Sorry this is a little late, lots of things going on in RL that take up writing time. Here are some ideas about Josef's plan~~~~~~

Chapter 4

Josef smiled to himself as he read the contents of his computer screen. He was well on his way to ruining Lance Duvall's financial empire. It had only been less than two weeks or so, but he had Rider England and Logan Griffen both invading the investments they'd found in the French vampire's portfolio. Josef was losing money by ruining the Duvall's, but with his fortune, he could afford to lose a million or ten. With Lance focused on the family's money, perhaps he would be less concerned about security.

Mick had called Josef and told him he'd be stopping by tonight, and had something to tell him. Right on time, Mick strode into his office, looking preoccupied.

"Hey, Mick. Low on blood? You look a little rocky."

Mick plopped down in one of the comfortable chairs in front of Josef's desk. "Yeah, I could use a drink."

"Half and half?" Josef inquired.

"That's fine."

Josef quickly mixed the scotch and blood and handed Mick a glass. "What's up, buddy?"

"I saw Coraline last night."

Josef raised his eyebrows. "I take it that Beth isn't happy?"

"She's okay with it, but I'm not."

"What happened?" Josef asked.

"Coraline told me Lance is after her to report on us. He wants her to find out what you're doing and let him know."

"What did she say?"

"She said she was afraid of him, and wanted me to help her."

"And you're surprised, why?" Josef said with an arched eyebrow.

Mick gave Josef a glare as he took a drink. "She said she'd help us, but I don't trust her."

"Of course you don't," Josef scoffed. "No one in their right mind would trust Coraline. The point is, can we use her?"

"I think so, at least to a point," Mick shrugged. "If Lance goes after her, she wants me to come with her to help her hide from him."

The pieces fell into place for Josef. "Don't worry, Mick, if she needs to run, then I'll have one of my guys handle it. But let her think you'll go with her, it might keep her working with us."

Mick drained his glass and frowned. "I don't like it."

"Listen, I know I said we weren't going to storm the castle, but in case we have to get into their stronghold, Coraline is the only one who knows their set up. For the moment, we need to play nice with her. Especially, if we can feed Lance misinformation."

Mick got up and poured himself a straight scotch and returned to his chair.

Josef sensed Mick's reluctance to deal with Coraline. "Look, for the moment, we could use the inside information Coraline has."

"I just don't want Beth to be hurt," Mick conceded.

Josef shifted in his chair. "I understand, but I think Beth won't be as upset as you think. She knows that we have to take out Lance and the Duvall's. We both almost died, and she saved my life. The next time Lance comes after us, and he will, we might not be so lucky. I'll talk to her if you want."

Mick shook his head. "No, I'll tell her." Mick smirked a little. "Every time I see Coraline, Beth insists I take a shower to get her scent off me. I promised her a spa tub in our bathroom."

Josef relaxed, and said, "So aside from waterlogged skin, what else is bothering you?"

"I want to know what you have planned for Lance."

Josef swirled his drink a little, and frowned. "I'd like to get him out of France, away from his support system. To do that, I think we'll have to send someone undercover."

"Like who?"

"Not you, my friend. Lance knows you, me, Beth and a couple of other LA vampires. I'm sabotaging his financial empire, and I've make significant dents in their holdings. I think I can lure Lance out of France, maybe to Canada, since he can't enter the US without the Council's permission."

"How are you going to do that?"

Josef smiled evilly, "I'm working on it now."

Mick raised an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

"Not yet. I have to put the pieces together and make sure the Duvall's finances are destroyed before I can move."

"So in the meantime, I have to deal with Coraline?"

"Have her tell Lance we're angry, but not sure what to do about it. Play up to her, make her comfortable."

"Josef, I'm not going to sleep with her!" Mick said, angrily.

His friend stood up, just as irritated. "I didn't say that. Beth is my grand-childe, and I'd never suggest anything that would hurt her."

Mick sat back, astounded that Josef would admit to their blood relationship.

"Just be nice and encourage her to help us," Josef said.

"And let her think I'm going along with her? That maybe we'd get back together?" Mick grimaced.

"Can you do that? It's a lot to ask."

Mick knew this was important, and he trusted Josef, but now he had to hope that Beth would understand. "I'll do it, but Beth has to agree."

"Naturally," Josef waved his hand. "I'm sure she won't like it, but it's for the greater good. It was only a fluke that you and Simone didn't drink that poisoned blood in Geneva, and we could have all died." Josef tamped down his rage at the thought that Simone might have perished there. "Lance needs to pay, and I want him dead."

Mick felt Josef's rage, and it matched his own. The fear he felt for Beth when she was missing in Europe made him resolute that Lance would die, no matter if he had to deal with Coraline.

"Fine. I'll make sure Coraline helps us."

"Then we're agreed," Josef said.

"Yes," Mick responded. He would do whatever he needed to ensure Beth would be safe from the Duvall's treachery.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I think this fabric will go well with the wall color," Maureen Harrison said, holding the swatch in the light in Simone and Ben's new office. The building's windows had UV protection for the vampires, but the light still shown through, allowing the cloth to display its color.

"It's lovely," Simone said.

"I can have the furniture upholstered with this, and delivered by next week," Maureen said with satisfaction.

"What about art?" Simone asked.

Maureen smiled. "I know Josef has a lot of paintings in storage, and I asked his assistant if we could raid his cache."

Simone smiled back. "I don't think that will be a problem."

"I thought not. Original art will give the office the gravitas that you need for your clients."

Simone looked around at the painter cloth's draping the furniture. "I don't want to be too old school, I think Ben would prefer minimalistic."

"Of course. The furniture I showed you is mid-century modern, but with subdued colors. Along with the original art, it will show wealth and elegance but won't be too obvious."

"I think it will look wonderful," Simone said. "You know Sofia is going to work for us, once we get started."

Maureen nodded. "She's very excited about it. I'm glad she'll be under your care, so to speak."

Simone had come to like Sofia's mother during their time decorating their office, and she knew Maureen was concerned about Sofia's relationship with Ewan.

"I'm glad Sofia will be working with us. She's very bright and she likes the law."

Maureen put down the fabric swatches and looked out the window. "I know she's in love with Ewan and she wants to be turned at some point."

Simone felt the woman's trepidation for her daughter. She was pleased that Maureen trusted her enough to want to talk about it.

"It's a hard decision to make. I know, I had to make it myself."

Maureen turned to Simone. "I just want my daughter to be happy. I understand about vampires, I spent part of my youth as a freshie, and I know the allure of being with a vampire."

"I'd be concerned if that was all it was," Simone responded. "I don't know if Sofia told you, but Ewan didn't even bite her until they'd been dating for months."

Maureen looked at her with surprise. "She told you that?"

"Yes." Simone felt Maureen's disappointment that her daughter hadn't confided that to her own mother. "Don't feel bad. You and I were both donors, and we know that vampires don't have emotional connections with those who provide them blood. With Sofia and Ewan, it was more than that. Sofia told me Ewan had to be persuaded, and it was more than the blood."

"Oh," Maureen said, not feeling much better.

Simone smiled at the human mother. "For them, like with Josef and me, it was love that made me want to give him my blood. Sort of like having sex. I mean, did you tell your mother that you had sex the first time?"

"Uh, no," Maureen said, with a self-deprecating chuckle. "I sure didn't."

"It's the same with Sofia. Giving Ewan her blood was the same. You've met Ewan, and you know he wouldn't take advantage of any woman he didn't care about."

Maureen wandered around the half-finished office. "I just want her to be happy. She told me that if she'd met a human man and fell in love, she wouldn't think of being a vampire. But she met Ewan and she loves him. I just want to make sure he's as committed to her."

"I admit I haven't known him that long, but I've talked to his sister, and she told me that he hasn't had a serious relationship in all the time he's been a vampire. No one can guarantee that it will be forever, but I think they both love each other."

Maureen nodded. "I just worry if something happens after I'm gone, she'll be alone."

"Once Sofia is a vampire, she'll never be alone." Simone took Maureen's warm hands into her cool ones. "Even if something happens, she'll still have all of her friends here to take care of her. There aren't that many vampires in the world, but we look after our own."

Maureen smiled, and squeezed Simone's hands before she let go. "That's a promise?"

Simone nodded, "Yes. None of us know how long we'll here, but Sofia will never be alone, no matter how long she lives."

"Then I'll stop worrying." Maureen felt the tension leave her. In such a short time, she knew she could trust Simone and Josef. After all, Josef was the most powerful vampire in the region and she took Simone's words to heart.

"You know, Ewan is even older than Josef. I don't think he'd allow anything to happen to Sofia. He doesn't show his power, but believe me, it's there. I'm young yet, but I can feel it."

"Good," Maureen said, her concerns dissipating. "Thank you for telling me, Simone."

The auburn-haired vampire grinned widely. "I'm glad we talked about it. You know," Simone said, changing the subject. "If you don't mind, I'll put your name out in the community as a designer that can be trusted with our secret. There are lots of business owned by vamps that could use your services. It's much easier for us to work with someone who knows about us."

Now Maureen smiled. "That would be very nice of you." She picked up her swatches. "I'd better get these to the factory so I can have your furniture delivered on time."

"I can't wait. Once we're done with the office, don't be a stranger. I'd love to meet you for drinks when you have time."

"Of course," Maureen replied, picking up her briefcase. "I look forward to it."

She left, and taking another look at the office, Simone went to the elevator, heading for Josef's office. She wanted to get her husband home for some much needed relaxation.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gerald Stofsky helped bring Sonora's bags into his apartment. Like Mick, he'd bought his building a dozen years ago, so he would have a secure place to live. It was an older building with only six floors, and he also had the entire top floor. There was an elevator, but it wasn't private to his apartment. There were mostly humans as tenants and he had a company to manage the rest of the building.

Sonora had been at his place before, but he hadn't thought about sharing it with a mate. She'd never said anything about the décor, but now he worried it was old-fashioned, and as he looked around the place, he realized it wasn't very well set up or welcoming for a lady of Sonora's caliber. After a call to the freezer company, he had a double-wide freezer installed in his hidden room off the bath, and he hoped Sonora would approve.

He took the last of her bags into the bedroom, thankful he didn't have that many clothes to fill the closets.

She looked around, anticipating where her things would be stored.

"I hope there's enough room," he said, diffidently. "I—I've never had anyone stay here before."

Sonora smiled sexily. "I could see that no woman has shared your home."

Gerald was afraid she didn't like the apartment and said, "You can make any changes you like, I've never really paid much attention to the furnishings."

Correctly divining his discomfort, Sonora responded, "It is fine, but perhaps some plants and a little more color, yes?"

"Make whatever changes you like," he said.

"But I do not want to change your style of living, mi amour."

Her endearment sent Gerald into a fog of desire for her, and he managed to say, "I want you to feel at home. Do you have anything from your other apartment you want to bring?"

Sonora's deep brown eyes regarded him. She knew he felt insecure about her liking his place. "I rented by last apartment furnished," she shrugged. "Like you amado, I thought only of my work, and as long as I had someplace for my computer, I didn't care."

She took in the large living area, noticing a desk in the corner spread with papers. "I think I will need a space for my working as well."

"Of course," Gerald replied. "We can clear out the furniture and get new if you like. I'm quite well off." He didn't want Sonora to think she was living with a pauper.

"I think we can keep some of your things, but you need to show me to the bedroom," she said, seductively, placing her hand on his chest.

Gerald took her arms, and backed up into the bedroom, with its unused bed. He'd gotten it to make his place look more human, but had never slept in it. Now he was glad he had it.

Sonora glanced around the bare space. "Ah, it is quite spartan, but it does have a delicioso bed." She pushed him down onto it, loosening his tie. "Shall we make use of this lovely piece of furniture?"

Gerald pulled her down into a kiss, and decided that they definitely needed to redecorate ….. later.

TBC

Mick isn't too happy having to deal with Coraline and it's a good thing they don't trust her. Next, will Coraline's treachery impact what Josef wants to do to Lance? And, there's still the matter of that delightful bathtub for Mick and Beth. Thanks for reading and reviewing.