Page 9 of Degrees of Power
The pilot’s announcement of the impending landing comes over the digital speakers. “Next time, Honey,” I say, bending to kiss his lips.
The pilot puts us down on the Prestian Towers helipad. “We’re about twenty minutes from the salon in midday traffic,” Jay says to Chase.
“Sounds good. Let’s hope it isn’t too bad,” Chase says, holding my hand as we are guided from the helicopter to the safety of a stretch limousine. The driver navigates the congested traffic with a sense of ease and obvious knowledge of the city, pulling up street-side to Briena’s boutique, a chic little salon with a red brick exterior. Jay opens my door and Chase walks around the back, placing his hand on the small of my back to escort me inside.
“I’m Kate Meilers and I have an appointment this morning,” I say to the receptionist who greets me from behind the contemporary cherry wood credenza. She has short spiky brunette hair with tinges of purple throughout and a warm smile. I glance around as she looks up my reservation. The security detail is completely unobtrusive, blending in so well that I am unable to distinguish who from the women in the waiting area may be working on the payroll.
“I’ll be waiting here, catching up on a little light reading,” Chase says grinning, holding up the latest copy of People magazine. I shake my head at his antics as I am led to the back of the salon, knowing full-well that he’ll be working within minutes using his phone’s secure-net software.
The rest of the late morning is relaxing, spent having my nails french tipped and square cut, my hair slightly trimmed and thinned, and getting my eyebrows, legs, and lady bits waxed. By the time we get back into the car it is three in the afternoon. The beep on my phone alerts me to an incoming text from Jenny.
Message:Just arrived. I’m visiting with your mom.
Reply:Glad you made it. We are just leaving the city. See you at home shortly.
Message:They frikken doubled all of my security.
Reply:For everyone!!
“Jenny said you doubled all of her security, too,” I say, glancing up from my cell at Chase.
“Just precautionary, but things are escalating. I’ll bring you up to speed when we are alone,” he says.
It takes another fifteen minutes to get back to Prestian Corp by car and from there we are escorted through the opulent tunnel system that leads us to the helipad that overlooks the water. I see what Jenny means about the escalation of security. It does feel like the entire team has almost doubled. The pilot takes off quickly after we are seated and the aircraft is soon skirting around the island, over the bay, and heading north toward Chappaqua. The flight is uneventful and I snuggle into the crook of Chase’s arm, determined not to let my concern with whatever is going on put a damper on our evening.
“Tired, Baby?”
“I had hoped to take a nap before the dinner rehearsal, but didn’t realize the appointment would take quite as long as it did.”
We land and Chase shakes everyone’s hand as we get out of the helicopter, letting them know how much he appreciated their assistance on such short notice. I feel completely embarrassed that it took so many people to make the trip into the city possible, but it does not seem to faze him or anyone else at all.
Chase and I head upstairs to get ready for the evening. He showers before me and is gone when I finish. I unpin my hair and let the long loose curls the stylist put in fall to my chest before applying fresh makeup. My legs are waxed and glistening with the freshly applied Aloe spritz I brought back with us from Aruba. Chase walks into the bedroom dressed in a black suit with a sapphire colored tie just as I finish dressing.
“You look absolutely stunning, Katarina,” he says, spinning me around, taking in the formfitting, off the shoulder, long sleeved, sapphire blue dress. The dress is thigh length and the four-inch Louboutin heels that crisscross and circle around my ankles are a perfect match to its length. He kisses me gently on the lips and his hand glides down the expanse of bare skin from the bottom of my jaw, along the length of my neck and around the top of my bare shoulder. “This dress is very hot, but I think it may be missing something,” he says.
“What’s that?” I ask, twirling before him.
“Close your eyes for a moment,” he says.
I let them shut, listening to the sounds around me. I can hear him walking around the bedroom, a drawer opening, and things being shuffled. His hands lift my hair before the chilly feel of metal brushes my neck and something cool rests against the start of my cleavage. He moves me across the room, guiding me so I do not trip.
“Open your eyes, Baby,” he says.
I am facing the mirror and audibly gasp when I do. It is a sparkling necklace; three strands of diamonds, twisted and braided to hold a single heart-shaped sapphire that now lies against my chest.
“Chase, it’s gorgeous,” I exclaim, tracing the diamond ropes with my finger down to the brilliantly blue heart which has to be the largest stone I’ve ever seen, let alone worn.
“My father gave it to my mother as a wedding gift. She wanted me to keep it in the family and give it to my wife someday. You’ve had my heart since the day I met you, and I’d be honored for you to have it,” he says, turning me around to face him.
“I absolutely love it,” I say, reaching up to kiss his lips.
“Now we better go downstairs before we miss our own celebration dinner,” he says, rubbing his hands over my hips and ass. “Thong?” he asks mischievously.
“Chase, you’re not supposed to know that, yet,” I say, feigning exasperation with his antics.
The rest of the family members have been arriving throughout the day and are mingling in the great room, my father’s study and the dining room. Chase catches the attention of a waiter who brings both of us a glass of white wine. “To us,” he says, lifting his glass.
“To us,” I say as he puts his arm around my shoulders escorting me further into the great room, passing several waiters who are walking around with shrimp and a multitude of other fancy looking hors d’oeuvres.
