Ari and Brett

A Rose Called Miracle: Book #3, Pt. 3

Author's Note: This is the third book of 'A Rose Called Miracle'. This is fiction. All characters in intimate situations are over 18. Any resemblance to real people, organizations, or businesses is purely coincidence.

If you are uncomfortable with the subjects of control, restraint, discipline, and mild corporal punishment, please go no further. Likewise, this story is peopled with hetero, interracial, and LGBTQ+ characters and couples, and indirectly--incest; if you can't deal with that, leave now--you'll only be offended. Also, I apologize to BDSM aficionados--in this story I pretty much ignore proper BDSM safety measures as the characters develop their relationship. Please do not use these writings as a 'how to' guide. Lastly, if anyone reading 'A Rose Called Miracle' has enjoyed my characters, feel free to take them on new adventures--but please don't mess too much with the canon.

BRETT AND KARI (A Master/slave story of Love and Loss)

There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein

For those who are willing to make an effort, great miracles and wonderful treasures are in store. Isaac Bashevis Singer

CHAPTER 11

It was a little after 9:30 when my phone rang. "Hello?"

"Master Brett? This is Slave Elizabeth."

"Good evening, Elizabeth. How can I help you?" Strange, why was she calling?

"Mistress Annabeth..." I heard coughing in the background...harsh, phlegmy coughing I recognized...my blood chilled. "Mistress Annabeth asked me to call and see if we were still on your schedule for tomorrow evening?"

"Of course. Dinner will be at 6:30. Kari is planning to make baked macaroni and cheese."

"Thank you, Master. Mistress Annabeth and this slave will see you then."

The next evening, Annabeth and Elizabeth arrived at 6:15. Elizabeth looked older, worn down, and tired. To say Annabeth looked terrible would be too kind. She was grey, haggard, and shrunken. Her eyes had no spark of life. She seemed barely alive; every movement exhausted her.

I half-carried Annabeth to the recliner in the living room and helped her sit down. Elizabeth helped carry a portable oxygen tank. Kari stood by. "Go prepare dinner, please." I ordered.

I turned to Annabeth; even with the portable oxygen tank her chest heaved trying to draw a decent breath. "I smoked..." She coughed, "For 40 years..." another fit of coughing, "Every time I lit up..." She gasped trying to breathe, "I thought...It can't happen to me." She sagged back in the recliner, "But guess what?"

"Lung cancer." I suggested more bluntly than I intended. She nodded. Elizabeth sobbed.

"Treatment?"

Annabeth shook her head, "Eliz..." She gasped. "...abeth! Speak...for me...Darling." Annabeth coughed out.

"Treatment?" I repeated.

"All treatments options have been exhausted," Elizabeth replied. Tears poured down her cheeks. "The tumors have spread so much that now it's only pain management and trying to help Mistress breathe."

Although I already knew the answer, I had to ask, "How much time?"

Elizabeth sobbed, "The doctor estimates between two to six weeks." I closed my eyes and shuddered. This was the same time frame I'd been given when I'd received the Red Cross telegram informing me of my mother's illness. She'd survived less than three weeks. Annabeth looked exactly as Mom had looked when I got home on emergency leave from my overseas assignment.

I looked back and forth from Annabeth to Elizabeth; I glanced at Kari preparing the table for dinner. "What can I do to help?" I finally asked.

Annabeth opened her eyes, "Show him...Elizabeth. Brett...typing's easier." Elizabeth opened a soft, thin briefcase and pulled out a folder. She stepped over to me, dropped into a perfect 'present' position, and held out the folder to me, "This is for you, Master."

Dear Brett,

It is my sincere wish, when I die, that you will accept guardianship of my beloved Elizabeth. My attorney is on call: if you accept my plan for Elizabeth, he will immediately notarize and file my amended will. It is a very simple document with only one provision: everything I have, after debts, passes to Elizabeth. The remainder of the will simply states that my attorney will be the executor of my estate; and then, once the estate is settled, all proceeds will be used to establish a trust for Elizabeth. If you accept guardianship, you will also be Elizabeth's trustee. My attorney will discuss your compensation.

I assure you, Brett...and Kari...that I and Elizabeth understand the enormous imposition and change we are asking you to make to your relationship; but neither I nor Elizabeth can imagine her with anyone else.

Now, a few personal notes about my darling Elizabeth:

First: She is completely submissive. She will do as she's ordered; but will not take initiative--except in the kitchen.

Second: She has seen your Kari's tattoo and piercings. She understands and accepts your prerogative, as her master, to decide on the body modifications you'd want for her.

Third: Elizabeth is a superb chef and menu planner. Early in our relationship I sent her to a culinary school in Boulder, Colorado for eight months. During that time, I worked out of my firm's office in that city. She specializes in French and Italian cuisines and graduated at the top of her class. Despite being offered positions at several top-level restaurants, she stayed with me, at what we jokingly call "Chez Spencer."

Fourth: She does not require severe discipline. She is very compliant and eager to please. But she does benefit from a nice, sharp spanking now and again.

Fifth: She enjoys sex with men and women equally. Again, though, she will not take the initiative. I would recommend that you do not permit Kari and Elizabeth to become intimate.

Sixth: I have instructed Elizabeth that once I am gone, she is never to use the phrase, "But Mistress Annabeth told me..." Your word is her law!

Thank you, Brett

Sincerely, Annabeth Spencer

I put down the folder. I finished a glass of water while I thought about things. "Sir? Dinner is ready." Kari called from the kitchen.

"Elizabeth, prepare a dish for Mistress Annabeth. Help her eat." I ordered. Annabeth shook her head, but Elizabeth ignored her and went to the kitchen. She returned with a small salad and miniscule portion of Kari's macaroni and cheese. She kneeled and slowly and lovingly, bit by bit, fed Annabeth. I flashed back to my mother's last days and my struggles to get her to eat something.

Elizabeth finished the feeding and wiped Annabeth's pale, blue-tinted, lips. She took the plate back to the kitchen. She returned and once more kneeled at Annabeth's side...she took her hand and held it.

"Elizabeth, how are you caring for your mistress?"

"Master, we have a 24/7 rotating team of nurses."

"It's too late now, but why didn't you ask me to come visit you. This trip must have been torture."

Elizabeth looked at the carpet. "Mistress refused this slave's suggestion. She insisted that for a request of this magnitude, we had to visit you." I glanced at Annabeth; she nodded agreement even as she struggled to draw a breath.

Kari came out of the kitchen and brought me a plate with salad and macaroni. I ate but kept asking questions.

Finally, I got to the question I had to ask, "Elizabeth are you sure you want to be my slave? Wouldn't you prefer to try independent living?"

She shook her head back and forth vigorously. "No Master. Please."

"Alright. I understand. Annabeth...Slave Elizabeth...I will accept responsibility for Elizabeth's welfare...when it becomes necessary."

"Thank you, Master." Elizabeth bowed her head toward me.

"Thank you...Brett...I'll be at peace...now." Annabeth gasped. "Eliz...abeth. Home." She struggled to stand but fell back, exhausted by the effort. "Help me." She pleaded. I moved to one side of Annabeth while Elizabeth moved to the other. Together, we helped Annabeth out of the chair. At the door, we struggled to get it open and keep Annabeth upright. I gave up and just swept Annabeth into my arms. "Elizabeth, get the door. Kari, you handle the oxygen." Annabeth was just skin and bones and as I carried her out to their car, I remembered my mother's last week--by then she was so sick and weak, I had to lift her from her sofa to the portable toilet. She couldn't walk the three steps from one to the other. I hoped Annabeth's nurses took care of that chore. It wasn't a memory Elizabeth needed.

I came back into the house after getting Annabeth settled in her car. I found Kari sitting at the kitchen table, slowly eating her dinner; tears pouring down her cheeks. "Mistress Annabeth is dying, isn't she." It was not a question.

"Yes. Very soon now."

"You agreed to take in Elizabeth?"

"Yes."

"Everything will be different when she comes here."

"Yes. But I don't know how drastically this will affect everyone."

Kari set down her fork, "I'm not hungry anymore." She got up; emptied her plate into the garbage can and began to wash the dishes.

I walked up behind her and put my hands on her shoulders, "I'm sorry this happened; but they needed our help."

"I understand. Master...Brett do not apologize...I am not mad. I am upset that there is so much sadness." She turned and placed her soapy hands on my face. "Brett...you are a good man. That's one of the reasons I love you so much. You can willingly set aside your personal interests and do what must be done to help others in their time of crisis and need..."

I tried to interrupt, but she shushed me with a finger across my lips.

"...you took me in when I was desperate, even though I thoroughly disrupted your life. Over these months you've taught me so much. Now, Elizabeth needs us, and we will see that she is well taken care of--a slave for you; a sister for me."

At 3:00 a.m. I was on my back, unable to sleep, hands behind my head, staring at a spot where four ceiling tiles met. My thoughts kept jumping around: my relationship with Kari; Annabeth and Elizabeth; memories of my mother's final days; my lack of memories of a father--he wasn't something mom talked about.

Kari rolled over and snuggled up against me. She was still asleep but she rested her hand on my chest. I turned my head to the right and caught a glimpse of Kari's crate. I felt a surge of shame and pledged to get rid of it ASAP. Kari's fingers twisted in my chest hair while she snored in my ear.

My phone rang and shattered the quiet. I stared around, trying to find the damn thing and muttering about what stupid SOB was calling at this hour.

"Hello?" I snapped.

"Mr. Hellsen? This is Shanique Kalvin. I'm sorry to bother you, but Michael, Roger and I just finished dissecting Ms. McKay's computer and there's some shit on here that you need to see right away...Pardon my language."

"What kind of shit?" My filters weren't working yet.

"Sorry, sir, but this is stuff we shouldn't discuss over the phone."

"Okay. Ah...Shanique...I need to shower and load up on coffee. Give me 45 minutes." I crawled out of bed.

"Brett? Is everything okay?" Kari slurred.

"Sorry to wake you, Sweetie. I have an emergency at work and need to go in right away."

"Uh huh." She yawned. "I can make you some coffee?"

"Would you? That would be fantastic Sweetheart. Thanks." I headed for my shower. I washed quickly but hated leaving the warmth. I dressed fast--remembered to check for matching socks. Kari and I shared a kiss before she handed me a travel mug of coffee as I headed out.

One good thing about driving to work so early was the lack of traffic. I only saw a few other vehicles. At the front desk I met the overnight security guard whom I'd never seen before. I introduced myself. The team had called down so he was expecting me. He told me that Kalvin, et. al., were waiting for me in the third-floor main conference room.

I stopped at my office, rummaged through Ms. Perkins' credenza for ingredients, and started some more coffee. While it brewed, I went to the conference room; it looked like a typhoon had passed through. I saw four laptops, several printers, some pieces of hardware I couldn't begin to identify, and enough paper scattered around to be a major fire hazard. Michael and Roger had their heads down on the table; Ms. Kalvin was up and pacing back and forth; she looked like she was counting on her fingers. "Would you like some coffee?" I asked her.

"No thanks, I'm already buzzed on Red Bulls."

"Okay," I asked as I moved to the table, "What have you got?"

Ms. Kalvin finished counting and tucked her hands in her pockets. "At a minimum, I...we can prove 15 counts of felony fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud at the local and state level. We also can prove three counts of interstate fraud and conspiracy...we'll have to notify the feds; don't know if they'll want to get involved; although it might be a nice easy case for a rookie agent to pop their cherry."

"And it's McKay?"

"Definitely. No doubt about it. And you should know, you were her next target--but your promotion screwed up her plan."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you.

"How?"

"Do you remember the garden center you were scheduled to inspect?"

"Yeah?"

"If you approved them for insurance, she planned to hack your report and change it to indicate rejection. Then, she'd already prepared a notice to the garden center informing them they were approved; the premium; and where to send the premium. She'd set up a phony receiving account in your name."

"Damn!" I didn't know what else to say.

"If I might be crude?" Shanique spoke up, "This bitch was trying to put your ass in jail. And then take your job."

"Okay. Start at the beginning. Remember I'm not particularly computer literate. Take me through your findings. If possible, explain how you found it."

Between the three of them I came to understand the basics of her treachery. I looked at my phone and saw that it was 6:45. Time to act. "Okay folks. I want you to go and sleep until 9:00. If you live close enough go home for your nap. If not, go to my office and sack out on my sofa and chair cushions. I want you ready to brief Ms. Haugen at 9:30.

At 7:15 I called Ms. Haugen and briefed her on what Shanique, Michael, and Roger had discovered. She asked a couple questions; she admitted that she didn't understand the technical side of their work any better than I did. We agreed to meet at 9:30 for a briefing.

"Brett. Off the top of your head, what was the name of the garden center you supposedly inspected?"

"Ah...let me think...Hellsink?...no, that's not right, It was Hellsen's."

"Shit!" I was surprised by the vehemence of Ms. Haugen's outburst.

"What?"

"The Hellsens are quite the power couple, rich beyond belief. Rumor is Katherine Hellsen has a personal fortune in the high eleven figures. Her husband, David, isn't far behind."

"Why haven't I heard of them?"

"They were all over the news...it's been fifteen, maybe twenty years now. Lord, how time flies. Anyway, she was nominated to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat but the sitting senator and governor reneged on the deal. Kate and David were only dating at the time, but David's defense of Kate was recorded and spread all over the news and internet. The governor and senator both lost their next elections. Anyway, that's the backstory. Brett, these are very important people. I want you to take a company car and personally drive down to Hellsen's. I want you to explain what's happened, do the inspection, recommend approval if warranted, and most important apologize for McKay's deceit. Leave tomorrow morning--take Kari as your assistant if she doesn't want to be left alone."

I nodded, thinking of what needed to be done.

"Are you there Brett?"

"Yes Ma'am. Sorry, I was thinking of what needs to be done."

"Understood. See me at nine, then introduce me to your team working on this."

"Will do. Good morning."

"Yeah, right. See you in a couple hours."

I walked back to the conference room; Michael was lying on the table, using a laptop and his jacket as a pillow. Back in my office I found Shanique sleeping on the sofa while Roger had pulled seat cushions onto the floor. I went out into the corridor to call home.

Kari answered on the first ring. "Good morning. Noonan residence."

I explained, as briefly as possible, the morning's crisis. I asked her to order a rideshare and go to the store Ms. Haugen recommended and get herself set up in two ladies' business suits, blouses, shoes, etc. After I hung up, I realized I'd forgotten to tell her why she needed a suit.

I walked back into my office. I sat in my chair, reclined, and propped my feet on my desk. I tried to nap for a few minutes.

I woke slowly, "Mr. Noonan. Mr. Noonan? It's 8:50. Are you awake?" I blinked my eyes a couple times before I could focus on Shanique and Roger standing by my desk.

"Yeah, I'm good. I got out of my chair and went to the outer office to get myself another cup of coffee. Shanique grimaced and said she'd stick to Red Bull; Michael and Roger went looking for a Coke machine for their caffeine.

Holding my coffee, I strolled down the hallway. My three team members were in the conference room getting everything organized. I continued down the hall to Ms. Haugen's office. Francesca was at her desk; as stylish as ever. "Good morning, Mr. Noonan, Ms. Haugen is ready for you."

Ms. Haugen greeted me as I entered her office. She was to the left, in her sitting area, with two strangers. "Grab a seat. Coffee?" I held up my mug in response. "I see you came prepared. Good. Alright...Introductions are in order...Marvina, Alex this is Brett Noonan, our VP for Special Projects. His team discovered the details we're going to discuss. Brett, on the left is Marvina Wallace; she is the District Attorney for this county. On the right is Alex Anderson, the state's Attorney General.

I nodded to each as everybody stood and exchanged handshakes.

"Are you ready to show us what you've found?" Mr. Anderson asked.

"Yes sir. My team is in the conference room waiting for you. Actually..." I smiled, "They were ready for only Ms. Haugen. This should be interesting."

The four of us adjourned to the conference room. I introduced Shanique, Michael, and Roger and gave a brief, layman's summary of what they'd been doing. After that, I introduced Ms. Wallace and Mr. Anderson. Michael and Roger looked stunned and seemed to shrink.

Shanique, though, seemed to grow to about seven feet tall. "Good morning, ladies, and gentlemen. This briefing will detail the nature and extent of the crimes committed by one Stacey McKay, employed by this company. My name is Shanique Kalvin of the Special Projects Group. Before this I was a computer crimes specialist for the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigation. I held the rank of Major."

She looked at me with a slight grin before she continued with a detailed rundown of each of the individual crimes found on the hard drive and showed a flowchart detailing the progress of each scam. I got lost in the technical jargon, "If you'll excuse me, Ms. Kalvin has this well in hand, I'm going to do some paperwork in my office." I excused myself.

Ten minutes later Ms. Haugen walked into my office. Without being asked she plopped down into a chair in front of my desk. She laughed, "You know, after she said she'd been a major, I didn't understand a single thing she said. But Marvina and Alex both had a gleam in their eyes that said our Ms. McKay is in deep trouble."

"Good."

"Are you ready to go to Hellsen's?"

"I am. I called home and told Kari to go shopping for a couple business outfits. We'll take off first thing tomorrow morning."

"Brett, this is hard but grovel if you must. Getting involved with the Hellsen companies will be a massive boost to our business."