The Corporate Raider part 24
by Denise Mayes
Chapter 24
Taylor was helping the girl get settled in, the phone rang.
"Hello."
"Hello, may I speak with Taylor Young?"
"This is she."
"Aha, great. This is Mr. Rouse."
"Oh, Mr. Rouse, what's going on?"
"I just called to let you know that we will be making an arrest any day now. We have almost all the evidence we need, but I'm calling to ask a favor of you."
"Anything."
"We need for some type of exchange to take place in order to close in."
"Okay, so how can I help?"
"Well, I need the inside person to get shaken up."
"Okay, how?"
"Well, I figured since the insider is out for revenge against you and Ms. Madison, maybe you could come up with something?"
"Hmm, well I'll think about it. I really don't know what I can do, but I will try to think of something."
"That's fine, but the sooner you think of something, the sooner we can move in and make the arrest. And don't worry about us not being there, we'll be watching, so when you do come up with something we'll know and be ready."
"Oh, okay, then I will fly back tonight, and that way I can think about it and possibly come up with something."
"That's great."
"Okay, Mr. Rouse. I am a little surprised that you don't already have enough evidence. I mean the stock prices have risen so much and I would think there would be offshore accounts and things where funds are being sent as a holding place until all is said and done?"
"There are, but it's under a dummy corporation, and although we have all of the evidence to link the accounts to the two, we now want to close any loops. We haven't caught them exchanging any information or money on tape.."
"What about phone calls?"
"We have those, but never any that led to the passing of information or money."
"Okay, I think I understand. Well I'll call the airport and head out tonight."
"Thank you. By the way, do you want me to tell Ms. Madison that you were the one who tipped us off?"
"I'll leave that to you, I just want this to all be over."
"I understand."
"Okay, I'll call you and let you know if something comes up."
"That's fine, but we'll know."
"Oh, alright. Thank you for calling."
"You're welcome."
The two hung up and Taylor dialed the airport and made arrangements to leave that night. The car would come to pick her up at 5 that afternoon. Later that day Marisal was ready to move in. She was able to get one of her friends who was also going to be attending school to move in with her. Taylor knew Kara as well. She was a church going young woman, who was responsible, but a little vain about herself..
"Okay ladies, you have everything you need. I think you'll be fine. I am going to be leaving, but you know if you have any problems with the property or something, you can call Ms. Levy, or your father depending on what the problem is. Call me if it's just a simple question."
"Okay Taylor, thank you for letting us live here while we're in school. It takes a lot of concerns away, and we'll take good care of your house."
"I know Marisal, otherwise I would not have made the offer. Well, I have to get upstairs and get my things. I've sent off all of the boxes along with my clothes. I'm just carrying Grammy's jewels on the plane with me." Taylor hugged each of the girls and then ran up the stairs to get her things.
The two girls talked between themselves about how much Taylor had changed, and how good looking and confident she was, now that she didn't look like an old time librarian.
Taylor heard bits of the comments before she went into her room, and it brought a thoughtful look to her eyes. At five, the driver pulled up and got out of the car. He came to the door, knocked and told Marisal that he was there to pick up Ms. Young to take her to the airport.
"Taylor, the driver's here."
"Okay, I'll be right there." Taylor called from the kitchen. After washing her hands, she came out to find the driver had already taken the small carry-on case to the car and was waiting outside the door of the car, holding it open.
The two girls hugged Taylor again and Taylor turned and took one last look at the house where she grew up into adulthood. Tears came to her eyes, but she didn't let them fall, instead she smiled and turned and walked out the door.
Taylor arrived at the airport, caught her plane and was on her way back to Alex. She arrived in town at around 7:00 or so, and taking another car, she was on her way home. By the time she was within 15 minutes of the house she looked at her watch and saw that it was nearly 8:30.
"Oh, oh, Alex is going to be a little upset." Taylor said to herself, but then she thought it would be alright, especially considering she was back earlier than Alex was expecting her. She didn't expect Taylor for another 3 days, but she had been able to get things done, and Mr. Rouse's call made her see that she was needed back here.
Alex had just turned on the automatic fireplace, to knock some of the coolness of the night out of the air. It had been hot during the morning, but now it had turned somewhat cool, and rather than turning the heat on, she just decided to turn on the fireplace. She went into the kitchen and made herself a fruit snack and some hot tea, then went back into the den and made herself comfortable in her recliner. Picking up the phone, she dailed Taylor's grandmother's house.
"Hello."
"Hello? Who is this?"
"This is Marisal Jackson."
"Oh, Ms. Jackson, I'm calling to speak to Ms. Young."
"Oh, well she's not here."
"Not there? Do you know when she will be back?"
"No, I'm sorry I don't." Marisal answered cryptically, considering the person never said who they were.
"I see, well I'll call later, thank you."
"Okay, bye."
Alex hung up the phone, her brow raised in concern as to where Taylor was. They always talked at 8:30, and knew to call and leave a message letting the other know if something had come up, or was going on that might interfere with their nightly call. As it was, they had not missed a day.
"Where are you Taylor?"
Suddenly the doorbell rang, snapping Alex out of her thoughts. She got up to answer the door as she had given the maid the rest of the evening off. She walked to the door and looked out, only seeing a figure with their coat drawn around themselves, rubbing one arm obviously trying to stay warm.
Alex's brows knitted but she opened the door.
"May I help you?" Alex asked, somewhat put off by the interruption.
"Yes, move. It's cold out here." Taylor said, as she shook the hood from her head and walked inside of the house past the stunned woman.
"Taylor??!" Alex finally said, snapping out of her shock and closing the door. She turned back around to see Taylor hanging up her coat.
"HI!" Taylor said, as she turned with a big grin on her face. "Surprise!!"
"You can say that again! Come here!" Alex said, as she opened her arms to Taylor.
Taylor quickly went into Alex's arms and the two hugged for long moments.
"I've missed you Taylor." Alex purred into Taylor's ear.
A shiver ran down Taylor's spine from the sensual sound.
"I've missed you, but I had to come back."
"Why, other than the fact that is obvious?"
"Because I had finished everything I needed to, and there was no reason for me to stay any longer."
" Well I am so happy you're home! I have a little surprise for you in our bedroom. Something I had done while you were gone."
"Really? What?" Taylor asked, turning to go to the stairs, but Alex caught her and stopped her.
"Oh no you don't. First of all there are a couple of things that are wrong."
"Wh..what?"
"Well, first of all, you're late."
"Late? Alex you weren't expecting me for three more days! I'm early!"
"Yes, but you still were late, since you didn't get my call at 8:30, then you should have been here at that time."
"Alex that's not fair."
"But that's the way it is, so...you owe me."
"What?!?"
"Yes, I've decided that since you made me worry you owed me."
Taylor crossed her arms over her chest as she stood pouting. Alex's eyes narrowed in curiosity as she gazed at the young woman. Then pinching her lips to keep from laughing at the look she had on her face, she waited for Taylor to ask.
"Okay, what do I owe?" Taylor finally asked.
"Another 2 weeks."
"ALEX?!! That's a whole month?!" Taylor gasped.
"I know, isn't it wonderful?" Alex cooed.
"For you." Taylor said, as she stood with her arms crossed.
"Hmm...maybe. But I can assure you, you'll appreciate the results. Now the other thing is, you still haven't let me greet you properly."
"Okay." Taylor said as she once again went into Alex's arms. Only this time she wrapped her arms around Alex's neck and the two greeted one another with a passionate kiss. After Taylor steadied herself from the kiss, she asked about her surprise.
"So what's the surprise?"
"No, first you go up to your old room and get washed up for the night. Have you eaten?"
"I had something on the plane, so I'm fine."
"Okay, well go ahead and get cleaned up, and then meet me in our room alright?"
"Okay. But at least give me a hint?"
"Alright...you're going to love it."
"Really? What?!"
"Go, I'll be there in a moment."
"Oh...alright, but it's not fair." Taylor said, as she was turned and with a swat to her behind, was sent on her way.
Alex watched her go, and a smile seemed to have become fixed on her lips. She watched Taylor disappear up the stairs and her heart beat rhythmically in her chest. She then went to the den to get the food she had taken in there. She took the tea and rewarmed it. Then taking the fruit and tea with two cups she went upstairs to her room to wait for Taylor to come in. Taylor arrived a bit later and just as she was about to come in the room, Alex caught her and covered her eyes.
"Okay, here we go." Alex led Taylor to a spot in the room that faced a door. "Okay look." Alex said, as she removed her hands from over Taylor's eyes.
Taylor opened her eyes and it took a moment to focus, and then another moment to get the purpose of her standing in front of a door. Suddenly it struck her.
"Wait a minute, this door wasn't here?! Alex?"
"Open it."
Taylor knitted her brows at the smirking woman, and then turned to look at the new door. She walked up to it and with a final look back at Alex, she opened it. Taylor's mouth dropped open as a result of what she saw.
"Oh...my goodness. Alex! It's...it's...it's beautiful, wow, you did this for me?"
"I wanted you to feel like this was truly your room as well as mine. My home is your home. What better way?"
Taylor turned and walked back over to where Alex stood, with a deep sigh of contentment and love, she wrapped her arms around Alex's waist and hugged her as the tears ran down her face. Alex hugged Taylor close and the two just stood embracing each other. When they finally let each other go, Alex took Taylor's hand and pulled her into the closet so that she could look around.
"Alex, this is huge...I haven't got enough clothes to even come close to filling up this room."
"That's okay, you'll eventually have enough to fill it, and then you'll be wanting a bigger place."
"No, I don't think so. You can put a whole bedroom set in here, and still have room for a sitting room." Taylor gushed.
Alex laughed and then began telling Taylor what each compartment was for. Taylor saw that Alex had unpacked her clothes and things, as well as having moved her designer clothes into the closet.
"You've been busy haven't you?' Taylor asked, seeing all the things that had been done.
"No more than you." They walked out of the closet and Taylor crawled up on the bed with Alex following her from the other side.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, thank you."
Alex poured Taylor a cup of tea and handed it to her. She poured herself some and then stretched out her long legs. She sipped on her tea as she watched Taylor do the same.
"So, sweetling, how much did you miss me?" Alex asked, as she looked out of the corner of her eye.
Taylor sipped her tea and looked out the corner of her eye the same way.
"Hmm...I missed you, did you miss me?"
Alex put her tea on the bedside table and turned to look Taylor fully in the eyes. Taylor was so startled by the action, and the intense look in Alex's eyes that her hands trembled. She almost spilled the contents of her cup.
"I'll show you just how much sweetling." Alex purred as she leaned forward and placed a kiss on Taylor that caused the girl's arms to weaken. Alex's reflexes caught the cup and saucer, and placed it on the table on Taylor's side of the bed, without breaking the embrace.
Alex wrapped her arm around Taylor's waist and pulled her forward, so as to lay her down on the bed. This time Alex allowed her nightshirt covered body to lie against Taylor's. Alex kissed along Taylor's cheek and neck, as she brought one of her hands up to Taylor's opposite cheek and caressed her face. Taylor finally managed to find some strength to raise her own hands to Alex's cheeks, and guided her lips back to her own. Alex lowered her hand down along Taylor's neck, downward to her chest, and eventually over Taylor's breasts where she kneaded the breast under the gown cover, she caressed the aroused peaks. Taylor moaned at the love Alex was placing
upon her, and she returned the caresses in turn, to Alex's breasts. The two women undressed each other, so that they both were laying nude on the bed, each expressing their pleasure with each other through their moans and sighs. There were frequent sharp intakes of air, at unexpected sensations.
"Taylor?" Alex whispered huskily as Taylor was loving Alex's breast with her hands, lips and mouth, while Alex laid on her back caressing along Taylor's back and hips.
"Yes Alex?" Taylor answered back breathlessly.
Alex lifted Taylor's head up and with her hand guided her back up from her chest to where she could look in Taylor's eyes.
"I want to love all of you." Alex whispered as she kissed Taylor's lips, while at the same time looking deep into her eyes.
Taylor's hands which had stopped shaking, now began to tremble once again.
"I love you Taylor! I just want so badly to love all of the woman I am in love with, just as I am ready to let you do the same with me. I know you love me sweetling, but we have to move further in our relationship. Kitten, I'm not trying to pressure you or anything like that. I told you once before, we would only do what you felt comfortable with, until you were sure it was me you wanted in your life. I meant that then and I still mean it. I will wait for you, but I'm asking that you not make me wait too long?"
Taylor raised her hand to Alex's face as she now came to straddle Alex's thighs, so that she was in a sitting position, facing her.
"Alex my love, I'm sure it's you I want in my life. I trust you not to hurt me, and I pray I won't ever hurt you again. I know what you're asking me, and I have mixed feelings about it."
"Well, if you tell me what they are, maybe I can help you resolve them." Alex offered, as she leaned in and gave a gentle peck to Taylor's lips.
"It's just that...well there is no one else whom I would give my gift to but you. But I just wish....."
"Wish what Taylor?"
"I just wish.....well you know? Anyway, it's silly, and you have already given me so many gifts of yourself, it's wrong of me to ask for anything else from you. I am very much in love with you, and I give all of myself freely to you to love, as I will love whatever you wish to give to me."
"Taylor...you...you have..." Alex tried to express her joy at Taylor's trust and the love that she had just offered her. She pulled Taylor into her arms and the two of them held each other, just letting their hearts renew in each other.
While the two were embracing each other the phone rang. Alex was willing to ignore it as she held Taylor in her arms, both naked against one another, but Taylor thought they should answer it.