With that, the message ended.
*****
On the eve of the scheduled golf tournament, an important meeting was being held in the conference room of Arrington Woodlands. Cace Arrington sat at the center of the table, but he would not be chairing this meeting. In a few minutes, the board of directors would be voting to decide his fate, whether he should be replaced as CEO by Sean Cohen.
***
Outside, in the cool evening air, Skye was running across the back of the hotel building. Her feet pounding against the cold, grey paving stones, she clutched tightly to the bundle of evidence she’d compiled over the last two weeks. Dee, the doorman, had once again ‘turned a blind eye’ to her coming on the estate, and Skye had decided to go across the back of the building to avoid any staff inside the hotel, preventing her from getting beyond the lobby.
As she turned a corner, she realized there would be a problem. Standing in front of the back entrance of the hotel was Petra, a bag of golf clubs strapped across her shoulder.
“It’s over!” cried Skye. “I’ve worked out everything that you’ve been plotting with Margo. I have all the evidence!”
Petra seemed prepared as though Margo had called her, worried when Skye failed to turn up to the diner.
“Are you really going to turn in your own aunt?” Petra demanded, defiant.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to clear Cace’s name!” Skye stated.
The two women stood facing one another, neither one budging, their hair blowing wildly in the wind.
“Not if I can help it...”
And with that, Petra pulled out a golf club and swung it directly at Skye. Skye dove for cover, avoiding its impact as Petra’s swing sent it crashing into a paving stone, sending tiny pieces of shattered stone up into the air.
The impact caused Petra to jolt forward, scattering golf clubs across the paving. Skye managed to grab hold of one, and quickly thrust it up it to deflect another powerful swing from Petra.
Skye stumbled back a few steps as Petra carried on moving toward her. Petra changed her swing, coming up from under, nearly making contact with Skye’s abdomen.
Crunch! Petra gave her golf club another powerful downward swing, missing Skye by an inch, and causing the nearby paving to splinter up. Petra didn’t lose any more time. She rammed the golf club forward, poking Skye backwards, and causing her to fall backwards onto the hard ground. Skye lost hold of the golf club she’d been holding, and saw it fall out of reach.
Feeling a sudden vulnerability at that moment, Skye remembered the little life inside of her that she was now responsible for safeguarding.
No-one’s gonna hurt my baby, thought Skye.
Summoning all her energy, Skye rolled to her side as Petra swung her club again. Skye grabbed the golf club she’d dropped. In one solid swing, Skye hit Petra to the ground.
There was a moment of silence…then a murmur. Petra was down but she was not out of the fight.
As Petra clambered to get back to her feet, Skye wondered how she would ever get her evidence to Cace. It was then she saw Alejandro. Coming from the back entrance of the hotel, he ran over. As Petra got to her knees, Alejandro grabbed her and restrained her on the ground.
“Skye! You were right. They’re having a meeting to replace Cace with Sean Cohen. Go to the conference room now!”
As Alejandro kept a firm grip on Petra, who screamed out angrily, Skye gave him a grateful smile then raced on to the conference room.
***
Skye sprung into the conference room as the second vote had been cast. Cace looked stunned and jumped to his feet.
“Skye!”
Skye flung her bundle of evidence on the conference table.
“Before you make any decision,” she said, addressing the board of directors, “I think you need to know a few things. Isn’t that right, Sean?”
There were confused murmurs around the table as slowly…one by one…the board members started to pick at and examine the evidence Skye had placed on the table.
As Cace came to understand what Skye was showing them, he turned to face her. He didn’t care if there was an audience. He leaned in and kissed her, long and passionately.
*****
“I’m sure you’ll be throwing me under the bus to the police,” Margo said, as she sat across the table from Skye in the bar of Arrington Woodlands. Her eyes downcast.
“I told the police what I knew. Nothing more, nothing less,” said Skye, “Unlike some people, I don’t find it easy to hurt the people closest to me.”
Skye meant that. As she looked over at the aunt that had been like a mother to her, she found it hard to hate her. The woman who had always been a pillar of strength to Skye had now crumbled. It was sad to see her so weak and powerless.
“It will depend on how much your friends, Petra and Sean want to set the record straight,” Skye reminded Margo, not enjoying the reversal of roles.
“Cace had such madcap business ideas. Sean was going to bring stability to the company. Create good, solid contracts,” Margo started to explain.
“You mean protect your business?” Skye questioned.
Margo dropped her head, ashamed. Skye ignored Margo justifying her actions, and asked, “Why did you lie to me about Cace?”
“It was not going to be forever. We had worked months to get Sean in a position to replace Cace. Petra felt you were getting in the way of things…we couldn’t take the risk. I really didn’t know the full extent of what Petra was doing…” Margo stammered. Her voice trailed off as if even she saw the feebleness in what she was saying.
“Things can get in the way of good judgement sometimes,” Skye said, echoing Margo’s own words. With that, Skye stood up and stood tall. She had lost her job, lost her aunt, and was now pregnant…the future was uncertain. But it was time to face all of that head on.
*****
Skye stepped tentatively out the vehicle, and observed the signs with balloons pointing towards the venue up ahead. She scanned the other people making their way in the same direction, seeing if she could recognize any of the faces. Just a few months ago, she’d been certain she’d never attend this gathering. Just a few months ago, she’d thought a lot of things that had changed, she realized.
Cace had wanted them to arrive by limo but Skye had passed up on that idea. She had never been a person overly enthralled by great wealth. It would have been over-the-top. As a compromise, Cace had insisted on having a dress made for her by one the world’s most sought-after fashion designers.
Standing now in the ravishing dress, that served a dual purpose as a maternity-dress and a head-turner, Skye felt like a million dollars. She then had the uncomfortable realization that at that exact moment, she was worth more than a million dollars–allowing for the dress and the ring alone.
Cace joined her, and put his strong arm around her waist. She craved his touch. It was that, which was the most welcome change in her life, Skye thought. He made her feel safe. He made her feel secure. Something she’d never experienced as a child.
She also felt proud to be able to say tonight that she was now the head of her own recruitment company. Cace had been adamant that she had potential, and she’d certainly demonstrated an uncanny ability for working people out. So he’d helped her set up a recruitment company, and then given her the very first contract, to provide staff to Arrington Woodlands. The idea of going into business was terrifying for Skye. But after all that had happened, she’d decided she’d give herself more credit in terms of what she was capable of.
Skye looked over at Cace, taking in his gorgeous face. She wanted to do ‘naughty’ things with him right then. For now, that would have to wait, they had a school reunion to go to. Taking Cace by the hand, Skye took a deep breath, and strode out ahead. Into the unknown, into the future, and into their lives together.
THE END
Bonus Story 35 of 40
Saved By A SEAL Next Door
Blossom Talon
&n
bsp; Blossom Talon finished her usual five mile run around the park and slowed to a stop near the water fountain. She paced with her hands on her hips taking deep breaths and turning to catch the light breeze coming across the park.
She was wearing blue sweats that always ended up making her too warm. The reason she covered up with such loose clothes was because her neighbors found her sexier figure offensive when she wore skimpier clothes; at least according to her friend Lisa.
“Navy wives are pretty conservative, Blossom,” Lisa had said. “They consider it lewd behavior for a widowed wife to be, uh, flaunting her body in a half top and shorts while jogging. I know, it does not make a lot of sense, but it might make it easier to get along with the neighbors if you wear your sweat suit while you jog,” Lisa had told her.
True enough, after changing to sweats people had become friendlier when she was out jogging or walking from the store. They actually began talking to her and smiling. She would never understand people, they were an alien concept to her. She had no control over her genes and how she was shaped and she did not see how trying to stay healthy was a cause for other people’s concern.
She got her breathing back and took a few sips of water from the water fountain. It was cold and just what she needed. She paced a few more times and did some cool down stretches. She wondered again about her life and what she was going to do with it.
She was a twenty four year old widow living in a naval community outside of Annapolis Maryland. At eighteen she had married her high school sweetheart, mostly because it was expected of her. He was in the Navy and with the help of her inheritance they had bought a house. Shortly after that, he got shipped overseas to Afghanistan. He was there for a short time and was killed in an attack that took place in the Hindu Kush. So before she was nineteen years of age she was a widow.
It became worse because she was also pregnant. A month after she received news of his death, she had a miscarriage. It had been a horrendous time and she had retreated into herself to deal with it. The deaths of first her young husband and then her baby in such short succession had been a one-two punch that had almost taken her down. She pulled through though and had since been living her life rebuilding herself from the inside out.
She had recently begun to feel restless and lonely. She wanted a partner but was not sure how to go about it. Especially in this more uptight neighborhood where everyone watched everyone else because they had nothing better to do.
Blossom knew it was unfair to blame the women in the neighborhood. Most of their men were overseas and they were constantly looking for something to occupy themselves from the fact that any of them could get a visit from two Navy officers in a car, telling them their husband had died.
It had happened two weeks earlier four doors down from her house. She had gone out to get her mail and seen the official car pull up in front of Mrs. Lansbury’s home and she knew what it was about. Other soldiers’ wives had come out because they had seen the car too and within an hour they were consoling the devastated woman. Blossom had heard that she was going to move back to her parents in the mid-west.
Blossom often wondered if she should sell the house and pick up stakes. Except she did love her little house and her few friends. So she had not settled on the idea as a firm option yet. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts. She knew when the time was right, her future would unfold as she needed it too. She just hated waiting.
She began walking home and watched some young teenagers harassing a few younger children at the swing set area. She had seen the punks around before and they were usually up to no good. The child on the swings started crying as the older ones started swinging her higher against her wishes. Blossom went over to stop them. As she got closer the punks saw her and two of the three stepped back, but the third kept pushing the swing causing the little girl to cry harder. The little girl’s friends were standing off to the side, frozen in fear, and she felt anger towards not just the bullies, but their parents.
“Leave her alone and get out of here,” she told them angrily.
“Who the hell are you?” one boy asked. His eyes were almost black, nothing but amusement in them. No fear or worry.
Blossom ignored his words and kept walking towards him. He backed up and she slowed the little girls swing and helped her out.
“It’s okay sweetheart. You are okay now. Why don’t you go stand with your friends and I will walk you all home, okay?” she asked, wiping some tears off of her face and smoothing the child’s pretty blond hair. The little girl shot a terrified glance at the punks and ran to her friends. The young ones were no more than eight years old. Blossom stood up and walked towards the teenagers. They must have been about fifteen years old. All three had shaved heads and were wearing higher end jeans and shirts. She noticed their sneakers were not cheap either. Just as she was about to reprimand the teens she heard someone cried out.
“Bella! Bella, are you ok, Bella?” Turning, Blossom saw a woman running down the street towards them; the little girl’s mother it seemed. She then notice an MP vehicle pulling over to the curb, having noticed something going on.
“On second thought, you three stay right here. Someone is going to want to talk to you,” said Blossom. The biggest of the three sneered at her, and the other two looked nervous.
“What is going on here?” asked the crisp-looking Military Policeman. Blossom explained what she had seen.
“Really, then you boys are going to have to learn a little respect. We don’t tolerate that sort of behavior in this neighborhood,” he told them sternly. At this point the little one’s mother came over. Her little girl, Bella had told her what happened and she laid into the boys.
“Your mother shouldn’t let you out of the house. Being mean to smaller children! What is wrong with you?” she said loudly.
She was furious and her eyes were wet. Understandable, Blossom thought, for a mother finding her child in the park crying. The end result was the MP took the older kids in his car with the aim of taking them home to their parents. As they drove away Bella’s mother turned to her.
“Thank you so much for standing up for my little one and her friends. I’m Kelly Rollins. I just live a block down and can see the park from my yard. They never have any problem. When I saw what was going on, I got here as fast as I could,” she said. She was obviously feeling horrible.
“No problem Kelly. I’m Blossom Talon. I think Bella and her friends are fine, they were just scared is all,” she told her. “She is a beautiful girl. Are they all yours?” she asked the woman to help her calm down.
“Oh gosh no. These other too are Missy and Rebecca. Their mother is at the store. They were playing here until she gets back. Just a usual day at the park until those young bullies showed up. Thank you again for helping out, I really appreciate it,” said Kelly.
“I am glad to help Kelly. It was no problem. I come by here every day. Have you lived in the neighborhood long?” Blossom asked.
“Not long. Just a month or so. My husband shipped out right after we moved in, so Bella and I are still adjusting. I never would have expected this sort of thing on base housing,” she said.
They chatted a little longer before they hugged with promises that if the other ever needed anything, to let them know. Blossom smelled bourbon on the woman’s breath and walking the rest of the way home tried not to blame her. Stuck alone in a strange place with a young daughter is hard to cope for many people. She herself had drunk after her twin tragedies. It had not lasted more than a week or so and she decided it wasn’t working for her.
As she neared her house, Blossom saw there was a moving truck at the house next to hers. That house had been empty for six months so it would be interesting to see who her new neighbors were.
Lisa came up the street, out on a walk.
Lisa was a short blond woman with a large chest and chunky elsewhere. She was a very happy person and had been the first person to befriend Blossom when she moved in. She had been instrumental
in helping Blossom cope after the two deaths.
Blossom and Lisa hugged and watched the movers. The furniture looked nice and the movers were efficient, unloading the truck swiftly.
“So, do you know who it is yet?” Lisa asked.
“Nope, I haven’t heard,” said Blossom.
“All I have heard was it is a naval officer. Maybe a SEAL, but I could be wrong about that,” Blossom laughed.
Lisa always knew what was going on. She just liked knowing things. Blossom was usually secure in the knowledge that if she needed some information about the neighborhood, Lisa would know it. So far she had not been let down. Because of that, she was sure the new neighbor was a Navy SEAL.
She joined her friend for coffee on her porch and they watched the movers finish up and then leave. They had not seen the Navy man yet, but Lisa was impressed with Blossom standing up to the park punks.
“It was not that big of a deal Lisa, really. I appreciate your applause and all but I barely did anything before the MPs got there. So how about an early dinner? I was thinking of firing up the barbecue. As hot as it’s been I don’t want to cook inside,” said Blossom. Lisa agreed. Her husband was at the base in California for three months for further training so she was alone.
“That would be great. If you have the meat, I will bring a salad and the beer. I will carry it in a Whole Food bag so no one knows we’re having fun,” she joked. Blossom laughed and went home chuckling.
She entered her home and took off her sweat jacket soon followed by her sweat pants. It was too hot out to wear clothes like that, she thought to herself sourly. As she went down the hall to take a shower she stopped in front of the long mirror on the wall at the end. She did not think she had anything to be ashamed of. Her red half-top covered her springy double-C breasts modestly and her shorts were snug red spandex, perfect for running. Her tummy was flat and she thought her curves were great. Taking her long strawberry blond hair out of the ponytail, Blossom sighed.
Two Wolves For Lizette Page 119