said that if we pick up the machines, make the
changes and have them back to them by the end of
August, they would pay us. But, they're deducting
25% of the fee for the mix up."
"Where's the addendum," queried Jeff. "It's coming across the fax machine now," she
replied as the machine began to ring.
Jeff called Allen in next and had him run a bill of
materials on the cost of the new items as well as
the cost of transporting the machines back to
Ashmore Valley.
Alex walked in with the fax just as Allen finished up
his numbers, "If we're lucky, we'll escape with
about twenty percent overhead on this. "
"Twenty percent is better than nothing," remarked
James.
Jeff agreed as he looked over the faxed addendum. "May I ask a question," said Alex and seeing Jeff’s
assent continued, "If the machines were wrong why
did Sam sign off on them?"
James felt as he if he had been struck and he saw
the whiplash reaction on Jeff’s face as well. The
government inspector, Sam Minish, would never
have signed off on the correct documentation if
there were any discrepancies.
"This can't be right," said Jeff as he looked over the
fax again.
"What? The revisions or the fact that Sam signed
the government invoices."
"The order is dated July 1st. We shipped the
machine on the 8th. Hell, even the date it was
drafted can't be right. The order was drafted the 28th. Only an act of God could get that type of
turnaround from the DOD. "
"Who initiated the order," asked James snuffing out
his cigarette on his heel and lighting another.
"General Roger Stevens, Ft. Jackson. "
Alex walked in with an armload of materials, which
she almost dropped at the mention of the General's
name. Instantly, a flurry of bells and whistles went
off in her head. Handing James his coffee and an
ashtray and a cup of coffee to Jeff, she settled into
the office to assess the damage.
James saw the far off look in her eyes and
wondered what she was thinking. He saw the
squint of concentration and the scribbled notes that
she began to make on her pad. She looked up quickly and saw him watching her, smiling slightly;
she went back to her reflections.
"Allen do you have the final inventory numbers so
we know how much of the dessert sand paint we
have," Jeff asked turning to his right.
Allen produced the numbers and it was decided
that three more gallons would be a safe bet to
order. The spare parts packages were kept in
stock and on hand at all times. They would not be
the hard part. The hard part would be
sandblasting the machines and repainting them in
two weeks.
After a plan of action was laid into effect Jeff
commented, "This is front burner everyone. Let's
get busy. " Alex delivered all of Jeff’s instructions then went to
the conference room upstairs and made a
call. "Hey, Doogie, it's Alex. . . I'm
fine. . . Yeah, I know. . . Actually, I'm in
Connecticut. . . Don't ask. . . I need a
favor. . . Tell me everything you know about
contract number DLA-003-17-1950, addendum
A. . . Uh-huh, yeah, when? Right; thanks
Doogie. I owe you one. Yeah, the next time, I'm
in D.C."
Alex slammed down the phone and quickly picked it
up again. Francine noticed the line in the
conference room was being used. At first she
considered that it might be one of the plant
employees, but the rapid fire action of the length of
the calls led her to believe otherwise. Alex came through the offices quickly and went
back into Jeff’s. Closing the door behind her she
asked, "I need to take a few days off. "
"Now," he asked arching an eyebrow.
"Yeah; something has come up. "
"Does this have anything to do with your contract
about to expire in two weeks? Are you going to
interview around?"
"No. I'm staying with Hasani. I decided that this
morning. You can draw up the contract for an
extended stay. "
wouldn't be as difficult as James was going to be.
She decided to wait until dinner that night to tell
him. "No, Alex and that's final," bit off James as he
slammed down the utensils he held in his hand.
Alex had indeed waited until supper time to tell him
of her impending trip. Now she watched as
emotions ranging from sheer anger to utter love
crossed his face. Alex had planned a trip to
Washington, D.C. to deal with Tad. She had
discovered that he was behind the change in their
contract.
"James, you have to see reason on this. Tad called
an old friend, Roger Stevens and requested the change. I'm not sure exactly how many favors he
cashed in, but he had to cash in a few to try and
ruin Hasani. I'm just surprised he didn't think of it
sooner. "
"Maybe because his ego and his face hadn't been
bruised yet," remarked James, leaning back in his
chair, "Maybe he didn't think you'd sink so low as to
fall in love with me; either way, you aren’t going
and that's final. "
"Don't do this again, James. I won't be ordered
around," she clamored, throwing down her napkin.
"I'm not dictating. I just don't want you anywhere
near that maniac." "I'll be fine. Most of the business will be
conducted in his office. I'll be back by Friday," she
smiled.
"Then I'll come with you," he offered.
"You can't. If he sees you all bets are
off. Besides, I have a trump card.”
James looked at her curiously. He could almost
envision the gears and wheels turning in her head
and wondered what she was up to. He wasn't so
much concerned for her welfare as it was for her
mental well-being. Tad was a master at playing
mind games on her, and he didn't want her
upset. He didn't want to consider the fact that Tad
would find a way to make Alex stay in D.C. James
sighed knowing that he was not going to get her to
change her mind. "Alright; when do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning. I'm taking a charter from
Ashmore Valley to Washington."
"Where are you staying?"
"My itinerary is on the counter. You'll have it with
you every second, I'm sure. Besides, I have my cell
phone with me. I'll be fine," she smiled, reaching
out with her hand for his.
James took the hand and caressed the back of it
with the pad of his thumb. Still holding her hand,
he stood up and gently tugged her arm to do the
same. Leading her from the kitchen to the dining
room, he turned on the stereo and took her onto
the deck to dance. Molding her body to his, James
inhaled the scent of her and the night. He smelled the apple shampoo and body wash she used,
the
vanilla candle she left burning in the kitchen to
disrupt the smells of dinner, the smell of the freshly
cut grass of a neighbor and the clean night air
itself.
Alex felt the press of his lips and beard against the
top of her head. She shivered slightly as he ran his
fingertips up her spine and back down again,
indenting his fingers into the base, pressing her
closer to him. Sighing, she lifted her arms to run
her fingers through James' hair, smoothing the
waves away from the cut planes of his face. James
captured her left hand and pressed a kiss into the
palm. Alex felt the burning of his lips there like a
branding iron. He continued to kiss the palm and
moved slowly up her arm. She giggled slightly when he reached the soft area of her elbow.
"You think I'm funny do you," James mumbled
against her arm.
"No, it's just a ticklish spot," she grinned.
"Oh really," he challenged before nibbling at her
arm sending her into giggling fits.
"James, stop," she laughed trying to wriggle away
from him.
James relented only to capture Alex's mouth with
his and ease her to the wicker chaise that she had
just purchased for the deck.
Alex heard the crunch of the new cushions give way
as James laid her down and continued to kiss her. She welcomed the press of his body as he
from the kiss and looked into her eyes, which
reflected the stars shining above them.
"I love you," he whispered.
Alex whispered back, "I love you," and they again
made love on the deck, this time the dogs stayed in
the house.
James dropped her off at the airport on time and
Alex landed at National Airport around 9:30. After
checking into the Westin and dropping off her
luggage, Alex had the doorman hail a cab to take
her to the Hill.
As Alex's high heeled shoes, clicked on the marble
flooring, she remembered walking these halls hurrying to the next piece of legislation that her
group either had to rally around or blast into
hell. She smiled sadly at those lost days. Days
she could have spent with James had she only
known how much they needed each other. As she
rounded the corner that began the hallway to the
Senator's office, she caught sight of a familiar
face. Alex remembered the guard sitting behind
the security console and smiled broadly at him. It
was obvious from his stare that he remembered her
too.
"Welcome back, ma'am," greeted the guard.
"Thanks Paul," she replied, laying her briefcase and
purse down on the counter. "Business or pleasure," he asked while scanning the accessories
with a hand held metal detector.
"All business I'm afraid," knowing he remembered
her dating Tad.
"Such a shame, Mr. Pierce has been looking forward
to seeing you."
Alex glanced up at him, "He knows I'm here?"
"Not in the sense ma'am. He informed me that
you might be stopping around soon. "
"How nice; well then, I think I'll go see him," she
smiled, collected her items from the counter and
continued down the hall.
She noted portraits of the greats lining the wall in
an absurd display of government royalty. Each
with their names and the years they served engraved on copper plaques underneath their stern
gazes, serving as an example from which to
work. She supposed that if she were a senator,
she would be in awe of these portraits watching her
every move. However, to a civilian she thought
they were just a grandiose display of power. Alex
reached Adler's office and walked in as if she
belonged there. She refused to be bullied by the
surroundings or his staffers. Fortunately, the only
person in the outer office was Senator Adler's
secretary, Julie.
"Alex," she cried in amazement as she came from
behind her desk to hug her.
"Hello, Julie. How are you," Alex asked the older
woman. "I am fine, fine. You look fabulous. When Tad
said you were returning from your sabbatical I
couldn't have been happier. You're coming to
work for us, no?"
"No," Alex replied with a shake of her head.
"But I thought. . . that is. . . Tad said you
were," Julie stammered with a confused look on her
face.
"Tad is mistaken about a lot of things. Is he in,"
Alex asked pointing to his office.
"Yes he is," answered Julie a little more sober.
"Thanks." Alex left the woman standing in the
center of the reception area looking overwhelmed and headed into Tad's office. Without knocking, she thrust the door open and strolled in.
Chapter 18
"Alex. You made it. I'm so happy you're back,"
he got up from behind his desk and moved to hug
her.
"Stop right there, Tad," Alex said holding up a hand
at arm’s length, "I came to demand your release of
Hasani Industries," she continued closing the door
behind her.
"My what?"
"Your release of Hasani Industries; take your claws
out your friends at DOD and at Fort Jackson and
leave us alone.” "Us? Alex, that's so final. Let's talk about
this. Over dinner, breakfast and lunch," he offered
solicitously.
"Don't pull this crap Tad. I'm not in the mood,"
demanded Alex sitting down in a guest chair. She
balanced her briefcase on her knees momentarily,
pulled out a thick manila folder and placed the case
on the floor. Fingering the folder, she returned
her attention to Tad, who had moved back behind
his desk and sat down in the leather chair.
"I hope you didn't cash in all your favors to pull this
off. You're going to need a few to get elected.”
"Alex, I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking
about," he replied with an innocent look on his
face. Alex wanted to smash his smile into a bloody
pulp. Clenching her fists, she started to explain
the situation, "The changes on Hasani's machines
for Fort Jackson. DMAO isn't paying us because
they believe we messed up a contract. "
"Oh, what a shame," Tad smiled.
"I can see you're broken up about it. However, I
also know that you're the reason we're having this
problem to begin with. "
"Me," he replied pasting hurt look on his face,
"Alex, I don't know how you can believe I could be
capable of such a thing. "
"Come on, Tad, you know I have friends in the
DOD. Didn't you think that I would hear Steve's name and connect him to you," Alex asked
incredulously.
The smile vanished from Tad's face as the anger
overtook the calm expression on his face. He had
indeed forgotten about her friends at the
Department of Defense; if he could remember their
names, they wouldn't have jobs come tomorrow
mornin
g. Alex smiled inwardly as Tad's smugness
disappeared.
"I did it for you, Alex. I did everything for you. I
wanted you to see where the power lays. Not
with some hillbilly in Connecticut; but here, in my
hands. I control what is decided in this country. I
make the decisions that affect millions of
lives. You could be a Senator's wife and not just
any senator's wife, but my wife. Think of the influence you'll have, the connections to make
changes to the wrongs of the world. Eventually
the White House could be in our future and then,
Alex, there will be no stopping me, no stopping us!
Just imagine it," Tad ranted, his eyes glowing with
the imaged power that he would wield.
Alex chuckled, "Tad, you've really gone over the
edge haven't you. You're not even a senator yet
and you're imaging yourself as president," shaking
her head, "Give me a small break. I can't believe
you would allow me to donate to charities and
volunteer my time.”
"Anything that would make me look good in the
end," Tad shrugged.
Alex laughed aloud, "You're so arrogant. Your
attempt at ruining Hasani wasn't about me. It was about revenge. And the hopes that you could
make me come back here and marry you. This was
about what you wanted. Destroying Hasani
Industries would have made that possible, however,
it is very unlikely I would have come back to you. I
found happiness in Connecticut. Something I don't
think you and I could ever have had. I want you to
release the funds for Hasani to get paid in full and
promise never to pull another stunt like this. "
"What you want is irrelevant, Alex," sneered Tad,
"You're here and you can stay with me until the
wedding plans are finalized. "
"The wedding plans? I don't think you quite
understand, Tad. I'm going back to Ashmore Valley
tonight, as early as possible. Now, I'm not leaving until you pick up that phone and repair all of the
damage you've created."
"Who do you think you're talking to, Alex? You
know better than to sit there and demand anything
from me," Tad bit off, his face turning red with
anger.
Alex slid to the edge of her chair and tossed the
manila folder onto his desk. The file slammed in
front of Tad, making his heart leap. Reaching for
the portfolio, he flipped through the pages, his
indignation growing with every turn. Alex saw the
growing fury underneath his already mottled skin.
"Those statements could ruin any and all chances