The Remote Seduction Read online

  “I'm feeling good. I’m actually looking forward to the doctor's appointment tomorrow.” Dorothy responds.

  “I'll go with you?” Katrina offers. Dorothy nods and smiles, appreciating Katrina’s offer.

  Maya pours the wine. There's a small diamond engagement ring on her finger.

  Katrina looks at Maya. “You're glowing. What's the reason?”

  “Tony and I finally picked a date,” Maya beams.

  “When?” Katrina asks with interest.

  “June fourteenth,” Maya shares.

  “That's nearly a year away,” Katrina proclaims.

  “Plenty of time to relish every moment of planning the perfect wedding. And the perfect honeymoon,” Maya giggles.

  Maya hands a glass of wine to Katrina. And one to Dorothy. “I'm counting on you as a bridesmaid, Dorothy.”

  “Can I pick out my own dress?” Dorothy hopes.

  “Don't worry, I won't make you wear taffeta,” Maya reassures her friend.

  “Cotton, only cotton,” Dorothy encourages with a smile.

  “I have some happy news myself,” Katrina shares with her friends.

  Maya’s eyes widen. “You've met Paolo and he looks exactly like Channing Tatum.”

  “No. But our cyber chat this morning was quite personal and emotional,” Katrina blushes.

  “You have to meet him, Kat,” Maya sighs.

  Katrina shakes off the suggestion. “Anonymity was what we agreed to, he insisted actually, besides, it’s perfect the way it is.” She returns her attention to her good news. “Anyway, back on topic, I sold another book,” Katrina lies, her friends having no idea about her side hacking jobs. She hands an envelope of cash to Dorothy. “For your medical bills.” Katrina hands an envelope of cash to Maya. “For your perfect wedding.”

  Maya’s eyes widen. “Kat, you're way too generous.”

  “You don't have to do this you know,” Dorothy adds.

  “I know. I just feel that when I sell a rare first edition book I want to share the wealth with the people I love,” Katrina offers.

  Maya gives Katrina a hug as Dorothy's eyes mist; they love their friend and are truly grateful for her generosity.

  Maya holds up her glass. “Cheers.” The three women click their wine glasses.

  “We’ve clicked the glasses, that means it’s time to let your hair down, Kat,” Dorothy points out.

  Katrina removes her black-rimmed glasses and literally lets her hair down. She sits back in her chair, relaxing.

  *****

  At the same time inside the FSSU command center…

  Richard, Walter and Sully stand near a wall-sized monitor. Photographs of Katrina appear on the monitor - photographs that were taken of her when she was rowing on the river.

  Walter shares Katrina intel with Richard and Sully. “Katrina Brice. Aged thirty-one. She graduated summa cum laude from MIT with a double major, computer science and literature. Both parents are deceased. No brothers or sisters, no husband or boyfriend. Her only lasting relationship apparently is online with a person named ‘Paolo.’ She's been cyber chatting with him daily for almost a year.”

  “Anything illicit?” Sully asks with a twinkle.

  “No. Mostly boring stuff about philosophy and literature. They read books together and discuss their feelings about the books,” Walter answers.

  “Does she or we know who this ‘Paolo’ is?” Richard asks.

  “She doesn't know. We do. Our intel tells us he’s a Yale sophomore named Josh majoring in French who has a 3.8 gpa,” Walter replies.

  Sully guffaws, finding that amusing. “At least he doesn't live in his mom's cellar and collect Star Trek action figures.”

  Walter continues with his Katrina intel. “Katrina performs a handful of white hat hacking jobs a year, all paid for in cash. What she does with the money is still a mystery. Not much of it ends up in her bank account.”

  Walter clicks on an image of The Chick Lit Bookstore. “She owns the Chick Lit Bookstore.”

  “Chiclets? Like the gum?” Sully asks with a smirk.

  “No. As in female literature. She only sells books that have been written by women,” Walter replies.

  “That's a bit discriminatory,” Sully quips.

  “Take it up with her, you're going to see her now,” Richard tells Sully.

  “Why?” Sully asks.

  Richard hands Sully a disc. “You're going to bring her the Hacker Heaven program. I want to see how far she gets.”

  “What do I tell her?”

  “She believes you to be involved with Hamilton Dynamics, tell her it's a defense program in the development stages. Emphasize that it's top secret and a rush job,” Richard informs Sully.

  *****

  Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore Dorothy, Maya and Katrina sit, relaxed, in the midst of chats and laughs. Three empty wine bottles rest on the nearby table.

  Sully enters. He's wearing jeans and a tee shirt and looks pretty darn clean-cut sexy. His flag pin is attached to the tee shirt’s collar.

  Maya sees Sully first. Her expression brightens. She’s thinking ‘hubba, hubba.’

  Katrina notices the look on Maya’s face. She turns and sees Sully. Their eyes lock. It's a moment for him, one Sully wasn't anticipating.

  “Hello, Miss Brice,” Sully says covering the catch in his breath.

  “Mr. Reeves, hello. The store is closed,” Katrina responds politely.

  “I’m not here for a book,” he smiles.

  Maya and Dorothy share a ‘this guy is hot’ smile. They stand up.

  “We were just leaving,” Dorothy says.

  Maya and Dorothy give Katrina a quick hug.

  Inside the FSSU command center at the same time…

  Richard studies Maya and Dorothy on the monitor. He speaks to the tech seated at the computer. “Find out everything you can about those two women.”

  The tech lines up a facial recognition program on Maya's and Dorothy's faces.

  In the Chick Lit Bookstore…

  Maya and Dorothy leave, leaving Katrina alone with Sully.

  Sully notes how quickly Katrina's two friends left. “Was it something I said?” He frat boy flirts

  “Of course not,” Katrina responds seriously with not a bit of flirt. She nods at the empty bottles. “The wine's gone.”

  Sully snickers at her dry humor. He looks around the shop. “So every book in here was written by a woman?”

  “That's right. All titles arranged alphabetically by author.”

  Sully spies the painting hanging on the wall.

  In the FSSU command center…

  Richard and Walter, via the computer monitor, see what Sully sees. Richard addresses the tech seated at the computer. “Check out that painting. That's the icon she uses while cyber chatting.”

  The tech types away on the computer finding out information about the painting. “The painting is by Amos Cassioli. The couple in the painting is Paolo and Francesca.”

  Richard and Walter share a look. “Francesca is the screen name she uses when cyber chatting with Paolo,” Walter points out.

  The tech shares intel on the painting. “The couple really existed. They were the inspiration for a segment in Dante's Divine Comedy.”

  Richard speaks to Sully’s spy cam. “Did you hear any of that, Sully?”

  Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore…

  Sully approaches the painting. Katrina follows.

  “Francesca and Paolo,” he says cocksure smoothly.

  Katrina’s eyes widen. “You're familiar with the painting?”

  “And the story. Dante's Divine Comedy,” he adds.

  Inside the FSSU command center…

  The tech relates the story to Sully. “Francesca was supposed to marry Gianciotto, who was ugly and deformed, so Gianciotto sent his handsome brother Paolo to Francesca pretending to be Gianciotto. They kept the ruse up through the wedding night, but the next day, it was Gianciotto who got out of bed, not Paolo. Francesca w
as furious by the deception. She loved Paolo and Paolo loved her. When they were caught in an intimate moment Gianciotto went to kill Paolo with his rapier but Francesca stepped in between the brothers trying to save Paolo. She died from the stab to the heart and then Gianciotto killed his brother.”

  In the Chick Lit Bookstore…

  Sully faux marvels at the painting. “Such a tragic love story. The deformed brother, Gianciotto, taking both their lives, and he was the one who instigated the deception, sending his brother in his place to woo her.”

  Katrina's eyes widen further, seriously impressed.

  Inside the FSSU command center…

  Off the monitor, Richard notices the look on Katrina's face. He speaks to Sully via his ear piece. “You're charming her, keep it up.”

  Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore…

  Sully looks deeply into Katrina's eyes. “I would take a rapier in the heart for the woman I loved.”

  Katrina, unable to hold off a blush responds. “That's a romantic notion.”

  “I'm a romantic at heart. What about you, Miss Brice?”

  Katrina steps back from Sully, a bit rattled, this is the second time today this topic has come up. She composes herself and replies, “I'm a pragmatic at heart.”

  “Is that why your cheeks are red?” Sully flirts.

  “They're red from the wine,” she counters. “I imagine there's a reason why you're in my bookstore. I doubt it's to buy a book,” she adds.

  “Don't be so sure. Do you have any Lillian Hellman memoirs?” Sully replies.

  “I do. And some of her plays.”

  Inside the FSSU command center…

  There's a list of women writers, including info on Lillian Hellman, on the large screen.

  Richard pats the tech on the back, clearly pleased with the Lillian Hellman intel that was just fed to Sully.

  Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore…

  Katrina heads for a particular bookshelf. “Lillian is over here.”

  Sully stops her. “In all honesty, Lillian will have to wait. There is a reason for my visit.”

  “Another hacking job?” Katrina asks curiously.

  “I guess you could classify it as such.” Sully hands a disc to Katrina. “This is a Hacker Heaven program, in the development stages. It's top secret so I must ask you to not share this with anyone.”

  “What do you want me to do with it?” Katrina asks.

  “Play the game. There are ten levels. At each level there is a security system that needs to be hacked to advance to the next level. It has been a year and we have yet to find someone who can advance past level eight,” Sully tells Katrina.

  Katrina finds this information compelling. “Really.”

  “The project has been stalled due to the fact that we have not been able to find a qualified hacker who can master all ten levels. It would be extremely helpful to us if you could attempt the program as soon as possible. We are willing to pay you for your time including a bonus if you succeed,” Sully tells her.

  “I’ll play the game tonight.”

  “Now about that hotdog I owe you,” Sully smiles, following Richard’s orders to charm her.

  “You can treat me when I make it through level ten,” Katrina replies.

  Sully flirts, “I hope you won't keep me hungry.” With one last smile, which Katrina doesn’t return, he leaves the store. As she watches him leave her initial reaction says it all; she believes his flirting is superficial, not genuine. But then her expression softens, he does know the history of her beloved painting, and Lillian Hellman, so that’s something.

  She pushes those thoughts from her mind to focus on the Hacker Heaven program clearly excited by the challenge. She takes a seat at her computer to connect with someone she does believe, deep in her heart, is genuine - she types a message to Paolo.

  Francesca: I'm afraid I can't do Wuthering Heights this evening, a work project has come up.

  Katrina studies the disc in her hand while waiting for a reply. She receives a response from Paolo.

  Paolo: Must be important, this will be our first night apart in months.

  Francesca: The job is important but the time with you is what I value.

  Paolo: ‘No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth.’

  Francesca: Whose quote?

  Paolo: Robert Southey. It speaks to me of my regard for you.

  Katrina smiles and blushes as she types in her response.

  Francesca: Ditto on my end.

  Katrina clicks out from her cyber chat with Paolo. She sighs, releasing just a smidgen of the pent up passion and romantic emotion that the Paolo chats stir in her. If it were possible to be completely in love with someone even though you know nothing of them other than what they share with you from their soul, then Katrina is definitely head over for Paolo.

  Katrina turns her attention to Hacker Heaven. She inserts the disc into her computer. The program's name fills up the screen - Hacker Heaven, level one. Katrina clicks into the program.

  *****

  Richard is sound asleep in his condo. His cell-phone, which is on his bedside night-stand, rings. Richard awakens and answers the phone. “This better be good,” he hisses into his phone.

  The tech calling him responds. “She made it through level ten. In four hours.”

  Richard beams, which for him is a smug smirk. His eyes narrow and fill with vengeance as if he’s thinking he’s finally going to get Felix.

  At the same time…

  Felix swims laps in his pool at his Gothic estate that is surrounded by rod iron fencing and a dark forest beyond. The pool area features warm lighting, which casts a soothing, exotic, romantic vibe.

  Felix’s valet Sigmund, who is European and quite similar to Batman's Alfred, approaches.

  Sigmund stands by the edge of the pool, which catches Felix’s attention. Felix stops his swimming and stands up in the pool.

  “Level ten has been breached,” Sigmund tells Felix.

  “By whom?” Felix is surprised.

  “Katrina Brice,” Sigmund replies.

  “What do we know about her?” Felix asks.

  “She likes books like you, sir.”

  Felix gets out of the pool. Beads of water run down his firm, muscular body. Sigmund hands him a towel. He pats his taut chest and broad shoulders. “Interesting turn of events,” Felix comments, a half smile creeping into one corner of his soft, bewitching lips.

  *****

  That morning in the FSSU command center the techs, Richard and Walter are buzzing about Katrina's success with the Hacker Heaven program.

  An agent enters, approaches Richard and hands him a box. “This just came for you, sir.”

  Richard opens the box. He removes a remote. It looks very similar to the remote Felix stole.

  “That's not the original is it?” Walter asks.

  “Of course not,” Richard snips. Richard reads aloud the post-it note stuck to the remote. “Richard, congratulations on finding your Holy Grail hacker. I will be in touch with further instructions as to how to locate and retrieve the remote. The Hacker Heaven program will play a vital role to that end. Felix”

  Richard glares at Walter and the techs. “We must secure Katrina Brice at any cost, financial or otherwise.

  At the same time, in the Chick Lit Bookstore…

  Katrina, looking both tired and triumphant, stacks books on a shelf in the back corner of the store. She hears the bell on the door indicating someone has entered the store.

  She puts the books down and then turns the corner.

  She bumps smack into Felix. The collision causes Katrina to lose her balance so Felix protectively grabs her in his embrace holding her close. Their eyes lock; the moment they do, everything around them, everything in the world seizes to exist. Both of their hearts quicken, pounding in unison. Their very depths are being pulled together through their eyes. The energy their joined bodies and souls
is creating is combustible, the sparks lighting up the heavens.

  Felix pulls her closer, the urge to kiss her overwhelming him. She doesn’t resist; she’s transfixed by his dark eyes and the intense emotionally and erotically charged connection.

  The bell rings again, someone else has entered the store, shattering Felix and Katrina’s unforgettable moment. “Hello, Miss Brice.” Sully calls for Katrina.

  Katrina, her cheeks flaming and her breathing shallow, pulls away from Felix.

  “Excuse me,” she barely whispers as she hurries to the front of the store.

  Katrina joins Sully. “Good morning, Mr. Reeves.”

  “Wow, are your cheeks red. Did you have wine for breakfast?” Sully quips.

  In Felix’s location, out of sight from the front of the store and from Sully and Katrina, he looks around. He turns a corner around a case of books and that’s when he sees it - the Paolo Francesca replica painting hanging on the wall. He gasps. He has to grab onto the edge of a shelf, seeing the painting has actually made him go weak in the knees. That in itself in an incredible feat as Felix is one who prides himself on being assured and self-controlled.

  A flood of thoughts race through Felix’s mind causing his heart to pound faster. Who is this Katrina Brice? She’s mastered his program, he just had an intense, haunting encounter with her and a painting that has deep significance to him hangs in her store…could it be???? It would make perfect sense. His eyes soften as he whispers, “Francesca.”

  Felix is snapped from his thoughts by the sound of Katrina and Sully conversing. He regains his focus and discreetly peeks around a row of bookshelves to spy on Katrina and Sully. He takes his handheld super smart tailor-made computer phone and points it at Sully. The device indicates that Sully is wearing surveillance equipment - with the surveillance being fed to the FSSU. As he figured.

  Felix purposely knocks down a stack of books causing a clamor. Katrina turns towards the noise in the back of the store.

  “Are you not alone?” Sully asks.

  “No. There's a customer in back,” Katrina heads for Felix's location. Sully follows.

  Felix ducks down a different aisle and strategically makes it out of the store before Katrina - or Sully - sees him.