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| Story: A New Life - Chapter 14 Thursday, 27-Apr-2000 22:31:32
The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled Sarah’s apartment, bringing an involuntary smile to the owner’s sleeping face. She allowed the aroma to slowly awaken her as she stretched across her rumpled bed. After giving out a huge yawn, Sarah stood up, pushing the sheets off, and wrapped her robe around her silken sleepwear. She walked out of her bedroom, down the apartment’s small hallway, and into the kitchen. “There you are, sleepyhead.”, Dana chirped, turning the coffee pot off and placing slices of brown toast onto a plate. “I was wondering if you were ever going to get up.” Sarah yawned again, covering up her mouth with the back of a hand. “Dana, it’s only 6:30, and you already have breakfast ready?” Her surrogate sister grinned as she poured out two cups of rich, black coffee. “Life with a family is a bit different than going it solo, Sarah. Which brings me around to something that I really wanted to ask you. Why haven’t you hooked up with a gorgeous guy yet?” She giggled as Sarah took a playful swing at her. “C’mon, I’m serious! I know there are plenty of guys out there who’d love to be your man. Especially with that figure! Look at me; I’m all fat now after having Jimmy – I’m lucky I’ve kept Greg around!” Sarah laughed at her sister’s jest. “Dana, you know you look absolutely wonderful, so don’t give me any of that childbirth stuff.” They sat down at Sarah’s small table and began to attack the food Dana had prepared. “You haven’t answered my question, Sarah.”, Dana said, pointing her butter-covered knife at the other woman. “What about Andrew? He seemed like a real sweet guy, and he’s not half-bad-looking, either.” She gave her sister a wink as she bit into a piece of toast. “I really do like him. But, well…. The way you saw him yesterday at lunch? That’s about as open as I’ve ever seen him. I think you were able to draw him out of his shell. You’ve always been able to do that, Dana. But when he’s around me - - let’s just say that he’s less forthcoming. I don’t know; when we’re alone, he seems a bit withdrawn, nervous, unsure of himself.” “How can you blame him, looking as you do?” Dana chuckled as she prepared another slice. Sarah put down her coffee cup. “I’m serious, Dana. I know that he has feelings for me, as I do for him. But we never seem to get an opportunity to express ourselves. The one time it looked like I was going to break through Andy’s mental barriers…..” She paused. That was only a few days ago, and yet she hadn’t talked to Andrew about their conversation since. ‘Not like he’s been dying to bring it up, either.’, she mused to herself. ‘Ever since I – well, the super heroine in me, anyway – rescued him, Andy has been acting differently towards me. He’s still kind and helpful, but he acts even more nervous while I’m around.’ “I just don’t know, Dana. Maybe it’s just not meant to be. Maybe nothing is supposed to happen between us.” Dana reached across the small dining table and took her sister’s hand. “Sarah, you know you don’t believe that junk you just said. I saw how you acted towards Andrew at lunch yesterday. You acted just like I did when I was wooing Greg. You do love him. But he might not know that, or else he’s too insecure to bring it up to you. From what I learned during our conversations over that wonderful Mexican cuisine, he’s a smart and kind man, so I’m betting on the second explanation. Talk to him, Sarah. Take him out to lunch or something and explain your feelings. That’s as much as you can do – let him take it from there.” Sarah placed her other hand on top of Dana’s, giving it a loving squeeze. “Dana, I don’t know how I’ve gotten along without you. I’ve been thinking of doing just what you said; I guess I needed to hear that same advice from someone else.” “That’s what sisters are for, right?” Dana winked. “Seriously, I’m glad to be of help. Now, go get ready for work while I clean this mess up.” Sarah opened her mouth to protest, but Dana held up her hand. “No, it’s the least I can do for you putting up with my snoring.” The two women laughed and went about their own tasks. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press. I have called this conference in order to explain just what the charges against me are, in detail, and to allow my attorney to field all legal questions.” Sarah watched as the broad-shouldered president of Stanwick Consolidated Freightways stood back from the podium and stand off to the side as his attorney stepped up. She didn’t really listen to the questions that followed; she halfheartedly wrote down some of them and some of the responses, but her thoughts were on other things. She wanted the conference to end, so that she could have her own conversation with Mr. Michael Harris. Sarah knew that she wasn’t acting very professional, but it had been a personal attack against her and Andrew, and those men had said that Mr. Harris had hired them. “Mr. Harris? You run the largest shipping company in Colorado. Why use these forms of tactics against your competitors? What do you have to fear from them?” The president’s attorney, Wayne Mills, answered, “My client has not admitted to committing any of the acts that he has been charged with, so he cannot answer those questions. Next?” A reporter from near the back of the room spoke up, and Sarah groaned with recognition. “Mr. Harris.”, the slightly gravelly voice of Harry McHenry called out. “We all know that your business isn’t squeaky-clean, and that your business practices are bordering on monopolistic. So why are you still protesting your innocence?” Michael Harris placed a hand on his attorney’s shoulder. “Mr. - - McHenry, isn’t it? I remember you from my previous question-and-answer session with the press. Still confrontational, I see. As for my answer, we’ll just let the courts handle this; at least I know they’ll give me a fair hearing, unlike some people in this room.” And with that he stalked out of the room. Sarah pushed her way through the crowd of gathered journalists and reporters who were shouting out questions towards Mr. Mills. “Harry!”, she shouted. The paparazzi looked up from his notepad. “Oh, Sarah! Surprise, surprise. I wasn’t expecting you to be here; I thought events like this were beneath you.” He cracked a smile. “Just kidding, Legs. So, what did you think of Harris’ little show-and-tell? Personally, I don’t think he was convincing at all. He’s hiding something.” “I agree, and we may never know what that is, since you managed to chase him off again.”, she retorted. “I’m surprised that you still work for the Examiner, as fast as you insult and drive off your interviewees.” He waved a hand at her, shaking his head. “I get the job done, don’t I? Just like I’m gonna get the scoop on that green woman. I heard that a reporter from your paper didn’t have much luck with her. That’s okay, I’m sure she’ll find me a more than adequate listener. See you around, Legs.” He gave her his trademark wink and sauntered off. Sarah shook her head, disgusted. ‘Don’t underestimate him, Sarah.’, a voice within her mind said. ‘He may seem crude – well, he IS crude – but there’s a mind behind those beady eyes.’ Harry held a duality about him; how he could sound so condescending one moment, and yet be a very shrewd observer at the same time. That was a large reason Sarah didn’t care for him: she never was quite sure where she stood while he was around. Anything he asked her could be taken several ways, and she disliked that. But, as he had said many times before, it seemed to serve him well in his profession. She looked towards the door where Mr. Harris had disappeared through and headed that direction. Unknown to her she was being observed - - and followed. Michael Harris was feeling pretty confident as he sat behind his desk. He wasn’t too concerned about the charges filed against him. Much of the prosecution’s case was based upon circumstantial evidence, but it had been enough to indict him. ‘Still, I’ve got a great defense team. Plus a little advantage that no one but me is aware of…..’ The phone rang on his desk, and he picked up the white receiver. “This is Michael Harris.” “How did the press conference go?”, the voice on the other end asked. “I’d say very well.”, Harris responded. “That McHenry character asked a couple of asinine questions, but other than that it went as planned.” “Good. What about Sarah Carter? She was supposed to be there, as well.” “I did see her, but she asked me no questions. In fact, she seemed a bit – distracted.” Just then he heard a knock on his door. “Excuse me, but I believe I have an unexpected guest.” He hung up the phone. “Yes?” The door opened, and in walked Sarah Carter. She had a much more intense and focused expression on her pretty face than Michael had seen during the conference. “Can I help you, Ms. Carter?”, he asked in pleasant tones. She stopped in front of his desk. “I have a few things to talk to you about, Mr. Harris. Off the record, and they’re not about your legal problems.” He opened his hands in a gesture of openness. “By all means, please continue.” “A few days ago a friend and I were walking through the park when we were accosted by a couple of men. They said they wanted to keep me quiet about your legal case, and that they had been hired by you to do so.” Her blue-gray eyes gazed at the president with an intensity that he had never seen in a person. “They would have succeeded, too, if it weren’t for the intervention of the superwoman. She saved us and sent those two goons packing. What I want to know is why?” Mr. Harris shrugged. “Ms. Carter, believe me when I say to you that I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never hired anyone to perform the task you have accused me of.” Sarah was about to open her mouth to quip some remark about how bad he was lying when she took a second look into his eyes. ‘Wait…. I don’t think that he IS lying. Somehow, I feel that he’s telling the truth. What is going on here?’ She crossed her arms. “I didn’t make up my attack, Mr. Harris. And, if you weren’t behind it, why did they say that you had hired them? Could there be someone out there who wants to ruin your reputation?” “It’s very possible, Ms. Carter. I have made my share of enemies while doing my perfectly legal business. But I assure you that I have never hired anyone to attack you or anyone else. You haven’t done anything against me, so what would be gained by my doing so?” He did have a good point, she conceded. “Okay, I believe you. I’m sorry for my behavior, Mr. Harris. I shouldn’t have gone off on you like that.” He smiled magnanimously. “No harm done. If you’d like, I can use some of my resources to pursue this matter for you.” “That’s quite all right, Mr. Harris. Thank you for the offer.” Sarah then turned around and walked out of his office. Michael continued to sit and watch the door where the female journalist had just exited. 'Hmm. Someone is trying to soil my name by roughing up a reporter, eh?', he pondered. 'But why would they - ' The door opened up again, and he heard footsteps coming towards his desk. Thinking it was Sarah again, Michael said, "Did you change your mind about my offer, Ms. Carter?" Upon looking up he was surprised to see two women standing in front of his desk. "Excuse me? Who are you? What are you doing in here?" "We are looking for you, Mr. Harris.", the lefthand one said in dulcet tones. "We have reason to believe that you know the whereabouts of the 'superwoman'. We are looking for her." Michael shook his head. "I'm afraid you're mistaken, miss. I don't know anything about her - just what I read in the papers." He took a good look at them. They were wearing business-style clothing: dark-colored jackets and skirts, cream blouses, and black pumps. Their hair was well-kept and drawn back over their shoulders. The lefthand woman looked at her partner, then back at the president. "I'm afraid you will have to come with us, Mr. Harris." He stood up from his desk, pointing a finger at the two mysterious women. "Now wait a minute. You can't come in here and order me around without a court order. Who are you, anyway? Government agents or something? FBI?" They looked at him quizxically. "FBI?", the righthand one asked. The other shook her head. "No, we are not affiliated with any official government organization. But you will come with us. We have many things to ask you." Michael crossed his arms. "If you're not with the government or police, then you can't do anything to me. I - " He trailed off as the two women began slowly coming towards him. "Hey, what are you doing - ?" "We - said we - needed to talk - to you. And we - will.", the woman on the left said, her voice slightly lower in pitch and a bit more gruff than before. A few seconds later they had cornered Michael behind his desk. "What's going on?", he demanded. Then he felt his jaw dropping open in amazement. They - they were turning green! Their skin was rapidly losing their tanned tones, altering to a rich emerald color. Their clothes seemed to be tightening up around their bodies. He watched as their pale blouses grew more and more tight against their chest; his eyes could't help but watch as their breasts, too, swelled with size and firmness. Ripping noises began emanating from their forms as their business clothing rapidly became unable to clothe them properly any longer. One of them suddenly grabbed at him with a growing green hand. He yelped in fear and tried to pull away, succeeding, but ripping a couple of buttons from his shirt in the process. "HELP! Help, somebody!!", he shouted as he ran towards the office door. He looked over his shoulder to see the two growing women right behind him. He felt something push against his back, and he was forced onto the ground. He rolled over to see his two assailants standing over him. They were still growing, muscles and curves coming to life where there had been none before. They were both grunting and groaning as they changed. The buttons from their blouses began popping off almost simultaneously, and Harris was treated (though he was too afraid to really care) to the sight of their shirts opening up, showing off their growing green breats. One of them knelt down beside him, and he heard loud ripping noises as she did so. Large tears were opening up in her skirt as her legs bulked up, her thighs and calves thicker and sexier than before. Her feet had already outgrown her pumps, leaving the busted-up leather behind in her pursuit fo him. She put her hands on either side of Michael's chest; all of a sudden the rags of her blouse fell off her large chest and landed across his stomach. She continued to enlarge, her sexy, muscled green body now working on the jacket, tearing its sleeves and back open. Then, as soon as it had started, her transformation seemed to end. Harris looked at the other woman, still standing on the other side of him. She was as big, green, and muscular as the first - who then stood up from her position. Together they looked at themselves, going over their ripped and torn clothing and nakedness. "We changed.", the righthand one said, her voice throaty. The other one nodded, looking down at Michael. "Mr. Harris, we did not want to do this. We would have preferred to remain disguised and have a pleasant conversation with you. But you made us upset." She reached down and picked him up with one hand. They walked back to his desk. She set him down in his chair. "Now, you will tell us everything you know about this superwoman." To be continued Terry |
| Story: A New Life - Chapter 14 (Terry) (27-Apr-2000 22:31:32) |
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