Jayden nodded thoughtfully. “That’s something else I’d like your advice on,” he said reluctantly, and Ben nodded to indicate he was listening.
“It was awesome for Mr. Sellini to ensure we all had continued employment. The new job is good, but the company is larger and has different work practices. There really isn’t as much room for individual creativity and craftsmanship. Not all the guys want to stay there. Several of them are talking about forming their own renovations company. Hector is speaking with the team to see who’s interested. The new company would mainly focus on kitchens and bathrooms. With all the custom work we’ve been doing in this neighborhood, the guys got the taste for it, and it’s a lucrative market.” He looked seriously at Ben. “Hector wants me to join them as he likes my custom work.”
Ben nodded as he suspected Hector would want Jayden’s creativity.
The young man wasn’t finished. “A big part of me is telling me to join Hector’s company as that’s the kind of work I really want to be doing. The other part of me is telling me to stick with the security of the larger established construction company and its steady paycheck. I have Karen to think about after all.”
Ben was grinning at him, and Jayden looked back hesitantly. “What?”
“You’re young. You’re learning what you are really good at. It’s my personal opinion that you should take this time to build on that. As long as your goal leads to something from which you can earn a living, give yourself a little time to find out if it’s a viable path. If it is, then determine how to ensure you can get a steady paycheck from it.” He smiled at Jayden. “As long as you keep Karen in the loop on your plan, she’ll know she’s part of your future. Are you two in a rush to take the next steps in your relationship?”
Jayden looked a lot more relaxed with Ben now. “We’ve been talking about how being married might keep some of those jerks away from her.”
Ben nodded thoughtfully as that might work unless they’re dirtbags. “You could always start with an engagement ring. You can set the wedding date for a year or two if you are both onboard with the idea.”
“Ohhh, I’d love to do that, but the ring I can afford to give her now wouldn’t be visible enough to be a deterrent,” Jayden said with a grin.
Ben chuckled, then he paused as an idea came to him. “Wait here for a second.”
He went into his office and returned a minute later with a small paper envelope. He looked into Jayden’s eyes
“Before you say anything, these cost me nothing as I inherited them.” He handed Jayden the envelope, and the young man frowned as he flipped the top open and poured the contents into his palm. His eyes widened as he stared at the two decent-sized princess-cut diamonds next to an enormous glittering beast. He looked up at Ben in shock.
“I think the smaller stones are half carats, and the larger one is probably five or six carats. I think. You’ll still need to find someone for designing a setting for them. Maybe a band as wide as the smaller diamonds, mounted on either side of the larger one? The stones are always the biggest expense for rings, so this should help. The size of the stones should make some of these Lotharios think twice about being able to compete with you,” Ben said with a smile.
“Ben… this… this is too much,” Jayden said with a trembling voice.
“Nothing’s too good for my daughter,” Ben said gently as he rested a hand on Jayden’s shoulder.
Jayden looked at him and nodded shakily. His eyes barely held back his tears as he realized Ben included him in that.
“You’ve proven yourself to be good for Karen, which gives me peace of mind,” Ben said.
“Stop!” Jayden croaked as he stood up.
Ben rose as well and pulled the young man into a hug.
“Shit, man! I’m trying not to cry, and you’re not helping,” Jayden said against Ben’s shoulder.
Ben chuckled. “Sorry. Just telling it like it is.”
“Well… you’re all right too,” Jayden huffed.
Ben released him, and Jayden stepped back and carefully put the diamonds back into the envelope. He looked at it for a moment. “I think we should keep this a secret until I get them mounted on a band.” Ben nodded in agreement. “And thank you again.”
“Not that I’m trying to pry into their relationship, but how serious do you think Penny and Frank are?” Ben asked.
It was Jayden’s turn to chuckle. He finally nodded. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Frank proposed to Penny this year. They definitely love each other.”
“Maybe you could have a talk with him and find out. If he is, have him come talk to me. I don’t really know Frank other than the few times we’ve met.”
Jayden nodded. “We’ve hung out a few times with Karen and Penny. Frank’s quiet but smart and pretty easygoing. I like him.”
Ben nodded with a smile. “Good. If he is going to ask Penny, I’d be willing to do the same thing with the ring for Penny. Maybe you two could get a deal on creating settings for two rings?”
Jayden nodded with a grin. “I’ll ask. I’ve taken up enough of your night. Thanks for the talk and the other,” he closed the envelope before tucking it into a pocket.
Ben nodded, then walked him to the front door where they said their goodnights.
He walked back into the living room and smiled at the two ladies relaxing with their tablets. The kids were obviously in their beds already. His mind was still on the diamonds, and he saw Tina was wearing the ring he’d given her.
He suddenly spotted Lucy’s bare finger and realized he hadn’t given her a ring! He looked to Tina’s and gauged the size. He made a note for himself on his cell, then dipped down and kissed the two women.
“I think I’ll head off the bed early,” he said.
“Oh! Are you tired?” Tina asked.
“No,” he said with a smile as he walked from the living room. He grinned to himself as he heard their quick footsteps as they rushed to follow him.
There were many ways to burn off excess energy before going to sleep. The ladies were more than willing to help him try a number of them.
The key to a successful guerrilla operation is secrecy. The members of America’s Answer, the self-proclaimed solution to threats against the world’s greatest nation, in their opinion, didn’t know each other and never met face to face. Yet they had communication channels that let them receive their orders and financial support via untraceable money drops. They knew the leaders of America’s Answer had their finger on the pulse of their country, and eyes and ears in places the government thought were secure. They only acted when action was needed.
Tonight, four members of the ultra-secret organization received identical orders. They knew the threat was unprecedented as they read they’d be working for the first time as a squad with a fifth specialist, a sniper, as their backup. Rental cars had been arranged, and hotel rooms booked. The precise time and place for the operation would be delivered soon. They replied to the message with their affirmation.
All five men immediately paused their lives and put the needs of their nation before their own, as true patriots would.
-=-
A Russian intelligence operative named Mikhail Gharcov arrived in Sergey Zhdankov’s waiting room and was directed to enter immediately.
The man behind the desk looked up expectantly.
Mikhail didn’t think he was a particularly impressive man. He was more of a pencil pusher with delusions of grandeur, but this was his chain of command, so he showed the man some respect with a salute.
Zhdankov was not tall and certainly not fit, nor was he a handsome man. He was losing his hair but tried to hide it with a bad comb-over. His ugly suits were stretched tight over his stomach, and his voice was not pleasant to hear. But he did have the ear of powerful members of the FSB, so this gave him some power of his own.
Mikhail smiled. “Our infiltration of the domestic terrorist cell was successful. I sent your orders, and all five have indicated they are prepared to move. They have no idea the orders came from us, not from their leaders who remain unaware their people have been activated.”
Sergey smiled coldly. “It is useful to have expendable local resources available for wetwork. I will provide you with the location, date, and time in the next day or two. My contact inside the Pentagon is gathering intel on Shepherd’s latest project. We believe he’ll leave his protective enclave. Then our latest recruits can prove what patriots they are.”
Sergey and his underling shared a smile.
-=-
Ben’s stomach growled its disapproval at being so empty.
He hadn’t had anything to drink or eat since their early dinner the night before. He’d fasted for the medical tests he’d be doing today.
He’d also skipped his morning workout, so he was already feeling restless.
Hannah greeted him as he arrived, making him feel a little better.
“I spoke with Dr. Granger, and she made time for you this afternoon,” she said.
“Afternoon? I was hoping I wouldn’t be here that long,” Ben said with a frown.
Hannah chuckled. “Ben, did you look at the list of tests requested? You will have a majority of the hospital’s departments working on you today and the lab. I’ve never seen such a comprehensive medical assessment request form. You fasted?”
Giving her a look of dismay, he nodded.
“Good. Your first destination is the lab downstairs. They want your blood, urine….” She paused to look at the sheet of paper in her hand. “Oh! And semen!” She looked at Ben. “Very comprehensive testing.” She handed him the schedule and left with a smile on her face.
Ben scowled at the sheet but headed off to the stairs with Evelyn, Liliya, and Tatiana accompanying him. The Sergeant led the way with the others behind. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to the necessity of having a security detail. Of course, his mood may have been caused by his current discomfort over the tests they wanted. The last fertility test he’d had was back in Paris, and Catherine had… assisted with collecting the sample. He felt a familiar tingle begin and sighed. Not helpful at the moment.
He signed in at the lab and endured having tube after tube of blood drained from his arm.
Then it was off to the washroom to get them a small bottle of his pee.