I apologise for the delay in posting this, but a recent death in my family and then an extended stay in hospital after an emergency operation, has made it difficult to complete the chapter. I hope you find it worth the wait!
Best regards,
Gray
Chapter 11
Noella had set her alarm early so that she could make an early call to Steve and so by 8am she was up and dressed in jeans and lacy top with some fire red heels, breakfasted and on the phone. The weekend now seemed like a dream and she stilled couldn't believe how things had evolved.
My God....did I really do that? My God it all seemed like a wild ride where I had no control!
"Hi Steve. Sorry for ringing you so early but I have a problem."
She went onto to detail the whole Marcus and Damien scenario. Steve listened intently and registered his concern at Damien's action of changing trustees and was worried about the security of the funds in the trust. He told Noella that because he was her lawyer he couldn't represent Marcus, but he told her that he would ask an old friend of his from Law school, Martin Stevenson, to look after Marcus's interest.
"You're sure he'll take care of Marcus? Damien is really putting him under the pump."
"I trust him emphatically." he told Noella.
"Martin is an old friend and an amazing lawyer and he will ensure Marcus and the trust are protected 100%."
"Don't worry Noella. We've handled Damien before and we'll handle him again."
"Great. That makes me feel better.Thank you Steven."
He took Marcus's mobile number to pass onto Martin so that he could arrange a meeting to discuss the situation.
Steve then went onto tell her that they had found some information about Manta Pty Ltd and it seemed that it's ownership was hidden beneath many layers of holding companies but he was confident that they were close discovering who was ultimately behind the company.
"But I've saved the best news for last!" he revealed. "We'll have the car back for you on Wednesday."
"Wooohooo!" she squealed. "I'll have my baby back!"
"I thought that would make you happy!"
"Again. Thank you. You're amazing!'
"I know." he chuckled. "See you in the office Wednesday."
"See you Wednesday." With that she hung up the phone feeling much relieved and a little burst oh happiness lifted her up. She then dialled Marcus to tell him that Steve was going arrange a meeting with Martin and himself to sort out the issues with the trust. Marcus was relieved and promised he would ring Noella after the meeting.
Then she rang Jodie with the good news about her car and asked her to thank Paul for the lend of the car and that she would return it some time on Wednesday.
Now how can I thank them?..... What would be unique?
She turned to her coffee machine and watched as it delivered its magical coffee elixir a light bulb went off in her head.
Could I do that?......Is that appropriate? She did seem to like what Suzie had borrowed from Julia!
She sat at the kitchen counter with favourite mug full to the brim with a strong latte'.
Why not? Why be timid?
Noella was just fleshing out her plan in her head when her I-Phones beeper echoed through the kitchen. Reaching over to the end of the bench where it lay, she picked it up, and after unlocking the password saw it was a message from an unknown number. Warily she clicked on the message which opened instantaneously. It was from Josh!
"Hi Babe! Got ur numbr from Jeanette. Thank u for a fucking orsum nite! Lol!!!!!! Can we catch up?
Noella's thoughts flashed back to Saturday night and the "sex tree" and she could feel desire flashing through her body.
Don't have time for this right now.
"Maybe?"
she typed quickly.
She went back upstairs to do her teeth, makeup and hair. She passed inspection in the big mirror and headed back down stairs, collecting her red clutch and phone on her way to the garage and the little Mazda 2 that looked sweet but totally out of place in her garage. She jumped in and punted it up the steep drive in a flurry of engine revs.
Dior sun glasses on and looking good, she headed for a little shop in Ormond, which was the next suburb over, that she had read about in the local paper. She was hoping to find something unique for Jodie. Something that would express her appreciation for the loan of the cute little red car. She had already decided a bottle of single malt scotch would do the trick for Paul
Ten minutes later she was parking the car out the front of a little group of vibrant shops. Pushing the button on the key the Mazda locked with a bleep. Noella strolled passed cute cafes , high end fashion shops and one exquisite jewellery shop where she drooled at a magnificent ruby and diamond ring.
Behave Noella! You're here for Jodie. The ring can happen another day!
Next to the jewellery shop was a little shop all decked out in the red, white and blue of the French flag. A signed proclaimed, "La Boutique De L'Amour!"
Shop of Love! This could be interesting!
The shop window was filled with mannequins dressed in all manner of skimpy lingerie the like of which Noella had never seen before. Sassy, revealing, classic, sexy, floral, bright, vibrant, black. They were all there.
Looks perfect! This will be ideal!
After spending a minute admiring the window Noella moved to the doorway which was guarded by two fake standard poodles with diamante collars.
Cute!
The inside of the store was like a slice of Paris with murals of different parts on of the city. Cafes on the Champs Elysees, the Eiffel tower, Arc De Triumph, the Seine and Notre Dame. In front of each mural were racks of the stores specialty high end lingerie. To the right there were three small blue and white striped tent like structures which apparently served as the dressing rooms.
As Noella made it to the centre of the store a voice came from doorway.
"Bonjour!"
The feminine voice was unmistakably French.
"Bonjour." replied Noella as she gave thanks to high school French.
As the voice's owner appeared from the shadow, Noella could see an elegant and curvaceous figure dressed in a tight red and white horizontally striped top, black figure hugging pencil line skirt, black fishnet stockings and savage black stiletto heeled shoes. Very Parisienne.
"Can I help?"
"I hope so. I hope so. I am looking for a present for a special friend."
"I'm sure I can help. What does he like?" her French accent making everything sound so beautiful and lyrical.
"No, no, no! You don't understand. It's a lady."