Juliann

Chapter 1

Martin Hartman worked feverishly all night long to meet his noon deadline. He had been given the responsibility to tear down this old and abused suspension system and replace it. The newer model system was so technically advanced that he was having difficulty modeling it to fit this custom Maserati.

The early dawn had brought a visitor to his silent garage. Martin lay deep underneath the expensive import when he noticed something largely out of place.

A brilliantly red set of shiny leather high heels stood only feet away from his working space. He had never seen such beautiful pumps in his entire life.

"Mr. Hartman?" a sensuous voice called from above.

"Present…Well presently below." He murmured from under the custom import. "How may I help you Miss?"

"Are you the Martin Hartman of JJ & Martin and Associates?" She continued.

"One in the same Ma'am?" He called back as he loosened a rubber fitting. "Is there something I can help you with? I have a deadline that needs to be met and even though I would love to see when those legs end up. I have no time."

"My name is Adrianne, Adrianne Margeaux. I have a business proposition for you. One that you would be a fool to decline." Adrienne offered.

"I know your type of business Miss Margeaux but as you can see I am very busy. Come back at another time and wear those pumps again. They will definitely garner attention." Martin chuckled as he pulled up a dirty aluminum tray to catch some lubricant run off.

"Mr. Hartman," Adrianne became flustered. "I am not in that business. I work for a company named Knight Reconstructions. I am in the middle of a Goliath project that needs your expertise. You are the best in the business and come highly recommended."

"As you can see, I am deep within my current project, Miss Margeaux. I do not have a need to start a new one. But thanks anyway." Martin called out from underneath the expensive import.

"No Mr. Hartman, you have failed to understand the gravity of the offer I am bestowing upon you. Knight Reconstructions is not some slum run-of-the-mill repair shop. We are a very reputable and lucrative business. We have much to offer you." Adrianne responded.

"There is not much that you can offer me that I do not already have provided right here. I want for practically nothing here. At any time, I have funds, vacation, and I have only my brothers to worry about as bosses. So as you can see, I am uninterested but thanks anyway." Martin finished as he re-lubricated the boot.

Adrianne did not ever accept 'no' as an answer and today would not be the first. With no effort at all, she reached down and yanked the red rolling cart that Martin was laid out on. It moved so easily and fast that it pulled him clear of the Maserati by feet.

Stunned by the unprovoked attack, Martin leapt up from his sprawled out position and faced off with his attacker. "Why did you do that?"

"You were not taking my offer seriously. This is the best opportunity of your very life and you think I am playing a game. Well, I am not. I am serious. I am offering you a monthly salary in the six figure range as well as lodging, food, and child care. You have a child, right? We will see to her every need. How can you turn down this offer?" She proposed straight into his face.

"I do have a daughter, Rebecca. However, she has nothing to do with this. And you ask about how I can turn down your offer. I turn it down like this." Then Martin laid back down on his red roller and slid back underneath the expensive sports car.

"Mr. Hartman, I can see that you are busy. So, I will let you consider my offer. I will return in 2 days for a final decision. But, until then, here is my card and a description of what I have to offer you. Think about it and remember this is a lifetime offer you won't soon regret." Adrianne proposed as she slid a neatly folded paper under the windshield wiper of the blue Maserati. She then turned quickly on her expensive red high heels and strolled out of Martin's garage.

Martin harrumphed as he listened to her clicking heels as she left. He couldn't believe her straightforwardness. Maybe he would look into it. Maybe.

That evening, Martin and his 16 year old daughter, Rebecca, sat down to a chef's prepared meal. He had finished the suspension work well within the deadline, well about 2 hours ahead of the deadline, and he wanted to celebrate. "Becky, would you mind going out with me to the movies?"

"I did have plans with Jackie tonight but they can wait until tomorrow night. Why the sudden urge to want to hang out with me?" She asked as she shoveled a heaping spoonful of Manicotti into her perfectly colored mouth.

"I just finished with the Resortmen account and want to celebrate with my beautiful daughter. Is that so bad?" Martin asked with devilish eyes.

"I guess not. So, do you have another project in the works or are you off now for a bit. Can we go back to the Lake Tahoe cabin for a couple of weeks?" Becky loved the wooden Lake Tahoe cabin. It was not too big and not too small and it was modernized with all the comforts of home. Plus, it has the most glorious view of the pristine lake and the pine tree covered mountainside.

"Well, I currently don't have any plans for the next couple of weeks. However, I did get an interesting offer from a very beautiful lady, but I turned her down. So, yeah that sounds great." He added with excitement.

"Offer Daddy? What kind of offer?" Becky was now fully interested in who and what this lady was.

"Oh, it was a new job offer. She wanted me to work for some business called, Knight Reconstruction. I've never heard of them but she offered me everything but the moon to join." He chuckled.

"Was she serious, Daddy? Maybe we ought to consider it. You know how Uncle John has been treating you lately. Maybe you ought to try it?" Becky considered out loud.

"I know that it would be nice to give John a good scare by leaving the business, Becky. But I couldn't do that to him. He's my brother after all." Martin sentimentally answered. "I love him."

"And what has he done for you, Dad? Huh? Other than invite you to work for him and take orders from him all day long?" Rebecca asked in a very accusing tone. "I mean, even when Mom died all he did was give you a card. Maybe it's time to show him how important you are."

"Wow Sweetheart, you really want me to do this and you don't even know anything about it. For all you know, this change in lifestyle could make us impoverished and you still want to do this?"

"No Dad, that's not what I said." Rebecca defended. "What I meant was, consider it. And the reason why I liked it without knowing too much about it was because I know you Dad. You would never have even mentioned it unless it was a good idea. So if it was that good, let's try it." Becky announced with a little excitement.

"I'm glad, Becky, that you have such a strong faith in me. But, what if I am wrong? What if John or Jacob decides not to rehire me? What if all of this ends up in us being poor and homeless?" Martin worried out loud.

"Dad, you know very well that Uncle John will miss you. Plus, you know that you have a talent. Or else, why would that lady want you so bad?" Rebecca asked as a reassurance.

"Before we go putting the cart before the horse, I think that we ought to sit down with this Miss Margeaux to straighten out the terms of my employment. I am not going anywhere where I can't take you. I know that you are nearly an adult Sweetheart, but I still want you here with me, you understand?" He hoped. It was hard coming to the realization that his little girl was turning into a beautiful young woman. And, he was definitely not leaving his little girl alone.

"Awww thanks Dad but you don't have to worry about me. I wasn't planning on staying behind if you left." She reassured her Dad as she held his rough hand tenderly.

Later that evening, Martin Hartman made the phone call that would change the lives of both his daughter and himself forever.