Chapter #42The Confidence Game - When Couples Disagree by: Nostrum   Jessica’s move doesn’t bode well. She’s got you in her grasp, unable to escape, unless you give her answers. And you know she wants nothing but trust.
You raise your hands in surrender, questioning her back. “Why?”
“Just wondering,” she shrugs cockily. “I mean – I needed to turn into that man’s daughter for a plan I’m still not too sure about.”
“I told you! Tessa needs us to get the documents for Proposition 15, which would hurt her businesses. If they fail, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Listen...” You notice how grinding it must be for Jessica to deal with this situation. You feel it’s Clarisse doing the talking, rather than her. “I know we’re dealing with a mob boss, alright? A little too late for a change of heart.”
“But?”
“But this girl’s dad is a good man. You said you needed to get a job at his place and clone him. Did she ever explain to you why?”
“She didn’t,” you confess. “And it’s better not to. She must have her reasons.”
“Why? I know it’s... I dunno, appreciation, or fear, but you don’t question why she orders you to do the stuff you do? Not even a little?”
“I don’t question why because it’s unwise,” you insist and clarify. “She has her reasons why. But if you want to know the reason? She’s removing an enemy, Jess. She’s making a power move. Giving a warning to anyone who opposes her.”
“And what makes Stanley Hoover her enemy?”
“Like I said. That proposition’s threatening her businesses. If she lets him off easily, everyone’ll think she’s gone soft. They’ll think he has something against her and will court him – maybe even back him – to take her down. By sending a strong message, they’ll know not to mess with her.”
“And what’s that message?”
You shrug. “Don’t know. I know she’ll try to erase the Proposition, for sure. Maybe threaten him never to do that again.”
“And if he does, nonetheless? If his principles are stronger than his common sense?”
You finally comprehend the meaning behind her questioning. “You think she’ll kill him, right?”
“I guess.” She clams up, making further distance from you. “You’re not seeing it the way Clarisse does. He won’t let Tessa intimidate him.”
“Maybe not him,” you tell her. “But maybe his clone will. There’s more than one way to ruin his life . She could end his career as alderman. Offer him a job. Tell him his family will be fine if he pledges loyalty to her.”
“Is that what she promised you?” That question pierces your heart deeper than any knife. “Did you become Rachel because she threatened your family?”
You snort, driven to the point of tears. “Jess... You really didn’t believe what I told you back then? I’m not doing this because Tessa’s threatening anyone. I’m doing this because I want to. David Anderson and his family are nothing to me.”
“And what if David Anderson becomes a part of my family? What if Tessa does something to my mother, or to Katie?”
“The only reason she’d do anything is because either of us crossed her. And I don’t intend to. She’s given me the life I deserve. Why would I betray her?”
The comeback isn’t very well received either. “Then you don’t care if Claire, Nick or Tina are--”
“Tina’ll never know she’s working for Tessa – at least, that her clone does.” That stirs your girl. “It was my payment for claiming Rachel. A replacement. She has no plans to deal with the real one, though – or with any of the Andersons. Tina will have her career, Claire will graduate from high school and go to a good college, and David...”
“What about him?”
“He will marry a beautiful woman that will understand him completely. I think you know her name.”
“My own replacement.”
“Exactly. They’re all dealt with and accounted for. And you and I are here, ready to live our lives as we wish.” You approach her, grasping her hands. “Don’t see this as a one-and-done job. You care about her, no?”
She shakes her head. “Not really. I just feel it’s unfair what you’re doing to her family.”
“Then why not embrace being Clarisse, to make sure her family doesn’t suffer? I’ll handle things with Tessa. You handle things from this side. Use your mind and hers to get a good career, get influence, gain wealth. Show Tessa you can play the game.”
“What game?” she asks with the tone of a curious child, yearning to learn.
“The chess game of life, babe. Don’t be a minion to Tessa. Prove yourself indispensable. Once you do? She won’t be able to harm you – unless she wants another enemy.”
She nods and grins, giving you a knowing and confident look. She grabs the flash drive, sighing. “Then I’ll need some help, babe. I can’t access his office.”
“Don’t worry,” you tell her as you grab Beatrice’s flesh. “I’ll convince your dad to let you use it.” You embrace her, rubbing her chin. “How about we spend the night on the same bed? If you want, you could always wear your mom.”
She tilts her head, grinning. “Maybe after you and I play with her.”
--
“How was your day, darling?” You receive Stanley Hoover under his wife’s face, removing his coat with her finely manicured legs while her gingham dress rubs all over her stolen flesh.
“Stressful,” he responds with a sigh. “The aldermen have been bothering me about the contents of Proposition 15, but at least the final draft’s finished. All I need is to send it for their revision.”
“What’s taken you so long?” you question, trying to draw more information. His look, however, tells you that you stepped on a landmine. “Stan, I know I don’t intrude on your work, but if it helps you relieve your stress...”
“It has to deal with the office.” He sits with his hand cramped, a sign that he wants whiskey on the rocks – the one vice he allows himself. “I finally filled the position of Second Assistant Logistics Manager, but it seems Meyers has it against her.”
You dig into Beatrice’s mind, but you get less than nothing. That’s why I don’t ask about your job, darling. I cannot understand the attitude of those harpies.
“I don’t understand how Walton & Rushdie ascended a greenhorn like her so fast.” Your eyes narrow furiously as the man insults you. “She knows her stuff, but that ruthless attitude doesn’t suit her.”
“So it’s another woman,” you chide, invoking Beatrice’s jealousy.
“One with very good recommendations, but in need of a little more polish. Bea, she’s young enough to be my daughter!”
He’s right, you recognize. He’s been very supportive. Too bad he can’t trust me with handling commercial invoices the way Williams does.
“I like her ambition, but I feel that she needs a little more experience before she earns that position. Meyers had the right idea in mind, but I think her jealousy went too far.”
“Have you tried to mediate between them?” you advice, feeling it’s what Beatrice would say. You fear her power over her husband, as it would complicate your stay at Hoover Consulting.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he says as he grabs the tumbler. “At least the Proposition will enter its consulting phase before it can be sent to City Hall.”
Sensing he has relaxed, you move to the next step of the plan. “That reminds me, honey. Clarisse told me she had issues with her computer and must finish some homework this weekend. You don’t mind if she uses yours?”
“Why didn’t she tell me earlier?”
“It happened just now. I told her she could wait for tomorrow, but you know how she is.”
He snickers. “Yes. I’ll fire it up and see if I can call a technician to fix hers tomorrow.”
“Thank you, darling.” You summon Beatrice’s feelings for her husband to deliver a passionate kiss. You grab his tumbler and take it aside, seeing how he downed the liquid.
You grin, knowing he’ll be knocked out in a few minutes. You just hope he unlocks his computer so that Cassie can hack into it.
--
“Who would’ve thought,” you tell your girl as you take off Stanley’s clothes. “Two birds with one stone.”
“How long you think he’ll be knocked out?” she asks you. You draw the black pen in response.
“Until tomorrow.”
“Good.” As she peels off his underwear, she begins to laugh. “Well, who would’ve thought ‘Daddy’ was so well endowed?”
“I’ve seen bigger ones,” you say without hesitation, causing your girl to gasp and slap you. “What? You know I did this for a job!”
“I know. It’s part of who you are now. But... You don’t miss it? Having one of those between your legs?”
“Not at all,” you say as you drop his clothes on the floor, rubbing Beatrice’s breasts. “Not as much as I’d miss a pair of these.”
You hear her sigh. “That’s a shame. I would’ve wanted to feel his load inside me while I wore his wife.”
“You could always switch into her if you want to.”
“But then it’d be sleeping with him. Not with you.”
You embrace her, rubbing her locks of hair. “i know you still long for my old self, but that won’t happen. Let me be happy as myself.”
“It’s just for our entertainment, Rach. Can’t you please me at least once?”
You close your eyes, pained by her request. “I don’t want to say no, babe. But not now. We have a job to do.” You draw the green pen, pointing it at your target. The sense of itchiness and discomfort stirs him from his stupor, but a quick click of the black pen makes your job infinitely easier. He’ll be knocked out cold, and you’ll be able to rest with ease.
Or will you, with Jessica growing this rebellious?
--
You feel a knock on the door. As you open, Clarisse stands before you in an apologetic mood. “I was thinking about what happened today. I was too harsh on you.”
“I wasn’t considering your feelings, babe.”
“But I know your heart’s on the right place. So I was thinking...” She starts unbuttoning her pajamas, leaving her top nude. “...I don’t feel comfortable sleeping alone. Can I sleep with you, Mommy?” You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
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