Lilly Anne Smart and Jack Al had posed for numerous photos together. At first Jack Al was stiff in his poses but after continuous encouragement from Lilly, he got the hang of it.
“Now let’s do the final shoot before breaking for lunch. I want you both to get into the pool, with half of your bodies out of the water,” Simone instructed them. They hastily obeyed.
“Good. Now I want you, Jack, to hold Lilly’s waist. And you, Lilly: Hold Jack’s head. Then I want the both of you to stare into each other’s eyes with a lovers’ passion. Imagine you belong to each other,” he continued. Jack Al and Lilly did as they were told.
“Excellent! Now pose. Pose for me, you beautiful people. Remember, it’s for Romance magazine. The readers want to see that connection between the both of you,” Simone said, while taking shots.
Jack Al and Lilly were captured by each other’s gaze so much that for a moment, nothing else seemed to exist. Their heads came close to each other slowly and lips were almost pressing against each other.
“Enough! I think we have all we need,” Simone said happily after the last shot and clapped wildly, making his models break the romantic pose. “You two were excellent!” He said happily to them as they came out of the pool—Lilly first and Jack Al after. “You were so natural, so magnifique. It’s like you’re really in love, eh?” Simone said to them, then elbowed Jack Al lightly.
“Oh come on, Simone. Beanstalk’s a good friend. Nothing else,” Lilly said shyly.
“Yeah. Lilly’s a very good friend too,” Jack Al added. Simone looked at both of them in turns in disbelief, then sighed.
“Henceforth Lilly, your partner is Jack. I’ll find Ray another pose mate. The two of you have the pizazz that the hungry readers look for. You were platinum with Ray, Lill, but with Jack, you’re gold! Excusez moi as I go process these babies. I’ll see you both after lunch. Have a nice lunch break. Au revoir!” He said, then left.
“Au revoir!” Jack Al and Lilly replied in unison. After he had left, Lilly took the body towels on the foldable seat under an umbrella that was some distance away from the pool and threw Jack Al one.
“You were great, Beanstalk,” she said as she wiped herself. Jack Al observed her from head to toe and swallowed.
“Thanks,” he replied, while passing the towel across his face. They walked side by side into the house, only to be received by a restless Bud who barked on seeing them.
“Sorry, Buddy. The shots took us a while. I’ll get to your lunch immediately,” Lilly said to him as she stroked him lovingly. Jack Al went to his room and changed. Lilly tied the towel around her waist and walked to the kitchen. Bud followed her happily with his tail wagging.
Outside Wise Enterprises, Roxanne turned and faced Charlie.
“My life’s a wreck at the moment,” she said with a broken voice, trying to hold back her tears.
“Why?” Charlie asked, and almost stroked her arm but refrained.
“I’ve been suspended for supposed theft of $100,000,000 from the company’s shares,” she said, while blinking repeatedly.
“What?” Charlie exclaimed. Roxanne nodded slowly.
“I swear by my life, Charlie, I’m as confused as you are. I’m innocent. I swear,” Roxanne said, then fell into Charlie’s arms. He wrapped them around her.
“I know. I have to see Mr. Reynolds about this,” he said. Roxanne composed herself then slowly came out of Charlie’s warm embrace.
“This has to be a malicious scheme by Trish to get me kicked out. The bitch has never liked me,” she said, while looking at the distance.
“Did you two fight?” Charlie asked after a while. Roxanne nodded while wiping her tears and sniffing.
“I slapped her. She got into my face and taunted me,” she said. Charlie put his hand into his pocket and retrieved a slender, small, wide rectangular box.
“For you,” he said, while giving it to her. She smiled slightly, then received it and opened it. It was a beautiful golden watch with lighted hands and numbers.
“Thanks, Charlie. It’s beautiful,” she said with a smile, then kissed him on the cheek and hugged him. He was pleasantly surprised and returned the hug.
“My pleasure, Roxanne. Seeing you smile tells me that you like it,” he replied. Roxanne stopped hugging him.
“I really do. I have to go now, Charlie,” she said, and returned the watch into the box then put it in her purse and started going.
“Roxanne,” Charlie called out to her softly. She turned to him. “I’m always here for you,” he said. She nodded with a weak smile, then resumed her walking. He watched her go until she disappeared into the horizon, then walked back into his workplace.
Shortly after he got in, a Mercedes parked outside Wise Enterprises and out of it came a woman in a bolero and jeans. She strutted into the company and looked around, then marched to Trish’s desk.
“Excuse me, ma’am, detective Jillian Green, NYPD,” she said, then flashed her badge at Trish and continued, “I’m looking for a Mr. Andrew Reynolds.” Trish stood slowly and shook her hand. “Are you alright? Your cheek looks like it hurts,” detective Jillian observed after the handshake. Trish blushed.
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just a little accident. This way,” she replied, and led the detective to her boss’ office. She was in a low-cut long-sleeve blouse with a pink belt around her narrow waist, a tight knee-length pencil skirt with a slit at the back, and pink stilettos. Her red hair was neatly styled into a ponytail. On arrival outside the office, Trish knocked lightly severally.
“Come in!” Came the reply. She and the detective got in slowly.
“Excuse me, sir. There’s a woman here to see you. She says she’s detective Jillian Green from the New York City Police Department,” Trish said. Mr. Reynolds stood up respectfully.
“How do you do, sir,” the detective said, while outstretching her hand to him.
“How do you do, detective. I’ve been waiting for you,” he replied, then shook her hand. After the handshake, he turned to Trish. “That will be all, Miss Trish. Thank you,” he said to her, then offered the detective a seat. Trish got out and shut the door, then pressed her ear against it. “I’ve been expecting you, detective,” Mr. Reynolds said.
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Where is the woman you said was in charge of the records where the money disappeared from?” The detective asked him.
“I suspended her,” he replied carefreely, hoping to be commended.
“What? Why? You’ve made a mistake! She would have given me her statement,” the detective rebuked softly. Mr. Reynolds moved uneasily on his seat in embarrassment. The detective added, “But not to worry. Not all hope is lost. I shall question all your employees who were around the scene,” she added, then stood, shook Mr. Reynolds’ hand briefly, and left. Trish heard her approaching and rushed back to her station.
She was trying to work but couldn’t concentrate. It was all too good to believe. Roxanne? Suspended for alleged theft? She smiled, while swinging around contentedly in her chair.
“Alright, listen up!” The detective boomed once she went downstairs to the ground floor, and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
All the employees looked at her.
She continued, “There has been a withdrawal of $100,000,000 from the company’s shares and I need some answers,” while looking at all of them in turns. There were loud murmurs. She continued, “And I’m made to understand that Miss Roxanne Simmons is behind it,” and paused on hearing scattered ‘What?’s from them.
“That’s not true!” Bree declared. Trish was enjoying every minute of what was going on.
“Settle down. Settle down, please. That’s why I’m here: To investigate. I would first like to know where Miss Roxanne’s desk is,” the detective said.
Several employees, including Bree, pointed to Roxanne’s desk.
“Thank you,” the detective said with a nod, then went to it, examined it, and sat on it and faced them. “I’m here to do an interrogation and from where this desk is positioned, I shall interrogate you,” she pointed at Bree, “you,” she pointed at an employee on the desk’s other side, “and you,” she concluded, pointing at Trish.
“Me?” Trish asked.
“Yes. You. Who wants to be first?” The detective replied, then asked.
“Me!” Bree offered willingly. She was more than ready to help out her friend.
“Good. The rest of you continue with your work. Assume what’s going on here,” the detective said, then took Roxanne’s seat, set it before Bree’s desk, sat on it, and faced Bree.