Storm Chaser: Chapter 24

Sorry I thought I had set it to post automatically. There will be another chapter in the morning. v

Chapter 24

Elena lay down to sleep with a mix of exhaustion and apprehension. Everything was in place and she knew there was nothing else she could do but she felt like she was waiting for a storm. Mentally she ticked off points in her head. The interview went well and hopefully good press would come from that. The business review with Peter and her grandfather had gone well also, although the suggestion that when circling through the crowd they remain vigilant for trouble had met with amusement. Apparently they were not generally given orders. Roger was being circumspect but she strongly suspected her two business partners were mafia. She frowned at her ceiling. How else would she explain the drivers? Elena shook the thought away. After all the business was run on the up and up. There should be no reason for concern.

‘After all it isn’t as though either of them are going to be around much.’ She thought. ‘Hopefully even I won’t be around much.’ Now that she had a ship and the ability to once again pilot, she found an itch to be away. “Soon,” she promised herself. Mateo had claimed his latest device would be ready for field testing by Wednesday. They could drive it down and do the installation on Thursday and sail out with the morning tide Friday. Elena closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. The dreams of the Calling were almost a relief from her swirling thoughts. She made sure to concentrate on the spot she and Mateo would be testing first. Upon waking she added the details dutifully in her notebook and wondered idly if reality would match.

Once the notebook was returned to her night stand the swirling butterflies of nervousness returned full force. Breakfast was out of the question. She filled her travel mug with coffee and took it with her out of the door. She glanced towards Kiera’s apartment as she locked her door. When she had returned home for a shower, Jonathan had been gone. She wondered if Kiera had stumbled over him on her way to work or if he had gotten up of his own accord. Elena shook her head and let her feet carry her down the stairs.

“I wonder if they will get their act together before I leave again?” she mused as she stepped out onto the still night hushed street. Today had to start earlier than usual to get all the pieces in place. Elena walked briskly down the street, her legs seeming to cut through the morning fog. As she approached the stores she smiled. Apparently she had not gotten up early enough. The lights of both Calabrese Imports and Nibbles were glowing softly in the early half light. She smiled and crossed the street. Out of habit she entered the imports store first. Susan was walking through the store making minute adjustments, eyeing the displays for flaws. Elena moved into Nibbles and saw Roger doing more or less the same thing. Now was the calm before the storm. Some how she was not surprised that Consuelo was the first thunderclap to sound. Consuelo’s arrival shattered the calm and began the whirlwind.

Andre came down and the staff of both stores arrived as the trays were unloaded and the distribution began. Once they were in place Peter and Alexandro appeared, followed shortly before the reporter. She took more pictures of the set up, with food. The chamber of commerce folks arrived and a ribbon cutting was done. Peter and Alexandro stanchly refused to be in the photograph. As people began to arrive, first in a trickle then in larger groups Elena began to feel like a pin ball. She bounced through both stores, adding her efforts where they were needed. She made small talk, gave explanations, helped out at the register and dispensed serving advice. Some of the people were long standing customers, some were friends. She spotted several individuals that had enough of a similarity about them that she marked them as military. They didn’t seem to be asking her any questions but every time she caught a glimpse of them they appeared to be talking to someone. She took a deep breath and let it go. She couldn’t control what other people said and they already knew her big secret of being a pilot. The only extra thing they could learn here was that there were other pilots as well.

She had spotted three that she knew and had been approached by several others, including Jasmine. All had been grounded. The books her grandfather had given her listed basic protocol and Elena promised to meet with each of them on Monday. They all left with a look of profound relief in their eyes. Elena knew she wouldn’t have the heart to tell them no. There were several other faces in the crowd she recognized. Not the least of which was Riko. The council member had a slight smile on her face as she wondered about the room, sipping from a plastic cup. That slight smile was seen on many a face throughout the room giving the guild members a look almost as unified as the military’s. She caught sight of several heads of house she knew from passing and spotted a couple of other council members as well. She took a moment to scan the crowd.

‘Military, Guild, Council, friends and patrons, oh my,’ she thought. Across the room Andre caught her gaze and winked. Beside him Mateo gave her a quick thumbs up.

“Yummy,” Lisa said next to her. Elena turned. Lisa was sipping from one of the plastic glasses and already had one of the small shopping baskets full of various ingredients. Elena glanced at the display behind her friend and registered what she was drinking.

“It is better in champagne,” she told her with a smile.

“I’ll bet,” Lisa said with a smile, “but I was talking about the two bits of man candy.”

“That would be Andre and Mateo,” Elena said.

“I’m sure they would go well with champagne too.”

“As Mateo is my cousin I’ll have to exempt myself from comment.”

“And Andre?” Lisa asked.

“Is my graphics designer,” Elena said with a laugh.

“Uh huh,” Lisa waggled her eyebrows in an attempt at a leer.

“He is also Peter’s cousin,” Elena said. She grinned at her friend happy to shed all weighting concerns for the moment.
“The hottie you went to dinner with?”

“One of my business partners,” Elena corrected.

“Of course.” Lisa laughed. “And I’m sure you will explain it all at brunch tomorrow?”

“As much as I know.”

“Oh sounds juicy,” Tina said moving up to join them.

“It is,” Lisa told her. “Elena is juggling two men and keeping her delicious cousin a secret.”

“He’s only been here a couple of days.”

“And she is going to give us details at brunch tomorrow.”

“Excellent,” Tina said. “Can’t wait to hear.” Elena shook her head. She turned as the bell over the door dinged and was slightly surprised to see Jonathan enter Nibbles.

“Make that three men,” she told her friends, the humor fading. Beside her she could nearly see Lisa’s inner lawyer swim to the surface as she took in Jonathan’s measure. Mentally Elena kicked herself as she excused her self to continue playing hostess. Coming up with a simple solution to explain Smith and Jonathan to her neighbor was one thing. Lisa would require a whole other level of explanation.

Elena continued around the room and by the time Jonathan made spotted her and worked his way through the crowd she was deep in conversation with Gracie Edwards. As she had promised Elena listed to the tale of the armoire and the mother-in-law. She nodded and made sympathetic sounds in the correct places. Jonathan was able to do no more than stand and watch until Mrs. Edwards wound to a close and wandered back off into the crowd. He looked slightly dazed and shook his head as if to clear it. As Gracie Edwards always gave her the same reaction she had some sympathy but not much. Elena turned towards him and smiled politely.

“Can I help you with something?” she asked. Jonathan seemed at a loss for words. He cleared his throat.

“About the other night,” he began. Elena frowned.

“I would suggest you call and make an appointment,” Elena said softly. Jonathan ran a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, about that,” he began again. “Is there any way you would reconsider the offer?” Elena frowned.

“I’m afraid at the moment I am a little busy. I would suggest you call and make an appointment.” She again kept her words low but something in her body language must have conveyed her temper.

“Is there anything I could assist with Elena?” As if summoned by magic Peter appeared at her side. He smiled at her and turned cold, hard eyes towards Jonathan. He reacted as if he had been stung. Jonathan turned towards Elena, visibly looking away from Peter.

“As you said this is not the time.” He turned and walked over to a display of drink mixers, for all appearances forgetting the conversation.

“Andre mentioned his … persistence,” Peter said.

“I was hoping to speak with you about that,” Elena said. She wondered how much detail Andre had given to Peter. “When things quiet down a bit.”

“Of course,” Peter smiled at her and the black ice of his eyes melted into something warm and almost approachable. Elena nodded and they went their separate ways.

By the time the stores were ready to close Elena was exhausted. She had put in no longer hours than a heavy sale but felt twice as worn due to the emotional upheaval of her worlds colliding. The last of the patrons left and the staff, Andre, Peter and Alexandro remained. TJ locked the doors and while the quick clean up commenced, Andre retrieved the champagne Elena had asked him to stash in his refrigerator. Glasses were poured and a toast was drunk. There were formal words of thanks from both her grandfather and Peter. They each sipped and then Peter and Alexandro excused themselves. Elena poured another round and added her less formal thanks Max pulled her into a bear hug and spun her around in a big circle.

“And you were worried,” He chided her as the others laughed.

“I always worry, it is my job.” Elena told him with a grin. They all finished their champagne and Elena shooed her tired workers out of the door. Roger and Susan protested long enough to help her lock up before heading out.

“Do you need a ride to the hotel?” Andre asked, shrugging into his coat. Elena shook her head.

“Before I head over I need to stop by Doug’s.” She told him. “I’ll meet you there.” Elena let herself out of the front door, re-locking it behind her, and started walking to the Wineshop. The cold air and the momentary silence felt good. All too soon it was over. Flyers for the evening’s wine tasting had been placed in her stores just as cards advertizing Nibbles had been placed in the Wineshop. As Elena entered the store she was pleased to note that several of her patrons had migrated. Doug saw her enter and walked over with a smile and a glass of something red. He handed off the glass while rattling the name. She smiled and took a sip. It clashed a little with the champagne but was otherwise good. Elena asked him to put a couple bottles aside for her. After all if her grandfather decided to drop by her apartment she needed something besides frozen margaritas to offer him.

“Of course,” he told her. “Did things go well for you today? I popped by earlier and things certainly seemed to be hopping.” His brown hair flopped into his eyes as he spoke and he scooped it back impatiently with one hand.

“We were certainly packed,” she answered. “What that means in terms of actual sales, I don’t know yet. But it was a good start.”

“I can tell you that I don’t have my hands on the numbers yet but we have moved a great deal more bottles tonight than any other event we have hosted. Here is to many more partnerships.” He lifted his own glass and clinked it on Elena’s. “And that food,” he continued. “Heaven. I am glad you warned me about the chef though.” Elena laughed. Doug was soon called back to his own duties and Elena mingled for a little while as she sipped her wine. She made small talk and as she reached the end of her glass she realized she was stalling.

At the hotel there was another celebration. Mateo had actually picked up the champagne for it from Doug earlier. In addition to the usual suspects, the members of the council and heads of household who had made it out would be in attendance. Elena sighed and put her empty glass down knowing there was no way she could skip out. She waved to Doug as she made her way out of the front door. He blew her a kiss and she laughed. Once outside she saw several cabs circling the neighborhood. A ready supply of cabs was one of the good things about having several nightclubs in the neighborhood. She hailed one instead of walking home to get her car.

‘Besides,’ she thought as she gave the driver the needed directions. ‘Tonight will be more politics than celebration. Finding parking will be one less headache to deal with.