Walter spent the rest of the afternoon digging through Richard's computer system. He had zoned out everything as he worked. Other than Paige that is. Each time she tried to move to work on something his hand reached out and took her hand and held it until she sat back down. His hand then went back to working on the computer.
His coffee that Toby brought back sat there mostly forgotten as he worked. Even when the guy brought the new coffee maker to them he still didn't budge.
"Walter, the guy is here with the coffee maker." Toby told him and Walter seemingly ignored him.
"Walter." Paige shook her head as she reached over and hit the power button on the monitor he was using.
Walter frowned and looked at her puzzled.
"Paige?" Walter questioned.
"Toby just told you the coffee maker is here. We didn't know how much you were going to tip him, or if you wanted me to sign for it." Paige told him with a smile.
"Oh." Walter kind of grinned. "Sorry. Yes, you could have signed for it." Walter took the delivery pad and signed his name. He pulled out his wallet and handed the man a hundred dollar bill. Much to Paige and Toby's shock he told the guy to keep it while asking him to put it in the kitchen.
Walter kissed Paige and then followed behind him with his coffee after finding it rather cool. He used the microwave and nuked it for about four minutes and then took it back out to the work table.
"Okay, Richard, it isn't good news but it isn't horrible news. The best news is I've gathered data showing someone accessed your company's designs for the watch, everything about it, from software to hardware. It might take me several more days to find out who it was. But it is definitely looking like an inside job. Once we know who it was, then we'll be able to connect the dots to this company. And then your lawyers can have a field day with them." Walter grinned.
"Oh Walter." Richard said in obvious relief. "Thank you so much. I really owe you when you get this straightened out."
Paige grinned.
"Just remember this feeling when you get our bill." Paige laughed.
Richard blush even as Walter laughed.
"Richard's never been one to back off a bill…at least one of mine." Walter winked at him.
Richard nodded as he grinned.
"Hey, Walter." Patrick said softly by the area that leads into the kitchen.
Walter looked over and saw Patrick jerk his head back towards the kitchen. Walter nodded as he turned and walked after him.
Paige stepped over and Walter wrapped his arm around her but continued to walk after Patrick. Walter turned his head and kissed the side of Paige's head just before they stopped.
Patrick looked at Walter as he turned his head back to face him.
"I was wondering about this trip to Paris for Happy. Do you think I can go with her? I can pay my own way thanks to your generosity for helping her get this job done." Patrick asked.
Walter smiled looking at him.
"Well, yes I can arrange it for you to go with her, no problem as far as I'm concerned and you don't have to worry about the cost. The problem is you need to ask her. I just told her since we have this Homeland issue wrapped up on our end, she could take Toby if she wanted. So you talk to her and if she wants you to go too, then that is fine." Walter told him. "Just let me know so I can make the arrangements."
Patrick smiled as he nodded.
"Thank you Walter." Patrick extended his hand. "Maybe we can make this work between us after all."
Walter grinned but nodded as he shook his hand.
Paige kissed Walter's cheek as Patrick walked away.
"That was very kind of you Walter." Paige told him. "But I'm curious, did you even think about the coffee maker you ordered?" Paige looked pointedly at him.
Walter shrugged.
"A coffee maker is a coffee maker." Walter smiled as he put his hands on her hips.
Paige just looked at him for a moment and then looked to the counter and the large machine sitting there.
"Did they tell you how much it was? I realize you and the others all have high IQs, but I'm not a barista." Paige told him. "The only coffee maker we had at the diner was the standard Bunn, it could brew a pot while keeping two others warm."
Walter smiled and then kissed Paige.
"No worries about the cost or the complexity of the machine. You are not a maid, servant or kitchen help. You are the manager of this place, that means all the IQs work for you and if you or they want coffee, they can make it." Walter grinned.
"Walter, I realize you got a lot of money. And after talking to Richard I know you have even more than I thought before. But…over $2500 for a coffee maker?" Paige frowned. "That's a bit extreme."
Walter laughed.
"Your point is well made and I will defer to your sensibilities as we move forward." Walter told her and then kissed the tip of her nose.
Walter took Paige and Ralph out to eat dinner before taking them home and just before they were almost home.
"Walter." Ralph said from behind them in the rental. "May we see the main house tonight?"
"Oh I don't know Ralph." Paige had started as she thought of the art room Walter told her about.
"Well I'll tell you what Ralph. We can do that, but I need you to promise me something." Walter told him as he looked at him in the rearview mirror. "My art room isn't really suitable for kids, even kids with a high IQ. I can deactivate access to the room, but you have to promise me something. No matter what, if there is a lock on something, you won't try to circumvent it."
"I promise." Ralph smiled and nodded.
"Are you sure Walter?" Paige asked quietly.
"It'll be fine my sweet." Walter grinned.
"You know, as much time as we spend together now, you should have just moved us into your house to start with." Ralph told them. "Now we'll have to move again in a few weeks. That is very inefficient."
Walter laughed even as Paige shook her head.
"Well buddy, there are things more important than efficiency. And that is the comfort that develops naturally in a relationship. You and I being so high functioning aren't as impacted by the emotional needs of closeness to share a living space. You'll find that people who have a higher EQ like your Mom, they need that comfort in order to make sharing a living space easier." Walter told him.
"Well that is true but don't people get roommates all the time? They don't really know or have a relationship with them…so why do they not need that comfort?" Ralph asked.
Walter chuckled even as Paige couldn't believe what her son was saying.
"How is it possible he knows all of this already?" Paige whispered.
"He's known it for quite some time, Paige. It is just now he's finally understanding how to express his thoughts." Walter whispered back before looking in the mirror at Ralph.
"You are right Ralph, that does work. The difference is, your Mom and I are trying to work our way through our relationship. Which is different from just being roommates. I didn't want to put any pressure in regards to our relationship on your Mom. Because no matter how much I love her, I wanted her to have the time to ensure this is what she wants." Walter told him.
"Oh, is that the reason?" Paige looked at him. "In that case, we can plan to move in then."
Walter grinned as he shook his head.
"If you are sure then absolutely. We can tell the movers of the change and to bring your personal effects from the apartment over to the main house." Walter told her even as he pulled up to the gatehouse.
"Oh, good evening Walter. Ms Dineen." The guard greeted them.
"Good evening Roger." Walter and Paige both said as he gestured and the gate moved. Walter drove on through.
Paige and Ralph were both shocked seeing how big Walter's home was. They'd only seen the side view that faced the entrance, before the branch in the drive took them to the guest house. And from there the landscaping had, in a sense, isolated them from it. But driving alongside it revealed how big it was.
Walter pulled his phone out after he parked outside his main door. He connected to the house network and issued several commands and then smiled.
"All done, we can go in now." Walter told them as he opened his door.
Ralph was out of the car first and stood at the door as Walter walked around and opened the door for his Mom.
Paige smiled as Walter opened the door and then took his hand as she slipped her legs out and stood up.
"Thank you Mister O'Brien." Paige grinned.
"You are most welcome Ms Dineen." Walter replied with a grin before pushing in and kissing her.
Ralph rolled his eyes as he tried to wait for them to hurry up.
"Good evening David." Walter handed the keys to the car to a man who walked up to them.
"Good evening Walter." David replied.
Walter and Paige both smiled at the look on Ralph's face as they walked up to the door. The man drove the rental back under a carport close by. Walter mussed Ralph's hair and then unlocked the locks of the door and entered. Paige and Ralph stood in the simple entry room as Walter reset the alarm. Once set they stepped out with Walter into the next room and they both stopped. Their eyes were wide open as they looked about. This room was far from simple and was nearly double the entire square footage of their apartment.
"Walter." Paige said in a tiny voice. The home had looked big on the outside but now, inside, it dwarfed her imagination. "H-How big is this place?"
Walter smiled as he stepped up and wrapped his left arm around her back.
"Just over twenty thousand square feet. Right at ten thousand on the main floor, three thousand below, five thousand on the second floor and almost three thousand on the third floor." Walter told her as he pointed at the grand staircase going up. "I've been thinking of selling since I woke up the first time. It seemed silly sometimes to own such a place and me being single." Walter told her. "This is the main room for entertaining a sizable number of guests."
"Good evening Mr O'Brien." An older woman greeted them.
"Agnes, it is Walter, remember? I'm sure you haven't forgotten." Walter said kind of tiredly. "This is my girlfriend Paige and her son Ralph. As I told you before, they were going to be living in the guest house but we decided tonight they'll move in here instead. My love, this is Agnes, she's in charge of the staff." Walter introduced them.
"Paige, it is an honor to meet you." Agnes told her as she extended her hand. "And your son."
Paige smiled and shook her hand.
"Thank you Agnes, I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of questions eventually." Paige smiled.
"Of course, anything I can do to help you acclimate please do not hesitate to call me. If any of the staff gives you any issues, call me. And of course I remember your name Walter. But you remember in my role as your employee I do not like calling you by your first name." Agnes told him before she held out her hand to Ralph. "It is nice to meet you too Ralph."
Ralph smiled but slowly reached out and shook her hand.
"What are you doing here so late?" Walter asked.
"I was finishing up the inventory of the house." Agnes explained.
Walter frowned.
"It isn't the normal time for inventory. Did something happen that you didn't tell me about when I was last here?" Walter asked.
"Of course not. We have three staff that will pass their probationary period and I wanted to make sure everything is as it should be before I offer them full employment." Agnes smiled.
Walter nodded.
"Makes sense. Well don't stay too late, you got a life to lead." Walter smiled.
"William is still on duty if any of you are hungry." Agnes reminded him.
"I don't think we'll need anything, we just ate about a half hour ago. But I know my way around a kitchen if so." Walter told her before leading Paige and Ralph out of the room.
Paige noticed all the photographic art along the walls. Lots of landscapes and portraits of celebrities, sports figures and notable figures.
"Wait." Paige said as she stepped up to one portrait in particular. "Are all of these original Flameur?" Paige asked.
"They are actually." Walter smiled.
"Man, the amount of money you spent on all this art, you could probably put one hundred kids through four years of college on. He's one of my favorite artists." Paige smiled back at him.
"Oh, you'd be surprised at how little I paid for all of these." Walter grinned.
"Did you get them at an estate sale or something?" Paige asked before they started moving again.
"No, he's one of my closest friends." Walter grinned.
Paige stopped quickly and grabbed Walter's hands.
"You know Flameur personally? You have got to introduce me." Paige told him.
"You have my word, I will introduce you." Walter grinned and nodded. "But you need to remember, you are my girlfriend and not go all gaga over him."
Paige smiled but shook her head and slapped his shoulder playfully. She kissed him before wrapping her arm around his as they resumed walking.
"What makes them so valuable?" Ralph asked. "Couldn't someone just print another copy from the negative?"
Walter chuckled.
"Each original has the negative it was printed from inserted into the backing of the print. It is also etched in a special way that if someone was to get it and try printing another copy it would be easy to tell it was a fake." Walter told him as they walked.
They saw a number of rooms but the next one that really caught Paige's eye was the kitchen.
"Walter." Paige said somewhat quietly, almost in reverence. Staring at the modern appliances and the sheer number of them. There was enough stove space she could cook four full holiday meals at a time with ease.
"You like?" Walter smiled.
Paige nodded with a grin as she walked over and examined one of the stoves. It had three cooking ovens, each with their own heating and timing controls.
"You probably shouldn't have shown this room to Mom yet. She's liable to be here for a while." Ralph told him.
"That's okay Ralph, we got time." Walter smiled at him.
"Ah, Walter. I thought I heard voices." A man said as he came out of a side room.
"William, good to see you. This is my girlfriend Paige and her son Ralph. They're moving in." Walter told him.
"Very good sir. Is there anything you guys would like this evening?" William asked.
"No, we should be good and if it turns out we do, I know my way around the kitchen or the phone." Walter grinned.
William laughed as he turned and walked back into the side room.
"I'm definitely going to have to cook a meal real soon. And definitely before you sell it if you are serious about selling this place." Paige finally said as she turned from the stove.
"Well it would probably take a while to find a buyer. It is a good time to sell right now." Walter grinned and nodded as she walked back up to him and kissed him.
As they moved through they came to a set of stairs going down.
"What's downstairs?" Ralph asked.
"Right now, nothing really…or rather won't be after I have some work done down there. Maybe we can talk about what we might like to put down there later." Walter smiled as he rubbed his head.
They walked on and into another room and Paige saw all the photography equipment. At first her eyes went wide but Walter shook his head.
"This is my photography studio for indoor shots." Walter told them. "My art room is locked down on the other side of that wall." Walter whispered as Ralph moved out into the room to look at everything.
"You make photographic art too?" Paige paused as she remembered Richard's comment and then her eyes opened wider. "Are you telling me that you are Flameur?" Paige said excitedly.
Walter chuckled as he nodded and then was inundated by kisses.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! I goofed last chapter, I meant to put in a snip from the new story and forgot. I've also included the story name. If you follow me on IG you would have seen it in my stories there the other day.
Lucy - LOL Yep he did step in it! lol Richard really is. He knows just what Walter is capable of on computers. And the last thing he wants is to...irritate...Walter.
Railman - hehe Well Richard is an important man business wise, can't be slowing him down by street traffic. lol Definitely it was the only way to get there in time. For Walter it is more about fun as far as his investing goes. He does enjoy the luxury and power the money provides but it isn't what really motivates him. He enjoys out smarting other investors. Getting into a company when it is at its least valuable but has great potential and riding the wave of value until he dumps it. Since waking up the first time he's actually not been paying as much attention to it. We'll see on both Merrick and Toby...LOL
LouBe - Oh goodness...well if he hadn't responded to Walter's satisfaction (old Walter's satisfaction would have wanted more from Richard) but in both cases Walter probably would have leaked every secret about Richard's business dealings. He might have even staged a hostile takeover and kicked him to the curb. lol Had he known he was on speaker, he might not have said that. Had he known who Paige was and what she meant to Walter, he never would have said that at all. lol Richard groveled pretty nicely to her didn't he? Let's hope Merrick gets all he deserves! Walter enjoys flashing cash at times. Not sure that will change or not. Seems Paige kind of cooled his jets a little about the splurging! lol Very discrete this time! lol
JerBr23 - LOL I wouldn't know what it was like to have a wallet full of them either. lol Queen Dineen said she rather quite enjoyed his apology. lol
Marie Mac - Happy belated Birthday! So glad to hear from you again and that you are still enjoying the stories! Weather here is something...lol It is slightly nicer than normal but still a bit on the cool side, wet and windy. Today looks like partly cloudy.
To the Adventure! -Tim
Snip: "Piège de l'innocence"
Nemos was furious about it, but quickly calmed down when he found out it had been Paige who had dropped it. He was used to the other employees breaking dishes and finding out it was Paige, really threw him.
"How did he find me? After all this time. Well, he's in for a shock!" Paige thought as she made her way to the table of the patron who's plate she dropped. She apologized profusely about the accident and now the delay in getting his lunch.
The patron had understood and told her not to worry. He wasn't in that big of a hurry.
Paige moved over to another table and spoke with them for a minute and got their order. Paige turned to go get them ice water and confront the man when her eyes saw her son sitting there at the counter. At the moment he was twisting back and forth on the stool, deriving sensory pleasure from the action. Paige smiled at him and stepped over to him.