Page 30 of Degrees of Acceptance
I slip my robe on and follow him into the dining room, taking a seat at the breakfast bar while he pulls out an apple pie and another covered with whipped topping and chocolate shavings.
“Preference?” he asks grinning, and I know he’s trying to lighten the mood. Hopefully, this will all be over soon.
“Of what, pie or paddles?”
“Curious?”
“Umm, yes. What did you buy?”
“Anticipation and patience, Katarina. All in good time,” he says, eyes alight with amusement. “Apple or Chocolate Cream?”
“Can I have a small slice of both?” I ask, as they both look delicious.
“Great idea,” he says, cutting each of us a not so small piece of each. His phone rings, and he picks it up. “Fuck,” he exclaims, taking me by the hand and leaving me no choice but to follow in his wake.
“Do they have Gaby and Karissa? Ok, I’ll let you know when we’re on the interior radio. He disconnects, keeping me moving towards the elevator, but pushes something on the wall and a panel opens. He guides me into the elevator on the right. Two elevators.
Holy shit, just like the fucking espionage movies.Chase runs his finger over a keypad, and the elevator starts to move. “Katarina, we haven’t walked through security procedures yet, but your fingerprints have already been assigned an authorization for the safe room,” he says.
“In the event I wasn’t here, you would just swipe your finger over the digital display. Jay has already given you full authorization. In the event you didn’t have it, you could not get into the lower level or the safe room,” he explains. The elevator comes to a halt, but the door does not open.
“Katarina, once the elevator is activated by an authorized fingerprint, it will take you to the lower level, but will not open without visual recognition, which is why it’s equipped with the digital surround displays,” he explains. I shudder to think of the implications of that need.
“Let’s move,” he says, guiding me through the door as it slides open, down a hallway to another gate. He punches a set of numbers into the security system which sets off a voice recording that asks for the password. He leans into the speaker above the keypad and says, “Surprise” and the door in front of us opens. “We’ll talk about it later,” he says, seeing the question in my eyes.
We walk through an almost identical replica of the living room and dining room upstairs. The door slams closed behind us, and my mom crosses the room, and then hugs me tightly. “Katie, what the hell is going on?” she says, glaring up at Chase.
Jeez.What the hell is going on? I feel like we’re in some psychobabble movie.
Gaby comes out of the kitchen and places two apple pies and two chocolate cream pies on the table in front of Dereck and Sheldon, who are engrossed in what appears to be a floor plan of sorts. I look into Chase’s eyes, and immediately know the answer. Everything is planned down to the smallest detail. Of course, she would have enough food for all of us, prepared ahead of time, just in case.
Unfuckingbelievable! Dereck hands Chase what looks like a walkie-talkie, and he pushes a button. “Everything’s set, Chase. Communications are clear, the teams are about to hit the air, and we’ll make the exchange. We’re monitoring the wave and will keep you posted if we hear anything else. Matt’s teams are deployed to the airplanes sitting at O’Hare,” Jay says on the other end. I glance up nervously and see the look.
Trust me,his eyes say. “Jay, he’s just sending us a message… he wants his nephew home safely. Once our team lands make the exchange and connect me with him,” Chase says.
“Will do,” Jay says.
Chase turns to me and my mom. “Ladies, let’s have a glass of wine, and I will fill you in on the details. He pours each of us a glass of white wine and my mother a glass of red.
“Karissa, I’m sorry things have escalated to this point. My teams are in good position and just about to take off stateside. However, the people we are negotiating with have deployed their own teams and are at O’Hare awaiting the exchange. We have security completely surrounding them, but in the event things heighten further it is better we are here. Karissa, there are clothes in the spare bedroom on this level that I hope you will find satisfactory along with toiletries, etc. He doesn’t have to say a word to me. I know that I will find a large white robe in the bathroom, all my favorite brands along with a decent wardrobe of clothing hanging in the bedroom closet.
My mom contemplates what Chase has said, and nods her affirmation. “I’m a little shocked by all the security you have in place,” she says, looking at me to determine my take. I shrug as if I’m completely used to it and try to suppress a smile as I see the twinkle of amusement in Chase’s eyes.
“Karissa, our companies do a lot of good around the world, but there is the occasion that we need to deal with conflict,” he says. The walkie-talkie looking device buzzes on the kitchen counter. Chase picks it up and pardons himself to answer it as he walks toward the kitchen.
“Katie, you don’t appear the slightest bit bothered by all the security precautions or the danger,” my mom admonishes.
“Mom, I trust him. He will keep us safe. If he had not insisted we go get you I cringe to think what could have happened to you,” I reply.
“Need I remind you that if you were not involved with this man that we would not be in need of protection,” she counters, and I wonder if she is reflecting back on her decisions about my dad.
“Mom, Chase is a good and decent man. He is trying to create more jobs for people that will benefit our country and theirs, but he wants to make sure the workers are treated well and I respect that. So many people have jobs because of the work he does. I trust him, and I love him, Mom.”
“I’m just worried about your safety, that’s all, Sweetie,” she says.
“I know you are, Mom, but he and his team have protected me every step of the way. I wish you were more amenable to security.”
“Katie, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the security team’s efforts. I’m more concerned about why the need exists.”
