Chapter 16

Larry and Rebecca rode the elevator up to the top floor. They got out and walked down the hall. Larry opened the door for Rebecca then followed her inside.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Newman." The secretary said. "Here's your messages." She said then handed him some papers.

"Thank you, Laura." Larry said as he took the papers. He led Rebecca down the hall to his office. He opened the door and they went inside. "This is my office. Make yourself comfortable."

"It's nice," Rebecca said.

"I guess." He put the camera bag down on one of the chairs. "If you need anything, just ask Laura."

"I will." Rebecca said as she moved in front of Larry. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I'll be fine. Take as long as you need."

"Thank you for understanding."

"You're welcome. Go take care of your work. I'm going to put my stuff together."

"All right." Larry said then kissed her. He deepened the kiss and made it last several moments. He pulled back. "I'll be back." Larry reluctantly let go of Rebecca and walked out the door. He walked down the hall to his father's office. He walked in without knocking.

"You don't dress to come to the office, Lawrence?"

"I was already out when you called."

"You were out looking like that?"

"Yes. I was at the mall with Rebecca. What difference does it make what I wear?" Larry said. "I wasn't planning on coming in today."

"Yes I know. Tom told me."

"What did you want to tell me?"

"Sit down, Lawrence."

Larry walked back to his office over an hour later. He went in carrying a big folder. He dropped it on his desk. "How are you doing?"

"Everything is fine." Rebecca said from the chair she was sitting in. "How did it go with your father?"

"He told me what was going on with the cannery, but it's a mess."

"How much longer are you going to be?"

"I don't know." He said as he walked over to her. "I can call someone to take you home if you want."

"No. I'm fine here."

"I'm sorry. I just need to do a couple things here."

"It's fine. My battery is still charging so do what you have to do."

"All right. I will try to be as quick as my father will let me. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm good."

Larry knelt down next to the chair. "It sounds like your good mood has faded."

"It has some. I'm sorry."

"No. I am." Larry said as he took her hand. "I should have waited to see what my father had to say, but I wanted to know about it."

"It's fine, I understand," Rebecca said. "Your work is important to you. I'll be here when you are done and then we can leave together."

"All right." Larry said then kissed her hand. He stood up. "I'll be back." He said then walked out the door.

Larry walked in an hour later. Rebecca aimed the camera and took a picture of him. He walked over to his desk and sat down. Rebecca took another picture. Larry looked up at her. "Having fun?"

She got up and walked over to the desk. She took another picture. "I take it that your good mood is gone now?"

"Thanks to my father." Larry said then hit his forehead on his desk.

Rebecca put her camera on the corner of the desk and walked around it. She went behind Larry and started rubbing his shoulders. "Just relax."

"It's hard to relax," Larry said.

"I know, but just try." Rebecca continued to massage his shoulders. She moved around to the front of the chair, leaned down and kissed him.

Larry pulled Rebecca onto his lap. He kissed her lightly than engulfed her mouth. They kissed for several moments before he pulled back. "Today was supposed to be a fun day. It was supposed to be about spoiling you."

"You have spoiled me enough." Rebecca said then kissed him. The door opened and Tom walked in. "Excuse me." He said then turned around.

Larry and Rebecca separated and looked at Tom. "It's fine, Tom."

Tom turned back to him. "Your father asked me to bring you these files."

"Of course he did. Just put them on my desk," Larry said. Tom put the folders on the desk with a smile on his face. "We will be leaving soon. If there's anything else my father needs from me, it can wait until tomorrow when I come in."

"Yes sir." Tom said. "You must be Rebecca." Tom said as he extended his hand. "I'm Tom. Mr. Newman's assistant."

Rebecca shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Tom."

"I'll see you tomorrow then, Mr. Newman." Tom said then left the room.

Larry woke up in the morning alone in his bed. He got up and pulled on a pair of shorts. He walked out of his bedroom and smelled coffee. He walked out to the kitchen and saw Rebecca at the counter. He walked over, kissed her on the cheek and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Morning. How long have you been up?" Larry asked then sipped his coffee.

"Not that long. Can I start taking pictures today of the hotel?"

"Sure. See Shelly when you are ready. She will have everything for you."

"Thanks," Rebecca said. "There's a few things I want to get done here first."

"All right. You can take your time," Larry said. "I guess I should get ready for work." Larry said then walked off to his bedroom.

Larry walked in the door around 3:30 carrying a bouquet of flowers. He heard music coming from Rebecca's bedroom. He walked down and stopped at the door. He looked in and watched Rebecca for a moment. He knocked, but she didn't look over. The music was too loud for her to hear him. He slowly walked in the room. Rebecca noticed him and turned down the music. "I didn't think you would be home this early."

Larry held up the flowers. "These are for you," he said. "I said I was leaving at three."

"Thank you." She said as she took the flowers. She got up and looked at the clock. "I must have lost track of time." Rebecca wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss. "How was work?"

"Too long being around my father."

"When's the final meeting?"

"It's on Friday. Then there's a cocktail party that night."

"I'll have to get a dress then."

"Yes, I guess you will. I'm going to have to be at the office for most of the week. We have to review everything with the lawyers."

"All right," Rebecca said. "I'm going to put these in some water.

"I'm going to put on something more comfortable."

"I want to show you what I did today." Rebecca said as she walked out of the room.

"Ok. Give me a few minutes." Larry said as he went into his bedroom.

Larry sat down on the couch next to Rebecca. She opened the laptop. "I took some pictures today, but there's plenty more that I want to take," Rebecca said. She opened a picture folder. She scanned through the pictures.

"You did good."

"Thank you. I couldn't do some of the places I wanted to, but I will tomorrow."

"You do know that there is no hurry."

"Yes, there is. I saw the old pamphlet and online advertisement. There are awful."

"It's not that bad."

"Maybe in your eyes," Rebecca said. "But to me, there is a problem with it."

"I guess I hired the right person, then," Larry said. "What do you want to do for dinner?"

"We can go down to the restaurant or we can have something brought up."

"I already took care of it. It will be brought up around five."

"All right. I talked to the District Attorney today. He talked to the DA down there and in their opinions, they want to pursue the case there. They don't think there is enough evidence in your case."

"Ok." Rebecca said and closed her laptop. She set it on the coffee table "I guess, as long as he goes to jail, justice is served."

"No, he should pay for the attempt on your life," Larry said. "Brian is going to go down there and be a part of the investigation. He's going to question him about you."

"So, am I going to have to go down there?"

"Yes. They will let me know."

"All right. Thanks for letting me know."

"Of course. I just hope it's not this week. I can't leave."

"I know. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

"The DA said you would just have to give your statement and that's it. You wouldn't have to stay."

"It's just a short trip down there, so I can be down there and back in one day."

"Yes, you can," Larry said. "I know you will be fine."

"Of course," Rebecca said. "I want this to be over as soon as possible."

Larry put his arm around her. "I'm sorry to ruin your good mood, but I needed to tell you."

"It's not your fault," Rebecca said. "I wish it was over."

"I wish it was too," Larry said. "I want you to be happy."

"I am happy when I am with you. You make me feel safe, you spoil me, you even bring me flowers, which are beautiful," Rebecca said. "I just wish this part would be over, so I can move on." Rebecca said then got up. She walked over to the window and looked out. "Today when I was in the hotel taking pictures, someone came up behind me and touched me on the shoulder and I jumped and almost ran away. An innocent touch scared me. I don't want to feel that way when I am out in the world."

"I know." Larry said as he got up and walked up behind her. He put his arms around her stomach and pulled her against him. "I wish I could make this all go away for you."

"Hopefully this will all be over soon."

"There is so much I want to show you. There are beautiful beaches and elegant hotels. The two of us walking along the white beaches without worrying who's watching."

Rebecca leaned her head back against him. "I would like that," she said. "Or maybe climbing up a mountain or walking through an art museum," she said. She turned around into his arms. "It doesn't matter where we go as long as I am with you. I know I will be safe and happy." She said then kissed him. "I've never felt like this before. I think I'm falling in love with you." She said then kissed him before he could say anything. She deepened the kiss. They kissed for several long moments. She pulled back breaking the kiss then laid her head against his shoulder.

Larry held her against him and closed his eyes. They didn't say anything for a long time. Larry's phone rang in his office. He took a deep breath. "I better get that."

Rebecca pulled back. "Yes it could be important." She walked over to the kitchen and got a drink of water. Larry walked down to his office.