A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words
1809 Words
Josh had set up a meeting with his father. He was going to push for the early aquisition of Data Solutions. It was his only way to see his mate again. He didn't even know her name and that irked him.
"Come on in Son." His father opened his office door and let Josh follow him back inside.
"I wanted to discuss the aquisition of Data Solutions. I think we need to move ahead with it, not waste our time waiting. I know the plan is to hold out for a better price." Josh pulled out his phone.
"If you look here and see the money in adertising we could make; it far exceeds the amount of money we MAY save by holding out." Josh knew it had to be all about the money.
Stan took his phone and looked at the numbers. They were solid and he was right. He liked it when his son thought like he did. He handed the phone back to him and gave a half smile.
"Good work Son. Now you are starting to think like a business man." He moved around to sit on the other side of his desk.
"I don't have anyone I can let go run it. Any thoughts on that?" He leaned back in his big chair and Josh sat across from him.
"I can." Josh had to sound confident about it.
Stand coughed at the suggestion and thought maybe. "How can you? You barely get out of bed in the mornings." He scoffed but he wasn't wrong.
"I know, but maybe this is just what I need. Mark can come with me and you can send somone out once a week instead of full time." Josh had tried to think of everythhing.
They discussed the ins and outs of it and for the first time it was a real business discussion he had had with his son. He was going to do it, he had decided that already but he wanted Josh to work for it. He saw something different in his eyes since he broke up with that human girlfriend. Something a bit more focused.
"Son, I am going to send you and Mark back out to close this deal. This can be your baby and we will see how it goes. While you are out there find an apartment but make sure it's not in anyone elses territory. I haven't heard of any packs out that way but you never know. Just be sure to be diligent about it." This was as supportive as Stan gets. Besides he knew that Data Solutions was almost fail proof.
"When can we leave?" Josh didn't want to seem overly excited but Trenton was jumping around inside at the prospect of seeing their mate. They had worked this whole presentation out together and it was nice to feel like they were a team.
"I will call Mr. Jensen and work out the details. I will be in touch with a time frame. " He got up telling Josh they were done with this conversation.
Josh went to find Mark. He had kept this in for almost 2 weeks and needed to get in a workout and tell Mark that he was right.
Julia crossed him mind sometimes and his heart still hurt but it was getting better everyday.
Him and Mark hit the lockers "So do you remember that girl from St. Louise with the Yellow raincoat?" Josh asked not looking at Mark.
"Yes." Mark knew what was coming.
"Well, you were right. She is my..."
"I knew it, I knew it! I am glad you came to terms with it." Inside he thought that was why he finally broke up with Julia. He saw her in school and seemed okay. She never acknowledged him anymore. "So what are you going to do about it?" He finished pulling on his basketball shorts.
"First I pitched my Dad to buy the business she is working in and have me go run it. I think at least getting close to her is a good start. I thought you could be my right hand out there but you have school so I just might have to go it alone." Josh was a bit excited to go out in the world alone.
"Good call! Now I am going to beat you at some bball right now." They made their way out of the locker room.
Nicole
She packed up the box, she'd have more time to go over it later. She ate and walked back to his room. She gently folded his dressing robe and packed it in a different box of things she wanted to keep. As she walked around his room she noticed that the floor creaked everytime she stepped in a certain place.
She got down on her knees and inspected the floor and one little peice of the oak floor moved. She couldn't quiet get her fingernail to pick it up and she went to get a knife and it popped right out of its spot and then a few more did as well. Soon it was big enough that she could see in it. She flashed her phone light and a tin box reflected back. She reached for it and just barely got it with her fingers.
It was an oblong box and the lid was held on with a clasp. She sat on the floor at the foot of his double sized bed and with her heart racing she opened the box.
She found a letter, a ring and a bracelet. She looked at the letter.
My Dearest Brother (she didn't know he had a sister)-
I am sorry I missed you at the train station. I feel it was my last chance to talk with you.
Please seek out the council as they know how best to handle the baby. Don't take this on yourself. They won't let you.
Be safe and love always,
Sabrina
Nicole held the letter in her hands shaking. Did he really risk his own life to be with her?
She had a million things running through her mind. She took a deep breath and thought this might be best to go with the box. She might even get out a glass of wine when she went through that now.
She walked out into the kitchen and felt like someone was watching her. She pushed it out of mind because that was crazy. Right?
She set the tin box on the paper box and just did a double check that the door was locked.
She took her time gather the things she wanted to keep. She had to decide if she wanted to rent it out, sell it or move into it.
Her job wasn't really worth sticking around for but she liked it. She could just do her job and let everyone else volley for the promotion.
She was tired and the emotions of everything was finally takng it's toll on her. She walked down the hallway and sat in his favorite chair. It was comfy and his scent drifted all around her helping her relax a little bit. She shifted her weight and heard something crinkle. She stood up and pulled off the seat cushion thinking that a candy bar wraper was stuck. He loved his Milky Way bars she smiled to herself but it wasn't a candy bar wraper it was an old 10x12 evelope. It said 'Nicky Bicky' on it and she pulled it out and put the seat cushion back. 'What in the world is actually going on here?' She thought to herself. Mystery boxes get delivered hidden things in the floor and now this?
She sat down and flipped it over and opened it. She pulled out pictures. It was 5 picutres. 1 was a couple walking hand in hand and it looked like Big Ben in the back ground. The second one was of a single man, it was old and black and white he was posed on a bridge and the clothing looking like WWII era. The third was of house or apartment building that just said "Wolfgang Hieghts". The fourth was of a few people sitting like judges on a bench. It looked the photo taken in secret with something over the lense. The 5th was a picture of her at her 5th grade graduation with Uncle.
She sat there for sometime looking at them lost in thought and then someone knocked on the door. She suddenly was on high alert, something felt not right to her, something deep down was tellling to beware. As she walked up to the door she grabbed her tazer that she always had on her and peeked out the side window. She did not recongize him.
"Yes?" She asked looking out the window.
"Nicole Parks?" He smiled and asked. His dark borwn eyes looked like they were lying to her.
"She's not here. She had to go back to the city." She lied.
"Which city?"
"Who are you? I know everyone in this town and I have never seen you before."
He smiled even bigger and his teeth looked like they could eat someone. "I am attorney her Father hired to help with his Last Will and testoment."
Ha! She knew he was a liar. "I am not in any condition to open the door. Please just leave your card and I will have her call you."
"Very well then." He pulled out a card and put it in the door jam. He looked back at her in the window, smiled and nodded and turned to leave.
She leaned against the door holding her tazer. "What in the f**k is happening?" She suddenly felt like she was not safet there.
She got on the phone with the local police department. "Hello? Can you send someone out to 11145 Harold Street? I just had a stranger come to my door and I'd like to finishing packing my car but now I feel unsafe."
"Hold please. I will get a time frame for you."
After a few moments
"Officer Olson will be out in about 10 minuets."
"Thank you very much." She hung up the phone and began gathering all her stuff she wanted to take in her car. She couldn't shake this feeling of being watched as she moved about her house. Maybe she needed more time here. She felt like she wasn't done finding everything she needed.
11am, she if she left in 20 min she'd be back at her apartment at 2:30ish.
Josh
He was packing and getting ready to leave the next day for St.Louis when he felt this strange sensation vibrate through him. "Our mate is in danger." Trenton said.
"How can I help her? How do I know that ?" Josh felt helpless.
- Writer
