"(My mom Nancy), she wants to meet Matteo" -Matthew Casey
Those five words. The five words that Matt just said made the room go completely quiet for the next few minutes. The reason? They were the words that the couple never thought they would ever have to say, nor would they ever have the need to say them (in their opinion). The reason? They both swore that they wouldn't tell Matt's mom (her name is Nancy) that they have a son. And heck, she hasn't even reached out in a long time. What the heck is Matt doing talking about his mother now? How did they even get to this conversation. So many questions, so many answers that Matt owes his wife. Looking up at her husband, Gabby took a breath. "Ok. I have so many questions when it comes to what you just said. Like, so many that I am not even sure where to start. So, I need a minute just to think right now."
Matt agreed with his wife when she told him that she needs to think, completely understanding why she would need a moment to think. After all, he did just drop a bomb on her. Heck, as far as Gabby knew, Matt was not in communication with his mother. Now, all of a sudden, he is. She is so confused. And that is the answers that Gabby needs from her husband first. "Ok. First of all, since when are you in contact with your mother?" Matt took a breath when his wife asked him how long he's been in contact with his mother. "Maybe a month. You remember how there was that term in her release where she had to stay in Chicago for 4 years after her parole was granted?" Gabby agreed with her husband when he said that, looking up at him. "Oh shit, it's 2017." Matt agreed with his wife, taking a breath.
"Yeah." Matt then proceeded to grab her hand, stroking it with his thumb. "So, that means that she is now free to roam the country again; and she is no longer restricted to Illinois. She can come here to Los Angeles; and she wants to." Gabby just took a breath when her husband mentioned that; nervous as to what she even thinks of what she wants to say to this. It is so out of the blue, and she just doesn't want to offend her husband; I mean, what if he wants to let her meet Matteo? If her husband, whom she loves more than anybody in the entire world, wants to introduce their son to his mother, then he should have the opportunity to do just that. Yet at the same time, does she get to have a say for it when it comes to their son? When it comes to what she wants? How she feels about the matter? I mean…
Maybe this was his way of bringing up the topic, his way to broach the topic that he seems a bit worried to even bring up to her. Is that what's happening here? "Is this your way to bring up the topic that you've been trying to talk to mem about for a while?" Matt took a breath and agreed with his wife when she asked him, if this was his way of bringing up a topic, for all intents and purposes, he has been trying to work up the nerve (and the courage) to talk to her about. He knows that this is a big conversation; and he also knows that this is not a simple, quick conversation that they can have. But at least, if they start having it, they can think about it; and they can even have open minds about it. "She made the same request to Christie. I am not sure what she is going to do. I just want to talk about it."
Gabby agreed with her husband when he said that. "For what it matters, I know that this must be a hard and sensitive topic to bring up. I know that you and your mom have a…complicated relationship." Matt agreed with his wife when she said that. He then proceeded to grab her hand and stroked it with his thumb. Turning his head, he wrapped his arm around his wife's back some more before kissing her forehead softly. "Complicated is one word for it. Another one I can definitely use is intense. God, I am so conflicted baby. This has weighed on my mind for a while. Add on the business, just trying to keep it together for you and Matteo…" Gabby looked up at her husband when he said that, not wanting to hear that. "Hey, look at me baby." Matt agreed, looking down at his beautiful wife this afternoon.
Gabby smiled at her loving husband when she saw him flash her a smiled. He then bent down, going to kiss her softly while moving his hand to the back of her head. Taking things nice and slow with each other, Matt and Gabby both took some breaths to calm down. After all, this conversation is a bit heavy as it involves their son, along with his mother (whom he hasn't seen in a while). The reason? She has been in an Illinois jail. Now, let me just explain something. Yes, the family is based in California. So, you are probably thinking that the crime was committed in California. But that was not the case in this scenario. Rather, it took place in Illinois (Chicago more specifically) where his parents were on a business trip together. Now, this is just what his mother has told him through jail house conversations in Illinois.
But, she told him that he abused her more on their business trips than at home. And it was really bad this time around. First, he assaulted her verbally and physically. Afterwards, he assaulted her sexually. And after that, when things calmed down (and he sobered up a bit), he admitted that he was molesting his own son. Yes, you heard that right. Matt was molested as a child. (Remember when I said that Matt vowed to never treat Matteo the way he was treated, now you specifically know how Matt was treated when he was a kid). And that was why his mom killed his dad. When she learned that his dad (Greg) had molested him (Matt), she was pushed over the edge and murdered him in his sleep. After that, she was arrested and convicted of murder in the second degree (she took a plea to get parole instead of life).
So, now she is up for parole and again, and she was granted it. And even better, she was granted an application to move her parole to California (where her adult children, along with her grandchildren live). So, she is going to be here in California near them. And Matt is still unsure as to how he feels about that. How he feels about his mother being so close to both his son and his wife rather than thousands of miles away, locked up in an Illinois Women's Jail close to St. Louis. Yes, St. Louis. They didn't want her in Chicago due to the fact that she was too well known there. Heck, she is still well known due to him (and the fact that he is now a successful businessman). Heck, he is also still unsure about that aspect about a future relationship with his mother. What would be the real reason? The motive of the new relationship?
Would it be a genuine want to have a relationship with him, his wife, and their son (as well as their future children)? Or would it be a relationship that is solely financial. A relationship which can grant her access to the life that she used to have as the wife of the 'Chairman and CEO of The Casey Group' who (at the time) was her late husband Gregory Casey. There are a lot of moving parts, and so many unanswered questions to this. And that is something that he, Gabby and Christie need to figure out. Heck, they may even need to consult with Christie's ex-husband Jim Jordan. Yes, he will have to be consulted as well due to the fact that his daughter might need to come into contract with their mother. And he isn't too sure whether he may or may not like that idea. God, he still hates that guys' guts..
Trying to steal money from him, trying to steal contracts by him. He literally created his own company and then tried to do contracts with him. But in reality, he was just the middleman. They had a marked-up contract (with his company), and then he took a larger cut than how much the labor really cost. So, they never dealt with him again. (Well, in business. They still deal with him each and every year at Violet's birthday…Violet being his niece). God, she is such a beautiful girl and he is so proud of her. She is becoming more and more like her mother, the better parent in his opinion, each and every day. But he's biased due to the fact that she is his favorite niece. And yes, that includes his niece-by-marriage Eva Dawson. (Eva is the daughter of Antonio and his ex-wife Laura Dawson, with whom he also has a son).
Their son's name is Diego and he has worked for 'The Casey Group' for a while in the mail room. Oh shit, that's something that he needs to talk to Gabby about. "Shit, I just thought about something." Gabby looked up at Matt. "What is it baby?" Matt took a breath. "Ok, I have no clue how I got to this thought from the start of the conversation, but I just realized that I may need to fire Diego if we go ahead with this plan." Gabby looked at her husband when he said that, well aware of what plan he's talking about. He's talking about the plan for them to move stuff much more digital. "Honestly, he doesn't do much anyways. He is just there to sort the packages. Most of the stuff comes in e-mail now a days." Matt looked down at his wife when she said that, turning his head to kiss her forehead softly. "Yeah, I guess."
Gabby then looked up at her husband, taking a breath. "You are scared of my brother and what he's going to think, aren't you?" Matt took a breath. "Maybe we should bring him in the loop so that he is already aware of the situation? So that he knows that we are thinking of going more digital, how Diego may not have a job. I mean, unless he wants to hire him as his assistant." Gabby thought about it and smiled, agreeing with her husband. "Just curious, what are you going to do with Jennifer if we go digital?" Matt took a breath when Gabby asked him that, kissing his wife's forehead. "I think I would lay her off. I already have my own personal assistant here at home. I mean, you would be my personal assistant, right baby?" Gabby nodded and agreed as she looked up at Matt this afternoon. "Of course."
Matt smiled, nodding when Gabby told him that she would (of course) be his personal assistant when they take the company digital. "Heck, I am already your personal assistant whenever you work from home." Matt agreed with his wife when she said that, rubbing her arm. He then proceeded to bend down and kissed his wife once again. Taking things nice and slow with the woman of his dreams, Matt smiled due to the fact that he loves her more than anything in the entire world. However, what Matt didn't expect was that he would hear her stomach start to grumble. "Oh c'mon, we just had lunch recently." Gabby laughed when he said that. "I know. I'm sorry." Matt shook his head when she apologized for starting to get hungry. "Hey, don't apologize for getting hungry baby." Gabby agreed.
"Do you want me to order us something for tonight?" Gabby nodded and smiled when her husband asked her if she wanted him to order some supper for tonight. "I want that shrimp pasta." Matt agreed with Gabby when she said that, smiling as he bent down and then proceeded to kiss her softly. "Then I will order us some shrimp pasta." Gabby agreed with her husband when he said that. Matt then proceeded to reach for his phone so that he could order himself and Gabby some shrimp pasta.
After ordering some shrimp pasta from Pascale (yes, Pascale joined them here in Malibu), Matt smiled as he turned his head and then kissed his wife's forehead. "He is going to start it now. However, he said that it may take an hour." Gabby agreed with Matt when he told her that and smiled. "Yeah, that's fine. Anyways, I still need to cheek something. How's your back feeling?" Matt took a breath. "It's okay. Still a bit sore." Gabby agreed with matt and smiled. "Do you want a massage or something?" Matt shook his head as he bent down and then proceeded to kiss his beautiful wife softly. "Now, all I want from you is to take it easy tonight. You are stressing out too much." Gabby agreed with Matt when he said that, running her hand up and down his shirt to rub his chest. Matt then smiled as he looked at her.
Turning his head, he left a softly kiss on her forehead once again before wrapping his arm around her back. "I think I am going to really enjoy living here in Malibu. We are always so comfortable here in bed." Gabby laughed and agreed with Matt when he told her that. "We are comfortable in bed wherever we go." Matt smirked and agreed with Gabby. "Remember Houston, Texas the week before we got married?" Gabby thought back to it and smiled as she remembered Houston in 2016
Flashback – May 21st, 2016 – Houston, Texas
Texas NRA Gun Show, Houston – Walking through the NRA's gun show here in Texas with her future husband, Gabriela Dawson smiled as she wrapped her arms around his bicep and intertwined their fingers. While she did grow up around guns (her brother is a police officer, or was at least); it still creeps her out whenever she is around guns. But being here with Matt makes her feel better. Just something about holding his hand with their fingers intertwined allows her to feel okay with walking through these aisles right now. "You are so nervous. I can feel your grip on me even stronger as we walk down the aisle." Gabby agreed with her fiancé and smiled when he said that, trying to put on a brave face. "It's just not my style. I get that Antonio is my brother, yet I am still not a big fan of these guns here."
Matt agreed with his future wife when she said that, smiling as they walked through the aisles. "I am just here to collect a contract for my company. Remember, Police Supplier? I need to pick it up. I was in town, so I wanted it in person." Gabby agreed with Matt when he said that, smiling. "How much further until we get to the booth? I am not a big fan of walking through all of this stuff." Matt laughed and smiled when he heard his Deputy Chief Brand Officer (Marketing) for Casey Policing, Lindsay Michaels, speak to him. "Don't worry Ms. Casey, we are right here." The couple then proceeded to walk up to the booth so that they can work the deal out with the gun manufacturer/seller this afternoon. Then, they can get out of there as fast as they can. God, Gabby can't wait for that to happen. This is a really scary place.
Well, for her at least. She is not a fan of guns and she can't wait until they are away from all of this. She just hopes that Matt doesn't do this all the time when they are married. If her brother can take care of it, then please do. Yes, her brother. He is going to be moving over to her husband-to-be's company soon. He is going to work there as the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Casey Police Training, a subsidiary of Casey Policing (a Casey Group Company) which is led by his half-brother Jay Halstead. But you (the reader) already know that. Right now, we are just doing a quick flashback to the first (and so far, only time) the CEO and his then-fiancé, now wife, were at an NRA convention to sign a contract. And so far, they have yet to return to an NRA convention. Thank God for that. Gabby doesn't want to go back.
Back to present time:
"You were just thinking about Houston in 2016, weren't you?" Gabby took a breath and agreed with Matt when he asked her if she was just thinking about the NRA convention they went to in Houston. "Yeah, I was. Remember what you promised me, I never have to go back." Matt agreed with his wife when she said that and smiled. "I promise, I really do baby. We are never going back to that type of convention." Gabby agreed with Matt when he told her that, smiling as he kissed her forehead softly. She then felt him bend down and kiss her softly. Taking things nice and slow with her husband, she smiled as she was really glad that they are together right now and just enjoying a bit of alone time. "So, what do you think Matteo is doing right now?" Matt laughed. "He's probably playing with your mom."
Gabby agreed with him and smiled. "I asked her to start reading in Spanish to him if that's okay?" Matt nodded and agreed with his wife when she asked him if it was okay for her mom to start reading in Spanish to their son. "Hey, of course it's okay for your mom to start reading to Matteo in Spanish baby. I love that idea." Gabby agreed with her husband and smiled when he told her that, glad that he was okay with her mom reading to Matteo in Spanish. "Just curious, have you ever thought of providing services in Spanish at the company?" Matt turned his head and smiled when Gabby asked him that. "I think that you be a brilliant idea." Gabby was shocked. "Really? I was just saying it to try and continue the conversation. But are you really thinking about that?" Matt agreed with Gabby, smiling at her.
He then turned his head and kissed her forehead softly, just holding her close to him. "Actually, I was thinking of adding on to the project in San Juan." The San Juan project being a housing project that is currently under construction in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is being led by Miguel el Salvador, the Construction Project Manager. Christie is currently also overseeing it as Matt has designated it as a "Project of Interest/Important Concern to the CEO." The reason? Puerto Rico is his wife's family's homeland. He wants to create jobs there. Heck, he wants to expand there and just do whatever he can down there to help the economy boom. That is his job in life. He wants to create jobs wherever he can. And that is what he is doing all over the country (very well he might add) using many different forms.
And now, with the company moving to a more digital form of operating, he can do just that. Jobs can be created pretty much anywhere and he is so happy about that. Well, anywhere with a good internet connection. That is (unfortunately) not the case everywhere in the country, mostly in the rural states like the Dakotas, Alaska and (some) places in Texas. But they are trying to get some in places that matter. And they are trying to provide it. Still, there are places where it will just never be feasible to create an office there. So, they are not going to be able to expand there too much until the infrastructure is in place. Well, maybe manufacturing they could. But offices where they can create hubs for employees to work from? Not too sure if that can happen right now in those areas of the country.
But we'll see if he has the ability to do so in the future. Only time will tell if they can. But back to reality now. "So, what other projects do you see us doing?" Matt smiled. "I was thinking maybe we could so something together." Gabby was intrigued by Matt saying that they could so something together. "You talking about expanding our family? Going for a girl?" Matt was shocked when she said that. "Wait, are you kidding me? Are you really thinking of already going for a daughter?" Gabby bit her lip. "Too soon?" Matt just took a breath and thought of an answer. I mean, if she wants to go for a daughter, maybe they should. Then again, she did just give birth 3 months ago. "I think we should wait a few more months. You did just give birth 3 months ago." Gabby agreed with her husband. "More like 2 months ago."
Matt agreed with his wife when she said that, smiling at her. "By the way, just curious. Are we thinking of taking the weekend together at the end of the month too? You know, for our wedding anniversary." Gabby nodded and smiled when Matt asked her if they are going to take time together on their anniversary. "I hope we are. I mean yeah, we don't have Matteo this weekend. But I would like to ask my mom to take him again that weekend. Let us have some more time alone. Time where we can just be together and have fun with each other." Matt smiled and agreed with his wife when she mentioned 'have fun together'. And he (of course) equates that with sex. "You mean sex?" Gabby just smiled when Matt asked her if she was talking about sex. "I am not ready for sex yet though. I like this comfort."
Matt agreed with his wife when she said that, turning his head to run his fingers through her hair and kiss her forehead softly. "Good, because so do I. I am very comfortable like this and this is exactly what I want to be doing right now. I want to hold you in my arms and just lay down with you in bed." Gabby nodded, agreeing with her husband as they both just relaxed and held each other close in bed this afternoon. "Are you going to take off your shirt for me though?" Matt laughed and agreed with his wife when she asked him if he's going to take off his shirt for her. "Do you want me to take off my shirt for you?" Looking up at her husband, Gabby bit her lip and smirked, nodding as she did want him to take off his shirt for her. "Can you?" Matt agreed with Gabby, smiling as he proceeded to get up and do just that.
Shortly after taking off his shirt for his wife this afternoon, Matt smiled as he carried it over to his desk and then set it down. "I know you like this sight." Gabby agreed with Matt and smiled at her. "Can we just agreed that you are done wearing a shirt in bed? I mean, it's a waste of time baby. You are just going to end up taking it off for me anyways. You know I hate it when you wear shirts." Matt agreed with his wife and just smirked when she said that. He then proceeded to walk back over to their bed when he saw that his phone was flashing. Biting his lip, he looked at Gabby. She then turned to look at him (and his phone) to see that it was flashing too. "Baby, go ahead. I have to go to the washroom."
Matt agreed with his wife when she said that, watching her get up to go to the washroom. Meanwhile, he grabbed his phone and then got back into bed so that he can read his e-mail. Afterwards, he went to see what it was. And just what was it? A ransom. "RE: Hacking - Ransom"
From: Anonymous-The Hackers
To: Casey, Matthew
Subject: RE: Hacking – Ransom
Attachment: The Night We Fell in ; Matteo
Dear Mr. Casey:
I see that you have recently been enjoying the game we have with you. You must be so annoyed that we have your system hostage. We have seen that you have shut it down. And that's fine with us. It just means that we are done with you. We already have what we need. Well, almost everything that we need. You see, while we were there…we did some sleuthing. And that included on your personal account. And while we were in there, we found this beautiful picture of your wife, and you while you were engaged TO ANOTHER WOMAN. CEO Cheats on Fiancé with Current Wife. What a Scandal!
BTW You have an adorable son. Wouldn't want him to know that his daddy cheated to create him?
Here are your payment options:
TODAY - $2 MILLLION
TOMORROW - $4 MILLION
MONDAY - $6 MILLION
You get the picture, every day you delay…add on another 2 million. So, times ticking Mr. Casey. We release these pictures to the LA Times, the NY Times, TMZ and the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday, June 5, 2017 at 12:01 AM. Good luck trying to stop us Mr. Casey, remember our price. $2 million a day.
Sincerely,
Your Worst Nightmare
Going to look at the pictures that he was just sent from the hackers, he took a breath as it was from that night. The night that he and Gabby fell it love. How did they get that? They are in his personal account now. Well, the one at the office. Of course, he had to have pictures of his wife and son on there. Just taking a breath, he looked at his phone and was scared. Now, this affected Gabby. That's when he heard her. "Baby, what's wrong?" Matt turned to look at his wife when she asked him that, scared as to what she might say. "They are in my computer at work." Gabby looked at Matt when he said that. "Oh god." Matt nodded. "They have the pictures from our night where we agreed to start an affair." Gabby agreed. "Ok, that we can sur…" Matt then went to finish his sentence. "And they have pictures of Matteo."
