"Sure."

"Well, after this we go back to the suite. You get changed and we go to the dock to meet Katie and Kara."

Kyle swallowed nervously, feeling the nerves rise again in his stomach suddenly.

Patricia leaned forward and looked him in the eye. "It'll be fine. Now, immediately after they get off the boat, the three of you are meeting with Mister Crowler to have the will read to you. That's probably going to take a while by the time he runs through it all with you."

"Okay. Not looking forward to that, but okay."

"After that it's dinner, a few drinks, time for you guys to chat and get to know each other. I'll be around too if you have any questions, or if you just need to talk."

"Thanks," Kyle replied. He would have nodded, but Shiro was doing something around his ear with a very sharp pair of scissors. "That's it for the night?"

"Yeah, but you should remember you have an early start tomorrow with Julian." Patricia grinned at him as his face fell. "Six o'clock sharp."

"Oh, balls." Kyle rolled his eyes. "Well, I'll give it a go, see how I get on, but if that guys a sadist then I'm out of there."

"Don't worry, Julian's cool." Patricia flipped open her phone, tapping away at it to get whatever information she was after. "Let's see. After that you've got breakfast with your sisters, then a business briefing for two hours, then a meeting with a Security Consultant."

"Ah, crazy Mister Connor?" Shiro said suddenly, breaking into a broad grin.

"Yeah," Patricia nodded, then looked back at Kyle. "Connor Grant is a Close Protection specialist, runs his own bodyguard team and he's a guest on the island just now while he recovers from injuries."

"What kind of injuries?"

"Gunshot wound to the right leg. Did you hear about Sir Richard Branson's Island? Had a big fire on it a while back?"

Kyle frowned, remembering seeing headlines about it on the net. "Something about Kate Winslet rescuing his mom?"

"That's it," Patricia nodded. "Well, Connor is a friend of Kate's. He's done some work for her in the past and is tight with her family, so he was out there on vacation with them, as guests of Richard Branson."

"And there was a fire?"

"There was an attempted kidnapping."

"Holy shit," Kyle muttered. "So the fire was just a story then?"

Patricia rolled her eyes. "Stop jumping ahead of the story, Kyle. This team of criminals got on the island in the middle of the night, set off some alarms, and Richard Branson escaped on this mini-scuba submarine thing he's got."

"That's good."

"Well, not really," Patricia frowned. "He left everyone else to the criminals, including his mother, Kate Winslet and her kids and twenty three other people. Including Connor Grant."

"So he took them out?"

She nodded. "Not without cost though. He had to set fire to the main building as a diversion, and when he was taking the kidnappers out, he got badly beaten and took a bullet to the leg in the process, but he did it."

"Wow. Sounds like Rambo or something."

"I know. So Branson comes back at lunchtime the next day from where he's been hiding in a cave, and by that time there's Police and extra Security all over the place. His media people have already put the story out about a lightning strike causing a fire, and this whole thing about Kate Winslet rescuing Bransons mother."

"So why is Connor Grant here instead of on Bransons Island recovering?" Kyle asked. "Did they fall out?"

"Yeah. Branson made this big song and dance in front of all his staff about how Connor was a hero and he would be getting all his medical bills picked up, as well as a large bonus for protecting his family. Connor called him a cowardly bitch in front of everyone and told him he'd rather shove wasps up his own ass than accept a penny from a piece of shit like him."

"He really said that?"

"Yeah. That's from three different people who were there," Patricia said firmly. "Of course, as soon as Mister Tripps heard about it, he had Connor whipped off to the best medical staff, then brought him here to recover. Mister Tripps even flew in Connors mother and nephew for a couple of weeks too."

"Can I ask," Kyle said, hesitating for a minute. "Surely Richard Branson escaping was a good thing, right? I mean, if he wasn't there, then the kidnappers wouldn't have their target. Isn't that what he was supposed to do?"

"That wasn't the problem," Patricia grinned. "When the alarms tripped, Branson ran so fast for the sub that he took the keys for the safe room with him, and knocked his own mother off the pier and into the water in his haste to escape."

"Man, that's low," Kyle muttered. "He knew he did it?"

"Oh, yes."

"Wow. No wonder Connor was pissed. I bet Branson's mother was too."

"I believe she actually hit him with her handbag," Patricia chuckled.

"That's awesome," Kyle said, smiling. "Hey, Shiro. How come you called him crazy Mister Connor?"

"Mister Connor is a bit...." The hairdresser began, but Patricia cut him off.

"When he's working, the guy's a legend. Seriously, he's that good."

"But?"

"But when he's off duty.... think Hank Moody in Californication," Patricia explained. "Drinking, womanising, getting into trouble. Eliza Dushku described him as having the morals of a horny dog."

Kyle started laughing. "Sounds like they've got history."

"Yeah, I've heard stories, but nothing concrete."

"He sounds like quite a guy."

"Kyle, if you start to act like him, I'm quitting," Patricia told him, a smile on her face. "However, as I said, when he's working he's first class. So tomorrow he's going to help you guys pick out your personal security team leaders."

"Oh. Cool."

"Maybe. Just don't take him in the bar, okay?"

"I won't," Kyle agreed.

"So after that there's another workout, lunch and a full afternoon of business briefings. Then your third workout of the day, dinner and bed."

"Oh, Master Kyle," Shiro grinned. "Your legs are gonna be wobbly like jelly."

"But my hair will look good, right?" Kyle smiled.

"Not good. Awesome."

"Awesome works for me."

It took another ten minutes before he left the salon, and Kyle had to admit, his hair looked awesome. They'd left the stubble on his face but trimmed it to a uniform length, and while he thought it sounded a bit George Michael, it didn't look it.

Patricia hustled him up to his suite and bluntly ordered him to get dressed. Margaret had laid out a pair of heavily faded black jeans by Armani with a belt already laced through them, a pair of black leather boots and a loose black shirt with a sheet of paper in the pocket. "Roll the sleeves, don't fold them. Leave the top three buttons undone," He read. A pair of sunglasses lay to the side of them on the bed.

He got changed as fast as he could and met Patricia back on the balcony.

"Have I got time for a smoke?" He asked, his stomach rolling like a rowing boat in a hurricane with nerves.

She frowned and checked her watch. "Have one as we walk down. You'll smell like smoke though."

"It's either that or I need half a bottle of tequila and a sedative to calm my nerves." Kyle muttered.

The closer they got to the pier the more nervous Kyle got. It didn't matter that he'd met both Katie and Kara before. If anything, that made it worse. He didn't know if Kara would recognise him at all, or if she did, would she have him chalked up as one of a thousand perverted losers who'd paid to see her naked. Worse, he might be remembered as that creep who jizzed in his pants.

As for Katie, Kyle knew that she'd remember him. That night they'd spent together was burned in his memory, and he knew how she felt about it at the time too. They'd made love in the dark, then again when they woke in the morning, not a word exchanged. They'd showered together, then lay holding each other until they couldn't avoid getting up. Even then, he'd accompanied her all the way to the airport, shared a really tender goodbye kiss with her, and then kicked himself for months that he hadn't got her contact details, or just up and moved to New York to find her.

What would her reaction be now? He was sure she'd recognise him in the photo that Mister Crowler would show her, and he only hoped that his message had got through to her. To both of them, if Kara remembered him at all.

"Kyle," Patricia said, stopping just before they got to the beach. He stopped walking and she steered him to one side of the path. "Take a deep breath, relax. Both of them are probably going to be as terrified as you are, so now would be a good time to step up, be confident and show them around. Show them that you're a nice guy."

Kyle looked around and admitted his worst fears, knowing Patricia already knew the worst of it. "What if they're disgusted with me, Patricia? What if they think I'm some sleazy scumbag pervert weirdo?"

"The only thing you can do right now is show them who you are, Kyle. That's all that's expected of you, and once you get the chance to chat with each of them alone, I bet you'll find that they're as scared as you are. Plus, you had to come to this place on your own. At least they're doing it together, with Mister Crowler accompanying them and their own assistants too."

Kyle rubbed at the stubble on his chin. "Fuck my life."

"You'll be fine," Patricia said firmly. "Come on. We need to get out on the pier. I can see the boat coming in."

"It's here already?" Kyle blurted. "Fuck."

They hustled down to the beach to meet Edwin and the three of them walked towards the end of the pier. Kyle could see the Betsy coasting towards them, slowing as it approached the end of the wooden walkway.

His palms were sweating and he could feel his heart beating fast in his chest as the boat got within a few feet of the pier and one of Captain Wales' crew hopped up and tied the boat to one of the posts.

"Fuck fuck fuck," Kyle whispered, knowing the moment was fast approaching.

"Hey," Patricia whispered. "Take a breath and stop looking so grim. Just relax."

Kyle took a deep breath and tried to get a grip, but he saw his hands were shaking. "Fuckety fuck fuck."

Patricia moved a little closer until she was standing directly beside him. As Kyle watched the crew setup the gangplank between the boat and the pier, she whispered, "Maybe I should just push you in the water. What do you think?"

Kyle looked at her and saw the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth and despite his nerves, he smiled.

"That's a little better. Now you don't look like you've just discovered you're in bed with an angry Lorena Bobbitt."

"The penis chopper woman?" He muttered, shaking his head.

"That's her," Patricia nodded. "Striking fear into mens pants the world over. At least you know she's not your sister."

"That's not even funny," Kyle whispered, knowing that he couldn't help but chuckle. As Captain Wales stepped out the cabin onto the rear deck, Kyle realised that Patricia's jokes had settled his nerves a bit and he made a mental note to thank her later.

It was too late to think about anything else as a woman appeared on the rear deck and shook hands with the Captain. Kyle recognised the long, dark curly hair, the taught physique that couldn't be hidden by the calf-length olive shorts or the loose white blouse.

As she turned to walk up the gangplank to the pier, Kyle knew she was looking at him, knew that on the other side of the huge sunglasses that completely covered her eyes that those eyes were looking at him.

He swallowed and took a step forward to take her hand as she stepped clear of the gangplank.

"Hi," He managed to croak, his mouth dryer than a drought in death valley.

"You must be Kyle," Kara said, shaking his hand.

He recognised her voice immediately, that slight huskiness bringing back memories of her talking to him in the strip club.

"Pleased to finally meet you," He mumbled. Then remembering Patricia's earlier advice to just be himself, he added, "Sorry. I'm really nervous."

"Oh, you're not the only one," She smiled, and Kyle felt himself relax a little.

"That's good to know." Kyle turned a little and gestured towards Edwin. "This is Edwin, the Island Manager."

Kara moved clear of the gangplank to shake hands with Edwin and Kyle felt his stomach tighten again suddenly.

Katie.

She was standing at the boat end of the gangplank looking directly at him, searching with her eyes, seeking assurance it was really him, he knew. He did the same, an unconscious gesture, his eyes taking in her dark hair framing her face, her figure that closely resemlbed her sister but seemed somehow more voluptous, more natural. Kyle watched as she gently bit her lip, then stepped forward.

"You must be..." Kyle began.

"Call me Katie," She said, cutting him off with a friendly smile. She reached the gangplank and as he offered a handshake, she bypassed it and he felt her body close with his.

Kyle was startled and froze, not sure exactly what to do. Katie gave him a kiss on the cheek and he felt her squeeze him, so somewhat awkwardly he gave her a quick hug.

"Sorry to startle you," She said stepping back. "I just thought if I'm meeting my brother for the first time, I should give him a hug." She made definite eye contact with him for those two important words, letting him know she'd got his message from the lawyer, and it had been understood.

Kyle let out a breath and nodded. "Nice to finally meet you," He said, stepping back. He knew as soon as he did it that it was a bad move. He felt the tip of his toe brush the edge of the wooden walkway, and as his arms flailed to reach the nearby wooden post he knew he'd failed on an epic level.

Kyle fell into the water.

"I still can't believe I just did that," Kyle said as he showered the salt water off his body in his en-suite. "What a fucking moron."

He heard Patricia chuckle from her seat on the edge of the bath. "Hey, it could have been worse."

"How?"

There was a pause. "Good point."

"Cheers," He grunted.

"Oh, I know," She said quickly. "You could have dragged Katie in with you. Or you could have fainted and broke your nose. Those would have been worse."

Kyle paused. "Yeah, okay. I'll give you them. Either of them would have been worse."

"Plus, it's kinda like making a dramatic entrance. The proverbial big splash." He heard her chuckle again.

"How long you been saving that one up?"

"Since before Captain Wales pulled you back onto the pier."

Kyle finished rinsing the gel off him and turned the shower off. "I'm done."

"Alright. I'm gonna go grab you some clothes."

Kyle heard her move out the bathroom and opened the door, still surprised at how the white glass turned clear as he opened the door. He grabbed a towel, dried himself off and then wrapped it around his waist and walked through to the bedroom.

Patricia had thrown a pair of faded blue jeans on the bed and a pair of Converse All-Stars with a pair of socks sticking out the top.

Kyle grabbed the denims and turned his back to the dressing room. He got his left leg into them when the towel fell off and as he hurried to put the right leg in and pull them up, Patricia appeared from the doorway.

Kyle knew she'd just seen his ass as he hopped upright, yanking the jeans up to cover himself. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing her amused expression.

"Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," She smirked, and turned back into the dressing room. "You need to get some sun on that."

Kyle chuckled. "You talking about my ass?"

"Yeah," She called back. "Don't tell the boss though. I dont' want to get fired for harassment."

"I think that only happens if I talk about your ass, doesn't it?"

"Don't know what to tell you, Kyle," Patricia called back. "I guess we're a long way from sexual equality in the workplace. Someone should look into that."

Kyle smiled as he sat on the bed to pull on his socks and sneakers. He'd been really enjoying the conversations recently with Patricia. He didn't know if it was just him, or if they had a bit of a flirty thing going on. Maybe it was her frank honesty, but Kyle felt drawn to her, as if she was a friend he'd known for a long time.

With a frown he realised she was the only thing he had on the Island that was even close to a friend. He didn't know what Katie was and he was all too aware that he'd felt like a lovestruck teenager when he saw her on the boat. As for Kara, he had no idea if she'd recognised him or not. Whatever the case he knew he'd need to tell her.

His good mood now gone, he fastened on his sneakers and stood up. "Patricia. Have you got a top for me?"

"I can't decide," She called. "Come in and help me choose."

Kyle sighed and walked into the dressing room, seeing her flicking through the racks of tops and shirts that hung neatly on two rails. She turned and looked him up and down, then pulled at a lemon coloured polo shirt.

"No," Kyle said, immediately shaking his head.

"The only thing I've got that goes with those jeans is this mental bermuda shirt," She said, frowning. "I'm quite surprised that Margaret put it on the list."

"She didn't. I kinda bought it on impulse."

Patricia chuckled. "Well you're gonna have to take the jeans off and change them, Kyle."

"Just give me something black. It'll be fine."

"Hey, you're not the one who's going to have to put up with an apoplectic Margaret," Patricia muttered as she pulled out a dark pair of loose linen trousers and a black v-necked top. "Come on, Kyle. Get your jeans off so we can get out of here. Everyone's waiting for us."

"Right here?"

"I'm not gonna look, so stop being a baby," Patricia replied.

Kyle stared at her for a second but she was busy browsing through the tops again. He shrugged and bent down to unlace the sneakers, then stepped forward to grab the linen trousers.

Patricia held them out to the side, and as he took them he saw her eyes flicker down to the side, as if trying to catch a glimpse.

He frowned as he replayed it in his head, wondering if it had just been an involuntary movement, a sensing motion kind of thing, or if she'd deliberately tried to sneak a glance at his cock.

"For fucks sake, Kyle. Just get changed," He told himself.

With his eyes fixed on her, he pulled the denims off and slipped the linen trousers on. It felt a little odd to see her standing there, only a few feet away while he had his junk out.

"Maybe I'm just imagining it."

"Got the pants on yet?"

"Yeah," Kyle replied, lacing up his Cons again. Patricia turned and brought him the v-neck top and he slipped it on and shrugged it into place.

"You'll do," She told him. "Let's go."

"Where are we meeting?"

"Downstairs in one of the business suites."

"Wait, I need to dry my hair," Kyle said quickly.

"Leave it," Patricia replied quickly. "They'll think you've been rushing and haven't waited to dry it."

"That's kinda true."

"Except for the wardrobe uncertainty," Patricia agreed. "You'll want to gloss right over that part."

Kyle followed her downstairs and around the side of the pool, turning left to head into one of the business suites where he could see Mister Crowler sitting behind a desk. On the other side of it sat three large leather chesterfield armchairs, Katie in the one on the left, Kara on the right.

He took a deep breath, feeling the tension of what was to come. He knew inside that room he would find out what his future would be like, what his responsibilities were and what Danny Tripps, the man who had gave him up for adoption would have to say to him and his sisters.

"Good luck, Kyle," Patricia said quietly. "I'll see you when you get out."

He entered the room and closed the door.

"It's a lot to take in," Patricia said gently.

Kyle was sat on his balcony, chain-smoking and watching a spectacular sunset that he just couldn't appreciate. The afternoon had been too draining.

The meeting had lasted nearly three hours. Mister Crowler had read them Danny Tripps' last will and testament, a lengthy document that had taken up forty one pages in total and then he'd gone through each item on each page, answering questions from the three stunned siblings.

"Do you want to read it?" Kyle asked, nodding towards his copy of the will in its binder on the table.

She shook her head. "I helped write it. I can tell you it's had one hundred and fourteen revisions that I know about."

"Fuck me," Kyle muttered. He knew about document control and records management from his work, but a document with a hundred and fourteen revisions belonged in Government.

"It's a lot of information."

"It's a lot of fucking money," Kyle blurted. He lit another cigarette.

"What is it that's bothering you about it, Kyle?" Patricia asked after a moment. "Most people would be delighted that they're suddenly rich."

"It's not the money," Kyle said immediately. "It's the weight of responsibility. And he just fucking dumped it on us, having never said a word to any of us in twenty three years. He's got no clue if we're up to the job and he's made us responsible for the livelihood of thousands, tens of thousands of people all over the world."

"He wouldn't have done it if he wasn't sure, Kyle."

"How could he be sure though? He's got no way of knowing, no knowledge of us beyond what he's read about us in reports from other people. He doesn't know us."

Kyle looked at the blue binder on the table, seeing the big letter T embossed on the front. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to throw it over the pool and into the sea, then pretend it was all some horrible mistake.

"So now me and Katie and Kara have been landed with this massive burden of responsibility that we can't walk away from, and our lives are no longer our own," He continued. "I mean, think about it. I'd have been lost without you here, and I can't imagine what it'll be like in a few weeks or months time without your help either. I can see clearly why I'll need security around me, why I'll need people to cook and clean for me, and I get all that. I understand it. But my life's not my own anymore either. I can't date who I want, I can't finish work and then decide to just go to the cinema with my friends. Or go get hammered and phone in sick. I can't go home and close my door or drop in on my mom and dad for a chat. My time's no longer going to be my own."

He slumped down in the wooden chair and put his feet up on the table.

"It's like prison for the uber-rich. You can have anything you want except free will, and there's no escape. That's what's bothering me about it," He concluded.

"Just give it a bit of time, okay," Patricia said gently. "Give your head a bit of time to wrap itself around the enormity of everything that's happened. It's not as bad as it seems, believe me."

Kyle shrugged. "We'll see."

"Am I interrupting?"

Kyle turned in his seat, recognising the voice. "Hi, Katie."

"Hi Katie, I'm Patricia." Patricia moved forward and shook hands with Kyle's sister. "I'm Kyle's assistant."

"Like Heidi is for me?" She asked, smiling.

"Yes, exactly like that," Patricia said, giving her a warm smile. "Or like Garius is for Kara."

"Garius? He's.... Um...." Katie's voice trailed off.

Kyle remembered the strange looking black man he'd seen walking down the pier behind Kara. There was something about him that reminded him of Mister Potato Head in spandex. Kyle remembered a few of Ed's favourite put downs, and the one about Forest Whitaker and Ugly Betty having a lovechild who didn't so much fall out the ugly tree as smash it to bits on the way down seemed particularly apt.

"He's a really nice guy and smart too," Patricia said quietly. "Thinks all men are secretly in love with him though, which I'm pretty sure qualifies him as delusional. I love him to bits."

"He seems nice," Katie agreed. "Kyle, you got a minute?"

"Sure." Kyle took a deep breath and got up.

"I've got a couple of things to do," Patricia said, moving towards the stairs. "I'll see you in ten, Kyle."

"Okay."

Kyle turned to Katie and beckoned her inside and they sat down on the leather sofas in front of the TV.

"Harrison Ford made this table," Kyle said, feeling nervous and immediately cursing himself for blurting out the first thing that popped into his head.

Katie rolled her eyes. "That's... interesting."

For some reason it made Kyle chuckle. "Okay, fair enough. So how you doing?"

"Shocked. Scared. Confused. Exhausted. I haven't slept since I found out." Katie looked at him closely and lowered her voice. "I couldn't believe it when I saw your photo."

"I nearly passed out," Kyle admitted. "I must have gone white as a sheet."

"Me too." She frowned. "So what are we gonna do about this, Kyle?"

"Well, it's probably not the best idea to pick up where we left off, is it?"

"That would be no," Katie replied flatly. "So we keep quiet, right?"

He nodded. "I think that's the way to go. The problem is Ed and Casey know."

"Oh, fuck," Katie blurted. "And my friends too."

"Yep."

Katie ran her hands through her hair then rubbed her face. Her eyes met Kyle's. "Are you still close with them?"

"They're my best friends, both of them. What about yours?"

"Still close with Margarita, not so much with Shawna or Rosie," She replied.

"Listen, I realised this problem yesterday, so I've had a bit of time to think about it and try and figure my way through it," Kyle began slowly. "Last night I was freaking out, and Mister Crowler told me I should trust in Patricia, so I..."

"You told her." Katie's expression hardened instantly, and for the first time, Kyle saw her angry.

"We need help with this," He told her bluntly. "There's ways we can make sure it's in everyones best interests to conveniently forget."

Katie's mouth fell open and Kyle quickly clarified.

"I'm not talking anything dark or dodgy. I mean positive things. Like annual vacations, a career, or college scholarships for kids, medical stuff. Helping people have a good life. Not threatening them or blackmailing them, or anything like that."

Katie took a moment to think about what he was saying, then gradually settled. "I was worried there."

"Yeah, I was the same. Anyway, Patricia's getting each of our friends investigated. It's all being done discretely and she's confident we can sort it out." Kyle sighed. "As if everything else wasn't bad enough."

"I'll need to have a chat with her," Katie said a moment later. "Rosie's got a kid now and he's got some kind of health problem. I don't know what, but she's in and out the hospital all the time."

Kyle thought for a second. "You should call her and tell her we'll cover every medical expense she's got, get her the best physicians, expense money for trips to the hospital and shit like that. All she hs to do is keep her mouth shut."

"Hi, Rosie. It's Katie," Katie said, looking at Kyle as if he was stupid as she made her mock phone call. "Yeah, I know we haven't spoken in over a year, but I'm just gonna promise to cover all your costs and I can't tell you how, or even verify that I have any money. Yeah, that's right. I fucked my brother on Spring Break, but don't tell anyone, okay?" She paused and shook her head. "Yeah, I can see that going down well, Kyle."

Kyle sat there, lost for words.

"Sorry," Katie muttered a moment later. "I'm pretty... stressed, you know?"

He nodded immediately. "I know."

"And it had to be you, of all people."

Kyle smiled, despite the situation. "I know that feeling. Probably the closest, most intimate experience of my life and now...."

"Fucking ruined," Katie concluded. "I thought about you a lot, you know."

"Me too," He admitted, surprising himself with his honesty. "I kicked myself for months for not getting your number or address."

"So did I," Katie replied. "All things considered, it's just as well really."

"You think we'd have hit it off?" Kyle asked.

Katie's eyes met his. "I used to daydream I'd bump into you in New York."

"I used to daydream about looking for you. In a city of eight million people though?" Then he chuckled. "Do you have any idea how many photographers are listed for New York?"

"Yeah, there's a few of us kicking around," She replied, then frowned. "Kara doesn't know."

"Nope. Listen, about Kara..." Kyle began, frowning.

Katie's eyebrow shot up. "She was the stripper that you thought was me?"

Kyle nodded slowly.

"I wondered about that when we were on the plane," Katie explained. "Man, when he showed you those photographs...."

"Yeah. Look, did Kara give any indication she recognised me?"

Katie shook her head. "She plays things close to her chest, Kyle. She's quiet, withdrawn."

"I have to talk to her about it."

Katie thought about it for a second. "You going to tell her about us?"

"I don't know," He admiited. "I wanted to talk to you first."

"Let me think about it for a bit."

"Of course." He nodded. "So how insane is all this?"

"It's bizarre," Katie replied. "I keep feeling like someone's gonna jump out and shout Candid Camera or something."

"I have these surreal moments where it's like watching a movie. Weird shit happening to other people."

"Yeah, I understand that. How's the Island?"

"Oh, it's gorgeous. Stunning. And it's got everything."

"Has it got a trampoline?" Katie grinned.

"Probably. It's got its own hair salon."

"Yeah, Heidi tells me I'm down there tomorrow at some point," Katie smiled. "Did they do your hair?"

"Yeah, about twenty minutes before I fell off the pier," Kyle replied, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I thought you looked hot," Katie said quietly. "Before you got all wet, of course."

"Thanks, and no problem. Glad I could entertain you."

There was a knock at the door and Kyle stood up as Patricia entered.

"Sorry to interrupt. Dinner's going to be served in ten minutes. Thought I'd better let you know."

"Cheers, Patricia," Kyle nodded.

"I better make a move," Katie said, getting up. "Cheers for the chat, Kyle."

"Anytime."

Patricia waited until Katie was inside her own suite before she spoke. "How did it go?"

Kyle shrugged. "Okay, I guess. What's happening with the whole...."

"Discrete investigation?" Patricia asked quietly.

Kyle nodded. "I told Katie you know."

"How did she react?"

"Angry at first, but she's had a lot to deal with. She told me about one of her friends though. She's got a kid that's got health problems. Can we help her with that?"

"I already know about it," Patricia said quietly. "As I said, we move quick and quiet when we need to."

"So what else do you know?"

"Who do you want first?"

"Ed? Casey?" Kyle shrugged. "Whoever."

"Okay, Ed's maxed out on his credit cards, he's on the verge of defaulting on a loan too, and he's got an online gambling problem. Also, some very unhealthy porn habits, but you don't want me to go into that, do you?"

Kyle shook his head. "I know about Ed's taste in porn. He's not exactly quiet about things he finds on the internet. How bad's the debt?"

He felt bad prying into his friends personal business, but Kyle reminded himself the problems it would cause. Besides, he realised, if his buddy needed some financial help then he would be happy to help him out anyway.

"He's in about forty grand," Patricia replied.

Kyle's eyes widened. "Fucking hell. How many cards has he got?"

"I'm not sure," She admitted. "I can find out for you if you really want to know."

Kyle frowned and shook his head. "I don't suppose it matters, really."

"No. Not really."

"And Casey?"

"Casey's squeaky clean. We can't find anything bad on him at all, which is kinda impressive, I guess," Patricia admitted.

"I'm not really surprised. Casey's an honest guy, and he's really conscientious about work and bills and shit like that," Kyle replied. "He'd be a good guy to put on a fast-track promotion ladder."

"That we can do. I guess it depends on what he wants. Do you think he'd keep the secret if you asked him to?"

Kyle thought about it and nodded. "Yeah, I think he'd do that. In fact, I don't think I'd even have to ask him."

"Well, we'll look at that. Now, Katie's friends."

"Okay."

"Margarita is her best friend, financially pretty normal. Bit of debt but working to pay it off. Setbacks for shoes and handbags. Just the usual, really. We haven't found anything in her transcripts from college or school, and her family is clean too. We're still working on her though."

"Maybe Katie can ask her to keep quiet and that'll be that?" Kyle suggested.

"Maybe." Patricia said, not looking convinced. "Moving on, Shawna, who you knew as Shanice. We've got a ton of stuff about her."

"Like what?"

"Affair with a professor at college and knowledge that he was married with kids. A homemade sex tape of her with another girl at a party. History of drugs and wild parties too."

"Wow. I would never have guessed any of that," Kyle admitted. "I thought she was the quiet one of the four of them too."

"Different strokes for different folks, Kyle."

"So is she still doing all that now?"

"No, she's got a job in a law firm and she's doing quite well for herself. She won't want any of this to come out though, and like Casey, we can help her with her career, so we made an approach to her."

Kyle's eyes widened. "You what?"

"We don't know when this is going to break, so we made an approach to her," Patricia repeated. "We asked her to attend a meeting with one of our agents posing as a head-hunter out of LA, looking to recruit the brightest talent going."

"You should have spoken to me first," Kyle said immediately.

"There wasn't time, because we don't know when this is going to break," Patricia said flatly. "Anyway, we made her an offer of a post in LA with guaranteed career progression, a fantastic salary, house, company car, expense account. The job is working for our talent agency in New York, and the offer keeps her there for three years, then she can transfer to Los Angeles if she wants."

Kyle looked at her, feeling nervous and a little pissed that she'd just steamed ahead without consulting him. "And?"

"And she said she'd have to think about it, so we dangled the stick too," Patricia admitted. "We told her we'd managed to secure all copies of the video of her at the party and they would stay hidden. We also told her we could ensure the affair with her professor or her history with drugs wouldn't ever come out. Then we repeated the offer, added a signing bonus to sweeten the pot, and then told her the condition attached to it."

"What was the condition?" Kyle asked, immediately concerned that someone else was now in the know about his history with Katie.

"That she doesn't ever mention her friendship with Katie or anything that may or may not have happened in the past. Basically a gag-agreement," Patricia said simply. "Anyway, she went for the offer and starts work tomorrow in her new job."

Kyle nodded, unhappy that the proverbial stick had been used, but glad to hear there was a positive outcome in there somewhere. "How about Rosie? The girl I knew as Jessica."

"Well, her little boy has cystic fibrosis, so we can get him the best of care and her the best of support."

"How bad is it?"

"The illness? I don't know," She admitted. "I'll get some briefing material put together for you if you want, but to be frank, you don't really need to know. You've got other things to be filling your brain with."

Kyle nodded. "So have we done anything to help her?"

"She's been notified that Katie has come into an inheritance, and wants to help her out, cover all her costs, etc, using a charity foundation that she's going to set up. Apparently the news was very gratefully received and she wept." Patricia shrugged. "Anyway, she's keen to speak with Katie and signed the conditional agreement without complaint. Heidi is going to set up a call with her sometime tomorrow."

"So, we can help out Ed, we've got Shawna and Rosie covered. That just leaves Casey and Margarita as the problems?"

"Pretty much," Patricia nodded.

"That's fast work, Patricia."

She shrugged. "We got information and acted on it before it became a problem."

"True, but it's helping me." While he still felt uncomfortable prying into peoples private lives and bribing people, he did feel a little safer, a little less exposed.

"Anyway, you've got to get changed for dinner," She said.

"Again?"

"You got a problem with looking nice, Kyle?" Patricia chuckled.

"Nope. I think you've got a problem with me wearing the same clothes for more than two hours though."

"If it's any consolation, Margaret picked out these ones. Same jeans you had on at pier, different shirt and shoes though."

"The soaking wet jeans?"

Patricia rolled her eyes as she stood up. "They've been washed, pressed and back in your wardrobe for hours, Kyle."

Kyle shook his head, remembering again how weird it was to have staff who looked after him. "Okay, I'm going to get changed."

"Don't forget to fix your hair."

"Yes, mother," He chuckled.

Dinner wasn't as fantastic as Kyle expected when it came to the food. Due to Julian's interference Kyle had his own menu with his options dramatically reduced. He'd been looking forward to some more of the lobster or those delicious prawns from lunch, but ended up with a grilled tuna steak and poached egg on a bed of quinoa, a substance a lot like couscous, but delicately spiced. It was delicious, but when he saw everyone else tucking into steak, lobster, mussels, spicy noodles, and a dazzling array of vegetables he definitely felt restricted.

Eight of them sat around a table in the dining area next to the bar. Kyle was joined by his sisters, Patricia, Heidi and Garius, and Edwin and Mister Crowler completed the party. What started off as a fairly subdued group quickly opened up as each of them told funny stories about themselves, knowing that Kyle, Kara and Katie didn't really know any of them.

Kyle told them of how he'd been so hungover in a lecture at college once that he'd fallen asleep and when he woke up it took him three hours to discover he had drawings on his face. Katie told them of a photoshoot she'd done where she fainted in front of a client but still got the job, and of how she once did the infamous 'skirt-tucked-into-her-underwear' thing and no-one told her.

Mister Crowler talked for a few mnutes of former clients who wanted to sue the government for situating the movie industry in Hollywood instead of Nebraska, or one who wanted to sue twitter for allowing him to tweet a picture of his own penis while drunk. Another who wanted to sue Blackberry because their phones didn't contain any actual berries.

Patricia, Garius and Heidi told funny stories involving Mister Tripps, crazy meetings with crazy people, and then told of dozens of letters they'd dealt with from people claiming bizarre things, like a proclamation they received that Danny Tripps was the new messiah, along with a completely updated bible about him from an obsessed housewife in Texas. Patricia insisted it was on the Island somewhere.

Edwin contributed a couple of stories too, delivered in a quiet voice, telling of the time Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie were visiting the Island and she'd got in a fury during an argument and threw a vase at a reinforced window. The vase had bounced off and knocked her out cold, and they'd ended up staying an extra week until the bump on her head disappeared. Another story told of Salma Hayek jogging on the Island and how her breasts were bouncing so much that one of the staff broke his nose by walking right into a tree.

Kara was the only one who didn't contribute anything and on a couple of occasions, Kyle tried to draw her into the conversations but he could see what Katie meant when he said she was withdrawn.

After dinner she excused herself for a visit to the bathroom and Kyle took the opportunity to slip outside for a smoke. It was only a couple of minutes later when she reappeared.

"Kara. Have you got a second?"

"Sure."

Kyle stood up and began to walk slowly around the pool and his sister joined him.

"What's up?"

"We haven't really had a chance to talk," He said gently. "How you doing with all this?"

Her eyes narrowed as she looked around at the main house, then back to Kyle. "Haven't decided."

"Yeah, it's a lot to take in."

"No, I haven't decided if I'm going to stay or not."

"Oh." Kyle was about to tell her he was the same, but he paused, realising that he'd already decided. The responsibility of the people relying on him was too great. Despite feeling boxed in and manipulated he knew he would do as he always did. Take his responsibilities seriously and try his best.

He took a deep breath and got back on with the reason he wanted to speak with her. "Kara, you know we've met before, right?"

"I don't think so," She said, shaking her head, her long dark hair bobbing around her face.

"I was on a vacation with my friends a few years ago in Myrtle Beach," He explained softly, letting that hang in the air.

She didn't say anything, but stopped at the railing and looked out over the water.

"I was in with some friends, and I thought you were someone else," He continued, but she raised a hand.

"Kyle, do you have any idea how many people I've danced for over the years? If you're telling me you saw me dance, then that's pretty fucked up, but don't expect me to remember you."

"I just thought I should let you know," He said quietly.

"Maybe you shouldn't have," She said, turning to face him. "Now I know that my newly-discovered brother visits strip clubs like all the other perverts, weirdos and losers I've ever met. Do you think that I'll think better of you because you were honest about it?"

Kara shook her head and looked back out over the water. "Now you're just one of them."

"I wanted to talk to you to see if you remembered me," Kyle said, taken aback. "And I was only there because I promised my friend we'd go in."

She turned her head, catching his eye again. "So it was your first time in a lapdancing bar, was it?"

Kyle frowned, trying to think how to answer the question but she cut him off before he could say anything else.

"I didn't think so. And no, I don't remember you."

"Kara...."

"Was there anything else you wanted to tell me, or can I go back in now?"

Kyle sighed. "Nothing else. Sorry to bother you."

"It's fine," She said, walking off.

Kyle watched her walk around the pool, her movements confident and sure.

"Well, that fucking sucked," He whispered, feeling as if he'd been punched in the stomach.

Kyle was back in his suite half an hour later, having returned to the table for a short time, then excused himself, telling them he had a six o'clock workout to get up for. Patricia had got up to leave with him, but he waved her back into her seat, wanting a little time to himself.

He felt like he'd totally blown things with Kara. Their first conversation was a disaster, and he knew first impressions counted. She'd all but named him a pervert, and her tone left it pretty clear that she thought the customers at the clubs she'd worked were all low-life scumbags.

"Fuck my life," He muttered, not for the firs time in the last twenty four hours.

He turned off the lights in the suite and the balcony and sat in the near darkness, enjoying the solitude. On his third cigarette, he was thinking over the the events of the day when his eyes fell to the shape of the blue binder on the table, barely visible in the dark..

"Private accommodation in Manhattan, LA, Aspen, Hawaii, Toronto, London, Italy and here," He recited aloud from memory. "Computer Manufacturing in the US, Mexico, UK, Germany, India and China. Software Development in the US, Canada, India and the UK. Telephone factories in seven countries across the globe including France, the UK, the US and China. Pharmaceutical Research and Production in the US, Canada, India, China and Holland. Games developers in Scotland and the US. Commercial Properties in New York, Chicago, London, Paris and Berlin."

Kyle paused and rubbed at his temples as he concentrated, seeing a mental picture of the pages of the binder.

"A movie and TV production company with offices in LA, New York and Toronto. A Talent agency with offices in LA, New York and London. A record label in the US and UK, with studios in each country as well as Brazil, Barcelona and Sydney. Magazine publishers with offices in Chicago, New York and LA. Then the oddball stuff. The copper mine in Zambia. The Private Security firm in Zambia and now Afghanistan. The Alternative Energy Research in Scotland. The accountancy firm that specialises in small businesses in Las Vegas."

Kyle paused for a breath. "And last but not least, that fucking strip club in Myrtle Beach."

He stubbed out his cigarette.

"That was pretty impressive, you know," He heard from behind him, recognising Patricia's voice.

Kyle shrugged as he lit another cigarette. "I deal with a lot of information at work, so I'm pretty good at taking stuff in. Plus, we spent hours on this today."

"You missed one," She said gently, taking a seat beside him. To his surprise she leaned over and picked up his cigarettes and lit one for herself, then grinned. "I've had a couple of drinks."

"What did I miss?" Kyle asked, not really caring if she smoked or not. Who was he to say anything, given he was chain-smoking like an addict on death row.

"The Business Consultants you work for?" She said, making it a question.

"Of course. With offices in the US, UK, Canada and Australia," He finished.

"Seriously, that's really impressive, remembering all that."

Kyle exhaled a long, smooth breath. "I spoke to Kara. Told her I was at the club in Myrtle Beach. Now she thinks I'm a low-life pervert and that I shouldn't have brought it up. And she didn't remember me anyway, so it was all for nothing."

"Everything's been a huge shock to her recently, Kyle. To all of you."

"Why don't we have any property for commercial letting in Tokyo?" He asked. "I mean, Tokyo is one of the most expensive places to rent in the world, right?"

Patricia chuckled.

"Plus we have no presence in Japan at all. Tell me again, what did he do to set up this fake persona for Kara?"

"The cover story if anyone looks her up?" Patricia asked.

"Yeah."

"Okay. For four years someone named Kara Kowalski has been writing trashy romance novels and scraping a living from it. The novels are all ghost-written, and the photo on the jacket could be her, deliberately shot to be ambiguous."

"Right. What else?"

"Several blogs that were started for a month or two but fell by the wayside. The usual twitter, facebook, myspace, all that stuff."

Kyle nodded for her to continue as he sat there in the dark.

"Basically, if anyone who went to school with her looks her up, they'll have her down as someone who moved to an undisclosed town in Illinois, took up writing and didn't really socialise much."

"And if they recognsie her as a dancer?"

"Mister Tripps found out she was there a few years ago, and I don't know how he did it, but he bought the club purely so he could make sure any CCTV tapes were in his control. He even paid to have the previous owners house turned over and any tapes or photos that were there were stolen."

"Were there tapes of her?"

"Her and every other dancer who had ever worked there," Patricia said quietly. "We got this from Mister Tripps only a few weeks ago. He had evidence of some of the girls offering extras, snorting lines of coke, doing meth, all sorts of stuff like that. The owner was just as bad, apparently. Nearly half the girls who ever worked there used to do.... favours for him, or he'd fire them. The rest refused but made too much money dancing for him to fire them."

Kyle moved the ashtray onto the table in front of them both. It was a little weird seeing Patricia smoking, but much weirder things had happened in the last thirty six hours.

"The security staff who worked there were checked out too," She added.

"And she left nine months ago, right?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah. Lived off her savings for a bit."

"So what did Tripps do to get all her colleagues to keep quiet?"

"The dancers she worked with who took cash for extras or took drugs were shown tapes of themselves, then offered clean-up programmes and jobs. The previous owner was found by the police with half a kilo of cocaine and is doing a stretch in prison. Five of the security guys who worked there are now working as freelance security contractors in Zambia. One of them is in Afghanistan. The other guy who worked there but didn't want to go abroad got a nice big business grant to start a building business with his brother, and they're about to get a lucrative maintenance contract to keep them going for a few years."

"What about the dancers who weren't into anything dodgy?"

"A few scholarships and expenses packages, helping out with a few medical bills for relatives, a few jobs here and there. One of them demanded a Porsche to keep quiet, so she was shown the stick instead of the carrot."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"You go for the carrot, you get a nice reward for positive behaviour. You go for the stick, you get thumped for negative behaviour. The carrot and the stick."

"I know what the carrot and stick shit means," Kyle muttered, rolling his eyes. "I mean what metaphorical stick was she shown?"

"I believe she was woken up one night surrounded by half a ton of flour in clear bags, in her own bedroom. The bags looked like drugs, you know?"

Kyle nodded for her to continue.

"On her bed were photos of her showing she'd been slipped a roofie, had been taken out her own apartment, photographed at a local landmark, then put back into bed, all without her knowing anything about it. Next to the photos on the bed was a list of every address she'd ever had, the addresses of all her family, her passwords for her email accounts, bank account numbers, a frightening amount of personal information."

"So she was threatened and her family were threatened?" Kyle asked, scowling. "Is this what I'm inheriting?"

Patricia sighed, but pressed on. "When she woke up, a disguised man pointed out to her that this could have been the police raiding her and finding all these drugs. It could have been a rapist or serial killer who slipped her a roofie. It could be someone trying to find her in any of the places on those lists, who can find out anything about her at any time. Then the guy pointed out to her that if she wanted a disproportional carrot, she would see a disproportional stick. I believe she settled for twelve grand."

"That's a nasty way of doing business. I don't like it," He said firmly.

"Oh, grow up, Kyle," Patricia said bluntly, startling him. "You're playing with the big boys now, and information is power. Do you think every single one of your competitors isn't going to investigate each of you and leak whatever they want to the press? Or try to use it to discredit you and cause a drop in share price? Do you think if they have something they can blackmail you with, then they'll decide that he's a good guy and we'll just leave him alone? That's not how it works and deep down you know it."

Kyle shook his head in frustration. "So what if I decide I'm above all these power games and I'm not going to play?"

"Then you'll get killed with a thousand paper cuts," Patricia replied. "Fortunately for you we've got people who are really good at this stuff, so it's not something that's going to cross your desk very often."

"What a fucking day," He muttered.

"You get them like that sometimes. Then other days are awesome." She paused to put her cigarette out. "Mister Tripps used to say you need a few shit days so you can appreciate the good ones."

"Bring on the good ones," Kyle replied.

"You should get some sleep, Kyle," Patricia reminded him, standing up and heading into the suite.

Kyle sat in the dark for a few more minutes and then stubbed out his cigarette and headed inside. He turned off the lights in his bedroom, plunging the place into near-total darkness, stripped off and got into bed.

Sleep eluded him though.

He fidgetted, rolled over, couldn't get comfortable and couldn't quite drift off, so he got up again, grabbed a pair of shorts and a hooded jersey from the dressing room and went outside again.

"Psst. Kyle."

It took him a moment to trace the source of the loud whisper, but he saw Katie walking round the balcony from her suite to his. "How you doing?"

"Can't sleep," He told her, taking a seat.

"Me neither. I think that's been forty hours now or something," She replied.

"Jesus, Katie. You should be in your bed."

"It's not happening though. I just can't drift off."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I just got back up myself."

She looked at him for a minute, her head tilted to one side. "Come with me, Kyle." She turned and began to walk around the balcony, her white trackpants and vest top making her easily visible in the dark. "Come on."

Kyle got up and followed her round the balcony and into her suite, seeing it was similar to his own in layout, but different in its decor. Everything in here was much lighter in colour and tone from the furniture to the walls. The lounge area was larger and the bedrooms were to the side instead of the back.

As he followed he began to get a little nervous, his stomach tensing as Katie led him into her bedroom.

"This is my room."

"Yeah. You know it's not a great idea for me to be in here, right?"

"Oh, chill out, Kyle. I just want to try something," She told him firmly. "Remember when we snuggled and fell asleep together?"

He shrugged. "Of course I do."

"Well I'm shattered, Kyle," She continued. "Like I'm exhausted. I haven't slept in two days, I'm jetlagged and I feel ill. I'm desperate to sleep, so at this point I'm willing to try anything."

Kyle frowned at her. This wasn't a good way to start things off as brother and sister. Plus, he could feel that hint of nervous excitement at the thought of holding her again.

"We don't have to get undressed, or get under the covers or anything like that. I just want to see if I can get as comfortable as I can, and hopefully get some rest."

"You're kidding, right?"

To his surprise her eyes immediately began to fill up with tears, and her hands flew up to cover them.

"Katie, I didn't mean to upset you," He said quickly. "I just think that the two us sleeping together is not the smartest thing to do."

"I'm tired, Kyle. I'm tired, and I'm all alone here, and the only person I know is you. I don't know who I can trust, I'm completely out my depth, and all I want is to get some sleep."

Kyle took a couple of steps forward to where she sat on the edge of the bed and gave her a hug. He could feel her holding him, grateful for the comfort, and after a couple of minutes she let him go and wiped her eyes.

"I'll stay for a little while, but as soon as you're asleep, I'm going back to my room," He said, feeling a huge pang of empathy for her, going through all the same crappy emotional rollercoaster he was.

"Kyle, if I can get to sleep, then that's all I need," She replied, giving him a little smile.

He nodded and walked round the side of the bed, lying on his side on top of the sheets, and Katie rolled herself in so he was snuggled in behind her.

The smell of her hair and the feel of her against him brought back memories of Myrtle Beach in her room and Kyle took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Without conscious thought they both made small adjustments to accommodate the other. The positioning of a hand, the turn of an elbow. A foot sliding between his, the angle of his hips and her buttocks, and within moments his arms were wrapped tight around her, her arms holding him in place.

"Kyle," She whispered in the darkness.

"Yeah?"

"I've missed this."

"Me too," He whispered back. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep."

She was gone within a few minutes, and Kyle slowly slid his arm out from under her, taking a great deal of care to not wake her, but eventually he was able to extract himself from the bed. He lifted the sheet over her carefully, then left quietly.

He sat in what was fast becoming his 'usual' chair and lit up, enjoying being back in the darkness when he heard footsteps from his right, and spotted Kara on her balcony. He was in two minds if he should say anything to her or not when she spotted the cigarette flare as he inhaled.

"Kyle?"

"Hey," He said softly. "I can't sleep."

"Neither can I."

"Come and have a seat," He suggested.

She hesitated for a moment but then walked round and sat down.

"Sorry again about earlier, Kara," Kyle said, keeping his voice low. "I wasn't trying to make you feel uncomfortable or anything."

"Yeah, I kinda bit your head off," She admitted. "I'm not great at dealing with guys."

Kyle caught himself about to point out that she was exceptional at dealing with guys when it came to the lapdance he remembered so vividly, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

"Plus, it's a bit messed up, knowing that your brother has seen you stripping," She added.

"In fairness, I didn't know we were related, and neither did you," He pointed out.

"I know, but still....."

His thoughts turned to Katie and the things they'd unwittingly done together. "It could have been worse, Kara."

"Yeah, I could have given you a private dance."

Kyle was thinking that it would have been worse if they'd had sex, but now he realised she didn't know she'd given him a lapdance that was so hot it had made him cum.

His silence cued her in. "Oh, fuck. I gave you a private dance?"

"Afraid so," He said quietly a moment later. "If it's any consolation to your professional pride, I thought you were excellent."

"Really not the best time to point that out," She murmured.

"Yeah, I know," Kyle agreed. "The whole thing's a bit.... awkward to navigate."

"You think?"

He shrugged. "I guess."

"When were you in?"

"Spring break, three years ago. You want some details of the conversation we had, see if you can remember?" He offered.

"I'm not sure if I want to remember or not."

"Okay. Let me know if you do. If it helps. Whatever you need."

"I'll think about it."

"So you grew up in North Carolina then?" He asked, trying to change the subject onto something that might be more comfortable for her.

"Yeah."

"How was it?"

"North Carolina?"

Kyle chuckled. "No, growing up. What was your life like?"

"It was good until I turned ten and my mom died."

"I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "Just one of those things. Drunk driver hit her, killed her instantly. At least it was quick. After that Dad began to drink and things went to shit."

Kyle didn't know what to say. By the sounds of it, she had it rough growing up.

"I left home as soon as I could, and by that point he had lost his job and didn't want to work anyway. I had two part-time jobs when I was at school, and I used to hide the money I made so we had food and the bills got paid. Otherwise he drank it, or sold stuff."

Kyle wondered why Danny Tripps didn't help her out at that point, or at least, help out her father and get him back on the right path again.

"That sounds like a tough way to grow up, Kara," Kyle said quietly.

"Just another of life's learning experiences," She replied, rolling it out like an automatic response.

"So where did you go when you left home?"

"I went to stay with a guy I'd met online in Chicago, but that turned out to be bullshit, so then I travelled for a few months, doing odd jobs, crashing in my car."

Kyle frowned. "And then you ended up in Myrtle Beach?"

"Yeah, eventually. I was working the bar there and some of the girls were encouraging me to dance. When I saw them doing it a few times and I saw the money they made I gave it a go. The rest you know."

"Did you enjoy it?" Kyle asked, genuinely curious.

"Most of the time? No. Most of the time it sucked, having old men pawing at you, or guys treating you like shit. Sometimes it was hard to keep from showing your contempt." She paused for a moment, then grabbed his cigarettes.

Kyle grinned, reminded of Patricia earlier.

"You don't mind, do you?" She asked, lighting one up.

"Help yourself."

She tilted her head back and Kyle was immediately reminded of the silhouette of her, lit from above as she danced for him.

"Sometimes, just once in a while, you'd get a hot guy, or you'd be having a good night and something would just click. That was rare though."

"It sounds it," Kyle nodded, secretly hoping that he was one of the rare ones.

"Plus, working in heels all night long gets a bit tiring." She smiled a little and Kyle realised that despite the topics they'd been discussing, she was actually starting to relax.

"I'm glad we're talking a bit, Kara," He said. "This is a lot better than our conversation earlier."

"Yeah, you've not been doing too good with the first impressions, Kyle," She said, then chuckled. "Get all nervous, fall off the pier, then tell me you've seen me naked. Are you always this smooth with the girls?" She finished, openly grinning.

Kyle laughed. "Yeah, when it comes to girls I generally suck at chatting them up."

"Yeah?"

"Totally. King of the crash and burn."

Her expression turned serious again and she was obviously thinking about something, so Kyle kept quiet, waiting to see what she had to say.

"Kyle, I.... never mind."

"Go ahead," He told her.

"No, doesn't matter."

He looked her in the eye. "I know that right now you don't know me from Adam, but you can trust me, okay? Ask me whatever you want, or if you want to talk to me about something, you can. Any time at all, alright?"

Kyle saw her nod faintly, then her expression became more determined.

"So I have trust issues with men."

"That's hardly surprising."

"Shush," She said, making him grin. "Anyway, I have problems trusting guys, and I'd be quite happy to not have to rely on one ever again. I know you're this brother who's appeared out of nowhere and I should try and trust you, get to know you, all that stuff that Garius is telling me to do, but it's not going to be easy, okay?"

"Nothing worthwile ever is," He pointed out.

"Do you always interrupt?"

He shrugged. "Sometimes."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Anyway, what I'm saying is I'll try, but I can't promise I won't.... behave like a bitch from time to time, okay?"

"Okay," Kyle nodded. "I appreciate your honesty."

"You might not in the future, okay? Consider yourself warned."

Kyle grinned. "Duly noted."

He paused for a second, considering something else. "Listen, all three of us, you, me and Katie. None of us know what it's like to have brothers or sisters, so we're going to make mistakes and any relationships we have or end up having will be something that's going to grow out of trial and error."

"That's a cheerful picture," Kara said, sarcastically.

"What I'm saying is that we'll make mistakes. At some point you'll do something that'll upset me, I'll do something that will upset you. Katie will do something that'll upset both of us. We just have to remember that we're all new at this."

"Okay," She nodded. "I'll try, but no promises."

"That's all any of us can do," Kyle agreed. "And on that note, I think I'm gonna head to bed."

"Oh, that's right. Your six o'clock workout."

"Yeah," Kyle replied, putting on his glum face. "Hence my unrestrained enthusiasm."

Kara chuckled, and Kyle felt a lot happier that they'd been able to talk.

"Goodnight, Kara."

"Night, Kyle."

"Morning, Kyle."

He felt the gentle hand rubbing his shoulder, and recognised Patricia's voice. He opened his eyes, seeing a hint of brightness in the room from the bedside lamp.

Patricia was sat on the side of the bed, wearing an oversized football shirt, her hair hanging loose, grinning at him.

"It's six o'clock already?" He mumbled.

"Quarter to," She replied. "Time to get out of bed, Kyle. Rise and shine, although I think you've got the rise part taken care of." Her eyes flicked down the bed at the same instant that Kyle realised he had an erection, and was lying on his back, tenting the sheet just as she had predicted twentyfour hours ago.

"Oh, shit. Sorry," He muttered, sitting upright and making sure the sheet covered him.

Patricia chuckled, a wicked noise that made him grin a little sheepishly. "Told you."

"Yeah, you did," He replied and his eyes narrowed. "Is that my football shirt?"

"You don't mind?"

He shook his head, his eyes running over how it hung loose around her figure. "Looks better on you anyway."

"Hey!" She said sharply, slapping him on the hip, a broad grin on her face. "You're not meant to be eyeing me up."

Kyle shrugged. "I've just woken up. I'm blaming it on being sleepy."

Patricia laughed and stood up, heading back towards her room. "Get dressed, Kyle. Oh, my shower's not working. Can I...."

"Of course."

"Thanks, Kyle." She disappeared from the room.

Kyle sighed, knowing there was a lot worse ways to be woken up than by a hot blonde who teased you about your boner, but it certainly took a bit of getting used to.

He threw back the sheets and headed to the bathroom, urinated and had a quick wash, then dragged on some shorts and a top, tied on some sneakers and headed for Patricia's room.

"Patricia," He said, approaching her room, the lack of doors in the suite meaning he didn't have one to knock on.

"Yeah?"

"Am I meeting Julian at the gym?"

"No, he'll be downstairs," She replied. "Have fun. See you when you get back."

"Right," He replied, and squaring his shoulders he went downstairs.

Julian worked him hard. He'd started Kyle doing some stretching exercises on the way to the gym for a few minutes, then put him onto the weights machines in the gym, working solely on his arms, shoulders, pecs and stomach.

The increasingly heavy weights burned his muscles and proved to be an agonizing experience, but Julian's unflagging enthusiasm kept him trying to do one more. Then another, and another until he was trembling with exhaustion.

When he thought he couldn't do any more, Julian made him do one more, and then when he was done with the machines, the trainer had him on the floor doing crunches, like sit-ups but without sitting up.

By the time Julian brought a bottle of water and told him they were done until lunchtime, Kyle felt like he'd been run over by a steam roller. Even walking back to his suite was a struggle even though they hadn't worked his legs at all, and Kyle knew he'd have to stop smoking, or at least, cut back a lot.

He stumbled up the stairs and into his suite, heading straight for his bedroom where he considered face-planting on the bed and just staying there until dinner, but he knew he had too much to do, and he was decidedly hungry.

He kicked off his sneakers and pulled off his top, groaning as he was forced to lift his arms, and as he entered the bathroom to get in the shower, the opaque glass of the shower cubicle turned clear as Patricia opened the door from the inside.

He saw her before she hurriedly closed the door, saw her legs and that shaven place between them, saw her taught flat stomach and her round, full breasts with her nipples tight and hard, jutting out. Her blonde hair, wet and shining like the beads of water on her skin. She had the fingers of her right hand in her mouth.

"Fuck. Sorry, Patricia. I didn't realise you were in here," he said quickly, retreating out the door. Kyle frowned as he realised the water wasn't running.

"I didn't hear you come in," She called back.

Kyle was standing outside the bathroom, a slight smile on his face as his mind replayed what he had just seen. "Holy fuck, she's hot," He muttered.

Patricia appeared moments later, wrapped in a towel this time with another round her head, holding her hair.

"Sorry about that," She said quckly.

"No, no, my mistake," Kyle argued. "I forgot you were using my shower."

They both paused, looking at each other and feeling a bit awkward until Kyle started to laugh. Patricia joined in seconds later.

"Seems to be a day for seeing things," He said finally.

"Yeah. And it looks like my friendly predictions are coming true faster than I thought," She added. "It's not gonna get weird or anything now, is it? After me waking you up and then... this."

Kyle smiled. "No, although I have to admit, that's an image that's going to stay in my head for quite a while."

"Glad I could be of service," She laughed, giving him a mocking curtsy, her hand clasped tightly round her towel.

"So it's safe for me to go for a shower now then?" Kyle asked, chuckling.

"Definitely," She nodded. "How was the work out?"

"I still haven't figured out how I'm going to shower without the use of my arms, and I'm firmly convinced Julian is a sadist, but it was good."

"Sore?"

"Oh, yes."

"Well, the injections you got yesterday are going to help, and I'll get a massage sorted for you tonight."

"With that girl you were telling me about?" Kyle asked, remembering how Patricia descibed her as being so enthusiastic about sex that she aspired to a career in porn.

"Sarah? She is a great masseuse," She said. "Plus, you might even get laid. At least that'll get me out your head."

"Maybe," Kyle grinned. "Right, I'm off to the shower."

"See you in a bit," Patricia said, stepping past him. "After your shower though," She added, laughing as she exited the room.

"Holy fuck, she's hot," Kyle murmured once more before heading back into the bathroom.

Despite his aching arms and shoulders, the hot water invigorated him and the thought of Patricia being in here, naked and soapy only a few minutes before had him hard, so Kyle rubbed one out, his eyes closed as he remembered that glimpse of her body.

Despite having extensive practice when it came to jerking off, and lots of inspiration, it wasn't the most spectacular orgasm Kyle had in his life, but it served to ease the tension in him so he finished washing himself, stepped out the shower, grabbed a towel and roughly dried himself off.

"I'm out here," Patricia called from the bedroom, so Kyle made sure his towel was secure around his waist then walked out to join her. She was already dressed but had a towel still wrapped around her hair.

"Here's your clothes for the morning," She said, waving to a pair of jeans, a v-necked top and a jacket, "And here's your workout clothes for lunchtime," She added, indicating a pair of shorts and a vest-top at the other end of the bed.

"You know I can probably pick out my own clothes, right?"

She gave him a skeptical look. "I've seen your facebook photos. Do you really want to have this argument?"

Kyle chuckled and grabbed the jeans from the bed. Rather than go through all the hassle of disappearing into the dressing room he turned his back and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the denims over his feet and halfway up his legs.

He could hear Patricia fussing around on the other side of the bed, and figured that she knew what he was doing, so he stood up and dropped the towel, then hauled the jeans up.

"Getting a bit more comfortable having me around then?"

"I guess so," Kyle replied, chuckling. "Amazing what you get used to."

"I did warn you of that."

"You did."

"I'm telling you, give it a few more months and you'll be whipping clothes on and off, and you'll barely notice me being there," She laughed.

Kyle highly doubted that, but couldn't help wonder if she'd be like that too. He wouldn't have minded another glimpse at that body of hers.

"Right, if you finish getting dressed, breakfast is going to be downstairs. It's a working morning, so you'll be getting briefings from Garius, Heidi and I on the different branches of the organisation, and what Mister Tripps recommendations were for each of them."

"Give me it in a nutshell," Kyle said as he slipped on his top slowly, his arms protesting at every movement.

She tilted her head. "Mister Tripps put CEO's in place for each company two months ago. Give them another ten months to show you what they can do, and use the time to get some first-hand knowledge of each organisation."

"So travel the world for the next ten months?" A vision of hours and hours spent in aircraft made Kyle frown.

"It won't take ten months," She explained. "But it'll give you plenty time to figure out what areas you want to work with, what the three of you want to get rid of, and decide who you want to keep or clear out. Plus, if you ratify Mister Tripps decisions, it'll make you look smart and look like the Tripps Empire will be remaining firmly in the Tripps family."

"Even though none of us are named Tripps," Kyle pointed out.

"You can fix that easy enough."

Kyle blinked. "And that's not gonna be happening. My folks were good enough to raise me. The least I can do is honour them by keeping my name."

"Just a suggestion."

"Okay then," Kyle said, not particularly pleased at the turn the conversation had taken. He sat down on the bed and pulled on his socks and shoes, then stood and grabbed the jacket from the bed. "See you downstairs?"

"Sure," Patricia nodded. "And Kyle?"

"Yeah?"

"Didn't mean to offend you there."

He nodded. "I know. Just got a bit.... prickly about it."

Patricia nodded. "See you downstairs."

Kyle was early, so despite his promise to himself to cut down on the cigarettes, he lit up. Katie arrived bang on time, but they decided to wait for Kara who was ten minutes late and sat down with a muttered, "Morning," her eyes hidden behind her big thick sunglasses.

Kyle and Katie joined her at the table, and while his sisters were offered all sorts of things to eat, Kyle got given scrambled eggs and toasted brown bread.

Kara opted for a glass of orange juice, and sat like she was nursing a hangover, while Katie tucked into a large bowl of muesli, fresh fruit and cold milk.

Their briefing began immediately, with Katie's assistant, Heidi, giving them an overview of the organisation. Maps were brought out, with dozens of pins stuck in them, page after page of information was given to each of them, with organisational flowcharts and personnel profiles of the key players, pictures of what each company produced, a real bombardment of data.

Kyle kept up with it pretty well, he thought, mostly because that was similar to what he did at work all day. Collect data, process it and then put it to use. However, he could see Katie was struggling a little with the sheer amount of it, while Kara was absolutely drowning. By the time Garius came to take over the briefing, Kara was barely glancing at each handout.

Kyle did what he could to try and simplify the information coming at them, asking questions like, "So this organisational chart is like a family tree then, with the boss at the top, then the family heads and then the teams and individual offices are like the kids, right?" and, "This strategical, tactical and operations division of responsibilities is just different people deciding what we're going to do, how we're going to do it, and then the people who actually do it?"

As Garius continued, Kyle started to see Kara pick up a little more of the information, but every time she frowned, Kyle asked a 'simplifier' until she relaxed again. It was hard going, and he could see that Garius kept pressing on, having a timetable to keep to, but Kyle didn't see the point in delivering a rapid briefing if not everyone could keep up. So he kept asking questions, controlling the speed and flow of the data that was coming at them.

Eventually Garius sat down, and Katie asked if they could have a break to stretch their legs. Kyle was surprised when he discovered they'd been there for two hours, so he got up himself and walked around the pool for a bit, stretching his sore muscles in the process.

When they returned, Patricia was waiting for them, and as Garius had covered the computer manufacturing operation, their software development companies and the mobile telecomms part of their organisation, Patricia started on the 'Hollywood' side of things.

She began laying out information for them on the Production company, the Talent agency and the music and magazine companies, a slightly more glamorous side of their business. She spoke about some of the stars they represented, household names in some cases, and briefly went into what shows and productions they had shares in that were run or managed by other companies, drawing both Katie and a reluctant Kara into the conversation by asking them if they'd seen this movie or show, or heard music by a particular artist.

Kyle was a little amused at how skillfully she'd drawn them into the briefing, making it more of a conversation than a straight delivery of information, and before he knew it she was wrapping up. He glanced at the clock on the wall, surprised again that it was eleven o'clock already.

"Oh, we're late for our hair appointments," Katie said, jumping up.

"Yeah," Kara said, sounding unimpressed.

"Hey, cheer up," Kyle said. "It's not another briefing at least."

"I suppose."

Kara flashed him a brief smile and Katie gave him a wave as they were ushered off by Garius and Heidi, leaving him with Patricia.

"Nicely done, by the way," He said, smiling.

"What?"

"The briefing, drawing them in."

"Yeah, I could see they were flagging before," She said, nodding. "And don't think I didn't spot you helping out either."

Kyle laughed. "What? The simplified questions?"

She nodded. "Very sweet of you to look out for her like that."

Kyle shrugged. "I was chatting with her last night after you went to bed. She's had it tough, you know. Not much of an upbringing, and two jobs while she was at school too."

"I know."

"It's hardly surprising it's going to take her a while to get her head round all this stuff. You might want to mention that to Garius at some point."

Patricia smiled, a wistful look appearing on her face. "You sound just like him sometimes, you know."

"Who?"

"Danny Tripps. Especially when you're in work mode."

"Genetics, I guess," Kyle replied, not really sure what to say to that. "So what's next?"

"You're meeting with Connor Grant about appointing Head Bodyguards for yourself and your sisters," She told him, then smiled. "Then you're off to see Julian again."

"You sure?"

"Oh, yes. Legs and torso this time."

Her smile had a definite hint of evil to it, Kyle thought as he got to his feet and lit a cigarette. "Come on then. Let's go see crazy mister Connor."

They walked down past the hair salon and round the edge of the hill until a large building came in sight.

"What's this place?"

"It's referred to as the Clubhouse, but basically it's where the staff get their meals, or hang out at night or their days off."

"It's a night club?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, and a bar, a restaurant and it's got a few pool tables and stuff too," She explained. "I want to stress though, it's for the staff, so don't go sneaking down here to party. You'll just make them feel awkward if you're there."

Kyle nodded. "Everyone needs some downtime away from the boss, I guess. So why are we here now?"

"Because Connor's here, and he's still recovering from his leg wound, so we're being nice and not making him walk all the way up to the main house."

"Oh. Alright."

"Don't drink with him, Kyle," She said suddenly, stopping him. "He'll probably tease you, and he'll probably be drinking himself, but stick with water."

"Yes, mother," He grinned.

"No, seriously. This guy's a power drinker, and he'll get you so wasted that you'll be ill for days because he thinks it's funny." Her expression was serious, so Kyle nodded. "I'll meet you out here when you're done," She added.

"You're not coming in?"

She shook her head. "If I'm in there, he'll spend all his time hitting on me and you won't get any work done."

"He's that bad?"

"Morals of a horny dog, remember?" She quoted. "Now, here's your profiles of who's available or willing to quit their job to take this on. Try to get it done in half an hour or less, and then get back out here as soon as you can, okay?" She handed him a binder.

"See you in a bit," Kyle said as he headed inside.

As he walked in, he saw the room open up away to the right, a dance floor dominating the room with a stage at one end and a bar lining the long wall to his right. He could see one guy in the room, standing behind the bar pouring himself a mug of coffee.

"Morning," Kyle called.

"Kyle Watson, aye?" The man called back. He was dressed in jeans, a black t-shirt and his brown hair was short and spiky. He looked to be in amazing shape too, but as he moved, Kyle caught sight of the walking stick in his hand.

"Are you Connor Grant?"

"One and only. Welcome to my house," The Scotsman replied, waving Kyle to a seat at the bar. "How you getting on?"

"With what?"

"Being a billionaire?"

Kyle chuckled as Connor put the coffee pot back then poured a shot of scotch into the coffee. "It's taking a bit of getting used to."

"You got Patricia working for you?"

"Yeah," Kyle nodded. "She's being a great help."

"You want to tap that, man," Connor said, giving him a pointed look. "A body that fine needs regular attention."

Kyle smiled, the image of her naked in the shower immediately popping into his head, but he wasn't really sure he wanted to talk about her to some random guy who takes whisky in his coffee at eleven in the morning.

"So what's the hampden then?" Connor asked as he made his way around the bar to join Kyle.

"The what?"

"The hampden? Hampden roar? Score?"

"Sorry," Kyle said. "What?"

Connor limped over and sat down on the bar stool next to Kyle. "What's the score then? Where's the profiles?"

"Oh. Here." He opened the binder up and put it between them on the desk.

Connor looked at the first one, then ripped it straight out and put it face down on the bar to one side. "Wank."

"No good?"

"Fuck, no. That guy's a tube."

Kyle was feeling startled at this guy, and couldn't quite figure out if he was a madman or exceptionally competent.

"Wank," Connor repeated, tearing out another page. "Wank. Wank. This one's a good guy," He said suddenly turning that profile over in the binder, leaving it attached.

"Wank. Wank. Wank. Good guy. Wank. Wank."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Kyle asked.

"Chewin the fat thing," Connor replied, leaving Kyle none the wiser. "So I hear you've got a couple of sisters. That a big surprise, was it?"

"Massive surprise," Kyle agreed, while Connor continued muttering as he tore more pages out the binder. "I only found out a couple of days ago. Didn't even know I was adopted."

"Does it matter?"

"That I'm adopted?" Kyle was finding it hard to keep up with the rapid way this Scotsman talked and thought. "No, not really. My parents are my parents, you know?"

"Aye. No point in being a dick about it, is there?"

"Who's being a dick?" Kyle asked, wondering if he'd just been insulted.

"I don't know," Connor shrugged. "You might have been a dick. I've no idea. Was just asking."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Nae worries," He replied, sliding the nearly empty folder back to Kyle. "There's your shortlist."

Kyle flicked through the profiles. "There's five names here. Is that right?"

"Aye. As for the rest, I wouldn't let them look after my mothers compost bin."

Kyle blinked. "So you're a straight talker then, Connor."

"Best way to be, Kyle," Connor grinned. "Fancy a beer?"

"No, I can't. I'm in training, but thanks anyway."

"Suit yourself," Connor shrugged, taking a sip at his coffee. Kyle could smell the scotch coming from it.

"So which ones are the top three then?" Kyle asked, looking at the binder again.

"Depends on what you want from them, what kind of threats they're going to have to protect you against and where you're going to be." Connor sipped at his coffee again. "Do you know any of that yet?"

"Not got a clue."

"Cool bananas. Come back and see me when you do."

Kyle realised that just like that he was done. "Um... cheers for the help, Connor."

"Nae bother. Had your security briefing from Brian yet?"

"Who?" Kyle asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Or Edwin? Has be brought you up to speed yet?"

"I don't think so," Kyle said, somewhat hesitantly, not really sure what it was he should be brought up to speed on.

"Hang on a minute, before you go."

Kyle paused as Connor grabbed a pen from the binder then began to tear up one of the discarded profiles into little strips of paper. As Kyle watched, he wrote a quick scribble on one piece, shielding it with his hand. He tilted his hand up so Kyle could read it.

Yes/No? Has Edwin shown you the safe room?

Kyle frowned and shook his head, drawing a thoughtful look from Connor. The Scotsman pulled out a lighter and set fire to the strip of paper then put it in a nearby ashtray. He scribbled on another then showed it to Kyle.

There's no way Danny wouldn't have built one. Edwin should have shown you it by now. Why not?

Kyle read it and shrugged. "It's been pretty busy since we got here."

Connor set fire to that piece and then wrote a third one.

No proof, just a hunch. There's something dodgy about that guy. Keep your eyes open. Ask about safe room.

Kyle read it and nodded, repeating it as Connor gave him a serious look.

"Pop back down if you fancy a bevy some time." The Scotsman said a moment later, as the third message burned away in the ashtray.

"A bevy?"

"Aye, a beverage," Connor grinned. "A drink. And by a drink I mean let's get plastered."

"Will do, Connor," Kyle said getting up and shaking his hand. "Pleasure meeting you."

"Take it easy, man," The Scotsman nodded.

Kyle walked back outside wondering about what Connor had asked. Thinking about it, it seemed entirely right that Danny Tripps would have built a safe room, or a whole series of them somewhere on the Island. If he had, surely it would be a priority that Edwin would take them aside and show them where it was and how to access it.

He was still frowning as he exited the building to find Patricia on the phone. She hung up as soon as she spotted him and walked over to join him.

"That was fast."

"Yeah, he just ripped through the list, separating them into two piles," Kyle explained. "Good guys and wanks."

"Oh for Gods sake," Patricia muttered.

"Told me to come back when we know what we're doing, where we're going and what type of protection we'll need," Kyle added.

"Okay, that's not bad, I guess," She said, flicking through the folder. "Five? There was twenty two profiles in there."

Kyle shrugged. "He works fast."

"And you didn't drink with him?"

Kyle laughed. "I get the feeling if I did that, I'd be face down in a puddle of my own vomit after a couple of hours."

"Oh, it probably wouldn't take that long," She grinned.

"So how come he's in such great shape?" Kyle asked. He could see the attraction that women had for Connor. While guys worked with gels and waxes to try and get that 'just out of bed' hair look, Connor just got out of bed and it worked. His facial features looked like they'd been specially designed by a master sculptor, and his body was all tall, dark and handsome.

"There's a lot of theories," Patricia said, shaking her head. "Most of them are that he's a freak of nature."

"Lucky bastard. If that was me, at least I wouldn't have to go to the gym now," Kyle muttered, drawing a loud laugh from Patricia in reply.

Kyle finished his lunch, fish and salad this time. His entire body ached, despite the shower he'd had when he got back. At one point he nearly asked Patricia to help him lace up his shoes because he hurt so much when he bent over.

He was waiting for the return of Katie and Kara from the salon where they'd been for the last two hours, and to kill time he was flicking through the five profiles Connor had selected.

He looked up at Patricia and caught her eye. "Patricia, about that masseuse girl."

"Sarah?"

"Yeah. Look, the idea of a massage is really appealing, so if you could organise one, then that would be great. The thing is I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea of it being a booty call, know what I mean? Especially if she kinda works for me too."

Patricia burst out laughing. "That's so sweet," She teased. "You're worried about what others might think of you if you hook up with her, aren't you?"

Kyle blushed a little but shook his head, chuckling at her reaction. "That's not it. I'm not into hooking up with a girl I don't know and haven't had the chance to decide if I like or not. Plus, she does work for me, which is a bit of an added complication."

Patricia looked at him. "Okay, I'll organise it for a straight massage and nothing else. I'll even stay in the room and brief you on something boring if you want a chaperone."

Kyle chuckled at the idea of him being chaperoned. "I'm not five."

"You're the one being all worried about a horny girl touching you up, remember."

"I'm not worried," He protested. "Just.... "

"Worried," Patricia declared. "I'll sort it, don't worry. Oh, your mom called to see how you were."

"My mom? How did you..."

"I've got your mobile," She explained. "Anyway, we had a quick chat and she said you can call her back tonight if you want."

"How are they?" Kyle asked quickly, a bit startled that Patricia was answering his personal calls, and feeling a little guilty that he wasn't.

"They're fine. The hike is going to schedule, weather's great and they've met a father and daughter who are walking the same route as them, so they're travelling as a group now."

Kyle's eyes narrowed as a thought struck him. "A father and daughter who just happened to be walking the same route?"

"Well spotted. They're our people, out there to make sure nothing bad happens, and they're very subtle about it," Patricia explained.

"Why the hell are security on my parents?" Kyle demanded. "And why hasn't anyone told me they're in danger?"

"Kyle. If someone wanted to lever you out of a big chunk of cash, right now, what would be the easiest way to do it?" Patricia asked pointedly.

"Right now? Offer me a lift off this fucking Island," He blurted, heading for the railing at the side of the pool. He lit up and leaned on the rail, feeling manipulated and annoyed. The thought that his parents were now potential targets and were being manipulated with their, or his knowledge made him angry.

"Which bit pissed you off, Kyle?" Patricia said behind him.

He frowned and brought his cigarette up to his mouth, pausing before speaking. "I'm trying really hard to fit in, to do what's expected of me, and to do the right thing. I get that I can't know everything that's going on, I understand that I'm on a learning curve and there's only so much information I can get at a time."

He turned to face Patricia, his expression intense. "Never keep anything from me if it involves my parents, or my friends, and particularly if it involves some kind of threat against them. If they're going to have security on them, I want to know about it. If there's a threat, or if something I'm doing is putting them at risk, then I want to know that too. Are we clear?" Kyle asked, realising he had just channelled Jack Nicholson from the movie 'A Few Good Men'.

She met his gaze. "Of course."

"Just give me things straight from now on, Patricia. You don't need to.... handle me, okay? If I think I'm being manipulated, it'll just make me angry."

"Who's manipulating you, Kyle?" She replied quickly. Kyle could see now that she looked angry.

"I don't know, Patricia. That's my point, but if I feel like I'm being manipulated and things are being kept from me, it's gonna make me mad."

She lowered her head, her expression tense and she took a few deep breaths before speaking again. "Okay. Fair enough. We need to learn each others buttons and triggers as we go, and this is all part of that. Anything involving your parents will be brought to your attention straight away."

"Good."

"When you next visit your parents, your mom says you've to bring me for dinner. She also told me to make sure you get some new clothes and spend less time gaming. And that you should eat more vegetables too." Patricia had a slight challenge in her eyes as she delivered the additional information. "Because I had your phone I also checked your personal emails. Want an update on that?"

"When am I getting my phone back?" Kyle asked, resenting the loss of his privacy.

"You're getting a new prototype phone this afternoon, purely for personal use. I'll carry your business phone and if it's a call you need to take then I'll give it to you."

"You'll decide what calls I take and which ones I don't?" He asked, an incredulous expression on his face.

Patricia looked confused. "Kyle, Mister Tripps would get thousands of calls in to his office every day. Very few made it to his desk. Plus, I already manage your schedule, so is it really a problem if I manage your business calls too? It is my job, after all."

Kyle took a deep breath, realising he was angry and he was picking arguments with Patricia now for no other reason than she was there. He'd made his point about his folks, and that should have been the end of it, but for some reason he was keeping going at her. He shook his head at his own behaviour.

"Patricia, I think I'm being a bit of a grump right now, and I don't know why. I've said what I said about my parents, and I mean it, but for being grumpy about everything else, I apologise."

"Oh, my," Patricia muttered, looking at him as if he'd changed into someone else.

"What?"

"This is going to be fun working for you," She said, smiling. "I'm not used to apologies and so much reasonable behaviour. It's really sweet."

Kyle chuckled. "Sweet?"

"Yeah.You're so conscientious. It's... nice."

"Just what every guy wants to be.... sweet and nice," He muttered, rolling his eyes.

"By the time Julian and Margaret have got you sorted out, you'll be fucking hot too," She grinned, giving him a playful wink.

Kyle chuckled. "Yeah, I still don't buy that."

"You'll just have to trust me," She said firmly. "As for being a grump, as you put it. When Mister Tripps went off on one he wouldn't stop for at least an hour. You were all of two minutes, so don't worry about it."

"Just tell me if I'm behaving like a dick, okay?"

Patricia chuckled. "Okay. But I probably won't word it like that."

"No, I don't imagine you would."

"Want to hear about your emails now?" Patricia asked.

Kyle chuckled. "Yeah, go for it. This is my personal account?"

"Yeah, through your phone. Anyway, you've got three from Ed, one from Casey and one from your folks with some scenery photographs. There's a load of spam, an email from an employment agency asking you to get in touch about a position you sent your CV in for. I don't imagine you'll be following that up now though?"

"Yeah, I think that's pretty redundant now. What did Casey say?"

"Hope you're okay, there's loads of rumours flying around the office, your old boss is being a bastard and has dumped your workload on Casey. He also said he's having coffee tonight with someone called Tony." Patricia frowned. "Yep, that's all he said."

"Good for Casey. Tony's a girl in the office he's been chasing for a date for months, so it looks like he's finally got a date. As for Worthington, is there anything we can do about him?"

"Worthington? Is that your old boss?"

"Yeah. He's a total asshole, takes anything that isn't procedurally acceptable as a personal insult," Kyle explained.

"Procedurally acceptable?"

"It's one of his catchphrases."

"Sounds a bit of a control freak," Patricia said, frowning. "What's your other problems with him?"

"Oh, he lets the women in the office away with murder, tries to flirt with them which is horrible to watch, and treats all the guys like shit. He's not very smart, he's fugly, and he looks like Danny DeVito playing the Penguin. In the Batman movie."

Patricia was chuckling at the mental image Kyle was conjuring up. "Anything that could fall under the terms of sexual harassment?"

"Oh, fuck yes. And sexual discrimination. Bullying too," Kyle added. "I really don't like him."

"So who's the office favourite to replace him if he was to leave?"

Kyle thought for a second. "Me or Casey, I guess."

"Okay, I'll make some calls," She nodded. "You okay with Casey getting a step up the ladder?"

Kyle frowned. "He's not good with confrontation."

"How bad is he?"

"He's great at influencing people in a meeting. He's great at talking to women. First sign of any potential confrontation with a bloke though, and Casey is gone. He's a bit of a pussy sometimes. Aside from that though, he'd be great at the job. The way the office has been run though.... I don't know." Kyle felt crap talking about one of his best friends faults like that, but he didn't want his buddy to end up in a job that would make him unhappy.

"One of my colleagues, Peter, he's like that with confrontation," Patricia said. "Usually we just give that part of his job to Heidi though. She's a born ball-buster. As for Casey, you could put an assistant manager under him who deals with man-management of the staff, leaving Casey free to deal with the strategic stuff, or you can leave it up to them to appoint someone else."

"I could really do with calling him to find out how things are," Kyle said. "Plus, I need to talk him anyway, about...."

"Yeah. I'll set some time aside tonight for some calls for you."

"Not tonight," Kyle said quickly. "He's got a date with Tony, remember."

"Okay. I'll see what we can do today then. Want to hear about Ed's emails now?"

Kyle chuckled. "Honestly, I'm not sure. They can be... colourful."

"Yeah. Well, one contained a few pictures of midget porn with other peoples heads photoshopped on them. Badly, I might add. Another was about some girl you gave Ed's number to?"

"Caroline," Kyle said, grinning. "She was my limo driver that brought me to the airport."

"Okay," Patricia nodded. "Well, she's been texting Ed intimate pictures of herself, but he's complaining because she won't show her face and he really wants to," Patricia paused, an eyebrow cocked. "Make her do the Angry Dragon."

Kyle burst out laughing. "He's such a fucking tool."

"What the hell is an angry dragon?"

Kyle explained between bouts of laughter. "It's a sex thing. After you've cum in a girls mouth, you're meant to smack the back of her head so hard the cum comes out her nose. When she gets up she looks.."

"Like an angry dragon?" Patricia guessed, chuckling.

"That's it," Kyle nodded. "What else did he say? He usually comes up with several of these. He's got a ridiculous vocabulary for anything sexual."

"Nothing else I didn't already know, but colourful is a good description of his language. He keeps texting her to arrange a hookup, but I think she's teasing him like crazy."

"Yeah, that sounds about right. It'll do good to be teased for a while anyway," Kyle said, smirking. "And the third email?"

"Just asking how the business trips going, some suggestions on how you can fellate the directors you're travelling with, and instructions to bring him back a gift."

Kyle could tell she found reciting Ed's messages to be quite amusing, which wasn't really surprising because Ed could be outrageously funny, if amazingly crude. What did surprise him was her saying the word 'fellate' without a trace of embarassment.

"I'll have to think up a response and email him back. I take it I can do that with this new phone I'm getting?"

"And then some," She nodded.

Kyle's eyes flickered over her shoulder as he spotted Katie, Kara, Heidi and Garius arriving.

"Oh wow," He murmured, seeing Kara's new hairstyle. Gone was the long, curls. In it's place was something new and very eyecatching. Her hair was straight, without a single curl in sight, and it reminded Kyle of Jennifer Annistons hairstyle in the latter years of Friends, although it was more sharply angled at the ends. It shone in the sun, all black, straight and sleek.

Patricia echoed his sentiment a moment later. "That really suits her. I see they haven't done much with Katie's hair though."

Kyle looked at her hair as they approached. He could see that it had softer lines to it, a lot more feminine in a subtle way, and that it really suited her softer features. "No, they have. They've made it suit her more than it did before."

Kyle greeted his sisters, complimenting them both on their hair. Kara just shrugged it off, while Katie looked delighted and then they launched straight into their next briefing. It was a long two hours before they emerged back outside again, only to be whisked into an hour with Mister Crowler on the legalities of what they could and couldn't say in public without leaving themselves liable to legal action, and what areas of conversation to avoid like the plague.

When it came to managing and controlling conversations, and how to keep in the right areas, Kara proved more adept at it than either Katie or Kyle, perhaps because of her experience handling drunk men in the club, and Kyle made a mental note to never underestimate Kara just because she'd been a stripper.

It was nearly half past five by the time they finished up and Kyle had to hustle to get down to meet Julian for his third workout of the day. He found himself quite surprised at how much energy he had and how good he felt, apart from his tortured muscles. When he mentioned it to Patricia she put it down to the injections, the diet and the endorphins. Either that, or the real pain hadn't kicked in yet.

Julian worked his upper body again, merciless in his enthusiasm, and more than once Kyle felt like quitting. Eventually though, he made it to the warm down, and he trembled through the last of the exercises before stumbling back up to the suite, drenched in sweat.

This time when he got up to his room, Patricia had a hot bath waiting for him, filled with salts and other fragranced stuff that she assured him would ease his sore muscles. When she slipped out the room, Kyle disrobed and slid into the greenish blue water.

The hot water was like heaven and he lay there for a moment, only his fingers visible on either side of the bath above the coloured water.

"How's that?" Patricia asked, re-entering the bathroom. She sat down on a drawer unit and opened up a binder, placing it on her lap.

Kyle rolled his eyes at yet another moment in the last couple of days where she'd been in the bathroom with him, with one of them naked. "We should get a workstation put in here."

"Yeah. Not so much a hot desk... a wet desk," She chuckled.

Kyle gave her a tired smile. "The bath's good. Thanks for that, Patricia."

"No problem. We're going to try and fit Sarah in later for a massage before you go to bed too, but we'll see how the evenings going."

Kyle nodded, sliding himself a little further down into the hot water. "What's in the binder."

"Draft of the Press Release. Casey emailed you twenty minutes ago to say he'd had a call from a reporter at work. They'd asked to be put through to you, but your phone is transferring all your calls to his desk, so he got the call. Said they were asking general questions about you, nothing too specific, but they wanted details of your current business trip, and how to find you."

"Fuck," Kyle muttered, sitting a little more upright and wincing as his stomach muscles protested. "So that's the press got my name already? What about Kara or Katie?"

"Haven't heard anything yet, but it's only a matter of time. Probably hours. If not, it'll break tomorrow."

"So what's the plan then?"

"We issue a release, stating that Danny Tripps last will and testament was read yesterday to his benefactors, three children he had with his wife twenty three years ago, who were given up for adoption following his wifes death. The three children, Kyle, Kara and Katarina have since been informed and are currently on Mister Tripps private Island meeting with his legal and business teams. Tomorrow they will be attending the private funeral of Danny Tripps with a number of select guests. We expect a statement will be issued by them early next week."

"Just like that?"

"Yep. Nothing too committed, as far as the business is concerned it's a fairly sensible press release, with nothing dramatic, no big announcements and it shows you're getting advice too. From a personal perspective it doesn't really give much away about either of you, but we'll put a few photographs of each of you up, and leak them a little info. Stamford Business graduate, successful writer, self-employed photographer, that kind of thing."

"You seem pretty relaxed about it," Kyle noted.

"We've got good people who know how to deal with the media. Want to hear the bad stuff now?"

"That wasn't it?" Kyle asked, frowning unhappily.

"Nope. If we release this to the press in an hour, then later tonight there'll be ex-girlfriends, colleagues, people you went to school with and people you've never heard of in your life getting interviewed on TV, online and in print. Some of it might hint at facts, but the rest of it will generally be bullshit made up by desperate journalists or twisted by their editors."

"And I thought today couldn't get any worse," He murmured, wanting nothing more than to sink under the water.

"Kyle!" The shout came from the front door of the suite, but before Patricia could call a response, he recognised Katie's voice shouting, "Are you back there?" It was followed moments later by her rushed footsteps.

"I'm in the bath," He called, but wasn't surprised when her head popped through the arched doorway a moment later.

"Oh," She said, seeing his head floating in the coloured water. "You're in the bath."

"Well spotted. So I assume you've heard then?"

"About the press enquiry? Yeah."

She shook her head. "Not that. This." She flourished a piece of paper at him.

"Can you read it to me," Kyle said, sighing. "I don't think I can lift my arms up."

"Oh, that's right. You've been working out." Katie sat down on the edge of the bath, and lifted the piece of paper up. Just at that her assistant, Heidi, stuck her head in the doorway.

"Hi, Heidi," Kyle said flatly. "It seems this is the place to be. Come on in, have a seat."

"How's the water?"

"Nice and hot, and thankfully coloured enough to keep me hidden," He murmured.

"Right," Katie said, lifting the paper again. "Tomorrow at the funeral, one of us has to get up and give a speech."

Kyle waited for more, but Katie just looked at him.

"Is there more?"

"One of us has to get up and give a speech, Kyle," She repeated.

"Okay."

"Well, you seem remarkably calm about it."

Kyle shrugged and then immediately groaned as his muscles moved. "Speaking in public doesn't bother me. It's not gonna be televised or anything, is it Patricia?"

"No. It's an invite only event, although the timing might be better. We may have an issue with press helicopters now, but we can put up canopies or ask for a favour and see if we can get a military exercise on in the area to keep the airspace vacated."

"We can do that?" Kyle asked. "That's impressive."

"Mister Tripps has many contacts in many areas, and he's owed a lot of favours."

"I'll make the call," Heidi suggested. "The Special Forces guys in Eglin Air Force Base in Florida still owe us after we let them use this place for an exercise."

"You let the US Special Forces use this place to train?" Katie asked. "How cool is that?"

"About seven or eight years ago. It was supposed to be a hostage-rescue thing, and they claimed it a success," Patricia explained. "They caused around four hundred thousand dollars worth of damage though, so they haven't asked to come back again, and they've been very helpful when we've needed it because we still haven't told the media."

"How the hell did they do that?" Kyle asked.

"They blasted through windows and doors with explosives all over the Island. Sunk two of the boats, blew up the pier and quite a bit of stuff went missing, most of it alcohol and steak," Heidi added. "When Mister Tripps found out he laughed so hard he nearly choked."

"Sorry, but can we get back on the topic here?" Katie asked, still distressed at the thought of speaking in public.

"I'll do it, Katie," Kyle told her.

"Hey, are you guys in there?" Kyle heard Kara. He rolled his eyes, spotting his other sister now entering the bathroom. "Did you speak to him?" She asked Katie.

"He says he'll do it."

Kara breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Kyle."

"You're not comfortable speaking in public either then?"

"No. I'm really not. Never had to do it," Kara added.

"How many people are going to be there?" Kyle asked, curious because he really didn't know much about the funeral arrangements yet.

Patricia moved so that Kara could have her seat and sat on the end of the bath next to Kyle's head. Heidi lounged against the wall.

"Let's see," Patricia began. "There's going to be around fifty staff from the Island, as well as all of us, obviously. Then there's the guests who are flying in tomorrow morning and staying overnight. There's fifteen of them, and another twenty or so who are only here for the funeral and a few drinks afterwards, but they're going back out again, so all in, about a hundred or so."

"You've only listed around eighty, Trish," Heidi pointed out.

"Yeah, but come on. Do you expect all the kitchen and housekeeping staff not to attend? They don't all need to be on duty, so a lot of them will make it there and then nip straight back to work as soon as it's done."

"Yeah, I suppose," Heidi nodded. "It's what I'd do anyway."

"Me too," Patricia agreed. "Want a hand writing it, Kyle?"

"Please. First though. Can you all get out my bathroom please?"

Katie, Kara and Heidi were all chuckling as they left, but Patricia stayed where she was.

"You too, Patricia. I need to get out the bath."

"Sit up first," She said firmly.

"What for?"

"Just do as you're told, Kyle."

He chuckled and forced his tortured muscles to pull his torso up into a seated position. "Oh that hurt."

"I bet."

He heard her splash her hand in the water behind him and then he felt her hands on his back, and he could smell the soap in her hand as she worked her fingers into the muscles in his shoulders and upper back.

"Oh man, that's good." Kyle could feel the stiffness and tension of his muscles easing a little as her fingers probed and pushed, massaging soap into his skin and every so often, cupping a handful of water up and rinsing him clean.

He closed his eyes, drifting in a sea of pleasure as her fingers worked on him, and he didn't notice he'd grown an erection until it began to tighten up to full stiffness. His muscles tensed as he suddenly became aware of it and he unconsciously sat up a little straighter.

"Is that a bit better now?" Patricia asked behind him. For a second he thought she was asking about his erection.

"Yeah, that feels a lot better already, Patricia. Thanks."

"No problem. I know you've been working hard, so I just wanted to help," She added, standing up. "Now, can you manage to get up on your own?"

"I'll manage," He replied quickly.

"Good. I'll put the shower on for you so you can rinse off, and I'll be out there getting your dinner clothes sorted out."

Kyle nodded, waited until she turned the shower on and left before he finally moved. Getting out the bath was agony, but he was all too aware of his erection so he quickly hobbled into the shower and shut the door.

It only took him a few minutes to get rid of his erection this time, the dual memories of Patricia's body in the shower earlier and her hands on his skin moments ago serving to provide more than enough inspiration for a pretty powerful orgasm.

He was still a little out of breath when he dried off and walked into the bedroom. Patricia had laid out some clothes for him, and was sitting in one of the armchairs at the side of the dressing room, a notepad on her lap.

"What you doing?"

"Getting started on notes for your speech tomorrow. I'm glad you're doing it, by the way."

"Why?"

"Because it means your sisters are beginning to look to you to lead. Take responsibility," She explained. "It means you're already the alpha."

"Well, I am the only male out of the three of us," He pointed out. "Besides, I've done a hundred presentations at work, so I'm used to talking from notes. They're not."

"That's the other reason I'm glad," She added. "You'll do a better job of representing the three of you on this occasion."

Her head turned back to her notepad, her pen darting across the page as she scribbled down bulletpoints. Kyle frowned and looked at the clothes laid out on the bed. The now customary jeans, a pair of retro sneakers and socks and a faded black t-shirt with a Ramones print on the front.

"Were the Ramones a seventies rock band or something?" He asked.

"Yeah, one of the founders of the punk scene too."

"I can't wear this," Kyle said. "I can't even name one of their records. Besides, where did this come from? I never bought it."

"Margaret's been getting clothes shipped in for the three of you. Just swap it for something else."

Her head turned back to the notepad, so Kyle walked into the dressing area and his eyes widened. Where before it had two rails of items hung from it, now there was seven, as well as the full shelves and an additional drawer unit that he didn't think was there before.

"She's been busy," He called through.

"Yeah. She does that."

Kyle flipped through a few more of the t-shirts he could see that had designs on them, and opted for one with the classic Rolling Stones logo with the tongue on it. As he approached the bed he glanced over at Patricia and he wondered if she'd glance up at him as he got changed again.

"Just gonna get changed, Patricia," He warned her as he stood facing the bed, Patricia off to the right facing him.

"Yeah," She said casually.

Rather than watch her as he tried to dress, Kyle listened to the sound of her pen scratching on the paper as she worked. He slid on his t-shirt, wincing as his muscles stretched, and then pulled the jeans around in front of him. He listened carefully as he let slip his towel, feeling incredibly exposed and more than a little nervous, and as he lifted his left leg to pull his jeans on he could hear she'd stopped writing.

He kept his eyes fixed on what he was doing, and pulled the denim up around his left leg, knowing he was exposing himself to her simply by the way his hips were angled.

It took a few seconds, but his left leg was finally sorted and he paused to listen, but couldn't hear her writing at all. He didn't dare glance across, because she would just lower her head quickly, so he lifted his right leg and slipped it into his jeans.

As he pulled them up over his hips, he almost grinned, realising that he was going to force his semi-erect cock and balls up and out over his lowered fly, pushing them out on display. At the last second he paused and used his hand to slip them inside the jeans, manipulate them into a comfortable position and then fastened the waistbutton.

He heard the pen begin scratching on the notepad again before he got the zipper pulled up, and he realised he was breathing a little hard.

"That was fucking hot, and she was totally watching me," He thought to himself, his heart racing as he sat on the bed to pull on his socks and shoes.

It took him a few minutes of grimaces and groans, but eventually he got his footwear done up and stood up, shaking his jeans into place over them.

"Dressed. Finally," He added.

Patricia had a half-smile on her face as she looked up. "Oh. Excellent. Like the t-shirt."

"Thanks."

"There's a jacket you should wear too," She told him, setting her notepad aside and getting up. "It'll give you something to carry your new phone in."

"Okay," He nodded.

Patricia slipped into the dressing room and returned a moment later with a black linen jacket, cut in the style of a suit jacket. It was nice and light and went well with his outfit, and Kyle was impressed at how comfortable it was.

"Don't wear it when you're sitting down or anything, but it suits you when you're standing up," She told him, eyeballing him.

"Make me look hot?"

"You're doing fine on that front, Kyle," She replied, then paused. "Right, I better go get changed myself. See you downstairs?"

"Sure."

Kyle was on his way out the door, when he noticed she'd left her notepad lying on the chair. He went over and picked it up, curious to see what she'd written.

The first half of the page was a collection of words. "Come as a surprise to us... only knew of him what we'd heard in the media... Legacy.... Discovering who he was... staggering achievements..."

Then the words tailed off and picked up a couple of lines further down the page. "Yum", was scratched out, and next to it were the words, "Get a fucking grip, girl!!!!" He smiled, figuring that must have been the first thing she wrote after he'd pulled his jeans on and she'd stopped to watch.

He continued reading, but it was all more concepts, bulletpoints and words. He flipped to the next page but it was empty.

Kyle considered taking it to her room, but then she'd assume he read it and things might get awkward, so he put it back down on the chair and headed outside.

He felt like he was bouncing on air. The incredibly hot Patricia was into him.

Dinner was a bit more fun than it was the night before. It didn't take long before the girls were telling Garius and Mister Crowler about Kyle's impromptu meeting in the bath earlier, and teasing him about his unorthodox management style. Kyle took it all in good stead, promising to hold his next impromptu meeting in the pool so they could all join him.

The conversation soon turned to the events of the next day though, specifically the funeral. Danny Tripps was to be buried in a small grove on the north side of the Island, as per his own wishes, and guests would begin arriving from mid morning until right up to the start of the ceremony at three in the afternoon.

It was Katie who asked who the incoming guests were first, and Heidi pulled out a binder from beside her chair, handing out copies of the guest list to each of them. Kyle glanced down at his, and his eyes widened as he recognised many of the names on it.

There was to be acoustic musical performances from Sting, Pink and Neil Finn, and the guest list was a mixture of models, actors and actresses and directors, some of which Kyle recognised as former dates of Danny Tripps. He just sat there with his mouth open.

"Oh my God," Katie murmured. "This is like a who's who on the red carpet."

"These people can't all be coming here tomorrow," Kara said. "This is nuts."

"They were all personal friends of Mister Tripps," Garius assured her. "They'll be nice and friendly to you, don't worry."

Kyle read the list again. Anna Friel, Ashley Judd, Charlize Theron, Christy Turlington, Elizabeth Shue, Helena Bonham-Carter. Lena Headey, Salma Hayek.

"Are all these women ex-girlfriends of Danny Tripps?" He asked.

"All except Salma Hayek and Elizabeth Shue. They were just friends, but he dated the rest of them at one point or another," Patricia explained. "And not the guys. They were just friends too."

Kyle finished the list. Johnny Depp, Kevin Smith, Mike Myers and Nicolas Cage.

"Holy shit."

"Don't get all star-struck," Patricia warned. "They're all just people, the same as you guys are."

"Johnny Depp, though?" Katie murmured. "Nom Nom."

Kyle chuckled. "Is this Kevin Smith as in Clerks Kevin Smith? Silent Bob?"

"The very same," Heidi nodded.

"Man, I love his movies," Kyle told them. "Well, all his View Askew stuff. Didn't really get into his last one. Wasn't like a Kevin Smith movie, know what I mean?"

"Red something?" Katie asked.

"Think so."

"Probably best not to tell him that," Heidi warned. "His put-downs can be legendary."

"Yeah, I've heard."

"Who are all the other names on the list?" Kara asked. "The ones I haven't heard of."

"They're business associates, the appointed CEO's of each company that Mister Tripps appointed. None of them are staying overnight, so they'll only be here for half an hour after the ceremony."

"Pink and Sting," Kyle murmured. "I know it's a funeral, but is it wrong I'm excited at hearing them sing live?"

That one drew a few chuckles around the table.

"Don't forget Neil Finn," Mister Crowler pointed out. "Great musician. Do you remember Crowded House?"

"Everywhere you go. Always take the weather with you?" Katie asked.

"Yeah. They had a huge album, didn't they? Woodface? Is that right?"

"That's Neil Finn," Mister Crowler added.

"Cool."

They'd finished dinner by that point and Kyle disappeared for a smoke. When he got back to the table, Patricia handed him a mobile phone, slightly larger and heavier than he was used to.

"New phone."

"Cool. How does it work?" He asked, examining the black and charcoal device.

"Watch," Patricia said, lifting her own silver one. She pushed a button on the side and the screen on top concertina'd open to treble in size, bringing it up to the size of an iPad or a little larger than his Kindle.

"This a folding touchscreen?" He asked, opening his own.

"Yep," Patricia nodded. "You can use it folded or opened, but either way it works. Don't ask me how though. I've no idea."

Kyle folded his closed again and tapped the screen. He unlocked it following the zig-zag on the screen and navigated through the menu quickly, finding it instinctive and intuitive, a signature of a Danny Tripps product.

"Now, this is your personal phone, so only give out the number to people you don't mind calling you at any time, day or night," Patricia explained. "If it's anything to do with business, you give them the office number and it comes through on this one," She finished, holding up the silver handset. "I'll be handling this one for you."

"Okay."

"If all of you tap on the bottom right icon, you'll see its a secured messenger system. We've been trialing it in meetings for passing suggestions or comments between the people at the table and those supporting them," Garius told them all. "It's very helpful, and quite discrete if you sit it on your knee, or in a folder. Plus you don't have to type, so you can use a pen or a pointer to handwrite messages, obviously without smearing ink all over it."

"Yeah, I can see why we'd want to avoid that," Kyle chuckled.

He tapped on the email icon and the screen split into two, the top half his personal email account, the bottom half his business address. He shook his head, realising he didn't even know what it was.

Another email from Casey had come in, titled, "Dude. Get in touch asap!" Kyle clicked on it and it opened quickly. He read it and frowned.

"Casey's had another call from a different journalist this time, asking about his relationship with me, how long they've been friends, stuff like that. He wants to know what it's all about."

"Might be time to give him a call," Patricia suggested. "The press release is due to go out in about half an hour anyway. Same goes for the rest of you. If there's anyone you want to give a heads-up to."

The table seemed to break up without another word as Kyle, Katie, Kara, Garius, Heidi and Patricia all dispersed around the pool or inside the buildings to make calls.

Kyle called Casey first and told him what was going on. His reaction at first was disbelief, but then as Kyle talked some more it made sense to him, and the imminent announcement to the press gave it all credibility.

Kyle glanced around to make sure everyone was out of earshot and then told him about Katie and Kara. There was a startled silence on the other end of the line, and then eventually Casey began to laugh.

"That's a brutal hand to get dealt, bro," Casey told him.

"You know I couldn't have known, right?"

"I know, man. Listen, your secret's safe with me, okay?"

"Thanks, Case. I knew I could rely on you, buddy," Kyle said, relief evident in his tone. "But here's the thing. I need a favour."

"Whatever you need."

Kyle too a deep breath. "I need you to find Ed and keep him away from the press."

"Oh, shit."

"Exactly."

"I'm on my way," Casey said quickly. "Give him a call though."

"Doing it now, Casey. Look, I should be back in a few days time, but I'll give you a call sometime tomorrow, okay?"

"Take it easy, Kyle. Tell Katie to tell Margarita I said Hi."

Kyle laughed. "Will do."

Kyle looked at the impressive handset and pressed the 'end' button. He braced himself for his next call. Once Ed believed it wasn't a joke he'd go hyper faster than a kid on a diet of straight sugar and E-numbers.

It took twenty minutes, two cigarettes and lots of persuasion to get Ed to believe it was real, and then another ten minutes of trying to calm him down. Kyle put up with Ed singing an impromptu song of 'My buddy's a billionaire', dozens of ear-spitting whoops, and half of America's daily quota of expletives before Casey showed up. Kyle left him to tell Ed the bit about Katie and Kara and hung up the phone.

He felt mentally drained by the call, so seeing everyone had dispersed, he headed back up to his suite. An impatient Margaret was waiting for him to check his measurements again for his suit fitting, although thankfully this time she didn't cup his balls or poke at his cock. She departed after only a few minutes, and a very relieved Kyle sat down on the sofa.

"There you are," Patricia said, emerging from her bedroom. "Did Margaret get you?"

"Yeah. She's gone."

"How did it go with Casey and Ed?"

Kyle frowned. "Went well with Casey. Ed got a bit... hyper, but Casey's with him now and he'll keep him from causing too much mayhem, I hope."

"Did you tell him you'd clear his gambling debt?"

"Didn't get the chance."

"Well, the press release has gone out, and the office phones have gone bananas with requests for interviews and more information on the three of you. We took your facebook profiles and stuff like that offline, got photos of you taken down too, but the press will get stuff like that from other peoples pages. Now the frenzy begins," She said, rolling her eyes.

"Frenzy?"

"Yeah, the media frenzy. The race to get the scoop, and don't let the truth get in the way."

Kyle frowned. "You know, I've never met the press yet, or seen the paparazzi, but I already hate them," He told her.

"That's not unusual. Mister Tripps used to refer to them as parasites sucking on the ass of the successful."

Kyle chuckled.

"You need to call your folks, let them know," She reminded him.

"Good point," Kyle said, trying to rise out the sofa and groaning aloud as his body reminded him of the punishment he'd given it that day.

"You'll be worse tomorrow," Patricia warned.

"You're full of good news," Kyle muttered as he finally got himself to his feet and went out on the balcony to call his parents.

The call went well. His folks were obviously trying to be supportive to him, and he was trying to be supportive to them and warn them that the media may well be looking for them, so all three of them on the call were being really nice.

In an effort to change the subject, Kyle's mom said about speaking to Patricia and that she seemed really nice, and how she said lots of nice things about Kyle, which distracted him in a big way. He explained that he'd be back in a few days and he promised to bring her round for dinner.

He glossed over the impending funeral, the A-list guests and described life on the Island as having all the best facilities, but a buttload of work to do all the time, so then he had to promise not to work too hard.

His Dad reminded him that they were there any time he needed to talk, and at that, they were done.

It was the first time he's spoken to them in a few days, since before he'd left the office, let alone the country, and he knew they were trying to play things calmly and just let him steer his own course, the same as they always did.

"Was that your parents?" He heard from his right. Kyle turned to see Kara standing at the top of the stairs.

"Yeah, just checking they're okay," He replied. "Did you make all your calls?

She shrugged. "There was no-one I needed to call."

Kyle's heart reached out to her, remembering how lonely he felt during his first night here, and wondering what it must be like to have no-one in your phonebook that you could call a friend. "What about your father?"

"Him?" She snorted. "He can go fuck himself."

Kyle didn't know what to say to that, so he pulled out his cigarettes and lit up. Kara joined him, taking one from his packet.

"Hey, this could be our thing, you know," He suggested. "The late night smoke on the balcony and a chat about how the day's gone."

Kara smirked. "Your day was sore, wet, some easy meetings and now you've got a speech to write."

"Your day was confusing, overwhelming, boring and frightening," Kyle guessed.

"How?" She asked, looking at him carefully.

"Confusing, overwhelming and frightening with all the information at the meetings, I'm guessing, and the boring at the salon was a hunch. But probably true for the meetings too," He explained, smiling to show no offence was meant by his words.

"Oh, that's not far from the truth," She said, as if challenged. "Okay, a few more for yours. You're confused too."

"About what?" Kyle grinned.

Kara tilted her head back towards the interior of Kyle's suite, then whispered, "Her."

Kyle glanced around then nodded his head, knowing she was referring to Patricia.

"What are you confused about?" She asked quietly, sliding closer to Kyle and keeping her voice low.

"I don't know if she's into me or not for starters," Kyle said, but Kara immediately rolled her eyes.

"It's kinda obvious, Kyle," She whispered. "She never takes her eyes off you. I think it bothers her that she's like that too."

"We set ground rules. She said that we couldn't hook up. That was crossing the line."

Kara chuckled. "So?"

"So I don't know if the rules still stand or if she wants me to make a move? Plus, she works for me, and she's really fucking good at her job."

"So what if she's good at her job. You think she's hot. She thinks you're hot. It's as simple as that, as far as I'm concerned," Kara replied softly.

"It's not always that simple," Kyle said, thinking of Katie. Then he thought of Kara, and his memories of her.

"Of course it is," Kara chuckled.

"So say I met this really hot dancer once, right?" Kyle began slowly.

"Oh, no, Kyle," Kara said quickly. "You're not going there."

He chuckled. "See? Not always that simple."

She snorted, and they sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Right, I've got to work out at six o'clock in the frickin morning," Kyle said, breaking the silence. "I better go crash out."

"If I'm up I'll come with you," Kara said. "Although it's unlikely."

"Want me to wake you?"

"At six o'clock in the morning? Fuck, no." She said, grinning.

"Listen, if you ever want to talk about anything, and I mean serious stuff too, you know you can speak to me any time, right?"

She looked intently at him. "I'll keep that in mind."

It was like touching some invisible barrier that instantly brought her defences up when asked too personal a question, Kyle realised. He frowned, knowing that he'd have to be careful not to disappoint her like every other man in the world had in her life.

"Okay, I'm going to bed." He hoisted himself out the chair, gritting his teeth at the sharp pains in his arms and stomach. "Night, Kara."

"Night, Kyle."

He walked through to his bedroom, stripped off and slid into bed, and just as he was reaching for the light, he heard Patricia say, "Wait."

Kyle got a fright. He didn't even know she was in the room, sat in the chair she'd been in earlier when he got changed, the notepad still in her lap.

"Fuck. I didn't even know you were there," He said, when he'd settled back down under the sheet.

"I've just about got a first draft cobbled together for tomorrow," She said, standing up and walking over to the bed.

"Let's see it."

She handed him the notepad, and as he lay there reading, she hopped up on the other side of the bed, stretching out beside him.

It was seriously messing with Kyle's concentration, her being on the bed beside him, him being naked under the single sheet, but he kept dragging his mind back on the task at hand.

"This is pretty good," He said finally.

"Only pretty good?" She said, gasping. "I think it's pretty awesome."

"Doesn't flow right in a few places. Got a pen?"

Patricia looked around, then hopped off the bed and returned a moment later. "Here."

Kyle grimaced and pulled his knees up so he had something to lean on, then rested the notepad on them.

"Okay, here, second paragraph. That's not something I'd say," He stated, going on to explain how it seemed awkward to him to talk that way, when normally he'd say it a different way.

While he began to scribble between the lines of her notes, she would point out a bit and they'd discuss it, and almost without noticing, she was right up alongside Kyle's arm. His eyes kept straying to her vest top, particularly the slight gap between her breasts, and every time he looked his concentration went to pot. Remembering his earlier discussion with Kara, Kyle figured what the hell.

"You should just sleep in here," He said, trying to sound off-hand. "That way you wouldn't have to get up to wake me, there would be a shorter walk to the bathroom, and I apparently give good cuddles."

Patricia laughed. "That's against the rules, remember."

"Yeah, but those rules were put in place before we got to know each other. I think we'd be okay, sleeping in the same bed," Kyle continued, trying to appear half-joking, but presenting the option anyway. "Plus, it's not like we haven't seen each other naked."

"What's naked got to do with it?" She nudged his arm. "Someone's jumping the gun a bit."

"Hey, you're the one who said you sleep naked, remember? And you already know I do, because I came in here, stripped off and got into bed, and only after that did you let me know you were in the room." Kyle was grinning, the speech forgotten for the moment.

"I was concentrating on the speech," She shrugged, drawing Kyle's eyes once again.

"And you never peeked?"

"Nope," She said, shaking her head, but Kyle could see her trying to hide a smile.

"And you never peeked earlier when I was putting my jeans on?"

"Nope."

"Or in the dressing room yesterday?"

"Most definitely not," She replied, trying hard not to laugh now.

"Patricia, I think you're a bit of pervert," He said firmly. "And that's fine by me."

"Hey, you're making all these accusations, and you're the one who walked in on me in the shower this morning, Mister," She said, nudging him again.

"Which could just as easily have been you waiting for me to come in, for the sole purpose of flashing me," Kyle argued, laughing when she nudged him again. "Hey, I'm not judging. Everyone needs a hobby."

"You wish I was flashing you, Kyle Watson," She told him.

"Actually, yes. I do. Go for it."

Patricia laughed. "Never gonna happen."

"Don't believe you."

"You don't believe I'll never flash you?"

Kyle nodded. "Yep. I think you want to do it again already."

"I think exhaustion's making your brain say crazy things." She grinned at him.

"Yeah, but you're enjoying the conversation, same as I am," He pointed out, his tone turning a little more serious.

"Still doesn't make it a good idea," Patricia replied in the same tone. "And doesn't mean this is gonna happen either."

"You are into me though, aren't you?" He said softly a moment later.

"I'll get over it."

"Same as I'm into you."

"You'll get over it too," She said gently. "Seriously, it's not a good idea."

"I think you're wrong," Kyle said, rolling on his side, their faces now barely inches apart.

He could feel her breath on his skin, and he knew they were both breathing deeply, wondering if they should. Kyle lifted a hand to her chin, readying himself to move in for a kiss when Patricia suddenly rolled away from him.

Suddenly she was on her feet at the side of the bed.

"I'm not gonna pretend I'm not tempted," She said softly. "But I really believe this isn't a good idea. Not if we're going to keep working together."

Kyle felt the disappointment settle like a lead weight on his chest and he sighed. "I get where you're coming from Patricia," He said a moment later. "In fairness, you did predict this too."

"I know. That's what makes it all the more infuriating," She said, a gentle smile on her face. "I'm fighting with myself about following my own advice."

"You're not upset?" Kyle asked as she rounded the bed and collected the notepad and pen.

She shook her head. "No. In fact I'm already preparing jokes so I can mock you about it tomorrow. Best way of dealing with this."

Kyle smiled. "Sleep well, Patricia."

"You too. See you for your wakeup call at six."

Kyle watched her as she disappeared out the doorway, understanding why she said no and not blaming her at all, but still a little exhilerated at how close he'd come. He rolled onto his back and reached out to turn the light off, groaning from the pain in his arm.

"Fucking muscles."

Edwin

He wriggled in the leather chair, facing the bank of screens.

"Go to bed, you jumped up whore," He muttered, frowning. His fingers punched a few buttons, and the third large screen pulled up the feed from Patricia's room, showing her fast asleep on her side, a sheet covering her to her shoulders.

His gaze flicked to the other two large screens, the interior of Kyle's bedroom and the exterior of his balcony. He could see Kara sitting on Kyle's balcony, as she had been for the last half hour, probably unable to sleep and she was irritating him.

"Shit," He said quickly, leaning forward as Sarah appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a black silk kimono and stockings, just as he'd ordered her to. Couldn't she smell the cigarette smoke, or even see Kara sitting on the balcony?

"She's right there, you silly bitch," He snarled.

He saw Kara say something as Sarah began to open the door to Kyle's suite. The brunette masseuse turned quickly, looking shocked. Kara said something else, and Edwin glanced around quickly, trying to find the remote control to turn the volume up.

A couple of minutes of frantic fumbling produced the remote and he selected the screen and turned the sound up.

".... So that's what you tell your friends," Kara was saying firmly. "You sneaked in, fucked him and won your bet, and if anyone asks I'll confirm you were in there for ten minutes and left clutching your kimono in your hand. Either that or I'll get Edwin to fire you first thing in the morning." He saw Kara shrug her shoulders. "Your call."

Sarah looked scared, pressured and Edwin snarled, realising his plan wasn't going to happen.

"You're going to pay for fucking this one up, Sarah," He told her as he watched her leaving on the monitor. "Tomorrow you're going to have to be my Patricia-slut, blonde wig, in the shower, fingering your holes like the whore you are while I empty my balls on you."

The bitterness of his plan failing left Edwin shaking his head with disappointment. He'd watched Kyle and Patricia glow closer over the last couple of days, flirting with each other, and he'd seen her watching him. He still felt sick after watching her waiting in the shower cubicle for him to come back from the gym, masturbating her holes and then sucking on her fingers as she deliberately opened the door, exposing her body to him.

"That body's for me, whore," He snarled at her sleeping form, knowing she'd forced him to act, to drive a wedge between the two of them, and that was why he'd sent Sarah up to Kyle's room in the middle of the night to fuck him. Patricia wouldn't be so keen on him if he was fucking other people.

His attention was drawn back to the movement on the balcony as Kara stood beside the door to Kyle's suite, looking around slowly, checking as if she wanted to make sure no-one was watching, and then to his surprise, she slipped inside, leaving the door ajar.

"And what are you up to, stripper-slut?" Edwin asked, tilting his head to the side. His fingers changed the balcony view to one of the lounge in Kyle's suite and he saw her peer into Patricia's room, then quietly peering into Kyle's room a moment later.

His eyes were glued to the screens watching her as she paused in his doorway for a second, and then he grinned wickedly as Kara slipped off her dressing gown, dropping it to the floor and revealing her taught, naked form.

"You dirty fucking whore," He said, a broad grin on his face. He licked his lips in anticipation as she quietly crossed the room, pausing beside her brothers bed.

Kyle

Kyle felt the soft brush of hair across his face at the same time as he felt the bed adjust as the other person slid on, a leg brushing across his own as her body settled against his.

He could feel her there, lying half on him in the pitch darkness, her right leg across his hips, her left alongside his own, her body half on his chest. He brought his arm up behind her, an unconscious movement, seeking to press her forward for a kiss, and he felt her hold back, just out of reach. Just a little too far for his lips to reach.

His fingers traced the taught skin of her back, feeling the firmness of her physique as her own hand slid down his lower stomach. He could feel her breathing deepen in anticipation of her fingertips sliding down to their target, each exhale caressing his skin like fine silk, draping over him.

The hand paused, only for a second, then slid down and grasped him, his rapidly hardening cock filling her fingers, and as he rose to full strength he heard her moan gently, like the purr of a contented kitten.

Her fingers brushed over the skin of his cock, teasing and tickling, sending tiny jolts of stimulation into him and Kyle sighed in pleasure as the fingers tightened their grip, barely holding him but enough to pull his skin down, then back up his length.

Kyle reached for her with his free hand, wanting to taste her lips, feel her breath inside him, but she moved, rising in one smooth lithe movement, pressing up with both hands as her hips slid above his own, rocking instantly to position him.

He could feel her readiness, her need matching his own as she stretched a hand back, holding him in position as she readied herself and then her sigh was a thing of beauty as she took him inside her.

Kyle's hand slid forward, feeling the soft skin of her thigh on his hip, her flat, taught stomach, and as he ignored the protest from his shoulder, his fingers slid up the outside of her breast.

He felt a hand clasping his, moulding his grip, manipulating his thumb to manipulate her nipple, and he heard her gasp softly into the darkness.

He couldn't see anything, and his senses were overmagnifying every sound, every motion, every touch of skin on skin. He loved the moistness of being inside her, of the way that she ground against him before she slid back up, only to repeat it over and over.

"Is this Patricia? Is it her?"

His hand caressed her breast once more, feeling her pushing back against him. A slight moan escaped her, and Kyle's imagination exploded. It sounded like a noise Patricia might make.

His hands slid up, seeking to touch her hair, seeking any sign of who this amazing woman was that was pleasuring him in the darkness.

Her hands grasped his wrists, forcing them down to the bed, and as she leaned over him, her bodyweight holding him in place, she began to buck her hips faster, really grinding him back and forth inside her.

Kyle was panting and so was his mystery woman, riding him as if she was running out of time, and a moan escaped his lips. His breathing began to deepen, and then suddenly he moaned, this time a noise of passion and protest as she lifted herself free of him.

"No," He breathed, not wanting it to end, but he felt her move, felt the skin of her inner thighs brushing his knees, then lower. A breast caressed the skin of his stomach and then he sensed them pass by either side of his stiffness and hope sprang back into his mind as her lips descended on him.

Her hands held his wrists in place, but his fingers gripped on tight to the sheet as she took him deep in her mouth, as far as he could go, and then her head was bobbing fast, riding him like she was moments before, but this time with her mouth.

Kyle groaned in sheer pleasure, tilting his pelvis in an effort to get more inside her at each motion. He could feel her sucking at him, her lips tight around his erection, and he felt his balls begin to tighten as his breath became deeper and deeper.

His muscles, stiff and sore added a layer of pain to the pleasure and that just intensified it further for Kyle, and then his entire body was rigid, hard in anticipation of the imminent explosion.

Her lips slowed as the first spurt shot out, drawing nearer the tip as each pulse shot intense waves of pleasure through his body.

He was panting, grunting, gasping for air as she sucked on him, prolonging and intesifying his orgasm and he knew that she was breathing hard through her nose, as if she was feeling his pleasure too.

"Fuck," He finally gasped, as his body began to weaken and relax, gradually easing back into the bed. He flinched as he felt her tongue swabbing him inside her mouth, an electric jolt of sensitivity shooting through his body as her tongue swiped his slit.

He felt the air wrap his easing erection as she released him gently from her mouth, and he sensed more than saw her lift her head back and swallow him down.

"Fuck."

He had to know for sure who she was, had to hold her in his arms for giving him such pleasure. Kyle moved his arms, seeking to bring her back up the bed, but as he did so, she released his wrists and hopped back off the bed.

Kyle tried to sit upright and follow her, but the rapid tightening of his stomach muscles felt like he'd just been punched, and he fell back.

He heard her feet dart over the floor, heading out the door and he rolled quickly on his side and flicked the light on.

She was gone.

Edwin

Edwin laughed as Kara darted out the room, pausing only to scoop up her robe before darting out the door. She closed it quietly, taking advantage of the freshly oiled locks and hinges he had ordered completed earlier that day just so he could enter and leave without making any noise.

He looked down at the semen covering his stomach and groin, feeling it cooling on his skin after he'd jerked off to some real live incest, an unanticipated pleasure that had turned him on immensely.

"Who would have thought that you'd be such a fucking slut, Kara," He murmured, smiling. "Fucking your own brother in the dark, thinking no-one would know? But I do, and I've got it on video."

As he fastened up his trousers he watched Kyle wandering around his suite, searching for his mystery visitor until eventually he stopped in Patricia's doorway.

"Go on, dick. Wake her up and ask her, then see how she reacts," He said quickly, leaning forward in anticipation of Patricia's disgust. He sunk back in his chair a moment later as Kyle returned to his bed and flicked the light off.

"You fucking pussy."

Edwin took a couple of minutes to burn off the footage onto a DVD and put it in the cabinet alongside all the other secret footage of celebrities, other guests and staff on the Island engaged in sexual antics, then headed for the exit.

"I must remember my sandwich," He said aloud, feeling rather pleased with the evenings turn of events. Not only did he have the conversation between Kyle and Katie about them having sex a few years back, along with Kyle's conversation with Kara about her lap-dancing for him, but now he had Kara fucking Kyle on video.

He smiled as he reached the door. "Blackmail is so easy when you have the right tools at hand."

Kyle

"Kyle, it's time to get up," He heard Patricia telling him.

"Hey," He mumbled, a sleepy smile on his face. The more he thought about his nocturnal visitor last night the more he was convinced that it was her, that she'd crept into his bed, and sneaked back out, rather than face him in the light. There had been no opening or closing of the door into the suite, and she only had to dart into her bed and pretend to be asleep.

"Get in here," He muttered, sliding back across the bed a little.

She chuckled. "I thought we talked about this last night?"

"Yeah, but..."

"But nothing. We talked about it and we're not going to go there, are we?"

"What?" He asked, confused.

"Are you alright, Kyle?" She asked, peering at him. As his eyes focussed he could see her sitting staring at him from the side of the bed, his football shirt covering her, a confused expression on her face.

"Did you...."

"Did I what?"

Kyle looked away and then back at her.

"I'm putting your shower on. You really need to wake up, Kyle. Busy day." She disappeared into the bathroom.

"Did I just dream that last night? Or was it not her, but someone else?" He wondered. "Fuck my life."

She returned from the bathroom and stood beside the bed. "Come on. You've got ten minutes before you meet Julian to get showered, dressed and get down to the gym," She said, covering her eyes and hauling the sheet back in one swift movement.

Kyle sat up slowly, stretching his sore body, and got to his feet. He padded into the bathroom, going straight into the shower, noting immediately the water was a lot colder than normal.

"Did you make the water colder?" He called, having no idea how to change it himself.

"You need to wake up. What's with you this morning?" She called back. He heard her enter the bathroom. "You seem... a bit out of it."

"Did you come in my room last night?" He said after a moments hesitation.

"To do the speech?"

"No, after that. After our whole... conversation."

"Not until just now."

"So you didn't come in then?"

"Did I not just say that?" She replied. "What's with you?"

"Someone came in my room last night and...."

"And what?" She asked, then it all clicked. "Oh! Really?"

"Yeah," Kyle said, running the luke-warm water over his hair and shaking his head from side to side. "Really."

"And you two...."

"Yeah. It was pitch dark, someone joined me on the bed, teased me, had sex with me and then...."

"Yeah, that wasn't me," She said, sounding a little pissed. "What time was that at?"

"About two. I checked the time on my phone after she left."

"Why didn't you ask her who she was?" Kara said, feeling as confused as Kyle sounded when she'd woke him up.

Kyle paused for a second, formulating his thoughts before answering. "So I'm sound asleep and someone slips into bed with me. It's pitch dark, and suddenly there's things happening. She didn't let me kiss her, and she held onto my wrists so I couldn't feel her hair, or her face I guess, and she didn't say anything at all. With me so far?"

"Think so."

"So then she's on top of me, I'm pinned on the bed, hands held down, we have sex for a bit and then she goes down on me and.... finishes me off."

"I get the picture, Kyle," Patricia told him, sounding pretty unamused.

"Sorry. Anyway, before I can say anything or do anything else, she just bolted out the room."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. I put the light on, but she was already gone. I went looking, but I didn't hear the suite doors opening or closing, and then I figured it had to have been you and you were pretending to be asleep," Kyle explained. "Plus her body was similar to yours in shape as far as I could tell, so I thought you'd come and paid me a visit."

"Well, I really didn't," She said flatly. "And I'm really pretty pissed that someone else sneaked in here and fucked you. So much for the Island security team."

"So it really wasn't you?" Kyle asked, feeling a little shaken himself.

"No. It wasn't. It absolutely wasn't me."

"Then who the fuck was it?" Kyle asked, turning the shower off.

"That's what I want to know."

Kyle was confused. More than confused. When he'd woke up he felt certain that it had been Patricia. He'd nearly slipped into her bed last night after reaching the conclusion it had to be her. Then this morning she was vehement in her denials and he believed her, so despite him thinking he'd fucked her, he'd fucked someone else. And he didn't know who.

"So who would sneak into my room and fuck me?" He said, shrugging and feeling confused and a little angry too.

"Could it have been Katie?" Patricia suggested. "Like a 'gotta have you one last time' thing?"

Kyle opened the door, turning the glass clear and stepped out the shower, not really in the mood to give a shit that Patricia was still there as he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist.

"I don't think it was her. It wasn't like that when we were together," He said, trying to explain. "It was... intimate, beautiful. Last night was more.... I don't know. Last night was fucking, not making love."

He grabbed a second towel and began to dry himself off slowly.

"Hey, is it possible you were sleepwalking?" He asked a moment later.

"Nope," Patricia said flatly. "I don't sleepwalk, and if I did, that's not how I would have had sex with you. Not my style."

Kyle shot an eyebrow up. "What is your style?"

She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a stern look. "Really? You want details of my sexual tastes when you just fucked someone else?"

"I did think it was you," He pointed out.

"You don't get bonus points for that, Kyle."

"You're mad at me," He realised.

She paused, then nodded. "Yeah. So?"

"You're mad at me because I slept with someone else? Even though I thought it was you? Plus, you said again last night that we're never gonna cross that line."

"Yeah, that's right," She said firmly.

"This is fucked up," He muttered, pushing past her and heading for the dressing room. Once inside he dropped his towels and sought out a pair of track pants and a vest top.

"So you don't know who it was?" She asked, appearing in the dressing room archway.

Kyle stood there, naked and frustrated, looking at her. "No. I thought it was you, but you're telling me it wasn't and I believe you. So now I've fucked some woman and I've no idea who it was. And you're pissed at me for it."

"How could you think it was me?"

"Because we came so close last night. Because I wanted it to be you. Who else would I have thought it was?" He shook his head in frustration and pulled on the track pants.

She shrugged. "Katie? Or Kara maybe?"

Kyle frowned, remembering the feel of her taught stomach, and then he stood upright as he remembered that moment where he tried to kiss her and she held back just out of reach, teasing him. It was similar to how Kara had teased him during the dance at the strip club.

"You think it might have been Kara?" Patricia asked, her face showing her surprise.

Kyle frowned, then shook his head, although inside he was now wondering. "I don't think it's her. She's too.... "

"Yeah, she doesn't exactly trust guys, and I can't see her deciding to fuck her brother," Patricia said, tapping her finger on her chin. "Does she know about you and Katie?"

Kyle shook his head.

"I'm going to ask security to list any of the serving staff who might have come in the main house through the night," Patricia said. "Can you remember anything else?"

"About her?"

"Yeah."

He thought for a second. "Nothing that would help with a physical description."

"And you didn't grab her hair or anything?"

"Why would I grab her hair?"

"You know. Heat of the moment stuff?"

Kyle shook his head. "She had my hands pinned. I never got higher than her breasts."

"Pubic hair?"

"I don't know."

"So you just lay there and got fucked? You didn't do anything?"

"Pretty much," Kyle admitted. "I wasn't the one calling the shots, and I certainly wasn't the one in control. Besides, I thought you'd changed your mind and sneaked in to seduce me. Do you think I was going to risk fucking it up by not letting you, her, be in control if that's what she wanted?"

He grabbed the vest top, slipped it on, ignoring the pain in his muscles, and grabbed a pair of sneakers and socks and walked to the archway, stopping right beside her.

"I get that you're angry, Patricia. But I thought it was you, so can you imagine how fucking disappointed I am to find out it wasn't?"

He left it at that and sat on the bed to get his footwear on. He could see she was thinking so he didn't say anything else, just stood, gathered up his phone and headed for the door.

"One other thing," He said on his way out. "If I'd known it wasn't you, do you think I'd have still fucked her? Whoever it was?"

He turned his back and headed for the door out to the balcony, opening to admit the fresh air, and workout or no workout, he picked up his cigarettes from the table and lit up.

"That's not healthy before a workout, Kyle," He heard Kara say from her balcony.

"Bad start to the day," He grunted. "You're up early. Coming to the gym?"

Kara nodded and walked round to join him, wearing black leggings, a black lycra top and sneakers. "Yeah, I was up, so I thought I might as well."

As she walked round, Kyle wondered if it could have been her. The tease was the thing that had him thinking about it, because none of the rest of it seemed to fit.

"So how did it go?" She asked, an eyebrow raised and a twinkle in her eye.

"Last night?" Kyle shook his head and sighed. "It didn't and then I thought it did, but now I'm not so sure."

Kara chuckled. "Was that supposed to make some sort of sense to anyone else, Kyle?"

"Never mind. I don't want to talk about it."

"You two had a domestic or something?"

Kyle sighed and put the cigarette out. "Let's just go."

As soon as they got to the bottom of the stairs they paused, seeing staff moving furniture around in a whirlwind of activity. The large dining table was on its way outside, carried by a dozen people, and the couches were being re-arranged too.

"What's going on?"

"Must be for the funeral," Kyle replied. "Come on."

All the way to the gym they saw staff scrubbing paths or hustling by with boxes or trolleys laden with food. The place was a hive of activity.

Julian was pleased to see Kyle had brought Kara, but she begged off being included, explaining she had her own workout routine and she'd just sort herself out, so the trainer turned his apparently limitless energy on Kyle and spent the next forty minutes coming up with new and inventive ways to make his muscles discover new ways to feel pain.

Eventually Kyle stumbled back outside, Kara at his side and as he dragged himself back to the main house and into his suite.

When he entered his bedroom, Patricia was kneeling on his bed, still dressed in his football top, typing the speech up into a laptop. She paused and looked at him as he wearily walked in.

"How you feeling?"

"Had better days," Kyle murmured, then walked straight into the bathroom. To his surprise she'd run another bath for him. "This for me?"

"Yep. Hop in."

Kyle shrugged off his clothes and got in the bath, easing himself into the hot water. Patricia appeared and sat back on the unit opposite him, the laptop resting on her thighs.

Kyle just wanted to sink underwater. This morning had been a confusing nightmare, he didn't like that Patricia was pissed at him, and he was angry that someone else had manipulated him, and he'd used that anger during his workout. By the time he was done his body was trembling with fatigue.

"So I think this is just about done," Patricia said a moment later, breaking the silence.

"The speech? I'll read it in a bit," Kyle replied. "So do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really, but we should probably get the air cleared. I'm not mad at you any more."

Kyle looked at her, surprised. "That's good. I'm not mad at you either, if that helps?"

"It does," She nodded. "I'm going to find out who it was, Kyle. That's not a jealousy thing, although I was jealous earlier. I still am a bit, but if I'm saying we can't sleep together, then I've no right to demand you don't sleep with anyone else either."

"I've no intention of sleeping with anyone else, Patricia," Kyle explained. "Plus, it's probably wrong to say it, but I'm kinda happy that you're a bit jealous. Shows that you care, know what I mean?"

She chuckled and hung her head. "You're hopeless."

Kyle smirked and moved around in the bath, sliding carefully onto his side, trying to get his body into a more comfortable position.

"So where do 'we' stand?" He asked.

"We're good," She said immediately.

"Good as in?"

"Good as in I'm not pissed at you any more. As in we should kind of pretend it never happened and just act as if things are back to normal, hopefully."

Kyle laughed. "Normal for me is going into the office, no Island paradise, no amazing and hot assistant, no talking to people in the shower, or bath."

"Okay, situational normality," She replied, smiling.

"Situational normality? I like that."

"I liked amazing and hot assistant."

Kyle shrugged and winced. "It's true. I'd be lost if you weren't here, Patricia."

She smiled. "You keep doing that."

"What?"

"Saying these incredibly sweet things from time to time. It makes it really difficult to not want to jump your bones."

"So that's what does it for you?" Kyle grinned. "I'll have to remember that."

Patricia laughed. "No, there was a moment the other night when I came up the stairs and you were reciting the portfolio of companies and their locations from memory."

"That did it for you?" Kyle asked, laughing as she blushed a little.He moved again, trying to get comfortable and ended up sitting upright.

"Different strokes for different folks," She said a moment later. "I like intellect. Hot guys look good, but sometimes it takes a little more to stimulate the senses, know what I mean?"

Kyle thought for a second. "So last night when I was editing the speech?"

She bit her lip, smiling. "That was tough, getting out that bed."

Kyle chuckled, a broad grin on his face. "So if I started reciting the five year strategic objectives and office plan for my old work there's a chance you might hop in the bath with me then?"

"Don't try and get smart, Kyle. Besides it's not a list of information that does it for me. If that was the case, the amount of data I see on a daily basis would reduce me to a quivering wreck, or more likely kill me from exhaustion."

His eyes narrowed. "I'm gonna figure it out, Patricia. How to push your buttons."

"You know the rules, Kyle," She said, smiling.

"I'm not giving up. Now, in a completely unrelated note, is there any chance you can do that soapy massage thing you did yesterday on my back please?"

"Ha! And you've got no ulterior motives?"

"Of course I have, but right now I'm too sore to do anything. If I promise not to try anything, will you help me out?"

"You promise?"

"I do," He replied, holding up his hand. "Scouts honour."

She chuckled and set the laptop aside. "Slide up the bath a bit."

Kyle did as he was asked, sitting upright halfway down the bath, his legs crossed and Patricia took a seat on the end of the bath behind him. Her hands slid into the water, lifting and pouring it down his back and neck and Kyle smiled, lowering his head.

She paused and then moved again, and Kyle felt her feet in the water at either side of his hips.

"That's better," She muttered. "It was a bit awkward."

"If it's easier for you, just get in," He suggested, chuckling a little.

"Yeah, you'd love that," She replied, and Kyle could hear the amusement in her tone.

"Of course I would. But you're the one who said we'll be all cool with seeing each other naked and all that, remember?"

"I never said we'd be sharing a bath, did I?"

Kyle felt the bar of soap in her hand as she began to work over his shoulders, gently probing at his sore muscles and he sighed in pleasure.

"Technically you're already in it," He muttered a moment later.

She never replied, and Kyle sat there, loving the feeling of his body relaxing and reacting to her fingers, kneading and softening the stiffness from his shoulders, neck and upper back.

"How does that feel?" She asked a few minutes later, pausing to rinse the soap off him.

"Great. Any chance you can do my lower back too?" His voice was sleepy and contented, and Patricia chuckled. "What?"

"I knew you were going to ask me that. Don't move, okay?"

Kyle nodded, his eyes closed. He felt her shift her weight for a moment and then he saw his football top hit the floor. Then she was in the bath behind him, her feet sliding past his hips and resting on his thighs.

"No peeking," She warned, her hands holding his shoulders in place.

"You're in the bath with me," He noted, smiling. "Naked?"

"Just behave, okay?"

He nodded. "I will."

Patricia's hands slid down his spine and pushed him forward a little, until his head was nearly in the water. He felt the bar of soap working into the muscles on either side of his spine, firm movements that sought out the knots and slowly smoothed them out. Her free hand came up and rested on the back of his head and he felt her fingers gradually begin to massage his scalp.

"Oh my," He murmured as waves of pleasure flowed through him.

"Good?"

"Amazing."

Patricia continued to massage him, and after a few minutes she moved her hands down his back, smoothing the skin and removing any residual soap. Kyle sighed, feeling incredibly relaxed and content.

"How's your pecs?"

"Yeah, they're sore," He admitted.

He felt her hands slip around his ribs, and up until they were resting on his chest. He expected her to sit upright behind him, so he was a little surprised when she pulled against him.

"Lean back. Slowly."

Kyle slowly leaned back and felt Patricia adjust her position behind him, until he was resting on her, his head on her shoulder. He could feel her breasts on his back, supporting him and her legs crossed over his waist.

"This is nice," He murmured.

"Put your arms on the sides of the bath," She said softly in his ear.

Kyle lifted them and then she began to pull water up and over his chest. It felt incredibly intimate and tender, as if two lovers who had been together for a long time were caring for each others needs. He closed his eyes.

Patricia began to run the bar of soap over his chest, coating him in circular swirls. She released the soap and it slid down between his legs. Her hands began to work the muscles of his chest, her thumbs pushing at the tension, her fingers probing.

Kyle could feel her breathing in his ear, could sense her concentration as she worked on helping him, easing his pain.

"This is bliss," He murmured.

"Glad you like it," She whispered. Her hands began to scoop up water and sluice it over his chest, rinsing him clean and then she draped her hands over his ribs. "That's you done."

"Thanks, Patricia," He murmured, not moving.

Patricia didn't move either, just lay there with hmi resting against her body, her arms wrapped around him.

"You know we have to move at some point, right?" She said a moment later.

"Nah, we don't," Kyle said. "We can just stay here all day."

"What about the funeral?"

"Push it back to tomorrow."

"Margaret will come in here and want you to try on your new suit," She added.

"Margaret?" Kyle murmured. "I need a gun or something then."

Patricia chuckled. "Yeah, shooting people is frowned upon here."

"I could take out a restraining order?"

"No courts."

"I could fire her."

"She wouldn't listen."

"I meant fire her from a catapult."

"That might work," Patricia allowed. "But we still have to get out the bath. Catapults don't build themselves."

"Don't we have people for that?"

"Kyle."

"I know," He muttered. "Honestly though, did you enjoy that?"

"Honestly?" Patricia replied softly. "It's been the nicest thing I've experienced in.... months."

Kyle sighed. His hands slid off the edge of the bath to rest on her legs and he turned his head to face her. He realised that he hadn't really considered what she'd been through in the last few weeks and months, with Danny Tripps, 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," Kyle 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 Danny and I had, but it's different."

"How different?"

"Well, we never did anything like this for starters," She said, a slight smile twitching at her lips. "There wasn't that type of attraction there."

"But you were close?"

She nodded slowly, her eyes distant. "I suppose it was a bit like a father-daughter thing, or really close friends. We just got on well and spent a lot of time together."

"And you wanted to recreate that with me?" He asked gently.

"I guess so."

"You know we can be just as close, right?"

"I didn't plan on us being this close though," She admitted.

"It doesn't make it a bad thing though."

She shrugged a little. "Maybe."

"Well, if it's any consolation to you, the last few days have been the most stressful I've ever encountered in my life," Kyle explained. "I know I've said it before, but I'd have been totally lost if you hadn't been at my side, and as for this, right now. This is the best thing that's happened to me since I got here."

He saw the gentle smile on her face and her felt her arms squeezing him, hugging him, holding him to her. She sighed.

"And all good things must come to an end," She said, a soft smile on her face. "We have to move, Kyle. Lots to do." Her arms released him and slid back, gently pushing at his shoulders to move forward.

"One last question before we get out."

"What?"

"Would you do this again?" Kyle asked intently, watching her.

She smiled. "Wait and see, Kyle."

He chuckled, then slowly sat upright, feeling the water churning as it poured into the gap between their bodies.

Patricia's legs slid back, behind him, and he felt her get up and out the bath. The shower cubicle door opened and closed and he heard the shower come on.

"You're in the shower?"

Patricia laughed. "I have to wash all your sweaty water off me, remember."

Kyle chuckled. "Good point."

He dunked himself under the water, then sat up and dragged himself out the bath, rubbing briskly at his skin with a towel, then wrapped it around his waist and went out to the bedroom.

Kyle tried to remember what was on his schedule this morning, and drawing a blank, he picked up his phone and checked his diary to see what Patricia had listed on it. Workout at six, Margaret at half seven, breakfast at eight.

He glanced at the time, seeing it was only four minutes from half past seven, and dropped the phone on the bed. "Margaret will be here in four minutes," He called to Patricia.

"You better put on some clothes then. Boxers and a dressing gown will do," She called back.

Kyle grabbed a pair of boxers, realising idly that it was the first time he'd had underwear on since he arrived on the Island. He slipped them on, and being unable to find a dressing gown, he pulled on an oversized football top and returned to the bedroom.

Patricia had a towel wrapped around her body and was wrapping another around her head. She smiled as she saw him.

"Thanks for the chat, Kyle."

"Thanks for the massage, Patricia."

They stood looking at each other for a minute and Kyle felt really close with her.

"You better head outside, meet her ladyship," Patricia suggested.

"You take all the fun out of things sometimes," He replied, grinning. "See you in a bit."

Kyle got outside, lit a cigarette and barely managed to sit down before Margaret arrived looking harassed.

She had someone with her, a short woman with blonde hair who she introduced as Agatha, and between them they were carrying several items of clothing in clear plastic hangars.

Kyle ditched his cigarette and followed them into the lounge area of his suite, where he was ordered to take off his top and put on a black collarless shirt, then handed trousers, so he slipped them on too. While he got dressed, Margaret disappeared into his bedroom, emerging a few minutes later with a shoebox.

He could immediately feel the quality of the clothing he was wearing, and the trousers seemed to fit him perfectly. Margaret pulled a pair of black shoes out the box, a sock sitting ready in each shoe, so Kyle slipped them on too, then stood up.

"The fit looks good," Agatha said quietly, almost timidly.

"Of course it does," Margaret snapped. "I measured it myself. Walk around."

"Me?" Kyle asked.

She looked at him like he was dumber than rocks, so he shook his head, but did as he was asked, walking back and forth, from side to side until they were satisfied that the trousers were a good fit.

Margaret handed him a waistcoat, a rich black colour that matched the trousers, then fiddled with the strap at the back until it was fitting him right. He received a frown and a lecture on how he should never fasten the bottom button, but at that point they were interrupted by Katie and Heidi appearing in the doorway.

"Oh, my," Katie said, looking at him.

"Very nice work, Margaret," Heidi said nodding as she examined Kyle. "Kyle, you really suit that colour. And keep doing what you're doing at the gym, because it's really working."

Um, thanks," He replied, a little amused. He met Katie's eye and she nodded at him, then winked.

"Jacket." Margaret ordered, and Agatha hurried over with it. Margaret stood behind him and slipped it on over his shoulders, patting the sleeves, and tugging at the back of it. "Turn around. Walk about."

Kyle did, glancing down at the jacket as he did so. He felt smart, much smarter than he ever did in a new suit at work. This was something else entirely.

"That'll do," Margaret said, nodding.

"What about a tie?" Kyle asked.

"No tie. No collar. That's what you wear today to the funeral," She ordered, then turned to Agatha. "Now go and get Miss Katie's outfit and bring it here."

She whipped back to Kyle. "Go and see Shiro right now and tell him to trim your facial hair."

"After breakfast," Kyle said.

"Did I say after breakfast?" Margaret snapped.

Kyle's expression turned hard. "Are we going to have another one of these conversations where I tell you I don't like your tone, because amazing suit or not, I'm not putting up with you speaking to me like that."

She opened her mouth to say something, but seeing Kyle's expression darken, she thought better of it and swept out the door, leaving Agatha to clear the bags.

"Thanks for the suit," Kyle said before she left.

The smile she gave him as she turned made Kyle grin.

"I didn't think anyone could shut her up like that," Agatha said quickly. "Made my day."

"No problem," Kyle smiled.

He turned to go and get changed and saw Patricia standing in the doorway to her room watching him.

"Enjoy that?"

"Shutting her up? Hell, yes."

"Nice suit," She said, eyeing him up. "Really nice suit."

He shrugged. "I like it."

"Well, you better go hang it up, and don't wrinkle it. Margaret will come back in and check. Breakfast's in the bar this morning."

"Okay."

Kyle walked through to the bedroom, spotted an outfit that Margaret had 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. Kyle felt good. Considering how badly the day had started with the argument with Patricia, 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 really wasn't expecting with both Katie and Kara around. They'd been the object of his fantasies for years and he'd felt his body react to their presence too, although with new memories overlaying the old ones he knew he wasn't thinking of them as fantasies any more. Real people, with real emotions, concerns and both going through what he was. The fact that they were also his sisters changed things too.

Still, he would catch Kara making some movement that would remind him of her lapdance, or he would see Katie smile and be drawn back to the nighclub, or the pool, or her room.

"Why is nothing ever simple?" He muttered.

Breakfast was different that day, with a buffet being provided for them as all the staff were running about getting the place prepared for the funeral and the guests arriving. Heidi was off doing something, Garius was helping out Edwin and it fell to Patricia to bring them up to speed.

"Okay, today's going to be busy, different from the last few days though," She said, putting her coffee down. "The guests are going to start arriving from about ten o'clock, so there has to be one of you there to meet each of them, preferably all three. Because you're who you are, they're your guests, so you have to welcome them."

Three nods greeted that, with differing degrees of nerves on each face at the thought of meeting all these A-list celebrities and business associates of Danny Tripps.

"Now, Garius will keep you right as to who you should escort to their suite and who can be taken by one of us, or Edwin. Keep your phones handy though, so we can keep letting you know where you need to be and when."

"Sounds like a lot of running around," Kara replied.

"It is," Patricia nodded. "It's going to be like that from ten right through until about three. There'll be spells where nothings happening and spells where you need to be in three places at once. We'll manage it as we go."

"Okay," Kyle said. "What's after that?"

"Back up to your suites, get changed into the outfits Margaret has tailored for you, and then downstairs for a few drinks before the ceremony. Mingle, shake hands, etc. Garius, Heidi and I will be with you to keep you right, let you know who's who, and by that time Peter and Lakshmi will be helping out too."

"Who are they?" Katie asked.

"Colleagues of ours. Mister Tripps had five assistants. Heidi, Lakshmi, Garius, Peter and myself," Patricia explained. "Peter's been running the office and Lakshmi has been dealing with the funeral which is why you haven't met them yet."

"Oh, okay."

"At four the funeral starts, should be wrapped up by five. Kyle, you'll be speaking about four thirty."

"Right."

"How's the speech?" Katie asked.

"Nearly there," Kyle nodded. "I just need some time to go over it this morning, and I'll be good."

"You can do that after breakfast," Patricia said, nodding.

"Margaret said I've to go see Shiro too, get my stubble trimmed." Kyle chuckled, and Katie laughed.

"I think it suits you as it is," Kara said, shrugging.

"Go see Shiro," Patricia suggested. "Margaret can be a pain in the ass, but she's usually right about this stuff. Plus, he can sort your hair out."

"Oh. Heidi said that Betty or Alex would be coming up to do my hair. Kara's too." Katie added.

"Yeah, I've got that," Patricia nodded. "At nine, and then a touch up before the ceremony."

"So what happens after the ceremony?" Kyle asked.

"Reception, back here. It's to be informal, relaxed. There'll probably be some music, drinks, canapes. Then dinner for anyone who wants it later."

"Sounds quite chilled," Kara said.

"That's the plan," Patricia replied. "Mister Tripps wanted something casual and informal, just friends sitting talking, telling stories, singing songs, relaxing."

"What about you guys?" Kyle asked cautiously. "Today's going to be much harder on the five of you than it is on us. You're grieving, or you should be."

"We're busy," Patricia shrugged.

"Not after the ceremony though," Katie pointed out, agreeing with Kyle.

"I'll talk to you about it later, Kyle," Patricia said quickly.

Kyle shook his head. "No, I get that you're busy up to the ceremony, but after that you're off duty, okay?"

Patricia smiled. "There's no such thing as off duty in this job, Kyle."

"There is now."

"That's a good idea, Kyle," Katie said. "I'm telling Heidi the same thing."

"Yeah, Garius too," Kara added. "He's been working really hard and could do with some time off."

"You've got a lot of guests," Patricia began, but Kyle cut her off.

"No. You need to grieve, you need to relax and if you want to get drunk you go right ahead. I'm sure that we can handle talking to a few strangers after coming out here all alone a few days ago, and if there's anything we need to ask, I'm sure we can find one of you."

Patricia didn't look happy but she was smart enough to know when to pick her fights.

"There's nothing else on the schedule for today after that," Patricia said 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?" Kara asked cautiously.

"Not yet," Patricia replied. "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," Kara said flatly.

"We've already got strategies prepared if that happens," Patricia replied.

Kara didn't look relieved, so Patricia turned to Katie.

"There's a lot of focus on your photography, and they keep running the headshots you did of Missy Peregrym as examples of your work," Patricia said. "The phrase Celebrity Photographer is getting used quite a lot."

"The shots with the green wall? Window behind her?" Katie asked and Patricia nodded.

"Wait," Kyle said, frowning. "You've photographed Missy Peregrym? The chick from Rookie Blue?"

Katie nodded. "Couple of years ago."

"Wow. She's hot."

Kara chuckled, and Katie grinned.

"Now that we've established that, we should move on maybe?" Patricia said, grinning at him.

He shrugged. "Just saying."

"She's really nice," Katie added.

"I'm sure you'll meet her at some point," Patricia added. "Now then, Katie. Your friends are declining media requests but a couple of girls at college with you have said you were a bit of a party girl but couldn't produce any photos to support it, so that story is going nowhere. A couple of the models you've photographed have been asked questions and have been very positive about you, great photographer, professional, talented, that kind of thing."

"Who said I was a party girl?" Katie asked, frowning.

"I don't have the quotes to hand, but I'll get them for you this morning. Being honest, it's not worth worrying about, and in the next few months you'll get a lot of this happening. People you've never heard of will talk like they're your best friend."

"Sounds like something to look forward to," Katie murmured, looking unhappy.

"Well, the consensus so far is that you're a talented photographer who's making her own way in the world before you found out about your inheritance."

"What about my parents?"

"One of our media people is sat on their front door step, declining interview requests from anyone who asks. They're fine."

"And me?" Kyle asked.

"Well, there's a business profile which looks to have been based on your CV, so someone at the recruitment agency leaked that. One of the directors at the consultancy firm gave a strong statement about how you were a candidate for fast-track promotion and would have been in a very senior position within a few years, that sort of stuff." She paused and looked at him.

"What else?"

"There's a girl called Katrina taking offers from the press for stories about you and a threesome with her and another girl."

Kyle burst out laughing. "You're joking, right?"

"So there's no truth to it then?" Patricia asked.

"I wish," Kyle replied, chuckling. "Never had a threesome, and I've no idea who Katrina is."

"I'll get you a photo of her, see if you can identify her," Patricia added. "This does happen though, so it won't be the last time someone will try and sell a kiss-and-tell on one of you."

"Great. Should I warn my parents or anything?" Kyle asked.

"I'll take care of it," She replied. "Aside from that, there's requests for going on all the usual chat shows and newspaper interviews, stuff like that. We'll get started on that next week."

"Do we have to?" Katie asked, looking unhappy.

"We'll work that out another time. Right now we need to get a move on. Busy day," She added. "And Katie. Today might be a good day to take some candid photographs of some of our guests if they don't mind. They'd be good to release to the press in a day or two, show that you're not just a pretty face and you're passionate about your photography."

"Ooh, that would be so cool," She smiled, her eyes lighting up. "I was wondering about that, but didn't want to ask."

"Heidi will talk to you at some point about starting a photo-blog of your work from here forward."

"I'll speak to her about it," Katie nodded. "Right, I need to go check my cameras, make sure they're charged." She got up and darted out the room.

"That's cheered her right up," Kara noted. "I've got Margaret now."

"Think of it as ripping off a bandaid," Kyle suggested. "Painful but over quickly."

"Plus, whatever she's made for you is going to be gorgeous," Patricia added.

"We'll see," Kara said as she left.

"You!" Patricia said sharply, as soon as they had the room to themselves.

"What?"

"Take the day off?"

"What's wrong with that?" Kyle asked, taken aback.

"What the hell are you thinking?" She demanded, her hands on her hips as she glared at him.

"I'm thinking that todays the day you should be grieving and dealing with your loss, not running about after me."

"You're going to be under the spotlight from the second the first guest arrives here and until the last one leaves. They're going to try and get stories out of you that they can leak, pictures of you that they can take with their phones, anything exclusive they can get because everyone likes to be in the know, and everyone owes journalists favours. You need me to protect you, keep you from making mistakes."

"I'm not a kid, Patricia," Kyle said. "Jesus. Are we arguing again already?"

She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. "I know you're no kid, Kyle. Think about Katie though. She's naive, open. Do you think she won't reciprocate if someone shares a few secrets with her? Or Kara, with her lack of trust in men and no real time to perfect her cover story? How do you think she'll react if someone asks her about some section in the seventh chapter of her third novel?"

Kyle frowned. "Take a breath, Patricia. Why didn't you say that to them?"

"Because Heidi and Garius are already taking care of them, and they're going to steer them through the conversations."

"And you're meant to be doing the same with me?"

"No, apparently I've got to get drunk," She stated, her hands on her hips. "I can see you're just trying to do good, Kyle, but you need to talk things over with me first. For now, anyway."

"This place is insane," He muttered, knowing she was right in what she was saying, but feeling frustrated all the same. "You need to have some downtime though."

"I get downtime, Kyle. Do you think I was working this morning when I was in the bath with you? Do you think that wasn't relaxing for me too?"

"Okay," He allowed, nodding. "I just worry that you work too hard, Patricia."

"I'm fine, Kyle. Honestly, I'm okay."

He grinned suddenly. "If this morning was relaxing for you, can I at least order you to give me more of them?"

"Try it and I'll kick your ass," She said, smiling. "That's a volunteer only job."

"Fair enough."

"Right, get your ass off down to see Shiro. We'll finish the speech when you get back."

He nodded and wandered out into the mayhem of the preparations.

The hours raced by, a constant hustle from job to job, place to place. Shiro was tidying his facial hair when Kyle had 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.

Patricia wanted to see what he was going to say, but Kyle felt 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.

Margaret appeared with a pocket watch that Kyle was to wear in his waistcoat that belonged to Danny Tripps, 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 Kyle, Kara and Katie were waiting as the twin-rotored Chinook landed on the large helipad. They shook hands with Sting, a couple of musicians he'd brought with him, and several of the CEO's. Katie walked Sting off to one of the guest apartments in the main house that overlooked the pool, and then Kara and Kyle were off down to the pier to meet the boat.

The following hours turned into a series of surreal experiences as Kyle and his sisters met people they'd only ever seen on screen or in print. They were treated courteously in some cases, like long-time friends in others. He was overawed at the presence of Charlize Theron, the natural beauty of Salma Hayek and how tiny Pink actually was, with her partner and baby in tow.

Kevin Smith sent his apologies which disappointed Kyle, but he'd apparently been spotted by a journalist at the airport earlier and there was a thing about him and planes, so he'd gone home again.

They had a few minutes to snatch something to eat at two o'clock and by that time, Kyle was famished and twitchy. Patricia put it down to the demands of the day cancelling his workout and his body was reacting to that, so when it was time to get into his suit, he did a quick set of pressups and crunches, then dived in the shower.

When Kyle had donned his suit, added the pocketwatch and emerged onto his balcony, he felt slick, smart and confident. He patted the inner pocket of his jacket to make sure his speech cards were there, and then he turned and saw Patricia.

She was wearing a black dress that came down past her knees, tapering in from her hips, with black heels on her feet. It was simple and elegant, and her blonde hair was rolled up high behind her head, reminding him of a glamorous bombshell from a black and white movie. A simple gold chain hung around her neck.

"The suit looks good," She said, spotting him. "Very nice."

"You look beautiful," He said simply and was pleased to see her blush.

Katie appeared a few moments later wearing a black dress that stopped just above her knee, and a matching short jacket, giving her a mysterious appearance. It fit the contours of her body perfectly.

Kara's outfit was black too, a skirt and top split by a wide belt, with a long jacket over it. A large pair of sunglasses covered her eyes. She looked elegant and had a presence about her.

Kyle lit a cigarette up, and a few minutes later they were downstairs, mingling and making small talk with their guests. Kyle was steered around most of the CEO's, having brief conversations about their plans and what was happening in the future while dodging questions about his own feelings about Danny Tripps and his own plans for the future.

Patricia seemed to be keeping him away from the celebrities in the room, focussing him more on the business guests, perhaps because he was better able to hold those particular conversations, while Heidi and Garius steered Katie and Kara from actor to musician to model.

Kyle finally got to meet Peter and Lakshmi, only for a moment, and he promised to catch up with them later.

All too soon though, Edwin appeared and got everyone's attention, asking them to join him for the ceremony. They all walked slowly along the path to the spot that Danny Tripps had selected for his resting place, and as they emerged into the clearing, Kyle felt Patricia slip her hand into his and squeeze it.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

"No, but I'll be fine," She replied, giving him a sad little smile.

There was no assigned seating, the chairs set in a half circle around the body of Danny Tripps. It was encased in a cocoon of palm fronds and flowers on a wooden stand before them. A small platform sat to either side, both with musical instruments on them. Patricia left his side and slipped into the second row of chairs with her colleagues and Kyle sat between his sisters in the front row.

He felt a little awkward that he was in the front row at a funeral for someone he didn't know, but he knew it was expected of him, of the three of them, and while they waited for everyone to settle in their seats, dozens of staff filed in behind them all.

Edwin was the first to speak, talking to them about Danny Tripps wishes to be buried here, surrounded by friends and those he loved the most, and thanking them for coming to honour him. Sting then got up and talked about the first time he met Danny Tripps, then he and two musicians did an acoustic version of Danny's favourite song, An Englishman in New York.

Mister Crowler then stood and described his friendship, read a letter that Danny Tripps had written for the occasion that proved to be both witty and emotional and then Neil Finn spoke of a conversation he'd had with Danny Tripps one night about the song Don't Dream It's Over, and how subsequently Crowded House had covered it to great success. He followed that up by playing it, a slow, haunting rendition that seemed to hang in the air.

Kyle felt Patricia touch his shoulder and she whispered in his ear, "You're up. Take your time."

He stood, aware that everyone was watching him, this first real test of any of Danny Tripps triplets that had appeared out of nowhere to inherit the empire, and he walked up to the small podium.

Kyle inhaled deeply, feeling that now-familiar churning feeling in his stomach of nerves, stress, anxiety and he breathed out slowly, removed his cards and began to speak.

He'd re-written the speech in the form of a letter to Danny Tripps, giving it a much more personal feel, and he'd worded it so that what he would say sounded as if it came from the heart.

He spoke of how he and his sisters never got the chance to know the man, but how they were learning who he was from the people he'd surrounded himself with, in their attitiudes and the influence he'd had on them, and their memories of him they'd shared.

He spoke of the regret he had started to feel for never having met the man in person, and how he was only just beginning to understand how hard his decision must have been to give them up.

He went on to talk of the staggering achievements he had made in his life and then explained that the mans achievements weren't what he felt he should be remembered for, but who he was, the memories he left in the minds of the living of the things he'd done, and how it was important he was spoken of in honesty, the good and the bad, and that way he wouldn't be remembered as a list of businesses, but as a person.

Kyle finished off with a promise to continue to get to know who the man was, not just what he left behind, and reminded those present of their duty, as friends and family of Danny Tripps, to keep him alive in the tales they told, the memories they shared. That those memories should be his true legacy.

Kyle turned back to his chair and was surprised to see Katie with tears running down her face, Patricia and Heidi the same seated behind him. Even Kara looked a little pale, and as he scanned around, he could see several of the guests were the same.

"Did I do that?" He wondered as he sat back down. He knew that what he said wasn't how he felt, because he was honestly confused about he felt about Danny Tripps. In some ways he wanted to know who he was, but in others he was angry at the man who had abandoned him, and denied him the opportunity of growing up with his sisters.

Katie immediately took his hand, squeezed it and let it go again, while behind him, Patricia leaned forward over his shoulder and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"You did good, Kyle," She whispered, and kissed him softly once more.

Kyle just nodded stiffly, not sure what to say and genuinely surprised at the reaction he'd caused. That was soon forgotten about as Pink then got up to the stage with one of her band and sung a beautiful rendition of Glitter In The Air, accompanied on the piano. Once she'd sung the song, she told them a story about how she'd visited the island once and sung the song with Danny Tripps, sitting with their feet in the pool as the sun set, and it was how she'd always remember him.