Hi Folks! Ah! The plot thickens which is what I should have called this chapter. I hope you are enjoying this sort of AU fic. I am trying hard to make it entertaining. I mean no harm to anyone or any group specifically. This is a story. Thank you if you're still hanging in with this story. Let me know what you think. Love - Carebearmaxi
Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque
Chapter 4 - Gambling
2:30 am
New York City
"Louis?"
"Harvey, why the hell are you calling me at 2:30 am?"
"Donna's in trouble and I need your help," Harvey said interrupting Louis' bitching at being wakened.
"She must really be in trouble if you're calling me," Louis said. "What's happened?"
"Donna's stuck in Albuquerque on a Navajo Reservation. I need to pull a few strings to get her extricated from a sticky situation and bring her home."
"So, what do you need me for?"
"What's the name of that Harvard buddy of yours who relocated his office out there?"
"Joshua Banter," Louis said still groggy. "Harvey! He specialized in..."
"Yep, that's the sticky situation she's in."
"I'll find him and call you back."
Donna came out of the shower and despaired of putting on her dusty garments that she wore into the hotel. However, as she proceeded into the bedroom area she found a beautiful dark green silk dress with a low neckline and a pair of black pumps in just her size. Donna stood in front of the bathroom in the hotel provided white terry cloth bathrobe and was stunned.
Oh my word! There is even a pair of matching black panties and black bra. I don't know want to look at the size because I'm afraid it would be correct.
She scurried back into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub. Luckily she had remembered her phone was in the pocket of her jeans and she pulled it out. She found Jack's number and immediately called it. There was no answer.
Just as she was calling the concierge in the hotel, there was a knock on the door.
"Donna?"
"Jack," Donna called from the bathroom. I really don't want to meet him out there dressed only in this.
"Did everything arrive in the correct sizes?"
Donna was still afraid and a little bit frightened, but Jack sounded as if he really wanted to please her and he said he meant no harm. So far, she almost believed him. She decided to open the door only halfway to the suite. There was no need to invite him in while she was half dressed. She was not looking for a quickie or anything remotely like sex at the moment, but she did want some answers.
"Hi, Jack," Donna said as she opened the door partially.
"Hi, Donna," Jack said not stepping forward or trying to push his way in but politely standing there eagerly waiting to confirm that everything was to her liking.
"Do you like the clothes?"
"They are beautiful and they are all the right sizes. Just how did that happen?"
"My sister works in the boutique downstairs. She happened to see us walk by. I called her and asked her to pick something appropriate for our dinner engagement."
Donna raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Your sister? Your sister just happens to work at the boutique downstairs in this hotel? I didn't even see a boutique and, believe me, if there was one I would have spotted it."
"Maybe not, Donna. It sits around the corner from the elevator bank we used to get up here," Jack explained. "We're meeting her and her fiance for dinner, so you can meet her and tell her how everything fits yourself."
Jack then went across the hall to his own suite and unlocked the door letting himself in. Just before he was to close the door, he waved back at Donna still holding her door partially open.
"Dinner's in 30 minutes. Is that enough time? I really want my sister to meet you," Jack said.
Donna just closed the door nodding all the time.
Donna, Jack, Rose (Jack's sister), and her fiance, Willet sat an intimate round table at the elegant and very exclusive restaurant downstairs in the plaza part of the casino. The ambiance of the restaurant was very sophisticated and the decor reminded Donna of Del Posto where she and Harvey would annually celebrate her coming to work on his desk. Fortunately, with all the whirlwind of activity between her firing, Hardman's return, Hardman's leaving in disgrace, and her rehiring had not caused a stop to this celebration. As a matter of fact, she had never seen Harvey so gracious and happy as the last time they celebrated there only a few months ago.
"So, Rose, Jack told me that you designed the envelope on his balloon. It is so beautiful," Donna mentioned to Rose who sat next to her on her left while Jack sat on Donna's right and Willet another dark man of Navajo descent sat across from her. Willet was about three times the size of Jack and Rose was as tall and built similarly to Donna.
"Yes, I did. I am a fashion consultant for a design firm in Albuquerque," Rose answered.
"These clothes are beautiful and everything fit perfectly. When I first saw them lying on the bed in the suite, I wondered how Jack knew all my sizes. He said that you picked them out."
Rose who was wearing a deep red outfit similar to Donna's chuckled and said, "I noticed that you and I are built similarly. I saw your beautiful red hair and white skin, so I took a chance and thought you would have green eyes; therefore, I picked the green outfit we had and matched it with black. I must congratulate myself. You wear clothes like a model."
"Thank you so much. They are beautiful and the fit is wonderful. I will pay you in the morning for this outfit," Donna offered.
Rose shook her head and placed her napkin in her plate indicating she was finished eating.
"No, no, Donna, no need to do that" Rose insisted as Donna looked at her surprised.
"Why not?"
"Well, you will find out later. Jack has a surprise for you," Rose said.
Donna looked away at the table in front of her and there came those chilly feelings on the back of her neck again. She knew, instinctively, that Jack was wanting or getting something out of wining, dining and dressing her. I should never have trusted him.
When supper was finished, Jack and she separated from Rose and Willet. Willet pleaded he had an early morning at his office and Rose did as well. She was taking a redeye back to Albuquerque that night.
"Your sister is very pretty, Jack. Is her fiance also of your tribe?" Donna asked as they walked to the casino floor where Jack and she were going to participate in a fast Blackjack game and maybe some other fast paced games.
"Yes, he is of the same tribe. He is distantly related from my understanding."
Donna explained she had not come with much money so the gambling portion of the evening would have to end quickly.
"You can borrow anything you need from me. If you need it, of course," Jack said.
"Jack, I am gambling with the little bit I brought with me. If not, I have other means. Despite my title, I am well paid for my job." Donna did not want to think he was doing all this out of charity because she said she was a legal assistant. She was one of the highest if not the highest paid legal secretary at PearsonHardman.
"No charity involved. Believe me, Donna, I just want to treat you because I can and you deserve it."
Donna challenged him. "How would you know I deserve it, Jack? I could be a black widow for all you know."
Jack smiled at her with that million dollar smile and said, "Yes, you could be but vice versa and I don't believe a woman like you could be capable of such things."
"You're right. I am not," Donna acquiesced hesitantly. She did not like showing all her hand to a nearly complete stranger.
They walked a little bit with Donna taking Jack's arm and slowly perusing through the different offerings the casino maintained. They finally came to a BlackJack table where Jack challenged Donna for another couple rounds.
"Jack, I am really rather tired. I would rather just retire to my room. You said we had to leave rather early to go back to Albuquerque by balloon."
"Of course, Donna, whatever you want," Jack said as he held onto Donna's arms as they found a different elevator bank and boarded the car.
Donna was very sleepy. She couldn't understand why. She ate rather well and she only drank a couple of glasses of wine. She could kick back full glasses of whiskey with Harvey and not feel this bad. She nearly passed out and she could feel Jack clasp her closer to himself so she would not fall to the floor.
Jack explained to the other occupants of the elevator that his wife was very tired being only a few weeks pregnant.
"She looks more than tired, sir, if I say so myself. I happen to be a doctor," stated an older gentlemen dressed very well with a beautiful head of curly white hair combed backward.
"Yes, get her into bed right away," Bettine, the doctor's wife, chimed in and handed Jack her husband's business card. "Call this number right away. It is my husband's emergency phone. He will help you right away. I was his nurse, so I know he's very good."
"Thank you so much, but I assure you that won't be necessary."
The elder couple got off the elevator the floor before Donna and Jack's. Donna was now asleep. Jack picked her up and carried her to his room and laid her on the bed. Donna only stirred for a moment and then she curled into the pillow and went back to sleep.
In the meantime, Jack scooted over to Donna's room and retrieved her back and stuffed her dusty clothes into it. He found her other wallet which contained her other credit card and her spare phone which she carried in the event her main phone became lost. All her contacts were duplicated. It seemed redundant to some, but to Donna it was a back up plan.
Suddenly, Jack's phone sounded muted in his jacket pocket.
"Hello?"
"Yes, of course, she's too smart not to think about it when she's conscious. She was asking Rose questions while were busy finalizing the flight."
"Oh, she'll be out for hours. She won't wake up until way tomorrow morning...I don't want to scare her. No, we'll take care of that before we leave...no...I know. I know."
Then Jack hung up placing the phone back in his suit jacket inner pocket. He retrieved the few items that belonged to Donna and swiftly returned to his room.
The trip through the hotel with a sleeping Donna was not difficult for Jack after he figured out how to get her down the street to the 24-hour wedding chapel. He called Elliott Holmgren, the real owner of Holmgren's Pilots and Balloon Riders, informing him that if he wanted what he wanted then some additional assistance would be needed.
An ambulance came for the beautiful red-haired out of town woman who had had dinner with the Holmgren family. Apparently, from the report, she had eaten some bad food and looked like someone had slipped a drug into her wine. Donna was completely unconscious so she was unaware of what was happening.
The EMT's (really plants of Elliott Holmgren) took a gurney up to the third floor and knocked on Room 304. Jack answered it.
"Hey Charlie," Jack acknowledged. "I see Elliott sent you and Bubblehead over here."
"Nice to see you, too, Jack," Bubblehead a.k.a. Elliott, Jr. said to the older man. "Dad said this one fits his description."
"Look at her," Charlie said. "She's beautiful. Too bad your the old man's favorite. Not even sonny boy here gets to find someone like her."
"Bubblehead doesn't have the years or the sophistication to grab the attention of a woman as beautiful and smart as she is," Jack boasted.
While they were talking and jabbing at each other, Charlie and Bubblehead lifted Donna onto the gurney. They grabbed her new purse and placed it on the gurney beside her. They strapped her in as Donna started to moan.
"Are you sure you gave her enough?" Charlie asked in his Brooklyn accented voice.
"Long enough that we can get our license and get her married on the way back to the terminal. I'm piloting the leer jet back to Albuquerque," Jack boasted. "No other passengers."
Bubblehead a.k.a. Elliott, Jr. asked. "So then where are you putting her until dad deems you paid up?"
1:00 am
Just outside Albuquerque, NM
"Joshua Banter, here," Louis' friend answered his cell.
"Josh, it's Louis Litt," Louis said to the half asleep man on the phone. Louis was now up and aware like he had never been sleeping. Harvey had only to say that Donna was in trouble and the mention of her name spurred Louis into action.
"Don't you sleep, Litt?" Josh answered annoyed.
"You know I would not call unless it was important," Louis said.
"Ok," Josh agreed agitated turning around to a more comfortable position. "What can I do for the illustrious Louis Litt way out here?"
"One of my dearest friends is in trouble. Her name is Donna Paulsen and she seems to have fallen into a bad spot while out on vacation out there. You specialize in her problem, so I need your help."
"Ok, Louis. I remember you talking about Donna last year when you were visiting me. Tell me who and what is the issue..."
Donna woke up but she did not feel herself. She was still groggy and had a really bad bout of short term amnesia. The only thing she could remember was her name and how nice Jack Holmgren had been to her. There were bright lights in her eyes and all she wanted to do was close her eyes.
"What time is it, Jack?" Donna softly said as she distinctly felt movement beneath her. I'm riding in a car? What happened? Did I miss the balloon ride back?"
"It's about 7 a.m.," Jack said. "You must have really been sleepy. You've been sleeping since we left Las Vegas.
Jack was back driving in his truck, but Donna was still dressed in her pretty green dress and heels from the previous night's dinner with Jack's sister and fiance. She felt something weird on her hand. She tried to shake it off but it would not come off. As she brought her hand up to see what it was that had landed on it and refused to leave her squinting eyes caught a flash of light. Donna stopped waving and looked down at her hand. Her left hand. A gold wedding band was on her third finger left hand.
"What the hell is this!" Donna demanded as she held her hand up at Jack and demanded an explanation.
"You don't remember, sweetheart?" Jack talked real smoothly still trying to get the best of her.
"I don't remember shit! I would think I would have remembered if I got married to someone! What the hell happened and if we are married we are getting..."
"You're not married to him, dear," came a very deep third voice out from the back of the truck. "You're married to me."
"Stop the car, Jack. I need to explain things to my bride," the ominously deep voice said.
Jack stopped the truck on a dime. They were in the middle of the desert, it seemed.
Jack told Donna. "Get out of the front and get in the back. Please, Donna."
When Donna seemed to resist, Jack pushed her out of the front seat. Donna almost fell on her knees because the door was unlocked.
"Careful there, Jack. You hurt my bride this will be the last assignment you ever get," the third voice said.
"Sorry, Mr. Holmgren. I apologize Donna. I thought your door was locked," Jack said and he got out of his side of the truck to confirm she was not hurt.
Donna regained her feet after stumbling out of the truck and looked into the deep blue of another New Mexico morning. She put her hand over her eyes and looked up to see what she could see if anything to get her bearings. I think I have been kidnapped, drugged, and married. I need to contact the authorities!
Jack opened the door to the backseat of the truck which was a different truck than the one Jack had driven the day before. The third voice finally took on a body. He was an older man with white hair and a white mustache. He reminded Donna of Cesar Romero except this Cesar had a very thick Mexican accent.
He offered his hand to Donna to help her back into the truck. Donna refused his hand and in her four inch Balenciaga pumps she climbed into the backseat herself. After Jack closed the door, he made sure it was locked in the event that Donna tried to escape. Jack would control the locks and the windows from the driver's side-just for safety sake.
The white haired old man named Holmgren which made no sense if he were really as Mexican as his accent.
"My name is Elliott Holmgren, Sr.," the man said as he kissed Donna's hand gallantly.
Before he could even put his lips near her hand, Donna pulled her hand away sharply.
"You will never get away with this. I don't know what your plan is or how you entrapped me, but I know people that can get me out of this and put you all away for kidnapping, drugging and whatever other crimes you committed on my person!" Donna was hot and her fair complexion had become red with fury. She was almost as red as her hair.
"We have been perfect gentlemen, Donna," Elliott said. "You are not hurt nor were you molested in any way. I do not believe that does anything to help someone's case."
Donna's lips were pursed so hard that she thought her teeth would grind down to nubs. There has to be a way out of this!
"Where are you taking me?"
"Jack, would you like to tell my wife where I am temporarily taking her?"
"To the Navajo reservation where I grew up," Jack said proudly.
"Where? Why? What the hell..." Donna gasped and tried to unlock the door and window of the truck herself. She still had her purse and she could tell she still had at least one phone with her. As Jack caught what she was trying to do as he looked in the rear view mirror the truck swerved off the road and then back onto the road.
"Donna! It's no use. I have the controls up here," Jack said sweetly.
"Look! You have no right to do this," Donna said.
Then she decided to change tactics and see if she could sweet talk her way out of this. It was after all her strength her empathy and ability to get people to see her point of view without them realizing it. She had been doing that to Harvey Specter for years.
"How much longer are we on the road until we get to your reservation, Jack?" Donna asked much calmer now that she had a plan.
"Oh about another couple of hours."
"Ok. Then if you don't mind could you fill me in with what I am supposed to do?"