Kate Educates Jacob #11

Tiffany In Trouble

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“I had a great weekend, Kate.”

“We had a great weekend.”

Kate corrected me in a positive, caring way.

“Do we travel to work together?”

“I don’t see why not. You won’t become insubordinate at the office, will you?”

She smiled, knowing I wouldn’t.

“Of course not.”

We woke each day at 7AM and ran three miles through a nearby park, cooked and ate breakfast together, watched Netflix and chilled. Kate took to her home office every midmorning for a couple of hours, taking care of work while I called my parents and sister, catching up on gossip back home. I hadn’t probed about her family and was happy to judge for myself, as she’d suggested.

We made love frequently over the weekend, and had some fun with her paddle collection, but for now, she’d put the dungeon out of bounds. We talked about our likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests. I had things to do around her apartment, which seemed fair enough, so I pulled my weight, and she did her share, too.

On Monday, I drove us to work, because Kate hated driving, especially in heavy traffic. She ran into the Bean Street cafe while I waited outside, returning with two coffees.

“Your love hearts are over, unless they’re from me, but your friend is cool with us, and wished me the best of luck.”

“What about me?”

“She says you already got lucky.”

When I parked her car in the branch manager’s spot and got out, I stood like a deer caught in someone’s headlights while our coworkers gawked.

As normal as you like, Kate walked around the car, presented a cheek for me to kiss and strolled away without another word while fishing her cell phone from her pocket.

Everyone scattered, except Tiffany, who approached me, and I feared the worst.

“I owe you an apology.”

I almost fell over, thinking at first it must be an attack maneuver, but Tiffany seemed contrite, almost tearful.

I felt taken aback, we’d literally just arrived at the office so I knew Kate hadn’t spoken to her. I felt apprehensive and protective of my current sunny disposition, so I was cautious, but optimistic.

“It’s okay, you’re welcome. Are you alright?”

“I’ve been horrible to you and I’m really sorry for that. I know things could have turned out badly for me on Friday night and that you saved me from my stupidity.”

I was speechless and couldn’t imagine what trauma had caused Tiffany to search her soul to find kindness. I felt sympathy and shock simultaneously. Kate had suggested we mend bridges, and I resolved to do that, but this emotional upheaval and u-turn in attitude was unexpected.

“It’s none of my business, but why do you prefer men who are bad for you?”

“I don’t know. It’s not what I want at all.”

“What do you want?”

“Something different that you probably wouldn’t understand. I can’t explain it, but I want you to know that I’m really sorry about Friday and my general nastiness towards you. I appreciate what you did to protect me.”

She became evasive, averting her eyes from me, a sure sign that Tiffany was concealing something or felt embarrassed about a personal truth. It wasn’t my business to pry and, if I did, it wouldn’t help her.

“I practically invented the concept of ‘something different.’ Sorry, but I have to get on with a delivery. If you want to talk later, let me know, and cheer up, please.”

“I asked Kate for a meeting and for you to attend as well, if that’s okay.”

She looked at me hopefully, as if my rejection might crush her.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Don’t worry, I’ll see you there.”

I hate being tardy and had to run, but I felt pleased to have cleared the air with Tiffany. Holding on to bad blood rarely yields positive results. Kate’s influence was potent, and already driving me to become a better man.

In the rental lot, our work schedule was manic, more so for me being on the delivery rota during rush hour. I had a couple of Prius’s to drop off nearby, but I was looking forward to delivering a smart M5 series BMW, ordered by a special customer who’d been very specific about a noon drop off.

My co-workers disappointed me by steering well clear. Word had got around about Kate and me, and they seemed wary of how our relationship might change their workplace dynamic. I didn’t care; we were an item and I couldn’t be happier. Work was work, and I wanted to keep my job.

Kate’s the boss and that’s known to everyone.

The bay area is a petrol heads paradise when roads are clear and in fine weather. Today, both applied. I delivered the Prius on time, missing my breaks out of necessity to stay on schedule. I arrived back at our rental lot with a little time to spare, and while the BMW was being inspected, so I dropped by to see Kate.

“Hi sweetie, come in and close the door.”

She’d told me to visit her within reason, knowing I wasn’t the type to take advantage.

“Did you get my message?”

Kate kissed me gently on the lips while taking my hand, guiding me into the comfortable leather chair in front of her desk.

“About Tiffany, yes, she spoke to me.”

I sat down comfortably in a leather armchair and eyed her suspiciously.

“I changed it for your disciplinary interview and now everything is back to normal.”

She laughed, and I noticed the framed photographs and prints on the wall, a yucca plant in the room corner with trays, pens, and a notepad on Kate’s desk.

“You set me up?”

“Tell me honestly, did you enjoy it?”

I reflected for a moment, the terror of losing my job and possibly the precious work visa, my confession, her punishment, and the weekend. I felt exhilarated, the entire experience was like shaking hot chilli sauce on my life, invigorating everything.

“You seduced me!”

“Yes, but you haven’t answered my question. Did you enjoy it?”

“I really enjoyed it.”

“There you go, trust your girlfriend and all will be well.”

She winked, and we both chuckled.

“I don’t understand why Tiffany wants a meeting, especially with me.”

“Me neither, but she emailed over the weekend, and I scheduled her. It wasn’t something for us to discuss while we were getting acquainted, so I left it. I imagine she wants to apologise to both of us and get closure.”

“I’ve already turned the page, but I’m glad she’s changing her ways.”

“In the email, she mentioned about how messed up she is, how grateful she was, and so on. The upshot is that she wants to meet us, to discuss what happened.”

“That’s odd because I’m not her boss, you are.”

“You saved her from being spit-roasted by two married slobs. Perhaps she feels indebted to you. Let’s see what she says.”

“Okay, I’ll come by when I finish work.”

“You have a BMW to deliver, right?”

“How do you know about that?”

It surprised me that Kate would know about any of the rentals. With three hundred cars changing over every day, we have an operations team that takes care of it.

“I allocated that specific rental as a special treat for you. It’s the Competition model, so enjoy it!”

I thanked Kate, hugged and kissed her, then hurried back to the car inspection bay, receiving the BMW keys from a sullen-looking Sam.

Wanker hasn’t let go of Friday!

After adjusting the seat, I hit the engine start button and noticed the car mileage was at zero. The thrill of driving a brand new race model BMW fuelled my adrenaline and, with the customer’s house an hour away in clear traffic, I had time for fun.

The office said they’d book a taxi for my return journey because it was cheaper than losing two cars and their drivers for an entire afternoon.

When I passed the city limits, I booted the 4.4 litre petrol V8 twin turbo, using its six hundred and seventeen brake horsepower to grind some rubber into the tarmac. The engine noise turned heads as if a Boeing 747 were taking off.

Forests turned into fields, then the V8 roared uphill at a staggering pace, carved through steep, sharp bends as if on rails before diving back into a pine forest.

I dropped the windows, played Metallica at full blast, while resting my elbow on the open window ledge. Wind rushed through the car; the sun warmed my face while Kate warmed my heart. I’d reached nirvana and could think of no time in my life that felt more satisfying.

The customer’s house was off a main road, they’d described its driveway and I knew it was around four miles along a gravel track. When I turned off, passing through twin red brick pillars with mounted lion statues atop them, I stopped the car, selected WhatsApp on my phone and messaged the office to order my taxi.

A minute later, my phone buzzed, and I checked the response.

Confirmed.

I tossed my phone onto the passenger’s seat and rested for a moment, studying the land inside the customer’s property boundary. The owners were into horses big time, with expensive wooden ranch fencing everywhere, corralling at least a dozen thoroughbreds, out grazing, wearing more expensive clothing than I did.

A couple of pickup trucks were parked a hundred metres ahead while their drivers tended horses nearby. An emerald green grassy hillside leading to a forest a couple of miles away was immaculately manicured for horse riding, with jumps, dressage and general hacking areas cordoned off by metal railings and more wooden fences. The estate stretched for miles and I realised the owners must be among the super rich.

I drove slowly to avoid stone chips against the car’s flawless azure blue paint. When I passed the pickup trucks, a ranch hand waved me down.

“Is the car for Miss Claire?”

“I don’t know who the renter is.”

“Keep going for another two miles, then pass through the forest and you’ll hit a Y junction where this gravel drive ends. Take the left-hand fork onto tarmac and keep going till you arrive at the house. Miss Claire isn’t here yet, but her mother is home.”

“Who owns this place?”

“The Chairman of Global Defence.”

I’d heard of the company. GD was a multinational defence and security manufacturer, supplying armoured vehicles and equipment to armed forces around the world, also delivering on military shipbuilding contracts in the UK and USA. They were a giant corporation in crisis, because the old man who founded them had fallen sick a few years ago, leaving the GD ship without a captain.

When I reached the house, its breathtaking grandeur stunned me. There were easily over fifty bedrooms in what must be a palace designed for a billionaire and his family. The front tarmac parking area was the size of a football pitch, with a massive fountain at its centre. Water tumbled wildly over enormous boulders, arranged in a mountain scape at least ten metres high.

I parked the BMW far enough from the house that the rental customer could admire it on their approach, and then walked towards magnificent, gabled rooftops, agog and wowed by the luxury.

Brilliant white wooden window frames and red brick walls with wisteria and ivy clinging to them made the house characterful. There was a carefully curated symmetry about the old building that pulled me towards it.

I spotted CCTV cameras discreetly fixed high onto walls, catching a video feed of anyone near the house; after all, it was owned by a billionaire who made tanks, aircraft carriers and guns. My conditioned habit from the Royal Marines spotted the guard office discreetly set over to one side of the house with two security staff watching me through venetian blinds.

I waved, reassuring them I was no threat.

The front doorbell had an old-fashioned tinkly ringing bell one might expect from a traditional English mansion and I wondered if it prompted a butler from his cellar hideaway to come and greet me

I didn’t have to wait long for a smart young lady to arrive.

“Come in, we’ve been expecting you.”

“I’ll drop the keys off and leave if that’s okay?”

“The lady of the house will skin me alive if you disappear before one of the staff checks the car over. I’ll get someone quickly, but you must wait inside or security will hunt you down.”

She grimaced, as if the entire experience would be too unpleasant for both of us and instead I should agree.

I nodded politely and walked into an expansive foyer decked in white marble with alabaster floor to ceiling columns. They scattered occasional furniture worth more than my apartment in what seemed to be a massive guest reception area.

I flipped off my shoes, pushing them discreetly to a side wall and followed her through.

I need new shoes.

She pointed to a comfortable leather wing back armchair among two others nestled around a highly polished dark mahogany table inlaid with an intricate gold pattern.

That’s a fucking expensive table.

I sat carefully, fearful of causing damage to what ought to be a prized possession. My escort pressed a wall button and a few minutes later, cappuccino arrived, just as I like it, with a heart sprinkled on top.

I dismissed the coincidence and sipped the much welcome caffeine fix. With at least an hour’s journey back to the office, I doubted the taxi driver would welcome a stop along the way.

“Who are you, young man?”

A lady’s voice came from behind me. I hadn’t heard her footsteps, so she was upon me quickly.

I sprung up and introduced myself to a smart woman in her mid-sixties. She’d kept a youthfulness and beauty that belied her age. The woman looked fit and wore a fashionable skirt suit with a bright yellow scarf. I thought her rather attractive, objectively speaking and without compromising myself.

“I’m delivering a car, madam.”

“Sit down, and I’ll join you.”

She raised her fingers, tipping them into her mouth for the woman who’d answered the door to know she wanted a drink.

“So?”

“Sorry?”

“Who are you? You didn’t answer me.”

“I’m delivering a car. To your daughter, I think.”

“Of course you are. I’m Catherine. Have you met her?”

“Who?”

She looked at me as if I were simple.

“My daughter.”

“No, they said she hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Pain in my ass, that girl. She’s coming over because her father isn’t well.”

“Oh dear, is he very sick?”

“Terminally ill, I’m afraid, and he doesn’t have long left. I’m sure you must have read about the problems we’re having in the company because he isn’t at the helm.”

“I knew there were problems, but not the reason.”

She eyeballed me, as if judging my value. I squirmed under the spotlight, even though she didn’t seem aggressive, then spoke to break an uneasy silence.

“I’m sure your daughter will arrive soon, she must be very upset about her dad.”

“Oh, her lateness isn’t why she’s a bloody pain. We’re worried about the succession plan for the family business. My youngest daughter is delightful but isn’t very capable. Far too frivolous and not at all interested. My eldest girl is a genius and could easily run the company, but she won’t.”

Our conversation was evolving in an odd direction, and Catherine was sharing too much with a stranger. I felt apprehensive and wanted to leave, but she had a strangely magnetic smile with gravitas which glued me to the leather, wondering what she’d say next.

“Why doesn’t she want to run the company?”

“She wants to plow her own furrow. Damn woman is totally independent.”

She sipped her tea, and we both fell silent, thoughtful. I felt a tension rise as the effect of my paranoia, driven by a surreal moment. I decided not to probe further.

“I guess she’s much like her father, Richard, in that regard, so I can’t complain too much.”

“I’m sure she’ll come around once the seriousness of her dad’s condition is clear.”

Why did I say that? This is none of my business.

“If you believe that, you don’t know my Kate at all.”

I eyed her suspiciously, my heart pounded, and I felt anxious. I looked down at the love heart on my coffee, in a room where you could hear a pin drop.

Catherine stared at me as if judging my reaction. On the outside, I was as steely calm as if stalking an enemy in Afghanistan, but inside, the lady scared me shitless.

“Where does your Kate work?”

I asked her a little too quickly, exposing my vulnerability.

“At your car rental company, Jacob.”

She deliberately sought a reaction, and I gave it to her.

“What the fuck, I never told you my name.”

I bounced up from the chair, terrified, looking for an escape route in every direction.

“Now Jacob, what has Kate told you about cussing? Oh look, here she is.”

I wobbled and caught the chair wing back to stop myself from dropping to the floor. A radiant Kate flowed through the front door and across the marble floor, throwing her coat onto a brightly polished table, beaming at me.

I staggered towards her, and we met midway across the foyer.

“Pick your chin up off the floor, please, Jacob. It’s most unattractive.”

“Wh-wh-w-”

She hugged and kissed me fully on the lips, then moved past to greet her mother, leaving me swaying like a deranged fool.

“I see you’ve met my mother, Jacob?”

She nodded towards Catherine and I gawked, snapping my head back and forth like a cheap fairground toy. I settled my eyes on Kate’s mother, who seemed about to respond.

“I rather like him, dear, although he swore just now, and I thought you’d trained that out.”

“Its early days, mother. I’ll deal with Jacob later. How’s dad?”

Kate winked and smiled at me, linking her arm through mine, I guessed to keep me upright.

I’ll get a pass on the swearing because of the shock and prank, surely?

“He’s dying.”

“He’s always dying, mom.”

“The doctor is upstairs, so you can speak to them both yourself. He’s got hours left, and his prognosis has had second and third opinions.”

Kate’s mother shook her head gravely and looked sad, suggesting that there was little hope of a reprieve for Richard.

Kate became distraught. Tears welled in her eyes, so I comforted my girlfriend while she got over the initial trauma of bad news.

Catherine placed a consoling hand on each of our shoulders.

“It’s been coming for some time, and we joke about it, but this time there’s no escaping reality. The cancer metastasised so quickly that they can’t administer life extension treatment. Richard had every test known to man, but he’s riddled, so it’s time to get serious and make plans.”

“I’ll see him now. Give me an hour alone, and then I’ll introduce Jacob.”

“He needs to know about GD and your intentions.”

“I can’t deal with that right now.”

“He wants to meet Jacob right away and says you two owe him a few grandchildren. He doesn’t have that many hours left. You must decide, or at least tell him you have or he won’t go peacefully.”

“Oh, come on, mom, quit the emotional blackmail. You haven’t even had dinner with Jacob and he’s already fathering your grandchildren.”

“I mean, about GD! Your father deserves honesty.”

“I can’t decide that right now.”

“Tell that to a dying man.”

“Oh god, this is a nightmare.”

“Your father doesn’t want people downcast and dripping with sadness around him. He wants to go out like a bull.”

“I’ll smarten myself up and put on a front.”

Kate’s expression tugged at my heartstrings and I wrapped an arm around her shoulder as we headed towards the stairs.

Her mother walked away, waving one hand towards me.

“I like Jacob, except for his swearing.”

Catherine nodded at me, smiling, albeit somewhat sadly, but under the circumstances, her melancholy was understandable.

“Welcome to Kate’s family home, Jacob. You won’t have a pass on that swearing, I can promise you, just in case you thought you might.”

She smiled again, mischievously, and walked through an adjoining door, leaving me alone with Kate.

“Let’s see my father together. He doesn’t have time to wait.”

“Hang on, did you plan all of this?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. Mom phoned this morning to say it was urgent that I visit. I had to get us both away from work under a ruse. A car delivery for my sister seemed the easiest way to get you here, whereas I can come and go to work as I please. Nobody at work knows that I’m a Granger, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

“I wanted you to see for yourself, meet my family, and take it in rather than drop a bombshell on you. I trust you to form your own opinion.”

“This is how you eased me in?”

“You took it in your stride, didn’t you?”

“That you're an heiress?”

“Sooner than I’d like, it seems.”

Tears welled up again, and I hugged her.

“Let’s see your father.”

I held her hand, and we walked towards the foyer’s left side staircase. She composed herself quickly in front of a mirror at the foot of the stairs.

“Do I look acceptable?”

“You look beautiful, darling.”

I wrapped my arms around Kate from behind, pulling her close so that I could whisper.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She turned around in my arms and flung hers around my neck, kissing me. Her lips yielded gently while her tongue hunted for mine. Her kiss lingered, and I sensed a vulnerability. When she withdrew, biting my bottom lip, I saw sadness in her eyes.

I held Kate tightly for a minute and she perked up a little.

“C’mon, we need to see my dad.”

“As long as he doesn’t ask us to conceive before he dies.”

Kate chuckled, skipped up a few steps, turned and held her hand for me to hold.

“Mom is right though, Jacob, you haven’t got a pass. We must get around to your potty mouth soon.”

“I know, I’m really sorry.”

“You will be, because I’ve warned you repeatedly.”

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