Before they pulled out of the rest area, Chris consulted his notes and confirmed the address they needed in Hartford. Katy noted it on her driving pad, then consulted the on-board computer for driving directions. She started the car and they were again on their way. The directions were accurate and at 10:15, Katy pulled up at the curb of the building. She found a metered parking space and they exited the car. When they walked into the building, Nick spotted a coffee shop in the lobby.
"Ok, Kate, I'm going up to my meeting. It only should be about half an hour or so. Why don't you wait for me in the coffee shop over there."
"Yes, Chris darling. Good luck."
They kissed lightly, then made it last a little longer before separating.
"I'll be back in time to pay the check so have whatever you want."
He patted her ass lightly before heading for the elevators. As he waited, he watched her walk to the coffee shop and was immediately hard again. My God, what that woman could do to me. The elevator door opened and Chris got in, pressing the button for his floor. A few minutes later he was standing in a richly appointed waiting room with a cute blonde receptionist just ahead of him. There was a line at the counter so Chris took his place at the back of the line.
When he got to the front, he noticed that the attendant was Marcy, the one he talked to on the phone on Sunday. When he introduced himself, she smiled widely and shook his hand. She punched a number into her phone and advised someone that he was here.
Hanging up the phone, she directed him to a room down the hall. Chris went to the prescribed door and found himself in a small office with a table and four chairs. In a few moments, the door opened and Marcy and two gentlemen entered, all of them smiling. They all introduced themselves and shook hands, then Marcy left the room. The following discussion was very simple.
Chris showed them the ticket, which they immediately verified as the winning ticket. He announced his decision to collect his winnings in a lump sum and asked them to calculate the amount, although he had a pretty good idea of their answer.
When they confirmed the number and the tax with- holdings that would be required, the net number was very close to what Chris had anticipated. He asked if they could wire the bulk of the money directly to his back and provide him with some cash immediately. They agreed to his request and asked how much cash he wanted.
"I'd like $75,000 in cash and a small briefcase to carry it in, if you can. The balance can be wired to my bank and my bank manager already has instructions for handling the funds when they arrive."
Fifteen minutes later, the transaction had been completed. Chris had a small black briefcase, the soft-sided zipper kind, and the paperwork confirming his win and the withholdings. All that remained was for Frank to call confirming that he had received the funds but there was no further need for him to remain in this room. Chris thanked the two men for their cooperation, shook hands with both of them, then walked back to the elevators. He smiled and waved to Marcy, who returned his wave and his smile, while she was busy with another customer. The elevator came and he pressed the button for the lobby.
He exited the elevator and strode directly to the coffee shop, spotting Katy in a booth by the window. He crossed the room and leaned down to kiss her before taking a seat across the table from her.
"Did everything go all right, Chris?"
"Just perfect. Are you eating or just having coffee? I'm suddenly very hungry."
"It's almost lunchtime, Chris, do you want to eat here or at the Hyatt?"
"Here, I think, if that's OK with you. The Hyatt lunches are usually overpriced."
"What's in the briefcase?"
"Oh, just some papers and some money. Nothing very important."
"Can I ask how much money or would that be in bad taste?"
"Seeing as how you have a vested interest in my welfare, I guess that's a fair question. $75,000."
"Chris! You can't be serious! My God, that's more money than I've ever seen at one time! Are you kidding me?"
"No. Want to see? Here, have a look. You can even touch it if you want but leave it in there for now."
Chris unzipped the briefcase on the table and turned it to face Katy. Her face went white as she stared at the bundles of money. She slowly inched her hand forward to touch the tops of the bundles and the color finally came back to her cheeks. Chris pulled the case back to him and zipped it up again.
"I promise you can play with it after we check in to the hotel."
"Oh, Chris, are you sure it's really OK? I mean, it's really your money and you don't have to give it back or anything?"
"I'm positive. It's all mine and I'm willingly to share it with you and no, I don't have to give any of it back."
Just then a waitress appeared and asked for their order. Chris ordered coffee and a ham sandwich. Kate nodded her agreement and ordered the same. When the waitress left, she couldn't wait to ask him a thousand questions.
"Did you have any trouble? You weren't gone very long. What was it like when they gave you the money? Omigosh, I can't believe we're sitting here with $75,000. Oh, Chris, is this real?"
"Calm down, Katy girl, everything is fine. The sun is shining, God is in heaven, and all is right with the world. We have all this money just for us to have fun with and we are going to have fun. Now settle down and try not to spill your coffee."
The coffee and sandwiches were delivered and Chris thanked the waitress. He began eating and noticed that Katy also dived into her food, eating with a healthy appetite. He was glad to see that she wasn't a picky eater or vegetarian or anything and could just enjoy her food. They didn't talk while they ate and soon demolished the food.
"Do you want some desert, Kate, or should we just head over to the Hyatt?"
"Chris, could I have an ice cream, please?"
"Absolutely, what flavor would you like?"
"Chocolate, please, like you fed me this morning. That was definitely chocolate."
"By the way, do you know how to get to the Hyatt from here?"
"The waitress says it's two blocks to the right, then about three blocks to the left. Not very far at all."
The waitress appeared and Chris ordered Kate's ice cream and more coffee for himself. When these were delivered, he asked her to leave the check and then sat back to watch Katy with her chocolate ice cream. Her eyes were bright and she savored every bite, letting it melt in her mouth. With each mouthful, she oohhed and aaahhhed and let it melt slowly in her mouth with her eyes closed. Chris took great delight in watching this ceremony. He wondered what she would do if he served her real food.
When she finally finished, Chris scooped up the check and read the amount. He took out his wallet and frowned slightly, then pulled two $20 bills from his pocket and laid them on top of the check.
"If you're ready, madam, I hear the Hyatt is full of king sized beds and all kinds of chocolate goodies."
"Oh, Chris, that's too much. The check is only $19. Wait a second, I think I have some smaller bills."
"Leave it, Katy. She gave us great service and we can certainly afford it, now, can't we?"
"Yes, I guess you're right. I'll have to get used to that, won't I?"
"You sure will, if you intend to stick with me. You do intend to stick with me, don't' you?"
"Like glue, Mr. Chris Carter rich guy, just like glue." This last exchange was accompanied by wide grins from both of them and they both realized the joke value as well as the hidden message in this exchange.
Chris and Katy walked arm in arm out to the parked car. Katy pushed the remote button to open the doors, then walked to the driver's side. Chris opened the passenger door and slid in, greeting her with a kiss when she sat down.
Katy drove them to the Hyatt without trouble and they pulled up to the front door. A doorman opened the door for Chris and Katy pushed the button for the trunk lid. Their backpacks were removed from the trunk and Katy was handed a valet ticket for the car. Chris mentioned that they wouldn't be using the car until tomorrow morning and the valet saluted him politely.
They pushed thru the front doors and walked arm in arm to the check in desk. Chris requested a small suite with a king-sized bed and was told that only the larger suites were available at this time. He agreed and then signed the register. He passed the register to Katy for her to sign, which she quickly did. When the clerk asked for a credit card, Chris told her they would be paying in cash and asked if she wanted a deposit now. She asked him to wait a moment while she checked with the manager.
A moment later, the manager appeared. Chris repeated the conversation to the manager and was told that a 50% deposit on the suite was required. Chris opened the briefcase, reached in and pulled one bound stack of bills and placed it on the counter, than zipped the briefcase shut again.
"I think that should take care of your requirements."
The manager carefully unwrapped the binding and fanned the bills, making sure that there were really bills in the stack and not just cut paper. He instructed the clerk to credit Mr. Carter's account with $5,000 and see that they were accorded every courtesy. Chris then asked the manager if he had a safe where his briefcase could be stored overnight and the manager agreed. Chris stated they would return to the desk shortly and place the briefcase in the hotel's custody.
Chris and Katy were given two keys to the suite and invited to charge whatever they wished to the room simply by showing the keys. A bellman was summoned and they were escorted to the elevator.
Inside the elevator, Katy hugged Chris's arm tightly and wiggled like a schoolgirl gone mad. The smile on her face couldn't have been erased with dynamite and her energy simply overwhelmed him.