by Celeste Raye
She slid out of the bathroom without touching him. In his mood, the slightest touch would earn her another slap. She grabbed her purse from behind the living room curtain. It was hidden there to keep Jackson from taking her money and credit cards. He would never look behind a curtain because the daylight would hurt his eyes and head after a night of drinking. The purse was safer there than locked away.
Michelle hadn't eaten breakfast, but that was okay. She'd rather pick up something and eat it in the car than stay and face a jobless Jackson. The atmosphere was far too volatile to risk it.
Michelle's favorite part of the day was arriving at her job. The building itself gave her a sense of accomplishment and pride. It towered above all the other high rises, and its futuristic shape and lighting gave it an unearthly appearance. Her office was almost at the top, one floor below Kelan's private residence, which was situated on the top two floors. She had toured it once, along with the rest of Kelan's closest staff members. Only the super-rich could afford the modern amenities found in the penthouse. Michelle's favorite was the huge open patio. She felt like she could touch the sky by lifting a hand and she could view every inch of the city, and much of the world beyond, from its height. It gave her the sense of freedom she was missing in her private life.
It was amazing that Kelan had chosen her from the hundreds of applicants to be his personal assistant. She had very little experience. Perhaps that was the reason she was chosen. He was able to mold her into the perfect assistant, one who didn't question his ideals and followed orders respectfully. Whatever his reason was for choosing her, it no longer mattered. Michelle loved her job. She rubbed shoulders with some of the most powerful people in the world. Her boss was intelligent and trustworthy. Her co-workers were respectful and hard working. The paycheck was fabulous. But most of all, she was allowed to express her ideas, and people listened. That was a new concept for her. All her life she had been told to shut up and listen. Here, speaking your mind was expected and honored. Sometimes, your ideas were overruled, but they were always considered.
Michelle turned over her car to the automatic parking system and stepped into the panoramic elevator. As it slowly rose toward the upper floors of the silver and black building, it rotated for an awesome view of the city. Kelan had thought of everything when he designed Rankin World Defense. His employees worked diligently for long hours, so he provided the most pleasant environment possible. The building was also fitted with a special security system that allowed only those invited in or working for Rankin World Defense to enter. Once a visitor left, their identity and eye print were wiped from the system making it impossible for them to return without Kelan programming the security computer to allow it. This was the only place Michelle felt completely safe from Jackson. He had never been inside, nor would he ever be welcomed. All visitors went through an intensive background screening, and Jackson's was riddled with arrests, as well as unflattering references.
Michelle erased Jackson and her personal problems from her mind. She left that kind of thing outside the building where it belonged. Kelan expected her to be engulfed in whatever the present business was, not concerned with the trivialities of the outside world. She used the elevator time to get control of her thoughts so that she could enter her office ready for work. Kelan was guaranteed to already be there. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave. Sometimes, she wondered if he truly used the spectacular home just one floor above the office. It seemed he never left work. But then again, calls came from all over the world, night and day, according to the time zone the caller was in. He took most of those calls personally.
Sure enough, Kelan was at his desk with a caller on the line. She could see him easily through the glass walls of his inner sanctum. Though the walls could be darkened to hide him, Kelan preferred to be visible to his staff. He believed in setting an example for them. If he was seen working at all times and never hiding his actions, then he could count on his employees to do the same. It was meant to keep them honest. So far, it worked.
Thankfully, no one else had come in this early. Michelle had plenty of time to stare at her handsome boss. On second thought, handsome wasn't a strong enough word to describe him. The man was truly breathtaking. His dark, wavy hair was trimmed in the latest style. Intense green eyes and full, kissable lips were enhanced by the carefully kept scruff on his chin. The constant five-o'clock shadow that adorned his sculpted face added character and mystery to his perfection. The suits he wore fit his broad shoulders and narrow waist as if they were a part of the man. A few times, he had removed the jacket and given Michelle heart palpitations. His muscular arms and torso were revealed, along with the eight pack and rounded backside usually covered by the jacket. She supposed she had a crush on him, but so did everyone else. There was so much to admire physically, mentally, monetarily, and emotionally. The women wanted him, and the men wanted to be him. Why not join the crowd and worship the ground he walked on?
Michelle lowered her eyes to her desk just in time. Kelan turned around and saw her. He instantly buzzed her desk. She picked up immediately. "Michelle, I need you. We have to set up a meeting for our investors. It has to be today."
Wow, who knew that three little words could cause a tingle over every inch of your body. Kelan's "I need you," had done exactly that. Michelle mentally slapped herself to stop her inappropriate thoughts. She replied, "I'll be right there. I have to download the statistics on the new weapon to your conference screens first."
Rankin World Defense was all about weaponry. It wasn't the typical guns, bombs, or nuclear explosives. The company was more interested in clean defense. Kelan was determined to protect the planet from being harmed by the wars that raged over its surface and in its atmosphere. He was vigilant about discovering the newest technological wizardry to destroy the enemy without destroying Earth. It was an obsession. Earth's atmosphere had once been all but abolished by nuclear devices. It had taken years of mankind's suffering before a solution was found. Kelan wouldn't let it happen again. He swore there was a better way, and he would find it.
The door to Kelan's office slid open as Michelle approached. She felt his intense stare and turned the left side of her face away from him. His green eyes narrowed, and he frowned. "Is there a problem?” he asked. "You won't look me in the eye. Did I do something to offend you?"
Michelle gathered her courage and looked directly at her boss. "No, everything's fine. I have a little bit of a headache, and the bright lights make it worse. It has nothing to do with you. Which investors are we meeting today? I need to know so I can order food according to their tastes."
"I don't care about the investors right now. We'll deal with their comfort in a minute." He pushed a button, and the windows darkened, wiping out the sunlight. "I hope that helps your headache somewhat. What caused it in the first place? Might it have something to do with your swollen lip and the bruise beside your eye?"
Michelle despised liars, but she couldn't tell Kelan the truth. It would be embarrassing and demeaning to admit she was too weak to leave an abusive boyfriend or to defend herself from his fists. She took a deep breath and replied, "The headache has everything to do with the bruise and my swollen lip. The heel of my shoe broke, and I fell on my face last night. I was hoping the makeup would hide my clumsiness. Your eyesight is too keen to keep anything from you. Thank you for blocking some of the light. I'm ready to get down to business if you are."
Kelan's expression clearly stated that he didn't believe her explanation. He was gentlemanly enough to let it go and not confront her with the lie. Michelle realized his suspicions had been aroused and she would need to be more careful. If the abuse continued, he would soon figure it out. She couldn't let that happen. Kelan would lose all respect for her, and she didn't want to disappoint him or lose this job. Without working here, she would be lost. It was time to make the difficult choice of leaving Jackson. The problem was finding a way to do it without getting killed. She was terrified of Jackson and the fri
ends he could call on to help him find her. They were brutal and had no problem with murder. But, if she had to choose between her fear of death and her fear of losing this job, she would choose the fear of death. After today's meeting, she would begin looking for a place to live, somewhere Jackson couldn't find her. Most of her money was already in hidden accounts to keep him from squandering it on liquor and drugs. He could have the tiny house. She wasn't attached to it anyway. The rent was paid for the next three months. After that, he would be on his own. She could sneak out her possessions one at a time if necessary. There were lockers in the gym here that she could store her stuff in until she had it all. She only had clothes and some jewelry. The rest wasn't important. She would even leave the clothes and jewelry if it meant saving her life.
Surprised to realize that her personal life had crept into her mind while she was at work, Michelle shut it away and concentrated on the coming meeting. She had arrangements to make for food and information to upload to the computers. If Kelan's demeanor was a clue to how important this meeting was, then it was the most vital one he had ever held.
She sat down and began to work with Kelan on the arrangements and agenda.
Chapter Two
Kelan
Kelan's mind should be on the upcoming meeting. It was important to convince the investors to give his company the money to produce and test the new laser weapon designs. These lasers were the answer to his mission. The design was simple, easy to reproduce, efficient, and most of all would not harm the atmosphere. If they worked as promised, he could return home triumphant.
But, his brain wouldn't stay on business. He was concerned about Michelle and frustrated by her obvious lies. As his personal assistant, she had always been forthcoming, honest, and outspoken. She had aided his business in ways he couldn't explain. There were times he wanted to scream and curse the scientists for their slow progress. It was Michelle who reminded him the weapons must be safe to use, which took time. It was also Michelle that discovered the new, lightweight material that was durable enough to withstand the power of the laser blast. Without it, they would still be at square one. The woman didn't know how valuable she was to the company, and him as well. She kept him on track and made his days bearable. At times, he was too involved in business and she forced him to let it go and have some fun. That's why he now included food and beverages in the meetings. It relaxed the atmosphere, and all the people involved were more willing to negotiate.
Kelan's frown darkened. The marks on Michelle's faced had upset him tremendously. He knew she had lied about falling. She wasn't a clumsy person, and the bruises weren't consistent with landing on your face. Her nose and chin would have suffered from a face-down fall. The marks were more consistent with a slap. Kelan knew little about her private life, but he would soon remedy that. If someone was abusing her, it couldn't be allowed to continue. Men who hit women were lower than a slug. They had no honor or self control and used women to make themselves feel powerful and in charge. Women were to be loved and cherished, not beaten senseless. If a man couldn't treat a woman well, he didn't deserve to have one at all. If he beat her, he deserved to receive the same punishment he meted out. Whoever was hurting Michelle would pay for marring her lovely face. Kelan shouldn't be concerned with how attractive his assistant's appearance was, but he often enjoyed watching her through the glass walls when she wasn't aware of it. Her long black hair fell in waves all the way to her tiny waist. Its silky texture allowed it to sway gently from side to side as she turned her head. Those deep brown eyes held a sadness and mistrust that contrasted with her big, bright smile. Michelle was a mystery waiting to be unraveled. She dressed in very feminine clothing, yet there was a strength hidden inside her that he didn't think she knew she possessed.
Kelan didn't have time to dig too deeply into Michelle's life. He might have enough to get her out of whatever bad situation she was presently involved in, but no more. He was here for another reason. All the work it had taken to build up Rankin World Defense was for the goal of saving his world, not Earth. He had come here to gain knowledge and weaponry to fight a war against an alien race who was determined to attack Talonia, his home planet, with nuclear weapons that would destroy its atmosphere. Earth had used such weapons once and almost become a wasteland. Somehow, they had survived using technology that quickly repaired the atmosphere. He was here to discover how to duplicate it on Talonia if it became necessary and to study their newest weaponry. Kelan's company was on the verge of finding the perfect weapon, one his planet could benefit from. The power and respect he had gained here on Earth would aid him in getting the funding necessary to implement the new design. The blueprints could be taken home and used to make the same weapon there. He would be rewarded with a higher rank for his efforts. However, the real reward would be keeping Talonia viable for future generations.
Kelan's business associates and investors didn't know his true identity. The fact of the matter was, no one knew. He kept the truth a secret to protect his species. Humans now had the capability to quickly travel through space, and they were aware of many inhabited worlds. Talonia was farther away than most of those planets and remained hidden from Earth's technology. The Talonians wanted to keep their existence undiscovered. They feared human interference would bring trouble to their home. It was bad enough that it was being threatened by another alien species who didn't have the capacity or weaponry of Earth.
At times, Kelan's body ached to change forms. He held back his instincts for weeks at a time. Anger made it more difficult to stay in the form of a man, so he had learned breathing exercises, kick boxing, and other techniques to dispel his frustration. When his need to change reached a breaking point, there was an isolated meadow deep in the woods where he could become his other self. Among the flowers, surrounded by trees, he could relax his vigil and be freed for a short span of time. He returned to the city refreshed and ready to be the powerful businessman everyone expected him to be.
His worry for Michelle was causing his deep-seated frustration to rise. He would need to tamp it down before today's meeting. He certainly couldn't shock the investors by accidentally changing form before their eyes. It would ruin all that he had worked for and have hunters seeking to find his kind. Kelan opened the windows, looked at the clouds, and began his breathing ritual. His home was out there awaiting him, though he couldn't see it from here. It wouldn't be long until he could return if all went as he predicted with the investors.
The investors, male and female, arrived at the designated time and were escorted to a large conference room by security. No one, other than fully screened employees of Rankin World Defense, was ever allowed to roam the building unescorted. It held too many highly valuable blueprints and technological discoveries that other companies would pay billions to get their greedy hands on. The weapon prototypes were enough to tempt the most honorable of persons.
Michelle
The wealth represented by the people who sat at the conference table was intimidating to Michelle. She was trained to hide it behind her welcoming smile. Not even Kelan was aware of how badly she was shaking inside as she presented each investor with a meal especially ordered to their personal tastes. Everything from steak to sushi was distributed among the richest people on the planet. Many had arrived just moments ago on private jets, having been summoned by Kelan only that morning. He alone held that kind of power.
Michelle set his rare steak in front of him and poured a glass of expensive wine. Normally, there would have been a serving staff who catered to the wants and desires of the investors, but what was to be discussed here today couldn't be allowed to be overheard by extra ears. Kelan only trusted Michelle. Once everyone had been served and their drinks refreshed, she took her own seat at Kelan's right hand. Though every word said in this room would be recorded by highly sensitive equipment, Michelle would still jot down notes. These would involve her perception of the investors' attitudes. Kelan would want to hear her perspective to see if it matched hi
s own.
Kelan let the meal continue without bringing up the business at hand. He preferred his audience sated and compliant when he asked for money. He could have funded most of his discoveries all by himself, but he knew that wasn't wise. Cooperation among the rich and powerful kept the world at peace. If everyone had a piece of the pie, then no one could control it alone. Michelle held his same beliefs and was proud to be at his side.
Kelan pushed his plate aside, cleared his throat, and stood. All eyes turned to the head of the table. It was time to answer all the questions that had been buzzing among the investors while they ate. Michelle pushed a pair of buttons underneath the conference table. The cameras would zoom in and capture the faces of each person, and the recording equipment would filter out any sound other than the voices of the investors.
Kelan stated, "I appreciate all of you dropping your other important duties and rushing to Rankin World Defense on such short notice. I plan to make it worth the sacrifice. I believe you will be as pleased as I am to hear the news. The weapon we have been searching for is within our grasp. It will become the greatest in our arsenal, perhaps the only one needed. It contains more power than any bomb, gun, or nuclear weapon ever built. Its power can be isolated to a single target, saving the lives of innocent individuals standing within inches of the threat, or spread wide to destroy an army. The possibilities are endless. It is extremely lightweight and small enough for each soldier to carry. Most important, at least in my eyes, is the fact that it will not damage the atmosphere of the planet. We can continue to breathe clean air and drink unpolluted water. Your children and grandchildren will have a safe environment, unaffected by deformities and diseases caused by weapons of mass destruction. However, these weapons are expensive to build and test, so I need your help."
