Unrestrained Behavior: The Pleasure and Risk of Choice (The 'Un'missable Series Book 3)

by Jerry Summers

  “So what are we going to do with the FBI agents today?”

  Wendy smiles. “We’re going to listen politely and then continue doing whatever the hell we want.”

  Mona chuckles. “I thought so.”

  Wendy leaves Mona to get a cup of coffee and head into her office. She begins reviewing the mail from Friday, checks her emails, and listens to her voicemails. As she is finishing responding to her messages, two FBI agents stroll into the front office and present their cards to Mona.

  “Hello, gentleman. We’ve been expecting you. Just a moment.” Mona picks up the phone and tells Wendy the G-Men are in the reception area.

  Wendy comes out to meet the agents and they introduce themselves as Agent Jack Wessman and Nick Zakarian. She’s surprised both agents are in their mid to late thirties, physically fit, nicely tanned, and neither is wearing a wedding ring. She sits with them in the reception area and includes Mona in the conversation.

  While neither of the agents appears overly concerned, they quickly point out weaknesses in the office layout from a security perspective.

  Wendy nods, acknowledging their point. “But agents, this isn’t a government facility. It’s a counseling office meant to be welcoming and not a fortress.”

  Both agents nod in understanding then make their recommendations, which include separating the office and work spaces from the reception area via a wall and bullet proof glass. They suggest a panic button linked to the San Diego Police Department, an intercom at the front door, and the ability to buzz clients into the reception area from a locked door.

  Both Wendy and Mona listen politely and then Mona asks, “How much do you anticipate it will cost to make this facility as secure as you suggest it should be?”

  Agent Zakarian hesitates. “Well, we’re not sure exactly. An estimate would need to be received, but thirty thousand dollars wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities given the size of the office.”

  Mona chokes on her coffee and Wendy gives them a small smile. “Well, I appreciate your concern, but I absolutely refuse to live behind bullet proof glass and locked doors. Besides, if someone really wants to kill me after all the security measures are put into place, all they would have to do is wait for me in the parking lot and shoot me or even plant a bomb in the car.”

  Agent Wessman replies this time. “You are probably right. They could find other ways, and would if they were motivated enough. However, there is no sense in making it easy or being a sitting duck, like Mark.”

  With that, Wendy stands. “Gentlemen, my brother was a first class asshole that had no respect for others. He was ruthless. He used individuals for all they were worth then discarded them like garbage when he was done with them. I am not my brother. I’m compassionate and willing to help others however I can. I suspect if anyone has anything to worry about with this threat, it would be Sean Green, who devised and executed many of the plans my brother used. Thank you for your time and expertise, but I’m not changing anything about this office, and if someone walks in and kills me so be it.”

  The agents stand with her, and Agent Zakarian says, “We don’t agree with your decision, but it’s yours to make. We would like to inspect your penthouse also.”

  “Again, thank you for your time, but that won’t be necessary because I refuse to live in the manner you’ll recommend. So you can go tell SAC Grinstead I appreciate his efforts but I think the FBI is full of shit in their approach to my life.”

  Wessman presses his lips together. “We’ll definitely deliver your message, but perhaps we will be a bit more diplomatic about it.”

  “Oh, no. I want my message delivered in the same manner I delivered it to you, and if SAC Grinstead has a problem with it he can call me himself. Is that clear enough for you?”

  “Very clear. If you insist, we will deliver the precise message you gave us.”

  “I insist.”

  “Very well.”

  “Good day, gentlemen, and thank you for your suggestions and concerns. I’m going back to work now. Is there anything you need to do with the phone traps?”

  “No, that’s all taken care of at the phone company, but here are the instructions you’ll need to follow if you receive a threatening call.”

  “Thank you again.”

  As they leave Wendy’s office, Wessman turns to Zakarian and asks, “How do you think Grinstead’s gonna react to that one?”

  “I got the distinct impression Ms. Stevens doesn’t care much for the bureau or our suggestions. I think Bob will just let her make her own decisions, but he is going to want everything documented to cover all of our asses.”

  ***

  Mona answers the telephone to discover Lindsay Parker on the other end, wishing to schedule an hour appointment with Wendy this coming Friday at four o’clock. Mona puts her on hold and relays the information to Wendy.

  “Of course she does. I wonder what type of conspiracy theory she’s dreamt up this time. Tell her absolutely, but I won’t speak with her beyond an hour and she needs to pay in advance.”

  “Okay, but are you sure you want to do this interview? Reporters are all scum, and you know that. Besides they write whatever they want anyway.”

  “It’ll be fine Mona, just book the appointment.”

  Mona sets the appointment, which surprises Lindsay, because she was expecting Wendy to refuse to meet with her even if she was willing to pay for her time.

  “Terrific. Please thank Ms. Stevens for agreeing to meet with me. I look forward to speaking with her Friday.”

  As soon as Mona hangs up, the telephone rings again. This time it isn’t a client, but her eleven-year-old daughter, Melissa, who is crying.

  “Mom, this is stupid. I don’t want to spend the next two weeks here, and Justin agrees with me,” she sobs into the phone.

  Mona is able to calm Melissa down, then asks to speak with her nine-year-old son, Justin. Neither of the children is happy to be in Auburn with their dad, and both feel that he is too busy working and not really spending any time with them.

  Mona asks to speak with their father.

  Tyler comes on the line sounding somewhat annoyed. “Mona, I’m busy, what do you want now?”

  “Look Tyler, the kids called me at work wanting to come home because they say you’re too busy working and not making any time for them. I just wanted you to know they called me, that’s all.”

  “For Christ’s sake, they just got here yesterday. I have a few more shoots scheduled tomorrow and after that I’ve cleared the entire time so we can do some things. They just need to be patient for the rest of today and tomorrow. Can you help me with this? I’ll spend countless hours with them, I promise. I just need a day. I have to get back to work. Melissa, your mom wants to talk with you again.”

  Mona hears Tyler tell Melissa, “You shouldn’t bother your mom at work.”

  When Melissa comes back on the line Mona calms her down again and asks that she and Justin just give their dad one more day to finish his work.

  Melissa begins to protest and Mona interrupts, “Sweetheart, please. He promised he will do a lot of fun stuff with you guys after tomorrow.”

  Melissa sniffles. “Daddy’s got all these creepy pictures around here of kids in clown outfits and stuff. We don’t like it.”

  “Well, honey, your dad is a photographer, and a good one at that. He takes lots of kid’s pictures for their families. If their mommy and daddy want them in creepy outfits, your dad has to take their picture. That’s how he makes money to live.”

  “I know that, but these pictures are really weird.”

  “Why don’t you ask your dad about his pictures and have him explain them to you? Maybe if you talk to him about it they won’t seem so bad anymore.”

  “Okay,” Melissa sighs. “We’ll let him work and ask him about the pictures. If it doesn’t get better, can I call you?”

  “Honey, you and Justin can call me anytime. You know that. I just want you to have some fun with your dad. He o
nly gets to see you for two weeks in the summer and he is trying to get all his work done so he can spend all his time with you guys. It will get better, I promise.”

  “Okay. We miss you, Mommy.”

  “I miss you guys, too, and I love you very much. Have some fun with your dad, because he loves you, too. Call me anytime, okay?”

  “Okay, bye.”

  When Mona hangs up, she puts her head down on the desk. Wendy glances out into the reception area and sees something isn’t right. Coming out of her office, she sits in the chair across from Mona and just waits. When Mona lifts her head up it’s apparent she has been crying.

  “Mona, what’s wrong?” Wendy asks, hurrying to get Mona some tissues.

  “The usual. Melissa and Justin called. They aren’t happy being at their Dad’s and they want to come home. I can’t do anything about it because of his visitation rights. I just hate hearing them when they are so sad. I know I’m just being overly emotional. God, I hate this shit,” she says, blowing her nose.

  “Quit being so hard on yourself. Divorce sucks, and yours is still really new. Everyone will adjust with the passage of time. It will all get better, I promise you.”

  Mona gives a bitter chuckle. “That’s the exact advice I just gave my kids.”

  “See? Great minds think alike. In a day or two everyone will have adjusted. Everything will be fine, you’ll see. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and go get some sun on the beach with a good book?”

  “No, I’ll be fine.”

  “Let me see the calendar.”

  Mona shows Wendy the calendar which they kept very light, given she was flying back from San Francisco last night. Jim Baxter is the only appointment left for the day. Wendy grabs the phone, calls him, and reschedules for later in the week, telling him something has come up.

  Once off the phone, she looks at Mona. “Get your stuff. We’re closing the office, picking up bikinis, and going to the beach bar. Let’s get drunk and lay in the sun. After that, I’m going to buy you a great dinner then take you home. I’m paying you for today, we’re calling it a mental health day, and then I’ll tell you all about my weekend.”

  “You don’t have to do this just because I got a little emotional at my desk.”

  “I know I don’t. But I’m going to because I want to, and frankly I’d rather be drunk on the beach than working in this stuffy office listening to other peoples’ problems right now. It’s time to let our hair down and have some fun! Now let’s go, you’re burning daylight.”

  After grabbing their beach stuff and dinner clothes, they head to the beach and immediately begin enjoying Mai Tai’s.

  Wendy explains in detail about the threat Hector received and the board meeting.

  Mona asks, “Did you get to have dinner with the smoking hot guy that came in the office the other week?” Wendy blushes and Mona laughs. “Oh, boy, there is a story here. Out with it.”

  Wendy turns her attention to her drink. “We had dinner. That’s all.”

  Mona is emboldened by the alcohol. “Bullshit! I know you too well to be lied to like that. You have never blushed with any casual date before. Oh, my God! You slept with him this weekend, didn’t you?”

  Wendy sighs, then giggles. “Okay. What I’m going to tell you now must remain absolutely confidential. Not even Jim can know you know about this, promise?”

  “I promise.”

  “I didn’t sleep with him,” Wendy says, “but we did have incredible sex Sunday evening just before I flew home.”

  “Wait. Why did you come home if the two of you just had incredible sex? Why didn’t you just call me and have me rearrange your schedule so you could spend the night?”

  “Well, it’s complicated. Neither of us wants anyone at SERF to know we’re interested in each other, and even more so now that we are intimate. You’re not supposed to know either.”

  “Why the hell not? You are both adults, and it’s not like you’re his boss.”

  “True. I just want it to be on the down low to see how things work out first.”

  “Did he enjoy the sex as much as you did?”

  “I believe so.”

  “Sounds to me like things are working out pretty well. Neither of you even have kids. There’s nothing in the way. What’s the big deal?”

  “I just want to keep it quiet. If it works out for a while I’ll let everyone else know about the fact that we are dating.”

  “Wait, are you telling me Bonnie doesn’t know either?”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  Mona giggles. “Oh, she is going to be so pissed you didn’t confide in her, especially after the way the two of you set Jessica and Sean up.”

  “I know, but I want to have more than two dinner dates before we let the cat out of this burlap sack.”

  “Well, sweetheart, I hate to say it, but it was more than just two dinner dates, now wasn’t it?”

  “Perhaps,” Wendy replies, shooting Mona a look, “but things are still very new and time has a way of exposing flaws one or both can’t live with. So I just want some time to pass to make sure this is a relationship both of us want to stick. Besides, you of all people know I’m not very open with men, and Jim scares me because he is forcing me to open up. That’s when people really get hurt.”

  “Well, you can’t go through life expecting every man to be out to hurt you. If you continue that way, you’re sabotaging every potential relationship before it begins.”

  “I know, but I have been devastated by people I loved and it’s hard to let myself really trust anyone now. Especially men.”

  “Believe me, I know men can be a real pain in the ass, but they can be equally supportive, encouraging, exciting, and fun. Just take it one step at a time and don’t be afraid to open up to Jim. He seems like a neat guy.”

  “I think he is awesome. That’s what scares me so much about him. I haven’t felt this way about any man since I was nineteen. He’s smart, extremely successful, good looking, he can cook, and he’s great in bed. All the characteristics leading to a broken heart if he gets too close and it doesn’t work out. Or maybe he’s not who he appears to be on the surface.”

  “Everything you say about getting hurt could be true, and if it comes to be you’ll survive. But what if it isn’t true? What if he really is a terrific guy who is crazy about you? If you never let him close enough to hurt you, you’ll push him away because you can’t or won’t trust him enough to become vulnerable with him. I, personally, think that would be the bigger tragedy; losing someone because of not letting him in as opposed to losing someone because they hurt you. Being hurt is the easy part. You get angry, depressed, and then heal. Losing someone and never knowing if they were worth your trust will haunt you the rest of your life. But hey, you’re the professional counselor so who am I to give you advice?”

  Wendy is quiet for a few moments. “You are a very trusted friend, whom I have let close to me without any second thoughts. You’re a very wise woman. Why haven’t you gone on to get your counseling degrees? You are really perceptive and you should finish your education and start counseling rather than continue to be an outstanding office manager.”

  Mona shrugs. “I can’t afford to go back to school. I have two kids to care for, clothe, and feed.”

  “But now is the perfect time. You could be taking classes while they’re in school and be home for them when they get out of school,” Wendy protests.

  “That’s all fine and dandy, but there is the issue of the cost of school and books while I still have rent, food, and other child necessities to provide.”

  “If you had the money would you go back to school and get your Ph.D.?”

  “Yes. I would love to.”

  “Then it’s settled. I want you to enroll in classes next semester and I’ll pay for everything. I’ll maintain your current salary and I’ll pay for all your expenses. Now, let’s go get ready for dinner. I’m starving.” Wendy tosses back the rest of her Mai Tai and starts to stan
d.

  “Wait one frickin’ minute! You can’t do that.”

  “Why not? I’m rich.”

  “Who is going to run your office?”

  “That’s another issue we need to talk about, actually,” Wendy replies, and explains about feeling burnt out. “I need a break. The biggest struggle for me was how to provide for my best employee, and today I figured out how to do just that, so after you get accepted into the University of California San Diego we can start scaling back on our clients. I won’t be accepting any new ones, and I’ll work on transitioning the current clientele to other counselors. After you get your master’s degree we can reopen the office under both of our names, as long as you agree to continue on and finish your doctorate as well.”

  Mona sits silently, mouth gaping. “Wendy, that means you’ll be paying my salary and benefits for almost three years before we reopen the doors again. I can’t let you do that. It’s a lot of money for nothing.”

  “First of all, it’s not for nothing. It’s to properly compensate you for being such an incredible employee, as well as help you get a break so you can provide a better life for your kids. Reopening is because we are good friends, and I’d love to have a partner who is also a great friend. I also need some time away and wanted to make sure I had you taken care of first, so it’s also for a good cause. I’m not taking no for an answer. It’s settled. Tomorrow I want you to see what you need to do to get enrolled as soon as possible. I’m going to look at places I want to travel in the meantime. Please don’t protest, it’s a win-win situation for both of us so let’s make it happen.”

  Mona sputters a moment, then starts crying and Wendy just holds her for a while. Finally, when her tears subside, she hugs Wendy fiercely.

  “I can’t thank you enough. What an awesome gift.”

  “You deserve it, and you’ll need to work hard to get your counseling degrees. Now, can we please get ready for dinner? I know this place has fantastic fresh caught lobster. Tonight is a celebration!”

  They get ready and enjoy the rest of the evening dining on lobster and strategizing on the things that need to get accomplished over the next six months. With their plans firmly in place, Wendy takes Mona home and then heads to her penthouse. She decides to call Jim. She tells him about her decision to close her practice for few years and travel a little. Jim seems disappointed at first, thinking Wendy is running away from him, but by the time they end the conversation he recognizes she needs to do this. They make plans to see each other constantly, partly through her visiting and partly through him joining her in some of the travel.