I rode out the crest of the torrent that threatened to engulf me. I’d never known dreams could be so real or so satisfying. My eyes opened slowly, following the path my hands had taken to tangle in his hair and I was amazed to see his face looking up at me from where his head rested on my pubic bone, that soft smile playing on his lips as he smiled up at me. Somehow, I found my voice and it was shaking, hoarse with sleep and my desire.

“It wasn’t a dream ….” He languidly moved up my body, like a big, sleek cat moving over its prey, undecided as to whether to finish its meal now or wait until later.

“No, Cara, that was no dream.” He leaned above me, braced on his arms and looked down at me. I could feel the hardness of his penis as it pressed into my belly. “Are you awake enough to consent and join me in this act, lest this consummation be considered rape?” My answer was to take his face in my hands and pull him down, taking his lips and mouth with my own. When we broke apart, he smiled again. “Ah …I have consent.” Oh, yes ma’am, he certainly did. That was when the alarm went off, its insane beeping thrusting me into complete wakefulness.

Maximus’ left arm shot out like a serpent, grabbing the clock and wrapping the base of its cord around his fist, pulled once, disconnecting the cord from the wall outlet, and tossed it across the room before returning his full attention to me. By that time, I had him precisely where I wanted him …well, where both of us wanted him and I felt as much as heard his satisfied groan as he seated himself deep within my body. He lay on top of me for a moment, not moving, and I heard the low rumble of his voice.

“You are all I need, all I require …and everything I have ever loved and wanted in this life.” He raised himself far enough off me to look into my eyes before beginning to move. I managed to gasp out my own commitment as he overtook me completely with his power.

“And you are all I have ever loved, all I have ever hoped to find, all I will ever need.”

Tuesday Evening, 26 July 2005

REAGAN

I was rethinking the conversation Maximus and I had last night. He certainly did have Terry and Dino by the short and curlies; the thought of it made me laugh and Maximus joined me. I stood, moving toward the kitchen to begin dinner and he followed me. As we passed the windows in the dining room, I saw a black Jaguar moving slowly down the lane, as if searching for a specific house. It slowed and then pulled into the drive behind the Bentley and my Jeep. The doors opened and Terry exited, followed by a slow-moving Dino. I looked at Maximus as he watched them and turned to me.

“Shall I answer the door when they ring or would you prefer doing so?” I considered that for a moment.

“You get it. I’m going into “the little woman” mode and let you deal with the opposition. If you appear to need reinforcement – which I can’t imagine – I’ll join you.” I looked into his eyes, kissed him softly and continued on to the kitchen as the doorbell rang. Turning back to him for a moment, I whispered, “Make them work for it, Caro.” I had every confidence that he would do precisely that.

TERRY

I was looking for the house number but when I saw Max’s Bentley, that wasn’t necessary. This was a comfortable, upper class neighborhood but the only true luxury car in sight was the Bentley. Every other house on the street had pick-ups and SUVs in the drives; this had to be Reagan’s house. I looked at Dino as I turned into her drive.

“You sure you want to come in, Dino? I think Max will understand if you don’t.” He shook his head gingerly before answering.

“No, I’ve gotta face him sooner or later. Might as well be now.” I nodded as I got out of the car.

“Then grab your balls, mate. I’ve got mine in hand and if we keep a tight grip, we may just keep Max from ripping them off and shoving them down our throats.” He nodded as he got out of the car. We stood on the porch for a tic before I pressed the bell. No response. Pressed it a second time and heard dogs bark as three furry faces appeared at the front window. A moment later, the door opened and Max stood there. Don’t think I’d ever seen the man look that relaxed; hell, I didn’t know he was capable of unbending to that degree. His feet were bare and he was wearing jeans and a vest. He looked at us for a moment, then stood aside.

“Come in. Although Reagan is preparing dinner, I hope you have eaten; she was not expecting guests for the evening.” That pretty well put us in our place. He ushered us into the lounge and motioned us to sit before speaking again.

“May I offer you a drink?” Dino nodded.

“Christ, yes. Thanks, Max.” Reagan popped her head around the half wall that separated the kitchen from the lounge, telling the dogs to leave off with their barking before speaking to Dino and me.

“Terry, Dino …what brings you out to the country?” As if she didn’t fucking know. I felt sure she’d had us sussed when the car drove into the drive. There was no way the two of them hadn’t looked out the window to see who was there before Max answered the door. Still, I was here with hat in hand, so I might as well be up front.

“Reagan …evening, Love.” Max had walked to the kitchen and I could see him pouring drinks as I spoke. “Actually, we’ve come to try and talk Max into staying in the firm.” She nodded and smiled before speaking, disappearing back to the far end of the kitchen, out of our sight range but not out of earshot. Her voice floated back to me.

“Yes, well, good luck with that.”

Thanks, Reagan. You don’t know how much better that makes me feel. Max walked back into the lounge, handed us our drinks and sat in the wing chair across from me, picked up his own drink, took a sip and looked at us.

“I am listening, Terry. What do you wish to say?”

Dino looked at me. Dino may be the money-man but as CEO, it was up to me to give Max the bad news. No point in fart-arsing about with it, so I just laid it on the line for him.

“Max, mate, there’s no way Dino and I can afford to buy out your share of the partnership. You know that. You see the financials the first of each month just like we do.” He sipped his drink and said nothing and sat there, just watching me. I was reminded a bit uncomfortably as to how I’d felt all those years ago when I sat before my ex-father-in-law, trying to save my arse after pissing off the ex-wife and she’d gone running to daddy. My name might be the first one on the door but there wasn’t much doubt about who held the trump cards tonight and it sure as hell wasn’t me. I took a deep breath. “If you really intend leaving, you’re going to have to accept a buy-out over time. I’m not bankrupting the firm to pay you off and I’m not liquidating our holdings, so I’d advise you to think about how long it could take you to recover your investment.” He nodded once, seeming to consider my words before speaking.

“I would accept a buy-out over time.” FUCK! That was not what I’d wanted to hear. I’d been hoping that if he and Reagan were planning on leaving here and disappearing somewhere to live the high life, that he’d need ready cash. Apparently the Old Roman had done some investing of his own, as that response didn’t sound like a man who was cash-poor. Well, if money wasn’t going to do the talking for me – and it clearly wasn’t in this instance – then I’d have to swallow my pride and just fucking ask him not to leave. I knew he was as pissed off as I’d ever seen him over this business with Reagan and, in truth, I didn’t blame him. If the situation were reversed and he and Dino had grilled a woman I loved as Dino and I had Reagan, I would be out for blood. I looked back at him, considering my next words carefully but he didn’t give me the opportunity before he spoke again.

“Terry, I have no true wish to leave the firm, nor does Reagan desire me to do so. We are happy in Dallas. She has her career, as do I.” He sipped his drink and I think I managed to close my mouth, as I’m sure it had fallen open with his first statement. “My intention yesterday was to force you and Dino to give careful consideration to your methods of investigation and subsequent interrogation of any future women who might come into our collective life and we all know there will be others. Whilst I agree it is necessary to carefully investigate those women who will come to be important to us as individuals, I do not agree with the methods employed Sunday.” He looked at Dino – as did I – and it was one of the very few times I’ve seen Irish squirm. Dino started to speak and Max waved him into silence.

“Reagan has told me of your calls; she has accepted your apologies for your ill treatment of her and, if she has done so, that is sufficient for my purposes. If the two of you are willing to revise your methods in the future, I suggest we put this behind us and move on in our partnership. Is that agreeable?” I can’t recall the last time I’ve felt so relieved. Dino stood slowly and I knew what that cost him. Max rose to meet him.

“Max, I’ve learned my lesson. What I put Reagan through yesterday will never happen again. I thank both of you for your understanding and ability to forgive.” They shook hands and Max sat again, with Dino doing the same. Reagan’s voice broke the ice as she walked into the room and stood next to Max.

"I"ve revised what I was planning for dinner, and there's enough for four ...why don't you two join us?"


By the time Dino and I left  Reagan’s house Tuesday night, I think the four of us had a much improved understanding of each other. She understood (likely better than Max ever had) where we were coming from and we understood that she was a permanent fixture in Max’s life. As regards that last bit, I think we understood better than she did just how much of a permanent fixture she was in Max’s life. I may not be good at realising when I’m hog-tied and on ice (Reagan’s phrase) but I could see clearly that Max was …and so was Reagan. If I’ve ever seen two people cut from the same cloth in terms of being about as perfect for each other as you were likely to find, it’s Max and Reagan. Watching their ease and comfort with the other made me wonder if I would ever find what they have or, if perhaps I already had and just failed to recognise it. Perhaps I’ll never know.