Consequences 14A
Words: 12700 approx
Relationship problems at home and abroad.
We are getting towards the end of all that I have previously written and I'm finding it harder and harder to edit. Apologies therefore for my syntax which is born from years of writing reports. This episode is very much an intro to the next stage. I intend to post parts 14A through 14C as all three are circa 12k words. Then start the next part at 15 when the story changes direction.
Tags: Coupling; Relationships; Sapphic; Lesbian; Multi-partners; polyamory;
For the list of Characters please fast forward to the end.
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Author's note: All location information used has been obtained from online and map research or is just imaginary, no opinion of real places is intended. The names and background of characters used are entirely fictitious and any similarity to a real person is entirely coincidental. This is a work of fiction and wholly the author's creation for the purposes of a story. The language, terminology or sayings used are intended to be International, this being the World Wide Web, but if any word or saying is new to anyone I would refer them to Google.
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Splits open up in the founding relationships, are there still surprises ahead?
Intro from 13 F: The idea for a men's Retreat is still being considered. The group have decided to run a competition to identify a suitable location for a safe exotic getaway that would also work as an upmarket golf course and resort. The Retreat program is full-on now, but do the original group want to spread their wings?
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So, the search for a site in Central America and the Caribbean went into full swing and for some it became their main task, they had narrowed their search down to the safest countries at the time but finding the right location where they could co-exist with the local community was proving illusive. On the local front at Baltimore Retreat, David had noticed that as the months passed, and the abduction became a distant memory, so the women began to spend more time out in the community when they were not working. It became apparent to David that women who were not at risk did not need to work at the Retreat itself. In fact, as far as progressing back into the outside world was concerned he agreed with others that it might be better if the members and staff traveled into a vibrant town to work where they could meet people and feel part of the community. So, David, Jane, Bree, Ana, Monica, Jenny, and Jo began to search for a building where they could house all sides of the business.
It proved difficult to identify the perfect place until David realized that his family had some level of stake in a lot of the best property. It was time to speak to his grandmother, and after a long explanation, she cut to the point and promised to try and get a list from the lawyers. This meant that David advised the others to make a choice of the buildings that might suit them if they became available. Then the Ladies began visiting all the buildings using fictitious reasons to gain entry, until eventually, Grandmother suggested that they should just check the building for the Landlord's insurance purposes. So, after a quick lesson on what to measure and make note of, they had a dry run using an out-of-town vacant block before people set forth to gather what information they could, as and when they had time.
It wasn't long before Jane, and hence David, became aware that some of the visits took longer than expected, sometimes running through lunchtime. He had to smile when they found some excuse or other to go back and re-visit.
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Luck changed for them on the Caribbean front when David's grandmother told him that her estranged husband had been sentenced to prison some years ago, pending extradition, so that under the US Trust she could administer his holdings until such time as he should pass away or be released. Her Lawyer had advised that she had every right to administer the lands including property on the Caribbean Island of St Lukes as long as she did not sell them. After a conference with the investors, it was decided to give the opportunity top priority. If all other usual enquiries proved viable, and it was acceptable to the St Lukes' authorities the group were keen to proceed. Rather than stop the search though, they decided to push on with the competition research work that had already been done in Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
Teams of women went out to the countries with a guard and came back refreshed and energized, it proved to be a magnificent morale booster. The main thing they reported was that there were no problems as long as they stayed within the tourist districts and kept away from run-down areas. They did stray somewhat in order to look at all the prospective sites but again there were no problems reported. Of course, their reports at Sunday meetings held nothing about business and more about the local male wildlife, David absented himself somehow just before such reports were made.
Jane, Lauren, and David were now holding weekly Retreat round up meetings that gave David a chance to be very naughty to Lauren. He always asked how his favorite lesbian was and then how her love life was. At the last, she usually accused him of being jealous or 'wouldn't you like to know' both of which gave him an excuse to take liberties with her that she always tried to push away but not too hard. That was until Jane said, "For heaven's sake get a bed" at which he would say "Your wish is my command" and so the meeting would be suspended as it so often did.
This week when the meeting eventually got going again, somewhat late in the day, they discussed the goings on when people were looking at offices or going to Central America. Jane didn't feel that they should ask too many questions because people were getting out there making friends which could only be good and thus far, they hadn't been given reason to suspect any issues.
David was ready to go with that, but Lauren had a reservation, "I don't want to be a downer but it's not sending the right message to those who aren't involved, an occasional late lunch is ok, but we do have to find a way to make things fair." She went on, "I am the first to admit I like being out there, but I do think an occasional involvement from one of the senior management, perhaps going out with them, would be good for the team and send the right message."
Jane looked concerned but didn't have an argument and David didn't look happy about involving himself at that level but offered "I'll see what I can do but I won't promise when." And then as an afterthought. "Perhaps those that are office bound could accompany others and help out from time to time." It wasn't a suggestion that was especially welcomed.
They moved on to the group trips and that people were having a wonderful time, but with a few hiccups the project was going as planned, it had at least brought a happy atmosphere around the place. No one complained, especially if their turn was to come. "A little bit of double standards here I think," remarked Jane, and David agreed. "I don't think we should check up on people yet, a word now and again might prevent it from getting out of hand, anything else might be seen as a bit hypocritical."
There were slight just discernible nods of heads at that last comment, of which he made a mental note.
The next day David took someone with him to show the ropes as an exercise to see how they might work and he picked the area near the Watering Hole, as David intended to take her there as part of the day. It was a highly developed area and he used one of his neighbors for the trial run. As they arrived, he noted a 'To Rent' type of sign outside and then as they went up he recognized that it was his neighbors, the website designers were already looking to move on. He stopped to talk to them and discovered that being in the center hadn't worked out as they hoped, and they were looking to move to an edge of town location with more parking. Storing that piece of information away they went on up to the next floor where David was recognized, so was able to chat cordially with the staff. They had no objection to being a guinea pig, so his training was relaxed.
"Why don't we try to move the offices here?" the trainee Kim asked.
"It would be good, but we would need more than the one floor that will be available," replied David. "But I tell you what, would you mind keeping a watching brief over the building, let's see what plans these people have. We'll drop a hint to their Director that we might be looking to consolidate in one building before we go."
Kim smiled appreciatively and resolved to use her underused brain to find something that would work. As the day went on, David discovered that Kim had given up her hopes of a bright future to enable her fiancé to finish his degree in business. It was a familiar story, once he got into the high-profile business community he conveniently forgot her contribution and eventually she discovered that his long work hours were often with a very pretty woman who was not her; it did not end well.
"If you had finished your studies what would have been your subject?" he asked.
"I was doing law but I'm not sure my heart is in it, now I think I would like to do something practical, something more creative than law ever is. Don't get me wrong I could probably finish law but not as my main subject. What do you think David? Is there anything connected to your work that might be needed in the future?
I'm not sure we have anything that is at your level of study but I'm damn sure I know who to talk to that would know. Legal skills are invaluable for us, but would not yet be a full task, but perhaps you're right and if you could combine skills, that would be brilliant. I am going to talk to someone and arrange for you to meet them, are you up for it?"
She grinned at him. "Damn right I am, maybe I could do environmental science or even something to do with conservation."
He broke into a huge smile. "That would be perfect but what I don't want to hear is any reservations about being sponsored through your studies, we have a program of support, and we want people with determination who will fit in with us."
"Yes sir!" she said cheekily and then saluted, he was very tempted to tap her very pert bottom but decided better of it.
