Lady in Red Pt. 02 Ch. 14

"Because he knows that I know that he thinks my mother is hot and he was using you to tease me. It's about me, not you, Mom. Even if he seduces you, it's just to get my attention," insisted Stephanie. "You'd be a sacrifice to reach his real objective, which is my much younger body."

"Did he mention me at all?" asked Paula with a grin. "Is he going to wade through the whole family, sowing his wild oats hither and yon?"

"Okay, I think we've gotten as far with this as we can carry it," complained Gwen. "I've been propositioned at least four times tonight but now I'm worried about my family stealing my boyfriend. He's not the only person in demand around here."

"Maybe you should take some of the guys up on their offer," replied Stephanie with a straight face. "You just might find a better lover; a stronger, braver, better looking man."

"Yeah, like that would happen!" snorted Gwen. "What I would find would be every female relative I have jumping into bed with my guy, the very best lover, best looking, strongest, bravest man on the planet. Of course you'd have to beat that blonde bombshell to the punch."

As Gwen spoke she looked at Steve leading Nadiya around the dance floor, indicating the bombshell to which she was referring. "You saw the love scene we did in the movie tonight. He's even more passionate and demanding in real life. I don't think you ladies could handle what he brings to the party. You're better off letting me handle him."

After Steve finished his dance with Nadiya, Gwen joined him for a slow dance. By the time the song ended, they were surrounded by photographers and reporters.

"Well, at least they waited until the party was almost over," sighed Gwen as she turned and began responding to questions. Steve found it interesting that there was an equal number of reporters from serious news organizations and from entertainment shows. He let Gwen handle most of the questions, responding only when a question was asked directly to him.

Questions ranged from how Gwen kept her Wonder Woman costume up to how she stood on the proposed pipeline from Canada. Gwen was very good at deflecting questions that she felt were either too personal, or too controversial. She finally ended the interview and took Steve by the hand and moved around to thank everyone for attending.

A familiar looking man approached Gwen and Steve. They exchanged glances and shrugged, realizing that neither of them recognized the man.

"You don't remember me, do you?" laughed the man. "I'm Richard Drake. I was here last night with my daughter? I look a lot better cleaned up, don't I?"

"Oh! Yes, you do!" exclaimed Gwen as she hugged the man warmly. "You look much more comfortable and relaxed."

"I just wanted to thank you for giving me a position with your company," continued the man. "I was pretty much at the end of my rope. I never guessed that helping you leave the river yesterday would benefit me so much. Ingrid is happier than she's been in a very long time. I just want you to know how grateful I am. I won't let you down, I promise."

Concealing her confusion, Gwen smiled and nodded to what appeared to be her newest employee. "I'm sure you'll do a great job! We always can use good people. Thanks again for helping me yesterday."

As soon as Richard Drake left them, Gwen whispered quietly to Steve. "It looks like Ashley's been busy today. That's why she wasn't with us at the salon. She said she had business to take care of. Mr. Drake cleans up quite well, doesn't he?"

"I just saw you talking to Richard!" came a worried voice from behind them. "I know I should have gotten it approved, but he was so despondent, I felt like I had to help him and his adorable little girl as fast as I could. I gave him a job! He's working for Lady in Red. I made up a position just for him. He's going to be working to help the homeless in the city.

"Please don't be upset until you hear me out," quickly added Ashley. "I thought that...'

"I've already heard enough," stated Steve flatly.

"I'm so sorry!" apologized a very contrite Ashley. "I'll hand in my resignation and explain to Richard that I overstepped my authority by about a mile."

"Why would you even think of doing that?" quizzed Gwen. "Are you trying to hit us up for a raise? Is that what this is about? Okay, we'll pay you ten percent more if you'll stay with us."

"What? No! I wasn't trying to get a raise. I thought when Steve said that he heard enough, he was angry about me making decisions for the company that I have no right doing," responded a confused Ashley.

"Ashley, why can't you accept that you're stuck with us?" chuckled Steve. "I heard enough to know that we'd go along with whatever you did. We have total faith in you. Look how well the movie is doing, and that was pretty much your brainchild. You hire whomever you want and pay them whatever you feel is right. You're a big part of our success, as well as a part of our family. Let's plan on discussing this on the trip to Sparta tomorrow, but rest assured that Gwen and I will back you completely."

Once again, Steve held a sobbing Ashley in his arms while many of the people at the party watched. He held her quietly until she calmed down. Then he tilted her chin and kissed her quickly on the lips.

"You've got to get over these insecurities. You're the whole package, smart, honest, beautiful, hard working, and beautiful. Work on your confidence. You're very important to us and we want you with us as long as you're willing to put up with us," concluded Steve.

"You said beautiful twice!" grinned Ashley through her tears. "Thanks Steve. Gwen, you've got the best guy in the world, but you deserve him. I'm so lucky that you both treat me so well. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Congratulations on the movie's reviews and the great party tonight."

"Excuse me," came a voice next to Steve as he felt a tap on his shoulder. "I think I owe this big lug some thanks."

Steve looked over his shoulder to see Amber Stahl smiling at him. She had a large band-aid on her forehead that obviously covered a small knot, but otherwise looked fine.

"You've ruined me for trying to be objective when I report about you two," confessed Amber as she hugged Steve warmly. "I don't remember much after we hit the water, but I watched the videos on TV and online. You saved my life, but you seem to make a habit of saving lives. I can't tell you how grateful I am. If you ever need anything from me, just ask. I'll never forget what you did for me. Gwen, this guy is a keeper!"

The next day saw Gwen and Steve in Sparta. The premier was scheduled for seven PM and the town was bustling with visitors. They gathered at Marsh's for a late lunch before preparing for the first premier ever held in the relatively small town.

"Lady in Red is now committed to funding a homeless shelter in Washington D.C." began Gwen. "Ashley set this up when she met the homeless man that helped me out of the river Thursday. I know that we usually discuss these things first, but Ashley was concerned about the mental health of the man and his little girl.

"She found out that he was a very successful stock broker until his wife was diagnosed with uterine cancer. He leveraged everything he had to try to find a cure. He took her to Mexico and then Hong Kong, hoping that alternative treatments might help. Sadly, she died last spring and he lost everything he had. He was finally evicted from his home just before Christmas and has been living day to day, sometimes being put up by friends and sometimes sleeping outside, with his six year old daughter.

"You might ask why a smart, successful guy would wind up on the street, but while his wife was dying, and after she died, he was an emotional wreck. He just gave up until he finally realized what it was doing to his daughter. Ashley feels he's worth helping. She's created a position for him to help homeless people and to shelter them. She wants to find a place to dedicate as a homeless shelter. You all know how neighborhoods resist them, and with good reason. One of his chores will be to find a way to do it, not by force, but by negotiation.

"Ashley gave him and his daughter a room on our floor, as well as a job. She did this on her own without asking permission, or seeking any input from any of us owners. How do the rest of you feel about it?"

Charlie looked to Jordan, who nodded slightly for him to proceed. "Jordan and I support the idea a hundred percent. Ashley can do no wrong as far as we're concerned."

"Ashley is running Gwen's office, not Lady in Red, so she overstepped her bounds by committing us to this effort," pointed out Kate. "I think we need to agree that from now on, she was the power to do that, even if it wasn't clear before. Ashley's trying to help people, so how can we not support her? She makes me proud of this company."

"I'd like to suggest that I be placed in charge of any and all splinter organizations or causes that crop up within the company. Stephanie is doing great handling the everyday business of the company, but we need to let her focus on that and not keep adding to it," argued Lisa. "Jason and I totally support Ashley and her efforts, but feel it would be best to have more structure. Jason's already been working on systems to help people during and after disasters. This homeless shelter would dovetail in nicely with it and I think it's a responsibility that Jason and I should take on.

"I think I have the best partners in the world!" proclaimed Gwen. "These were all good ideas. Ashley, get with Lisa and Jason to take over the homeless shelter plan. Have Mr. Drake report to them directly. If any of us has something new that we feel needs immediate attention, we can expect support from the rest, but it's really best if we discuss it when possible. Then we'll hand it off to Lisa and Jason to make it happen!"

"I'm sorry about assuming too much with your finances and time, but it's a great cause and I'm extremely thankful that all of you support it," responded Ashley gratefully. "You guys are the best!"

That evening was one the Spartan Nation would never forget. Celebrities and politicians were everywhere by the time the premier got started. Every hotel, motel, and bed and breakfast within fifty miles was booked full. The party was catered by local businesses. Locals, as well as tourists, got to meet Gwen and Steve, Jordan, Charlie, Naomi, Becky, and the rest of the cast. The movie managed the best winter opening in history and there was even Oscar buzz about the score written by Charlie and Jordan and the performances of Gwen and Steve.

As the evening was wrapping up, Steve took a call on his cell. He stepped into a small office for a few minutes before returning to speak to Gwen and their friends.

"There's been a terrorist attack in Paris. An orphanage was bombed and quite a few kids were killed. Senator Chatham wants me to be prepared to go to Paris with her for the funerals on Tuesday and Wednesday. She feels my presence will help," concluded Steve.

"That's terrible!" exclaimed a suddenly saddened Gwen. "We can't stay away from Paris that long. We may be able to help. Stephanie, please let the pilots know that The Red Lady is headed for Paris later tonight. They need to file their flight plan. I'm sorry everyone, but Steve and I have to leave now to get ready for a very difficult few days."