I smell a story!
George Collins, former investigative reporter of the London Dispatch tapped a few more keys on his laptop and sighed heavily in satisfaction.
I have a few more facts to check out, but if this all pans out, it will be the story of the century!
That little Sullivan upstart was not getting his job if he can help it. He intended to win his way back into Ryan James's graces. This could be a front page story.
Reviewing the Smallville High yearbook from Chloe's senior year on the school's website, he knew this picture of Chloe with the current Duke of Winchester is simply circumstantial. It only proved they knew each other about a decade ago. It was a picture of the two of them walking and talking together on the sidelines of the football field. She had a notebook and pen in her hand and appeared to be interviewing Jason Teague, assistant football coach according to the staff roster. Looks like the love of journalism infused her early.
Well he did the same thing in secondary school for his school newspaper, so he understood the journalistic bug.
What caused him to check into Chloe's history with the American Duke? It began when he was on a stakeout across the street from Teague Manor. The royal family was always hot news, and he was certain the Duke wasn't as pure and clean as the media made him out to be. No man in his late twenties is perfect. There had to be women somewhere in his past that could disclose something juicy, but he decided to just watch Mr. Too-Good-To-Be-True for a bit, see what popped up that he might write about.
And as luck would have it, something certainly popped up on the first night. Chloe herself, dressed in a little black number, and Jason answering the door to her instead of his butler. He hugged her in such familiarity, they just had to have a history. So he completed a facial recognition search of the internet, which turned out to be a mistake because he kept pulling up the Duke's fan-sites, articles from newspapers and gossip mags... He finally narrowed the search where the pictures have to have both Jason and Chloe on one photo and he stumbled onto Smallville High alumni website.
So this is where their paths first intersected. He tracked down where Jason moved from New York City to Paris France for a few months, and then instead of going to an ivy league college, he attended a small community college in Smallville and seemed to denounce his wealth for a short time, working a job of assistant football coach at Smallville High to support himself.
Then an epiphany hit him. A few weeks ago, while he still worked for the Dispatch, he chatted with Chloe, getting to know her a little. She actually had a very open and likeable personality. He noticed a picture of her and a boy, and he had picked it up, asking about it. She proudly told him that the boy is her son, his name is Joey Sullivan and he is eight years old and like her, still trying to get used to a different country, although he might be having a tougher time than she is. He didn't think much about that conversation until he peered at Jason through his binoculars when he hugged the blonde, and something in his gut told him this is more than likely the boy's father… they look so much alike that it just had to be.
George has a photographic memory and comparing the similarities in looks within his own mind of the picture of the boy vs The Duke of Winchester, AND finding that Chloe and Jason knew each other around the time the boy might have been conceived, thanks to the online high school yearbook… It is extremely possible that the Duke has a love child.
It's all speculation though and he will need proof. So how is he going to go about doing that? It's not like he can demand the Duke's DNA, he would be escorted from Teague International forthwith. For now, he will claim to write about Teague winning the bid to update the London School for the Deaf, take a supposed philanthropic spin on his article, and use that to get in for a face to face interview. Keep to the questions about the school specifically, what are his plans for the upgrading he claims he will do and maybe he can grab something, a used water bottle, a glass, half eaten food in the rubbish bin, anything with his DNA to get that ball rolling and find out the truth. Although Plan B would be to enter Teague International as one of the cleaning crew, and hopefully get to Jason's office and check his garbage.
He was pretty certain Ms. Sullivan would never just own up to stating who the father of her child is, especially with someone as high profile as Jason Teague. He had a feeling she had a pretty deep Mama Bear instinct to protect him from public speculation. Heck, he has kids of his own and he knew that protective instinct to shield your young.
Once he had the DNA collected from the Duke, unknowingly of course, the kid is next. Joey Sullivan, which now that he thinks of it, would combine the names of Jason and Chloe together, wouldn't it? And she gave the kid her last name, to protect his identity possibly? Yet another speculation, but it makes a weird kind of sense.
This part should be relatively easy... Chloe is out of town,which means her son will be staying with someone else, which means their tiny little apartment with deplorable security can be thoroughly investigated without them ever knowing. All he had to do was climb the fire escape to the second floor apartment, go in through a window. If he had to break the damn thing, he would gladly do it, then they'll just blame a burglar. Go in, find the boy's room, grab anything with DNA... toothbrush, or dirty clothing, or a hair brush... maybe a glass of water left behind... And he would be gone before anyone was the wiser.
Breaking and entering is not something he normally does, but he felt this was important enough to break this one little law. He must get his job back, and if his gut is right, not only will he work again for the London Dispatch, but his name will be infamous and he would surely get a raise too.
His sister-in-law works in CSI, as in a crime scene investigator scientist. She has the credentials to complete a DNA test for him. He has no intention of telling her the identities of the two males, just need the proof that they are indeed father and son, then he can submit his story to Ryan with all his research, get his job back, and he honestly doesn't care what happens to Chloe after that. Hell, it will probably help her. Force that usurper American to support his kid. He checked Teague's financials as well as Chloe's and that turned up a dead end. Nothing showing money-wise that she receives any kind of child support. Teague's financial records were way more complicated to sort through, and he was certain he didn't even get to all of his assets and accounts, but nothing was found to indicate anything remotely looking like child support payments.
Could be possible Teague doesn't know? Chloe hasn't been in England long. Could this be why she moved to England in the first place? With all this speculation, this could turn out to be an absolute dead end. But something in his gut tells him there's a story here, somewhere. And he intends to find out the answers to his questions sooner rather than later. He has to get his job back and support his family again, and Chloe can kiss at least one investigative reporting job goodbye.
The desperation he now has to provide for his family is paramount. He can't allow his wife to do it all on her own anymore. If this doesn't pan out, he is back to square one and all this time investigating would be for naught. But he had to at least try.
(The following morning - Teague International board room)
Jason just finished his PowerPoint presentation for the heads of each department that will be heavily involved in renovations of the deaf school. Looking over all faces for any reactions or body language, he used a remote to turn off the laptop and reaching out to the wall dimmer switch to turn the lights back to it's brightest setting.
He had worked on this presentation all night after leaving the club and got next to no sleep, yet he felt energized, for the moment anyway. The other people in the room were a different story. They were all required to show up at 7 AM to the large boardroom next to his office. And it looked like they were all fighting sleep.
Well he did make a round of calls around one in the morning, waking them all up to indicate when they needed to be at work and why. His own administrative assistant, Janet, appeared to fight the lull of slumber as she sipped her tea, trying to perk up. She had to show up an hour before everyone else, poor thing, to help him prepare his presentation.
Jason mentally decided he would give her some good news he has been holding back for a while. Later. Right now there's work to do.
"Everyone has their assignments… are there any questions?"
All was quiet as the entire room of about twenty people studied each other and no one said anything.
Jason clapped his hands together, causing everyone to jump involuntary. He grinned inwardly, as he rubbed his hands gleefully, ""Awesome! Let's make this happen!"
Everyone filed out slowly except himself and his administrative assistant. She was usually his shadow during the day and he had a lot of respect for her work ethic. She proved herself to be just as hard of a worker as he is, if not more so. Early fifties, widowed at a young age, never remarried, never had kids, and as far as he knew, she didn't even date. He happened to watch her as she wrote something down on a legal pad. Sometimes it concerned him that work seems to be her life. Which also made her a target for his teasing once in a while, simply because he enjoyed getting a rise out of her. There were moments that he could even make her blush, which was the highlight of his workday. That Ms. Prim and Proper could actually be ruffled. But under it all, they took care of each other. Making sure the other ate, or slept, or whatever was needed.
She was just as protective of him as a true mother would be, something he didn't get to have much of growing up because he got the twisted version. The arrangement they seemed to fall into worked for both of them. Janet never got to have children, he never had that true mother figure. So this maternal instinct of hers toward him, and his true desire deep within himself to have a "real mother", just made him appreciate her more and struggle to never take her for granted. He found he liked being fussed over a little, at least up to a point. There actually was a such a thing as "too much".
He lowered himself heavily into the chair at the head of the boardroom table and with a groan, laid his head down on his arms that were resting on the shiny wood top table, closing his eyes. Now that the adrenaline began to wear off, his stamina dropped to a very dangerous low.
"Damn it! I need coffee." He grumbled as he forced himself to raise his head, rub his bristled face and let out a big yawn.
That was Janet's usual cue to stand and walk over to a sideboard, picking up a coffee carafe and pouring a cup, "Don't you dare fall asleep while I pour this or I'll have to give you a kick in the arse to rouse you again. If I must stay awake, so do you."
Eyes still closed and his fist now supporting his head while his elbow rested on the table, he held a sleepy smile on his face as he mumbled, "Aw Janet… you know I'm your surrogate son right? You love me. Admit it. You'd never hurt me."
The sound she made sounded like "Pfft!", like she was blowing her bangs out of her eyes… but her neat chignon had no bangs. "Oh I would certainly do it if you needed it young man! Someone has to watch out for you. Or else you would run yourself into an early grave. I don't know why you insist on working so hard, Jason Teague." She turned, seeing him barely staying awake, she shook her head, "Come to think of it, I don't think you have ever taken a vacation since you started this business. I personally don't even recall a sick day..."
Sometimes it was so nice to hear his name instead of a title, especially from someone who cared. She may seem prickly to everyone else, which works well for him because she was amazing at keeping the wolves at bay, i.e. press, women, pushy employees, what have you But he felt he understood her, just like she seemed to get him. The two of them now have a familiarity to call each other by their first names. It took a lot of time and effort to finally get Janet to call him Jason. If he lived the rest of his life without hearing "Your Grace" after every damn sentence, he'd die a happy man.
He smelled the wonderful aroma of coffee right next to him. Cracking open one eye, then both when he realized Janet was standing by his chair with his favorite morning beverage fixed the way he liked it, black with two lumps of sugar. He took the cup from her and thanked her, enjoying the first fortifying sip.
She sat back down, took a sip of her own tea, then opened the cover of her tablet. Using a stylus pen, she began going over his calendar, "You have about two hours of free time. Maybe you can take a nap?" She raised a brow in question and he shook his head. She frowned at him, "Fine, you can use it to go to the gym or to simply work ahead a bit. Then you have to leave at ten AM for your monthly luncheon with King Henry X, which starts at 11 AM at his home."
"Oh my God, just shoot me now." He rolled his eyes and moaned. "My great uncle, whom I never even met until I became Duke I might add, insists on these tedious monthly family luncheons. At least Darwin seems to have the right idea and is on his honeymoon and gets to miss this 'family togetherness'. Hey Janet? That gives me a great idea! " He leans out to grasp her hand and in a very serious and deep voice, his free hand over his heart, he implored, "Please? Will you marry me? Save me from an afternoon of tedious boredom. Please?" Batting his eyes and pouting.
She removed her hand from his grasp and shaking her head in derision, patted his hand instead. "Oh you wish! You would never be able to handle me!" Her grin and wink caused Jason to guffaw in response, a loud bark of laughter in the quiet room. She tsked at him, wagging a finger in his direction. "Besides, do you have any idea how many women would kill to hear that from you? There are plenty of them out there to choose from."
He coughed a couple of times, his sip of coffee seemed to go down the wrong pipe for a moment. Once settled, he gave an eye roll, "Mostly because of family connections. I doubt any of them want me for who I really am. They want all the trappings of wealth and being in the royal family. I don't mind a roll in the hay once in a while but nothing serious."
"You do realize Jason that if you don't choose a bride, the King might choose one for you?"
"Son of a …" Catching her chastising look, he bit his tongue before saying the word that was on this mind... He has learned to watch his language around Janet as a sign of respect and deference. Sometimes he catches himself, but not always.
His sigh was so tired and heavy, even to his own ears. "Why? Why does the king have to be married to assume the throne, or to even be in the succession? Aren't we in the twenty-first century for crying out loud? He has a successor to the throne before me. Darwin has every intention of stepping in when his father dies. And if Darwin has kids, BAM, knocks me further down the succession line and I would have married for nothing. It's just not a good enough reason to get hitched."
"Hitched?"
"American slang for married." he explained. "So, will you marry me to get him off my back? It can just be in name only if that's what you prefer...Do I need to get on my knees?" He started to kneel by her, this same old song and dance he likes to tease her with, and she scoffed.
"Oh you! Get up!" He actually snorted in his laughter as he dodged the hand that almost slapped him on the back of his head. "Young man! I am old enough to be your mother, and you are required to sire heirs if you do marry and this old body can't do that … Now back to business." He couldn't help but grin at the effect he had on her with his jesting as he sat back down in his seat, she was turning a nice shade of red! Score one point for Jason, zero for Janet!
Noticing his satisfaction, she huffed out "Posh!" Then threw a pen at him, "Hush now! As I was saying... Once your luncheon with the king is over, you have a stockholder meeting at 3:00 PM."
"Oh golly gee, that's gonna be fun!" His voice dripping in sarcasm as he took a moment to drain his coffee cup. He stood and ambled to the sideboard himself, pouring another cup and plopping the sugar cubes into his beverage himself. Sipping the strong brew, finding he got it just right,he turned back to her. "Can you just see it? Explaining how we won't make a cent for them on the deaf school project. However I will explain it won't hurt them either since I am paying for everything out of my own pocket, including salaries. I have invested money over the years, starting in my teens, so I am now actually independently wealthy... like if the royal family decides to kick me to the curb, I can still live comfortably. At least a quarter of that is going to this deaf school project because I believe in it so much."
Then it seemed some of his fatigue left for a moment as he spoke of his passion, "That school doesn't even have computers Janet! Very little modern technology at all. They need cell phones with a Word app so they can type what they want to say and show it to a hearing person to understand them instead of always using pen and paper. They have electricity and running water, that's about it on creature comforts, and even that needs to be updated. The heating system is shot, some parts of that school is crumbling. Some of that stuff would be considered a health violation. There is also about an acre of land that we can start a vegetable garden, maybe make a greenhouse so those kids will have healthy organic vegetables any time of the year they want and protect the plants from the weather. There are many employees there that know how to grow and preserve fresh vegetables, and it's a useful skill to teach the students. Man if I could just buy the place, I would have done it a long time ago. And boy do they all need clothing. Appropriate for all types of weather. And shoes. I can go on and on."
"For what it's worth… I think it's very noble of you to take this on out of your own savings… not many men, or women for that matter, would do that without a quick photo op for the newspaper to spread the word about how 'generous' they are." She used air quotes around that word, then continued, "And you're keeping the financial part of it very low key. That's actually very admirable. Your integrity and true generosity are two strong reasons why I love coming to work every day. It makes me feel good to help you make a difference. I know we jest about it, but I honestly couldn't be more proud of you if you were really my own son."
He smiled in thanks, basking in her praise for a moment, then picked up his folded laptop under one arm and his coffee in the other hand, causing her to stand and follow him out the door with her tablet, legal pad and tea. They walked in camaraderie, side by side, down the short hallway to his office. "I think that's one of the reasons I keep you around Janet, you're good for my ego." He winked at her and nudged her playfully with his arm, "And the feeling is mutual, I don't know what I'd do around here without you. And another good quality? You know when to take me down a peg or two if I get too full of myself."
"And I make a great bulldog, scaring your admirers away." She teasingly nudged back with her shoulder as he held the door open for her and she walked by him, allowing her into his office first.
He met her eyes mischievously once he rounded his desk. "And you are the absolute best at it. Any potential mates will be vetted through you, I promise! By the way, have I thanked you for all you do for me, especially lately?"
After they placed everything on his desk, he plopped tiredly into his leather office chair as she took a visitor chair in front of his desk, "No you haven't", she answered.
"Well, to make up for how remiss I've been…" He reached into his top left desk drawer, withdrew an envelope, and plopped it in front of her on the desk.
"This and a healthy raise is my 'thank you' to you. You have been with me since I started Teague International. Without you, I would have never made it as big as I have. So you, my dear, are going on a spa weekend. Any weekend you choose from now until the end of next year. Make the reservation, I'll pay for your stay and anything you want to do while you're there." He raised a finger in an afterthought, his eyes twinkling, "Oh, except don't go hiring those male escorts this time, okay? That is an expense I could never explain away to my investors."
"Posh! You're full of it. That was only one time, and my sister did that, not me."
His smile was positively wicked, "Yeah, Uh huh, likely story." He chuckled at her flushed face as she pointed her finger at him, "You are not too big to spank, you know that right?"
"Ooooh kinky! My kind of girl!" He gave a full belly laugh as she threw another pen at him that he deftly dodged again. His athleticism and quick reflexes really do come in handy sometimes!
He winked again, enjoying the blush... he rarely gets to see a woman turn so beet red. He decided to show her a little mercy, "Well we all are aware about one thing... I will agree that I am very well known for being full of it...like you said earlier."
"One thing? Ha! That should be listed as the top three. Number 1 - Jason Teague is full of it. Number 2 - Jason Teague is full of it. Number 3 - …"
"Jason Teague is full of it. Yeah, yeah I get it." He waved her off with a chuckle and she studied her tablet and exclaimed, "Oh wait… there is a George Collins with the London Dispatch that wants to interview you about winning the bid to upgrade the deaf school?"
"I'll reiterate. No press. They can find out in other ways about anything they want. I hate dealing with them or talking to them. Just say no. As a matter of fact, tell him hell to the no! Not happening!"
She stood and met his eyes as she shrugged, "I always double-check. It is possible to change one's mind."
"Mine is not changed. Always no, no, no when it comes to reporters." His mind flashed to a certain blonde that he might make an exception for... but he would have so much fun making her complete the interview naked, legs spread, forced to edge herself while she asks questions. If she was getting something out of it, so would he.
"Understood." Janet brought him back to reality, "I will call him back for you. If you need anything else, you know where I am."
Once she closed the door to his office, he rubbed his hands over his tired face and eyes, then yawned and stretched. Reaching into his top desk drawer again, he took one caffeine pill. They recommend two on the packet, but he figured since he's drinking coffee too, it's better to only take one. He didn't want to be bouncing off the walls when he met up with his great uncle later.
King Henry wasn't all bad. He was actually a very likeable man. The King spoke to Jason like he's another son, most of the time. But tradition is tradition, and Uncle Henry is all about keeping the same bloodline on the throne. In England, a king is pretty much just a figurehead, a diplomat for his country. Frankly the last thing he would ever want. But he is right behind Darwin on the ascension to the throne for now. Because Uncle Henry and Jason's maternal grandfather, the former Duke of Winchester, were brothers.
Why his mother never mentioned that she was the niece of a king, he would probably never know. There could be some shady history, knowing his mother, and frankly, he didn't want to know.
So his cousin better get to working on producing that heir and spare ASAP, because Jason wanted no part of it. He liked his life exactly how it is. As long as they keep popping out kids, the happier he will be.
He was in the middle of reviewing the quarterly financial report on his computer screen, highlighting some areas of interest when his desk phone buzzed. He reached out without even looking and pressed the hands free button. "Yes Janet?"
"There is a Guinivere Murphy in the lobby to see you?… Kind of strange, the concierge said she wrote down her name, might be mute?"
Jason straightened in shock and turned toward the phone, "Did you just say Guinivere Murphy? Are you sure?" Thoroughly confused, he tried to wrap his mind around Guin being anywhere but at her home. How the hell did she get here, and where was the security team that should have given him a heads up?
"I'll go down to her. Thank you Janet."
Rushing hurriedly out the office door, dodging a few of his employees coming off the elevator, he jumped into the car before it closed, pressing the lobby button. Pulling his cell phone out of his shirt pocket, he called Damien, his head of security that monitored Guin's house. As soon as he answered, Jason barked the next words.
"Where the hell is your security Damien? Guin is HERE. In my place of business. So many things could have happened to her from the cottage to here, I don't even want to think about it. No one called me. No one notified me in any way. Where the hell were you?"
Damien sounded confused now. "Umm, wow... I was told she's still at home. I got the all clear ten minutes ago. What the fuck? I will definitely check into it."
Jason stepped out of the lift and he could see Guin at the reception desk, biting a fingernail nervously and looking over her shoulder toward the revolving doors that led to the street, anxiety written all over her. "It appears that someone obviously lied to you dude. I can see her plain as day, standing in my lobby." He took a moment to take a picture of her with his cell phone and send to Damien. "There's your proof. Get your asses to Teague International right the fuck now, with the team members that are supposedly on patrol this morning. I want answers! Heads are going to fucking roll for this."
He pressed the end button, putting his cell phone back in his shirt pocket. Strangely he realized he had an raging hard-on... and his mouth felt weird, like it was tingling... what the hell is going on?
He turned around for a minute, his back to Guin, calming his body. He hadn't lost control like this since puberty. He is not sexually attracted to Guin, so what is his problem? He started reciting baseball stats for the New York Yankees play roster from 1996 until he got himself under control.
Weird! Maybe it was just that spike of adrenaline that came back?
Turning toward Guin again once he got his dick under control, he realized as he approached her that something must be horribly wrong if she ventured out here on her own. How the hell did she do that? Take a cab? God forbid, did she hitch hike? His concern for her outweighed everything else at the moment because this was completely out of character for her. As soon as she saw him, she ran straight into his arms, sobbing her heart out.
"I got this." Jason tells the guard curtly as he hugged Guin protectively. Poor girl must be scared out of her freaking mind. He reached down to cup her face and tilt it to look at him He checked down her body as efficiently and quickly as possible. And he could smell smoke in her hair and clothing, like wood smoke. The hem of her skirt was singed. Looks apparent that a fire was involved. At the cottage? Somewhere else?
He set those inner questions aside for a moment because she seemed just moments away from an all out panic attack. "What is it Guinee? What's the matter? What happened?"
She pointed outside, signed to him and buried her head in his chest trembling violently, her breathing very rapid and short.
He snapped his fingers at the guard, still manning his station, "Hey Tommy! I need you and whoever you can call to immediately get here and go outside. Check the perimeter. A tall man, beanie hat, brown trench coat…" He pulled Guin away from him for a second to sign a question and she answered and hugged him to her tightly again as he stroked her hair soothingly and continued speaking "White male and brown work boots… that's all I can get out of her. Find him, haul his ass in here and call me once you have him."
He used a couple of fingers to gently check her pulse at her neck, which was beating at a rapid staccato and she suddenly started fighting against him in her panic. He had to restrain her by hugging her, effectively pinning her arms at her sides and making sure to keep her knees from between his, he knew she would knee him if she was out of her mind. Once her struggles lessened, he tilted Guin's teary face up to meet his eyes as she struggled to breathe and he signed, "Slow down. Breathe deeply Guinee, like this..." He demonstrated with a deep, slow breath, in through his nose, out through his mouth. She tried it but it wasn't working... and she was signing for help.
"Somebody give me a paper bag! Right the fuck now! And a chair."
Tommy emptied his lunch out of a paper bag on the concierge desk, then brought the bag to Jason as another guard carried a Queen Anne chair from the lobby to place next to them. Nodding his thanks, he signed to Guin, "Sit down, head between your knees and breathe into this... you're hyperventilating."
Guin grabbed the paper bag and held it on her mouth with both hands, breathing in and out as her head was bent down like he ordered her to do. Ordered was the only way to describe it. Jason just had the air of authority about him that caused everyone to jump when he said so.
Once she finally settled down, he had her raise her body back into an upright sitting position, she continued breathing into the bag, but Jason was glad it was now a lot slower and deeper.
"Good girl." He signed as he cupped her cheek, inwardly realizing he says that phrase a lot lately, in the bedroom, in the boardroom, in the lobby... and all to women that do as he says. And good girls receive positive attention.
"Now... Come with me Guinee. I'll take you to my office. You'll be safe there. I won't let anything happen to you." He helped her stand, she no longer had to use the paper bag, and with a hand on her lower back guiding her, he led her to the lift, pressing the call button. Once the car arrived, they stepped on with Jason pressing the button for the twenty-ninth floor, Guin's face still buried in his shirt, leaving a big wet spot on the front.
This made no fucking sense whatsoever. He had so many questions running through his mind. She sure as hell didn't walk all the way here… right? What caused her to leave the safety of her house in the first place? How did she get here? Why does he smell smoke on her? Why the hell didn't she text him or something? Does she even have her phone?
Once they arrived on the twenty-ninth floor, which is also known as the executive floor, Jason carefully led Guin toward his office, stopping to swipe a badge at the bullet proof glass door that opened up to a hallway with Janet's desk located in front of Jason's office. His secretary's eyes appeared huge behind her reading glasses as they walked by.
"Janet, take care of all my calls. Find some flavored creamer for coffee, it's her comfort drink, her favorites are french vanilla or hazel nut flavors. Find it, bring it to my office ASAP. If you have to go out and get it, just do it using the company credit card."
He almost made it to his office door when Janet rounded her desk quickly, coming up behind him. "Oh dear, is she okay? Is there anything else I can do? Who is she?"
Walking Guin inside, he helped place her in one of his visitor's chairs. Lifting her chin with his finger and leaning down to get her to make eye contact with him, he signed he would be right back and to stay put. He walked Janet out of the office and gave her a quick run down, "Long story short, remember the deaf foster sister I told you about? Well Janet, meet Guinivere." He gestured in Guin's direction. "She has severe agoraphobia, suffered with it for years, and just walking outside her home is out of character, so I can't help but wonder how she got here and why? It had to be something drastic… I smell smoke on her too, so maybe there was a fire? Believe me, I will certainly ask about it and get to the bottom of it. Anyway, get the creamer, I'll start the coffee in my office, bring a change of clothes for her, and a blanket. I'll let her shower in my private bathroom and if she wants, let her rest in the adjoining bedroom. If you can do this for me and keep it quiet, I would greatly appreciate it."
"Yes sir." she responded, then peered over his shoulder with genuine sympathy, "The poor dear… I will certainly take care of it."
"Cancel that luncheon with Uncle Henry and reschedule for next week."
"On it. I will call him using my cell while I gather all you asked for. I think this is more important."
"Exactly… oh and one more thing, tell Uncle Henry it's a family emergency… and remind him if he asks that my mother's side of the family is not the only one I have. I'll call him myself later to explain. Also, no one comes through here unless it's Damien and his team. Thank you Janet!"
He walked back into his office, closing the door. As soon as he was in Guin's line of sight, she began to sign in rapid fire hand gestures, almost too fast for even him to keep up with…
"Wait…" he signed, "The cottage caught fire?"
She nodded, explaining she didn't do it, she woke up to find her bedroom in flames and barely got out. She had no idea how it happened. She used her phone data to find the local fire and rescue,phone number, but her phone kept stalling. Finally she texted a local cab company to pick her up and asked THEM to contact the local authorities. She saw the fire trucks and the cab that came to get her, Using her credit card to pay for the ride, she used the word app on her phone to type the Teague International building address that she knew by heart and showed it to the driver. He brought her here.
She pulled out her cell phone from her skirt pocket to show him the battery is now dead. They both had similar phones so he took out his charger from his desk drawer and plugged her phone in while she continued her story.
She explained once she arrived and the cab drove away, a tall white man in a brown trench coat and black beanie hat grabbed her, trying to pull her away, at least that was what she thought he was doing, which caused her to go into panic mode.
"How did you get away?" Jason signed.
She answered, "Remember that self-defense you taught me in the basement so long ago? Well I dug my heel into his instep and punched him full force, squarely in the nose with my elbow. It was enough for me to get away from him and inside the building."
Jason's face had the most thunderous expression. Guin trembled a bit in fear at the sight of it, her eyes wide. She knew he wasn't mad at her, but still being the recipient of "that look" would make anyone tremble. Someone should take a picture of his face in the midst of his anger and place it in the urban dictionary as a true of example of the phrase, "If looks could kill." She would be dead on the spot right now.
As for the Duke, all he could think about was with her naivete of the outside world, she could have been killed or worse and the damn security he hired didn't do shit. He pulled out his cell phone but signed to her that she did the right thing, patting her knee while he waited for the recipient to pick up his call.
Damien answered on the first ring, "Yes, Your Grace?" Although when he said it, it was with some derision. They've known each other a long time, way before Jason became Duke, so he let it slide.
"How far are you from my office building?" His voice dropped into such a deadly calm that even Damien could feel through the phone call. He audibly swallowed and stuttered, "We are about ten minutes away. By helicopter. I haven't actually boarded the chopper yet... what do you have in mind?"
"We're going Giovanni on their asses."
"Seriously? We've never done that, well, not just the two of us anyway."
"Abso-fucking-lutely. Who is with you?"
"The two that were supposed to watch the house, and two of my most trusted men as some extra muscle. I left my SIC in charge at the cottage damage control while we are heading to you."
"Awesome. That's perfect. I intend to fuck them up. Have them both handcuffed with hands behind their backs and unarmed. Are the trusted ones discreet?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good, you know what to bring then?"
"To do a Giovanni? Yep! You know Pop would be proud of you for this!"
"Well he apparently knew how to keep his men in line with his mental games and to turn someone into an example to the others. It's time I stepped up my game and did the same. See you when you get here. I will have a building security employee to meet you on the helipad and escort you to my office."
He clicked off the phone call, then called the lobby concierge, advising to send a building security team member to meet Damien on the helipad in ten minutes.
Before ending the call, he added,"By the way, the Columbo wanna-be that scared Guin outside? You might want to add to the description that he may have a limp and a busted nose or black eye. She fought back so that should narrow the search down. Find him then call me."
Finally, he placed his cell phone on his desk, still kneeling in front of Guin, taking her hands in his, realizing they were ice cold. Probably due to shock. He began rubbing them between his hands until they warmed up a little. Once some of the chill was gone, he raised one hand to reach out and move some of her hair off her face and behind her ear. Then he signed to her again.
"Guinee, that had to be quite a scare for you… are you okay? Does anything hurt?"
She signed she was fine except the smell of smoke was giving her a headache. He nodded in understanding.
"Then I have just the thing… I want you to take a nice long relaxing bubble bath, it will make you feel much better, I swear. I have my own bathroom right through there…" He signed and talked at the same time, pointing toward the private executive bathroom, "I have all kinds of different soaps and shampoos in the cabinets. Choose whichever you want. Help yourself. And there is a second door that you can go through to get to the toilet… or the loo as they like to call it around here."
She blinked at him, still curled up with her knees under her chin and hugging her legs, then she signed one handed, "Let me guess… You probably have all men products for bathing, I really don't like smelling like a man." Her nose wrinkled to reiterate the point.
Well at least she still had her sense of humor, a grin spreading over his face as he tapped her nose playfully before answering, "Well, you would smell much better than smoke, right?" She gave him a stern look and he relented, "Actually, dear sister, I had bought some of that apple scented body wash and shampoo you like so much and was going to bring it to you, but since you're here and that stuff is here too…" He shrugged, "May as well use it now, right? I will have other toiletries brought up, and some food for you. Come here, let's take a little tour…" He stood and held his hand out, waiting for her to take it. When she did, he was inwardly relieved because sometimes she had a tendency to stay in that hug-the-knees-rocking-motion she used to soothe herself. She trusted him enough to follow as he walked her to the doorway of the bathroom.
At that moment, Janet walked into the office with some clothing she purchased from a high-end boutique next door, a nice flowy purple top and black skinny jeans, a nice pair of black leather boots to complete the outfit and some socks. She also purchased some lingerie, bunny slippers and pajamas, in case she wanted to feel more cozy and comfortable. After whatever fright she dealt with today, Janet felt she may need to feel some security, and she herself loved getting into comfy clothes when she got home from work. Smiling at Guin, she waited while Jason introduced the two ladies to each other and explained to Guin that Janet brought these clothes for her use… stepping aside, they allowed Janet to walk into the bathroom first and hang some of the clothing or place the rest of her bounty on the counter by the sink. The items on the sink were toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, tampons, razors, shaving gel, hair brush, hair products, make-up… it boggled the mind how much women needed. Once Janet was done organizing everything, she stepped out of the bathroom and told Jason she had the coffee creamers at her desk and she'll bring them in, along with the blanket,
He thanked her, then walked with Guin into the bathroom, showing her where everything is located that she would need. There was even a hair dryer, fluffy towels and washcloths, brand new loofah sponges still in the package, and sure enough, a bag with her favorite bathing items. He pointed behind the bathroom door and explained there is also a robe hanging there if she prefers to use that. It's his robe, but he's willing to share. He walked her to the doorway of the loo, opened it to show her where the toilet is if needed. And another doorway directly across from the loo led to a bedroom where he sometimes spent the night if he worked too late or needed a power nap. He told her she is welcome to lay down after her bath and get a little sleep.
He removed a cufflink and rolled up one sleeve as he started a bath for her in the clawfoot tub, testing the water temperature before plugging the drain. He rarely used this tub himself. He was more of a shower guy. Bubble baths were not his thing. But women seemed to love them. He grabbed her body wash when she brought it over and poured a cap full under the running water, allowing it to produce suds. He stood and smirked, handing the bottle back to her once he replaced the cap, then signing with a mischievous glint in his eyes that she needed to be sure to turn off the water before she drowns, or floods the bathroom. She placed her hands on her hips in consternation, causing his smirk to grow into an even bigger smile. As he walked to the door, he advised her to make sure she locks the door when he leaves.
Guin's eyes flashed purple, then she turned to Jason, and with a palm up she commanded, "Prohibere!" (Stop!)
Jason froze at the door and didn't move a muscle as Isobel, in Guin's body, approached her former nemesis's descendant.
She had allowed Guin to drive earlier, only during the hyperventilation, the rest was all Isobel. It needed to be real. That is something that is hard to fake. Pushing Guin into feeling trepidation due to being outside her comfort zone. Isobel can cry real tears on cue, run into Jason's arms and sob her heart out, but not the hyperventilating panic attack. She only allowed Guin out for about ten minutes to freak out and make it authentic. Before she could get collected enough to ask Jason, "Where am I?", Isobel took over the body once more and has been there since.
"Oh I am going to have so much fun with you..." She stroked a finger down his stubbly cheek as she leaned forward and whispered, "Death is too good for you. First, I intend to make you suffer. I will bring you such a downfall on your reputation, I will pull that darkness you keep hidden within you out into the open for all to see."
She spoke a few words in Latin, waved her fingers and saw a blue light flash behind his green eyes.
"Time to meet your inner demon Jason Teague. Once I destroy you and your nice little life..." She leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "THEN, my pet, you will beg me to kill you and i will be too happy to oblige. I hope Duchess Gertrude rolls over in her grave for what I do to you."
(In the lobby earlier, at Jason's arrival)
"Prohibere!"
Isobel, wearing Guin's body, called out the one word that made time stand still for everyone but her. Jason had just got off his cell phone and stood as still as a statue, looking down at his phone.
There was no mystery man outside that she had to fight to get away. It was completely made up to get sympathy and keep Jason focused on anything but the possibility of Isobel in Guin's meat suit. And she started the house fire herself with magic. Once she tele-ported herself here from the cottage. And tapping into her host's memories gave her a crash course on sign language. It was like she could see the hand gestures and the muscle memory seemed to do the rest.
Guinivere should not hole herself up in that little rickety shack while Jason lives the high life. Nope, that won't do. Not for a descendant of hers!
The powerful witch circled around him, studying every inch of his body. Impressed, she saw the boy she once knew is now a man. She copped a feel of his firm ass, giving it an appreciative squeeze, then slid her hand around to the front where his fly was located.
"Ooooh nice!" She hissed as she stroked him there for a moment. He may be frozen in time, but his cock was growing under her hand. Now this could be interesting! She was actually tempted to open his fly and let his cock free before unfreezing him so he could find himself in an embarrassing predicament, but the hard on will be enough as she kept playing with him, rubbing his dick and balls with one hand through his pants and the other caressing his ass fully, brushing down below at the perineum to cause his manhood to jump.
Finally she made herself stop before she would have him creaming in his pants. No matter how mouth watering he is now, no matter how good he smelled (God the men in this century actually bathe!), she still hated his bloodline with a vengeance and to lie with him would be heresy as far as she was concerned. Not that she was a stranger to heresy. She was burned at the stake for it after all. Hell, she might give in to her desires later just because she loves a good fuck and he has a nice package. She had been a very experienced female in her time, enjoyed using her body and sometimes a little magic to control a man. She stroked his hair and closed her eyes, seeing his life flash before her eyes, just like she did with her great-great-great-great-great grandchild when she possessed the body. She even healed the girl of her deafness and she is determined to propel that girl into a real life, not just existence. Although every time she puts Guin back in control, she uses magic to stop up her ears. No need for her to know about the healing until after she is done with her body. For now she needs to do what she started, destroy the Duchess's blood line. But first she wanted to play with the handsome Duke, just for shits and giggles. This is going to be highly entertaining.
Jason Teague will be her new pet and she will enjoy the hell out of the havoc she will cause through him. Who the hell knows? She could turn him into a literal pet, one on a leash that crawls around, that sleeps in a cage, that wears a cock cage until she is ready to release him, she would do every naughty thing she can think of.
Just because he is a descendant of Duchess Gertrude, she would knock this man off his high horse to become the most lowly of humans. Just having him live that life made her pussy actually quiver a little. Maybe she'll let Guin out to enjoy him again, since she has such an abnormal obsession. Maybe she'll have Jason take Guin in the way they both like, he being the dominant partner and she the submissive one. Honestly though, the girl should enjoy being a top once in a while.
"I see you have kept your darkest desires hidden. That you're trying to push it down and box it up." She gives him a soft kiss on the cheek, "I will now free you, to open that box, to bring it forth." She patted him on the cheek where a five o'clock shadow has started due to not shaving since yesterday morning. "Trust me Gorgeous, you will thank me later."
She stood on tiptoe and whispered into his ear, "Supprimer toutes les inhibitions. Faire ressortir ses ténèbres!" (Remove all his inhibitions. Bring forth the darkness!). She watched as Jason's eyes flashed blue for a moment, then back to green.
"Before I go...just one taste." Isobel kissed him softly on the lips, they were warm and tasted of coffee and mint. She gave his bottom lip a final suck and a little nip as she whispered against his mouth, "You are free!"
She walked back to the guard station, waved her hand and cried out, "Aliquam!" (Resume!) as everyone moved about like nothing happened. She acted as Guin would, and began biting her thumbnail, then "seeing" Jason, she ran to him and sobbed so hard into his shirt, she should win an Academy Award! Hell, she will act her heart out. Accessing her host's memories, reactions, everything, she'll play the part of the deaf mute solely dependent on "her big brother".
It's only temporary.