Page 4 of Degrees of Power
“Unfortunately we’re going to be in the spotlight for a little while with the wedding and the Prestian Corp and Torzial expansions. Did you see the email from Brian about the customer requests he’s been getting and passing along to Jenny? She may want to set up offices in our L.A. and Vegas towers, too,” he says.
“Yes, and actually I was thinking the same thing. The medical facilities on the West Coast are expansive. It’s going to take local boots on the ground to get all the preliminary work done,” I say, chewing my lip.
“Tell me what you’re worried about, Katarina?” he urges.
“I just want Jenny to be able to spend quality time with her mom and not have all of this on her mind. I’m excited to talk to her about it, but I hope she’s offline enjoying time with her family before Christmas. She was struggling with how to tell her mom about the rape.”
“I didn’t realize she hadn’t told her mom,” Chase says.
“She wanted to do it in person. Thought it would be easier if her mom saw firsthand that she was physically okay.”
“Probably a good idea to spend time with her mom after she tells her,” Chase says.
“Do you travel there often?” I ask, wondering how much of our time will now need to be spent on the West Coast. While I know the importance to the business, I was hoping to spend more time in the New York office getting to know my father.
“Quarterly board meetings, forums, but otherwise much of the work is done remotely now. The technological age has really transformed the way we interact in the last several years, but I would envision us traveling there a little more as we build relationships, at least initially,” he says, putting my mind at ease.
“Good. I was worried it may pull us away from the New York office, but it doesn’t sound as physically demanding as I first thought. With everything going on it sounds like we’ll both be busy after the New Year,” I say.
“Put good systems and structures in place and the work will take care of itself,” he says, his eyebrows raised.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll have to push a boundary or two with the ground rules for a while,” I say, smiling sweetly at him over my coffee.
“Oh, by all means, Katarina, please do. It will be the highlight of my day,” he says, his eyes alight with mischief.
“Well if you had stayed in bed, having your wife give you an incredibly slow, leisurely blow job would have been today’s highlight,” I say, smirking.
“Baby, the day is just beginning and there’s absolutely no time like the present,” he says, scooping me into his arms.
“Chase!”
“Shh, Baby,” he says, carrying me to the elevator and pushing the button to take us upstairs.
* * *
It is late morning before we are showered and head downstairs. “I’m absolutely famished,” I say, walking into the kitchen.
Gaby looks up from behind the counter. “Well it’s about time you two lazy birds got up for breakfast. In fact, it’s so late I think we’ll have to call breakfast brunch, although I see someone dipped into the blueberry and nut oatmeal already,” she clucks.
“Brunch looks fabulous,” Chase says grinning, lifting the lid to the top of the 9 x 13 pan sitting on the stove.
“Sit, sit, sit,” she says, shooing him from the cooking area as I look on and take a seat at the small table in the corner of the kitchen.
“It would appear you’ve been kicked out of the kitchen,” I say, laughing at the pair.
“Indeed,” he says, scowling at his cell and then looking up at me with hooded eyes.
“Since I haven’t been very productive this morning, I’m planning to spend the rest of the day and tomorrow catching up and reviewing the West Coast healthcare organizations and dynamics,” I say.
“Oh, I think you’ve been highly productive Miss Meilers, but on a serious note, you’re not even the slightest bit interested in what’s going on with Alfreita?” he says.
“Maybe curious, but I don’t have to know. There’s a difference,” I say, as Gaby places an egg bake and fresh fruit in front of us.
“You said you didn’t want me to worry about what’s swirling on around us and how you’re handling things. I’m trying to do just that and I trust the best interests of our family is your utmost concern.”
“Baby, you’re so brave, but I still think we should discuss what is being recommended,” he says, taking a sip of his coffee.
“You asked me to trust you about these things and I sincerely do not have a need to know what your conversation with Sid was about. I have faith that you will do what has to be done.”
