Consequences Pt. 12E

"I don't see a house anywhere?" remarked David.

"You see that track," he said pointing at a high hedgerow bisecting the land.

"No," said David.

"Good," said Aaron. That means our family landscaping has worked. This land has been in our family for generations and we have always valued our privacy, both the road and the house are hidden from prying eyes." He led them to the hedge beyond which a road had been dug out, they followed it and were amazed as they came across a sprawling house of considerable size with lots of outbuildings, sheds, barns and garages.

"Wow!" said David's group as so often 'likeminded' "this is something else." Dawn and the ladies immediately went off to check out the chickens, the ponies, and the Llama's.

Out of sight, Aaron turned to David and said, "So would you be interested in buying the place?"

David took a moment to compose himself and digest the sudden question. "I take it Dawn is related to you"

"Got it in one, your no slouch are you son?"

"After going through 6 months of hell from my wife I can't afford to miss a trick," David retorted.

"She did mention you were investment seekers from out East and she couldn't figure that you would be in this part of the world for nothing." David grinned. "She's no slouch. I'll give her that, although that can't be why she brought us here today, she knew nothing about us until we chatted over lunch here.

"She has an eye for business, always said she is wasting her time in nursing, but she doesn't want to take over here, or at least the farm and my son isn't interested, he's some highfalutin electrics geek in Silicon Valley. The wife and I have decided to spend our hard earned savings travelling and Dawn's been on at us to sell the place and enjoy ourselves."

"I am beginning to appreciate your daughter more by the minute."

"She's quite something, I just don't know why she got hooked up with that husband, there's something I can't feel comfortable about and Dawn's never the same when he's around.

"Aaron, I'd like to talk to you but I need you to sign some confidentiality documents first."

"Isn't my word good enough for you boy?"

"Well no, we have only just met but more importantly I have no choice, the documents are to protect the lives of innocent women and children."

"Ohh I see, Dawn was right, you are some kind of Government people."

"Sign these for me and I'll tell you more." Pulling the sheets for the Retreats out from his trusty bag and a pen out of his pocket he handed them to the man."

"What's this Retreat thing then?" he asked as he read?

"It'll all come to light in a moment, I am assured by teams of lawyers that these documents aren't onerous in any way if you are the man of integrity that I think you are."

"So what they are saying is that I won't divulge anything you tell me but what about if I find out it's criminal?"

"I think you will find there is something about that somewhere."

He carried on reading and eventually conceded and signed, having done so he signed the other two without reading those.

"OK I've signed, so tell me what it's all about."

About 10 minutes later, the ladies joined them and David had to stop, Aaron turned to Dawn and said, "Sign these documents my girl so David can carry on talking to me."

She looked cross at being spoken to like that but since 5 sets of eyes were willing her to do so, she eventually signed grudgingly.

"OK carry on my boy" Aaron ordered, David was beginning to get a mite irritated at being called 'boy' but he grit his teeth.

"What have I missed?" asked Dawn, the others took her away and filled in the blanks and eventually David overheard "Oh, oh, I see so that's why all the secrecy, are you three members or what?" David took his concentration back to Aaron.

"So what do you see happening here?"

David could see the Dollar signs ringing up in Aarons mind. So he decided to play it down. "Well I have to start by saying we didn't target this location generally which is why we are staying here, we're using it because it's central to other locations our experts have identified. However the house looks nice and large and there's the existing business but I was thinking that Dawn might want to keep that going. Can you show us more, let's take a look around the buildings and at any plans you have?"

They were to discover that the opportunity was much like their last one, perhaps not so much woodland to keep prying eyes away but that could be sorted longer term, they would need water and that went in his notebook. The farm land extended further too but he wondered if a neighbour would be interested in working it. Anything that extended the gap between the Retreat and the general public was to the good. However he wondered, 'Is farming an option for women who are escaping, this farm did look diverse, but what about a golf course or any other land use?'

"There's one thing I wanted to ask," he turned to Aaron. "As a matter of course, we have the background of people and their immediate relatives checked out and even investigated if there are any question marks, if we continue any form of association with Dawn I want to investigate that husband and if there are any skeletons in the cupboard we won't stop at reporting them to the authorities, what's your reaction to that?"

"How can I help, is my reaction."

"Well, you could tell me all you know so that we can get going fast, things like full name, place of work, other family members, known friends and associates, interests and hobbies."

"Come with me, let's brew some coffee and I'll tell you all I know and then we'll see what we can get out of Dawn without being too honest."

David poured over the estate plans as they chatted and at the same time wrote down as much information as Aaron could think of; when in came the others. David started to say that they needed to do background checks when Dawn said she knew as the others had already told her. 'What a team' thought David and decided to let them take over, handing Elle the notepad as Ana and Sophia did the questioning.

When done, it seemed like time they moved on, so David said they would be doing a lot of background checking on what could be done as the Retreats had to be eventually self-funding and given the number of possible people living there it might be down to what the authorities would allow. Aaron shook hands acknowledging what David was saying but there was a gleam in his eyes as if he knew something the others didn't.

On the way back, David texted back home to see if anyone had any feedback on the location, 'it was lovely but what has it got for us?' he wondered. Right then it was difficult to talk while Dawn was around but it could wait. Sophia was sitting next to him so he typed the question on the phone and showed it to her.

She responded, 'It's an inoffensive site as far as impact on anything else goes and in the middle of everywhere else. I've been looking it up, there's a big push in the area for what they call Vernal pools, if we integrate them as hazards around the course it would probably help the cause.'

"So you like the site?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure why, it would certainly suit a Retreat, a big one even but as to what they could do there I don't know yet."

"Shall we go see if we can meet the Mayor?"

"We can but try."

"Dawn, do you think the Mayor would see us at short notice?" asked David.

"For sure, him and my Dad are like this," she crossed fingers over each other.

"Let's go there then." Sophia and he exchanged puzzled glances.

Their meeting with the Mayor proved difficult, not because he was like that but because it was difficult to talk to someone matter of factly who was a friend of the seller. Ana described to the Mayor what they did and he smiled encouragingly, she also asked if their talk would be completely confidential, and then if he would be prepared to sign, and he did so, no questions asked.

She continued, "Bottom line is Sir, our system works if the ladies can find businesses that will make the Retreats pay for themselves. In other areas we have Golf Courses or Hotels, Conference Centres and Event planning, even branch offices of existing businesses. I have to admit, I'm struggling on this one, granted it's a nice farm and farm shop.

Why don't you think that your previous successful ideas wouldn't work here?

"Just pure demographics, and effective use of what is nice farmland," replied David.

"Folks, I'm told you weren't looking at this area and I think you are using criteria that doesn't wash. There's a big population here, no quality golf course and no top class Hotel, there's an airport just up the road and we are not far from three decent size cities," said the Mayor.

David pulled out his map and then it hit him that they had only been looking at populations in the West Coast States.

The Mayor continued, "The question is really about what the Ladies could do there. Well I'd say 'all of the above' so to speak. It would be nice to keep the farmland but this area is crying out for some innovation, there's also a push to help recover endangered species of wildlife."

"You mean like Vernal Pools?"

"Exactly" he gave a huge smile as if he was finally getting through.

Winding up the meeting Ana asked, "so assuming this works for us how would you like us to handle it from your point of view?"

"I'd say put together some outline proposals and drawings with all the background stuff. Then provided they meet the kind of ideals we have been talking about, I'll get the other councillors to sign your confidentiality documents and we'll discuss and come back with any questions, criticisms, and suggestions. You then put that into formal form and we'll soon be off and running. I'm pretty sure you need to make the people with money happy first though, don't you?" the Mayor finished with one of his beatific smiles again.

"Sounds good" finished Ana and they shook hands to leave. She didn't think that anyone but her needed to know that David had final say.

As they were leaving Dawn lingered, so outside the door Sophia indicated to the others to go on while she sat on a convenient chair to look for something non-existent in her bag. Her sharp ears picked up "Your instincts have served you well again my dear these people seem perfect for the future of the town, if that damn factory and offices close down I don't know what we will do."

'Interesting,' thought Sophia and stood up to move silently away unnoticed.

As they drove Elle asked Dawn "Do you think you might want to join a retreat to escape?"

"Let's just say, it's very possible if my husband tries on any more unwelcome experiences."

Elle nodded understandingly.

"I may need someone like you," put in David.

"Why would you need someone with my skills, and I don't just mean nursing?"

"Well I hope this doesn't put you off but we have a tremendous responsibility for the safety of our women and there's some right bastards out there who don't think their wife's should leave them."

Ana stepped in "Don't get us wrong Dawn, we have the security thing at the top of our list and have good people. I think a big issue in the future is going to be women joining us who are escaping violent husbands, and there could be very young babies or toddlers. Also our women really seem to like to get involved and that can mean travel, we need to protect them and their babies when away from Retreats."

"So I would be a personal guard/nurse?"

"I suppose that depends if you have other skills you would prefer to use?" added Sophia with the benefit of overhearing her conversation.

Ana took up the point, "Looking after Mum's is just an immediate requirement but that would mean a lot of unused standby time, so we would train you up on the other parts of the business while you are on the job, that way you can take an active role while you are with the Mother. It wouldn't be a constant job with the Mums unless we continue to pick up sites at our present rate and that's unlikely so you would need to find a niche for yourself."

David was thinking as they talked and added "I think we would probably have you working alongside someone all of the time to get experience as quickly as possible, you seem to be good at including people and judging them if our experience is anything to go by so your eventual role may be involved with setting up the new Retreats as they come online, getting the women involved and starting up their new business operations. Dawn looked pensive but interested, asking questions all the way.

At her request, they dropped Dawn off at her workplace on the way to the Hotel and she checked whether there would be contact again soon. They assured her they would be in contact about the land one way or another unless she contacted them first about the job, in the meantime they had a lot to consider. "Don't forget the party if you are still here," she said finally.

When and where they asked and she gave the date and address.

Alone at last, Sophia filled them in on the conversation she overheard and they all put in their impressions and any information they had managed to glean. Elle suggested they could create a centre for local crafts to be exhibited and sold and there was overwhelming approval of the idea that made Elle glow with pride. David made a note to himself to encourage her more.

Their hours went by in a dream as they worked together finalising the deals, preparing ideas and proposals and discussing how they should proceed whilst spending hours wrapped together in a bubble of fun, pleasure and friendship. The world was something outside of their adventure until it became time that they were headed back to San Francisco much too soon. David decided it was time to talk about the future with Ana.

"Ana, I would like your opinion on how we go forward from here."

"I don't think I'm qualified to answer that yet."

"OK then, would you consider taking the lead on this side of the country for a while?"

She was startled at that, "but where will you be?"

"I am thinking that we will continue running down new projects together but individually we will need to be flying in and out progressing projects. I need to give more time to the other ongoing sites and I can't be everywhere. I am expecting to be this way for a higher percentage of time now, but I feel that we need someone to lead the way here. I have been so impressed with what you have done, I don't feel as happy to rely on anyone as much as you."

She looked pleased with the compliments and encouragement but at the same time beginning to worry about moving too quickly.

I am thinking that there are the beginnings of a team here but I am going to see if we can't set up a training facility for new staff. It would really be about choosing the right people so we can leave them to get on with it. Whenever we can I'd like to travel with you, Elle or Sophia or both as we make such a good team. But I am realistic, Sophia as Miranda has her judging to do, not sure about Elle, would she want to change her life so completely and spend so much time away from Brynn, we know she's got a marketing background but I feel she is much, much more."

Changing the subject slightly he continued "I think our immediate problem is to progress the sites we have identified so far, to get them to the development stage. At the moment it's easier to find opportunities because it's a big pond to catch our fish but eventually I think we'll be looking at a different kind of target, perhaps something much smaller like we originally envisaged."

Ana's face is pensive, "I think I need to go home before I can decide, I need to find out where I stand with Zoe as well as talking to Elle here. I have to admit that I'm still on steeply rising steps of experience and it would be helpful to spend time with Ruth, Rachael and just about everyone else, I also have to deal with my present employer. If this is going to happen I think we need a base for our people here, perhaps at the first reserve to come on line. We would also need to have people ready here for marketing and administration, so we need to know if Elle or Sharon are interested in a greater role and thus need to spend time training.

"I have to say David I think there's too much to think about right away, we have just got some kind of relationship going and now you want to leave me on a different side of the continent, what's that all about?" David realised that he had let his ideas run away with themselves again and spoke before he had thought out all the consequences.

End of Consequences Part 12 E

©2022 Bacchant2

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Main Characters

David: A successful Architect who wants to start a family, they start to play teasing games to spice up their life but it gets out of hand.

Olivia: David's wife and business partner, a successful designer working in tandem with her husband. Highly sexual woman who begins to find her inner desires taking control of her normal good sense. Inadvertently gathers 'lost' women around her that David calls her 'harem'.

Jane : David's first girlfriend who hurt him badly. The first to join the home after her husband proved to be a slimeball.

Ana: Olivia's former University roommate and sexual partner in their escapades when not studying. Finds herself becoming disenchanted with the city highlife and decides to look up her first love Olivia, almost destroying their marriage. Unfortunately, she brings Peter, a self-styled gigolo who preys on women and inevitably wrecks marriages.

Bree: Former Wife of a famous ex footballer, Chase. Ex-beauty queen type who is looking for a new life and fresh adventures after the disappointment of her husband becoming a worthless drunk. Came to a truth or dare party and never left.

Jo : A recluse who always received criticism by family and friends because she didn't achieve expectations. Pretty and vivacious underneath layers of shapeless clothes to hide herself, friends drag her along to Olivia's party and she never goes back to her dingy little room.

Michael : An Architect who studied with David through University. Moving to the area and possibly joining their firm but has problems with his wife, Sarah, who is having an affair with Wes Daniels.

Aleesha : A private investigator specialising in family matters. A tough cookie having gone through her own marriage break-up.

Monica: David, and Olivia's business supervisor and now a minor shareholder, totally reliable and a family friend, long term single mother but heading for a 'fling' with a handsome 'player' Mark, from the website company on the next floor up. Her office assistant is Dee.

Joannie & Francine: Real Estate Agents

Lauren: A gay woman who has a crush on Jo

Louise: Former long term girlfriend of a lawyer who lost interest in her.

Amber, Erika, Josh, Aaron and Rachel: New friends from a nightclub.

Rachel: Studied planning and development and now working with the Thurlows.