by Celine Yorke
"We have to sneak up on them and take them down one by one." Chan told them. They twisted their necks. Tom was not able to do that, but used the techniques Chan had taught him to immobilize them. They were so close to the 'Jungle Retreat,' they could see it between the trees. To their surprise, they saw a lot of official-looking men in uniforms hiding behind the trees. This made them stop in their tracks.
Chan alerted everyone to stay back and watch. It was pretty clear there was going to be a raid on the 'Jungle Retreat,' and they didn't want to be in the middle of the fire fight. Tom and Chan hid in the underbrush. Behind a tree, Tom saw a man in civilian clothes, whom he recognized.
"That's my friend Jim," he whispered to Chan. "He might be looking for me. I'll have to get hold of him before something happens to him."
"Leave it to me," Chan said. He climbed a tree and jumped over to another tree with ease, he then jumped down close to where Jim was hiding. He poked his knife into Jim's back and put his hand over Jim's mouth. He whispered in his ear, "Don't say a word. I'm your friend."
Jim stiffened out of fear. Chan dragged him back to Tom. Chan was still holding his hand over Jim's mouth so he couldn't say a word. Tom climbed a tree, his bow and arrow covering Chan and Jim defensively. A couple of men came out from the bushes and pointed a gun at Chan. Tom fired, his arrows landing in their chests and wedging between their ribs. They went down on their knees and dropped to the ground. Tom climbed down from the tree and headed over to Jim. His eyes were as big as saucers when he saw Tom. Chan removed his hand from Jim's mouth, and Tom put a finger up to his lips.
"Shh." Tom gave Jim a big hug. They both held back their tears. Jim stepped back and put his hands on Tom's shoulders, looking at him.
"Tom, fucking hell! I never thought I'd see you again. I was just going to give it this one last chance. I can hardly recognize you with your long hair and beard. What the hell are you wearing, a pelt?" Jim whispered as he hugged Tom again. He shook his head. The other jaguars sensed the action ready to take place and came over to Chan and Tom. Jim's body went stiff with fear when he saw the jaguars come sneaking up to them.
"We better pull back a bit so we are out of the fighting zone," Chan said and they all walked further back into the jungle.
"Don't worry, Jim, Chan and the jaguars are my friends. They won't hurt you."
"Are you sure?" Jim puts his hands up in front of him; his eyes still wide.
"Yes, I am," Tom assured him.
They heard the sound of helicopters flying over the house and saw the agents running towards the house. Gunfire and screaming punctuated the air. Some of the people in the house tried to escape into the jungle, but the jaguars created a circle to block anyone from trying to escape. When they saw the jaguars, they turned around and ran back into the arms of the agents. They handcuffed them all and put them into the back of the truck. The agents were everywhere, no one could escape them. Tom, Jim, and Chan watched, wide-eyed.
Jim turned back to Tom, hardly able to believe his eyes. "So what happened to you? Where have you been?"
"I'll tell you the whole story later when everything here is blown over. It's a long story."
Tom said goodbye to Chan and the pack of jaguars and thanked them for all their help. Romina shifted into her human form and threw her arms around Tom's neck, clinging to him, and tears running down her face. Jim took a step back, his eyebrows rising into his hairline as he watched her shift. "Sonofabitch! What just happened? I don't believe what I saw!" Ignoring Jim, Chan parted Romina from Tom gently. She immediately stepped back out of respect for the alpha. Tom held her hand. "I won't forget you, but I have to go." She nodded tearfully and stepped back. He felt a pang, but pushed it aside. Still, civilization meant Serena, and his heart pounded at the thought of seeing Serena again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next fashion show was in a week, and everyone in the workroom was busy getting the dresses and outfits ready. Serena's creations were ready and looking fantastic, dresses and sweaters with sleek, funky lines. She couldn't wait to model them in front of everyone, but barely had time to enjoy it. Everything was hectic as usual in the workroom on the first day of the show. Lots of other up-and-coming independent designers had shown up.
Francine burst into the models' room, glowing with excitement. "Serena, Jock Lassalle is in the audience. If he likes your designs, he'll contact you. Then you're sure to have made a name for yourself!"
"That sounds wonderful, let's hope he likes them," Serena said as she got the next dress on. She tried to keep her cool for the catwalk. The show went well. Several designers and factories decided to pick up Serena's designs. Jock Lassalle's presence at the fashion parade helped put a seal of approval on them, but they were still waiting to hear from him. Then, one day, a phone call came.
Francine came into the workroom calling out, "Serena, there's a phone call for you. Jock Lassalle's secretary wants to make an appointment for you to see him." Everyone in the workroom was excited for Serena and shouted, "Yeah! Go, Serena, go!"
"Oh my God!" Serena cried. She ran into the office to answer the phone. "Hello, this is Serena."
"Hello Serena, this is Michelle. I'm Jock Lassalle's secretary. We would like you to come for an interview. Would tomorrow at two p.m. suit you?"
"Yes, thank you, Michelle."
"Good, we'll be expecting you tomorrow." Serena hung up the phone and turned to Francine. "Oh my God, they want me to come for an interview tomorrow. I can't believe this! I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming."
"Fantastic! Congratulations, girl!" When she got back to the work room, everyone was cheering for her. "We look forward to seeing some of your designs in the future," Isabella told her. The strain in her eyes undercut the smile a little. Serena wondered if she was jealous, but as Isabella's grin softened, she stopped worrying.
The next day, Serena turned up for the interview in a white blouse and a stylish cherry-colored skirt with a matching jacket. She looked every bit the stunning model she was. Jock Lassalle's fashion house was situated right down by the river Seine. The first thing her eyes met as she entered the foyer was a line of awards. The secretary was a nice, smiling middle-aged lady with a slim figure. She was dressed in a fashionable bottle-green outfit that went well with her strawberry-colored hair.
She introduced herself. "Hello, I'm Michelle Damon. You must be Serena Carlson?"
"Hello, yes I'm Serena," Serena said, trembling.
"Jock Lassalle is expecting you. I'll show you right in." She opened the door into his office.
A soft light sand-colored carpet, black chairs, and a peach-toned desk gave it a muted, elegant look. A large, comfortable black leather sofa was placed against the wall. A dramatic group shot of some models from one of his last shows hung above the sofa. A large, colorful picture of several fashionable models was hanging above the couch. On the wall behind Jock Lassalle was a big sign with his name lit up in bright neon light. A set of glass doors on the other wall opened up to a big balcony with a view over the river Seine. Serena couldn't help herself thinking this was indeed a top spot. Jock Lassalle got up from his chair to shake hands with her.
"Hello, Serena, please sit down." He pointed to a chair at the desk opposite him. He was a very charming man in his late fifties. His hair was dark, with streaks of silver, and he was dressed in a loose-hanging black top made of a soft wool blend and gray slacks.
"I see you brought your portfolio. Can I have a look, please?"
"Yes you can." Serena handed the portfolio to him. Jock Lassalle looked through the portfolio with great interest. "You have created some interesting and very appealing styles in here. Exactly what I'm looking for, fresh, new ideas. I was impressed with some of the styles you modeled the other day."
"Thank you."
"What are you aiming for? What is your ambition? Have you got a goal?" Jock asked her.
"Yes, I always wanted to become a successful fashion designer," Serena answered.
> "If I offered you a position in my company, you will have to be prepared to learn. I will teach you about designs, what works and what doesn't. I will teach you to put colors together to get the right look. I will train you to create garments and dresses that women would die to wear, so to speak. So in time, you would be able to create beautiful dresses that women would pay a lot of money for and you will make a name for yourself. You have talent, but you need the skills to go with it. You'll never have to look back. Your future will be secure," Jock said with a smile.
"WOW." She was speechless.
"Of course, you will have to think my offer over. It's a big commitment. But I promise you, it will be well worth it. Go home and think about it for a few days. If you decide you want to come and learn from me, then you can start as soon as you're ready."
"Thank you," she said, standing up. "I'll let you know what I decide." She walked out the door with a spring in her step, overwhelmed beyond belief.
Serena wanted to go straight over to Francine and tell her the good news, but realized that she'd better go home and be by herself to think everything through. As soon as she got home, she made a pot of tea and sat in the living room to think about her life and her future. So much had happened in her life lately. The situation with her and Philippe had made her so worried.
But this opportunity Jock Lassalle has offered me is what I always wanted. I've let myself get sidetracked by two men that I adored, and put my goal in the background. I now have a chance to take back my own life and go for my dream goal.
As long as Serena could remember, she had always wanted to become a fashion designer. However, she had to admit to herself that the distraction and losing sight of her career goals had been her own fault. She had been willing to be carried away with the glamour of Philippe's lifestyle, and had even let go of her dream to marry Tom and go to the US with him.
As she was sitting there, taking stock of her life and what had been happening to her, she woke up and saw how gullible she had been. It was now time for her to take charge of her own future and work towards her own goal. She had been sidetracked long enough. It felt good to have come to that realization. Now it was her turn to shine. She was now going to take steps toward educating herself. Jock Lassalle had offered to teach her to become a successful fashion designer. That was a fantastic opportunity for her, and she was not going to let anything get in her way this time.
The next day, she called Michelle Damon. "Hello Michelle, this is Serena. I would like to make an appointment to talk with Jock Lassalle."
"Hello Serena. He'll be happy to hear from you. Can you come in this afternoon at two p.m.?"
"Yes, that will be great." Serena felt relieved he was able to see her so soon.
Serena felt good about herself. Now she was focusing on where she wanted to go, and that was what she was going to concentrate on from now on. She walked into Jock Lassalle's foyer, feeling confident, and smiled when she saw Michelle.
"Hello Michelle."
"Hello Serena, I'm happy you're back here again. I hope we'll see a lot more of you."
"So do I. Let's hope I can live up to what is expected of me."
"Jock Lassalle is expecting you. I'll let you right in." Michelle took her down the hall to his office. He got up from his chair as soon as he saw her coming through the door. "I'm so glad to see you. I guess this means you have accepted my offer?" he asked. He warmly shook her hand and gestured her to sit down.
"Yes, thank you. I have. I feel very excited about your offer, and so lucky to get an opportunity like this."
"Good. It should be fun. There is of course also hard work involved, but I am looking forward working with you and teaching you as much as I can. You have a great future ahead of you. When will be a good time for you to start, Serena?"
"I think I will have to give Francine a week's notice. As soon as I'm finished there, I can start here."
"Give Michelle a call, she'll sort out all the details with you. I hope you'll enjoy working here."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to working with you, too." Serena went straight over to talk to Francine to tell her the good news. She was in her office. "Hello Serena, how did the interview go?"
Serena had a big smile on her face, "Good. Jock Lassalle took me on as his apprentice, and I can start as soon as I've given notice here."
"Congratulations, Serena, you should be proud of yourself. Jock Lassalle is very choosy."
"Yes, I feel so lucky. I hope I can live up to his expectations."
"I don't think that'll be a problem for you. I'm sure you'll do just fine. But I'll miss you. I've enjoyed having you here on my team and following your journey so far."
"Thank you for the nice words, Francine. I've enjoyed working here too, and I've been grateful for all your help and good advice. I'll come and visit you now and again and let you know how I'm doing." They hugged joyfully.
Violet had been away with a friend for a few days, so she hadn't heard about the good news yet. "I'm so happy for you. I have a feeling you're on the right track now," Violet said.
"The experience Philippe and I had with the pirates shook me up. It has been such a wake-up call for me. It is like I've been pointed in the right direction now. I was ready to give up everything again for another man. But now I'm going to focus on reaching my goal and put that before everything else."
"Good, Serena. I'm proud of the way you're able to bounce back from a negative experience."
"Thank you, Violet. You've been such a good friend to me. But enough about me. How was your little get-away trip with your friend, did you enjoy yourself?"
"Yeah, we had a fabulous time. The beach house we rented was nice, and we did a lot of walking on the beach and relaxed. We went for a few meals in the little fishing villages nearby and bought fresh fish from the fishermen. It was a great little holiday." Violet looked refreshed and happy. Serena smiled faintly as Violet chattered on, but her mind drifted back to Philippe. She hadn't heard from him in ages.
CHAPTER NINE
"You better follow me, or they'll think you are one of the crooks," Jim said to Tom. They made their way back to the edge of the jungle, where Franco was stationed.
"Meet my friend Tom," Jim said to Franco.
"Oh, there you are, you had me worried. Where were you? Tom? Hello, Tom, where did you find him?" Franco looked surprised.
"Tom found me. They ambushed me and scared the hell out of me," Jim said as he shook his head. "I haven't got Tom's story yet, so don't start asking questions. Tom will tell us all about it later." Franco nodded and looked at Tom. "It's good to see you're still alive. You've had everyone worried, but most of all, your best friend here, Jim, who refused to believe you were dead." Tom put his arm around Jim's shoulders. He had forgotten how small and skinny Jim was. The three of them went over to Victor, the commander, to report that they had found Tom. He looked Tom up and down with a bit of a smile. He stuck his hand out to shake.
"Hello, Tom, I'm so happy to meet you. We thought maybe you were dead. And here you are alive and looking well!" Tom shook his hand. "Good to see you all here."
"This is top secret, and we have to keep the media out of it. We have a lot of investigating to do yet, and if anything slips out to the press, it will spoil our chances of nailing the real big boys. So I'm afraid you'll have to lay low for the time being, Tom. You can't contact any of your family and friends until we give you the okay. We'll put you and Jim up in a place where you will be safe," Victor said.
"I can't call my family? I've been looking forward to call them and tell them I'm alive, that's a bit tough."
"Yeah, I know. But it is also for your own protection. There will be a court case. You were kidnapped and we need you to be one of the witnesses."
"But what about my friends, the shifters do you have to involve them too? Can't you just leave them out of it, they had nothing to do with Carlos Fontana. They live deep in the jungle and they are peaceful people."
"We will do
all we can to protect them." Victor said.
"We will meet you back in camp as soon as we are finished here. We still have a few loose ends to tie up."
The three of them started to walk towards the camp. Tom, who was used to being on the alert in the jungle, kept his eyes open for any threats. He still had his bow and arrows over his shoulders, he wasn't ready to let go of them yet.
Up ahead he saw some movement in the bushes. He alerted Jim and Franco to take cover while he climbed up a nearby tree to get a better look at the surroundings. He spotted a big cat and called out to them to join him up in the tree. They were quick to respond, and with a bit of effort, they got up next to Tom.
"There is a big cat up ahead, and pretty soon he will be able to smell us. We have to sit tight until it leaves. Can you see him up there in the bushes near the road?"
"Oh yes... fuck, he's a hell of a big cat," Franco whispered.
The cat picked up their scent and slowly wandered up towards them. In a firm and precise movement, Tom knocked an arrow. The beast came closer, excited. His long tail swept the ground, preparing for an attack.
"Come a little closer, cat and you're dead meat," Tom growled.
Tom got his bow up and aimed straight for the cat. Just as it was about to jump, he shot the arrow right in its neck. It fell over and lay there motionless. The three of them sat there silent for a while, looking at the big cat on the ground. It was a beautiful animal, but if Tom hadn't shot him, the cat would have had them for lunch. Jim and Franco were shaken, but grateful.
"That was amazing! How did you learn to do that?" Jim asked in awe.
"Chan, the guy who saved me, taught me how to survive in the jungle," Tom said matter-of-factually. "I think it'll be safe to climb down from the tree now."