Christopher Golde

Date:               12th June 1996                                  Location:        New York, USA

 

          “Are you serious,” asked Pietta, as she looked incredulously at Jason King sitting beside her in the cab?

“I have always run my company with a degree of anonymity, and besides, what difference does it make?”

He looked at her and tried his best not to smile.

“Well, for a start, he is one of the richest men in the world, and he doesn’t just see anyone,” she said, obviously exasperated by Jason’s nonchalant attitude. She turned and looked out the window of the taxi.

“That’s okay, you’ll be there,’ he said, knowing she could not see his smile, “he won’t be able to take his eyes off you. Lucky if he even notices I’m there.”

“Now that’s just ridiculous,” she huffed.

He was being serious about being anonymous, but he was also just having a bit of fun at her expense about how they were going to do it. Jason had an opinion about Bill Gatwick, and his own company’s intelligence had warned him of some of the billionaire’s intentions. At this stage, he thought discretion was probably better than valour.

“Look,” he reasoned with her, “let's just say that I think it is in my company’s best interest that he doesn’t know who I am. Seriously, I have a second ID that I can use and it won’t even show up on his security radar. What do you think? Ay! Just for now!”

She turned slowly to look at him, staring at his now almost emerald green eyes. It was funny she thought, his eyes always seemed a different shade of green every time she looked into them.

“I don’t know why, but okay; but if we get found out…”

“We won’t,” he assured her, placing his hand gently on her arm, “we won’t.”

“Who are you then,” she asked pouting her lips?

“Shane Harper mam, happy to meet you,” he mimicked, in a real Aussie accent, holding out his hand with a stupid grin on his normally handsome features.

“Stop it,” she said smiling, “you look stupid, and it sounds stupid.”

“No truly,” he said, snapping out of the accent, “I have an ID and passport that says I am Shane Harper, car salesman, and common ex-convict.” He kept the straight face and she realized he was telling her the truth.

“Where…?”

“Long story, you didn’t notice it, but I used it to come into the country,” he said with a cheeky grin.

“You,” she said and slapped his arm, “I could have blown it going through customs since you didn’t even bother to tell me.”

”Nuh, I ‘m too good for that to have happened.”

“Who are you really,” she said, now looking a little concerned, “are you even really Jason King?”

“Now that’s a good question,” he replied, feigning seriousness, “who really is Jason King?”

“Stop it,” she slapped him again on the arm. He laughed out loud.

“Who really is anyone for that matter,” he said, then turned to her, putting his hand up to her face, and cupping her cheek gently, “don’t worry, just trust me for a while and you will see I am right, okay.”

She nodded and smiled softly. He took his hand from her cheek and grabbed her hand, lifting it to his lips, and then kissed it gently. She felt a shiver run through her. She didn’t know why, but she knew she could trust him.

The cab pulled up suddenly and the driver yelled into the rear vision mirror.

“Tenth and Main sir.”

As the taxi pulled away, they both stood on the pavement and looked up in awe at the rows of skyscrapers. As far as they could see in either direction, were massive buildings reaching into the skies.

“Well that’s it there,” he said, pointing at one of the largest buildings in the street, “in all its glass and gold splendour.”

“Well let’s go,” she said, heading off towards the building, “we’re late, thanks to you.”

“What do you mean, thanks to me, it was you that took an hour to put on makeup, and I was only late because I had to get you a special non-fat breakfast.”

She skipped through the pedestrian mayhem towards the Gatwick building, as Jason struggled against the human tide of the New York sidewalk, in an effort to keep up. It seemed to him that when Pietta walked anywhere the crowds just seemed to part.

Once inside the building, Pietta went straight up to a security desk and asked them where she might find Bill Gatwick. Phone calls were rapidly made and guest passes issued, before they found themselves alone in an elevator, speeding express towards the thirty-sixth floor.

“Now remember,” Jason said, looking sternly at her, “I am Shane Harper, your boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend, I don’t think so,” she said, indignantly.

“Okay then, what would you like, miss perfect, since I am not good enough for you.”

He acted hurt in a playful sense but deep down he was a little taken aback by her reaction. He did not get many knockbacks.

She noticed.

“It’s not that, it’s just that it probably wouldn’t be credible, I‘m not the sort who all of a sudden turns up with boyfriends, and Bill knows me well,” she explained, realizing she probably reacted a little too negative at the suggestion. The true fact of the matter was that although she seemed like a confident global player, she was really the shy type. She did like him and he was definitely her type, but she just wasn’t that easy. In fact, if she hadn’t thought of him as a chance, she would not have reacted the way she did to his suggestion.

For a minute, there was silence between them, as the elevator surged upward towards the thirty-sixth floor.

“Okay,” she relented, “let's just say we met at the function and you suggested I come here to warn him, but you thought you should accompany me for safety reasons.”

“Gee, where did you think of that,” he said, smiling from ear to ear and pretending to be sarcastic.

“Stop it,” she pouted and slapped his arm.

“What am I, your new punching bag?”

“I only hit people I like,” she said, smiling.

“Hate to think what it’s like when you love someone then,” he said, rubbing his arm.

Love, there’s a word she always struggled with. She didn’t answer but couldn’t help but smile sweetly.

The lift stopped smoothly and the doors silently opened. Jason gestured in his most gentlemanly demeanour for her to leave first and they stepped out immediately into a large reception, come waiting room, with a huge desk in front of even larger wall signage that said ‘Macram Corporation’.

“Well there is no doubt we are in the right place,” he quipped.

            Ignoring the comment, Pietta walked ahead to the desk where a girl with fashionable thick dark-rimmed glasses and blonde hair tied back in a ponytail sat watching them approach.

“We’re here to see Mr Gatwick,” Pietta offered first.

“I know,” replied the girl, somewhat arrogantly, “just have a seat and someone will be with you shortly.”

Jason looked about at the four large lounges that surrounded the room and picked one near a coffee table with magazines on it, gesturing to Pietta. Having dealt with Macram for many years, she was accustomed to the arrogant manner of many of the company’s employees and ignored the attitude of the receptionist. She walked over and sat down on the couch Jason had pointed to. Jason picked up a magazine to browse through then noticed that on the cover of everyone was a photo of Bill Gatwick, either with celebrities or on his own.

“Boy, this guy is obsessed with himself,” he said, under his breath to Pietta.

“That’s our Bill,” she said, smiling.

As if that were an introduction, the door next to the reception desk opened and a tall girl with long legs and very short skirt strutted in, momentarily paused, spotted Pietta and Jason sitting expectantly on the lounge, and continued to strut towards them.

“Hi Pietta,” she said, in what Jason thought, could only be the sexiest put-on possible.

As she got closer to them Jason could see that the girl was heavily made up and her bleach blonde hair was plastered to her head allowing a short fringe to run in a jagged line across her forehead. Every stitch, of what little clothes she had on, was black and skin-tight, defining large breasts with pointed nipples and, he had to admit, a very shapely ass, which she loved to sway to its extremes as she walked.

“Hello Electra,” Pietta returned, as she stood up from the lounge.

The two girls brushed cheeks and pouted lips as they greeted each other. Pietta turned towards Jason as he raised himself from the lounge as well.

“This is my friend,” she paused just for a moment, “Shane.”

Jason held out his hand, which Electra took gently with her fingertips. Jason noticed the long painted black nails at the end of her extended delicate fingers.

‘In her own way she’s a stunner,’ he thought.

“Nice to meet you, Electra,” he said, without the ridiculous accent and much to Pietta’s relief.

The tall, exotic Electra smiled and turned back towards the door grabbing Pietta’s hand.

“Come on, Billy’s dying to see you,” she said, in what Jason thought was probably the best Marilyn Monroe impersonation he had ever heard.

The three of them walked past the disinterested receptionist, through the door, and into a large room, set up like a huge restaurant.

Pietta turned to Jason.

“This is where Bill likes to have his frequent press conferences and social gatherings.”

Jason was impressed, but again it emphasized to him the self-indulgence of the man. They walked around this room into a corridor similar to that of a five-star hotel and continued to follow Electra’s curvaceous figure until they finally came to a door larger than all the rest they had passed. She knocked on this so gently that Jason could hardly believe anyone could possibly have heard it unless they were standing next to it on the other side.

The door opened almost immediately and a stony-faced man with a thick head of black hair, wearing a formal tuxedo and bow tie said respectfully.

“Come in, Miss Electra.”

As the door swung back and even before the invitation was complete, Electra strode with ownership into the room, obviously expecting them just to follow. She smiled, touched the stony-faced man who had opened the door for them on the arm and said with what seemed like genuine fondness.

“Thank you, Stephen.”

He did not bother to reply, but instead, closed the door behind them and then immediately walked quietly off to another room. Electra pulled Pietta deeper into the room and over to a glass door leading out onto a very large balcony furnished with several big comfortable looking chairs, lounges, and tables.

“Come on Pietta; let’s wait out here for Billy and you can tell me all about what you’ve been up to in Australia.”

The two girls headed for one of the large lounges and Jason walked over to the edge of the balcony. The view that greeted him was amazing. It was his first time in New York and he had only seen what he was seeing now in pictures. In the distance, he could see the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and further past that a river and a bay. In between was just a maze of buildings.

The girls sat in the lounge chatting and Jason took little notice of what they were saying, preferring instead to take in the surroundings. After about five minutes, he heard the voice of Stephen again and looked over his shoulder to see the famous Bill Gatwick emerging from inside. He made a beeline straight for Pietta and she stood to greet him.

“Pietta, how incredibly wonderful and unexpected to see you,” said Gatwick, as he grabbed her extended hands and then gave her a quick hug. He immediately looked at Electra still sitting elegantly on the lounge chair.

“Electra, how are you today?”

“Wonderful darling,” she purred, smiling and pretending to shake his hand in mid-air, “especially with Pietta here.”

“And who have we here,” said Gatwick, turning toward where Jason stood expectantly. Pietta flushed a little. Jason noticed. Jason walked towards Gatwick and then held out his hand.

“Shane Harper,” he said, as the two men shook hands. Jason took a quick look past the billionaire at Pietta noticing that she was still blushing.

“Good to meet you, Shane,” welcomed Gatwick, “any friend of Pietta’s is most welcome.”

Jason noticed how firm the handshake was and actually how sincere his host came across. Gatwick was about the same height as himself, with mousy colour hair, a brilliant set of teeth that complemented a firm jawline and what looked like, a synthetic tanned complexion.

‘He’s actually in quite a good shape’ thought Jason to himself, ‘but then I guess he can afford to keep himself that way.’

Gatwick turned back towards Pietta.

“So what brings you here my dear,” he said to Pietta, “and at such short notice, that’s not like you.”

She looked at Jason, then back at her billionaire friend.

“It, unfortunately, is not a pleasure trip,” she began, “I think you should come and sit down Bill; I need to speak to you about something rather disturbing.”

Gatwick’s smile dissipated quickly and he walked over to Pietta, sitting down alongside her on a puffy single chair.

“Now I’m intrigued, please do tell me what could be so serious for you to come all this way,” he said, as he reached for her hand.

Jason was fascinated. He was usually good at picking peoples insincerities when they spoke, but with Gatwick, he could not tell whether his tone was amusement, genuine concern or eagerness to have some excitement.

Pietta then told him the whole story, from the first night she and Jason met, until today. All except for whom exactly Shane Harper was.  Gatwick sat and listened intently, not once interrupting her or asking a question. When she finished, he merely patted her gently on the hand and stood, before walking to the door to the apartment. Once there, he turned and looked at Pietta, then Jason, who had sat himself down during the telling of their story.

“Thank you both very much,” he said, in such a way that Jason thought he seemed genuine, “I now have to go and make some arrangements that can’t wait, so you will both have to excuse me. Mr Harper, nice to meet you and thank you, especially for looking after Pietta. Pietta, you are welcome to stay at my place as long as you want. Take care, the both of you.”

At that, he left the balcony and did not look back as he disappeared into the adjoining room. Jason looked at Pietta, who just sat there looking at the departing Gatwick. The first to speak was Electra.

“Well sweetie, I hope you are going to stay here for a few days, I could do with the entertainment. And you too are welcome Shane,” she said, remembering he was there and looking in his general direction.

Pietta just looked at her and smiled, then got up and walked over to Jason.

“That was not how I expected him to react,” she said, quietly to him, “I expected at least some questions or something. Could it be that he already knew?”

Jason looked at her, and then glanced across at Electra, who he could see was straining to hear, but trying not to be too obvious.

“What would make you say that,” he said, shifting his head across so that Pietta’s body hid his face from Electra.

“I know Bill, and a story like that would normally have alarmed him and he would have asked a million and one questions. He did not ask one and seemed almost satisfied by the news like he expected it and was off to make his next move.”

“Oh well, we’ve done our part, it’s not our business to get involved,” said Jason, standing as he said it and moving over to Pietta, putting his hands on her shoulders. He felt her move slightly towards him, but not quite enough to rest her body against his. He felt a thrill at her being so close. She looked up into his eyes.

“Now where will we be safe,” she said.

He could hear some worry in her voice.

“Don’t despair, I know where we can go for a while.”

He dropped his hands down along her arms till they came to her hands and he held them both softly.

Electra sat in the lounge, watching them across the other side of the balcony. She could not quite hear what they were saying, so she turned off the recording device she had taped to the top of her inside leg and concealed so close to her vagina it had been getting her excited when she walked. At any rate, she believed she had got what she had come for.

 


 

          Chapter thirty
           The Warning

" They worshipped the dragon, because he had bestowed authority on the beast saying "Who matches the beast and who is able to war against him?”

John : Revelation 13 . 14