The Nuclear Family, Chapter 13 - Part II

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[:::: The Nuclear Family, Part II – Chapter 13 ::::]

When most people think of people with money, they see grand mansions with large pillars, rolling hills and no one to see for miles.  Or you think of the expressive ego, manic with some monstrosity built into the side of a mountain with some evil lair in the basement.

Amy was a nerd, loved her indoor comforts, and her place was closer to the second type of house.

As she continued to direct me, she took us towards the world-famous town of Noosa.  With its mild climate, an intimate beach protected by a headland and a number of boutique shops and restaurants, Noosa had something for everyone.

If you wanted to walk along the beach or any of a dozen world heritage-listed walking tracks, Nossa has you covered.  Looking to enjoy the ocean, swim, lie on the beach, and tan.  Nossa is a perfect spot.  Hungry, are you wanting a meal created by some of the most creative chefs in Australia?  Again, Noosa is one of those rare gems.

Looking for a bargain while shopping?  Nope, Noosa is not the place; it's expensive, but an enjoyable walk to window-shop.

Amy directed me to the right as we came up to Hastings Street and up the hill leading away from the central business district.  She pulled out her phone and opened an app.

“It’s up on the left,” she said. “Here.”

I pulled into the driveway of a gated property; well, they were all gated here.  However, Amy pressed a button in the hall, and suddenly the gate began to roll.

“Welcome home, Robbie,” she told me, grinning broadly.

The first thing that caught me as I eased my way through the gate was the gardens.  Lush, tropical, bursting with colour.  The grass was also manicured and a deep, rich green and there was a fountain that stood in the middle of the lawn, lazily bubbling its water like it had nothing better to do.

Around the edges of the lawn were well-maintained palm trees that rose out of the gardens, giving the place the feel of a five-star resort, not someone’s private residence.

I tried not to gawk as I drove up to the house.  It was a modern-looking mansion, with a combination of concrete, wood and steel.  I immediately smiled as I could very well see this was the style of house that would suit Amy.  It looked luxurious, but not arrogant.

As she directed, I pulled up under the Porte-cochere, the awning over the front door that was large enough for a car to park under. Amy told me to switch off, and we could come back for everything.  She grabbed her backpack, and I unconsciously grabbed my training bag. Again, using an app on her phone, Amy unlocked the big double doors.

Walking in through the entryway, I noted a number of doors, high ceilings and a feel that while clean, it hadn’t been occupied in a couple of months.  A short walk took me into the central main living area that had one of the most magnificent views out over the curve of the beach as it wound north, and as I turned, I could look out over the mighty Pacific Ocean.

“Wow.”

“I know, right?” Amy said, bouncing. “I had almost the same reaction the first time I saw that view.”

Amy threw her backpack on the couch in the centre of the room, and I put my training bag down.

“Do you like it, babe?” she asked.

I looked around, taking in the kitchen, the living area, and then back down the hall we had just walked, and finally out over the view once more. Amy moved in and wrapped her arms around me.

“I’m lost for words,” I told her as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders in return. “This place is incredible.  I don’t believe that I have even seen a view that is as spectacular as this one.”

She smiled, and together we turned to look out over the view once more.

“I have loved the ocean since I was a kid.  Mum would take us at least once a week.  Just the sound of the waves, the feeling of sand on your feet.  I was one of the reasons I loved living on the Gold Coast.”

I held Amy in my arms and recalled happier days when we were all a lot more innocent.  Brad and I would run up and down the beach. Joanna would have her little plastic bucket and spade playing in the sand while Mum sat on a towel and read a book. 

I think Amy felt it when my mood turned dark, contemplating how it all went wrong as she took my hand and led me out to the balcony.

The view was even more spectacular.

“You know,” she said, as we both sat on chairs. “This balcony is one of my favourite places.  In the morning, I can have a coffee out here.  In the afternoon, a drink.  And sunsets are spectacular. It is a space where you can let it all go, memories, pain, regret.”

I looked over at Amy, who was studying me intently, and I smiled, sat back in the chair and looked out over the spectacular view.

“You're right,” I told her.  “You know, when I got older, I got my license, and I found that I loved to run along the beach.  Running on sand, even hard sand, is different to almost every other surface.  In one way, it helps to cushion the impact on your feet as you run.  But over a long distance, it stretches muscles in a different way than running on the road or on a treadmill.”

I indicated the main Noosa beach back down the hill.

“I’m glad I still have access to a beach to run on.”

“That’s my man,” Amy said proudly. Then she stood and took my hand, “We’ll come back here for a drink quite often, but right now I want to show you the rest of our home.”

She led me over to the edge of the balcony and pointed out the neighbours.

“As we’re all in high-end homes, we tend to keep to ourselves.  But at the same time, we know each other enough that we watch the comings and goings as most of us are business people who keep odd schedules.”

I nodded; it made sense.  She points to a place up the hill.

“That is old Mrs Raditz's house; her husband passed away about five years ago.  She is perhaps one of the only full-time residents here, but I’m pointing her out as she kind of adopted me into her family, and you may see her around here, or we will be invited up to her place often enough.”

“And?” I asked, knowing there was more, Amy grinned.

“And…” she said, smiling. “She is the unofficial dame of our area. If you're in her good graces, then everyone treats you well; if not… Well, those people don’t tend to do much more than weekend visits now and then.  Everyone in the village and the shops knows her.  She is not the wealthiest of us by far, but she has more influence than all of us combined.”

“Make sure to impress Mrs Raditz,” I told her. “Got it.”

Amy then led us back inside and up a small flight of stairs into what was the master bedroom.  Entering the room, I could not help but whistle.

The room was tastefully decorated with neutral tones, the focus on the super king bed in the middle of the room.  On the walls were paintings that I could see were very expensive renditions of games that Amy obviously enjoyed. On one wall was one of the largest flat-screen TVs I had ever seen. I was also willing to bet that if I opened up the cover on the cabinet underneath, there would be a number of gaming consoles.

I looked over at Amy, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.  The room spoke of her nerd heritage, and I must admit, while I enjoyed a game or two on the Xbox now and then. The room was one hundred per cent Amy.

I wandered over to a doorway and noticed a full-sized bathroom as an ensuite, including what looked like a whirlpool bath and a double shower with more outlets and nozzles than I had seen.

Walking back out and into the next doorway was a deep walk-in closet. I could see dozens of dresses that Amy likely wore for business, and I almost laughed at some of the half-folded retro shirts featuring Super Mario Bros and Pac-Man sitting on top of a set of drawers.

Walking back into the main bedroom, I noticed another balcony, accessible through a broad open glass wall that ran across the far side of the room, looking out over the ocean. However, it didn't have the view back towards Noosa main beach that the main balcony did.

I walked to the sliding door and opened it. The sounds of the ocean crashing against the rocks somewhere below filled the air.  The scent of seawater was more potent, too.

Stepping out, I closed my eyes and pushed myself into one of my breathing exercises, cycling my breath in and out, releasing the tension in my muscles.  The tensions I have been holding in for almost a year, ebbing away.  I held some residual concerns about what I would find here before Amy had me sign the documents regarding ALRO. However, now that I was here, away from my poor excuse for a family, I had a pretty good idea of how much Amy cared for me. I could feel it, my body and mind were letting go.  Tension that had been wrapped in my muscles for months was leaving my body.

Even better, I knew that I would not have to see any of them again for a long time if I didn’t want to. I could focus on finding a job with Amy, and of course, training for my upcoming fight.

I must have been zoned out for a few minutes, as the next thing I knew, Amy was standing beside me, handing me a Kraken and Coke, while she was sipping on what looked to be the same thing.

As we sat down at the small table and chairs on the balcony, she smiled at me as I eyed her drink.

“I’ve been in love with you for years, didn’t you notice at lunch that first day what I was drinking after the mains?” Amy asked, taking a small sip.  “I know that rum is one of your favourite drinks, so I’ve developed a taste for it.  I’ve got Kraken, Beenleigh and even a few Bundy Rums among our collection.”

I chuckled and leaned in and clinked my glass to hers before we both took a sip.

The sound of the ocean filled the silence as we both sipped our drinks and looked out over the ocean.  Far from it being uncomfortable, I felt content, and there was no awkwardness between us as we just enjoyed each other's presence on this beautiful balcony.

“A Bitcoin for your thoughts?” she asked me a few minutes later, then laughed.

“Amy…  I started, then stopped, let my shoulders fall and stood and walked to the railing.  I was about to turn back when her hand touched my arm.

I don’t know where it came from, but the next moment I was on my knees calling like a baby as Amy cradled me, and my tears began to pool on the ground below.  I glanced up at my new girlfriend, and there was nothing but love and compassion on her face.  There was no reason for my emotional outburst.  But it just happened.

“Shhhh,” she said when I tried to speak. “Just let it out, Robbie. You need this; you're safe. Just let it out.”

After a few minutes, I felt my body begin to settle.  I'm not sure where it came from, but Amy placed a bottle of water in my hands, which I gratefully drank from. I held her hand and leaned back against her. Feeling content, I tilted my head back, and her lips automatically met mine.

“Sorry, Amy, I don’t know where that came from.”

Her hand went to my hair.

“I do,” she told me gently.  “You have not been calm once in the past year, yet now you have a home, you're relaxing. Robbie, to the rest of the world, you can be strong, but to me, you can let it go. I will never betray you.”

I thought for a moment, then nodded, and we helped each other back up and sat back in the chairs, once again sipping our drinks.  Nothing was said as Amy let me think. After a few minutes, I heaved a sigh and glanced at her before looking back out over the water.

“You’re right,” I told her. “In the past year, I’ve been betrayed.  I’ve raged at the world, walked through depression, and let myself be… nothing.

“I thought I had a family that loved me, cared for me and wanted to support me, like I wanted to support them.  But that was all lies.”

I took a larger sip of my drink, feeling the rum burn as it warmed my throat.

“I even thought I was going to be a father. I thought my wife was dedicated to me, not part of schemes to keep me in the dark.

I felt Amy touch my arm, but she said nothing.

“Between the rage and depression, I’ve done pretty much nothing but feel sorry for myself.  At a few points I even….”

I stopped as Amy squeezed my arm, knowing what I was about to say… end it all. But I didn’t, as she shuddered a breath in dread.

I moved my arm so that suddenly, my hand was in hers, and in the distance I noticed a ship, one of the large cargo ships that was constantly off the coast, and for some reason it made me smile.

“But then, a couple of months ago, as I was continuing to delude myself.  My stupid ass sister, at the behest of the family, decided to come and give me a talking to, but she never expected the result.

“Of course, her confrontation was doomed to fail, but she brought along this girl… no, a woman whom I had known since she was a girl.  This woman was intense and beautiful, and it turned out that she had maintained a crush on me for many years, not saying a word to anyone.”

I turned away from the view and took both Amy’s hands in mine.  She was smiling ear to ear, her eyes bright and full of love.

“She’s been my shadow ever since,” I told her. “Apparently, she is the heiress to a massive financial empire, but she took time away from that because she still holds those feelings for me.”

Amy just nodded.

“In the last twenty-four hours, she has run the gauntlet with me. Laughed with me, sang bad rock ballads with me.  Surprised me, and just held me as I needed to cry.”

“She changed my life when she asked me to run away with her, knowing that in doing so, she runs the risk of alienating her own family.”

I pivoted off the chair and onto my knees in front of her, continuing to hold her hands, and she smiled as tears now flowed from her own eyes.

“Best of all, I know that she loves me, has for quite some time and wants to share,” I let go of one hand and gesticulated to the house and scenery around us. “She wants to share all of this with me.”

I grabbed her hand again.

“Amy,” I said, getting her attention as I talked to her in the first person again. “You have already told me that you love me, your desire for me. And you know I have cared for you for a long time.  I know that I am damaged goods; what they all did to me will hurt for some time. But not just in this place, but when I am with you, it all feels… less.”

She nodded.

“When we were at the Banana Bender, I was worried about how worried you were, but I was going to do what it took to give us a chance.  Even more, you spent the night with me last night, and I have never felt more content than I did waking up this morning. 

“Looking into your deep blue eyes this morning that rival the ocean behind us right now, I can admit that I am falling in love with you too.”

It took a moment as I watched the pupils in her eyes dilate.

“You… You love me too?” she spoke almost breathlessly. “Please, Robbie, I understand everything you just said.  I do not expect you to say it back to me yet.  I know you care for me…”

She was silenced, and I moved up and pressed my lips to hers.  I pulled back a few minutes later, and she licked her lips with eyes that shone with desire.

“I’m not just saying it, Amy,” I explained. “Staying with Darren and Toni was great, but too close to the source of my pain.  I know that I’m messed up.  But even now, as I put words to the feelings that have been stirring for a couple of months. I believe that what I feel now is the same, if not more than, I felt for Georgia.”

“Robbie, you don’t have to say that”, Amy replied, blushing.

I laughed.

“No, I don’t,” I told her as I let go of one hand and swung myself back into my seat, still holding the other. “However, if this is to work between us, I also need to be honest.  While I did love Georgia, I loved what I thought we had, it was all built on a lie and if I am honest.  I knew that she always held something back in the way she defended Brad anytime I was pissed with him.  It was subconscious, but I felt it, and I knew deep down she wasn’t giving everything to me.”

“When I look at you, yes, my heart beats faster, I feel a desire to do things for you and be everything I can for you, just because, since you came back into my life, you have done everything for me, with your only ask that I leave and come here with you.

“You're sharing everything with me and told me in what I believe is the truth, you would give it all up if I wanted.  If that is not love and a love that I can return and we can build on, then nothing is.

“I want that Robbie,” Amy said, speaking quietly. “For years, it's what I have wanted.  To have you here with me now, to be able to share this with you…”

I nodded and squeezed her hand.

“It’s like when my mobile rings, I am hoping it's you,” Amy explained. “I pulled it out of my pocket, and I feel elated if it's you and disappointed if it’s not.”

I laughed once more, and Amy smiled. By mutual agreement, they stood and came together into each other's arms with a passionate kiss.

“I know it's sappy,” I told her as we both looked out over the view. “But when we left the Gold Coast, I thought we were heading for a tiny rented home in the burbs, with noisy neighbours banging on the walls in the evening and kids screaming in the mornings.”

Amy raised an eyebrow and looked at me.

“I am sure we could find a place like that if you had such lofty expectations,” she replied, sighing. “But I like this place.  And while I would live anywhere with you, do you mind if we stay here?”

I separated myself from her, walked the length of the balcony, pretending to give the place a critical inspection, turning back to Amy several times as she stood there chuckling.

“Well, I don’t see any rats or roaches. The paint doesn’t look like it's peeling, and from what I understand, the neighbourhood is good.  I suppose it will do.”

She came over to me and slapped my chest playfully.

“Come on, you big lug, since we’re going to stay here, let's head back in and get some food.  I had one of the team restock the fridge this morning, knowing we were coming back.”

Amy led me back to the kitchen, and for the next twenty minutes, we put together some sandwiches, fresh ham, cheese, tomato, and mango chutney.  Simple, fresh and delicious.  I had three and knew I was going to need to head for a run this afternoon.

After cleaning up, Amy and I sat in the lounge and she turned the TV on, selecting a finance channel that had a whole lot of trading information streaming across it.

“It’s a special feed that my team created,” Amy explained to me as I watched the numbers run over the screen. “Trading volumes for different stocks, portfolio IDs that we’re tracking, that sort of thing.  Most people see something similar in their trading software; we have just done it in a different format for ALRO TV’s.  You would see something very similar on the TVs in ALRO offices.”

I looked at the screen and looked at the green and red candles for the stocks and cryptocurrencies that rotated through the view every ten seconds or so, and then the sidelines with even more information.  I understood very little, but I could see that Amy knew exactly what was going on.

“So what now?” I asked her after a few minutes.

Amy looked at me and raised an eyebrow, then laughed.  But then gestured to the screen, a small word map in the bottom right corner with a series of coloured dots spread over the map.

“Well,” she said and then swallowed the rest of her drink. We started on the balcony. “As I explained, my role in ALRO is fairly well protected, even within the broader investment community.  And those who do know my full role in the company are under tight agreements, like we have both signed.  But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have to put the yards in.”

I raised an eyebrow, and she looked at me with her business face suddenly in place.

“Robbie, my money is well protected and invested.  But a lot of people put their trust in ALRO to help them generate yields on their invested funds with us. I mentioned earlier that ALRO invests in a lot of businesses, which means different industries, various locations around the world, where we have sometimes millions of dollars tied up.”

I nodded my head. Amy pointed to the map of the world once more.

“The yellow dots are locations that I have visited over the past twelve months where we are having a positive impact.  The red dots are where we are not hitting the mark.  The pink dots are locations that I am scheduled to visit on my next trip.”

I looked at the map on the TV once more and reviewed what I was just told.  There were a lot of yellow dots, only a few red dots, and I could see a number of pink dots over the US and Europe.

When I looked back at her, she was looking at me expectantly.

“You have a little over two months until your fight with Cody McGuiness,” Amy explained. “I can hold off my trip for a little while longer, as there is nothing on fire so bad that I need to jump on a plane to fix it.  But after the fight, what if we went together?”

I glanced at the TV once more.

“I jump on a plane with you and we travel around the world visiting your clients?”

She laughed.

“Robbie,” she said, then stopped and thought for a moment. “Yes, come with me.  I need to visit a few clients in the US and get in front of my staff in Europe.  You’ve signed the NDA, you're my boyfriend, and let's face it, Robbie, you have been running a complex business for several years, so there is nothing you will hear that you haven’t heard in one way or another in the past.

“When I asked you to run away with me, it wasn’t just here to Noosa. I meant what I said. I don’t want to be apart from you.  If I have to go overseas, then if possible, I want you with me.”

“So I’d be your arm candy?”

The laugh she emitted warmed my soul, playful and full of mirth.

“Oh yes,” she said, giving a fake swoon. “Young CEO, flaunts her champion MMA star boyfriend around the world, what a headline. I will be the envy of every woman we meet.”

The desire dripping off her voice was beginning to make me squirm, and she knew it.  She got up and saucily took the couple of steps to me before sitting down in my lap and throwing her arms around me.

“But what is going to make them all call me bitch and curse my name is not only that I have a hunk of a man, but also that he can kick the ass of everyone around him.  But he’s smart, five minutes in conversation with you and most of the women I deal with will be wanting to have your kids.”

I shifted awkwardly, and Amy kissed me, then looked at me seriously, he face downcast and her eyes locked on mine.

“And know, dear man, that as well as you fight in the ring. You will be under assault from a wave of femininity.  I will fight those wannabe whores off.  I know you will never be tempted; you’re a one-man woman.  But those sluts will never see me coming when I am defending my man.”

I felt awkward but also aroused.  However, the context of what Amy was saying was not lost on me.  In her line of work, bored housewives and partners of the successful executives she worked with would try to get their hooks into me.  I nodded.

“Amy?” I asked her with a mischievous look on my face.

“Yes?” she replied as she saw the look in my eyes, and her look of delight grew.

“Be my girl?”

She leaned in closer, pushed her entire body into me and as her lips once more met mine, I could feel her chest against mine and that she was growing as excited as I was. 

When we came up for air, I think we both had a hand inside each other's shirts, and Amy was almost panting.

“That’s a yes?”

She reached behind her and grabbed a pillow, throwing it at me.

“I caught it and pounced on her, kissing her once more and looking into her eyes.

“I told you, I have been your girl since the Police station.”

She looked outside and saw that the afternoon sun was making its way down the horizon.  We had been sitting on the couch, talking and making out for almost two hours.

“Babe, as much as I would like to play some more.  How about we get you unpacked, that will take us a little while, and then you can go for a run, as I know you're dying to do, and we can go for an early dinner…”

The innuendo behind what she didn’t say there, as she stood and rearranged her clothes, had my primal brain almost overriding my logical thinking brain.

It was a close thing, and I think Amy knew it too. In the end, I managed through sheer force of will to stand and turn back towards the entry.

“Alright,” I told her, trying to keep my voice calm, even as I had to adjust my clothes as I stood. “Unpacking, run, dinner and bed.”

Amy bit her lip and just nodded.

I think I was going to enjoy living in Noosa…

[:::: End of Chapter 13 ::::]

[:::: Go to Chapter 14 ::::]

[:::: Find all chapters at: The Nuclear Family story page ::::]

[:::: Read any of John’s Stories on John’s Story Guide ::::]

[:::: Authors ending note ::::]

Some of you might have been caught short because, in the original version, there was a little more in this chapter.  I chose a break here as it made sense in the rewrite.  Also, those of you who are not into the spicier aspects of these stories may want to skip chapter 14. 

However, we alsofightt with Cody coming. In what I have written so far, I think I have fixed up a number of issues with the original version, and I am enjoying the dialogue.  You will get to read that soon 😊

Cheers

John Other.