A Chase with Depth
Dan and David sat on their company's private jet—headed back to Carson City. Both had their laptops out to work but only David was focused—as he simultaneously read and answered follower comments, looked at updates on their properties, and monitored Carson City and world news.
Dan could not get his mind off of Amber Ann and how he had always taken her for granted, how he always made broad assumptions, and how he never really gave her a true chance.
He met her to appease his mother, he dated her for the same reason, he married her out of a sense of duty and responsibility, but he had never truly looked at her, he had never tried to understand her, or even get to know her.
He flipped to the Blue Serene Resort and Spa website and looked at her bio. On the left side of the words stood a confident, beautiful, entrepreneurial Amber Ann.
She was exquisite.
He had never noticed how striking and vibrant her eyes were, how beautiful, soft, and fit her body was—and her smile—looking at her smiling brought a slow smile to his own face. His smile fell away as he realized—once again—what a fool he had been.
His finger hovered over the laptop screen wanting to trace the lines of her form.
His wife.
He pulled his hand back as he thought of how she told him that she no longer needed him. He thought about how strong she was when they found out about the assassin, how she quickly negotiated—with his company—for a fair deal for both of them for Blue Serene investments. Even then she had demanded the opportunity to buy him out after seven years of the partnership.
She was a strong woman.
His wife.
He tore his eyes from her effigy and read her bio. It listed her degrees—he always forgot that she had two PhDs and a masters—her commitment to the environment, and sustainability, and it spoke of her future goals and plans for Blue Serene Lake.
She was transparent and honest.
Dan sighed—causing David to look up at him—suddenly he was not sure if he should continue pursuing Amber Ann. David spoke—as if he were reading his best friend's mind.
"So you're giving up? That wasn't much of a chase."
Dan rolled his eyes and bit back his curse. "She doesn't need me. She has already said so. Why should I continue this? I don't want to harass her."
David looked at his friend for a long while. He returned his gaze to his laptop and when he spoke it was soft and judgment free.
"Show her that she still wants you."
Dan sat for a long moment then a slow smile bloomed across his face. He opened his laptop and began looking for a moving company.
"When will we be able to restart construction on the Blue Serene villas?"
"The lawyers assure me that it will be a matter of days. The corruption uncovered and your followers have both caused council members to rethink their decisions."
Dan nodded. "Villas 3, 6, and 9 are complete right?"
David nodded, his eyes still focused on the screen, his voice distracted. "They are."
"Nine is the most secluded?"
"It is." David frowned and looked up to his friend. "What are you on about?"
Dan smiled. "I am hiring movers. I am going to move into villa 9 for now. We can do videos from the trenches, show the villas from a different angle."
David smiled. "I see you haven't given up." He looked back to his screen and his smile broadened. "It seems all of the corruption has come to light. The news is reporting that three council members received money to vote for the rezoning."
Dan's head shot up with interest, his eyes wide and his fingers tingling to find the information. "Send it to me."
"Already sent. How do you think Amber will feel when it comes out that Jessica was behind it?"
"Amber Ann is strong. She will be okay." Even as Dan spoke he opened his texting app.
Text:
Dan: "I'm on my way back to Carson City."
Amber Ann: "👌. I saw your live. Thank you for that. It really helped."
Dan paused as he read her text several times. He swallowed hard and tried not to make more out of the comment.
Dan: "Of course. I should have protected you more. It is because of me that this is all at your doorstep."
Amber Ann: "It is also because of you that I have a business to be attacked. You are going to the estate?"
Dan: "No. I will stay in one of the lake villas for now—do some videos there and really promote them. I have already hired movers to go and get my things. I told Angélique."
There was a pause in texting.
Amber Ann: "Oh, 👌. She will prepare things well. Be safe Dan. See you soon."
Dan: "SUS. I want you to know how proud I am of you. I finally see you Amber Ann 😊."
Amber Ann stood in her huge kitchen on her estate, staring at the text messages from Dan. Her hand trembled and her heart quaked. She breathed in and out very slowly.
'He finally sees me? Can things really change for us? Is there truly an us now?'