Clarissa’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, and sighed. Shit. It was Henry Boycott. He was probably going to sue, and she didn’t have the time nor the patience for this battle.
Davenport had run with Boycott’s interview, and he had put the ‘poor little rich boy who’s still a virgin’ slant on it. Boycott was not going to be impressed; he was rabidly private and tight-lipped about his personal affairs, the man lived on an island for God’s sakes.
She had already emailed Alexander, asking him to forward her the details to the Tribune’s legal team. And Davenport had another thing coming if he thought that she was going to deal with the fallout of his damn histrionics.
She pursed her lips and swiped her thumb across the screen of her phone. “Hello Henry,” she answered tentatively.
“Clarissa, how are you doing?” he asked, his voice tinny and unclear. She could hear reggae music in the background, and a female voice shouted and laughed hysterically in the background.
“Look Henry, I’m truly sorry about the article that the Tribune ran, if its any consolation, I had nothing to do with...,” she rambled before he interrupted her.
“What are you talking about?” he laughed. “This is probably the second best thing that’s ever happened to me, after selling my company.”
Clarissa hesitated. “I don’t understand...,”
He laughed. He sounded inebriated. “All the hot chicks think I’m a rich bachelor, and still a virgin. They’re practical beating down my door to meet me.”
“Okay...?,” she answered unsure.
“Yesterday, three girls beached on my island with a Catamaran, searching for the eligible bachelor, Mister Henry Boycott,” he said with a chuckle. “Can you believe that?”
Now she definitely knew he was drunk. “Well, I’m glad for you.”
“And guess what?” Henry whispered conspiratorially.
“What?”
“I had a menage.”
“Like a threesome?”
“Yep,” Henry gloated, then burped. ”But I like the other girl the most. She’s a virgin as well.”
“Okay, then.”
He went silent for a while and Clarissa could hear glasses clink and someone splash into a pool. “Look Clarissa, I just phoned to say thank you for the stuff you taught me,” he said softly.
“That’s a pleasure.”
“And if you ever needed some specialized computer skills, I’m at your service.”
“Okay, great. I’ll remember that.”
“Okay, good bye then. Pop around any time,” he said with a laugh and hung up.
Clarissa removed the phone from her ear, staring at it, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
She punched in a number and waited for the answer. “Well, hello Miss Craig.”
“Davenport, I have just received a call from Henry Boycott.”
“Aha, and I bet you he was pleased about the article.”
Clarissa nodded. “Yes, how did you know?”
Davenport chuckled. “Look Clarissa, I’ll never do anything to harm you or your reputation, I promise you that.”
She snorted. “I don’t believe you.”
He chuckled. “Meet me for dinner tonight.”
What a prick. “No,” she said and disconnected the call.