Chapter Twenty-nine

Catherine's phone rang; she had just completed her calls to Paul Strong and a couple of the other vice-presidents. Picking up the instrument absently she said a curt "Warriorson." and waited for the recipient to answer.

"Hey, with a welcome like that I'm not sure what to expect when we meet up again finally!" Jace laughed softly at the other end of the line.

Catherine nearly dropped the phone shocked hearing Jace at the other end. "Oh God, I'm so sorry Jace, I was preoccupied.  Forgive me?" Her voice held a trace of anxiety.

"I will always forgive you no matter what!" Jace replied mollified at her apology.

"I might hold you to that one day." Catherine said seriously.

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure. So, how have you been?" Jace smiled as her mind pictured Catherine in the study. It gave her a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach as she recalled every feature of the woman she loved.

"Good, and you?"

"All the better for hearing your voice. I've missed you Catherine." Her voice cracked a little as she said the last words.

"I've missed you too Jace.' Catherine pictured the younger woman reclined on the sofa in her apartment, Jace had often described the scene to her in their numerous calls. "Grace came home, looks like I can arrange my trips away from here now."

Jace gave a small sigh of relief. "That's good news, How is Grace?"

"She's doing pretty well, although she had an accident today with the dishwasher, means I have the dubious task of cooking for us this lunchtime. Kids are a little skeptical about my cooking skills, I think Grace just laughs. Maybe she won't when she tries my cooking teach her to lose concentration with the domestic appliances." Catherine smiled into the receiver. It was so good to hear Jace's voice, it warming her in more places than she wanted to admit too.

Jace laughed, "Guess you need some lessons, do you want me to give you some?"

Catherine raised an eyebrow even though there was no one there to see it. "I can think of other lessons I would prefer you to teach me than cookery!"

"I...well...Yes! I'm sure you could." Was all Jace could manage; she was completely floored by the suggestive comment.

"You know my love there is no reason to be embarrassed it's only a phone call. Wait until I'm in the same room with you, then you can take me to task over any comment I make, and in any way you want!" Catherine mellowed at the thought.

"I love you Catherine," Jace's voice took on a husky quality.

"And I love you too, my dear Jace! Are you home for good now, or has Hudson plans to send you even further afield?" It was difficult to maintain composure even with a phone call, and it really was getting too much taking the proverbial cold shower after every call.

"Hudson is away in New York, not sure what she has planned for the future, hopefully nothing as rural as where she's has been sending me lately." Her voice held the frustration she had been feeling recently.

"Mmm, well I hope she doesn't send you anywhere in the next few weeks because I would have to come and find you, now wouldn't I." Catherine growled into the phone.

"You say the nicest things Catherine." Jace chuckled at her end. Having Catherine come looking for her in any part of the globe sounded pretty romantic to her.

"Glad you think so. I've got Grace and the Reverend on board for the trust fund and the kids are settled. I was wondering..."  Catherine stopped mid-sentence as she heard a giggle from the other end of the line.

Jace was intrigued, what had she been going to say? "You were wondering?"

"Ah, yes wondering." Then she said nothing more. Silence prevailed, they say silence is golden but to Jace, silence in this particular case was intriguing.

Jace was happy the woman had completely lost her train of thought or it appeared that way. Over a giggle too! I wonder what else I can do or say that would bring on that reaction? "You going to tell me?" Borrowing an expression that Catherine used frequently to get answers from people.

"You sound like me!" Catherine was surprised but pleased at the banter she was being subjected to, it felt really warm and quite good inside!

"Is that a good thing or bad?" Jace countered.

"In this case good, but don't let it happen to often." Catherine retorted with mock indignation.

"I'll remember, you were wondering or don't you remember now?" Jace teased her gently.

"Yes, I remember, you don't get my mind to completely shut down Jace Bardley," Catherine let a light laugh finish for her.

"I hope I do one day," was all Jace replied. She heard a sharp intake of breath at the other end, which pleased her very much, and brought a warm, glowing smile to her face.

Catherine left that comment for another day, as it was getting way too hot in here, however it had nothing to do with the temperature in the room. "Yes, well I was wondering if I should adopt the kids or at least ask them what they think?" the tall woman changed the subject abruptly.

"Way to go Catherine, that's a wonderful idea." The happiness in her voice, made Catherine smile and realise that she had been right to think Jace would show the kids more love than she ever could.

"Glad you think so, because I sort of hoped that maybe.....well that you would.....I guess what I'm trying to say is....." Catherine was at a loss to finish the sentence without pushing her boat out too far.

"Yes," came the solid answer from Jace, who was smiling broadly at the cell phone held in her hand. All she wanted to do was hug the woman at the other end and hold her close; probably more, but she would accept the embrace for a start; yes a start of something more intimate.

"You don't even know what I'm going to ask?" The tall woman at the other end was smiling equally as broadly.

"Yeah I do, you want me to help you raise two kids. Am I right?"

"Yes!" an almost inaudible sound from the other end.

"Does that imply you're going to make an honest woman of me?' Jace couldn't help the chuckle and the possibility of making the older woman blush. "Have I made you uncomfortable Catherine?"

Catherine was certainly blushing, she hadn't thought of making a permanent commitment well, not until she had spoken to Jace about her past anyway. Then again she hadn't really considered the possibility of a permanent statement of their relationship, 'Honest woman indeed!' "Not uncomfortable no!" She muttered.

"So, are you?" Jace persisted.

"Am I what?" Catherine responded cautiously.

"Going to make an honest woman of me? Or will I just be the nanny?" After Jace said the word, she suddenly realised that she could have meant exactly that, they hadn't talked about a permanent arrangement together. Had she been wrong with her assumptions?

"Nanny? Now there's a thought! How about I answer that question when we see each other shortly?" Catherine refused to be drawn into the subject until after their talk.

Jace sighed heavily and a feeling of rejection took over, 'Maybe she did only want a nanny? What a fool I can be sometimes, I must be very tired to have pushed this far.' "Okay, I look forward to it."

"You won't be disappointed, I promise you Jace." Catherine spoke in the low voice that sent Jace's senses reeling. Her feelings suddenly shooting back onto the exhilaration level.

"Glad to hear it! Please tell me Catherine, what else is happening with you and at the ranch?"

They talked about several issues, Grace, the doctor, Colin and the children. Finally Jace had to ask the question that had been plaguing her since Peter had mentioned Ms Devonshire.

"How well do you know Ms Devonshire of the Xianthos Corporation?" Jace nonchalantly asked.

Catherine found the question unexpected, and a little strange but she countered with a question of her own. "Why do you ask?"

"The documentary we filmed at the ranch has been vetoed by her I wondered if you had been influential in that decision?" Jace held her breath waiting for the reply and hoping she wasn't going to be too unhappy with the response.

Catherine thought about her answer, it wasn't the right circumstances to explain and tell Jace that she was Devonshire, that admission had to be done face-to-face, one on one to gauge the reaction.

"Yes, I was influential in that decision, let's just say Xianthos owes me a favour or two."

"So, it was really you who vetoed the project?" Jace asked quietly, her heart beginning to race as she thought about the powerful friends that Catherine could weald if she wanted too.

"If you put it like that, yes.' Catherine needed to say more. "She shouldn't have pushed me on this one Jace, I had already denied access to my property, she ignored me! Did you think I would leave it like that? I'm not a person that you walk all over and ignore!"

Catherine looked around the study, it was getting close to lunchtime and she needed to start something, those kids were always hungry.

'That, and your scared to death she will think less of you, because of your show of what? Power? That was all it came down to in the end, petty power plays, because you hate Hudson's guts,' her internal voice mocked her.

"No, no I knew that you would perhaps take a stand, but to stop the whole documentary being released, that reeks of something else." Jace answered in a quiet voice.

"And that would be?" Catherine answered her coldly, this conversation wasn't going anywhere, and it wasn't relevant to them personally!

Jace bit her lip as she heard the change in tone and knew that the woman would have a very cold expression especially in her eyes.

"Childish behaviour." She'd said it, and knew that it wasn't going to be something Catherine would take lying down.

It was a minute before she heard heavy breathing and a sharp intake of breath at the description. "Childish bloody behaviour!  What sort of answer is that? Do you think I've been stuck here with kids too long Jace?" was the scathing reply.

Jace was upset and knew that this wasn't how she had envisaged the conversation to go. "Never that Catherine, but.........why veto everything?"

"Because I can!' came the blistering reply. "I have lunch to prepare Jace, guess I'm going to have to resort to some more childish behaviour to tackle that problem. You want to say anything else?"

Jace could hear the drumming of angry fingers on the desk. "I guess not."

"Glad to hear it, I'll be in touch." Catherine replaced the receiver and pushed herself away from the desk, but then moved forward again and placed her hands on the top of the polished surface.

'Are you mad, what the hell have you just done?' Her head hit the desk as she closed her eyes at her own impatience and lack of understanding. 'That was Jace, the woman you love. Not some bloody business associate who has rattled your cage. Get a grip on life Catherine or your going to blow it all away, again! That is assuming you do love her that is? Yes! Oh god yes I love her.'

Jace was crying, it was a natural reaction; the tears felt justified. It had been a long three weeks, and now this!

"Why? Why did it have to end like that, it wasn't meant as a criticism?

More an observation, when will she be in touch? What if she doesn't get back to me? What am I going to do? I can't pretend anymore that I can walk away from this without being hurt, and it sure hurts now! Please call me Catherine, please!' her mind pleaded.

Jace walked into her bedroom and flung herself on the bed and cried herself to sleep, Xianthos had a lot to answer for!

~ ~ ~

Grace had seen the gathering storm that threatened to fall in their paths any day now! Catherine Warriorson was a veritable storm front waiting to burst forth. She had been like that for days, in fact over a week. Nothing anyone could say brought a smile to her face, not even when the kids tried, and they had tried. She'd even stopped telling them stories, saying she was busy with work related problems and that she was going away soon.

That had upset them, particularly Jake. He was even having bad dreams again, but Catherine was way too busy to see that, she was always ensconced in her study and hardly past the time of day with anyone. There could be only one reason for this, Jace!  Well if the storm front was coming, she was ready for it, wellingtons, raincoat and all!

Catherine stalked into the kitchen that afternoon and sat heavily in the chair a scowl on her face.

"You know if you keep that expression on your face too much longer it's going to be permanent and you have a beautiful face Catherine," she was never one to miss an opportunity.

"What the fuck do you know?" Catherine angrily replied, it wasn't often she swore and certainly never to Grace.

"Guess you're not in a good mood, couldn't tell by looking at you?" Nothing ventured nothing gained.

"What the hell do you want from me Grace?" Catherine pierced her with a cold look.

"How about what's wrong Catherine, friend to friend?" Grace smiled at her warmly; this wasn't the time to run from the problem.

"Nothing." Catherine replied sullenly.

"So, nothing is making you walk around as if the whole world is going to end at any time?" Grace tired the diplomatic route.

"Don't be melodramatic Grace," Catherine said scornfully.

"Okay I won't, if you tell me what's wrong?" Grace gave her a friendly smile.

Catherine ran a hand through her unruly hair; it needed to be in that damn ponytail. "I think my world is ending Grace." A desperate voice replied. 'Now, who was being melodramatic?'

Grace looked at the untidy image of her usually immaculately coifed friend; smiling gently she said one word. "Jace?"

Looking up, Catherine smiled wryly for the first time in days. She nodded her head. "Have you argued?" Grace asked her quietly.

"In a manner of speaking, it was to do with the documentary, she didn't like my tactics, called me childish," her voice held a hurt expression.

"Was she right?" Grace asked tentatively.

"I hope not! But I was rude to her and I don't know how to take it back?" Catherine almost blasted her anger at Grace with her question.

"You know, Jace might be feeling equally as bad and it's easy, how about you send flowers and then follow up with a call. In person would be better, but the phone would be a start." Grace felt suddenly ancient next to this vulnerable woman who didn't have the slightest clue about relationships.

Catherine suddenly got up from the table and went over and hugged Grace. Beaming she whispered in her ear. "I don't know what I would do without you Grace. You think that would work?"

"It would with me!" Catherine hugged her even harder.

Grace laughed loudly and the kids came in at that moment and stopped as they saw the tall, dark and recently usually angry woman smiling and hugging Grace. "How about tonight you take back your place of reading to our children here?" Her head moved to indicate the present children.

Catherine released Grace and a flush started at her neck at having been caught in a sentimental embrace. Looking at the children she sheepishly smiled. "Do you want me to take over tonight?" It came out slowly and quietly.

Both children exchanged a look and then they looked back at her.

"Yes please, Grace doesn't know how to make the right voices for the characters especially the animals." Lisa piped up and then launched herself at the tall woman for a hug. "We missed you." The child spoke into her thighs, which was the highest she could reach without being lifted off the ground.

Jake just looked at the end of his shoes and a slow smile took over at Lisa's enthusiasm.

"I missed you too Princess, I'm sorry to you both for my.......my indifference." She looked at the boy with apology in her eyes.

Jake looked directly back and grinned back at her nodding his head at her apology.

"Well Grace, I'd better get onto that florist before I lose my nerve." With that she released Lisa and kissed her head, and on the way out of the door placed a hand in Jake's hair and ruffled it gently.

Grace was chuckling "Was that easy or what!" She congratulated herself as she went on to get some cookies for the kids, before they started to fend for themselves, which would be worse than a storm brewing with Catherine.

~ ~ ~

Sending flowers half way round the world was easy all you had to do was find an international florist.

'Okay, that's not a problem, just send a selection, yes that would work. She didn't know what Jace's favourite flower was anyway,' smiling she picked up the receiver and called the largest florist in Christchurch and told them to arrange whatever they could as quickly as they could to get to LA, money wasn't a problem.

Then she thought about another option! Chocolates. All women liked chocolates didn't they? Yes, except for you! Okay, but who could arrange that one? She scanned the Internet for an hour. Finally she selected what she needed, that would certainly keep Jace in chocolate for........depends on her appetite for goodies,' that brought a smile to Catherine's face; she wished she could be there to see the said goodies arrive.

The next thing she needed to do was arrange a courier to get a personal message to LA to arrive in tandem with the flowers and the chocolates, calling her usual courier, she arranged for the person to arrive within the hour, this was way too easy she thought. Then it occurred to her, ' what was she going to say on the message? Hell, I'm no good with words, not romantic ones anyway. Screwing up romantic situations is more my line.' Thinking about the problem, she put on the radio for background noise and heard a song that had words that explained the situation, what a coincidence.

Opening her personal writing draw in the desk, she pulled out a handmade, pristine white piece of paper, with her personal monogram of the ranch on it. She hardly ever sent this paper out, usually only used for invitations to the ranch or close friends.  Not that she had many of those, but it would have served that purpose. Now it seemed appropriate to send this message on something more fitting than a normal card or sheet of paper.

Picking up her Mont Blanc fountain pen, she penned the note that she hoped would help her make up to the woman who held her heart and her prospects for a brighter future.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirty

Jace had been walking around the studio or sitting in her office either moody or withdrawn. Peter had been called to Chicago to talk about another project and he had been away since the morning she came back on the lot, which had been two days after talking to Catherine. She hadn't been in the mood or capable of putting her personal problems on a backburner, now she had to, she had to get on with her life, what was left of it anyway!

Hudson had arrived back two days later and smirked at the obvious unhappiness of her publicity PA. Could it be she wondered anything to do with a certain Catherine Warriorson? 'Oh I hope so, yes indeed I do. Life is looking up for me at the moment, and another's discomfort always added to the euphoric feeling I'm having. Well, soon enough you're going to hear the truth about your little friend Jace. No! That's definitely the wrong word to use for her! No, you're tall, dark, sexy and very dangerous friend. I'm going to love every minute of that encounter.' Hudson grinned evilly at the back of the young blonde and re-entered her office.

Jace had tried to concentrate on her work, she really had but it was becoming intolerable, she needed to talk to someone about it soon and she didn't have a clue who she could confide with. Her Dad was away on business and Peter was still away, not due back until late the next week. Turning in her chair she looked at Hudson's door. "God I must really be losing it, if I even think about discussing this problem with her!'

Jace pushed a lock of her hair from her eyes and looked at the blank screen in front of her. 'Dare I send Catherine e-mail? No!  She doesn't want to hear from me or she would have done something about it by now, wouldn't she? Maybe, she thinks I should get in touch first? No, she said she would be in touch; she's the one who got angry, not me! Why, why do I keep going over this, it won't help anything?' Tears stung her eyes as she tried to stop them flowing.

Getting up from her desk she noticed it was five p.m., 'Hell, I might as well go home I'm not contributing much here at the moment.'

Hoping that Hudson wouldn't come looking for her, she picked up her purse and car keys and headed for the parking area. The sun was still beating down as she exited the building and continued on her way. Pausing for a moment she looked at the simple colours that made up the logo for UCP, wondering not for the first time this week if the colours had any relation to Xianthos, maybe she would check tomorrow.

Climbing into her very hot Toyota coupe she turned the ignition and hoped the air conditioning would get to work fast, getting incredibly hot inside a car would only fuel her depressive state at the moment.

The car negotiated the final turn to her apartment complex and she locked the vehicle and ran up the steps to the building wing that housed her apartment and the prospect of a cooling shower.

Glancing at the corridor as she got off the elevator she noticed a man loitering half way down the hallway, he was wearing a uniform of some description. Quickly walking towards her apartment, she noticed a delivery man was lounging on the wall opposite her door.

"Anything I can help you with?" she enquired as she put the key in the door. Wondering if she was smart doing that, you never knew who was hanging about these days.

The young man fairly beamed as he saw which apartment she was entering. "Would you believe you sure can?"

Jace looked at him and noticed the name of a famous international florist on his jacket. "Then you better tell me?"

"Are you Ms Bardley?" He said quickly, pulling out his delivery sheet.

"Could be, who wants to know?" Jace answered with a slight smile.

"Your lucky day I guess, must have a really wealthy suitor, hope you have room, I'll be right back," he announced as he quickly levered his body from the lounging position against the wall and rushed towards the elevator.

Half an hour later, flowers surrounded Jace, flowers in every variety and colour of the rainbow and some that had nothing to do with the rainbow. It was spectacular and totally unexpected. One thing missing was a note or message of any kind.

Carefully walking around the living room, she negotiated an area of the floor that was covered by flowers and heard the doorbell ring. Approaching the door she was greeted by another delivery person, who asked the same question as the previous young man.

Sometime later she sat on her computer chair and contemplated the flowers and the boxes and boxes of chocolates from every known chocolate producing country of the world, it was awesome, but no note or message! She wasn't sure if it was someone's idea of a joke, but a lovely joke none the less. Or was it Peter? Or could it be the only person she really wanted it to be from, Catherine? 'It had to be Catherine, it just had to be!'

Now she waited in anticipation, surely she would get some sort of message no one would go to this effort without at least some sort of note would they? Putting on a pot of coffee she felt her emotional walls beginning to break away again and this time it was for a happier reason.

Stepping over the flowers into her bedroom she picked up Taz and hugged him. "I know it's you Catherine, I just know it!" She whispered into the soft toy's ear, seeing only the wicked smile answer her.

Then the doorbell went again, she nearly crashed into a basket of roses at her haste to get there. Wrenching open the door she saw the courier and he handed her a plastic wallet and made her sign for the document and went on his way.

Glancing at the plastic wallet she noted the country of origin. "I just knew it!" she shouted in happiness and noted the surprised expression of one of her neighbours, who had been going into his apartment.

Closing the door with a faint blush on her cheeks, she held the wallet to her heart.

Grabbing a coffee she sank into her sofa and put her feet up on the arm of the furniture and gently opened the seal on the wallet.  Gingerly opening it she extracted a pristine white envelope in what could only be specially prepared paper and if she didn't know better it looked like Chinese handmade to her. Putting the envelope to her nose she could smell the faint trace of fresh cologne, which was all Catherine Warriorson. Slitting open the envelope, she pulled out a matching piece of paper and slowlyopened it out to see the flowing bold script that told its own story.

Jace,

Seems that words are not my friends on many occasions, and I wanted to tell you exactly how I felt. At times it's hard to find the right words, so I've taken the liberty of borrowing a few from a song, I'm sure the author or the singer won't mind in this instance. As you know I love to listen to songs, I can feel so much through them that I find difficult to voice on my own, so here goes.

Don't turn me away; I'll give anything to see you stay.

I'm lost and alone without you here with me.

I will be your lady if you really want me

I need you to be the first sight I see, living fantasy as reality.

That's where I'm gonna be.

I would never break your heart my love is beating strongly here for you.

Please come home and collect it from me as only you can!

I hope you know the song, heard it today on the local radio station, kind of a fortuitous listening session for me. The rest of the lyrics mirror what I need to say to you Jace and I'm going to do just that very soon if you will let me? Please give me the chance to show you how I feel Jace that's all I ask?

I'm going to call, please don't hang up on me!

I love you,

Catherine

Tears streamed down the cheeks of the emotionally happy woman. It had been a maelstrom of torrential emotions as she read and reread the note. Her heart was so full of love for the woman who she knew deep down to her core was going to be her lover sooner rather than later it was their divine destiny. 'I love you too Catherine.' smiling tearfully into the empty apartment as she looked over the array of flowers and chocolates.

The phone rang.

Picking up the cell phone on the coffee table she answered with a warm "Hi." Jace was far too overwhelmed at the events happening, it was all she could say.

"Hello Jace, I'm sorry!" Catherine Warriorson spoke softly and not without an element of trepidation in her voice.

"I love you Catherine." Jace managed to utter before she burst into tears. Catherine listened to the woman crying and wanted nothing more than to get on the next flight and go to her, but it wasn't possible to many people still had to be dealt with before she could fly off at the drop of a hat.

"Jace? Jace are you okay? I'm sorry love, there is nothing I want more than to be with you and say that in person and I will as soon as I can believe me, I will!" Catherine wasn't immune to the emotional storm that was going on in LA.

"I.....I love you Catherine! That's all that matters. That's all that will ever matter to you and I!" Jace was trying to control her tears and get her breathing under control.

Catherine breathed a sigh of relief and smiled briefly. "You forgive me to easily Jace, was it the flowers or the chocolates that helped me out here?" Catherine tried to lighten the tension.

"You know it wasn't either of those, it was your note. I loved the note and even if all you had written was 'I love you', that would have been enough! But when you get here, I'm going to make you listen to that song again and we are going to act on it okay?" Jace finally managed to get her vocal chords in full working order.

"Anything you say, I will be all yours to do whatever you want with, and you will be the only person that has or will ever get that promise." Catherine spoke with conviction.

"I've got to tell you this Catherine, I thought you had given up on me!" Jace gulped back a sob.

"Give up on you Love! Never! Nothing will ever be that bad that I will not want you in my life, nothing do you hear me Jace?"  Catherine spoke with such conviction.

"Yes, but something might?" Jace whispered.

"No! You are my life Jace Bardley, without you I'm a shell that exists but has no meaning. When I think of you and what I've already achieved simply because you're behind me, no matter the distance between us, just think what I could do with you by my side!"

"Then I'm going to be by your side for the rest of your life. Think you can put up with me and my questions for eternity?" Jace was smiling happily, everything was going to be okay, and she knew it.

"Oh Eternity with you, well.....? Guess I could try it and see what it feels like." Catherine chuckled at her end. This was one of the happiest calls she had ever made. No, it was the happiest.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirty-one

Catherine Warriorson had often wondered what it would be like to fall in love. Now she knew exactly what it felt like and the obvious elation the feeling gave you was nothing in comparison to the drawbacks like jealousy, anger, frustration and loss of control!

Now who was she kidding, even if the other emotions went into override she would still want to share this experience with Jace, it wasn't a decision she could calculatingly make any more, it was just there and not to be trifled with. No, being in love with Jace Bardley was the most important thing in her life, and she was going to make sure that if Jace wanted to share her life with her, then who was she to stop it!

'She said she would take the baggage whatever it was and I'm going to hold her to that! I can't foresee my life without her in it now anyway.'

Tonight she was finishing the last of the 'European short stories' she had started a week ago; those kids wanted at least three chapters a night, so it was easy to get through a book in a week. Nothing she had previously experienced in her life could have warned her of the dangers of becoming emotionally involved with these two children. She had let the defences that Jace had casually brought down around her, remain down and let them in, not just to her home but to her heart also!

Waiting for them to appear or rather the shout from Grace to say that Lisa was bathed and ready for her trip down the stairs it had been another ritual, which had been broken because of her obstinacy over her disagreement with Jace. Now she was back in harness and the kids didn't seem to be any the worse for wear over her handling however badly of them. Except, Grace had informed her of Jake's nightmares and she had been visibly shaken, for she knew she had been partly responsible, no wholly responsible for their return.

"Okay boss lady, there all yours." Shouted a happy sounding Grace.

"I'm on my way." Catherine responded with a chuckle.

Making her way to Lisa's room she glanced at the next door and sighed heavily, it was almost time for her visit to Jace, almost!

Walking inside the child's room she noticed a few toys and trinkets that hadn't been around the last time she looked in. "Have you been shopping Lisa?" Glancing at the small redhead who was dressed in a nightdress with small teddy bears swinging from a half moon emblazoned on the material. Her dressing gown had a similar motif.

The child looked up at her and smiled her gap tooth smile, although the tooth had begun to peep through. "Grace took Jake and I shopping, we have pocket money now!" Her excited voice answered.

Catherine laughed at the remark and held out her arms for the small child to be lifted up and carried downstairs. For some reason they had developed this routine and neither one of them appeared uncomfortable with it. There is only one word for you these days Catherine 'SOFT.' in capital letters. "Glad to hear it, looks like you made some good choices, tomorrow you can show me what you bought, if you want too?"

"Yes, please Catherine." The child hugged her tighter round the neck and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

"Come on, let's get to the lounge before Jake reads the story before us." Catherine was slightly embarrassed at the display of affection, but deep down she relished the innocent contact and silently thanked whoever had let her have a second chance at motherhood.

They settled into the large armchair, Catherine seated with Lisa nestling into her chest and Jake at her feet resting his back against her legs. He didn't go much for personal contact but managed to settle into this pose comfortably.

An hour later the book was put aside on the coffee table and Catherine saw the yawns from both children, although Jake would never openly admit he was tired.

Two minutes later Grace walked into the lounge bearing a tray laden with milky drinks for the children, a mug of tea for Catherine, she brought along her coffee also. It had been something they had agreed on after an hour of reading to have the bedtime drinks around that time, so that the story telling didn't get carried away, as it had one evening when Catherine had totally forgotten the time.

Grace settled down into the chair opposite Catherine and winked at her.

Sending her a raised eyebrow but having a grin plastered on her face, Catherine looked at the drowsy children and took a breath as she considered her options. No better time than this, she might as well get everything in the open. "Jake, Lisa. I need you to listen to me for a few minutes please?" she tentatively approached them.

Grace smiled warmly at them as they starred intently at the woman who had become almost an idol to each child in different ways.

"Okay." They both piped up at the same time.

"Good, good. I need to go away for a few weeks,' noticing they're crestfallen expressions and the quickly tearing up of Lisa, she held the child tightly to her and whispered in her ear. "Hey, it's not that bad, honestly." Lisa gulped and Jake continued to look at her with a hooded almost closed look in his eyes, mirroring old pain.

"I have to go to America and clear up a business problem but I'm coming back and hopefully, I will have a good surprise for you when I do get back.' She looked at their faces closely and smiled at them with gentle understanding. 'You will hardly miss me, for no sooner will I have gone but I'll be back, I promise."

Grace saw the sudden welling of emotion in her friend and continued in part for her. "Yeah, kids we can get the horse lessons finished, for when she comes back so you can surprise her and you can all go riding together as a family, what do you say?" The children looked in her direction and each gave her a small smile the question unanswered.

"What I really wanted to say was while I'm gone I need you both to consider something for me and you mustn't rush into making up your minds, we have plenty of time. What I want to ask is, if you will consider letting me adopt you both!" There she'd finally got it out and what a relief that was.

Both children looked at her in astonishment and wonder. "You know that I care about you and so does Grace. We thought that maybe you might consider becoming a real family here on 'Destiny', but I'll understand if you can't or if want to wait until you're a little older to decide. Like I say, think about it and let me know when I get back. No pressure, it's all up to you." Catherine finished lamely.

Lisa slipped out of the arm that held her and scrambled off her lap to stand at the foot of the chair, almost standing on Jake in her haste, he moved hastily aside for her. Looking into the ice blue eyes that had given them a new life even if she was a little quiet and austere at times.

"I can answer you now Catherine, but I'll wait until you get back. Might make you get back to us quicker?" The childish logic wasn't that far from the truth.

Catherine smiled at the serious expression. "That it will Princess, that it will." She then looked at the bowed head of the boy on the floor, only a foot away from her chair. She waited.

Grace was looking at the bent head of the boy and the pensive expression on Catherine's face. Suddenly he looked up at her and his hazel eyes held a fear that she didn't understand. "It won't make you my mother will it?" He asked her directly.

Catherine was stunned by the question and a little sad at his objection to her taking the role even as a surrogate. "No, no I could never be your mother." She answered his question sadly.

"Then I will do the same as Lisa, when you get back I will let you know what I think about the idea." He got up from the floor and picked up his drink and walked towards the door. "Goodnight," and left the room.

Lisa looked at the two adults in the room knowing that Jake hadn't meant to hurt their feelings. She placed her hand on Catherine's arm and got her attention. "He just gets upset sometimes about his parents, but he wants to be family, really Catherine," the child said earnestly, championing her 'brother'.

Catherine stood up to her six feet and picked the child up and swung her over her left shoulder and snagged her drink from the tray.

"Yes, I know Princess, now it's time for bed and let's get that show on the road before Grace gives us a hard time okay?" as she glanced at her friend.

"Yeah, I should think so too! Keeping our kids up late, shame on you Catherine." Getting up from her seat she placed a gentle kiss on the child's forehead and winked at her.

Catherine entered the room a short time later and walked towards the window, peered out at the white sheet that was forming over the yard, "I think its going to be a hard winter this year Grace."

Grace moved towards the woman standing rigid at the window and she looked at the natural beauty snow held to the onlooker.  "Oh, I don't know, something tells me that with luck this winter might be quite beautiful and full of surprises."

"Ever the optimist Grace."

"Someone has to be, thought I'd told you that before?"

"Yes, I think you did and perhaps you're right as usual."

"Jake will be fine Catherine, maybe he's just a little shocked at the speed you came to this decision? Hell, I am!"

"Why?" Catherine turned from her view of the growing bed of snowflakes.

"Come on now, when was the last time you did anything remotely like this?" Grace asked her knowing the answer already.

"I've never done anything like this in my life!" She replied enigmatically.

"Exactly," her friend grinning at her lack of understanding.

"And your point would be?"

"I love you Catherine, the kids love you, and Jace loves you. But lady you sure have some baggage that you're finding difficult to shed and until you do, gestures like this, can mean everything and nothing, depends on your mood." Grace hadn't meant to sound critical of her friend's decision, it was the right one for them all, but she did have problems that she kept locked away and they needed to be aired.

"Yes you're right,' a quizzical look appeared on her face, "why are you always right about me Grace?"

Grace laughed at the look on her friend's face, and smiled broadly.

"Guess it must be something your mother passed onto me, who knows."

"Maybe, to answer the jibe, I'm going to tell Jace everything about me! My past, my present and how I want to spend my future. Then I'm going to tell you everything too! You deserve that much my friend."

Grace smiled warmly and put her arm around the taller woman's shoulders in understanding. "Bring Jace back with you, that will be all the explanation that will ever be needed between us Catherine. You're not a saint and I'm sure you've done things that I would personally abhor, but what you are today, far outweighs anything that has happened in the past. That goes for Colin too!"

"You know most of the time Grace, you speak for everyone on this ranch, myself included," she smirked at the blush on her friend's cheeks.

"No! Well, okay it's becoming a habit, I really must do something about that," pulling the woman back towards her chair as they settled down to a few minutes of peace and quiet. "By the way when are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow evening, I have a flight out of Auckland to LA and then onto New York, it leaves at 11pm. I need to get to New York as soon as possible."

"Your business okay?" Grace asked, interested in the other world her friend was embroiled in but rarely mentioned.

"Yes, but I have a threat that needs to be resolved, once it is, I get to ask a certain Jace Bardley if she wants to come and live with me!"

Catherine looked bashful as she said the final words.

"Do I get the guest bedroom ready?" Grace smirked as she looked at the ice blue eyes of the woman in front of her, which held quiet joy at the prospect.

"Christ, I hope not Grace!" Catherine said with feeling.

"Good, I would need to have help soon, if you fill any more rooms." She laughed softly and drank her coffee, seeing the faraway look on her friends face, but it was happy expression.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirty-two

Hudson was happy she had finally received the call from Paul Strong that she had expected over a week ago for some reason he had been unable to contact his employer. Now, he had confirmed the date, it was going to be in three days time at her offices as requested.

'I've finally got to her, she's on the run, if she wasn't, then she wouldn't entertain coming out of her exile for me! I thought throwing in the threat to expose interesting material to the media, might get the desired result. Especially now that she was involved with a certain employee of hers. It had been interesting to see Jace go from despair to the ecstatic all in the space of a few days. How will she react when she finds out her sworn enemy is also the woman she loves? Wonder if the sensitive kid can take it, this once she would bet her share of UCP that Jace couldn't hack it! Well, only three days to go before we find out, now that is some meeting that I'm looking forward too! You never wanted my bed, but I'm going to get you in it Catherine no matter what; some naive blonde isn't going to succeed, not now, not ever!' Walking over to her desk she called for Peter Adamson to get his rear end into her office now!

Several minutes later a harried looking Peter Adamson pushed open the door to Hudson's office and noticed her negligently draped across her desk, viewing some stills of a new feature.

"You wanted to see me?" Peter spoke politely.

"Yep, I certainly do, now shut the door and take a seat," she directed not looking up from the stills on her desk.

"I've got the Xianthos people coming here in three days, are you going to be available to see them over your project?"

"Sure, who's coming from the Empire?" He asked with interest.

"Ah, well I could say it's a secret, but as you already know part of the story, the very reclusive Ms Devonshire or should I say Warriorson herself will grace us with her presence. Also, Paul Strong their new President, appears he's taking over the reigns officially from her," the last she said with bitterness.

Peter smiled inwardly; he liked Paul Strong, and had met him over dinner with James on the several occasions, when he'd been in town. "Sounds like all the big guns are in town, but isn't that a little over the top for a project this small?"

"Let's just say I have my own personal agenda with Ms Devonshire, so at some stage I want you to take Mr Strong out of the room for me and show him the ten cent tour okay?" Her voice brooking no argument.

"Whatever you say, I just want to get a release date before I move on next month," Peter stated finally.

"Yeah, well no promises but I think I can wangle that one if you do your bit."

"If I don't?" He eyed her suspiciously.

"Then your reputation as a director might get a little sullied in the process of this deal, you catch my drift?" Hudson spared him a withering glance.

"Yeah I get the drift. What about Jace?"

"What about her?" Hudson was bored with the subject.

"She doesn't know her friend Warriorson is Devonshire, it will break her heart," Peter said in a quiet voice.

"Fancy that, I'm counting on not only Jace being heart broken but a certain recluse as well! Makes perfect sense to me," she smiled at him.

"You have a strange sense of perfection then, if other people suffering gives you any kind of thrill." He was disgusted at her and knew the sooner he could get out of her grips the cleaner he would feel.

"Quite so, but for Devonshire, nothing else would be appropriate believe me, she's no innocent babe in arms, I have proof of that."

"But Jace is!" Peter exploded at the injustices he saw for his friend.

"Oh Peter it's a casualty of war, think yourself lucky, you get to pick up the pieces, sounds like a good deal for you from my point of view," the vindictive woman eyed him speculatively.

"I don't want her that way," he knew that he was lying; he would take Jace on any kind of rebound situation, any kind at all!

"I don't believe you! Time will tell as they say and the time is getting ever closer," she gave him the dismissal look and he got up and left the room.

He heard her laugh as he passed by Jace's empty chair and went out into the sunshine of a beautiful Californian day.

~ ~ ~

Catherine walked into her building in New York; it was impressive by any standards and had the opulent designs of the twenties. Her father had chosen well when he'd purchased the deeds back in the late seventies.

She sauntered towards the reception area and waited in line for her turn with the receptionist, a tall brunette who had a smile permanently placed on her face, no matter what the situation. She was new or certainly hadn't been here when she left the building that final time over five years ago.

It gave her the usual rush of adrenaline as she waited and watched the numerous people coming and going in the area. At one time her father being the head of the company, had his picture plastered on all of the thirty floors, or at least twenty-nine, as there was never a thirteenth floor in any building. She had left them in residence until each floor had been redecorated over a period of time and now only one hung in the boardroom, along with her only portrait. She refused to have her picture strewn all over the place, it didn't matter if her employees knew who she was, all she asked was that they do a good job in the positions they held. Having people watch out for her, was a waste of energy and time and in her mind, time was money and she paid far too well to waste it!

Finally the receptionist asked her whom she wanted to see. The tall elegantly dressed woman noticed the badge of the very efficient receptionists, which clearly stated her name as Clare Fallen.

"I have an appointment with Mr Strong," Catherine spoke decisively.

The young woman who looked closely at her and continued, "May I ask who's calling to verify on my appointment sheet, please", then gave her a speculative look? The false smile was back, it amused Catherine and she gave a tight smile of her own.

"Certainly, it's Mrs Warriorson." Catherine waited to see if there was any recognition of her name.

The girl scanned her sheet and looked perplexed. "I don't appear to have that name down on my sheet. Are you sure your appointment is today?" The girl asked tentatively, it wouldn't do to upset potential clients and you just never knew who was coming through the door unexpectedly.

Catherine's smile faded and she looked at the sheet from her elevated position, her stance giving off an angry message. "I'm sure! In that case I suggest you call Mr Strong immediately and clear up the difficulty." Her tone brooking no argument. 'This wasn't good enough, was Paul letting things slip?'

"Would you please take a seat, I'll call his secretary." The young woman spoke quietly to the seemingly pissed off woman.

Catherine glanced her way and gave her an icy stare and shrugged her shoulders then went over to the glass display panels that held information about the company. Her name was mentioned and there was a small photograph taken some eight years ago, when she had taken over from her father.

Celeste Johnson, Paul's personal aide answered the phone. "Hello, Johnson speaking."

"Hi Celeste, it's Clare at reception, does Mr Strong have an appointment that he hasn't mentioned?" Came the quiet voice of the girl, she didn't want to upset the PA, especially if she'd screwed up.

"No, he didn't mention anything, why?" Celeste was inquisitive; Paul was usually very meticulous about appointments, something he had learned from the owner.

"I have a woman here who says she has an appointment and believe me she doesn't look the type you disagree with, not if you still want to be left in one piece that is." Clare said with a light laugh.

"Oh, don't tell me tall, dark and beautiful?" Celeste laughed along with the woman.

"You're right on target, but how did you know?" Clare gasped at the accuracy of her description.

"I didn't but I know what you consider dangerous material. So what's the mystery woman's name?" Celeste chuckled.

"Warriorson, Mrs Warriorson," responded the receptionist.

There was a sound that could have been the phone being dropped, but quickly picked up again. "Are you sure about that?" a strained response from the other end.

"Yes, positive, why who is she?" Clare was intrigued.

"Clare for god's sake send her up immediately, no special passes nothing, do you hear me?" said the PA in an authoritative tone.

"Well, that's outside protocol Celeste, surely she needs a pass, security will raise a fit with me and so will my boss," Clare was surprised at the directive.

"Clare get her a pass, make it one of the gold VIP ones okay, just put down her name and that should appease all the protocol you need. Don't waste any more time Clare, just do it!"

"Who is she Celeste, surely she's not that important that we break all the rules for her?" This was fascinating the woman it was a rare day indeed that anything rattled the Vice-President's PA.

"When are you going on break?" Celeste asked her.

"Actually in about two minutes, Connie is walking towards me now."

"Okay, get the pass, hand over the position to Connie and personally bring Mrs Warriorson here and then you will find out first hand." Celeste smiled at her idea, she knew that Clare was discreet but speculation would be rife if it wasn't handled properly and Clare was excellent at handling this type of situation.

"You got it, see you shortly," replacing the handset, she reached for the box that held the special passes, it would allow a person access to all levels, except for the Vice-President's office, his PA, the boardroom and the not in residence, Chairwoman's Executive Suite.

Clare passed over the position to Connie and said she would be gone about half an hour or less. Walking swiftly over to the tall woman looking intently but with a bored expression on her face at the history of the company.

"Mrs Warriorson, I have your pass, please follow me, I will escort you to the executive floor," she smiled genuinely at the visitor.

Catherine quirked an eyebrow at the woman, "That isn't necessary, I've been here before."

"Oh, that's okay, it is my pleasure." Turning she motioned to the far side of the elevator bank, taking the furthest one from their position.

Catherine was surprised at the move and her face must have shown this.

Clare smiled briefly and said, "We will have the elevator to ourselves, and most people can't be bothered to walk the few yards to the end, but will wait ages for another if it's full. I could never understand that logic myself."

"Yes, I wouldn't understand that logic either, this time Catherine sent her a lopsided grin.

Getting into the elevator, Clare pressed the button of their destination.

"How long have you worked for Xianthos?" Catherine asked her pleasantly.

Clare looked at the woman and saw her interest. "Four years, straight from college; I'm working on an advanced degree in administration and hopefully I can get more experience in other roles."

"I see.... working on reception won't be a good foundation for your degree?" Catherine arched her eyebrow in question.

"Perhaps not, but the company pays well and I need to do the studying part time, I'll work on that problem later," Clare replied confidently.

"Have you talked to your supervisor about it?" Catherine persisted; one thing she wasn't happy about was a waste of talent.

Clare laughed it was almost musical in its tone. "No, Mr Reeves wouldn't understand."

Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Well, he's old school. Thinks that women should be around for the more menial tasks not management roles. It happens," the girl replied without bitterness.

Catherine pondered the remark. "I thought this company was owned by a woman? Doesn't that sort of deflate his ideas?"

"No, why should it. Ms Devonshire is only a figure head, men run the company, here in New York particularly," the door slid open as they reached the floor.

Plush green carpet swept up in front of them and she could see the familiar doors leading to the various executive personnel assigned to the floor. Immediately ahead was the Chairwoman's office, the only key except for a security key was in the possession of the Chairwoman herself. They walked briskly towards Paul's office area and his PA in particular.

"You do know your way around," Clare smiled at the woman who was way ahead of her.

Turning back she dismissed the woman's comment but nodded her head, turning the door of the PA's office she sauntered in, followed quickly by Clare. "Hello Celeste," Catherine greeted her.

"Ms Dev.......Warriorson, I wasn't expecting you." Celeste got up quickly from her chair, not knowing if she should shake the woman's hand or just find Paul Strong.

Catherine dealt with that problem, she held out her hand and shook the proffered hand that Celeste held out. "How are the children?"

"Fine and yours?" Celeste said in surprise.

"Good, it's snowing at home, they should be having fun at the weekend, Colin is taking them sledding."

"They will have fun, I'm sure. Paul is in a meeting until 1 a.m. with some clients, I can interrupt him for you?"

Lifting up a hand, she motioned for Celeste to sit down. "No, that's okay, I could do with a drink though, what have you got for me?"

Clare was watching in fascination, this was no ordinary VIP.

"Anything you want?" Celeste confidently answered.

"If they make decent tea, I'll have a mug. If not I will have a cappuccino." Turning she looked at the girl waiting by the door.

"Miss......Fallen, what do you drink?"

Clare was surprised, but was outdone in the surprise stakes by Celeste, who looked at the tall woman with her mouth open.  Catherine saw the look and laughed at the sight. "Better close that Celeste before you catch flies," she said casually as she walked towards the window, which had a good view of the city.

Clare looked at Celeste for guidance. She just shook her head.

"So, what are you drinking Miss Fallen?" the voice asked again from her position at the window.

"Oh, expresso for me." Looking once again at Celeste, "Do you want me to go for them?"

"No, take a seat Clare, I will have them brought up." Picking up her phone she connected to the cafeteria on the fifth floor.

"Clare works for someone called Reeves, Celeste, get me his file and have him in my office in an hour," the tone was cold and determined which surprised both women.

Celeste looked at the girl seated opposite her and her frown gave everything away. "Will have that in here shortly."

"Oh, I didn't mean to cause any trouble, it was only an observation." Clare didn't know what to say. 'Which office?'

Catherine turned back to the occupants of the room. Sending the girl a stare that would silence the most antagonistic, "Have you known this woman long Celeste?"

"Yes, since she arrived about four years ago."

"Have you known her to be anything but honest?"

"No, she's a very honest and capable worker."

"Fine, then I'll take your observation and let's see if I make the same diagnosis," she gave a wicked smile and turned back to the window.

Without thinking Clare asked a direct question. "Who are you?"

Catherine chuckled in merriment. Celeste put a hand to her mouth and just cringed.

"Me? You want to know who I am?" as she walked towards the girl seated in the low chair, she didn't look much more than in her early twenties, it reminded her of Jace. Must be the girl's lucky day, giving her a mock menacing stare she answered. "I'm someone's worse nightmare, but I can also be their saviour too. Today young lady you're going to have a saviour," she walked up to Celeste, "When the drink comes I'll have it in my office, along with that file."

She passed the PA and went to the permanently locked door of the Chairwoman's office and pulled out a key, opened the door, entered and then shut the solid, decorated door gently behind her.

Clare looked on as she saw where the woman went; her face paled as the tall impressive frame opened the sacred door and went inside. "I just made a grave mistake here didn't I Celeste?" A small voice asked.

Celeste walked over to the girl and patted her hand, "No, not really. Trust me, she's not the bitch everyone thinks she is, whatever you said, if it's the truth she will see it also, so don't worry."

"Easy for you to say, you knew who she was' I'm right in thinking she's the Great Ms Devonshire?"

"In the very flesh Clare," Celeste smiled at the devastated expression on the younger woman's face.

"She's very beautiful," Clare slowly lifted her head from its hung position and smiled weakly at the other woman.

"Yes, she is. The drinks are here, come on have that before you go back to work." Celeste picked up the mug of tea and the file she had received from personnel, and entered the other office, coming out a few minutes later with a smile on her face.

"She wants the office cleaned, said it's dusty and she hasn't enough clothes with her to have them messed up with dirt."

"Can't she buy more, she must be incredibly wealthy."

"I wouldn't know, she probably is very wealthy if the share prices of this company are anything to judge by. Catherine Devonshire is a woman you never second guess, too many people have tried and to-date no one has ever won that particular game with her, I doubt they ever will." Celeste went back to her desk and called Reeves.

~ ~ ~

Catherine had her meeting with Reeves, it was one of those times she really liked demoting people, he was pompous and his results over the last two years didn't measure up. He appeared to relish putting women in the background you could see that with the staff line-up. Men dominated all the senior positions and the woman had lowly administrative roles. The turn over of female staff was incredible, especially as she knew that the company was one of the top ranked for employee pay and benefits in the city. 'Wonder why personnel hasn't picked up this trend? Glad the girl was right with her observations, or she would have been looking for a new position herself.'

Closing the file, she would write the report herself, as Paul wouldn't be back for another hour; so she turning on her laptop computer, which had been pulled out of the secured cabinet close to her desk and started the demotion paperwork. The place hadn't changed at all!

Her cherry oak desk with its royal blue blotter in the centre was empty, except for a small in tray of royal blue.

Opening one of the drawers she pulled out a fountain pen and a cartridge, waiting for the flow of ink to reach the gold nib. She glanced round at the dark blue leather sofa, which adorned one side of the office wall. A cherry oak cabinet held her personal filing system and some stationery. A leather swivel chair designed for computer use was tucked away in the corner closest to her desk. Her leather executive chair had pride of place in front of the desk and she sat in its welcoming comfort. The small cabinet close to her desk, housed the computer and the communications system, her personal company cell phone sat in the drawer and would remain there!

Getting up she walked over to the window and switched back the blinds, the bright light of a sunny New York day spread itself over the room. She missed this! The total control she had when she came into this office, it was something she wondered if she could ever have given up, but she had and until now, she had never felt the nostalgia of the situation. 'I was bloody good at the role, even my father might have been proud of me in the end.' The door was pulled open and Paul Strong entered a wide smile on his handsome face.

"Catherine, why didn't you say you were coming?" He went over and shook her hand.

"I thought I'd mentioned coming over, we talked yesterday?" Catherine looked at him in surprise.

"I thought you wanted a meeting at the hotel, not here!"

"I guess I never made myself very clear, but it's good to be here Paul."

"It's good to see you her also, I miss you around here you know?" He looked at her sheepishly.

"Thanks. Even if I was one of the most ruthless people you have ever work with huh?" She smiled at his sudden blush.

"Oh, I wouldn't go so far as saying that," he laughed self-consciously.

"You know if you weren't already taken, I might just ask if you would be interested in a date, you look real cute with a blush."  Catherine teased the man that was going to be effectively the man behind the Empire she had forsaken.

He looked at her in surprise. "I would think that a certain party that holds your affection might have something to say about that too!"

"Yes, maybe you're right. Hate to say this Paul but I've kind of demoted one of your senior personnel, a man called Reeves, any objection?" She waited for his response with interest.

"Not me Madam Chairwoman, if that's what you want, I haven't a problem with it. He's been with the company for over thirty years, old school type."

"So why haven't you done something about it?" Catherine asked him with veiled interest.

"He managed to scrape in each year with passable explanations, I'm sorry," he looked at her for a chance to gauge her reactions.

"Who would be the prime candidate to replace him?" She sounded bored with the discussion.

"You have any suggestions?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes, but let's get on with the new line up here and in South America. Constance ready to take over here?"

"Yes, she's been over twice, she passed all her materials to Gareth last week and will be here tomorrow, before we go to LA.  Enricho Garcia is the new vice-president for the South American operation. He's been with the company for ten years and was heading Eduardo's sales operation. I know he will be good for the role; he has the connections as well as the intelligence. He could do with some support for a few months though, but I'll tackle that one as soon as I can," Paul explained briefly.

Catherine digested all he said and smiled briefly.

"Time for lunch, you seem to have everything under control. I want Celeste's personnel profile on my desk when I get back, she will take over from Reeve!" Looking at the shock on his face.

"Come on Paul, Celeste isn't going to LA with you, so Constance can get her own PA, we need her in there Paul, it's our communications in the company; I want the right person in the position, and she is the right person. Clear it up for me, will you?"  She smiled at his expression.

"Did I say I was glad to see you back?" He asked her with a wry grin.

"Something like that," she grinned back it him.

"Do I get to take it back?" He headed towards the door and opened it she walked towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "No!"

They headed for the elevator and the fifth floor; this was going to be quite a day, her first day back from exile and she was already making waves, what a wonderful feeling.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirty-three

Catherine sank into the wonderful downy bed in the hotel room in LA. She was tired after her journey from New York and the hours she had needed to work to enable her to have everything covered. Now reclining on the bed she was tempted to just sleep the afternoon and evening through until her meeting with Hudson.......but NO! There was an infinitely better reason to stay awake tonight, Jace!

Paul had taken the opportunity to spend some time with his partner, although he had offered to have dinner with her she had declined. Hell, she had a much better candidate lined up for that festivity.

Picking up the phone she dialled the UCP office number given to her by Paul, and asked to speak with Ms Bardley.

"Hello this is Jace Bardley, how may I help you?" a cheery voice answered.

Catherine found the voice totally enchanting. Smiling she answered in a low voice, "Ms Bardley how about dinner?" she waited for a response.

Hearing a thud and a scuffle she was a little surprised, was there a problem at the other end. "Hey, Jace are you still there?" Catherine asked in concern.

"Zeus, Catherine you surprised me! What do you mean dinner?" Jace was flushed and excited all at once, having recovered from dropping the phone.

"Well.....I kind of thought that as a stranger in town you might take pity on me tonight." Catherine spoke in a low gravely tone, and to Jace it was one of the most tantalising voices she would ever hear in her life, it consistently set her emotions on overload.

"You're in town?" Jace asked in wonder, if Catherine could see her eyes they would have been as round as saucers.

"Yes, I think a certain best friend of mine constantly invited me so here I am," she chuckled at the complete surprise of her friend.

"You never mentioned it at all! Catherine if I didn't love you so much I would be furious with you!" Jace laughed self-consciously at her end.

"So, have we a date?" Knowing she was teasing Jace.

"Oh, my god, of course we have a date. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" Jace answered breathlessly but in a serious tone.

"Two months, three weeks and a day." Catherine said nonchalantly.

"Hades, I didn't realise you were counting, but I was going to say Forever," she laughed at the thought of Catherine counting the days since she had left 'Destiny'.

Catherine this time was the one to be surprised and she let out a sigh as she sank back into the bed.

"Are you still there Catherine?" This time Jace was concerned.

"Yes.....yes I'm still here. Guess I wasn't expecting that! What time shall I pick you up?" Catherine said quietly, still digesting the last snippet of information from Jace.

"How about I meet you at your hotel, and we decide where to eat from there?"

"Sure, but I still need a time?"

"I would take the afternoon off if I thought I could get away with it, but Hudson is having a strange day, so make it seven, okay?" Jace said abstractedly.

Catherine smiled at the statement regarding Hudson. 'Yeah with luck she might actually be rattled for a change.' She continued with her conversation. "Great, I'll meet you in the lobby at seven."

"Until then." Jace smiled into the handset.

"Until then, bye Jace." Catherine replaced her receiver and shut her eyes, with one thought coming to mind, or was it a word?

FOREVER!

~ ~ ~

Jace was smiling. Well, grinning would have been a more appropriate expression. Everywhere she went on the lot she smiled, it didn't matter if someone was happy or gave her a sad story about their dog dying or that their grandson was in an accident or something equally distracting, she smiled! It was almost as if she had found a secret stash of a happy drug or something, people who knew her well, found her smile intoxicating and reciprocated. Others thought she was on a high and someone really should do something about it!

As Jace rounded a corner of the lot near her office, and the time got nearer to six, she suddenly jumped as high as she could and said out loud to no one in particular "YES!" Giving the air a high five as she jumped. Her happiness wasn't going to be dulled by anyone, not even Hudson. She briskly walked into the building.

All sorts of thoughts went through Jace's mind as she went about her day, she couldn't believe that Catherine was finally here and she hadn't mentioned one word, not a one. 'Oh there is payback and how Catherine! I can't believe you have come over and to see me! I'm going to make tonight so special that you won't want to leave ever again, or at least not without me by your side.'

Jace walked by Agnes' desk and noted she had gone for the evening, which was always a good sign. Walking into the area that held her office space and also the internal door to Hudson's office, she noticed that the light was still shining under the door.  "Hades, I hope she doesn't want me now!"

Jace went to her desk and sorted through any mail that had arrived in the interim of her absence. Nothing to worry about, she put them away in a secure place and closed down her computer, with that the door to Hudson's office opened and Peter Adamson was being hustled out.

"Ah Jace, glad to see you back! Wanted to let you know we have important visitors tomorrow and Agnes is on holiday, so I need you in the office to welcome them and stay until they leave." Hudson demanded not asked.

Jace glanced at Hudson and nodded her head, and then she noticed that Peter looked uncomfortable as she looked quizzically at him.

"Hi Jace, do you want to go out to dinner tonight?" He smiled at her wearily, his face telling her more about his trials with Hudson then a thousand words could ever express.

"I'm sorry Peter, but I already have plans." She replied softly, giving him a smile of understanding.

"Rain check then?" He tilted his head in her direction totally ignoring an impatient Hudson.

"Yes, look forward to it." Jace looked from Peter to Hudson.

"Oh, so you finally noticed the boss exists, how very kind of you!" Hudson said sarcastically and noticed Jace flush.

"Just remember who signed the pay check Jace, I think we have already had this conversation, and hate to repeat myself!"  Hudson said maliciously.

"Yes, you have already told me that! Do I get to know who the special visitors are?" Jace looked directly at her boss.

"No!" Hudson said and strode past the two of them and out of the external door.

Jace watched her go and then looked at Peter in question.

He shrugged and walked over to her desk. "Is it a heavy date?" He asked her with interest, somewhat disappointed.

"Yes." she answered with a slight blush to her cheeks.

He noticed the colouring and managed to look a little contrite. "Guess it's none of my business, hope you have a good night." He walked towards the door.

"Peter!"

He turned to look at her.

"You're my friend Peter, thank you for asking," she smiled at him and collected her purse and car keys.

Peter left the building and Jace glanced at her watch. "Hades, I have to get home and shower and change and get to the hotel in.....hotel.....which hotel? Oh gods, I never asked. She's going to kill me, I never thought about it." She spoke absently to one of her resident dragons.

Sitting down on the chair, she looked at the blank terminal screen in front of her and wondered what to do. Putting her head on the desk, she closed her eyes and knew she had really blown it. Getting up slowly she noticed it was six-fifteen; and she needed to get home and changed, there must be some way she could find Catherine?

Walking as fast as she could, but without the spring to her step of earlier, she got into her car and headed home.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirty-four

Catherine awoke from her sleep at five, not bad really, she certainly felt refreshed for her evening with Jace. Gradually waking enough to get out of bed, she stretched and realised she could have at least an hour in the bath before her engagement with Jace.

Walking over to the TV, she switched channels several times, and then decided that CNN was perhaps the best option for a foreigner, especially in the States, too many damn channels to choose from and nothing on any of them to watch. No, that wasn't quite true, if you liked a particular program you usually saw it first in the States. Not like at home, usually at least two seasons behind, assuming they didn't cancel it on the home run; now, that really was a pain. Fortunately with her resources, she bought up videos ferociously to combat that particular planning problem. Not only that, she hated Ad's and that was one thing the BBC was good at, no Ad's. Still she no longer lived in the UK and hadn't for a while now, so it had been purely nostalgia. Good nostalgia though!

Curling her toes on the thick carpet, she decided to run her bath and contemplate her evening.

Sitting in the bath relaxing, she wondered what she would say to Jace tonight. 'Tonight was perhaps the right time to tell her everything, it would give her time to digest the information and decide if she really did want any sort of lasting relationship with me. Mind you, Hudson in the morning after seeing Jace upset wasn't a good way to have a meeting. No, think the explanation will come after the meeting with Hudson, at least she will know part of the story by then or at least the alter ego. Hell! I can't see any problem with Jace knowing that my business life went under the name of Devonshire, hardly a major topic of conversation.  Yes, that sounds good to me.' Sinking further in the bubble filled bath, she suddenly shot up!

"Oh Christ! I forgot to mention which Hotel I'm in!" Catherine spluttered as she spoke the words out loud and close to the bubble water line. Thinking fast she rushed out of the bath and grabbed a towel and moved into the recreational area. Picking up the phone, glanced at the time, "gads, it's was six-ten". She speed dialled a number she had programmed into the cell phone.

After leaving a message on Jace's machine, she rubbed herself dry and sat down heavily on the end of the king size bed in the luxuriously decorated suite. Suddenly weary at the thought that what she anticipated as a wonderful evening could easily have been a very frustrating one.

 ~ ~ ~

Catherine walked around the lobby in an agitated way; it was seven-twenty and still no sign of Jace. Hell, maybe she hadn't managed to get away from the studio?

Her back turned away from the main entrance; she failed to see Jace enter.

Jace looked around the lobby, noticed the woman who would always hold her attention no matter where she was or what she as doing. The tall, dark and quite intoxicatingly beautiful Catherine Warriorson was only yards away from her; she felt the magnetic pull of attraction so acutely it was almost breaking her apart. Walking over to the raven haired beauty, Jace smiled at the anxious look she saw on Catherine's profile from the left side. "You know if you keep that expression on your face much longer it's going to stay for good and mare that beautiful face." Jace spoke softly to the woman whose back tensed at the words.

Turning, Catherine drank in the lovely sight that appeared like a spectre to her. It had seemed so unattainable, yet it was within her grasp at last. "Have you been talking to Grace recently?" Catherine nonchalantly replied, although that belied the true feelings she had coursing through her veins at the sight of the young woman.

"Hello Catherine". Jace spoke shyly her eyes never leaving the ice blue gaze she had longed for in the months of their separation.

"Hello Jace Bardley". Catherine couldn't stop herself from putting out a hand and gently touched Jace's cheek. 'She was definitely real!'

Jace was entranced. This was the woman she had professed her heart and soul too, and all she wanted to do was drown in the emotions of being with her again. "I love you Catherine Warriorson." Her voice cracked at the emotion she felt at their close proximity.

Smiling Catherine gently grasped one of Jace's hands and pulled it towards her lips. "I love you more than life itself Jace," the emotional charge around the two of them was electric.

They stood there, absorbing the presence of the other; neither wanted to move.

"Where do you want to eat?" Catherine asked finally, her ice blue gaze tracking the green eyes with precision.

"Eat! You want to eat?" Jace asked her in frustration.

"Well, there are alternatives to that of course. What do you want to do?" Catherine gave her a cautious look as she saw the frustrated expression on Jace's face.

Jace saw the concerned look from her friend and decided that eating was a start. " Okay, we eat. How about my place?"

Catherine's smile changed to a grin. "Maybe tomorrow. How about we have a meal here and we talk. What do you say?"

"Well, I guess we can. But wouldn't you rather go back to my place?" Jace look disappointed.

"Patience my friend, patience! Let's go and have something to eat."

Catherine saw the disappointed look and disregarding anyone or anything in the vicinity to them she dipped her head and placed a tender kiss on Jace's lips before gently taking the younger woman's arm and guided her towards the hotel restaurant.

Jace bemusedly followed the feel of Catherine's lips imprinted on hers to savour. Tonight, was going to exceed her expectations of this reunion, without any shadow of a doubt.

~ ~ ~

Their dinner progressed easily, each woman talking about situations in their own world, and constantly passing tender glances across the table.

At one stage their glances had locked so much it had taken the waiter several clearances of his throat before he could get their attention. He looked the most embarrassed of the three, playing out that little scenario, when they finally noticed him.

As they concluded the main course, a dessert was offered and Catherine passed the menu to Jace with a smirk.

"What?" Jace grinned at the woman opposite her, whose face held such an expression of happiness it was hard to associate her with the stoic persona that could easily present itself to the world in general.

"Dessert for you, not me." Catherine gave her a grin.

"Well, I was kinda hoping that........" Jace gave her a wicked smile.

With Catherine's left eyebrow raised she looked quizzically at her friend. "Hoping?"

"Yes, hoping that the dessert I was going to offer at my home would be more to your liking." Jace looked down at her empty place setting and a blush became apparent to the onlooker.

"You do, do you? Now that's an offer worth considering." Catherine spoke in a low growl for Jace's ears only.

"Does that mean a yes or no?" Jace asked breathlessly.

Motioning over the waiter, she spoke briefly to him; he immediately rushed to his station and grabbed their bill. He quickly saunters back to them, with more haste than Jace had ever seen in a waiter.

Catherine looked at the green eyes of her friend and saw the sparkle of laughter at the action of the waiter; who had tripped in his haste to swiftly present the bill to Catherine.

Taking the bill from the man, she signed the paper with a flourish and looked him in the eye, unexpectedly giving him a wink, added something to the bottom of the bill, passed it back to him and saw his smile grow wider. Catherine then looked back at her dinner guest and smiled seductively. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes." Jace swooned silently, giving a thank you to whoever was listening.

"Let's go then." Catherine got up from her seat and with a speed that amazed Jace; she was behind her seat helping her up.

Jace looked into those ice blue eyes and the look she received almost sent her back into the cushioned seat to stop her legs giving out at the dazzling, sensuous glance.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

They walked out of the restaurant and out through the main door into the cool night air. Catherine casually linked her arm in Jace's as they headed for her vehicle and the place Jace called home.

~ ~ ~

Glancing round the small apartment, she noticed arrays of flowers and smiled, knowing that they must undoubtedly be from her.  She also noticed all the items of furniture that Jace had mentioned in their conversations and e-mails. Going over to the desk, which housed Jace's PC, she picked up a framed photo, which could only be of Jace's family.

Jace had gone into the kitchen to prepare some coffee and in all honesty to get her equilibrium back, although she had wanted this!  Jace had no experience whatsoever of how to seduce Catherine, other than with words and she had obviously done that already!  Having read some revealing fan fiction on the Internet it had at least given her ideas, if not the courage to attempt them.  Had Catherine experience with other women; I know about her taste in men or at least one man, but women? That was something different again. Pushing a hand through her hair she collected the coffee mugs and went back in search of her friend.

Hearing her approach, Catherine turned and smiled gently at Jace, she looked a little nervous. "Is this your family?" a hand pausing over the picture frame.

"Yes, my Mom, Dad and my sister Lucy. We're very close, I was over at the house a few weeks ago," her gentle smile clearly painting its own picture.

"Your parents have done a good job in bringing up at least one of their daughters." Catherine looked keenly at Jace.

"My parents will be happy to meet you anytime if you say nice things like that about them, without prompting too!" A chuckle passed Jace's lips.

They each drank a mug of coffee in silence.

Catherine glanced around the room and then grinned at Jace. "I don't see any chocolate about, didn't I send enough; or wasn't it to your taste?" Catherine asked her in earnest.

"Don't go there Catherine, I'm not sure if I should even allow you around me, you are so, so bad for me!" Jace chuckled at her friend.

Catherine moved closer to Jace. "How so?" quirking her ever faithful left eyebrow.

"I must have put on ten pounds with all the chocolate I've eaten already, it was irresistible." Jace grinned at her.

"Irresistible huh? So it's all gone?" Catherine sounded disappointed.

"No! No, quite the contrary, in the kitchen you will find a cupboard called Catherine's chocolate cavern, trust me on that!" Jace gave her a dazzling, appreciative smile.

Catherine found something equally irresistible to her; bending closer to Jace she captured her lips in a searing kiss, leaving them both breathless when they eventually surfaced for air.

Considering her options, Catherine looked deep into green orbs that looked back at her passionately. She'd hoped to not have this conversation tonight. "I need to tell you some things about me Jace. Some are good, some are bad and to be honest some are downright disgusting. I need you to know everything about me," her eyes never left the blonde and she could see conflicting emotions pass over the expressive face.

The silence became almost unbearable for Catherine.

Then suddenly Jace moved to within an inch of her face and a dreamy expression came over her face. "Can I show you something?" She whispered seductively.

"Sure," came back the simple reply.

Capturing one of Catherine's larger hands in hers, she tugged her towards a room immediately left of the kitchen area; opening the door they entered Jace's bedroom.

Catherine looked startled at the younger woman and started to speak, a slim finger was placed over her lips to silence her. "Sit, I'll be back in a few minutes." Jace went through a door in the middle of the right hand wall; it was a small but comfortable bathroom.

The bedsprings squeaked a little as Catherine lowered her weight on the bed and looked around at the very tidy but cosy room.  'This isn't working we should be talking. She needs to know everything!' her mind said, but her heart was thudding at the possibilities the situation was opening up.

The door to the other room opened and Catherine was hard pressed not to shout out at the vision in front of her.

Jace had dispensed with her clothes and stood before Catherine almost as an offering to the gods of the ancients. Her body was very well defined and it was clear that Jace worked out. Her tan evidence of the part of country she lived in, the expression 'all over tan' popped into Catherine's mind. It made her skin look very healthy and quite magnificent.

Jace walked over to Catherine who couldn't keep her eyes from the vision getting closer and closer, speech was no longer an option, her mouth far too dry to utter one syllable. The super confidant Catherine Devonshire-Warriorson lost for words? She most certainly was.

Jace stopped within inches of Catherine, who sat rigid on her bed, smiling, her confidence coming back in leaps and bounds.  Somehow she was in total control and it felt good, no, it felt wonderful. "I think I promised you dessert?" Jace huskily said, looking into ice blue eyes that held deep desire, or could it be 'fear'? No, it was returned desire.

Catherine hadn't recovered from the vision in front of her and she didn't think she ever would, her response was to nod her head.

Had Jace not been locked in a sense of complete sensual mist herself, she would have chuckled at the nervous anticipating movement of Catherine's head. Sensing it was up to her to make the first physical approach, as Catherine seemed incapable of any suggestive action for some strange reason. Her green eyes sparkled with the fire of rekindled need and unexpected passion, making her blush and chuckle silently. Placing her hands around the broad shoulders of her friend, she lightly turned her face to Catherine's for what started as a gentle exploration but ended up a passionate embrace, sending erotic shockwaves through both of them. Jace relished in this sensation, collapsed on top of Catherine and settling into her lap.

Cradling Jace's face in her hands, Catherine finally managed to speak, although it was rather hoarse. "Please, Jace we need to talk!"

"No! I need for you to know how I feel about you and the only thing that will do that is for you to touch me, not talk to me," her emotions evident in her words.

"Jace it's important to me that you know what and who I am." Catherine pleaded.

"I know what you are! You're the woman I love, what more do I need?" several soft kisses were placed on full lips and she heard a low growl of protest.

"I love you too! But....." Catherine tried again, knowing her resolve was just about shot to hell.

"No buts Catherine, you're mine! That's enough for me, now stop talking and kiss me." Jace placed her inviting mouth tantalisingly close to the older woman's.

'I tried, I really tried, but oh hell, she's just too much for me.' With her resolve finally shredded to the wind, Catherine pulled Jace further into her arms as she lay on the bed and kissed her soft lips again, again, and again.

"You have too many clothes on Catherine." Jace finally whispered into her neck, Catherine's clothes already askew from their passionate kissing and exploring touches.

"I know Love, going to help me with that problem?" a throaty voice, close to the curve of Jace's left breast, eventually asked.

"I doubt you would try and stop me!" Jace began her task in loving earnest appreciation.

For the rest of that night only the sounds of two people very much in love could be heard, experiencing and professing that very emotion; two souls being satisfied that once again, having been reunited and claimed!

~ ~ ~

Catherine woke to find herself being held captive by a blonde wrapped tightly around her body, sleeping soundly. 'If this is the captivity of love, then I'm never letting it go!'

Glancing towards the small bedside table, she noticed that it was five thirty a.m. 'Hell, I've got a breakfast meeting with Paul in the hotel at seven, going to have to wake up sleeping beauty.' The thought made her smile in anticipation

Placing feather light kisses all over the face of the woman who had so deftly and without apparent effort claimed her heart.  Catherine felt Jace stir and she smiled, the smile becoming wider as Jace finally opened her eyes.

"Good morning, my Love, are you going to wake me up like this every morning?" Jace looked at her with a sleep filled expression.

"Good morning to you too, and the answer to that one is yes!" a low growl erupted from Catherine as she said the final word.

"Gods, do you know how sexy you sound when you say things to me in that tone of voice?"

"No, but I'm sure you will enlighten me," a slow sultry smile settled on Catherine's face.

"Catherine, I think you can feel what you do to me with that voice, without any help from me!" Jace softly responded.

Catherine placed a hand in a strategic spot, her lips curled up in a wolfish grin. "So I see."

Laughing she gently disengaged her hand from the spot in question and looked deep into Jace's glazed expression and it wasn't from any remnants of sleep either. Lacing her fingers with her younger partners, she brought them to her lips and kissed each one reverently. "I have to go Jace. Unfortunately business calls and somehow turning up at the hotel looking and smelling as I do, wouldn't quite be in keeping with my image." She smiled gently at Jace, who looked disappointed.

"We could always cancel what we have on today and stay in bed?" Jace flushed at the thought of spending the entire day making love with this silky haired, beautiful woman. Catherine hadn't said but it was obvious to Jace early in the throws of passion that Catherine wasn't a novice in the art of making love to a woman, she was going to ask about that someday, but not today!

Tracing a finger down the cheeks on Jace's face that had taken on a rosy glow, she gazed at her young lover and wanted nothing more than to spend the day in bed with her, but later. After today, then the way would be clear for them to do whatever they wanted. "I want that also Jace! But today I have to keep to the appointments I've made, it's important to my future.'  Catherine noticed a look of anxiety on Jace's face. "Hey, my love don't worry, it's just business and when I think about it, it's for our future. So come on, the sooner you let me up, the sooner I can finish the business and get back to you!"

Jace turned her face into Catherine's chest and the older woman felt moisture forming on her breasts.

"Are you okay Jace?" Catherine anxiously asked her lover.

"I love you Catherine." Jace turned her head slightly so that Catherine saw the tears she was shedding.

Tilting up Jace's head with gentle fingers, Catherine kissed away the tears and sighed softly into the face that would forever hold her soul.

'Did I really think that? She has my soul? Maybe, I do believe in soulmates after all! How ironic that would be!' Laughing she caught Jace's surprised look as she leaned in once more and passionately kissed her hungrily on willing lips that had clearly been lovingly sought and tasted repeatedly the previous night.

~ ~ ~

Catherine had called a cab; she knew Jace had to be at the studio, so it made sense for her to make her own way back to the hotel.

Looking at the blonde who was standing a few feet away from her in an over-sized T-shirt with the familiar 'Taz' on the front. Catherine's mind flashed to the moment in Christchurch when she had seen the store with toys of all shapes and sizes. She had almost sent Jace an adorable Pooh Bear complete with the honeypot. Then she had tripped literally over the giant 'Taz', after cursing a couple of times, she'd noted its mischievous grin and for her it was the only thing to send. After all, hadn't Jace done just that to her, made her trip and fall in love, yeah even in those early days.

Crooking her finger at the gorgeous sight of her young lover. "Tonight, you, me and a very long chat. Then you can get your wish my love, I'll spend the rest of my life in your bed, if that is what you want?" Her eyes gently caressed the honey haired woman with love.

Jace walked over to her and placed her hands round the neck she knew every inch of after last night. "Okay, my place or yours?" Lips captured Catherine's in a searing kiss of lingering desire and possession.

"Yours, most definitely yours!" a breathless Catherine Warriorson responded, with desire threatening to devour her entire being.

The sound of the bell being pushed on her apartment made both women groan.

"Gods, I miss you already." Jace spoke quietly into her black hair, hanging unsecured.

"Tell me about it! I love you Jace, see you later." Placing a soft kiss on her nose, Catherine opened the door and proceeded to walk down to the waiting cab, the drive back having little significance to her.

~ ~ ~

Paul Strong was greeted by a very enthusiastic but somewhat tired looking Catherine Devonshire. "Did you have a good night?" he asked her as he set a menu in front of her, having been given the table earlier.

Catherine smiled at him wickedly. "You could say that." Picking up the menu she couldn't help the grin covering her face that refused to retreat into its stoic demeanour.

Paul chuckled softly. "Glad someone had some success in their love life."

Catherine raised the formidable eyebrow. "You didn't? Why was that?"

Looking at his menu, he smiled wryly. "James had a party he had to attend, he didn't get home until late and wasn't exactly in a fit state to do anything but sleep it off."

"Sorry to hear that." She smirked in his direction as the waitress arrived to process their order.

"I guess food might be high on your list of things about now?" Paul slyly intoned.

Winking at him from across the table. "Sure, what's your excuse?"

They both laughed as he ordered the largest platter of food he could.

He liked this Catherine Devonshire, this was the woman that you got glimpses of from time to time, but it was certainly out in force this morning; long may it last!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirty-five

Jace watched Peter walk into her office space and look at her with a mixture of interest and a spark of jealousy.

"You look as if all your dreams have come true in one night?" he asked her quietly, not wanting Hudson to hear as the door to her office was open.

"Maybe they did." Jace quietly answered him back but her smile gave him an answer he was not sure he wanted.

"I'm pleased for you, is it someone I know?" Peter tried not to sound jealous.

"Yes," she said emphatically.

Peter looked at her speculatively, and then glanced at the door to Hudson's office. "Got to go, catch up with you later and you can tell me all about it."

"Oh, I don't think your going to get all the details, but if you buy lunch, maybe some of them!" Jace smiled at his retreating back, he was her friend, and she knew he would be happy for her.

"You're on," with that he entered the other office and closed the door behind him.

Jace looked at the closed door and waited impatiently for the VIP visitors; she still didn't know who they were. A black Land Rover appeared into view from her window and she watched in fascination as a man came into line of vision, how ever, she was not in a position to see the other party with him, she looked closer.

'Why that's Paul Strong, James' friend! What's he doing here? Doesn't he work for some large corporation or something? Hell, he must be the important visitor, she didn't realise he had that much authority.' Trying to get a closer look at his companion, she craned her neck but to no avail, the person had walked outside her range and view totally. 'Well, this isn't to bad then, she liked Paul Strong.' Walking over to the coffee machine she started it up and waited for them to enter the building.

Paul Strong came into the office area first, the other person had the door held open for him and he walked casually but confidently into the room. He looked like any middle aged executive with a definite style to his wardrobe, which was expensive but quietly and impressively, so. The other party walked into the area seconds later just as Jace turned back to the machine to make sure she hadn't over filled it.

Catherine Devonshire saw the young woman and smiled briefly, her mind creating images she could certainly do without at this moment, and then she put back on her stoic persona. Hudson didn't need any advantage in this battle.

Jace turned and came face to face with the woman who had indeed made all her dreams come true in one night. The tension beginning all over again as Jace looked her lover over in frank admiration and shock at her appearance in the office. 'She never mentioned coming here today? You never gave her the chance!' Jace answered herself.

Catherine was dressed in an expensive pinstriped navy blue skirt suit the skirt came to a stop at the top of her shapely knees, which were encased in what she surmised to be silk stockings. Her blouse was a stark white, very plain but obviously in silk.  She looked the epitome of a professional businessperson and her stance showing that she exuded power out of every pore. Her hair hanging loose around her broad shoulders giving her a very primitive yet controlled image to the onlooker.

"Catherine?" Jace managed to say as she finished her observation, her mind lost in thoughts of undressing the woman before her.

Paul took the opportunity to state their business. "Nice to see you Ms Bardley, we have an appointment with Ms Hudson, would you inform her that we are here." His voice clipped out in a totally businesslike way.

Jace smiled warmly at him, but her eyes never left Catherine's who had been looking at her with a sparkle of laughter in them.  "Who shall I say is calling?" Jace asked sheepishly, knowing they would think it strange that she didn't know the visitor's names.

Paul raised his own eyebrows at the question, but duly answered. "Tell her Ms Devonshire and Mr Strong are here from Xianthos," he looked at the woman next to him and smiled briefly.

"What!" Jace shouted at him, her mind not taking in the answer. 'No, no this isn't happening, she's not her, and it can't be her!' Jace's mind was shrieking at the unexpected discovery.

Catherine noticed that Jace had paled, but now was not the time to let her personal affairs get in the way, she had to be focused; Hudson was always difficult at the best of times.

The door to Hudson's office opened as Jace sat heavily down in her chair. "Ah, Catherine at last! Paul good to see you; please come in, come in! Jace get the coffee will you?" she said sweetly.

Catherine without a backward glance followed her into the office and Paul looking at the younger woman slumped into the seat gave her a compassionate glance. 'Catherine had obviously forgotten to point that little detail out to Jace, I wonder if she forgets just how powerful that name is in some circles?'

Jace heard the introductions around the room and the door closed with a definite click. Her head was whirling; she didn't know what to do, what could she do? Hadn't she come face to face with the enemy? Oh god, why didn't I listen to her, why?' Tears threatened to fall as she gathered up some coffee cups and placed them on a tray, all the actions on automatic, and her mind too full of questions.

Slowly she dragged her mind to the task and opened the door to the office and her worse nightmare. Walking on autopilot inside, Peter Adamson got up from his seat and took the tray from Jace. He'd noticed her pale face and her attempts to stem tears. He knew the reason why.

Looking at the person who had caused the pain, however innocently, he noticed she was a little pale herself and was watching the younger woman in earnest, concern plainly etched in what would otherwise be a very cool and composed expression.

Jace now in shock as the realisation of the events sank in.

Hudson looking at her emotionally distressed PA and also the closed expression on her very important visitor. "Jace, I want you to meet Paul Strong, he's the President of Xianthos and of course you know Catherine Devonshire." Her smile, sickly sweet, knowing the hurt she was inflicting.

Jace looked at Paul and smiled a weak smile "Paul good to see you again."

Hudson looked a little put out at Jace's familiarity with the man, but not for long, taking the advantage. "But of course you don't know Catherine by that name do you? She's none other than your reclusive friend C X Warriorson. Small world wouldn't you say?" She maliciously intoned.

Catherine smiled at Jace, but it soon died as she saw a cold expression come over the usually animated and happy visage that she loved.

"I need to leave if that's no problem to you Ms Hudson?" Not waiting for Hudson to answer she rushed out of the office.

"Oh Jace, shame on you no words of welcome for your friend?" Hudson smirked at the retreating back.

The two men in the room watched the differing expressions on the three women and each had their own opinions on what was transpiring.

Catherine followed Jace out the door. "Be right back," she stated absently as she pulled the door shut behind her.

~ ~ ~

"Jace!" Catherine drew her immediate attention by her authoritative voice.

Looking like a bird about to fly out of a cage she turned to look at Catherine. "What's the problem Ms Devonshire, the coffee not to your taste?" her voice carrying the cold front Catherine had seen on her face moments earlier.

"I thought you would be at least pleased to see me?" Catherine softly asked the woman she loved. Catherine watched the emotions wash over Jace's face; they went from surprise, anguish, hurt and finally anger.

"How could you.......how could you lie to me?" Jace accused her lover.

Catherine shook her head in surprise, what the hell was wrong here? "I'm sorry, but I don't understand? I've never lied to you!" was the quiet response.

"You never told me you were........are the Devonshire behind Xianthos?" Jace's tone angry and held bitter.

Catherine looked perplexed, 'why the hell would that particular fact matter?' "Does it matter? Hell, I don't even go by that name anymore. Most of that part of my life is dead to me now!" Catherine emphatically replied.

"Yes it matters! It matters to me! I hate Xianthos and I hate the person who owns it!" Jace replied with passion, her anger nearly manifesting physically.

The words came like a body blow to Catherine; she recoiled from the venom spat out in words. "Why?" Catherine whispered, her world suddenly starting to crack open around her.

Jace looked at the pain etched into the beautiful face before her, it took all her will power not to reach out and touch it in comfort, but her hatred of all things Xianthos stopped her. "My father had a publishing business in Santa Barbara. You! Bought it out, but you disregarded him as irrelevant. He fought you, you called in all his debts, and he's never been the same. Nor have I!"

"Are you telling me this is about a business deal?" Catherine couldn't believe what she was hearing, she slowly put a hand over her eyes to try and clear the fog that had apparently descended on her relationship with Jace.

"Yes, no.........yes it was our family business, our lives!" Jace was completely overcome with her bitter emotions, her ability to make coherent sentences losing the battle.

Catherine tried to make sense of the situation; it hadn't any grounding for such a response from Jace, not to her anyway. "I told you Jace, you wouldn't like some of the things I've done in the past. You told me it didn't matter, did you lie to me?" Catherine asked calmly, yet her guts had reason to want to jettison her breakfast.

"No, no I never lied to you! This is different." Jace looked at her with pain filled green eyes.

"How so? It's okay for my past to affect others, you could ignore that, but because it happened to you it's different?" Catherine advised her logically.

"Yes," she whispered, knowing she was being totally unfair.

Catherine passed another hand over her eyes in what could only have been a gesture of defeat. Squaring her shoulders she looked at the other woman, who refused to acknowledge her stare? "Then I guess I'm going to have to live with you hating me Jace. Because sure as hell, I can't change what happened in the past." Her voice cracked as she looked over the blonde's shoulder to a picture hung on the wall, unable for the moment to move away.

Jace turned to her and saw the stoic expression settle on the face of the woman that she had loved, in every possible way. "I loved you Catherine Warriorson!" Jace said in a voice devoid of emotion, her heart screaming at her to retract her words.

Catherine quirked her eyebrow at the expression and considered the words. 'Loved? How fitting.' Catherine turned towards the inner door preparing to depart, changing her mind she closed the gap between them.

Placing her hands around the tearstained face. "No Jace, you loved the dream of a woman I'm obviously not! Funny really because this woman here before you loves you an awful lot, even now!" Catherine spoke in a quiet resigned voice. Her will the only thing stopping her own torrent of tears threatening to fall.

Bending her head she placed a tender kiss on Jace's lips and left her swiftly re-entering Hudson's office.

Jace's lips tingled from the contact and tears cursed down her cheeks as she picked up her purse and car keys. The turmoil she felt in her life at the moment was incredible; Jace didn't know what to think where to turn too, what to do! 'I'll go home, it's the only place left. Maybe everything will make more sense.'

She left the building.

~ ~ ~

Catherine re-entered the room and saw everyone glance up in her direction. She gave them a cold stare, except Paul; he knew his boss well.

Hudson wasn't fooled, 'Interesting body language. So there is something going on with those two. I knew it! Oh I'm going to enjoy this even more now.'

Catherine had years of experience of not showing her feelings in public, even if her heart had been ripped out of her chest and lay bleeding to death at the foot of Jace's desk. Somehow she always rallied round it was instinct. "Okay Hudson, what do you want?" Catherine asked brusquely, no longer interested in the meeting.

Hudson knew that the preliminaries were over, even before they had started, not a bad call. Smiling smugly she pointed at the men in the room. "Maybe they should leave?"

Paul looked at Catherine for guidance, this wasn't a business meeting at all, something was going on that had personal undercurrents.

Peter took the opportunity to leave, not saying a word.

"Well, he can go and take care of Jace, she obviously has some sort of problem today," Hudson said nonchalantly.

Catherine grimaced and moved around in her chair, wanting to physically hit the woman at the desk. "Paul stays, get on with it!"

Paul stifled a chuckle as he recognised the old Devonshire style.

Hudson looked taken aback but recovered quickly. "Fine with me, if you want all your dirty laundry aired in public, that's up to you."

"Believe me the way I feel at the moment, I don't give a damn what you do to me!" Catherine smiled briefly at Paul; he might as well know all the facts.

"I want your sixty percent holding in UCP transferred to me, and a guarantee that you will support with financial aid UCP for the next twenty years." Hudson drummed her fingers on the table as she looked at the woman she desperately wanted, regardless of her feelings for someone else.

Paul got up from his seat and was ready to punch the obnoxious woman himself, Catherine watched his movements and responded to the threat. "Sit down Paul, let her finish. I assume you have something else to say?" Paul reluctantly did so.

Hudson looked at them both and lost a little of her composure, she noticed Catherine didn't seem to care one-way or the other.

"And?" Catherine asked calmly. She was too calm Hudson knew that.

"I want you!" Hudson leered blatantly at her to exaggerate her point.

A sharp laugh was the answer from Catherine as she continued to stare out of the window for a few minutes. Catherine rose from her seat and walked past Paul squeezing his shoulder in reassurance as she headed for the window. "You mean you want my body?" Catherine purred, her primitive instincts now getting a chance to voice themselves.

"Yes." Hudson's voice became hesitant, she hadn't expected this reaction, what the hell was going on in that sharp mind, it was almost as if she was planning to spring traps, like a hunter.

"Right! So if I say no, what are you going to do about it?" Catherine appeared nonchalant about the whole situation.

"If I told you now, Paul would know and it's no longer a secret," Hudson said petulantly.

"Get on with it Hudson." Catherine's sneered her stance at the window clearly angry and frustrated, she needed this like a hole in the head right now.

"Your father told me about your troubles, the drugs, alcohol, the prison in particular. What you did inside to get by, shall we say." Hudson said maliciously.

Catherine said nothing from her position at the window, Paul looked on in embarrassment.

"Your drug dealing, your sex for drugs, your violence in prison! Do you want me to go on?" Hudson thought she had Catherine now, hell, no one wanted this sort of thing public, not in her position surely.

"You made your point, in your usual tainted way Hudson," a very bored voice declared.

"If it gets out your business is going to nosedive. Your precious domestic life will be ruined. I'm sure the authorities in New Zealand will be interested, you have children under your care now; hardly think you're a fit parent. Then there's your love life, it would be a real turn off wouldn't it?" Hudson laughed enjoying the pallor from Paul and the rigid back from Catherine.

Paul got up from his chair and walked over to his boss. "Is it all true?" He knew some of the story; he had been part of it, but not it all.

Catherine smiled wryly at him. "Yes, I'm afraid so. It was a long time ago, seems like another lifetime now."

Paul looked at the calm profile of his boss and then returned back to the agitated Hudson. "Yeah, it was a long time ago and you're not that woman now." He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks Paul," she continued her observations out of the window. 'Jace hates me now! Wonder what she will think about me when she finds out about all Hudson's so called facts?'

"Oh cut the sentiment please, what are you going to do?" Hudson was frustrated it really wasn't going the way she planned.

"Do your damnedest Hudson; only remember once your through, it's my turn." Catherine gave her a chilling look, her ice blue eyes working overtime.

"You think that when all this gets out your going to be in a position to try anything? I'm scared!" She laughed maniacally at the thought.

"Believe me, you should be!" Catherine replied quietly but with a definite edgy menace.

Paul turned to Hudson. "You just made a mistake lady, she's very dangerous when cornered, very like a lioness with her cubs, think on it?"

"You think wrong, it's more like a rat, and edging back to the sewer she just crawled from," Hudson retaliated.

"Funny, I would have used that expression for you! In fact, don't be surprised if it's not a premonition of events about to unfold.  Oh, to you I mean," Paul gave her a dazzling smile.

"Get out of here, your nothing but her resident arse kisser," exasperated Hudson threw her pen at the door.

"Been called worse in my time." He left the room, giving his boss a reassuring glance.

Catherine walked over to Hudson and gave her a stony glance that would have frightened most people. Hudson just didn't give a damn. "Thank you for the offer Hudson, but you pale considerably in comparison to what I know is right for me. Maybe you should think about settling down yourself, with a nest of rats, more to your taste I suspect," Catherine drawled.

"Ha! Don't get clever with me Catherine; I know Jace hates your guts, now she knows whom you really are! Not much you can do about that is there?" Hudson snarled at her.

Opening the door to the office to let herself out, turning briefly she said. "I might not be able to do much about that, that's about the only thing you have said that might be factual today. It's ironic really the whole situation, we both came off losers in the name of love."

Hudson looked at the woman with a startled expression and shouted, "I DON'T LOVE YOU!"

Catherine silently walked back over to Hudson and stroked one slim finger down her right cheek, watching the desire fire in the other woman's eyes. "No, your right, you didn't love me, because you can't love Hudson. At least, I found out I can!"

She left the other woman in a rage. Hudson dragged out her file, you asked for it, your going to get it! 'If you won't have me Catherine Devonshire, then believe me no one else will ever hold you! If you thought you were a recluse before, then when I'm finished with you, Howard Hughes will look like the ultimate party animal.'

~ ~ ~

Continued in chapter 36

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