Chapter 15

Nora knew right where the ring was, it and the rest of the things from my dad were in a box in the small safe under the bed. She retrieved the items, and I went through them. My new wallet was nicer. I moved the business cards over to my wallet, but the rest went back into the box, the ring went onto my finger.

I adjusted the size, then touched the perfect stone, moving it into conjuring storage. I conjured it back, and turned it deep ruby red. I conjured the clear stone back, and added it to the ring next to the red. Then I called Frederick.

“How’s my favorite student, have you been doing your ass signments?” I asked as he answered.

“Adam?”

“That’s me! Got the ring, can you bring you know what tonight? Also I need to talk to you about setting up a company, here in Switzerland.”

“Sure, do I come alone, or bring Angelina?”

“Nora says bring Angelina, we will let them talk while we discuss business,” I told him.

“Great, she will be happy to see her again,” he said.

“Alright, see you tonight, after dinner sometime,” I told him, and hung up.

Nora looked at me questioningly, so I explained, “I inducted him into a secret mystery cult. If we need to do a ritual, I’ll probably want you there, or maybe several of you, all as different people. I plan on expanding it, but for now it’s just him and me, and you if you want in.”

“Oh yes Master,” she said with a wide smile. “You should also invite Christian.”

“Really?” I asked, “Did you know he snuck in here and took a picture of us while we slept?”

“I asked him to,” she said, showing me the picture on her phone. “I don’t have many pictures of your dad, I wanted special ones of you and Rebecca too. Christian is a good man.”

“I’ll consider your suggestion.”

I kissed her again, “I love you Nora. I trust you too.”

I got up and headed back to move my clothes. Rebecca was already set up with a laptop at the desk in my old room. She was on a video conference call with someone.

“Who’s the hunk Rebecca?” said one of the faces on the screen. Rebecca turned to look before replying, “That is Adam Howard Barkley Junior, the man who’s father just died,” she said coldly.

I walked to the screen, and knelt down so I could be on camera. “Hi,” I said, “I usually go by Adam H. Barkley. Grandpa Barkley was a fan of Howard Hughes, dad not so much. I haven’t decided, but H by itself sounds cooler I think.

“Thanks for protecting me Rebecca, you’re the best.” I said, then kissed her on the cheek, stood, and walked out of camera range.

A man’s voice came from the screen, “That confirms it for me. The only other person who knows that story is Adam Senior. He would have only told that story to his son. Plus, he looks just like his dad.”

Rebecca waved me over, “Adam, I’d like you to meet my father,” I stepped back into camera.

“Hello sir,” I said.

“Hello Adam,” he replied, “Forgive my wife for her comment.”

“Absolutely, right after I next find her under some mistletoe,” I replied.

I could hear the laughter come from the woman who had made the comment. “That was your father’s favorite trick, he’d plant mistletoe around the house when we would invite him for Christmas.

“How do you know that?” she questioned suddenly.

“I didn’t, I just hoped it would get me invited to your Christmas party with Rebecca.” I replied, giving her another kiss on the cheek.

“She’s recently decided that I’m her client, so all I get are kisses now.”

Rebecca was turning red in front of the camera, I could see others on the conference were trying to hold back laughter, her mom just cackled in delight.

“Better carry on son, she has a mean right hook,” her father warned me.

“Roger that, sir,” I stood and stepped off camera to load up my clothes. Rebecca looked at me, and mouthed, “I will get you for this.”

She quickly returned to the conference as I carried everything out of the room, I heard one just parting shot from her mom, “Damn, he’s fine no matter what way he goes!”

My ears turned slightly pink, something that Margaret Smackley had always been capable of.

Nora helped me organize my clothing, sending me back for the remainder while she put things away. By the time I got back the conference was done, and Rebecca was staring out the window.

“20 for your thoughts,” I offered.

She stood, and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m sorry about my parents, they are terrible, but also the best.”

I lifted her chin and gave her a soft kiss. “I’m sure they say the same about you,” I told her.

She blinked then grinned, “Damn right!”

She went back to work, and I grabbed the last items. Just as I walked out the door, Rebecca said, “Mom wasn’t wrong, she rarely is, you look good going and cuming.”

I snorted in response, but my ears went pink again.

Nora said leave everything to her, so I was banished to the living room. I pulled out the tablet and reviewed the data on the Spanish branch of the Haener family. Alice had lived with them after the death of her parents, but they didn’t adopt her. There was another girl two years younger than Alice that still lived there with her parents. Other than some employees, that was the entire minor branch.

There were pictures, and addresses of the people, as well as known affiliations, companies owned, and boards they sat on. I looked it up on Google, and used satellite photos to find the house, a massive monstrosity, surrounded by woods in the hills west of Valencia. Their last name was Cobertura.

I studied the rest of the material, but found nothing really shattering. There was speculation that she would turn to them for assistance, but others said she would go to allies in Italy.

I put the tablet away, and focused on making supplies to invite new members. I slotted a 1 carat diamond from my mineral storage capsules into a conjuring slot, and then conjured it right back again, refilling the capsule. I then quickly conjured fifteen diamonds and made them various colors from grey and white, to pink, green, blue, black, orange, and brown. Different shades, and different intensities.

Once colored, I took a small envelope, and slid the diamonds inside. I eased over to the door on the other side of the boardroom, and knocked. It was quickly answered by Amelia, who gave me a big smile.

“Your luggage will be here in an hour.” she said.

“That’s great, just leave it in the entry, we will sort it out.”

“Yes sir.” she said smiling, then she asked, “Was there something else?”

“I need a private chat with Christian. Is he available?”

“I’ll check.” She said, and exited out the door. Christian stuck his head around the door frame, “Need something Adam?”

“Just a private chat if we can?”

“Sure, come on into my office.” he said, and turned away.

I hurried thru the door to follow him, my long legs quickly catching up. He swiped his card, and entered the hotel room turned office. He walked around behind the desk, and sat.

“Drink? Coffee, Tea, Coke?” he asked.

“I’m good,” I said and closed and locked the door behind me. Then I sat in the chair in front of his desk.

“Do you trust me?” I asked.

“Mostly,” he answered, “Can’t find shit about your past, but from clues I’ve pieced together that you are an ex soldier, probably from the Netherlands, you are smart, and you seem to be a genuine and caring person.

“You also seem to have secrets. I’m hoping if I can trust you, you can trust me.”