Page 7 of Degrees of Power
Message:Great. If we can get a proposal packaged up for Chase by end of day Friday that will give him and his attorneys time to review the following week, so we don’t have to worry about anything the week of your wedding.
Reply:Sounds good. When do you leave for your parents’?
Message:Tonight, I’ll be there until next Weds. I can help with last minute wedding details on Thursday.
Reply:Perfect, now I need to go before I end up in hot water for working too long!
I smile, secretly wondering what it is that Mr. Intense has in store for me as I close my notebook and go in search of him.
CHAPTER THREE
It is Wednesday evening,two days before our Christmas Eve wedding and barely dusk when we touch down in New York. Jay has the limo waiting on the tarmac and our driver greets us as we get into the back seat. Jay and his team follow closely in the car behind us as we head into the heavily congested pre-holiday traffic. The snow is softly falling, glistening in the lights of the city as we make the forty-minute drive upstate. The snowfall becomes heavier, denser, already weighing the boughs of the spruce and pines that are lined along the country road leading to my father’s estate. The driver slows at the stone and wrought iron gate, speaking with the guard before being allowed entry onto the property. Another mile and my father’s home comes into view, an impressive three story white Victorian looking mansion with tall pillars that frame the doorway. We pass the ten-car parking garage as the driver pulls along the circular drive in front of the home. Chase gets out and opens my door for me, guiding me to the entrance just as my father opens the door.
“Katarina, Chase, welcome,” my father says, shaking Chase’s hand as my mother and I hug and we are led into the impressive marble floored foyer.
“We’ll have someone put your luggage in the same suite you were in the last time you and Chase stayed here together.” I smile at the recollection of Chase showing up unexpectedly after a day of shopping for a wedding dress with Jenny and my mom and what he did to me in that room. “Most of the family have arrived or will be coming in tomorrow,” Mom is saying as we walk through the foyer.
“Jenny texted me to let me know that she had a few things come up unexpectedly and that she plans to arrive sometime tomorrow, and we dropped Gaby off at her family’s home,” I say, as our coats are taken by the staff.
“Jenny can stay in the main house, same room she was in when you visited. Most of your father’s family have settled into the guest houses on the property,” Mom says.
“I’m sure that will be fine,” I say, gasping as we walk into the great room. The vast space has been completely transformed into a world of white twinkling lights hanging from the ceiling and wrapped around the curved marble staircase. A bluish-green Christmas tree is decorated with white angels, silver ribbons and a brilliant five-pointed star that does not quite, but almost touches the high vaulted ceiling.
“It’s beautiful, Mom,” I say, gazing up at the banister that has silver ribbon and twinkling lights adorning the staircase that I will soon be walking down and my mother walked down before me.
“I’m glad that you like it, Sweetie,” she says, guiding Chase and I through the room to the formal dining area. She is animated as she announces us to family members already seated and I realize how excited I am to spend the holiday and share our special moment with family.
The night is filled with laughter, a wonderful meal and lots of wine. It is well past mid-night before Chase and I make it up the curved marble staircase.
I wake earlier than normal after such a late night and glance at the empty spot beside me. How he runs on such little amounts of sleep is beyond me. The weather icon on my phone displays ten degrees, one of the colder days New York has had in quite some time. I stretch and decide to get up, scouring through my belongings for yoga pants, sports bra and a t-shirt, donning them before lacing up my shoes and going in search of the indoor gym.
I make my way to the first floor where the staircase ends, recalling my mom’s mention of it being on the lower level the last time I was here. I finally find an elevator right off the hallway adjacent to the dining room. I enter it and push the lower level button, amazed at the magnitude and luxury of the wealthy. The gym is every bit as impressive as Chase’s with a treadmill, elliptical and lots of circuit training equipment arranged to one side. The Olympic size pool takes up the remainder of the space and off to the end is a set of doors, which I presume to be the shower and bathroom area. I peel off my shirt, select my playlist and begin my run, thinking back to the night before. It was wonderful getting to know more of our family and a much better way to spend the evening than at a bachelorette party. Chase and I had both been approached by well-meaning friends who wanted to throw us pre-wedding parties. We both declined, wanting to spend the time together with family.
I go over the list of my to-dos for the day which is minimal, but includes a haircut, nails, and eyebrow and body wax mid-morning. I finish my run, slowing the last four minutes to the sound of my cooldown song, grab my t-shirt and decide to use the bathroom before heading upstairs. I open one of the doors and to my surprise enter a sauna that is already heated and smells heavenly. Deciding to partake I close the door to keep the heat in, exploring the dials and options on the panel. There are buttons that denote infusion therapy with choices of eucalyptus, lemon grass, and chamomile, and when I make a selection I’m awestruck as the entire room is infused with a steamy eucalyptus-scented spray. I take a seat on the horizontal bench and lay face down on its length luxuriating in the feel of the warmth and scent wafting around me. I close my eyes, relaxed after a late night and early morning, thinking about my wedding day when the door opens and a shot of unexpected cool air hits my skin.
“We’ve got her,” Sheldon says into a crackling walky-talky looking device.
“What the hell is going on Sheldon?” I ask, embarrassed at my state of undress, hurriedly pulling my t-shirt on over my sports bra.
“Chase couldn’t find you and you weren’t answering your cell,” he says, looking flustered at my annoyance. “I can’t cover for you if you don’t tell me where you’re going,” he says, clearly as frustrated with the situation as I am.
“So, even at my parents’ house I am to give you a play by play of my movements? Are you kidding me?” I ask.
“Kate, we’re trying to keep you safe. There’s a lot of shit going down right now. I need to know where you are at all times,” he says, running his hands through his hair.
“Okay, that’s it. Take me to Chase,” I say, now exasperated with my ignorance of whatever situation we are dealing with.
“Sure, he’s upstairs. The guy called in every security team in the state. They asked me if I knew where you were and I didn’t. I’m sorry Kate. I checked all the rooms down here except the sauna and shower,” he says.
“This is not your fault, Sheldon. I’ve been listening to my cell for the last hour and a half. I didn’t get any phone calls or texts,” I say.
“Secure room,” he says, gesturing to the space around us. “There’s a safe room, well, more like another little house down here with bedrooms and kitchens through this door. It’s designed in the event a longer stay is needed,” he says as we get into the elevator. We arrive on the main floor and my phone explodes with ring tones alerting me to numerous missed calls and texts. My anger immediately dissolves as I see the look of sheer relief in Chase and my father’s eyes as we walk into my dad’s study.
Chase crosses the space in a few easy steps, pulling me into his arms and squeezing me tight. “What happened? Where were you?” he asks, looking down at me, not yet comprehending what has transpired.
“I was working out, saw the sauna and decided to indulge. I didn’t know anyone would be looking for me and had absolutely no idea that you couldn’t reach me down there. I’m sorry. My music was still playing,” I say, gesturing to my cell phone.
“Thank God. Chase, I’m going to make a few calls,” my dad says, leaving us to our conversation as he begins punching numbers on his office line telephone. “Sid, this is Carlos Larussio. You can call off the teams, we’ve got her,” he says over the speakerphone.
