I
Late August, 2000
NYPD Officer Joanna Polniaczek had a blessed day off. Despite the fact that she and her lover, Blair Warner, had more money than they could ever hope to need or spend, Jo wanted to pay her way in the world. She would rather use their wealth for philanthropy and to help the less fortunate than to live off of those riches, so she worked, and worked hard, as a police officer. Growing up in The Bronx, with much of her teen years being tied up in leading a gang called the Young Diablos, it had given Jo a perspective on the world that someone like Blair Warner, the daughter of a corporate billionaire, could never have discovered.
Remembering the life she had led then, and how, thanks to Providence, because of her remarkable intelligence, Jo ended up at the exclusive Eastland Academy, where most of the students were children of the extremely wealthy, the socially connected, politicians, and even foreign diplomats and foreign leaders. It took a while for this tough-talking, no-nonsense girl to forge her own path, along the way making some lifelong friends, and a few enemies.
The friendships she treasured the most from those days were with Mrs. Garrett, the Eastland dietitian turned House Mother, who had taken Jo under her wings, and with two younger girls, Natalie Greene, and Dorothy Ramsey, who were forever stuck with the nickname "Tootie". All three had helped her grow and blossom in the woman she was.
But it was Blair Warner-of all people, Blair Warner: the heiress to an extravagant fortune, and, someday, most likely, the Chief Executive Officer of the company founded by her Grandfather, and now run by her father, Warner Corporation. They had nothing in common-or so they thought. But they were wrong.
Both had grown up as an only child. Jo had run the streets of The Bronx; Blair had been shuttled more often than not with nannies and distant relatives. Both were brilliantly intelligent, and both were stubborn as mules. Maybe that's why, after a few years, they became best friends, and during their Junior year at Langley College, had become lovers.
They had their ups and downs, like every couple, but their almost obsessive devotion to one another had seen them through. When Jo's parents, Charlie and Rose Polniaczek, died within nine months of each other, Blair never left Jo's side. When Blair's mother had died of cancer the year after that, Jo returned the devotion.
Now, as they were truly moving up in the world, as it was, they saw less and less of each other-Jo doing her beat as a cop, working her way to become a detective, while Blair was slowly but steadily taking on more tasks in her training to become CEO when her Daddy stepped down.
But neither were worried about the future at the moment.
It was around 9pm, not an unusual time of day for Blair Warner to arrive at the swank apartment she and Jo shared in Midtown Manhattan. The well-appointed home was only minutes from the Warner Headquarters in Lower Manhattan, and the Midtown North Precinct where Jo was a seasoned but also fast-rising officer on the force.
Jo had been combing through information on her laptop, looking into possibly going back to school to earn a degree in Criminal Science, Criminal Justice, or perhaps a pre-Law degree, then afterward acquiring a Master's Degree. Jo Polniaczek had always had an insatiable desire to learn, even when she was running around with the Young Diablos. She hadn't truly found an outlet for her intellect until she was accepted at Eastland, where she quickly established the fact that not only was she a tough-wise city kid, but a girl who was as intelligent as any student at either Langley or the boys-only school, Bates Academy. Both gained her a sense of legitimacy that she felt had always eluded her.
She hadn't discussed her musings with Blair yet, as she wanted to first get as much information as she could. She had been on the force for five years, and was seriously considering trying to move up to Detective. Even though a degree in Law Enforcement of some sort wasn't required to move up, she contemplated that more knowledge of her career was never a bad thing.
She also didn't know if she could handle that kind of load. She picked up overtime when she could-not for the money, but for gaining experience, and because she loved the job.
"Hey Joey", Blair said as the door closed behind her. "How was your day off?"
Jo looked up and smile. "Hey Princess, it was...a working day off, if you get my drift." She glanced over at the computer desk in the living room, Blair understanding at once, smirking at the humor.
"Well", Blair said as she strode over to Jo who had stood up, throwing her arms around the brunette, "I wouldn't expect anything less from my not-so-neanderthal girlfriend." Jo snorted a brief laugh before Blair kissed her with some desire.
"I believe if I became President of the United States, and you were my First Lady, Blondie, you'd still call me 'neanderthal'." She returned the kiss even more firmly.
"True", Blair agreed, the two women still holding each other. "Did you warm up anything for dinner, love? I haven't had a bite to eat since about Noon."
Jo rolled her eyes. "Blair, you may not do physical work like me, but you work your butt off for your dad, and you know it ain't good for you to go all day without food. But", she continued as Blair wanted to protest, "yes, I got some beef and veggie Kabobs in the fridge. I made 'em a few hours ago."
"Ooh", Blair said, her smile broadening, "I love those things. Did you put onions and tomatoes and mushroom on them?"
"If I didn't put all of 'em on there, you'd certainly tell me about it." Her eyes glimmered at her blonde beauty.
"I'm sure I don't have any idea what you're talking about, Joey", she responded, dramatically batter her eyes, making Jo groan.
"Jeez, why do I put up with you sometime, Farrah?" The words were sharp, but Blair knew the love behind the words.
Blair moved in close to Jo again. "You wouldn't get kisses like this." Blair hungrily went after Jo's lips, Jo giving her access to her mouth as tongues danced both ways. "And", Blair said during a brief interlude, "you wouldn't have the mind-blowing sex that we have either."
Jo laughed and moved in for another kiss. "Mmm, good point, Blair. But let's save this for later. I wanna warm up the Kabobs while you change, and I'll pour a little wine for both of us. Deal?"
"You're such a mushy romantic at heart, Polniaczek", Blair teased, Jo smacking her on her caboose.
"Beat it, Blondie", she said, barely able to hold in a laugh. "You know I don't do mushy!"
Blair kissed her once more and moved off. "Mush, mush, mush", she said in parting, never seeing the couch pillow Jo threw at her, hitting her in the head.
Later that evening after a long session of tender love-making, the two women lay in bed afterward, knowing sleep would soon take them. It was very seldom that they did not sleep naked, preferring the warmth and feel of each others' bodies. Tonight would be no exception.
"I must say, Ms. Polniaczek", Blair mentioned, as her cheek laid softly against Jo's left breast, "you do have a talent for sex."
Jo lightly laughed. "Well, when ya got it, Blondie, you got it, and I have it-and I get 'it' from you quite often. I can't say you're a slouch yourself in that department. And I gotta tell ya, the first time we made love? I was pretty surprised at how...demanding you could be."
"Really?" Blair raised her head, rolled a bit, putting her chin in both palms. "I am being groomed as a future CEO, Jo, and you have to be demanding in the position."
Jo couldn't resist herself. "Well, the position don't matter, Blair, you're demanding no matter whose on top and whose on bottom."
Blair brought a pillow from behind her, lightly bringing it down on Jo's head, but laughing hysterically at her lover's play on words. "Oh, you...you barbarian", she growled playfully, "you have no couth, you know that?"
Jo raised her eyebrows. "Why Blair, that may be the nicest compliment you've ever given me!"
"Oh, you barbarian!" She jumped on her lover and began assaulting her with tickles.
"No tickling, Warner...you know...STOP!" She sputtered a laugh with the last word. It took a few minutes for them to get over the hilarity.
When they did, Blair was still pressed on top of Jo. "What time to you go to work tomorrow, honey?"
"Noon", Jo replied, running her hands down the hourglass figure of her lover. "Until midnight", she amended with a frown. "And you know how bad Saturday's can be. The weekend seems to bring out the worst in some people."
Blair had always worried about Jo as an officer, but never once had tried to talk her out of her desire to help others. Jo's strength of character in that regard had always had a profound effect on Blair for a number of years.
"I know you'll be as safe as you can", Blair agreed, "but you know I'll always worry about you, Joey."
Jo smiled up at her partner. "It took me a while to not get too defensive about you bein' worried about me, but now I realize it's simply the mark of the love we have for each other." She kissed Blair sweetly on the lips. 'But now, I'm beat and we gotta get some shuteye."
Normally, they might go another round or two, but Blair felt warm and sated, and moved next to Jo, putting one arm possessively around her.