61. Moving Forward
The Gulfstream jet rolled slowly down the runway, towards the hangar, that was its home. The women on board were tired and talked out. They had seen so many beautiful gowns, on their two-day shopping trip; they could not understand why it was not successful. However, for one reason or another, neither future bride had come away with a gown. Fiona was the closest to buying a gown. She found the perfect style, however it was six sizes too large. She was willing to try anything to get that gown, in her size. However, the boutique only had that one, and no amount of alteration would make it look great on her.
Now, the men were searching the internet to find a store that had one in her size. So far, their search had been fruitless, but they would have one more chance, when Piker Temple would called the home office of T.E.I., in Lyon, France, the manufacturer of the dress, in the morning. It was a last ditch effort, but it was worth a try. As Bob said to Dycke, when they had seen the girls off, at the airport, "Dycke, we have to find that dress. I do not want to be on the same planet with Fiona, when you tell her that the dress is not available."
Dycke said, "Me? You want me to tell her. You are out of your freaking mind. She will kill the person who tells her she cannot have that dress."
"Well Dycke, we have two choices in that case. First, if you have any doubts about getting married at eighteen years old, we can have Payne tell her."
"Not one chance in Hell, Bob. I feel about Payne, as you feel about Fiona. My wedding is on, Bob. However, most of the time, I can beat Payne, when we fight, and I do not come away with bruises, over my body."
"That was very funny, Dycke, but that only leaves us with option number two: We both leave the planet, and we recall Marti, and have her tell Fiona."
"Bob, I like option number two, however I like it for more than one reason."
Bob asked, "Should I ask what the second reason is, or should I let it go."
Dycke replied, "Why not call the women and tell them we are going to get something to eat, and I will discuss it with you there."
Bob called Fiona only to find out that they were having dinner, because they were hungry, and they were tired of waiting for them to return.
Bob and Dycke stopped at a local eatery, and settled down to discuss Dycke's latest problem.
"Bob, there can be absolutely no slip-ups about what I am going to tell you, like the one you did yesterday, about starting a family."
"Dycke, you actually thought that was a slip-up? I planned that down to the moment I would say the words."
Dycke laughed, "Why did you do that to her? Did you see how embarrassed Fiona became, when the other women started in on her?"
"It was exactly what I wanted to happen, Dycke. Now she can relax and let nature take its course. If she gets pregnant, she does not have to hide it from anybody, because everyone is expecting the news. She will not be as wired as she is, most of the time, while she is on a protective detail, guarding you."
"Bob, I am going to make you a promise here and now. The day she gets pregnant, she is being moved from protective detail, to U.S.C. to get her Doctorate in Finance. Afterwards, she works with Piker and Art Shell, in the office. You will be part of their protection detail, as baby sitter. I do not expect you to leave the baby at home, alone."
"Dycke, Fiona always tells me that you are too good to be true. Now, I believe it, too. Can I ask you a favor, before we begin on your problem?"
"Sure Bob, what do you need? If I can do it, is yours."
"Can you start Fiona's schooling, in September? I want her mind clear of her former duties, and only thinking of what she has ahead her."
"Consider it done, Bob. She will get her letter of acceptance into the doctoral program, in the next few weeks."
"I will not ask you how you are going to do that, without her signature, and the other prerequisites, needed for approval. However, thank you very much, Dycke. If there is anything that I can do for you, just ask me, and it is yours."
"Bob, I wish you had not said that just now, because I'm going to tell you for something that may have already put us in danger. You know about T.E.I. and their connection to Fiona's dress. Piker and I did some research, on the company, and it looked like, it was a takeover prospect. I own twenty-three percent of the company. For three hundred and sixty million dollars, I could buy enough equity interest to own fifty-one percent of the company. Effectively, I would own it, because no one is able to make any decisions, without my approval. Everywhere I look all I get is "Information Not Available at this time." As I thought about it, I began to wonder if this was a front company, with connections to some sort of organized crime. If it is, and I go after this company, I could put everyone I love in danger. If it is not, and I let this opportunity pass by, I turn out to be a business idiot. Piker believes that there are only four or five other investors, who could own a large block of stock. Since I own nearly a quarter of the company already, no one could have a larger portion of investment, in T.E.I., than me.
I called my Uncle Turnquest, and told him the story. He is going to look into this company, through his European contacts. He has many of them. At one time, in your past, you had connections, inside the U.S. Government. I do not want you to put yourself in danger. I can let this deal go by, and not have any second thoughts. However, if you can get any information, about this company, it would make my decision a great deal easier.
Bob smiled and said, "I worked for the CIA, Dycke. Everyone knows it, and it was a long time ago." Bob did not say anything else, but he nodded his head at Dycke, in an indication that he would do something, about the situation.
They both became quiet, as their server approached, and took their dinner order. Suddenly, neither of them was very hungry and they ordered very light meals.
Monday morning, a limousine took Payne, Fiona, Dycke, and Bob from Atlanta to Marietta, Georgia. It was a short, twenty-mile ride, however, when you enter the Gulfstream complex, it was like stepping into the future of aviation. Every aircraft was state of the art, and in various phases of completion. A security vehicle led them to the office complex, where Sandra Nicholson greeted them. After being signed in, photographed, and issued ID badges, she brought them into the maintenance hangar, where their G5 was located. She asked Dycke if the aircraft was going to be based in the United States. Dycke said that he was unsure. His attorney would contact her, and give her that information.
Ms. Nicholson advised them that they could not enter the aircraft because of the work that was being done. However, she said it was being outfitted with a new glass cockpit, and every top-of-the-line instrument package that was offered for the flight deck. The only items we need to complete this aircraft are for you to decorate the interior. For that, we need to go back to the office complex, and the design studio. We have, nearly everything you can think of for the interior of the aircraft, and if you need something we do not have, we will get it.
Payne looked at Fiona and said, "I think I am going to a good time here."
Fiona replied, "Why not have a good time? You are spending Turnquest's money, not Dycke's money. You do not have to be frugal, because he has, nearly, as much money, as Dycke."
Walking into the design studio was like a child walking into Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory for the first time. Sandra put her arm out to stop Dycke and Bob from walking too close behind the girls. When Fiona and Payne stepped into the room, they, immediately, stopped.
Sandra looked at Dycke and Bob and said, "When a woman walks into the room, this happens every time. Men knock over their wives going in there, more times than you can possibly imagine. It was decided, that we would block any man, following a woman into the room, five feet before the door. It has saved many arguments from occurring, and many pairs of stockings."
Bob replied, "If you knew anything, about my intended, you would know you stopped an outright brawl, from occurring."
Payne looked over the room and said, "Where the hell do you start?"
Sandra replied, "The very first thing you do, is to decide on your color palette." She took Payne over to a large portfolio of pictures and sat down beside her.
Bob whispered to Dycke, "Do you think we could get out of here, peacefully. I have to make a phone call, about the gown. I have a suspicion that they will be here, for a very long time."
Dycke said, "The only thing that can happen, is they tell us we cannot leave. However, five dollars will get you a hundred, that they tell us to get lost."
Bob replied, "I will take that bet."