Again thank you Angel Love for all your input and work. You are truly a gem. I would also like to thank those of you who have given me input as this is my first submission, and I am still learning the mechanics of how the site works. This is a short chapter due to this is how I had it written and it has been edited. Starting with chapter three, I will be posting longer chapters as I see how some of the mechanics work now. Please feel free to give your input as it is greatly appreciated ...... Now, Are We Having Fun Yet?
As the Limo arrived at the gate, it was ushered in without the usual inspections required by HLS. As it passed through the 12-ft razor topped wire fence toward the Danley hanger, it finally came to a stop next to the Lear that would carry Ritter to Houston. Ritter stepped out and headed toward the door of the jet and entered the cabin.
"Well good evening LT," the pilot said to Ritter as he stepped aboard.
"And a fine evening to you Mike. How are Margaret and the kids?" Ritter asked him.
"Who's Margaret? And I've got kids?" the pilot passed backed at him.
They both had a big laugh at that, because of the fact that both were hardly ever home. Greg was a Lieutenant Commander in Naval Intelligence and SRT Services before he came to work at Danley Technologies, and everyone still called him LT as was usually used in the military as a handle of sorts, in a friendly way.
"Any more Intel?" Greg asked Mike.
"Not so far LT," was passed back from the pilot.
"How about weather?" asked Greg.
"Clear to the gulf LT."
"Well, just get us there then," said Greg.
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Darla studied herself in the mirror as she brushed out her long jet black hair and thought back to the day she had met Greg. She knew in an instant that he must be someone of importance with the company. The lab in which she worked took special clearance to be able to enter. He walked in and his aura exuded a confidence that Darla had never seen before. She was immediately taken with this man. It was like he had absorbed her spirit as he walked into the room. The room had taken on a strange silence as his presence became known. The usual inane chatter that floated through the lab had suddenly disappeared. All that could be heard were the machines running throughout the lab.
He just stood there and scanned the lab taking it in as if he could take pictures with his eyes. When his gaze met hers, Darla knew right at that moment that a connection had been made. But her usual shyness just was not present. It was as if it had just decided to take the day off. The confidence she saw in this man's face, and the way he held himself, was something she had never seen before. Then he smiled right at her, and Darla had smiled back. This was a milestone for Darla. She had always done her best to show no emotion in any situation where it might lead to have to interact on a more personal level with a stranger.
He began to walk straight her way, and it was as if she was in a daze. As he neared the station where she had been working, it was as if all of a sudden she had been placed in a bubble. She could hear nothing but her heart beat and for a short moment it was as if everything had gone into slow motion. When he was standing right in front of her it was as if the bubble popped as he spoke to her for the first time.
"You must be Darla. Darla you have the rest of the day off, and tomorrow off also. Someone will be here shortly to escort you to a couple of appointments that you have this afternoon. You have a luncheon engagement for tomorrow and you will be staying in one of the corporate suites at the Hilton tonight. If you need to make any arrangements, due to this being such short notice, just let my assistant know and she will take care of them for you. She will be the one accompanying you this afternoon," he smiled down at her.
He then reached into his coat pocket and handed her a cell phone and an envelope.
"This is a company cell. The instructions are in the envelope as to its usage. I took the liberty of adding my personal number in case you might have questions, or if you just should happen to want to talk, its number one on speed dial," he smiled as he gazed down into her eyes.